Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Teleportation (2)
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The older instructors frowned at the relentless debate.
Yet, they remained silent because the debaters held higher ranks.
Shina and Thadd, certified Grade 6 mages in their mid-twenties, along with Etella, were the pride of Alpheas Magic Academy.
The argument showed no signs of subsiding.
Etella tried to mediate, but it was as if fire and ice had clashed—neither side would yield an inch.
Alpheas simply wore a gentle smile.
Without a passion for education, they wouldn't be fighting like this.
It was just that their passions were directed at different things.
Thadd wanted the academy to prosper, while Shina wanted the students to grow.
As an instructor, one ought to side with Shina, but being an alumnus of this place, Thadd's perspective was also understandable.
“I have heard both of your opinions. I understand your points well enough, so let's end it here and take your seats.”
As soon as Alpheas finished speaking, Shina and Thadd stopped arguing as if by magic.
If the two had one thing in common, it was their respect for Alpheas.
“From what I've heard, both sides have merit. Miss Shina's words are logical. But we are, after all, teachers. Shouldn't we also avoid letting prejudice take root in the children's hearts?”
“That's exactly my point, Headmaster.”
Thadd smiled, while Shina remained expressionless.
But Alpheas had no intention of leaving it at that.
After pondering for a moment, a smile creased his cheeks as he offered a suggestion.
“So, about that... how about we try this?”
An official notice was posted on the bulletin board of the advanced class building.
Dozens of students gathered before the board, shocked by its contents.
It was an unprecedented event in the history of Alpheas Magic Academy. A promotion evaluation would be held for all members of Class Seven.
The main points of the notice were as follows.
An opportunity for early promotion will be given to all students in Class Seven. One student will be selected for promotion, and upon passing the test, they will be moved up to Class Five. In full consideration of the students' concerns, the evaluation will be graded based on magic, not the Spirit Zone, as an exception.
The evaluation subject is Teleportation.
“T-Teleportation? I don't know how to do that. Do you?”
“No. Of course not. It's an official Class Five spell.”
“I've tried it once. But it was so scary I couldn't bring myself to try again.”
“You idiot! It's easy if you just follow the formula. The problem is applying it.”
The murmuring of the students suddenly died down.
Shirone was walking over.
Under the barrage of countless stares, he reached the bulletin board and read the notice.
The faculty meeting's conclusion was a true contest among the students.
*Teleportation.*
Shirone burned the word into his mind.
* * *
This incident, dubbed the 'Class Seven Ostracism Case,' was also a point of interest for the upperclassmen.
The fact that Shirone was the target, in particular, sparked a lot of talk.
“Oh my gosh! Something like that happened? Amy, did you know?”
Amy, who only checked the board at the end of the day, read the notice in a daze.
As Seriel recounted the details from rumors she'd picked up here and there, Amy's fists trembled.
*He was being ostracized? And because of me?*
His classmates wouldn't even make eye contact with Shirone, she'd heard.
What's more, some students would openly curse at him when he greeted Amy during integrated classes.
“What do you think? I mean, Class Seven has some young kids. I actually went through something similar once. It wasn't a big deal since I got promoted quickly, though.”
“Being young isn't a get-out-of-jail-free card. By that logic, are we not young?”
“Anyway, we're in Class Four. Magic involves a lot of mental fortitude, so age doesn't really matter.”
Amy didn't want to argue about the details.
In truth, her mind was such a mess that she couldn't think straight.
She was just furious that this had happened to Shirone.
“That idiot! Why didn't he say anything?”
If he had just been honest and talked to her about it, they could have found a better solution.
No, they definitely would have.
Popularity aside, she was number one in Class Four.
The thought of some nobodies giving him dirty looks just for dating her made her feel as if she were the one being wronged.
“I have to go see Shirone.”
“Going is fine, but what are you going to do?”
“First, I'm going to punch him. Then I'm going to round up all the Class Seven kids. We're a couple, so I can do that much, right?”
“What? Are you crazy? Absolutely not!”
“What do you mean, 'absolutely not'? You want me to just stand by? Especially when this happened because of me?”
“Ugh, you really don't understand guys. Do you know why Shirone didn't tell you? Because his pride was hurt. And you want to go pour gasoline on that fire?”
Amy couldn't understand.
To think the reason he hadn't even met her gaze was because he was scared of some Class Seven kids.
If anyone's pride was hurt by this, it was Amy's.
“Guys like to be acknowledged. They live and die by their pride. Do you think he'd want to tell the girl he likes that he's being ostracized?”
Seriel had a point, but that only applied if they were truly in love.
How was she supposed to interpret the fact that he hadn't told her, when their relationship was just a sham?
*He probably thinks he stepped in shit because of me. That's why he's avoiding me.*
Seriel thought the school's response was a good one.
“Still, isn't it a relief? If he passes the promotion test, he can get into Class Five. The Teleportation test was a really good choice. The Class Seven kids have to learn it from scratch, too.”
Amy thought differently.
There was a difference between not having learned a specific spell and not having learned magic itself.
And Teleportation, of all things.
The most important thing when learning Teleportation is overcoming fear.
The speed was on a different level from flight magic, and a slight miscalculation could mean crashing into an obstacle and losing your life.
“Come to think of it, this is an incredibly dangerous test, isn't it? What on earth are the teachers thinking?”
“They'll probably adjust the difficulty appropriately. It could also be a way to test the students' passion. It looks like more than half of Class Seven is planning to take the test.”
“What? That many, even though they've never learned it before?”
“The reward for passing is Class Five. Besides, everyone's starting from scratch. I think I would've given it a shot, too.”
Amy couldn't shake her unease.
The students taking the test would likely get help from upperclassmen or have a dedicated instructor for intensive practice.
Shirone, on the other hand, was not in a position to do so.
A dedicated instructor was unthinkable, and he probably didn't even have friends to ask for advice.
*What if he actually fails?*
She acknowledged Shirone's talent, but looking only at the short-term preparation, there was no guarantee he would pass this test.
“That's right! Amy, why don't you help Shirone? You could make up with him while you're at it.”
“Hmph! After everything he went through, he didn't say a single word to me. You think he'd accept my help? I'll just keep pretending I don't know.”
“Ugh, you two are something else. If you like each other, that's all that matters. Why is this stuff so important?”
“Mind your own business. This is our way of dating. Besides, I'm not exactly free myself. The promotion test for the graduating class is right around the corner.”
“Oh, right! I forgot. Sorry.”
For a student, nothing was as important as promotion.
Even for Amy, she couldn't afford to be distracted if she wanted to overcome the high hurdle of the graduating class.
“He'll figure it out. If he can't even handle this much, he's better off without the title of being my boyfriend.”
Turning away from the bulletin board, Amy added inwardly.
*Even if he is a fake boyfriend.*
* * *
It was nearly midnight.
A masked figure infiltrated the garden of the boys' dormitory.
With movements reminiscent of a cat, their steps were so light that not even the rustle of grass could be heard.
Seeing a light on the seventh floor of the building, the figure scratched their head in annoyance.
*This is definitely not because I'm worried. I have a responsibility in this, so I'm just helping out!*
Amy ground her teeth.
She had tried to let it go, but she was so worried about Shirone that she couldn't focus on her studies.
“Just you wait. I'll make you beg for forgiveness.”
Amy scaled the wall to the seventh floor.
If rumors spread that she'd crossed the threshold of the boys' dormitory in the middle of the night, she wouldn't be able to show her face, but her youthful mischievousness hadn't gone anywhere.
*Hehe, since I'm already here, I might as well scare him half to death.*
As soon as she opened the window, Amy did a forward roll.
The moment she landed, she had a plan.
Subdue Shirone and throw him on the bed.
Then she would twist his arm until he screamed.
“Huh?”
But Amy couldn't move a single step.
Shirone was staring at her with wide eyes.
And next to him, Miss Shina was sitting in a chair.
“M-Miss Shina?”
“You're... Amy?”
Shina adjusted her glasses and took another look.
The red hair and deep-set, double-lidded eyes confirmed it was Amy.
She knew Amy was dating Shirone, but she had thought they were both focused on their studies for their respective goals lately.
But now, seeing this, their actions seemed highly suspicious.
“Don't tell me you've been meeting like this all along? Pretending not to know each other during the day and having secret rendezvous at night?”
“N-No, it's a misunderstanding, Miss! That's a huge misunderstanding!”
Shina quickly brought a hand to her lips.
“Shh! The room next door will hear you.”
Amy covered her mouth and glanced nervously toward the next room.
This was the boys' dormitory, of all places.
If a rumor spread that a girl's voice was heard in Shirone's room, she would undoubtedly be the prime suspect.
Of course, even so, she was in no position to argue.
“Wait, hold on! I get me being here, but what are you doing here, Miss? Especially at this hour?”
Thinking about it, the person who fit into this situation the least was Shina.
There was no reason for a teacher in plain clothes to visit a student in the dead of night when she could have just summoned him.
“Tell me. Why are you here at this hour?”
At Amy's reasonable misunderstanding, a blush crept onto Shina's cheeks.
But she quickly regained her composure and spoke coolly.
“I came to give him some advice about the promotion test. Given the circumstances, I thought it best not to be seen by others.”
If the promotion test was the reason, Amy had nothing to say.
She had come for the very same reason.
“Um, senior.”
Shirone, who had prepared tea, offered a cup to Amy and said.
“First, have some tea...”
“Hmph.”
Amy took the teacup and savored the aroma.
Like a polite junior, he had the basic courtesy to welcome a guest.
“...My foot! This is all your fault!”
“I-I'm sorry!”
Shirone's apology only made Amy angrier.
Wasn't it because he was so damn good-natured that even the younger kids looked down on him?
“Let's sit down first. I'd like to finish our conversation.”
Shina offered her a seat.
Amy sat next to Shirone and turned her body away sharply.
She had come because she was worried, but she was still angry with Shirone.
“As you both know, the subject of this test is Teleportation. It was a decision made by the Headmaster himself.”
“The Headmaster?”
Amy finally understood the situation.
She had thought it was an unsuitable test for Class Seven, but if it was the Headmaster's mischievousness, it made perfect sense.
“Yes. To be honest, I'm not sure of his intentions either. Teleportation is a dangerous spell for the lower classes.”
Amy asked.
“The test will probably be held at the 'Uncrossable Bridge,' right?”
“It's not certain, but that's really the only place for it.”