Preparing the Secret Weapon
Inside the magic classroom.
Sharin, who had finally finished devouring her sweet red bean bun, clutched her forehead.
“You really hit meee...”
“You deserved it.”
I had actually given Sharin a nuggie on the head. She didn't know when to stop with her teasing, so this was her punishment.
Sniffling, Sharin rubbed her forehead and stole a glance at me.
“So you want me to keep it a secreeet...”
“Finally, we're communicating,” I replied.
“Sure.”
At my answer, Sharin slumped lazily onto the desk.
“Then... who are youuu?”
Here it comes.
Sharin's eyes, which looked as if they held the Milky Way, stared intently at me. I couldn't tell what she was thinking behind those lazy eyes.
But one thing was for sure: it wasn't goodwill.
Sharin is Isabel's best friend.
Sharin had been friends with Isabel for a long time. And I was the person Isabel hated most in the world. Naturally, Sharin wouldn't be fond of me either.
“Lately, Bel always talks about you.”
“Badmouthing me? What a terrible hobby.”
“Yeah. Well, technically, she's just venting her anger one-sidedly.”
Sharin began twirling a lock of her side hair with her index finger.
“Ever since Lucas died, Bel's face has always been so gloomy. And it only got worse as the days went by.”
Isabel was falling apart. Lucas's death had left her with an irreversible sense of emptiness and pain. In a world without Lucas, Isabel couldn't find a reason to live.
“Every single day, she regretted, cried, and barely slept. At some point, she even stopped talking to me.”
I realized once again how severe Isabel's condition had been.
“She seemed to lose all interest in everything around her.”
Recalling those days, sadness welled up in Sharin's eyes. As her friend, it seemed to break her heart that she couldn't do anything to help.
“But after you showed up, Isabel changed a little.”
Sharin's eyes turned back to me.
“She gets angry every day, doing whatever she can, swearing she'll never let you insult Lucas.”
Anger is an emotion that consumes the most energy. To be angry, one must eat three meals a day, sleep, and move their body. Otherwise, the body cannot sustain that rage.
Isabel was currently living just to pour her anger onto me. In her meaningless life, I had carved out a place as the object of her wrath.
“That... is something I couldn't do.”
No matter what form it took, Sharin couldn't become a reason for Isabel to live.
“But you did.”
Now I understood why Sharin had called me to be alone with her.
“I didn't do it on purpose. All I did was insult Lucas.”
“Yeah. And that's what's keeping Bel alive.”
Sharin stood up.
“To be honest, I don't care who you really are.”
She walked over, leaning her body in right in front of me.
“Bel was slowly sinking because she couldn't find a new meaning in life. But because you appeared, she's starting to rise back to the surface.”
Sharin leaned in even closer. Her signature scent of jasmine tickled my nose.
Before I knew it, her soft, white hand slid over mine, holding it.
“I want you to keep holding that place until Bel finds another reason to live.”
“...Anger doesn't last forever.”
“I know. That's why I'm asking you to do it until then. If you do, I'll do anything for you.”
I stared at Sharin. Her height wasn't much different from mine in Hanon's body. Because of that, her small, delicate face was in clear view.
Her overall beautiful features, accompanied by those lazy eyes, filled my vision.
I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but the eyes gazing at me held a strange, feminine sensuality.
And, unfortunately for her...
Not too long ago, I had faced a woman with far greater allure right in front of my nose.
“I assume this favor is the condition for keeping my secret.”
I had already figured that much out.
“...Ah.”
At that moment, a soft gasp escaped Sharin's lips. Her eyes darted around, looking as if she had completely forgotten about that.
“...Were you really planning to do anything?”
Sharin stepped back. As the jasmine scent faded with her departure, I felt a lingering trace of regret.
A woman who knows she's pretty and uses it to her advantage is dangerous. I made a mental note.
“Promise?”
Sharin held up her pinky finger, looking slightly embarrassed.
I stared at it for a moment before speaking.
“Sharin, I need to get a top score in this upcoming mock battle.”
Sharin tilted her head, wondering why I was suddenly bringing that up.
“For Isabel's anger to keep burning, wouldn't I need to rank higher than her to keep her fired up?”
Sharin's eyes widened.
Seeing that, my lips curled upward. I had finally seized the upper hand against Sharin.
“You're pretty good at magic, aren't you?”
“Yeah, I'm the best.”
Arrogant. But it was actually true. Sharin's talent in magic was overwhelming.
That was why I was pinning my hopes on her.
“Then what about Magic Engraving?”
Sharin blinked. Her head slowly tilted to the side.
“...That's a magical technique that went obsolete a very long time ago.”
Exactly. Magic Engraving was a technique from before the concept of a 'mage' was even established. The Magic Engraving armaments occasionally found in the Demon Palace were proof of this.
“So, do you know how to do it or not?”
Sharin slowly crossed her arms. As she did, she looked up at me, her posture slightly emphasizing her upper body.
“I can do it.”
It was just like her to show absolute confidence in magic. As expected, I knew Sharin would be able to do it.
“But Magic Engraving isn't very efficient.”
Just as she said, Magic Engraving was highly inefficient. It could only produce about one-tenth of the efficiency of normal magic. Furthermore, most of the spells that could be used with it were low-tier.
“Instead, even a beginner can use it. And someone else can engrave it directly onto you.”
I didn't know how to use magic. Magic was a skill based on knowledge. There was no way I, who lacked any such knowledge, could cast magic.
Moreover, Vikaman, the body I possessed, was hopelessly untalented in magic. Realizing this, I had focused on physical training with Aisha.
Normally, I would have completely neglected magic too.
But Magic Engraving was different. As long as a beginner knew how to inject mana and how to engrave it, they could use Magic Engraving. Vikaman had studied magic for a long time. He possessed the bare minimum requirements to at least perform Magic Engraving.
This world has more variables than I thought.
To prevent those variables, it was best to have at least one more card up my sleeve.
“Are you planning to learn it yourself?”
“Yeah.”
“Just bring me a weapon. I'll engrave it for you.”
“Sorry, but it's not for a weapon.”
She tilted her head. Her expression asked: If not a weapon, then what?
Watching her, I let out a mysterious smile.
“If you're curious, teach me first, and then watch my mock battle later.”
I would show her something completely unexpected.
“Huh? What's this? Sharin and King-non?”
Just then, a familiar voice echoed.
Looking toward the door, Card was standing there. He still looked completely out of place for the Magic Department.
“What's the occasion? Did you come to seduce Sharin after Isabel?”
“Yeah, I was almost there. But you ruined it.”
When I gave a half-hearted reply, Card whistled. How frivolous.
“Why 'King-non'?”
Sharin seemed more curious about the nickname Card called me than my joke.
Card looked at me for a moment, then grinned broadly.
“Because Hanon has something... massive.”
Sharin glanced back at me.
“What is it? I want to seeee.”
I had no intention of showing her.
“Sharin, meet me in the self-study room after dinner. I'll learn it there.”
Leaving Sharin with those words, I made my exit. If I stayed any longer, I felt like I would get swept up in Sharin and Card's pace, so I quickly slipped away.
My secret weapons were steadily being prepared.
The mock battle.
Just wait. I was going to cause quite a massive stir.
Time flies like an arrow.
After adding Magic Engraving sessions with Sharin to my daily schedule, my life became a bit more intense than before.
And I praised Vikaman's stamina once again until my throat went dry.
Stamina is the ultimate asset.
As time flowed, it was a typical lunch break.
Today, I was working on paperwork with Nikita in the student council room.
I wondered if it was normal for the student council to have this much work, but at the beginning of the school year when the first-years entered, the student council was exceptionally busy.
Nikita said that after about a month, the workload would decrease, and she would be able to enjoy student council activities a bit more comfortably.
“Thank you again today, Junior.”
“It's nothing. You're the one working every single day, Senior Nikita. I respect you.”
“You always say the sweetest things, Junior.”
Compliments that came from the heart were always well-received.
Just then, a noisy commotion echoed from outside the student council room.
“Are we moving this to Building A?”
“Yeah. There are a few more after this. Let's move quickly before lunch break ends.”
The voices belonged to the assistant instructors and student council members. They were currently helping prepare for the mock battle that would take place after lunch.
Since Nikita usually did more work than the other student council members, they had pushed her into the student council room, telling her to rest. That was why she was here.
I had simply escaped the work by winning a game of rock-paper-scissors. Real men choose rock.
“It's almost time.”
Nikita's eyes shone with anticipation for the mock battle.
The mock battle was a time to show the results of one's hard work. As the epitome of effort, Nikita naturally looked forward to such an event.
“This is your first mock battle, isn't it, Junior?”
“Yes, it is.”
I had transferred here this year. So, of course, it was my first mock battle.
“Did you prepare hard? It looked like you were busy doing all sorts of things.”
Hearing that, my lips curled up slightly.
Nikita let out an impressed "Oho."
“By the looks of it, you seem quite confident?”
“In exams, those who prepare every day are the ones who get good results.”
“Indeed. I know better than anyone how hard you work every day, Junior,” Nikita said, tapping her index finger on the table. It was a habit of hers when she was thinking about something.
“Hmm, hard work deserves to be rewarded. Alright.”
Nikita smiled brightly at me as if an idea had struck her. It was a beautiful smile.
“If you achieve a top rank this time, I'll give you a reward.”
What was this? Was she an angel?
“I'll come back with first place.”
“Fufu, I'll look forward to it.”
“Since the reward is marrying me, of course I have to get first place.”
“Wh-wha?! J-Junior, that's not the kind of reward I meant...”
“Let's go to a southern resort for our honeymoon.”
“Junior?!”
Enjoying Nikita's flustered face for a moment, she pouted slightly.
“You're teasing me too much.”
“But you're the only one I play these kinds of jokes on, Senior Nikita.”
Hearing those words, Nikita's slight pout melted away.
“I'll win my match, so make sure you win yours too, Junior.”
Nikita offered her reassuring encouragement.
In that case, I had to win.
The long-awaited mock battle was about to begin.