Chapter 47
Even before passing the Imperium Academy’s gate, cadets recognizing me were everywhere.
“There’s trash Martin.”
“It’s trash Martin.”
At this point, I was practically a school landmark. Especially after yesterday’s incident.
“He beat up the sewer guards!”
“Ugh, horrifying! Why would he do that?!”
“No manners, no class.”
“Such a lowlife!”
Riding a giant Sebastian through the capital was framed as demons flying about…
But even the protagonist party couldn’t cover up the sewer guard assault, witnessed by many.
‘Such is my fate.’
Class A’s classroom was chilly, reflecting the incident’s impact.
As always, I sat in the corner, preparing for class. Ignoring the stares, I cleaned my rifle when Teacher Hectia entered.
“Today is basic magic training.”
As the first period began, Hectia announced the lesson.
“From elementary magic, it’s a mage’s domain, but basic magic is different. With a textbook, anyone can learn it in a day. It’s low difficulty with excellent utility. A knight who doesn’t know basic magic is like an explorer without first aid or poison resistance. They’re not an excellent knight.”
Basic magic forms the foundation for elementary, intermediate, and advanced magic spells.
Ignition magic like ‘Fire,’ illumination magic like ‘Light’—the ‘foundations’ of magic.
In math terms, they’re addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division.
“The learning goal is the five elemental basic magics: Fire, Light, Wind, Aqua, Sand. Know that failing to master them will critically impact your cadet record.”
“Ugh.”
“I’m screwed…”
“Hah, magic.”
Physical-oriented cadets, who loathed magic, sighed across the room.
Even basic, it was still magic. Likely several times harder than advanced math. Finely manipulating mana was no easy task.
“Magic, huh.”
Naturally, I was a novice.
Spent 5 points to acquire Basic Magic Lv 1.
Well, until just now.
***
I looked down at my desk. A faded, five-colored gem disc was placed there.
“The Five-Element Tablet. An educational device that glows when the correct attribute magic is infused. Most of you probably know it. Let’s begin.”
The most basic of basic lessons started. Compared to time distortion rate measurements or artificial dungeon conquests, it was infinitely easier.
Yet, it was part of the curriculum because even at the elite Imperium Academy, some cadets couldn’t do it.
“Done!”
“Yay!”
“Finished!”
Within a minute, 14 of Class A’s 45 cadets made their Five-Element Tablets glow. The protagonist party was among them.
“Uh…”
“Hmm.”
“What do I do?”
The protagonist party hinted they had something to say, but I had nothing to offer. I cleanly ignored them.
I felt bad for Mary, who took a big loss, but I didn’t ask for it. I planned to visit later and compensate somehow.
I crossed my arms and closed my eyes, a strong declaration of refusing to engage with them.
Eventually, the protagonist party gave up and left.
After five minutes, all but ten cadets passed and left for free time.
From then, it was a time of hardship and endurance.
Ten cadets remained.
But even after ten, then twenty minutes, no additional passers emerged.
The remaining cadets either had no talent for magic or were learning basic magic here for the first time. It was one or the other.
I took my glowing Five-Element Tablet to Teacher Hectia.
“Twenty minutes. Did you already know basic magic?”
“No. I learned it here.”
“…You’ve got talent for magic too. Good. Free time.”
As I turned to leave, one person caught my eye.
“Ugh…!”
Flames flickered in his hand, then died out. His trembling fingertips, from countless attempts, were almost pitiful.
Matthew von Yulha Animas. The creditor who awakened Sebastian’s Homing Instinct during the Petrak Kingdom field training.
He might not think so, but thanks to Homing Instinct, Bianca found me. Without it, everything would’ve vanished like foam on waves… Chilling.
In Dr. Keren’s lab, without him, we wouldn’t have been rescued by Teacher Hectia. Thinking about it, he’d helped a lot.
“…Trouble with the fire element, huh?”
“Yes… Oh, Cadet Martin!”
Matthew answered weakly, then looked up sharply. His youthful face made it hard to believe he was 17, like me.
“…Right. I have no talent for fire magic.”
When Matthew extended both hands, Light, Aqua, Sand, and Wind activated simultaneously.
Compared to me, who just bought Basic Magic with points, his skill was on another level.
“Everything else is fine.”
The four elements vanished, and a flame flickered before quickly dying.
“But not flames.”
Wild Instinct (Lv 2) senses it’s not a lack of talent but a deeper reason.
Know-It-All (Lv 2) analyzes Matthew’s facial muscles and reactions, detecting anxiety, tension, and fear.
“….”
Novels revolve around the protagonist. All events must be resolved around them. Supporting characters’ issues and events are also solved through the protagonist.
Stories unnoticed by the protagonist are discarded.
But this is a world.
A world where everyone is a protagonist. No one is without circumstances, no one without emotions.
And this was Matthew’s story.
“…You’re afraid of fire.”
“…!”
Matthew’s eyes widened. His expression—how did I know?—was easy to read, even without Know-It-All.
“…Yes. You know my family, right? The grand estate at the heart of Petrak Kingdom’s ecological park.”
“I’ve been there.”
“When I was young… there was a huge fire.”
I could imagine. A fire in a forest that size… The damage must’ve been immense.
It wouldn’t be strange to develop a trauma.
“The animals I was close to burned, and my mother got burns saving me. I was at the fire’s center.”
To think youthful Matthew had such a backstory.
“For early education, I practiced the five elemental basic magics. I liked Fire and practiced it, but… I ended up starting the fire. My mother told me never to do it alone, but I was too immature back then.”
Matthew weakly placed his hand on the tablet. Among the glowing gems, only the red one was dull.
“Fire is scary. It took and hurt everything I cherished.”
“Close your eyes.”
“What?!”
“Close them.”
Puzzled, Matthew closed his eyes. I cast Fire. The flame burned vividly, radiating light and heat.
“What do you think I did?”
“You… used magic.”
“Don’t fear power.”
I was the same. I had trauma from my lackluster talent, unworthy of the title novelist. Even now, I did. Yet, loving novels, I persisted until nearly 30, with no notable skills, barely scraping by, and my family turned away.
“Fight it somehow.”
Over ten years of writing, facing continuous failures made me shrink. I was scared, terrified. Touching the keyboard was daunting, trembling. I regretted yesterday upon waking but couldn’t change.
“Fear is unavoidable. But you must fight and overcome the fearful you. Then, even overwhelming power…”
I clenched my fist, and the fire vanished without a trace. As the intense heat faded, cool air took its place.
“You’ll realize it’s nothing. It’s not fire that’s dangerous—it’s your heart trembling in fear.”
Truthfully, I’d balk if asked to write again. I’m still scared. I don’t even know if I’m qualified to say this.
But the truly unqualified are bystanders who judge without knowing or talent-obsessed fools.
“If you don’t fight now, when that power threatens you again, you’ll be helpless.”
I left Matthew and headed out of the classroom. He opened his eyes, staring blankly at me. Teacher Hectia said nothing about our conversation.
‘…What am I saying?’
Walking through a quiet alley back to Nerjin’s workshop, I wondered if I’d said something unnecessary.
It wasn’t like me to say such things. I didn’t know why I did.
‘Recola. The novel.’
I was the same. Just thinking about it paralyzed my reason, making me unable to function.
‘…Right.’
I hated that feeling. The foul air around Matthew was so unpleasant that I impulsively gave half-baked advice.
‘Not like me.’
I looked up. The workshop, tattered from the Malice Wraiths’ attack, came into view.
I wasn’t in a position to worry about others. I needed to gather funds for a move. Would the Imperial Welfare Department offer aid for this incident? I hoped so.
Instead of heading up, I went to the Imperium Bank, the capital’s largest building after the imperial palace.
‘Please, let there be something.’
The reason for my worry was that the building I’d planned to deal with was also ruined by the Malice Wraiths.
The Imperium Bank was, as always, packed like sprouts in a steamer. Pushing through the crowd was a task, and even with a ticket, I waited ages.
The Imperium Bank doubled as a bank, post office, and telegraph office.
It was the administrative hub, sometimes seeing hundreds of thousands daily. The main branch employed thousands of clerks and hundreds of consultants.
‘Ticket number… 7,914?’
Checking the current number, it was 5,286.
This wouldn’t do. Waiting here was foolish. Maybe stepping out for air would bring my turn.
Outside, in a less crowded spot, I opened the bottle and drank.
‘Nothing’s easy.’
I’d done something grand, yet I was still living a hectic, intense life.
‘Well, that’s life.’
Checking the queue again—
‘I’m screwed…’
The queue, once in the early 5,000s, had shot past 7,914 to the 9,000s. My grip tightened on the ticket.
‘To think the Imperium Bank processes so fast.’
I smacked my forehead. As I went to get another ticket—
Wild Instinct (Lv 2) shouts to look over there!
‘…What?’
The bank’s counters had ranks. At the chief clerk’s counter, where the head clerks sat, was number 7,914.
Half-doubting, I approached, and the clerk stood, greeting me politely.
“Welcome to Imperium Bank. How may I assist you?”
“Account balance check… please.”
“Of course, I’ll check the balance for customer Martin von Targon Ulvhadin.”
The clerk took my passbook with practiced hands and began the check.
“Here’s your passbook, organized.”
“Thank you. Have a good day.”
As I turned to leave—
“Wait, Customer Martin?”
“Yes?”
The clerk stood.
Wild Instinct (Lv 2) senses a new encounter awaits.
Know-It-All (Lv 2) analyzes the clerk’s expression, confirming utmost courtesy.
“Someone wishes to meet you. If you’re not busy, could you spare some time?”
“…Sure.”