Building illusions using magic power.
In the game, it simply appears as fields or traps, but in reality, it’s not a technique that can be easily explained.
“So, Miss Shuri, you have the ability to bring what you draw on that magic pad into reality, right?”
“I-It’s not that grand! It’s just making it look that way temporarily….”
“But it is an actual ability, isn’t it? If you develop it a little more.”
“Huh?”
“I can give you some advice to help you refine it, or you can find your own path.”
Esdinas of Heaven.
Each character is assigned basic skills and talents, but there’s no rule saying you have to develop only those.
“If you want to become a frontline fighter like Ludmila, you should train accordingly. If you want to focus on rear support like Miss Yunia, then you should hone your magic.”
“B-But wouldn’t that require an insane amount of effort…?”
“That’s exactly it, Miss Shuri. Right now, you have already ‘passed’ in two areas.”
“H-Huh?”
As someone with the potential to grow, Shuri was already standing on two firm foundations.
“One. The fact that you even think, ‘I can do it, but it will be really difficult,’ rather than ‘I can’t do it,’ means that effort alone will get you there.”
“T-That’s not really what I meant….”
“No, I can see it clearly. The path just looks long and daunting for now.”
Anyone can walk from Seoul to Busan.
Just like how our ancestors once traveled treacherous roads from Busan to Luoyang to take the imperial exams.
“It might seem distant, uncertain, and full of risks, but you haven’t given up by calling it ‘impossible.’ That alone means you’ve already taken the first step forward, Shuri.”
“D-Do you think so?”
“Yes. And on top of that… you’ve already awakened your own ability.”
Second.
“Dual magic: Light Attribute and illusion magic. Manifesting illusions using light. This isn’t something just anyone can do—especially if it’s an ability that involves drawing to create something. Want to try making another one?”
“U-Uh, okay.”
Shuri quickly scanned her magic pad.
It was called a magic pad, but it was practically a tablet PC. Devices like this, seemingly out of place in a medieval fantasy world, were linked to the origins and truths of this world—
‘But that’s not important for the actual players.’
Some players dismissed the modern technology in the game as the developers randomly inserting futuristic elements into a medieval fantasy setting. Others assumed it was simply a remnant of an ancient civilization.
Lost human history had developed far beyond modern civilization, until those damn Angels erased everything—supposedly to create a world where women could have more time together.
But none of that really mattered.
What mattered was enjoying it.
And witnessing the materialization of images drawn by Shuri Commissioner.
“W-Will this work?”
In less than a minute, Shuri had sketched a quick croquis of a butterfly made of light, which flapped its wings and soared into the air.
The butterfly moved as if imitating the flapping of real wings, its motions resembling a paper-folded butterfly moving up and down as it fluttered around the classroom.
“Yes. That’s right. Now, before using this ability—think about how realistically you can draw on this magic pad.”
“Oh, uh….”
“Shuri, do you know what an ‘optical illusion’ is?”
“An optical illusion? Of course, I do.”
“Then… would you like to use it to beat the Vermilion Bird Class?”
“…Me?”
Shuri pointed at herself in confusion.
Her gaze briefly shifted to Yurha, who also looked surprised as she glanced between Shuri and me.
“What kind of magic are you trying to use this time? And why are you saying that Miss Shuri can win against the Vermilion Bird Class instead of you?”
“It’s simple. Since I’m in the Azure Dragon Class, keep this a secret from the Vermilion Bird Class students.”
It had to remain a secret.
After all, this method was meant to give them a little psychological shock.
“Miss Shuri, from now on, you just need to draw this classroom.”
“The classroom?”
“Yes. The classroom—”
“Uh, Junior Phoenix?”
Yurha raised her hand and pointed toward Shuri’s desk, our final destination.
“You’re not planning to use this to win, are you?”
“You’ll have to wait and see. If Shuri successfully deceives them, it’s the Azure Dragon Class’s victory. If not, the Vermilion Bird Class wins.”
“…But there’s one condition.”
Yurha made a gesture as if grabbing her own neck.
“You’re assuming Seia gets captured.”
“Yes.”
“You think she’ll be caught?”
“Yes.”
“…Seia isn’t someone to be taken lightly.”
“I wouldn’t have said anything if it were the first few months after their enrollment. But they’ve grown far beyond expectations now.”
In just the first semester of their first year, they had fought battles that were meant for third-year students, repeatedly growing at an explosive rate.
“If they can’t capture Seia in an hour, I’ll be more disappointed.”
After all, I had funneled all the experience points I could’ve given to others solely into those three. Even if they were geniuses, failing to catch Seia in an hour would be unacceptable.
“If they’re going to dream, I’ll make sure they don’t dream of idle fantasies. Instead, they’ll dream of combat training.”
Kyun-Kyun Confiscation.
* * *
[30 Minutes Later – Old School Building’s Lounge.]
“How is it?”
“She’s not there. Except for one location.”
The three students from the Vermilion Bird Class, who had gathered in the Old School Building’s lounge, quickly compiled the information retrieved by Evangeline di Ercy’s scouts.
“There’s just one place we haven’t checked, but it better not be an obvious one.”
“Phoenix’s room?”
“Yeah.”
“…”
Yunia and Ludmila exchanged glances, both furrowing their brows.
It wasn’t exactly appropriate to accuse someone of breaking into another person’s room—after all, Phoenix’s room was considered something of a public space for both the students of the Old School Building and even the instructors.
So then, where was Phoenix’s actual personal space?
If you were to ask Phoenix, he would likely mention one of two places.
One was the bakery’s storage room.
Since Ludmila occasionally helped out with baking, the bakery itself was a public space, but the storage room where supplies were kept was a different matter entirely.
The other was the Old Library.
While technically a public space, its uniqueness as a library, combined with the fact that Phoenix never fooled around or made inappropriate gestures there—becoming entirely serious instead—meant it was more of a personal space for him.
However, that place was also one the Vermilion Bird Class students had frequently visited together.
For someone unfamiliar with Phoenix Ludvecia’s special places within the Old School Building, there was really only one obvious answer.
Phoenix’s room.
“…Should we go right away?”
“We have to. We practically gave her a generous 30-minute head start.”
“Yes. That’s the penalty for the 3:1 match-up.”
The three members of the Vermilion Bird Class left the lounge without hesitation and headed straight for Phoenix’s room.
The only male student’s room.
As Ludmila grasped the doorknob—
Click.
The knob turned slightly, then stopped.
The door was locked.
The three students of the Vermilion Bird Class let out a knowing scoff.
“Did you think locking the door and barricading yourself inside would work?”
“I don’t know if someone tipped you off beforehand, or if you just decided to sneak off here on your own, but there’s one thing you should know.”
Yunia smirked as she spoke through the door.
“Phoenix doesn’t lock his room. Ever. He always keeps it open for guests.”
Clatter.
A faint sound came from inside.
Ludmila immediately tightened her grip on the doorknob.
Snap!
“Can I break it?”
“There’s no rule in the academy’s code prohibiting students from breaking down doors in the Old School Building.”
“And it’s not like this door is ever locked anyway. We should’ve broken it down sooner—huh?”
Inside the room.
No one was there.
“….”
“Should we use it? Tracking magic. We could find out where he disappeared to.”
“Aaah, no.”
As Evangeline reached for her staff, Yunia only smirked, curling the corner of her lip.
“The movement pattern is obvious. She went straight for the bed.”
“….”
“She crawled under the blankets as soon as she entered… Good grief, like a cat curling up into a ball or something. But do you know what’s funny?”
Yunia ran her hand over the blanket, chuckling softly.
“Phoenix doesn’t use blankets. If anyone does, it’s Evangeline.”
“H-Hey…!”
“And one more thing.”
Yunia turned her gaze elsewhere.
“Phoenix.”
Clatter.
“Doesn’t use the bathroom.”
Every student dormitory room had a personal bathroom.
“But since Phoenix is such a special existence, even when he ‘goes to the bathroom’, it’s just for show—he doesn’t actually use it.”
A tiny noise came from within the bathroom.
“The last person who actually sat on that toilet wasn’t Phoenix—”
BOOM!
The bathroom door exploded open.
And from the wreckage emerged a blonde girl wielding a rapier of ice.
“…Encounter.”
Yunia’s expression instantly hardened.
“Combat initiated.”
Inside Phoenix’s room, the battle began.
The first clash between the Vermilion Bird Class and the Azure Dragon Class.
