Death
After he gave the class the assignment of Elemental Conversion, the class split into two groups. One of the groups, they’re the students who honestly accept Lily’s explanation of the fundamentals of Elemental Conversion. This group, there are a lot of the students who have the self-awareness that they are inferior to her. They’re probably more or less showing their eagerness to learn to the ill-natured Magician and demonstrating their proactiveness one way or another.
The other group of students are fellow excellent Magicians sharing information and trying to get the hang of Elemental Conversion. Asch said he wouldn’t question the means, methods, and details. That, in other words, means he openly acknowledged cheating. If they’re slightly quick-witted, they’ll probably form a clique and accomplish the assignment. However, they are hesitant to do it in front of Lioar, the Board Chairman, and Asch, the teacher. Hence, at a location where they can’t see, they’re all practising their Magic.
Asch had Lioar stay at this place and look at the students’ Elemental Conversion, and started the search for Cis with Mira. She’s not affiliated with either group presently. He had planned for her to be a Magician who’s brimming with talent like Lily, but her not coming here even now means that it seems she’s not that competent.
House Klose is a super prestigious lineage that rivals House Schwarz. No, High Priest Melkiosk＝Klose. Silvie＝Klose, the first Captain of the Klose Chivalric Order, stated to be the number one Magic Chivalric Order on the continent. Other than that, they have also been producing extraordinary individuals in every generation. It’s to the extent that there are even critiques who comment that this lineage here is superior.
“However……we can’t seem to find her huh”
Asch muttered while surveying the surroundings. They searched most of this vicinity, but they couldn’t find Cis. She’s that beautiful of a girl. He had thought that they’d be able to find her with a glance.
Before long, they came all the way to the lake that situates at the deepest part of the Hogner Magic Academy’s campus. He didn’t actually think there’s any point in coming all the way to a place like this, but this is already the only place they didn’t search. When they try walking one round around the area,
“……Asch-sensei? Mira-san”
When they turn to the direction of the voice, there’s a spot where a ton of animals have gathered, and at the centre of that she……Cis＝Klose was there. There were ferocious species like Werewolves and Rick Bears as well among the animals, but they were behaving obediently in front of her as though they’re her pet dogs.
“I’m surprised……are you able to communicate with animals?”
Asch was honestly in awe and tried to approach, but the animals instantly bare their fangs altogether.
“Hey, everybody. These people are not bad people. Go over to the other side”
When Cis gave her orders, the animals disappeared into the forest at the back of lake altogether.
“You sure are hated huh, Asch-sama. It is because you deal with nothing but animal corpses normally”
“Mira. It’s you, right? You’re a doll without body temperature. It’s a given for you to be hated, isn’t it”
As they’re bickering like that as usual, Cis stared at Asch with her eyes like that of a crystal clear lake.
“It’s a marvellous ability. Cherish it”
“……yes”
Asch had intended to compliment her without holding back, but her expression stayed depressed.
“By the way, you’re acting separately, from Lily-kun huh. I heard you are best friends with that stuffy girl, and imagined that you would be receiving some zealous coaching from her”
“……in this school, I barely converse with her”
Cis makes a slightly gloomy smile.
“Hmm……well, I’m not interested in your relationship. It doesn’t particularly matter even if you don’t talk about it. More importantly……”
Asch, he places his palm on Cis’ head.
“Err……Asch-sensei?”
“……I heard you’re an Inept?”
“Yes……I……until now, have never once been able to use Magic”
Her blue eyes increasingly dampen and glisten like a jewel.
“……hmm. I’m surprised”
Asch had seen several tens of thousands of experimentees thus far. 『Those who are not Magicians, there exists no Magic Power Field』. It was something he concluded from an enourmous amount of validation data, but a Magic Power Field exists for Cis. Furthermore, it is a Gate that developed to the same level as Lily＝Schwarz.
“Even so, because I am a part of House Klose, I was told that I would someday come to be able to use Magic, and through Lioar Board Chairman’s arrangement, I managed to enrol into Hogner Magic Academy. But……even so, I cannot use Magic at all……since then, it has already been one year”
“……”
Cis didn’t say any more than that, but she ought to have nothing but enemies around her. Everybody in House Klose, her classmates, the teachers. For an Inept, the noble society is terrifyingly cold. It’s precisely so, that she was alone with the animals.
In Cis, Asch saw his past self.
A Magician of common descent. If his Magic Power is weak, he might’ve been pitied and overlooked. However, Asch was abnormal. His Magic Power, his disposition; in all kinds of meanings. He now still remembers the Magic Academy he once graduated as a living hell.
“……but, why into the special class?”
“I was recommended by Board Chairman Lioar. That by any chance, Asch-sensei might do something about it for me. But……as I thought, it is impossible huh. For me, who cannot use Magic, to take lessons in the special class”
“……no, that’s not true”
“Eh?”
Cis turns to Asch, and her blue hair that’s one with the lake moves smoothly.
“I can tell that you possess amazing potential”
“……is that……for real?”
“Those crystal clear eyes of yours. That amazing figure of yours. Your beautiful looks. You’ll become one of the greatest beauty in the continent in the future. I guarantee”
“……”
“Asch-sama……I think Cis-sama is not at all hoping for such an answer”
Mira indifferently retorts the idiotic Magician who can’t read the mood, but he brilliantly ignores it and continues talking.
“Cis. Is there anything else that you thought of wanting to be?”
“……yes”
“Hou, what do you want to be?”
“I……want to be an animal like those children.『How great would it be if I can stay with those children』, I thought……numerous times”
“Good answer”
Asch grinned.
“Cis, it is difficult even for a super prodigy like me to make you an animal. I won’t say that I can’t though. However, I’m able to be what you desire for”
“Err……”
“I’m saying I’ll be your friend who’ll stay with you. Just so you know, but a friend like me is valuable. To be completely honest, it is even more valuable than befriending everybody of the Hogner Maic Academy after all”
When Asch said that, Cis broke into a smile.
“……kukuku……kukukukuku……what is that? In the first place, to be friends with a teacher”
“You sure have a strange laugh. However, your laughing face is adorable. Your sorrowful face is also beautiful, but your laughing face is better. Besides, what you pointed out is off the mark. A person who befriends animals is very much stranger, and yet you laugh at befriending a teacher after all that”
“……kukukukuku……it, it is strange indeed huh……kukukukuku……”
“You really do have a strange laugh. However, it’s a nice smile. Listen here, I’m your friend, so say『it’s strange』to what’s strange. Say『nice』to what you find nice. Don’t hold back”
“……yes! Nice to meet you, my odd friend-san”
Cis held Asch’s hand with an innocent smile.
“Err……by the way, Asch-sensei. I have just one question”
“What is it? You are my friend, but you are also my student. It’s alright to ask anything”
“Why are you having Mira carry you on her back the whole time?”
・・・
“Instead, I would like to ask, why are you people walking?”
“……even though you can just honestly say that your legs gave out”
Mira muttered indifferently.
