Chapter 65

Listening to the instructor’s lecture.

Next to me, Lulise is diligently copying the content of the lecture and what’s written on the blackboard into her notebook.

In this country, the mass production of paper has been successful, so it’s easy to write in notebooks like this.

I wonder how many people can write in the Empire.

Even among the general populace, there aren’t many unless their jobs require writing.

They can probably write their names.

Perhaps that’s why graduates of the Magic Academy often take on important positions.

However, there aren’t any educational institutions like this in the first place.

The only places to learn are private tutoring schools, and even those cost money.

When I became an adventurer and acquired money, the first thing I did was learn letters and numbers.

I thought that without knowledge, I would fall back into poverty once I could no longer be an adventurer.

Ultimately, it led to a good understanding of finances.

…While thinking such things, I listen to the lecture.

I prepared my notebook, but I’m not copying anything down.

Aside from the first part, I already know everything from when I was learning to counteract sorcerers.

As for Mastema, she was desperately staying awake.

Apparently, Arnella had sternly told her not to sleep during the lecture, as she would have trouble sleeping at night.

In place of that, she was given candy as a snack and was secretly licking it.

I shared some with her.

It was a sweet and sour candy.

While I was also sucking on a piece, Mastema murmured in a quiet voice.

I guess she understands this is a lecture… no, it’s just that she’s quiet because she has candy in her mouth.

“Hey, Ahavain. Why are we doing such pointless things?”

“What do you mean?”

“The efficient use of magic. It doesn’t matter how much we spend; we can’t use it all up anyway, so it’s fine to be careless. We can shoot again right away.”

I put my head in my hands.

This girl is a demon, not a human, so it’s natural for her to have a demon’s standards.

Even though she has adapted to this world, Mastema has a body that seems like a cheat, replenishing her magical power just by breathing.

The magical power she can recover is not a significant amount compared to her original magical capacity, but when calculated in terms of a skilled sorcerer, how many would it be?

It wouldn’t be enough for ten.

Given that she is significantly weakened due to the severance from Hell, her very existence is indeed unfair.

If the connection to Hell were properly established, Mastema’s magical power would be completely replenished.

At that point, there would be nothing I could do.

“That’s only you. Humans can’t do such things. Even if we somehow manage magical power, our bodies break down.”

That’s right; if you overuse magic, your body won’t hold up.

When converting magical power into magic, it circulates throughout the entire body.

How much one can endure that is also a matter of talent.

Using the heavenly sword to its fullest is one of the reasons I end up in a poor condition.

“Such inconvenience. Humans are inconvenient, huh?”

Mastema said this and bit down on her candy.

And with that sound, the instructor noticed.

If humans are inconvenient, then demons are foolish.

Whether it’s fortunate or unfortunate, the warning ended with just a caution not to make noise.

After a break, the morning lecture comes to an end.

Though it’s basic, many students look completely exhausted.

Well, they should do their best.

Unfortunately, Mastema ended up falling asleep halfway through.

Once the candy ran out, I suppose it couldn’t be helped.

“Wake up, it’s time to eat.”

“Mm, oh.”

I headed to the cafeteria with Colgus and Lulise.

Noel and Arnella asked if we were going to make lunch, but those two are exemplary students.

Their lecture content is different from that of the dropouts… the lower class.

I declined so they could concentrate over there.

The school cafeteria operates on a self-serving basis, with dishes piled on large platters.

And the meal is free.

That’s because the expensive tuition includes cafeteria fees.

As someone whose body is an asset, I eat in a balanced and large portion.

Colgus simply piles on meat.

Lulise, being a girl, goes for fruits and pancakes… the amount of cream was astonishing.

Surprisingly, Mastema had a decent serving, with a fair amount of meat.

“Refills are free.”

Saying this, Mastema pointed with her right index finger.

There, it was indeed written that refills were free.

Ah, I see. She filled her plate with the assumption of getting refills, so it was moderate.

In the beginning, she had a big appetite but was surprisingly picky, but once she realized she could convert meals into magical power, she started eating heartily.

If left unchecked, she could eat indefinitely, so Arnella has set limits.

If she breaks the rules, she ends up with a meal consisting of just one potato, so Mastema adhered to that.

That said, Arnella isn’t here.

“Up to three times.”

“Mm, understood.”

So we sat down and began to eat.

The seasoning was… well, okay.

It wasn’t particularly delicious, but it was eatable.

“I wonder when we’ll have practical training. Lectures are such a drag.”

“Well, if you don’t work hard listening to the lectures, you’ll fail the exam, Colgus.”

“I don’t know. They say sorcerers rely on theory, but in the end, it’s about practical ability.”

“Munch, munch, chew.”

Mastema kept eating.

No matter how much the weak speak, the words of the strong carry more weight.

It’s not about what was said, but who said it.

“It all depends on how high that instructor is as a sorcerer.”

It’s the same as how the weight of words from a commoner differs from that of a princess from the Empire.

Mastema quickly finished her meal, wiped her mouth with a paper napkin, and went for a refill.

Colgus followed suit, also going for seconds.

I had finished my portion, but I felt sleepy if I ate too much.

Compared to my days as an adventurer, I’ve been moving less.

They say as long as you have some muscle, you won’t gain weight, but this is probably enough.

It didn’t take long for Mastema to get three helpings and finish eating them.

Colgus was stopped by Lulise as he tried to push himself for a second helping.

In the afternoon, the instructor would change.

Apparently, as Colgus wished, practical training would take place.

We were guided to the labyrinth within the Magic Academy, and even a beginner’s level one existed.

I didn’t know there was something like this. The academy itself is quite vast.

One person who arrived late slipped in casually.

I didn’t mind, though.

We paired up in groups of two.

The objective was to retrieve items prepared for practice placed deep within the labyrinth.

If you could bring them back, it would count as points.

The young female instructor explained that if you properly conserve magical power, it would be easy, and immediately set off from the front.

Since Lulise and Colgus teamed up, I paired up with Mastema.

After seeing Lulise waving goodbye, it wasn’t long before it was our turn.

We were the last.

As we were about to enter, we were stopped.

“This exam might not be necessary for you. I can give you points without entering, but do you want to do it?”

The young female instructor looked at me.

It seems she knows who I am.