Even if it did not command a full view of the Academy, the principal’s office could take in the scenery all the way to the street before the main building.
In that principal’s office, Ermia Belfast was, as always, working through a pile of assorted documents.
If there was one thing different from usual, it was the thick file she was now reading intently.
It was not an administrative approval document for the Academy, but a report on irregularities.
The document, sent from the Silbaerin duchy in the northern Empire, had passed through the hands of several gifted minds before finally reaching a genius.
Ermia fell into thought as she read the words described in the report.
‘The magical beasts of the monster wave grew stronger, huh. This will require some caution.’
According to the observations of the Silbaerin Magic Tower,
when this monster wave occurred, ominous mana had been detected in the Callian Mountains.
Dark crimson mana, thick and damp with a sinister aura.
It was suspected that this was the reason the magical beasts had grown stronger compared to the previous year.
And Ermia could infer the true nature of that mana.
‘The signs of the Great War that Master used to talk about until I was sick of hearing it. It’s exactly the same as that story.’
Ermia’s master, Grendel, had now passed from old age.
Near the end of his life, he had often wavered back and forth because of dementia, but there was one thing he had emphasized every time, even in that state of mind.
[Dark crimson demonic energy slowly stirs and contaminates the world, and that demonic energy, with its sinful gluttony, ravenously devours the purest parts first.]
Ermia recalled that advice, both a tale from Grendel’s experience and something she had heard so often her ears had grown calluses.
The Great War, which had begun when Grendel was young, had ended when he reached middle age.
Yet even when sweet peace came to the continent, Grendel had never let down his guard.
Considering those were the words he had spoken right up until his final breath,
one could glimpse just how horrific and cruel a history the Great War had been.
That was why Ermia could not dismiss this report lightly.
Immediately after the dark crimson demonic energy was observed, the strength of the magical beasts in the monster wave had increased.
Though it could not be clearly quantified, it was said that each individual magical beast’s combat power had risen by roughly twenty percent.
Someone dull in matters of calculation might not feel much sense of crisis.
But in Ermia’s eyes, the severity of it struck home at once.
When one considered how desperately the command structures of armies struggled to raise their soldiers’ combat power even slightly,
it became clear just how absurd a figure twenty percent was.
A magical beast that should have died in a single slash did not fall, but swung its hideous claws two more times before dying.
On a battlefield, where even the slightest action could become a major variable, that kind of last struggle was more threatening than anything.
And if every enemy soldier responded with that kind of strength?
To be honest, it was questionable how Silbaerin had managed to stop this monster wave.
Yet no matter how carefully she searched, there was nothing written about the method used to respond to the strengthened monster wave.
If she had to name a factor in their victory...
There was only Arthur, the knight of Silbaerin who was said to have reached the Expert realm through this battle.
‘This isn’t a level of combat power that can be overturned just because one knight got stronger...’
There was a limit to the achievements one person could make in war with a single body.
In the end, in war, one hundred people who had grown slightly stronger were more efficient and powerful than a single outstanding individual.
Then what, was there someone on the Silbaerin Knights’ side who had strengthened all of them?
And they had even bestowed such a buff in a way the Magic Tower couldn’t observe?
‘That sounds like an elf gnawing on the World Tree.’
There was a reason dark crimson demonic energy gave off an ominous aura.
A living being that received that demonic energy was merely taking an advance on its own lifespan and exchanging it for immediate power.
Maria, the Creator God, whose very existence could no longer be confirmed.
Filthy powers called black magic or demonic energy were all nothing more than imitations of the Creator God.
An imperfect, half-finished power that arbitrarily twisted and used the authority of creation, which only a god was meant to wield.
But the Silbaerin Knights had not used that filthy power either.
Yet they had still successfully stopped the strengthened monster wave, enough to make one wonder if a saintess had truly cast a buff on them.
‘There’s no way. Why would the Saintess be in the north?’
Grrrgle—
The interesting incident she had encountered for the first time in a while had made her lose track of time.
Only after Ermia’s stomach cried out from hunger did she take her eyes off the report.
But when she looked out the window to rest her eyes for a moment, a strange line stretched all the way from the Academy’s main building.
‘Hm? That’s...’
Ermia’s eyes followed the line upward until they reached its end.
At the end of the line she tracked with her eyes stood a red street stall she had never seen before,
and black hair she was now starting to grow familiar with. Kang Jinwoo was doing business.
Come to think of it, she had granted him permission to operate a stall.
Ermia was slightly surprised by Kang Jinwoo’s initiative, which was faster than she had expected.
‘I was just hungry anyway. Shall I see what he can do?’
Hardtack, which had blandly and nuttily filled the emptiness whenever Ermia’s mouth felt bored.
Was he not the very person who had made that hardtack, which had now completely taken over the market?
Would that skill prove genuine, or was he merely an ordinary man who had gotten lucky?
Ermia lightly draped on her coat and left the principal’s office.
***
Just when I thought I finally had some breathing room after wrapping up business on the first day with great success, Ermia came by.
So when she said she’d come take a look while we were writing the contract, it hadn’t just been empty words.
I wasn’t sure whether her timing was good or bad.
I still hadn’t thought up an explanation for the [Mana Market], so thanks to Ermia, I had bought some time.
Looking at it that way, her appearance wasn’t a bad thing.
“The ham-cheese toast? The one the students ahead ordered looked good. I’ll have one, please.”
“Ah, that’s...”
“Hm? You don’t have to worry about harsh criticism. I’m not expecting the taste of an imperial exclusive chef.”
“No, that’s not it.”
“To be honest, imperial chef cuisine doesn’t really suit my taste. It’s a little too much, I’d say. Who knows? Your food might taste better.”
Ugh, why does this person keep cutting me off?
She’s tiny, and her looks are young enough that I’d believe it if someone said she was a student here.
Maybe because she carried the title of the Empire’s greatest mage, she lived entirely in her own world.
Ermia chattered on and on about her gourmet experiences without giving me a chance to speak.
At this rate, the sun would set before I got a word in, so I cut her off.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but the ham-cheese toast is sold out.”
“Ah. Is that so? What a shame. Then I’ll have French toast.”
“That’s sold out too...”
“Wh-what? Really?”
The ingredients had run out, so I couldn’t make it even if I wanted to.
Even though I had prepared more than enough ingredients, they had all sold out, and my mana was also hanging by a thread.
I instinctively felt that if I used the [Mana Market] any more here, my mana would be completely drained.
In fact, even the mana to control fire with [Beginner Spirit Arts] was barely enough.
If I made one wrong move in allocation, I might collapse magnificently.
Perhaps Ermia hadn’t expected things to be sold out,
because she was so flustered that the charisma she had shown upon appearing vanished completely.
“Ah. I’m h-hungry... Is there really nothing you can make right now..?”
“Street toast is possible. Would you like that?”
“Yes. I hate that it has vegetables, but it can’t be helped.”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll make it right away.”
So there was a reason she was short.
She doesn’t eat a balanced diet and is picky about vegetables, so that’s why she’s this short.
The words rose all the way to the tip of my throat, but I barely held them back.
It wasn’t as if I was so bored I wanted to die. There was no need to get cheeky with a walking nuclear bomb.
Since I only had to grill enough bread and cabbage-egg mixture for one serving anyway, there was no need to summon many fire spirits.
I summoned only the exact amount of fire spirits I needed.
Eeeing, eeng—
Even though it had worked until just moments ago without the fire ever having a chance to die down, the fire spirit was happy that there was something else to play with.
Contrary to my own resolution, I kept creating work for myself wherever I went, so I had considered myself something of a workaholic...
But you’re the true workaholic. Fire spirit.
As expected, you can’t beat someone who enjoys what they do. I’ll have to try harder.
Dizzy—
As I used spirit arts like that, my vision swam a little.
It seemed I was approaching today’s limit.
I hurried a bit and grilled the bread and cabbage-egg mixture.
Since it was only one serving, it didn’t take long.
Following the recipe, I generously sprinkled ketchup and sugar on top...
“What’s that bright red sauce? I’ve never seen it before.”
“It’s a special sauce made from tomatoes. It’s called ketchup.”
“Eck, tomatoes? You made it from that ornamental plant?”
“Sigh... You tasteless fool.”
“Hm? What did you say? I didn’t hear you.”
“Ah, nothing.”
The attack slipped out reflexively before I knew it.
It was fortunate she hadn’t heard... But this deserved extenuating circumstances more than it meant I lacked patience.
How could a cook endure someone failing to recognize tomatoes, the ultimate umami cheat code of the vegetable world and an all-purpose ingredient?
“Well... judging by the students’ reactions, it must be fine. I’ll trust you.”
“Of course. Don’t ask for more. The ingredients are gone, so I can’t make any more.”
“You got curt because I looked down on your sauce. Sorry, heh.”
One shouldn’t let their mood become their attitude, but apparently I had expressed it as it was.
Still, contrary to my wariness, Ermia accepted my sulking quite mildly.
Maybe she wasn’t as scary a person as I had thought.
Even while chatting lightly, my hands kept moving, and I completed the toast.
I handed the finished street toast to Ermia.
“Here is your street toast. Enjoy.”
“It’s piping hot. Thank you.”
Ermia swept her long, pure-white hair behind her ear and opened her dainty mouth.
Haap—
Then she bit into the toast with all her might and sincerity.
Omnyomnyom...
Ermia chewed for quite a long time, like a squirrel nibbling on an acorn.
When she seemed to have finished chewing, there was a faint sound of swallowing, and her deep blue eyes, like the depths of the sea, sparkled.
At last, Ermia waved her hands wildly and shouted.
“Mmm! It’s a taste I’ve never had in my life! This sauce called ketchup is sweet and sour, and it’s so delicious!”
“Oh my, is that so?”
“Yes! Honestly, since it was just bread grilled in butter with egg and seasoning, I wasn’t expecting much... but it’s a new flavor! I usually hate vegetables, but I could eat three of these!”
“Uh-huh, and?”
“And, and... the sugar sprinkled over the ketchup is exquisite! It’s like it connects the flavors of the bread, egg, and ketchup... Ah.”
Freeze—
Ah, her reason had returned.
She had taken one bite of the toast and, unable to contain how delicious it was, expressed it with her whole body...
It was kind of cute, so I ended up talking to her as if I were dealing with a child.
The rudeness I had committed was one thing, but rather than taking issue with that, she seemed more embarrassed by the shameful display she had just made.
Ermia’s pale white face flushed red all the way to her ears, creating a vivid contrast with her white hair.
“Ahem... Ahem! It’s good. It’s tasty. Fine, you cook well. I’ll acknowledge that.”
“Oh my, thank youuu.”
“Y-you!! Can’t you fix that way of speaking?!”
“Ah, sorry.”
At my teasing tone, Ermia got properly riled up.
Principal, unlike your reputation, you give such good reactions.
Looks like I’ll be teasing you even more from now on.
Ermia looked at me with a sulky expression, then suddenly tilted her head.
“Huh? What is this? Mana...”
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem with the taste?”
“No. It’s not that. It feels like my mana has filled up a bit more... This can’t be right.”
As if entranced by something, Ermia muttered, “Mana—my mana...”
While doing so, she quickly looked over her own hands and body.
Then, at last, she turned that gaze toward me.
Hm, she’s staring rather intently. It’s a bit embarrassing if you look at me like that.
Uh... But what is this? Did she use gigantification or something?
All of a sudden, Ermia as reflected in my eyes began to look rather huge.
This feeling of her head growing closer to the sky, while my body, conversely, grew closer to the ground...
Crash—!
Ah, Ermia wasn’t getting bigger. I was collapsing.
“Kyaaak!! Jinwoo! What’s wrong?!”
“What the—Kang Jinwoo!! Why all of a sudden... Huh?”
The world distorted like a videotape stupidly stretched out of shape.
My vision spun as if I had been pickled in strong liquor, and I couldn’t even think of controlling my body.
“It’s mana exhaustion! You there, elf, help me. We need to take him to the infirmary!”
“Ah, yes!”
Eilenna and Ermia moved in alarm yet with perfect coordination.
I took in the sight of their movements one last time...
And then I lost consciousness.