Becoming a Magic School Mage

Chapter 9

Mages weren’t the only ones who could harness mana. Experienced swordsmen who’d been training their whole lives could concentrate mana and use it to enhance their weapons. This was what they called an “aura blade”! It was so flashy and impressive that many noble children pursued swordsmanship specifically to achieve it, and children from mage families were no exception.

That was why when Ehan had first expressed interest in learning swordsmanship, Alarlong’s first thought had been, Goodness, he must want to learn how to manifest an aura. He’s sure to be disappointed when he learns what training is really like.

Alarlong was a rigidly uncompromising knight. He hadn’t gone out of his way to reveal the truth as he assumed Ehan would give up along the way, but the young master’s tenacity had far exceeded his expectations. When he was satisfied that Ehan wasn’t about to quit, Alarlong had decided it was time to tell him the truth—only to be stunned to learn that Ehan actually didn’t have much of an interest in auras to begin with.

“I thought it’d be enough just to get in shape and be able to defend myself.”

Alarlong was profoundly impressed by Ehan’s explanation. Such maturity was rare in one so young. To think he’d been approaching swordcraft with such solemnity!

“In fact, Lord Ehan, you can manifest an aura as well. One day in the future, I mean.” Alarlong had said anyway.

“No, that’s fine. I just want to be a m—”

“Aura manifestation is not something that can be attained in a year or two. But if you continue training just as I’ve taught you, you will achieve it someday.”

“I told you, I’m fine so long as I can protect myself.”

Sir, Ehan had thought, I want to live inside an office. Regardless, he’d remained diligent in his training—not to awaken to aura manifestation and become a swordmaster, but simply because he might as well.

* * *

All that practice had paid off. Wow, that was a pretty good hit.

Ehan was surprised at himself. It wasn’t at the way he’d successfully read the pig’s movements and timed his attack precisely when the animal lunged at him, since that was a technique Alarlong had long since beaten into him, and the staffs provided by Einrogard were hard enough to be used as clubs without issue. But when Ehan had made contact, he’d felt the magic energy in his surroundings fluctuating and gathering in his staff, something he’d never experienced while practicing his swordplay before.

Did that happen because I’ve started to learn magic now? The magic energy had been naturally drawn into his weapon. He wondered if this was what Alarlong had meant when he’d said that Ehan would be able to manifest an aura one day.

Of course, it was still too feeble to qualify as a proper aura, which was the concentrated essence of magic energy, but it was enough. Attacks infused with any magic energy were significantly more effective than those that weren’t.

The pig stopped its aggressive snorting with a groan, then swayed and tipped over, felled by a single blow.

Nilia looked at Ehan in shock. Did I imagine it, or did he just use magic???

Of course, the world of magic was broad indeed, and it included spells to boost physical strength and agility as well, but those were magics far too difficult for a first-year student who’d only just entered the school.

“You killed it?” she asked.

“I... think so,” Ehan said, lowering his staff and checking the mutant pig’s pulse. It was definitely dead.

Yonehr stood up with some assistance, asking in a somewhat shell-shocked voice, “Is it normal for classes to be this life-threatening?”

“The headmaster was our first hint that none of this would be normal,” Ehan replied.

The secrets of alchemy may have been hidden in the deepest recesses of nature, but it was still hard to believe that there were monsters like this just wandering around in areas easily accessible to untrained first-year students. This creature, for example, might technically have been a pig, but it could easily have destroyed a thick tree trunk on its own.

Should I drop this class? Ehan thought gravely. Assuming that the teachers here were all at least a little kooky, his odds of dying seemed higher in classes held outdoors than indoors. He’d thought this class would be easy, but considering he’d already had to battle a monster on the first day, it was likely to get even more challenging in the future.

“Who’s to say he won’t make us go even deeper into the forest to collect troll saliva or something for our next class?” he said.

“Hmm.” Yonehr furrowed her brows, looking concerned. Sure, she wanted to start her own alchemy lab, but she didn’t want to die.

“W- wait. You’re not thinking of dropping the class, are you?” Nilia hurriedly asked. She’d finally managed to expand her social circle a little by making two friends! If Ehan and Yonehr dropped alchemy, she would have to take the class all on her own again. “You’re not, right? Y-you’re both Blue Dragons. D-don’t you have pride in that?”

“Not me.”

“I consider practicality more important than honor.”

Nilia’s mood soured at their words. “Fine, do whatever you want!”

“Wait, why are you sulking all of a sudden?”

“That’s right. It’s not like we decided we’d be dropping the class for certain.”

“Really...?” she asked, turning her head.

The very next moment, a familiar cry rang out in the distance.

“Looks like there’s another one,” Ehan said.

“Maybe I will just drop it...” Yonehr muttered.

Nilia didn’t have anything to say to that.

* * *

Running in the direction of the sound, the three came upon another mutant pig like the one they’d just faced.

Seeing that there were not one but at least two of those things in the area, Ehan quickly made a decision. “I’m not taking this class.”

“Hey...!” Nilia shouted.

“I don’t think this is the time to be arguing over that...” Yonehr said, pointing ahead of them.

The pig wasn’t alone, but menacing another group of unfortunate students. Ehan counted six of them, including Princess Adenart. They were much better off than Ehan’s group of three. “I’m sure they can manage.”

“Huh?” Yonehr looked at Ehan, then at the other group, and then back at Ehan. “You really think so?”

“Who cares? Let them fend for themselves,” Nilia grumbled.

She had a low opinion of the gaggle of supporters surrounding Adenart, seeing them as an arrogant and aloof princess and a bunch of leeches who’d latched on to suck up to her.

“I will be the one to handle this!”

Ehan was startled to see one of the students in the group step forward. It was a noble he remembered seeing around the Blue Dragon Tower. “Who...?”

Of course, having seen him around didn’t mean he knew who he was. Ehan could name the noble houses of the empire, but he didn’t know their children’s faces.

“Asan Dalcard,” Yonehr answered.

“Ah, House Dalcard.”

“How can you know his house but not recognize his face...?” she asked, bewildered.

Whereas the members of House Wardanaz had a long history of serving as advisers to the emperor, House Dalcard had produced many a chancellor and financier over the generations, and was famous for its exceptional and precise handling of duties.

“If he’s a Dalcard, he’ll be reliable enough,” Ehan said.

“Yeah, he seems dependable, unlike Guynando,” Yonehr said.

Nilia cocked her head. Were they talking about Prince Guynando?

Asan was tall and stick-thin, but his stance with his staff seemed solid enough. Ehan could tell at a glance that he had a fair bit of swordsmanship training under his belt. After all, game recognized game.

“That Dalcard’s learned the sword as well,” he remarked.

“I see... Then I guess he’ll be okay,” Yonehr said with relief, not wanting any of the six students below to get hurt.

Asan took aim at the pig with his staff. “I can read you like a book,” he said, taking a step. “I can predict your every move, pig!”

Another step. His every stride was precisely the same length. He’s like a human pair of compasses, Ehan thought with fascination.

There were as many styles of swordsmanship in the empire as there were categories of magic. Heavy and forceful, swift and nimble, adaptable and complex... And, as Alarlong had once told Ehan, there were also approaches like the one Asan was using now.

“It is a style based on complicated mathematical calculations, in which one maps out geometric figures with their footwork, centered around their position.”

“Huh, that sounds like fun. Could I learn it as well?”

“Fun...?! That sounds fun to you, my lord?! Doesn’t it seem insane?”

Alarlong had been unable to teach Ehan the geometric style because he didn’t know it himself, but Ehan could recognize it now in the way Asan moved, staff in hand. How methodical!

As Asan continued to advance and provoke the pig, it suddenly let out a furious squeal and charged right at him in rage.

He dodged to one side like a matador, jabbing the pig fiercely in the side with his staff. “Take that!”

Bang!

And with that, Asan was catapulted into the air. The pig had abruptly halted and sideswiped him.

A silence settled over the group.

The hit hadn’t been head-on, but it had still packed enough of a punch to send Asan tumbling to the ground. “Urk... I’ve miscalculated...”

“He’s all form, no function,” Ehan muttered.

It seemed Asan had perfected the technique’s theory but lacked any real-world experience. So, while his form was decent, he’d failed to anticipate the pig’s charge, and had been sent flying as a result.

“Let’s help them,” Ehan said, surprising Nilia yet again.

Is this the dignity of a true noble...? Unlike other nobles who were all talk but no action, Ehan was taking it on himself to step up in a dangerous situation, just like the nobles she’d only ever seen in stories. Nilia was the tiniest bit moved.

“If we give them a hand now, then we can ask them for help with assignments or exams later. The princess’s connections should be particularly helpful.”

Any tenderness Nilia might have been starting to feel vanished instantly. You self-serving bastard...!

* * *

Adenart gestured behind her, conveying her intent loud and clear without a single word. The four remaining students quickly scurried to hide behind the princess, though the effect was debatable.

The princess was suddenly gripped by a sense of solitude. Though she was the one who’d told them to do so, this was hardly a welcome state of affairs. Yet this, too, was just another duty for her to carry out. She intended to deal with this pig just as perfectly as she’d completed every other task so far. Read its breathing. When it charges...

Just then, a thunderous crack rang out, and the pig tumbled to the side.

Amid a gaping audience, Ehan emerged from behind it, letting out a sigh of relief. “Lucky it didn’t notice me.”

“Do you understand now how important it is to approach against the wind?” Nilia asked.

“Indeed. What wisdom hunters hold.”

“If you keep taking alchemy, you could deepen your knowledge of that wisdom...?”

“Hard pass.”

Ehan had already made up his mind. Alchemy? No thanks! I’m only taking indoor classes from now on.

Adenart remained frozen for a moment, then quickly regained her composure, bowing her head. “You have my gratitude, Wardanaz.”

“It was nothing, Your Highness,” Ehan replied.

Nilia gave him a quizzical look and whispered, “Why the formality?”

“I don’t know either. I got caught up in the moment,” he replied.

Being the same age and the school rules being what they were, the students generally spoke casually with their peers regardless of their status, but Ehan had found himself matching Adenart’s formal manner of speech.

“That reminds me. If you believe yourself indebted to me, might I ask you for a favor in return?” he asked.

Adenart nodded.

“Please recommend to me any courses you know of that are easy to score well in.”

The princess’s extensive network had probably provided her with a lot more information than was available to him, or so Ehan assumed.

Adenart, on the other hand, was faintly stunned. What on earth was this mage of House Wardanaz talking about? Surely he wasn’t just asking because he wanted to coast through school. Could he have an ulterior motive?

“I know of a class that’s easy for you to score well in!” a familiar dwarven voice declared from behind him.

A sense of cold foreboding swept over Ehan, just as it had on the day he’d first met his grad school advisor...

He tried to make a hasty exit, but Professor Uregorm caught him by the collar and cheerfully declared, “And that class, Wardanaz, is alchemy.”