Eyes Blinded
"As expected..."
What do you mean, "as expected," you bastard. There's a one-in-a-million chance that Logue really was that kind of guy, but at the very least, that Logue isn't me. From the way Hero's thinking, it seems he believes I deliberately played the role of a troublemaker at the academy for my little sister's sake...
'Not bad, maybe...?'
It really isn't bad. Now we'd move on to a heartfelt apology and become best friends...
"Even so... I haven't forgiven you for the things you said and did."
...Yeah, that wasn't happening. Serein was still glaring at me with open hostility. Thinking about it, it made sense. From her perspective, she'd suffered plenty because of Logue, regardless of the details.
In times like this...
"Done saying what you wanted to say? Then let's get going."
Running away was the best option. Hero seemed satisfied just having confirmed the facts and stepped aside without protest.
"How far are you planning to follow me?"
"Ah, right... I must've spaced out after hearing something so strange. There's no way Logue could be that kind of person..."
Thwack. I lightly flicked Sane on the forehead.
"Aack! Look at this...!"
"Weren't you the one begging me to hit you?"
"I never begged..." she muttered, rubbing her head. After that, she headed outside to resume her security duties.
"...Are you serious? You deliberately caused trouble. Though, now that I think about it, your behavior was way too tame compared to the rumors."
Me? Tame? I'd just spent thirty minutes beating the crap out of someone like they were a rat. Apparently Isabel's standards for "tame" were quite different from everyone else's. Even though she hadn't even realized I was in the same class at first, she must've picked up the rumors about me being a troublemaker somewhere.
"Depends on how you look at it."
"...What are you even saying?"
I don't know either.
. . .
After sending Kiene, who'd followed me all the way to the classroom, back to her own class, I sat back down.
'Does Kiene not have any friends either...?'
Birds of a feather flock together, I guess. Isabel didn't seem to have many friends either.
...And obviously, neither did I.
'Well, who cares... You can live just fine without friends!'
While I was thinking that, a bald professor climbed onto the podium. His name was Lux. He'd been brought in as a substitute after the original B-Class professor left to prepare for the ranking matches. The inside of the academy classroom felt strangely bright. Apparently, neither mana nor holy power could cure hair loss. Even in the world I came from, they'd succeeded with heart transplants and genetic manipulation but still couldn't fix baldness.
Bald Eagle... no, the professor opened his mouth.
"Before Professor Izlan, your B-Class advisor, left to prepare for the ranking matches, he left me with a request."
The reason multiple professors were involved in preparing for the ranking matches was because setting up barriers and other safety measures, coordinating the venue, and discussing the proceedings took quite a lot of time. The academy's ranking matches were also considered quite important within the empire, so many people came to watch besides academy staff. That's why they spent so long preparing, to ensure maximum safety.
'What kind of request did that crazy professor leave behind...'
While advisors met students about as often as other professors outside of shared classes, they were also responsible for career counseling, personal concerns, and leading their assigned class in accordance with their title.
"If you lose to A-Class in the ranking matches, all students in this class will receive zero points on their practical scores."
...And there was also a subtle rivalry between the class advisors. Each class's performance directly affected the professors' incentives and reputation.
The classroom erupted into murmurs.
'Son of a bitch...'
Already on the verge of failing, with my attendance score in the gutter, and now they were going to zero out the one score I could still aim for? This was tyranny of the highest order. A-Class had Kiene and that insane mage. Even with Hero and Isabel on our side, the gap in strength was overwhelming. It'd be better to just attack the professors together and deal with them.
Just as I was gripping my spear, about to deal with the bald eagle in front of me—
"Everyone! Let's give it a shot! I don't think we have anything to fear from A-Class!"
Hero encouraged the other students with a bright voice.
"You're right... We might actually stand a chance. We have Hero and Isabel, after all."
"Linne's pretty well-known in the magic department too, isn't she?"
For the record, I'd never even spoken to Linne despite being in the same class, but she was a regular mage character who appeared in the later parts of the story as well.
The students murmured again. But this time, the atmosphere was different. Hopeful murmurs of mutual encouragement filled the classroom.
...Isabel was even clenching her fists slightly, looking excited. She just seemed thrilled at the mention of a fight.
"Good to see everyone so motivated."
The bald professor nodded with a satisfied expression. Every time he moved his head, light reflected off it and struck my eyes.
'Ah, my eyes...'
If I had another class with this professor, I'd have to bring sunglasses.
***
"This class will be conducted in conjunction with the magic department. Some of you may already know this, but the ranking matches are about to begin, and students from the magic and knight departments will compete for rankings without distinction."
The ranking matches held at the end of every school year. Their purpose was to foster competition among students, evaluate individual abilities, and identify high-ranking students.
...Originally, the purpose had been to scout talent to fight against the demon race. This world was one where demons and the Demon King existed. Two hundred years after the previous hero defeated the Demon King, people had grown complacent, believing that any demon-related incidents were merely the remnants of the Demon King's army causing trouble. But the Demon King hadn't died. The wounds inflicted by the previous hero had been so severe that even the goddess couldn't detect her existence as she hid away, but she was slowly recovering, and the previous hero had already lived out his natural lifespan and passed away from old age.
Though the academy had now become a place of socializing and corruption, it had originally been an educational institution meant to nurture talent to fight the demons under the guidance of the previous hero. The ranking matches were part of that purpose as well.
...Now, they had simply become another credential for noble society or future careers. The only reason I knew the Demon King was still alive was because I knew the game's story—everyone else believed the hero had already defeated her. Later, as more and more demon-related incidents occurred and Hero was chosen as the hero, the Demon King would become a major threat.
...I got sidetracked, but the point is that the ranking matches were an important event.
"Whether you're in the knight department or the magic department, you need to take an interest in each other's fields. In real combat, you won't only be facing attacks from your own department. That's also why knight department students don't necessarily only use swords. You need knowledge of various weapons to be able to respond effectively."
Somehow, even though this was a knight department class, they were suddenly teaching magic-related knowledge. I'd wondered if I was in the wrong class, but apparently this was the reason.
"Anyway, that's why this knight department class will be held together with graduate students from the magic department. First, you'll observe their magic, and afterward, anyone who wishes can participate in sparring."
Thud, thud. Graduate students from the magic department appeared, dark circles heavy under their eyes.
"Finally out of the lab... Feels like we've been caged like zoo animals..."
"Still... This is better. It's been so long since I've breathed fresh air..."
This really was another world that had thrown human rights to the dogs. They seemed to work them even harder than in my original world.
'You chose to become graduate students. Endure it with grit and determination.'
After each of them finished their self-introductions, the theory lesson on magic began. The person leading the class was the most senior-looking among the graduate students.
...I'd assumed as much because he looked the most exhausted.
"As you all know, mana exists in all living beings and in the atmosphere. This mana is deeply connected to an individual's mind and soul, serving as the source of magic."
I was already getting sleepy. I was grateful I hadn't possessed a mage's body. If I had, I would've become a physical mage.
Nuclear Bomb (Physical)!
'......Not bad?'
"To convert mana into a form that affects the external world, you need to use symbols and incantations—that is, chants. The reason mages draw magic circles is because they serve as tools to help use mana safely and effectively."
"Magic circles contain specific symbols and patterns that regulate the flow of mana and produce the desired magical effects. ...Using mana recklessly can lead to explosions and other dangers, so they're essential."
'I still explode even when I use magic circles, though?'
Unfortunately, since this was an outdoor class, it was hard to nap. Lying down to sleep would be rude, even if resting my head on the desk might've been acceptable.
. . .
"Hey... wake up..."
Someone poked my body to wake me. It was Isabel. I'd only meant to lean against the wall of the outdoor training ground for a moment, but I'd ended up falling asleep. I felt like I'd had a happy dream...
"Student who was sleeping over there. Could you help with a magic demonstration?"
Ah. I was pissed. The graduate student who looked like he was barely holding back his anger had called on me. Refusing to help here would make me less than human. I moved over to stand beside the graduate student.
"The magic I'll be demonstrating now is a basic spell that every mage can use, without exaggeration. It's called [Barrier], a spell that creates a transparent energy shield around the user to deflect physical attacks and weaker magic."
It was the most basic of spells. Its effectiveness varied dramatically depending on the user's skill.
"Would you mind hitting me?"
"......Yes."
He was probably trying to demonstrate the strength of the barrier himself.
"[Barrier]"
The graduate student beside me cast the spell. A faintly translucent membrane enveloped him.
"You can hit me as hard as you want!"
...As hard as I wanted...? He was probably planning to humiliate me by showing that I couldn't break his barrier in front of the students. A petty revenge, perhaps. I couldn't just take it lying down.
"...Very well, then."
I gripped Goliath's Shield in my hand.
"Why are you holding a shield? I'm the one defending..."
Power surged through my entire body. I'd already checked the graduate student's mana level. It wasn't particularly impressive.
'In that case...'
Channeling strength from my toes to my shoulder, I threw a punch straight at his abdomen.
Crack!
The moment my fist connected with the barrier, a powerful shock reverberated through me along with a shattering sound. Small cracks that began on the barrier instantly spread and scattered into the air like breaking glass. My fist, which still hadn't stopped, struck his abdomen directly.
"Guhhh...."
Ah. I'd messed up. I couldn't hold back. When you stand in front of a punching machine, don't you always want to hit it with full power? I'd meant to stop at just breaking the barrier, but I'd accidentally put in more strength.
Shock filled Hero's eyes as he looked at me.
'I'm screwed.'