[No title provided]
Recently, the atmosphere in the Mage Tower had been walking on thin ice. The already prickly Tower Master's mood was growing sharper by the day.
"No way we're going three years in a row without finding someone talented enough to catch his eye, right?"
Around this time every year, the Tower Master went all out hunting for talent. It was an open secret among everyone in the tower.
"Don't jinx it—just sit tight and watch. Quietly."
"Come on, it's the Imperial Academy... What kind of jinx is that? There've gotta be at least one or two promising ones."
The young mage's naive words—(the type who'd voluntarily joined the tower after catching a glimpse of the Tower Master's looks)—drew a shake of the head from the veteran.
"Kid. Don't you know his eyes are in the heavens? Even scouring the entire continent, you might not find even one."
The problem was that "promising talent" by the Tower Master's standards was set insanely high.
"If there are no new recruits this time either, we're really in trouble. What a worry."
This one would have his illusions about the Tower Master shatter in another year or so.
The mages were enjoying this brief peace in the master's absence when—
BAM—! The Mage Tower's main gate flew open with a neurotic slam.
"Eek!"
"T-Tower Master!"
Ignoring the mages bowing their heads in greeting, the Tower Master strode straight toward his office. His wide strides sent his snow-white hair whipping wildly.
"...Looking as stunning as ever today."
This kid still had a long way to go before his fantasies wore off. The veteran smirked at the rookie's naive mutter and eyed the Tower Master's expression. Deep furrows between his brows, twitching lips, and eyes blazing with manic intensity.
In short, a volatile mix of rage and eager anticipation that had half the mages flinching in place.
"Wh-what's going on?"
"I've never seen the Tower Master this excited..."
"Could it be—he's finally taking a direct disciple this time?!"
A desperate, pragmatic hope that a lightning rod would make their lives a tad easier. But the veterans soon shook their heads.
"As if any mage could satisfy that guy."
SLAM—! The madman's office door shut with a bang.
Standing in the center of his office, the Tower Master clutched at his chest.
"That damn brat...!"
Ian Ashy. An unfamiliar name ground out between the Tower Master's lips.
His mind was a whirlwind of chaos. Since mastering magic, he'd never once felt his brain boil from failing to comprehend something.
Ian Ashy was the essence of everything the Tower Master couldn't grasp.
"Passing a test I personally designed, just like that?"
Truth be told, this first lesson had been planned purely around Ian Ashy—no exaggeration. There'd been no need to test the four elements one by one.
His mana display at the entrance exam had been so peculiar that the Tower Master was curious which of the four it aligned with.
But the kid hadn't used magic—or even mana—and aced all four elemental trials.
"Ha!"
The crowning achievement was the mana depletion test. It drained the mana of an ordinary (magic-affinity) human in one-minute increments.
Even the somewhat talented princess lasting ten minutes had exceeded expectations.
"But that guy didn't break a sweat."
That required an overwhelming, unimaginable mana reserve as a prerequisite.
What kind of talent is it? What freakish vessel does he possess?
The Tower Master racked his brain, replaying Ian Ashy's talents. His mana was vast—that much was clear. But why hadn't it manifested as magical aptitude?
A unique case never reported in any theory or paper. In other words, pinpointing the cause could spawn a research paper on its own.
Ian would have freaked if he'd heard, but no way he could eavesdrop in the Tower Master's room.
And so, the Tower Master slipped into full earnest-investigation mode.
—Tap tap tap tap.
Leaning against the wall, his fingers drummed the desk rapidly—an old habit when deep in thought. Even those elegantly beautiful brows furrowed.
"Ah—."
His brain clicked to a conclusion.
"Right. Overwhelming mana."
If mana was too vast, it paradoxically hindered magical aptitude manifestation. Think small puddle versus deep, wide lake.
You could ripple the puddle with a flick, but moving the whole lake demanded a massive wave.
The kid's mana was so enormous it hadn't manifested yet.
The Tower Master gazed smugly at his deduction. See? Nothing I can't figure out.
"—In that case."
It explained a lot. The four-element anomalies? Maybe he just hadn't manifested them yet. An uncut gem.
"...Take him as a disciple, and I can shape him as I please?"
Ian Ashy's value skyrocketed in that instant. At the same time, veins bulged on the Tower Master's forehead.
"Daring to reject me outright?"
"Be my disciple."
"Pardon? No, why would I... Pass."
Ian's flat rejection of his offer. The brat had worn a sour look, like eyeing an annoying fly. As if he'd already decided on a master.
"......Ah."
A flash of insight struck the Tower Master.
"Right. So that's it."
Pieces falling into place. His lips twisted in eerie joy and fury.
During the entrance evaluation, Ian staring him down before walking to Lucy.
'He went to her right in front of me.'
The Tower Master was convinced. Ian wasn't an idiot. No one with that talent would pick the near-bankrupt Art Department for nothing.
Ian had provoked him.
'If you want me, offer more than what the Art Department gave.'
In other words, a blatant demand to show some sincerity!
"Cheeky bastard."
Daring to bargain with him. Plenty lined up to be his disciple! No—think differently. This was an investment.
Talentless ones were worthless anyway. Ian was worth it. So he wanted more than Lucy offered?
"Ha!"
A hollow laugh escaped the Tower Master. Absurd at Ian's gall, yet his pride felt intact somehow. Who'd refuse the Tower Master's discipleship? Just playing hard to get.
Smirk, smirk. Forcing down his rising lips, he muttered,
"I'll offer something that'll blow your mind."
He'd make the brat realize the Tower Master's greatness in one shot.
"...The issue is."
Lucy Blossom Everpink.
"What the hell did that monster give him?"
The Tower Master's eyes narrowed.
After magic class ended, I carried Lena—passed out from mana depletion—to her dorm and stepped out.
"Haa."
What a ordeal, thanks to some lunatic. Still, I felt pretty damn proud. Dodging the Tower Master's interest in one go? Nailed it.
Up close, he screamed genius-obsessed yandere. Isn't that a BL trope?
"...Wait. He's not actually gay, is he?"
His pretty-boy looks made him seem even gayer. And he was on the shorter side, even for a male lead.
"Fucking gaylord."
Steer clear no matter what.
[Must-Avoid Ranking]
SSS. Imperial Crown Prince (NEW)
SSS. Tower Master
The moment the Tower Master joined the Imperial Crown Prince at the top of my danger list.
Good thing I'd drawn a clear, rude line. With his sky-high ego, he wouldn't cling again.
Anyway.
"Doesn't this mean I've got magic talent?"
Enough for a discipleship offer. No elemental rings appeared, but he called it a counter to conventional magic. Fifth element? Total unknown.
The original romance fantasy never detailed magic anyway.
I'd grill some magic-savvy guy later for intel.
Point is...
"Printing press!"
One barrier to using it was gone!
Two reasons I couldn't use the mana press: 1. No access to the machine itself. 2. It guzzled insane mana.
But if I was the battery? Just snag the press.
"Heh heh heh..."
That was why—
Creak, creak.
—I was rummaging through the rundown Art Department building.
Kano Ameri had spilled prime info: a large press lurked somewhere here. Bound to turn up eventually.
Not amazing execution so much as...
"Gotta find it ASAP."
Ideally, before the first main scenario kicked off. Print and distribute doujinshi while students' wallets were full.
Once chaos hit, the academy would be a mess. Strike now for the childhood friends launch.
'Come on out, printing press. Where the hell are you?'
While combing the decrepit building...
"Kyaaah—!"
A girl's piercing scream echoed from nearby. End of the hall—storage room.
Screeech. I flung open the rusty door. On the floor sprawled a small, frail figure.
"Hic, sob..."
Pink-haired Dean Lucy wept piteously, tears streaming.
And before her...
A massive metal hunk, caked in dust, looming imposingly. Sleekly designed press!
Definitely the printing press.
"I-Ian cadet...! Y-you came to s-save me?"
The dean stammered wildly, eyes brimming, beaming radiantly. She stretched her slender arms toward me desperately, awaiting her savior's hand.
I bolted toward her.
"...It's t-touching. Sob. Th-thank... Huh?"
And blew right past, hugging the printing press.
Cold, heavy metal heft! Solid for at least 100 copies!
"Haaa..."
This was it.