"Refugees trying to survive in this world on their own is simply impossible. Learning magecraft? That's pure fantasy. You'd do better to cozy up to the magi—it's for your own good."
The speaker's tone naturally placed magi above ordinary people, his words dripping with casual arrogance when referring to refugees.
Nino clenched her fists, anger flaring within her.
But she didn't lose her composure. As much as it infuriated her, she held back from retorting.
Itsuki remained silent as well.
Though they had only arrived in this world a few days ago, they understood all too well that magi were not to be provoked. In this world, magi—who could exorcise curses and protect the people—were truly the elite.
"Ahaha, Mr. Oumaru, don't you think that's a bit harsh?"
Yumizuka Satsuki forced a conciliatory smile.
"Everyone lives in this world in their own way. Even refugees have the right to survive... or something..."
She wasn't particularly eloquent. While not exactly taciturn, she was the type to sit quietly after class, avoiding unnecessary chatter. When faced with classmates who loved to spout nonsense, she usually found it bothersome and waited for the topic to pass.
But this time, she was directly involved. Out of sympathy for the sisters, she mustered what little courage she had to offer a rebuttal.
"Yumizuka, as one of the fixed students, you'd do well to shed that naive habit sooner rather than later."
The man named Oumaru was a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses, appearing refined on the surface. A fake smile played on his lips.
"Let's be real—refugees have no aptitude for magecraft. They'll never become magi. No matter how much you pity them, women like them are destined for miserable ends."
"In this era, only those with power hold the right to speak. And most of those who wield power are men. Women can only become their subordinates. Ah, not that I'm saying you're like that, Yumizuka. You're one of the empowered, as is Mayor Tohno, of course. But refugee women? They'll never become magi. Even the security squads are mostly made up of men. They're fated to be dependents. Am I wrong?"
The man spoke at length, his words flowing smoothly.
It almost sounded reasonable—a few nearby nodded in agreement.
Nino and Itsuki's expressions darkened as they listened to his pompous speech.
"Is it true that refugees have no aptitude for magecraft?"
Nino couldn't help but look at Satsuki, her gaze pleading, desperately hoping for a denial.
"Well..."
Satsuki hesitated.
"I've heard that might be the case..."
The magi also seemed to have conducted tests on the refugees, perhaps thinking that these people who had crossed over from other worlds might possess some special qualities. However, the results were utterly disappointing—the refugees showed no extraordinary traits whatsoever. Among all of them, not a single individual was found to have any magical aptitude. From then on, the refugees were completely ignored, left to rely solely on municipal funding for survival.
Satsuki had heard this rumor before, and being an honest person by nature, she could only relay the truth as it was.
Nino and Satsuki's hearts sank to the depths in an instant.
Seeing the sisters' expressions turn extremely grim, filled with distress and a hint of confusion, Oumaru offered a kind smile.
"If life becomes too hard for you, you can always come to me. I'll soon attain the rank of Apprentice and graduate from here. Once I do, I'll be able to choose attendants—I promise to treat you both well!"
So that was his goal?
Those with sharper minds finally saw through Oumaru's intentions at this moment. This guy had simply taken a fancy to the sisters. First, he used words to crush their hopes, then pretended to be magnanimous by offering to take them in. Rumor had it he used to be a company president—playing such manipulative games was second nature to him.
Some felt displeased, while others remained indifferent.
But Oumaru was indeed a magus on the verge of graduation. Known for his amiable demeanor, he held considerable prestige within their small group, and no one dared to oppose him openly at this point.
"Class is about to start."
At that moment, a student seated in the front row's center suddenly spoke up.
"Hurry back to your seats. You know how much Professor Varien dislikes unruly behavior."
It was a boy who appeared no older than sixteen or seventeen.
With black-framed glasses, he looked utterly unremarkable.
Yet the moment he spoke, even Oumaru fell silent.
"Tohno-sama makes a fair point. Still, my offer stands—you can come to me anytime. I'd be happy to be your support."
Oumaru gave the sisters in the back row a friendly smile before obediently returning to his seat, heeding the bespectacled boy's warning.
Satsuki also sighed in relief. After exchanging a quick greeting with the sisters, she returned to the front row and took her seat beside the boy with glasses.
"Tohno-kun, thank you so much."
"No need, Satsuki. Just get ready for class."
"Mm."
As class time approached, the chapel gradually quieted down.
Whether they were the regular students in the front or the transient ones in the back, everyone focused intently, ready to absorb every bit of magical knowledge about to be imparted.
Nino and Satsuki were the only exceptions among them.
Refugees had no magical aptitude.
They had come here with hope, only to be met with this devastating conclusion.
The sisters' minds were in turmoil. Without magical aptitude, they would never rise above their station—doomed to remain refugees for life. Their wish was modest: they didn't aspire to become magi, only to shed their refugee status. Yet even that simple desire seemed impossible to fulfill.
"Strange, why hasn't the professor arrived yet?"
"Professor Varien is always punctual."
Two minutes past the scheduled start time, murmurs of unrest began to ripple through the chapel.
"Maybe something came up?"
The students didn't think much of it, assuming Teacher Varien must have been delayed by something and would arrive in a few more minutes.
But in the front row, the boy with the surname Tohno gradually began to pant, his breathing growing louder and louder. His body temperature rapidly spiked, his mind burning as if boiling blood rushed to his head, his consciousness growing feverish.
"Something's wrong… something's coming… run…"
On the verge of losing consciousness, the Tohno boy weakly tried to voice a warning.
"Tohno-kun, are you okay?"
Sitting beside him, Satsuki noticed his distress and quickly leaned in, thinking he might be ill.
"Run…"
But it was already too late.
BOOM!
The next instant, the door leading to the church's backyard was violently smashed open.
What appeared before them was not the familiar face of Teacher Varien.
"Cl-class… class is… starting…"
Instead, it was a short, grotesquely rotund creature with a ring of jagged, saw-like leaves atop its head—a monster resembling a kappa.
***
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