Nullifying Magic
Nullifying magic.
That's actually a fraudulent ability on its own.
But the problem is.
It hurts.
Like hell.
I'm not invincible.
Having entered the world of the game I used to enjoy and being able to see the characters in real life had me excited, but yesterday's events made me realize it painfully once again.
This world is reality.
If you die, you don't respawn or restart like in a game.
You die.
You return to a handful of dirt.
"Phew..."
My vision cleared.
It became clear what I needed to do from now on.
Avoid if possible, break if I can't avoid.
That's my fighting style.
Then, the remaining thing is means of attack.
In a worldview where magic is the norm, weapons are better than nothing.
"Haah... At least a sword, I guess."
I scratched my head vigorously and got up from the bed.
If I dawdled any more, I'd definitely be late.
"Let's join the swordsmanship club for the club activity."
By the way, I don't know how to use a sword.
I just swung it a few times while doing hapkido.
"If I knew it would come to this, I should've learned kendo too."
I learned taekwondo, hapkido, muay thai, etc., but unfortunately not kendo.
It was because my ankle got injured at that time.
I felt it deeply when they said it's not about fighting with judo practitioners.
"Damn..."
Recalling that time made my mood sink again.
It was also the reason why I, who was aiming for the national team, became a jobless bum.
I roughly threw the pajamas I was wearing on the bed and went into the bathroom.
"Ah, refreshing."
Washing was the same as usual.
"Shit, how do you put this on?"
Taking it off was rough, but trying to put it back on, I don't even know the order.
This is similar to question 30 on the CSAT math test.
After roughly putting on the uniform in whatever order, I had only 20 minutes left.
"I need to get out quickly..."
It's a 15-minute walk, so walking fast is safe, but there's someone going together.
"Isaac~ You're late~"
"Sorry, Vera. Let's go."
I don't know how it came to this, but Beatrice, who I ended up going to school with.
Not bad.
No, it's good.
Building favorability is one thing, but walking to school with an unparalleled beauty is beyond refreshing—it's a new shock.
"Our classes are different, I guess."
We'll attend lectures separately, but just going to school together like this is nice.
"Hmm~? We're in the same class~"
"Huh?"
As far as I know, Beatrice is in Class A.
Exactly, one of the top 10.
Don't tell me she's a special student...
"I'm Class A~ Isaac is also Class A~"
"... Is this real?"
Just how much do they plan to twist things.
This isn't even a butterfly's wing flap.
The future changing means unpredictable things can happen.
But this isn't something I wanted.
It might be a big problem.
"Hmm..."
"Don't like it?"
... Huh?
Why is she turning dark?
"No no. Of course I like it."
"Right~"
I almost had a big problem... me?
Favorability or whatever, I felt some unknown threat.
If I had answered wrong just now, I don't know what would happen, but it was dangerous.
Did I do something wrong?
Yesterday's magic? That can't be it.
Did I go in too early. No. The sun had set when I went in.
Was it because I said it didn't hurt.
I pondered until we arrived at the classroom, but couldn't find anything specific.
*
One day since enrollment.
For someone with an introverted personality, it's a short time to make new friends, and even for extroverts, it's quite brief.
Nevertheless, Class A was bustling.
"Kuk...! Reina being the top again."
"Are you that upset?"
"Of course!"
A female student with flowing red hair.
The person she was talking to was the one mentioned in her words.
"Then Elisia should try harder."
"Kuuu! Just wait until midterms!"
Elisia, who had been chattering in front of me, went outside.
Now that there was no one around, Reina let out a deep sigh.
Arcadium Academy.
A place that not only nobles but anyone living in the empire wants to enroll in.
The competition rate goes without saying.
If you don't have the skill, whether you're the child of a duke or the princess or crown prince, you won't be accepted.
Purely merit-based.
Therefore, regardless of high or low family, everyone starts attending schools to prepare for the academy.
For a full 10 years.
Of course, the places they attend are all different, but all the students in this Class A came from the same place.
Did I speak too strongly...
Reina, who had never once stepped down from the top spot.
Elisia, the second place who had never become top.
Ironically, the two had been friends since before school.
Though their relationship had twisted a bit after education started, when asked who their closest friend was, each other's name came up.
For Reina, Elisia was the only person she could pour her heart out to.
... I should apologize later.
Reflecting on her previous attitude, she checked the clock.
Lecture would start soon.
There were still two students who hadn't arrived.
One was Beatrice, and the other was.
Special student...
The new student enrolling this time.
I heard he's a commoner, wonder if he'll adapt well.
There had been cases of new people entering Class A before.
But the reason these 10 remained was because those who entered gave up and left.
They came to somehow pass, but gave up.
Lack of responsibility, isn't it.
You could think that.
But there were reasons.
Creak.
As the door opened, all students' gazes poured in.
"Arrived~"
Two students arrived simultaneously, but most gazes focused on one person.
Reina was the same.
"Phew... Not late."
A tall impression and high eye level, unlike a commoner.
If it weren't for the unkempt attire and lack of etiquette in his steps, one would believe he's a noble.
Then one person stood up from their seat.
Tsk.
The thing I was worried about happened.
"Greetings, Lady Beatrice."
Ladian Noctia.
The barrier to entry for Class A moved towards Beatrice and Isaac.
"You're beautiful today as well. Showing an unpleasant sight yesterday..."
"Let's go, Isaac."
Ladian, who was always courteous like the epitome of etiquette towards Beatrice.
Beatrice ignoring him sharply as usual.
Up to here, it was as everyone expected.
"Yeah, Vera."
Everyone couldn't close their mouths at the words that followed from Isaac.
Vera.
There was no one in this Class A who didn't notice who it referred to.
Yes, they noticed.
But didn't understand.
"Already close with that Beatrice...?"
"Wasn't yesterday the first time they met?"
"Vera... On nickname terms? Oh my oh my."
Reina was also confused, but had no time to think.
"... Ha."
This is bad.
She immediately stood up.
Black light mana rippled around Ladian.
It was something he couldn't control and burst out.
Ladian's hand slowly approaching Isaac.
I have to stop it.
Reina, who confirmed mana gathering, tried to draw up mana immediately but discovered something strange.
"Puhehe~"
Beatrice, called Vera by Isaac, was rather laughing while watching the scene.
They're not close?
Why laugh like that right before getting hurt...
Thud.
"... Huh?"
A short groan spread through the classroom.
"Hmm?"
"Why is Ladian like that?"
"Is something wrong?"
The students who had been watching with interest were filled with bewilderment.
One person.
That can't be...
Except for Reina.
Ladian had tried to use magic.
He awakened mana, and it was the moment right before activation.
But.
Isaac's hand struck away Ladian's hand, and at the same time, the mana disappeared.
Did the mana disappear because his concentration was broken?
Anyone who didn't know Ladian would judge it that way.
He forcibly disrupted the mana?
An impossible feat.
Many had tried until now, but no one succeeded.
Even the headmaster, the greatest archmage in history.
Forgetting even to blink, she replayed what she saw several times.
"Puhehe~ It's amazing no matter when I see it~"
Beatrice muttering softly.
Ah.
So that's how they could become close.
A genius among ordinary people can't help but feel lonely.
No one understands them.
They don't understand anyone either.
Why they can't do it.
How they can do it.
Fundamentally, they are beings who cannot understand each other.
For such Beatrice, someone who could understand her appeared.
Moreover.
"Ah, sorry. Habit."
Isaac with a good-natured smile.
It was clearly him who picked the fight, and Ladian who did the wrong action, but it was Isaac who apologized.
In a way, he perfectly broke down the barrier to entry for Class A.
By the time they came to their senses, they had already passed Ladian and Beatrice and Isaac were sitting together.
"What are you doing after class today?"
"Shall we do ... today too~"
"... Let's rest for a day. We did it late last night."
"But I want to do it again~"
"Haah... Fine. Let's do it. Let's do it all night."
"Really~?"
"Sorry... That might be too much for my stamina."
"Puhehe~ I'll let it slide this time~"
... No way.
Reina, who had been listening closely, her face gradually turned red.
"What? What happened?"
"... I'll tell you later."
Elisia, who returned, asked, but she couldn't answer right away.
Reina, with her head bowed and fanning her flushed face with her hand.
Her mind was already.
What...! It's only been a day since they met...! They're adults now, but... their statuses are commoner and duke... Kyaa...
Filled with demons.
