Mana Naturally Flows from the Mana Pouch (2)

Time passed, and before I knew it, we were in the second week of March, on Friday. With so much to do and so many people to meet, it sometimes felt like time was crawling along at a snail's pace. But when I thought about how long it'd really been since I dropped into this world, it didn't feel like that much time had gone by at all. Above all, I was living a very fulfilling life right now.

I was maintaining healthy relationships with the students in the old school building, and over in the academy dorms, the male students were chanting "Long live Phoenix!" while diligently practicing the Jerque technique to boost their self-esteem today as well. And after about five days—four in real terms—all the facilities for "remote classes" were finally in place.

"Students of the Old School Building Fraud Squad, listen up."

The moment I saw the magic pad that Instructor Esta had brought, I thought, Finally.

The four of us, myself included, infused mana into the magic pads we'd been given and activated them, then connected to the internal network line.

It's basically just a tablet.

In a world where magic trains ran like the KTX, even this medieval fantasy game setting had everything you could want. There was even something called the magic network, akin to the internet. By laying down mana-flowing power lines and emitting mana signals that were received and output at set frequencies, you could build a network similar to the internet.

There were some downsides, but there was a reason it had been introduced in the first place.

"Now all the male students can attend class with this, right?"

"Yeah. In fact, for the first time since the academy opened, every single student can now see each other's faces."

Instructor Esta shook her head slowly. Even if academy students didn't need to memorize every single face, that was just a perspective from a class-based viewpoint that didn't warrant much concern.

Esdinas Academy was the center of the world. Graduates here became rulers of nations, leaders in society and culture, pioneers of technological advancement, and the greatest artists of their era. Those in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lower social positions among the undergrads had no choice but to pay close attention to the faces of all the other students.

"Phoenix. You've been looking forward to checking out all the students from the start, but didn't you already see the female students at the entrance ceremony?"

"There's a difference between catching a glimpse as they pass by and having every single face right here ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in front of you, isn't there? This lets me examine them more closely."

"The female students."

"What if someone I met before happens to be here, or maybe someone from my dreams turns out to be at the academy."

"Th-there's someone like that?"

Unia, who had been fiddling with her magic pad, asked me.

"For real?"

"Of course. The people from my dreams—whether they're current students or recent graduates who couldn't quite make it out... Nah, no need to look that deep. There probably won't be anyone I know among the current academy students."

"Ah, I see. I was wondering if someone might recognize you, Phoenix."

"If there was someone like that, the academy side would be way more concerned than me."

"Ahem."

Instructor Esta cleared her throat awkwardly and picked up her magic pad.

"We'll go into details next Monday. Have a great weekend, everyone. Oh, and the golden carriage will come 'separately' on Sunday, so keep that in mind."

"Separately?"

"Yeah. Yurha Silverstar arranged for an extra golden carriage. It's been allocated separately from the stock, specifically heading to the old school building."

Normally, the golden carriages were used by the dorm male students first, and whatever was left over was what we got.

"Won't the academy students complain about that? I thought the number of golden carriages entering the academy was fixed."

"The male students can use the golden carriages, but since the female students have more freedom of movement anyway, they can just use the terminal."

Evangeline tilted her head at Instructor Esta's words.

"Can we... go to the terminal?"

"No reason you can't. Starting from week 2, you can move freely anywhere within the academy grounds... inside the greenbelt."

Rydmila mimed swinging her spear and shrugged her shoulders.

"Week 1 felt like we had to follow instructions to the letter under strict rules, but from week 2 onward, everything outside of class time is up to the students themselves."

In other words, week 1 was the tutorial.

From week 2, students already had the freedom to roam the academy grounds, but I'd spent that time making magic pants. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The other three in the Old School Building Fraud Squad had done the same.

Training non-attribute mana, personal martial arts practice, scouting for money-making opportunities—only to realize magic pants were the most efficient, so we even roped in dolls for packaging. Everyone spent the time pursuing their own interests.

So, what now? Specifically, what to do starting this weekend?

"Phoenix?"

"Phoenix."

"Hey... uh."

All three called out to me at once.

"Heh, looks like Mr. Popular."

I shrugged lightly toward the three of them, then turned to Instructor Esta, who was watching me.

"Does Instructor Esta have business with me too?"

"......Hm."

Instructor Esta scratched her cheek awkwardly, glancing at the three girls.

"After a week of lectures, maybe I'm just worn out. Feels like it's time for a mana massage."

"Hey, is roll call over?"

Instructor Cardisha had arrived in the classroom too.

"Phoenix undergrad? Mind chatting with me about some 'research'? Got time this weekend?"

"Instructor Cardisha?"

"Yeah? What's up? ...Everyone seems busy. You all got plans?"

At Instructor Cardisha's words, we all exchanged awkward glances, smiling in that hesitant way where no one wanted to step up first.

"Let's do this, then."

I pulled something out of my bag.

"Draw lots."

"Draw... lots?"

"We just need to decide the order, right? Because I value my time with the Old School Building crew above all else."

As someone with perks from countless clears, I'd make use of the in-game special features.

"One slot per person. Just decide the order."

In-game, one perk from clearing rounds was the removal of limits on "sub-events" with heroines on weekends.

At first, you could only choose from Old School Building characters, with limited slots. But as clear counts increased, event limits expanded—eventually letting you handle up to 17 people over a weekend.

It was basically "game permissions." Like a protagonist in some game romancing not just schoolmates but tons of others to hit all-communes in one playthrough. Or a mobile game mentor juggling SNS from 100+ disciples while clearing their schedule.

If you became a true date supermaster, it wasn't impossible. Later, you could even handle "multiple at once," but that stage wasn't unlocked yet.

Therefore.

"Friday evening, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening—time's divided like that."

By splitting time appropriately and matching partners to slots, the Old School Building crew could yield and accommodate each other for time with me.

At least for now.

"Wait. That's four slots?"

"And Saturday night."

"...Night? What about Sunday?"

"Sunday's for personal time."

"P-Phoenix?"

Unia asked me cautiously.

"All day Sunday, right?"

"Yeah."

"......Alone, for personal time?"

"Yeah."

I set out the lots and stood up.

"I'll step out for a bit, so you five figure out the schedule and let me know. Lots or a meeting, whatever."

"Wh-where are you going?"

"Bathroom."

"Ah."

A short while later.

No one came in or out of the men's bathroom in the old school building. Female bathrooms were cleaned by academy staff, but with only one guy here, there was no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠need for staff on every men's room.

Of course, it was cleaned. Like all academy undergrad facilities, bathrooms were maintained with "cleaning" magic, so nothing felt grimy.

Still, the only reason I'd come to the bathroom was one thing.

"Time to get ready."

This place—the men's bathroom—was the one spot safe from any prying "eyes."

"......."

I lifted my bangs slightly and met my eyes in the mirror.

The hallway was empty, so I could raise mana without issue.

Fwoosh.

Blue flames flickered briefly in my eyes, and I quickly withdrew the mana.

"......."

I half-worried an angel might sense the mana and freak out, but thankfully, none appeared.

"...Array."

Fwoooosh.

I thrust my hand forward, flicking mana toward my reflection in the mirror.

I winked one eye shut. Gazing at the world through eyes blazing with blue fire, viewing the mirror through the sight crafted by Chang Yeom.

Chang Yeom asked.

The answer was simple.

'Kill him.'

Sunday. To eliminate variables, I'd prepare a "snipe" from the old school building.

'Check every student's face, and if the protagonist's among the male students, kill him on sight.'

That was the root reason I'd spread magic pants and pushed for remote classes.

For the sake of this world.

I'd find the protagonist.

And kill him.

There was a reason.

That bastard.

The player.

'He's the guy the angels love.'

Because he was beloved by the angels.