Admission — The Girl Who Didn't Belong
Hmm...
Right up until the end of class, I couldn't conjure a proper Dark Arrow.
Fortunately, it wasn't due to a lack of talent. But in another sense, I was facing a deeply uncomfortable problem.
I had no way to draw out my power in a controlled manner.
"It's alright to take things slow. Don't feel too rushed."
Leila offered a comforting smile. I felt a bit guilty, but her words went in one ear and out the other. I simply didn't have the mental bandwidth to listen.
This is tough...
I needed a lot more practice. If I relaxed even for a second while casting, the dark mana coiled inside me felt like it would burst forth without restraint.
Even worse, there was no safe place here to actually practice.
The professor, of course, and anyone on Katarin's level would instantly sense the true nature of my dark mana.
"Let me wrap up today's class here. However, starting next session, we'll be moving forward under the assumption that everyone can cast Dark Arrow, so..."
Leila let her voice trail off gently.
"Any students who haven't quite mastered the spell yet, please feel free to stay behind and practice if you can!"
With those final words, class was dismissed. Most of the students filed out casually, but a few lingered behind, glancing around self-consciously.
...
They were students lacking in dark mana itself—those who weren't yet prepared to offer something up, or whose desires had not yet taken concrete form.
"I'd love to stay and guide you all myself, but I have a faculty meeting in ten minutes. If anyone is having personal difficulties or trouble with the material, my door is always open!"
Leila departed. I swept my gaze across the room, gauging the capabilities of the remaining students.
They weren't strong. Since they hadn't even grasped Dark Arrow—the most fundamental technique of manipulating dark mana—there was no way they could perceive subtle shifts in my energy.
Finally, it seemed I could begin practicing in earnest.
The lecture hall was quite spacious once most people had left. I slipped into a quiet corner out of sight and began conjuring a Dark Arrow in the palm of my hand.
Hmm...
Dark mana surged violently. Like a tiny faucet groaning under immense water pressure, the Dark Arrow forming above my hand squirmed as if it were alive.
I need to suppress this...
It was no easy task. Not just for me, but for any dark mage, controlling magic under these conditions would be a nightmare.
For a typical novice dark mage, lacking output was common, but having to suppress overwhelming output was practically unheard of.
Dark mages were human, after all. Surrendering one's will and thoughts into the grasp of a demon was not something done without extraordinary resolve.
And those desperate enough to make such a sacrifice wouldn't bother refining the dark mana spilling out of them in the first place.
Ugh...
Beads of sweat rolled down my forehead. If I released the power contained within this spell without restraint, obliterating this entire classroom would be child's play.
Of course, doing so would also vaporize the arm holding the arrow, so I had to pour every ounce of my concentration into keeping it contained.
"Phew..."
Slowly, I dispersed the dark mana, drawing the volatile energy back into my body before it could explode.
Success, for now. I still needed to focus on control, but with a few more practice runs like this, I'd at least reach a level where I could participate in class without—
"H-How did you do that?"
Standing behind me was a young noblewoman with a bright, radiant countenance.
...
I had made a mistake. I was so focused on managing the dark mana in my palm that I hadn't noticed anyone approaching.
I glanced around. The lecture hall was completely empty now. She and I were the only ones left.
"Didn't everyone else finish and leave?"
It wasn't a particularly difficult spell. Even a knight or a commoner with zero magical talent could master it within tens of minutes, provided they had successfully formed a contract.
"No, well... everyone just made excuses and snuck out. But I really wanted to try my best—"
Studying her face carefully, a memory clicked. I had seen this character in the game.
...Claire.
She wasn't someone who belonged here. Raking through my memories, I recalled that she had briefly studied dark magic before the main story of the game began.
Though she gave it up almost immediately due to a complete lack of aptitude.
"Could you... could you help me just a little bit? I feel like I'm so close, but for some reason, I just can't manifest it..."
"Wouldn't it be better if you just gave up?"
She was a beauty. Cheerful, gentle, and almost incapable of getting into conflicts with others.
While she wasn't the type of student to stand out in combat, players of the game often found Claire incredibly useful.
Because no matter where you put her, she guarantees the party won't fall apart...
The game was a tactical RPG of sorts. Deciding how to assemble your party was one of the most critical choices you could make.
Whether facing academy exams or combat scenarios involving external conspiracies, players had to carefully build their teams.
And building those parties was notoriously, almost devilishly difficult.
Balancing damage dealers and tanks, considering magic resistance or political influence—all of that mattered, but the single most crucial factor was character compatibility.
The Academy gathered arrogant noble scions from countless nations into one place, alongside talented commoners.
Friction was inevitable. There were feuds rooted in history, simple personality clashes, and deep-seated animosity between those who wielded dark powers and those who did not.
Not only did party efficiency plummet, but basic tactical communication and cooperation broke down completely.
In the worst cases, characters would flat-out refuse to work together at all.
"Please, I'm begging you..."
She was stunning. Though on the shorter side, her appearance was captivating beyond words.
Anyone looking into those innocent eyes would find it nearly impossible to hold any guard against her.
That was her true strength. Even if thrown between sworn enemies glaring at each other with murderous intent, she would somehow mend their relationship.
Claire possessed the innate power to draw people in and soothe their hearts.
Whether it was a fanatical paladin who normally refused to stand alongside a dark mage, or a haughty noblewoman who would rather bite her tongue and die than team up with commoners...
If you put Claire in the party, it might not be optimal, but the team would somehow function.
For that purpose, she had no need to learn dark magic. In fact, she was far better off without it.
"I'm speaking seriously. It might sound funny coming from someone who just managed to cast it, but... don't do it. You're better off quitting."
"..."
She looked at me with an awkward smile. Her brow furrowed slightly in distress, giving her an expression that was endearing, almost benevolent.
Huh?
Yet I knew that this was the absolute angriest expression she was capable of showing to another person.
Specifically, it was the exact face she made in the game when a noble who tried to assault her shamelessly insulted her instead of apologizing, saying, "You're a whore's daughter destined to become one anyway, so wouldn't it be better to sell yourself to me?"
Did I... really say something that terrible?
This was bad. Her eyes trembled as if she were on the verge of tears.
Still, I couldn't teach her my method. You can't explain how to walk in words to someone who doesn't even know how to move their legs.
In truth, I had a good idea why she couldn't use dark magic, but Claire had no reason to overcome that barrier.
Even if she managed to cast Dark Arrow, she would only become an ordinary dark mage.
A dark mage shunned by everyone, who sacrificed everything only to accomplish very little.
"I didn't mean it harshly. But dark magic just isn't suited for everyone, right? It's still early in the semester. Plenty of students transfer majors, and with a contract like yours, you can still turn back."
The price paid for dark magic and the corruption that came with it didn't simply vanish just because one gave up the power.
Even so, the power Claire had gained from dark magic was far too weak. She hadn't even successfully cast a single Dark Arrow.
She could still turn back.
"I... I know. Thank you. I truly believe you're giving me advice for my own good."
That was a relief, but there was no denying that she was deeply shaken, struggling to regain her composure.
"Right. If I can't even cast a proper Dark Arrow, giving up is the right choice. You're not wrong about anything..."
As if accepting it, as if conceding. Claire slowly continued.
"Then... if I'm just a fool who can't even do dark magic right..."
I could feel the deep-seated self-hatred rooted in her mind.
She sounded like someone who had heard the words I just said dozens, if not hundreds, of times before.
"What am I supposed to do?"
Claire murmured in a sorrowful voice.