Immediately upon waking up in the morning, I muttered a single word.
“Disaster.”
Those who understand, will.
The moment I opened my eyes, I had a gut feeling.
To confirm it, I looked at the clock—
8:45.
“…I overslept.”
I’m going to lose my mind, seriously.
Leaping out of bed, I quickly washed up, grabbed a sandwich from the fridge, bit into it, and rushed out of the dormitory.
Running as if my feet were on fire, but…
“You’re late, Arthur.”
Professor Raycard greeted me with a stern expression.
“I’m sorry…”
“Go take your seat immediately.”
Of all times, it happened during the outdoor practice session at the training grounds, which is far from the dormitory. I would’ve been on time if I hadn’t moved dorms… or woke up earlier… Above all…
“…If only Lily had woken me up.”
I missed mornings that began with Lily’s kiss terribly.
Sighing heavily, someone tapped me on the back.
“Hello there, latecomer.”
I responded without turning around.
“Hello to you too, daughter of the Marquis.”
It was Reeti.
“You know you’ve been really off lately, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Two weeks of skipping classes—”
“That was because of Lily!”
“And now you’re late.”
“…”
I was at a loss for words.
“Besides, is it true that you can now use magic?”
Oh no, I should’ve explained that.
Yesterday, in front of numerous students, I sent flying a group of noble students.
There was no doubt it was genuine magic.
However, I couldn’t reveal that it was black magic, especially not to Reeti.
Reeti’s father, Marquis Eleonore, was known for his good character but also for despising black magic users immensely. I heard that he had boiled alive a black magic user he captured…
Which meant his good character didn’t apply to black magic users.
Confessing that I was a black magic user to the daughter of such a man would be suicidal.
While I was pondering how to explain,
“Arthur.”
Professor Raycard approached.
“I heard about yesterday from the Chancellor…”
Ah, no…!
I might be crucified and burned—
“Are you saying that you can share mana with your familiar?”
“…”
“Chancellor mentioned this, but is it not true?”
“Ah, no, it’s correct. All the magic I used yesterday was powered by Lily’s mana.”
The Chancellor had already set the stage for me.
‘Phew… Lucky.’
When I glanced at Reeti, she seemed to have accepted the explanation with a nod.
“After class, go see Professor Roxana. We don’t know much about Familiar magic as it’s a rare case, and she’s curious.”
“Hadn’t planned on going anywhere else next.”
“Ah, yes. And concerning yesterday’s incident, the Chancellor mentioned there will be no disciplinary action.”
No disciplinary action?
After what I did to three students?
As I looked puzzled, Professor Raycard provided additional clarification.
“The Chancellor used a memory-recall spell and heard the abusive remarks from the targeted students. It seems they’ve decided to let it pass since no one was seriously injured.”
Even so, verbal abuse and physical violence are entirely different things. Judging from the expression on Professor Raycard’s face, he seemed to agree.
Still, it seemed the Chancellor had covered for me…
‘…So this is having backing?’
The strongest backing, wielding both power and authority.
I should thank the Chancellor.
As Professor Raycard moved on to check the other students, Reeti spoke up.
“Sharing mana with a familiar… Is that even possible?”
At a time like this, the best answer is,
“I don’t know.”
How would I know?
It’s a lie, but…
—-
After passing the time practicing a few basic spells, the class ended.
I wanted to practice intermediate spells too, but the students’ gazes felt too heavy since the rumors had spread.
I lacked the confidence to practice magic while under such scrutiny.
Inside the building, the traces of the earthquake were gone from the walls.
Noticing my glance, Reeti commented,
“All the professors cast repair spells. There’s a rumor that the Chancellor even got involved.”
“The Chancellor too? It must have been quite a mess.”
“Wait… Didn’t you feel the earthquake?”
“Ah…”
During the earthquake, I’d fainted after receiving the Chancellor’s magic.
“I was dozing off.”
“…And you think that’s believable? The earthquake was massive!”
“Why not? You snore while dozing off sometimes. I thought an earthquake had actually happened—”
“Shut up!”
While dodging Reeti’s furious fists, I made my way to the summoning magic lecture hall when—
“Senior!”
“Oh no…”
It was Clara, the Holy Maiden candidate.
“Reeti, see you later.”
“Yeah, sure…”
Leaving Reeti behind, I bolted at full speed.
“Senior! You can share mana with your familiar, right? Can you tell me how?”
“I don’t know!”
“Then show me the familiar!”
“No way!”
Looking behind me, I froze in shock.
“Kyugh! How did you get here so fast?”
She was already right behind me.
I’d always assumed someone from the Holy Kingdom would be frail, but apparently, it was a misconception.
While looking for a place to get rid of Clara, I noticed a sign in the corner of my vision and immediately ducked into it.
“Ah! That’s underhanded!”
Little did she know, it was the men’s restroom.
“Phew, safe…”
After waiting a bit and cautiously peering outside, I saw Clara muttering as she walked away.
Afraid she might come back, I waited inside until the last possible moment before narrowly making it to the lecture hall on time.
There was supposed to be a class yesterday, but between my sending the students flying and the subsequent earthquake, it was quite the rare occasion to hear the lecture today.
Still…
‘…Am I even supposed to be here listening to this?’
A summoner without a summon… Does that make any sense?
While trying to absorb the basics, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze.
Turning my head, I saw the trio of nobles who had confronted me earlier, cowering and avoiding eye contact. It was strangely satisfying…
‘…I shouldn’t enjoy this kind of thing…’
This is bad. I’m starting to get violent.
Let’s think happy thoughts, happy thoughts.
Unfortunately, most of those thoughts revolved around Lily, and all they did was deepen my longing.
‘…What is she doing right now?’
If only she could come back before graduation…
As I was musing, the class ended.
“Student Arthur, please follow me.”
Professor Roxana looked at me with an affectionate smile.
Still, the unsettling aura lurking behind that smile—was it just me…?
—-
Sure enough.
The moment I entered the staff room, Professor’s eyes changed, and she bombarded me with questions.
The method of mana sharing,
Lily’s current state,
Whether familiars could get sick…
Most of my break disappeared in this line of questioning.
When I mentioned I needed to leave for the next class, she reluctantly said,
“We’ll continue this next time.”
‘…Maybe I should discuss this with the Chancellor and temporarily skip the summoning lectures? There’s no point without Lily anyway…’
Lost in my thoughts, I shuffled towards the next lecture hall when someone called out,
“Senior Arthur.”
Turning around, I saw…
“Holy… Princess Helena?!”
Approaching me in the hallway was none other than Princess Helena.
“May I have a moment of your time?”
“Ah, yes, certainly.”
For some reason, my body shriveled despite not doing anything particularly threatening.
This must be the dignity of royalty.
“Let me be direct. Senior Arthur, have you given any thought to joining the Student Council?”
“Uh… Excuse me?”
What—
“In the most recent written exam, you ranked first with a significant margin. And previously, you did excellent in the practical exams as well. It’s enough for me to think you’re fit for the Student Council.”
“No, no, it’s just that—why does the Student Council suddenly want me in?”
“That’s obvious. To place capable students in positions where they can use their abilities. I believe the position of Secretary will be open soon. How about it?”
Being a top student, I expected the Student Council would offer me a place, especially the invitation from the Princess…
The Student Council holds more authority than other clubs, making it the hardest to enter.
It’s also beneficial after graduation because it allows forming various connections.
But for me now,
“I’m sorry, I don’t want to join the Student Council.”
“…Why is that? Joining the Student Council will help a lot after graduation. Specifically… I apologize if it sounds burdensome, but it would be especially beneficial for a commoner like you.”
Sure enough, the words I expected came right back.
Of course, it would be beneficial.
You’re invited by the Princess, so other nobles wouldn’t dare mistreat you, and I heard there are various perks as well.
Had I received this offer last year, I would have jumped on it immediately.
But now, I have Lily.
Even if she’s not around now, there’s a person I plan to spend my entire life with.
Useful connections after graduation?
Honestly, I don’t need them.
Even if it’s the assistance of the Emperor of the Magic Empire, it wouldn’t be more valuable than Lily’s help.
My answer was thus,
“I apologize, but I don’t wish to join anything.”
“…”
Princess Helena’s heavy reply led to a brief silence.
The silence was broken by,
Ding-dong!
“Ah-”
“Ah.”
—-
My legs felt like jelly.
I was late to class because of my conversation with Princess Helena, got scolded by the professor,
then during the break I was chased again by the Holy Maiden,
finally, it was lunchtime, so I hurried back to the dormitory.
“Ugh… Going to rest…”
Collapsing at the entrance, I stared blankly at the ceiling.
“Miss Lily…”
Why is one day so long…
I’m going to collapse from exhaustion…
Still, soon I’ll get to eat and rest—
Ding-dong~
“…”
I froze mid-movement upon hearing the doorbell.
When I didn’t answer, it rang again.
Ding-dong~
Hastily peeking out through the lens on the door,
‘Could it be the Holy Maiden has come this far…? No?’
Seeing the unexpected person at the door, I stood there for a moment before snapping back to reality with the repeating doorbell.
Opening the door, the person outside greeted me cheerfully.
“Hello, Senior!”
A night-haired girl smiling brightly said hello.
It was Callisa.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“I heard Lily’s been sick. Is something wrong?”
Callisa knows Lily’s true identity.
Thus, she probably has a question.
While debating whether I should tell her or not,
“…Wait, Callisa, are you… close to an outsider, by any chance?”
I almost let the outsider’s real name slip.
Be careful—
“Mr. Chartooga?”
“Shh! Don’t say that outside!”
“Eh, don’t worry. Our Mr. Chartooga isn’t very popular here, so even if they hear it, they probably won’t know who you’re talking about.”
…Judging by how she said it, they must be pretty close.
“Come in for a moment, I have something to say.”
Callisa was Chartooga’s contract partner.
Could she possibly know anything about the Abyssal Assembly?
But then, Callisa suddenly broke into a meaningful smile.
“Oh my, are you inviting a lady inside?”
“Hey.”
“Puhahaha! Look at your face. I get it, I get it. There’s only one ‘Queen of the Night’ for you, isn’t there, Senior?”
“If you know, stop saying things like that—”
“Do you know, though? The nickname going around the academy lately, the Queen of the Night would probably flip out.”
“Nickname? What is it?”
Callisa, wearing a mischievous smile, said,
“Playboy.”
“?!?!”
What on earth—
