Most people with mana in their bodies assume that they can easily use magic.

And the students at the Royal Academy were no exception.

“Aaaahhhh!!!”

The student standing in front of the podium was making a lot of noise, but their magic wasn’t even activating, let alone flowing through their circuits.

Judging by the expression and the sound, you’d think they were casting a high-level spell.

He furrows his brow, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and shouts the name of the lowest-level spell skill.

“Elemental!”

“… .”

But contrary to his expectations, the classroom was filled with silence.

Ouch. It’s pitiful to watch.

I’m not the only one who thinks so; all the students in the classroom look at the student on the podium with pity.

The reaction makes it seem like he’s the only one who can’t cast magic, but that’s not the case. The real problem is that there are more than a few like him.

So far, one-third of the students who have come to the podium have not been able to activate magic, let alone flow mana through their circuits.

Of course, they all seem to be taking the magic lecture for the first time, just like me, so it’s understandable, but it’s still pitiful.

Now, what about the remaining two-thirds?

Since they had already taken the lecture in the first semester, they activated the spell without even looking at the formula, as if they were breathing.

This is why previewing is important.

Well, it’s understandable. Those guys did well in the first semester, so they signed up for it in the second semester.

For them, the lowest-level magic is no different from learning addition in math.

As I was thinking about this, Sion called out to me.

“Kaine, it’s your turn. Please come forward.”

“Yes.”

I nodded at Sion’s words and went to the front of the podium.

The eyes of all the students in the classroom were focused on me. Most students would feel pressured, but I’ve already attracted a lot of attention thanks to Kaine’s reputation, so I just shrugged it off.

This is just cute.

As I thought this, I slowly looked at each student, and I felt a piercing gaze staring at me. I turned my head to look in that direction.

A woman with silver hair, black eyes, and a somewhat mature image. She was the student who raised her hand to ask Sion a question earlier.

But she looks so familiar… .

As I stared back at her, trying to remember, I finally recalled.

Winton von Skaya.

She’s a villain who torments Rain, one of the main heroines in the game.

That’s right. She took this magic lecture.

She is the daughter of a duke and has a unique talent and aptitude for magic, befitting her villainous role in the game.

While most mages and priests need to chant to activate magic or healing spells (except for the Saint, of course), Skaya’s attribute is non-chanting, so she doesn’t need to chant for any magic she uses.

A non-chanting mage?

It’s essentially cheating.

Mages usually cast spells while knights hold the front line, but Skaya only needs to focus on the formula.

In fact, if she completely memorizes a spell, she can cast it like a machine gun.

And that’s not all.

Other mages can be predicted when they chant, but Skaya’s magic cannot be anticipated until it’s activated.

Considering these factors, her attribute is top-tier.

Of course, there is a drawback: she doesn’t have as much mana as Ange. But since she’s an exception, we should exclude her.

In any case, Skaya’s mana is more than most mages.

I took a closer look at her, just in case.

I didn’t recognize her before because I only saw the back of her head, but now that I see her face-to-face, I’m sure it’s Skaya.

But something’s off.

I’m seeing her for the first time, but she’s looking at me with a cold, narrow gaze.

Kaine, what did you do to the duke’s daughter?!

Of course, this could be an overreaction.

Even though Kaine lacks integrity, it’s unlikely that he would make a move on a duke’s daughter, who is of higher status.

But considering Kaine’s past actions, it’s not unreasonable to have such suspicions.

Look at the mess he’s made so far.

It’s actually strange that I don’t have PTSD.

As I was deep in thought, Sion spoke up.

“Kaine, please look at the formula on the blackboard.”

“Yes.”

I nodded and turned my head back.

A simple magic formula, like something out of a comic book, was drawn on the blackboard.

“Kaine, look at the formula and activate the magic. Chanting…”

Hmm. For the lowest-level magic, you only need to say the skill name. But even that is cringy.

However, to activate the magic, I have no choice. I can endure a little cringe.

I closed my eyes and felt the mana flowing through my body.

I moved as I usually do.

The mana in my body entered the circuit inlet. It slowly made its way through the narrow circuit and headed for the outlet.

Before long, it reached the end of the circuit, and a blue mana burst out of my body.

-Whoosh!

I looked at the formula on the blackboard and murmured.

“Physical Enhancement.”

The mana that was bursting out suddenly flowed into my body. At the same time, I felt a little lighter.

Oh! I feel stronger!

Until now, I had mana but couldn’t activate any magic, so I felt stagnant.

Now that I see magic being activated right in front of me, I feel like I’ve finally made some progress.

As I was rejoicing to myself, the Constellation interrupted with a message of admiration.

[The Goddess of Fate is amazed at your talent.]

Huh? What nonsense is this?

The lowest-level magic, Physical Enhancement, is easy for anyone who can flow mana through their circuits. It’s not something to be considered a talent.

I was confused, and Sion, sitting next to me, looked at me with a slightly surprised expression.

“Kaine, have you been practicing magic quite a bit?”

“Um… no.”

“Hmm. For a first attempt, your magic precision is too perfect.”

“Isn’t it because it’s the lowest-level magic?”

To be honest, how difficult can the lowest-level magic be?

In response to my question, she replied with a meaningful expression.

“Well, that’s true. Anyway, good job. Please return to your seat.”

“Yes, I understand.”

With that, I returned to my seat.

As I sat down, all the students kept glancing at me throughout the lecture because I had activated the magic so effortlessly.

.

.

.

“Okay, that’s all for today. Good work.”

“Good work.”

Sion and all the students left the classroom.

Just as I was about to get up and leave,

-Slap!

Someone slapped my back hard.

Who the hell is this?!

I turned my head back to see who had slapped my precious back, and Skaya looked at me with narrowed eyes.

“Hey, how come you didn’t even greet me when you saw me?”

“Huh?”

Greeting?

I tilted my head in confusion, and she seemed annoyed by my reaction, so she slapped my back again.

“Wow, look at that expression! We’ve known each other since we were kids. At least say hello when you see your big sister!”

What? Was Kaine Skaya’s childhood friend?

Does that even make sense?

I was so shocked that I couldn’t think straight for a moment, but then I realized…

…it does make sense.

I had forgotten for a moment, but Kaine is the son of a marquis.

A marquis is a high-ranking noble.

It’s not unusual for someone from such a family to have known a duke’s daughter since childhood.

Kaine probably wasn’t a troublemaker when he was young.

Anyway, it’s fitting that two villains are childhood friends.

Of course, unlike Kaine, Skaya is not incompetent, and that’s a fact.

“You’re mistaken. We’re the same age.”

“Hey, I’m just saying. Anyway, why are you taking this magic lecture? Doesn’t your family hates magic?”

“What are you talking about? It’s not that we hate magic; we are just not interested in it.”

“Anyway, why are you taking it if your family isn’t interested in magic?”

I shrugged at her question.

“Well, since I’m not talented in swordsmanship, I thought I’d try something else.”

“What? Is that really you, Kaine? Were you not just a loser?”

Damn. She just called me a loser to my face.

But since it was the truth, I couldn’t argue, so I just nodded with my mouth shut.

She was shocked to see me admit it so readily, and then she looked me up and down before suddenly running her finger from the top of my body to the bottom.

What the hell?! Why are you touching my body?!

[The Goddess of Fate is certain that this woman is a pervert!!]

It’s not just me who’s shocked by the situation; the Constellation is also furious and sends a message.

But why are you angry? It’s not like my body belongs to you.

As I was thinking this, Skaya continued to touch me without paying attention to my reaction.

“Hey, why do you keep touching me?”

“Uh, uh?! Cough. Sorry. I just heard that you came in 5th place in the physical test, beating out the knight aspirants, and I wanted to see if it was true. But seeing how good your body looks now, it must be true.”

“What? Did you think it was a lie?”

Skaya nodded without hesitation at my question.

“You were a total troublemaker in the first semester. To be honest, even the people who heard the rumor, besides me, would be skeptical.”

“Tsk! Whether they believe it or not is none of my business.”

“Well, that’s true. Anyway, you’ve definitely improved, and it’s nice to see.”

She nodded in satisfaction, looking at my changed appearance.

It seems like she was a bit worried about Kaine, who was a troublemaker in the first semester.

She’s actually quite nice for a villainess.

“Then I’ll be going…”

“Hey, wait.”

Just as I was about to leave the classroom, Skaya blocked my way and continued.

“Did you really not practice magic at all?”

“Even the professor asked me the same thing. I’ve only practiced strengthening my mana, and I’ve never seen a magic formula before today.”

“Hmm… really?”

She listened to my words and thought deeply before suddenly raising her head and saying,

“Kaine, you’re going to duel with Ogteen, that thug, in a week, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, then let’s train together for a week.”

“What?!”

The Winton family is famous for their magic. If we’re a swordsmanship family, they’re a magic family.

In fact, there may be magic that only the Winton family knows. Of course, she wouldn’t tell me about it.

Anyway, if I train with Skaya for a week, I might be able to learn one or two lowest-level or lower-level spells by the time of the duel.

But…

The problem is that Skaya is a villain in the original story.

Of course, she’s not a villain at this point in time, but it’s not a good idea to get involved with her. If I do, the story might deviate too much from the original.

Hmm. That won’t do.

My goal is to follow the original story as closely as possible. Although I’m quite different from the original Kaine at this point, I still need to follow it as much as I can.

Otherwise, I’ll have to die to gain information about the future.

It’s a bit disappointing, but I have to refuse. There’s no need to follow the wrong future just to learn a little magic.

Just as I was about to refuse,

“If you win the duel, I’ll teach you all the magic I know.”

“I’ll guide you to the training ground in our mansion, Master.”

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