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Chapter 3. Apparently, There's A Hierarchy

"So, a hierarchy is like, a ranking of students given at the Chronos Magic Knight Academy, based on their abilities, right?"

"If you have a high rank?"

"You get the title of Magic Knight when you graduate."

"Oh... and if it's low?"

"If it's too low, you'll have more remedial training, but... I'm not sure if that's true."

Oh... well, then it doesn't really matter. I didn't come to this school because I wanted the title of Magic Knight. I only joined the Magic Knight program because I was recruited by the Magic Knight Department, so anything else would have been fine if they'd let me in.

"Um, since it seems like you don't understand, this hierarchy is very important at this academy, you know?"

"What's more important, this book about magic circles?"

"Obviously, the hierarchy."

I see. So the hierarchy is more important than this. So, if the hierarchy is high, there are corresponding benefits. If it's low, there are disadvantages, right? But didn't they mention something about extra training?

"If you lack motivation, you might get expelled!?"

"Well, I won't skip class until I'm actually got expelled... but honestly, I'm not interested in being a Magic Knight."

"T-There are people like that... I never even considered..."

Didn't you say you wanted to quit the Magic Knight program earlier?

"I, even if I lack interest, I still have to... because of my family's circumstances... I'm a failure, after all."

"...Is there some reason for that?"

Elixira Bifrans... Bifrans, huh.

I stand up from my chair and glance at the nearby bookshelf. There are books about the history of the Koolia Kingdom lined up there... and among them are, of course, books detailing nobility.

"B-B-B... Found it, the Bifrans family. The Bifrans Border Earl's family is an old-established noble family of the kingdom. Renowned for producing excellent Magic Knights through generations, the first head, Alfred Bifrans, was the leader of the first Kuria Kingdom Magic Knight Brigade, which played a heroic role in the Great War."

"P-Please stop..."

So she entered a school to become a Magic Knight, despite having no interest or desire, which must be because of her family situation. As a longstanding noble family that has consistently produced excellent Magic Knights, there is naturally pressure on Elixira Bifrans to become a Magic Knight. But, though it seems rude to say, she doesn't seem to have the talent to be a Magic Knight.

Her gaze always seems lacking in confidence, her back hunched as if in response, her speech stumbling as if her words are choking her, her body too slender to be called a knight. Even though it should be clear that she lacks talent. The Bifrans family sent her to the Chronos Magic Knight Academy to become a Magic Knight. Or rather, if she's treated as a failure, what will she do?

"If she becomes a Magic Knight, then fine, but if she can't, she'll be kicked out of the family, right?"

"..."

In this case, silence would probably be a confirmation. If she becomes a Magic Knight, she can at least say she fulfilled her duty to the Bifrans family, and marry into some appropriate upper-class family. On the other hand, if she can't become a Magic Knight, she'll be treated as a talentless failure and married off to lower-class nobles or merchants. It's a perfect plan.

"Well, if you did poorly on the hierarchy test, then why not just give up altogether—"

"—If I could do that, I would have done it from the beginning. People like you who want to abandon everything have different burdens!"

As she shoots me a gaze filled with hostility, my hand reflexively reaches for the black bracelet on my left wrist.

I said she lacked the talent to become a Magic Knight, but I take it back. When I peel off the skin of this timid, gloomy girl, what emerges is quite a demon. It seems the Bifrans lineage hasn't diluted in the slightest.

"Oh, so you're faithfully carrying a burden that was forced upon you."

I don't want to be crushed by such responsibilities or expectations. Though I can't remember much from my previous life... the soul of a ■■■■ within me is saying that. So, I'll just keep running away from responsibilities and others' expectations as much as I can.

"By the way, what do you mean by 'abandoning everything'?"

"Huh? W-Well, since you didn't take the exam, it means you'll be ranked 984th in the hierarchy."

"984th... that's the bottom, right?"

"Yes."

Is that bad?

"As I said earlier, if you lack motivation, you'll get expelled, you know?"

"Well... I won't skip that far."

"If you don't perform well in the exams, you'll be expelled, you know? If you get expelled, you won't be allowed to enter this library anymore, you know?"

"Seriously? I'll make sure to take the exams seriously from now on."

For me, this is a matter of life and death.

"Also... I've been curious for a while, but why are you reading something like 'Simple Magic Circles Even Kids Can Understand'?"

"Oh, well, I feel like even if I know about it, I should read things properly in order. It should be fine, though."

"I-Is that so... you're a strange person."

Don't call me strange. Besides, we've only known each other for less than an hour, so what's with the 'strange person' treatment? Honestly... I'm not a strange person.

"There's no lie in the phrase 'even kids can read it.' It does have a solid foundation on magic circles."

"A-A solid foundation?"

"Yes, just the basics."

I think in magic, there's no such thing as a solid foundation.

"Um... can you also use 'Shortened Magic'?"

"Well, yeah. I've been called a genius in magic forever."

"And yet, basics..."

"It's fine, isn't it? I was just curious."

Shortened Magic is simply patterned magic circles that allow you to easily use your favorite magic, further simplified to eliminate unnecessary steps. The main advantage of simplification is the activation speed. The time that can be shortened depends on the magic, but for example, with 'Attribute Enhancement' magic, using Shortened Magic can increase the activation speed by five times... apparently. I don't know because 'Attribute Enhancement' is only used in Shortened Magic nowadays.

As for whether I can use Shortened Magic, of course, I can. Nobody would think about becoming a Magic Knight if they couldn't use Shortened Magic. Activation speed is directly related to life or death for a Magic Knight.

"It might not matter to Theodore, ranked 984th in the hierarchy, but the training to become a Magic Knight is tough... so you'll be made to practice various Shortened Magic. Being able to use it from the start is advantageous, you know?"

"Why did you provoke me earlier?"

Isn't that strange?