Up until June, the students of our Old School Building have been steadily honing their skills and growing.
Take Ludmila, for example—the strongest combatant in our group. She has begun to utilize [Turbulence] to some extent on her own.
Following my earlier guidance in channeling mana, Ludmila has managed to imbue her spear with [Turbulence], allowing her to unleash the [Cutting Wind Spear] by throwing it.
Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks: she can only use the technique as a javelin throw, and both the casting and recovery times are excessively long.
This is to be expected.
– Sure, I can just throw it, but then everyone would know I’m trembling uncontrollably and on the verge of… cli*xing!
The extended casting and recovery times are a calculated measure to conceal the process of invoking Turbulence from others.
But what if I stood behind her and refined her mana for her?
Even if her body succumbed to Turbulence during the process, there would always be a plausible excuse.
– The man behind me touched me, and it just… happened!
Blame could easily be shifted to some blond and tanned delinquent sneaking up from behind, sensually manipulating her mana pockets and abdomen until Ludmila was compelled to feel it.
Of course, when it’s just us, there’s no problem.
– Hey, Ludmila, are you planning to take down the enemy with ‘atmospheric vibes’ this time?”
– Shut it, Evangeline. What will you do when you end up with a similar technique later on?”
– …Sorry.
Since we know how Ludmila triggers Turbulence, she’s grown more comfortable using it to its full extent in private.
– Ahhnnnghh?!
…Though, the post-use recovery period remains unavoidable.
Still, Ludmila has managed to tap into the latent power of her dual-core mana.
She’s far from mastery, but if she can learn to wield Turbulence without losing herself, she will truly be S-rank.
What about the other two?
Yunia and Evangeline have also shown significant growth.
However, their progress presents itself differently in public.
– Wow! I finally succeeded in casting B-rank magic without incantation!
– The faculty’s gone, so we can speak freely now, Miss Yunia.
– Imagine their faces if I cast A-rank magic without incantation!
– They wouldn’t just be surprised—they’d probably accuse us of deceiving them.
Yunia has mastered the art of gradually peeling away her layers of skill, making it seem as though she’s only improving at a natural pace.
– Yes! I can now control three giant forms simultaneously!
– You can’t do that unless you’re carried, hugged, or striking some absurdly provocative pose from a questionable magazine.
– Hmm… It’s still a bit difficult, but isn’t that fortunate? You always need someone with you in combat anyway.
Evangeline, on the other hand, has honed her abilities through physical contact with me.
She’s now capable of manipulating multiple giant bear puppets, even positioning one to shield her and me from prying eyes.
And what about me?
While they were growing like this, I also developed many skills while staying at the old school of Esdinas Academy.
In particular, I’ve focused on the [Wind Attribute], integrating spells and skills I once learned in-game as a mage, summoner, or magic swordsman.
Spells that lift the wind to flip skirts.
Techniques that send a powerful gust to strike an opponent’s vital points from below.
Or the magic I’m currently using on all three of them, [Localized Wind Manipulation].
Yes, this is essentially a clone technique.
Though my “clones” lack physical form, they move like invisible specters.
Press.
“Hnghh…”
“Could you not make such strange sounds, Miss Yunia?”
“But it’s relaxing…”
“Weren’t you asleep?”
“Maybe it’s just sleep-talking…?”
When I imbue them with mana, however, my clones can physically interact—massaging the three women into a deep sleep.
Technically, it’s just air pressure massages.
But to anyone observing, it would look like invisible figures diligently tending to their relaxation.
“Miss Yunia, still awake?”
“Who knows what you’d do to us while we’re asleep~”
“Isn’t that what you’re hoping for?”
“If it were you directly, maybe, but the clones feel a bit… lacking.”
Yunia smirked as she pulled one of my clones closer.
“Miss Yunia, my clones aren’t meant to be body pillows you cling to and squirm against.”
“But they’re comfortable.”
She embraced the clone like a dakimakura, rubbing against it in a way that left me momentarily speechless.
Why not just cling to me instead?”
Not willing to back down, I made the suggestion.
“Oh my. Say that, and the other two will wake up demanding the same treatment.”
She was right.
If I indulged her, Yunia and Ludmila would cling to me from both sides while Evangeline sprawled over me like a blanket, forming an inescapable triangle of affection.
“Isn’t there a rule against classmates sharing a bed?”
“This is the Old School Building.”
“True. But what if the rules get updated?”
“Not likely. The only restriction is entering the Old School Building’s forest at night.”
After the first practical session, new rules were established for the Old School Building.
Prohibition on entering the Old School Building during the semester.
Penalties for violations.
Despite these rules, some still brazenly entered the forest around the Old School Building, attempting to raid the building and steal magic pants.
‘They got expelled.’
The Academy faculty apprehended the culprit, conducted a brief investigation, and promptly expelled them, making an example to deter others.
It was a form of protective measure—both for us and those who dared to attack the Old School Building.
Though our performance in practical exercises alone was enough to dishearten many first-year students, the faculty took it a step further, restricting contact with us entirely to shield the others from discouragement.
Unless we initiated contact with the main building and the students ourselves.
Thanks to these measures, no one suddenly became an Angel overnight. There was no need to worry about someone waking up in the middle of the night, transformed into an angel to confront another angel.
This allowed us to relax, indulge in massages, nap, and revisit memories from dreams while preparing for our final exams.
“By the way, Phoenix.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you really okay with this?”
She wasn’t talking about me—but the three of them.
“Even if you said not to worry too much about grades, don’t you think you should dedicate some time to studying?”
“Miss Yunia.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve been staring at the bed for a while now. Why do you think that is?”
“Obviously, because you’re spouting convenient lies.”
“Exactly.”
With three beautiful girls gathered on the bed in my room, what reason would I have to refuse or send them away?
“It’s just a protest. If I don’t get good grades, I’ll make you three take responsibility.”
“And how should we take responsibility?”
“If I fail and get expelled from the Academy—”
“Then I’ll drop out.”
“What?”
“That’s right.”
Yunia rose from the clone she had been nestled in and smiled at me.
“I think studying and learning by your side would be far better than anything taught at the Academy.”
“…”
“Am I wrong?”
“Well… I wouldn’t disagree, but you should also appreciate the effort of the instructors.”
I pointed upward.
“At least the two of them are far better than me in their fields.”
“That’s true.”
Some things are too awkward to put into words.
There are certain instructors in the Academy whom it feels strange to address as “professors”, either because of their demeanor or their unconventional teaching methods.
And these same people were responsible for crafting this semester’s exams—
“Should I help you study for finals?”
“Are you sure? You could be getting a massage while reviewing theoretical texts.”
“It’s fine. I’ve already got all the theory here.”
Yunia tapped her chest with a smug grin.
“Am I wrong?”
“Well.”
It was true. The “theory pouch” was well-stocked.
“You don’t really need to worry about the first semester of the first year.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
* * *
And.
The final exams were over.
“Why are you the top scorer?”
“Because I studied hard.”
Top scorer: Phoenix Ludvecia.
Perfect score.
“Didn’t we keep you from studying properly?”
“As long as I know the exam scope, it’s not a big deal. I’ve been studying for more than ten years to enter the Academy.”
“???”
In the real world—and in the Demon World.
“I’ve just always studied diligently.”
