Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Yuria's Butterfly Sleep
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The sight of Yuria entering the training ground began to be broadcast on the screen.
I watched her, lost in thought.
As I mentioned before, at this point in [Stella Academy], Yuria had never showcased a signature magic.
But thanks to the confidence I instilled in her, she ended up doing an impromptu demonstration.
'Yuria said earlier that her magic was nothing compared to Artel's or mine.'
That suggested it might still be incomplete.
Of course, even so, there was no problem at all.
Yuria was a noble, but from a small rural family.
So, before coming to Stella, she had never formally learned spirit magic—it was self-taught, according to her backstory.
In truth, it was less self-taught and more instinctively mastered.
Despite that environment, the fact that she had already created a signature magic—or something close to it—proved how exceptional she was.
'As expected, the leads are gifted from the start.'
I watched the screen with eager anticipation.
But the other cadets didn't seem quite as interested.
"Ha. Wasn't that really cool earlier?"
"Yeah. I mean, why use sword aura? He could've just used magic. Gotta brag to my swordsmanship department friend."
"You didn't do it, and it's not even your friend—why are you bragging?"
"We're in the same department, so I can!"
They showed little interest in the screen, still chatting about the magic I had just shown.
Normally, news of a mid-tier entrance exam freshman unveiling a signature magic would draw plenty of attention.
But after the shocking displays from Kaiser, Artel, and then me, Yuria didn't quite capture the same excitement.
At that moment, Yuria on the screen approached the control panel and gently pressed one button.
What was summoned was...
-Gork, gorok?
A single goblin, scratching its head in confusion at being summoned to an unfamiliar place.
"...Huh?"
"Just one goblin?"
The cadets looked puzzled.
Summoning a magical beast instead of a combat puppet was unusual, but of all things, a lowest-tier monster like a goblin?
Yuria focused intently, gathering her mana.
A glow gathered in her hand, and soon, a single purple-glowing butterfly emerged from her fingertips.
The butterfly fluttered over and lightly landed on the goblin's head with a tap.
-Gork?
The bewildered goblin staggered in place for a moment.
-Zzz...
Then it collapsed flat, falling into a deep sleep.
"Hmm? That looks like Sleep magic."
"Sleep, huh... It's fairly advanced, but not exactly special."
"Still, a spirit mage using Sleep is pretty impressive."
A few cadets nodded, and a handful of spirit mage cadets expressed admiration, but that was it.
There was no explosive reaction like before.
But I was genuinely surprised.
'...She already has that skill?'
It wasn't just simple Sleep magic.
It was Yuria's signature magic, [Butterfly Sleep].
Spirit magic produces unique effects when combining different attributes.
[Butterfly Sleep] combined wind spirit attributes with water spirit attributes to manifest the "mystical" property of dreams.
I don't fully understand the mechanics myself—the protagonist explains it that way in the story.
Either way, it was leagues beyond basic sleep magic.
Right now, it only put one goblin to sleep, but later it would summon swarms of butterflies to blanket entire enemy lines in slumber—a terrifying area-of-effect ultimate.
To think she created this so early. Impressive.
But there was one odd thing.
'Wasn't the color of that skill originally... purple?'
If my memory was right, it was supposed to be a turquoise effect.
Well, purple gave it a mystical vibe too—not bad.
Just a color change; everything else seemed the same, so no big deal.
As I pondered that, Artel beside me murmured softly.
"Yuria... I thought she was just cute and kind, but she actually has some skill."
Even though Artel wasn't a spirit mage, she knew how difficult it was to combine different spirit attributes for new magic.
She was acknowledging that Yuria had already stepped into that realm.
That surprised me too.
'Artel praising someone so easily?'
Yuria was a genius, sure, but the old Artel would've just glanced coldly and moved on.
Yet here she was, offering even a small compliment.
She definitely seemed a bit softer compared to the game.
Mentally healthier, maybe.
Her skills had improved, and her mindset too. Good for her.
Good, but why?
'Don't tell me it's because of me?'
...Nah, that was way too self-centered.
All I'd done was chat a bit and skip class together once.
It might've had some influence, but still.
Whatever the case, it was a positive change.
***
The white training ground.
As Yuria stepped inside, memories of Artel and Jeron's recent displays flashed through her mind.
'They were truly amazing.'
Right before her turn, they had shown spectacles beyond her imagination.
First, Artel. She had unleashed flashy, elegant combat like performance art with her specialty ice magic.
Then Jeron. He was utterly unpredictable.
He'd casually beaten Kaiser, and just now swept away countless combat puppets in the blink of an eye.
He was always someone who exceeded Yuria's expectations.
Artel had grown close to him at some point, and she was just as extraordinary.
Compared to them, Yuria felt as ordinary as a roadside pebble.
Daughter of a small rural estate.
Mid-tier on the entrance exam.
She had secretly created her own magic, but it was still nothing special—more failures than successes.
Would someone like her just fade into the background?
Especially... to Jeron.
'I don't want that.'
Jeron was the first friend she'd made at Stella, her partner.
A bit quirky, very lazy, but warm-hearted and somehow always drawing her gaze.
She didn't want to lose him. Didn't want anyone taking him away.
She wanted to stay together for a long, long time.
'I can't fall behind either.'
To do that, she had to stand on the same level as him.
Even if she was far behind now, she had to keep pace.
Yuria approached the control panel and summoned a single goblin.
Then she gathered mana to cast the magic she had created herself.
Normally, she'd be trembling with anxiety.
But...
'Yuria, have confidence. You're special.'
Jeron's voice echoed in her head.
The way he had placed his hand on her shoulder and looked at her before entering the training ground.
It was a brief eye contact, and Jeron's eyes were hard to read anyway, but Yuria understood.
They held unwavering trust, without a shred of doubt.
As if he was convinced she had tremendous potential.
Why? She didn't know.
But what mattered was that Jeron believed in her.
'Then I'll believe in myself too.'
His belief became hers.
The conviction that she could do it welled up as determination.
'Spirits, lend me your power!'
The spirits responded to her sincere call.
- ...!
-♪♬
The wind spirit whispered, the water spirit sang.
The two different attributes blended naturally at her fingertips, as if they'd always been one.
Thus, what bloomed from her hand was a single, iridescent butterfly.
'Ah...!'
It was the moment Yuria's signature magic, 「Butterfly Sleep」, was cast perfectly for the first time.
The pale purple butterfly fluttered gracefully.
Its mystical hue evoked someone's eyes.
It was more beautiful than any butterfly she had ever seen.
***
"Kyaha-! Today's dose of romance is overdosing!"
Unlike the cadets' lukewarm response, Sierra gave a satisfied round of applause.
"Good! Great job, little brown-haired cutie! If the white-hair's was the pinnacle of romance fully bloomed, yours is the fresh, budding kind! Mmm, this has its own charm!"
After giving Yuria some feedback, Sierra declared the demonstration over with a pleased expression.
The moment Yuria exited the training ground, she rushed over to me with a face full of joy and relief.
"Jeron, Jeron! How was my magic?!"
How was it? Obviously, I was jealous.
That thing becomes a total cheat skill later.
But I couldn't say that.
I just smiled as she ran up.
"You did really well, Yuria."
Then, suddenly...
Artel, who had been watching quietly from the side, spoke up.
"...And how did I do?"
I was caught off guard by the abrupt question, but I quickly praised her too.
"You did great too, Artel. Your application has improved a lot."
Artel nodded slightly and murmured in a barely audible voice.
"...Yeah. Thanks."
At that point, the TA spoke in a businesslike tone.
"The demonstrations are over. The rest of you, follow me to the archive room."
Then she looked our way.
"Cadets who already have signature magic—you get free study time. Feel free to use the training ground more, but maintain order and take turns."
Rustle.
Once most of the cadets had filed out like an ebbing tide, only Yuria, Artel, Kaiser, Taylor, and I remained.
'I've done everything I set out to do.'
Today's class objectives: complete.
No, actually overachieved.
Practical training, sloth farming, skill strengthening, even Sierra's gift.
'Leaving with a full belly.'
Time to go.
Where to?
Dreamland.
I spotted a comfy bench and immediately lay down.
I felt baffled stares around me, but oh well.
'Sleepy.'
Maybe from the earlier fight.
Like I'd been hit by Yuria's [Butterfly Sleep], drowsiness crept in.
[Sloth +50!]
After spending the rest of the time sleeping, I went to Sierra to collect the promised gift.
"White-hair, you sure you don't wanna develop magic with me for real?"
She still hadn't given up on me.
Sadly, I had no clue about magic development. Everything came from store clicks.
Even if I did, no way I'd join a grad student...
"Sorry."
"Tch, so firm. Here, take this."
Grumbling, she tossed something to me.
'Huh? She's giving me this?'
My eyes widened slightly.
This was different from the in-game gift.