Chapter 17
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Episode 4 - Weekend [2]
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As I walked toward classroom B-1, a question arose in my mind, and I asked Alice:
"Teacher, between Inverted Heaven and the other four sword arts, which one would be the strongest? Yesterday, after experiencing the first and second forms of Fallen Moon and the first form of Ten Thousand Cuts That Split the Sky, if it weren't for my Traits, I wouldn't have been able to face those two sword arts."
After experiencing those two sword arts, I clearly felt just how extraordinary they were.
Besides the mystery surrounding Verónica, who did not exist in the game, even Lumina had a strange expression when I glanced at her.
Furthermore, if it weren't for my Traits, it would have been impossible for me to face either of them.
〖About that… the truth is, I don't know either. When I locked myself inside a cave to create Inverted Heaven, I spent five years there before finally coming back outside. Then the war against the Abyss began, which lasted ten years, and during those ten years I stayed on the battlefield almost twenty-four hours a day, while those four only participated during key or specific moments〗
"..."
'Teacher, I can honestly imagine the kind of things they said behind your back.'
After Alice's response, I said:
"So after the war ended, you never had the chance to fight the other four Swords."
〖That's right, and in fact, I almost never ran into them and could barely even consider them friends〗
'Teacher, they probably called you the Sword Maniac back then.'
Although I still haven't tested Inverted Heaven in battle against a successor of the Five Swords.
I'm not sure what the outcome will be. In any case, when the opportunity comes, I'll find out.
At the same time, Alice seemed to remember something and said:
〖Now that I think about it, I would have liked to die in that cave. The first time I entered it to create Inverted Heaven, there was a very beautiful field there. I called it the Garden of Eden, or simply the Garden〗
As I listened to her murmurs, I frowned.
Because I felt like I had heard the name Garden of Eden a long time ago, though I wasn't certain.
'I think that guy said that for the Holy Land DLC, he was going to add an iconic and special place, and that something unique could be obtained there. I remember he mentioned something about the Garden of Eden.'
I didn't know if that was actually the case, since the idea for the game's DLC had first been brought up five years ago.
Since then, I had only focused on the game's story and characters.
'Garden of Eden, huh… it probably exists somewhere and contains something valuable.'
Coming out of my thoughts, I finally arrived at classroom B-1.
As soon as I entered, I was greeted by threats related to Princess Clana.
'Well, I expected this.'
Within the Holy Academy, there exists a rule of equality created by the first Saint.
But these noble children do not even respect the rules left behind by the first Saint.
Perhaps she would feel disappointed seeing the current generation ignore the rules she left behind.
As I sat in the same seat as always, I waited for the magic teacher to arrive, and right at that moment…
"..."
"You don't mind if I sit here, right?"
Rinna said as she sat beside me. Seeing her, an expression of disbelief appeared on my face.
'Why all of a sudden…? Oh, wait.'
Then I remembered what happened yesterday and assumed it was because of that, so I shook my head and said:
"I don't mind."
Each seating space where the cadets sat had room for six people, since they were not arranged in rows with a small desk and chair like schools on Earth.
Rinna sat down beside me, then set her things down and said,
"Wow, I didn't know there was such a good view from here."
I don't know if that was a hint, but I nodded anyway.
"I suppose so. I chose the highest and most isolated spot."
The classroom had enough space for a hundred cadets, and since the seats were positioned higher the farther up the stairs you went, it was possible to see the podium where the professors taught more clearly.
"I'm somewhat excited for today's class. The professor will finally demonstrate and teach magic."
"Well, you're right. So far, they've only been theory classes, and she only talked."
Today was Thursday, tomorrow would be the last day of classes, and the magic professor would probably start demonstrating magic today, since the real classes begin next week.
And besides, since the magic professor had a personality similar to the director's, she probably wouldn't see me the same way the other professors did.
Because of that, I was also looking forward to this class.
"Oh, now that I remember, can I ask you something?"
"Yes, of course."
I didn't know what she wanted to ask me, but I agreed anyway.
Rinna's expression changed into one filled with curious excitement.
"..."
"I couldn't ask you yesterday, but… how can you dispel magic with your sword? You even cut through it. How do you do that? Normally, you need to understand the structure of the magic to dismantle it, and that takes time, but you did it as if it were natural…"
I knew this was going to happen; I had also come up with an excuse for the people who would ask me about it in the future.
"Well, I can simply 'see' the weak point of magic, just like I can see the weak points of people as well. I don't know how to explain it, so I apologize if that wasn't a good answer."
Rinna waved her hands dismissively.
"It's fine, I think I understood well enough."
"..."
'Then why is the emotion of confusion so strong within you, Rinna?'
After a few minutes, the door finally opened and the magic professor entered.
The magic professor's name is Ashly Caligus, a seven-star mage. Her attribute is the rare Blood attribute.
Although she is not a member of House Arsene, she is a friend of the current head of the Arsene family, since both of them were cadets at the Holy Academy at the same time.
In addition, she became very close to Director Bernice and even served as her teacher for a period of time.
'Perhaps because she spends so much time with Director Bernice, Professor Ashly's personality is almost identical to the Director's.'
She is also the only professor who does not have an assistant.
I remember that in the game, she would choose the player as her assistant if you started with a mage-specialized character.
'But since I'm not a mage, I'm not sure which cadet she'll choose as her assistant from among everyone here.'
Coming out of my thoughts, Professor Ashly said:
"It seems many of you are especially excited to be attending my class today."
More specifically, the commoners. Since commoners do not receive any education related to magic, especially those who are mages, they consider the opportunity to be taught by a seven-star mage to be the dream of a lifetime.
"Ha, ha, I like your enthusiasm. In that case, how about we first test your knowledge regarding spells and Traits?"
The cadets nodded energetically, and then Professor Ashly continued:
"Mhm, then the first question is especially for the commoners: how is magic cast when you want to use it?"
A simple question. One cadet raised his hand and answered:
"To create magic and use it in combat or at any other time, three verses are required. They may be spoken aloud or recited mentally; however, the final word that represents the magic itself must be spoken out loud."
Professor Ashly clapped and nodded.
"That's correct. Every spell has three verses; so far, the most anyone has managed to reduce them to is two. It is still unknown how to create one-verse magic or even magic that can be cast by saying only the final representative word."
To demonstrate an example, Professor Ashly chanted the three verses of a one-star spell.
"The blood that flows through all living beings."
"Please lend me your strength and reveal yourself in reality."
"I wish for you to manifest and grant me the power of blood."
"Blood Vines."
When the professor finished the three verses, she finally said the name of the spell next.
Vines made of blood emerged from the ground; at the tips of the vines and along their bodies were thorns and sharp leaves.
As she demonstrated this to the cadets, the commoners in particular showed various emotions.
"As you can see, I said the three verses and the name of the spell I wanted to use. Now I will mentally recite the three verses and say the name of the spell out loud."
Professor Ashly remained silent for five seconds and finally opened her mouth and said:
"Blood Vines."
And the same blood-made vines appeared once again.
"As you can see, the verse of any spell can be spoken mentally or out loud; however, the name of the spell absolutely must be spoken out loud, and the same applies to two-verse magic. I would like to demonstrate it for you, but it is magic above six stars."
As a seven-star mage, she possesses a large amount of six-star and seven-star magic with two verses.
'However, the verses can also be shortened, and if that principle is applied to two-verse magic, the spell can be cast much faster.'
And with one-verse magic, applying that principle causes the spell to be cast almost instantly, as if there were no need for a verse and only the spell's name was required.
By the way, the theory I answered in the written exam was about how to shorten a single verse in magic.
Curiously, Professor Ashly has not asked about that.
Although I did not know why she had not brought up the topic, I am not a mage anyway, and magic does not particularly interest me.
And since I have Mana Sense at its maximum, I do not see how I could learn anything.
However, as a modern person from Earth, I am greatly fascinated by magic.
Even if I cannot see it, I can at least imagine it with the help of Mana Sense.
Then Professor Ashly continued.
"Very well, next question: what traits are important for the use of magic? This question is for everyone."
Several cadets raised their hands, and Professor Ashly chose someone at random.
"The most important traits would be Mana Sense, Mana Sensitivity, Mana Affinity, and the most important one for becoming a Mage, the Mana Root."
Professor Ashly nodded and said:
"That is correct. Without a Mana Root, your specialty will not be that of a mage; it could be that of a Swordsman or a Summoner. Ah, of course, an Elementalist could also be considered a mage, since they use spiritual arts, which are similar to magic."
Then Professor Ashly finally asked her last question.
"So, final question: does anyone know how to shorten the verse of a spell?"
At that moment, Professor Ashly first looked at Lumina and then at me.
"...."
'Somehow… it feels like she is about to bring up the written exam topic.'