“That’s gonna get recorded.”
Erica rested her chin in her hand and scoffed.
The person Schlus encountered from the very first day of class was none other than Iris.
She was the one called the Saintess of Flechette.
In just under a minute of meeting Iris, Schlus had already committed two faux pas.
One was forcibly shaking hands after rejecting a kiss on her hand.
That was an outright disregard for the authority of Iris, formally appointed as a Saintess by the Papal Palace.
The other was suddenly speaking informally to her.
No matter how you looked at it, even Iris would have been offended by that.
You could see her smiling eyes trembling just a bit.
Those who ignored Iris always met a rather unpleasant fate.
Though she was always benevolent, she was famous for showing no mercy to those who opposed her.
It was likely Schlus would vanish without a trace soon enough.
Sure, he was confident after signing a contract with a demon, but he faced someone genuinely bad.
*Thud…!*
“Huh?”
At that moment, the vibration caused Erica’s posture, resting her chin, to collapse.
The epicenter was the podium.
Erica turned her gaze there and gasped.
A black artifact trembled and rose, piercing through a pile of mana stones.
It was something she recognized from before.
Right, during the war against the Trud Kingdom. It was definitely that item which her father had bought in bulk.
An artifact that absorbed all surrounding mana and exploded.
‘Everyone seems oblivious to what that is. I need to lead them to escape before panic sets in…!’
Suddenly, Erica sprang up and surveyed her surroundings.
There were still a few dozen seconds left before it would explode.
It might be impossible to evacuate everyone, but she could at least get as many students as possible out of the lecture room.
Just as Erica inhaled to raise her voice—
*Huff—*
“Dammit! Everyone, run! It’s an Explosive Artifact!”
“What the hell…?”
Despair washed over Erica as she hung her head.
Fear and panic swiftly tainted the entire lecture room.
Noble scions lost all decorum and order as they pushed and shoved toward the exit.
However, the lecture room door held firm, unmoving against the pressure of so many people.
Now it was really over.
There was no chance for evacuation; she had no choice but to destroy the artifact.
“What are they doing…?”
Thinking that, Erica turned her gaze to a corner.
There stood Schlus, embracing Iris at the waist, seemingly supporting her.
What was he doing in this situation? Erica felt a blush rise to her cheeks.
Shaking her head to dispel her turmoil, Erica jumped across the desk toward the podium.
*Hup!*
Using telekinesis as if it were second nature, she landed gently on the podium.
Slowly, she began gathering mana to weave a spell.
A spell that could shatter that explosive artifact into pieces.
*Haaah!*
Before Erica outstretched her hand, a white flash appeared and burst forth.
A magic bullet of light.
It was the most powerful piercing magic she could cast.
The reason for doing long-range shooting up close was to maximize its piercing capability.
*Ting…!*
“No way!”
But the magic bullet, traveling at the speed of light, merely ricocheted off the artifact without leaving a mark.
Before long, the artifact began to glow orange, shaking ever more violently.
Now it was too late.
The only option left was to use the forbidden spells passed down in her family.
A technique that converts all life force into mana, risking her very life.
She had to use that, even if it meant sacrificing herself, to destroy this artifact.
That was her duty and responsibility as a noble.
With closed eyes and a firm resolve, Erica thrust out her hand.
Just as she was about to unfold the technique—
“Huh? Huh?!”
Erica’s body was suddenly lifted into the air.
Someone was using telekinesis to manipulate her.
No, this wasn’t telekinesis.
The rough, clumsy control made it clear—it was gravity magic.
The gravity magic pulled Erica well away from the podium—
“Hah!”
At first lowering her gently, it suddenly hurled her.
Rubbing her sore behind, Erica stood up.
Feelings of humiliation from rolling on the ground combined with anger at the one who did this and the despair of missing the opportunity to avert the explosion washed over her.
“Aah…!”
The artifact was glowing brightly, transforming into a vivid yellow.
It meant that there was less than three seconds left until it exploded.
With a true sense of dread, Erica’s face turned pale.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
The very next moment, an explosion rumbled with enough intensity to rupture eardrums.
*Boom…!*
“Ugh…?”
But something was off.
What should have come after the explosion did not arrive.
There was no fierce wind, no shards slamming into her, no scorching heat—none of that was felt.
Had she arrived in heaven before experiencing pain?
Erica opened her eyes, feeling puzzled.
“….Huh?”
A sigh escaped her lips.
It was a sight she couldn’t grasp.
Flames radiated from the artifact, while countless fragments remained trapped, unable to leave the podium, being drawn back toward the center.
Making a noise that sounded like the explosion being reversed, the red flame formed itself into a massive sphere, slowly sucked back in again.
That sphere gradually shrank until it condensed into a single point.
Finally, as the flames subsided and silence returned to the lecture room—
*Thud!*
A huge chunk of debris fell onto the podium.
It was the result of the splintered blackboard, the podium floor, and the artifact shards all tangled together.
“….”
“….”
The previously frenzied students calmed down considerably.
Everyone in the lecture room gaped down at the charred podium shaped like a sphere.
What kind of mana would it take to suppress an explosion of that magnitude?
Thirty thousand? Fifty thousand? No, surely more than that.
As if they all shared similar thoughts, the students glanced at each other, searching for answers.
They said Gawayn, the strongest magician and knight, had mana levels of thirty thousand; who the hell could—
*Boom!*
At that moment, the classroom door was torn off with a terrible sound.
A black figure emerged through the smoke and dust at the entrance.
Tall and clad in a long robe.
Many students recognized who it was just from the silhouette.
“Nobles sure know how to behave like trash.”
Those disdainful eyes looked down on the students as if they were garbage.
The foremost magician of the age, Professor Ludwig von Wermannstein, who taught Elemental Magic at the Imperial University.
“Professor Ludwig!”
“Did you stop the explosion?!”
“….”
Students fervently flocked to him.
But Ludwig merely looked down at them, expressing annoyance.
“Today’s lecture is canceled. Get out quickly.”
“Yes, sir!”
The students began leaving the classroom in orderly fashion, standing straight as if they’d never pushed and shoved each other.
So sickening was that act that Ludwig turned his head sharply away.
‘Lichtenburg…?’
Standing alone right in front of the podium was a girl.
Ludwig was puzzled as he recognized her.
Not just because she stood near the epicenter of the explosion but because she was blankly staring at one spot.
Following her gaze, Ludwig furrowed his brow.
“These damn fools—”
A scene that could barely be expressed in words unfolded.
*
Honestly, I did my best.
I tried my hardest, with my unskilled magic, to lower Erica as gently as possible.
[Remaining Mana: 0]
[Not enough mana.]
“Damn it—”
But my meager mana gave out immediately.
As soon as my mana reached zero, my spell ceased functioning, and Erica fell straight from one meter in the air.
“Hah!”
“….”
It wasn’t my fault.
Erica was too heavy.
If she had been just 10 kilos lighter, I could have lowered her safely with no problems.
Avoiding the gaze of Erica, who was shooting me tears-filled eyes, I slightly bent at the waist.
“Oof.”
My body swayed unsteadily, refusing to cooperate.
Mana exhaustion had set in.
I couldn’t just collapse like this.
‘Selection and Concentration. Use it on mana.’
As soon as I activated my ability, I felt strength returning to my entire body.
[Remaining Mana: 100,000]
And my mana began to rise endlessly, reaching a total of 100,000—the power of Gawayn in his prime tripled.
Also, it was on par with Alexia’s mana levels.
Next was—
I simply acted on what I had simulated in my head over and over.
Within three seconds, I focused all of my 100,000 mana into a gravity magic spell to suppress the explosion.
That was all.
[Quest Completed]
[You are awarded 3 shop coins as compensation.]
“Hah…?”
I did it.
In that moment of accomplishment, my body tilted forward.
Mana exhaustion hit me again.
I hadn’t anticipated this.
With a desperate struggle, my body helplessly tumbled down the stairs.
*Bang—*
“….?”
But instead of the hard staircase corner, it was a soft sensation that hit my face.
As if to explain what happened, a comforting voice flowed into my ears.
“Why did you come here, I asked.”
“….”
“I saw this future. The one where you save everyone. That’s why I came. I wanted to see it with my own eyes.”
“….”
Iris’s voice melted into my ears.
Truly, was this due to her being a saintess?
It was irresistible in the most religious way.
‘That….. Can I tell you about it….?’
“You seem like you already know. In fact, I want to ask you how you knew I could see the future.”
“It’s a secret….”
“Heh heh. I knew you’d say that. I also saw this.”
Really, I couldn’t win against this woman.
Still, I was relieved she recognized my innocence.
If Iris had turned against me, I would have been expelled from the Imperial University without even a chance to react.
“How could this happen? I don’t think I’ve told anyone that I can see the future.”
“….”
“I’m not prying, so don’t worry. I’m pleased to finally have someone who knows my secret to confide in.”
“Is that so….”
“Then, I’ll permit you to speak informally to me. We’re going to be together for a long time, aren’t we? Right?”
“….”
How far ahead had Iris seen into the future?
I wasn’t sure, but I could tell she was favorably inclined toward me.
I didn’t know what future she had seen. But considering it was one where I’d be with Iris for a long time, it looked like I wouldn’t be losing to Ludwig.
“When are you going to stay like that?”
“Ah?!”
A deep voice came from beside us.
In that moment, Iris gasped in surprise, releasing her grip on my shoulder.
I barely managed to prop myself up with trembling arms and leaned against the stairs.
“Get out. Today’s class is canceled.”
“I will rest a bit longer. My legs got shaky from all the surprise.”
“….”
“Is it not allowed?”
“….Do as you please.”
It took about five minutes for my mana to recharge enough for movement.
After five minutes, I’d be able to walk out just fine.
Iris smiled gently at me and ascended the stairs.
Just like that, only Ludwig and I remained in the classroom.
Erica, who had been standing foolishly near the podium, had disappeared as well.
“Schlus Hainkel.”
“….Yes.”
“Then, why don’t you explain what happened?”
“….”
Shit. I’ve been found out.
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