Transfer Student (4)
Transfer Student (4)
A new semester always brought new encounters.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. I am Professor Kai Ruisak, and I will be in charge of the Spirit Magic lecture this semester."
It was the first period of the second semester, Spirit Magic class. A deeply wrinkled old man stepped onto the lectern and greeted the students.
"Why is this a required course?"
Sure enough, Rosemary, seated in the back, grumbled under her breath. Given the relationship between magic beasts and spirits, it was a predictable reaction. Moreover, Professor Kai Ruisak was contracted with a spirit. The spirit dwelling in his body would be an eyesore to Rosemary.
"I utilize low-grade earth spirits to research nanometer-level materials. Any student interested in my lab, please don't hesitate to contact me at any time."
Fortunately, because the level of Kai Ruisak's spirit was low, it seemed he could not see through Rosemary's identity.
Conversely, Rosemary shot a stinging glare at my back. Just because a low-level spirit could not detect a high-class magic beast did not mean the reverse was also true.
Crunch, crackle.
A sound like someone chewing on rock candy came from behind me. How poorly had she managed her anger, to be grinding her teeth that hard?
"Has everyone brought their textbook?"
At the professor's question, the students nodded in unison.
"As you all know from looking at the syllabus, we will be studying with a textbook written by this person."
Kai Ruisak picked up a piece of chalk on the lectern and wrote a name on the blackboard.
[Clara Haspelt]
"Clara Haspelt is the elder sister of Kleis Haspelt, who served as your homeroom professor during the first semester. So the name might feel familiar to you."
Haspelt. That ill-omened family name had popped up.
I rested my chin on my hand and carefully listened to the professor's continued words.
"Clara Haspelt was a student I mentored. But before I knew it, she became a remarkable scholar and rather abruptly contracted with two high-class spirits."
The students let out quiet exclamations. Just contracting with a spirit was an amazing feat, but to do so with two 'high-class' ones on top of that.
To contract with a higher spirit, one had to be inherently good-natured and possess outstanding knowledge of the Magic Arts. As spirits served as avatars of the Goddess, or so the story went, they only permitted contracts with those who were upright and pure. The source was, naturally, Vermel.
In any case, given the public image of House Haspelt, I had never expected a member of this family to have contracted with a spirit. Of course, even if one's siblings were trash, it was not impossible for a single individual to be virtuous.
I would have to meet her in person to know the details.
"And where is this Clara Haspelt now?"
"...She passed away on the battlefield."
But it seemed misfortune had already befallen her before I came to this place.
Clap, clap.
To shift the class's now-melancholy mood, Professor Kai Ruisak clapped his hands and drew back the students' attention.
"Now, as it's the first day, I will simply introduce what Spirit Magic is and then conclude the class."
The professor wrote 'Unit 1: Understanding Spirit Magic' on the blackboard in Elvish. It seemed that, because the elves were a stronghold of Spirit Magic, he intended to conduct the class in their language.
"Spirit Magic literally means magic that utilizes spirits, but strictly speaking, it cannot be considered a distinct lineage within the Magic Arts."
That made sense. If a separate system called Spirit Magic truly existed, the tome on the Magic Arts that the Goddess gave me should have contained related content. But Spirit Magic was not among the Magic Arts required for me to return to my original world.
"A spirit that has contracted with a person basically enhances the efficiency and output of the Magic Arts that person can use. The technical term for this is 'Magic Sensitivity.' Those of you with exceptional sensitivity probably grew up hearing that you learned magic faster than others as children."
Sensitivity was a matter of talent.
Some people were born with a constitution more sensitive to mana particles, while others had to spend their whole lives with a constitution that could barely perceive them. The most extreme case of a race that struggles to sense mana particles was the Gold-Eye Tribe.
However, Magic Sensitivity could be heightened through communion with a spirit. This meant it was possible to acquire talent artificially, so to speak.
Because of this, many students hoped to contract with a spirit.
"Professor, I have a question. How does one contract with a spirit?"
"An excellent question. First, spirits do not attempt to contract with just anyone. They seek out only those who are prepared and virtuous. It is not something achieved solely by living a kind life, nor by simply being intelligent."
"Then would it be related to why there were so many spirit mages in the medieval period?"
"Indeed. When faith in the Goddess was strong across the entire continent, there were correspondingly more people of solid character."
In simple terms, it meant only those who devoted themselves to the Magic Arts with a pious heart were qualified to receive a spirit's proposal.
Then could the Gold-Eye Tribe also contract with a spirit?
Crunch.
Apparently not.
Even as I tried to focus on the lesson, the sound of teeth grinding came incessantly from behind me.
I deliberately knocked an eraser off my desk, then glanced at the back seat while pretending to pick it up. Rosemary was glaring at the professor with a look that could kill. She maintained a calm poker face, but she could not control the killing intent that leaked out.
Spirits and magic beasts were natural enemies, so it could not be helped.
Crunch, crackle.
...Even so, this class didn't seem irritating enough to grind one's teeth over.
**
Crunch, crackle.
"Quite edible."
Green grape flavor was indeed the best for masking the smell of smoke.
Rosemary set off on her way home after class, heading for the Imperial Palace. In her heart, she wanted to cling to her eldest sister all day, but she had many tasks to attend to due to her public identity as a 'duke's daughter.'
"Phew, today was tough too."
After finishing her arduous duties as a noble and returning to her room, Blanton followed her in.
"Lady Rosemary, preparation for the dungeon's creation has been completed."
"Good, shall we begin?"
This was her last task before sleeping.
Rosemary took a violin out of its case and a staff from her subspace. Then, perched on the windowsill, she began to play a subtle melody.
And that very night, a small dungeon suddenly appeared in the northern part of Tillet Academy.
It did not take long for the academy to discover this. Partly because of its conspicuous location, and partly due to the incident during the last entrance ceremony when hundreds of Iron Drakes had attacked.
Especially since that incident at the entrance ceremony, there had been a continuous investigation into the cause and a search for the truth about the academy's back mountain. It was during this investigation that a Demon Cave appeared in the same area.
"Chairman, what should we do about this?"
Naturally, chaos erupted within the Board of Directors.
"What do you mean, what should we do? We must launch a full-scale investigation to determine whether it's dangerous!"
That same dawn, the Chairman, who had received an urgent work update via a Hotline, mobilized all investigative resources and ordered an inquiry into the newly formed dungeon on the academy's back mountain.
"How could we leave something like that near the school."
The investigation results were quick to arrive.
"Looking at the scale and the types of magic beasts emerging, it appears to be a low-level dungeon."
"Well, that is a relief in the midst of misfortune."
A low-level dungeon referred to one where only low-grade magic beasts primarily appeared.
Low-grade magic beasts could be easily captured even by lower-year academy students. As such, these dungeons were generally used as training grounds for students rather than as targets that needed to be conquered.
"What do you think? Has the safety been verified?"
"It should be no problem if the faculty is mobilized."
At the Dean of Academic Affairs' report, the Chairman swept a hand down his chest as if relieved of a weight.
"But why did one suddenly appear in the capital?"
"I do not know that much."
Professor Herlein, who was organizing documents next to the Chairman, merely gave a nod.
It was not that they did not consider the possibility that a magic beast with roots in the Imperial Palace had created it. But if that were true, they simply could not understand why it would create a 'low-level' dungeon.
'Are they planning to strike the moment we let our guard down?'
It was not unheard of for magic beasts to use a dungeon like a mimic to lure in multiple humans.
However, this was such a well-known method that it seemed too sloppy to be used by a magic beast from the Imperial Palace.
'If there is an objective, what in the world could it be...'
Knock, knock.
"Who is it at this hour?"
[Chairman, it's Vermel Horde, a first-year. May I come in for a moment?]
Vermel Horde.
He was the elven exchange student who had placed first in this year's entrance ranking. Although a girl from the Gold-Eye Tribe had pushed him to second place during the second semester, he was still a student to look forward to.
Elves had a high likelihood of being chosen by spirits, so if he graduated from here, wouldn't he produce good results?
Professor Herlein, having finished organizing the documents, opened the door to the chairman's office and asked.
"Horde, why didn't you come to school yesterday? I asked your dormitory supervisor, and she said you hadn't returned even after curfew..."
"I'm sorry. I was feeling a bit unwell."
He looked perfectly fine for that. It was an obvious lie to Herlein, who had seen many children feigning illness over the years.
But if a model student like Vermel had fabricated an illness, there had to be a good reason for it. Herlein changed the subject without pressing further.
"What brings you to the chairman's office? Do you have something to ask?"
"Well, the thing is."
Vermel took an envelope from his breast pocket and held it out.
"I intend to withdraw from the academy."
The Chairman's eyes went wide.
What whim could have possessed him to do this?
The Chairman opened the envelope Vermel had handed him and read its contents. His eyes slowly narrowed, then returned to their original state.
"Hm. There is a plausible reason here."
Robespierre flicked his fingertip and produced a small flame. The flame greedily devoured the letter Vermel had given him.
Having burned all the contents of the envelope, the Chairman rose from his seat and addressed Vermel.
"Follow me, student."