Chapter 30 - The Beginning of Change
The path back to the dormitory was quiet.
None of the four cadets spoke first, each lost in their own thoughts.
It had been a terrifying battle.
The ghostly knight’s sword, teeming with death, and the horde of ghouls, dripping venomous saliva as they bared their ferocity.
And the necromancer who commanded them all with ease.
The four cadets couldn’t easily shake off that battle.
No matter how they thought about it, the bet had been reckless.
If it hadn’t been for the sudden appearance of the night traveler, that place might truly have become their grave, just as its name suggested.
‘…No. It’s certain. If that person hadn’t helped us, we wouldn’t be walking back to the Academy alive like this.’
Naturally, the thoughts that chained together in the minds of the four converged on one person.
The mysterious night traveler.
The cadets weren’t unaware that even the necromancer’s final retreat with the ghouls was a result of that person’s actions.
“…Who could they be?”
“No idea.”
“One thing’s for sure.”
The three pairs of eyes turned to Karina, who wore a serious expression.
“That person is a mage and one of considerable mastery.”
The others didn’t raise any objections to her words.
If Karina said so, it was true.
When it came to magic, she knew best.
“Could it be a grand mage?”
At Gwyn’s question, Karina snapped back, her tone sharp as if she’d never been serious.
“Are you crazy? Do you think grand mages are some village chiefs in the sticks?”
“I didn’t say it like that.”
“Then think before you speak! Why would a grand mage come to a cemetery like this?”
A mage was someone who had reached the 6th Circle, broken through the wall, and forged their own path anew.
For mages like Karina, it was a dreamlike realm.
Naturally, a grand mage was an even higher tier.
“Still, why would a mage of such skill come to a cemetery at dawn?”
At Ivan’s murmur, the three began sharing their guesses.
But with limited information, they couldn’t reach any meaningful conclusions or insights.
In the end, their hearts only grew heavier as they parted ways to their respective dormitories.
Click.
Returning to her dormitory, Yuria let out a deep sigh at the emptiness filling the room.
Her head was heavy, and her muscles screamed in protest.
Yuria hurriedly stripped off her clothes, caked with the blood and flesh of corpses.
She placed her breastplate in a barrel of fine sand and tossed her shirt and pants into the laundry bin.
She stepped into the bathroom and washed the blood away with clear water.
Using the Academy’s special lavender soap, she erased the stench completely, and after slipping into light pajamas, she felt reborn.
As the tension melted away, exhaustion swept over her.
She lay on her bed.
Flop!
But sleep wouldn’t come.
Her body felt lighter than ever, but her mind remained heavy.
A cacophony of thoughts clashed noisily in her head.
Recollections of the battle, the bet, the night traveler’s identity, Academy life, and her relationships with her peers.
But above all, what made her mind the loudest was—
Her worry about magic.
Magic.
The power she had sworn never to use again since the entrance ceremony.
But at some point, it had become a constant temptation flickering before her eyes.
And just moments ago, she had felt the true power of combining magic and swordsmanship, realizing how dramatic the results could be.
“…Magic swordsman.”
Suddenly, she recalled what Gerard had told her the previous week.
He had said she had a talent for magic.
She had dismissed it as nonsense.
Why?
Because he was just a senior, two years older.
Plus, he was a swordsmanship specialist in the Martial Arts Department.
What could someone like that know about magic?
But now, with time, her thoughts had shifted slightly.
Gerard was no longer just some senior to her.
He was a reliable mentor.
A dependable senior, and an excellent teacher who had given her countless pieces of advice and guidance.
At the very least, she no longer thought his words were baseless.
‘Maybe, like he said, I really do have a talent for magic.’
Yuria pondered.
Should she cut off the temptation and stick to her original resolve to focus solely on swordsmanship?
Or should she follow Gerard’s advice and walk the path of a magic swordsman, like Sir Sigaro?
“Ah. What should I do?”
Yuria’s heart raced.
The day of vision selection was tomorrow.
She had to make up her mind before then.
She wanted to seek advice.
But few people came to mind.
Ivan and Rachel.
Her senior, Gerard, and her advisor, Professor Chaser Idna.
And finally, Karina.
“…”
She ruled out the last one.
She and Karina weren’t close enough to share such personal matters.
Professor Chaser Idna, her advisor, was exceptional, but he was from the Martial Arts Department.
He’d likely oppose the idea strongly, let alone offer advice.
Ivan probably wouldn’t know much either, so she ruled him out.
Rachel… Gerard had warned her to keep her distance, so she felt reluctant.
In truth, the answer had been clear from the start.
Yuria threw on a coat over her pajamas and left the dormitory at once.
* * *
“…So you’ve been waiting here since then?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Yuria, who nodded slightly, with disbelief.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“I’m fine.”
“Haa. You’re really stubborn.”
“Stubborn?”
“Dense, I mean. You could’ve talked about this during lunch or after class.”
I handed her the flask of Lumigan tea I’d brought.
Still warm from being freshly brewed, it would serve as a good hand warmer for her.
“This flask. It’s not mine.”
“It’s mine and naturally, the root tea inside is mine too, so just hold onto it. Like this.”
I placed it in her hands and tucked it into her coat pocket.
It must’ve been warm.
Yuria, with her hands in her pockets, fell silent for a brief moment.
Well, that’s a relief.
I’d been nervous she might bring up the cemetery, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
This was news I’d welcome with open arms.
The fruit of my patient waiting had finally ripened beautifully.
“So. You want to use magic?”
“I didn’t say it like that.”
“It’s the same thing. Let’s be honest. You keep thinking about magic, don’t you?”
“…”
“You know it. It keeps catching your eye, and you want to use it and you actually did use it.”
Just earlier, in the cemetery.
You felt its incredible utility and strength with your whole body, and now you’re here, unable to forget that feeling all night.
“No?”
At my subtle nudge, Yuria reluctantly nodded.
“…You’re right.”
“See? You’re right. Let’s be honest. That’s the only way I can guide you properly.”
“Yes. Please do.”
I grinned.
“Alright. I will. First, what you need right now is confidence, right? Whether you truly have a talent for magic or not.”
Her face nodded slightly again.
“How do you find that out?”
“I don’t know. So for now, the best I can do is trust your words as much as possible.”
My heart suddenly ached.
The best she could do was trust my words.
Those words shot through my heart like an arrow.
Wow. Her trust in me was already this deep.
Beyond being moved, a wave of pride in myself crashed over me.
I’ve really worked hard to get here.
Does this mean Yuria is completely on my side now?
As I looked at her fondly, she suddenly stepped back and asked,
“Why?”
“You were smiling weirdly all of a sudden.”
“Huh? Oh. It’s nothing, don’t worry. I’ve always got a smiley face.”
“Hm.”
Yuria tilted her head for a moment before stepping back to my side.
“That’s true.”
“See? Anyway, you don’t seem to know me yet, but I don’t make choices or suggestions without certainty. Do you think I’d tell you to pursue magic without any proof?”
In an instant, Yuria’s dark eyes sparkled like glass beads.
“Really?”
“Yuria, you’ve already proven your talent to me. Without even realizing it.”
I repeated the words I’d said that day.
Those with high mana affinity, the so-called geniuses, could activate their mana circuits as naturally as breathing.
And that day, during the entrance ceremony attack, when the surrounding mana field was frozen by the Beast Pouch.
While most mages suffered damage from mana backlash, you, Yuria, used magic without hesitation.
“Both are easy to verify. The first premise—you’re probably feeling it yourself even now. The second premise—you can see it in your seniors who were carried to the infirmary that day due to mana backlash.”
“…!”
“How about that? Both are true, right?”
Yuria didn’t answer.
She didn’t nod either.
She just stopped walking and stood still.
What’s going on?
Why’s she acting like this all of a sudden?
Then Yuria looked up at me.
“What do I do? I’m such an idiot.”
I let out a hollow laugh.
“What’s that about? How’s that being an idiot? It’s being cautious.”
“Still. I didn’t even realize something so obvious and kept worrying until now. I’m really an idiot.”
“Everything seems obvious and trivial once you know it. The impressive part is seeing it first.”
Yuria stared at me blankly for a moment before poking me with her finger.
So I nodded.
“Yup. I’m praising myself for being impressive.”
In that moment, pfft, Yuria burst into a bright laugh.
“Oh. Sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh… It’s not mocking.”
A faint flush spread across her pale skin.
As I quietly watched her, the surrounding atmosphere, colors, and background all felt like a painting displayed in an art gallery.
“It’s fine.”
I gazed at her for a moment before continuing.
“In truth, those who rise to the top are the ones who challenge themselves every moment. They don’t need certainty. A one percent chance—that’s enough for them.”
“…!”
“It’s the same. Challenge yourself boldly. Don’t hesitate, and don’t care about others’ gazes. Others’ judgments? That’s been our fate ever since we entered this Academy.”
It’ll be a tough journey.
The path to becoming a magic swordsman, that is.
The biggest issue in the current Royal society—the massive rift between knights and mages. Choosing a path that directly challenges that divide will cause friction everywhere.
Even here, at the Academy.
There could be objections to transferring to the Psychology Department, and the Martial Arts Department might ostracize her.
Even after graduation, problems will persist.
No matter how good her grades are, the Empire’s two largest martial organizations, the Central Knights and the Special Magic Corps, might not acknowledge her.
No, they definitely won’t.
Even the only recognized magic swordsman, Sir Sigaro, had to endure immense effort to join the Royal Knights under the Royal family.
I showed her the path.
But walking it is up to Yuria herself.
“The choice is yours.”
“…”
“What will you do?”
Yuria looked up at me.
Her face showed resolve.
That was enough to answer.
Then my advice had reached its limit.
From now on, it was all up to her to walk the path.
“Are you resolved?”
“Yes. Resolved.”
“Then go. I need to train.”
“Oh. But what about tomorrow’s vision selection? I already consulted with my advisor.”
“High-Speed Swordsmanship?”
“Yes. Since I’ve decided to become a magic swordsman, don’t I need to redo my vision tree?”
I shook my head.
“It’s fine. High-Speed Swordsmanship and magic go well together. Stick with High-Speed Swordsmanship for this vision selection. Keep your vision tree as planned.”
Yuria suddenly stared intently at my face.
“What? Why’re you staring like that? You’re gonna burn a hole through my forehead.”
“It’s just… a strange thought occurred to me.”
“What thought?”
“It feels like you knew I wouldn’t give up on magic.”
My heart sank for a moment.
Goddamn, her intuition is scary and sharp.
“Hey, hey. Am I some kind of god? How would I know that?”
“Right?”
“Yeah, you. Stop saying weird stuff and go inside. You’ve got class prep to do.”
“I’ll handle that myself. Since I came out early today, let’s train together.”
As she said that, Yuria gulped down the root tea from the flask I’d given her.
Wait, that’s—
“It’s mine…”
“Oh, right.”
“…Just drink it.”
“We can share. Here.”
Yuria held out the flask with a bright smile.
In the end, I had to postpone my meeting with Luis.
* * *
The next day.
The Vault opened, and for the first time in a while, a large number of cadets gathered in front of it.
Vision Selection Day.
A day when all cadets, regardless of grades, could choose a vision fairly.
It happened twice a semester.
Four times a year.
For the new 890th class cadets, it was an especially important day.
Since each cadet’s specialty, disposition, and preferred combat style varied, their vision trees would naturally differ, and this was the day to choose the first vision that would form the foundation.
Thus, first-year cadets had the privilege of entering first.
One by one.
Starting with Gwyn Gaiard, they entered the Vault in order of entrance exam rankings.
Soon, Gwyn emerged with the vision tome he had chosen in advance.
Then Karina Zain entered the Vault and came out with a vision tome.
And so, the first-years’ vision selection seemed to proceed without a hitch.
“…Huh?”
The incident began with a small question from a new cadet named Deborah.
Devo was a summoning specialist in the Psychology Department.
Naturally, the vision tome he brought out was related to summoning.
[Contract and Summon]
But when Devo eagerly opened it, he was met with blank pages, as if someone had stolen the contents.
Devo stared at the vision tome in a daze before calling out to a nearby professor.
“Um. Professor? The vision tome I picked has nothing written in it?”
“Hm?”
“Is vision selection some kind of lottery? Ugh. Did I pick a dud?”
“…What nonsense are you spouting?”
The professor looked at Devo as if he were insane.
But the moment he saw the vision tome in Devo’s hands, the professor froze.
The vision tome was completely blank.
“H-Hey, Department Head!”
This small commotion soon grew into a massive wildfire, engulfing the entire Academy.
[Frey Academy, Toyed With by a Mere Thief!?]
It was the moment the existence of a thief who would later throw the Academy into chaos was first revealed to the world.