Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Linea Hall's Worst Mage (3)
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The cafeteria was far busier than I'd expected.
The boisterous chatter from hundreds of students was so loud it made my ears ring, and I couldn't help but frown.
But seeing the stew in front of me eased my mind a little.
I picked up a spoon and scooped some of the thick broth into my mouth.
A warm flavor spread across the tip of my tongue.
"This is good..."
Yeah, this was worth putting off my nap for.
If I had to rate it, it'd be about 0.85 Lia level.
I was quietly moving my spoon when I felt someone staring at me intently.
Claire, sitting across from me, had stopped eating and was gazing right at me.
Was this her first time seeing someone eat?
"What?"
"No, just... it's fascinating watching the spoon move on its own."
Fair enough. Not everyone sees telekinesis magic used for eating every day.
"It's nothing special. Just basic magic."
Without mana, your body suffers—that's just how it works.
I shrugged nonchalantly, and Claire suddenly burst out laughing.
"Ahaha! Lunaris, you're not at all what I pictured."
"...Huh?"
What did she think I was?
"You didn't show up anywhere at the academy last week. Skipped the entrance ceremony, missed all the lectures."
"Yeah."
"You know all kinds of rumors were flying around because of that?"
In the rumors, I was the academy's worst delinquent.
"Like how you got so mad during the interview that you flipped tables and chairs with advanced magic."
"...?"
I did wreck the interview room with telekinesis magic, but I wasn't angry.
And I put everything back perfectly.
"Or how you blew up an entire classroom during the practical exam and got suspended right after enrollment."
"...What?"
I did blow up a classroom, but it was an accident.
Not on purpose.
"There were even rumors you fought a week-long magic duel with Professor Raymond, the head of the Magic Department, over getting into the Magic Engineering Department..."
"???"
That weird department head did come looking for me every day, but we didn't throw down or anything.
"And how you turned your dorm room into a workshop to research dangerous magic... and got on the maids' bad side."
Magic research? I barely had time to sleep.
...Okay, getting on the maids' bad side was true.
It was all so ridiculous that a chuckle slipped out before I knew it.
If I hadn't shown up for a whole month, they might've said I was planning to blow up the entire academy.
"It's all exaggerated."
"I figured... Wait, exaggerated? So it's not total nonsense?!"
"...Total nonsense."
Explaining it properly would just be boring and pedantic, so I brushed it off vaguely.
Claire nodded along, laughing, then started chatting away more comfortably about this and that.
About the vibe in the Magic Department, how nice the dorm rooms were.
She kept talking nonstop.
At first, I half-ignored her out of annoyance, but I gradually got used to the conversation.
Being around her might not be so boring after all.
Humans are creatures ruled by desire.
Once you're full, you want to sleep. Once you're up, you want to eat again.
Eat, sleep, shit.
That's life.
Why bring up the obvious? Because Elterion Academy insists on afternoon lectures less than an hour after lunch.
Wake up, wake up already...!!
The sunlight streaming lazily through the window was perfect nap weather.
But reality was cruel.
"Everyone, focus. I'm about to demonstrate the intermediate spells you'll master this semester."
Standing in neat rows in the middle of the indoor auditorium, enduring this dull, pretentious lecture was utterly depressing.
"I'll show each of the four elemental spells just once, so pay attention."
The middle-aged professor, with his hair neatly combed back, raised his staff and pointed it at a metal dummy.
A short incantation gathered mana at the staff's tip, unfolding a magic circle.
It started with fire.
Heat converged on a single point, exploding and leaving scorch marks on the metal lump.
Then, faint frost crept over the dummy's surface.
A translucent blade of wind thunk, thunk battered the metal.
Finally, an earthen spear crumpled the dummy's torso.
Applause and gasps of admiration rose from the students at the professor's crisp demonstration.
"Ahem! Most mages specialize in one or two elements, but there are those like me who handle all four."
It sounded boastful, but mastering all four elements wasn't that impressive.
Anyone could do it with effort.
It was just a matter of efficiency.
Most people pick one or two affinities and focus there.
Handling all elements often meant no real specialty.
...Pretty much like me.
"Practice until you can perfectly cast one of the intermediate spells I just showed by midterms."
I stifled a yawn and nodded vaguely.
This class was utterly useless.
Linea Hall's bed danced in my mind.
It must miss me too... Yawn...
"Professor! I have a request."
Suddenly, someone raised their hand.
"Isn't there an advanced mage among our freshmen?"
"Hm, now that you mention it..."
"If you allow it, Professor, we'd love to get a real sense of what an advanced mage is like."
I could see right through that.
I glanced sideways at him.
A smirk played on his lips.
"If the rumors are true and she's as amazing as they say, showing us a simple spell for her classmates should be no big deal."
Snickers rippled through the surrounding students.
"Haha. I was curious too. Lunaris, can you show us?"
Not sure how to react, I scratched my head awkwardly.
Using magic itself wasn't hard...
But controlling the power on basic elemental spells was tricky.
As I hesitated, the professor grinned and pressed me.
"An advanced mage should handle at least two elements' intermediate spells with ease, even if not all four."
Then, as if struck by a fun idea, he gave a sly smile and continued.
"Here's a deal. If you successfully cast two of the spells I demonstrated, you can skip my class until midterms."
"...Oh."
Now that was tempting.
"What if I do all of them?"
"Hm? Haha! Then you're exempt from attendance for the whole semester."
"Sounds good."
I slowly stood up.
Securing Monday afternoon naps every week?
Who could resist?
If the magic went out of control, that wasn't my problem.
I was just doing as asked.
"That said, I didn't sleep much. Not at my best..."
I laid some groundwork, just in case.
This absolved me of any blame for what happened next.
I slowly raised my arm and drew up my mana.
First, intermediate earth magic.
An earthen spear—no, a pointed pillar—shot up behind me.
Whoa... not a good start.
Before I could control it, the pillar flew off on its own and pierced the metal dummy.
No, shattered it.
And punched straight through the auditorium wall.
"..."
"..."
"S-Student...?"
I prepped the next spell immediately.
Guilt? Not a chance.
I just wanted to finish the demo and crash.
Next, intermediate wind magic.
Wind stirred at my fingertips.
And whipped into a storm.
"Wh-what is this?!"
"Lunaris! Th-this isn't intermediate—it's advanced...!"
"Kyaa! Run!"
Shards of stone and brick flew everywhere.
The storm was growing, threatening to swallow an entire wall of the auditorium.
To end it quick... no, before more damage, I hurriedly channeled mana for the next spell.
Pale mist calmed the storm. Quelled the chaos.
"C-Cold!"
"Wh-what kind of spell has this range...?"
I shivered from the chill too.
Ugh, freezing. Hurry up with the last one and dive under the covers.
Intermediate fire: pinpoint explosion.
A black dot appeared at the center of the frozen space.
Cold air sucked into the point.
It grew, and grew...
...Wait. This could be bad.
"Student, that's enough! Calm the fire and stop the spell now!"
The professor's desperate shout echoed through the auditorium.
"I'm not even angry, though."
Should've used basic or beginner magic and passed it off as intermediate.
I'd only made things worse. Too late for regrets.
I gathered mana in my right hand to the max.
And cast the one spell I could control.
Telekinesis magic.
The space around the black point crumpled.
The nearby auditorium wall warped into the distortion.
Crack!
Bricks twisted with a grotesque sound.
Soon, an explosion erupted at the black point's center.
Boom!
Unlike the deafening roar, the auditorium fell silent. The flames were trapped in the warped space.
The noise faded.
I released my grip and slowly surveyed the room.
Damage seemed less than expected.
...Except for that one wall completely collapsed. Whatever.
No students looked seriously hurt.
Two arms, two legs, guts intact—good enough.
...Huh? Did I handle that pretty well?
Relieved, I let out a light sigh without thinking.
But apparently, I was the only one who thought nothing happened.
"..."
"..."
The students stared at me with frozen faces.
As if struck mute, they just gaped.
The professor was pale, sweating profusely.
He coughed repeatedly before squeezing out words.
"Cough, cough! Th-that's enough... I get it now... cough! You're an advanced mage..."
Seeing him like that stirred an odd guilt, so I looked away.
Turning, I spotted a guy trembling more than most.
It was the one who'd eagerly asked to see my magic.
"Eek...!"
Our eyes met, and he shrank back like I'd seen a ghost.
"Th-that's... enough, right?"
"I'm sorry for doubting you please forgive me have mercy..."
"..."
Was that the same smug guy from before?
As I pondered how to defuse the awkward mood,
"Your Highness! Are you alright?!"
Armored knights burst through the auditorium doors.
Things were about to get messy, so I slipped toward the hole in the wall.
"Professor, I'm heading out."
Trying to sound casual, he stared at me with a dazed expression.
"Y-yeah, go ahead..."
"Thanks. You've worked hard this semester."
"Uh... you still need to show up for exams. Just for roll call."
I was out through the wall hole before he finished.
"Ughhh..."
A week's worth of activity crammed into half a day.
Stamina fully drained.
Time to slink back to Linea Hall for a solid 24-hour nap.
If the maids try waking me in the morning?
That's war. Revolution. World War levels of heat.
I'll show them what happens when you anger mild-mannered me.