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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Mock Battle Begins
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Inside the magicology classroom.
Finally, Sharin, who had finished her red bean bun, clutched her forehead.
"You really hit me."
"You deserved it, didn't you?"
I had indeed smacked Sharin. She didn't know when to stop messing around, so that was the price.
Sharin, sniffling, rubbed her forehead and then glanced at me.
"You want me to keep it a secret, don't you?"
Now you're talking sense.
"Yeah."
Hearing my reply, Sharin slumped languidly onto the desk.
"So, who are you?"
Here it comes.
Sharin's eyes, like they held the Milky Way, stared intently at me. I couldn't tell what thoughts those languid eyes held.
One thing was certain: it wasn't goodwill.
'Sharin is Isabel's best friend.'
Sharin had been friends with Isabel for a long time. And I was the person Isabel hated the most.
Sharin probably wouldn't be fond of me either.
"Lately, you know. Bell always talks about you."
"Talking behind my back? That's a bad habit."
"Yeah, to be precise, she's unilaterally angry, though."
Sharin began to gently twirl a strand of hair by her ear with her index finger.
"Ever since Lucas died, Bell's face had always been downcast. And it got worse with each passing day."
Isabel was breaking down.
Lucas's death had left Isabel with irreversible emptiness and pain.
In a world without Lucas, Isabel couldn't find meaning in life.
"Every day she regretted, cried, and barely slept. At some point, she even stopped talking to me."
I suddenly realized that Isabel had been in a very serious state.
"She seemed to lose interest in her surroundings more and more."
Recalling that day, sadness clouded Sharin's eyes. It seemed she was heartbroken that she, as a friend, couldn't help at all.
"But then you appeared, and Isabel changed a little."
Sharin's eyes turned back to me.
"Every day she gets angry, doing everything she can, saying she'll never let you disrespect Lucas."
Anger is the act that consumes the most energy. To be angry, you need to eat three meals, sleep, and move your body.
Otherwise, the body cannot genuinely feel anger.
Isabel is currently living to vent her anger at me. In her meaningless life, I had become a focal point through her anger.
"That's something I couldn't do."
No matter what form it took. Sharin couldn't become the meaning of life for Isabel.
"But you did."
Now I understood why Sharin had called me to be alone with her.
"I didn't intend anything. All I did was badmouth Lucas."
"Yeah, and that's saving Bell."
Sharin stood up from her seat.
"Honestly, I don't really care who you are."
She took a step and leaned in right in front of me.
"Bell was slowly sinking because she couldn't find new meaning in life. But then you appeared, and Bell started to rise again."
Sharin pressed even closer. Sharin's unique jasmine scent tickled my nose.
Before I knew it, her soft, white hand had clasped mine.
"I hope you'll hold that position until Bell finds another meaning in life."
"...Anger isn't eternal."
"I know. So I'm asking you until then. If you do that, I'll do anything for you."
I gazed steadily at Sharin. Sharin wasn't much different in height from me, in Hanon's form.
Because of that, her small, delicate face was visible in more detail. Her overall beautifully sculpted face, complete with languid eyes, came into view.
I don't know what she was thinking, but the eyes that gazed steadily at me held a subtle allure unique to women.
And I'm sorry, but just recently, I had faced a woman with even more allure right in front of me.
"That request is the condition for keeping my secret, right?"
I'd already caught on to that much.
"...Ah."
At that moment, a sound escaped Sharin's lips. Her eyes darted around, as if realizing something.
"...Were you really going to do anything?"
Sharin pulled away from me. As the jasmine scent wafting from her body faded, I found myself licking my lips in disappointment.
A woman who knows she's pretty and uses it is dangerous. I made a mental note.
"Promise?"
Sharin, looking a little abashed, raised her pinky finger. I gazed at it for a moment, then opened my mouth.
"Sharin, I need to achieve a top rank in this mock battle."
Sharin tilted her head, wondering why that topic had suddenly come up.
"For Isabel's anger to be sustained, wouldn't I need to be ranked higher than her for it to burn?"
Sharin's eyes widened. Seeing that, the corner of my mouth lifted.
Finally, I had gained the upper hand against Sharin.
"You're pretty good at magic, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I'm the best."
Arrogant, isn't she? But it was actually true.
Sharin's talent in magic was overwhelming. That's why I had high hopes.
"Then what about magic engraving?"
Sharin blinked. Her head slowly tilted.
"...That's a magic technique that has been obsolete for an incredibly long time."
That was true. Magic engraving was a technique that existed before the concept of a 'mage' was even created.
The engraved magic artifacts occasionally found within magic labyrinths are evidence of this.
"So, can you do it? Or not?"
Sharin slowly brought her arms together in front of her. Her upper body slightly emphasized, she met my gaze with a confident look.
"I can."
It was just like her to display absolute confidence in magic. Indeed, I thought Sharin would be able to do it.
"But magic engraving isn't very efficient."
Just as she said, magic engraving wasn't very efficient. Only a tenth of the original magic.
That's the only efficiency magic engraving can achieve. What's more, most of the magic that can be used is low-level magic.
"Instead, even beginners can use it. And someone can engrave it directly for you."
I don't know how to use magic. Magic is a skill based on knowledge.
There was no way I, with no knowledge, could use magic. Furthermore, Vikamen, whom I possessed, had a hopeless lack of talent in magic.
In fact, realizing this, I focused on physical training with Aisha.
'Originally, I would have completely neglected magic, but.'
Magic engraving is different. Even beginners can use magic engraving if they only know how to infuse mana and engrave.
Vikamen had been learning magic for a long time. As such, he had at least the minimum conditions to perform magic engraving.
'This world has more variables than I thought.'
To prevent such variables, it's good to have at least one usable tool at my disposal.
"You're thinking of learning it yourself?"
"Yeah."
"Just bring a weapon. I'll engrave it for you."
"Sorry, but it's not a weapon."
She tilted her head. Her expression asked, 'If not a weapon, then what on earth is it?'
Watching her, I smirked.
"If you're curious, I'll tell you after, and then watch my mock battle later."
I'll show you something completely unexpected.
"Huh? What is it, Sharin and Wangnon?"
Just then, a familiar voice was heard. Looking towards the door, there was that Card guy.
He still looked completely out of place in the Magicology Department.
"What brings you here? Did you come to charm Sharin after Isabel?"
"Yeah, I almost had her. You ruined it."
When I answered nonchalantly, Card whistled.
How flippant.
"Why 'Wangnon'?"
Sharin seemed more curious about the nickname Card used for me than my joke. Card looked at me for a moment, then grinned.
"Hanon has something amazing, you see."
Sharin glanced back at me.
"What is it? I want to see."
I have no intention of showing you.
"Sharin, come to the study room after dinner. I'll learn there."
I told Sharin that and then left. I quickly extricated myself, fearing I'd get caught up in Sharin and Card's pace if I stayed.
My secret weapons were gradually starting to be prepared.
'The mock battle.'
Look forward to it. I'll cause quite a ruckus.
* * *
Time flew by like an arrow.
After the magic engraving lessons with Sharin were added to my daily schedule, I began to live a slightly more intense life than before.
And once again, I praised Vikamen's stamina endlessly. Physical strength is national power.
Amidst the flowing time, it was lunchtime, as usual. Today, too, I was working on documents with Nikita in the student council office.
Normally, I'd wonder if the student council should have this much work. But the student council usually has a lot of work particularly in the early period when first-years enroll.
After about a month, the workload would decrease. Nikita said that from then on, she could participate in student council activities a little more comfortably.
"Junior, thank you again today."
"Not at all. Senior Nikita, you're the one who works every day. I truly respect you."
"Junior, you speak so nicely."
Compliments that come from the heart are always well-received, after all.
Just then, a commotion was heard from outside the student council office.
"Is this supposed to be moved to Building A?"
"Uh, yeah, there are a few more after this. Let's move quickly before lunch break ends."
The voices belonged to the teaching assistants and student council members. They were currently helping with preparations for the mock battle after lunch.
Nikita usually did more work than the other student council members. Everyone had pushed Nikita into the student council office, telling her to rest, which is why she was here.
I just won rock-paper-scissors and got out of it. For a man, it's always rock.
"It's soon, then."
Nikita's eyes showed considerable anticipation for the mock battle.
The mock battle was a time to show the results of one's efforts. For Nikita, the embodiment of effort, it was naturally an event to look forward to.
"Junior, this is your first mock battle, isn't it?"
"Yes, I suppose it is."
I transferred here this year. So, naturally, it was my first mock battle.
"Did you prepare diligently? You seemed to be doing various things."
Hearing that, I subtly lifted the corner of my mouth. At that, Nikita exclaimed, "Oho!"
"It seems you're quite confident, doesn't it?"
"It's always those who prepare every day who achieve good results on tests."
"Indeed, I know better than anyone how diligently you work every day, junior."
Saying that, Nikita tapped the table with her index finger. It was a habit she had when thinking about something.
"Hmm, the fruits of effort should always be rewarded. Good."
As if something had occurred to her, Nikita smiled sweetly at me. It was a beautiful smile.
"If you achieve a top rank this time, I'll give you a prize."
What? Is she an angel or something?
"I'll come in first place."
"Hee hee hee, I'll look forward to it."
"Since you're offering marriage as a prize, of course I have to come in first."
"Huh?! Ju-Junior, the prize I'm offering isn't that kind of thing..."
"Let's go to a southern resort for our honeymoon."
"Junior!?"
After enjoying Nikita's flustered face for a moment, she put on a slightly miffed expression.
"Your jokes go too far."
"Even so, I only play these kinds of jokes with you, Senior Nikita."
Hearing that, Nikita's slightly miffed expression melted away.
"I'll come back having won, so you come back having won too, junior."
Nikita's strong encouragement continued. In that case, I have to win.
The long-awaited mock battle begins.