“Mana is, um, a power created by refining mental strength and physical stamina, then melting them together into one.”
At Senior Rena’s answer, Professor Louise’s eyes lit up.
She took a step toward Senior Rena, her gaze fixed on hers.
“An interesting statement. Why do you think that?”
“Well…”
Senior Rena scratched the back of her head, as if wondering what she should say.
In the end, unable to find an answer, she let out a small sigh and opened her mouth.
“That’s just how it feels to me. I don’t think I can give you anything beyond that. I’m sorry.”
“No, there’s nothing to apologize for. More importantly, to arrive at such an answer through pure insight alone is impressive. Eighty-five points.”
“Thank you.”
At Professor Louise’s favorable evaluation, a smile appeared on Senior Rena’s face.
I watched her with a pleased expression and waited for Professor Louise’s next words.
“As Student Rena said, mana is created by refining physical stamina and mental strength. But that alone is not enough. If physical stamina and mental strength are the ingredients, then a catalyst is needed to mix them together. Does anyone happen to know what that is?”
Professor Louise had posed the question, but her expression said she did not expect anyone to answer.
Her attitude suggested that an ordinary first-year could never possibly know this.
Before she could continue writing on the blackboard, I answered in a calm tone.
“Karma. That is the catalyst that refines mental strength and physical stamina into mana.”
At the sound of my voice, Professor Louise’s hand, which had been about to write on the blackboard, stopped.
She turned and immediately looked at me.
“Your name was… Student Ashen, was it?”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Where did you hear that?”
Her eyes, filled with even greater interest than when she had heard Senior Rena’s answer, stared straight at me.
It was an intense gaze, as if she had found gold dust on a sandy beach.
Slightly flustered by Professor Louise’s reaction, which was more intense than expected, I gave the answer I had prepared in advance.
“My master taught me.”
“…You met a good master. What you just said is a recent theory, so there should be many scholars who don’t know it.”
“Yes. He was an exceptionally good person.”
In truth, the answer came from Kim Yuhan’s knowledge, but I gave the credit to Lord Renfield. It was true that he had taught me many things, so my master likely wouldn’t be particularly displeased.
“Good. That is a perfect answer. I suspected as much from the high attendance rate, but this year’s Humilitas students are promising. To think I would hear two such excellent answers in the very first class of the first year. This is beyond my expectations.”
Professor Louise headed back to the blackboard with an excited expression. Her hand moved quickly, writing down what I had said a moment ago.
“As Student Ashen said, mana is the result of tempering physical stamina and mental strength with karma. Here, karma does not simply mean actions. It is an intangible current that is woven into a person’s very life. That is why those lacking in karma cannot properly handle mana, even if they possess a great deal of it.”
Professor Louise turned back toward the students and met each of their eyes one by one.
Her gaze was gentle, but the moment our eyes met, I felt a chill, so she was probably checking the students’ levels.
When her eyes met mine, the professor briefly made a strange expression, as if puzzled, but soon shifted her gaze to the next student.
‘She must have noticed that she can’t sense any mana from me.’
Well, I hadn’t thought I would be able to hide that from a mage of her caliber.
‘Still, I suppose it’s fortunate she didn’t discover the Red Blood?’
Thinking that I would have to be more careful from now on, I focused on the class again.
“That is why the more karma you accumulate, the more freely you will be able to handle mana. That is how the realms you know of are divided. The majority of you are likely Mana Users. It is a realm where you can use mana, but can only release it and cannot properly control it.”
When she finished speaking, most of the students nodded as if in answer.
Professor Louise then pointed at Senior Rena and a student named Cecilia, continuing.
“A small number of students have reached a higher realm. The realm in which one consciously controls mana. The Squire class. A considerable number of the academy’s upperclassmen have reached this realm.”
When she was singled out, Senior Rena nodded with a calm expression. Though she had reached a new realm, for someone aiming even higher, it likely wasn’t something to be particularly overjoyed about.
Cecilia, on the other hand, was busy showing herself off, chin raised high.
‘Even for a noble, that’s a bit much. Is her personality somewhat unstable?’
I briefly felt doubtful at Cecilia’s excessively exaggerated attitude, but I turned my gaze away from her. Though we were in the same dormitory, there was no need to pay attention to someone I wasn’t particularly close to.
“The realm above that is the Knight realm, where one can control mana without particularly thinking about it. Realistically speaking, this will be your goal. For reference, all of the academy’s professors, except for the headmaster and one other person, are in this realm.”
The moment Professor Louise finished saying that, the bell signaling the end of class rang.
She looked regretful, but soon let out a small sigh and announced the end of class.
“There are realms above this, Heroes and Superhumans, but those are likely distant realms for you. Today’s class ends here. Then, I’ll see you next time.”
Professor Louise disappeared through a magic circle just as she had when she first appeared, and the students began gathering their things one by one and rising from their seats.
Senior Rena and I were also about to gather our things when someone approached us.
“For commoners, you have impressive ability. I’ve changed my opinion of you.”
Cecilia said that to us and held out her hand.
“I’ll grant you the right to accompany me from now on. Consider it an honor.”
“What are you saying? Do you know me?”
At Senior Rena’s answer, Cecilia’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
If she said anything more, it seemed like a fight might break out, so I calmed Senior Rena and bowed my head to Cecilia.
“I’m sorry, but I think that will be difficult. We don’t particularly wish to form anything like a faction. Then, if you’ll excuse us.”
As the two of us left like that, we heard Cecilia shouting something in an enraged voice behind us.
“She’s really strange. Don’t you think so, Ashen?”
“I do. It would be best not to get involved with her if possible.”
I didn’t think it would become a particular problem, but it would still be better to minimize conflict. Thinking that I should avoid Cecilia as much as possible from now on, I quickly moved on.
**
Cecilia stared blankly at Ashen and Rena as they moved away from her.
In her own way, it had been an offer made out of goodwill, yet those commoners had casually rejected it.
Mere commoners.
Mere Kurdans.
‘To think they would humiliate me like this.’
She had already been angry enough just from entering Humilitas, and seeing them made her anger surge.
‘Just you wait. I’ll break that pride of yours in the next class.’
As it happened, the next class was interpersonal dueling.
It was the field she was most confident in.
If she showed her skill then, those commoners would surely regret it.
Thinking that, Cecilia hummed as joy welled up in her chest and headed to the next class.
The interpersonal dueling class was held at the training ground in the academy’s backyard.
When it was time for class to begin, Eleonore appeared, dressed in simple training clothes.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Eleonore.”
It was an ordinary entrance, unlike Professor Louise’s.
But the students’ reaction was fervent.
“Professor Eleonore!”
“It’s an honor!”
Among the students cheering so passionately was Cecilia.
‘To think I can learn from Lady Eleonore, whom I’ve always admired. It is the honor of a lifetime.’
Feeling joy naturally rise in her chest, Cecilia straightened her posture.
Whatever else happened, she had to show a truly perfect side of herself in this class.
“First, we will divide into groups. To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, students of the Knight Department are not to use mana, and students of the Magic Department are not to use any spells other than mana bullets. Students of the Clergy Department may rest, as this is not a required class for you. However, if there are any injuries, please use your healing abilities.”
Following Eleonore’s guidance, Cecilia was assigned to a group and looked at the opponent before her.
Both in appearance and in the aura she felt, the opponent was an ordinary student.
There was no way she would lose to someone like that.
“I’ll begin.”
With Cecilia’s cry, the duel began.
The opposing student was casting a mana bullet, but Cecilia deliberately stood still.
A moment later, the mana bullet was fired, aiming for her torso.
Cecilia snorted and immediately chanted four mana bullets at once.
With a bang, the opposing student’s mana bullet was canceled out, and two of her mana bullets struck the opponent’s legs in succession.
Then Cecilia’s mana bullet hit the torso of the opponent, who had fallen to one knee.
Seeing her opponent collapse without even being able to resist, Cecilia cheered inwardly.
‘Good. Perfect. Everyone will be cheering for me.’
Thinking that, Cecilia looked around. But contrary to her expectations, there was no one nearby.
Tilting her head at that fact and surveying the situation, she saw that the students had gathered in two places.
‘What is going on?’
She chose one of them and moved toward it.
What entered Cecilia’s sight when she arrived was a beautiful dance.
Holding two wooden swords, Rena was facing three students at once.
At the signal, the three attacked Rena simultaneously, aiming for different spots.
It was textbook, yet perfectly executed. If it were Cecilia herself, she would never be able to avoid it.
But Rena was different.
With steps like those of a dancer, Rena’s body slipped into the tiny gap between the wooden swords.
Seeing this, the three students hurriedly changed the trajectories of their attacks, but it was already too late.
The wooden sword in Rena’s left hand swung, twisting the direction of the wooden sword that had been aimed at her face.
At the same time, her right hand traced a smooth arc and struck one student’s wrist.
“Ugh!”
With a groan, the student dropped one wooden sword.
He rubbed his wrist, but at the same time, his expression said that they had won.
Rena had only two swords. They still had a third attack left.
Soon, the third student’s wooden sword flew toward Rena’s torso.
‘She can’t avoid that.’
The moment Cecilia judged so, Rena released the sword in her right hand.
With a smooth hand movement, Rena’s right hand slipped into the trajectory of the wooden sword, pressing down on the flat of the blade and twisting its path.
In the end, the wooden sword grazed her leg instead of her torso.
A slight red mark was left on her bronze skin, but Rena moved without paying it any mind.
With a whoosh, Rena’s leg swung, and the two students holding wooden swords retreated to put distance between them.
Keeping her distance from the three students, Rena held the wooden sword in her left hand and took her stance again.
Perhaps she was tired; Rena was drenched in sweat and her breathing was rough, but her golden eyes still burned with fighting spirit.
“Let’s go again.”
Rena began sparring again as if it were nothing.
Thinking that sight was beautiful, Cecilia felt an inferiority complex.
‘What is that? No matter how great the difference in skill is, for something like that to be possible… This is the realm of talent. It’s only natural that I can’t do it.’
Cecilia bit her lip and moved to the other place.
The moment she arrived there, a tremendous roar pierced her ears.
Kwaaang—!
“Kyaak!”
At the noise that seemed to tear her eardrums, Cecilia covered her ears.
When she raised her head, she saw two people who had put distance between them.
Against Eleonore, who held a wooden hammer, the commoner named Ashen stood in position with a wooden spear.
Eleonore kicked off the ground, and the enormous wooden hammer swung toward Ashen’s torso.
In response, Ashen thrust his spear toward Eleonore.
An attack that ignored defense entirely.
But in order to stop it, Eleonore also had no choice but to retreat.
“Not bad, Ashen. Though I’m fighting without mana, you’re nearly even with me.”
Eleonore, who had stepped back, smiled as she looked at Ashen.
An expression that said she genuinely found the situation amusing. She looked as though she wanted to fight more at any moment.
At that, Aschen breathed roughly and turned his gaze toward her.
“Evenly matched, you say? Professor, you haven’t taken a single step.”
“Most students cannot even manage that much. Now then, let us continue.”
No sooner had she finished speaking than Aschen kicked off the floor and charged swiftly toward Eleonore.
At the same time, the wooden spear accelerated.
Cecilia, being a mage, could not even properly see how that spear moved.
All she could tell was that a thunderous roar had sounded and the two weapons had met.
Once again, with an explosion that shook the air, Aschen’s and Eleonore’s weapons locked together in midair.
‘How is something like that even possible?’
Cecilia stared blankly at the scene.
She knew Eleonore was strong. That was why she admired her, and why she wanted to be acknowledged by her.
But what in the world was that commoner named Aschen?
Though Eleonore did hold the advantage, that student was facing her head-on.
And what was even more frightening was that, although he was clearly exhausted, he did not have a single scratch on him.
‘That’s on a completely different level!’
She wanted to scream right then and there, but she could not possibly do such a thing in front of Eleonore, whom she admired.
Until the class ended, she tightly suppressed the emotions that felt as though they might burst and racked her brain over how to turn the situation around.
At last, once class was over, Cecilia joined a gathering of noble students in order to vent her frustration.
Looking at the Miseri dormitory, with its facilities so splendid unlike Humilitas, Cecilia felt irritation rise within her.
‘Why was I sent to Humilitas instead of another dormitory?’
Her family was undoubtedly prestigious, so something must have gone wrong.
As she walked on, the person she had been waiting for appeared.
The other girl looked at Cecilia with beautiful violet eyes, then bowed her head.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Cecilia. My name is Theodora.”
“The pleasure is mine. It is an honor to meet the Hero officially chosen by the Church of the Six Great Gods.”
At Cecilia’s words, Theodora merely smiled and said nothing.
Cecilia found that strange, but thinking it was nothing important, she began to pour out her complaints.
“Unlike this place, Humilitas is truly dreadful. At night, it feels as though undead might appear, and during the day, rats and spiders show up at every turn. On top of that, the state of the students is terrible as well.”
“The students?”
“Yes. In particular, a commoner named Aschen and a Kurdan named Rena get on my nerves.”
“I see.”
Theodora’s response clearly showed she had no interest, but Cecilia failed to notice and continued speaking.
Just as her words went on—
An ordinary priest who had been following behind Theodora looked at Cecilia with a smile.
“Hmm. So that is what you think.”
For some reason, the priest Ramsey’s smile sent a chill down Cecilia’s spine.
But since it was true that he had agreed with her, she only faltered for a moment before immediately continuing to speak.
That was why she did not see it.
The way Ramsey, watching her, twisted the corners of his mouth as though amused.