Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: 05. The Day We Headed to School
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“Oh, there she is. First-year Class 1, apparently?”
A few days ago, a teleport badge and student ID—essentially our school identification—had arrived by mail for us, whose enrollment in Daehyeon Elementary had been confirmed.
I wasn’t sure about other places, but Daehyeon’s student IDs were quite nicely made, right from the start. They were bracelet-style, centered around a round orb with thin metal chains connecting to it.
The teleport badge was a small shield-shaped item with the school logo attached.
Along with the student ID and teleport badge, the mail included a letter with basic explanations about them.
First, the distributed teleport badges each had only two coordinates programmed in: the school’s coordinates and the coordinates of each student’s home address. The usage was simple. By holding the badge and thinking of the place you wanted to go or intending to teleport, you could warp to either the school or home. If it was hard to visualize, you could just hold the badge and shout “Attend” or “Return.” To add or change coordinates, you had to contact the school’s administrative office.
Next, about the student ID. It served to deliver all useful school information to enrolled students, so there was a note advising not to neglect it or lose it. It also included basic operation instructions.
When I tried using it, the student ID felt similar to a computer or smartphone. However, it was primarily focused on school-related information—like a databank version of the school homepage.
It was incredibly useful for contacting the school or getting information. It even had a notification function like a phone. Important announcements would pop up as alerts.
Since then, we’d been using this convenient student ID to look up all sorts of school matters. Like whether it was a boarding school or if uniforms were required.
The dorm info matched what we’d heard. As for uniforms… just as the council president senior had mentioned in passing, the elementary division had free uniform policy. You could wear casual clothes or the uniform—either was fine. But only for elementary.
Still, I decided to wear the uniform. The main reason was that picking out clothes every day sounded annoying. Come to think of it, Daehyeon’s uniforms were coated with magic power, offering protection against magic accidents.
Plus, I’d already bought the uniform. When I said I wanted to wear it, Mom said it was fine and bought it right away. It was surprisingly expensive. Probably because of all the magic infused in it. But in return, it was great. It adjusted to fit my body, and I could even tweak settings like skirt length to my liking.
Anyway, while checking announcements and posts like that, a notification about class assignments came in, and that’s what we were looking at.
Inha, beaming brightly, continued.
“I got in too. First-year Class 1… Nice, we’re in the same class.”
“Yeah.”
I smiled at Inha’s words and high-fived her.
“They said elementary doesn’t divide classes by skill or skill type, right?”
“Yeah. It’s random.”
“Good.”
Was this part of the school’s information*ability protection policy? That’s what I thought, recalling the council president senior—now a proper senior.
“By the way, this student ID is amazing. It’s like a computer.”
“Oh, I thought the same. And apparently, it has a return function that brings it back if it gets too far from the owner.”
“Really?”
Inha stroked her student ID with sparkling eyes. I watched her fondly, then turned back to my own student ID. I had plenty more things I wanted to check out too.
Of course, since we weren’t officially enrolled yet, the accessible info was limited.
That wasn’t all. The visible information seemed restricted based on whether you could use magic power or not. Basic info could be viewed by pressing the main orb, but deeper details required infusing magic power.
The orb, the student ID’s core, even changed color to match the owner’s magic power each time it reacted. When they first arrived, Inha’s orb was blue, mine transparent. Now, hers was a green mixed about halfway with yellow, and mine a deep navy.
Thinking about it, the different colors on arrival might have been for secrecy. Mass-producing uniform colors would’ve been easier, but sending varied ones probably hid skill levels based on color.
‘Though I heard over half the enrollees can already manipulate magic power.’
It was a shame so much info was still restricted, but even this was plenty to learn about the school. We’d already uncovered quite a bit.
“Did you see the facility map yesterday?”
“Yeah. It was incredible. So many shops—stationery stores, restaurants, clothing shops, general stores, even a big mart. Tons of snack places like cafes too. They even sell chicken and pizza.”
“The separate library must be great for you.”
“…Yeah. And there’s a manga rental spot nearby. Sounds fun.”
At this rate, we’d probably make hanging out after school a habit instead of heading straight home. Pocket money was limited, of course.
There were walking paths and parks too, and lunch could be a packed bento, bought from shops, or free school meals. Curious about the rules, I searched the student ID for the school regulations.
『No offensive magic outside designated areas in school buildings (excludes magic practice rooms, training rooms, fields, auditorium, gym, middle/high school practice rooms, high school dorms, hallways, and some classrooms). No hostile or prank magic targeting others. -Exception: emergencies.
E.g., defending against magic. Terrorism.
Elementary: uniforms optional. Middle school and up: must wear uniforms inside main school buildings. (Casual allowed outside class buildings.)
Magic items with high-level attack/defense magic require student council/teacher permission.
Always carry student ID.』
I read through them. The best part: no restrictions on accessories, dyeing, hair length, etc. Then I checked the bottom.
『Top priority rule. 5 violations: suspension. 13 violations: expulsion. Do not disclose any info on a student’s magic ability without their permission. ‘Others’ means students, teachers, and anyone noticeable. Even with permission, never reveal externally.』
More secrecy rules followed: penalties for one or two violations, enforcement restrictions.
『Level-based classes: no disclosure of content. Exception: unfair treatment allows appeal to student council or lawsuit externally.』
Naturally, classmates’ skills and magic were forbidden to disclose, with constraints. I looked at it curiously.
How did the school rules end up so secrecy-focused? Maybe the chairman had a big incident with ability leaks before.
“Five days until the entrance ceremony?”
“Yeah.”
“What should we do till then?”
Inha rarely looked this excited. I looked up from the rules.
“Magic practice?”
“…Let’s go out.”
Her face fell instantly as she grabbed my wrist. Huh?
“We can practice magic at school till we’re sick of it. And didn’t you hear? We gotta run.”
“Huh?”
“Mom’s treating us to something delicious tomorrow for enrollment.”
She whispered in my ear. I saw Mom reserving yesterday—it’s a super fancy restaurant.
“Wow, sounds yummy! Wait, why’s that?”
“…Mom’s plotting with Auntie. Says she’ll dress you up super cute. They’ll probably come get us soon. So let’s escape.”
I tilted my head at Inha’s words.
“I like picking clothes though?”
“…For real?”
“Yeah. And if we’re buying, I wanna choose what suits me!”
That’s why I always went shopping instead of letting Mom buy alone. Legs hurt, but invincible with magic power, ehehe~!
“Perfect! That’s it, Eunha!!”
Right then, Auntie Seona burst in and hugged me tight. Mom?! Inha let out a small scream.
“Our Inha never cares about picking clothes. Mirae’s girl loves it, huh. No wonder! Today, let’s pick pretty dresses with Auntie~?”
“Yes!”
I grinned and raised my hand high. Dresses sounded pricey, but Auntie was rich, and this was a kid’s privilege. Plus, I was kinda excited to wear one. And they’d tailor to my kid size, so probably renting… Huh?
“By the way, are we renting the dress?”
“Nope? Buying.”
“Um… But no place to wear it daily, and I’ll outgrow it soon?”
“……”
Auntie shut her mouth, like she hadn’t considered it. Makes sense—she probably had endless dress-up spots. Auntie looked troubled.
“…True, you’re young. But even if not super fancy… No… Got it!”
“……?”
“I’ll buy a classy, pretty dress you can wear casually! Come on, let’s go! Inha, you too, right? Since Eunha’s going~.”
Auntie grabbed my hand tight, heading out the door, beaming at Inha. Inha sighed briefly at her, then came to my side and took my other hand. I grinned.
This’ll be fun. Gotta pick for Inha too~.
In the end, Inha tagged along reluctantly at first but got into it while helping pick mine, trying stuff on me. Changing was annoying, but wearing was fun. Some I hated, some almost fit my taste. I picked just one after agonizing. Auntie was disappointed, but one it was. The price was astronomical… Preservation magic or not, I’d wear it sparingly. Yeah.
I beamed.
Time flew, and entrance ceremony day arrived in a flash. That morning, I hummed while putting on the uniform.
“I really like this uniform.”
I muttered as I tied the last ribbon on the collar. I spun in front of the mirror, checking my uniform up and down.
The black blazer had beige lines, a thin red ribbon fixed with a button below the shirt collar. The skirt was black with beige lines too—a short pleated one well above the knee. Buttons were decently thick silver.
For reference, elementary used thin red ribbons and thigh-high skirts. Middle school had longer skirts and ties—blue. High school red. Summer swapped long shirts for short-sleeves, but ribbons/ties/skirts stayed the same.
After checking, I pinned the badge to my chest. Usually on sleeve or pocket. Some wore it on a neck strap to avoid loss… But with return magic, no need.
Student ID on wrist, I grinned at the mirror, then checked my bag. Almost empty—just pencil case and one notebook. Textbooks came after enrollment, so empty was normal. Middle school up stored them in student ID sub-spaces. Elementary kids couldn’t use it well due to skill.
‘What kind of tech is it?’
I stared intensely at the orb in the bracelet, a strange feeling washing over me. What magic made this? It was a tiny machine-like thing, but a magic-tech fusion, not plain.
I could see the magic power flowing inside—already dyed my color.
As I stared, Mom called from downstairs.
“Eunha, ready?”
“Yeah, just a bit more!”
I finally looked away, checked my outfit once more. Debated tying hair but left it down. Last year’s cut now reached just below shoulders. Inha’s was past her butt, right? I dashed down. Mom and Dad waited.
“Uniform suits you great! Our girl’s so cute. Right, honey?”
“You’ve grown a lot, Eunha.”
Dad ruffled my hair. I smiled up at them.
“Come on, let’s go. Inha’s waiting.”
“Yeah.”
Shoes on, we exited. Mom unlocked the gate. Auntie Seona, Inha, and Uncle Jeongmin were already there.
Inha wore her usual pretty dress. She saw me, eyes widening, then frowned.
“…Uniform?”
“Yeah. How’s it look? Suits me?”
I spun playfully. “Oh, so cute! Perfect fit.” Auntie Seona gushed, Uncle Jeongmin agreed sincerely, and Inha nodded.
“Suits you… but you didn’t say you’d wear uniform.”
“Huh? Did I not?”
I tilted my head. Inha nodded.
“But whatever for you. Uniform or casual. I picked uniform ‘cause changing casuals daily is a hassle.”
“…Yeah.”
Outside, you change outfits often. Daily even more. Higher years gossip comparing casuals. Annoying. Uniforms daily much better.
“That makes sense. Got summer uniform?”
“Nope, not yet.”
“Hmm…”
Inha nodded indifferently, took my hand.
“Then let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
“All set? Here we go.”
Auntie pulled out a compact-like thing—a teleport item. Magic rippled as she activated it, enveloping us. Blink, and the school from months ago loomed ahead.
“Hmm, quite a crowd.”
I nodded at Auntie’s words, scanning the bustle.
Definitely lots of people entering the gate or chatting nearby. Some teleporting in. But fewer than expected. Right—few sense magic from kindergarten age, so more transfers. New students 3-4 classes, 30 per max, per council president senior. Not that many.
Plus only elementary today. Still, more than expected.
“Only elementary enrolling today…?”
Auntie looked puzzled too.
But looking closely, not just new elementary students and parents. High school seniors or association staff were there. I noticed because of a minor commotion right after.
“No cameras or media here. You know that, right?”
“Hey, a little’s fine.”
“No.”
“Tch, don’t be stingy!”
A school staff restrained the guy trying to push through. Auntie frowned, annoyed.
“What a sight.”
She muttered, ushering us inside. But I saw—as she turned, she used magic. The camera froze solid, shattering like ice chunks.
“Wh-what?! What’s wrong with my camera?! It has high-grade magic…!! So expensive……!”
‘Ooh, classic Auntie Seona. But pricey…’
His fault, yet I felt oddly guilty looking back.
We entered the gate. Verified as new students to waiting staff, got entrance pamphlets, headed to the venue.
“Ceremony’s… let’s see, elementary field. This field…”
I infused a bit of magic into my student ID, opening the map as Auntie scanned the pamphlet confusedly. Multiple fields made it tricky. Site divided into elementary/middle/high/staff/other assoc/staff areas, each with fields…
I floated a small transparent ceremony info window, compared to map. Medium size, right in front of elementary main building.
“Close enough for teleport? Let’s see…”
Auntie raised magic. I watched wide-eyed.
Magic scattered like wind. Cold, silver-swirling like snowflakes—stunning. I sensed its flow, looked to the spot.
Auntie smiled slightly at me.
“As expected, Eunha’s sensitive. Alright, let’s go.”
Blizzard-like magic engulfed our vision.
Short-range teleport was child’s play for Auntie. Her max was about 6 million km. World mage ranking top 100 indeed! Only to known terrain or coordinates, though.
Field arrival was instant. Auntie landed discreetly behind it. Many people there already, some middle/high uniforms scattered.
“New students over there?”
A middle school uniform senior approached.
“Guardians, sit on those chairs. Which class, you two?”
“First-year Class 1.”
“Both?”
“Yes.”
She nodded at Inha’s answer, pointed ahead. Transparent text hovered.
“See it? There. Be careful.”
“Thank you.”
Inha and I bowed. We turned to parents.
“Bye, Mom, Dad. Be back.”
“Good luck.”
“Yeah!”
“…I’ll be off too. Dad, don’t get lost.”
“Got it. Mom’ll watch you. Go on.”
“Yes.”
We waved grinning, dashed to the floating placard. Among our age kids milling, a brown-haired teacher-like woman approached.
“Which class?”
“First-year Class 1.”
Inha answered impassively.
“Student IDs?”
“Here.”
“Yes.”
We rolled up sleeves simultaneously, showing IDs. She tapped to verify.
“Kang Inha and Yoo Eunha… Yes, line up side-by-side at the back there.”
“Okay.”
Teacher, probably. We nodded, stood quietly at the rear of Class 1’s two lines. We waited silently in line for the ceremony. About 15 minutes left? Then magic stirred, our bodies floated briefly, pushed back. Chairs appeared behind us.
Wait, front too. Per-person chairs. I nearly bumped one in surprise, but magic-made—no impact. I wobbled, plopped down.
[“Yes, please wait a moment. Not all new students have arrived yet.”]
I scanned surroundings at the field announcement—kids sitting nearby.
Famous school, nationwide applicants, dorms/teleport. Rare to sense magic in elementary, but enough apply and fail. Needed to manipulate it to enroll.
Not just passing tough entry—secrecy allowed hiding power, but needed decent exam scores. For graduation to middle school. Absolute evaluation, FYI. Not pure escalator school.
Beyond protecting young mages, focused on nurturing talent.
All from student ID, FYI.
Other magic schools existed, so rejects went elsewhere. Manipulators rare, so sensers wouldn’t all fail…
But fewer than imagined. 3-4 classes ~30, but total new students under 100. Some foreigners too. Famous internationally.
~10 minutes later, ceremony started. Latecomers rushed in. A few sat behind us. Our class… 27? I counted with magic sense/vision. ~13-14 boys/girls.
Ceremony like past ones. Pledges replaced flag salute/national anthem with mage oath. After formalities, chairman spoke. Looked early 20s despite position. High-rankers halt aging.
Then a teacher explained elementary staff. “As map shows…”—forbidden zones/restrictions. No practice risky magic in class—fields/practice rooms. Then non-campus facilities.
More formalities, then end. I stretched rising.
“Finally, classroom.”
“Yeah.”
We followed line to class. Waving to parents en route, Inha and I waved too. Entered building.
Hallways marble/stone/metal, all magic-coated. As seen following council president senior. Windows too—reinforced glass + defense magic, unbreakable.
Our classroom: Elementary A Building, 2nd floor. Like high school—steel door with password/ID lock.
I scanned halls, met Inha’s eyes, giggled. Exactly as pre-scouted—no disappointment, just amusement.
Entered classroom—first time inside. Last visit only moving class labs.
First sight: blackboard, electronic recognition board likely. Walked, inspected.
Outer walls stone, but iron-reinforced inside per rumors.
Nice interior—tidy, flowers/potted plants by windows/edges.
Sturdier than expected—all magic-coated, saturated. Even noticed magic stones at corners.
Brushing desk—normal wood, magic-coated. Chairs black, comfy backrests.
“Classroom’s seriously great.”
“Yeah.”
Amid noisy kids, we quietly scoped, snagged window seats fast. Sitting, no-drawer desk solid. Spotted groove. No drawer? Then placed student ID orb in groove—beep, desk lifted open.
“Huh?”
“Wow!”
All eyes on us. I awkwardly reached in. Inside: textbooks.
“Look! Textbooks!”
“Let’s try!”
“How?!”
“Student ID on the groove…”
Ugh, spotlight triggers my shyness. But kids shifted, claimed desks, opened theirs. Phew. I sighed relief.
“How’d you know?”
“Saw the groove…”
Student ID size? Inha nodded, did hers. I checked open drawer again.
Could double as locker. Space expansion magic too, looks like.
Tested: closed without taking books. Beep—ID needed to close. Tried for drawer only—drawer popped open alone.
Imagined a textbook, reached in—grabbed it, exactly the one.
“Oh? These kids are quick. Already figured the desk secret?”
Footsteps entered. Everyone, me included, looked.