[We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the restoration happening throughout the Academy.]
[However, there will be no separate changes to the Academy’s schedule.]
[Please take note of this and promptly decide on your participation in each event.]
As a result, an alarm notifying that the event schedule had not changed was received.
In my opinion, this was identical to the game’s content.
And naturally, the most important upcoming event would be the Academy Festival.
A festival featuring invitations from various famous singers, speeches from people active in different cities, and booths being opened.
However, if it’s a game set in an academy, it certainly can’t end there.
The most ideal play element that can be presented to the player: the Academy Festival Tournament.
In this case, there were two ways to participate.
One was to participate in a team competition with characters with whom you had built affinity before the festival started.
And the other was to enter a one-on-one individual tournament.
Since both items provided individual rewards, it was advantageous for players to participate in both.
Moreover, the rewards were tastier than expected.
However, this was a story when the player was the protagonist of the world.
I was well aware that I was not the protagonist of this world.
Even the main characters, aside from the exceptionally powerful Yoon Si-woo, did not seem able to defeat me with my current strength.
Whether it be in force, magic, or attributes, it was a reality that I was lacking.
‘I have no intention of giving up.’
I was tired of the impoverished life.
Being noticed by others was bothersome, but the rewards from the Academy Festival Tournament were worth it.
Therefore, the first thing I needed to do now was to persuade Charlotte.
‘It will be difficult, but… it’s something I must do.’
Charlotte’s spell-casting speed was faster than that of any wizard.
Of course, there was a downside in that the player would only be able to see the scene of her using magic if they maximized their affinity, but she was, as far as I knew, the character with the highest potential in this game.
However, she was still unsuitable for carrying around or using in combat.
Her personality, ideals, and dreams all contributed to this.
Her weak and gentle nature would not withstand harming or attacking others.
However, since I had brought Charlotte along as my main character in almost all routes, I was able to derive a different direction from this.
If she couldn’t attack, then she should specialize in defense.
Though it is said that the best offense is the best defense, that is only true when you can end it with a single blow.
In a team structure, it is much more efficient for one side to take on defense while the other character is focused on attack.
Charlotte exhibited transcendent performance in this aspect.
While drawing magic circles directly was difficult, unraveling someone else’s drawn circle was a moment’s work.
It could be said that it was easier to ruin a work than to create one.
That’s why she received the nickname “Master of Inversion” in several routes.
At least, if she has information about all the magic she has seen, then she can simply observe the magic unfolding in the sky, apply the method of inversion, and dispel it.
Moreover, if Helisia, who plays the role of another genius in magic, is to appear, it would be even more so.
Charlotte would be her counter.
She doesn’t wish for an attack.
All she wishes for is the dispelling and defense against attacks like an impregnable fortress.
Therefore, the process of persuasion would certainly be challenging, but if possible… no, I would try my best.
***
In a small room, countless various geometric shapes were drawn.
The eyes of a brown-haired girl who was drawing more shapes and characters on paper moved busily.
The perception of the world that the girl observed was distinctly different from that of others.
She clearly witnessed the sounds of insects crying at dawn, the reflection of raindrops falling on the window, and the scattering of clouds flowing in the sky.
And she quietly buried these memories deep within herself.
Things that others easily forget, she remembers.
The timing and jealousy that someone sends, the worries, the anger, the happiness, and emotions she remembers.
When she opens her eyes, the tremendous amount of information pouring in every day and the lack of an outlet for it is a talent that someone might envy, but for the girl herself, it was meaningless.
‘If I had that ability…’
‘Am I just bragging?’
When she first showed her ability to her mother, her mother had a joyful expression, but the girl saw the faint jealousy shining in her mother’s eyes.
And when she spoke of her ideals while utilizing various materials, she saw the backs of those who had ignored her.
It was sad and painful.
At least while she was alive, remembering everything she had felt since her birth was that way.
No matter how hard she tried to forget, she couldn’t escape the feelings of loss and pain from that time.
Therefore, even more so, Charlotte could not help but fall into magic.
As she calculated this vast amount of knowledge and information, she inadvertently lost the time to recall other negative memories.
She calculates numbers and draws shapes.
Magic does not lie.
It does not hate or hurt someone.
It simply exists there, unchanging.
Now, she fills the countless memories of the past that have been covered over with what she loves and is interested in, little by little.
In this way, as she quietly forgets others, and she too does not engage with anyone else, begins to be forgotten.
Then, she met someone.
For the first time, the pure and solely bright eyes did not reflect any negative emotions towards Charlotte.
Her world was truly infinite but filled with a void of restrained knowledge.
It was the moment when someone stepped into the space that no one had tried to understand before.
And perhaps for the first time in her life, receiving pure and fervent goodwill, Charlotte could not help but stammer and talk after a long time.
Moreover, because she had not spoken to anyone for a long time, her vocal cords had weakened as well.
Of course, it felt burdensome that it seemed like the interest was more in her than in magic, but the sensation of having made a friend, one she had not been able to make anywhere else, was truly a heartbeat-inducing matter.
“Hehe… friend…”
Moreover, Aesha was someone who understood the beauty of the magic circles that others did not know.
The beautiful circular curves and the overlapping hundreds or thousands of complex circles.
If only enough time were given, even those without talent could create miracles through the act of drawing magic circles themselves.
Recently, many people have been preferring to use non-circles instead of circles, and even not drawing any circles at all because they claim it is faster and more powerful, but that’s not the essence of magic.
“That’s not cool…”
A magic circle the size of a playground laid out on the ground captures the monsters trying to break through, the second circle seals them, and the third circle incinerates all the monsters.
And the ensuing hero treatment…!
“He…hehe.”
How wonderful this is.
While non-circles are indeed fast, and even Charlotte could perform this action… without an attack pouring out from the magic circle, that action would hold no meaning.
Of course… she wouldn’t have the confidence to do such a thing, and if she did save others, it would never be known.
Charlotte was a girl with a mindset of an ordinary citizen who occasionally imagined wanting to become such a hero.
Creeeak.
As she closed her eyes and imagined heroic tales, she heard someone entering through the door.
Naturally, there was only one person who could come here.
“Charlotte! How have you been?”
“Oh, yes…”
“First of all… take this!”
“What is this?”
“This is the chocolate I mentioned last time. I brought the tastiest one that fits within my budget!”
“Ooh…!”
A gift from a friend, Charlotte remembered the incident that had happened, but she never thought she would actually bring it, so her eyes sparkled as she cherished it in her pocket.
“Th-thank you…”
“I should give you more compared to the help you gave me.”
“Oh, no… Aesha. I had fun too…”
Aesha was apologizing to Charlotte, but Charlotte truly felt delighted when drawing the Ultimate Magic Circle.
In normal times she would have had no tasks, and even if she did draw it, she wouldn’t have the guts to activate it carelessly.
However, because of Aesha’s request, Charlotte had the courage to accomplish it.
Then Aesha took out a piece of paper from her pocket and began to speak.
“Oh, by the way, do you know about the event happening this time?”
“Ev…ent?”
“It’s an event, they say there will be a team tournament at the Academy Festival. So I was wondering if you would like to participate together if you’re okay with it?”
“Um… Does it involve… fighting or something like that…?”
“Yes, if you don’t want to, it’s totally fine to refuse…”
If I were on my own, there would be no reason to participate.
I would be scared and frightened.
Moreover, other people’s gazes were burdensome.
But if someone was there.
And if I could showcase the visual beauty of the magic I create directly.
“I-I’ll do it!!”
“…Really…??”
“Yes…!”
I thought that perhaps with this person, it wouldn’t seem impossible.
***
Wow.
“Yes, yes… I-I’ll do it…!”
“Uh… Really?”
This is happening.
It happened far too easily, leaving me in disbelief.
