♤♤♤
Led by Tina, the ten of us arrived at the outdoor training ground attached to the classroom. Being so close to the academy’s central area, the facilities were of high quality. Even compared to the training ground back at my family’s estate, the walls here looked sturdy. Furthermore, a powerful defensive magic seemed to be cast over the entire area, ensuring that even high-powered spells wouldn’t affect the outside.
I should be able to use my magic at full power here without any problems.
”From now on, you will all be competing with classes from your own year and upperclassmen. Since this classroom is near the central district, you can expect to receive many challenges.”
Ifrus Magic Academy has a system called the Inter-Class Battle System. It’s a system where classes decide on rules and what the winner will gain beforehand, then compete in magical combat or races. The outcome of these battles can even result in classrooms being swapped.
And the upper-ranking classes located near the central district are required to battle another class within a certain period. This rule is in place to prevent top classes from simply holding onto their prime classroom locations without participating in battles.
”The battle quota for this classroom is once a month. This area has delicious cake shops and bakeries, and you’re also permitted to use the academy’s largest library. So please do your best to win your battles and keep this classroom.”
Tina said it so casually, but a once-a-month battle quota sounded tough.
”There are delicious cake shops!? Tina-sensei, you have to tell us where!!”
”Leafa, I too wish to go and eat this thing called cake!”
”I heard there’s an all-you-can-eat cake place, so I wanna go there.”
”The bread from the bakery we stopped at this morning…”
”…was delicious, wasn’t it?”
””We want to eat it every day.””
”I find the library appealing. The largest library in the world’s most prestigious magic academy… I wonder what kind of books I’ll be able to read?”
”L-Luna-san, I’m also interested in the library.”
”Ryuka-san, let’s definitely go together!”
The girls in our class were getting excited. It seemed that having tasty food spots nearby was a great motivator for them. Luna and Ryuka, on the other hand, seemed to see the merit in being able to use the academy’s largest library.
If it makes my classmates and Tina happy, I want to do whatever it takes to keep this classroom.
Just then, Luke noticed something and spoke up.
”If multiple classes challenge the same class, the one with the classroom closer to the center gets priority, right?”
”Luke-kun, that’s correct.”
”Since this classroom is the closest to the central district, does that mean we might have to fight upperclassmen every month—”
”Well, yes, that’s how it’ll be. In fact, you’ll rarely have the chance to fight students from your own year.”
”…Isn’t it going to be tough for us first-years to keep this classroom?”
”You won’t die even if you lose, so you don’t need to be so tense. Besides, everyone in this class has the potential to become strong. And with me as your instructor, you won’t lose to any ordinary students.”
Where on earth did Tina’s confidence come from?
”By the way, did you all introduce yourselves to each other before I arrived?”
”Yes, we did, Sensei.”
Leafa answered for the group. If we were to decide on a class president, it would probably be her. She seemed like the type to take the lead in bringing the class together.
”Then next, let’s have you all introduce your magic to one another.”
As Tina spoke, she clapped her hands, and a magic training target appeared at the far end of the training ground. It was the same kind of target I saw every day at my family’s training ground.
”I’d like each of you to hit that target with a full-power magic attack.”
”Is it really okay to go all out?”
Ryushin asked Tina. He was probably worried about destroying the target. But I knew that the target Tina had prepared was incredibly durable and highly resistant to magic. No ordinary attack would break it.
”Yes, please use your full power. From now on, you will all face battles as a united class. There will be opponents you cannot defeat unless you cooperate, capitalizing on each other’s strengths while covering for your weaknesses. Knowing each other’s full power is the first step to deeply understanding your comrades.”
”Understood. May I go first?”
Leafa had her hand raised.
”Thank you. Then Leafa-san, please stand here. The rest of you, behind me.”
As instructed, we stood behind Tina, and a transparent barrier of magical power enveloped us. It was Tina’s defensive magic.
”Leafa-san, you may begin whenever you’re ready.”
”Yes!”
Leafa took a half-stance, thrusting her left hand forward, and a jade-green bow materialized there. It was a stunningly beautiful bow, formed from wind-attribute magical power. Like most elves, Leafa seemed to specialize in wind magic.
As she drew the bowstring, magical power from the surrounding space began to gather, forming an arrow. The arrow took shape in a few seconds, but Leafa didn’t fire yet. The magical power gathering from the space continued to pour into the arrow. The immense concentration of magical power in one spot began to cause fluctuations in the surrounding space.
”Wind Arrow!”
Leafa released the arrow. Wreathed in wind, the arrow flew toward the target at incredible speed—
An impact sound, unlike anything an arrow hitting a target should make, echoed through the air.
Although it didn’t pierce through, Leafa’s arrow was lodged deep into the target, which shouldn’t have even budged from an intermediate-level spell.
J-Just with wind magic, she can pierce that deeply into the target!?
Wind-attribute magic is characterized by its high speed and piercing power. Even so, penetrating the target Tina prepared is extremely difficult; I can only manage to do it by combining multiple magic attributes. I was amazed by Leafa’s magic, which had nearly pierced through it with pure wind magic alone.
”To pierce that deeply into the target, even if you focused it on one point, is incredible penetration power! Excellent work, Leafa-san.”
Tina also praised Leafa’s magic.
”Thank you.”
The ability to gather magical power drifting in the air is a characteristic of the elven race.
Among them, Leafa seemed to be able to gather a particularly large amount of it.
”Who’s next?”
””We’ll go.””
Mai and Mei raised their hands in unison.
”Mai-san and Mei-san, then. Please, go ahead.”
Mai and Mei stood together where Leafa had been just moments before.
”Mai-san and the others, are you two going to cast a spell together?”
”They can use a rather unique form of magic, so I’ll have them do it at the same time.”
Tina answered Leafa’s question. It seemed Tina had a grasp of every student’s circumstances.
Looking at Mai and Mei, they were holding hands, with their free hands extended towards the target. Fire-attribute magical power overflowed from Mai, becoming a wave of heat. The water-attribute magical power released from Mei became a wave of cold.
””Unison Ray!””
From their hands, a chunk of ice wreathed in flames shot towards the target. The moment it hit—
A massive explosion occurred, and white smoke billowed up.
The ice was heated in an instant, causing a steam explosion.
”To be able to fuse opposing magic attributes to this extent… Wonderful.”
Just as with Leafa, Tina praised their magic. It certainly was a powerful blast. The target somehow retained its shape, but its surface was completely shredded.
”Alright, next up is—”
”I’ll go.”
Ryushin stepped forward.
”Then, Ryushin-san, if you please.”
Ryushin rolled up the sleeve of his right arm as he moved to stand in front of the target.
”Dragonification!”
With Ryushin’s cry, black dragon scales covered his right arm. In seconds, it had become a complete dragon’s arm. This was the Dragonoid’s combat form, ‘Dragonification.’
He raised his arm on the spot—
”Dragon Claw!”
A slash flew from his claws as he swung them down diagonally.
It easily sliced through the target and then left a large gash on the wall behind it.
”To not only slice through the target but also damage the walls of this training ground, which are ten times stronger… I suppose that’s to be expected from a magic warrior-type Dragonoid.”
”This is nothing.”
Ryushin, having undone his Dragonification, looked satisfied.
In contrast, Leafa looked frustrated that the target she couldn’t even pierce had been so easily sliced apart.
”Sensei, that target is—”
”It’s made from the material you’re imagining, Ryuka-san.”
”Then, I’d like to go next.”
”Yes, please.”
Ryuka walked up close to the target. Was she going to use close-range attack magic? Just as I was thinking that, Ryuka’s body began to glow.
”Dragonification!”
Unlike Ryushin’s, the scales all over Ryuka’s body grew slightly larger. At the same time, the total amount of magical power she was clad in increased explosively.
”Resurrection!”
—Huh!?
The target, which had been pierced by Leafa, torn to shreds by Mai and Mei, and sliced apart by Ryushin as a finishing blow, began to bubble and reform back to its original shape. In about thirty seconds, the target was back to how it was before Leafa’s attack.
”So this is the recovery magic of a Dragon Priestess.”
”…Sensei, you knew after all, didn’t you?”
”Um, Tina-sensei. Why did the target go back to normal? Isn’t Resurrection a spell to revive the dead?”
Leafa asked Tina.
”Resurrection is indeed a spell that can reconnect the life of someone who has just died. Very few people can use this spell at all, but Ryuka-san is even more special. As long as an object has magical power flowing through it, she can return it to the state it was in before it was destroyed.”
Normally, Resurrection is only effective within an hour of a person’s death.
However, in this world, the bodies of both humans and monsters retain their pre-death magical power for about a day. This meant that even someone who would normally be impossible to revive after an hour could potentially be brought back if they were brought to Ryuka within a day of their death.
”The target is made from the hide of a Mahrnome, a monster with extremely high magic resistance. By processing this hide and continuously running a certain amount of magical power through it, it’s possible to give the target the same level of magic resistance as a living Mahrnome.”
In other words, the target wasn’t alive, but because it was an object with magical power flowing through it, it could be returned to its original state. It seems she could even heal broken magical tools, as long as they housed magical power. Isn’t that a cheat-level ability?
”Now that the target is fixed, shall we move on?”
”I’ll go next!”
Meldy, the beastman, raised her hand.
”As support, may I join Meldy-san?”
Luna also raised her hand. She had told me yesterday when we were eating Tina’s dinner at my place that her job was an Apprentice Enchanter, and she could use magic to boost her allies’ stats.
”I see. Among the remaining students, you two would be the optimal pairing. Is that alright with you, Meldy-san?”
”I’m good with it. Nice to work with ya, Luna.”
”Yes, I’ll support you with everything I’ve got!”
Luna and Meldy stood before the restored target.
”Well then, here I go.”
Luna took a breath as she kneaded her magical power—
”Magic Up! Over Magic! Max Magic! Physical Up! Power Up! Speed Up! Concentrate Up!”
”Huh? Huh!? —Ooooh!”
Auras of various colors enveloped Meldy’s body. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
The Enchanter is called an unfortunate job in this world. That’s because it’s a job that can only support allies.
It’s extremely difficult for them to defeat monsters on their own, making it hard to level up. Furthermore, even when supporting allies, they only increase the target’s stats by a few percent. It’s said that having an Enchanter in your party isn’t very helpful.
However, the magic Luna used enveloped Meldy’s body in a dazzling aura. The stronger the effect of a support spell, the brighter the aura surrounding the target becomes. I was shocked because the aura was so bright it made me think Luna’s level must be quite high, despite being an Enchanter, a class that’s supposed to be difficult to level up.
Meldy was confused at first, but she seemed to have noticed her stats being enhanced.
”This is gettin’ me fired up!”
Meldy took a half-stance towards the target, holding her fist in front of her body and heightening her concentration.
”Flying Fist!!”
Almost simultaneously with Meldy’s shout, the target vanished.
The target, which should have been firmly fixed to its stand, was blown away and slammed into the back wall, shattering into pieces.
Wh-what was that just now!?
Did she solidify her magical power and release it in time with her fist thrust? Even with her stats boosted by Luna, to blow away a highly durable target from several meters away… what kind of magic was that? By the way, I wasn’t the only one surprised. Meldy herself, who had thrown the punch, was frozen in her fist-out pose.
”O-oh crap, I overdid it.”
”Th-that’s amazing.”
Neither Meldy, who had launched the magically-infused punch, nor Luna, who had enhanced Meldy’s stats, seemed to have expected that much power; they were both shocked.
”Seriously? I lost…”
Ryushin, who had only managed to cut the target in half, looked on in frustration at the shattered remains.
”It seems you two are a perfect match after all! Excellent work.”
Tina looked satisfied.
As Tina clapped her hands again, the shattered target disappeared, and a new one rose up from beneath the floor.
”With that, we’ve seen the magic of eight students, so that leaves two more. Who wants to go?”
She pressed on to the next one without leaving room for argument.
I felt a slight sense of unease at Tina’s words… but it was probably just my imagination.
The only ones left were me and Luke.
Not wanting to go last, I was about to raise my hand when—
”I’ll go!”
Luke beat me to it.
”Haruto, you were taught magic by Tina-sensei, right? You’ve gotta be strong. I can’t go last! So I’m gonna go first, okay?”
”Huh? No, I’m—”
—level 1, though.
I wanted to say it, but there was no way they’d believe me, and I couldn’t show them my status board to convince them like Tina did because of the curse. I hadn’t even told Tina about the curse yet.
”Alright, Luke-kun is next. Please, go ahead.”
”Yes!”
Luke stood before the newly prepared target.
”Okay, here I go.”
Luke was releasing a massive amount of magical power. It was an incredible amount. And so, Luke began to chant.
“Destruction is my desire, its seed is the thunder. My power shall be the sacrifice. By the covenant bestowed, O thou who have become my servant, thy power, I now unleash!”
—!?
Th-this is bad! This spell is!
I glanced at Tina and saw that she had noticed too; she was reinforcing the defensive magic barrier around us.
”Ultima Thunder!!”
A pillar of lightning several meters wide rained down from the sky onto the target. The shockwave sent a violent gust of wind raging through the training ground. Thanks to Tina reinforcing the defensive magic, we were unharmed. The kicked-up dust cleared, allowing us to see where the target had been. Not only the target but also the stand that held it and a part of the floor had been obliterated.
”Tina-sensei, Luke’s spell just now… that was ultimate magic, wasn’t it?”
”That’s right. His name is Luke=Vel=Ifrus. He is the grandson of the sage who is the head of this Ifrus Magic Academy, Luano=Vel=Ifrus. Like Headmaster Luano, he is one of the few mages who can master ultimate magic.”
So, the guy I’d designated as my best friend could use ultimate magic and was also the grandson of the head of this magic academy. He was an incredible mage.
Seriously… I have to use magic after this?
I felt extremely disheartened. After all, I can only use the lowest-class magic. A single shot has neither the piercing power of Leafa’s nor the destructive power or flashiness of Ryushin’s or Luke’s.
I can use support magic, too, but I can’t use high-level support spells like Luna’s Max Magic. In fact, because of the evil god’s curse, my stats don’t even increase when I use support magic.
As I was desperately trying to think of a way to bluff my way through this—
”Last up is Haruto-kun. Um, Haruto-kun, please don’t go all out. About thirty percent of your power will be fine.”
”Huh?”
Tina started saying something I didn’t understand.
”Okay? About thirty percent. Absolutely do not use your magic at full power. If you do, this training ground will be destroyed.”
Tina pressed the point.
The training ground will be destroyed? —There’s no way.
I always used magic at full power at the training ground at my house, and it never broke the walls or anything. And the walls of this academy’s training ground look even sturdier than the ones back home.
”She told us to go all out… Is Haruto’s magic really that insane?”
”She let him use ultimate magic at full power, but she’s stopping Haruto. Does that mean his magic is even more powerful than that?”
Ryushin and Luke were looking at me with surprised expressions. Um… the spell I’m about to cast is just a normal Fire Lance, though.
Then, it hit me.
Tina must be putting out a target that’s easy to break because it has low magic resistance.
Tina knows I can only use the lowest-class magic for now. But seeing my classmates reveal their incredible magical power and cheat-like abilities, she’s worried I might lose my confidence.
So, if I destroy the weak target Tina prepared for me, my classmates will think,
‘Haruto destroyed something we could barely break at full power with only thirty percent of his strength, amazing!!’
Furthermore, I can make them think that my magic is so powerful that I usually only use the lowest-class spells.
In other words, my job is to break the target as flashily as possible, using my full power.
”Tina-sensei, I understand. I can’t make fine adjustments, but I’ll try to use about thirty percent of my power.”
”Yes, please do.”
Tina strengthened the defensive magic for the students other than me. She’s quite the actress. By further strengthening the defensive magic that had withstood the shockwave of Luke’s ultimate magic, she was putting on a show of how powerful my magic was.
Alright, let’s do this.
I can’t let Tina’s dedication go to waste.
I faced the target Tina had prepared once again. This was probably a fragile target. I decided to trust Tina.
”Here I go!”
I raised my right hand to the sky and released a mass of magical power. Normally, I would give this magic the fire attribute and change its shape before releasing it to create the spell Fire Lance. But that wouldn’t be flashy enough.
So, I release many masses of magical power. Due to the evil god’s curse, my stats don’t change. My MP is always 10/10 〘Fixed〙. I steadily release masses of magical power, each costing 10 MP.
—The total amount of magical power released was about one hundred thousand.
In terms of the 2 MP cost Fire Lance, that’s enough for fifty thousand lances. In the past, it took me time to release even a small amount of magic, but now I can release about a hundred thousand into the space in about five seconds.
”H-Haruto-sama, thirty percent, you know? Is this okay?”
I could hear Tina’s voice from behind me. Her panicked tone caused a stir among Leafa, Ryushin, and Luke. Yep, Tina is a great actress.
I grant the fire attribute to the magic suspended in the air. The one hundred thousand masses of magical power turn to flame. Next, I shape them into a spear. A giant partisan, one meter thick and twenty meters long, appears.
I could just throw this as is, but it would probably just pierce the target and that’s it, which isn’t very flashy.
If you want flashy, you’ve got to go with explosions.
So, I coat the tip of the partisan with high-power attribute magic, dark and thunder explosion spells. Of course, these explosion spells also have a low MP cost, and their individual power is low. So I layered about a thousand of them. This should create a flashy explosion on the target’s surface before the spear pierces it.
I’m ready.
All that’s left is to unleash it with all my might!
”Fire Lance!!”
The spear of flame left my hand, flying at high speed.
The moment it hit the target—
The dark and thunder explosion magic set off a massive blast, and a violent wind raged around the area. It’s pretty flashy. But honestly, I think the power is low. As long as it pierces the target somehow, it’ll be a success.
The blast subsided.
”—Huh!?”
The target, along with its stand, had vanished.
Furthermore, a huge hole was blown open in the wall behind it, and I could see the First Wall of the central district beyond the training ground. In front of that wall stood Tina, who should have been behind me just moments ago, with both her hands thrust out towards me.
Wh-what in the world is going on!?
And when did Tina move?
As I was pondering this, Tina came back into the training ground through the large hole in the wall.
”Haruto-sama, I believe I said thirty percent, did I not?”
She looked like she was about to cry, and her voice was trembling. She was calling me with a formal title. She seemed so flustered that she’d forgotten her role as a teacher.
”Tina, I’m sorry, are you okay? What happened?”
”I managed to divert your magic, Haruto-sama! Otherwise, there would have been catastrophic damage to the central district!!”
”Huh? But, I always use similar magic at home—”
”Please do not equate the training grounds at the Count’s mansion with the magic academy! The one there is only able to withstand your magic because I spent a great deal of time setting up multiple layers of magical barriers!”
”R-really!?”
It seemed the spell I cast had obliterated the target, destroyed the wall, and continued towards the central district with its power undiminished. In case I misjudged my power, Tina had moved at high speed between the training ground and the central district’s defensive wall a few seconds before I cast my spell to put up a defensive barrier.
Thanks to that, damage to the central district was prevented, but my spell was even more powerful than she had anticipated. Even Tina couldn’t stop it and could only redirect it into the sky.
”Haruto was this crazy of a guy?”
”Piercing a wall ten times stronger than the target… is he a monster or what?”
”I-I can’t believe it. A spell that even Tina-sensei at level 250 could barely divert.”
”To have that much power on his own without any support magic is just absurd.”
My classmates all took a step back, as if to distance themselves from me.
”I need to deal with the aftermath of this incident today, so that will be all for class. I will contact you later about what to do next, so could you all please return to your dorms?”
”U-understood, Sensei.”
Leafa led everyone out of the training ground.
I tried to follow them.
”Haruto-kun, please stay behind.”
”…Yes.”
—Of course.
──＊＊＊──
We went to the rest area attached to the training ground.
”Um, Tina, I’m really sorry.”
”I did stress that you shouldn’t go all out, did I not?”
”…Yes, you’re right.”
I want to say I didn’t know the true power of my own magic, but Tina’s aura won’t let me.
”I thought I was going to die, you know.”
”Huh?”
”Or rather, if I didn’t have this, I probably would have died.”
Tina took out a golden pendant. It was something she always wore. The red gem set in its center was split in two.
”That was a magic tool?”
”Yes. When danger approaches the owner, it activates an absolute defense spell that can only be used by heroes from another world, just once—that’s the kind of magic tool it is.”
Seeing the broken pendant, tears welled up in Tina’s eyes.
”Th-this was a gift from someone very precious to me.”
I saw Tina cry for the first time. It was my fault for misunderstanding. It was my responsibility for not accurately understanding my own power.
”I’m sorry. I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll do anything. So please, could you stop crying?”
”…Anything, you say?”
”Yeah.”
”—me.”
”Huh?”
”Please sleep with me again, like you used to!”
From the day after I was reincarnated, I stopped sleeping with Tina. It wouldn’t be a problem for a five-year-old to sleep next to someone, but after my reincarnation, my mind was that of a seventeen-year-old boy, so I thought it might cause various issues. Well, my body was only five, so it’s not like I could do anything.
For that reason, on the night of my reincarnation, I told Tina, ‘From today on, I’ll sleep by myself,’ and I remember she looked incredibly sad.
”You said you’d do anything, didn’t you?”
”Y-yeah. But, is something like that really okay?”
”It is. And if possible, I would also like the right to hug you, Haruto-sama.”
”…I don’t really mind, but.”
”Thank you very much!”
Tina suddenly hugged me.
Right now!?
I was about to retort, but I stopped when I realized Tina was trembling.
”I-it was scary.”
”I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.”
Hoping to calm her down, I stroked her head.
After a while, Tina moved away from me.
”Haruto-sama component replenishment complete.”
”I see. That’s good.”
”I’ll be doing it tonight as well, okay?”
”You will?”
”I will! And not just tonight, but from now on, forever!”
”Huh?”
”…I almost died because of your magic, Haruto-sama. And my one and only treasure was broken—”
”I-I get it! I’ll sleep! I’ll sleep with you, and you can hug me.”
”Thank you very much.”
With those words, Tina giggled. This might be the first time I’ve ever seen her look so happy. What’s so great about sleeping with me? Is it comfortable, like a hug pillow? Well, as long as it cheers Tina up, I guess it’s fine.
”Tina, about destroying this wall, I’ll apologize to Father directly.”
”Yes. I’m sorry to ask, but that would be a great help. Of course, I will accompany you to see the Count.”
”Yeah, please.”
──＊＊＊──
After reporting to the academy, we temporarily left and returned to the Count’s mansion where my father was. Since there were no casualties, and because I’m the son of a Count, I didn’t even receive a warning from the academy. However, they requested future countermeasures and the repair of the training ground I destroyed, so I had to report to my father and apologize.
I never thought I’d be going home on the second day of school.
I met with my father, explained what had happened, and bowed my head, but my father forgave me immediately. In fact, he even praised my growth. He did, however, warn me to be careful with how I use my power from now on and to avoid causing harm to my friends and those around me.
Then, my father bowed his head to Tina. He apologized for his son, me, putting her in danger, and offered her a reward for saving the central district from my magic.
But Tina refused. She had already received her reward, she said, glancing over at me.
I understood. I gave a nod to show it, and Tina smiled in satisfaction.
──＊＊＊──
Tina and I returned to my mansion at Ifrus Magic Academy. Normally, it’s about a three-hour carriage ride one way between the Count’s mansion and the academy, but since we flew with Tina’s flight magic, the round trip, including the meeting with my father, took less than two hours.
My father said he would take care of the training ground I destroyed. He also told me to stay the night, but Tina said she had things to do at the academy, so we came back.
”What was it you had to do?”
”To sleep with you, of course, Haruto-sama. At the Count’s mansion, there are other maids around, so we can’t relax and be alone together.”
After taking a bath and getting ready for bed, I’m now lying in bed next to Tina.
”Tina, why did you become my maid?”
I asked something I had been wondering for a long time. With Tina’s skills, it wouldn’t be strange for her to be serving the kingdom. My father has a certain amount of wealth and power, but not enough to employ Tina. In fact, it seems the kingdom is pressuring him to have Tina serve the country, but Tina herself is refusing.
In this era without a hero transferred from another world, not even the state can force Tina, who possesses power equivalent to a hero, to do as they please.
And yet, this same Tina devotes herself to me. I had thought there must be a reason.
”…If I were to tell you that, we’d be up a little late. Is that alright?”
”I’m fine. So, please, tell me your story.”
”Very well.”
”You already know the story of how I once defeated the Demon Lord alongside the heroes who were transferred from another world, correct?”
”Yeah, I heard a bit from Leafa.”
”Leafa-san was embellishing my monster-slaying records when she told you, Haruto-sama, so it was a little embarrassing. However, the general flow of the story about adventuring with the hero from another world was just as she told it.”
”Is that so?”
Right. Those monster-slaying records couldn’t possibly be true, could they?
There’s no way she defeated a Flame Dragon using only physical enhancement magic because she didn’t have a weapon, right?
”Ah, by the way, of the things Leafa-san told you, the only part that’s actually true is the story about the Flame Dragon subjugation.”
”R-really?”
So THAT part was true!?
”Even I can’t blow away a Ghost King with just the pressure from my fist, you know.”
If you could do that, you’d be a complete monster.
”Now, to get back on topic, I actually held deep affection for one of the heroes.”
In the previous hero summoning, five people from another world came as heroes to save this one. It seems Tina fell in love with one of them.
”He wasn’t the central figure among the heroes, but whenever he heard that a town or village was being attacked by demons or monsters, he was always the first to rush to their aid.”
Transferred heroes can return to their original world once they defeat the Demon Lord. Apparently, the Creator God often summons heroes in this world under that kind of contract. Even as heroes, they have no obligation to save countries or towns. From their perspective, no matter how much damage the people of this other world suffer, they can just ignore it, defeat the Demon Lord, and go home. But it seems there was a hero who didn’t do that.
”He gave us all courage by facing a horde of monsters all by himself. He wasn’t the one who defeated the Demon Lord, but I believe he was the true hero.”
In a picture book I read long ago, the hero who defeated the Demon Lord was certainly depicted as strong. But that hero barely appeared in the story unless the enemies were truly powerful and his allies were in a pinch. The hero who saved towns and villages and was thanked by the people was depicted as a different person. That was probably the true hero Tina is talking about.
”I had many opportunities to spend time with that hero, and at some point, I began to fall in love with him. I thought that since the heroes would return to their own world as soon as they defeated the Demon Lord, they wouldn’t have any interest in us from this world. But, he answered my feelings.”
”You became lovers with that hero?”
”Yes. I used various means to become his lover. W-we didn’t progress our relationship that far, but… still, the days I spent adventuring with him are my most precious memories even now.”
Remembering the past, a smile bloomed on Tina’s face.
Didn’t progress the relationship that far, huh.
Does that mean Tina is still… inexperienced? I feel bad for Tina, but I couldn’t help but feel a little happy.
”However, that happy time came to an end when his fellow hero defeated the Demon Lord.”
Tina’s voice grew dark.
”Can’t transferred heroes choose to stay in this world?”
”He tried various things, but it seems there was nothing that could be done.”
It seems that when a transferred hero defeats the Demon Lord, they are forcibly sent back to their original world.
”My great-grandfather had a child with my great-grandmother before defeating the Demon Lord. That child was my grandfather. It seems that even if they have children in this world, heroes must return to their own.”
Tina placed the pendant on the table.
”This is something the hero made for me, imbued with special magic so that it could protect me. It is the one and only treasure he left behind as he vanished from this world when the Demon Lord was defeated.”
A pendant imbued with absolute defense magic that, although only usable once, would protect its owner no matter what happened.
I felt incredibly sorry for making her use such a precious and sentimental magic tool.
”Now, this is where we get to the reason why I hold you in such high esteem, Haruto-sama.”
Tina looked straight at me.
”I believed that you, Haruto-sama, were the reincarnation of that hero.”
”Huh!?”
—That’s impossible.
Haruto is the reincarnation of Saijou Haruto, and Haruto has no memory of coming to this world as a hero.
”One day, ten years ago, I sensed that a child with the same magical power as that man had been born into this world.”
”And that was me?”
”Yes. I pride myself on having the best magical power detection ability in this world, second only to the heroes from another world. There is no way I would mistake his magical power. So I sought out that baby, negotiated with his parents, the Count and Countess, and became your attendant, Haruto-sama.”
I debated whether I should confess to Tina that I am a different person. But I feel like I have to say it now.
”Tina, I’m sorry, but I’m—”
”Not that hero. Is that right?”
”…You knew?”
”Five years ago, I vaguely sensed that someone else had been reincarnated into your body, Haruto-sama. I wished for it to be him… but you are not the hero, are you?”
”Yeah. I am a reincarnated person. But I have no memory of coming to this world or adventuring with you, Tina.”
”I see… Yes, that’s right. If it were him, he would have said something when he was reincarnated.”
”I’m sorry, Tina.”
”There is no need for you to apologize, Haruto-sama. To be honest, I was disappointed at first. There were times I wondered why it wasn’t him. But as I watched you diligently train in magic every day, I started to see his image in the way you tackled everything with your full effort.”
Tina hugged me. I was enveloped in a wonderful scent.
”I was always watching you, Haruto-sama. Before, I wished you were his reincarnation. But now, I am watching you, Haruto-sama.”
”…Am I good enough?”
”You are the one I want, Haruto-sama.”
Tina’s words solidified my resolve.
”Tina, I’m going to get strong. Stronger than that true hero. And I’ll protect you and this world.”
”Haruto-sama…”
”So, will you stay with me from now on?”
”Yes! I’ll be with you forever.”
My goal in this world has been decided.
I’ll get stronger.
Stronger than the cheat-ability-wielding transferred heroes.
Strong enough to protect Tina and the world, just like the hero Tina loved.
I can’t raise my level because of the curse, but there are plenty of things I can do.
I will acquire power and be recognized by the world as a sage.
I’ll aim to be the strongest level 1 sage.
I will become Tina’s hero.
──＊＊＊──
The next morning, when I woke up, Tina was gone.
”Good morning, Haruto-sama.”
Was my conversation with Tina yesterday a dream? —As I was thinking that, the door opened and Tina entered the bedroom.
”Breakfast is ready.”
”Okay, I’m coming.”
”Haruto-sama, may I have a moment?”
”Hm?”
Tina brought her face close.
Something incredibly soft touched my lips.
”Huh?”
I looked at Tina, and her cheeks were flushed.
”I am unworthy, but I look forward to being with you from now on. My hero.”
With those words, Tina left the room.
I kissed her.
With Tina.
Her lips were so soft.
Tina’s face, seen up close, was so beautiful.
Tina, looking a little shy, was also cute.
I resolved once again to become a hero who could protect Tina.
──＊＊＊──
I was curious about the state of the training ground I had destroyed, so I came to the classroom quite early, but the walls and floor had already been repaired. I happened to overhear a conversation between some female academy clerks passing by and learned that construction had started in a hurry last night and was completed in just a few hours.
Apparently, dozens of mages who could repair buildings and dwarves skilled in construction had gathered and fixed it in the blink of an eye.
The one who gave the order was probably Father. I was once again reminded of the power of nobles in this world.
After checking the training ground, Tina said she had a teachers’ meeting and went into the academy’s central district. And so, I came to the classroom alone.
”Your magic yesterday was truly off the charts. Even I was surprised.”
”—!?”
I was spacing out at my desk when a voice from behind suddenly made me jump.
”Youko? When did you get here? I didn’t notice you come in at all.”
The one who spoke to me was a beautiful black-haired girl in a kimono. My classmate, Youko.
”Me? I’ve been here since before you arrived.”
”Huh?”
I should have been alone in the classroom. No, before that, there was something else that bothered me.
”Youko, were you at the training ground yesterday?”
”Of course.”
”…We didn’t see your magic, did we? I don’t even remember you being there in the first place.”
This was the source of the unease I felt when Tina said only Luke and I were left after everyone else had used their magic. At that moment, all of us had completely forgotten about Youko. And it wasn’t just that we had forgotten. Even though we had spoken to her right before, it felt like Youko’s very existence had slipped from our minds at that time.
”You have already seen my magic.”
”What do you mean?”
”To make one’s presence faint—that is my magic. That is why you could not perceive me, who was in the training ground just like the rest of you. Just as you couldn’t a moment ago.”
”You mean, magic that makes you hard to detect?”
”It is a slightly higher-level spell. As one’s very existence becomes faint, it also has the effect of making it difficult to receive physical attacks.”
”Such a magic exists?”
”Well, it would not be an exaggeration to say it is a magic unique to me. There is no one else who can use it now.”
Youko says she specializes in magic that thins her presence, but I feel like there’s more to it than that.
”Hmm, then is the magical power gathered in that tail of yours for a different kind of magic?”
”Wh-what!?”
Youko hid the magical tail that had been visible from her back.
It’s pointless to hide it now, though.
”You can see this?”
”Only faintly.”
”T-to think my tail would be seen… I suppose I have no choice but to… eliminate you?”
She started saying something rather disturbing.
”Don’t. We’re comrades, aren’t we? If you don’t want anyone to know, I’ll never tell.”
If she were to attack me, I have no intention of going down quietly, but Youko is my classmate. I’d rather not fight if I can help it.
”However, this one is off the charts. I could not possibly win against him as I am now.”
Youko muttered as if she hadn’t heard my words at all.
Was she that shaken by me seeing her tail?
”…There is no other way.”
With a look of resignation, Youko approached me. And then she suddenly took my right hand and kissed its back.
”H-hey, what are you doing!?”
”A contract.”
A magic circle appeared on the back of my right hand. A magic circle of the same shape also appeared on the back of Youko’s right hand. I had seen a similar magic circle in a book I read long ago. If I remember correctly, it was a master-servant contract magic circle used in the eastern island nations.
”Hey, is this what I think it is!?”
I had been forced into a master-servant contract with Youko. I was now forcibly subjugated by her.
With this, I can no longer defy Youko.
Or so I thought—
”H-huh?”
Right now, I’m holding Youko by both her shoulders.
I was about to press her on why she subjugated me and had placed my hands on her shoulders.
However, thinking about it, someone who has been subjugated shouldn’t be able to touch their master with hostile intent.
”Are you not misunderstanding something? The master-servant contract we just formed is one where I serve you.”
”Huh? Why would you do that—”
”Because I am a Nine-Tailed Fox, and I wished to enter your protection.”
Youko, now subjugated to me, answered my question. To summarize her story, it went something like this.
Youko is a demon of the Nine-Tailed Fox race and has the ability to take human form.
The Nine-Tailed Fox is a demon race that grows by accumulating magical power in its tails, and once fully grown, it is feared as a natural disaster. Youko came to this academy to efficiently gather magical power. Besides her perception-inhibiting magic, she can also use extremely powerful brainwashing magic. Once she had gathered a certain amount of magical power, she intended to use her brainwashing magic to control the teachers and students and take over the academy.
”…Tei!”
”Fugyu~! Wh-what are you doing!?”
I was stunned by what Youko was planning and instinctively brought a knife-hand down on her head.
Youko, holding her head in pain, is a little cute.
”What am I doing? That’s my line. You, you were planning to attack and take over this academy?”
”This academy is just the beginning. Eventually, I plan to bring this country, this world, under my control. Now, my master, let us walk the path of supremacy together!”
”Tei!”
”Fugyuu~! S-stop that!!”
”For now, just stop doing dangerous things.”
”You possess such power, and yet you have no interest in supremacy!? If you cooperate with me, this world will eventually be in our hands, you know?”
If I had been reincarnated into this world with a cheat skill instead of a curse, I might have considered such things. At least, right after being reincarnated by the evil god, I did have a desire to use a cheat skill and be unrivaled.
But now—
”I have no interest in world domination. I don’t want to be a demon lord; I want to be a hero.”
”What did you say?”
Youko looked utterly stunned. I have two goals in this world.
The first is to become stronger than the true hero that Tina loved. I wanted to become Tina’s hero.
The second is to get revenge on the evil god.
The evil god had said it would be troublesome if I were to be active. That’s why I want to be as active as possible as one who purges evil. That will be my revenge on the evil god who killed me.
”You noticed my tail, so did you not think to use this accumulated magical power? Is that not why you kept silent about it to that teacher?”
”No, you just seemed to be hiding something, so I kept quiet, that’s all.”
”Do you understand that the Nine-Tailed Fox is counted as a type of natural disaster in this world? Is it not the way of you humans to either eliminate a Nine-Tailed Fox as soon as you become aware of its existence, or to bring it under your control while its power is still immature!?”
”Is that so?”
”Is that so, you say…”
”Anyway, I have no intention of using your power for evil, Youko, and I won’t go around telling anyone about you—I already told you that, didn’t I?”
If I used Youko’s power to conquer the world, it would be helping the evil god. I absolutely did not want to do that.
”Huh? Then, the contract I made was…”
”Pointless, wasn’t it? Even without a contract, I wouldn’t harm you, Youko. We’re classmates, after all. I can cancel the contract, you know?”
”…I cannot.”
”Huh?”
”In order to enter the protection of you, a being superior to myself, I used one tail’s worth of magical power to create a bond between us. The bond is too strong for me to break.”
”Then, can I break it from my end?”
”The last thing I want is for you to break the contract and harm me, so I’ve made it so that’s not possible.”
”For someone who forced a one-sided contract, isn’t that a little too convenient for you, Youko?”
The moment I wondered what kind of contract it was, its contents flowed into my mind. It was—
Youko will obey any of my commands, as long as they are not actions that would risk her life.
In return, I cannot break the contract, and I will feel a slight sense of protectiveness towards Youko.
Seeing me lost in thought, Youko seemed to realize that I now knew the contents of the contract.
”…Have you understood? I have offered you everything but my life.”
And so, I acquired a subservient demon (pet) who possessed the power to become a natural disaster.
”Mornin’—whoa, Haruto… what’s with that?”
About thirty minutes after Youko had forced the master-servant contract on me, Luke arrived in the classroom. At that moment, I had Youko on my lap and was stroking her head, so it’s no surprise that Luke was shocked. Youko had her eyes narrowed, looking comfortable. The contract made me feel protective of Youko, and I somehow felt the urge to stroke her head.
”Luke, good morning.”
”Are you two… like that?”
”Hmm, something like that. Youko, everyone will be here soon, so go back to your seat.”
”Hmph, I would not mind staying like this. But if my master says so, I shall return.”
With that, Youko moved to the seat behind me.
”Master, you say… huh? Wait, did we see Youko’s magic yesterday?”
Luke seemed to have remembered that he hadn’t seen Youko’s magic.
”Apparently, she has an ability that’s good at hiding her presence. That’s why yesterday, all of us were on the verge of forgetting she even existed.”
”Whoa, that’s a rare ability. Speaking of rare, Haruto, your magic is too strong, isn’t it? What was with that power? It kinda ruins my position as the sage’s grandson.”
Luke spoke to me, not with sarcasm, but in a somewhat amused tone.
”No, your ultimate magic was insane too, Luke. And you’re the grandson of the headmaster here? You never told me.”
”Ahaha, that’s because I didn’t.”
It seems Luke, despite having power, doesn’t like to brandish it. My impression of him got even better.
A short while later, Leafa arrived, followed by Luna, Meldy, Ryushin and Ryuka, and then Mai and Mei entered the classroom. Each of them asked Youko if she had been at the training ground yesterday, and I explained it each time. Perhaps because of the contract with Youko, I found myself naturally stepping in to explain. As this was going on, Tina entered the classroom.
”Good morning, everyone.”
”””Good morning.”””
”I apologize that we were barely able to have class yesterday. The training ground has already been repaired, so we will resume our normal classes from today.”
Tina didn’t mention Youko. Since Tina’s ability to sense magical power is excellent, she might have realized that Youko was erasing her presence with magic. In fact, I remembered that when she asked whether Luke or I would go first, Tina had said, ‘I’ve seen the magic of eight people.’
As I thought, Tina had seen through Youko’s magic.
Today, we started with a lecture class.
Tina read from the textbook, supplementing it with knowledge not written there, and also posed questions to us. Those questions were quite difficult. As a sage who had also been taught by Tina, I knew all the answers, but they shouldn’t have been questions that a normal first-year magic academy student could answer.
In fact, Ryushin and Meldy were struggling to answer. And yet, Luna, Luke, and Leafa answered smoothly. I was beginning to notice the peculiarity of this class.
First, the teacher is the legendary Tina=Haribell.
Luke, who has a sage for a grandfather and can also use ultimate magic.
Luna, who can master all sorts of support magic and smoothly solves problems that even upperclassmen at this academy would find difficult.
Leafa, who can gather an unbelievable amount of magical power from the surrounding space.
Meldy, a beastman with a special technique that combines martial arts with magic.
The rare Dragonoid race, with Ryushin using high-powered attack magic and Ryuka using healing magic that can fix anything as long as it has magical power.
Youko, a human-form demon who possesses enough power to be called a calamity when she grows.
Mai and Mei, who have the ability to fuse inherently opposing magics and sublimate them into high-powered spells.
No matter how you look at it, the most peculiar students in the academy were gathered in this class. I feel like it’s not a coincidence.
Did Tina arrange for this to happen?
As I was vaguely looking in Tina’s direction, our eyes met and she smiled. I decided to stop thinking about it and focus on Tina’s class for now.
After that, only Luna and I answered all of Tina’s questions correctly, and Leafa looked frustrated. It’s natural for me since I’m a sage, but I think Luna is amazing. Considering she also saw through the strength of the stone statues guarding the entrance to this classroom, Luna has extensive knowledge of magic.
──＊＊＊──
After the lecture class ended, I had lunch with everyone in the class, and then we moved to the training ground. It seems we’ll be doing practical combat training in the afternoon.
”I have an announcement for everyone. A match against a seventh-year class has been scheduled for three days from now.”
As soon as we arrived at the training ground, Tina announced this as if she had just remembered.
”Huh!?”
”I-in three days?”
”Isn’t that a bit too soon?”
”Seventh-years are the top students, aren’t they!?”
Cries of surprise rose from everyone in the class. The seventh-years at this academy are at a level where most of them can use intermediate magic, and some can even use advanced magic. They are skilled enough to immediately become D-rank, or even C-rank, adventurers upon graduation. And we have to fight them in three days. I feel nothing but anxiety.
”It’s alright. Even though they’re seventh-years, their classroom is outside the Third Wall.”
Our classroom is outside the First Wall.
Since our opponent’s class is in a classroom outside the Third Wall, it seems they aren’t that strong among the seventh-years.
”Besides, you all confirmed your comrades’ abilities yesterday. Everyone was able to master high-level magic. You won’t fall behind in a simple one-on-one fight.”
With Tina’s words, I could see the anxiety gradually disappearing from my classmates.
”As for the battle format, it will be a one-on-one elimination-style match with five members.”
Not every student can use magic suited for combat; many, like Luna, specialize in support magic. So, it’s rare for the entire class to fight. This time, five students will fight as class representatives.
”The five who will be fighting are Leafa-san, Ryushin-san, Meldy-san, Luke-san, and Haruto-sama. The fighting order will be the order in which I just called your names.”
It seems Tina has already decided on the members who will fight.
Does our opinion not matter?
”Understood, Sensei.”
”Yeah! I’ll knock ’em down.”
”I’ll give it my all too!”
”This lineup, huh? Looks like it’ll be over before it’s Haruto’s turn.”
The members other than me all seem motivated. No one commented on Tina calling me with a formal title.
”Well then, let’s begin combat training in preparation for the match.”
With that, Tina clapped her hands, and a stone statue very similar to the one standing at the entrance of our classroom appeared.
”This stone statue is my special artificial monster, created with the concepts of fast, hard, and strong. Its movements are similar to a human’s, so if you can defeat this, you won’t lose in the match either.”
”Sensei, can I go first, same as the battle order?”
”Yes, Leafa-san, please.”
”Alright, I’m next then.”
”After Ryushin, I’ll go!!”
After that, for three days, we continued to fight Tina’s special stone statues.
──＊＊＊──
On the day of the match, we were in the academy’s arena.
Leafa, who went first, is fidgeting on the battle stage.
It’s understandable.
After all, in a one-on-one match, she had just defeated all five of the opposing seventh-years with a single blow.
—How did it come to this?
Let’s turn back time, before the match started.
As is tradition, we were accosted by the opposing seventh-years.
”Why does a first-year class have a classroom by the First Wall?”
”Must be their parents’ connections. Surrender before you get hurt.”
”This one’s pretty cute, isn’t she? We’ll play with you, so you don’t have to surrender.”
”That’s true, let’s play with her. Fuhahaha.”
And so on, they said whatever they wanted. I can see others’ magical power, so I checked the seventh-years’ magic levels, but none of them were anything special. In our class, Luna has the least amount of magical power, but even adding up all five of the seventh-years, they didn’t even have half as much as Luna.
Honestly, I don’t see us losing.
We ignored the seventh-years and headed to the arena’s waiting room. To them, it might have looked like we were scared and running away. I could hear laughter from behind us. But no one here cared. We all realized that among them, there wasn’t a single opponent who seemed stronger than the special stone statues from Tina that we had been fighting until yesterday.
”They seem pretty relaxed.”
”Yeah, I was worried since they’re the top students, but after facing Tina-sensei’s stone statues, I can’t see any reason why we’d lose to them.”
Ryushin and Meldy were having such a conversation.
”But let’s not get careless. They’re seventh-years, and they might have some special magic.”
”That’s right. Just as Haruto-san says, let’s not be careless. First, I’ll take one of them down!”
”Yeah, Leafa. Do your best.”
—And so, I look back fondly on how I encouraged Leafa.
The match began, and Leafa was the first to take the stage.
”Oh, lucky! You’re the first one. I’ll take good care of you. Nice to meet ya.”
The opposing seventh-year was looking at Leafa with a smirk. The fight began with the referee’s signal. Leafa immediately created a bow with her magic and took a stance, but her opponent didn’t even flinch.
”Go on, shoot. I’ll show you how useless it is.”
Underestimating her because she was a first-year, he gave Leafa the first move. Normally, she would have to gather magical power from her surroundings while dodging the opponent’s attacks, so it should have taken time.
However, the opponent really didn’t do anything.
Taking this as a stroke of luck, Leafa poured magical power into her arrow.
”Huh? Wh-what is that magical power!?”
The magical power, so concentrated in one spot that even students other than me could see it, made the air around Leafa tremble. Her opponent noticed it too and began to panic. To stop Leafa’s spell from activating, he placed his hand on the stage and unleashed earth magic towards her.
—But it was too late.
”Wind Arrow!”
As Leafa released her fingers from the magic bow’s string, the arrow of wind was fired at high speed.
”Fugwaaah!!”
The wind arrow blew away the earth magic that was coming towards Leafa. Then, with the same momentum, it blew away the opposing student.
To avoid killing her opponent, Leafa had changed the tip of the wind arrow from a high-penetration shape to one that would create an impact on contact and blow the target away. The wind arrow didn’t disappear after just blowing away Leafa’s opponent. It broke through the translucent defensive magic barrier set up around the stage to prevent spells from flying into the audience, and then it blew away the remaining four opponents who were waiting behind it.
The five of them were blown away and slammed into the arena wall, and they didn’t get up. Their limbs were twitching, so it seems none of them died.
”…”
Silence enveloped the arena.
It was a match between the first-years who had obtained a classroom by the First Wall and the top students, so many students and teachers had come to watch. But the destruction of the magic barrier and the sheer power of the spell that blew away five people at once had stunned everyone who came to the arena. Leafa, who had just gathered a little extra magical power, was herself surprised that it had even pierced the defensive barrier and was fidgeting on the stage.
”When you all were fighting the stone statues, I was the one putting up the magic barrier with all my might. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t think a barrier put up by some random teacher could stop my students’ magic.”
Tina spoke with a hint of pride.
”I-I can’t accept this! Attacking outside the stage is against the rules!”
A balding teacher in his fifties stormed up to Tina. He was the homeroom teacher of the opposing seventh-year class.
”Attacking from outside the stage to inside is against the rules, but there’s no rule against the reverse. We never anticipated that an individual’s magic would be able to break the magic barrier in the first place.”
The teacher who was refereeing came to stop the balding teacher.
”More importantly, what should we do? If they’re all unable to battle, it’ll be Tina-sensei’s class’s victory.”
The fallen opponents were carried away on stretchers. They might recover after a while with healing magic, but it would likely take time.
”Referee, the students who fell just now were just cheering from the sidelines. They aren’t the contestants!”
”What? No, but—”
The referee checked the match roster. Indeed, all the students who had just been carried away were registered as contestants.
”Edgar, come here!”
A well-built student called Edgar came over to the balding teacher, looking sleepy.
”What is it? Didn’t you say I wouldn’t have a turn?”
”Change of plans. Crush them with all your might.”
”No, I’m telling you, Edgar-kun is not a contestant—”
”My class has no problem. Let’s continue.”
The referee tried to stop them, but Tina suggested they continue as is.
”I don’t know what you’re misunderstanding, but you’ll regret this.”
With those parting words, the balding teacher returned to his side with Edgar in tow.
”Leafa-san, you don’t seem to have a good matchup against Edgar-kun, so could you please forfeit the next match?”
”Yes, Sensei.”
Leafa obediently followed Tina’s words. It seems she’s reflecting a little on overdoing it.
”Good work. That was a magnificent spell.”
”Th-thank you!”
Praised by Tina, who is called a hero among her own race, Leafa looked extremely happy.
”Well then, next is Ryushin-kun. If you please.”
”Roger! Can I go all out too?”
”Of course. Go ahead and do it with enough force to blow away that teacher as well.”
Tina is being unusually aggressive. She might be irritated with that balding teacher.
Ryushin took the stage. Edgar also lethargically climbed onto the stage. Behind Edgar, the remaining four students of the opposing class began to chant some kind of magic. His body was enveloped in various auras.
They were strengthening him with support magic from outside the stage. Looking closely at the flow of magical power, the balding teacher was also using support magic without letting those around him notice.
”Is that allowed?”
”Attacking from outside the stage is not allowed, but support seems to be fine.”
”Hmm, but a teacher is definitely not allowed, right?”
”You noticed, Haruto-sama. I cannot overlook that.”
”Should we stop the match?”
”No, we will do the same. Luna-san.”
”Y-yes.”
”Please use your full-power support magic on Ryushin-kun.”
”Understood!”
—Let’s cut to the chase.
We won by a landslide.
Ryushin, having received Luna’s full-power support magic, dragonified his arm and unleashed a punch with his full magic power. The pressure from his fist blew Edgar away and easily broke through the re-erected magic barrier. Then, it spectacularly blew away the four students and the balding teacher who were behind Edgar.
And so, our class won its first match and successfully defended our classroom.
──＊＊＊──
”Cheers!”
After the match ended, we came to a restaurant in the central district for a celebration. Since some of us can’t drink alcohol, we all toasted with juice.
”Good work, everyone.”
”I only used one spell, so I’m not that tired.”
”Me too, me too. More importantly, Luna, thanks for the support magic!”
”Y-yes. It was a little exhilarating to see that teacher get blown away by your magic, Ryushin-san.”
”It was, wasn’t it? That was satisfying. In any case, our first defense was a success!”
”””Yeah!”””
”This time, our opponents were a class that wasn’t very strong, even for top students, so we won overwhelmingly. But next time, a stronger class might challenge us.”
That’s right. Just because we won easily this time doesn’t mean we can let our guard down. We have to have a match every month. And many students and teachers were watching our match. From now on, it will probably be rare to be able to defeat the entire opposing team with a single blow like we did this time.
”Also, the match might not be one-on-one, but rather an endurance battle, or one where the outcome is decided by the effect of support magic. Don’t be satisfied with today’s victory; learn well in class from tomorrow onwards and become even stronger.”
”””Yes!”””
After that, we ate and drank to our hearts’ content, and the celebration came to an end.
──＊＊＊──
”Haruto-sama, I apologize for not being able to create a moment for you to shine.”
On the way back to the mansion, Tina apologized.
”It’s fine. The important thing is that the class won, right?”
”That’s true, but… I also wanted to see you fight, Haruto-sama.”
”I see. Well then, I’ll do my best to show you what I can do in the next match, Tina.”
”I’ll be looking forward to it. By the way—”
”Yeah, you noticed too, Tina?”
”Yes… Youko-san, you’re there, aren’t you? Please come out.”
Tina turned around and called out to the empty space where no one should have been.
”Hmph, as expected of Tina=Haribell. To notice me when you are not even the master with whom I have a contract.”
From the spot where no one should have been, the girl in the kimono, Youko, appeared.
”Thank you for the compliment. That aside, why were you following us? Also, what do you mean by contract?”
”Ah, I’ll explain that.”
I explained to Tina about how Youko had forced a master-servant contract on me this morning, that Youko was a demon, and that she had originally been plotting to take over the academy.
”I see. So you are a demon who has possessed Haruto-sama.”
For some reason, Tina is angry. She began to gather magical power in her right hand, preparing to unleash a high-level spell at Youko.
”W-wait! I am absolutely subservient to my master. So if my master does not wish it, I will absolutely not do something like taking over this academy, so please forgive me!”
Exposed to Tina’s immense magical power, Youko’s body began to tremble.
”Tina, wait. I won’t let Youko do anything bad. Can’t we let her stay at the academy as a student?”
”Haruto-sama, because of the contract, you are being made to want to protect that vixen. It’s a common trick used by demons. Please rest assured, I will defeat it.”
”Hiii, M-Master.”
Youko fell on her butt and is looking at me with a tearful expression. I don’t want to see a subservient Japanese-style beauty disappear, nor do I want to see my personal maid kill someone, so I stood in front of Youko to protect her.
”Tina, calm down. I’m not under the influence of the contract anymore.”
””Huh?””
Stunned voices rose from Tina and Youko.
Actually, after the contract was made with Youko, I checked my status board, but—
State: Curse (Stats Fixed) 〘Fixed〙
—it remained like that, as if the contract with Youko had never even happened. Is it because the evil god’s curse is already in effect? By the way, the mark of the master-servant contract is still clearly on Youko’s right hand, but the mark on my right hand had disappeared at some point. I still feel a very slight sense of protectiveness towards Youko, but it’s at a level I can ignore if I try.
In other words, the master-servant contract that makes Youko subservient to me remains, but the effect that would make me feel like I have to do something for Youko has disappeared.
I have become able to do whatever I want with a kimono-clad beauty without any demerits.
Though she’s a demon, Youko’s human form looks exactly like a human. And she’s pretty cute. Letting her be killed is out of the question.
”Youko, stand up.”
”Y-yes.”
At my command, Youko stood up.
”Spin around once and say ‘nya’.”
”N-nyaa~”
After spinning around once on the spot, Youko meowed, looking extremely embarrassed.
”See? She’s completely subservient to my commands.”
”M-master…”
Youko seemed bewildered that her body had moved on its own, against her will, for the first time due to the master-servant contract’s command.
I thought I heard Youko mutter, ‘I’m a fox, you know,’ but it must have been my imagination.
”She may be subservient to you, Haruto-sama, but she can still brainwash or attack anyone else.”
”Alright then, Youko, you’re forbidden from attacking people with malicious intent unless I give you permission.”
I ordered while touching the master-servant contract magic circle on Youko’s right hand with my finger.
”U-understood.”
”That solves the problem, right? Also, when I don’t need Youko for anything, I’ll have her stay by my side at all times so I can supervise her.”
”B-but, it is dangerous to keep a demon by your side, Haruto-sama. Besides, Youko-san is a beautiful girl, and if you are always together, your chastity, Haruto-sama…”
In the latter half, her voice suddenly became quiet, and I couldn’t hear what Tina was saying very well.
After that, we returned to the mansion, but Youko came with us. It seems she wants to live with me in my mansion. She seems to be afraid that Tina might do something to her when I’m not looking. I did say I would supervise Youko, and there are spare rooms in the mansion.
There wasn’t really a problem, but—
”Why is Youko-san in your bed, Haruto-sama?”
”Because this is the safest place. More importantly, why are you also in your nightwear? Are you perhaps planning to sleep with my master?”
After finishing our meal and bath, I was lying in bed when Youko in her nightgown slipped in. A few minutes later, Tina, having finished cleaning up after the meal, came to my room in her pajamas.
”Is there a problem?”
”You are my master’s attendant, are you not? And at the academy, you are a teacher.”
”That is not a reason for me not to be able to sleep with Haruto-sama.”
Sparks are flying between Tina and Youko. As for me, I was thinking that sleeping between a beautiful woman and a beautiful girl isn’t so bad.
”Let’s just go to sleep. Here, come on, Tina.”
I lifted the blanket on the empty left side and called Tina over.
”Y-yes!”
Tina jumped in, her ears turning red.
”Haruto-samaa!”
Tina hugged me tightly. Something soft is pressing against my left arm.
”A-are you two always doing things like that?”
”My right hand is free, so you can do it too, Youko.”
Youko was blushing bright red and looking shy, and she was so cute that I decided to tease her.
I had intended to tease her, but—
”I-if it is a command, then it cannot be helped. Yes, excuse me.”
Youko hugged me from the right side as well. Compared to Tina’s, it’s a little lacking, but there is definitely something soft pressing against me. By the way, I didn’t use the master-servant contract’s command. A nice scent is coming from both sides.
I gradually let go of my consciousness.
──＊＊＊──
The next morning, when I woke up, I was alone in the bed. I was hungry, so I headed to the dining room, and in the kitchen, Tina was teaching Youko how to cook.
”Since you will be staying in Haruto-sama’s mansion, you will be doing your share of the housework.”
”I-I know that. Do not speak to me right now.”
Youko was trying to flip a rolled omelet. Ah, it broke apart a little.
”Muu, this is difficult.”
Next to the struggling Youko, Tina skillfully prepared breakfast. I decided to sit at the table and wait for the food to be served.
”Haruto-sama, you were awake. Good morning.”
”Master, good morning.”
A little while later, Tina and Youko came out of the kitchen.
”Good morning. You were teaching Youko to cook.”
”Yes, I can’t let her just stay here for free without doing anything, after all.”
”Master, I did my best.”
”It’s still a work in progress, though.”
Tina started arranging the dishes. On the plate with the rolled omelet, there was a perfectly shaped one and one that was misshapen and partially burnt. Youko is watching the plate of rolled omelet and the direction of my fork.
I took the misshapen rolled omelet and ate it.
It’s a little burnt, but it tastes delicious.
”This is delicious. Did you make this, Youko?”
”Indeed! I-I see, It’s delicious. Then I shall continue to cook for you from now on, Master.”
Youko is smiling happily.
”Make sure you learn properly from Tina. And be careful when handling knives and things.”
”Understood!”
If Tina is teaching her, Youko should be able to handle all sorts of housework eventually. And so, a new resident was added to my home.
