Chapter 192: Summer Vacation
Chapter 192: Summer Vacation
A week had passed since I was discharged from the hospital.
My shoulders, which had been held high with confidence, slumped the moment I saw my exam results.
“…I blew it.”
“Oh, uh. Cheer up, Master!”
“Mmm. Even you can’t be expected to solve problems you haven't been taught, after all.”
Regardless of how well I could actually use magic, I was practically a babe in the woods when it came to theory. Everyone else had entered the Academy with at least the basics down, while I was the only one who had started from a completely blank slate.
I had been slowly catching up thanks to Carla’s tutoring and my Excellent Memory trait, but still….
“Does it make sense that there are this many questions I don't know just because I was bedridden for a few days?! And since when does the curriculum move this fast during finals week anyway?!”
As I huffed in indignation, Carla spoke up with an awkward smile.
“Well… the pace was a bit slower compared to when I was a freshman, so I suppose they must have crammed everything in at the end of the semester, Master.”
“There were so many incidents this year, so it couldn't be helped. But you got a perfect score on the practical, didn't you? Pull yourself together.”
Elisha was right. The attack that was supposed to happen during the opening ceremony occurred during our first dungeon practice instead. And the spying activities of Boiling Silence, which originally wouldn't have been revealed until the cultists made their move on the front lines, were exposed by me right in the middle of a duel.
With all those events happening during the semester, the progress was bound to slow down. But since the curriculum was set in stone, they must have pushed through the material at breakneck speed toward the end.
“At this rate, I won't be able to take first place in any subject except Magic Combat….”
“Were you actually aiming for first place in every subject? When you only started learning magic a few days before enrollment? Isn't that being a bit shameless…?”
“Elisha! Master worked really hard! It’s fine for him to at least have it as a goal!”
“……You’re both being too mean! Especially you, Carla—you’re pretending to defend me, but you’re starting from the premise that it’s impossible!”
Of course, I knew very well that taking first place in every subject was impossible. Especially in the first year, which was a period of "sampling" everything before choosing a major. Even though they only taught the basics, the sheer number of subjects was overwhelming.
Still, I thought I could at least top a few of them. If I had, I would have racked up about 100 points…. I guess I was getting impatient since I was so close to my goal of purchasing the Dragon Heart fragment.
My exams were a bust, but on the bright side, other things were going better than expected. Only one semester had passed, and I had already reached the level of an Intermediate Magician, and my stats were quite impressive. Since I had taken down so many cultists, the Evil God Sect’s plans must have been significantly derailed.
Lastly, I had become accustomed to controlling Resonance over the past few days. For now, I could only use it with Intermediate Magic, which required a high level of mana elevation, but I was now capable of toggling it on and off.
If I kept practicing like this, I’d eventually be able to apply it to Low-grade Magic or increase the maximum amplification rate.
Mm. Good. Mental recovery complete.
I folded the grade report neatly, tucked it into my Inventory, and stretched my arms out wide.
“Ugyagyagyagya… Anyway, the first semester ends today.”
“You’ve worked so hard, Master. It feels like only a few days ago you were learning basic magic inside the carriage, and now you’re already an Intermediate Magician….”
Carla put on an overwhelmed expression, pretending to wipe away a tear. I chuckled and playfully tickled her chin.
“You know you’ve changed a lot too, Carla? When I first brought you in, you’d tremble just from making eye contact.”
“Oh, come on. That was when I didn't even know what your face looked like, Master. …Wait, is that your type?”
Suddenly, Carla began to shiver and watch my reaction. She focused on my every move, flinching and jumping at even the slightest motion. It was a nostalgic sight that stimulated my desire for dominance, and I reflexively raised my hand in an exaggerated manner.
“Hic…!”
Carla pulled her head back and squeezed her eyes shut. Her reaction made it look like I was about to strike her. I let out a laugh and gently patted her head.
“I think that’s fine once in a while. Well, I like how you are now better, though.”
“Hehe… I’ve always liked you, Master!”
“Then today, why don't we use the Polymorph magical tool and do it in that form I saw at the auction?”
“Ah, absolutely not.”
Carla’s face went flat, her previous giddiness vanishing instantly as she refused. She was still as sensitive as ever about her appearance.
As I was playing around, pulling up the corners of Carla’s stiffened lips with my fingers, a pouting Elisha began poking my thigh.
“What is this? This conversation only you and Carla seem to understand. It’s hard for me to join in!”
“Oh? You didn't know, Elisha? Well, since we’re on the subject, let me spill some tea….”
We spent a short while chatting with Elisha included. Before we knew it, Iona, who had finished distributing the grade reports, tapped on the podium and shouted.
“Attention, attention! Great job this semester, everyone! Even if you aren't happy with your grades, there’s no need to worry too much! No one’s grades are so precarious that they’re at risk of being demoted to Class B this year! In fact, compared to last year and the year before, the overall average is quite high! I wonder if there was someone who served as a motivation?”
Glances subtly shifted toward me. At the same time, Iona gave a playful grin and sent a wink my way.
…This is burdensome! And I told you not to make it so obvious during class!
I gave her a sharp glare to convey that sentiment, but Iona simply giggled and brushed my gaze aside.
“Anyway, anyway! A lot happened this semester, but you all did great! Keep it up when we meet again! …With that, the first semester is officially over! Get plenty of rest during the break, and I’ll see you in the second semester!”
—Waaaaaaaah!!—
Iona exited the room to the boisterous cheers of the Class A students. I gave a polite round of applause before standing up.
“You’ve already packed your bags, right? Let’s stop by Senior Fay’s workshop and then head to the mansion together.”
“Yes. Oh, isn't Professor Iona coming with us?”
“Yeah. She said professors can’t just start resting the moment the break begins. But she said she’d wrap things up by tomorrow and come to the mansion. I already gave her the location.”
“Aha? Well, that’s a relief then.”
Carla nodded. Elisha, however, frowned and tilted her head in confusion.
“Mmm… I feel like I’m forgetting something….”
She blinked her blue eyes as if she didn't even know why she was acting that way, but soon let out a deep sigh and stood up.
“Well, it’s probably nothing important.”
How anticlimactic.
*
As soon as we left the classroom, we headed straight to Fay’s workshop.
I thought we had arrived early, but it seemed Fay had gotten there much sooner. She was fiddling with flasks and test tubes with a serious expression. It seemed to be a critical process, as she only spared us a brief glance.
“You’re here, Junior? Wait just a moment. I just need to mix this.”
“Don't mind us; just finish what you’re doing.”
“…You’re not mad, are you?”
“…Don't people usually consider that being considerate?”
What kind of mental gymnastics did she have to perform to make my previous words sound like I was angry? I let out a chuckle and leaned deep into the sofa in the back.
As I sprawled out, Carla and Elisha moved in perfect sync, taking out cups and plates. Then, the two of them stared at me intently.
“What would you like to drink?”
“I’ll have whatever Master is having!”
“Oh? I’ll have my usual, please.”
“Okay.”
Carla and Elisha carried small items in their own Subspace Pockets, but food items were kept in my Inventory. A Subspace Pocket merely expanded space while time flowed normally inside, but the moment something entered the Inventory, even time came to a halt. For that reason, all perishable items like food were kept in my Inventory.
“Let’s see….”
First, I took out the Elven Tea that Elisha liked. It had the name and premium price tag because elves supposedly drank it often… but when I tried it, it just tasted like green tea with a hint of peppermint.
I poured the kettle—which was at the perfect temperature—into Elisha’s cup and immediately put it back. This way, the temperature would be almost identical the next time I took it out.
Next was my drink… maybe it was because summer vacation had started, but I was starting to feel a bit hot. I took out some plain water and poured it into my and Carla’s cups, then used a simple spell.
“Ice.”
I placed three shards of ice that had materialized in the air into each cup. Then, with a somewhat proud expression, I handed one cup to Carla.
“Here.”
“Is this… alcohol?”
“No? It’s just ice water.”
“…….”
Carla blinked her ruby eyes with a strange expression. It was the kind of look an older sister would give her younger brother who, after being given birthday money to buy whatever he wanted for his 20th birthday, came back with a monthly subscription to a bookstore.
What was that? Why was she looking at me like that?
I averted my gaze and muttered softly.
“But alcohol tastes bad.”
“…I’ll recommend some delicious wine to you later, Master.”
Stop it. Don't look at me with those gentle eyes. I’m telling you, I really don't drink it because the alcohol in this world tastes terrible.
Man, I really crave a Kahlua Milk.
Of course, I couldn't say that, so I just grumbled and drank my ice water. Just as our tea time, which had drifted into a subtle atmosphere, was about halfway finished—
“It’s done…!”
Fay threw both hands into the air and started hopping up and down. I spent a good while admiring the sight of her side-boob bouncing, visible even from behind, before finally speaking.
“What on earth did you make that has you so happy, Senior Fay?”
“…Gasp! That, that is.”
After fidgeting for a long time out of embarrassment, she finally held out the flask. It contained a transparent liquid with a slight viscosity.
“This is… tanning lotion.”
“Tanning lotion?”
“Yeah. You said we’re going to the headquarters of the Righteous Light in a few days, right? Since they worship the Sun God, I heard the sunlight in that area is incredibly strong.”
“Don't tell me….”
As my jaw dropped, Fay nodded with a devious smile, as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.
“Hehe! That’s right! If you apply this, you can get a beautiful tan! …A bronzed Junior… but that part will still be white… Hehehe….”
“…….”
She was fully intent on turning the Holy Land into a land of carnal pleasure. A truly insane idea.
“How many more of those can you make?”
I never said I was against it.