I Possessed a Character in an Academy Without a Protagonist – Chapter 29

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Hertlocker had long been making great efforts to infiltrate the ‘Crows’.

With his failure to gain admission to the Imperial Academy and the setback in eliminating Roman, he had to succeed in infiltrating the Crows no matter what.

‘Is this the Crows’ emblem?’

The result was a success.

It was the outcome created by the Intelligence Agency’s perfect past cleansing and Hertlocker’s careful approach.

Hertlocker put the token engraved with the crow’s beak pattern into his pocket.

He had now become a member of the Crows, who carried out all sorts of dirty work in the Empire.

In other words, he had gained easier and faster access to information about the Empire’s underworld.

“……”

Hertlocker’s steps towards his residence came to a halt.

A paper posted on a wall poster.

On that paper, the large letters ‘Wanted’ were written.

‘Are they looking for me?’

Although the name wasn’t written, it was a wanted poster seeking the intruder who had attacked Schlus Hainkel on the Day of Magic.

But there was one strange thing.

The section describing the assailant’s appearance was left blank.

Looking at it with puzzlement, the only witness had apparently forgotten the culprit’s face due to the shock of the incident.

‘What the……’

Schlus had forgotten my face?

Didn’t he instantly recognize my face as the one he had seen once at the cafe the moment we encountered each other?

Could it be that he had suffered memory damage due to the injury he sustained at that time?

I did hit his face hard with my knee.

If that’s not the case either……

‘No way.’

Schlus had deliberately not informed the police of the assailant’s appearance……?

Come to think of it, Schlus had been strange on the Day of Magic too.

If he had just applied a little force with his grip, he could have killed me, but he intentionally let me go.

‘Could it be that he doesn’t want me to get caught?’

Hertlocker came up with a chilling hypothesis, but-

‘No. That can’t be.’

He quickly denied that possibility.

Why would Schlus Hainkel, who was on the course to become the elite of the elite in the Empire, cover for a mere terrorist?

There was no reason or need for him to do so.

However, he couldn’t help but feel a nagging feeling.

“Hmm.”

Returning to his residence, Hertlocker looked around with a groan.

There was a letter stuck in the door crack.

The recipient was Walter Bank.

It was one of the Intelligence Agency’s disguised bases.

Hertlocker used the dagger that suddenly appeared in his hand to tear open the envelope.

It was Hertlocker’s original technique of decomposing matter into mana and reassembling it at the desired time.

As he took out the letter, the dagger in Hertlocker’s hand decomposed back into mana and disappeared.

Hertlocker began to read the letter.

At a glance, it looked like a flyer marketing loan-related products without any issues, but when the encryption code was applied, the decoded message appeared in Hertlocker’s mind.

‘Decision to maintain the cafe base. Cancellation of Schlus Hainkel’s transfer to assassination target. Maintain surveillance target……’

It seemed to be a message conveying the Intelligence Agency’s decision based on the information collected by Eric.

But what was this nonsense about not transferring the dangerous Schlus to an assassination target?

The Intelligence Agency seemed to have judged that Schlus was not a threat to the Kingdom.

It was hard to accept, but Hertlocker continued reading while grinding his teeth.

‘Estimated mana capacity of Schlus…… over 100,000?!’

Hertlocker’s eyes widened.

Although the detailed calculation process wasn’t included, the Intelligence Agency’s estimate would be quite accurate.

Yet the result was over 100,000?

Now it made sense why the Intelligence Agency didn’t transfer Schlus to an assassination target.

It wasn’t that they wouldn’t assassinate him, but that they couldn’t.

If they tried to catch Schlus alone, the entire Intelligence Agency might be shattered.

***

“Hehe. How were the classes, my daughter?”

“Phew…… It’s really tough. We finally had a proper class……”

Watching Erica constantly putting cookies into her mouth, Madam Lichtenburg smiled brightly.

Erica’s appetite would explode when she was stressed, and there was nothing cuter than Erica wolfing down snacks.

“For the first class, they only measured mana capacity and sent us back, so I let my guard down. From the second class onwards, they started progressing really quickly.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Erica barely remembered the contents of the second class.

She was too busy taking notes before she could even listen to and understand the vast lecture content.

In fact, the number of pages she had turned was only a few, but Professor Ludwig’s supplementary explanations were way too many.

However, if they were all useless stories, she would have just let them pass.

Somehow, they were all explanations that helped understand the essence of magic and couldn’t be learned without taking notes.

As expected of the top professor at the Imperial Academy.

It was only a mystery why someone like this, who had been teaching for 20 years, was still in the position of head professor and not the chairperson yet.

“Umm…… I think there was something else I wanted to tell Mother……”

“What is it? What is it?”

“Mother.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Have you thought about remarrying?”

“Wh-What? What?”

This definitely wasn’t what she had meant to ask.

But this was also a question she had wanted to ask for a long time.

“Wh-Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“No, just because. It’s been quite a while. Since Father passed away. I was wondering what Mother’s thoughts were.”

“Ho-How would you feel about it, Erica?”

“I’d like Mother to do as she wishes.”

“Hu-Hmm. I see……”

Seeing Madam slightly blushing and avoiding her gaze, Erica clicked her tongue.

It seemed she had someone in mind.

Although she didn’t seem to want to reveal it to her daughter yet.

When the time comes, she’ll probably tell.

Erica decided to be patient and wait.

“Ah.”

At that moment, the question she had really intended to ask came to mind.

“Mother. You know Schlus Hainkel, right?”

“I do…… The commoner top student at your school.”

“I invited him to our house for dinner.”

“What?!”

Madam’s face, which had been all smiles, contorted.

It was a genuinely disgusted expression, so Erica was quite taken aback.

She didn’t expect her to dislike him this much.

“No. Absolutely not.”

“He’s also the benefactor who saved Mother’s life. Shouldn’t we repay him to this extent?”

“……”

“Mother. No matter how much you dislike commoners-”

“It’s not because he’s a commoner.”

“Then why? Mother! Are you going to pretend not to know the favor?”

“Ha…… Alright. I’ll allow it. But on the condition that Schlus Hainkel doesn’t meet Julia.”

“Huh? Why is that?”

“……”

It’s okay as long as he doesn’t meet her younger sister?

Erica tilted her head, thinking it sounded like nonsense.

On the other hand, Madam only sighed while holding her throbbing head.

She began to struggle with whether to tell Erica about this, and if she did, how much she could tell her.

Madam, who had made a decision, raised her head. If she was going to tell, she had to tell everything.

“Schlus Hainkel. That man knows Julia.”

“……!”

Erica’s eyes widened as she understood Madam’s words.

***

“May 14th……”

I felt like I had looked at the calendar for nothing.

May 14th.

The day that reminded me of that person, so I felt a bit gloomy for no reason.

“Should I visit the grave?”

Of course, I knew full well that person couldn’t possibly exist in this world.

Nevertheless, that’s what people do, right? Searching even though they know it’s not there.

…… That’s what a foolish guy like me does.

“Miss Emilia.”

“Yes, Mr. Hainkel.”

“Could you buy a rose for me before class ends?”

“Understood. What color should I prepare?”

“…… White.”

After much consideration, I chose a white rose.

The reason…… I don’t really know myself.

I just felt like a white rose would be good.

Today was the day I had Combat Magic class.

By the way, I think I’m starting to understand why double majoring is so tough.

The second Elemental Magic class yesterday……

For 3 hours straight, there was nothing I could do other than spacing out, not understanding what was being said.

I really need to get my act together for the exams.

Otherwise, I’ll lose the top spot and get expelled.

“Welcome, everyone! Long time no see! Hahaha!”

As soon as I entered the lecture hall, Sergey was laughing heartily.

Long time no see, my ass. It’s only been a week.

By the way, Sergey, what’s with the steel rod he’s holding this time……

Where on earth did he get that from?

It seemed he had ripped off a steel rod from somewhere to use as a back scratcher after breaking the pipe.

It looked quite rusty, so I wondered if he might get tetanus from that.

No. Who am I worrying about right now?

There’s no way one of the Empire’s strongest would get hurt by something like that.

“What does everyone think is the basis of combat magic?”

“Large mana capacity.”

“Precision of the spell.”

“Tch tch. You’re all wrong.”

Sergey shook his head as if it was absurd.

That’s a bit annoying.

Should I try acting like I know?

“It’s speed.”

“Oh! Who was that just now?”

“Schlus Hainkel.”

“……”

An awkward silence fell over the lecture hall.

Once again, the gazes converged on me.

“Speed! That’s the correct answer. In combat, magic must be faster than anything else. Think about facing off against a swordsman. Do you think the swordsman will wait for you to deploy that beautiful and precise spell and pour in thousands of mana?”

“……”

“No! You’ll be gone in an instant if you do that. The beauty or complexity of the spell is meaningless once you’re already dead. So sometimes, the simpler and more brutish the magic, the more it shines in combat. For example……”

Sergey stretched out his arm towards the front, palm open.

The students had no idea what he was trying to do, but at this point, I had a feeling I knew.

The simplest magic in this world.

Bang!

“…… Something like this.”

Mana emission.

As an ear-splitting bang resounded, a gust of wind rushed in.

Sergey had simply fired mana straight towards the front.

“Professor! Isn’t that not magic?”

At this, Aintz suddenly raised his hand and asked a question.

It was more of a rebuke than a question.

“Good question. Then let me ask you the opposite. Why do you think this isn’t magic?”

“Well, that’s just firing mana, isn’t it?”

“Is that the basis for it not being magic? Let me ask a different question. What is magic?”

“For something to be called magic…… it needs to have a name. And it needs to be written in a magic book, right? I’ve never seen that being introduced as magic in any magic book.”

“If it’s not in a magic book and has no name, it’s not magic? Then what about newly invented magic? If it hasn’t been named yet and isn’t in a magic book, is it not magic?”

“……”

Aintz’s mouth closed.

As expected, he was powerless in the face of a fundamental contemplation about magic.

For someone who had only been taught the deployment method and combination of spells all his life, he probably had never thought about such things.

“Your words are both correct and incorrect. Hardcore magicians don’t want to classify this as magic. Why? Because it’s too simple. It’s not cool or beautiful. But if it can be properly expressed in the form of a spell, it is proper magic. If we go by scientific classification, that is.”

“Professor. Is it appropriate to consider magic scientifically? I understand that science is an obsolete field of study that fails to explain the principles of the world.”

Another student stepped forward to point it out.

“That statement is also both correct and incorrect. Science and magic are complementary. Science has the power to clearly express the ambiguous field of magic, and magic explores the parts that science cannot explain. In my class, I plan to incorporate some aspects of science as well. More precisely, the scientific way of thinking.”

“Professor! But that-”

“Goes against the magician’s oath? Then what about harming people with magic? Is that an act of upholding the magician’s oath?”

“……”

“In Combat Magic, we will learn anything related to combat magic. Since it’s directly related to your survival, we can’t be picky. Will you put on airs about science being an obsolete field of study and die, or will you learn whatever you can and survive first? If you’re dissatisfied with my class, you can leave now.”

“……”

The students fell silent again.

But as expected, not a single person left the lecture hall.

Sergey’s classes are always like this.

He brings up discourses that don’t align with existing sentiments, clashes with the students, and shatters their preconceptions.

That’s why Sergey’s Combat Magic is considered a class where you learn a lot.

Perhaps because he teaches combat magic that determines life and death, his classes inevitably become a mishmash of various things.

It’s the same principle as mixed martial arts being considered the most practical in real combat.

“Now! I think I’ve given enough hints. Then I’ll test your magic casting speed.”

“What?!”

“Cast whatever magic you’re confident in as fast as possible. I’ll time that speed and reflect it in your grades.”

…… And Sergey’s classes are also famous for having frequent pop quizzes like this.

He would suddenly announce and conduct a test in the middle of class, not even before class.

When I was writing, I didn’t know, but experiencing it firsthand is indeed absurd.

“Then the first one is…… Schlus Hainkel! Starting with the top student of the year!”

“Yes.”

It’s always me first.

I sighed and stepped forward.

I was confident in my spell deployment speed.

My calculation ability stat was already 48, five times that of an ordinary person.

Because the effect of the Forbidden Elixir had all gone into calculation ability…… Ugh, thinking about it pisses me off again.

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