Chapter 72 - Chapter 71: Which School Are You From?
The day after the Leventein Group toured the academy.
The children entering this year were gathered in the cafeteria, and uniforms and gym clothes were distributed all at once.
It seems the girls will also receive their uniforms in the girls' dormitory today.
"Yes, Mika Noisheim-kun. One hundred twenty-four centimeters. You're small, aren't you."
Shut up.
That's one word too many.
Mika handed the memo with his height and shoulder width to the Cafeteria Lady and lined up to receive the uniform.
Seeing children of the same age gathered like this, Mika's short stature stood out even more.
(...I am growing. ...I am growing, but...)
Mika's height increases by five centimeters every year.
The problem is that everyone around him is growing even more than that.
(Can't I extend my height with magic...? I could heal broken bones with healing magic. It shouldn't be impossible.)
If push comes to shove, I intend to tinker with genes or whatever.
However, if I tinker randomly without identifying the genes related to height, it could cost me my life.
"I thought you'd be a bit taller."
Muttering such things, Messerite lined up behind Mika.
I hadn't really paid attention to it usually, but looking at it again, Messerite's height is growing steadily.
Perhaps he is of average height?
As Mika casually looked at Messerite, Murt lined up behind him.
With Murt, you can't even imagine he is in the same grade.
Hasn't he faked his age by one or two years, this guy?
"Wow, Murt-kun is one hundred fifty-one centimeters!? That's too big."
Messerite shouted while looking at the memo Murt was holding.
It seems Murt has exceeded one hundred fifty centimeters.
Indeed, among those gathered here, Murt is large and conspicuous.
As Mika looked up at Murt, their eyes met by chance.
And then, he sneered.
(T-this bastard...!)
Mika's clenched fist trembled violently.
That difference, twenty-seven centimeters.
A level where it is impossible to overturn even by expecting natural growth anymore.
(As I thought, I have no choice but to do it...!)
Has the time come to open the forbidden door of genetic manipulation?
Demon experiments that were even prohibited in my original world.
Just as Mika was about to step one foot into the realm of a mad scientist, his turn came.
He handed the memo to the Cafeteria Lady standing before a mountain of boxes filled with uniforms and gym clothes of various sizes.
"Four sets of uniforms, six sets of gym clothes."
Even at the Magic Academy in the Royal Capital, wearing gym clothes as casual wear is permitted.
Uniforms get dirty often when acting as adventurers, so it's better to get extra.
As Mika headed for the cafeteria entrance carrying a mountain of supplies, the dorm mother Paraleira was sitting on a chair, watching the cafeteria scene with a mug in hand.
Paraleira was the first woman Mika encountered upon arriving at this dorm.
I thought she wasn't the dorm mother, but it turned out she was.
She always drinks alcohol with a mug in hand and doesn't look like she's doing her job as a dorm mother.
"The Cafeteria Ladies will handle the dorm matters properly, so just leave Paraleira alone."
The Cafeteria Ladies working as dorm servants all said that and didn't try to dissuade Paraleira.
Well, as long as there are no problems with Mika and the others' dorm life, it doesn't matter if Paraleira slacks off.
(Drinking alcohol every day during the afternoon. What a good position.)
Even now, she is just picking nuts and putting them in her mouth, watching the uniform distribution.
(Is it okay to keep such an unmotivated person as a dorm mother?)
I can't say I don't think that, but leaving the cafeteria thinking it's useless to get involved.
I have to carry this huge load up to the fifth floor from here.
"I really wish you'd install an elevator...."
Knowing it was unreasonable, I couldn't help but mutter it.
■■■■■■
And on the first day of the first week of the Month of Water.
The Magic Academy in the Royal Capital starts today.
The uniforms in the Royal Capital are black fabric with gold thread lines on the sleeves and other parts. The lining is purple.
It seems this uniform is officially adopted not only for academy students but also for mages of the Kingdom Army.
Well, since there are no epaulets indicating rank, it's easy to tell if they are mages or academy students.
"...Like the previous navy blue, dark colors like this..."
Stains stand out terribly.
For Mika, who got dirty often while acting as an adventurer, a color that doesn't stand out would be helpful if possible.
"Really? You look good in it, Mika-kun."
Rimliche, walking alongside, was smiling brightly.
She had just looked at the class assignments posted in front of the school building and seemed happy with the result.
Mika stared fixedly at Rimliche.
Rimliche's height was one hundred thirty centimeters.
Mika was being left behind by Rimliche as well.
Faced with the reality of being surpassed even by Rimliche, who is small among girls, Mika couldn't hide his shock and fell into bed.
From night until morning.
The uniform of the academy in the Leventein territory no longer needed to be rolled up at the sleeves and hem as Mika grew.
However, with the newly distributed Royal Capital uniform, it needs to be rolled up again.
I don't know who decided the uniform dimensions, but I want to call the official in charge and protest.
The Leventein Group gathered together, looking down the hallway of the school building as they headed to the classroom.
In the class assignment, everyone in the Leventein Group was in Class 1.
Everyone went to see it together, and everyone had a relieved look on their faces.
Even Murt has recently been active in actions within the Leventein Group.
We often acted together at the academy before, but he frequently acted alone on his own.
But since arriving in the Royal Capital, he is like a borrowed cat, very quiet.
A strange land full of older people around.
There might be a part where he feels insecure.
Maybe he has a surprisingly cute side too.
The number of new students at the Magic Academy in the Royal Capital this year is one hundred thirty-seven.
Usually, about one hundred fifty students enter each year, so this year is a bit low.
Fifty-nine of them are from local magic academies.
These fifty-nine are divided into Class 1 or Class 2 based on grades.
The remaining seventy-eight, children who entered the magic academy at ten years old, are divided into Class 3 and Class 4, making a total of four classes for the first year of elementary.
Thus, I started attending the academy today, but actually, my roommate has not yet moved into the dorm.
(Hey hey, is he okay?)
Even though it's not my business, I became a little worried.
If judged as "escaping the academy," it would be a serious matter.
I didn't want to ask the dorm mother Paraleira, but since my roommate still hasn't arrived, I became worried and checked.
"No problem. We have received a notification from the Government Office in the territory."
That was the answer.
It seems he will move in a few days late, and permission has already been obtained for that.
When we arrived at the classroom, it seemed most of the class students were already gathered.
There was an empty seat area gathered at the back, furthest inside, so I headed there, but an unusual tension hung only there.
Naturally, a girl was sitting at that seat, and two knights who seemed to be her guards were standing behind her.
All the children in the classroom were restless, asking "What is this?" and "Who is this?".
Of course, I didn't want to approach such a place either, but if that's the only empty spot, there's no choice.
Since no one wanted to go first, Mika took the lead and went to that empty space.
Then, the girl with long honey-blonde hair and blue-purple eyes sitting at the seat smiled at Mika.
The girl stood up with elegant manners and slowly came right in front of Mika.
"Good morning. Mika Noisheim-sama. I have been looking forward to meeting you today."
She smiled brightly like that.
Immediately, the whole classroom became noisy.
I could hear the confusion of the surrounding children saying "What?", "What does this mean?", "What is this?", "Who is it?".
"A-ah... It's been a while. Are you well?"
"Yes!"
The girl directed a beaming smile at Mika.
(...Who was it again?)
While responding to the girl's smile with my own forced smile, Mika desperately searched his mind.
I recognize her face.
That's right... the daughter of the Marquis Leventein.
Yes, her name was definitely............................
............................
....................
(No good. I can't get her name.)
If I had received a business card, I could match the face and name later.
However, with no clues at all and now requiring a real-time response, I have no way to act.
The girl stared at Mika with a bright smile, and Mika stuck on his forced smile, when the female knight behind the girl spoke to her.
This female knight with long pink hair also vaguely looks familiar.
Of course, I don't know her name.
"Miss Cleiria, would it not be better to return to your seat? Standing and talking is awkward, and everyone is a bit confused."
"T-that's right! Me of all people... I was just too happy. Excuse me, Mika-sama."
Cleiria!
Yes, it's Cleiria.
(Nice, female knight.)
Mika sent a thumbs-up to the female knight in his heart.
"Now, please, Mika-sama. To this seat."
After returning to her original seat, Cleiria cheerfully offered Mika the seat next to her.
(But I refuse.)
I couldn't say such a thing, so Mika helplessly sat in the offered seat next to her.
Of course, the forced smile remained stuck on my face.
There was no way to go against the daughter of a Marquis.
I value my life too.
For a moment, the scary face of the Marquis floated in my mind.
(Speaking of which, I feel like she said she would meet in the Royal Capital.)
I remember she said she was blessed with magic power and was training at home.
As Mika sat down, Rimliche also sat in the seat next to him.
Cleiria, Mika, and Rimliche sat in a row.
"Mika-kun, do you know her?"
Rimliche asked in a hushed voice secretly.
(...I can't talk about the incident, so there's no way to explain why I have contact with the Marquis's daughter. What should I do?)
As Mika hesitated on what to answer to this difficult question, Cleiria started talking to him about various things.
There was no time to reply to Rimliche.
I realized that Cecilia and the others of the Leventein Group sitting in front of Mika were listening intently.
Or rather, it's not just the Leventein Group listening intently.
To be honest, everyone in this class is paying attention to us.
(Have mercy...)
On the morning of the first day of the Magic Academy, which hasn't even started yet.
Hearing Cleiria's cheerful voice, Mika felt anxious about whether he could endure the whole day.
"Haaah~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~."
Mika let out a huge sigh, slumped over the cafeteria table.
It is now lunch break.
At the academy in the Leventein territory, we returned to the dorm after morning classes, but in the Royal Capital, there is a cafeteria inside the school building.
It seems we eat lunch here and return to the classroom in the afternoon.
In the morning, except for classes, Cleiria kept talking to me non-stop, and Mika got through it all with a polite smile.
The children of the Leventein Group were restless, wanting to ask Mika about the situation but unable to do so easily.
By the way, it was announced during morning homeroom that Cleiria is the daughter of the Marquis Leventein.
There might be a possibility that the guard knights enter and exit even during classes, but well, don't worry about it or something.
(Don't say such unreasonable things! I'm curious!)
With knights like that behind me, how could I not be concerned?
I think I'll get used to it eventually, but is this normal when a noble's bloodline enters the academy?
Or perhaps, taking that incident as an opportunity, the Marquis pushed through it hard.
"Haaah~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~."
Mika was quite depressed by this troublesome situation he never expected.
"Well, since you've finished eating, I'll ask."
Cecilia leaned forward from the opposite seat and started.
I had asked to hold off until after eating because I was tired, but it seems time has run out.
By the way, nobles seem to have a cafeteria for nobles, and Cleiria went there.
I was invited too, but I politely declined, of course.
"Even if you say that..."
Mika sat up and looked at the ceiling.
I can't talk about specific details.
Among them, the only thing I can say is----.
"Last year's long vacation."
He muttered just one word, quietly.
This is the only hint I can give.
"Long vacation?"
"Last year?"
While everyone looked puzzled, Rimliche muttered, "Ah...".
"...She didn't come back for a week...".
At Rimliche's mutter, everyone's expression changed at once.
"That's right! She didn't come back for a long time! That's why Rimliche was so worried!"
"Speaking of which, we talked about what we did back then."
"Yes, yes, when she came back, I was a bit disappointed...".
"...I was worried...".
Remembering that time, everyone started talking at once.
Or rather, isn't something strange mixed in there?
(You, what do you mean by 'disappointed that she came back', Messerite?)
Facing the unexpected betrayal of a friend, I gave him a suspicious look.
"Did something happen back then?"
At Rimliche's question, Mika closed his eyes silently.
It is forbidden to speak out; it is a promise with the Marquis.
Breaking this is not allowed.
Mika himself saw the Marquis as a trustworthy person.
He also kept Mika's involvement in that incident to a minimum.
I cannot break that so easily here.
"Hey, Mika! That's not enough to understand! Explain properly!"
Cecilia demanded further details.
Mika slowly opened his eyes and looked straight at Cecilia in front of him.
"...Do you really want to know?"
At Mika's unexpected cold reaction, Cecilia clamped her mouth shut.
"Do you know who her father is before saying that? Are you sane?"
I could hear Polnard swallowing saliva loudly.
At that moment, the table was suddenly slammed.
"Yo, you guys? You're from the Leventein academy, right?"
A boy with an unknown face leaned over the table and cut into the conversation.
About seven other boys were standing around Mika's table.
"Something like, every year the Leventein guys act high and mighty? Don't mess around."
"It's important to start right, so we have to teach them properly."
"Who is superior?"
Saying that, they laughed like idiots.
(Who are these guys?)
Eight boys who looked empty-headed and vulgar.
Cecilia seemed to be about to retort, so I lightly kicked her under the table.
I pleaded with my eyes to stop Cecilia, who looked at me.
"Hey, who is the strongest among you guys? I have to teach them properly."
The boy who put his hand on the table said that, and everyone in the Leventein Group looked at Mika at once.
(Huh? Isn't this Murt-kun's turn?)
Thinking that, I looked at Murt, and Murt was looking at me too.
(Hey, Murt! What do you mean by looking at me too!?)
Aren't you here for moments like this?
You must not lose your identity.
When all eyes gathered on Mika, the boys all laughed at once.
"Hey hey hey!? Seriously!? You guys are losing to such a girl!?"
"And that guy who's so huge is crying to such a brat~? Seriously, that's hilarious!?"
The boys let out a vulgar laugh of Gahahahahaha!
"Ah!?"
Murt seemed angry that he was being mocked and tried to stand up from his chair.
"Murt."
I called out, but Murt wouldn't stop, his head full of blood.
Mika hurriedly got down from the chair and grabbed Murt's arm who was about to grab the boy nearby to stop him.
"Stop it, don't bother with them."
"Shut up! I'll kill all of them!"
It seems he has completely lost his temper.
Mika sighed with a "well, well".
"You guys, which school... which school are you from? I know fighting between students is bad, right?"
Mika advised gently.
It makes me feel sorry to ask about the origin school of a cheeky guy, like "Which school are you from?".
But if I'm not careful, it could become a clash of Physical Enhancement.
It won't end as a simple fight.
"Ah!? Don't mess around!"
"It doesn't matter if it's an academy!"
"Does being from an academy make you so great!? Don't underestimate us!"
...Huh?
You guys aren't from an academy?
And you're acting so arrogant about it?
Hey hey, seriously?
"Fu... Fufu...".
Somehow, I feel my head getting hot too.
I worried that a clash of Physical Enhancement could turn into a killing match, and it was a waste of worry.
Mika spoke to Murt in a low voice.
"Can you handle them without enhancement?"
"Ah!?"
"I'm asking if you can handle eight of them without enhancement."
"Of course!"
"...Absolutely?"
When Mika asked in a low, suppressed voice, Murt seemed to calm down a little.
He made an expression as if thinking a little.
"...Without, I can't say absolutely."
That's natural.
The power of numbers is overwhelming.
If Murt, who has trained at the academy for two years, faces three or four, it would be no problem.
Five or six would be slightly risky, but he could manage somehow.
But with eight, you can't say absolutely.
(Anyway, this guy is growing too.)
Mika felt a little happy.
"Well, leave this place to me."
"Hey, no matter how much you are----."
"I can absolutely do it."
Mika said casually as if it was nothing.
But at Mika's atmosphere, Murt felt a cold sweat.
It was the same feeling he felt on the day he first fought with Mika when we talked in the classroom.
Mika left the Leventein Group children to Murt.
He asked him not to follow, worried about Mika unnecessarily.
It would be pitiful to get involved in such a trivial matter.
Mika led the eight boys to a place where they wouldn't be conspicuous even if they made noise.
The back of a building like a gymnasium seemed to be a place not seen by many people.
It was a bit far away, but it was next to the girls' dormitory building, with nothing around and invisible from the school building.
The boys surrounded Mika.
"Hmph, following along like that."
"He's underestimating us."
"Shouldn't we just kill this brat for real?"
What are they saying after inviting themselves?
Mika secretly activated Limiter Off and expanded his magic range.
I'm not going to use Thousand Edge.
What I need right now is perception through the magic range.
Since I have the magic range [This], I can assert that I will absolutely not be beaten by guys like this even without Physical Enhancement.
"Today, I've been accumulating a lot of stress."
Mika muttered in a relaxed tone.
Since morning, I've been dealing with Cleiria, and my facial muscles are about to cramp from the polite smile.
Rimliche tried to talk to Mika, but couldn't, and had a lonely look.
The children in the class were strangely focused on me, making me uncomfortable.
I was also irritated by the guard knights who didn't try to dissuade such Cleiria.
Most of all, I was genuinely angry at myself for giving Cleiria a fake smile just because I was worried about the Marquis's title.
"So, it's like taking it out on others."
While speaking in a light tone, Mika tilted his head and cracked his neck.
Big Ear is activated.
"I'll hold back a bit, just in case."
He lowered his voice a little and increased the density of the magic range to slightly enhance his senses.
"Please, just stand there until my frustration is gone?"
The corner of his mouth rose, and a violent light floated in his eyes.