Not Learning from a Genius -2-
"Hup…!"
"…"
"Huuuup!"
"…"
As the last dregs of winter approached its end, the young lady and I were out in the yard after a long time, practicing magic.
The young lady, who couldn't use magic, sat there languidly sipping cocoa, while the hopeless student who'd taken a hobby in the academic discipline of magic extended his right hand toward a snowman and let out a bizarre scream.
"Hup…!"
I can feel it.
The flow of mana circulating in my body gathering in my right hand.
Picture a blazing flame in your mind, and firmly believe in your heart that it will succeed.
"Huuuup."
I took a deep breath as the shape of the spell slowly formed in my mind, then gradually opened my eyes.
*Flash…*
Here it comes.
"Fireball."
*Fweeeeeeen….*
"…"
Awkward glances passed between us. The young lady had frozen with her cocoa cup at her lips, and my own awkward gaze—having struck every pose perfectly only to fail spectacularly—lingered on the snowman standing there all alone.
*Crack.*
"Something's off. It feels like the world is out to get me."
"That's because you're an idiot, Ricardo."
"The theory was perfect."
"You're an idiot, so you don't even know theory."
"Even if I look like this now, I was called a genius at the academy."
"Not a genius. A moron."
"No, a genius at scheming."
"That's not a compliment."
"…"
"Explain the theory you came up with first. Then I can tell if you're a genius or not."
"Hm… Flash, then boom?"
The young lady stared at me pitifully, her eyes asking if that was really the spell theory I'd come up with.
Under her affectionate gaze, I scratched the back of my head sheepishly.
"Don't look at me like that. It's embarrassing."
"…Not a compliment."
"Oh?"
"Yeah."
"In that case, snack time today will be dumplings stuffed with carrots."
"Hiet…!"
Ignoring the young lady trembling in terror, I rested my chin on my hand and sank into thought.
What went wrong?
I thought it was perfect.
There are five main factors that determine the success of a spell.
One: Understanding of the incantation.
Two: Speed of magical computation.
Three: Unwavering focus and confidence.
Four: Imagination to manifest the magic.
And finally, the total amount of mana.
No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason for the spell to fail. My mana reserves weren't lacking, and I understood the theory perfectly.
So where was the problem? At this level, I'd usually pinpoint it, but progress was at a standstill, leaving me frustrated.
Is my imagination too exaggerated?
I wiped the beads of sweat from my forehead and looked at the young lady.
"Why isn't it working?"
"Because you're trying to feed me carrot dumplings."
"I don't think that's it."
"Eeeeek! I hate carrots! Devil…! Ricardo's a devil!"
"Not something I'd expect to hear from a mage trying to summon one."
The young lady thrust out her fingers in a cross shape. Even villains turn to God in desperation, it seems.
I gave her a light smile, then spat out a curt assessment of my repeated failures.
"Guess I have no talent for magic."
"Took you long enough."
"…"
"Sorry."
No matter how I looked at it, I seemed to lack any talent for magic. Struggling for so long over a single fireball was ridiculous even to me.
Swordsmanship had been a breeze, though. Hmm… I figured once I learned it, I'd improve quickly, but magic was proving far more difficult than expected.
Without something like a "genius without technique" trait to help, it felt even slower.
Feeling skeptical about my stagnant skills, I gave a wry smile and looked at the young lady.
"Should I go on a training journey?"
"You'd probably stay the same."
"You never know. I might have an epiphany and become a grand mage in one go. Pretty cool, right?"
"Your dreams are too big."
"…"
"I heard it's better for life not to chase empty dreams sometimes."
"Who taught you that?"
"You did."
"…"
As expected from a born villainess, she had no qualms about landing hurtful words. Of course, I was the one who'd taught her that line.
Still, it was better than false hope making me delusional. If there was no answer, I could just read Ruin's grimoire myself.
No need to overthink it. The situation wasn't that urgent anyway.
For now, I'd keep trying as hard as I could, and if I hit a dead end, I'd figure it out then. No rush.
So.
"Uhuuuuuu!!"
Time to try again.
*
*Zap.*
*
Under the dark alleyway.
Yuria, having studied at the library until late into the night, walked alone under the streetlamps.
It was 1 a.m. The streets of the academy were deserted at this hour.
Not even encountering a patrolling guard, Yuria shivered, shoulders trembling at the eerie feeling, and quickened her pace.
"Did I study too late…?"
The library had been empty during break, so she'd thought leaving early was fine, but now it felt like a mistake.
Regretting not studying in her dorm instead, Yuria pressed on.
The academy grounds were vast—a small city in scale, with the library, dorms, labs, lecture halls, and more all clustered together.
The walk from the library to the women's dorm alone took about 15 minutes.
Yuria squeezed her eyes shut at the pitch-black street stretching ahead.
"R-right! I'll sing a song."
Singing helped chase away fear a bit. To shake off the chills, Yuria started humming.
"Cuckoo, cuckoo, the cuckoo cries from the valley…."
"Kriuk, kriuk… ki…ruk…."
*Meow~*
"Hyat!"
A cat appeared suddenly, seemingly displeased with her singing, making Yuria jolt and shudder.
"Haaa… Don't pop up like that. You scared me."
*Meow?*
"Sorry… sorry… sorry. It's not your fault."
Yuria blushed in embarrassment at the cat tilting its head.
"So embarrassing…."
She shook her burning face side to side, dispelling the creeps. The darkness was scary, after all. The cat's eerie meow, too. And the empty street.
Standing alone here terrified her.
It'd be nice to have someone reliable by her side right now… There used to be.
Clutching her reference book tight, Yuria recalled the past.
It had been around this time back then, too.
Why do my friends hate me…?
Walking back to the dorm alone after late-night library sessions, head hung low—that memory surfaced.
I want to study with them, too.
It had been just as scary then. On a spring night with crickets chirping faintly.
Maybe even scarier than now, Yuria thought. And she'd been mentally overwhelmed.
A time when she'd dwell heavily on things she'd normally brush off lightly, and take casual words to heart.
That night's street had felt darker, heavier than tonight.
*Step. Step.*
Startled by her own footsteps as she walked.
Heading back from work now?
Ricardo had been standing there. In the darkest stretch without streetlamps—the scariest part—he'd been waiting, checking his watch.
You scared me…!
Why so jumpy?
You're just suddenly there… Wait, why are you here anyway? It's late.
Hm… Saw it in a book.
Huh?
There's this thing. First-year first semester.
That time had been spring for Yuria.
Whenever the lonely walk scared her, Ricardo appeared like magic. Even on especially late nights, he'd be there.
She'd sometimes wondered if he was a stalker, but his emotionless demeanor only made her heart flutter foolishly. Those days had felt like a warm, fuzzy spring to her.
Why do you keep waiting?
Scared you'll be afraid?
…Huh?
Kidding. Just a coincidence on my walk.
…Really?
No.
For some reason, memories of that day flooded her mind tonight. It had only been less than a year, but the times with Ricardo loomed large in her heart.
So every time she walked this street, she got trapped in the past, feeling a wistful melancholy.
Why did Ricardo bully me?
Such foolish lingering thoughts.
She'd told herself to forget the pain and start anew, but when shadows crept into her emotions, negativity always stirred her heart.
"Haa…"
Today, too, Yuria walked the unlit street with her head down.
And behind her.
"Found you."
Dark shadows began to close in.
Protect Yuria.
Reward: Vitality Information / ??? / ??