Chapter 29

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 29

Chapter Title: Delinquent Girl's Proper Education

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"A-alright. You've already learned third-circle magic back in your family, so you should know it. But I'm not sure if you, who hasn't had proper training, can pull it off."

Hera said, awkwardly forcing a grin.

She must've figured she had a shot at winning.

Hera was probably about to name the third-circle spell she was most confident in.

"Good. Since both sides agree, we'll tweak the rules for the final round. Four points on the line, third-circle magic. I'll judge not just on computation speed, but also on the spell's completion quality. Hera? Tell me what spell you're going with."

Hera whispered a spell name to Professor Plma.

Of course, it was one I'd never heard of. I'd never used it before.

"Alright. When the signal sounds, a third-circle magic formula will appear on the screen. First one to compute it properly wins. Don't worry about what 'properly' means—I'll decide that."

Professor Plma prepared for the duel with clear excitement.

With the professor judging the spell's quality herself, Hera couldn't cheat anymore.

A moment later, the signal rang out.

'I thought it'd be easy, but this is pretty complex.'

The formula Hera had suggested was way tougher than expected.

It didn't feel like basic stuff at all.

All three components were difficult, and their arrangement was intricate.

It was probably the hardest third-circle spell she already knew.

Instead of competing on speed with something easy, she picked a tough one she'd practiced to keep me from even approaching it.

But I didn't back down and started computing.

Three components in total.

Each was complex, but the overall shape of the spell was clear.

Magic was ultimately formed by combining components.

Once you visualized the big picture, linking the different parts came naturally.

A massive cloud pillar rose in twisting, cumulonimbus-like curls.

This first component drew in a compressing, rippling motion, like clouds piling up, at a moderate pace.

Inside the cumulonimbus, a second component swirled upward like a tornado.

This one spun fiercely and rapidly.

Then, atop those two, a giant disk formed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like a lid.

This third component expanded airily and fast, but its sheer size made it seem slower by comparison.

All together, the image I'd envisioned in my mind finally completed.

A bizarre cloud form, carried by powerful updrafts and spreading flat in the upper sky.

An anvil-shaped cloud surged upward with violent updrafts.

"-!"

At almost the exact same moment, Hera finished her computation too.

But her anvil cloud was much smaller than mine.

Both our anvil clouds began dissipating the instant they formed, blocked by the mana field.

Hera's fully broke apart, but mine was still spewing updrafts and winds everywhere.

Bang-

A cool breeze whooshed through the entire classroom before my spell finally scattered.

Even indoors, it felt refreshing, like wind from the sky.

"Hmm... That's the Orbis family's signature spell. Both of you computed it well."

"I-I definitely won. It's a spell our family developed."

Her skills were lacking, but she'd confidently picked a tough third-circle spell because it was from her own family.

The components were tricky enough, but being her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠family's spell, she was familiar with it.

She must've put in effort this time—compared to her previous disasters, it was decent.

I couldn't tell who'd been faster.

It was my first time too, so I'd focused entirely and hadn't had a chance to check her speed.

"You both did great. Not perfect, but a clear improvement. Still, Ian's spell was superior. His cloud was big enough to fill the whole classroom with wind."

"What...? So this commoner beat me?"

"Yes. Ian wins."

Hera's face twisted in disbelief at Professor Plma's declaration.

"No way! This is about who computes faster!"

"Ian was faster too, Hera. Accept the loss."

"But... what... that's-!"

"-Hera."

Just as Hera started freaking out, refusing to admit defeat,

Professor Plma's perpetual smile vanished.

"This is class time. You wouldn't ruin it, would you? Planning to tattle to your family about losing to a commoner?"

"I... sorry."

"Mages speak with magic. Sit down."

The duel ended with Professor Plma's stern words.

Hera ground her teeth and returned to her seat.

She looked seriously dejected.

Her rage radiated like a terrifying aura.

But whatever. Mad or not, I had to do what needed doing.

She started it, right?

She talked big and lost—now she's pissed? You suck at magic, lady.

The moment class ended, I went to Hera and unleashed the tea-bagging.

"Pfft. Hahaha. So that's the spell? One your family made? Puhaha. First time seeing it, and you still lost with your own family's spell? Winning with it might've been okay, but losing with your family spell? That's straight-up embarrassing. Hahahahaha!"

"...Shut the fuck up."

"With skills like that? Commoner this, commoner that—what are you, then? Worse than a commoner? Actual peasant? Real noble?"

"Shut your mouth, or I'll tell my family everything!"

"Ooh, scary. But I'm just a commoner. What're you gonna tell them? 'I messed with a commoner and got owned in computation'? Beg them to punish me 'cause you lost? Fine, I'll tell 'em. Orbis nobles! Hera got wrecked by commoner Ian and she's gonna cry to mommy! She's tattling to the whole family about losing to a commoner!"

"Ugh... uwaaaaaah! Fuck! If I'd known you were that fifth-circle commoner...!"

"So what? Ignore regular commoners, but not fifth-circle ones? Bottom line: you're just bad at magic, that's why it's pathetic. You suck at magic."

"Kyaaaaah! Shut uuuup!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"You suck at magic. You suck at magic. Suck. Got schooled by a commoner. You suck at magic."

"Kyaaaaaaaaaah!"

Kuhahaha. Fucking hilarious.

This tea-bagging? Courtesy of your friends, bitch.

Who told you to diss commoners with magic?

"You won't forget our bet, right? Surely a noble lady wouldn't welch."

"Uwaaaah! What's this Grand Prostration even?!"

"She'll show you. Elrim!"

"H-heek!"

Hera wasn't the only guilty one.

Elrim knew the truth but still badmouthed me behind my back.

"You teach her Grand Prostration."

"N-no! Why should I?!"

"You knew the truth but stirred shit anyway. Or we spar again. I'll make sure you teach it right."

"A scrubs like you? I can totally beat you."

"Wanna go right here?"

"N-no, somewhere without people first..."

If I beat Elrim here, everyone would know.

But she dodged desperately. Knows she can't win.

"Then why lie there in the first place?"

"Th-they came asking if I really lost to a commoner... Then someone said it was that commoner with the exam score glitch, so to hide my loss..."

"So to cover your defeat, you agreed I cheated? Figured no one'd believe you lost to a talentless commoner?"

"O-only a few saw the duel, so if we hid it till early semester, rumors'd die..."

Elrim fidgeted, rubbing her fingers together.

"Ugh, no excuse for lying. You lost fair."

"Q-quiet, scrub! B-but if word gets out I lost to a commoner, no one'll play with me!"

"So you sold me out? And you had no friends anyway! Want another lesson?"

"N-no...!"

Ugh, this bitch. Makes me wanna school her right here.

Figured she'd pull something like this, given her personality.

She wants to, but class is over.

Other cadets are leaving—gotta do it publicly or not at all.

First things first: break Hera properly.

"For now, teach Hera Grand Prostration. I'll let it slide today."

"Ugh... f-fine. But where no one's watching!"

"Sure, go to some dark corner and teach her."

Elrim dragged Hera off with a pout.

Soon, Hera's scream echoed from the hall's end. Minutes later, they returned.

By then, all other cadets had gone home.

Too bad, but oh well.

Everyone saw me win the computation duel—no backlash there.

Hera's Grand Prostration? Gallery proof incoming. Heh heh.

"Kuh... hngh... fuck, how can you make me do this shameless shit..."

"You started it."

"At least let me change into gym clothes! L-like this...!"

"Then go change."

"Gym clothes are in the dorm. Tomorrow..."

"Tomorrow means in front of everyone. Cool with that?"

"Ugh... fuck...! Dirty commoner bastard...!"

"Mad? Win next time. Elrim can hold your skirt."

"Hera... doing it in front of everyone would be worse. Suck it up now..."

Elrim, the veteran, gave Hera bone-deep advice.

Hera cursed "fucking commoner" a bunch but finally nodded.

"I-I won't say that line!"

"Hey! The line completes it! Mad? Do it in front of everyone? Call your family? Nobles don't keep promises?"

"Hera... saying that publicly? You'd be ostracized."

"Fine! I'll do it! Fuck! Aaaah!"

Finally, with groans of "kuuugh... hngh...", Hera prepared Grand Prostration.

Elrim held her skirt as Hera's body bent lower.

"I-I'm sorry for messing with you despite not knowing your skill... s-sorry for looking down on you as a commoner... kuh!"

"Louder!"

"I'm sorry for messing with you despite not knowing your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠skill! Sorry for looking down on you as a commoner!"

"Can't hear! Louder!"

"I-I'm sor-"

That's how I fully schooled Hera with Grand Prostration, posted proof to the gallery, and let her go.

Overkill? Nah—stamp it out now, no backlash later.

Naturally, the gallery exploded over the "Delinquent Girl's Proper Education: Grand Prostration" post.

After schooling Hera and grabbing dinner,

Back in the dorm, I made a big decision.

Talk of "factors" before drinking the Changeling's spinal fluid.

They'd mentioned male/female differences before—apparently basic magic knowledge.

I opened CantDoThisEither's post.

CantDoThisEither's summary was intriguing.

Didn't realize magic had so many details beyond drawing formulas.

Definitely rough—needed more study.

"Whew."

I posted my comment and uncorked the vial of Changeling's spinal fluid.

It was colorless, odorless.

One sip enough. Sell the rest for good cash, they'd said.

Scary 'cause painful, but worse than entropy purge?

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a sip of the Changeling's spinal fluid.

But... something was off.

They'd said it'd hurt like hell.

No pain at all.