A Highly Developed Mage is No Different from an Awakener
"Ah, hello!"
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and looked at the girl in front of me. I'd forgotten. There was this roommate system.
I'd suspected it ever since I saw there were two beds...
"Um..."
"...Hello..."
As I greeted her, she jumped in surprise. She seemed scared of something...
"...You're Yumia, right?"
"You know my name?"
"Of course! You're famous!"
...I'd only arrived at this school yesterday, so why was I already famous? I found out the reason right away.
"You're the runner-up in your grade!"
"...What?"
Runner-up? I'd thought something was off when they gave me the A-rank key, but runner-up in the grade? I just want to avoid drawing attention.
"...Ahem. Anyway, I'm Aris Script. Call me Aris!"
I scanned her up and down. Golden blonde hair covering half her back, cute face. The ahoge bouncing on top of her head was striking. She wore a robe and clutched her staff tightly.
"Um, could you tell me where you're from?"
"...From?"
"You must be from somewhere, right?"
"No idea."
"Then your parents' hometown..."
"Dunno."
"Ah, I-I see."
"Wait, hold on."
There was a misunderstanding. A major one.
"...Do you know how to use magic, by any chance?"
The conversation was veering into weird territory.
"I do... Want a demo?"
I wanted to wipe that look of pity off her face. I raised my hand and chanted the spell.
But the pity only deepened.
Right, this was the spell they taught five-year-olds...
"You don't... have a staff?"
"Hooah... Guess I gotta borrow one now..."
Fear now filled her eyes completely. This was... the look a noble gives a beggar.
"I-It's okay! We can learn it step by step. Yeah!"
She'd clearly misunderstood something. She grabbed my hand firmly.
"I'll guide you down the right path!"
Whatever. Didn't matter to me.
The next day had no classes. The semester started the day after.
So I suggested to Aris that we hang out together.
"This is the student cafeteria. Shall we eat first?"
"Sure."
There were A and B cafeterias. Aris naturally headed into A.
"Pay here."
Apparently, she'd been here a week already. I pulled out the wallet Isabel had given me with money inside.
Then I saw the price and put it back.
"...Three silver coins?"
My entire fortune.
Aris stared at me like it was a problem.
"...It's expensive."
"If you're not buying, step aside."
A familiar voice came from behind. I turned. It was Karnaroff.
He ostentatiously dropped three silver coins into the basket. They clinked.
He didn't even glance back as he headed to the faculty section.
"...?"
What a weirdo. I dragged the flustered Aris out of the cafeteria.
"Sorry... I didn't think you wouldn't have money."
She bowed apologetically, but I didn't mind.
"Do you always pay this to eat?"
"No. My family sponsors the school, so..."
Word was, if you donated a certain amount, student meals were free.
I had no such thing.
"Ah! If you're talented, nobles might sponsor you! You're runner-up, right? My father could..."
"How long till that happens?"
"The semester after next...?"
"GyaAaAaAk."
As I foamed at the mouth, Aris suggested,
"There's B cafeteria... Wanna go?"
B's price was 30 coppers. Three silvers were 300 coppers—ten times cheaper.
And the quality was...
No fucking way is this worse than prison food?
Stale bread, watery soup, smelly meat chunk with weird hairs.
"...Urk."
Having grown up in a good home, Aris struggled to eat it.
Was this actually the gate's biggest danger? Providing disgustingly bad, expensive food for economic retaliation on intruders...
Nah, probably not. This was just the world's average.
"Ugh..."
A sigh escaped me. I ate it all anyway since I was hungry. This body was convenient—no weight gain, appearance stayed perfect no matter how much I ate.
But that was only useful in a modern world overflowing with food. In a place without, it was a disadvantage.
I took Aris—who hadn't touched the meat—outside.
"Surviving here's a goddamn pain..."
"Sh-Should I lend you some!? My allowance is 15 silvers a week... A few meals..."
I looked into her pure eyes. Tempting offer for a moment.
But borrowing from such an innocent kid...
I shook my head.
"...I see. Then let's tough it out. I'll help too!"
We went to the desk and borrowed my staff.
Right, with the 2 silvers 57 coppers in hand, somehow...!
"Rental is 2 silvers 50 coppers per week."
Unbelievable.
I'd lose the staff in a week... Money sinks everywhere. Clothes, staff rental, food...
First, gotta scrape together some cash.
Money-making was added to my goals.
But how? Seriously.
Back in the dorm, I stared at the ceiling.
This place is different from the modern world.
Before or after turning female, it resembled those trendy novels and webtoons.
I laid out my stuff. Smartphone, wallet, credit card, leftover change.
Phone battery at 43%. I'd switched to low-power mode ages ago, but it wouldn't last forever.
"What's that?"
"...This?"
Aris was curious about the smartphone. I taught her how to use it.
She picked it up fast.
Unlike grandmas. Young people, huh.
At volunteer work before, just opening the internet took forever.
"Ugh... No idea. What letters are these? Whoa... Tapping brings up tons... Amazing magic tool!"
So she saw it that way. Thought about showing the camera but decided later.
I left the confused Aris and opened my status window.
Traits had helped a ton since arriving. I checked it to organize my thoughts...
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"Know what Basic Magic is?"
"Basic Magic refers to spells from before staves were invented... Problem?"
"Nah, nothing."
The status treated magic as an active skill. My conviction deepened.
This place was a goldmine.
A few days passed. Reinhardt classes split into morning and afternoon. Some days off, but rarely both full.
"Ugh..."
I clutched my starving stomach heading to afternoon class.
Today's was different. Usually tiered lecture halls.
But this was a practice-room-like space with just a podium and blackboard.
Because the subject was Basic Magic, not theory like History of Magic or Herbology.
Finally learning magic...
Felt like a night school student. I was an official student, though...
"Um... Want this? From cafeteria, didn't eat..."
Aris, unable to watch, offered bread. I devoured it.
Even cold, it was soft.
"Aris, you're the only one...! You're my one precious friend!"
I grabbed her hand.
"Hic...?"
Human warmth in my palm. Workers need bread...!
Bread-givers are nobles. If all nobles were like Aris, no revolts...
"Th-These from the school market too, if okay...!"
Blushing, she pulled out snacks.
"You're the best friend."
"Friend!? Ehehehe."
No, maybe an angel. Food-givers are good people. Yeah.
Class time came quick.
"Wait, why's that guy..."
"Isn't it the TA's class...?"
Students' faces darkened. Especially repeaters who'd failed before.
The cause stood at the podium: Karnaroff.
Atmosphere shifted instantly as he entered. Chatter stopped.
Karnaroff stood, drew his staff. Click—a target dummy rose.
"Class begins. Subject: Basic Magic."
Uniformed, he grinned.
"One warning. This will be your hardest class for grades."
He raised his staff. Mana gathered—like an awakener using ability.
Refined rules, high density. Minus those key points, similar.
Those were the most important, though.
"But master this magic as I intend..."
A blue line swept the room.
—Bang!
A clear sonic boom. Dummy's head and neck gone.
Students gawked. Me too.
I was certain.
"I declare: Master this, and you could be magic soldiers immediately."
Master it, and I could climb the Tower right now.