NOVEL NEXT C23
C23: Magic Teacher
Kutone, a magician girl, is a first-year student at the Magicalize Royal Academy of Magic, and was admitted as a “special student. The reason for her special status is, of course, the “cheat” that she was born with.
She is 14 years old and is the only child of parents who are still alive. Her favorite foods are honey toast and hot milk. The wand she carries was inherited from her grandfather, who was a magician, and it is a “magic item” that increases the effects of magic just by holding it.
“Well, that’s about me, I guess. My cheat is a secret, of course.”
“I know. It’s bad manners to ask a ring-bearer about his cheats.”
“Yes. It’s only natural for an adventurer.”
We were currently resting under a tree by the side of the road. I asked many questions and Kutone told me about her. As we were talking over a cookie we had bought in Ledar, Kutone said,
“By the way, what are your magical traits, Sage? I can’t give you any advice if I don’t know them.”
”Magical traits?”
“Oh……you don’t know anything about magic, by any chance?”
“………”
I averted my eyes. I can’t help it……In the Ostrode Kingdom, I mainly worked on my physical fitness by mixing with the combat group, and in the support group, I only practiced my cheat. They had magic classes, but I didn’t participate in any of that.
“I can’t help it. Assuming that you don’t know anything, I’ll teach you from scratch!”
“Oh, thank you very much.”
I see…….Kutone, are you happy to teach someone else?
◇◇◇◇◇◇
So today, I stopped moving forward and had a magic lesson with Kutone. Brünnhilde and I sat side by side, and Kutone stood in front of us, using a large tree as a blackboard.
“We will now begin our lesson on magic!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Yes, Kutone.”
“Mmmm………Teacher… Brünnhilde! You can call me Teacher!”
“…..That’s okay. Now let’s start the class.”
A little frustrated, Kutone started the class.
“First of all, what is magic? Mr. Sage.”
“Magic is……uh, the phenomenon that occurs through the use of magic, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct. You see, magic is something that everyone living in this world possesses. Whether you are a human, a beast, an elf, a dwarf, a demon, or any other species, it is always present in the body of every living being. Of course, monsters have them too.”
Kutone’s explanation was easy to understand, but for me, the fact that elves and dwarves existed was more interesting. I’ve seen beastmen before in the Kingdom of Ostrode, though.
“Magic can be divided into seven main attributes. The most common are the four attributes of earth, water, fire, and wind, and the rarer three attributes of light, darkness, and lightning. By the way, I am a triple attribute user: fire, wind and earth.”
“Triple?”
“Yes. Most people have only one magic attribute, but I have three. I’m a triple magician, and triple magicians are extremely rare in the Magicalize Kingdom. It’s also thanks to this talent that I was able to become a special student.
“Oh, I’m impressed.”
“No, no, no, not really!”
Kutone scratched her head and was embarrassed, then she picked up her wand.
“Let’s examine Sage and Brunnhilde’s magical attributes first.”
“Hmm, oh.”
“………”
I held out my hand and lightly poked Brunnhilde, who didn’t move, with my elbow to get her to show her hand. Then Kutone tapped my hand and Brunnhilde’s with her wand. Then two balls of light appeared from my hands.
“What the hell is this?”
“Wow, Sage, you’re a dual attribute user. Brünnhilde’s……….”
In my hand, there are two light balls about the size of a baseball. The colors are yellow and purple. Brünnhilde’s hand had nothing……in it.
“What happened to you?”
“Well, let’s see. I used my magic to draw out the magic that flows through Sage and Brunnhilde, and colored it with my magic to make it round….Mr. Brünnhilde has no magic power, that’s strange.”
“………”
“What about me?”
“You have two magical attributes, Sage, earth and lightning, which is an odd combination.”
“Hmm…….”
“More importantly, Brunnhilde’s magic is not flowing at all…I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
“There is nothing wrong with me. I’m sorry, but you don’t need to learn magic.”
“Really……? I understand. I’ll teach you how to use magic, Sage.”
“Oh, yes, please.”
Brünnhilde is an android, which means there is no magic flowing through her, right?
◇◇◇◇◇◇
“Look, Sage, there is magic flowing through your body. Magic is a ‘phenomenon’ that is created by burning magic power. In other words, it is your will that makes it happen.”
“Yes, yes.”
“First, gather the magic power in your fingertips. Like this……”
Kutone’s fingertips are glowing with a faint light. It’s amazing.
“Imagine that your magical energy is flowing on your fingertips. The important thing to imagine….”
“Imagine……”
I imagine magic power gathering in the index finger of my right hand. Magic power flows through my entire body. It’s like blood but the difference is that I can control it.
“…………”
“Slowly, slowly……imagine the magic flowing through your body, and……at your fingertips.”
“………!”
It must have been about three minutes later, when my fingertips started to get hot. Before I know it, I’m sweating too. I can feel my fingertips pulsating. And there’s a faint……glow.
“Oh, oh…….”
“Yes, that’s magic power. It is pure magical power that does not have any attributes. Normally, it is colored with ‘attributes’ and then released. Sage’s attributes are earth and lightning…….”
Kutone was mumbling, but I wasn’t listening.
I think this is the first time I’ve used an otherworldly ability. Repair is an ability that doesn’t use magic, so I didn’t feel anything then. But this feeling of having worked up a sweat and developed my magical powers felt really good.
“So, let’s learn to control our magic first!”
“………Oh, oh, oh, oh!”
“………Did you hear me, Sage?”
“………Sorry, I wasn’t listening.”
I bowed my head to Kutone and noticed that Brünnhilde was gone.
“Where’s Brunnhilde?”
“Huh? Didn’t she go to pick some flowers?”
“That’s unlikely, she wouldn’t leave without telling me.”
Just as I said that, Brunnhilde appeared. Moreover, she grabbed a black pig-like monster in her hand and dragged it along.
“I have detected the monster and killed it. Sensei, please use this meat for dinner.”
“Mr. Sage, this is a high-grade black pig! We’re going to have meat today!”
“I’m glad, I was surprised when you suddenly disappeared.”
“I’m sorry, but you were concentrating and I decided that I shouldn’t interrupt you.”
“Haha…….I see what you mean.”
It seems that Brunnhilde cared for me. Is this part of her growth? Or is it a concern that she shows only to me?
“Mr. Sage, let’s call it a day and eat!”
“Yeah, I’m getting hungry…….”
“Now, leave it to me to prepare the stove and set up the tent.”
Today was the first time I used magic.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
I processed the internal organs of the pig and grilled three pork steaks. The thick meat sizzled and burned on the pan, and the delicious aroma stimulated my hunger. Kutone, who was standing next to me watching the cooking, was drooling.
“Oh~♪ I never thought I would be able to have such a luxurious dinner on the first day of accompanying you……♪”
“Indeed, we have Brunnhilde to thank for this.”
“I am honored by your praise.”
The steak is simply served with salt and pepper. Or rather, salt and pepper is the only way to go. I transferred the cooked meat to a plate and added some vegetables. The three of us gathered around the fire and ate our first meat dish of the camp.
“Well, it’s a big pork steak today! Bon appétit!”
“Bon appétit!”
“Bon appétit!”
The pork steak is fatty but crispy, and the white fatty meat is easy to chew.
“It’s good!”
“It’s good!”
“……”
Kutone and I looked at each other and smiled, but Brunnhilde ate her food with no expression on her face. It was a little scary to see her mouth moving with the same expression on her face.
We finished the black pork in no time, and Kutone and I sipped on some water. Let’s have a post-meal chat, or rather, information gathering.
“Kutone, what’s the Magicalize Kingdom like?”
“If I had to describe it in one phrase, it would be the land of magic. Magic is on everyone, there’s an adventurer’s guild and weapon and armor shops, but all they sell is magician’s equipment~. Besides, adventurers often come to the Magicalize Royal Academy of Magic, where I go to school.”
“Adventurers at school? Why?”
“Of course, it’s for scouting. The adventurer groups are desperate for good magicians. I’ve been scouted a few times, but I’ve been here less than a year and I’ve turned them down.”
Kutone sips the water and exhales softly.
“I entered the magic academy because I admired the chancellor. If you are a special student, you will have many opportunities to meet her directly.”
“Chancellor?”
Slurping down the rest of the water, Kutone said proudly.
“Yes, the chancellor is one of the Demon Lords, known as Nachtigal, Queen of the Night.”