Chapter 190: Proof 12
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 190: Proof 12
Lowest-tier magic.
It is the most basic form of magic, something even a child could master if they learned the fundamentals.
The Magic Missile that Clara had used in the auditorium earlier was one such lowest-tier spell. Aside from Magic Missile, spells like Light to illuminate the dark, Clean to tidy up dust, and basic elemental attacks all fall into this category.
Naturally, even for the same lowest-tier spell, the power and speed vary entirely depending on the caster.
The lowest-tier spell Clara used most frequently was Fireball.
As the name suggests, it is a spell that strikes an opponent with a sphere of fire. A novice mage might produce one the size of a baseball, and a skilled one might manage something the size of a basketball, but Clara was on an entirely different level.
As she had demonstrated against the Golem on opening day and during the midterm practical exam, a Fireball Clara created with sincere effort was on par with the advanced spell, Meteor.
The problem is, why is that thing pointed at me right now?
Between Clara and me, a fireball—not quite the size of a Meteor, but easily the size of ten basketballs merged together—was roaring fiercely.
In an instant, sweat formed on my forehead, rolled down my cheek, and dripped onto the ground.
Usually, when I pestered her, Clara would conjure a fireball as a threat, but those were always just basketball-sized—a warning to behave. I really couldn't figure out why she had manifested this one.
I could have understood if she had been moved by my words of comfort and turned red out of embarrassment. But Clara still had her head bowed, so I couldn't even tell what expression she was making.
I spoke up first to try and calm her down.
"C-Clara? Let's start by putting that dangerous thing away... Do you perhaps have something you want to say to me?"
"What time are we meeting tomorrow?"
Clara’s answer was far from what I expected. At the very least, it wasn't something one should say while conjuring a massive fireball. "Hand over everything you've got" would have been more fitting.
Before I was reincarnated, I’d met a few people who said "let's meet" while holding a knife, but a fireball? That was a bit refreshing.
"Meeting tomorrow! Is this... a date proposal? I don't usually accept these things, but since you're asking so earnestly, Clara, I'll make an exception—"
At my words, Clara lifted her head.
Her face was as red as the roaring fireball...
—Not. Her expression was as cold as usual.
Ah, right.
The whole reason I had followed Clara out of the auditorium in the first place was because of that. So, it made sense that she stopped me as I was heading back to ask what time we were meeting tomorrow.
However, one thing still didn't make sense.
"Clara?"
I pointed my finger at the space between us—at the fireball that was already the size of ten basketballs and was steadily growing larger.
"Is there a reason you had to conjure this terrifying fire just to ask what time we're meeting?"
"This is..."
It seemed Clara hadn't conjured the fireball consciously, as she flinched upon seeing the massive sphere of flames floating in front of her. Seeing that reaction meant she had created it subconsciously.
That’s even scarier.
Even the magic professors at the Academy probably couldn't make a lowest-tier Fireball that large, and she did it without even thinking?
Clara awkwardly avoided my gaze before speaking.
"I made it in advance... in case you started talking nonsense again."
"Is that so?"
It was obvious that wasn't the case, but if I teased her about it, that fireball might actually fly at me, so I let it slide. Fortunately, with a light wave of Clara's hand, the fireball vanished instantly.
* * *
[Special Class Student WINNER! - Lucas, Clara]
[Applicant WINNER! -]
• Sepia – 9 votes
• Gashurin – 11 votes
• Kuran – 12 votes
• Ren – 13 votes
• Loki – 20 votes
• Frederick – 22 votes
The auditorium was left in a daze after Clara, who had won with an overwhelming display of power, walked out without a word, followed by Loki.
Normally, Sepia’s test should have been well underway, but due to the Principal's sudden appearance, it was decided that her test would start a bit later than scheduled. Meanwhile, Sepia, sitting in her prepared chair, was not pleased with the current situation.
Was it because the fight was delayed by the Principal's appearance? She didn't care whether she fought sooner or later. Was it because the students' attention was entirely focused on Clara and Idra? She didn't care about their reactions at all.
The reason Sepia was unhappy was...
He said he was just going to deliver a message. Just how long is he going to take?
It was because of a certain someone who had followed Clara out of the auditorium.
Sepia was the type whose emotions showed on her face. The surrounding students thought her sour expression was because her turn had been pushed back by the Principal's arrival.
Hmm?
Lucas noticed that Sepia’s expression hadn't changed when she heard her turn was delayed, but rather the moment Loki followed Clara out.
Living as the Crown Prince, there were few people whose moods Lucas had to worry about. But just because he didn't have to read the room didn't mean he lacked the ability to do so. He had suspected it to some extent from her reactions in the classroom, but her current behavior confirmed it.
Sepia liked Loki.
Yerika is going to have a hard time.
He knew Yerika talked to Loki on the phone every day. But Sepia saw him and talked to him in person. Lucas, who was perpetually single, figured that if feelings were to develop, the latter had a much higher probability than the former.
Wait, is Lady Freya more dangerous than Sepia?
Any student at the Academy would have heard the rumor at least once that Loki and Johanna were dating. Johanna, who was famous for never eating with anyone outside the Disciplinary Committee, frequently ate alone with Loki. Furthermore, even though the Disciplinary Committee experience period had ended, Loki was often spotted doing morning patrols with Johanna.
Rumors were inevitable.
Well, I suppose it’s none of my business.
If the person Yerika liked was a weirdo, that would be one thing. But if he was a normal person, Lucas didn't want to interfere.
Wait. If it's Loki, isn't he definitely a weirdo?
As Lucas pondered this difficult dilemma, he suddenly noticed a commotion on the second floor of the auditorium. Not just Lucas, but the other Special Class students and club applicants waiting on the first floor all looked up.
At the center of the ruckus was a man wearing a monocle and a smirk. This man was also famous within the Academy: Simon Nicholas.
He was the heir to the Nicholas family—famous for having access to every piece of information—who had exposed the true nature of the Social Club alongside Joden two years ago. And the club of which Simon was the president was the Newspaper Club.
Though it was a club that primarily dealt with gossip, it was surprisingly difficult to join. Its acceptance rate was lower than that of the Swordsmanship Club or the Magic Research Club—the most famous clubs aside from the Disciplinary Committee and the Student Council.
In their official club activity reports, they only wrote about publishing various newspapers. However, it was an open secret among those in the know that they handled vast amounts of information and even operated outside the Academy. There were even sayings that joining the Newspaper Club was a guaranteed ticket to the Imperial Intelligence Department; the club was a gathering place for promising talents in the field of information.
And that Newspaper Club, full of such talents, was currently on the second floor of the auditorium...
"Alright, alright! Those who bet on Clara, come get your money! If you come late and ask for it, I can't give it to you! What? A refund? Are you kidding me? It's fine. Even if you lost now, there are still seven tests left. If you win big just once, you can recover everything you lost!"
...Running a gambling ring.
"Everyone has the sticks you got when you placed your bets, right? I can tell where you bet with those, so think carefully about what'll happen if you try to scam me."
And they were doing it very systematically. It seemed more than a few students had participated, as a significant crowd had gathered around Simon and the Newspaper Club members.
The Special Class students, including Lucas, naturally turned their gaze toward Frederick, Simon’s younger brother. As they expected, Frederick was hanging his head, his face flushed with embarrassment for his brother.
"Lord Lucas, this is our club entrance exam. Is it really alright for them to do that?"
"I don't have every single rule memorized. Besides, things like that are usually handled by the club president, but I don't know where the president is—"
"Oh, there's Loki!"
At Kuran’s loud voice, the Special Class students looked where his finger was pointing.
"................."
"................."
"................."
"................."
There, they found him.
"Hahahaha! Cough, cough! Hahaha! I'm rich now! Man, look at all this!"
The club president they had been looking for was hugging a massive sack of coins, laughing until he choked, and then laughing some more. Gashurin looked at Lucas, who had just said that the club president usually handles such matters.
"How was I supposed to know he'd be like that?"
He really was a weird one. Lucas watched Loki, who was throwing coins from the sack into the air as if to scatter them, only to use threads to pull them all back into the bag.
"Well, I guess we should ask the professor in charge of the club."
The club's advisor and the one in charge of conducting this exam was Professor Idra. Lucas and the Special Class students turned toward where Idra had been standing just moments ago, but she was no longer there.
"................."
No way.
The Special Class students tried to ignore their ominous feeling and looked back up at the second floor. Next to Loki, who was still counting coins from his sack, stood someone who hadn't been there a moment ago.
"Whoa! Jackpot! Professor Idra! This is insane! Just how much did you put in?!"
"Heehee! I bet my entire salary for this month!"
"No wonder! I was wondering why my cut was so much smaller than I expected!"
"Heeheehee! Well, since Student Clara said she'd take on all seven at once, a lot of people bet on the other side."
"Exactly!"
"Heeheehee!"
"Hahaha!"
"................."
"................."
"................."
"................."
Our club is doomed!