DOJL 19

Chapter 19

“The more I think about it, the more terrifying it gets.”

As I muttered to myself on the way to the training grounds, brushing my arm unconsciously, Lala, who was walking beside me, chuckled.

“It’s fine, Shua. I’ll protect you.”

“That’s exactly the kind of thing you shouldn’t say when I’m already nervous, Lala. And the opponent used dark magic. Someone with no magical talent like you shouldn’t get involved—it’s too dangerous.”

“Aw, are you worried about me?”

“Forget it. I’m not talking to you anymore…”

I left the overly sentimental Lala behind and stepped onto the training grounds before I realized it.

“Shua, did you hear?”

As I stood in line with my bow, Noah, who was next to me, leaned in.

I’d expected it, but still—seeing him actually start the conversation first made him seem incredibly simple-minded.

“You mean the kidnapping case?”

“So you’ve already heard.”

“Of course. The Academy hasn’t allowed any outings except with debut partners before, so this is the first time they’ve ever made an exception.”

“Right, it’s unusual.”

Two kidnapping incidents in a row—one of which involved an Academy student. No department could hold proper afternoon classes after that.

“I overheard Hera saying that even the Swordsmanship and Economics departments are just practicing or reading without their teachers.”

“The instructors must be busy. They’re probably discussing what to do with the headmaster. You know, about Senior Dierden from the Magic Tower—he’s required to assist with the investigation—and about tightening Academy security.”

“…The more I talk to you, the more I realize you’re only good-looking. Everything else about you is irritating.”

Unlike me, Noah could talk and still shoot perfectly—his arrow landing dead center every time.

Of course, if it were guns instead of bows, I could probably hit the target mid-conversation too. But since Parvus was still better at shooting than I was, bragging about it would just be embarrassing.

“No matter how young you were when you started, it’s amazing. You could probably hit the target blindfolded, huh?”

“Nah. Maybe my father could, but I’m not at that level yet.”

“Oh, must be nice being a genius.”

“Well, you’re a hundred times better than me at shooting, though.”

Noah smiled as he said it, and I nodded.

It was true. In this entire Academy, the only ones who could outshoot me were Instructor Manume and Parvus.

Parvus once told me that someday people would realize how powerful firearms truly are.

When that day comes, he said, we—who’ve trained with guns since early on—will handle them with ease while others are still learning which way to hold them.

‘He’s right… swords are still more common and respected for now. But with the right spark, guns will become the most dominant weapon.’

Maybe because I was lost in thought, my next shot landed far off the mark.

“Ugh… even I’m embarrassed looking at that.”

“Want me to fix your stance, Shua?”

“No thanks. It’s just an elective anyway; I’m not putting that much effort into it…”

Noah laughed, pulling his arrows from the target.

“When you think about the graduation battle, it might be smart to practice properly~.”

I froze mid-step at that.

“…Wait. Isn’t the graduation battle fought using our major subjects?”

“Well, the Shooting Club only has two members. Once Senior Parvus graduates, you’ll be the only one left.”

“Huh…?”

“So, for fairness, they’ll probably make you fight using your sub-major instead.”

I hadn’t thought of that.

Since I’d gotten so used to spending time with Parvus, I’d somehow forgotten he was two years ahead of me.

“They wouldn’t make me repeat a year for failing the graduation battle, right?”

“If you’re curious, maybe try failing and find out. You could be the first ever student in the National Academy’s 150-year history to repeat a year. Kind of a cool title, don’t you think?”

“You’re so easygoing when it’s not your problem!”

With my bow still in hand, I lunged at Noah.

He dodged playfully—almost teasingly—and I was about to stop, irritated, when a voice called out from a distance.

“Shua!”

“Who—oh, Hera.”

It was Hera, who stood to my right.

She’d grown close with both me and Noah, and she always seemed to know all the latest gossip from other departments, which made her fun to listen to.

“What is it?”

“Are you staying to practice during the self-study period too?”

“Hmm… I’m still thinking. Why?”

“I’ve got a friend in the Magic Department who asked me to help with something. Want to come along?”

“Oh, sure!”

I did have a friend named Bella in the Magic Department, but I’d never visited her during self-study. Too much trouble.

Now, though, this was the perfect excuse.

‘I was curious about the Magic Department anyway~.’

For once, I was actually looking forward to self-study time.

* * *

“Delian! I told you not to draw magic circles anywhere you like—it’s dangerous!”

“Kyaa! I wanted to summon a butterfly, not a caterpillar! Why’d it turn out like this?!”

“Because you drew the circle wrong! Of course you got a caterpillar—it’s the butterfly’s larval stage!”

Hmm…

“Magic Department! If you borrow a book, put it back where it belongs!”

“Sorry, Rachel! We’re kind of in the middle of something—can you come back later?”

“What?! Heth, that was you, wasn’t it?! You think I like coming here? If you’d just return the books, I wouldn’t have to step foot in this filthy pla—”

“Oh, filthy, huh?! I just cleaned yesterday! It’s not my fault it gets messy again!”

“Excuse me? Did you just—”

Okay. I take it back.

This was a mistake.

‘What a complete disaster…’

“Ah, Hera, you’re here?”

“Yeah. Still chaotic as ever. So, what do you need help with, Emma?”

The girl with teal-green hair—apparently named Emma—looked straight at me.

It seemed Hera had just remembered I existed, because she quickly introduced me.

“Oh! This is Shua. She’s in the Archery Club with me as a sub-major.”

“Hi, I’m Shua Naer.”

“And this is my friend I mentioned earlier—Emma!”

“Emma. Nice to meet you.”

She extended her hand, and I shook it politely.

“Wow… everyone here’s really energetic.”

“They’re just loud. It’s always like this. They’re usually so focused on their own experiments they don’t hear a thing, so everyone ends up shouting louder and louder until it turns into this mess.”

Emma looked utterly exhausted as she said it.

When she pushed up her glasses, I noticed the deep dark circles under her eyes.

‘…She’s definitely been through it.’

It reminded me of the head researcher I knew in my previous life—overworked and perpetually tired. I couldn’t help but smile.

“So, what did you call Hera for?”

“Oh… nothing major.”

Emma handed Hera a magical device she’d been holding.

“I want to try teleportation magic without a magic circle today.”

“And… why are you giving this to me? What is it?”

“It’s an artifact enchanted with levitation magic.”

Hera tilted her head, confused.

“What does levitation have to do with teleportation?”

“I’ve managed to teleport myself without a circle, but I haven’t tried moving another person yet.”

“So basically, you called me to experiment on me.”

“Pretty much. Don’t worry—it’ll just be to the garden outside. That artifact is just in case something goes wrong. You might end up midair, so better safe than sorry.”

Hera sighed, shaking her head.

Still, the way she tied her hair and gripped the artifact looked practiced—like she’d done this more than once.

“Hera, you seem experienced.”

“Well, we’ve known each other since before the Academy. When we were kids, it was all fascinating, so I joined her a few times. Then it became a habit—I kind of enjoy it now.”

Emma seemed ready now. She took a deep breath and stretched her hand toward Hera.

“Tell me if anything feels strange.”

“I’m fine.”

“Starting now.”

White mana began to flow from Emma’s fingertips.

‘Wow… it’s my first time actually seeing someone’s mana like this. Kind of amazing.’

I was used to seeing geniuses who didn’t even need to show their mana to cast spells, so this was refreshing.

After a while, Emma lowered her hand.

Whoosh!

At the same moment, Hera vanished with a rush of air.

“Shua, could you open the window behind you?”

“Sure.”

I opened the window, and there she was—Hera, standing among blooming flowers in the courtyard.

“Hera!”

“Ah, Shua!”

Seeing her safe and sound filled me with relief.

“Looks like a success, Emma.”

“Yeah…”

“But you don’t look too happy about it.”

At my comment, Emma leaned against the window frame, crossing her arms seriously.

“The thing is, teleportation should really be tested on multiple people.”

“…Are you about to say what I think you’re about to say?”

“Shua. Could you please help me out, just once?”

She even grabbed my hands pleadingly. Not that she had to look so pitiful—I would’ve agreed anyway.

‘I’ve never experienced teleportation magic myself before… might as well try.’

“Okay, tell me if something feels wrong. First-timers sometimes feel nauseous after teleporting.”

“Got it!”

As she extended her hand toward me, I closed my eyes.

“I do clean every day, you know?!”

“Then why does it get messy again? Maybe you just clean badly!”

“Excuse me?!”

The shouting from nearby made me reopen my eyes.

“Shouldn’t you stop them?”

“They’ll calm down eventually. Heth and Rachel fight every day. Bad chemistry.”

Emma said it so casually, focusing back on her spell.

But something about it made me uneasy. I couldn’t close my eyes again.

Emma, facing away from them, couldn’t see—but from my position, I had a clear view of Heth and Rachel’s escalating fight.

“No, I’m not done yelling yet!”

“Do I look like I’m joking?!”

‘This is going to go wrong, I can feel it…!’

Emma started to reduce the mana output, meaning the teleportation was almost done.

‘Phew, looks like it’s wrapping up nicel—’

And of course, I jinxed it.

In stories, saying things are “going well” is exactly when disaster strikes.

“You little—! Ah!”

“E–Emma!”

Apparently, Heth and Rachel had used magic, because a flying book came hurtling toward Emma.

“Emma, watch out—!”

“Ah…!”

Hera tried to catch it but accidentally bumped into Emma, pushing her off balance.

Her mana—already unstable—flickered and surged wildly.

Then I felt myself being pulled, my body weightless.

“Huh—Aaaahhh!”

Instead of appearing safely in the garden…

…I was flung straight into the bright, open sky.