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Chapter 86. The Return Of Everyday Life

One month after the attack at the Founding Festival—both the individual and exchange matches at the Chronos Magic Knight Academy were canceled to avoid confusion, and it took quite some time for classes to resume. But apparently, thanks to the recent battle, the nobles started saying that the need for Magic Knights has increased, and now more people will become Magic Knights this year… Are they stupid?

“If their safety is threatened, they immediately ramp up the military… Minister of Interior, Frodil must be weeping in his grave.”

“…Weeping in his grave? What does that mean?”

“Nothing, really.”

Though classes resumed not too long ago, for some reason, a large number of students from the Magic Knight Division transferred out after the attack. Ash said they probably feared becoming Magic Knights after witnessing the war firsthand… Did a lot of people seriously think of Magic Knights as nothing more than stable government employees?

“More importantly, Elixira, what about the End?”

“Not at all… We haven't made any progress with deciphering the ancient text, and that script originated from the western countries, so we don’t have much material on it here…”

“Haah… Honestly, it's so depressing.”

“Hey, you two! Get serious!”

While chatting with our swords pointed at each other, the instructor yelled at us to get back to work. Perhaps because of the recent attack, the instructors have become stricter in their teaching. During outdoor training, we were paired up and told to just keep fighting endlessly. Previously, the focus was more on form, but now it’s all about learning survival tactics.

“Hyaa!”

“…Weren’t we just told to be serious?”

“I am being serious, though!?”

The reason why Elixira, who used to be in a completely different group, is now paired with me is that the massive transfer of students led to a class reorganization. I used to pair up with Jeremiah for this type of lesson, but somehow he got grouped with Ash after the reshuffle… So I ended up working with Elixira. Still… although she’s better now than she was when we first entered school and she used to flail around with a sword, her clumsy swings make me worry if she’s really taking this seriously.

“Hey, Elixira! Get serious!”

“See? You’ve been told.”

“I-I’m giving it my all!”

“Oh, really? My bad.”

“The instructor’s apologizing now?”

That instructor was supposed to be known for being incredibly strict, but… even he can’t help feeling sorry for her, watching her pant and struggle with the sword. Actually, I’m the one feeling pitied just for being paired with her.

“Toh!”

“Is that battle cry really necessary?”

“Stop blocking with your bare hands!”

But it’s way too slow.

“Why don’t you just give up on using a sword? Maybe you should just be a regular mage instead of a Magic Knight.”

“How can you say that, knowing I’m from the Bifrans family?”

“Or, how about making a sword with magic?”

“I’m not that dexterous.”

Really? But Frodil made a sword with magic, and I can do it too, no problem.

“…You two never change, do you?”

“Could you stop acting like I’m not taking this class seriously?”

“Well, Theo, you’re definitely not taking it seriously.”

As I watched Elixira gasping for breath and rolling on the ground, Ash and Jeremiah approached. Ash gave me a disapproving look, while glancing at Elixira with pity… Seriously, dude, that’s pretty rude.

“Despite all this, she’s surprisingly strong in actual combat. I heard she’s been challenged to duels numerous times for being the disgrace of the Bifrans family, but she’s never lost, right?”

“Of course! I can’t afford to drop in the rankings any further!”

“And yet, she can’t handle a sword… Honestly, as a Magic Knight, she’s a failure.”

“As an individual fighter, she’s not to be underestimated, but as a Magic Knight… yeah, not so much.”

Jeremiah is being more diplomatic about it, but we’re basically saying the same thing. But seriously, for her to be this bad with a sword, isn’t she under some kind of curse? Normally, with enough training, anyone should improve at least a little, but with Elixira, it’s like the sword actively hates her.

“…I’ve thought of a few methods.”

I’ll try everything I can think of.

“The first is what I mentioned earlier: creating a sword with magic. That way, it won’t weigh anything, and since it’s made of magic, you can just throw it away when you’re done.”

“…It’s not that easy to create a sword with magic, Theo.”

Really?

“Then, the second option: use magic to lift the sword and control it like a puppet. You’d only need your imagination to guide it, so even if you’re bad with swords, it’d be fine.”

“Isn’t using magic to control objects without touching them pretty advanced?”

Maybe I can do it because I have a clear image of telekinesis in my mind?

“Then, the third option: just give up on using a sword altogether.”

“You’re going in circles!”

“We’ve come full circle, haven’t we…”

Because nothing else works, does it?

“Still, Theo, your control over magic is impressive. You solidify magic instantly to create a sword, and move objects effortlessly with it… how do you do it?”

“I dunno, I just do it.”

“Theo’s approach to magic is entirely based on innate talent, so trying to imitate him is pointless.”

“…Seems that way.”

It can’t be helped, right? Magic didn’t exist in my previous life, so since I was born in this world, I’ve only ever operated it “instinctively”. I’ve listened to theories and explanations, but they’re all pretty abstract, so I’ve just been going with whatever works for me, and now here we are.

While we were chatting, Elixira stood up again and readied her sword… but the tip of the sword wobbled, and her steps were unsteady. It looked more like the sword was controlling her than the other way around due to her exhaustion. She managed to swing at me, but fell over before I could counter.

“She’s terrible with spears and axes too… Maybe she’s just not cut out for using weapons.”

“Considering her massive Grimoire, that might be the case.”

“Just give up already.”

“That’s so mean!?”

Elixira… you really have no talent for being a Magic Knight.