Mage Marygold (2)

2.

He recalled a conversation with his sister from long ago.

"Huh? What's a mana circle? Does that even exist?"

It was a moment that vaguely revealed just how low her understanding of magic—the realm of mages—was. His sister didn't even know the concept of circles existed.

"A circle is basically a numerical measure that distinguishes a mage's power level. Every time you advance to a higher circle, you can use stronger spells and such..."

He'd explained at length, but his sister's reaction remained lukewarm. She looked utterly uninterested in his boring, pedantic lecture.

"So, basically, it's something round?"

"...?"

In the end, the concept of circles in this game was applied in a rather unique way, sister-style.

The compass-like object Marygold was holding right now was its true form.

"Hnnngggggh!"

Marygold strained with all her might, her face turning beet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠red, but naturally, the compass needle didn't budge ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an inch.

"Haaaaaaaah!"

Only when she looked like her head might explode did Jeniss call a doctor stop.

"Enough, enough. You'll pop your eyes out at this rate, you fool."

"...Master, I think this thing's broken. There's no way it wouldn't react after all that."

"Hmm. Let me see."

Marygold's eyebrows, arched high in frustration, drooped straight down the moment Jeniss took the compass.

This place called it the 5th Rank stage.

From 1st Rank to 2nd Rank was novice mage territory. 3rd Rank to 4th Rank was intermediate. And from 5th Rank onward, they were classified as advanced mages.

Jeniss was one such advanced mage herself. Elder of her magic school, academy professor material, and the benchmark for earning a baron's title from the imperial family.

"It's working fine."

"...It should be broken..."

Dejected, Marygold chewed her lip and slumped completely.

Unable to stand it, Lancel chimed in.

"If you train hard enough, you might at least get started with magic. Don't get too down, Mary."

"...I shouldn't accept consolation from a knight..."

What?

"You little brat!"

"Ow!"

Jeniss's teaspsoon smacked Marygold right on the forehead.

"Quit yapping and brew more tea, you fool!"

Lancel closed his eyes as Marygold clutched her forehead and shuffled to the kitchen.

She pursues becoming a mage despite lacking talent, and even though she's not a mage yet, she hates knights just for drinking mage water.

Or maybe the opposite. Maybe she wants to become a mage because she hates knights.

He wasn't sure.

"As if she'll pass the academy like that," Jeniss clucked her tongue.

"Academy? Mary's applying to the magic department?"

"Wouldn't surprise me. Anyone can apply. But passing in her current state? Dream on."

"What's the admission requirement?"

"1st Rank magic or higher."

"More lenient than I thought."

"Can't exactly call it tough."

Indeed. They'd count even crude approximations of magic as 1st Rank.

The real issue was whether someone without talent could even reach 1st Rank.

"When's the entrance exam?"

"Three months from now, I think. Mary's turning sixteen this year, so if she fails this one, that's it—no more chances."

The academy, huh. Lancel stroked his chin.

This loop, spending time at the academy might not be bad.

Yeah.

Fallen Lady Simulation had plenty of events even within the academy. With talented commoners and noble kids all gathered there, Lancel figured squeezing in for a round couldn't hurt.

Just try it out.

Do it. Find a decent route inside. That was Lancel's goal, no reason to avoid it.

Getting in wouldn't be hard for him.

I'll just enroll in the knight department as an instructor. No issues.

Marygold, lips pursed as she boiled tea. She was the problem.

"If she prepares hard from now, couldn't she pass?"

Jeniss shook her head.

"No chance."

This is hopeless?

3.

"He's here again."

"Sir Lancel! Come on in!"

After that day, Lancel visited Baron Jeniss's mansion once in a while.

Under the pretext of investing gold in her airship research.

He could pull funds from Baron Ivil Shen anytime, so it was the most convenient excuse.

Thanks to that, he received a grand welcome from Baron Jeniss every time.

"To take my research this seriously! If all knights were like you, Sir Lancel! Stay over anytime."

He was the one stepping up to fund her after she'd cut off investments by turning the palace fields into a sea of fire.

After a week, she even offered him a permanent room.

Of course, Lancel had zero interest in her flying contraption research.

Good if it never actually worked and caused another accident.

"Where's Mary?"

He was only curious about Marygold's status, who trained in bizarre mana cultivation methods daily.

* * *

Watching Marygold's daily life, she spent 33% as a maid, 33% as an assistant, and 33% as a disciple.

She'd do simple chores, cleaning, cooking—then receive magic lessons from Jeniss once in a while.

On the two days a week Jeniss was away at the academy, Marygold researched her own mana cultivation methods...

What the hell are you doing?

To Lancel's eyes, it just looked utterly nonsensical.

"The earth's energy flows to me... The earth's mana enters... Enters... Enters...! The Earth God's mana surges in... Surges... Surges..."

Tuesday. The voice came from Marygold, buried face-first in the fallow field dirt.

Lancel watched from a safe distance.

"Hoo... Hoo..."

Soon, she started snoring.

That's how you sleep, huh.

Mana cultivation methods varied slightly by academy and mage, but Lancel could confidently say he'd never seen that before.

Such eccentricity was Marygold's alone.

Gathering mana by wallowing in mud piles. Even Lancel, with centuries of loops, was seeing it for the first time.

...Something went up, at least.

Better than nothing rising, right? Lancel tried to think positively as he gazed at the soundly sleeping Marygold.

"There's a woman here?"

"What? A woman?"

He'd only cleared out the local thugs loitering nearby.

"Nngh?"

Marygold jolted awake. The sun was already dipping low.

"I feel... I feel like... mana has accumulated!"

She clenched her fists, eyes blazing with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fervor.

Accumulated, my ass.

Lancel let out a hollow chuckle.

. . .

The next day.

"Hey! I heard there's someone floating in the lake! You're coming with the guard post!"

"Y-Yes?! This is just a method for magic training..."

"No excuses! Get out!"

"Ahh, w-wait a sec!"

Marygold, bobbing in the lake to gather mana, was getting hauled in.

"Out now!"

For unauthorized entry into a nobles-only area.

"Stand straight. You're coming to the guard post."

"I-I'm just an apprentice mage researching magic...!"

"Quiet!"

You're really something, Marygold.

In the end, Lancel had to intervene for her release from the slammer.

Whatever questioning she'd endured in the meantime left her tear-streaked as she emerged, clutching another bowl of oatmeal.

"You should say thanks for getting you out, Mary."

"...Thanks for getting me out."

"Should I assign a knight escort too?"

"...Sir."

"Can't hear you."

"Knight... sir..."

Her voice came out thin as a mosquito's whine, head bowed low.

Her face flushed with humiliation. Receiving help from a knight she despised had apparently shattered her pride.

Probably.

"Return that oatmeal."

"...Yes."

Lancel led the crestfallen Marygold to a nearby restaurant.

After a long wait in the boisterous atmosphere, silently awaiting their food.

"Your order's here."

"One honey mead too."

"Right away!"

Lancel pointed at the table for Marygold.

"What're you waiting for? Eat. You must be starving after all day."

"Aren't you eating, Sir Lancel?"

"I'll eat. You first."

"Yes...!"

As heaps of meat and bread piled before her, Marygold's energy visibly returned. Lancel watched her munch away heartily, then spoke up.

"You know you have no magic talent, right, Mary?"

"Cough!"

His blunt words caught in her throat.

"No way you don't know."

Lancel sipped his honey mead and continued.

"Magic's a field where even a hundred years of effort from the talentless barely scratches the basics, Mary. Clinging to the impossible is a waste of life."

"..."

"To me, you seem suited for an easier path. With that diligence, you'd excel at something fitting."

Drop magic.

That was Lancel's probe.

Even with protagonist buffs, her talent fell short of grand mage potential. Best case, average mage. Meaningless.

Just a normal ending.

A loop with strong magic talent would come eventually. Better to aim for that.

With talent, she could hit grand mage and chase the true ending.

Not impossible, given Marygold's endless potential.

Whenever that loop came.

"I'm saying this because your life's too precious to waste, Mary. Knight's advice might not sit well, but heed it."

Yeah. Too precious to squander on no-talent pursuits.

Holding onto futile hopes would just lead to failure and misery.

Lancel didn't want to see that.

That was his true feeling.

"I have a goal, Sir Lancel."

Marygold set down her fork and said.

"To become a great mage, someone even the empire's knights look up to... I want to change my future. Do something only magic can achieve."

"Too grand for a talentless apprentice."

"Ugh... I know my dreams are big. But I want to try to the end. I have a master now. If I learn well, maybe..."

Getting in Jeniss's good graces was lucky.

Lancel sipped his drink, staring at Marygold's face.

He sensed a hint of urgency in her expression.

Previous loop memories influencing her, no doubt.

The war? Not guaranteed within ten years.

Just speculation.

"...Is it weird?"

Marygold stared back, her eyes inexplicably misty.

"Eat first."

"...Yes!"

. . .

The next day.

"Huh?"

Lancel rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

A strange new stat had appeared.

Mana Affinity?

He'd seen it before.

Just odd that Marygold had it.

Because.

"Isn't that a stat only for demihumans?"

Marygold... she seemed to have slipped beyond human specs.