Chapter 42 - The Magic Otaku Instinctively Tells It to Go Home
"You want to use the lab even after class is over? What on earth are you planning to do?"
"I intend to practice my magic."
"Are you sure? You're not planning something… outrageous again, are you?"
My credibility with Professor Azadh had plummeted. What a mess. And the worst part was, I was, in fact, planning to do something that defied the common sense of this world. I suppose I couldn't blame him for being suspicious.
Three days had passed since I first asked Professor Hazza if I could use the spell laboratory during the time between the end of the afternoon practicum and dinner at the dorms. He had apparently taken my request to the faculty meeting, and now, after class, I had been summoned by Chief Professor Azadh and was being subjected to the question I'd just heard. The fact that he wouldn't take my claim of "practicing magic" at face value was a clear sign of my poor standing.
"Ruria has too much mana to expend in just the afternoon session. It feels like a waste, so I thought I'd like to let her practice a little more."
This was true. While even the more exceptional first-years like Roche, Isak, and Miss Elisha had to take breaks and were still quite exhausted by the end of the practicum, Ruria could cast spells at a much faster pace than them and remain perfectly energetic. From what I could see, the glow of her magical power hadn't even diminished by half when the afternoon session ended. We were all in awe, wondering just how immense her mana reserves truly were.
"That girl is certainly something else… But Saki, your own mana wasn't all that great, was it? Are you just going to be supervising while Ruria stays behind to practice?"
"It's true that my mana is low. Even now, it's probably the lowest among all the students at this academy. But for some reason, the number of times I can cast spells has been increasing lately. So I thought I might be able to keep her company for a little while, even after the practicum is over."
Professor Azadh nodded deeply at my words before answering.
"That's to be expected. Every time a magic user learns a new spell, they become able to cast the spells they already know with less mana. Normally, first-years don't learn enough spells to notice this effect, but you and Ruria are already on the verge of the Second Tier. You should be able to cast your earliest spells with considerable efficiency by now."
I see, so that's how it works. I had been wondering why I could cast so many more spells recently, even though my own mana hadn't grown that much. I had unexpectedly received confirmation.
Basically, it was like this: let's assume my mana when I first learned a spell was ten. Back then, I used all ten units of mana to cast [Light] and collapsed immediately after. But each time I learned a new spell, the mana required to cast [Light] decreased to nine, then eight, then seven. My current mana is about three times what it was back then, so now I can cast [Light] several times in a row without any issue.
Plus, I had my mana absorption technique. Thanks to this skill, which allowed me to gather the particles of magic in my surroundings and convert them into my own mana, I could recover my power during short breaks in the practicum and keep up with everyone else, who had far more mana than I did. The amount I could gather at once was small, but it was a surprisingly useful trick.
As I inwardly rejoiced at this new piece of knowledge, trying to maintain a neutral expression, Professor Azadh let out a sigh and spoke.
"I have a great deal I'd like to say, but it is not my place as a professor to hinder a student's independent efforts. I will grant you permission to use the spell laboratory."
"Really?! Thank you so much!"
"However! You must finish your practice before dinner at the dorms without fail and return the key to either myself or Hazza. If you break this promise even once, you can forget about ever receiving such a special exception again. Do you understand?"
"Of course, Professor. I am grateful for your generous consideration."
I corrected my tone, which had become informal, and thanked the professor once more. To be honest, Professor Azadh was practically family, so when no one else was around, I tended to slip into a tone I'd use with an uncle. But at critical moments like this, it was important to show proper respect and express my gratitude. I do understand these things, you know.
The problem, however, was that the very person I was thanking was now staring at me with a deeply displeased expression.
"Um. Why do you look like you just swallowed a lemon?"
"When you act this polite, I get a terrible feeling. You're really not plotting something nefarious behind my back, are you?"
"O-Of course not. Thank you for taking the time to see me when you're so busy."
With Professor Azadh's intense gaze burning into my back, I exited the office provided to the chief professor. Outside, Ruria was waiting for me alone in the hallway, where the sun was beginning to set. I showed her the key I'd borrowed from the professor. She gave a single nod, then came closer and took my left arm. As we started walking toward the spell laboratory, I whispered to her.
"For a while, let's use the spell lab after class to read through that book together. If there's anything you don't understand, I think I'll be able to explain it."
"Mm."
"Also, there's something I need to ask Hanna to get for us…"
Walking side by side down the academy's corridor, we spoke in hushed tones, as if hatching some secret plot.
"Hmph! Why do you and Ruria-chan get to stay behind and practice together, Saki-san? That's not fair!"
The very next day, when I told my friends that Ruria and I would be using the laboratory to practice for a while after the afternoon classes, someone predictable flew into a rage. It was, of course, Miss Elisha.
"Come on, we're all together every afternoon for the practicum, aren't we? You should be happy with that."
In fact, we were in the middle of our five-person spell practicum right now. I had brought up the topic of staying behind during a short break after we had all completed a round of practice.
"That's not what I mean! Leaving a cute girl and a cute boy all alone in a room where no one can see them… it will be too late if something happens!"
What exactly is this romance-novel-brained young lady imagining two seven-year-olds could possibly do?
"Therefore, to prevent any such thing from happening, I shall join you and watch over the two of you. Then all will be well."
"The fact that you'd even come up with that idea makes you the last person I can trust."
At my remark, Roche and Isak, who were watching the exchange from the side, nodded silently. Ruria, too, was glaring at Miss Elisha as if to say she didn't trust her one bit. I cleared my throat, paused for a moment, then put on a serious expression and answered sincerely.
"To be honest, we're about to start practicing things we can't show everyone else just yet. Ruria and I are about to complete the First Tier, after all."
My words made Miss Elisha cover her mouth, a look of shock on her face. She then pretended to break down in tears, whimpering things like, "Oh, boo-hoo. So Ruria-chan and Saki-san are leaving the rest of us behind." Of course, this was just her usual dramatic, and frankly, playful, acting.
However, Roche and Isak, who were watching this poorly-acted skit from the side, had stiff expressions. They had probably been expecting it, but as the ones being left behind, they must have had their own feelings on the matter.
Still, turning a blind eye to reality wouldn't do them any good. So, I announced in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Actually, just a little while ago, both Ruria and I succeeded in learning our eleventh spell."
That was right. When we started the practicum today, I just had a feeling, like, Hey, I think I can do this. So instead of reviewing the spells we already knew, Ruria and I decided to practice a new one. And just like that, we had brilliantly succeeded in mastering our eleventh spell.
My declaration was met with a chorus of "Wow," "Haaah," and "You're kidding…" from those around me. Hey, couldn't at least one of you say "Congratulations" or "That's amazing"? What a bunch of unsupportive friends.
Well, I suppose it couldn't be helped. Lug, the top student among the third-years, was currently working on his eleventh spell. This meant that Ruria and I, who had only just enrolled, had effectively leapfrogged every single student in the academy. For those who had witnessed it up close, perhaps they could only be dumbfounded.
By the way, I made it sound as though Ruria and I had mastered the new spell at the same time, but that wasn't the case at all. While I had just barely succeeded after practicing it repeatedly since the start of the session, Ruria had succeeded on her very first try. This marked the eleventh consecutive time, starting from our days at the private academy, that Ruria had successfully cast a spell on her initial attempt. I wondered just how long this record would continue.
"The one we learned today was [Stone Bullet], so the only spell left in the First Tier is [Lock]."
"…Eleven spells in just two months since enrolling. I hear that even Lady Ester didn't master all twelve spells of the First Tier until her second year. This is an abnormally fast pace."
"Yeah, I doubt we'll ever see another seven-year-old Second Tier magic user in the future."
"And I'm still practicing my third… I wish I could get some of that luck. I wonder if I'd get some of your talent if I hugged you?"
As Miss Elisha trailed off with that nonsensical mutter and began to wander towards me, I held out both hands to stop her. Listen, if talent could be shared that easily, you, who have doted on Ruria like a kitten, should be overflowing with it by now.
"More importantly, Elisha-san, have you been doing the practice I taught you every day?"
Miss Elisha, who had been inching closer to Ruria as Ruria raised her index finger to draw a sigil, flinched at my words and turned back. Though her face had returned to a serious expression, her hands were still wiggling eagerly at her sides. It was incredibly surreal, and I wished she would stop.
"You mean that training method you taught me, Saki-san? Yes, I've been doing it properly in my room every night."
"Then you'll be fine. Continuing with that is how I, Ruria, Roche, and Isak have all improved. I'm sure you'll see results soon, too, Elisha-san."
Roche and Isak nodded with smiles at my words. Ruria also walked around Miss Elisha to cling to my arm, nodding her head up and down silently. Miss Elisha looked at us with a blank expression at first, but then she placed a hand on her cheek and murmured with a troubled smile.
"Honestly… I'm the oldest one here. But, I'll say thank you, Saki-san. And to all of you as well."
The smile that bloomed on her face was that of a girl her age.
…Even though she's nearly twice as old as me!
"…Conducting research in secret like this makes me feel terribly guilty for some reason."
Left alone with Ruria in the spell laboratory after sending the other three back to the dorms, I found myself muttering aloud. Ruria, hearing this, tilted her head slightly with a question mark floating above it, but having nothing to say, she simply sat down in a chair and opened the Book of Spirits (Liber Spirituum) on her lap. I pulled up a chair as well, placing it opposite Ruria, and sat down to look at the book myself.
"Well, it's not like I'm telling a complete lie to the professor or our friends. We will be practicing spells. I just never said we wouldn't be doing anything other than practicing spells."
What a flimsy excuse. But Ruria's expression didn't change in the slightest; her eyes remained fixed on the Book of Spirits. Was she pretending not to hear, or did she hear but just not care? It was probably the latter.
It was then that I realized I had, without thinking, dropped my facade now that it was just the two of us. I wasn't acting as Saki Adoni Arcalai, the heir to the viscounty. My true self—Aki Shirasawa, who had lived for a total of over thirty years counting my previous life—was showing.
(It's a little late to be realizing that. But why?… Ah, so that's it.)
I probably had a deep-seated conviction that Ruria would never leave me, no matter how I changed. At the same time, I knew I would never leave this childhood friend of mine either. That's why I could reveal my true self. I knew that something so trivial would never change our relationship.
That was also why I was having her join me in this magical research under the pretext of extra practice. "Mastering magic" was a purely personal goal of mine; in a sense, you could say I was dragging Ruria into my own affairs. But I had never hidden anything from her (though there were still mountains of things I hadn't told her), and she had accepted it all without rejection. I was completely taking advantage of her kindness.
Besides, she was stubborn enough to flatly refuse anything she couldn't accept, a fact proven by the incident when we were about to enroll in the academy. I couldn't change her mind then. Maria was somehow able to persuade her, but I still don't know how she did it. I suppose it just goes to show how great mothers are.
I suddenly noticed Ruria had lifted her head and was looking at me with her usual sleepy eyes. Her expression was as blank as ever, but I could see a hint of puzzlement at my silence. Our eyes met, and almost reflexively, the thoughts that had been on my mind came pouring out.
"Thank you for always being here with me, Ruria. I'm grateful."
For a good few seconds, Ruria held my gaze before silently lowering her head again. Her expression hadn't changed, but her cheeks seemed to be flushed a faint crimson. Whoa, I've been with her for a long time, but I've never seen that expression before. It was a rare sight.
I found it rather endearing and continued to watch her, only to be met with an upward glare from her still-flushed face. Unlike her usual sleepy eyes, this gaze was filled with a certain force, as if to ask, "Are you teasing me?" My smile only widened, and I spoke to her gently.
"No, I really mean it. Now then, we don't have much time here, so let's start reading from the beginning—"
Ruria, who was usually quiet, was even more taciturn that day. And yet, when we finished our session and went to return the key to Professor Azadh, she clung to my arm with more strength than usual.
As I've said before, living in the academy dorms is not conducive to magical research. Although I'd finally secured a private space by getting permission to use the spell laboratory, it was still only suitable for activities like reading books. Practicing actual magical rituals was, I had to admit, extremely difficult.
I could bring in items like my Fire Short Sword, Ruria's Water Chalice, and books like the Book of Spirits, but carrying in something like an altar would inevitably draw attention. There were also many smaller tools like censers and bowls, and acquiring them without leaving the academy was a challenge in itself. It would likely be a long time before we could perform a full-scale ritual.
However, among the rituals described in the Book of Spirits, there were some that could be performed even in this environment. I had my eye on one such ritual since I first read the book, and I had been focusing on it during my recent reading sessions with Ruria.
It was, in short, the ritual of [Invocation of the Familiar]. It's a classic staple in manga, anime, and games—a ritual to summon and command a cute (?) mascot-like partner for a magic user. In fiction, these familiars might be cats, crows, or even cryptids from the land of fairies. That sort of thing.
However, according to the grimoires from my previous life, they were often just miniature demons—little old men with bat wings, pointed ears and tails, reeking of sulfur... The grimoires of the Middle Ages were so disappointing. Why didn't they gender-bend them? There's just no demand for that kind of "little devil."
But still, a pet-like creature you can communicate with would be useful, and even if it was a little old man, if it had wings, it could probably fly. Its usefulness would be immeasurable. Most importantly, the ritual to summon it didn't require elaborate tools and could apparently be done just by drawing a magic circle on the floor. That was a huge plus. I figured we could manage that, even in this spell laboratory.
"Alright, let's finish this today. Then we'll review the incantation, and we'll perform the ritual tomorrow."
With that, I took a folded cloth from my shoulder bag and spread it out on the floor of the spell laboratory. It was a square piece of cloth, about two meters on each side, roughly the size of a bedsheet. A large circle was drawn on the spread-out cloth, filled with various symbols and letters. It was, of course, a magic circle. Ruria nodded at my words, dipped a brush in ink, and began to continue writing the pattern on the cloth.
I had asked Hanna to procure this cloth from a shop in the academy city. I couldn't very well draw a magic circle directly on the laboratory floor. If anyone saw it, they'd get angry and ask what kind of prank it was. Besides, it would be physically impossible to draw the circle, perform the ritual, and erase all traces of it within the short time we had. Our group of five used this lab every afternoon for our practicum, so Roche and the others would find out immediately.
So, the solution was to draw the magic circle on a large cloth and spread it out on site. A portable magic circle, allowing us to perform rituals anywhere. If we folded up the cloth, bringing it in and packing it up would be simple. I thought it was a pretty neat idea, if I did say so myself.
This time, I had drawn a rough draft of the magic circle with charcoal, and Ruria was tracing over it with ink. It's best for the ritualist to create the various tools used in magic with their own hands as much as possible, so I was assisting the less-experienced Ruria as she drew the circle. That's right—the one who would actually be performing the [Invocation of the Familiar] ritual was not me, but Ruria.
As I've mentioned before, there are two types of rituals for summoning higher beings in magic: invocation and evocation. Invocation is when the ritualist calls a higher being down into themselves to receive revelations or advice. Evocation is when various spirits are summoned to a place separate from the ritualist to be commanded. Based on this classification, summoning a familiar would seem to fall under evocation. However, the Book of Spirits clearly stated it was the "ritual of Invocation of the Familiar." I was confused at first, too.
So, I read the details of the ritual carefully and found this: "Through the ritual, the caster calls down a powerful spirit into themselves. The spirit then uses the caster's mana to construct a physical body with which to operate in Assiah (the Material World), and inhabits it." I see. So the caster allows a higher being to possess them and then gives birth to it as a familiar. I've never seen a ritual like this, not even in the grimoires of my past life. This was truly another world.
There was also a note stating that the ritual could fail if the caster's mana was low, and that a greater amount of mana would produce a more powerful familiar. That's why we decided Ruria was the most suitable person to perform the ritual. Personally, I wanted Ruria to gain more experience with magic, so I had no problem with it.
While we were busy with this, Ruria finished drawing the magic circle. This time, too, it was a simple design: a circle with a pentagram, the signs of the elements, and divine names inscribed. The only thing that worried me was that one of the divine names was "Isis." Not that there's anything wrong with Isis—in my past life, that is. But in this world, Isis is Sister Magisa, right? It just made me a little… uneasy.
Well, we'd come this far, so backing out now was out of the question. We were doing the ritual. Afterward, Ruria and I reviewed the steps of the ritual, practiced the incantation all the way through, and then returned the key to the professor before heading back to the dorm.
The next day, after finishing the afternoon practicum as usual, Ruria and I sent the other three back to the dorms and remained in the spell laboratory. Today was the day. The day Ruria would perform the [Invocation of the Familiar] ritual. The cloth with the magic circle was already spread on the floor, where Ruria stood with her usual expressionless face.
I stood at a distance, watching over Ruria's ritual. From the looks of it, Ruria wasn't overly tense or trying too hard; she was approaching the ritual with a natural posture. The most important thing in magic is to relax. To remain deeply focused, yet never let your emotions waver, and to execute the ritual with a calm mind. Ruria had mastered the most crucial fundamentals.
I gave Ruria a slight nod. She nodded back silently and raised the Water Chalice she had brought for this ritual high into the air. As she lowered the chalice to her solar plexus, she chanted the "Cross Cleansing" in a small but firm voice.
"For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever. So let it be."
As Ruria chanted, a pillar of light descended from the heavens, and another pierced through from the horizon, forming a cross at the center of her body.
"Before me, Air. Behind me, Water. On my right hand, Fire. On my left hand, Earth."
Next, Ruria drew a pentagram in the air with the chalice, and a silver pentagram appeared in the air, tracing its path. She did this in all four directions, and four pentagrams floated around her. This was the "Banishing Ritual."
"For about me flames the Pentagram, and in the column stands the Six-rayed Star."
The initial "Cross Cleansing" purifies the caster, and the following "Banishing Ritual" purifies the place where the ritual is performed. This is because if the caster is spiritually disturbed or the ritual site is tainted, there's a risk of summoning something malicious instead of the intended higher being.
And now, the main event. Ruria raised the chalice high and began the incantation for the [Invocation of the Familiar].
"Come, O kin of the Most High.
From the deepest depths of the earth, from the storm-swept void, from the abyss of the great sea, from the scorching crater, hasten forth.
By the authority of the Most High,
I awaken thee, I summon thee, I command thee.
I am one who reveres the Most High, learns from the Most High, and follows the Most High.
O thou who art obedient to the Most High,
By the holy name of the Most High, I purify thee and command thee.
In the name of the great Isis, Goddess of Fertility, Guardian of Royalty, Creator of Magic,
Inhabit my body and take the form of one who shall follow me."
Finishing the slow incantation, Ruria bowed her head and offered the chalice forward.
And then, I saw it. I had the illusion that the roof of the spell laboratory was suddenly blown away and the sky had cracked open. A pillar of light descended from the heavens and pierced through Ruria. And through that pillar of light, soft particles of silver light rained down upon her, being absorbed into her silently, like fresh snow piling up.
As the silver particles ceased their descent, the vast magical power dwelling within Ruria transferred into the chalice she held aloft. Inside the chalice, her mana condensed, and after flashing with a single, brilliant burst of light, all light vanished.
All sound disappeared from the surroundings, and in the ear-piercing silence, something began to rise from within the chalice.
It was the form of a tiny, tiny woman, small enough to be cupped in both hands. Her long, narrow eyes were closed, her lips were sealed, and though she was exquisitely small, she was the very image of a lovely young girl. However, the ears peeking out from her long silver hair were long and pointed, and she had wrapped her naked body in two pairs of translucent wings—four in total—like a silken robe. In a word, she was a fairy. No other word came to mind to describe this being.
The fairy floated completely out of the chalice and slowly began to open her closed eyes. As she did, the wings wrapped around her body unfurled—
Her eyes snapped open, and the fairy thrust a fist into the air and shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Isis the Magic Fairy is here, BORN IN A BLAZE OF GLORY!!! Ruria-chan, Saki-kyun, let's get along from now on, 'kay?★"
"A replacement, please."
Faster than thought, the words left my mouth on pure reflex.
This is the 40th chapter. This one also took a very long time. I am truly sorry. I'll continue to work on it at my own pace, so I hope you'll stick with me.