Let's Make the Most of Our First Semester Break
"Ah, dungeons are harder than I thought..."
"You're one to talk, after breathing dragon's breath from sheer surprise."
Kaoru-senpai was saying it was the first time in her life she'd seen a dungeon shut down due to fire. But it was just so dark and scary, I couldn't hold back... So now I'm reflecting on it. Still, to feel truly safe, I had to burn everything without a trace...!
"Adventurer party licenses are easy to get, but needing extra qualifications for regular dungeon dives is such a pain."
"To be precise, you're the one who's unqualified."
According to the Divination professor, our first dungeon conquest was an insanely difficult one that's a nightmare to clear. But since I just breathed fire and everything burned to ash, it didn't feel that hard to me. The professor and senpai did say they picked it because the monsters there don't hold back their power against tamers.
How tough could it have been, anyway...? I'll look it up when I have time later.
Anyway, to tackle more dungeons, it's not enough to just have achievements—we need proper qualifications. Unfortunately, being a noble or from the Witchcraft family doesn't cut it, so here I am, going for the Tamer Junior League license.
"But why's the place so damn far and complicated...?"
The application site and test venue were way too distant, so the Divination professor went separately, leaving just me and senpai to barely make it to the exam hall. And since teleportation was banned, we had no choice but to take a vehicle... It left this nagging feeling like they were singling out witches.
"Whatever, that's why I went and got my license, right?"
"Advantage is, even if half the parking spots are taken, we can manage."
"Yeah, well, the guy next to us might get pissed, but then we just beat his ass."
Is it really okay for our senpai to live like that?
Anyway, after grabbing a decent meal at a restaurant near the test hall and leaving Kaoru-senpai behind sobbing over her empty wallet, I checked this exam's theme.
As I mentioned before, Tamer League tests prioritize the master-servant bond between tamer and familiar, so I figured it'd be checking the familiar's capabilities. But...
"Eh...? A race again?? Are races trending these days or what?"
"Tsk... Definitely witch-bait."
Senpai said witches are all so talented that they don't use familiars for transport—except for messenger types like crows—focusing purely on combat ones. And even the most famous Witchcraft family is like that, so what more explanation do we need? Without saying it outright, I could feel the Tamer Association deliberately targeting me. Not too blatant, though—since the venue's a pain for everyone to reach, it'd be hard to complain. Honestly, our schedule was just packed, making us rushed; with careful planning, it wouldn't be that nerve-wracking.
"So, got any familiars that can run?"
"Uh, well..."
"You're the one constantly updating your familiar list, so they'll pick disadvantageous events on purpose."
"They're targeting me, so they'd screw over everyone like me too?"
"They can just switch themes when you're not testing, right?"
"Ah."
I sighed, realizing Void Mask was the only familiar I had that could carry me and run. Calling Spotty for a grueling race felt wrong as a former farmer—can't overwork a dairy cow. Grand Duke was too small to ride from the start... Summoning Tanaka felt like abusing a middle-aged salaryman, and Sephiroth might get mad if I used an outer god for a footrace. Even I knew that was off.
"Listen up... Since it's come to this! Win by any means necessary!! No holding back!!"
"Any means..."
".....Master? You're scary just to look at... Say something..?"
I quietly pulled out the entry form.
★★★
This world is packed with an insane number of academies. Some are like normal schools, others lock up problem kids like prisons. There are trash academies that exploit students for selfish gain, and ones where magic girls or heroes cluster together.
If I had to pick the most chaotic, it'd probably be Platon Academy, full of transmigrators. But...
"Heard? The legendary first academy, Pluwitch Academy, is joining the exchange meet!"
"Heh? Why would that place enter such a barbaric tournament? Not that I mind—sounds fun."
Two cute girls chattering away atop their familiars. One was a famous hero family's penguin girl who'd pulled a holy sword as her hero deed. The other was a half-vampire beauty from a magic girl academy.
Unlike Pluwitch Academy, their schools steadily competed in exchange meets to claim honors. You'd think Kashiro Academy for heroes would dominate, but...
The "righteous" (sometimes arrogant) heroes had such strong personalities they couldn't cooperate, tanking their rep. They even taught stuff like breaking into houses and rifling drawers—hence the nickname "Thief Academy."
Meanwhile, the all-magic-girl Rnarr Academy surprisingly ranked high. Good teamwork, mostly girls so no awkwardness. But nine-tenths of classes were combat-focused "fight evil" training, turning most into battle maniacs. They showed such unhinged vibes that the saying went: see three magic girls team up at the exchange meet, even heroes run.
"Your familiar looks healthy today."
"Yours too, Sakura—your bike familiar's well-maintained."
Ding-ding!
At the starting line, they happily caught up after ages, inspecting each other's familiars. The hero rode a sturdy warhorse anyone could see was tough. The magic girl had a somewhat absurd—but cool—road bike. Her skin-tight full-body suit screamed "here for the race."
"Jealous—transforming changes your clothes too, right?"
"Yours just vanish on transform."
"Can't help it, penguin suin."
They giggled, planning a cafe trip after the Junior League test. Girl talk like that didn't last—vampire girl Sakura quietly scanned around.
"Heard? They changed the test theme and venue because of Witchcraft. Association must really hate her."
"Harder to find fans, honestly. Girl's suffering thanks to her mom."
"No witch friends, but I'd love to meet her. Wonder what she's like?"
She smiled, hoping for a girl full of love, hope, and respect, then set her foot on the pedal.
The referee atop a sky-crossing familiar raised a gun and fired a signal flare.
"No hard feelings, whoever wins!"
"Full throttle!"
Their tale of joyful youth... might've played out fun in another academy. Polar bears thrive in this world's zoos, so melting ice is no issue.
Storm Macaroni reined in her warhorse bursting with suin hero explosive power. Inubashiri Sakura chased fiercely with raw vampire physique, no transform needed.
Two girls way above Junior League play were pulling ahead, shaking off the pack—when.
Vrooooom──
"...!"
Sakura's sharp ears caught the noise from behind and she glanced back. Nothing. Skyward in suspicion—there, a familiar gliding over ground by emitting mana.
"Eh?"
What the hell was she seeing right now?
No time to process—a boom!! as a black-skinned girl landed between them, face-plant impact worrying for the familiar. White hair! Black! Gold eyes! Impossible to miss!
"Wiyu Witchcraft!!!"
"No way—witches treat familiars like this?!"
Hero and magic girl both horrified—using your precious partner as a human sled?! But she corrected "board," sliding ahead.
"Accelerating by emitting mana from the feet?! But that's no running familiar!!"
"Have you no heart, witch!!"
"Eeeh?! First time meeting and you're so mean! My No.1 is perfect!"
What's perfect about grinding its face into the dirt?! Sakura shook her head at the witch's scary knack for derailing thoughts.
Whatever—rival now!! Deal with familiar abuse later!
Treacherous course where slightest bond slip meant tumbling cliffs and injury. But her opponent oozed relaxed experience.
Screeech──!!
Road bike braked, scarring ground. Hero's warhorse powered through without braking, side-stepping balance.
Witch? Just raw accel, finally overtaking Sakura.
"Overreach on the pass?! Cliff ahead!"
Sakura scowled at the unbelievable sight.
'Too fast, no braking room... it's over! Centrifugal force lifting the rear(!)?!'
She'd magic-save if needed—that instant, witch rolled No.1 sideways nimbly, walked atop, planted butt for weight.
Result: a flashy drift only surfers on ocean waves could pull.
"Inertia drift!!"
Impossible—only grandpa-level freak could do that at her age!! Sakura, figuring academy first-year meant peers, shivered at the talent chasm.
Look at her casually sipping drink mid-drift for hydration!
"That's a true winner's poise!! Witchcraft blood runs deep!!!"
What deeper bond than magic girl and witch? She'd lose here but win the exchange meet. With resolve, Sakura shouted.
"But you can't catch Storm-chan like that!"
Familiar-master bond! Wordless heart-sync trust!! Catching fast via drift, but Macaroni's skill crushed straights and corners alike.
"Not even speed maniac Radamu Red Suns could win this!"
Miss the overtake now, never catch up! Gap widening!
"I can tell from back here."
Familiar couldn't see ahead, rider commanded via steps—efficient, but screamed high-IQ familiar, mismatched hearts.
"Without human-familiar unity—"
"Aero mode ON, No.1!"
"Got it meow, Master."
Sakura gawked as No.1 whipped head around to reply. That neck turn?
"Booster ports activate, engine to redline countdown meow."
Boom─!
Another foot-mana burst accel. Corner ahead—accel over brake?! Beyond inertia drift territory?
Seeing Wiyu charge like a battering ram, Macaroni sidestepped, making space.
'Storm-chan's momentum crushed!'
'Corner! She'll fly off!'
Thoughts crossed—that instant, No.1 tilted face skyward.
High-output beam lanced from eyes, repelling ground.
"What?!"
"Lifting turn?!"
"Flew over the corner to pass?!"
Unimaginable overtake—witch vanishing ahead. The two girls stared blankly; senpai in stands too.
"Ho... Already mastered what Divination prof showed... Good head, if only she studied."
On landing, flipped No.1 reverse, head rearward. Laser output spiked.
"Spiral meow!"
Roar! Another accel tier up, overwhelming gap to cross finish.
No brake planned, natural jump-off landing for Wiyu Witchcraft.
Thud-boom!!
Missile'd No.1 minorly wall-smashed, but.
"I won!!! Junior League conquered!! Senpai, you saw, right!!"
"Uh, yeah, saw it."
"Yay!"
"Surf skill from Divination prof... handy, glad."
"...Uh... that... No.1, right? Want food, speak up..."
"Send me home meow..."
"Go home..."
"Thanks meow..."
Limping home, No.1's back retreating. Kaoru teared up after ages.
Junior, is this right?