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chapter 31
In just one day, Kanis Escliff had become the hottest topic in the entire academy.
Everywhere in the school, all anyone could talk about was: “Kanis Escliff manifested!”
The rumor had spread from class to class, from dorm to dorm.
Of course, some didn’t believe it.
Except for those who had seen Kanis’ magic firsthand, most students reacted like this:
“What is this? Another ridiculous rumor?”
“That senior is a mage? Hah! No way!”
“Maybe the school staged some kind of event?”
The idea of someone manifesting magic at the age of twenty went against all common sense.
Kanis Escliff’s existence seemed less plausible than the idea of corpses coming back to life or people with dragonfly wings.
At least in this world, manifesting magic at twenty carried that much weight.
And in this tense atmosphere, the most nonchalant person was…
“Yaaaawn.”
None other than the center of the rumors himself: Kanis Escliff.
“Ugh, of all days, I have the first match again.”
On tournament days, there were no classes.
That meant that unless it was one’s turn, they could relax in the dorm—but being first in line also meant…
“I have to get ready at the crack of dawn. Damn it.”
“Today’s breakfast is a whole roast turkey! Let’s go eat it!”
I was being led down the corridor by Mei, who was once again fully focused on eating.
“Escliff.”
“Is he really a mage?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see him yesterday either.”
Voices whispered louder than usual, seeping into my ears.
Though, “whisper” isn’t exactly the right word. Kanis was more likely to confront people openly rather than gossip behind their backs.
“Hey.”
When I spoke, the group of students flinched.
“If you have something to say, come up and say it to me now.”
“Oh, no!”
A student wearing a third-year badge hesitated and stepped back.
As most students retreated, one girl stepped forward.
“Senpai, is the rumor true?”
“Rumor?”
“That you… won in yesterday’s tournament.”
Just as I was about to confirm it, she added,
“As you know, it’s hard for us to believe. Isn’t that right, senpai?”
Then she glanced me up and down.
“You’ve been famous as a non-mage for so long.”
‘Oh really?’
Even after putting on such a flashy show in front of so many people, there were still those who couldn’t believe it.
I smirked and replied,
“If you’re that curious, come watch today… And…”
Our eyes met.
No longer hiding my magic, I stared insistently into her brown eyes.
[Hallucination (C)]
“…!”
The girl who had challenged me froze as if struck by lightning.
By now, she was probably flailing in sheer terror. It would dissipate quickly, though, since this was just a minor illusion.
“Let’s go, Mei.”
“Yes!”
I turned around, feeling inexplicably excited, with Mei following.
Behind us, murmurs rose again.
“Hey, what’s wrong with him?”
“Uh… looks like he fainted standing up?”
“Kyaaa!”
I clicked my tongue.
‘These people have no learning ability.’
I had just told them not to mutter.
Then I heard someone call me again.
“Wait a moment.”
“What now? Does he have something else to say?”
Expecting it was one of the boys from before, I turned with a commanding tone—and saw shining blond hair.
Blond hair and green eyes: the unchanging law of a fantasy prince.
And a handsome, intellectual face with a cold impression despite the soft coloring.
Yes. It was Daon Grace, the male protagonist of the original novel.
“Hmm? Have we spoken before?”
“…No.”
My face flushed.
It felt like the awkwardness of an otaku pretending in front of a mirror, only to have a family member open the door and see them.
On top of that, Mei was tugging at my sleeve pitifully, so I held her hand and cleared my throat.
“Ahem! I mistook you for someone else.”
“Is that so? Well, it doesn’t matter. I came because I have a proposal for you.”
He slowly adjusted his outfit before speaking.
This guy really liked to build suspense before talking. And his face looked unnecessarily radiant.
“Kanis Escliff, would you like to join my Study Club? You’d be the best member.”
“How many people are in it?”
“Right now, it’s just me.”
Proudly answering that he had no friends, he continued:
“In the Study Club, I want to have very deep discussions with just the two of us.”
Would I want that?
“Sorry, but that’s not possible.”
“…What?”
“…Huh?”
Daon, unused to rejection, looked stunned. I was too.
Let me clarify: that line wasn’t originally mine.
And if neither Daon nor I could say it, someone else had to…
“My sister agreed to help me with my studies after school.”
Mei looked up at Daon with a clear, strangely cold tone.
“Right, senpai?”
When did I agree?
‘You don’t seem like someone who would study well just because I help you.’
As I hesitated, Daon asked, probably suspicious:
“Is that true, princess?”
No, it’s the first I’m hearing of this.
Still, I nodded slowly—family sticks together, after all.
“It’s true. That’s why I’m rejecting your offer.”
Even if I had been tempted to join the club, I would refuse anything related to studying.
Having read the original, I knew how obsessed Daon Grace was with knowledge.
The original heroine liked that about him—but I don’t.
If I don’t need to study, I won’t. That’s my life philosophy.
“Well, then…”
I left the stunned Daon behind and walked down the corridor.
Mei looked pleased.
“Puhahaha!”
“…Don’t laugh, Felix.”
“Pff, hahaha! How can you not laugh at this!”
Felix laughed even louder, seeing Daon trembling.
“He walked in so confidently, and now—hahaha!”
Felix was right.
Daon, who had declared he would secretly follow her, changed his approach after the match.
He invited her to a one-person club consisting of just him.
In front of skeptical Felix,
“She is also a mage pursuing scholarship. You, as a knight, wouldn’t understand, but we have something in common.”
“The princess will definitely accept my proposal.”
He declared this with confidence. And this was the result.
Felix patted Daon, who couldn’t lift his head from embarrassment.
“Don’t be too ashamed. They say no tree survives ten chops. That’s why I’ll keep requesting sparring…”
“Given the circumstances, I’ll revise the plan.”
“Huh?”
Adjusting his glasses, Daon declared seriously:
“I’ll have to follow her secretly after all.”
“This lunatic.”
Felix was appalled at Daon’s obsessive behavior.
A prince turned stalker.
‘Maybe I should go into exile in a neighboring duchy…’
The future of this country looked bleak.
Unlike the bustling academy, the Duke spent a quiet morning.
‘Come to think of it, yesterday was the start of the tournament.’
The Escliff Dukes were the academy’s greatest patrons, keeping close ties.
‘It’s time for the report.’
Even with strict restrictions on outsiders, the Duke could receive updates about his children daily—mostly regarding Claude.
Still, they couldn’t exactly tell the patron, “Your children are garbage.”
So when the servant knocked, the Duke assumed Claude had achieved something, as usual.
But the following news left him stunned:
“What did you just say?”
“Repeat it immediately!”
Bang! The Duke slammed his desk. The trembling servant shouted:
“Miss Kanis… has awakened as a brain-element mage!”
The servant held a holographic orb sent through the magical network.
Inside, clear magic swirled around Kanis.
A skilled mage like the Duke could recognize it immediately.
“This…!”
A historically unprecedented grand mage had been born.
The Duke fell backward, clutching the back of his neck in disbelief.
