ベル버 took 벨라트릭스 out of the first lecture by force, and all that was left was time.
There were no more lectures to attend today, so it was decided to immediately begin with basic magical knowledge and learning magic.
No matter how good his magic control ability may be, without basic knowledge, he’s nothing but a half-baked enchanter.
Using magic without basic knowledge makes one not a Wizard, but merely a magic user.
This was the necessity of basics that 벨라트릭스 explained before returning to the dormitory and starting the proper lessons.
“WHAT do you think magic is?”
“It’s a miracle that projects one’s mental image into the world using mana as a medium.”
ベル버 recited verbatim from the setting book.
It must be the most fitting answer to the question of what magic is.
After all, the setting book is akin to the Book of All Truths when viewed from this world’s perspective.
However, 벨라트릭스’s expression was peculiar.
I’ve seen this look once before.
It’s the face she makes when given a half-correct answer.
What kind of response was she looking for?
“Did you read it somewhere? To define it, your answer is correct. But what I’m asking is what YOU think magic is, 벨버.”
“Me? I haven’t really thought about it…”
“Think about it now.”
Huh? Bewildered by her cryptic words, 벨버 tilted his head.
He had answered what magic means, but apparently, that wasn’t what she wanted.
He didn’t know what to say.
Having come from a world where magic doesn’t exist, he hadn’t given it much thought.
Still, he pushed himself to figure out the right answer.
There must be some kind of correct response.
What did he think of magic himself? He seemed to recall thinking this way when he first encountered novels.
“Something sparkly and mysterious?”
That was the feeling 벨버 had when he first saw magic being used in a novel.
His heart raced upon discovering the existence of magic.
And then, after realizing it didn’t exist in reality, there was a period of disappointment.
Shaking his head at those distant memories, he thought: “That was too long ago.”
Even though only three years had passed, he felt he’d grown a lot since then.
ベル라트릭스 said nothing as she watched贝尔버, sensing a change in his usual energetic demeanor.
He who always seemed lively was now unusually calm.
She decided to drop a massive strategic weapon on him while he was in this slightly depressed state.
“Hmm… Now that I think about it, you mentioned something earlier that sounded super stiff.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“What else could it be?”
Hwaak! Realizing what she meant, 贝尔伯’s face turned bright red in an instant.
Caught off guard while lost in his own thoughts, he was hit squarely.
Gathering his scattered wits, he firmly resolved: This cannot continue.
How can such vulgar language keep coming out of a noble lady’s mouth?
It’s his mistake for not knowing her true nature and still having expectations and liking her.
But now that he knows, he can make her change.
At least, that’s what he believes.
To enlighten 贝尔拉特릭斯, who kept spouting such unrefined words, 贝尔伯 summoned his most solemn voice.
Though lacking any intimidating presence due to his small stature, gentle tone, and youthful appearance, he pressed on.
“A grown woman shouldn’t be saying such things, especially in front of men. Of course, it’s unacceptable the other way around too!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know! You were flirting with me just now!”
“I’m not sure what you mean… Maybe if the commoner explains it again, I might understand. Would you like to enlighten me?”
With a sly smile, 贝尔拉特릭斯 made 贝尔伯 feel dizzy again.
He hadn’t expected this reaction.
With far more experience in human interactions, she always had the upper hand.
And he never realized he was being toyed with.
“That…”
“Tell me what it was. My memory isn’t serving me well.”
“Uh…”
贝尔伯 felt his face heating up again.
He hadn’t anticipated having to repeat such embarrassing words himself.
It was shameful enough to want to hide under the covers completely.
‘No, I’m just talking about body parts. There’s nothing wrong with that.’
He convinced himself inwardly.
Without doing so, he wouldn’t have been able to proceed.
Forcing himself despite the embarrassment, he prepared to speak the indecent word.
“p*nis… That’s what you said…”
“What’s a p*nis? Could you elaborate a bit more? Surely you’re not going to leave me clueless about what I supposedly did wrong?”
贝尔伯 glared at 贝尔拉特릭斯 with resentment.
He wanted nothing more than to slap that smug grin off her face.
If only his body allowed it…
Closing his eyes tightly and clenching his fists, he gathered his last ounce of strength.
Summoning all his courage, determined to enlighten her, he prepared to speak the indecent word.
“Pe… p*nis…!”
“Aha. p*nis.”
“Yes! That’s it!”
Phew. 贝尔伯 let out a deep sigh of relief.
Speaking such an indecent word had drained a lot of his spiritual energy.
He felt mortified.
贝尔拉特릭斯 chuckled watching 贝尔伯 fuss over the mere mention of ‘p*nis’.
An amusing prank came to mind.
She knew it would annoy him, but couldn’t resist.
Just as 贝尔伯 was about to launch into a sermon based on his efforts, 贝尔拉特릭斯 suddenly leaned in close.
Her face was now inches from his.
The bold move left 贝尔伯 speechless.
“So, who’s the man and who’s the woman here?”
“Obviously, I’m the man and you’re the woman, Miss 贝尔拉特릭斯…”
“But that doesn’t seem right to me. Who’s this frail woman trembling and sweating in front of me?”
贝尔伯’s eyes spun around.
Not a single counterargument came to mind because she was absolutely right.
Clearly, 贝尔伯 currently had a female body while 贝尔拉特릭斯 had a male body.
Even though 贝尔伯 still thought of himself as a man regardless of his current form, he knew his opponent wouldn’t buy it.
There was no logical flaw in her argument.
Though he recognized the fallacy in his original stance, it was too late to back down now.
贝尔拉特릭斯 seized the opportunity.
Seeing his defenses weakened by confusion, she pressed her advantage.
“So, a grown woman just used an indecent word, didn’t she? Right in front of a man too?”
Hiiik. Struck down by merciless mockery, 贝尔伯 dissolved into pitiful hiccups.
He had fallen perfectly into his own trap.
Looking at him hiccupping pathetically with spinning eyes, 贝尔拉特릭斯 regarded him with satisfaction.
Though aware she was being a bit mischievous, she couldn’t pass up such a golden opportunity.
Who knows when another chance like this would arise?
‘Is it okay to do this? I’ve already done quite a bit, but maybe just a little more won’t hurt…’
Even her momentary hesitation didn’t last long.
Feeling immense comfort and satisfaction, she decided to push further.
“Commoner, didn’t you wash and touch every part of my body this morning while bathing? Tell me your thoughts.”
With a smirk, 贝尔拉特릭斯 finished speaking.
She was curious about his reaction.
贝尔伯 reacted as expected.
However, it wasn’t the reaction she anticipated.
Suddenly standing up, he grabbed a thick magic textbook he had brought for study but had neglected during their banter.
While doing so, his lips mumbled unintelligibly.
贝尔拉特릭스 involuntarily trembled seeing his unsettling behavior.
What was he planning to do?
Her finely honed senses of twenty years screamed for her to duck.
“Commoner… I’ll apologize, so please forgive me…”
“d*ath SENTENCE!!!”
-Poom!!
The precisely aimed textbook struck her squarely on the forehead.
Though 贝尔伯 was physically weak and she relatively tough, it still rattled her mentally.
As she fell forward, her vision clearing, she caught sight of 贝尔伯 rushing to her side in panic.
In that moment, she resolved:
When she woke up, she would tease him even more as punishment.
The fact that she started it was already forgotten in her mind.
“Hic… What should I do…?”
With 贝尔라트릭斯 collapsed on the floor with a thud, only 贝尔伯’s hiccupping filled the room.
Looking back and forth between the fallen 贝尔拉特릭스 and the textbook in his hand, he realized…
Something very serious had happened.
