Chapter 270: White Wants to Get Stronger! (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 270: White Wants to Get Stronger! (2)
“Ah… well, I guess doing it like that occasionally isn’t so bad.”
“Then, eliminate them all within five minutes,” Luce instructed calmly.
“Give it a try, White.”
“Yes!”
At Isaac’s command, White looked at the targets with eyes full of determination.
I have to do well.
She wanted to show her best to Isaac, who always helped and cared for her.
White manifested a wind magic circle once more, casting the three-star spell, [Wind Sword].
With a sharp swish, the pale green blade of wind sliced through a muscular Bello. Luce controlled her mana, making the water figure dissipate the moment it was struck.
Just as the third water figure was eliminated—
Pshhh!
“Gasp!”
One of the muscular Bellos suddenly spat a high-pressure stream of water from its mouth.
It was a direct projectile attack. Startled, White reflexively deployed the four-star wind magic [Wind Wall]. A powerful whirlwind erupted in front of her, sweeping the jet of water aside.
Her heart nearly stopped. White let out a shaky sigh that made the very air tremble.
“Oh, they fight back too.”
Isaac adjusted his glasses, looking impressed.
“W-what was that…?”
“Just smashing stationary targets is boring. I made them shoot water at irregular intervals to keep you on your toes,” Luce replied.
“Y-you could have warned me…”
White trembled under Luce’s flat “why should I?” gaze, unable to say another word.
“You did well just now, White.”
“What?”
“That surprise attack was completely unexpected. Deploying [Wind Wall] immediately shows how much you’ve grown.”
Isaac smiled, recalling White’s duel with the Priestess Mei. White tended to become more focused and her calculation speeds increased significantly during crucial moments.
“You’re strong in actual combat.”
“Senior Isaac…”
The high praise from her archwizard mentor made White feel like dancing with joy.
“Hehehe, thank you! Then, I’ll keep going!”
With a bright smile, White cast [Wind Sword] again.
*
Four minutes later.
White lay sprawled on the ground like a drowned rat. The muscular Bello figures were still flaunting their physiques, but White had reached her absolute limit.
“Senior Isaac…”
“Uh…”
“I’m just a mouth to feed. A useless pest. Worthless livestock,” White murmured, her voice dripping with self-loathing.
“Uhm, well, cheer up… Thanks, Luce.”
As Isaac tried to console her while sweating nervously, Luce simply walked away without looking back.
The muscular water figures of Bello gradually dissolved into puddles.
*
It was a few days before the start of the new term. Most of the students had already returned to campus.
There were occasional reports of students deciding to take a leave of absence or withdraw from the academy entirely due to the grim incidents that had occurred recently.
However, such cases were few and far between. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave such a prestigious academy after working so hard to get accepted.
Headmistress Elena informed me that the faculty had faced a barrage of complaints from parents. However, the backlash was milder than expected. She suspected it was because people were wary of me. I didn't pay it much mind.
The sky was as black as ink, dusted with starlight like grains of salt. It was quiet and peaceful.
I was training my mana mastery with a magic tool in my right hand, running swiftly through the academy grounds.
The tuition issue was easily resolved.
I had already settled the fees for the second semester of my sophomore year. I didn’t indulge in luxury, and since I had earned a merit scholarship for my grades, I had some financial leeway.
And…
The black magic tool in my hand was so challenging to use that it made me frown. I had never encountered a tool that required such rigorous mana circulation.
—Choose from these. They are all rare items that are hard to come by.
This magic tool was a reward from Gerald for defeating the demons in the Astrea Duchy.
Among the various gifts offered, I had chosen this high-grade magic tool without hesitation, knowing how difficult it was to obtain.
I had received a pair designed for both hands, but I wasn't skilled enough to use them simultaneously yet, so I was sticking to one for now.
As long as this tool didn’t break, I wouldn’t need to waste money searching for a tougher one anytime soon.
“…?”
While running through the Hydrangea Garden, I sensed a familiar mana signature. It was coming from the direction of the small lake where I usually held mentoring sessions.
Passing through the trees, I reached the edge of the garden and saw a snow-white girl manifesting a wind magic circle. It was White.
She was panting heavily, firing the three-star magic [Wind Sword] at a distant rock target.
Shwack!
Kwagak!
The wind blades missed the target several times. However, White kept drawing out her mana, and eventually, a [Wind Sword] struck the rock.
“Waah…! I-I hit it! I hit it!”
Merlin, who was standing near the target, clapped her hands. “Excellent work, Princess White.”
It was long past the usual mentoring hours, yet she was still training.
“Ehehe! Now even long distances are no problem, Merlin!”
“Well done. Next, you have to hit this one.”
“He… he…”
There was another rock target Merlin had prepared. Although she focused on her skills as a knight, she was capable of using basic elemental magic.
The sense of achievement on White’s face was instantly replaced by a look of despair.
“By the way, what brings you here, Sir Isaac?”
“Huh? Senior Isaac?”
Merlin noticed me first. White jerked her head around to look at me, startled.
I stepped out from behind the tree.
“Why are you back here…? What brings you to the lake?”
“I just happened to be passing by during my run.”
I stood next to White and examined the magic circle she had deployed. White stiffened, looking embarrassed to show her work.
Her lines are clean. It’s limited to [Wind Sword], but her mana flow is steady.
The [Wind Sword] she had been swinging earlier was fluid, and her calculation speed was faster than usual.
Most importantly…
Her stamina and mana capacity have noticeably increased.
Seeing White drenched in sweat made me smile instinctively.
What a hardworking kid.
“Did I do something wrong…?” White’s voice trembled.
I shook my head. “It’s clean, with no wasted energy. It’s perfect.”
“Huh?”
“You’re doing great, White.”
I gave her a bright smile.
“Ah…”
White stared at me blankly. It seemed the memories of her grueling training sessions were flashing through her mind like a film.
Soon, tears began to well up in her eyes.
“You’re showing real progress. You’re doing a great job, really.”
“Sniff, Senior Isaaac…”
What? Why is she crying?
Sensing something was wrong, Merlin hurried over. But White ignored her and began to sob, wiping her tears with both hands.
“What’s wrong?”
“I never thought I’d hear those words… sniff. I always thought I was a hopeless pest… I thought that even though you said nice things, you were just being kind because you pitied me. I thought you saw me as worthless livestock… But I wanted to get stronger, so I kept trying… and hearing you say that makes me so happy I can't stop crying…!”
“What on earth have you been thinking of me? That never even crossed my mind.”
Isn’t she being a bit too negative?
“You’re far too self-deprecating. I meant every word. Now, stop crying.”
“Sniff, waaah…! Senior Isaaaac…!”
She only cried harder.
White had been acutely aware of her lack of skill since arriving at the academy, and her duels with Priestess Mei had left her with a deep sense of inadequacy.
White took no pride in her status as a Princess or her reputation as the world’s most beautiful woman. The biggest reason was likely her profound realization that all people meet the same end in death.
As a result, the factors that usually boosted a person's confidence had no effect on her. She had developed a habit of looking down on herself.
Moreover, she had been training incredibly hard in her own way. She must have had her own internal struggles.
Ah, this isn't good.
I suddenly remembered how I had cried bitterly after passing my second exam. I felt an unexpected emotional connection to her.
Gosh, I’m about to cry too…
“Princess White…”
Merlin smiled warmly. Recalling the difficult path the girl had walked during her training, Merlin was moved by White’s tears.
Exchanging a glance with Merlin, I looked back at White and gave a light smile.
“Stop crying. Your face will be all puffy for the start of the term tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry… sob.”
I patted White on the shoulder. She gradually stopped crying, though she continued to sniffle loudly.
“I feel great…!”
“What?”
White’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
“I feel like I can do anything right now!”
Her change in demeanor was incredibly fast. Well, that was a good thing.
White extended her hand toward me.
“Senior Isaac, let’s do that training again.”
“Now?”
She was referring to the synchronization training—enhancing mana mastery by mixing our mana together.
We had postponed this before because White’s skills hadn't reached the minimum level required, even though we had initially agreed to do it as a way for her to repay a debt.
“…Are you sure you won’t regret it?”
“It’s fine! I’ve grown!”
“Then don’t complain later.”
“I won’t!”
The advantage of this training method over a magic tool was that it could be adjusted to the partner’s level. By responding to each other’s mana circulation and blending them, it allowed for a more flexible approach.
The downside was that it had a lower ceiling. Once one gained enough skill, training with a high-grade magic tool was more effective.
For me, the benefit was that I could directly channel White’s mana. This would accelerate the time needed to acquire the unique ability I was aiming for.
“Alright, let’s do it.”
Rumble.
I used [Rock Generation] to create two simple stone chairs. White and I sat facing each other.
We extended our arms, placing our palms together.
Gradually, we began to let our mana flow.
Ssssss.
My pale blue mana and White’s pale green mana seeped out like mist, slowly intertwining.
The air was calm. However, it wasn’t long before White’s expression contorted. She squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth, trying to endure the sensation.
This exercise was similar to a full-body workout, like a prolonged plank. White was clearly feeling intense discomfort.
The principle was the same as using a magic tool—it was the constant, dull pain I lived with every day.
In contrast, for me, it felt like circulating mana with a low-level tool. It was so easy it didn't bother me at all.
“You can endure it now.”
“Hehe… Yes, I can…!” White responded confidently.
Five minutes later…
White’s face had twisted into a mask of agony, and she collapsed to the ground, literally foaming at the mouth.
“Ugh…”
“A-are you okay?”
“I-it hurts… It hurts, Senior Isaac…”
Tears welled up in her eyes again.
You said you wouldn’t complain.
I adjusted my glasses, a small smile spreading across my face.
“Still, you endured it. Five minutes is an impressive achievement.”
I stood up and extended my hand to her. With moist eyes, White looked at my face and my hand alternately.
Today, the time needed to obtain the unique ability I wanted for the [Fairy Way] scenario had been significantly shortened.
Beyond that, I was genuinely pleased with White’s growth.
“Princess White, your perseverance was admirable. It’s truly a remarkable feat.”
Merlin stood next to me and also extended her hand to White.
“Senior Isaac, Merlin…”
Perhaps because the atmosphere was so heartwarming, White looked like she was about to be moved to tears again.
Smiling, White grabbed both my hand and Merlin’s.
“Thanks, you two… Aaack!”
Ah, I was careless.
Because our mana had been intertwined for so long, the residual mana in our bodies clashed upon contact, causing a violent reaction.
We should have avoided physical contact until the lingering mana had completely dissipated.
“Ugh…”
“Ah… sorry.”
I offered a sincere apology to White, who was currently writhing in pain.