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Chapter 4 Part 1

After that, Reid and Elria never met Rufus again. This was partly due to the teachers arranging the training schedules to prevent any contact between classes, especially after the mock battle between Elria and Rufus.

However… Rufus was nowhere to be seen, even in the dining hall.

According to what Alma had heard from the teacher in charge, “Rufus has been applying for permission to use the training grounds after school and has been training alone”.

Details beyond that were confidential due to inter-class policy, but it seemed that the teacher was in high spirits, so the training was likely going well.

However… not only did they have to keep their promise to Rufus, but Reid and Elria also had to face the looming exam.

“――So, let me explain the terms for this conditional exam,” Alma said, standing at the lectern with chalk streaking across the blackboard.

“Well, compared to last time, it’s pretty straightforward. Teams previously formed in each class will work together, and points will be added to your score based on the number of opponents you incapacitate by the end of the exam.”

“A question. How is incapacitation determined?” a student asked, raising a hand.

Alma nodded gracefully and pulled out two bracelet-type magic devices from her pocket.

“Incapacitation is determined by these bracelets. When they detect a lethal spell of the third tier or higher, they activate and forcibly teleport the person wearing them. In other words, a person teleported by this bracelet is considered incapacitated.”

With that said, Alma fitted the bracelet on her arm and stood in front of the students.

“Although there’s no visible change, a thin layer of magic power forms over the skin of the person wearing it. It detects magic power other than its own wearer’s and activates upon a certain level of impact, causing an immediate teleportation of the wearer. It’s fine over clothes and shoes, but beware, it will activate even if you touch an ally’s magic with your own bare hands.”

After finishing the explanation, she held up the other bracelet.

This one was a gold-painted bracelet, far more conspicuous than the first.

“This golden bracelet will be distributed to one member of each team. The mechanism is the same, but… if the owner of this bracelet is incapacitated, more points will be added to your score.”

“Um… a question. Is it okay for the team to decide freely who wears the golden bracelet?”

“What a good question. Yes, the team can decide freely who owns it. The strongest person, someone specialized in defense, or someone skilled in emergency escapes… When you decide who will own it, you should also decide your team’s overall strategy.”

After answering, she smiled.

“If the person holding the golden bracelet is incapacitated――that team will suffer a significant deduction in points. If the score ends up negative, it will carry over to subsequent exams.”

This meant that if a team was defeated without accomplishing anything, even an excellent score in the next exam would, at best, only offset the deficit or, at worst, leave the team with a negative score.

The fate of those who could not recover was all too clear.

“If you end the final exam with negative points, those individuals will be excluded from next year’s secondary placement and will have to leave the academy.”

Being a mage was not solely about having a vast amount of magic power or superior combat skills. A mage had to possess the skills to make good judgments and decisions in all situations.

Magic was merely a means to achieve an objective under various conditions. Only those who could accurately assess their circumstances and take the best course of action were allowed to wield the powerful weapon known as magic.

“Mages cannot afford to fail. So――act as if your own or someone else’s life depends on it and think until your brain burns out.”

The students, moved by Alma’s words, unanimously responded with a loud “Yes!”.

Pleased with their reaction, Alma then tapped Philia, who was standing next to her, on the shoulder.

“Well, that’s it for my part! I have to give further explanations to the problem children, so please consult Philia about the conditional exam.”

“Y-Yes! If you have any doubts or concerns about the exam, or any minor issues, please feel free to ask me!”

As the students turned towards Philia, Alma approached Reid and the others with a deep sigh.

“That being said, here’s a notice for you, the ‘problem children’ team.”

“She is saying something about you, Kid Faregh.”

“Why are you throwing shade at me!?”

“Ah, it seems we’re all being labeled as problem children…”

“Let’s at least try to be the last bastion of conscience.”

“Yes, thanks for the spirited response. Now, there’s something I want to ask――” Alma began, but then she glanced at the one person who had not reacted.

There lay Elria――using Reid’s lap as a pillow, sleeping soundly.

“…Without listening to my explanation, why is she asleep?”

“If I had to explain it simply, it’s due to lack of sleep.”

“Is it because the exam is right around the corner and she was cramming in preparation?”

“No, not exactly. With the exam nearing, I was doing some last-minute fine-tuning, so to speak, and had been sparring with Kid Faregh. I hadn’t left any note, so it seems that she had waited in our room until I returned.”

“Can you not suddenly start gushing about it?”

“That’s why, struggling to stay awake, she was fidgeting in front of our room’s door. That’s the cause.”

“She’s like a cat that gets anxious when its owner doesn’t come home.”

As Alma poked Elria’s cheek with a look of exasperation, Elria’s eyes opened slightly.

“……Nngh.”

Then, with a strange noise, she sluggishly approached Alma and hugged her. She pressed her head firmly against Alma’s chest.

“……Fluffy,” she muttered with sleepy eyes, and then returned to Reid and promptly fell asleep again.

“…….Eh, what was that all about?”

“Don’t look for meaning in a lethargic Elria.”

“So, basically, she did that without any reason?”

“If I had to take a guess, maybe she smelled something different and decided to mark it with her scent by snuggling up, something like that.”

“Even I think it’s a bit much to treat your fiancée like a cat.”

“No, you see, Alma-sensei… Elria-sama does check for scents with females, but when it comes to males, she shows no interest in anyone but Reid-san. Ultimately, her instinct is to always return to Reid-san. It’s advanced flaunting on an instinctual level.”

“Must be nice, being all cheerful before the exam…”

Listening to Millis’s additional explanation, Alma sighed with a look of incredulity. She then decided it was time to get back to the main topic.

“So, the reason I came was to inform you that the contents of His Excellency’s exam have been changed.”

“Is there another change?”

“Well, you know His Excellency can’t use the magic bracelet, right? That means safety can’t be guaranteed, so it’s been decided to switch to evaluating another person just like Elria-chan.”

“Ahh, I thought it might be something like that,” Reid replied in a light tone, though it was clear that there was an intention to interfere with him.

After all, it had already been discussed that magic tools and magic equipment would be unusable, and the overview of the exam content had been created before training started. It was unthinkable that such a change would be announced just before the exam.

Moreover, it was impossible for Reid, who could not use magic, to teach magic to a substitute student just before the exam.

However――there was already someone suitable to be Reid’s proxy.

“With that said, you need to do your best as my proxy, Kid Faregh,” Reid said with a laugh as he lightly patted Faregh’s back.

But, the person in question wore a dubious expression.

“…Are you really planning to make me the proxy for evaluation?”

“Yes. Since I unusually took the time to teach someone and even trained you to handle a sword, it’s only right that you serve as my proxy.”

“That’s not what I mean. Besides… if I end up not being able to do anything like before, you will go through the exam without receiving any evaluation,” Faregh said with a slight tension in his voice.

If Faregh, serving as Reid’s proxy, fell short in the evaluation, all the criticism would be directed at Reid.

And, since Reid was unable to use magic, depending on the evaluation, expulsion from the academy could have been a possibility.

However, Reid replied without concern.

“Then let me ask you this, do you plan to receive a low evaluation in the exam?”

“O-Of course not!! As the eldest son of the proud Welminan family, it would be a lifelong shame to produce a pitiful performance and tarnish the family name!!”

“Exactly. That’s why you’re the one,” Reid continued, his words laced with amusement.

“Those who cherish their vanity and self-esteem are mostly good for nothing. But… if they’re not just all talk and can actually prove their worth with genuine effort, they’re the real deal.”

For this reason, he had chosen Faregh as his proxy. Faregh, honoring his family name and pride, refused to abandon his comrades and strove to save them.

“Well, think of me as just an extra. At least I’ve trained you enough to be useful in actual combat, and if you fail, it just means I misjudged your ability and that’s that.”

“Haa… Don’t be ridiculous. I refuse to go through such a disgrace ever again.”

With that, Faregh let out a dry laugh, and then――

“――In the name of Welminan, I shall firmly seize victory,” he declared with a resolute smile.

Nodding back at Faregh, Reid then made a declaration.

“So, tell them that my proxy is Faregh Welminan.”

“Alright, alright. This is going to be interesting… When those complainers hear that the notorious young master of the Welminan household is the proxy, they’ll probably flip.”

“…Please wait a moment, Kanos-sensei. What kind of reputation do I have?”

“Oh, you know, they say things like ‘He’s only good with magic and attitude’ or ‘If complaining were a sport, he’d be in the tenth tier,’ all while laughing, those nobles.”

“Hahahaha… Well, if that’s the case, I’ll have to show them my true power and shut them up…!!” Faregh said, his anger fueling a menacing grin as he flickered flames. It was mostly his own doing, but it was good that he had been motivated.

“By the way… why does Kanos-sensei refer to you, a commoner, as ‘His Excellency’?”

“Don’t call me a commoner. Well, it’s sort of a nickname. I was somewhat of a chess buddy with Alma-sensei’s grandfather, and I was decently strong, so they started calling me ‘His Excellency’.”

“That’s right. I’ve heard a lot from my grandfather, and for me, you’re like a capable junior, so I call you ‘His excellency’ out of respect.”

“Oh, is that so! I know a thing or two about chess, and my father loves it and plays in his free time, so I should introduce you to him sometime!”

Listening to their conversation, Faregh’s eyes sparkled without a hint of doubt. Such naivety was befitting of someone from a good family, but it was concerning that he might be easily deceived someday.

“Anyway, I have something to tell both of you. May we step outside for a bit?”

“Sure thing. Elria, we’re going outside, so wake up.”

“Mmm…”

Rubbing her eyes, Reid helped Elria to stand up and guided her towards the hallway.

After walking for a while, once Alma confirmed there was no one around, she began to speak.

“So, it’s about the investigation concerning the last incident, right?”

“Yeah. Elria couldn’t sleep because she was worried about it.”

Elria had been waiting for Reid because she thought he was receiving the report from Alma and had forced herself to stay awake to hear the results.

“I see. It’s partly my fault for being delayed with the exam preparations, but I should have reported back sooner.”

“Mm… It’s okay, thank you for looking into it…”

“You’re welcome.”

As Elria, slightly more awake, made a sleepy bow of thanks, Alma gave her a gentle pat on the head with a wry smile.

Then, with a serious expression, Alma began her report.

“As for the last incident… the method was immediately suspected to be summoning magic, and any mage who has ever used summoning magic was questioned. People from Serios are still being interrogated under the guise of cooperation.”

“Well, it’s fair since the scale of it is still unknown.”

The appearance of multiple ‘Armament Dragons’ suggested that it was unlikely the act of a lone individual.

Creating a vessel for magical beasts requires an immense amount of magic power, which increases with the size and number of magical beasts.

To summon several large magical beasts like ‘Armament Dragons’ alone would be nearly impossible. If it had been possible, it would likely have been by highly recognized individuals, such as special rank or first-class mages. Therefore, an organized crime by multiple individuals seemed more likely.

“Well, because of that, mages from Serios are under suspicion… but since parts of the remains have been found, the suspicion should be cleared soon.”

Summoned vessels vanished once their magic power was depleted, so the remains at the scene suggested that it might not have been summoning magic after all, hence the ongoing ‘continuous questioning’.

“As for the mage known as ‘Teacher’, it’s a common nickname, so there were no leads… but it’s probably not Rufus Rylus herself involved, I guess.”

“Mm… Got it. That’s a bit reassuring.”

With her concerns somewhat eased, Elria nodded affirmatively. She seemed to be fully awake now, as her speech and expressions appeared brisk.

“So, that is all for the report. Do you have anything else to ask?”

“Oh, I’ll be on standby during the exam, right? What should I do in the meantime?”

“Why not watch and enjoy some tea?”

“Is that really okay…?”

“Of course. I count on His Excellency and Elria-chan as potential combatants if something were to happen. And it’s easier for His Excellency to move around freely, right?”

“Yes. I also feel more at ease knowing Reid is fully prepared and on standby.”

Nodding in agreement, Elria concurred with Alma’s words.

“Besides, it makes me happy to know that Reid is watching.”

“……Happy?”

“Yes. Because I said before, ‘I’ll show you something even more amazing’.”

Saying that, Elria turned around and――

“――I’ll show you my true strength for the first time in a while.”

She smiled confidently at Reid.

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Chapter 3 Part 6

■

After their conversation in the dining hall, Rufus quickly made her way back to her room. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she reached for the drawer in her desk. Inside was a small magic communication device.

She took it in hand and drew a deep breath――

“――Teacher! I’ve got something I need to ask!!”

The moment she raised her voice, a rattling sound, like something crumbling, emanated from the device. Silence ensued for a while before a voice responded.

‘Ouch, ouch, ouch… This voice… it’s Rufus-kun, right?’

“Yes! That’s right!!”

‘You sound very lively… Did something good happen?’

“Err, I lost in a mock battle, and my mother scolded and hit me!”

‘That’s a bit too heavy a topic for me, just waking up…’

But then, the teacher’s tone changed slightly.

‘If you’re using this magic device, it must be an urgent matter, right?’

“Yes. You told me I could only use it once, so I shouldn’t use it unless I’m really in trouble… but I just really, really need to ask you something.”

With that preface, Rufus posed her question to her mentor through the magic device.

“I want to learn how to handle the ‘Guardian Dragons’.”

‘…Do you mean you want to be able to command it in its complete state?’

“Yes. If I can’t do that, I’ll never be able to defeat Elria-chan.”

Rufus was acutely aware of the difference in their strengths, having actually fought her. Not just in simple magic, but in the coordination with summoned magical beasts, and the tactics and judgment that utilized them… In all aspects, Rufus was overwhelmingly inferior.

In that case――what was needed was an overwhelming power that could surpass everything.

In the harsh natural environment of Serios, the power of the magical beasts stood at the pinnacle of the natural order.

Without the ability to wield that power, one couldn’t even stand alongside it.

“That’s why I at least want to be able to fully command one of them.”

‘Well… even if you manage to command one, I doubt that will be enough.’

“But! If it’s with the ‘Guardian Dragon’――”

“Ah, sorry about that. In that case, I guess I’ll change it to “There’s absolutely no way to win”.”

The Teacher spoke in their usual manner.

‘The opponent you’re trying to fight is not just someone you can defeat by summoning a ‘Guardian Dragon’――she is an ‘absolute’ being. If the ‘Guardian Dragons’ you contracted with are at the pinnacle of magical beasts, then she is at the pinnacle of everything.’

After saying so much, the Teacher murmured “Oops” quietly.

‘Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to dampen your spirits, but it’s better to be aware that she’s that kind of opponent.’

“But then… does that mean I can’t win?”

‘Ah! Sorry, sorry, please don’t cry!! I’m weak against that sort of thing!!’

In a flustered voice coming from the magic device, the Teacher cleared their throat.

‘It’s okay, I think there’s definitely a possibility that you can win.’

“…A possibility of winning?”

‘That’s right. All you have to do is command all four ‘Guardian Dragons’.’

“A-All four…!? But that’s impossible!! Even when I tried controlling one, it got angry and started rampaging――”

‘Because that’s the ‘current’ Rufus. As I said before, in the future, you will be able to fully command the ‘Guardian Dragons’. They know this too, which is why they’ve agreed to contract with you, even though your current magic power is insufficient.’

Pausing for a moment――

‘――Therefore, you just need to borrow power from your ‘future’ self.’

And with that, the Teacher told Rufus.

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Chapter 3 Part 5

◇

After Rufus left, Reid and Elria joined the others who remained at the workshop.

As it was already evening, they quickly returned to the academy――

“――Wow! The food is delicious!!” Millis exclaimed in high spirits, laughing loudly in the academy’s dining hall.

In contrast to Millis’s cheerful demeanor, Faregh let out a deep sigh.

“I wonder if I’ve done something irreversible…?”

“What are you talking about!? When one of us is in trouble, we help each other out!!” Millis responded, patting Faregh on the back with a thwack.

Observing the two, Reid whispered to Wiesel.

“…Hey, what’s up with those two?”

“Oh… Millis wanted to know how much of a ‘favor’ she was owed for when she asks for one, so I converted our work’s market rate compensation for this time…”

“…How much was it?”

“Roughly this much.”

Wiesel held up five fingers with a grim face.

“……Five hundred thousand?”

“No, five million.”

“……Seriously?”

“I should mention, for the sake of honor, that this amount considers the type of magic power system involved when requesting a magic craftsman, the range of the engraving, the complexity of the magic circuits, and it’s based on the appropriate market rates. Moreover, the price has been reduced because she is not formally a magic craftsman.”

“Shouldn’t she just become a magic craftsman?”

“I fervently suggested it as well, but she said, ‘If I’m going to stand out when I return home, it’s best to be a mage!’ So, for now, she’s considering it after she becomes a mage.”

“She’s burying her talents for the sake of appearances back home…”

“However, it’s not entirely a bad thing. Like me aiming to be a mage for the development and research of magic equipment, being in a magic-heavy environment will lead to improved precision and speed in engraving. In fact, it’s common for those who were originally mages to retire and become magic craftsmen.”

“And Faregh the Kid owes her, so she won’t be left wandering the streets, huh?”

Since a sizable ‘favor’ was made with Faregh, a scion of a distinguished family, it makes sense why Millis would be frolicking around so happily.

“Thanks to Lady Millis, I could achieve the performance I had envisioned. So, as a magic equipment engineer, I’m left with no regrets about the perfect job.”

“…The request fee skyrocketed because you got carried away, didn’t it?”

“The best work deserves the greatest reward. Besides, the Welminan family has connections everywhere, not just money, so this ‘favor’ can be said to be very powerful.”

Wiesel adjusted his glasses and smiled as he spoke. His reasoning was sound, but it wasn’t just Millis who had quite the character; Wiesel did, too.

Perhaps sensing a bright future ahead, Millis playfully engaged Elria with a cheerful smile on her face.

“So, Elria-sama, how was your date with Reid-san?”

“……………”

“Huh, Elria-sama?”

“Mm… What is it, Millis?”

“No, um… I was just wondering how your date with Reid-san went.”

“Yes, it was a lot of fun. We visited various shops, ate delicious skewers at a stall, and even Shehri seemed to enjoy the walk,” Elria replied, though she seemed somewhat distracted.

Noticing Elria’s demeanor, Millis leaned in and whispered to Reid.

“…Reid-san, did something happen?”

“Something messy happened towards the end. It’s not like I did something, or that something happened to us, so don’t worry about it.”

“Well, despite everything, I believe that Reid-san is someone who is considerate of others, so I’m not worried about that…”

Millis looked at Elria with concern.

It was likely that Elria was troubled by the situation involving Rufus. However, this was not something Reid and Elria should have meddled in. It was a matter related to another family’s affairs, and by extension, to national matters. Given Rufus’s situation, it was not a topic to be discussed carelessly with others.

“………!!”

Just as she was contemplating this, Elria suddenly perked up. Standing up with vigor while holding her tray, she declared, “I’m going to get seconds.”

“Seconds…? Didn’t you have a light portion because you just had skewers?”

“I didn’t have enough, so I’m going to get some more,” Elria replied in a somewhat restless manner.

Following her gaze, Reid understood her intentions.

“Got it. Maybe I’ll go get seconds, too.”

“Eh, you too, Reid-san?”

“Yeah. It’s crowded, and it looks like it will take time, so we’ll be back a bit later.”

“Understood. In that case, Lord Welminan, until they return, let’s discuss new magic equipment.”

“No, wait, what’s this about new magic equipment!?”

“Come on, Faregh-san, let’s at least hear them out. If it’s new magic equipment developed by Blanche’s workshop, it means we’re dealing with information not available anywhere else, you know?”

“I-Is that so? In that case, I might as well listen…”

“Then, let’s start with the new combat technique that’s suitable for Lord Welminan――”

Carried along by Millis’s words, Faregh listened to Wiesel obediently. He would have to be careful not to get conned into buying strange things one of these days.

Ignoring the three of them, Reid followed Elria through the dining hall――

“――――May I sit next to you?”

She called out to Rufus, who was sitting at a table.

“……Eh?”

Rufus, taken aback by the sudden approach, looked up in surprise.

Reid also smiled wryly and raised his hand slightly towards the surprised Rufus.

“Uhh, you’re Elria-chan’s――”

“I’m Reid Frieden. It seems Elria has been quite concerned and was looking for a chance to talk with you, so she approached you.”

“I-I was just asking because there was a free seat, and it just happened to be Rufus there…”

“That’s impossible timing-wise, isn’t it?”

Reid lightly patted Elria on the head, and Rufus smiled slightly.

“So, can we talk while we eat?”

“…Yes! Let’s eat together!” Rufus responded with a smile.

With that, Rufus crafted a broad smile, and they sat down to carry on a casual conversation.

“You were alone? Don’t you eat with your classmates?”

“Um… I don’t really eat with them much. I’m the youngest in the class, and since I can only use summoning magic, I can’t really join in on magic conversations either.”

Rufus laughed as if troubled, but surely there were other reasons for her isolation. After all, she had made a pact with the ‘Guardian Dragons’ and also handled a flying steel dragon during the entrance exams to gain admission. This showed her inherent talent as a mage.

Rufus’s mother had mentioned that flying steel dragons were considered inferior, but making a pact with a dragon species magical beast in the first place puts one at a very high level among summoning magic users. It wouldn’t be surprising if some students envied Rufus for her exceptional abilities at such a young age.

“Um… I’m sorry, Elria-chan.”

Rufus muttered an apology, slightly bowing her head.

“During the mock battle… I thought I absolutely had to win and couldn’t afford to lose… I’m sorry for causing Elria-chan’s <<Mana-Eater Wolf>> pain.”

With her pale crimson eyes slightly moistened, Rufus bowed her head to Elria, who shook her head in response.

“It’s okay, Shehri wasn’t angry.”

“……Really?”

“Yeah. Besides, as I said in the park, it was my fault for stopping the battle midway.”

“N-No, that’s not it! It’s true that Rafika was barely able to move, and since it was a mock battle, not an actual one, it should have been stopped…!!”

“Since mock battles are meant to simulate actual combat, it was my fault for not considering every situation.”

“But if I had admitted defeat, Rafika wouldn’t have acted recklessly!”

“Rafika tried hard to fulfill Rufus’s wishes. It’s such a good child.”

“Elria-chan’s Shehri also obeyed orders precisely. It was amazing!!”

And so, they waved their hands at each other, each denying and praising the other. However, amidst this exchange, Elria calmly declared, “That’s why――next time, I definitely won’t lose.”

Hearing this, Rufus tensed up slightly.

“In the next conditional exam, I will be restricted by the academy to only use magic up to the third tier. But even so, I’m confident I can win and will put forth all my effort to ensure I don’t lose.”

Rufus knew this was not mere arrogance. She understood from actual combat experience.

The flying steel dragon Rufus summoned and commanded was estimated to be at least of the eighth tier, and considering the vessel’s movements, it would not be surprising if it matched the ninth tier. However, Elria had overwhelmed it using a <<Mana-Eater Wolf>>, which was of the lower fifth tier and even below the dragon species in rank.

Elria not only could use the exceptional technique of ‘Weighted Multiplication Deployment’ but also had overwhelming magic combat experience.

Even with the restriction of only using third tier magic, if Elria declared she would “give her all”, she would surely be able to seize victory.

That was why Elria had also told Rufus’s mother that her intention was “not out of pity”.

Elria admitted that the incident in the mock battle was due to her own complacency. She declared that this time, she would shed all that and fight with all her might to win.

“I also have an unwavering purpose. It may seem trivial compared to your circumstances――but for me, it’s a promise that absolutely must be fulfilled.”

To settle a millennium-old conflict.

It was a pretext but also a necessary ritual to significantly change their relationship, a ceremony for two who were once enemies to come together anew.

“That’s why, I will absolutely not lose.”

With a firm attitude, Elria declared again.

Rufus then, with a twisted expression――

“――Elria-chan, you are truly strong.”

Rufus murmured, her face almost tearful.

“I… I just managed to make a contract with the children of the ‘Guardian Dragons’.”

Saying this, Rufus began to talk about herself.

“I originally didn’t intend to make a contract with the ‘Guardian Dragons’. All I wanted was to become a mage with Rafika, who has been with me since I was born.”

But Rufus paused her words.

“My teacher said, ‘You can make a contract with the Guardian Dragons’, and believing those words, I approached the children of the ‘Guardian Dragons’, and they accepted me, forming a contract.”

“……Teacher?”

“Yes. The teacher is someone who studies ‘Guardian Dragons’. They taught me things I didn’t know, which weren’t even in the literature.”

That was how Rufus established a contract with the ‘Guardian Dragons’ that symbolized Serios. However, with that came an overwhelmingly heavy responsibility.

“At first, my mother was happy. Since our family was not from the legal wife’s line but from a concubine’s, the harder I worked, the more my grandfather praised us.”

This status and blessing were ones they would not have originally received. Such privileges were granted to those who had fulfilled their contracts with the ‘Guardian Dragons’. However, that meant one had to be a ‘Contractor of the Guardian Dragons’, similar to someone who was once required to take on the role of a――‘Hero’.

“Every time I summoned Rafika… my mother started to get mad at me. Even though I finally managed to subdue the ‘Guardian Dragons’, she wondered why I wouldn’t use it.”

“…Is it because you couldn’t fully control the ‘Guardian Dragons’?”

“Yes… The children of the ‘Guardian Dragons’ are proud creatures, and if they find their medium lacking in magic power, they get angry and start rampaging, obeying or disobeying orders depending on their mood.”

Summoning magic was different from other kinds of magic in that the relationship with the summoned magical beasts was a significant factor. If the summoner sent back a magical beast that did not obey, it could worsen their relationship with the beast and could even lead to the annulment of the contract. But if they ignored a rampaging magical beast, it could harm those around them.

“I explained it to my mother, but… since I’m the contractor, they wouldn’t hurt me, and it would prove the strength of the ‘Guardian Dragons’, so she said it was fine,” Rufus laughed weakly.

Yet, Rufus refused to use the ‘Guardian Dragons’. It was not just because they could cause harm; there was also a desire not to have others despise the magical beasts that had contracted with her.

“And so, when I kept summoning only Rafika, my mother began to dislike it. Eventually, she said she’d forcefully annul my contract with Rafika… That’s when I begged to stay with her if I could be the top student at the academy.”

That was why Rufus was so fixated on winning above all else.

Defeat meant losing relationships and parting ways with friends.

For Rufus, who had always been with Rafika, it was akin to losing a friend in death.

“But… my mother is also right. What’s expected of me is to use the ‘Guardian Dragons’. I understand how hard she struggled before I could make a contract, and I know she worked hard so I could aim to be a mage.”

Then, Rufus quietly looked down and said,

“That’s why… I just don’t know what to do anymore.”

Caught between a dear friend and a mother’s expectations, she was uncertain about what to prioritize.

It was a natural conflict for a young girl.

Yet even this conflict was not allowed for Rufus.

Her upbringing, environment, the people around her, and even the country demanded that Rufus make a choice.

Seeing Rufus like this, Elria nodded slightly――

“――Then let’s fight with all our might.”

The moment she spoke, Rufus quietly lifted her face.

“……Eh?”

“Fighting with all your strength clears your mind. So, let’s battle it out.”

As if to endorse the idea, Elria nodded vigorously several times.

Rufus, taken aback by Elria’s words, listened as Reid explained them further.

“Well, what Elria is trying to say is that the process is more important than the result.”

“Uh… it’s not about winning or losing?”

“Something like that. If you give it your all and win, that’s the best outcome. If you lose despite that, there’s nothing you can do.”

“But… if I do that, my mother will…”

“If you’ve used all your strength and even the ‘Guardian Dragons’ and still lost, then it means no one else could have won either. If someone complains, just say ‘then ask someone else’ and walk away.”

“That’s… that’s irresponsible!!”

“It’s fine to be irresponsible sometimes. Others impose their expectations just because you have the power or talent, and if you fail, they demand you take responsibility――that’s the real irresponsibility.”

Reid said this with a smile.

“So what you need to do is either silence everyone around by winning with all your might or lose terribly after giving it your all. It’s simple and straightforward.”

“But… but――”

As Rufus began to tear up, Reid lightly patted her head.

“You’ve always been thinking about others until now. So, at least when you’re fighting, stop worrying about the surroundings and just focus on yourself.”

After ruffling her hair, Reid flashed a toothy smile.

“Besides, if anything happens, I’ll take care of it.”

“……Reid-san will?”

“Yeah. After all, I was the one who blew away the magic of Elria you saw during the exam.”

“Blew away… you mean you used magic from the same tenth tier?”

“No, I just kind of punched it away.”

“Punched… the magic away?”

Rufus’s head was filled with question marks; it seemed as if she couldn’t quite grasp the concept. However, Reid was already accustomed to this kind of reaction.

“Anyway, no matter what happens, Elria and I will take care of it, so you just need to go all out.”

“…………Eh?”

“Eh?”

“I want to fight with Rufus with all my strength, so I’ll leave the handling to Reid.”

To Reid’s surprise, Elria didn’t just agree, but vigorously shook her head.

“So, I’ll leave everything to Reid when something happens.”

“Well, that’s fine, but… just how hard are you planning to try?”

“Really hard.”

“You seem like you’re going to try incredibly hard…”

“Last time, I let Reid go all out, so this time it’s my turn.”

With an air of determination, Elria clenched her fists tightly.

It seemed that regardless of Rufus’s circumstances, she simply wanted to fight.

“After all, if I don’t give it my all once in a while, my skills will dull.”

“But your power is limited to the third tier in the next exam, remember?”

“Showing more power than expected under limited circumstances is also a form of going all out.”

“Ooh, that’s quite a statement.”

As the two of them engaged in this banter, Rufus let out a small laugh. A bright smile then started to spread across her face.

“Got it! I’ll fight with Elria-chan with all my might!”

“Mm. I am looking forward to it.”

“You better not lose to anyone else before that!”

“Of course. And Rufus, you must not lose until you fight with me.”

“Then, it’s a promise to fight with all our might!”

Saying that, Rufus held out her pinky finger. Seeing this, Elria also smiled and intertwined her pinky finger with Rufus’s.

After nodding to each other in satisfaction, Rufus energetically stood up from her seat.

“Alright! Then I’ve got to do my best starting today! Thanks to both of you for listening to me!”

While smiling, Rufus waved her hands again and again until she left the dining hall.

“Reid.”

At that moment, Elria unexpectedly called out to Reid.

“What’s the matter, Elria?”

“I’m going to clash with Rufus with all my strength. Because I think that’s what’s best for her.”

And so, Elria continued,

“This time, I’ll leave everything to Reid.”

“That’s what I’m here for. It’s not like something’s bound to happen――”

“No, something will definitely happen.”

Elria said with a stern face.

“What puzzled me was, ‘Why doesn’t Rufus use the ‘Guardian Dragons’?’ If she’s obsessed with winning, there should be no better choice.”

However, Rufus stubbornly refused to use the ‘Guardian Dragons’.

Rufus had mentioned the reasons, but――

“In the first place, when you think about it, the very fact that Rufus didn’t use it implies that there’s something off with the contract itself.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Rufus said, ‘Creating a vessel that lacks magic power would anger the Guardian Dragons’. That means the ‘Guardian Dragons’ are aware of the lack of magic power, yet they still continue the contract with Rufus.”

“Is that enough of a problem to break the contract?”

“Put yourself in their shoes, Reid. How would you feel if someone ordered you not to use your current strong body, but to go into battle with a far inferior one?”

“Well… if it’s an order, I’ll manage, but I guess there would be some discontent.”

“Magical beasts feel the same. Naturally, they’d get angry if they were forced to fight with a weaker body than what they truly possess――especially a proud and superior magical beast like the ‘Guardian Dragons’ who would feel even more indignant about it.”

As she spoke, Elria narrowed her eyes.

“If a trust relationship has been established since childhood, it’s possible to form a contract regardless of the amount of magic power. So, there is a chance… However, I find it unnatural that all four types of ‘Guardian Dragons’ would continue a contract knowing there is clearly something wrong with the contractor.”

Elria’s sense of discomfort and the unnatural situation she remembered.

For now, there was not enough information to reach a conclusion, so it remained merely one of the ominous signs. However, there was one thing that was common to the recent troubling incidents.

“――Again, it involves magical beasts?”

Previously, Reid and the others had encountered the ‘Armament Dragon’, a magical beast thought to be extinct, in modern times.

And now… Elria felt something off about the existence of the ‘Guardian Dragons’.

“If Serios was involved in the previous incident as well, it makes sense that a magical beast like the ‘Armament Dragon’ would appear…”

“We can’t deny the possibility, but I think the academy has also suspected the use of summoning magic for the incident and investigated it. We can’t really say anything until we hear about the details of the investigation from Alma-sensei.”

More importantly, Elria brought up someone.

“I’m curious about this ‘Teacher’ Rufus mentioned.”

“The one who suggested to her that she could make a contract with the ‘Guardian Dragons’?”

“Yes. Unlike magical beasts like Rafika who are used to humans from the start, ‘Guardian Dragons’ only inhabit the wild. So, it wasn’t just about making a contract. There was also a real risk of being devoured.”

Yet, this person told Rufus, “You can make a contract”.

As if――this person already knew the ‘future’.

“So, when something happens, I want to trust and leave it to Reid,” Elria said, looking straight at Reid.

If Rufus had been unwittingly used by someone involved in Reid and Elria’s affairs, then Elria had expressed her intent to protect her with all her might.

And she trusted that Reid could handle whatever happened.

In that case――

“――Alright, I’ll take care of everything.”

Reid said with a strong smile, thumping his chest.

Seeing that smile, Elria also let out her own slight smile.

“And there’s one more thing I’d like to ask of you.”

“Sure, go ahead. Say anything at this point――”

Before Reid could finish, Elria collapsed onto the table with a thud.

Moreover, her face was pale, and she trembled.

“I want you to… carry me to our room…”

“……You overate, didn’t you?”

“Yes… my stomach hurts so much, I can’t move a step…”

While conversing with Rufus, Elria also progressed with her meal.

Elria was not a light eater, but apparently, her stomach had reached its limit after a light meal before dinner, followed by a second helping.

“Seriously… you could have stopped eating halfway through.”

“An old habit of not leaving leftovers has backfired…”

“I’ll commend you for finishing your meal, but let’s get back and take some stomach medicine.”

As he said this and bent down to offer his back, Elria slowly climbed on with sluggish movements.

“Reid’s back is comfortable to ride.”

“Well, I’ve carried you often enough to get used to it…”

“I’d also appreciate it if you could avoid shaking too much.”

“Yeah, yeah. Leave that to me, too.”

“Okay. I’ll leave everything to Reid.”

Elria cheerfully patted his shoulder as she said so.

“It’s late to ask, but why are you okay with being carried but embarrassed to hold hands?”

“In my mind, piggybacking is like carrying an injured soldier, so it’s fine.”

“Your sensibilities are unique…”

With Elria on his back, Reid left the dining hall and headed to their room.

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Chapter 3 Part 4

◇

At first, Elria seemed tense, but as time passed, her nervousness gradually eased. By the latter part of the ‘mission’, she seemed relaxed as usual.

She still clutched the leash tightly and showed no signs of straying from Reid’s side, but perhaps it was also the presence of Shehri that provided some sense of security.

“――Haa, time really flies, doesn’t it?”

Sitting on a park bench, Reid looked up at the sky.

The once-clear blue was now tinged with a soft crimson, a clear indicator that much time had passed.

“Yeah. It felt quicker than I thought.”

Sipping on the milk tea that she had bought from a street vendor, Elria nodded in agreement.

They had gone out to buy some tea and snacks as per Millis’s request, browsed various products in the shopping district, and eaten at the marketplace stalls. Time had flown by before they knew it.

“It was refreshing to stroll through the royal capital so leisurely today.”

“Yeah, revisiting places gives you a new perspective. It was interesting.”

Reid had memorized the locations of key stores during their walks, but he hadn’t particularly noticed the other shops. However, today he found it enjoyable to discover various shops and novelty stores that Elria showed interest in.

It was a fun experience he probably wouldn’t have had on his own.

And there was one more thing that made Reid happy.

“It seems Shehri has also started to get used to me.”

“Yeah, that’s really good.”

In response to their words, Shehri, who was at their feet, let out a cheerful bark.

Initially, Shehri had been cautious and stayed close to Elria, but after the long walk, it even started barking occasionally to call Reid over.

“It would have been perfect if it let me touch it though…!”

“…That might take a little more time.”

When Reid looked down at Shehri, it barked once as if to say, “We can get to that after we get along a little better,” then leaped onto Elria’s lap.

There were times when Reid reached out to touch Shehri, but each time, it scampered back to Elria. It seemed that they still had a way to go to deepen their relationship.

“If you’re up for it, I’d like you to accompany Shehri on its walks again, Reid.”

“I’d be happy to walk it anytime. Morning or night, whenever you like.”

“…I can see you’re really committed.”

“I never really had a chance to interact with animals before… So, considering that, this situation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to befriend one…!!”

As Reid passionately elaborated, Elria wore a wry smile.

“……Hmm?”

Suddenly, Elria looked up, focusing her gaze on one point.

“What’s the matter? Spot something?”

“Yes… Rufus is standing over there.”

Following her gaze, Reid saw a red-haired girl standing on the other side of the fountain.

Sitting on the bench, she seemed slightly restless as she looked around, likely waiting for someone.

And then… perhaps finding the person she was waiting for, Rufus’s face brightened as she shouted.

“――Mother!”

A distinguished noblewoman, donned in Serios’s traditional ethnic attire, stood in the distance, flanked by what appeared to be two guards.

Upon seeing her mother, Rufus eagerly ran towards her.

“Thank you for coming all this way! Are you okay? Are you not tired?”

Rufus greeted her mother, who had come from far away, with a smile and words of concern. However, her mother’s expression remained unchanged.

Without uttering a word, Rufus silently stared at her mother.

“So, why did you suddenly decide to visit? Oh, don’t worry about me at the academy. I’m doing fine! Sure, it has less nature compared to Serios, but in exchange, there are tons of magic tools I’ve never seen before! Plus, the food is different but just as delicious!”

With an innocent smile, Rufus enthusiastically talked about her life at the academy to her mother.

“And also, you know――”

Just as Rufus was about to reflect on her recent experiences at the academy――

SLAP! Her cheek was sharply struck.

“――――eh?”

Holding her slapped cheek, Rufus timidly turned her gaze towards her mother. Her mother looked down at Rufus with a completely expressionless face.

“Rufus, I’ve heard that you haven’t been using your Guardian Dragons at the academy,” she said in a flat and cold tone.

At her words, Rufus visibly flinched.

“T-That’s because… well…”

“So, you thought just your Flying Steel Dragon was enough when facing students?”

“Y-Yes! Because Rafika is strong――”

“Because of that, you lost to Vegalta’s ‘Reincarnation of the Sage’.”

Hearing her mother’s words, Rufus’s eyes widened.

“How…?”

“I’ve been fully informed about your activities and performance at the academy. This includes your recent defeat in the mock battle against Elria Caldwen.”

“T-That’s not true! I didn’t lose! It was a draw――”

“She was only authorized to use up to fifth tier magic by the headmistress. Yet, you could not even get the upper hand against her. After the fight was over, all you could do was a pathetic sneak attack. Are you saying that was a ‘draw’ in terms of abilities?”

“Because… Because, if I didn’t do that…”

Each time her mother’s cold words hit her, Rufus’s responses became increasingly feeble.

Unmoved by her daughter’s expression, Rufus’s mother remained stone-faced.

Then――

“――I should have disposed of the Flying Steel Dragon before you entered the academy.”

Upon hearing those words, Rufus violently lifted her face.

“W-Why!? You said if I went to Vegalta’s magic academy, Rafika could be with me――”

“That was to maintain your emotional stability. Despite that, you’re not using your Guardian Dragons, clinging instead to your clearly inferior Flying Steel Dragon. On top of that, you failed to properly gauge your opponent’s capabilities and were defeated.”

“But… Rafika is also strong, as strong as any offspring of the Guardian Dragons, and understands what I want to do because we’re always together――”

“However, she’s powerless in front of a Guardian Dragon’s overwhelming strength.”

With an unyielding demeanor, her mother spoke plainly.

“I understand you’re not yet fully capable of controlling a Guardian Dragon, even though you’ve made a pact. But only summoning your Flying Steel Dragon because you can control it easily is nothing but indulgence. Perhaps it’s time to cut off such indulgence.”

“But that’s not what we agreed! You said if I keep winning at the academy and become a mage, I could stay with Rafika!!”

“Yes, but――you lost, didn’t you?”

There was no emotion in her eyes. However, her words seemed to suggest that she would not hesitate to dispose of a dragon if it threatened to tarnish the reputation of their nation, Serios.

“Your role is to uphold the honor of Serios, not to prove how strong your beloved dragon is. And――those who are defeated have no value.”

Her words were remorseless.

From her demeanor, Rufus probably realized the gravity of it all.

“I-I swear, I won’t lose next time! I’ll definitely win in the exams――”

Rufus pleaded desperately to her mother, shedding tears as she begged for her understanding in order to protect her dear friend.

Witnessing this――

“――What you’re saying is wrong,” Elria interjected calmly.

For the first time, Rufus’s mother changed her expression.

“You are――”

“Elria Caldwen. I sparred with her before,” Elria declared, a tinge of anger in her tone.

“She and Rafika were strong enough. Summoning a magical beast that couldn’t be properly controlled in a mock battle could lead to an accident. Therefore, Rufus’s decision to bring out the Flying Steel Dragon was correct.”

Turning her gaze towards Rufus, Elria continued,

“Besides, the mock battle wasn’t a draw. Rufus won.”

“…So, you’re saying you let her win out of pity?”

“Not at all. The teacher in charge declared it a draw, but I can affirm that Rufus was clearly winning.”

Without hesitation, Elria continued with conviction,

“During that mock battle, I stopped attacking, assuming I had won. However, Rufus pressed the attack. Clearly, I was the one who was arrogant. In a real battle, Rufus would have been the victor.”

“That may be true in a real battle, but regarding this――”

“It doesn’t change the fact. A mock battle should simulate actual combat, and it was my mistake for not doing so. In a life-and-death situation, Rufus took the best action to survive. There was nothing careless about her decisions.”

Staring directly at Rufus’s mother, Elria stated her words emphatically.

At that moment of silent tension between them――

“――Excuse me, may I interject?” Reid stepped in, bowing courteously.

“……And you are?”

“Forgive my late introduction. I am Reid Frieden, Elria’s fiancé. First, allow me to apologize for her intrusion into your conversation.”

Reid bowed again and surveyed the surroundings.

“I advise changing the venue for your discussion. This is a public space, and your conversation is attracting attention. It would be better to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.”

Indeed, as Reid had pointed out, the people in the park were turning their attention towards them.

Rufus’s mother, clearly aware of those gazes, quietly looked down.

“…Very well. Thank you for the advice, Frieden-sama.”

She lowered her head slightly to Reid, then turned to her downcast daughter.

“That’s all I have to say. Your future will be determined after we consider the results of the upcoming conditional exam.”

“………Yes.”

To her daughter, who replied with a voice barely audible, Rufus’s mother and her guards left without another word.

As they walked away, Reid gently patted Elria on the head.

“Don’t just jump in like that. Rufus’s mother is a dignitary from another country. If you cause trouble, it’ll create a headache for Alicia.”

“………I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. I was planning to step in anyway. I’m more accustomed to handling these situations.”

Smiling wryly, Reid patted Elria’s head again.

At that moment, Rufus began to walk away listlessly.

“Rufus――”

“Sorry for causing you trouble.”

She offered an awkward smile to Elria, who tried to call out to her.

“But this is our problem! Don’t worry about it, Elria-chan. I won’t lose to you in the conditional exam, that’s for sure!”

Putting on a brave face, she turned and ran off.

On her small back, she carried a burden far too heavy, filled with responsibility and purpose.

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Chapter 3 Part 3

◆

With that, Elria and Reid were kicked out of the workshop.

And so――they were standing absentmindedly in the tourist area.

“Reid.”

“What is it, Elria?”

“I think we should sort out our current situation to resolve it.”

“That makes sense. Constructive thinking is important.”

“First of all, we were asked to go buy tea from Millis.”

Elria showed a note that Millis handed over to her. There were several well-known brands of tea listed on it.

“We both know the brands of tea, so there’s no problem in purchasing them.”

“Right. I also know where the store is because I’ve seen it while walking around the royal capital.”

“But clearly, we’ll have extra time even if we purchase them.”

Even if they visited the store Reid mentioned and factored in uncertainties, it would not take more than 30 minutes to purchase the tea leaves and return to the workshop.

“The current time is 1300 hours, but Millis said we shouldn’t return until the evening, specifically not before 1700 hours.”

“Why are you using the old military time reading from a thousand years ago?”

“I just felt like it.”

Because Millis was very forceful, it reminded Elria of receiving a mission from a superior officer in her previous life. It was that intense. However, there were some unclear points about this mission.

“Millis gave us the instruction to ‘spend the time doing something date-like’. So, I decided that we should clarify the conditions first.”

“That’s true. We have to clearly define what ‘date-like’ actions are.”

“Yes. Have you ever been on a date, Reid?”

“I have no experience at all.”

“Me neither.”

………

……………

…………………

“What should we do?”

“What should we do indeed.”

Both ended up staring up at the sky, not knowing what to do. Of course, they had some knowledge about ‘going on a date’.

It was something that a couple in love would go out and spend time doing. But that was about all they knew.

“Ahh… I do remember my subordinates talking about various things, but since I had nothing to do with it, I just ignored it…”

“I felt the same way…”

After all, they were famous as the ‘Hero’ and ‘Sage’ a thousand years ago.

They were busy every day because of that, often going to battlefields. On their days off, Elria’s memories mostly involved researching magic alone.

As for Elria, back then, she had feelings for Reid, which meant she absolutely had no thoughts of falling in love with other Elves or humans.

“Also, Millis called it a ‘shopping date’. The fact that she specified it probably means it’s different from a regular date.”

“Well, if we think about it, it likely just means going shopping while on a date… Is there anything in particular you want to buy?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“Same here, I’ve already prepared everything I need, so I don’t need to buy anything.”

………

……………

“We… can’t complete this mission…!!”

“It’s not even a ‘mission’ to begin with.”

As Reid was grinning wryly, he seemed to remember something.

“By the way, when I was in the village and went to the town’s market district, my little sister would say, ‘It’s fun just to look even if we don’t buy anything’, and she would gaze at various things and beg for food from the stalls.”

“…You have a little sister, Reid?”

“Yeah. She’s three years younger than me, about the same age as Elria. I also have an older brother who’s three years older. Both of them had a higher aptitude for magic power than me, so they left the village to attend a different magic academy.”

“Mm… In that case, we might meet them during the comprehensive exam.”

“Oh, that’s true. They have been too busy to return to the village according to their letters, so they probably don’t know that I have entered the magic academy. It would be a surprise if we ran into each other during the exam.”

Imagining the surprised faces of his siblings, Reid broke into a happy smile.

Seeing Reid’s reaction, Elria couldn’t help but smile as well. Reid nodded, looking seemingly satisfied.

“Well, anyway, how about we just walk around and look at things? We could treat it as a late lunch, grab some food to eat while walking, and maybe pick up some snacks for Wiesel and the others.”

“Mm… I’ve never walked around while eating, so I’m looking forward to it.”

“Then it’s settled. I don’t know if it will feel like a date, but we can just walk around and observe other happy couples for reference.”

“Okay, that fulfills Millis’s instructions――”

Just as Elria was about to nod, she noticed a man and a woman walking by.

From the way they were talking, they seemed to be in a romantic relationship.

And――while walking side by side, their hands were affectionately intertwined.

Seeing this, Elria looked at her own hand, which was lightly grasping Reid’s sleeve.

After hesitating for a moment, Elria nodded greatly and――

“――――Mm.”

――closed her eyes tightly, and held out her hand to Reid.

“……What’s the matter?”

“H-Hand, hand, I want to h-hold――hold hands!!”

“Calm down, you’re breaking your language function.”

Seeing Elria’s red ears, Reid lightly patted her on the head to calm her down.

“Holding hands at this point isn’t a big deal. I’ve hugged you while you were lethargic, dressed you, and even bathed you while I was blindfolded.”

“T-That’s a separate issue…!”

Indeed, for Elria, it was a separate issue. She did not remember doing those things with Reid because she was in a lethargic state at those times.

And although Reid had led her by the hand before, it was safe to say that this was the first time she had held his hand of her own accord.

“T-That’s why… please!”

“…Well, if you’re okay with it, then I don’t mind.”

As soon as Reid took the offered hand――

Something seemed to ‘pop’ inside Elria.

“――――T-Timeout!”

“Y-Yeah, I thought you were gonna faint.”

Releasing Reid’s hand, Elria took deep breaths to calm herself down. Not only was her face hot, her heart was also pounding like a drum.

“That was a high-level battle…!”

“Holding my hand was a battle?”

“I felt something close to that…!”

She was even more drained than she would have been after a battle.

Being aware of holding hands made her so embarrassed that she could not even think about walking hand-in-hand.

Seeing Elria’s condition, Reid pondered while stroking his chin.

“But you’re okay with grabbing my sleeve, huh?”

“Y-Yes… because it’s not direct contact…”

“Then, can you bring out that magical beast from before?”

“……Shehri?”

“Yeah. Let’s give it a walk while we’re at it.”

“O-Okay…”

Urged by Reid, Elria focused a little and cast her spell.

Then――at her feet, a miniaturized Shehri appeared and let out a small bark.

It was equipped with a collar and leash, ready for a walk.

“Err… I’ve summoned Shehri, but…?”

“Alright, then how about this?”

Reid stretched out his hand to grip the leash that Elria was holding.

Seeing this, Elria somewhat understood Reid’s intention.

Both of them were holding onto one leash. Though their hands were not directly touching, it seemed as if they were connected.

“This is almost the same as holding hands, isn’t it?” Reid said, smiling at Elria.

“There’s no need for us to do the same thing as others. If you’re nervous, you won’t be able to enjoy yourself. In that case, it’s best to adjust to what makes you comfortable,” Reid said calmly, still smiling.

Reid had always taken care of her. He respected Elria’s wish to ‘hold hands’ and came up with this method so that she wouldn’t feel nervous. He had always been attuned to Elria’s pace, never forcing her to face people she was shy around, and allowing her to hide behind him or hold onto his sleeve if that made her comfortable.

That was precisely why Elria also felt that she could try harder.

“If it seems too much, just let me know. It’s also fine if you feel more at ease acting as you usually do.”

“Mm… for now, I think it’s fine.”

Feeling slightly nervous, Elria clenched her fists lightly to encourage herself and then took a step forward.

Reid had given her this opportunity. So, from that point on, to be able to walk beside the person she loved, she resolved to try a little harder.

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Chapter 3 Part 2

◇

The structure of the royal capital can be summed up in one word: hierarchical.

Centered around the royal castle towering on a small mountain peak, the houses of distinguished families that had supported the country for generations line a significantly lower tier. Public institutions such as guard posts, government offices, banks, and hospitals were arranged in a  circle, separating them from the lower world.

And the area at the foot of the mountain was commonly called the ‘royal capital’.

Originally, Vegalta focused on trade with neighboring countries, and remnants of that still remain in the current royal capital, where various shop signs can be seen on the main street.

That was because many people visited the ‘royal capital’ itself.

With its artistic and historic streets, modern magic technology not seen in the countryside, and the latest popularized magic tools, Vegalta, being at the center of the continent and a transit point, gathered items from various places. Regular markets featuring these items were held, attracting tourists from the countryside and making the royal capital an important place for those engaged in commerce.

And so――

“――This is it! The promised metropolis, the royal capital of Vegalta!!”

In the heart of the royal capital, there was an excited country bumpkin.

Reid and the others were watching the country bumpkin from a distance.

“Millis, are you satisfied now?”

“…Eh, why is everyone else’s excitement level so different from mine?”

“Well, everyone but you has lived in the royal capital. It’s not like we’ll get excited seeing it again.”

Agreeing with Reid’s words, the other three nodded.

Elria and Faregh, from distinguished families, had always looked down on the royal capital from above. Wiesel, having lived in the royal capital with its magic equipment workshop, found nothing novel there.

“B-But, Reid-san! You’re from the countryside like me, right? When you see this magnificent royal capital, you get a little excited, right!?”

“Well, I thought it was amazing at first, but when I lived in the Caldwen mansion, I got used to seeing it all.”

“Oh… so, you betrayed your countryside roots too, huh…”

Millis, disheartened, gave Reid a strangely dishonorable nickname. Her sulking figure was pitiable.

Watching Millis, Faregh snorted in boredom.

“In the first place, where we’re going is the industrial area with workshops. It’s not a place for country bumpkins looking to sightsee.”

The royal capital essentially had its outer perimeter designated as a tourist area, and moving further inward from there would be the industrial park where magic equipment workshops and factories were located.

The industrial park was not intended for tourists, but primarily for merchants and craftsmen to visit for business discussions and procurement. It was not a place or thing to be viewed as a tourist attraction.

“If you want to sightsee like a country bumpkin, you can go to the tourist attractions by yourself.”

“No, the industrial park is also a city to me. Because in the countryside, we don’t have magic equipment workshops and factories.”

“So, you’re just happy with anything…?”

“Faregh-san wouldn’t understand it… All I could see were grasslands and mountains, and the only things to look at were sheep and cows. For me, who came from a place where the biggest events in the village were the birth of livestock or an elderly person going missing and being found a few hours later, everything here is new and fascinating for me…!!”

“Yeah… okay, enjoy the royal capital as much as you want, you country bumpkin.”

Pressed by Millis’s enthusiasm, Faregh looked at her with a pitiful gaze. He probably decided it was risky to say anything more.

“Seriously… even though today is a day off, it’s so noisy. And because there are a lot of  conspicuous people around, I feel bothered by the stares of passersby.”

“I agree with Faregh. I don’t like being stared at.”

“…Don’t say that when you’re the one causing it, Caldwen.”

As Faregh said, most people were looking at Elria.

Today, she was not in uniform but in casual clothes. However, due to her good looks, everyone turned around at least once. Those who noticed that she was Elria due to her silver hair, which was rare even in Vegalta, couldn’t help but let out a gasp of admiration.

But, of course, it was the hiding behind Reid’s back that made it more conspicuous.

Today as well, she firmly grasped Reid’s sleeve and peeked out from behind him. However, Elria tilted her head in wonder.

“This is how it always is, so there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Well, within the academy it’s one thing, but if I let Elria walk alone outside, she might get lost. I’d feel more at ease if she clung to my sleeve.”

“Yes. A lifeline is important.”

“…Is she supposed to be the person who is from the same distinguished family as me, and is also seen as my superior?”

“Well, Faregh-san’s character and actions are also flawed, so it’s somewhat similar.”

“You should show a bit more respect to me, you country bumpkin!!”

“……Am I as bad as Faregh?”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re just flawed in a slightly different way.”

Seeing Elria shivering in shock, Reid comforted her by lightly patting her head. He felt guilty for not denying it.

Thus, the group of five made their way through the bustling royal capital, entering the industrial park.

As the crowd thinned out, the street’s atmosphere changed from flamboyant to rugged and chaotic. More people dressed in work clothes and merchants appeared.

And so, their destination was――

“――This is the Blanche Workshop, my family’s home.”

Compared to others, it was a smaller, aged building.

“Isn’t it quite small for the workshop of a famous magic equipment engineer…?”

“You can frankly call it run-down, Lady Millis.”

“So, it’s a run-down workshop.”

“The inside isn’t like that. Though not necessarily a tradition of the Blanche family, we invest most of our profits in developing new magic equipment and procuring materials, hence the exterior looks like this.”

With a wry smile, Wiesel took out a key from his pocket, and entered the workshop.

Moving past the customer waiting room and opening the workshop door――

“――This is the workshop of the Blanche family, involved in magic equipment for generations.”

Seeing the sight, Reid and the others could not help but let out a gasp of admiration.

A mountain of weaponry filled their view. It was not just typical weapons like swords and spears, but also armor like gauntlets and gaiters, and even musical instruments, farming tools, and fishing equipment.

“Amazing… Are these all magic equipment?”

“No, these are like molds used to create magic equipment.”

Saying that, Wiesel casually lifted a large hammer nearby.

“We refer to these molds to calculate the necessary magic circuits based on the client’s magic power system and their strengths in magic. We then select the shape and materials of the magic equipment that suit those magic. After deciding on the overall design, we determine the placement of the magic circuits and request a magic craftsman to engrave them.”

“Heehh… I always thought magic equipment was more like wands or weapons, but seeing it now, there are so many shapes.”

“If you’re interested, feel free to look around. I’ve closed the workshop for the day, so we have it all to ourselves.”

“Really!?”

“Yes. Lord Welminan and I have work to do.”

Saying that, Wiesel rolled up his sleeves and headed to his workbench.

“Please hand me the magic equipment, Lord Welminan.”

“Yeah… If you fail, I’ll cry…!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll show you the skills of someone who bears the Blanche name.”

Taking the magic equipment from Faregh, he narrowed his eyes and then――

“――――<<Output Composition>>.”

The moment he waved his right hand, the magic equipment was enveloped in a faint light. Various symbols then began to appear on a crystal in his left hand.

“As I suspected. Frequently used magic formulas are fixed in place, and it’s arranged to repel other types of magic. Are these the five most recently used spells?”

“Y-Yeah… Those are the recent magic formulas I have used.”

“I see… Indeed, it has greatly changed from the spells you used before. While we might not need to change its shape, we might need to tweak the converter and stabilizer a bit.”

While looking at the various symbols, Wiesel diagnosed.

The converter built into the magic equipment could transform the channeled magic power into another color system. While the output decreased, it could add versatility to the magic that was executed.

And in the case of magic that required stable outcomes such as support magic and healing magic, they had a role of keeping the output of the magic being exercised constantly by passing it through a stabilizer.

And… these were technologies that Reid was very familiar with.

“…They have adapted it quite well to magic, haven’t they?”

“Yeah, they have done a great job.”

“Isn’t this technology looted from Altein?”

“It was found on the battlefield, so I restored the broken parts, analyzed them, and then applied them to magic.”

Elria proudly showed off her accomplishment.

The mechanisms like converters and stabilizers were used in Altein’s ‘machinery’ technology.

In Altein, they were incorporated into tools that used ‘electricity’, but perhaps during wartime, they dismantled the looted weapons, and Elria adapted and replaced them with magic power.

Even Reid, who actually dealt with them, could not fully understand the mechanism. However, with the actual item in question, she correctly understood the structure and its role and further refined it into her magic technology, truly deserving of being called ‘Sage’.

While immersed in such nostalgic feelings, Wiesel’s expression slightly darkened.

“This might be… a bit difficult.”

“I-It’s difficult?”

“I can tamper with the converters and stabilizers, but considering the operational time of magic, it’s ideal to increase the magic power efficiency. However, in that case, we have to change the layout of the magic circuits.”

“……So, why not just change it?”

“Changing the layout requires the removal of the existing magic circuit and drawing a new one. What we magic equipment engineers do is overall design and efficient creation of magic circuits. The engraving of magic circuits falls under the domain of magic craftsmen.”

“So, you’re saying you can’t engrave the magic circuit?”

“I have some knowledge of the engraving itself. But the problem is that the magic power system of Lord Welminan and mine don’t match.”

After explaining, Wiesel took a breath and looked at Elria.

“If I remember correctly, Lady Elria can handle six types of magic power, right?”

“Mm, I can use them, but… I’ve never done magic circuit engraving, so it’s difficult.”

“…I see. The work area is narrow, but intricate work is required, so it’s tough without experience.”

“In that case, why not ask a magic craftsman you know?”

“I can make a request, but… the magic craftsman that Blanche requests often interacts with the upper class, and the fact that they engraved on Welminan’s magic equipment is significant for a magic craftsman. So, there’s a possibility they might accidentally spill the beans to the Welminan household.”

“We absolutely need to avoid that!!”

“…Understood. As a magic equipment engineer, I don’t want to hand over an incomplete item to the user, but considering your situation, I’ll keep the modifications within the possible range――”

Just as the compromising Wiesel was about to get back to work, his shoulder was lightly tapped.

There stood――a smiling Millis.

“I’ve done magic circuit engraving before, you know?”

“………What did you say?”

“Back in the countryside, it takes time to call someone, so when a magic tool broke, I fixed it myself. And in the village, I had the nickname of ‘Magic Tool Doctor’.”

While speaking proudly with her thumb up, Wiesel paused for a moment to think and then nodded in agreement.

“Then, I’ll prepare something suitable. As a test, please try copying and engraving the magic circuit that is engraved into the magic equipment. Feel free to use any tools for the engraving.”

“Yes, yes. It’s not much different from a magic tool, right?”

“It’s not much different, but the magic circuit is more complex than a magic tool, and precise work is required. Even a small deviation will reduce magic power efficiency.”

“Hmm, I see.”

With that light tone, Millis moved her pen-like tool smoothly――

“Here, is this how it’s done?”

“………What?”

“I copied it according to the original size since there was no specification, but this is okay, right?”

With that, Millis showed a metal plate to Wiesel.

A delicate pattern emerged due to the glow of magic power.

Taking it into his hands, Wiesel looked closely, adjusting his glasses multiple times.

“No way… there’s not even a single error…!?”

“HA HA HA!! Welcome to my era!!”

With triumphant enthusiasm, Millis raised her arms high in the air, looking more joyous than ever before.

And with a smile, Millis turned her head to face Faregh.

“Hehe… Faregh-san, do you want me to do the magic circuit engraving?”

“Kugh… What do you want in return…!?”

“That sounds pretty rude, doesn’t it? I don’t really have anything I want right now, but how about keeping it as a ‘favor’ for the future?”

“That’s even scarier since I don’t know what you’ll ask for!!”

“HA HA HA! I hope you live in fear of me from now on!!”

With that, Millis, full of vitality, stood on a chair, looking down at Faregh. She seemed to be having a blast.

As Faregh looked frustrated, Wiesel adjusted his glasses and put his hand on his shoulder.

“…Lord Welminan, I think you should owe Millis a favor.”

“You want me to owe this unpredictable country bumpkin a favor? Are you out of your mind!?”

“However, the ability to engrave a magic circuit so accurately is rare, even among magic craftsmen. From my perspective as a magic equipment engineer, such skill is practical. I’d even go so far as to say I don’t understand why Millis didn’t pursue a career as a magic craftsman instead of becoming a mage.”

“Well, I thought being a mage seemed more urban and cool!!”

“You’re leaving this to someone who says such stupid things!?”

“I’ll handle the instructions and drafting, so there shouldn’t be any issues with the work itself. And with such skills, we should be able to incorporate even the ideas I had given up on and deliver the best work…!!”

Perhaps overwhelmed by the joy of being able to do his best work as a magic equipment engineer, Wiesel, with a maniacal smile, firmly grabbed both of Faregh’s shoulders.

“I will definitely craft the best magic equipment…! So, close your eyes to any future worries and let Lady Millis handle the work…!!”

“Eeek!? I-I get it!! Just do whatever you need to do!!”

Pressed by Wiesel’s intensity, Faregh turned pale and nodded repeatedly.

The moment they got Faregh’s word, Wiesel and Millis silently exchanged a high-five. The two seemed oddly in sync.

“Now, I will draw up the blueprint for the new magic circuit. Lady Millis will engrave on it just like before, without a single discrepancy.”

“Please leave it to me! By the way, I’m getting thirsty!!”

“Lord Welminan, go buy a drink for Lady Millis.”

“Am I being forcefully made to owe her a favor, and on top of that, being turned into her errand boy!?”

“The words of a magic craftsman are absolute. Things will get busy afterward.”

The three chatted and bustled about.

Watching the trio, Reid and Elria looked on calmly.

“They all seem to be having so much fun.”

“That kind of thing feels like a privilege of young people.”

“You’re young too, Reid.”

“I may look young, but inside, I’m an old man.”

“To me, Reid will always be young.”

“If you say that, then you’re the one who remains a child, both inside and out.”

As they exchanged casual remarks, Millis approached them.

“Hey, what’s the matter, Millis?”

“Well… I felt a warm gaze, like the one elders from the village give.”

“Stop beating around the bush and calling me old.”

“By the way, I think it’s okay for the two of you to just walk around outside. It looks like Wiesel-san is very enthusiastic, and the work might take a while.”

Looking at Wiesel, they saw him consulting with Faregh and sketching a magic equipment diagram on his desk.

“Since we have come all the way to the royal capital, why don’t you two go on a date together?”

” “………Date?” “

“Could you two not react like you’ve never heard the word before…!?”

“No, of course, I’ve heard of it.”

“I’ve heard of it, too.”

“That’s strange… I’m sure I used a very common word…!”

Seeing their reactions, Millis let out a tired sigh.

“Alright… I’ll have to ask you two for a favor.”

With that, Millis opened her eyes wide and――

“I’d like the two of you to go on a shopping date right now!”

So, with a pointed finger, she declared.

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Chapter 3 Part 1

A week after the incident with Rufus.

“――I want to play in the royal capital…!!”

Millis began saying something similar to what she had said before.

In response, Reid and the others continued eating without showing much concern.

“What now, another one of Millis’s outbursts?”

“Millis is too infatuated with the royal capital.”

“What!? I certainly dream about it! The stylish cobblestones without a blade of grass! Unlike the countryside, where there’s wastefully too much land, the cityscape is built with calculated use of limited space! Stalls hanging with things other than just cheese and dried meat!! I want to experience all of it!!”

Millis passionately spoke of her desire for the royal capital.

She had mentioned wanting to visit the royal capital several times before, but this time, her enthusiasm seemed to be even stronger.

In response to Millis’s words, there was a new reaction this time.

“――Hah, it’s enviable that country bumpkins can get excited over such things.”

That was what Faregh replied with dripping sarcasm.

――While face down on the table, his body shivered.

“Even in this state, Faregh-san can be sarcastic. That’s impressive in its own way.”

“Quiet…! Even if I wanted to move, I can’t…!!”

Faregh, gritting his teeth, remained motionless.

However, seeing Faregh like this, Reid nodded in satisfaction.

“At least you’re energetic enough to be sarcastic. When we started, you’d burn out and collapse after every training session.”

“Why make me do it until I collapse in the first place!? Lately, after training, I don’t remember anything till the next morning. It’s terrifying!!”

“After you collapsed, I carried you back to the academy, forcefully fed you in the dining hall, threw you into a room, then called Valk and Lucas to take care of you. You were fine.”

“Oh, that’s why when I woke up, my clothes had changed and I was already bathed――no, wait a minute, what do you mean by ‘forcefully fed’?”

“I chose a nutritious meal from the dining hall, then stuffed it all in a borrowed magic grinder and liquefied it before pouring it into your stomach.”

“What have you been pouring into me without my knowledge!?”

Faregh was lively in his protests, but he was so tired that he could not even pound the table.

Watching the two of them, Wiesel tilted his head slightly.

“Speaking of which, we’ve been acting separately, but what exactly have you been doing?”

“I’m teaching him ‘swordsmanship’, a close-quarters combat technique. But it’s not exactly the same, so I’m also training him in magic that assists with that.”

For the past week, Reid had been teaching Faregh ‘swordsmanship’.

To be precise, it was not based on any ancient style from a thousand years ago, but rather ‘sword techniques’ that incorporated the knowledge and movements that Reid had learned in battle.

In essence, it was a self-taught swordsmanship, and were ways of fighting that cannot be handled without Reid’s physical abilities, so at that time, it was not something that anyone other than Reid could handle.

However, by incorporating magic for body strengthening and other support magic, one could imitate Reid’s fighting style. Fortunately, Faregh was adept in this area.

When Reid introduced magic that suited his envisioned movements, Faregh could quickly integrate and use it, making the training progress faster than anticipated. But there was one problem――

“As I said! When I try to reproduce your movements, my magic power doesn’t balance out!! Even now, it’s supposed to consume less magic power than offensive magic, but I would run out of magic power midway, you know!?”

“Just work harder.”

“You can’t just dismiss it with that!!”

“Well, aside from knowledge of magic, things like magic power consumption are beyond my expertise…”

In the case of Reid, it was purely physical and endurance-based, rather than relying on magic power. However, when Faregh practiced, the consumption of magic power also came into play.

But since Reid himself had never used magic, he could not offer any advice on how to sense or manage the consumption of magic power.

“I wonder if Elria might have some advice?”

“Mm… I think I might, but I don’t think I have much to offer. The Welminan family should have taught him magic power management methods with a focus on magic combat since childhood.”

“Of course. Besides, managing magic power is something one learns by personal intuition. Even the Caldwens couldn’t teach it.”

Faregh added, and Elria nodded in agreement.

At that moment, Wiesel, who had been deep in thought, looked up.

“Lord Welminan, may I inspect your magic equipment?”

“W-What do you intend to do with my magic equipment…!?”

“…I am a magic equipment engineer from the Blanche family. Unlike Reid, I won’t break it.”

“I-I see… If you’re a magic equipment engineer from Blanche, then it’s alright!”

Remembering the trauma of having his magic equipment broken by Reid, Faregh hesitated for a moment but handed over a small sword-shaped magic equipment to Wiesel.

Holding the small sword, Wiesel scrutinized the magic equipment.

“It was made… in the Estoginia workshop, right? It’s been whittled down due to the break, but it’s been modified as close to its original function as possible. The magic equipment engineer did a good job.”

“Of course! Not only has the Welminan family had its magic equipment made by Estoginia for generations, but we also employ the most skilled magic equipment engineer in the workshop!!”

“I see. However, this clarifies the problem.”

After saying this, Wiesel adjusted his glasses.

“It seems like the magic circuit was adjusted to compensate for the break, and it consumes more magic power than expected when using any magic other than the pre-installed ones.”

“……Is that so?”

“Previous Lords of Welminan primarily used long-range, high-powered magic, so they must’ve created a system that references the use of such a magic circuit and conserves magic power for the most frequently used spells. It’s a good technique, but not suitable if you want to change roles.”

“Ugh… So, I have to make another request for adjustments…”

“Is there a problem?”

“Well… when this magic equipment was repaired last time, my father scolded me, saying ‘How could a mage break his magic equipment?’ I’m worried about what he’ll say if I request another repair…!”

“What’s the matter? You’re the young master of a distinguished family, so just keep the economy running.”

“The one who broke it saying that pisses me off the most!!”

Perhaps anger trumped exhaustion, Faregh pounded on the table in protest. It was good to see him so energized.

At that moment, Wiesel seemed to ponder and spoke,

“If Lord Welminan doesn’t mind, I can modify the magic equipment.”

“Really!?”

“Yes. I have a good relationship with the people of Estoginia and have received magic equipment from them a few times in exchange for technology. I should be able to modify it if I check those magic equipment during the process.”

“If you can, please do! I don’t want to be scolded by my father again!!”

“I understand. It’s a rare opportunity for me to see the Welminan family’s magic equipment, and for my own future learning, I don’t need any payment.”

“Thank you… Thank you, magic equipment engineer of Blanche…!!”

With tears streaming down, Faregh took Wiesel’s hands as if in prayer. He must have been deeply affected by the previous scolding.

As the conversation wrapped up, Millis raised her head, seeming to have realized something.

“Wiesel-san, you’re going to do this work at your family’s workshop, right?”

“Yes. As before, I plan to work at the workshop on my day off.”

“That means you will accompany him, Faregh-san?”

“Of course. He will need to adjust it according to new spells and movements, so I’ll need to use it myself for fine-tuning.”

“In other words, if Reid-san is in a situation where there is no one to teach, and Wiesel-san is absent during training, it would increase the workload for Elria-sama, who is on the instructing side――”

“”On our day off, Millis and I will have a mock battle and beat each other up.””

“Don’t team up to gang up on me!!”

After reprimanding them, Millis decisively pointed out――

“――On our day off, let’s all go to the royal capital!!”

As if she had received a divine revelation, Millis declared with glee.

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