[EN] Episode 1 - The Academy's Black Sheep

Enrollment at the Magic Kingdom's academy involved several special procedures.
If one were to name the most representative of these, it would be the Magic Aptitude Test, which measures the user's magical aptitude.


Wingester stood in line, waiting before the testing station set up in the academy's auditorium.


New students simply had to place their hands on the crystal sphere, part of the testing equipment, and infuse it with their own magical power.
Then, based on the measured magical aptitude, the magic circle installed around the crystal sphere would evaluate their aptitude through the color and amount of mana emitted.


In front, an examiner holding a chart checked each student's test results by monitoring the magic circle's measurement reactions.


Wooong-


An unusually strong reaction surged from the magic circle, sparking and causing small lightning bolts to crackle.
Exclamations erupted from the students in line, and the platinum-haired young man who had triggered the magic circle swept back his slightly wavy hair, radiating pride.


“Romulus T. Seiz. Seventh Circle... No, this level could even reach the Eighth Circle... Primary attribute is Lightning.”
Even the examiner was startled, blurting out the test results without thinking. Applause erupted among the new students.


It was commonly known that the limit a human could reach as a mage was generally 8th Circle. Beyond that, only legendary Archmages who left their names in history, or those who reached 9th Circle, existed.
Usually, even reaching 7th Circle earned one the title of Archmage and widespread reverence.


Receiving such an evaluation from the very start of the magical aptitude test meant becoming a great mage in the future was certain, making Romulus what the Magic Kingdom commonly called an ‘elite’.


Romulus's family, the Seiz family, is also one of the families called the Six Pillars of the Magic Kingdom.
It would be strange indeed if the offspring of such a family had low magical aptitude.


Romulus strode out of the examination hall with great pomp, and the other students, harboring hopes of their own, eagerly approached the test.


As time passed and Wingester's turn arrived, he too carefully placed both hands on the crystal sphere and concentrated.
He drew the surrounding ether into his body, converted it into mana, and then slowly emitted it toward the crystal sphere.


Soon, a gentle breeze began rising from the magic circle, accompanied by pink vapor.
The freshmen watching from behind began murmuring.
It was noticeably weaker than the typical reaction.
Moreover, the pink vapor signified a ‘Physical’ attribute magic—a type usually dismissed as belonging to the neutral elemental system.


The examiner snorted inwardly, wrote “4th Circle, Physical Enhancement Magic” in Wingester's test results column, then dismissed him with a mere gesture, not even glancing at him, signaling the test was over.
He was one of those so-called untalented individuals, rare in the Magic Kingdom.


In this country, low magical aptitude meant one's lineage was unremarkable, and an unremarkable lineage meant low social standing.


It was only because this academy accepted anyone with Magic Kingdom citizenship that such a student was admitted; otherwise, they would never have been accepted.


Even after spending a fortune on his education, he would barely reach the level of a fourth-circle mage, just barely qualifying as a magician. The best he could manage were support spells like physical enhancement magic. Teaching such a hopeless case was hardly a joy for the instructors.


The new students, having finished their assessments, hurried to prepare for the entrance ceremony in the hall at the back of the auditorium.
They were seated at their respective places, waiting for the faculty to ascend the podium.


About five minutes after all the magical aptitude tests concluded, the teachers began ascending the podium one by one. The Dean of Magic, equivalent to the principal, was the last to step up. He stood before the lectern, tapping the microphone to check its function.


<Ahem. Well. Welcome to Sigseiji Magic Academy. Students. Here, over the next eight years, you will learn the fundamentals of being a magician and various specialized courses to contribute to the future of the Magic Kingdom....>


After the headmaster's lengthy speech concluded, he began briefly introducing the teachers from various departments.


Koch the Master of Rapid Casting. Or Archmage Koch.
He is the Archmage teaching the academy's incantation studies. He is also a friend of Wingester's grandfather.
Specializing in Speed Incantation, he was a kind person who occasionally visited Wingester during his childhood and served as his mentor.


Wingester, who possessed low magical aptitude and should have focused on inheriting the family business, had decided to push himself to enter the Academy precisely because he wanted to study under Master Koch.


Though Enchantment, Wingester's family business, had little direct connection to the study of magic incantations, Koch's teachings profoundly influenced Wingester as a mage, regardless of that.


His character, always treating others with an unassuming demeanor regardless of their magical aptitude, was renowned even among mages.


This was why Koch had shared a deep friendship with Wingester's grandfather, and now that the grandfather had passed away, Koch was effectively like a great-grandfather to him.


After the entrance ceremony, on the way back, Wingester encountered Koch waiting at the school gate.
“Wingester. So you've finally enrolled.”
“Yes. I really wanted to study under you, sir.”
“Now, now... asking for instruction from an old wizard like me...”


Wingester chuckled softly, watching Koch put on his act.
“Surely you don't mean to call someone who's a 7th Circle user—one of fewer than 100 in the entire kingdom—and who bears the epithet ‘Swift Strike,’ just an old wizard?”
“Someone who couldn't even reach 8th Circle, just grew old, and is now treated like a has-been, merely called a ‘great mage’ by name?”
“Hahaha! Still, to me, you are a master above the clouds. I look forward to your guidance.”
“......Oh dear.”


Walking side by side like that, the two arrived at the front of Wingester's house, the Enchantment Supplies Shop.
Ignoring Wingester, who was about to thank him for the escort, Teacher Koch promptly flung open the shop door.


“Hey there. How's business these days?”
“Oh my! Teacher Koch! It's been ages!”
“Sorry about that. Been busy lately with the kids' school preparations.”
“Not at all. You're a teacher at the Royal Academy, of course you're busy.”
“I'll just see if there's anything suitable for teaching materials.”


While Koch chatted affably with Wingester's mother, who happened to be browsing the shop, and scanned the display cases for interesting tools, Wingester cautiously entered behind him.


“Wingester came too? Could you watch the shop while I get the teacher some tea?”
“Ah, yes!”
“No, that won't be necessary. I'll just browse a bit before leaving.”
“No, no! Since you've come all this way, please sit down and rest for a moment before you go.”
Watching her hurry off to the kitchen to prepare, Koch turns his attention back to the display case.


“Huh. I haven't seen this bracelet before. Looks like you've developed something new since last time.”
Expressing interest as he closely examined the bracelet released as a new item a month ago, Wingester, who had been standing at the counter, took it out to show him.


“This is... a shock magic item.”
Koch recognized it upon seeing the engraved enchantment pattern on the bracelet and nodded.
“Yes. It's a self-defense electric shock bracelet.”
“How does it activate?”
“When worn on the arm, it activates when you forcefully push or strike the target with your hand.”
“That's convenient. Wear it on your free hand when not holding a staff, then electrocute any enemy who gets close. Perfect.”
Seeing the teacher instantly deduce its purpose, I inwardly marveled.


“Yes! Father designed it with that in mind.”
“Hohoh. You really are a knowledgeable fellow.”
“...Though it might not be much use to you, Professor Koch.”
“Why's that? I'm a frail old mage in close combat too...?”
“Well, Professor Koch, you're renowned for your lightning-fast incantations, aren't you?”
“Hmm...”
Koch, who had been twirling his beard, quietly approached the boy and whispered.


“In actual combat, there's no such thing as absolute. Besides, I'm getting on in years now. Having something like this as insurance would put my mind at ease...”
“Eh... Really?”
“Indeed. So, for now, let's just say you're buying this bracelet.”
“Thank you!”
“You're welcome. It's been a while since I had insurance myself, so this puts my mind at ease too.”


After browsing the items and being treated to tea, Koch chatted a bit with Wingester about the Academy before buying the bracelet and several other magical tools and heading back.


He had come to the shop specifically to encourage him, knowing he would face grueling days at the Academy due to his low magical aptitude.
“Be careful going in-!”


Wingester saw the teacher off as far as possible. To live up to his teacher's expectations, he resolved to achieve something at the academy.


Even though his magical aptitude was the lowest possible, there was one subject he was confident in.


School life began immediately the next day.
Though he started with some expectations, school life proved endlessly grueling for Wingester.


The results of the magical aptitude test spread quietly among the students, and those with low aptitude like Wingester naturally became objects of contempt.


After a week, rumors had spread like wildfire among the students, and Wingester found himself utterly alone in an instant.


Half-penny. Inferior species.
These were the openly used derogatory terms for Wingester in the class.
“Hey! Half-penny! Pass this over here!”
“…….”


The nasty classmates pointed to a heavy-looking table used in enchantment class.
“We're too busy honing our destructive magic every day to build arm strength, you see.”
“But you're always fiddling with your magic tools, right? You should be able to handle this.”


This wasn't the first time this had happened.
He’d tried to beat up the guys who provoked him like this twice before, but they were still young mages.
He was always the one getting tossed around by all sorts of spells.


And it was always Wingester who got scolded by the teachers for throwing punches.


In the end, he gritted his teeth and had no choice but to comply with their demands.
After struggling to carry the table to the designated classroom and brushing off his hands, he frowned at their latest demand: to move their bags too.


“What? Got a problem? Want me to freeze you solid with cold magic again?”
“Just do what you're told. For an inferior race like you, that's the fastest way to contribute to the kingdom. Move it!”


*


Two years later.
As usual, Wingester was single-handedly cleaning the academy's underground storage room.
The interior was completely covered in cobwebs and dust balls, likely from long neglect.
“Ugh...”


While alternating between sweeping and using air purification magic to tidy the space, something suddenly caught his foot with a thud.
“Yikes?!”


Crash.


Grumbling in frustration at the dim interior, Wingester scrambled back up and glared irritably at whatever had tripped him.
“This is...?”


He discovered a long, rectangular box, tightly bound with red sealing tape, that had rolled down from the bottom shelf.
Normally, he would have just shoved it back onto the shelf and walked away, but the closer Wingester got to it, the more he felt a strange fluttering in his chest.
“......”


“No. No, it can't be.”
Shaking his head, he withdrew his hand just as he was about to tear the ribbon. He promptly picked up the box and returned it to its original spot.
Then, picking up his broom, he left the area to finish the cleaning.


-To be continued-