I witnessed Lord One Ashart before I entered the Adventurer's School.
　I had just witnessed him fighting during a practical test.
　At first I thought he was a funny guy.
　It was because that guy was fighting without using any magic, even though he was taking the entrance exam for the Adventurer's School, the predecessor to the School of Magic.

　Even so, Rowan won two victories from [Scholar (Professor)] and [Warrior (Warrior)].

　Is he being wasteful in order to show his margin of victory?
　At first I thought so.
　But it has the opposite effect.
　This is a test.
　How you can show your magic skills in a real battle is the challenge.
　Rowan's fighting style was more of a demeritable fighting style.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.

　The final battle arrived.
　Before I knew it, I was following Rowan with my eyes.

''What's the matter, commoner!　What if you used magic?

Huh?

"Hahahahahahaha!　Even if you wanted to, you couldn't use it!　I've been watching you. I saw that you couldn't make the magic silver (mithril) shine even a little bit during the test for measuring magic power.

　While I was overwhelmed by the [Mage (Wizard)], I finally realized that Lord One Ashart was affected by the [Magical Incompatibility].

　It seems that the other [Mage] also knew about it.
　He thoroughly distanced himself and continued to tease the commoner who couldn't use magic.

　Rowan wasn't frightened.
　While dodging the flaming bullets, he continued to swing both fists in an attempt to get a shot at it.

''Fuhahahahaha!　You're working hard. But you know what? It's a futile effort. It's not possible for a [warrior] who can't use magic to get in. The only thing I can think of is that you're older than me. Are you taking a commemorative exam or something?　It's disrespectful to the people who are doing this seriously--!

　In the end, Rowan's fist did not hit the 【Mage(Wizard)】.
　As it was, the elementary magic stabbed into the vital point.
　The comatose Rowan was defeated for the first time that day.


　◆◇◆◆◆.


　After defeating the guardian dragon and finding a new dungeon, we were back on earth.
　We had to get permission from the state to explore the dungeon we had discovered.
　Apparently, even the country's leaders are surprised.
　I heard that the debate on how to explore the dungeon is in turmoil.

　If you're not going to get your head in the sand, just let me do it," he said.
　Apparently, that's not going to happen.

　We returned to our students and worked hard on our own training.


　◆◇◆◆◆.


　Me and Rowan were in the woods behind the dormitory, where the morning mist was still lingering.

　My roommate sat in a seated position, hands out in front of him, poised as if he were holding a bowl.
　We repeated our breathing slowly and eventually concentrated.
　Huffing and puffing, he put pressure on his stomach.
　Then his hand began to glow with a bow.
　A magical light.

''Oh!''

　I stare at my roommate.
　The palms of my hands glow, and like a cocoon, light and light begin to intertwine.
　As they begin to connect, they soon become a great light, enveloping the forest.

　Then my vision distorts.
　At first I thought it was an illusion.
　But no, it wasn't.
　The trees writhe and small stones rise to the surface.
　At the center of it all was Rowan.
　The air bends and something like a vortex begins to roll in.

　And the magic power continues to grow.

''Pfft!

　Rowan let out a breath.
　He wiped away the beads of sweat that had been floating around for some time.
　The light in his hands faded away and the surroundings returned to their usual quiet forest.

'Looking good, Rowan. One more step.'

　I hand Rowan a cloth.
　'Thanks,' I thank him, and my roommate wipes the sweat off his forehead.

'One more step to go?　I don't really understand it.

I'm one step closer to my ideal.

'But is this how it's supposed to be done?　Just to increase your magic power. You don't have to train to be able to use more magic or anything.

You don't need it at the moment.

　Huh, Rowan lets out a single breath.
　He stroked his brown hair and looked up at the heavens.

'Sorry. I'm sorry you had to go with me every morning. Even Lacelle would like to work on herself.

'Oh..... I'm pretty annoyed.

'Oh, hey.... You're in denial there.

Rowan. You're one of my party. That's what you need to be strong for.

How could you let a half-breed like me be one of your party?

Because you're such a good person.

What?

"All these other people are just trying to take advantage of my skills. But you're not, Rowan. I'm genuinely trying to be stronger than I am. That's all. And there's nothing else. That's why I chose to do it.

We talked about this earlier. You know why I quit school once.

　Rowan was enrolled in the Adventurer's School once and later voluntarily dropped out.
　Ostensibly, it is said that he didn't fit the school's curriculum, but that is not the case.

　During the party's off-campus training, one of his fellow students was seriously injured.
　The cause was Rowan.
　If only he had been able to use his magic, he could have gotten through the scene with ease.

　Feeling the responsibility, Rowan began hiding out in his dormitory.
　One of his friends, who survived, didn't blame Rowan, but in the end he couldn't recover and decided to voluntarily withdraw from the school.

　Once Rowan gave up being an adventurer, but a year later he reunited with his former friends and decided to enroll once more.

'You can't help but regret that it's over,'

But....

I see. Apparently, the reason you can't knead your magic is because of that moldy regret.

No, it's none of your business. I don't care.

It is. Magic is a force of will. The mere presence of hesitation or regret disrupts your concentration and affects the flow of magic power. As a magic incompatibility, you have a poor flow of magic circuitry in your body, even if you're just a magician. Undoubtedly, your feelings are setting you back from being strong.

So what do you want me to do?

"Who do you think I am, roommate? Russel Singh Stark. I'm a man who will one day be the strongest man in the world. And as such, I know exactly how to be the strongest man in the world.

　Eventually, I grinned.


　◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆


This is Mr. Hydre Nair Vizararar.

　After school classes were over, after school.
　We gathered again in the forest behind the dormitory and I introduced a nobleman to Rowan.
　He has long, grass-colored hair and an uncharacteristically nervous-looking face.
　There were deep wrinkles etched between his eyebrows.

''Today, you are going to fight this Huddle-kun.

What?　Wait a minute, Lacelle. This guy--

"What's with this guy, commoner? I'm a nobleman. I'm not someone you should be pointing your finger at.

　Huddle stared at Rowan.

　Rowan looked confused, as did Huddle.

''That's right. You're the [Mage (Wizard)] who lost the entrance exam.''

What?

'Lacelle Singh Stark......... I came because you asked me to, but are you sure this is the man you want to deal with?

I don't mind.

　I nodded clearly.

'Once again, I'll make sure that if this guy loses, you're in our party. And you will be absolutely obedient to me. Are you sure of that?

"Hey, hey, hey!　Wait a minute!　What is it?　Lacelle!　What do you mean by that?

　Nothing like this and nothing like this.
　It's simple enough.
　Rowan and Huddle fight.
　And if Rowan loses, I join Huddle's party.
　It's as simple as that.

That's it...

That's why I brought him here.

No, you...

So win.

Huh?

As long as Rowan wins, it won't matter. Right?

Hey, man. Get out of the car or you're out of the car. I don't have time for this. ...and if this half-wit gets out of the car, it means I've got a no-win situation.

Yeah. I don't mind.

...........Okay. I'll do it.

　That rematch was quietly decided.


　◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆


Whoa. What's going on?

　Rowan vs. Huddle as it began.
　But it was as if we were watching a rehash of the trial fight at the entrance exam.

　Huddle moves out of range.
　In contrast, Rowan moves forward to close the gap between the two.

　Rowan is looking stronger than he was on the exam.
　But Huddle was also getting tougher.
　Although he is a nasty aristocrat, he seems to be taking classes and training seriously.
　The magic output and accuracy had increased since the exam.

　Accurately flying 【First Flame】 flame bullets to Rowan's joints and vital points, and blocking its invasion.

　On the other hand, Rowan moves around anyway, spinning around and so on.
　He managed to find a way to make use of it, but Huddle, who could use long-range magic, was one better than him in terms of ability.

　Next, Rowan is getting impatient.
　His feet stopped and he was getting hit more and more often.
　At this rate, he would lose.

''Ha!　After all, you're a half-breed!　I'm a disgrace to the Adventurer's School. I don't even want to breathe the same breath you do.

..........

I'm sorry about your little buddy. Why?　Of course it's because we have to change the diaper for a big guy like you. It's because we have to change the diaper for a big guy like you.

Uh.....

'Do you know why Lacelle Singh Stark made this reckless suggestion? He's given up on you. On top of that, he wants to join my party. This show is a fight to get you to give up your half-baked ass.

I...

You've been running roughshod over the nobility for quite some time now, haven't you? Your friends were more formidable than you thought!

'Chigaaaahhhhhh!

　The enthusiasm of the rifle echoed through the air.
　The atmosphere chattered and trembled.
　The roar like a wild beast made the opponents cower.

　Rowan, who had been enduring the attack like a turtle child, looked up.
　Brown eyes filled with determination, something seemed to have been blown out of the water.

'You can't say that about me!　It's true that I'm an idiot. I'm not sure why I want to become an adventurer when I can't use magic, to be honest. I'm sure you'll be able to find it. I'm sure there are people who believe in me as an adventurer more than I do.


　I won't forgive people who say bad things about them....


　The normally quiet man had lost his temper.
　His face was red and his brown hair seemed to be standing up in the air.
　This is what it means to poke the hair out.

　Rowan's anger frightens Huddle a bit.
　But he quickly regains his composure.

'Han!　I won't allow it, so what's the point?　It won't change the fact that you're a halfwit!

　Huddle activated his magic.
　He kneaded his magic for a long time.
　He's going to finish it.

　【Great Firepower】!

　A bunch of flames were released.
　It went straight to Rowan.

　It's a fire attribute intermediate magic.
　It's a uni-directional annihilation magic that rips off enemies in a straight line.
　That's Huddle's.
　You left such a hidden ball behind?

''Haaaaaa........''

　In contrast, Rowan exhaled slowly.
　He took a stance as if he were wavering and scratching the water.
　It's a stance I've never seen before.

　It is said that the one Rowan was asking to be taught is the Hakuto style iron armor technique.
　I've heard that it is a school that specializes in white army warfare, but it is probably a type of that type.

''Fool!　You'll be able to receive my magic with that.

　Huddle's face contorted.

　At that moment, a sort of miraculous scene was created.
　Indeed, Rowan was swallowed by the 【Great Firepower】.
　However, Ole's roommate was alive.
　On the verge, the flames had been played and received.

''Nah!　Magic!

　Huddle exclaims.
　I, on the other hand, smirked.

　A third-rate or lower [mage (wizard)] wouldn't understand.
　What is happening now?
　To be precise, what is happening around Rowan (I wish I could have been more accurate)?

　Rowan is a magical incompatibility.
　The magic blood vessels in the magic circuit, called the magic blood vessels, are more disturbed than the average human being.
　However, he has the magic power itself.
　In fact, through training with me, the total amount of it has risen more than those of my generation.

　If such a person activates magic, it's not just the magic power of the body.
　The magic in the air is also stirred up, disrupting the flow of the surrounding area.

　This is no exception to the magic that the opponent has released.

　If the flow of magic in the surrounding area exceeds the opponent's magic output, the magic will naturally disperse.

　It's easy to say.
　It's difficult even for me to disrupt the magic power in the surrounding area.
　But I believed that Rowan could do it.

　But.........
　I didn't think he'd be able to punch out and increase his magic output, though.

　I thought he was a more clever guy, but it seems I had miscalculated.

'W-why?　You can't do that!　Why doesn't the magic work?!

　Hudol activates the [Australian Firearms] many times.
　But no matter how many times he does it, it's the same thing.
　Everything is received.
　And finally, his magic power has run out.

　For a [Mage (Wizard)] with a magic life, it's equivalent to defeat.

　Without difficulty, Rowan stood in front of Huddle.
　Brown eyes filled with anger shone.

　Huddle screamed.

''Wah, alright!　I'm losing. I'm a loser!

Yeah. Yeah, sure. But...

But?

"I will not forgive you for insulting my people!

　Rowan put a lot of effort into his fist.
　He swung it wide.

''Gyaaaaaaah!　Buh-heh!

　Rowan's swastika thrust into Huddle's cheek.
　He was blown away in a cone-rubbing fashion.
　After flying through the air for a short time, he was slammed into a tree trunk.
　I passed out as it was.
　The white-eyed, gouged-out cheeks are twisted in an expression reminiscent of avant-garde art.

''Huh-uh.''

　Rowan exhaled.

　As he settles down, the color in his eyes finally sinks in.
　Back to the original Rowan.
　Looking at his slightly tingling fist, Rowan muttered.

''You won, Ole........''

Yeah. It's a complete win. Well done. I've always believed in you. That you could create enough magic to disrupt the flow of energy around you.

'Perimeter?　Flow?　Lacelle, what are you talking about?

　Huh?　No, wait a minute.

　I explained it from the beginning.

　But Rowan just nods his head.

"Wasn't that your conscious choice?

No, I was kind of upset. Next thing I know, there's a huddle going on.

　~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!

　You!　It was all unconscious!

Ma!　That's good!　I didn't have to go through with it. And you didn't quit the party. You're the one who sowed the seeds.

Shut up!　I took the trouble to set it up for you........ How could I forget?

Well, you've done it once. You can practice. You'll stay with me, leader.

　Rowan puts a hand on my head.
　He ruffles my hair.

"Do a little of that on my part. And don't mess with my hair!

Oh, no. Your hair, you know. I'm comfortable with the same hair texture as my sister's son.

　Last time I checked, you were the youngest brother.
　I mean, Rowan.
　I mean, how many people in your family are you?