Istor Academy of Magic, dormitory.
　The students' noisy voices echoed in the elegant gothic building where young people from the provinces who want to become mages gather and live.

　The reason for this is the annual battle training, in which those who have shown a certain level of talent are forced to participate.
　The event is a nuisance to those who aim to become alchemists or magic tool makers. There are more students from merchants and reasonably wealthy families than nobles, and most of them are not aiming for a career in combat.
　It is also an opportunity for the lower level students to gain strength, so many underachievers participate.
　They have no choice but to participate in this event because they can get some credits for it.

　Most of the students are looking for a job, but most of those who have achieved a certain level of grades do not appreciate this seniority event.
　But if you think about it, only a handful of students from this academy make it big, and most of them end up looking for regular jobs even after learning magic.

　Even when they do find employment, mages are strongly recognized as attackers, and there are few places for them to work.
　In the royal capital and large cities, there are mages who work in sewage sanitation, but the doors to these jobs are narrow.
　The employment rate for civil servants is high, and the number of people they can hire is limited, so the only way to be selected is based on your performance.
　In addition, grades at the academy are also important for being hired by the Mage Corps, so ordinary people need to have connections in order to enter the Mage Corps.
　In other words, it is the existence of factions, but since the Mage Order is also a national organization, it can only replenish personnel within its budget.

　Those who aim to enter this narrow gate generally want to earn credits for this event, but do not want to engage in combat.
　The place they were heading to was the Rahmah Forest, a forest that was not as deep green as the Great Dark Green Zone of Fafhran, but it was home to a good amount of demons. It is also a place where the Knights often train for actual combat.
　It's a place where some old man might have a shot, but it's a difficult place for low-level mages, and it's a good hunting ground for eccentric mages who are confident in their magic to learn the horrors of actual combat.
　That's why we have practical training courses, but so far, they haven't been very effective.

　There is one girl, however, who is very motivated.
　A blonde girl with blonde hair, wearing a robe over the school's designated uniform and making small fists.
　Her blue eyes exuded an impression of anticipation, as if she was expecting a good time to come.

　Celestina Van Solstair.
　Celestina Van Solstair is a girl who was an inferior student at this academy, but is now known as a brilliant young woman.
　Not only did she go from not being able to use magic to being able to use it at will in a short period of time, but her power was also much higher than the other students at the school.
　She has become stronger than her instructors, and now she is in a position to receive special treatment.
　In short, she does not have to attend the lectures, but this is simply a way to avoid having to teach the excellent girl.

　Those who have learned and become instructors by taking the original perverted lectures do not know how to instruct her. They have nothing to teach her.
　It's not their fault, but Celestina has become so much more than an honor student that the instructors have trouble dealing with her.
　Whether she was excellent or incompetent, her treatment was not much different from before.

　However, Celestina was happy and took the opportunity to try to optimize her magic.
　She also attended lectures on potions and magic tools, and looked at her future and moved forward step by step.
　And today, the announcement of the annual event she had been waiting for was made in her dormitory.

It's finally here. I've been looking forward to this day for a long time.
Miss ......, you've become so belligerent...
Miska ...... Don't make me sound like a danger. I just want to get some exercise.

　In order to optimize her treasure magic, she had begun to optimize other magic.
　The spells that the old man had optimized were in her head, which made the task easier than doing it from scratch, but some of the formulas were unidentifiable and she had to concentrate on deciphering them.
　However, sitting for long periods of time was not good for her health, and sometimes she wanted to get some exercise outside.

No, I spent my summer vacation wielding a blunt instrument and smashing golems, so I thought I'd ......
"Just in case?　Just what is it?
I thought you had developed a hobby of bludgeoning people to death. ...... That's right, you just want to bludgeon demons to death, don't you?
I have no such hobby!　I'm sure you're not the only one.
"Bludgeoning angel, blunt instrument girl, annihilation girl, full-blooded lady, must-kill lady, bloody duchess?

　For some reason, Miska talks about her impressions in question form .
　All of these names were disgraceful.
　But I can't deny any of them because I know them all.

"Ugh, ......, I'm sure I wielded a mace every day, but they're all disgraceful...
"One day I'll beat my husband-to-be to death in a matrimonial quarrel. ...... Miss, please learn to take it easy on me.
I haven't learned that technique yet. Before that, I'm not that extreme!
Again, you're joking. ...... I can see it. I can see me using a mace as a weapon in a fight, beating my husband in a mounted position, leaving the living room a bloody mess, and then cleaning it up. ...... The cleanup is .......
What's your vision for your future?　Didn't you stop them from fighting before that?

　This is a great way to make sure you are getting the most out of your time and money.
　I'm not sure what you're talking about. It was as if she was saying, 'Oh my God, what are you talking about?

She said, "Young lady, the housekeeper only observes the situation at the scene.　We never go into the crime scene.
I said "committed"!　Do you want to make me completely guilty?

　Celestina's voice did not reach her.
　Celestina's voice did not reach her, her glasses shining faintly as she continued to speak.

And I'm going to hunt down the culprit, young lady, by deduction. "You are the murderer, aren't you? And...
"Before I hunt her down with deductions, Miska is a witness, isn't she?　Don't you already know who did it, and aren't you an accomplice in erasing the evidence at the scene?
No, sir. I'm just a servant, and I'm going to waste two hours of my time with useless deductions. Otherwise, no one will enjoy the drama.
What are you talking about?　I'm talking about stopping the crime.
I don't want to. Why should I do such a trivial thing?　I want to hunt him down. Is this some kind of maid's instinct?


What kind of instinct is that?　I didn't hunt him down, and I'm not the murderer. And Miska is an accomplice.

　For some reason, Miska smiled contentedly and wiped the sweat off her face.

"My Master. The maids have a habit of looking into the case when there is an incident, you know?
That's a new one!　What kind of maid are you?
It's common knowledge in the maid industry. You don't understand, young lady.

　It's not common knowledge.
　Miska seems to have a good personality, and is playing with Celestina, making fun of her.
　Rarely does she play with Celestina in this way, just to see her get all worked up about it.
　Well, it used to be a bit of a dud. .......

"And now, young lady, how would you like your equipment?
What?　Isn't the equipment from when we went to that forest fine?
"That equipment is the [Shiro Snake Dragon Equipment].　That equipment is the [Shiro Snake Dragon Equipment], and it will stand out from the others.
"Indeed, ....... I'm sure you're all wearing the school's default equipment, and that equipment is pure white, so it stands out.
"Worst of all, you could be accused of 'using your ducal connections'. You can't use that equipment.　

　Her equipment, made from the material of the Shiro Snake Dragon, is far better than the equipment provided to the Knights.
　However, it was also the fruit of her beloved grandfather's outburst and the suffering of the people who caused him trouble.
　In order to make this equipment, my grandfather went out of control and robbed several ornaments from the treasury and sold them off, which not only caused a lot of trouble for many people, but also caused some people to attempt suicide.
　In the end, his wife became infatuated with a young man, and he was so distressed that he attempted suicide to keep her with him, but this fact is not known to the public.
　That is why the equipment was too unpopular to be used in this field training.

"What should we do, sir?　All that's left is the training equipment, but it's not very good for defense. ......
"It's cheap equipment. But thanks to it, your daughter is as strong as a dwarf. I'm sure she won't die so easily.
"Miska ......, you think I'm insane, don't you?　I'm not as strong as the dwarves, am I?
"It's just my imagination. You are very paranoid, young lady. 　I'm just saying that the higher your rank, the more powerful you are.
"・・・・・・・・・・・・・

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.
　It's a great way to get the most out of your business.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it." "......In any case, should I borrow a set of equipment from the academy?
No, not that one. In the event that you've got a lot of money to spend, you'll want to make sure that you're able to get the most out of it.
In that case, you'll have to buy a set of equipment specified by the academy. ......
I'd rather not, to be honest, because the design is too old. It doesn't suit you, young lady.

　All of the equipment specified by the academy is made of leather and reinforced with metal in various parts.
　The equipment available for rent from the academy is also made of good materials, but the design is outdated and frankly tacky.
　The cheap equipment used by the mercenaries still looks better.
　The academy costs a lot of money, and most of it is spent on capturing and transporting goblins in the name of actual training, and on medicinal herbs and magical stones used in alchemy.
　The cost of fragile equipment is constantly being consumed, and old equipment is left behind in order to avoid spending money on rental equipment. There is nothing wrong with old equipment, as it is sturdy to a certain extent, but the younger generation tends to be more concerned with appearance, so no one rents it and it sits in the dust.
　But the students who had no combat experience didn't understand that, and the instructors of the school didn't point it out either.

I'm not sure what to do with it.　Fortunately, there are materials available, and I'm sure there are stores in the school that sell armor.
I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you. I'm not sure what to do. I'm not going to tell you.
I won't say that!
I'd like to see it, wouldn't you?
Which is it?

　Miska was joking with a straight face, so Celestina could only hear that she was being serious.
　But there is a good reason why Miska is acting this way.
　In the past, Celestina had a somber expression on her face, and spent her days rifling through books to accumulate knowledge. But after she became able to use magic, that dark shadow fell away and she began to smile sincerely as she did when she was a child, which made me happy and I couldn't help but make fun of her.
　Misaka watches Celestina's emotional state with a smile on her face. 　
　It's a little too much of a bad thing. .......

I'll take care of the equipment for you.
"Hah ...... please.

　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why. 　
　She went to the library for her daily routine today.


　　I'm not sure what to say.


　Croisus was pushing a cart with heavy footsteps, carrying a lot of books to the big library.
　His legs and back were screaming, probably because he had been doing the same thing for about a week now.


　He was shivering in pain, unable to hold a pen in his hand.

　The reason for this was that he had been so absorbed in his research that he had not returned the books he had collected as materials.
　Perhaps because of his scholarly nature, he was a recluse, and because of his reluctance to go out, he lacked exercise and physical strength.
　In other words, it was his own fault, but he had to endure the pain to return the books in order to advance his research.

"Croisus, you look like you're in a lot of pain, don't you?
If you think so, please help me. Yee Ling, ......
No, you can't. You have to let your body learn how to do this and be careful next time, or it will become a habit.
I think it's ...... too late for that. ....... Yikes!

　Despite the pain in his legs and feet, he took one more step forward.
　His passion for his research is great, but his current situation is the result of his own fault.
　It would be better to be pitied.

If you think it's too late, why don't you fix it?
If you think it's too late, why don't you fix it?" This is so true that it hurts ....... I'm the type of person who gets lost in one thing. ......
But you have to pay back what you borrowed, right?　

　His desperation to move forward is like that of a criminal carrying a cross to the place of execution.
　In this case, it was because of his own laziness, but laziness is one of the deadly sins.
　He had committed one of the seven deadly sins and was in the process of paying for it.

　Croisus endured the pain and finally succeeded in carrying the book to the Great Library.
　But here's the problem.
　In this library, students had to check out the books they borrowed at the reception desk and put them back on the shelves by themselves.
　In other words, they have to go up and down the stairs many times, pick up the books they have checked out, and move them back to another shelf.
　It would be easier if the shelves were on the first floor, but he would have to go back and forth between the second floor, the third floor, and even the underground archives where valuable books were stored.
　For the physically weak Croesus, this was the beginning of hell.

"This is the last time, so hang in there.
I know, but I'm ...... too weak.
I'm going to help you, so just hang in there. Okay?
I appreciate it, but ...... my feet are heavy. It's like I'm wearing lead.

　Basically, Croisus has been living a very bad life in his personal life.
　It's a good idea to have a good friend who can help you out.
　She was the perfect person to take care of such a useless person. From the outside, the two of them look like a really good couple.
　There was a group of men hiding in the back of the room, weeping tears of pity for the couple.
　They were all people who had feelings for Yi Ling, and they were burning with jealousy and cursing Croisus.
　Croisus doesn't know that she's one of the five most beautiful girls in the school, and that she's one of the most popular idols in the school.

"Do you want to ...... kill her?
No, it's not good for her to cry. ......
But he's got our goddess all to himself, you know?　This is unacceptable!
It's not a good idea to be here.
I could kill tens of thousands of people with this thing!
Me too. ......

　Here were the ugly, jealous ones.
　Croisus, indifferent to his surroundings, pushed a cart into the library.


　　.......................


I don't know what to do.　I don't understand, how can I optimize this?　I don't know, how can I optimize it? There's nothing I can do about it.
Maybe we're missing something. The magic formula for collecting natural magic power should be fine, the problem is adjusting it. It's also possible to adjust the amount of magic power you have and natural magic power, as well as other magic formulas. ...... The ratio of magic power required and the limits of the specified range ......
You can adjust the range of the power of a blow and the effective range when it is activated at ......, and the value of magic power allocated to it. There's no end to what you can say.
To make that magic compact, switch to stacked wizards, build spell lines and adjust spell circuit settings: ...... too difficult.

　In the event that you've got a lot of time, you'll be able to take a look at a few of the best ways to make the most of your time.

　The magic formulas used in this world are in the form of magic circles, and the power and range of a spell varies depending on the size and density of the magic formula that builds it. For example, a sheet of magic paper the size of a small pocketbook is sufficient for a magic formula that lights a fire, such as a torch, but for a hidden treasure spell, it would be as large as a world map that could cover an entire long table.
　A scroll is completed by drawing a complex patterned magic circle on it and filling in the gaps with transformational magic formulas, but the format of a stacked magic circle is slightly different.

　A stacked magic circle is made up of multiple magic circles of the same size, each of which has its own system of commands.
　In between, there is a spellcircuit that reads the program of each spellcircuit, and by overlapping these spellcircuits, a single spell is formed.
　Different commands are superimposed on one another, and each spell line is read and integrated by connecting them to form a spell that the mage can cast.

　The old system had a problem that the number of spells that could be learned was limited because the amount of magic that could be learned was far greater than the amount that could be stored in the brain (Idea).
　The old magic circle was like a cassette tape, and the stacked magic circle was like a CDR.
　The 01 compression magic formula used by the old man's mage is like a BRD.

　In reality, however, it is not so easy.
　A stacked magic circle must process overlapping magic formulas simultaneously by dividing them into multiple command systems, and the information processing in each part must be carefully coordinated.
　The activation is instantaneous, but in order to get to that point, it is necessary to mesh the gears of the magic formula. However, if the different command formulas are incomplete, the spell circuit will not read the formula and the spell itself will not be activated.
　If each part of the spellcasting system is not adjusted properly, the spellcasting systems will collide with each other, and the malfunctions will cause the spellcasting systems to cancel each other out. The result is the collapse of the magic formula.



　This is just a phenomenon where magic circles that were supposed to manifest cancel each other out inside the magic formula, consuming magic power and causing nothing to happen, but it is fatal to the mage.
　If it is a treasure spell, the rate at which the phenomenon is triggered is much higher than usual.
　It is like making a digital clock from parts without a blueprint, using a pillar clock as a reference.

You can find a lot of things that you can do to make this happen, such as turning it into a phenomenon, adjusting the power, the control mechanism, the magic power consumption, and the timing of reading the magic formula. ...... All of these are pretty hard problems, you know?
"You were able to adjust it well, weren't you?　This magic formula is very nasty.
I agree. I agree. The only thing I can say is that it's nasty. ......

　In addition, this treasure magic is a complex and bizarre magic formula with exquisite proportions.
　In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, please do not hesitate to contact us. 　That's why they are having a hard time.

Perhaps it's too early for us to start optimizing treasure magic.
"Why did you give us this homework, Master?　Why did he give us this homework? We can't do it.
Maybe he has an agenda. I'm sure there's a deeper reason.
I don't know what that is. ...... I don't know what they're up to.
You two seem to be having a serious conversation. You seem to be stuck. What's wrong?

　The two suddenly turned around to see Croisus.
　The two of them suddenly turned to see Croisus, who looked as if he was holding his ground, but his legs were trembling to the point of being pitiful.

Oh, my God, his legs are shaking like crazy.
You look like a newborn colt. What's the matter, Brother Croesus?
I've been walking back and forth from the lab to here for the past few days, and I'm already at the end of my strength. ...... Please leave me alone.
You should at least keep your surroundings tidy. That's what you get for being so careless on a regular basis.
I don't know what to say. ...... You don't get enough exercise.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.
　Celestina has always been a no-nonsense kind of person, so she doesn't even have a stuffed animal in her room.
　Croisus, on the other hand, is extremely careless about her surroundings.
　The three siblings' personalities were extremely divided.

The three siblings' personalities were extremely different. "Anyway, you seem to have been thinking about something.
"Oh?　Well, we just found out that we can't optimize our magic with our current situation.
I think it's an impossible task. It's not enough to be able to decipher magic formulas in the first place. A single spell contains the results of a long period of research, you know.　There's no way you can simply recreate it.
That's right. Then, I don't understand your intentions. I'm not sure why he gave you this assignment .......

　They can't understand what the old mage was thinking.
　In the event that you have any questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.　It is not a task that can be done by a mage who has only learned a few magic formulas.
"!

　The words 'it would be even better if we could study other magic as well' popped into their minds.
　In other words, it was a stepping stone to make them pay attention to other magic research under the guise of optimizing treasure magic.
　Even if you think about it, there is no way that a mage with only a hint of amateur level can improve a magic that has become insanely complicated. The addition of other magical research would give them the experience to construct a deeper magic formula.
　The two of them had been lulled into believing that the Great Sage had created the best magic catalyst, but they had missed the essential point.

"Master, ...... has a bad temper...
"You knew from the start that it was impossible, didn't you? That's why you're trying to get me to learn other magic. ......
I don't know about you, but I can relate. If it were easy to research magic, this country would be a superpower by now. Research doesn't happen overnight, you know.
You're a recluse in a way. ...... You can relate to that. I was deceived by my master.

　The old man and Croisus are both recluses.
　They are the same kind of people who think that wealth and fame are trivial, with the only difference being that they either stay indoors and continue their research, or they make a living by earning a little money through self-sufficiency and some part-time work.

　It is true that most people would not be able to sympathize with this kind of biased thinking, but there are more than a few of them.
　On the one hand, there are those who feel that research is worthwhile and throw everything away to devote themselves to it.
On the other hand, there are those who have lost their motivation and have become distorted, despairing and wishing for a quiet life.
　Although extreme, they were both the same kind of people.

What kind of people are these two masters?
Good, but twisted. There's something wrong with him as a person.
He's a tough guy.　Especially when it comes to himself. ...... He's biased, though.

　In short, he is a bankrupt.
　Croisus is baffled by his two mentors' lack of humanity.

I'm not sure what to say.　You're slacking off, Croisus!

　When the three of them turned around, they saw a girl with several books in her hands, her cheeks puffed out, pointing her finger at Croisus.
　It was Yi Lin, who had been helping Croisus.

"Oh, ......, I forgot all about it.
"Oh my God!　I'm sure you'll be glad to know that I'm not the only one carrying books, and that Mr. Croisus enjoys chatting .......　It's the brother and sister of the rumored Croisus!


"...... rumors?
"There's been a lot of talk about us being brother and sister.
Why?
...... Why are there such rumors, I don't remember any of them?

　Yee Lin's shocking statement upset both of them.
　Both of them had never heard of such a rumor before, and this was the first time they had heard of it.

By the way, she's the one who started the rumor. She happened to see the two of you here and told everyone about it.
"Croisus, why are you spilling the beans?
You're the one who did this to me!
"Brother Croisus, ......, you should choose your lovers.　He seems to be a very soft-spoken man. ......
It was a misunderstanding. I don't have that kind of relationship with her. ...... Celestina, where did you get that mace from?

　I'm sure the two of you will be upset if you're accused of something you don't want to know.
　But Celestina has the blood of the old man in her veins.
　It seems that the blood of the Dukes of Solstice comes out when she gets emotional. Or perhaps she has just opened her eyes?
　There is a saying that blood cannot be fought, but the resemblance is frightening.

"Huh?　There's a strange magic formula here.
Yee Ling!　It's .......
Oh, you wouldn't understand it even if you saw it. Especially if you don't know how to decipher magic formulas.
But this magic is from my dukedom, .......
"Don't worry, it's just a part of the myriad of magic formulas. You won't be able to figure out what it means.

　If you disassemble and reconstruct treasure magic, the number of magic formulas will be enormous.
　The scrolls that Xelloss handed to Creston were as thick as a bundle, and there is no telling how many of them there are.
　It would be a god, not a genius, if you could understand just a part of it.

There are too few spells, if you ask me. This doesn't seem much different from the formulas of elementary magic, does it?
The idea is to improve the efficiency of the magic formula operation process by inserting a magic formula to be read between multiple magic formulas, but the trouble is that I don't know how to fit them together. If it's off by even a little bit, it won't work.
"This is great. If this works, it will allow mages to learn a wider range of magic.
It's a great way to compact large scale magic. I've never seen a magic formula like this before.

　The divided magic formula accumulates with the magic circle of each process, and becomes one three-dimensional magic circle.
　In addition, the overlap concentrates the capacity of the brain (Idea) and allows you to memorize as many stacked magicians of the same system as possible. This was a revolutionary magic circle format, but it was difficult to adjust.
　It may be easier to understand if we say that the old magic circle was a room with a lot of clutter, and the stacked magic circle was a neat and tidy room.

The magic my father sells is a normal magic circle with a streamlined formula, but it's still quite small.　I've been able to learn a certain amount of offensive magic.
"...... I'll send a letter to your father later. I'd like to see you use that magic.
Probably not, right?　There are only a limited number of mages under your father's command and they can't keep up with production.
I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep up with production since the number of mages under your father is limited." ......

　It was at this point that Croisus began to seriously regret his decision.
　As a researcher, he must be very disappointed to have missed out on such a valuable resource.

"Anyway, Croisus, let's clean up properly, shall we?
"Hey, Yi-Ling?　Don't pull me. I'm not running away!
No. If I let you out of my sight, you'll get lost in your research, so make sure you clean up after yourself, okay?
"・・・・・・・・・・

　Croisus was taken away by Yee Lin.
　A few moments later, he was seen walking up the stairs on shaky legs, carrying a large stack of books.
　Yirin followed behind him, wagging his tail furiously.

"Brother Croisus, ...... you've changed, haven't you?
"Oh, ...... it's a woman, isn't it?　A woman can change a bad man?

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

　God only knows if spring will come to him.


　　"Dio!


　"Dio!　What are you doing here at this hour?

　On his way back to the dormitory, Zveit happened to see his friend running and called out to him.
　I don't know how long he's been running, but the sweat on his forehead suggests that he's been training hard.

Tsveit, are you coming home?　What took you so long?
"Hey, I'm doing some research in the archives. What are you doing?


"Of course I'm working out. I'm trying to become a man worthy of her.

　Having fallen in love with Celestina at first sight, he was desperately trying to train himself and gain strength.
　The same machine is a bit of a joke, but I don't know how he feels about it.

I went to the storeroom first because I couldn't find her anywhere. ...... Celestina was there too.
I'm not sure why you're not looking for more!　If I had known that, I would have stopped training today. ......
Are you ...... really going to tell him?　Are you ready to die?
The bigger the obstacle, the more love burns!　What's a little obstacle?
It's more than a little. ......

　I don't know Dio.
　Some crazy old man is trying to burn himself to a crisp. .......
　The old man has even begun to prepare for the time to come. 　

I don't want to see my friend as a burnt corpse with a 'well done' look on his face.
Hahaha!　No matter how many mages in purgatory, they won't go that far .......
He'll kill you. ....... He's going to kill you for real.
...... You're kidding, right?
I'm ......... serious.

　A gust of early autumn wind blew between us.
　It should still be warm in the fall, but the wind was unusually cold.

"The bigger the obstacle, the more my heart beats!
"Your voice is shaking.　Your voice is trembling, and you're saying something wrong.
The more disabilities you have, the more your heart beats! It's a little chilly in here. ......
My legs are shaking, too. ......

　Zveit felt sorry for his friend.
　If Celestina was a merchant's daughter, he would have at least supported her, but this time she was the wrong person.
　The old man who dotes on his granddaughter is somewhat insane, and he will not hesitate to kill Dio.
　The more he really cares for Celestina, the more his life is in danger.

　The time of the great fire may be near.
　All Zveit could do was pray for his friend's soul.