A week or so had passed.
School life was monotonous.
My days went something like this.
First, when I woke up in the morning, I'd start with my daily training.
According to a manga I'd read in my previous life, some guy did a hundred push-ups, sit-ups, and squats, then ran ten kilometers—all in exchange for his hair—and gained the strongest power in the world.
I didn't want to lose my hair, so I pushed myself a bit harder.
Specifically, I'd do wooden sword swings and other drills.
Then I'd head back to my room and do some magic practice.
I'd also started working on figures again.
Progress on that front was slow.
After a while, Zanoba would come to fetch me, and we'd head to breakfast.
The dormitory cafeteria apparently had a fixed eating order based on grade and status.
But it was somewhat flexible in practice.
Mornings were busy, after all.
After eating, I'd split off from Zanoba and head to the library.
Researching teleportation had gotten a bit interesting.
When the noon bell rang, I'd meet up with Zanoba for lunch.
He was working hard too—he'd come to me with questions about parts of the lectures he didn't understand.
I answered as best I could, within my knowledge.
Incidentally, Zanoba was only taking Earth Magic classes.
Well, to each their own.
Lunch was usually eaten outside the cafeteria.
I'd get strange looks now and then, but it was mostly fine.
Elinariuse would occasionally show up, but in her eyes, Zanoba apparently wasn't attractive, so she'd wander off somewhere after a moment.
She was said to be drifting between the first and second floors of the cafeteria.
Since men couldn't be brought into the women's dormitory, I asked how things were going on "that" front, and apparently she spent her evenings hanging around town.
Active both day and night—tough girl.
Incidentally, the cafeteria had quite a few dishes that suited my taste.
The deep-fried stand-in called
None of them quite reached the level of my favorites, but the fact that similar dishes existed was personally satisfying enough.
In the afternoon, I'd head to the main school building for classes.
I attended lectures on the fundamentals of Divine Strike Magic and Barrier Magic.
Divine Strike Magic was particularly effective against ghost-type or gaseous monsters without physical bodies.
In theory, it was probably close to Disturb Magic.
It was like slamming raw mana directly at the target.
Of course, just throwing mana around like that wouldn't deal any damage—there had to be some special mechanism involved—but I didn't know the details.
If I'd been an exorcist in my previous life, maybe I'd have understood that part too.
For now, I was just learning the theory and memorizing incantations one by one.
Apparently, you needed to vary your technique depending on the enemy.
To become a top-tier Divine Strike mage, reading your opponent was supposedly key.
Well, that was probably true for any type of combat magic, not just Divine Strike.
Incidentally, I'd heard that first-rate swordsmen could even cut down ghosts.
Barrier Magic was, literally, magic that created barriers.
Basically it used magic circles, but for beginners, incantations were also possible.
At the introductory level, you learned to erect a Mana Barrier in front of you—a wall against magical attacks.
The Mana Barrier could block or reduce fire and cold.
The anti-magic bricks and the heating used in inns were probably advanced versions of this.
But if there was a barrier against magic, you'd think there would be one against physical attacks too.
Indeed, Zanoba's barrier had deflected physical attacks as well.
Would we learn that eventually?
When I asked the teacher, both Divine Strike and Barrier magic fell under the jurisdiction of the Millis Church.
The Magic University could only teach up to the introductory level.
Physical barriers were apparently intermediate-level, and we wouldn't be learning them.
The teacher could use them and could teach them too, but it was against the rules.
If you broke those rules and got caught, the Millis Church might come after you, and you could even end up facing a heresy trial.
Previously, they apparently couldn't teach even the introductory level for both.
But about two years ago, permission was granted to teach them on certain conditions.
Given those circumstances, the lectures actually focused more on how to break through barriers rather than creating them.
Barriers came in anti-physical and anti-magic types, and at
There were also barriers for personal defense, barriers for sealing things inside—various uses.
So reviewing everything from the start was genuinely educational.
After class, I'd return to the library.
Until dark, I'd keep researching teleportation.
I was sifting through documents, but since teleportation magic itself was classified as forbidden, there wasn't much detailed information available.
The "Teleportation Labyrinth Adventure Tales" that Senior Fitz had told me about might have been the most thorough source.
Then after returning to the dorm and eating dinner, I'd spend a little time on figures before going to bed.
A routine had formed, and I was starting to have some breathing room.
But my nighttime rampage general still hadn't recovered from her lodging-with-the-town-watch phase.
No signs of improvement.
--- It happened on one such day.
Evening, at the library.
While I was researching teleportation, Senior Fitz showed up.
White hair and sunglasses.
The standard student uniform, topped with a somewhat stylish cape, sturdy-looking boots, and pristine white gloves.
I'd run into Senior Fitz several times, and he always seemed to be dressed like this.
"
"Next to me? Don't be so distant—come, come, I've warmed it up for you. Please, sit before it gets cold."
"Haha, sorry about that."
When I offered my seat, Senior Fitz sat down with a shy smile.
I moved to the seat beside him and continued my research.
"How's the research going?"
Senior Fitz leaned in to look at my hands.
It had been a week since then. Every day, I'd been combing through documents about teleportation.
"I found that there had been several incidents similar to the Fittoa Region's in the past."
I shared my findings with Senior Fitz.
"They weren't as large-scale as the Fittoa Region incident, but apparently there were cases where people suddenly vanished one day and then unexpectedly reappeared another."
In other words, a "spiriting away." A person disappears from one place, appears somewhere else, or reappears in the same spot. In this world, such things happened with some regularity—well, maybe not frequently, but from time to time.
"Was it the same kind of teleportation as the Fittoa Region one?"
"I wonder... Hm?"
I happened to glance at Senior Fitz's hands, and saw that he, too, was holding a book about teleportation.
"Could it be... that you're helping with the investigation?"
When I asked, he shook his head.
"No. I'm looking into the same teleportation incident myself."
"Oh really? Why go out of your way? Did Princess Ariel order you to?"
"No, not exactly..."
Senior Fitz paused for a moment, resting his chin on his hand, then let the corner of his mouth twist into a slight smile.
A self-deprecating smile.
"Actually, someone I know also went missing in that teleportation."
"That's... well, how should I put it..."
I remembered the casualty list from the refugee camp.
A staggering number of deaths.
Five years had already passed since then. The survivors had been given up for dead by now.
Senior Fitz's acquaintance was surely no longer alive.
I was the lucky one—my entire family had survived.
"No, I recently learned that they're alive."
"Huh? Oh, is that so?"
"Yeah. But before that, I figured if I researched teleportation—say, figured out patterns in where teleportations appeared—it might make finding them easier. That's why I've been looking into it."
Patterns in teleportation locations. Hmm, I'd never thought of that approach.
"As expected of a senior. Brilliant insight."
"No, not at all... Besides, in the end, I wasn't able to go look for them."
Senior Fitz said that, his chin dipping slightly downward as he lowered his gaze.
From what I'd heard, the Second Princess had fallen from grace about a year after the teleportation incident. Naturally, there would have been signs of her downfall before that, and as her bodyguard, Senior Fitz must have been incredibly busy.
"There's nothing you could have done about that."
There was the matter of his position. He couldn't just abandon his duties to join a search party.
Instead, he'd used his position as a bodyguard to investigate the incident from a different angle through this school's library.
The fact that he'd found something meant he'd been gathering intelligence too. That alone was commendable.
"Rather than dwelling on the past, let's think about what comes next. For starters, could you tell me what you've found so far?"
"Sure, I can bring my notes tomorrow... But don't get your hopes up. I'm not great at research—I can't spot things as quickly as you can, Rudeus-kun."
Senior Fitz didn't seem very confident.
He was in his fourth year, wasn't he? Between classes, bodyguard duties, and—based on what I'd heard the other day—errands for Princess Ariel, plus he'd mentioned being on the student council.
Even so, he'd been chipping away at the research little by little.
He hadn't used being busy as an excuse to run away.
That was impressive.
"I just have more free time than you, Senior."
After all, I could devote my entire morning to investigation. And with what I'd seen at the scene and my knowledge from my previous life, I could make some predictions.
"Um, Rudeus-kun. This is kind of an odd request, but..."
Suddenly scratching behind his ear and looking down, Senior Fitz mumbled shyly.
I tilted my head.
"What is it?"
I owed him for his help the other day. I wanted him to ask me for anything.
"I'd like you to let me help with the teleportation investigation too."
At those words, I felt humbled.
"No, you've got it backwards—I should be the one offering to help you.
I only just started looking into this, and my information is limited."
"But I can't spare that much time. Most of the time, you'll probably end up investigating alone.
...Do you mind? Having someone who only shows up occasionally poke holes in your work?"
Basically doing all the research alone, only for some occasional visitor to tear it apart.
Put that way, it did sound annoying.
But Fitz didn't seem like the type to tear things apart without reason.
Besides, having someone else's perspective was better than going it alone.
I wasn't exactly brilliant.
If anyone could find something useful in my research, it would be a genius like Senior Fitz.
"I don't mind at all. I'd be happy to work with you."
"Yeah, thanks."
When I shook his hand, Senior Fitz smiled bashfully.
That face, and those small, soft hands.
My heart skipped a beat.
Against a guy...
...No, that couldn't be right.
Just a momentary lapse in judgment.
--- After that, I organized my findings for the day, and we called it quits.
When I left the library, it was already dark outside.
Fitz and I chatted casually on the way back.
He was busy every day with the princess's bodyguard duties and errands, but apparently once every ten days or so, he had a free evening.
"Oh, by the way, Rudeus-kun. I saw you at lunch. Impressive."
At the mention of lunch, I tilted my head.
Had I done something?
"That Zanoba Shibron following you around like a puppy—that was a surprise."
"...Haah."
Lunch meant when I was eating at the makeshift outdoor café, drawing everyone's stares.
"You might not know, but he's been nothing but trouble since enrollment—picking fights left and right, a real problem child."
A problem child who picked fights—I gave a wry smile.
Just as I'd suspected.
He hadn't been the bullied type. Of course not—someone who could wrench a person's head off wasn't going to get pushed around easily.
"In the end, he was beaten down by Linia and Pursena—those two delinquents who basically run the troublemakers—and he's been docile ever since."
So Linia and Pursena were the gang leaders.
They'd challenged the rampaging new student Zanoba and defeated him pretty handily.
Two-on-one.
I wouldn't call that unfair, exactly.
After that, Zanoba was treated like an underling of sorts.
I didn't see it much, though.
"Linia and Pursena might get involved, so be careful."
"I think it'll be fine..."
I'd already made my submission clear enough.
So far, I hadn't crossed paths with them anywhere.
I didn't know where the delinquents hung out, but I rarely saw them in the cafeteria.
"Um, they probably won't appreciate seeing me with you either."
"Why's that?"
"When we were first-years, they tried to mess with Princess Ariel, and I challenged them to a duel and beat them."
"Two-on-one?"
"Yeah. So... they might hold a grudge."
I see.
But if that was true, Senior Fitz was quite strong.
He'd defeated Linia and Pursena—two-on-one, sure, but they'd crushed Zanoba.
Oh wait, then by that logic, since I'd beaten Fitz, wouldn't that make me the strongest?
No, no way. It depended on matchups.
I could use Displacement Magic, which gave me an edge against users of non-incantation magic. Plus it had been a surprise attack.
"Rudeus-kun, I think you'll be fine."
"We'll see."
"No one in this school can beat me one-on-one.
I've never lost before, you know."
He praised me like that, but I was more impressed by his character.
A person who had never lost had finally lost.
And he wasn't bitter about it.
Didn't it bother him?
"That magic of yours—Displacement, right? Amazing. You should teach me sometime."
"Sure, no problem."
I agreed readily.
Once Fitz learned Displacement, I might lose my edge against him.
I thought that, but I didn't refuse.
"Oh, but that's why you should be careful. The special students are a colorful bunch...
The first two, I didn't really know.
The last one—well, "attacking boys" meant something rather different in his case.
"I plan to navigate things so they don't escalate into fights."
As we talked, we reached the fork in the road.
Straight ahead led to the women's dormitory.
It was still light out, but I was never walking down that road again.
"Oh, I've got something to take care of with Princess Ariel."
"Right. Thanks for your hard work. I look forward to working with you."
"I won't have time tomorrow, but I'll stop by the library."
Fitz said that and walked off toward the women's dormitory.
Free entry and exit to a women's paradise... The fact that I wasn't particularly envious probably had to do with that muscle-bound woman still fresh in my memory.
...Or perhaps.
Could it be.
Using Fitz as my connection to infiltrate the women's quarters might be the key to achieving my ultimate goal at this academy.
I still couldn't see the true intention behind the
--- And so, I began working with Senior Fitz on the investigation.
I felt we'd become quite friendly.
Partly because he was more approachable than I'd expected, but also because we'd built a good relationship.
Still, he was full of mysteries.
"Oh, by the way, Senior—why do you wear sunglasses?"
"Sunglasses? Oh, you mean my glasses?"
Senior Fitz never took them off. Not once. Not ever.
"Hmm, there's a reason, but I can't tell you. Sorry about that."
"That's fine."
Part of me did want to see what he looked like without them.
But I had no desire to force open something the person himself was hiding.
"Oh, Senior—which floor of the dormitory do you live on?
I've never seen you at mealtime."
"Well, I'm technically staying in the women's dormitory. For Princess Ariel's security."
Wouldn't that cause problems?
That was my first thought, but in that dormitory, if you obtained permission, "bringing in a slave" was allowed.
Even without a slave, a powerful royal or noble could get some leeway.
There were even nobles who brought maids into the men's dormitory.
If the maid or attendant caused trouble, it naturally fell on the master's shoulders.
Senior Fitz was technically handling a student's role, but combined with Princess Ariel's charisma and the power of the
That girl with the name like Goliade or Big Bang Bavador or whatever had addressed Fitz and Ariel with the honorific "-sama" and clearly held them in high regard.
According to Elinariuse, Senior Fitz's popularity among girls was quite considerable.
The girls swooning over Luke were just naive newcomers.
Once you were a seasoned observer, it was Fitz's melancholic side profile that really made your heart flutter, apparently.
Talking to him, he didn't seem particularly melancholic to me.
But I understood what she meant.
"Oh, Senior—you talk to me pretty normally, don't you?"
"...?"
"I'd heard you were a person of few words."
"I'm, um... actually pretty shy."
For someone who claimed that, I thought he'd been the one to approach me first.
I'd heard there were things like compatible and incompatible wavelengths. Maybe that was it.
Anyway, by this school's standards, Fitz was astonishingly quiet.
Combined with being an incantation-free mage, his nickname was "The Silent Fitz."
Or "The Silent Magician."
"Your family name couldn't possibly be Lybak, could it?"
"Huh? Lybak... Wasn't that the Second North God's name? No way. Besides, I don't even have a family name—I'm not a noble."
"Oh come on, you're secretly amazing at cooking, aren't you?"
"Well, I can cook... but what does that have to do with anything?"
My joke didn't land.
But for some reason, Senior Fitz snickered.
A man full of mysteries—Senior Fitz.
His willingness to cooperate with me was itself a mystery.
But I didn't particularly feel like unraveling those mysteries.
He was clearly hiding things on purpose.
If he intended to keep them hidden, there must be some reason.
I wasn't the kind of ungrateful person who'd force the truth out of someone who'd saved me.
Of course, saying it didn't bother me would be a lie.
But the Man-God had given me advice.
Following that advice had led me to Senior Fitz.
Based on experience, the Man-God's advice, whatever I did, tended to converge toward a single conclusion.
Meaning that by working with him, someday I might find a clue to curing the sickness.
Then there was no need to rush.
That was what I'd decided.
Chapter 7: Adolescence — Enrollment Arc — End Next Chapter Chapter 8: Adolescence — Special Student Mastery Arc