Book 2: Chapter 10


    <strong>Preparation for Battle</strong>


    Morning Wait, Halt, whatcha doing!?


    Luke entered the ssroom around 30 minutes after my one-sided contract-signing with Youko. Cant me him for being so shocked because Youko was sitting on myp, and I was stroking her head.


    Youko squinted her eyes in satisfaction. Because of the contracts conditions, I felt the urge to protect her, and I cant help but pet her head.


    Oh, its Luke, good morning.


    Hey, are you guys in <em>that</em> kind of rtionship?


    Hmm, well, you can say that. Youko, its high time you return to your seat. Everyones gonna be here in a while.


    Hmph, its fine even if we stay like this. But since the Master says so, lets just go back.


    Youko then moved to the seat behind me.


    Master Oy, what kind of rtionship is that? Huh, by the way, did we see Youkos magic yesterday?


    Luke suddenly remembered that Youko did not do her magic demo yesterday.


    Apparently, her ability is to erase her existence. Thats why we forgot all about her yesterday.


    Woah, thats a rare type of ability! Oh, speaking of rarity, Halt, isnt your magic too strong? What was that? Ah, but its not in the same standing as mine, seeing that Im the grandson of a Sage.


    Though Luke said that, there was no trace of dislike in his face. On the contrary, he seemed to be having fun because of who knows why.


    Nope, Lukes ultimate magic was really amazingly dangerous. Not only that, but youre also the grandson of this academys head? I didnt hear anything about that earlier.


    Hahaha, I purposely didnt tell ya.


    Though Luke possessed such great influence, he didnt like unting it around. His likabilityfor meis getting higher and higher.


    After a while, Leaffa arrived. Luna, Merdie, Ryuushin, and Ryuka followed afterward. Then Mai and Mei entered next.


    Each of them wanted to confirm whether Youko was there at the training center, and I rified the situation every time. Maybe, its because of the contract, but I found myself naturally exining it all to them.


    Finally, Tina entered the ssroom.


    Good morning, everyone.


    Good morning!


    I apologize for the unfinished lesson yesterday. The training hall has been repaired, so we will resume our regr sses today.


    Tina did not mention Youko.


    Tina is excellent in detecting magical abilities, so perhaps she already noticed that Youko erased her presence before.


    Today we started with a lecture.


    While reading the textbook, Tina supplemented the lesson with information that is not found in the book, and she also gave us several problems to solve.


    The questions were quite difficult.


    On top of being a Sage, I was also personally taught by Tina, so I knew all the answers, but they are not problems that can be solved by ordinary students of a magic school.


    In fact, Ryuushin and Merdie were having a hard time answering. Luna, Luke, and Leaffa, on the other hand, solved everything in a breeze.


    I started to notice the queerness of this ss.


    First, we have a legend as our professorTina Harivell.


    Then theres Luke, who has a Sage for a grandfather and he himself wields the Ultimate Magic, to boot.


    Luna, who is an expert in all kinds of auxiliary magic, can smoothly solve problems that even upperssmen might find difficult.


    Theres Leaffa, who, with her high-speed wind magic, pierced half of an extraordinarily magic-resistant target made from the hide of a Maho Gnome.


    Merdie, a girl belonging to the Beastmen Tribe, incorporates magic into martial arts with her unusual techniques.


    Dragonoids, a very rare race, are also present. Ryuushin has unbelievably powerful offensive magic, while Ryuka can use recovery magic on anything that is infused with magical power.


    A Demon, currently disguised as a human but when fully-grown will possess a power akin to a cmitythat is Youko.


    Mai and Mei, who possess the ability to fuse contradictory magic and sublimate it to a high-level power attack.


    No matter how you think about it, the elites in this academy are all gathered in this ss. I dont believe this is a coincidence.


    Did Tina tailor this ss?


    When I nced at Tina, she smiled back at me.


    Lets stop thinking about this and focus on Tinas lessons now.


    Afterward, only Luna and I were able to answer the questions perfectly. Leaffa was feeling mortified. Its not a big deal for me because Im a Sage, but Luna is really incredible.


    Luna truly has an amazing amount of knowledge about magic, and let us take into ount her ability to gauge the strength of those stone statues guarding the entrance to this ssroom.


    After the lecture ended, everyone had lunch together, and then we transferred to the training hall.


    Well be conducting practical training in the afternoon.


    I have an announcement for everyone. A battle with the Year 7 ss will be held three days from now.


    Eh!?


    Th, three days!?


    Isnt it too early for us?


    Hey, seventh grades the highest grade-level, right!?


    Everyone raised their voices in rm.


    Almost all of the seventh graders in this academy wield intermediate-level magic, and a few of them can also use the advanced-level. They are automatically given a D-rank, and some of them even have the ability to get a C-rank when they register in guilds after graduation. Well be fighting those guys in three days time.


    Really anxiety-inducing.


    It will be fine even if they are in Year 7. Their ssroom is located at the outer portion of the Second Wall.


    In this academy, the central is surrounded by 5 circr walls. These walls are numbered from within. So the closest to the center is called the First Wall, followed by the Second Wall, Third Wall, Fourth Wall, and finally, Fifth Wall.


    Our ssroom is positioned at the external side of the First Wall.


    Since our opponents are situated at the outer Second Wall, it seems that they are not that strong even among the seventh graders.


    Not only that, everyone had a feel of yourrades strength yesterday. Every single one of you uses high-level magic. Its quite unlikely for you to lose in such a simple individual match.


    After hearing Tinas words, everyone seemed to breathe more easily, and their apprehension disappeared.


    As for the battle scheme, it will be a one-on-one match with five members.


    Not everyone has the ability to manipte offensive magic that is suitable on the battlefield. There are a lot of people like Luna, who excel in operating auxiliary magic.


    Therefore, it is rare for all ss members to fight in a battle simultaneously. This time, five people will represent the ss.


    As for the members, they will be Leaffa, Ryuushin, Merdie, Luke, and Halt-<em>sama</em>. The order will be as I mentioned.


    Wait, Tina seems to have decided which members will fight already. Wont we have a say in this?


    Understood, Professor.


    Hyah!! Ill beat them up to dust!


    Hey, Ill also give my all!


    I guess with this line-up, the match will end even before its your turn, Halt.


    The members, aside from me, were all fired up.


    Nobody delved deeper into why I suddenly became titled with -<em>sama</em> honorifics.


    Alright, lets start the interpersonal training in preparation for the uing battle.


    Tina tapped the floor with her staff, and statues that looked very simr to the ones guarding the ssroom gates suddenly appeared from a distance.


    These stone statues are specifically-crafted synthetic demons that I made with the concept of Speed, Hardness, and Strength. They mimic humans movements, so if youll be able to defeat them, theres no reason for you to lose in the actual battle.


    Professor, can we start with the same order as the battle, with me being the first?


    Yes, please, Leaffa.


    Then, Ill be next.


    Ill go right after Ryuushin!


    After that, we continually engaged inbat with Tinas special stone statues for three days.