Skip Magician 88

Test

Chapter 88. About The Grimoire

A few months after the attack from the Western nations, the Kuria Kingdom remained unchanged, and life continued as usual. The main highlights were the Elgrand Empire's enthusiastic start of a war to finally crush the Western nations and the opening of free trade with the Closter Kingdom, leading to a steady influx of people and goods. Thanks to this, the Miesis Margrave, who oversees the border, seems to be making a fortune... I wonder how Hilalda and her father, both muscle-brained, are managing to profit. Maybe they have capable subordinates.

The third-year students have graduated, and now it's time for us to advance as well... Apparently, there's another test we have to take to move up. Both the teachers and Elixira warned me not to skip it... Is my tendency to skip exams that well-known?

"That's enough! The winner is Theodore Anthem!"

"Damn... I still can't reach it."

As the promotion period approaches, I've been getting more and more duel challenges... I've thought this before, but the higher your rank, the more you're challenged to duels, and yet there's no advantage for the one being challenged. There's this idea that a Magic Knight shouldn't ask for a reward from someone lower-ranked, but I don't like it. Couldn't they at least give us a class exemption for winning a duel?

"Theodore Anthem, your skill really is more than just rumors."

"He's only ranked 10th? I might switch departments."

In the past few days, I've been challenged to three duels. I crushed the first one in seconds, and the second one used some weird leaping magic, so I entertained myself by watching before knocking him down. And the one I was just fighting... was Ash.

"As expected, you're strong, Theodore... I thought I was close to reading your movements, but I couldn't even make you use your Grimoire."

"It would be a disaster if I pulled out my Grimoire."

Mainly for those around me.

Ash had climbed from 33rd to 21st in the rankings over the past few months. It seems he thought he could make a big leap by challenging me... But I think we're the only ones who casually duel within our faction.

The Elixira faction has become quite notorious in the academy... mainly in a bad way. We're a small but elite group, and though we don't do much to seem like a faction, when it comes to exams or duels, we utterly crush our opponents. People say we're a bunch of savages. Rude... It's just that a few of us are rough, but Elixira and I aren't savages.

"Theodore, the exam for promotion isn’t a direct battle with others, so if you slack off, your ranking will drop."

"Huh? Isn't the exam to move up, not for ranking?"

"It's both."

So there's a promotion exam too.

If I slack off again, I'm definitely going to get yelled at... by a lot of people.

With all the required credits done and just waiting for the promotion, I’ve had a lot of free time lately except when people challenge me to duels, so I’ve been holed up in the old library like when I first enrolled, researching Grimoires.

The power said to manifest from the soul... I have two Grimoires because I have two souls. If this theory is true, then everyone must have a Grimoire, but the number of people who can manifest them is overwhelmingly small.

"Alright, let's get started today too."

"Again? Well, I don't mind... [Raziel]."

I continue my research on Grimoires with Elixira, who also spends her time in the old library.

My theory is that only strong-willed individuals can manifest Grimoires... But if that's true, I wonder why someone as fierce as Nina can't manifest one. Elixira, on the other hand, has a pretty strong will, despite her seemingly timid nature, so I understand.

The thing that interests me most these days is the abilities of manifested Grimoires. My [Yaldabaoth] and [Demiurge] are abilities born from my soul. Since they manifested from my soul, they must be reflections of it... but I don’t quite understand that part yet.

"Hmm... Is your Grimoire shaped like a book because you love books, Elixira?"

"I don’t know, and how many times are you going to ask that... And stop staring at me!"

"What? Isn't that why you're showing it?"

"It's starting to feel embarrassing!"

Is there really any shame in having someone look at your Grimoire? I don't feel that way... not really.

"Well, whatever... Grimoires usually have a form, but those that cause phenomena without a physical form are extremely rare... But I've experienced it firsthand."

"You mean Minister Frodil’s Grimoire? Is that really true? The ability to rewind time... it's like the power of a god."

I've shared the secret of Minister Frodil with my research partner, Elixira.

The time-rewinding Grimoire [Sandalphon] was an incredibly powerful ability. Without [Yaldabaoth] created from Theodore Anthem’s soul, I would’ve definitely lost.

"Hilalda’s [Gabriel] also has a unique form as water, but it still exists as something tangible... The same goes for Riester’s [Ramiel]."

"Wow... It's overwhelming to see so much information on Grimoires laid out like this."

Elixira looked impressed as she observed the scattered papers on my desk, detailing the abilities, appearances, and impressions of the Grimoires I’ve encountered.

"And you even figured out my Grimoire’s abilities."

"I like detective stories."

"You figured it out just by deduction?"

Yep.

"Ah... I'm probably the only one who would put up with this kind of research."

"Yeah, thanks."

"W-when you thank me so directly, it’s embarrassing..."

Why?

"Why are you researching Grimoires, anyway?"

"Huh? Well... I guess it’s because I saw some powerful and unique Grimoires, but mainly because Nina came to me for advice. She was frustrated that she still couldn't use hers."

I thought that maybe by researching, I could help.

"So... I'm helping you for another girl?"

Wait, where did this conversation just go?

"I-I... have feelings for you too, you know... Never mind."

"W-wait... uh..."

Did I do something to make Elixira like me?

If I say something like "I’m not in the same league because you’re a noble from the Bifrans family," like I did with Princess Elissa, she’d probably say, "I’m an outcast, so I’ll just leave my family behind."

This is bad... Did my first-ever popularity wave finally arrive in my second life?