Chapter 52
A full moon has risen.
It’s the big full moon that shines once again upon the world, filled with the light of the sun.
In a corner of the wide garden near the dormitory.
I was training my mana under that radiant baptism. Immersing myself in a solitary room is nice, but sometimes training out here while enjoying the ambiance breathes vitality into the flow of my mana.
As I touched the flow of mana, I felt a change.
‘As my total mana increases, the level of Curse Magic is rapidly advancing as well.’
Magic is fundamentally divided into three ranks.
The lowest rank is Lower Rank.
The next stage is Middle Rank.
And then we have the High Rank, nearing the summit.
By the time most people graduate from Academia, they typically go through these stages.
Vargan had most of his spells at High Rank as a base achievement. A few spells unnecessary for combat or not fitting his tendencies remained at Middle Rank, but there’s no need to forcibly develop them. It’s just not worth the investment.
Once magic reaches High Rank, it can be said that one has grasped the general shape of that field of magic. From that point onwards, personal research and development begin in earnest.
‘In a little while, Curse Magic will reach the “Comprehension” rank.’
The next level after High Rank and a new realm of magic.
A doorway to a new world opens, and all the perceptions experienced in this world are reorganized once more.
Those who just reach the Comprehension rank are called Beginners. Some go on to categorize further insights in detail, but truthfully, this is practically impossible.
Reaching the rank of Comprehension and marking personal realizations in a numerical sequence tends to distort statistics.
It’s that intricate and elaborate a discipline. It can’t just be divided into mere numbers and clumsy tiers.
…Well, it’s common to express those who have reached a markedly different level as having attained a rank of Transcendence, but that’s a story for later and pertains to a truly small number of people.
Anyway.
Recently, to complete the Unique Spell I aim for in magic, I need to achieve at least one area of the rank of Comprehension.
Originally, Vargan’s Curse Magic would reach the Comprehension rank in about 8 months from now. It was a pleasant thought that the accomplishments of the 7 months since I possessed this body were not to be dismissed.
“……”
I sensed a presence nearby, watching me. They were trying to conceal their mana as much as possible, but they still seemed a bit clumsy.
I had known about it for quite some time, but since they didn’t interfere, I hadn’t bothered to confront them. I didn’t want my focus to break. But now that I had temporarily stopped my training, it was a different story.
“Frieda.”
As I called her name, the underbrush nearby rustled. Frieda, who had been hiding behind the bushes, appeared with a sheepish smile.
It seemed she had a bit of an internal struggle before revealing herself, given it took her a while to come out.
“Haha, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop… I just went for a walk and ended up here…”
Fully visible under the moonlight, Frieda looked different from usual. Her orange-tinted light brown hair hung long, just like before, but the pointed ears adorning her head and the fluffy tail hidden in her skirt were something I had never seen.
“Oh, this looks like…”
“I know. You aren’t an Ain, are you?”
A little country with an unknown name once harbored a harem. Frieda, who lived there, originally had roots in the Darek Union filled with Ains.
Had she not been abandoned in that distant, unfamiliar harem, she might have ended up friends with Diphelia or others from the same region.
“…Yes, that’s right…”
She looks at me as if she didn’t expect me to know her race.
I chuckled, thinking that hiding something not particularly rare was a bit silly.
“Ain are plentiful at Academia. You likely became a target because of that tail and ears in the harem you lived in, but not here. You must know that, so why make things troublesome?”
“Riji. You know, you really do make things annoying.”
“…I guess it’s become a habit to hide it.”
Frieda had a curious look in her eyes. It seemed she wanted to ask how I knew all that.
A fluffy tail suddenly fell out from under Frieda’s skirt. It was the tail she had unconsciously hidden out of vigilance.
“Don’t ask how I know. I’ve already poured a lot into this conversation today. I don’t want to waste precious resources on chit-chat anymore.”
“…If you become extremely aware of curse magic, will you be able to see into people’s psyches? Just thinking about it is kind of scary.”
Frieda wrapped her arms around herself, pretending to tremble in fear. But when I showed signs of ignoring her and leaving, she hurriedly continued.
“I’ve organized all the Research Society documents just as Lord Vargan instructed. Of course, I cleaned so thoroughly that not even a speck of dust remains.”
“What’s the purpose of stating that?”
“Don’t you understand the intention behind my words?”
She flashed an OK sign with her finger and gave a shy smile.
I found her blatant attitude somewhat amusing, but it didn’t bother me. If anything, it was convenient in its clarity.
I tossed two coins from the pouch in my pocket at her, and with a satisfied expression, Frieda caught them mid-air.
“Thank you as always!”
I’ve finished enough training that I can do outside. It’s time to head back.
As I started to walk away, Frieda trailed right behind me. Since I had already given her what she wanted, I wondered if her following meant she still felt unsatisfied, and so I spoke up.
“Lord Vargan is solely focused on training, huh?”
“It’s necessary, after all.”
“Do you do that every day?”
I stared straight at Frieda. It seemed she was just beating around the bush with what she wanted to ask.
“What are you curious about?”
“Oh, you really do have sharp insight.”
Frieda reacted with surprise and then looked up at me with wide eyes, as if saying, ‘I know it’s rude to ask, but I’ll ask anyway.’
“Are you not interested in women?”
That sudden and bold question made me chuckle.
“Do I look like someone who might enjoy being with men?”
“Not really, but you always seem to be either training or reading books. You don’t even lift a finger towards beautiful servants like Alicia, right? I think it’s natural to misunderstand.”
“Well, I did kick some into a pit full of scavenger bugs.”
“…Ew. That’s a bit much.”
Frieda, who had been horrified, suddenly burst out laughing.
Most people wouldn’t would respond like that; it struck me as peculiar. Clearly, she wasn’t getting the answer she had hoped for.
“Oh, so that means…”
As she giggled, Frieda seemed to remember something and suddenly changed the atmosphere.
While her naturally bright energy hadn’t entirely faded, a calm and seductive aura began to emerge as well.
“This means I’ve learned that Lord Vargan isn’t uninterested in women, which is good news.”
Just as one would expect from a cunning fox, Frieda subtly approached me with a meaningful gaze.
A sweet scent tickled my nose, riding on the breeze.
“So you’re saying I might have a chance?”
Her tail, gracefully swaying beneath her skirt, became visible.
Watching her confident yet somewhat provocative expression reminded me of a situation when I was reading a novel. Back then, it was quite similar to this one.
“You knowing doesn’t change anything.”
“Well, you don’t know for sure yet. I don’t mind being the second or third woman.”
“So it’s all about money, then?”
“That’s not the only reason, but it’s definitely the biggest factor, right?”
In the original story, Frieda was just a frequent supporting character.
But that was only in relation to Liam, the protagonist. There had been quite a close connection between Vargan and Erica.
“If your goal is money, you should know that hiding it is a basic principle. Do you really think I’d just hand it out so easily?”
“You’re not the type to not know even if I were to hide it.”
On Erica’s engagement anniversary, Vargan failed to show up at the place he had promised to meet her.
The reason he stood her up was clear.
Although the details weren’t explicitly mentioned, the readers could infer it.
“You just don’t realize my charm yet. How about we take some time to get to know each other? Let’s go somewhere fun together next week. I’m sure…”
A bunch of characters smelling money and success had previously attached themselves to Vargan, but one figure stood out particularly—Frieda.
Back then, she had also approached Vargan and suggested a date, somehow perfectly overlapping with Erica’s promised date.
It just happened to coincide exactly with Erica’s promised date.
Needless to say, Vargan’s choice was Frieda, not Erica. There was no description of Vargan’s psyche, but it surely wasn’t because he found Frieda charming.
At that time, for some reason, Vargan was trying to push Erica away, and he used this situation because it would have been a fitting insult to her.
Even afterward, through Frieda, Vargan inflicted considerable humiliation on Erica. It got to the point where Erica was called a poor noble who had been overshadowed by his mistress.
“…….”
Erica….
Erica….
“Lord Vargan?”
A strange discomfort wriggled in the depths of my being.
The playful desire to tease or engage had vanished.
That unbearable feeling crawled up my insides.
I pushed Frieda aside and stepped forward.
My mind was filled with distractions. This walk was enough for now.
…Let’s head back to the room.
“It’s late. You should head inside too.”
I had wasted too much time. I didn’t want to squander another minute, not even a second.
…Or maybe this is just an excuse.
“I have a prior engagement.”
Leaving Frieda behind, I entered the room.
The strangely long moment under the moonlight had come to an end.
Left somewhat flustered and alone, Frieda pondered deeply and muttered to herself. Her eyes were calculating quickly.
“…It seems the rumor about not getting along with Erica was indeed false.”
Frieda also turned and returned to her dormitory.
*
The next afternoon.
After finishing the familiar practice training, I was heading to the laboratory when I bumped into Diphelia, who had taken the same class. Her gloomy expression made her flinch, and she quietly bowed her head as she approached.
It looked like she had become accustomed to chatting and was thinking of greeting me every time, but treating me like a ghost made me feel like I had done something wrong.
With trembling hands, she handed me a letter. I had no idea what was so frightening, but as soon as I took the envelope, she quickly fled. It was fascinating to see her wheelchair moving according to her thoughts.
I thought about reading the letter right away but decided to put it away after making eye contact with someone.
“…….”
I didn’t know for how long she had been watching. Erica got up without saying a word. As always, her expression was cold and dismissive.
I felt an inexplicable discomfort.
In various ways.
This is strange… I haven’t done anything other than the class battle. Or maybe it was a huge shock for Diphelia. If so, she must be a more sensitive person than I imagined.
I shuffled my feet.
I moved forward.
In the research society, everyone gathered, including the returned Finn. Frieda acted as if she were someone who had forgotten yesterday’s events, casually talking to me and teasing Emily as usual.
After quieting the noisy gathering, I finally spoke up.
“The selection of new members for Arbol Frutal has concluded. We now have a total of 33 members in the Large Research Society.”
The new members hadn’t entered the room yet. The list of those who passed had been posted on the bulletin board, but their activities would officially begin after relocating to the laboratory.
“Thus, the laboratory will be changed accordingly. A new place has already been secured. Most of the society’s items will be moved by the staff from Academia, but personal belongings should be moved by the individuals themselves.”
After informing the members about the other details regarding the society’s move, I got to the main point.
This would serve as the basic foundation and pillar sustaining Arbol Frutal in the future.
“As mentioned before, Arbol Frutal will be divided into four groups.”
The ‘Root’ where the executives are stationed.
The elite group ‘Main Trunk’.
The ‘Stem’ of ordinary folks.
And the lesser group ‘Branches’.
“Members belonging to the Root, excluding the newly joined Frieda, will have additional duties.”
While they belong to the Root, they will also take on the roles of group leaders. Their job will be to observe and report on whether the members in their respective groups are growing without issues and guide them with their paths and assistance. They’ll handle other tasks too, but that’s the key responsibility.
“I’m the leader of the Main Trunk. No one else here had the talent to lead, so, unfortunately, I’ve had to take on this busy role myself.”
The elite team in the Main Trunk consists of four members.
First-year students Belliar, Troa, and Bantlo.
Second-year Ocel, Victoria, and Francesca.
Fourth-year Alexeria.
Fourth-year Bracchium.
The four major figures I mentioned briefly earlier.
Bantlo’s role doesn’t really need further explanation.
Second-year Francesca was the second top scorer upon her entry and was a member of the Student Council. She left the Student Council in her second year and became an independent, and she’s now joined our research society. There aren’t many capable individuals in the second year, but Francesca is the exception.
But Francesca, she’s excluded.
Fourth-year Alexeria is just as talented as Francesca and is connected to the Student Council. Alexeria was actually the Student Council President two years ago.
After her term as Student Council President in her third year, she took a break and traveled the world. This time she returned to school with her fiancé Bracchium. From what I know, Bracchium was worried about her traveling alone, so he accompanied her.
When Alexeria interestingly entered Arbol Frutal, Bracchium followed her. Regardless of how it happened, now that they’re here, let’s put them to good use as I see fit.
“…The responsibility of the branch goes to Alicia and Serena.”
The branch consists of sixteen members.
Since it’s the largest group, two leaders were assigned. Alicia mainly deals with swordsmanship, while Serena handles archery, which allows for effective division of education if necessary.
“Lastly, the lacking group, the twig, is under Emily.”
“Why is the group I’m in the only one called that…?”
The twig consists of eight members.
It’s made up of people who have talent but haven’t fully blossomed yet or show only a bit of potential.
I felt a little uneasy leaving it to Emily, but she is improving slowly, so I appointed her.
Surprisingly, Emily is pretty good at analyzing people. Really surprisingly.
“Wait a minute. Why are there eight? I thought there were seven. And… doesn’t Finn have a responsibility zone?”
“…….”
Finn, who made eye contact with Emily, gave a slight smile and answered for me. Emily’s expression gradually froze. She looked at me with a hopeless stare, mouth hanging open in disbelief.
“Did you kick Finn out of the Research Society?”
Ignoring Emily, who wanted to hear a denial, I continued speaking.
See? When words aren’t finished and someone interrupts, misunderstandings and conflict arise.
“Finn, who used to be a member, belongs to the twig, not the root. Emily, he’s not taking on a leader’s role but rather just a member.”
“What…! Even so, that’s too much?”
“Emily, it’s okay. I asked him to do this.”
Emily’s trembling gaze turned towards Finn, who continued speaking calmly.
“I painfully realized how weak I am during the Class Battle. It’d be too shameful for me to belong to the root just because I was a prior member.”
“Finn….”
“You don’t need to worry so much. It’s not like I’m leaving the Research Society; we won’t be apart. And….”
Finn smiled.
Confidently.
He declared that he would definitely reach the root.
From twig to branch, from branch to stem, and from stem to root.
Members of Arbol Frutal’s groups are fluid. While overall development is expected, those with exceptionally fast growth and those who meet the conditions for the next step are reassigned to higher groups.
Finn speaks.
From the ‘twig,’ the lowest rank, he vows to reach the endpoint of the ‘root.’
Emily cannot read sadness or negative emotions on Finn’s face. At that moment, Finn looked at her with such anticipation.
“…Just try to arrive late.”
“I’ll catch up quickly.”
While preparing for the Class Battle, it became apparent that the two seemed to harbor some competitive spirit. In terms of skill, Emily has the upper hand, but she has personally witnessed Finn’s effort beside her.
Finn sees Emily’s level.
Emily sees Finn’s passion.
They can be said to be mutually beneficial.
There’s a fresh feeling in that. They were originally strangers who wouldn’t even greet each other, so utterly unrelated.
But after I possessed this body, their relationship changed entirely.
With just a little over a year left.
The day the tragedy of the Academia will arrive.
What will happen to these two, who should originally exit the story?
“What are you looking at?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Young Master… I just….”
Alicia, who was secretly watching me, flashed a pleasant smile. A warm smile like spring breeze.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself, so it makes me feel happy too.”
“That’s a purely subjective judgment.”
“Yes, Young Master is right.”
“…….”
Alicia, affirming my words.
But that smile is quite bothersome. It’s as if she understands me, with a motherly gaze.
…Let’s ignore it.
“Well then, let’s begin today’s Research Society activities.”
The small laboratory becomes busy once more.
