Professor Martelgia, having come into the practicum room, strolled between the tables and skimmed over the results.Her gaze soon fixed on our Team 1’s crystal sphere."Oh-ho? This one is very good~ Let’s grade the result of Team 1, which includes Miss Beatrice, first~"Whooosh—When Professor Martelgia waved her hand, our team’s beautifully shining crystal sphere floated up and was drawn into her hand.Then, after she breathed mana into the sphere, she opened her mouth."Upon inspection, the total number of spells that can currently be stored in this sphere is seven—based on high-level spells of 7th tier or above. In addition, more than thirty low-level spells of 3rd tier or below can be stored, and the maintenance period for stored spells appears to be over ten years~ Truly an impressive set of figures~ Miss Wayne?"When Professor Martelgia sent her a look, TA Wayne picked up the explanation."Yes. In reality, crystal spheres with performance at this level do not exist. These are values implementable only within the practicum’s simplified data."TA Wayne’s eyes gleamed as she looked over the black-disc circuit we had submitted."Moreover, in the real world, there is no convenient magic like the [concept gems] used in this practicum. In practice, you must mix and recombine all sorts of materials that exist in the world and place each at the right spot according to its properties, so you can imagine the difficulty.""…""Even so, this work, which borders on art, is by no means the level of an undergraduate result."When TA Wayne finished with a smile, Professor Martelgia nodded."That’s right~ When outstanding students put their heads together, such a beautiful result appears~ Team 1 will receive the highest score available in this practicum~ Everyone, applause!"Clap clap clap—Amid the students’ applause, TA Wayne asked the four of us,"Is there a student among your teammates whom you consider to have contributed the most? The professor says she will grant a special reward.""Well, obviously Bea—"As Yulina shot her hand up and started to say someone’s name, Beatrice checked her."Yulina."After stopping Yulina, Beatrice looked at me and spoke."I believe Student Loen contributed the most. Isn’t that so, Yulina?""Well… yes, that’s correct."At Beatrice’s cue, Yulina nodded reluctantly, and Bell agreed without any particular objection."Right, thanks to Loen we could focus solely on the combinations without trial and error."When my teammates named me the primary contributor for this assignment, Professor Martelgia smiled sweetly."Student Loen, is it~ I see~ Your grades have improved a lot lately, and it seems you shone in the practicum as well. Student Loen, please follow me after the practicum ends~"***After the lecture ended.Professor Martelgia’s office, filled with the fragrance of coffee."Please, sit comfortably~"Even if you’re called in for something good, facing your supervising professor is not exactly a comfortable situation.But I quite literally lounged back on the sofa and enjoyed my tea—probably thanks to Loen’s trait, [Thick-Skinned].Being able to roll with it without getting too tense regardless of who the other party is—that’s also because of this.When Professor Martelgia sat on the sofa, TA Wayne, who had been attending at her side, also sat across from me."Please, enjoy freely. In fact, there’s been talk among the professors~ About Student Loen’s grades rising sharply~ Do you by chance have a secret?""…I’ve recently found studying enjoyable. With noticeable results, the momentum built even more.""Oh-ho? I’m glad you’ve taken a liking to it~ At first I was worried you wouldn’t be able to keep up with the lectures~ In any case, I hope you continue to devote yourself. Here’s a gift."Clink—Professor Martelgia handed me a leather pouch tied with a cord."This is…""Intermediate Enhancement Stones~ Since Student Loen aspires to be an alchemist, you’ll have use for them later~"Enhancement stones are consumables used in alchemy work. The higher the grade, the price rises exponentially.Intermediate enhancement stones vary slightly with market price but are roughly 1,000,000 krone apiece.Since there were over a dozen in the leather pouch Professor Martelgia gave me, it easily exceeded ten million krone."Something this expensive…"When I spoke as if it was hard to accept, Professor Martelgia waved her hand."I happened to get them by chance~ I don’t use them, so I thought it’d be nice to give them to Student Loen~ Please don’t refuse.""…I’ll accept them, gratefully."Even if Union professors tend to be quite well-off financially, ten million krone is by no means a small sum.I’ll repay her later when the investment funds come in.'So these enhancement stones are Professor Martelgia’s reward to me, then.'Useful to me as an alchemist, but to other students they’d just be pricey goods.If it had been a student other than me, I suddenly wondered what she would have given them.Just then—"The enhancement stones are because you came by, Student Loen; this is what I originally intended to give you."When Professor Martelgia sent a look, TA Wayne produced a sealed letter and set it on the table.Slide—On the letter, embossed in mana, was the splendid image of seven stars.Taking it in with my eyes, I quietly murmured,"…The Magic Olympiad.""That’s right~ This is an invitation to the Magic Olympiad, where magicians from each Magic Tower and renowned intellects from across the continent gather to compete in knowledge. Normally, as a Union student it’s difficult to participate, but with this invitation it’s possible~ Please accept it."Looking at the letter on the table, I asked cautiously,"…Professor, may I accept this?"No matter how much my recent behavior had changed, the original Loen’s grades didn’t just scrape the bottom—they were infamous across the continent, a total wastrel.There’s a limit to putting pearls on swine; I wasn’t qualified to attend the Magic Olympiad, where the continent’s foremost intellects gather.Professor Martelgia probably prepared the invitation to give this opportunity to Beatrice or another outstanding student, rather than intending it for me.At my question, Professor Martelgia shrugged."Well, I didn’t expect it either, but I was told Student Loen contributed the most in this practicum~ I merely give opportunities fairly. Congratulations on seizing a good chance~""…"I looked at Professor Martelgia, smiling faintly.She could have simply given me only the enhancement stones as a reward and left it at that, but she went so far as to grant even someone like Loen this precious opportunity.Should I call it the posture of a true educator who does not discriminate among students.Compared to someone like Zimmer, receiving Professor Martelgia’s goodwill moved me for no good reason.But goodwill is goodwill, and this reward is another matter.'The Olympiad entry ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) is too excessive an opportunity for me to take.'There will be someone who needs it more than I do.As I hesitated for a moment, TA Wayne spoke up."The professor says, do not refuse and accept it for now. She also said you may transfer it to someone later.""…Transfer it?""That’s right~ Student Loen may use the invitation yourself, but if there’s someone you wish to give it to, you may transfer it~ We will trust your judgment.""…"Not only giving it, but even allowing a transfer.If it were any other professor, the moment I said I couldn’t accept the invitation, they would have gladly welcomed that and passed the opportunity to another student.This is not only from the standpoint of educational efficiency, but it’s also greatly tied to the professor’s personal benefit.With this invitation, they could strike a deal with some high-ranking scion, and later reflect it in their performance review to gain advantage.But she gave up all those gains and handed the invitation to me honestly—and even allowed a transfer.It showed Professor Martelgia’s generosity.Her way of speaking might be a bit grating to the ear, but she is truly a genuine educator."Understood. Then I will accept it, gratefully."I bowed my head to Professor Martelgia and took the invitation.I’ll repay this favor later."Good~ Ah, one last thing I want to ask. You don’t have to answer.""Yes."When I nodded, Professor Martelgia let out a deep sigh and then spoke."By any chance, Student Loen, do you know anything about Demer, who used to be my TA? Anything you know at all~"***"Have you returned?"After my conversation with Professor Martelgia.When I returned to the General Student Council President’s Office, Ciel greeted me as always, along with the scent of black tea.I handed her my outer garment and flopped onto the sofa."Hoo…"When I let out a long sigh and covered my eyes with a hand, Ciel spoke."You don’t look to be in the best of moods.""Well, yeah."After lying there for a bit, I took out the letter I’d received from Professor Martelgia and set it on the table.Ciel widened her eyes at the sight."…The Olympiad? Where did you get this?""One of the professors gave it to me. I’m not the one who’ll go.""I assumed as much. The person who should go will go.""…"Clink—Ciel sat demurely across from me and poured the tea."It seems you have something on your mind. I will listen."I accepted the teacup she handed me with both hands and quietly felt its warmth.The gentle heat transmitted through the cup into my palms."…"I closed my eyes without saying anything.Barely a dozen days ago, with these hands, I killed someone.Of course, I don’t particularly have qualms. He came at me to kill me, and I merely opposed him.Moreover, the opponent was an NPC. If necessary, I’m prepared to stain my hands with more blood, so I feel no pangs of conscience whatsoever.Even if that was the TA whom Professor Martelgia cherished."…"According to the professor, my name was written a few times in his notes.And since the timing of his disappearance matched exactly with when the abnormal event occurred during the practical class, Professor Martelgia asked me about him just in case.Naturally, I spoke at length about not knowing anything.As long as I keep my mouth shut, no one will ever know the truth.But what should I call this tangled state of mind."Hoo…"Exhaling a sigh, I brought the teacup to my lips.The tea’s flavor passing over my tongue, and the warmth heating my whole body, roused me from deep contemplation.Having roughly organized my thoughts, I quietly opened my eyes and spoke."Not particularly. I have no worries."It’s already past.There’s no need to dwell on it, no need to overthink it.If I’m to clear this game with a happy ending, I must do whatever I can.I will continue to do what must be done, and anything might happen in that process."I see."With that, Ciel probed no further. She merely sat quietly across from me, reading her book and waiting.As I drank my tea, the complicated emotions gradually subsided."Hoo."I rose from the sofa, went over to the desk, and sat in the president’s chair.Watching me, Ciel asked in a gentle voice,"Have you calmed down a little?""I was calm to begin with.""Naturally. Of course."Ciel gave a little shrug with a smile, then handed me a letter."A message from Lady Sheika."

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