Book 2: Chapter 4
<strong>The True Strength of Comrades (Part 1)</strong>
My baby-face exclusive maid turned out to be one of the great Heroes who had defeated the Demon King 100 years ago.
Tina how old are you really?
Its <em>Professor Tina.</em> And besides, Halt-<em>kun</em>, its a taboo to ask a woman regarding her age.
Maam, I have a question!
Leaffa raised her hand vigorously.
Youre Leaffa, yes? What is it?
Tina Harivell-<em>sama</em> is a legendary heroine even among the n of Elves. After defeating the Demon King by fighting alongside the Heroes, who came from another world, she had supposedly gone missing. Can Professor Tina prove your identity as that Tina Harivell-<em>sama</em>?
Well, youll understand faster if I show my Status Board to you.
So saying, Tina conjured her Status Board so we can look at it.
I, its the real deal
Level 250!?
Eh, Tina-san is that strong?
Everyone was dumbfounded. Luke and Luna, who had eaten the delicious food made by the baby-faced maid Tina yesterday, never expected that person to have such monstrous status.
This Person also has something to ask of you. Is this all right?
Yes please, Youko<em>.</em>
Why did a high-level person such as you even considered teaching novices like us? There is no merit in doing this.
Hmm I dont have a deep reason, but I do have free time as a caretaker, so maybe thats why.
Caretaker?
Youko apparently did not understand.
Perhaps Tina thought it would be boring to stay alone at the mansion while Im in ss, so she decided to be a teacher instead.
But is it really that easy to be a teacher in a magical academy? The question-and-answer period with Tina ended as I mulled over this.
Well, I believe everyone understood by now that I am qualified to be your teacher since youve already seen my Status Board. Lets move to the training hall immediately to start the lesson.
Tina led the ten of us into the annex training hall connected to the ssroom. The facilities are top-notch, as expected of being near the center of the academy.
Aside from that, strong defense magic was cast to secure the entire training facility. Even if high-level magic is used, this will not have any effect outside the training area.
Everyone will experience battling with your fellow ssmates, as well as students from higher grade levels. Because your ssroom is near the center, this ss will be involved in manypetitions.
Ifrus Academy of Magic has an inter-sspetition system. Rules of matches as well as prizes that are awarded to those who emerge victorious are all determined prior to the event. The type of magic-rted battles and races that will ur are also decided in advance.
Interchanging the ssrooms is also possible, depending on the oues of the contest. The sses who got schoolrooms near the center will definitely have topete against other sses within a certain period.
Thepetition quota for this ssroom is once a month. There are delicious cake shops and bakeries in this area, and you have ess to thergest library in the academy. Thats why, please, do your best to win thepetitions so you can keep this ce.
Though Tina said that quite lightly, a once-a-monthpetition quota seems severe. Luke realized something and spoke.
If several sses wanted topete for a ssroom, the upperssmen are prioritized, right?
Thats right, Luke.
Seniors will probably target our ss, so we might have to fight upperssmen every month.
Well, thats going to happen.
Isnt it a little too hard for us freshmen to keep this ssroom?
First of all, there is practically no chance of dying even if you lose, so I dont think you have to be on the edge all the time. Besides, I am here to guide you, so I dont think anyone among you will lose.
Well, I wonder where Tina got all that confidence.
By the way, did you do your self-introduction before I came?
Yes, Maam.
Leaffa answered as our representative. If we were to decide on a ss leader, it would definitely be Leaffa. She takes the initiative, and I think shell be willing to manage the ss.
Is that so. Alright, next, please introduce your magic to each other.
While speaking, Tina tapped the floor lightly with the staff she was holding, and at the farthest side of the training hall, the magic training target that Im most familiar with appeared.
Please aim and release your strongest magical attack towards that target.
Is it really alright to use full force? asked Ryuushin.
Yes, please use all your power. From now on, you will be facing thepetitions as a ss, no, a group. Unless you cooperate with each other and make the best use of your strengths andpensate for your weaknesses, you wont be able to win against the upperssmen. Knowing the full strength of yourrades is the first step to deeper understanding of each other.
I understand. Would it be eptable if I go first?
Leaffa raised her hand.
Thank you. Then, Leaffa, please stand right here. The rest of you stay behind me.
When we stood at the ce, Tina directed us, a transparent film of magic surrounded us. It was Tinas defense magic.
Leaffa, you can go as soon as you are ready.
Yes!
Leaffa stood in a stance, with one leg bent in front and the other extended behind her. She thrust her left hand forward, and a green bow appeared. As the string was being pulled, magical power began to umte and was formed into the shape of an arrow.
The arrow was already formed fully, but Leaffa showed no signs of shooting it. The magical power continued to gather from the space into the arrow.
Due to the colossal amount of magical power being concentrated in an area, fluctuations began to ur in the surrounding space.
<em>Wind Arrow</em>!
Leaffa released the arrow.
The arrow wrapped with swirling wind flew towards the target at ultra-high-speed.
Bang!
A deafening, crashing sound echoed throughout the room with the arrows impact on the target.
Although the arrow did not pass through the targetpletely, it was able to impale half of the supposedly imprable intermediate-level target.
Notwithstanding your concentration on just a single point, to be able to pierce <em>that</em> target in itself is truly a great feat! Thanks for the hard work.
Thank you very much.
Gathering magic from the surrounding space is a characteristic of the Elves. Among them, Leaffas able to gather more power than usual.
Who would like to go next?
We volunteer.
Mai and Mei raised their hands simultaneously.
Mai and Mei, right. Well, go ahead.
Will the two of them use magic together?
Yes, both of them are special, so they have to use magic at the same time.
Tina answered Youkos question.
It seems like Tina has a good grasp of the circumstances surrounding all her students.
Mai and Mei linked their hands together, and they stretched their other hands towards the target.
Hot air from Mais side and icy air from Meis side overflowed.
<em>Unison Ray</em>!
The block of ice with trailing mes shot from their hands towards the target.
Boom!
As soon as the ice-me bundle hit the target, a great explosion urred, and white smoke rose. Due to the instantaneous warming of the ice and the extreme differences in temperature, a phreatic explosion* urred.
To be capable of fusing antithesis elemental magic to this extent I cant say anything except <em>bravo</em>.
Just like when it was Leaffas turn, Tina also praised their magic. It was truly astounding. The target retained its shape, but its surface was tattered.
Okay, next.
My turn.
Ryuushin stepped forward.
TL note: A phreatic explosion or eruption is usually associated with volcanoes and it urs when magmaes into contact with ground or surface water. The difference in the extremely high temperature of magma and the water results in thetters near-instantaneous evaporation to steam. See Mr. Google or Sir. Wiki for more info. ?