Ep.07 Circles Aren't Everything When Judging a Mage's Skill at the Festival
Bi-dan, important things aren't just circles when gauging a mage's power. Circles are ultimately just a comprehensive indicator. They can never fully capture a mage's entirety. In fact, the Ash Witch who once shook the world was merely a 4th Circle mage.
"…What the hell was that?"
"That kind of output from mana like that!?"
"Whoa, what…. So that's what he's been holding back until now."
"The top seat lives up to his name…. Isn't he historic-level?"
69,012
As the thick dust cleared, the number 69012 floated in the air. Even though the spell had been cast in a mere instant, voices erupted from all around.
A mana output equivalent to 1000 was the average for a 3rd Circle mage. In contrast, damage nearing 70,000 was the average for a 5th Circle spell. It was more than enough to stun ordinary students.
"Dante."
"Yeah?"
"What was that just now?"
Luel, who had been watching from the side, gaped and asked. As the protagonist, was she really getting shocked over something like this?
'She'll freak out big time when she hears about the techniques she'll use later.' A single sword slash that cleaves the heavens? And that's just a basic attack.
"Just a trick to inflate mana output."
"That didn't look like some trick…?"
"Anyone can do it. The theory's simple."
Collide the same amount of mana by moving it simultaneously. Anyone learning magic could pull this off.
But… the effect varied purely based on how finely one could control the mana.
"Well then, now it's your turn, Senior."
Stretching out his body, still sore from the aftershocks, he turned to Dorothy, who had been observing.
She gazed at him intently with an amused smile, her light purple eyes giving off a subtle feeling like they were piercing right through him.
"Hehe. Is that sooo? Did you just learn that?"
"…Nah, I knew the theory, so I gave it a shot. Can't exactly hand out prize money for nothing."
"Theory, huh. Impressiveee?"
Dorothy curved her lips into a smile and undid her bound hair.
—Woooooong.
The ambient mana churned wildly, and her light purple eyes gleamed brightly.
"I'll show you mine too."
He swallowed involuntarily.
Just as he had split mana equivalent to 1000 into 10 pieces, at least a hundred mana orbs floated around her.
'This is Dorothy…. The wall I have to overcome.'
It felt distant. Right now, impossibly high, out of reach….
But he could surpass it. If given just a little time, even higher peaks.
"Watch closely."
In an instant, the hundred mana orbs began rotating and resonating.
The spinning orbs converged to a single point.
The gathered mana ignited.
—KABOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!
100,912
A ringing tinnitus pierced his ears. Despite the same mana output as his, the firepower was overwhelmingly ten times greater.
This was the Illusion Witch, Dorothy Merhenia.
"W-Wow! Senior Dorothy's definitely on another level."
"…No way, 100,000!?"
"It's Dorothy Senior. That's actually holding your own."
As the stunned students murmured, the target displayed the staggering number 100,912.
Output nearing 7th Circle firepower from that mana amount?
"How was it?"
"You're the senior for a reason. I expected it, but still impressive."
"Hehe…. So I win, right?"
"Yeah. Prize money's yours."
Losing to Dorothy made for a good picture. The current 1st-year overall top against the academy's strongest—arguably the 3rd-year top. It was his loss, but an entertaining matchup nonetheless.
"Nah? Keep the prize money. Don't wanna take snot-nosed junior's cash."
Calling prize money "snot-nosed junior's cash"—something ordinary students couldn't say. But this was Dorothy. She might even have more assets than him.
"So you're not taking the prize?"
"Got something I want instead of prize money. That okayyy?"
"If it's something I can do, sure."
Dorothy flashed a mischievous smile. Not much she could really take from him right now.
"Lemme join this club."
"……Pardon?"
"Can't? Oh wellll…."
Dorothy sighed weakly after reading his expression.
"Ah, no. We'd love to have you, Senior."
Everyone from professors to students wanted Dorothy. Her joining without conditions?
'This means more club funding too.'
Just one signup broadened the club's horizons. Easier to squeeze funds from the chairman, plus more applicants.
That's the kind of person Dorothy was.
"Ehehe. Really? Looking forward to working with you, President."
"Same here, Senior."
"Dante! Me too, me too!"
Right after Dorothy publicly announced her intent to join, applicants flooded in.
'…No time to even run the booth now?'
He hadn't anticipated this—unlike the game. Who'd have thought people would keep coming, making it impossible to demo the promo game?
Of course, not everyone who wanted in could join.
"But don't we gotta take 'em all for now?"
"Nah. Our club's not some lightweight group."
The name was Combat Intensive Club, after all. Half-hearted folks would grind it to a halt.
That's why they screened harshly from the start.
"Dude…. But everyone's getting rejected?"
"Yeah. Standards shot up too high just 'cause Dorothy joined."
"Only tops can get in, huh? They were all tops anyway."
Hm. Rejecting everyone since no one fit led to weird rumors.
But Insight laid bare why they were applying. No helping that.
'Can't pass folks just eyeing Dorothy and Luel's looks, no matter what.'
No one purely into Combat Intensive. Well, teens gonna teen….
"Haa…."
"Why not take a few anyway?"
"Guess we have to."
As the crowd thinned, he sighed deeply—
"Mind if I join too?"
"……Huh?"
A familiar figure appeared before him, mid-sigh, staring blankly.
"Belloa? You wanna join?"
"Yeah. That a problem?"
"…No, not at all. We'd welcome you."
"Then I'll join. Wanna get stronger."
In the game, she joined the Practical Magic Club. Joining this non-game entity instead?
'Why…?'
Not much merit here. Better to build ties with professors in established clubs for better training.
Target's words ring true.
"Okay. Looking forward to it."
Belloa? No reason to refuse. Her words rang true—she genuinely wanted to grow stronger.
"What? We can just wave 'em through like that?"
"Hey now. Not waving through. This is the president's discerning eye."
"What about you, Senior Dorothy?"
"Hm? Looks good to meee? Should be funnn."
Dorothy, munching a sandwich nearby, smiled at Belloa. She could probably see Belloa's mana and circles too.
So the 1st-year magic dept top and vice-top together?
'Club prestige just skyrocketed.'
Unintended, but the average leveled up hard. 1st-year magic top and vice, knight top Luel, and Dorothy—academy overall top contender.
"This might've turned into a pretty dangerous combo."
"Huh? What're you talking about?"
"…Nothing. Just felt like saying it."
Anyway, roster full. Minimum four members met.
On the academy festival's first day, the Combat Intensive Club was officially born.
Clubs required the chairman's approval for official recognition. Without it, they were mere "study groups" per academy rules.
And under those rules, the Black Magic Anomaly Research Group—gathering underachievers and delinquents—convened to mark the festival's first day.
"President. About bringing in Dorothy…."
"Yeah. With that bitch, crowds flock."
"But…. Even if she comes, won't the rest of us object?"
Most in Black Magic Anomaly were poor students. Slackers too busy dragging down the talented.
To them, Dorothy was the worst nightmare.
"And she joined some 1st-year's club?"
"………What?"
The so-called president scowled fiercely.
She rejected his proposal to join a measly 1st-year club?
"…Stupid bitch."
He muttered curses thinking of Dorothy.
"You'll regret it."
Soon, true paradise for the untalented would arrive.