Chapter 65
Chapter 65
Vuremhyde’s Lesson!
Idnia led Marie to the dining area of the Eurus dormitory students.
She had managed to smooth things over and bring her along despite the proposals from the other dormitories, but her worries only deepened.
‘Marie will likely want to get closer to the Crown Prince. If she joins the study group in the Zephyrus dormitory, should I let her go? But if that happens, the Eurus dormitory students will see her as a traitor….’
If she accepted Isolde Polchen’s proposal, from the perspective of the Eurus students, Marie would become someone who had been swayed by the enemy’s persuasion and turned into a traitor.
Even if Idnia tried to smooth things over, they would still end up harboring dissatisfaction toward her as well. If a leader showed favoritism toward one person too much, complaints were inevitable.
‘I can’t exactly say that if we don’t raise Marie, the saint candidate, properly, we’ll all die… how frustrating.’
In the end, Idnia had to take good care of Marie while also ensuring that it did not become obvious to the others. It was, in a way, the burden of middle management.
“Ah, Lady Idnia? What brings you to me?”
Marie asked Idnia.
“To be honest, I went out overnight and met an envoy from the Papal Court.”
“Pardon? An envoy from the Papal Court?”
“Yes. It seems he disguised himself as a servant of Lord Lorenzo and has been staying at the academy to investigate the surrounding area.”
“Ah….”
“He insisted that even we saint candidates must assist in the Papal Court’s affairs. Have you heard anything like that from Bishop Astraya?”
“Ah, yes. I have heard something along those lines.
But I thought it referred to helping with events like Trinity Day ceremonies or sacred masses.
I never imagined it had anything to do with a Papal envoy.”
“…Now that I think about it, I believe I’ve heard something like that as well.”
Idnia also recalled hearing something similar.
The Archbishop of Betelgeuse had clearly said:
“Your Grace, we would appreciate it if you also take interest in and assist with our church’s events.”
She had agreed at the time, not realizing that it might actually mean collaborating with a Papal envoy to spy on the academy’s secrets.
‘Hmm, even in the original game, exploring the academy was a major event.
But that was content unlocked starting in the second semester.
It seems that because I haven’t been acting as a villainess, a lot of changes are happening.’
Idnia observed Marie’s condition. Marie looked somewhat intimidated in front of her.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes. It’s just that… the students from the other dormitories kept offering me various things. At first I was happy, but then I realized I am a saint candidate.”
“Pardon?”
Idnia asked as she received a tray and set it down on the table.
“Ah… no. It’s just that I feel as though my power as a saint wasn’t something I earned myself, but something I was given.
Standing in front of confident people makes me feel unsure of myself.”
“If that’s the case, then my noble status is also something I obtained simply by being born to the right parents.
Not only that, talent, appearance, and everything inherited are ultimately things granted by heaven.
What matters is what one achieves in this life with what one has.”
Marie was surprised by the depth of feeling embedded in Idnia’s words.
Having transcended death, Idnia recalled what she had done in her previous life and gave a bitter smile.
“Perhaps Miss Marie does not yet clearly know what she wants to do, or what she is capable of.
Well, at your age, that is quite normal.”
“Lady Idnia seems much more mature than us.”
“I suppose I have my circumstances…”
“So, Miss Marie. While I appreciate Miss Isolde Polchen’s offer, you should decline it. The Eurus dormitory students will see you as a traitor.”
“Ah… yes, that’s true. I was just happy that someone had made me an offer, I hadn’t thought that far ahead.
Yes. I didn’t consider that.”
In truth, Marie had been tempted by Isolde Polchen’s proposal. Since it involved joining a study group led by the Crown Prince Rudolf, and she already had an interest in him, it was only natural she would be drawn to it.
However, now that she had heard the reasoning, making such a decision lightly would have been extremely careless.
‘I’m glad Lady Idnia stopped me.
Truly, she is the daughter of the great Duke of Betelgeuse and the former Saint Flora….’
Having trained as an altar attendant in the church since childhood and hearing of Saint Flora’s deeds, Marie once again felt deep admiration for Idnia.
“Instead, as your roommate, let us study magic together.”
“Pardon? Is that alright?”
“We are roommates, after all.”
Organizing a study group with many other students would be tiring, but if it was just Marie, they could simply study together in their room.
There was nothing strange about roommates studying together.
“Still, I’m worried I might burden you, Lady Idnia. You already have considerable mastery of magic…”
“I should say this cautiously, but I have not really done any prior study either.”
“Pardon?”
“In terms of being inexperienced in magic, I’m not much different. So I bought some introductory reference books on magic theory…”
At that moment, the chime signaling the next class rang.
It was a warning that the next lesson time was approaching.
“Apologies for keeping you waiting, everyone. I assume you have all been looking forward to my class? Given your rather dull intellects, learning magic at all will require the instruction of one who inherits ancient magic.
Hah. Being asked to till barren soil and turn it into fertile land—what a dreadful punishment that would be. Though now that I think about it, it is indeed a punishment.”
There, hovering in midair with a staff in his arms in the academy plaza, was an elf boy emitting a blue glow from his eyes.
An extraordinary elf boy floating in the air—
It was none other than the dragon transformed into an elf, Vuremhyde.
“Originally, this was supposed to be a theoretical lecture. However, looking at the academic records, it seems there are already two students who have accumulated enough points to go out overnight.
Truly, this is the cohort of the Elector and the Crown Prince!
An impressive pace!
It reminds me of when the Emperor and Duke Betelgeuse enrolled, and I am quite impressed!”
Vuremhyde praised the students and then frowned slightly.
“Whether that is due to prior study or genuine talent, we shall see through the class.
And just in case my praise leads you to become arrogant, let me clarify in advance that this is merely acceptable for what are essentially rocks.
Considering your short lifespans, even if you devote your entire lives to magic, many of you will still struggle to reach a useful level.
Do not become overly pleased just because you are slightly more refined than other stones.
Now then, we will conduct both practical training and theoretical instruction simultaneously.”
As Vuremhyde raised his staff, the mist dispersed and a massive teleportation gate appeared before everyone.
“Each dormitory! Account for your members and follow. If anyone is missing, then… hahahaha. You will have a most delightful experience.”
Leaving those words behind, Vuremhyde leapt into the teleportation gate and disappeared first.
“Professor Vuremhyde’s class. What does the schedule say?”
“It says the basics of telekinesis magic.”
The students who checked the schedule felt a chill run down their spines.
Telekinesis magic—at first glance, it seems like a simple spell such as a basic mage’s hand, but as its output increases, its difficulty grows exponentially.
And yet they were going to practice it outdoors? Moreover, conducting practical and theoretical lessons simultaneously—what did that even mean?
All the students would come to understand that question through painful experience etched into their very bones.
Vuremhyde led everyone to a lakeside in a high-altitude region, where there were mountains capped with perpetual snow and beautiful glacial lakes.
“Waaah….”
Everyone marveled at the breathtaking scenery.
Even with snow-capped mountains in view, the climate itself was mild.
It was slightly colder than the academy, but just enough to require wearing a coat.
“W-wait… isn’t this Ansbach? This is Lake Visen in Ansbach.”
Karl was shocked to realize that this place was Visen in his hometown of Ansbach.
They had traveled over two thousand kilometers in an instant through the academy’s teleportation gate.
To move such a distance just for a class?
“Telekinesis magic is both the foundation and the culmination of all magic.
Let me ask you: what is power?
The answer to that lies at the very core of telekinesis magic.
Do you understand the depth of this question, my students?”
Vuremhyde spoke as he raised his wand.
Water rose from the lake and began forming polyhedra.
Dozens of water masses rose at once, forming geometric shapes, and at the sight, Isolde Polchen let out a breath.
“Using telekinesis….”
Manipulating water into shape using telekinesis required tremendous mental strength and concentration.
Using water elemental magic would have been far easier. Elementals would naturally gather, and issuing commands to them was conversational, requiring far less concentration.
Of course, whether the elementals would follow those commands properly was another matter, but from the caster’s perspective, achieving the desired result was easier.
However, Vuremhyde was shaping masses of water purely through control and concentration.
It was like sculpting dozens of statues out of clay alone.
“While continuing the theoretical lecture… we will also proceed with practical training.
Let us begin by testing those who have done prior study.
Isolde Polchen.”
“Y-yes!?”
“Please catch the water mass I throw using telekinesis magic. Only telekinetic reception will be accepted.”
“…Understood.”
Vuremhyde explained the principles of telekinesis magic, its usage, and the foundational logic behind magic systems while simultaneously throwing a water mass at Isolde Polchen.
He was conducting theory while assigning practical tasks to selected students.
‘So this is what they meant by combining theory and practice.’
Isolde Polchen calmly raised her wand and cast telekinesis to catch the incoming water.
But—
‘Ghk!?’
The moment she received it with telekinesis, a heavy sensation struck her.
It was heavy. Incredibly heavy.
Startled, she poured more mana into it, but the water mass began to break apart, leaking force away from her telekinetic control.
“Ahh!”
In a hurry, she reshaped her telekinesis into a flat barrier to block it.
The water collided with the telekinetic wall and shattered.
But even this was extremely heavy.
Cold sweat immediately drenched Isolde Polchen.
‘Impossible! I thought I was proficient in telekinesis….’
She felt a wave of exhaustion.
Until now, she had used telekinesis for lifting objects or assisting with various tasks, and believed herself to be skilled at it.
However, the polyhedral mass of water thrown by Vuremhyde felt like a living, writhing beast.
What looked like about twenty liters of water somehow carried the weight of several hundred kilograms, and if she tried to forcefully hold it, it would resist, deform, and rebound, making it exhausting just to control.
She managed to avoid being hit by erecting a telekinetic shield to push it away, but that earned her a reprimand from Vuremhyde.
“I said catch it, not put up a shield. If that’s what you intended, you should have used a barrier spell instead.
Do not forget that this is a telekinesis class.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“We will try again. I let it slide since it was your first attempt, but I see that was unnecessary!”
That was being let off easy? Isolde Polchen shuddered.
This time, Vuremhyde spun the water mass at high speed.
The rotation was visibly intense to everyone.
“Now then, try to receive it properly.”
He threw the spinning water mass again at Isolde Polchen.
“Alright!”
This time, she prepared herself and formed a hemispherical telekinetic barrier to catch it, like holding water in a large bowl.
However, the rapidly spinning water mass gained momentum and slipped off the barrier like a fast-moving metal sphere rolling out of a bowl.
“Ha!”
She quickly cast additional telekinetic spells in succession to pursue and suppress its force.
But—
‘It’s not losing momentum?’
Although Vuremhyde had only infused mana at the start of the rotation, the more she tried to neutralize it, the heavier it seemed to become.
‘No! I have to cut off my mind… my mental interference…!’
In that brief moment of hesitation, the water mass dropped directly toward Isolde Polchen’s head.