The next day.
For the magic practice class, we gathered in an open space a little away from the building, not in the usual classroom.
Strictly speaking, it's not completely open space.
There's something like a barrier surrounding a wide sandy area.
I thought I didn't know because the structure was complicated even after searching through my memories, but the Primordial Heavenly Lord's memory shines.
A device that makes the flow of qi stagnate.
In short, it's designed to gather magical power. I had guessed it was a device to block attacks even if they fly far, but apparently not.
Meanwhile, the teacher brings a thick mechanical equipment and sets it up in the center.
As I watch quietly, they call students one by one and tell them to use some magic.
"I thought it was something, but it's the same here too."
At Victoria's muttering, I search through my memories again.
At the Clockwork Knight School, they handle magic when operating machines or adjusting between devices equivalent to batteries. There's no similar equipment here.
Looking for older memories, there's one where they used a small machine and measured by using magic to create a sphere of light in front of it.
Wondering if it's that, I keep watching, and it's correct.
Here too, they create a sphere of light and place it on a quite large machine. Then there's a tapping sound from the machine below, and it spits out a paper with holes punched in it.
"Wow, they're still using such an old-fashioned thing..."
From Victoria's words, it seems like very outdated equipment. Since it's the Royal Academy, the support should be good, so why don't they use better equipment?
As people use magic one by one like that, they move away and use various magic here and there.
Most don't use powerful magic where huge fireballs fly around or the ground splits. No, they can't use such magic.
Small sparks flying around, water flowing thinly, or floating slightly above the ground.
Of course, there are people who use magic capable of harming others.
There are people who spew electricity from their hands, create whirlwinds, or make spears of fire. And the children around look at that person with eyes of admiration or jealousy.
More than expected, the kinds of gazes are like those looking at someone who's good at sports.
In the second world, it would be similar to the gaze looking at someone with a high level of martial arts.
Victoria also created a sphere of light for measurement, and finally it was my turn.
So I went in front of the teacher and said this:
"I can't use magical power."
For a moment, the surroundings became quiet. The teacher also looks at me with a very surprised expression. Although I can create effects similar to magical power, in that case there's a risk of the world breaking, so it's right to say I don't have it.
"No, but. Then, is that recovery ability not magic?"
Now everyone knows that I can heal someone. Even the side effects.
I nodded to the teacher's question.
According to the Great Kraken and the Primordial Heavenly Lord, I myself stand at the opposite extreme of magical power. So what's not is not.
"A contract is a contract. It's not magic."
The teacher thought for a moment and then approached me.
"Just in case, I'll check once. People who can't use magical power are really rare."
Looking at the children around, it seems to mean the same as saying I have a disability. I have no qualms, so I handed my arm to the teacher.
The teacher held my arm and stayed still.
I really don't feel anything. But suddenly the teacher's face turned pale, and they quickly pulled their arm away as if they had been electrocuted.
Heavenly Demon also felt strange when she put qi into my body.
At that time, it was already after I had turned her into a harvester, so I don't know if Heavenly Demon felt exactly the same cold that I feel.
But I remember that she showed the same physiological reaction as this person in front of me.
The teacher is the same.
Despite it not being such cold weather, their capillaries contract and hair stands on end. Their body shivers to generate heat.
"I can't use magical power."
Just as it's impossible for a deep-sea fish to breathe air, what can't be done can't be done.
The teacher's whole body was drenched in sweat.
Well, it's early autumn now. But their body tried to preserve heat thinking it was cold, so it's hot.
"You don't seem to be feeling well, wouldn't it be better to go somewhere you can receive treatment?"
At my question, the teacher slowly nodded with a dazed expression. But what about the kids who flinched when I said that?
Seeing the fear settled in, they're not thinking that I did something, right?
They were surprised when they touched from that side, so no matter how you think about it, it's not my fault.
The teacher, shivering, said the class was over, then took the equipment they brought and the punched paper that came out of it, and left the practical class site.
"Did you do something?"
Victoria quietly approached and asked me. As soon as she did, I can see ears perking up around us.
I shook my head left and right.
"I didn't. Have you ever seen me use anything in this world other than what's called superpowers?"
Victoria thought for a moment, then raised both hands, put one down and one up, then narrowed the distance.
"When you transformed?"
"Ah. That did happen."
Strange memories kneaded me.
There are only a few characters. Soo-oh Heart Technique Choseol.
I looked at it when I had time, but there was no special power other than just the characters. That's all.
But it was different at that time.
I still remember. The characters "Soo-oh Heart Technique Choseol" in my memory shone, and after my appearance changed. Soo-oh's memory shone for a moment.
I still don't understand.
"I think it's different because it's my vessel. And it's also impossible to return to that form now."
"Yeah... It's better that it's impossible to return to being a 25-foot fishperson."
Victoria crossed her arms and nodded in agreement, perhaps remembering that form.
"That was originally a vessel made to contain a god. That's why a monster like me could enter it."
Victoria nodded, but looking at her expression, it's an expression of nodding even though she doesn't really understand. Seeing the faint contempt and fear fixed in between, that incident must have been terrible.
There's no need to keep reminding her of unpleasant memories.
"Victoria seems to recognize the machine well?"
Instead, I subtly turned the topic to a field Victoria knows well.
And that choice was right.
Victoria's words poured out like a waterfall.
Maybe because she thinks I don't know anything, the explanation is long. Since I know the knowledge Victoria has, if I interpret it excluding unnecessary information, it's this:
A top-of-the-line device made a long time ago.
The specs are better than the testers used not only in schools where children study, but also in places with fairly good facilities, but the UI and accessories are old.
She says they don't change it because although it's a bit old, it works well and the performance isn't bad, so there's no need to change it.
While explaining enthusiastically, the bad emotions that were stuck between her expressions all disappeared, as if the incident had flown out of her head.
Hmm.
That worked out.
Additionally, after Victoria poured out her words, the students who were listening to me also disappeared.
"From now on, if Victoria wants to become a clockwork knight, she'll have to study hard."
So I decided to try an interesting experiment.
At my words, Victoria stopped talking. And she looks at me with a reproaching expression.
Because this Royal Academy doesn't teach about clockwork knights, but about people who handle clockwork knights. It was none other than Victoria who told me that.
"You know it's impossible now."
There's an urging embedded in her words, asking if I'm saying that while knowing.
So I said this:
"Are you going to give up on your dream? Just because of a few hours of oppression a day?"
At my words, Victoria closed her mouth. And she stays silent with a very contemplative expression.
I examine her like that.
How can I draw out desire? If there's something blocking, I'll teach a way to break through it.
If there's strength, use strength, and in situations where you need to use your head, use your head.
The stronger the unshakeable belief, the more easily people can kill people. It's when doing the right thing that you can continue killing without guilt.
In that sense, murderers who kill one or two people are out. Especially, ordinary people who feel guilty are likely to have a low harvest.
Serial killers are fine. They're fast food that can easily fill your stomach in a short time.
If there's a problem, it's that like blood vessels getting blocked, the purple hair, which is the symbol of harvesters, becomes a bad image, making it easy for even me to become a target that should be socially distanced.
The best are people who follow laws and norms, but do it their own way. For what they want, hiding behind a group and moving the system that forms the group itself.
They're the best harvesters that can obtain large amounts of warmth for a very long time.
I'm going to try to make an ordinarily good person like that.
Childhood dreams are the easiest bait to handle.
"Why are you saying such things?"
I looked around. A few people are listening to Victoria and me. But most have lost interest.
That's just right.
"I think people should do what they want to do."
Yes. Actually, the words that lead desire are set. I'm going to do what I've been doing before, a little more seriously.
In the second world, I didn't do anything at all.
This time, I should take big steps while being careful.
"Victoria. The same goes for you. People should dream. Right?"
With pure malice, I wish not only the person in front of me but all people would thoroughly trample on others and rise according to their own desires.
"What, are you cheering for my dream?"
"Yes. That's right. If you've lost your way, you can find it again. You have the power to do that, don't you?"
You have the superpower to freely control water. It's a good power suitable not only for slaughter but also for assassination. Water is a more dangerous substance than it looks.
Victoria stared at me blankly and suddenly hugged me.
"Belle is the best!"
I had to fly around once as my body was lifted by Victoria.
Thanks to that, I personally felt the strength that smashed the Sahaggin's head.
After spinning in the air several times, Victoria put me down on the ground and held my cheeks with both hands.
"Thank you."
And Victoria, who stepped back a few steps, stretched and smiled with a much brighter expression.
Seeing that, I'm glad that my words seem to have sunk in very well.
I hope she gives me a lot of warmth.
Victoria Bete.