Imperial Academy Girl Magic Officer

A comfortable sensation enveloped my entire body.
Pure white light radiated in all directions from the center of the mana stone.
It was brighter and more beautiful than others’.
“What is this……”
Rina’s mutter, who happened to be right in front, caught my ear. She, who had maintained her coolness, lost her composure for a moment.
But it was just for an instant.
Zing─
The brilliant light didn’t last even a few seconds before scattering into the air.
“Eh?”
“D-Did something just pass by?”
The cadets stared at the mana stone, now turned purple, with dumbfounded expressions.
It happened so suddenly that some were even rubbing their eyes and looking around again, as the light had disappeared too quickly.
“Is that all?”
“Isn’t she the one who fought with Wolf?”
[7]
The number displayed on the screen added to the shock.
Could there be a scene where the phrase “the atmosphere turned sour” fits so well? As many cadets had considerable expectations for me, cold reactions appeared in succession.
“Pff, pfft!”
“If it’s Grade 7, isn’t that just an ordinary person?”
And the cadets’ stiff expressions soon turned into sneers.
“Ku, kukukuku……”
“I thought there might be something, but she’s just a commoner after all?”
So it turns out like this after all.
I silently looked around at the cadets.
It was a result I had somewhat expected. I thought this situation would occur after confirming my low rank in the temporary dormitory.
It’s a bit unpleasant.
However, when actually faced with reality, an indescribable feeling surrounded me.
What emotion should I call this?
Anger? No. Even if these mere novices point fingers, I’m not bothered because I have confidence that I can grow in the future. It’s not an inferiority complex either.
Amusement,
To put it in words, it was amusement.
It was ridiculous to see them feeling relieved and satisfied because a commoner had achieved an inferior result to the nobles.
“…You can grow if you work hard in the future. Grade 7, and the attribute is, umm, for now, return to your place.”
Gartel scribbled something in his notebook and, as if trying to fulfill his duty as an instructor, made an effort to offer words of encouragement.
I tilted my head to face him despite our considerable height difference and responded with a fresh smile.
“Thank you.”
Rustle─
I turned back, my neatly tied ponytail fluttering.
“You acted like that towards me with only that level of ability? You, a mere commoner with trash-level skills?”
“Hey hey, take pity on her, kekeke.”
The first to welcome me were the mockeries of Wolf and his gang.
How strong must his desire to repay the square incident have been? He vented his pent-up frustrations through ridicule and jeers.
“Well, what could you do with that tiny body anyway.”
“……”
I remained silent, letting Wolf’s sarcasm go in one ear and out the other.
There’s no need to get caught up in that provocation.
There’s nothing to gain by getting angry. Since other children are looking down on me too, there’s no reason to respond only to Wolf. It’s not like the instructor isn’t here.
Grade 7, huh.
I simply calculated steadfastly.
From Grade 7 mana, what kind of training and practice I would do to raise my grade, and how much I would set as my target.
Clap clap─!
“Everyone, attention! We will now proceed with the next examination!”
As everyone seemed to have finished their tests, Gartel finally gathered the cadets.
“Now, move!”
He then led them to a vast open space reminiscent of a military drill ground.
“First, we will conduct a basic physical fitness test!”
With his words, the assessment of physical abilities began.
There wasn’t even a moment’s rest. Gartel swiftly led the cadets to the examination area in the center of the open space, where numerous measuring instruments were gathered.
“Aaaargh!”
“One, twoooo──!”
Some children who had started the examination earlier under other instructors’ orders were visible.
This might be a bit tough.
The types of equipment were more diverse than I thought. Basic sit-ups and shuttle runs aside, tire pulls and weightlifting were among the various functional measuring devices that caught my eye.
“Move quickly!”
“Aaaargh!”
“Cr-Cramp! Instructor!”
Naturally, the open space was filled with the cadets’ cries of agony.
It must be excruciatingly difficult, as the purpose of the evaluation is to push the body to its limits to accurately measure potential.
“Huff, huff…!”
Like this.
“One more!”
“Ugh, uuugh!”
Breath rose to my Adam’s apple, my heart pounded roughly. When my turn came and I took the test, my arms and legs were already trembling even though I hadn’t even finished half.

“Cadet Rina, are you ready?”
“Haa, haa…… yes.”
Rina, who was taking the same test next to me, looked quite exhausted but not as completely drained as I was.
Not just her, but other cadets were the same. While there were those who continued training with clenched fists or were sweating profusely, no one collapsed after just one or two stages.
This body really is trash.
Just how much of a penalty did this so-called creator impose? From the mana grade to weak physical strength and now muscle strength too.
Today was the day I felt most acutely how weak my abilities had become.
“Uugh……”
An unfamiliar delicate groan escaped. Even my tied hair had somehow come undone and was now covering my shoulders.
But I didn’t lose my sharp gaze.
It’s certainly hard, but that’s why it’s enjoyable.
The more painful it became and the heavier my body felt, the more my enjoyment increased.
The vividness of the sensations told me I was alive! I was extremely happy that the hardships I had never experienced in the past reminded me that this world was real.
Isn’t that right?
Train, and receive due reward. It’s a simple structure, but attractive. As long as I know that infinite growth is possible with effort, I liked this hardship.
It’s a kind of signal that gradually my stamina will increase and muscles will develop!
“Last one!”
“Ugh, uuugh……”
That’s why I moved with willpower.
Even when I felt pain as all the muscles in my body stiffened, even when sweat poured down like rain soaking my neck, I moved remembering only that one purpose of aiming for growth.

Early evening, as crimson light settled.
I wiped my face with the towel the instructor had handed out.
[Overall: Grade 7. Rank 822/1032]
At the same time, I examined the report card in my hand.
Even though I desperately pushed my body, I couldn’t close the gap. A rank slightly below average was printed.
“So this is my level after all.”
I had hoped to at least be in the middle ranks.
I couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed in one corner of my heart.
Let’s think positively. It means there are many steps to climb from here, and there’s nowhere lower to fall.
Rustle, rustle─
Thinking that, I carefully folded the report card and put it in my pocket, then stretched both arms out straight.
“Uuugh……”
I felt refreshment as my muscles loosened. The muscles that had screamed in pain finally calmed down now that all processes were over.
“There should be details about dormitory assignments on the back of your report cards, so stay there from now on.”
“Yes, understood!”
In front, Gartel was decorating the finale.
“Then, dismissed!”
“Thank you for your hard work!”
Finally, as he concluded his long sermon with a clap, the cadets moved to their respective dormitories as soon as it ended.
“I want to go rest quickly……”
“My arms are killing me.”
The once-crowded crowd disappeared in an instant.
The bustling open space regained its peace.
I briefly looked around at the surroundings that had become quiet after a long time, then turned my body in the direction the cadets had moved.
Now it’s time to rest a bit.
Having done the physical examination with sheer willpower, I now had no strength left even to lift my arms. If I were to lie down on a soft mattress, I was confident I would fall asleep in less than ten seconds.
I’ll need to train several more times to escape this poor physical condition. Working hard diligently is the only solution.
I stepped forward, steeling my resolve.
“Hmm?”
No, I was about to.
“Rina?”
If only the white-haired girl hadn’t blocked my way.
“Why are you blocking me?”
“……”
She didn’t answer my question. She just scanned me with cold, haughty eyes like a cat’s.
Is she going to talk about the square incident?
That was the only reason I could think of for her cold gaze. I guessed she had come to hear the full story of that incident, or to put an end to the conflict.
“Your grades were quite low.”
And all those predictions were off the mark.
“So what?”
“You intentionally lowered them, didn’t you?”
“Huh?”
She opened the conversation with an incomprehensible statement.
Is she mocking me?
It doesn’t seem like it, judging by the confidence felt in her words. Then is this question really asked in earnest?
I couldn’t understand.
I couldn’t fathom Rina’s intention at all.
For what reason did she bring up this topic? This time, I couldn’t maintain the expressionless face I had kept even during Wolf’s mockery and when I became a laughingstock to the cadets.
“Why are you asking such a thing?”
I asked back sincerely, twitching my eyebrows.
“The warmth and purity of mana I’ve never felt before, even if other cadets didn’t notice, I felt it. Yena, was it? I was observing you from the very front.”
It wasn’t an unfounded suspicion. She folded her arms with a triumphant face and listed the reasons for her assertion.
And surprisingly, her doubts were mostly valid. No, they were rational.
The characteristics of the light flowing from the measuring device, when did she check that? While maintaining outward calm, I looked up at Rina, who was a span taller than me, with inner surprise.
For now, as she claimed, my mana did boast overwhelming purity and concentration compared to other cadets. In a way, it was natural since it was mana that had mastered all attributes.

If you recall the brightness of the mana that flowed from the measuring device, albeit briefly, you should be able to find the answer easily.
The grade was calculated low only because the absolute quantity was small.
But in that interval, this child Rina grasped the characteristics of the mana?
Of course, it’s partly my fault for being careless.
Despite the low grade, I never imagined the purity of the mana would be this clear, so I released it without reducing the magical power.
But even taking this mistake into account, Rina’s insight was unbelievable.
How high is her mana sensitivity? For a first-year cadet to not only perceive the existence of mana but also sense its strength – it was genius-level talent.
But I didn’t hide my grade…
I secretly smiled at Rina’s round eyes sparkling with confidence.
If there was one thing Rina missed, it was the fact that my mana grade was without a single lie. In her common sense, she would think it’s impossible for the mana purity to be high but the grade to be low,
but I’m an existence outside the norm.
One might ask how someone whose mana is purer than anyone else’s, whose mana is denser than anyone else’s, could have a low grade, but unfortunately, that person is right here.
Even the instructor doesn’t know that I can control all attributes, so what could Rina, who is merely a candidate, do?
It was impressive that Rina had come this far.
“Hmm, and so?”
However, I didn’t deny her question.
Rather, I asked back.
I didn’t know with what intention she brought up this topic, but I wondered if I really needed to resolve the conflict.
Isn’t it interesting?
The scene of Rina addressing me while harboring a huge misunderstanding provided a different kind of enjoyment following the fight with Wolf.
Moreover, as it was an opportunity for me, a mere commoner with low abilities, to exchange words with Rina, who was once an imperial princess, how could I give it up? It was precious even if it wasn’t a normal conversation.
I didn’t want to cut off her misinterpreted prediction.
“A commoner with Grade 7 mana and lower-tier physical abilities acted like that towards nobles, even the Streman family?”
“It could happen, couldn’t it?”
“…Don’t joke around. Unless you’re mentally unsound, that wouldn’t happen. There’s no way the military academy would accept such a person.”
Whoosh─!
Rina answered in a sharp tone and turned her body.
Whether she thought it was an excuse, or she was already convinced, she cut me off whenever I tried to explain.
“I’m not particularly angry that you treated Wolf that way. He’s not worth… Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I’m watching you, that’s all I wanted to say.”
She glanced at me with her golden eyes, then left.
Click─! Click─!
The hollow sound unique to military boots seemed to represent her emotions. Rina walked away from the open space, her white hair covering her back swaying side to side.
And the moment her shadow completely disappeared.
“I hope I didn’t give her the wrong impression?”
I muttered softly, thinking about the ripples today’s events might cause.

Gartel quickly headed to the main building.
He hurried his steps to report to the principal about the cadets in the 3rd temporary dormitory.
‘There are quite a few useful ones in this batch.’
It was a decent recruitment with an average score exceeding Grade 5.
It’s been 5 years since the Astrakhan Military Academy was established, and this was a historically good batch with even a cadet producing Grade 2 for the first time since the founding.
“It’ll be enjoyable to teach them.”
Gartel smiled faintly as he looked at the examination papers in his right hand.
His heart was already pounding at how much academic data would accumulate. Moreover, with exchange students soon coming from the Federation, there was a high probability of obtaining results incomparable to the previous year.
‘But what about that one?’
Under such rosy imagination, Gartel frowned at one cadet who kept lingering in his mind.
Small stature.
Snow-white skin.
A face like a squirrel’s.
The girl with a delicate appearance that at a glance seemed unlikely to perform well on the front lines or in war was more vividly remembered than other cadets.
She showed no signs of being forgotten.
“Hmm.”
Gartel let out a groan mixed with concern.
He kept being drawn to her, who had recorded lower scores than other cadets.
‘I’ve never seen such a color before.’
Though brief, the clearly visible form, the beauty of the light imbued with various colors that child showed was unprecedented.
The mana disappeared in an instant, but he was able to observe it because he was close to the measuring device.
…What should be done about this?
He stroked his mustache in perplexity.
While the role of the measuring device included calculating grades, its most important function was to identify the magical attributes of cadets.
But Yena’s mana attribute was never determined. It was the first time in his 5 years as an academy instructor that the expensive measuring device failed to do its job.
That’s why his forehead throbbed.
“Heh heh heh……”
Gartel pressed his thumb hard against his head.
The matter of attributes was a serious issue that couldn’t be taken lightly; he couldn’t just overlook it or write it down based on his own judgment.
‘There’s nothing special about her family background.’
He looked up her personal records wondering if she might have special bloodlines like Rina, who was once an imperial princess, but she was a typical imperial citizen.
Rather, her family was below average.
Both parents were war casualties.
Mother died in a bombing, father fell in battle, daughter entered the military academy as a child of a Great War contributor – it was a family with a truly heartbreaking story.
“Hm.”
But what is this unsettling feeling?
The intuition from decades of officer life held him back.
If he were to dismiss the refreshing light as an illusion and evaluate Yena as an ordinary child, he had a strong conviction that he would surely regret it.
“I’ll have to keep an eye on her for now.”
Gartel grasped his fountain pen.
Then he wrote a long line in his notebook.
Scribble, scribble─
[Yena Freud, needs attention]
So he wrote.