Before eating, Tesfia headed once to her room.
　This is the reason why you need to change your clothes. It's not a good idea to arrive at the dinner table dressed like this, considering the dress code in this house before the etiquette of a nobleman. It's not a problem if you're dressed roughly - unless this is a noble family's house.

　Tesfia's room is at the back of the upstairs passage............although her room is on the right side of the central staircase.
　On the left are the storeroom, an empty room for the guest room, and a few rooms used by the chamberlain and other squires, to some extent. On one side alone, there are about ten rooms.
　On the other hand, the number of rooms on the right, where Tesfia's room is located, is about five. It's not because the area is extremely small, but because her room has more than five rooms.

　Opening the door, Tesfia didn't hesitate to head to the wardrobe room, which had a closet in a room so large that she had to turn her head.

　In fact, even the dorm room at the academy would seem cramped compared to this room.
　But after all, communal living is something fun, and it's not as lonely as your own room.

　You wear a dress that you would never wear in the academy. I have an attendant, but by my mother's educational policy, I have to do everything myself. It's not a dinner or a dinner party, so it's just barely restrained enough to be worn in the house.

　I hurriedly head to the dining room so that my footsteps don't resonate with the sound of the butler's urging.

　Conversation at mealtime was never something that Tesfia knew of.
　This time, however, Froese cut in and opened his mouth, in accordance with table manners, of course.

''Fia, so what kind of relationship do you have with the person called Loki-san, the head of the grade?

　Tesfia stopped her fork and didn't deny that she wasn't involved as she decided in her room that she was coming after all, and she blandly pretended to be a body that wasn't so friendly.

'We're only in the same class as Loki, though.

　It's wise not to hide what you can find out. You might get yourself in trouble later on.

'Oh, I see. What strain is your aptitude in?

　Tesfia looked at her mother with her hands folded in white, wondering how far she was going to step in.

　But if this mother was willing to do that, she could check out most things.

''She seems to be good at the lightning strain.
That's unusual.
''Oh, I see, although I certainly don't have any students of the lightning strain in my grade.

　When a crisp look shot through Tesfia, she realized belatedly that it was gibberish.

　The lack of knowledge had put Froese in a bad mood, but the place must have worked.
　Froese said in dismay that this was not the place for a reprimand.

'Fine, the lightning system has to replace magic with electrons. Just because you have an aptitude doesn't mean you can learn it overnight... how can you call it an aptitude because you can learn it?''
So that's what happened.

　Froese continued, not bothering to listen to the downcast voice.

'Fia, that's not a reason for you to give up.

　I knew right away that this was about grade placement. A chill went down my back.

'Yes, sir. I'll do my best.'
But I'm still curious about this Loki boy.

　Tesfia remembers Tesfia saying the same thing with Alice.
　The words that follow are suitably that, and for that reason, she brings up the veto-proof suggestion of "let's invite you in".

　When he is about to give up halfway through - the main course is brought in.
　When he realizes that it was brought by Selva, he thinks that this butler is on Tesfia's side.

　Froese couldn't have failed to notice it, either.
　It was evident from the fact that it was exhaled as a sigh. He smiled slightly and thanked the witty steward without saying a word.

　No more did their common elegant lips open except to bring the tender meat to his mouth.

　As he was leaving the dining room, he thanked Selva with his eyes for holding the door open for him.
　No reply. What is it?　He looks down coolly at his eyes with a look of "I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do that.

　After the tesphere was out, Froese took a sip of his wine.

The same as always.

　It would be a funny way to say the same as always for a butler who is always face to face with you.
　Of course, this butler notices the implications and smiles softly.

It's the first time in a long time that a father and son have had dinner together, so was I being too attentive?
I don't mind.

　He emptied his glass at once, saying that he was still sweet on his daughter.


　Returning to her room, Tesfia's exhaustion from today's work surged in like a decisive river, and she plopped down on the canopy bed as it was.
　Even taking off her clothes is a hassle, so she wriggles out of them on the bed and throws them away with a pop.
　Just for today, he wouldn't even get around to training.

(He also said it's useless if it's not meaningful training, so we can do it tomorrow, including today's.......)

　After getting the exoneration, her eyelids begin to utterly clog up in a slumber as she sinks into the water. Now Tesfia doesn't have the energy to fight it.



　The next day, Tesfia thought that her greatest fear had finally arrived.

　The place is behind the mansion, it's a training ground built just for Tesfia.
　It wasn't as good as the academy's training grounds, but there were several for different uses.
　The training ground, which only has a simple space, is a place to learn magic. This is where Tesfia is right now.
　Besides that, there's also a dojo for swordsmanship and even a place to train your body language for actual combat in the military. I haven't used this place much if it's still early.

　Froze and Selva were watching a little further away from Tesfia, waiting and watching.
　In front of them, a doll stands upright, used to smash magic. Behind them, an affinity wall is waiting, which is exactly the same as the one used in the military rather than the academy.
　A rectangle about fifty meters long, with the AWR set up in the middle of it.

　There was no question in Tesfia's mind as to why they had to do this.
　It's probably because it's already routine.

　For four months, her mother's argument that she wants to see her accomplishments at the academy makes sense.
　Enrollment in the academy is something Tesfia asked for and won in the first place, a desire to live a student life with Alice.

　Froese didn't feel the need to enter the academy in the first place. If she hadn't taken any action, it would have been a place with no connection to her.

　Still, this nervousness and fed up feeling is because she knows that in the end, she will only receive a justified evaluation.......no, a harsh evaluation.

　Nervousness even more so than during the exam.
　Tesfia drew her sword from its sheath.

　The magic power crawled like a flowing stream and settled into a still stream.

"...........!

　Both Froese and Selva stood silently on the sidelines as it began.
　Tesfia replaced the sword in her reverse hand and thrust it vigorously into the ground.

(Freeze)

　A thin path of ice ran from the stabbing blade.
　It was fast to reach it. By the time Tesfia finished chanting in her chest and pulled out her sword, the doll was iced up to her chest.

　Tesfia's fingers then traced the magical formula of the sword's blade.
　Immediately, ice crystals gathered on the blade tip that was pointed as it glowed and shone, creating a huge ice block as big as a trunk.

''【Icicle Sword】''

　He swings his sword at the same time as his magic name.
　The surface of the nondescript block of ice crumbled, creating a long sword that looked like a work of art.
　The refined manipulation of magic power was also reflected in the molding. Not to be compared to when he entered the school, the sharp and graceful sword blade pointed its cutting edge at the doll while exhaling cold air.

　When Tesfia directed the sword at the doll, it stabbed the doll in an instant, as if it had been played.
　It destroys the doll in pieces from the frozen chest down, and the safe upper portion is blown high into the sky.

''Phew~''

　A deep breath of relief that this was over, though the tension was not released.

　An unexpected round of applause honored Tesfia.
　Of course it was Selva's.

'Brilliant, my lady,'

　I didn't dare to wait for my mother's evaluation to thank her honestly, so I only answered with a smile.

''I'm surprised Fia, it seems you were right to let me into the academy.

　The person who was even more surprised than Froese at this assessment was Tesfia herself.
　That's why the words didn't come out of her mouth right away.

''Ah ... thank you mother.
So who helped me unravel it?

　The eyes of Froese, who was teaching in the army, were not deceiving. He didn't have the time to try to fake it to Tesfia, nor did he have that idea from the beginning.

''Eh........''
Master Froese!

　It was Selva who raised his voice. It was because it sounded like Froese's assessment of Fia's efforts was not Tesfia's.

'Selva, I don't mean to belittle Fia's efforts. You really do look different, though...''

　The gentle smile that you would rarely see outside of training switched to a military one at the end.

'Oh, it wouldn't be like that if we weren't expecting a real battle.　

　It was told by both [Freeze] and [Icicle Sword] magic.

　The result of the molding and events were changed from the person's experience and other factors.

　The unconsciousness of [Freeze] binding the enemy's movement and not letting it go from the ground at all costs freezes the ground surface extraordinarily and [Icicle Sword] becomes an efficient and sharp object in order to cut off the enemy in both directions, and the proportions are also too long for the sword blade.
　It's completely different from what it was before he entered the school.

''I'm not saying that's a bad thing. Rather, I intended to teach it eventually, so it's true that I'm surprised that it's already done.''
Excuse me.

　Selva takes a step back and apologizes.
　Froese replies with her hand, as if she didn't care, and turns to Tesfia.

'Right, Thesfia?　I think the only person who can teach at that academy is Mr. Sisti.
Yes.

　There was no escaping the fact that he was being instructed.

'Are you sure it was Mr. Sisti?'

　Tesfia denied that confirmation outright............

''No, the Chancellor is a busy man,''
Of course....

　The words that do not follow pause to prompt Tesfia to bring an answer.

'Well I had a thought in my extracurriculars about... well...'

　Tesfia found herself in pain as she spoke so. Still, she couldn't spin any more words as if it was a bad thing to speak from her own mouth.


'Frose-sama,'
''Well that's fine. It's a fact that you've improved one step as a wizard.

　Selva had offered to help, and now it was over without further mention.

　But Froese only put it on hold, and he lifted the corners of his mouth, thinking that he should thank her properly. Of course I was curious.

(I didn't know the academy had such crazy students.)

　Needless to say, he only escaped mention, and then, over lunch, he worked on his training until the sun went down.

　Firmly after that, the training for granting magic power continued in his room.


　It could be said that the difficult part of the return trip home for Tesfia had been overcome.
　........But the biggest shock was something outside the bounds of Tesfia's expectations.
　

　Until then, Tesfia had spent the rest of the day with a comforting look on her face as she worked out.
　It was after dinner that day.
　These days, she would go straight to her room to work on her usual training with a stick, but on this day, a little later, her mother called her to her.
　The place was the study.

　A bad premonition, a situation that made her facepalm because she had decided that her mother hadn't given up yet, a matter that Tesfia didn't want to think about, and she had pushed it to the back of her mind.

'Fia, choose one of these,'

　Suddenly, he was presented with a pile of leather-covered documents on his desk.
　He chose one of the dozen or so sheets and opened it up. The only thing thick was the cover, and the contents were only double-sided.

''----!!!!

　A photograph was captured on one side. As soon as it was opened, it came to life as a three-dimensional screen. On the other side of the screen, detailed information, including his name, was written in thick layers.

Mother!

　Yes, it was a blind date photo. He was a nobleman, so he was prepared to marry early. But the thing that Tesfia hated the most was not being able to choose a partner.

'You're fifteen now, so you can't get married, but the sooner you get engaged, the better.

　I confronted her with the fact that it was normal. Tesfia saw her mother's face as the most bitter at this time.

'But I'm more of a mage...'

　He interrupts me before I can say that if I'm active and establish myself as my mother did, I'll be able to choose who to marry.

'I was engaged to your father when I was your age, too. If you want me to become a mage, it's not too late for me to graduate and have a baby.

　I guess it's because I've followed that path myself. There was no hesitation at all.

'You'd still be able to pull it off right now. That's why I chose some of them for you.

　Choosing from the cards my mother gave me is no different than not being able to choose for myself.

'Engagement....'

　The karma of aristocracy that was suddenly thrust upon him turned into a slashing blade in the Tesfia and bared its fangs.

'Look it over,'

　The profile that was said seemed to emphasize his rank and ranking as a nobleman. The names of the magic names he was good at were written on it, and even his future rankings were guessed at.
　It was also clearly visible at first, but gradually the letters began to blur and blur as they began to move and blur.
　When I couldn't read it anymore, a trickle wet the profile.

　It's not that I haven't thought about getting married.
　Still, I had a long way to go, and at least I was dreaming of an unfulfilled dream with the best partner I could find.
　I had envisioned that it must be happiness.

　So this sadness should only be a wistful wish that doesn't work out the way I wanted it to.
　I tell myself that my mother did not give up on me as a magician.

(No no no no no...)

　The unknown face on the screen was as good as a blank slate from the start.
　Unable to bear it anymore, Tesfia ran out of the room to escape.
　I don't remember putting down the materials I had with me. He couldn't even pay attention to it.