🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 18
“I’ll take this one, this one, and one 150-power stone, please.”
When I pointed at the blue and red mana stones, the clerk quickly calculated the price.
“Thank you! Please come again!”
These beauties!
The price was terrifying, so I ended up paying with a loan—but it was worth every penny.
Humming to myself, I left the magic supply shop.
Thinking about flattening Rehart’s nose, I turned the corner with light, excited steps—
“Ugh!”
My face slammed into something hard.
Rubbing my nose, I looked up and saw softly glowing silver hair.
My gaze slowly traveled up along the silver strands falling over his chest.
It was a familiar face.
“…Izael?”
“So we meet here, Archel.”
Izael smiled gently with curved eyes and pointed at the shopping bag in my arms.
“Did you come to buy mana stones?”
I nodded.
For people with natural mana, it might not matter. But for an ordinary student like me, mana stones were necessary to check whether magic circles worked.
Unlike me, Izael probably didn’t need them.
He could just use his own mana.
On top of that, he was one of the few people capable of creating mana stones—something known to be extremely difficult.
Just how much mana does he have? I’m jealous.
As I was admiring him, he suddenly reached out toward me.
“You’ll probably need mana stones often in the future.”
Startled by his sudden movement, I flinched.
Izael narrowed his eyes slightly.
His straight fingers touched the mana stones inside my bag.
“Buying high-grade ones every day must be hard.”
He took out a blue mana stone and turned it around in his hand.
Then, in a cheerful voice, he suggested,
“Instead of buying them all the time, how about doing an experiment with me?”
“An experiment?”
Suddenly? With me?
He’s not talking about playing with droppers and alcohol lamps in the lab, is he?
A vivid, disturbing adult video suddenly flashed through my mind.
A cruel scene where even skin was stripped away.
“I’ll pass.”
I instinctively stepped back.
It was a shame to give up the mana stone in his hand, but better that than losing my life…
There’s no helping it.
While staring at his picture-perfect smile, I cautiously reached for the stone.
“I didn’t expect you to reject me so quickly.”
Izael easily loosened his grip.
Then, with no sign of regret, he took something out from his clothes.
It was a purple mana stone, clearly unusual at first glance—similar to his eye color.
“This is…”
“I extracted it myself. Pretty, isn’t it?”
He chuckled, saying I couldn’t deny it even out of politeness.
“I’ll give this to you as a gift. Think about my proposal. It’s really nothing dangerous.”
Don’t be scared. I’ll be doing it with you too.
After adding those unconvincing words, Izael walked past me.
In my hand was a mysterious purple mana stone.
* * *
Mana measurements were conducted in an open field.
If someone released too much power, it could cause damage.
Following Professor Dakota’s guidance, we gathered in front of a square, white machine.
The test began.
Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.
“Rehart Kabandia.”
Rehart stepped confidently onto the white platform.
Against the machine, his hair stood out even more vividly.
Without hesitation, he placed his hand on the square panel near his waist.
The glass blinked several times, and a large number appeared on the disc.
[150 Power]
The average student’s mana level was 120.
His overwhelming amount drew admiration, respect, and jealousy.
Still, output matters more.
Since he was a male lead candidate, his output would obviously be excellent.
I pouted slightly.
Rehart calmly rolled up his sleeve.
This time, he reached toward a taller panel and spread his fingers.
He closed his eyes, then opened them—
Whoooosh!
A massive flame burst out.
It stretched straight ahead, painting the surroundings red, as if it would burn through the panel.
After a while, it faded.
Through the pale smoke, red numbers flashed.
[140 Power]
An output rate of over 90%.
Everyone fell silent.
He had massive mana and perfect control.
Professor Dakota nodded and recorded the numbers.
Then he called the next student.
No one wanted to go after Rehart.
So they hesitated.
Then—
“Arche Nodovan.”
It was me.
Interest quickly faded when they realized it was a magic engineering student with low mana.
But I didn’t care.
I asked to go after Rehart myself.
Professor Dakota looked curious about what kind of magic tool I would show.
I searched my large bag and took out a red mana stone containing exactly 150 power.
When I placed it on the machine—higher for me than for Rehart—the number appeared.
150 Power
I glanced at Rehart, then pulled out a metal hand model made of scrap.
“What is she trying to do?”
“Getting over 80% output from a mana stone isn’t hard.”
“Why did the professor allow this? What’s the point?”
They weren’t wrong.
Unlike humans, whose output varied by condition and talent, extracting mana from stones was easy.
It was more mechanical than skill-based.
As long as the tool and stone were good, 80% was easy.
But I stayed silent.
I connected the hand model to the stone.
A green orb embedded in the back of the hand began to glow.
After confirming the power was on, I aimed it at the panel.
Then I pressed the glowing orb.
Wooooong—
The palm vibrated, and the edges of a hole glowed red.
Smoke poured out.
Then—
Bang!!
A huge flame erupted, swallowing the panel.
It poured down like a waterfall.
Gradually, the thick smoke faded.
Through the gray mist, the panel appeared.
[150 Power]
Everyone stared in shock.
“…No way.”
“Did she burn it on purpose?”
“100% output?”
Extracting all the mana at once was extremely difficult.
Like dirt stuck between teeth, tiny amounts always remained inside.
Creating high-output tools was the duty of elite magic engineers.
I had scraped out every last drop.
With a refreshing expression, I stepped down.
I had proven my worth.
Even without mana, I had ability.
Though I didn’t want to…
I looked for the red-haired troublemaker.
Our eyes met.
His green eyes were dark.
He quickly lowered his hand from his mouth and looked away.
His fist was clenched so tightly his veins showed.
Was that too much?
No.
This was necessary to end our pointless rivalry.
As I steadied myself, Professor Dakota approached.
A heavy hand landed on my shoulder.
“Student Archel.”
“Y-Yes?”
His burning gaze was intense.
“I’ve been watching you since the entrance exam. I wanted to talk to you, but… what is this? Luck? Or probability?”
“One hundred percent in one try…”
I waved my hands quickly.
“I modified an existing formula. I can explain later if you’re curious.”
“Modified? Fascinating. If this can reliably reach near 100%, it’s a breakthrough! You could write your graduation thesis right now.”
I replied loudly enough for everyone to hear.
“It’s nothing special. Anyone can do it with a mana stone.”
At the same time, I slowly looked around at the magic department students.
Don’t look down on our department.
I already had enough work.
At least let me attend class in peace.
* * *
That should stop Rehart from acting weird, right?
Every time he tried to provoke me, I came out ahead.
Hopefully, he’d cooperate now.
Feeling lighter, I took a letter from my mailbox.
The sender was the person I had been waiting for.
“Lena.”
I opened it immediately.
You don’t need to get close to the Crown Prince.
I’m enrolling in three days.
I covered my mouth with my hand.
Otherwise, I might have shouted.
“Three days…”
Lena is finally coming.
