Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: How to Steal the Protagonist's Woman
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I stared blankly at Sonya.
Asked her in a tense voice.
"No way…."
"Don't worry. It's not like we got caught or anything."
"Phew…."
Sonya watched my sigh with a smile.
"Sorry, I was just teasing you a bit. But my husband really did ask to meet."
Apparently, when Sonya chatted with her husband about me, he requested a dinner together.
She never talked about students usually, so he was curious.
"If it's uncomfortable, you can say no."
"…Nah, no. It's fine."
"Hehe, then come out at lunchtime. I'll wait at the school gate."
"Sure."
I made plans with Sonya, left the clubroom, and headed to the terrace.
The corridor to the terrace was bathed in orange light, giving off a warm vibe.
The terrace was empty when I arrived.
"Sigh… I was thinking of taking a break for the day, but the timing sucks."
"…Can't exactly tell a girl who's on her way that we're skipping today."
I sat on the bench on the terrace, leaned back, and gazed at the arch-shaped sun piercing the clear blue sky like a hole punched through it.
Then, the sun began to lose its power, sinking into the horizon.
A signal heralding night.
And with the sun vanishing beyond the horizon, my eyes started to droop shut.
..
..
"Hngh?"
Armonia's voice suddenly struck my mind, snapping me awake.
Deep, dark night.
Someone was looking down at me.
Couldn't make them out since my vision was blurry.
Staring hard to focus, a woman's voice came from above.
"…You're awake?"
"Hup!"
I jolted up in surprise, propping myself upright.
Looking around, lanterns dotted the terrace like glowing dust. I'd been lying on the bench.
And the voice belonged to Luna.
No idea when she'd arrived, but while I slept, she'd been giving me a lap pillow.
"Ah, sorry, sorry… Meant to just close my eyes for a sec, but I passed out."
"It's okay."
In the dim light, I could faintly make out her smile.
I stretched as I spoke.
"Kruuugh! …You should've woken me."
"Don't worry. I practiced the whole time you were sleeping."
"Good job."
I messaged Armonia.
'How long was I out?'
'…Haven't slept that deeply in ages.'
Armonia explained she'd tried waking me while I slept, but I didn't stir.
Guess I was really wiped out.
I rubbed my face like washing it with both hands a few times to shake off the drowsiness.
"Phew… Slept the whole night already. Come to think of it, today was hectic for you too. Let's head in."
"…Are you worried about me?"
"It was hectic for me too?"
Luna giggled at that.
Both Luna and I had gotten tangled in weird incidents today, spending the day in a daze.
We walked side by side down the quiet corridor back to the dorms.
An elderly man with a gentle smile stood at the podium and opened his mouth.
"Today, we'll learn about the history of magic circles."
It was the special magic studies class.
"As you all know, magic has a very long history. Records from thousands of years ago show magic was commonly cast without magic circles."
Casting magic without magic circles.
Anyone hearing that would think it had way more merit.
But that method ultimately relied on abstract thoughts to activate magic, even shortening the lives of geniuses.
Past magic versus modern magic was like lighting firewood in a cave versus using a home boiler.
Same warmth, but the difference in danger, efficiency, and technological advancement was stark.
Nowadays, casting magic abstractly was seen as primitive and inefficient.
No, the act itself was viewed like something a caveman would do.
No reason to use unpredictable magic—how it'd manifest, how much mana it'd take, where it'd go—when systematic magic circles existed.
"We must not forget that our ancestors turned magic, once the privilege of a few geniuses, into what it is today. And now it's your turn to advance it further."
Using magic circles wasn't inefficient; it was a highly advanced, systematically accumulated technology.
The professor explained that without magic circles, Schutra Magic School—or even mages—might not exist today.
Since they'd screw up and die every time anyway….
"But today's lesson doesn't end here. Let's get to the main point: disassembly techniques."
Magic disassembly.
A magic circle that disrupts and nullifies magic activation.
"I started with the history of magic circles because of this disassembly technique. Abstract magic has overly simplistic mana flows. That simplicity makes it easy to counter."
Even moderately skilled mages could intuitively sense mana streams, he said.
Once you grasped the flow of the imagined spell, you could nullify it right away.
In other words, it was hackable.
"And to prevent that… magic circles were created. Engraving mana into complex patterns was one reason for their birth."
Magic circles designed for efficiency, systematization, and complexity.
And today's practical was dismantling magic circles.
"For the first session, think hard about how to apply disassembly to this simple magic circle I've drawn."
It was a very basic magic circle.
But I kinda got it yet didn't— no clear solution came to mind.
'Ah, this is tough.'
Magic Power included understanding of magic, she explained.
For this magic circle's disassembly, level 6-7 would make it easy to grasp.
Honestly, being slow or failing disassembly wouldn't matter much.
Until Luna activated hers next to me.
As expected of a prodigy, she handled it effortlessly.
Not just her— half the class started applying their own disassembly techniques.
'No way! Time to level up Magic Power!'
'Up to 8.'
With Magic Power up, the podium's magic circle structure clicked in my head.
A whole different level of understanding from before.
Disassembly technique flashed in my mind instantly, and I drew it easily on my desk.
Luna stared at me in wonder.
'Phew, almost got shown up.'
Would've been short on Enel and embarrassed if I'd wasted it.
The professor walked around, checking students' disassembly techniques.
Some got pointers and redrew.
Then it was my turn. He glanced at mine, nodded, and moved on.
Good, not a failure.
'If only Magic Power was 40-50 like for circle casting, it'd be perfect.'
'True, it's already cheat-level as is.'
I didn't like cheats, but having real-life cheat keys activated changed my mind a bit.
Wanted to feel that superiority from circle casting again.
Wanted to see Luna's expression when I flawlessly cast one again.
With special magic studies done, the week's schedule wrapped up.
All classes over, weekend worries kicked in.
'Ugh, stressing… What if that husband guy's weird tomorrow? Big trouble.'
'Yeah, curious what he's like too.'
From Sonya, her husband sounded incredibly kind.
Running a successful business around Schutra.
Rich, caring husband.
But why no sex with a wife like Sonya? Baffling.
She said it had been ages, so there must be some story.
As long as the guy didn't pull some sudden deadbeat act, I'd tolerate whatever for Sonya's sake.
Because he was Sonya's husband.
As I fretted over tomorrow, Luna approached and spoke.
"Clubroom together?"
"Ah…."
I instinctively glanced at Louis.
But….
'Huh? He's gone?'
'He was smirking all day yeah.'
Dunno why, but Louis seemed in a great mood, grinning whenever he saw Luna.
Looking back at Luna, she stood demurely beside me.
"…."
"Yeah, let's go."
Luna and I headed to the clubroom.
Upon arrival, a note and key caught my eye.
(Sorry. Have an urgent matter today, so I'll be away. I told the TA, so feel free to use the clubroom. -Sonya)
I picked up the key and told Luna.
"Ah, professor's not coming today."
"Oh… Then what…."
She seemed embarrassed to suggest it herself, waiting for me.
"Since we're here, let's practice magic circles. Though all I do is watch."
"Sounds good."
We sat facing each other across the desk.
Luna's eager gaze was pretty cute.
'Ah, might as well check Luna's status window.'
'Wonder how pheromones are doing~'
Sexual Traits expanded, showing details.
-[Pheromones: Slight Addiction], [Up….-
I sighed at the screen.
'Aw, no change… Huh?'
But something new was added beside it.
Though I wasn't sure if it really fit my standards.
'Nah, it's fine. Is that real?'
New sexual trait info:
-[Imagination Masturbation]-
…Like fantasizing or something?
Armonia reaffirmed it was true.
'Since when?'
'Whoa, she was late yesterday from masturbating?'
'Hoo… The cabinet scores another win….'
Couldn't imagine Luna masturbating at all.
What expression would that poised, elegant Luna make while doing it?
'Sigh… It's tricky.'
'…The location.'
I was convinced.
If I made a move on Luna, it had real potential.
Problem was the spot.
If I planned to hit it and quit, we'd have done it ages ago.
But… I actually liked Luna for real.
Didn't want our first time in some weird setup like this.
Let's test the waters.
I spoke to Luna, who was staring blankly, lost in thought.
"You free tomorrow by any chance?"
"Ah! Y-Yes? Tomorrow? O-Of course! Ah… I mean…"
"?"
Luna smiled in flustered acceptance, then suddenly slapped her forehead and bowed her head.
After a moment's thought, she said,
"Um… Does it have to be tomorrow?"
"Ah, just asking. Busy is fine."
"N-No, not that…."
Luna fidgeted, unable to answer properly.
Something was up with her tomorrow, clearly.
'Well, not just tomorrow. Suggest an outing next week.'
Armonia was right.
After chatting in the clubroom with Luna, night fell, and we headed to our dorms.