Regarding my first day at the hospital.

　Other than meeting Kane, there was nothing of note that day.
　Leesha also came to the hospital alone, and there was no contact with her parents as I had feared.
　When we saw each other, Lisha came trotting up to me. She was wearing a girl's uniform instead of her usual blue one.


　Her silver hair was tied up with pale blue ribbons, and she wore a skirt underneath, though I couldn't tell from what clothing culture it had come from. She carries a dagger for self-defense, and a smile is now blooming on her face.


Congratulations on your first place in the exam, brother.

Thank you. Lisha got top marks too?

Yes. I came in sixth. You still have a lot of work to do.

No, you don't. Besides, it's not surprising that I got it.

You're good at remembering things, aren't you?

Yes, yes. So to be honest, the written test was meaningless. Didn't Lisha have an easy time with the practical test?

Yes. I'm not sure if it's a good idea. Just .......

Just?

I've been thinking about it for a while now. In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the web site. To be honest, I think those who dropped them were too careless, to say the least. No.

Oh, oh, ...... that's right.

You can't do that if you're a military nobleman. What do you think about that, brother?

No, well, it doesn't matter if you can't use magic before you enter the academy, I think we should acknowledge your guts and challenging spirit. ......

"Mmm. Brother, an ambiguous attitude is not good. That's no good either.

I'm sure you're right. ...... Also, Lisha?　What's wrong with you lately?

......?　No?　No, nothing.

I see. You seem a little tense.

"No, I'm not, but ...... am I tense?


　Leesha nodded her head curiously, as if she had no idea.
　As she got older, her personality began to emerge. She still has the same kind atmosphere, but her likes and dislikes have become clearer than before, perhaps because of her "ego," and she has become more merciless toward people who are joking around.

　The habit of saying "Dame desu" (I can't do it), which she has recently started to use more often, is probably a sign of this.
　I don't know what made her do it, but I talked with Lisha about it and went to class.

　Contrary to my expectations, there was no entrance ceremony at the Academy.
　It's a good opportunity to have a ceremony and for the director and teachers to say a few words to the students to make them aware.
　Nevertheless, the fact that the Academy did not have such a ceremony suggests that the Academy emphasizes substance rather than formality.
　There are no congratulatory speeches or speeches or any other troublesome events.
　After the new students arrived at the school, they were gathered in one place and sorted into groups.
　Classes at the Academy of Magical Arts are lecture-based, so there is no such thing as class.
　However, it is said that the students are divided into groups because it is necessary to have all the students attend the same lecture or to call them together to inform them of the schedule.
　The results of the examinations are reflected here, and those with similar grades are gathered together, and Lisha and Kane are placed in the same class.


　After that, we were given a tour of the Academy.
　The Academy is an intricate structure, so the students need to learn the ins and outs first.
　They were made to walk from one end to the other, and the entire day was spent just showing them around.


　The next day.


　The next day, the new students were gathered in the training hall in the magic hospital.
　Not all of them, but each class.
　The instructor was a man with glasses.
　The male instructor was tall and slender, dressed in an instructor's uniform, and was in his thirties.
　He looked about the same as Kazui.
　The tight nape of his neck suggests a high level of pride.


　The instructor looked around at the students once and then opened his mouth.


"Now, I'm going to measure the amount of magic power in all of you.


　--And so it begins. A public execution.


　This was probably expected, but it was still something that struck a chord with me.
　It seems that measuring the total amount of magic power in a magic academy is not very meaningful, but since the opportunities to use magic meters are basically limited, this is probably the reason why each student was given the opportunity to know.
　If you know the exact amount of magic power you have, it will be easier for you to calculate how to distribute it, which will be useful in the future.
　After gathering the students in a corner of the training hall, the instructor took out a magic meter.
　The one being used this time is a type that measures the total amount, so it's a larger shape than the usual ones.
　The scale is rough to say the least, and is not detailed.


　The latest ...... magic meters are already of the third generation type. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　Of course, there are many people who have never seen the real thing and are asking, "What is that? "What is that?" "Could it be ......?


　The male lecturer coughed in response to the sudden commotion.
　After confirming that all eyes were on him, he began to explain about the magic meter.


As some of you may know, a tool for measuring the amount of magic power was recently announced and introduced here at the Academy. This is it.




　The ...... male instructor holds out the magic meter so that the students can see it.
　While holding up the magic meter, he gives an overview of the device, but of course, the mechanism is not clearly known, so the explanation is limited to how it works.
　A cylindrical glass container.
　A red liquid that reacts to magic.
　That's about all I can tell you.


It's ......, and it uses a unit called [mana] to express the amount of magic power!


　As the male lecturer explained in front of the students, he gradually showed his excitement.
　For some reason, he was very proud of himself.
　It's a strange feeling to see a teacher explaining his own theories and tools in this way.


In the past, there were various ways to measure the amount of magical power, such as by putting magical power into a jewel and measuring the amount by the intensity of its light emission, or by the duration of ripples on the surface of the water, but thanks to the development of this device, the measurement of magical power has become easier and infinitely more accurate. Yes!　This is a very wonderful thing!


　The male lecturer praised the magic meter. The person who made it is a genius," he said with a bright glow on his face.
　Of course, the gathered students were curious. Until just a few minutes ago, we could only grasp the amount of magic power with our senses. To be able to actually measure it and know the number is thought to be exciting.


The caveat to measuring the amount of magic power this time is that you need to release all the magic power in your body. You will feel a certain amount of fatigue and will not be able to use magic, so please be careful. You will be asked to report the amount of magic power you have measured, but you can use a rough figure. Just give us a good number.


　The lecturer said a few words of caution, picked up the bridge of his glasses with one hand and repositioned them.


"First, ...... Kane Razrael!

Yes.


　Kane stepped forward as the male instructor called him.
　Some of the other noblemen's children seemed to know of his existence, and you could hear them saying things like, "That's ......" or "I've never seen that before.
　He is really well known. Contrary to myself, though.
　Kane walks with confidence and poise.
　His eyes, which are the same color as his hair, always have a fire in them, showing his ambition.


　He was handed a magic meter by his instructor and let his body be filled with magic power.
　As the magic power was released, a wave motion was generated. Immediately, a gust of wind started from him, and the sand in the training ground was blown away in concentric circles around him by the pressure.


　That's a lot of magic. The image of water overflowing out of a container was almost a vision.
　In response to the powerful wave motion, a number of surprised voices were raised.


"Wow, that's amazing .......

I can't believe a human being can have this much magic. ......

No wonder they call you the second coming of the brave. ......


　All of the voices that can be heard have a tone of admiration in them.
　It's hard to tell how far the liquid has risen because the magic meter is not shown to the other students. However, given the circumstances, we can assume that a considerable amount was recorded.
　Eventually, I found out how much.


"I'm ......17000.

"Oh!　That's great!


　"Oh! That's great!" the male lecturer shouted happily.
　Kane gave a precise number, but the actual number was probably more detailed.
　My senses tell me that he's overestimating by a thousand, maybe two thousand. The actual number is probably 19,000 to 20,000, which is more than most national mages.


　A full ten times the amount of my own. It's so outrageous that it's hard on my heart.


I'm a member of the Stone Autumn Society.　I'm also proud to be a member of the Shixiu Association!

"No, no, no. ......


　Kane was embarrassed by the male lecturer's praise.
　Kane is embarrassed by the male lecturer's praise. He gives the lecturer an annoyed smile, as if he is proud of him. The instructor says, "That's great! "Brilliant! While the lecturer goes on with his praise, Kane says, "That's not true" and "There are others.
　And then, suddenly, Kane's eyes seemed to be vacant.


(......)


　But was I imagining it? When I refocused my eyes, they had returned to their kindness.


　Anyway, some more measurements were taken.
　Basically, the children of mage nobles were over 5000, at least 4000.
　Students from non-mage families and commoners also settled between 2000 and 4000 on average.


"Next, Leisha Raytheft.

Yes.


　The male instructor called Leisha forward and gave her a magic meter.
　She pulled it to her chest and closed her eyes.
　You'll be able to find a lot more information on the subject.
　As in the first measurement, there was wind, but it was hot wind. Because of this, the wind pressure feels stronger than Kane's.


　The magical power was so strong that it reminded me of Kane's measurement, and I could hear people around me saying, "This is ......" and "She's amazing too.


I'm over ......11000.


　Lisha also came over 10000.
　My own feeling is that it's probably more like 12,000.
　I thought it would be about four times as much as mine, but it seems to be six times as much.
　Even to Lisha, the male lecturer shouted, "Excellent! The students around him whispered to each other, "That's the ...... of the Raytheft family," and "As expected of an ancient family of the kingdom.


　When he suddenly turned to me, his face looked apologetic, perhaps because he felt guilty.
　So I gave him a smile. I didn't want him to worry about it.




"Next, ......, Master Aimee Zeire.


　The duchess's name was called out. As expected, the lecturer could not omit the honorific title for her.
　The Duchess of Zeire. I had a chance to exchange words with the head of the family, Corridor Zeire, at the presentation party.
　When I see someone who is small, good-natured, and good at getting into people's heads, I think of a certain Toyotomi, or is it because of that man?
　Her appearance is completely different.
　Her fluffy blond hair, cut below her shoulders, is bright.
　Her demeanor is graceful, and you can see that she cares about every move she makes.
　She always has a smile on her face and gives the impression of being gentle and soft-spoken.


　She also has a magical power level that exceeds 10000. Contrary to the fact that the Zeire family is a civilized family, her magic power is quite high. That's probably why she was chosen as Kane's fiancée.


"This year is amazing!　I didn't expect such talent to come in!


　The male lecturer exclaimed with satisfaction and pride. And then.


"Just the other day, I measured the magic power of all the students in the class, and there was only one person in the class who had more than 10,000. But in this class, there are three. Of course, the magical power of the others is also higher than the average of previous years.


　If the male lecturer's words are correct, it seems that this year's crop is quite bountiful.


(......)


　And of all years, it falls on the year I enter the Academy of Magic?
　Everyone really has a lot of magic power. I want to say that I have 530,000,000.


　As I was thinking about this, my turn came.


"Arx Raytheft, ............. Take it.


　The male lecturer's attitude was different from the other times.
　He knows my name, and he probably knows that I have little magic power.
　There is a hint of mockery in the male lecturer's eyes. It is so obvious that he is looking down on us.


　She unleashes her magic power in front of the male lecturer.
　Compared to Kane and Lisha, the release of magic power stopped after only a short time as a matter of course.
　It's so dull that it makes me feel sad.
　Normally, I should be a little over 1,900, but since this is an occasion like this, I'll go a little low.


It's 1500.

"Ha! ......!


　As soon as I mentioned the number, the lecturer snickered as if he had been aiming at me.
　Then, as if he were a demon, he spoke quickly.


It seems you are as incompetent as they say!　You're the son of a military family, but you only have this much magic power!


　His voice was loud enough to be heard. Are you planning to let the other students hear this and have them hang you? It's true that the only other people who have the same amount of magic power as you do are commoners. As an aristocrat, you must be looked down upon and ridiculed in this way.
　Some of the students around me were also sneering at me.


(Oh ......)


　Naturally, I was more dismayed than angry, because I could have predicted this.
　I had no idea that even the instructors at the Academy of Magic were this naive.


I don't care if you're a commoner!　I'm not sure what to make of that.　I'm sure you're right.


　It is true that the instructor is right, but...


I'm not sure what to do with it.　You may have been lucky enough to get the first place in the exam, but this is what happens when the plating comes off!


　The lecturer's abusive words continued.


The lecturer's abusive words continued, "Aren't you ashamed that an incompetent with little magic power like you came to the Academy of Magic?　What?


　Apparently the lecturer wasn't bored yet. I wonder if his throat doesn't hurt from the loud voice he keeps shouting. Maybe that's how much stress he's under every day. Teaching is really hard.


I may have been able to fake it until now!　You can't do that anymore as long as you have this magic meter!

Haha. ......


　The magic meter is thrust at you like an old lord's seal.
　On the other hand, I can only reply in an indescribable way.
　I don't know, I didn't even feel like saying anything back.
　To begin with. Do you have any idea who made that magic meter?
　I wonder who the person who said earlier that the person who made it was a genius really is.


　When I looked at Lisha, she seemed to be in a foul mood, perhaps because she knew what was going on. It was as if she was saying in her heart, "That instructor is no good.


　Anyway, I waited quietly for the storm to pass.


"Did you finish your measurements?


　I heard a familiar voice coming from the entrance of the training area.
　I turned around and saw a small shadow approaching me.


"This is!　Herr String!


　Yes, it was Melkor String who had appeared at the training grounds.


　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 probably why he came to check on us.
　She was wearing a triangular hat and a robe. She looks like a witch.
　She looks like a girl of about the same age, but in reality she is older than Kazi.
　Her appearance made everyone present tense.


　It was the same as with Kasim Rawley.
　The National Mage is the pinnacle of the country's mages. Once they land on the battlefield, it's not hard to turn the tide of battle. He has a natural air of authority, and his authority is enough to make people nervous.
　I and Lisha are used to this kind of sensation because we have a national mage in our family, but others may be nervous as well.


　The male lecturer gave a short bow to Merkleya, and then told her the results of what he had just said.


"Sir!　This year's results are outstanding!　First of all, there are three people with over 10,000 magic power!　First of all, three of you have magic doses of over 10,000, and five of you have doses of over 8,000!

That's impressive.

Kane Ra'srael, in particular, has reached 17,000!　I believe this is the first time in the history of the Academy!

That's as much as or more than ...... a national mage.


　This is the first time in the history of the Magic Academy that a record has been set.


It's just that some of them turned out to be terrible.


　The lecturer said, giving her a mocking look.


How can you be so embarrassed to be a child of a military nobleman with this amount of magic power? How can you come to this Academy without shame? It seems that you lack the sense of shame.


　The lecturer's condescending remark was met with a chuckle from the others.
　There must be a few of us who look down on the fact that we have little magic power, just like him.
　It's a relief that the majority of the class isn't like that.


　In the midst of all this, my eyes met with Merkleya. She and I had been exchanging magic meters for some time, and we had kept in close contact when I introduced her to the Academy, so we were not strangers.
　In fact, among the national mages, after the guild leader Godwald and [Megumi] Müller-Quint, she is probably the one with whom I have had the most communication.


　I'm not sure if you'll be able to find a way to make it work, but I'm sure you can.


...... I kind of knew this was going to happen.


　I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.


What is it, sir? What's the matter?

It's not anything at all, instructor. Do you always teach like that?

...... I hope you'll forgive my foolish question. What exactly do you mean by that, Mr. Merkleyer?

That's what I just said. It is a way of being that favors those with more magic and denies those with less.

Are you saying that's wrong?

Didn't you ever think about it?


　Merkleya looked even more troubled, rubbing her brow.


'My lord. I believe that the most important thing for a mage is the amount of magic power. I'm not sure if this is common knowledge for mages or not. I think this is common knowledge for mages.


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I'm not going to bother explaining it from scratch. Instructor, you'll be meeting me here now.

What?　What?　It's .......

I only do magic once. I'll only use it once. On the other hand, you can use magic as much as you want.


　With such a statement from Merkleya, a mock battle using magic suddenly began.
　The place was suddenly filled with excitement at the prospect of seeing a national mage use magic.
　The students were all looking forward to it. They stared at each other intently, not wanting to miss a single move.


　Eventually, the battle begins.
　The male teacher uses his magic, but no matter what he does, the magic can't catch Mercurial.
　Merkleya is able to overcome the teacher's magic with only preliminary movements and no danger at all.
　He is probably guessing what kind of magic the male teacher will use based on the words and phrases he hears in fragments, and probably based on the tactics he has constructed considering the effects of the magic he used beforehand.
　He also noticed this and changed his style to cover his mouth, but still managed to avoid the Mercurial. Eventually, when the male instructor was about to cast a longer spell, he quickly constructed a shorter spell.


　The spell overwhelmed the male lecturer's magic despite its shortness, and the aftermath dealt the male lecturer a blow.


"Geez, .......


　Merkleya quickly closed the distance between them and thrust the staff in her hand at the male lecturer's throat.
　It was settled.


I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that.

"....... That was brilliant.

I'm listening. Sir, why did you just lose?

"The... His Excellency was quick to consider what spells to use based on words and phrases, and avoided them. The last spell, too, was short and probably due to the presence of words and phrases with powerful results.



That's right. So, was the amount of magic power involved in the fight?

That's .......


　Merkleya killed the male lecturer with one shot.
　It's not like he used a lot of magic.
　It's not that I'm not a fan of the idea, but I'm not a fan of the idea.


"May I?　It does not mean that you should not distinguish between those who have more and those who have less. If you just look down on people with a lot of magic power, you will unwittingly create an opening. Even if you have a lot of magic power, you can still be overwhelmed by knowledge. It is not the amount of magic power that a mage should respect the most, but his knowledge.


　When she finished, she turned to the assembled students.


You must remember that. It is a big mistake to think that you are special just because you have a lot of magic. What you need to train at the Academy is the precise manipulation of magic, knowledge and imagination. If you think that you are powerful just because you have a lot of magic, you will always be tripped up. And if you take that mindset to the battlefield, you will be defeated in no time. No matter how much magic power you have, if you can't use the right magic for the situation, or if you fail to chant, it's all for nothing.


　Suddenly, Merkleya looks at the statue set up in the training area.


I see it. That's a statue of Radeon, the great mage of the kingdom. He made a great contribution to the development of the kingdom by carving out the western territories from the empire. Do you know how much magic power he has?　It is said that he was able to reach his limit just by using [Flamephoeve] twice. If you convert it to today's magic, you can only use five shots of the [Flamme Rune].


　If Merkleya is right, then the mage's magic power is quite low.
　Of course, more than myself.


There are other people who have left their mark on the world with less magic. It is said that Astia, who appears in the Age of Spirits, made up for her low magic power with her knowledge and ideas, and fought demons and monsters.


　Astia's low magic power is a well-known fact.
　It is said that Astia is one of the three saints, along with Froome, the knight of the wood, and Theon, the bell-ringing shaman, and that she overcame many difficulties with her ingenuity.


It's true that there is more magic power per person now than ever before. It is the same as when a creature grows from one species to the next. One day, the amount of magic power will also be called low. So don't make any mistake. The amount of magic power is important, but knowledge and practice are more important. Keep this in mind.


　Merkleya turned to the male instructor again.
　She then gave a ruthless warning to the male instructor who had not grasped the situation.


I'm sure you'll understand.

"Sir, what is that?


　The male lecturer's face paled at the word "assessment" uttered by Merkleyer.
　Just by looking at his face, you can feel his despair.
　It's no wonder. It was easy to imagine that if he gave a lecture that violated the guidelines, it would affect his assessment.
　However, did Merkleyer show his Buddha's heart?


...... Normally, this would be a matter of assessment, but you are not the only one, and other lecturers probably have similar thoughts. It would be unfair to only discipline you for this.

"Yes, yes!

So I'm going to dismiss the matter this time. From now on, I want you to be thorough in your guidance.

Yes, sir!


　In the event that you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find out more about it here.

　It's the intimidation of a national mage. I think it's because as the first instructor, you can't be lambasted. If you don't threaten him here, he'll be more likely to slip up in the future like he did this time.


　Suddenly, Merkleya looked at me.
　Then she noticed something.


"Speaking of which, Arx Raytheft. What happened to the Silver Cross?

...... Yes. I have it.

Then why don't you wear it on your chest?

I thought it would be intimidating to wear it in formal attire or even in the Academy.

May I?　I'm afraid it was given to me by His Majesty the King himself. It's not appropriate to leave it off in an official setting. This is an official function of the wizard academy.

I'm sorry, too.

From now on, I will always wear it properly on my chest. In particular, when you are summoned to the castle by His Highness, you must wear it.

Yes, Your Highness. Yes, Your Highness.


　As I was finishing this conversation with Merkleya, the students were buzzing.


"A medal?　What does that mean?

How can someone our age get a medal? ......

I've heard of noblemen's children getting medals before.


　All that erupted were surprises and questions. It was understandable that the other students felt the same way.
　Even King Shinru had said that it was unheard of for someone of his age to be awarded a medal.




　As if to answer the question, Merkleya speaks up.


The awarding of the Order of Arx Raytheft is due to his achievements in the recent Nadar Incident. While serving as an attendant to the Dauphin, you rose to the top of the ranks and defeated and destroyed the Imperial Mage Corps. If you just get a few more achievements - no, it's possible that you'll be given a formal title, even a knighthood, right away.


　It was probably because the national mage had assured him. I think that the title is too much, but those who were surprised and questioning are now looking at us with bated breath. It was somewhat embarrassing to be exposed to so many stares.


　It was the male lecturer who shouted out.


This is ridiculous!　How is it possible for someone with such low magical power to do such a thing!　Isn't there some kind of mistake?


　What led him to say this was probably just pure disbelief.
　A boy of less than fifteen years old achieving success on the battlefield was too far-fetched.


　But I have to say, that statement was a bit careless in front of a national mage.
　I'm not sure what to make of that.


I'm sure you've heard of it.

"What ......?

I'm not sure. I'm not sure what to make of that. It is the same as saying openly that His Majesty the King, who made the decision to award the Medal of Honor, is not a good judge of character.

"Aah!


　The air began to creak, and the glass of the nearby buildings let out a dry, crunching scream.
　I'm not sure what to do.
　Even the students turn pale at the revelation of the national mage's power.
　It's the steel-strength devotion he showed at the guild meeting.
　It seems that when it comes to the royal family, it cannot be overlooked.


"Lecturer.

"Oh, forgive me!　Please!　Please, ......!

"His Majesty the King does not appreciate people who are not capable.

I'm sorry, sir!


　The lecturer was about to fall flat. The other students and others are all turning pale from the exposure of the powerful force.
　You can see how powerful the authority and power of the national mage is when you see a scene like this.


　Merkleya looked around at the students once to let the others know.


"Listen. Arx Raytheft is a good example of someone who has done great things with or without magic. In the Nadar Incident, he defeated a new type of defensive magic with his own magic. I've seen it before, and I felt that it was a good, if crude, spell. I even thought he deserved it more than the candidates for last year's national exam.


　I was somewhat embarrassed to be praised so much.
　The male lecturer seemed to be on the verge of saying, "That's ridiculous," again, but a glance from Merkleyer silenced him.


　Anyway, seeing this situation, I think...


(I guess this lecturer will never be able to get ahead again after this.


　I guess. No one wants to promote or recommend a person who makes such careless comments.
　Suddenly, Lisha approached me.


He said, "Um, brother?　That lecturer, will he not be able to get ahead in the future? ......?

Do you think so too?　I think so too. It's a shame.

It's a bit sad, isn't it?

Yeah, I do. But it's my fault. Too careless.


　For this, I can only say that the lecturer was not smart enough. In aristocratic society, it is common sense to be careful about unintentional remarks. It is not unheard of for a single gaffe to lead to the downfall of a family, and even in the world of men, there have been politicians who have been forced to resign because of their gaffes.


　In this case, it is the fault of the lecturer who did not think carefully about the consequences of this comment.
　As the saying goes. It is the same as "cutting off one's own head with one's tongue. A fool's tongue is so long that it can cut his own throat. I'm reminded of the warning that a slip of the tongue caused by carelessness will surely come back to haunt you.


　To be honest, I was tempted to tell him that he was out of line when he stared at me with a grudge.