Vol. 1 Chapter 1 – The Underachiever at the Magic School

I remember that when I was very little, I admired magicians. But it seemed that I couldn’t become one. As a child, I couldn’t accept that, and when I pouted and asked why, my father smiled cheerfully and said.

“Talent for magic, you see, is something decided by bloodline. Magic is hereditary. But your father and mother aren’t magicians. So that means Junpei, who is our child, doesn’t have the talent to be a magician either. Too bad.”

At that time, Junpei was deeply disappointed. However, some time later, when a magician visited his kindergarten, he was told this.

“You are a magician.”

◇

In early summer, on some day in July of the year 20XX in the Western calendar, there was a certain school located in a corner of Tokyo.

The National Magic School, Tokyo Campus. As its name suggests, it is a school for magicians.

There are magic schools all across Japan, but in terms of scale, this Tokyo campus is the largest. In addition to an elementary division, a middle division, and a high school division, it also has Japan’s only magic university. Young magicians from all over the country gather there to continue their studies, making the Tokyo campus effectively a student town for magicians.

Within the high school division of this magic school, tucked away in one corner of its grounds, stood a small building with the appearance of a Catholic church. It was a two-story structure with a rather atmospheric exterior, but in reality, it was nothing more than a storage shed. It housed various old magical tools that were no longer used in classes, and being far removed from any of the school buildings or facilities, people rarely came by.

Behind that storage shed, in a narrow space like a gap wedged between the building and the outer wall, Ichinose Junpei sat down.

—It’s quiet.

This place remained in shade all day, and despite the summer heat, it felt cool as if the heat were a lie. Even the deafening chorus of cicadas from the schoolyard sounded faint, as though it belonged to some distant world.

“I wonder when class will end already…”

Muttering this was Junpei, an East Asian boy with black hair and black eyes.

He was a first-year high school student, sixteen years old, born in May. His hairstyle was an unremarkable short cut, and his face was reasonably well-shaped. He stood at 175 centimeters tall, his body toned enough that veins faintly showed along his arms and his abs were lightly defined. At the moment, he was wearing the uniform of the magic school. That is to say, a summer outfit consisting of a well-balanced combination of white and black: a shirt, trousers, and shoes.

Junpei lightly knocked the back of his head against the storage shed wall and looked up at the summer sky wedged between the wall and the fence. And then, strangely enough, it felt as if he were at the bottom of a valley. As if he could never climb out of here, as if all he could do was look up. With that feeling, Junpei said.

“Am I never going to be able to use magic…?”

At that moment, he saw something leap from the outer wall onto the roof of the storage shed.

It seemed too large to be a stray cat. Wondering what it was, he held his breath. Then, a leg wearing a glass shoe dangled down from the roof, and Junpei’s eyes widened in shock. What the hell is this, he muttered silently. Just then, a woman’s voice drifted down as if falling from above. It was in English. His ears, accustomed to Japanese, couldn’t catch it clearly, but it sounded like she was muttering something.

—I see, I’m starting to get it now.

Apparently, someone had jumped onto the roof of the storage shed, and that someone was now sitting on the edge of the roof, idly swinging her legs while talking to herself. And those legs were directly above Junpei. Understanding the situation, Junpei stared at the glittering glass shoes and thought:

—What kind of weirdo is this? Who climbs onto a roof wearing such ridiculously high-heeled, sparkly shoes?

She was muttering to herself in English, sounding rather carefree, and apparently hadn’t noticed Junpei yet. Since he was sitting wedged between the shed and the outer wall, she must have overlooked him. He could have simply stayed quiet and avoided getting involved, but at that moment, his curiosity got the better of him. He wanted to see what kind of face this woman had.

But how was he supposed to drag her down? Sitting on a second-floor roof like that, even if he jumped with all his strength, he wouldn’t be able to reach her, not even with his fingertips. So what should he do?

—I guess I’ll have to catch her with magic. Though it probably won’t work anyway. But maybe, just maybe, this could be the trigger that lets me figure out what kind of magic I have.

With that faint hope in mind, Junpei quietly stood up, gathered his magical power just as he had been taught at the magic school, and tried to form an image of capturing the woman on the roof. It might be a bit reckless to suddenly use magic on her but she had climbed over the school’s wall to get in.

—Whoever you are, I don’t know you, but you’re the one acting suspicious!

Justifying himself like that, Junpei shouted up into the sky.

“I don’t care what it is, just let a miracle happen!”

For an instant, something like a magical sensation welled up but maybe it was just his imagination, because nothing in particular happened. Still, even if no magic was activated, anyone would be startled if someone suddenly shouted.

“Eek!”

The woman on the roof jerked upright in surprise, then slipped off the edge.

“Ah, crap!”

At this rate she’d get hurt. Panicking at the thought that it was his fault, Junpei, acting on pure instinct, tried to catch her. Instead, he took the impact straight to the face and fell flat onto his back. He felt the hardness and chill of the ground against his back, while something soft pressed against his face, making it hard to breathe. His vision went dark.

—What… what just happened? Soft? It smells nice? What is this?

Just as Junpei thought that in confusion—

“Yah!”

With that cry, the soft pressure on his face disappeared, and his vision cleared.

It was the same summer sky he had been looking up at before, framed between the wall and the fence. And cutting into that view, a beautiful white girl with silver hair and violet eyes peered down at him.

“You pervert!”

“…Huh?”

Junpei blinked, completely confused. The girl’s face was flushed red as she gently held her own backside with both hands. Still lying on his back, Junpei fell silent as he looked at her. One reason was that she was unbelievably beautiful, but more than that, her outfit was strange.

“A… a dress?”

Yes, the girl was dressed in a pink gown, like a princess straight out of a storybook. She even wore a tiara adorned with diamonds. She stood just under 160 centimeters tall, with long silver hair and mystical violet eyes. Her chest was quite well-developed, and the high heels she wore looked as if they were made of glass.

Why was such a beautiful girl, dressed like this, leaping onto the roof of a storage shed at a magic school high division in the middle of a summer day? And just what had that soft sensation from earlier been?

“To bury your face in a girl’s butt right after meeting her… you’re quite the pervert, aren’t you?”

She said it clearly in a meltingly sweet voice and Junpei felt his face burn with embarrassment.

“So that was your butt!?”

Junpei shouted as he sprang to his feet. He was trying to cover up his fluster, but his face was still hot. He hurriedly tried to change the subject.

“I-it wasn’t on purpose! You came in from outside and were muttering in English right above my head. And climbing onto the roof of a storage shed isn’t exactly normal. So I tried to use magic and—”

Perhaps because he was shaken, his words didn’t come out smoothly. Besides, the magic had failed. The girl hadn’t fallen from the roof because of his magic, but because she had been startled by his shout.

As that thought reached him, Junpei suddenly calmed down and stared at the girl.

“By the way… you were speaking English at first, but now you’re speaking Japanese, right?”

“Well, you’re Japanese, aren’t you? Then Meryl will match that. I’m good with languages, after all.”

“…Meryl?”

Muttering that, Junpei watched as the girl brought both hands up beside her head, spread her fingers wide, and beamed brightly.

“That’s right, nice to meet you! Meryl is Meryl! Nice to meet you, Meryl!”

“O-oh.”

Junpei had completely lost his rhythm but as he looked at Meryl’s bright smile, he found himself smiling along with her for some reason.

She doesn’t seem like a bad person, he thought, placing a hand on his chest as he spoke.

“Sorry about that. You seemed a bit suspicious, so I tried to catch you with magic, but it looks like I failed. You fell off the roof because my voice startled you, right?”

“Huh? Yeah… well… I guess so.”

“Thought so.”

Junpei gave a wry smile and continued.

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

“I’m fine! Meryl is tough, after all!”

“I see. That’s good then.”

At that, Meryl held her hands like a penguin’s flippers and tilted her head slightly as she looked up at Junpei.

“Hey, are you a student at this school? What’s your name?”

“Junpei. First-year high school student at the Tokyo Magic School, Ichinose Junpei.”

As Junpei introduced himself honestly, Meryl looked at him with innocent eyes and said:

“Junpei, what are you doing in a place like this? It’s a weekday, so classes are in session, right?”

“Uh…”

Junpei instinctively averted his gaze. In truth, he was the one with something to feel guilty about.

“Hey, hey, Junpei.”

Meryl lightly shook his body with both hands. Even though they had just met, she was oddly familiar. Thinking that to himself, Junpei lowered his eyes and muttered as if spitting it out:

“…I’m skipping.”

He had slipped out of his afternoon classes and was just killing time behind the storage shed where no one would see him. That was all, but Meryl pressed on.

“Why?”

“Why…? Because I got into a fight.”

“A fight? You skip class just because you fought? Why?”

“…Damn it.”

The way she kept asking『why, why』was just like a child. And yet, strangely, it didn’t annoy him. Maybe he had wanted someone to listen. That “…damn it” came from him realizing that tilt in his own heart.

—Well, whatever. It’s not like I’ll ever see her again anyway.

Even if he complained a little, he could just pretend it never happened.

Having decided that, Junpei began to speak as if resigning himself.

“I’m a failure. I’m only attending this school because I’m supposed to be a magician, but I can’t control magic at all. Written tests are one thing, but when it comes to practicals, I’m hopeless. No matter what I try, it either fizzles out or goes out of control. Like before, when I tried to use a levitation spell, I ended up casting a body-binding spell on the girl I was paired with… I really messed up.”

“I see. But that was before, right? What happened today?”

“Today, during practice, I was paired with a girl and we were supposed to interfere with each other’s magical waves to read each other’s magic power, but for some reason… water suddenly started falling from above her head…”

“Oh dear.”

“And then her boyfriend got mad. Well, I guess it’s understandable since she got soaked and her underwear was visible… but it’s not like I did it on purpose. Still, he started hurling insults at me…”

“So you ran out of there?”

“Yeah. I’m already a failure and now I’ve even gone and skipped class.”

“I see. Got it. I thought no one would be here, so Meryl was surprised.”

Saying that, Meryl pressed her cheeks tightly with both hands. Watching her squished face, Junpei said.

“By the way, what year are you? There are a few exchange students at this school but I’ve never heard of someone like you.”

“Hm? Meryl isn’t a student here, you know? I’m a wandering magician traveling the world!”

“Huh, then are you a guest? Like, invited here for some special lecture or something?”

“Nope, that’s not it. Meryl wasn’t invited. I just came on my own.”

“You just came on your own…?”

Understanding what that meant, Junpei instinctively took a step back.

“Wait, you’re seriously an outsider!? Why? Do you have some business with this storage shed or something? There’s nothing here but junk, you know?”

Meryl clicked her tongue and wagged the index finger of her right hand at Junpei.

“Whether it’s junk or not is for Meryl to decide.”

Looking down at her, Junpei desperately tried to make sense of the situation. In other words, Meryl was an unidentified magician who had illegally entered the school grounds. And for some reason, she had set her sights on this storage shed.

“…Don’t tell me… you’re a thief?”

“Nope. Meryl came here to destroy something. Not to steal it, okay? Don’t get it wrong. Though I don’t even know yet if it’s really inside this shed.”

“To destroy something…that makes you a criminal, doesn’t it!?”

Junpei blurted that out, but it was the middle of afternoon classes, and with the building tucked away at the edge of the campus where no one came, there was no one who would come to help. Since he had stumbled upon her, he had to deal with it himself.

—Damn it, I don’t want to get involved. I really don’t. But if I pretend I didn’t see anything and she causes trouble later, I’ll be the one blamed for ignoring it.

Of course, even if he was a magician, Junpei was still just a student. There was no law requiring him to apprehend a criminal on the spot. But at the very least, he did have an obligation to report it.

Junpei took a deep breath, then fixed his gaze firmly on Meryl and said:

“Listen, Meryl. Entering a place you’re not allowed to enter and trying to destroy something there… that’s a crime.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

At her completely unapologetic reply, Junpei nearly stumbled.

“What do you mean ‘yeah, that’s true’!? What you’re trying to do is wrong!”

“Nope, that’s not it. Meryl is doing the right thing.”

There was something so clear and pure in her voice that, honestly, it shook Junpei a little.

—Maybe…aside from the law, there’s some kind of justified reason.

But he didn’t want to know that reason. Getting involved carelessly and ending up stuck in a mess was the last thing he wanted. Shutting away the possibility that Meryl might have her own circumstances, Junpei put on a stubborn, inflexible expression and pulled a mobile device from his pants pocket. Showing it to her, he spoke as if trying to drill the point into her.

“Listen, Meryl. Turn around right now and leave this school. If you do, I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything. But if you don’t, I’m going to report you to Red Heart Brave.”

“Huh? Red Heart Brave? What’s that?”

“In simple terms, it’s our school’s student council. But at the same time, they also act as the disciplinary committee, a vigilante group and even a volunteer organization.”

“The student council is a volunteer group? What do you mean? Meryl wants you to explain a bit more.”

Urged on like that, Junpei scratched his head, gathered his thoughts, and began to explain.

“…Magicians have strong power but they’re a minority, right? In this world, non-magicians vastly outnumber them. So naturally, friction is bound to occur.”

“Yeah, that’s right. In many countries and across many eras, magicians have done terrible things to non-magicians with their power and non-magicians have also done terrible things to magicians. You learned that in history class too, didn’t you, Junpei?”

“Yeah. But fortunately, in this day and age, things are relatively well balanced between the two sides. Still, no one knows when that balance might collapse. That’s why Red Heart Brave was established, based on the concept of improving the image of magicians by showing non-magicians how useful they can be.”

In other words, Red Heart Brave is not only the student council of the magic school, but also a social service organization. Its activities cover a wide range of areas, including security, rescue operations, disaster relief, and the suppression of problematic magicians. When cases involve magical crimes, they sometimes cooperate with the police. In fact, student council duties are more of an afterthought. What they value above all is their social contribution outside the school.

For that reason, only elite students with excellent grades and exemplary conduct are allowed to join Red Heart Brave. Moreover, participation is not mandatory, it must be voluntary.

“It’s an elite group that someone like me, a failure, could never join. If any trouble happens in the school, the rule is to report it to them first.”

The guiding principle is that student problems should be resolved by students.

“They’re elites who can handle most problems, but if they decide something’s beyond them, they’ll report it to the police. In that case, the police’s Magical Crime Investigation Division will step in and depending on how big of a mess you make, even the Magic Tactical Unit might get involved. You don’t want that, right? So I’ll overlook this for now, just go home, okay?”

“Okay, got it. Then Junpei, you can go ahead and report Meryl to this Red Heart Brave thing. Meryl will finish what she came to do in the meantime.”

“You don’t get it at all!”

Completely ignoring Junpei’s heartfelt shout, Meryl lightly slipped past him and dashed out from behind the storage shed into the sunlit yard.

“Damn it, wait!”

With no choice, Junpei chased after Meryl, running through the summer sunlight and heat as he circled around to the front of the shed. By the time he got there, Meryl was already standing in front of the closed iron door, bracing herself.

“Meryl Punch!”

She must have reinforced her fist with magic, but there was something surreal about seeing a beautiful girl in a dress smash through an iron door with a single punch.

“Yay, it opened! Meryl is amazing! Meryl is number one!”

Saying that, Meryl cheerfully went inside the shed. Left behind, Junpei stood there in stunned silence, so overwhelmed that he almost wished he would just melt away in the heat. But he couldn’t afford to just stand there.

“I… have to report this…”

It was a complete hassle, but the fact remained that a school facility had been destroyed by an intruder. If he had witnessed this and pretended not to know, he would be the one blamed later.

—Why does this always happen to me…

Muttering that in despair, Junpei used his mobile device to call the Red Heart Brave contact point.

【…】

【Understood. Even though classes are in session, we’ll dispatch personnel immediately. Please evacuate. Under no circumstances should you attempt to apprehend the intruder on your own.】

“Okay, got it.”

He didn’t need that warning. He had no intention of taking any dangerous risks to begin with. Still, he was worried about Meryl, so after ending the call, before evacuating, he peeked inside the storage shed.

It looked like a dusty warehouse. Shelves fixed to the walls were crammed with items in disarray, and several cardboard boxes were piled up haphazardly. In the middle of it all, Meryl was rummaging through things, tossing this and that aside.

“Ugh, I can’t find it…”

She looked like she was on the verge of tears. Junpei called out to her hesitantly.

“H-hey… I really did report you to Red Heart Brave, you know?”

At that, Meryl turned her face toward Junpei.

“Hey, Junpei, have you seen a ring?”

—Listen to what people are saying!

Junpei snapped that in his head but by now he had already come to realize that Meryl was the kind of person who didn’t listen to others at all. So instead, he took on an almost saint-like patience and asked back.

“What kind of ring?”

“Um, it’s made of metal, no gemstones or anything, just a simple ring.”

“There are rings like that everywhere. Give me something more distinctive. And more importantly, what makes you think a ring like that would be here?”

“This.”

Saying that, Meryl stretched out her right arm and showed him the back of her right hand, fingers pointing upward. Looking closely, a gold ring was gleaming on the middle finger of her right hand.

“That ring?”

“This is a kind of ring radar. The rings Meryl is searching for have ranks, you know. From the bottom: bronze, silver, gold, platinum. And the higher-ranked rings can detect lower-ranked ones. Meryl uses this to travel around searching for rings.”

“To destroy them?”

“Yep, to destroy them.”

Junpei had meant that question to press her a little, but Meryl remained completely unfazed. Letting out a small sigh, he continued.

“Even with a radar like that, you still can’t find it?”

“Yeah, this time the reaction is weak. If it were a silver or bronze ring, I could pinpoint it more clearly. And if it were platinum or higher, this gold ring wouldn’t detect it at all. So the one around here should be the same rank as this one, gold. I’m pretty sure it’s somewhere in this magic school. That’s why I had my eye on this building since it looks like a treasure vault, but…”

“No, like I said, this place is just a junk storage.”

“Yeah. So just now, I was sitting on the roof checking the ring’s reaction more carefully, but then Junpei found me…”

So in other words, he had gotten in the way of her search. Junpei accepted that explanation but another question quickly came to mind.

“A ring with ranks, and higher-ranked ones can detect lower-ranked ones… If it has that kind of power, it’s a magical item, right? What kind of thing is it?”

At that, Meryl stopped searching, raised her right index finger, and gently placed it against her lips.

“Hmm, that’s a secret. There are things you’re better off not knowing.”

“Well, yeah, I guess…”

At a glance, Meryl didn’t seem much different in age from Junpei. And yet, she was acting with a purpose strong enough to break the law. Putting aside whether it was right or wrong, to Junpei, who was a failure at the magic school with no future ahead of him, she seemed just a little enviable for having something she was devoted to.

“Seriously, what even are you? Where did you come from, what’s your goal, what are you trying to do? Why are you going around destroying rings?”

“Meryl is Meryl. Basically, a traveling magician. I’ve been wandering the world since long ago, watching how the human world changes over time. Since I’m just a traveler, I usually don’t get involved in things, but this time it’s a little different. There’s some trouble from ten years ago that Meryl still hasn’t finished dealing with.”

“Don’t make it sound so dramatic…”

At a glance, Meryl didn’t seem much different in age from Junpei. And yet, she was acting with a purpose strong enough to break the law. Putting aside whether it was right or wrong, to Junpei, who was a failure at the magic school with no future ahead of him, she seemed just a little enviable for having something she was devoted to.

“Seriously, what even are you? Where did you come from, what’s your goal, what are you trying to do? Why are you going around destroying rings?”

“Meryl is Meryl. Basically, a traveling magician. I’ve been wandering the world since long ago, watching how the human world changes over time. Since I’m just a traveler, I usually don’t get involved in things, but this time it’s a little different. There’s some trouble from ten years ago that Meryl still hasn’t finished dealing with.”

“Don’t make it sound so dramatic…”

Despite looking young, she spoke like an old person who had traveled for ages.

“Seriously, what do you mean『trouble from ten years ago』? You were just a kid back then.”

At that, Meryl spread her arms wide, forming a Y-shape with her body, and grinned proudly.

“I’m not a child. Meryl is six hundred sixty-six years old this year!”

“Yeah right!”

Junpei couldn’t help but shout, but Meryl only giggled and shot him a sidelong glance.

“It’s not a lie. I’ve stopped my aging with magic.”

“I’ve never even heard of magic like that!”

“Exactly. Which means you’re talking to a historically great magician right now, you know? You should feel honored. Heh heh heh.”

“No way. That’s definitely a lie.”

“Meryl doesn’t lie! It’s true, really!”

Watching her laugh like that, Junpei felt the urge to hang her upside down and interrogate her until she told the truth, but of course, he wasn’t actually going to do something like that.

“…Whatever. More importantly, I seriously reported you to Red Heart Brave, so they should be here soon.”

Just as Junpei said that—

“Is this where the intruder is? The door has been quite thoroughly destroyed.”

A beautiful female voice came from outside the storage shed. So they’re here, Junpei muttered inwardly, when that same beautiful voice rang out again.

“Come out at once!”

Hearing that voice, Junpei turned his gaze toward Meryl.

“What are you going to do?”

“Hmm, can’t be helped. Looks like this place was a bust anyway, so Meryl will go look somewhere else.”

Meryl didn’t seem to have any sense of danger at all. Junpei slowly stepped back, putting some distance between them as he spoke.

“There are people around now, so I’m done giving you warnings. You made this mess yourself, so deal with it yourself.”

With that, Junpei turned on his heel and walked out of the storage shed.

The moment he stepped outside, he squinted at the dazzling summer sunlight. When he opened his eyes again, he couldn’t help but let out a breath of admiration.

Standing outside the shed, waiting with an imposing stance, was a beautiful girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.

—A foreigner. Probably one of the exchange students at this school.

The girl he guessed that about was Caucasian, with golden hair flowing down to her waist. She stood in the mid-160 centimeter range, with striking sapphire-blue eyes. Her chest was so large it looked like the buttons of her uniform blouse might pop at any moment. Over her uniform, she wore an open-front cape draped over her shoulders, and at her collar was a red ribbon indicating she was a second-year student. Her legs, extending from beneath her skirt, were exceptionally long. And above all, she was unbelievably beautiful.

That very girl fixed her gaze on Junpei and spoke in fluent Japanese:

“Are you the one who reported this? Were you not instructed to evacuate?”

“…Things just kind of turned out this way.”

Perhaps dissatisfied with his weak-willed answer, the girl let out a small snort.

“Well, fine. Get behind me. The intruder is inside?”

“Yes. By the way, are you alone?”

“It’s during class, so not everyone could assemble in time. The captain insisted on waiting until everyone was gathered, but if we let the intruder escape because of that, it defeats the purpose. Besides, for a matter of this level, I alone am more than sufficient.”

“I-I see…”

—So basically, she’s acting on her own authority.

Junpei pointed that out in his mind but he wasn’t foolish enough to say it out loud.

“Well, the other party isn’t that violent, so take it easy.”

“What are you talking about? Someone who isn’t violent wouldn’t break down an iron door.”

Faced with that perfectly reasonable argument, Junpei fell silent. Deciding not to defend Meryl anymore, he quickly moved behind the girl for cover. Then a question crossed his mind.

“Um, senpai… since you’re wearing a red ribbon, that means you’re a second-year, right? What’s your name?”

“My name is Sonia Lightfellow. I am a descendant of the hero Arciela, who defeated the evil Demon King a thousand years ago. I am currently an exchange student from the London Magic School, studying here at the Tokyo campus.”

“Oh… so you’re that one…”

Magic schools around the world maintain international exchanges with one another. Student exchange programs are common, and even at the Tokyo campus alone, there were more than ten exchange students from various countries. Among them was said to be a beautiful exchange student from England, who also carried the grand title of being a descendant of a hero.

“Is it true that your ancestor was the hero who defeated the Demon King?”

“Yes, of course. In our family, legends, documents, antiques, equipment, and even magic related to the subjugation of the Demon King have been passed down. Naturally, I have no intention of sharing any of that with someone like you. Now then, about the intruder—”

At that moment, from the darkness at the entrance of the storage shed, Meryl appeared, wearing a red Chinese-style dress. Her hairstyle had changed to match the outfit, styled into twin buns, and she had a feather-like stole draped over her.

“Yaho~ Hello, nice to meet you! Meryl is Meryl! Nice to meet you!”

Sonia’s expression at that moment looked like pure, heartfelt exasperation. She clearly wanted nothing to do with her.

Meanwhile, Junpei stared at Meryl in shock and asked in a groaning voice.

“…When did you change clothes? And why did you change?”

At that, Meryl simply closed one eye without saying a word. It was clear she had no intention of answering.

Sonia frowned slightly at the exchange, but soon let out a sigh and said.

“…I am Sonia Lightfellow of Red Heart Brave. I will give you one warning. Disarm yourself immediately and surrender. It will be better for both of us.”

Meryl, however, placed a finger to her lips and said.

“Hmm… Meryl has things to do, so that’s not really possible.”

“In that case, under suspicion of trespassing on the grounds of the magic school and destruction of property, I, Sonia Lightfellow, will restrain you by force.”

The moment she finished speaking, Sonia swung her right arm sharply to the side. Light gathered in her hand, and in an instant, it formed into a single sword.

Seeing that, Meryl let out an impressed『Ooh!』and clapped her hands.

“Amazing! Constructing armament with magical power, and it’s fast too, with a lot of power packed into it!”

“Hmph, naturally. I am an elite, after all. And so, this super elite will subdue you in two seconds!”

With that declaration, Sonia readied her magical sword and sprang into motion.

“I shall dance like a butterfly, and be as beautiful as one! In any case, elegantly and gracefully… now then!”

Sonia kicked off the ground and charged toward Meryl. From there, she unleashed a series of fluid sword techniques centered around thrusts, striking at Meryl in a graceful flow.

“Ooh…”

Junpei was instantly captivated by Sonia’s elegant swordsmanship. Her movements, posture, footwork, the trajectory of her blade, and the way each technique flowed into the next, everything was beautiful, almost like a sword dance.

But the two seconds Sonia had confidently declared had already long since passed.

“Kh—!”

The proud smile that had been on Sonia’s face at first was gone. Instead, her brow was furrowed with intense focus. Yes, Sonia was struggling against Meryl. Every thrust, every slash, even the kicks she wove into her swordplay, Meryl evaded them all with effortless agility. Like a monkey.

“Damn it!”

Sonia grew more frantic, trying to catch Meryl with the tip of her blade, but she couldn’t even land a graze. At first, she had probably intended to disable her without striking vital points, but now there was a clear intent to skewer Meryl straight through the heart. Even so, Meryl continued to slip past each attack lightly, her movements graceful as she dodged, the stole fluttering and flickering in a way that seemed to confuse Sonia, while she spoke as if singing.

“Hm, I see. You’ve already trained your body well and on top of that you’re reinforcing your strength, endurance and senses with magic. And that magic program tracing a master swordsman’s breathing… you’re using it to turn yourself into an expert, aren’t you? Plus, a full-body shield. And mixed in with your sword and kicks, you’re firing invisible air bullets too.”

—Invisible air bullets?

Junpei was stunned. There had been a level of combat far beyond his perception.

“And those rings of light wrapped around the tip of your sword, they look decorative but they’re actually for blinding your opponent. Amazing, amazing! You’ve really thought this through!”

Faced with Meryl’s unreserved praise, Sonia stopped her attack for the first time.

“W-what… what are you!?”

Her entire fighting style had been laid bare, every move evaded. Sonia stood there in shock. Junpei, too, could only gape in disbelief.

“…What the hell is she? She’s insanely strong…”

He had thought she was just some crazy girl, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Meryl was treating Sonia like a child. And Sonia herself should have been strong, at least compared to the average student. Putting aside the whole『descendant of a hero』thing, being an exchange student already meant she was elite, and while magic wasn’t only about combat, someone in Red Heart Brave would certainly have been evaluated for magical combat aptitude. She would have been trained in magical self-defense and restraint techniques as a matter of course. And yet, she was completely outmatched.

—She’s the real deal. A true, adult magician. This is on a level students can’t even compare to.

“Hey, maybe you should reset and—”

Just as Junpei started to say that, Sonia snapped,『Damn it!』and raised her left hand high. At once, the surrounding air began to tremble. Even if he was a failure, Junpei was still a magician. He could at least sense the abnormal surge of magical power.

Several glowing spheres that emitted electrical energy formed around Meryl, and all at once, they began discharging lightning toward her.

“Lightning Strike!”

At her command, bluish-white bolts of lightning shot at Meryl from all directions.

However…

“Ei!”

With a casual swing of her arm, the lightning, along with the glowing spheres, vanished cleanly without a trace.

Then Meryl furrowed her brows slightly and shot Sonia a light glare.

“That was dangerous. If that had hit, you’d be dead, you know? You shouldn’t use magic like that, nope.”

“W-what… what…!”

Junpei, who had been standing behind Sonia, noticed that the legs extending from beneath her skirt were trembling slightly.

“Impossible… this can’t be happening. I am a descendant of the hero Arciela, one who has inherited the blood of many great magicians over a long span of time… a bearer of blue blood…”

“Yeah, from what I can see, your talent is top-notch. But you picked the wrong opponent. Meryl is strong.”

Saying that, Meryl deliberately flexed her arm as if showing off her strength.

“Alright, I’ll counterattack now.”

“Wha—”

The moment Sonia uttered that—

“Meryl Punch!”

Meryl moved at a speed that could only be described as near teleportation, closing the distance instantly and driving her right fist straight into Sonia’s abdomen.

“Ugh—!”

Letting out a sound unbecoming of a lady, Sonia dropped her sword, clutched her stomach with both hands, staggered back three steps, then collapsed forward onto her knees before falling face-first to the ground. With her forehead pressed against the ground, she writhed in silent agony.

Junpei hurried over to her.

“H-hey! Are you okay!?”

But Sonia didn’t lift her face, nor did she respond. Unsure how to even help her, Junpei turned and glared at Meryl.

“That was too much!”

“You’re the one who went too far. That Lightning Strike just now was a first-class offensive spell. If it hadn’t been Meryl, someone would’ve died.”

“Ugh…”

If that was true, then even if Meryl had used excessive force in self-defense, it might not be fair to blame her. As Junpei found himself at a loss for words, Sonia slowly raised her face. Seeing the flames of anger burning fiercely in her profile, Junpei instinctively held his breath.

Then, suddenly, Sonia’s blue eyes shot toward him.

“You there, what is your name?”

“I-Ichinose Junpei.”

“Very well, Junpei-san. Lend me your strength!”

“N-no, I’m bad at magic…”

“Excuse me? What do you mean you’re bad at it? You’re a student at a magic school, aren’t you!”

“But I’m dead last in my grades!”

“Dead last!?”

Sonia widened her eyes in shock, staring at Junpei in disbelief but quickly shook her head.

“Even so, it is better than having nothing.”

“No, I think I’d just hold you back…”

“I only need you to buy me a little time. That Lightning Strike just now… that intruder said it was excessive but for me, it was not. It is true that a direct hit would be fatal but I attacked with the expectation that someone of her level would be able to deal with it to some extent. Though, I did not anticipate it being completely nullified…”

Junpei understood what she meant and widened his eyes.

“So… you still have a trump card?”

“Of course. If I make use of the equipment and secret techniques passed down in my family since the time of the hero Arciela, there is no way I would fall behind a witch dressed in such a ridiculous outfit. Naturally, these are not things to be used lightly but if it means letting her escape like this…”

Sonia said that and slowly rose to her feet. Seeing the overwhelming intensity in her presence, Junpei couldn’t bring himself to say anything more.

“Now then, let’s go!”

Without even glancing at the sword she had dropped, Sonia charged at Meryl with her bare fists. Junpei had no idea what she intended to do, but at this point, he had no choice but to support her.

—Support? Even if you say that…

Junpei couldn’t activate magic the way he intended. But there was one thing he had done before by accident: a paralysis spell. During a practical lesson, it had triggered unintentionally and caused trouble for the girl he was paired with. If he could reproduce that, it might at least help Sonia.

—Remember how it felt back then.

Magic is activated when『composition』formed from thought and imagination connects with one’s inner magical power. Raise your magic power, form the image, and then connect the internal and external gears to bring about the phenomenon.

—Anything is fine… just let a miracle happen.

“Go… paralysis!”

For once, he felt something like magic actually activating. And the next moment, Sonia went down spectacularly.

“…Huh?”

What had just happened? To describe only the phenomenon itself: a banana peel suddenly appeared beneath Sonia’s feet, and she slipped on it, falling over in an absurdly dramatic fashion. To make matters worse, the momentum flipped up her skirt, revealing her white underwear.

“Whoa, whoa!”

Junpei instinctively covered his eyes with his palm. Meryl, watching blankly, said to Sonia.

“Sonia-chan, your panties are showing.”

“Wha—ah! Kyaa!”

Realizing it, Sonia hurriedly got up and fixed her skirt. Junpei, who had been unsure where to look, let out a small sigh of relief but Sonia remained sitting on the ground, holding down her skirt with both hands, staring blankly in shock.

She had charged in with such determination, only to trip and expose her underwear. It seemed the embarrassment had completely crushed her fighting spirit.

“…What on earth just happened?”

Muttering that, Sonia glanced at the banana peel lying near her.

To summarize what had just occurred: Junpei’s magic had misfired. He had intended to cast a paralysis spell on Meryl, but instead, a banana peel had appeared at Sonia’s feet, causing her to slip and fall.

Perhaps realizing what had happened, Sonia slowly turned her head to look at Junpei. He tried to cover it up with an awkward smile but that only seemed to hit a nerve.

“W-what on earth are you doing!?”

“S-sorry… but I told you, I can’t use magic properly!”

“Even so, how does casting a paralysis spell result in a banana peel appearing!?”

“How should I know!? I want to ask that myself!”

Junpei was on the verge of tears. He already knew he was a failure, but why did everything go this wrong? He felt pathetic.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Before he knew it, Meryl had slipped behind Sonia, crouched slightly, and placed a finger on the back of her neck. Sonia collapsed instantly. Junpei froze at the sight.

“W-what did you do?”

“I just knocked her out with qi-based magic. She’ll wake up in about five minutes, so it’s fine, it’s fine.”

Meryl said that with a smile, then casually raised her right arm straight upward, pointing her finger toward the sky.

“Battle over, time to change clothes~”

At that, a large ring of light appeared centered on her finger and descended quickly, like a brush stroke being drawn through the air. As it passed over her, Meryl’s appearance shifted, and she returned to the form of a princess in a pink dress.

“So you can even change clothes with magic…”

Muttering that, Junpei watched as Meryl casually crouched down and picked up the banana peel.

“Hey, Junpei. Let me ask you something. You didn’t summon this on purpose, right?”

“O-of course not! What kind of magic summons banana peels!?”

“Yeah, true. There’s no such weird magic… hmm…”

After tossing the banana peel aside, Meryl placed a hand on her chin and stared intently at Junpei. It was a different kind of gaze than before, and Junpei began to feel slightly uncomfortable.

“Yeah… I thought so from the first time I saw you, but you’re a bit… different. And that wavelength I felt from your magic… could it be… you’re an ero magician?”

“Huh?”

It felt like he had suddenly been yanked out of a dried-up wasteland and thrown somewhere filled with dancing flowers, such was the bizarre sense of dissonance. Junpei tilted his head in confusion.

“Me? An ero magician? What the heck is that supposed to mean?”

“It means a magician whose spells mostly produce… naughty effects. You saw Sonia-chan’s panties, right?”

At first, Junpei thought she was joking, but Meryl’s expression was completely serious. Realizing she was actually teasing him in earnest, Junpei felt a surge of fiery anger.

“Are you messing with me!?”

“No! Meryl is totally serious! I’ll explain now—”

Just as she started to say that, Meryl suddenly turned her head sharply in another direction, as if something had struck her attention. From there, the sound of many footsteps and presences approached. Voices could be heard shouting,『This way! Hurry!』.

“Backup, huh!”

It seemed that Sonia had rushed ahead alone and only now had the others finally arrived. But before the group could come into view, Meryl smiled brightly and said.

“Looks like a lot of people are coming. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for, but meeting Junpei today is good enough for Meryl, so I’ll head back now.”

“Hey, wait! At least explain! What do you mean『ero magic』? Don’t mess with me! I’m seriously worried about my magic!”

Ignoring Junpei as he ranted, Meryl lightly leapt up onto the roof of the storage shed. From there, she waved at him with a cheerful smile.

“See you~ Bye-bye!”

“What do you mean『see you』!?”

Ignoring his shout, Meryl flew off into the sky in an instant. It happened in the blink of an eye. A gust of wind followed, leaving Junpei both stunned and irritated.

—Me, an ero magician? An ero magician!? You’ve got to be kidding me!

As Junpei trembled with anger and embarrassment, the group finally came rushing in.

“Junpei!”

Hearing his name called, Junpei decided to snap himself out of it.

“That’s right. Forget it.『Ero magic』or whatever, it’s just a joke. No way that’s real.”

As he muttered that and turned around, his eyes met those of a sharp-eyed beauty. She was tall for a woman, with black hair tied into a ponytail. Her chest was large, and in addition to the standard blouse and skirt uniform, she wore an open-front skirted mantle lined in red, fastened at the waist with a belt. It seemed to be designed to conceal knee movements, an important element in martial arts. At the magic school, students were allowed to modify their uniforms to some extent to suit their individuality. At her collar was a blue ribbon, indicating she was a third-year student. Her name was Hijikata Kaede.

She was the current leader of Red Heart Brave, in other words, one of the elite among elites in the school. Normally, someone like her would have no connection to a failure like Junpei, but because he was such an extreme underachiever, he had somehow caught her attention, and they had become acquainted.

“Kaede-san…”

Kaede walked up to Junpei as he murmured her name, but the moment she saw Sonia lying on the ground, her expression changed in shock.

“Hey!”

Letting out a panicked voice, she quickly knelt beside Sonia on one knee and checked her pulse and breathing. Meanwhile, the other students who had arrived with Kaede, the members of Red Heart Brave, gathered around Sonia or frowned as they looked at the shattered door of the storage shed.

Junpei hesitated to step into the circle of elites and instead spoke from the edge, somewhat reservedly:

“I think she’s just unconscious…”

“That appears to be the case.”

Letting out a relieved breath, Kaede entrusted Sonia to the other female students, then stood up and fixed her gaze on Junpei.

“So, what exactly is going on here?”

“Well, I can explain step by step, but… shouldn’t we move somewhere else?”

They were standing under the blazing sun. Sonia should be taken to the infirmary for now, and Junpei had no desire to have a long conversation under the summer heat.

◇

There was a room called the Red Room on the second floor of the south building of the high school division. In an ordinary school, it would be the student council room, but this school had no student council. Instead, there was Red Heart Brave, which combined the roles of a student council, disciplinary committee, and volunteer organization. Naturally, the room that served as their base was called the Red Room. True to its name, only the door was specially painted red, while the rest was just a slightly spacious, otherwise ordinary room. At present, while afternoon classes were still in session, the only ones in the Red Room were Junpei, Kaede and Sonia.

Afterward, Kaede had ordered two members to carry Sonia to the infirmary and sent the rest back to class, intending to head to the Red Room alone with Junpei. However, just then, Sonia regained consciousness. Upon learning that Meryl had already left, Sonia insisted on hearing everything as well, and despite Kaede’s recommendation to go to the infirmary, she followed them to the Red Room.

Kaede placed two chairs somewhere in the room, offered one to Junpei, and sat down in the other. Sonia sat on a chair a short distance away.

Facing Kaede like that, Junpei explained everything that had happened since he met Meryl. However, he made no mention whatsoever of the『ero magic』talk. He didn’t think there was any need to bring up such nonsense, and more than anything, it was embarrassing.

“—That’s everything I know.”

As Junpei finished, Kaede lowered her eyes with a gloomy expression.

“Meryl… the rings… I see…”

She fell silent, her face unusually serious, which made Junpei feel a bit uneasy. It was certainly a serious matter that an intruder had entered the school grounds, but it wasn’t something Kaede needed to take personal responsibility for. As far as Junpei was concerned, this was something they could just hand over to the police.

—Well… Kaede-san is serious like that. Maybe she wants to handle it themselves?

“Well, Meryl did say『see you』, so she might be planning to sneak in again…”

Just as Junpei said that, unable to bear the heavy silence, Sonia suddenly kicked her chair back, stood up, and pointed straight at him.

“Captain, the reason I let the intruder escape is because this man interfered!”

At that, Junpei shot Sonia a slight glare.

“What are you bringing this up for all of a sudden?”

“If you had properly supported me back then, I would have already subdued that ridiculous intruder in the Chinese dress!”

—Yeah right. You were getting completely wrecked. You said something about secret techniques and equipment passed down in your hero lineage but thinking about it now, that sounds pretty questionable.

Junpei thought that, but it was also true that he had held Sonia back. He couldn’t argue back directly. As his face stiffened, Kaede spoke to Sonia.

“Enough, Sonia. There’s no point blaming what’s already done.”

“But Captain, I’m frustrated!”

“I am too. But forget it. I’ll also overlook the fact that you disobeyed my orders and rushed ahead alone. What’s done is done. This is not a case for Red Heart Brave.”

That surprised Junpei. Given Kaede’s personality, he had expected her to say something like,『We’ll capture the intruder ourselves!』Sonia also seemed taken aback.

“Captain, what do you mean—”

“I have my own thoughts on this as well. Personally. But as the captain of Red Heart Brave, I cannot recklessly put everyone in danger. That opponent handled you with ease… she’s beyond what students can deal with. This time, the realistic course of action is to consult the faculty and contact the police.”

“Y-you can’t be serious! Red Heart Brave exists to demonstrate the usefulness of magicians outside the school, and at the same time, to maintain order within it. Isn’t this exactly the kind of situation where we must stand firm!?”

“No, it isn’t. Stay away from Meryl. That is an order from your captain.”

Sonia’s face flushed red with frustration but as expected of an honor student, she didn’t throw a tantrum at her captain.

“…Understood. If that is your decision, Captain, then I will obey.”

“Good. Then go to the infirmary. You keep insisting you’re fine but you should rest for a while just in case. And while you’re at it, it would help if you could call Okumura-sensei.”

“Okumura-sensei?”

Perhaps surprised, Sonia’s voice rose slightly.

Red Heart Brave was a special organization that operated even outside the magic school. Because of that, it had multiple advisors. All of them attended policy meetings, and several always accompanied the group during off-campus activities. However, when it came to trouble within the school, matters were often left to the students. This was likely due to the trust placed in Kaede and the others. But this time, something serious enough to involve the police had occurred. Calling an advisor was only natural but the fact that it was Okumura in particular made Sonia tilt her head in confusion.

“Not Kondo-sensei, the chief advisor, but Vice-Advisor Okumura-sensei?”

“Yeah, I’m counting on you. I have something to discuss with Junpei…”

Saying that, Kaede turned a sharp gaze toward Junpei. He flinched.

“W-what is it? I’ve already told you everything I know.”

“I’m done with the matter of Meryl. What I want to ask you now is what you were doing in a place like that during class.”

“Ugh…”

Junpei found himself speechless. Kaede’s gaze grew even more admonishing.

“Junpei… you finally skipped class, didn’t you?”

She had seen right through him. As a cold sweat ran down his back, Sonia suddenly cut in.

“…Are you two close?”

“Of course we are.”

Kaede answered with a hint of amusement in her voice, but Junpei hurriedly shook his head.

“Don’t joke like that. We’ve only known each other for three months. I’m a first-year, Kaede-san is a third-year. We’re not friends, we’ve never eaten together or anything like that. We’re just acquaintances. It’s just that I’m so incompetent that she’s taken notice of me.”

“『Taken notice of you』? That’s a bit harsh. I’m just worried about you. Out of all the students in the magic school, you’re the only one who stands out for being unable to perform. If things continue like this, you’ll run into all sorts of trouble.”

“That’s none of your business. Just leave me alone.”

“Is that really how you feel?”

When she asked that so pointedly, Junpei was at a loss for words. Is that really how you feel? If Kaede truly abandoned him, he knew he would feel lonely. Precisely because he understood that, he was forced to confront his own immaturity, and it left him with nothing to say.

—What am I… damn it. Am I just spoiled?

As if reading his expression, Kaede smiled and said.

“Don’t worry, I won’t leave you alone. At this rate, it’s obvious you’ll end up falling further and further behind. If I were to just ignore that, then what kind of senpai would I be?”

That kindness hurt. He knew he should be grateful, but he couldn’t accept it honestly. Instead, anger began to stir within him, like hooves pounding closer. Why did he feel this way when she clearly cared about him? Just as Junpei found himself filled with something close to misplaced frustration, Sonia let out a soft laugh.

“Hehe… you did say yourself that you’re dead last in your grades.”

“Guh…”

As Junpei glared back at her in frustration, Kaede spoke sharply.

“Sonia, it’s about time you stepped out.”

“Understood. And I should go call Okumura-sensei, correct?”

“Yes, but there’s no need to hurry. I’d like to have a frank talk with Junpei while we have the chance.”

“Understood.”

With that, Sonia left the room without sparing Junpei so much as a glance.

Now that he was alone with Kaede, Junpei felt strangely uneasy. He became aware of things he hadn’t noticed before, like the sensation in his fingers and even the smell of the air in the room.

“So, why did you sabotage your class?”

Junpei didn’t answer Kaede’s question. But it was pointless resistance.

“You made a mistake during practical training and that led to a fight with a classmate, didn’t it?”

At those words, Junpei’s heart stirred slightly.

“…That just happened and you already know?”

“When a student engages in problematic behavior, it’s reported to Red Heart Brave. Outside the school, we’re a volunteer organization. Inside, we function as both the student council and the disciplinary committee. That’s what Red Heart Brave is.”

Because of that, there were students who disliked Red Heart Brave. If Junpei hadn’t known Kaede personally, he probably would have been one of them. Which meant he had already been softened up by her more than he liked to admit. That frustrated him and his words came out sharper than intended.

“So that means you already knew why I skipped class, right? Then there’s no need to ask me something like that just to be mean.”

“I wanted to hear it from you. I want you to tell me what you’re thinking, what you’re struggling with, and what you want to do from here on.”

At that, Junpei glared at her as if trying to cut her down with his gaze.

“What I’m thinking? I’m just sick of it, everything around me! I’ve been going to this school since elementary, ten years now, and I’ve never once been able to use magic properly! Things everyone else can do without even thinking, I can’t do at all! No matter how much I try, I fail, dead last, a total loser… so why do you keep bothering with someone like me, Kaede-san?”

“…It’s a senpai’s duty to make sure their kouhai doesn’t lose their way.”

In other words, Kaede was simply acting out her own ideal of what a senior should be. It wasn’t that Junpei was anything special.

“Hmph. Then if I stop being your kouhai, I won’t have to listen to your nagging anymore, right? I might as well just quit this school altogether.”

“And then what? Even if you tried to transfer, by law, magicians cannot attend ordinary high schools. So will you work? There are positions for magicians in general companies but dropping out of high school would make that difficult. Then will you run away overseas? For a magician, even obtaining permission to leave the country is no simple matter.”

He already knew all that. And precisely because he knew, it made it all the more frustrating.

“Just because I’m a magician… why does everything have to come with restrictions…”

“That is the fate of those born as magicians.”

His complaint was cut down without hesitation, and Junpei glared at Kaede. His gaze was sharp but she didn’t waver in the slightest.

“Junpei, you know this already. Magicians have responsibilities they must fulfill.”

“Can someone like me, who can’t even properly use magic, really be called a magician?”

“Yes. That is how society sees you. Don’t indulge yourself. Because you can’t control your magic, you must work harder than anyone else. At this rate, you could be designated for sealing due to the risk of losing control and end up spending your entire life confined in a facility.”

At that terrifying possibility, Junpei instinctively kicked his chair back and stood up.

“That’s ridiculous! Why would something like that—!”

“Because those are the rules of the world. Sit down.”

Even after being told that, Junpei stood there, staring at Kaede for a while. But eventually, he lost to her unwavering gaze and quietly sat back down.

After waiting for that, Kaede asked.

“Junpei, what is magic?”

“What kind of question is that, out of nowhere?”

“Just answer. What is magic? What is a magician?”

Wondering why he was being asked such a basic question, Junpei gathered what knowledge he had, organized it in his head, and began to speak.

“Magic is—”

Magic. It is a mysterious power, a supernatural force that cannot be explained by science. It allows one to freely control fire and wind, summon storms, soar through the sky, heal wounds, or even become invisible. In exchange, it consumes an inner power called 『magical energy』, which can be restored through rest. However, the rate of recovery and the amount of magical energy vary from person to person, and these differences are used as a clear measure of magical talent. Those who can use such power are called magicians.

Magicians exist all over the world, developing uniquely based on their respective histories and cultures. At times they aligned themselves with political power, at times they were suppressed, and all the while they survived in competition with science. After World War II, an international treaty concerning magicians was established, leading to the present day in the twenty-first century.

After Junpei muttered through that explanation, Kaede gave a small nod.

“That’s about right.”

“That’s the kind of thing you learn in elementary school social studies. Why bring it up now?”

“Because I wasn’t sure you truly understood it. Next question. What is life like for modern-day magicians?”

Junpei almost fell silent, but after letting out a small sigh, he resigned himself and continued.

“Well, when you say modern magicians, it varies by country… but in places like the United States and Japan, there are many rules governing how magicians live and how they use magic, and law-abiding magicians live within those rules. For example, in Japan, all children are tested to determine whether they have magical aptitude. If one or both parents are magicians, that’s obvious, but even if they aren’t, a test is conducted before entering school to check for the presence of magical power.”

As he spoke, bitter memories resurfaced but Junpei clenched his teeth and continued.

“If a child is identified as a magician, that information is registered with a public institution and they’re monitored for life. Instead of attending a normal school, they go to a magic school, where they learn not only general academics, but more importantly, the proper use of magic and how to live in the world as a magician. There are also various restrictions on things like employment, further education, overseas travel, and even boarding airplanes. In other words… for people like us, modern magicians don’t really have freedom…”

“That’s right. But magicians, if they chose to, possess the ability to cause large-scale destruction with their bare hands. A certain degree of restriction is unavoidable.”

Hearing that, Junpei instinctively glared at Kaede.

“Do you really believe that, Kaede-san?”

“Yes, of course I do. The world’s population is seven billion, and among them, magicians don’t even reach one million. Even children born to two magicians inherit magical talent less than fifty percent of the time. The overwhelming majority of people in this world cannot use magic. And yet, if that minority of magicians were to unite with intent, they could easily overturn the current world order. In fact, there were times in the past when magicians ruled over non-magicians like slaves. On the other hand, there were also times when magicians were persecuted, oppressed and killed.”

But such acts are now considered barbaric. This is an age where magicians and non-magicians coexist.

“The various rules that bind magicians today were decided together so that magicians and non-magicians could coexist peacefully. We must live by those rules, and we must continually prove that both can live together. That is the purpose of this education. That is the purpose of magic schools. Do you understand, Junpei?”

Of course he understood. No matter which country’s history you examined, there was not a single case where there had been no conflict between magicians and non-magicians. Even now, whenever one magician commits a crime, all magicians are looked upon with suspicion. Some argue that magicians should be more strictly controlled, while others, dangerous thinkers among magicians themselves, claim that magicians should rule the world. At any moment, the hands of the clock could turn backward. Most magicians of the present were striving desperately to prevent that.

“In Europe, there were times when people were burned at the stake simply for being magicians. You wouldn’t want to return to such an era, would you? That’s why you have to keep going. Whether you’re a failure or not, as long as you keep trying, people will recognize that.”

“But what if I keep trying and still can’t control my magic? What then? Do I end up being designated for sealing?”

“That may happen, yes. But even sealing designations have levels. In some cases, it may only require you to wear a magical restraint device that suppresses your power. Even then, though, trust is essential. And the only way to earn trust is to live sincerely, day by day.”

“What if that magical device can’t fully seal it?”

“…In that case, there may be restrictions on movement or where you can live. But if it comes to that, I’ll stick with you.”

Kaede said that with a tone that was neither entirely serious nor joking, and smiled. Junpei found himself letting out a small laugh as well.

“You don’t have to go that far for someone like me, some kind of freak mutation.”

“A… mutation…?”

Hearing Kaede repeat that word, Junpei sharply inhaled. He had never told anyone this before. And yet it slipped out. Maybe it was because it was Kaede. Thinking about it, no one had ever faced him with as much patience as she had. Touched by that sincerity, he had carelessly opened the door to his heart. And now Kaede had already stepped inside.

“What do you mean by『mutation』? Answer me.”

Once it reached this point, she wouldn’t let him go unless he answered. Resolving himself, Junpei lowered his gaze and began to speak.

“Whether someone is a magician or not is determined by bloodline… that’s common knowledge, right?”

“Yeah.”

“So if one of the parents is a magician, the child is quickly tested to see whether they’ve inherited magical talent. And even if neither parent is a magician, a basic test is conducted before entering elementary school.”

“Right. There are cases where one parent is actually a magician but no one realized it, or cases like children without a known father… there are many possibilities. And then?”

“My parents… neither of them are magicians.”

Those words were like an arrow, piercing straight through the center of Kaede’s heart. Seeing her stunned expression, Junpei gave a cold smile.

“And yet, during the pre-enrollment test, I was told that I was a magician. That they could sense magical power from me. So it was determined that I am, in fact, a magician. But—”

Since Junpei was a magician, then logically, at least one of his parents should have been a magician as well. If they had simply been unaware of it, that would be unavoidable. But if they had known and kept it hidden, that would be a serious crime. Because of this, investigations were conducted on Junpei’s parents. However, neither of them was a magician. No matter how thoroughly they were examined, no magical power could be detected. The investigation even extended to all of Junpei’s relatives, yet not a single one of them possessed any magical aptitude. Only Junpei had appeared, out of nowhere, as a magician in a completely non-magical family line.

“…At that point, a different suspicion naturally came up.”

“In other words…”

Kaede hesitated, clearly finding it difficult to say. This was likely unfamiliar territory for her as well. Junpei gave a bitter half-smile and continued:

“People started suspecting that my mom had an affair.”

As long as one believed in the fundamental rule that magic is inherited, there was no other explanation. But his mother denied it, and in the end, it even led to a DNA test, which proved without doubt that Junpei was indeed his father’s biological son.

“My mom hadn’t cheated. But that just made things even more confusing. No one could explain why I, born to non-magician parents, turned out to be a magician. So in the end, they called it a mutation.”

“I see…”

“And about my parents… that whole situation caused things to fall apart between them. They got divorced. My mom remarried, but my stepfather and I never got along… so I left home. Now I live alone in the student dorms of the magic school.”

“I see. Well, that’s not so bad. It gives you some freedom.”

“Haha…”

That was true. Being alone was the only time he could feel free from all the complications. His stepfather was covering his living expenses while he was still a student and there was no point asking for more than that. The only real issue now was how to get through the rest of his high school life with his current grades.

“Junpei.”

Lost in thought, Junpei lifted his eyes at the sound of his name. Kaede parted her sakura-colored lips.

“Do you hate magic?”

『I hate it』he almost said, but stopped himself. After a brief hesitation, he answered instead.

“When I was little, I admired magicians. The way they controlled wind and lightning… it looked so cool.”

But because he himself was a magician, his parents divorced. At magic school, he had never been able to use magic properly, and had been a failure ever since elementary division. He couldn’t get along with his stepfather, and after advancing to high school, he was finally driven out of his home. On top of that, he would have to live the rest of his life as a magician, bound by restrictions.

“There hasn’t been a single good thing about being a magician.”

“I see. Then you don’t have to become a magician.”

“…Huh?”

Junpei blinked in surprise. Even if he couldn’t use magic properly, as long as he possessed magical power, he was legally considered a magician. Kaede of all people should understand that, and yet she spoke as if it were obvious.

“We are forced to attend magic school until the age of eighteen not so that we can take up magic-related professions, but to cultivate the discipline not to misuse magic. So you can simply remove magic-related careers from your options, focus on your regular subjects, go on to an external university, and aim for employment at a general company.”

Junpei knew that was the logical answer. If he lacked talent in magic, then he should switch paths. And yet, he felt no desire to do so.

“I…”

Just as his voice began to tremble, Kaede seemed to realize something.

“You admired magicians when you were little… huh…”

It felt like a finger had brushed against an old scar, leaving a strange ticklish sensation.

While Junpei fumbled for words, Kaede suddenly stood up from her chair and looked down at him.

“I finally get it. What you really want… is to become a magician. You want to awaken the magic sleeping inside you and be able to use it freely.”

“That’s not…”

He started to deny it but realized it was only a hollow denial. Did he want to become a magician? Of course he did. As a child, he had dreamed of and admired the stories of magicians.

“Your parents divorced because you turned out to be a magician. So you resent magic. But deep down, you love it. You want to be a magician so badly, but you can’t use magic properly, so you’re stuck. That’s rough. All tangled up.”

Junpei glared at Kaede with eyes that were almost on the verge of tears.

“…Honestly, it would’ve been better if my mom had cheated. If that were true, then there’d be an explanation for why I’m a magician, and my parents’ divorce wouldn’t be my fault.”

The moment he said that—

Smack.

A sharp sound rang out as Kaede slapped him, a strike filled not with anger, but with piercing compassion.

“You should never say something like that.”

Her eyes were tinged with sadness and Junpei couldn’t bring himself to reply.

After a moment, Kaede walked over to the window, leaned against the sill, and gazed out at the distant sky over her shoulder. The expression on her face then was one Junpei had never seen before. After a while, she spoke quietly.

“When I was a child… I hated my magic too.”

“…What?”

That was unexpected. In the three months since he had come to know her, he realized he had never truly known anything about her. He had always imagined she was someone who had walked straight ahead without hesitation, serious and unwavering since the beginning. But was that really true?

“There are many types and systems of magic, right? The most common ones are things like fire or water attributes. An average magician can use about ten attributes… And since magic is inherited, your attributes usually match those of your parents. But occasionally, there are cases where someone can use an attribute that neither their parents nor siblings possess. I was one of those cases.”

At that, Kaede slowly turned her head and looked straight at Junpei, smiling softly.

“In a way, I was also a mutation.”

Junpei didn’t know what to say. If it were a situation to get angry or laugh, he would understand, but in a moment like this, he had no idea how to respond.

“I don’t usually talk about this kind of thing, but… you told me yours.”

Saying that, Kaede reached into her skirt pocket, took out her wallet, and pulled out a single 100-yen coin, which she tossed to Junpei.

“What’s this?”

He caught it reflexively and asked, and Kaede smiled.

“I’m good with the sword.”

“I know that.”

Red Heart Brave was made up of top students, excelling both academically and physically, with exemplary conduct. On top of that, each member had their own specialty, and Kaede, as captain, was a swordswoman. She practiced both kendo and iaido.

“I’ll show you a bit of magic. Stand up. Hold that coin between your fingers and raise it to eye level. Yes, like that. Turn your thumb and index finger sideways like a U shape… a little farther from your head. Good, that’s fine.”

Following her instructions, Junpei stood up and held the coin at eye level. Meanwhile, Kaede stepped back to a proper distance and placed both hands at her left hip. It resembled the stance for drawing a sword. Though she wasn’t actually carrying one, it felt as if an invisible katana rested there.

“…Don’t move.”

There was something deadly serious in her voice, and Junpei immediately tensed up.

And then—

“Hah!”

Kaede swung her right fist sharply to the side. In that instant, Junpei thought he saw the illusion of a blade. The next moment, the coin he had been holding split cleanly in two and fell from his fingers with a sharp impact.

Junpei could only stare wide-eyed at the coin that had fallen in two pieces. Then Kaede spoke.

“This is my severing magic…Air Blade, at this level. If I hold a wooden sword, I can cut even diamond. I can also sever only a person’s consciousness without injuring their body. And if I wield a real blade, I can even cut through space itself… would you believe that?”

Her tone was half-joking, so it was hard to tell how much of it was true. Cutting through space went beyond the common understanding of modern magic, to the point it could almost be called heretical. Even just splitting a coin cleanly in two from a distance with an air blade was already astonishing enough.

Junpei remained numb for a moment, then slowly dropped to one knee and picked up one half of the coin, staring intently at the cut surface. It was beautifully clean. When he touched it, it was smooth, offering no resistance at all. This… was done with magic?

“…Amazing.”

When Junpei said that honestly, Kaede stepped closer to him. Looking up, he saw her expression had turned somewhat displeased.

“It’s a trivial trick. This『trivial trick』is my greatest strength, and also my mutation.”

“…So this magic wasn’t inherited from your parents?”

“That’s right. But since I come from a line of magicians, it’s said that somewhere far back in my ancestry, there was someone who could do the same thing. They call it a throwback. That kind of thing isn’t rare among magician families. Even so, in this generation, I’m the only one who can use this kind of magic. I was an anomaly. Ever since I was little, I could cut anything just by tracing it with my index finger.”

“Anything?”

“Yes, anything. Wood, stone, steel.”

“That’s incredible.”

Junpei said that from the bottom of his heart. Being able to freely wield a cutting-type magic like that since childhood was no small talent.

“…And cutting space with a real blade… is that really true?”

“Do you think it is?”

Caught off guard by being answered with a question, Junpei hesitated. Kaede bent slightly and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Whether it’s true or not, this kind of magic isn’t something useful to the world. It can only hurt people… and yet this is my greatest talent. I’m quite something, aren’t I?”

Seeing the genuine self-mockery in her words, Junpei frowned. If he were a boy, having such magic would probably make him happy. But maybe it was different for her.

Junpei picked up the two halves of the coin, stood up, and handed them back to Kaede.

“But… you like your magic now, don’t you?”

“No. I still hate cutting magic. But I’ve learned to like the person who can use it.”

“How?”

Junpei couldn’t like himself. He loved magic and hated it at the same time. He admired magicians, yet his being one had caused his parents’ divorce. That contradiction had left his heart torn apart.

“…Kaede-san… how did you learn to like yourself?”

Almost as if clinging to her, he asked. Kaede straightened her posture and answered.

“I chose to live for justice. That’s all.”

“Justice? You mean Red Heart Brave?”

“No. What I mean is something more fundamental, a way of living. When I decided to devote myself, even in small ways, to preventing tragedies caused by magicians misusing their power… that was the first time I could like myself. Even if I were to step down as captain of Red Heart Brave, I would still live for justice. You should have something like that too. A way of living where you can help people… where you can make others happy…”

“Is that your『Red Heart』, Kaede-san?”

What Junpei referred to was an old saying among European magicians:『A magician must possess a Red Heart』.”

Kaede smiled gently at that and nodded.

“Yes. As you know, the imagination and passion necessary to use magic, along with the sense of justice not to misuse it… when all of those are combined, it’s called a Red Heart. That’s where the name Red Heart Brave comes from. So Junpei, you should have a Red Heart too.”

“But I’m dead last in my grades.”

“Then that just means the only direction left is up! If you can’t give up on magic, then push through with sheer determination and grit! Climb your way up from the very bottom!”

“Come on, that’s completely unreasonable. This is why I can’t deal with the sports-type mentality. You think everything can be solved with willpower. As long as you’ve got guts—”

Despite his words, Junpei was smiling.

—What is this… my heart… it’s shaking.

Kaede watched him with gentle eyes, then suddenly said.

“Alright, now it’s your turn. Show me your magic.”

“…Huh?”

The unexpected request blew away the turmoil in his heart. Junpei froze but Kaede spoke with a completely serious expression.

“Now that I think about it, I’ve never actually seen your magic with my own eyes. You’re called a failure, but I want to see for myself what that really means.”

“But even if I try, most of the time nothing happens. And when something does happen, it always turns into something weird… you know that, right?”

“I do. But I don’t mind. No matter what happens, I won’t complain. Show me.”

With that, Kaede crossed her arms beneath her ample chest and stood firm, staring straight at him. Once she got like this, nothing could move her.

“…Don’t blame me for what happens.”

Muttering that, Junpei steeled himself and raised his right hand toward Kaede. As he focused, he felt his inner magical power rapidly surge. Noticing it, Kaede’s eyes widened.

“Your magic power control… is fast!”

That was true. Junpei excelled at gathering and refining his internal magical energy. But that alone wasn’t enough to activate magic. The real issue was imagination, in other words, image.

【Image】.

To use magic, it was said that the image of the spell you were about to cast was crucial. If your magic system or attribute was clear, it was easy to imagine, since you had a model to follow. Most people used their parents’ magic as a reference. But Junpei, a mutation, didn’t even know what type of magic he was suited for. Most magicians fell into categories like wind, fire, earth, or water, or the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, but Junpei didn’t fit any of them. Whether he simply lacked talent or possessed some extremely rare type of magic was completely unknown.

—Could it be… you’re an ero magician?

Suddenly, Meryl’s voice echoed in his mind. He had finally managed to forget about her while talking seriously with Kaede, yet now she came back to mind, and irritation welled up again.

—Magic that causes lewd things to happen? Don’t mess with me. There’s no such thing! Sonia’s panties showing was just a coincidence. But… come to think of it, during today’s practice, when I soaked that girl, I could see her bra through her clothes…

That had led to her boyfriend getting angry, the fight, and Junpei running out of the classroom.

—Wait…

It felt like he had suddenly fallen into a pit. At the same time, his concentration shattered, and the magical energy he had built up dispersed like mist.

“Junpei, what’s wrong!”

Snapped at by Kaede, Junpei hurriedly tried to gather his magic again.

—Forget it! There’s no such thing as ero magic! My magic is something unknown!

But with something unknown, there was no way to form a proper image. He was far from possessing the Red Heart that combined justice, passion, and imagination. Still, this was where he stood now. And so, as always, he could only rely on the same desperate prayer as he attempted magic.

“Anything is fine… just let a miracle happen!”

He did feel something like magic activating.

But—

“Ah—”

At the same moment Kaede let out that sound, three buttons from the top of her uniform blouse popped off and flew into the air, while the blue ribbon marking her as a third-year fluttered down like petals. From the half-torn blouse, a lace-trimmed purple bra and the clear curve of her cleavage burst into Junpei’s view with dazzling force.

Even as his gaze was drawn in, Junpei realized the gravity of what he had done and went pale.

“—G-GYAAAAAH!!”

“H-HEY! I should be the one screaming, you idiot!”

Kaede shouted in an unusually high-pitched voice, her face bright red as she hurriedly covered her chest with both arms and began chanting a repair spell. As if time itself were rewinding, the fallen buttons floated back up, the snapped threads reconnected, and everything returned to its original state. It was a type of everyday magic that restored objects by recalling their stored form.

Just like that, her blouse was fully repaired, ribbon included. But Kaede remained frozen for a while, still holding her chest.

Meanwhile, Junpei felt like the world was ending, covering half his face with one hand.

“This is bad… I’m gonna get killed…”

“N-No, I won’t do that. I won’t. It’s just… well… that was surprising…”

For a moment, the two of them simply stared at each other, both blushing deeply, as if they could see each other’s trembling hearts.

Eventually, Junpei lowered the hand covering his face and hung his head, overwhelmed with embarrassment, guilt, and self-loathing.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t make that face.”

Kaede straightened her posture deliberately, then strode over and gently patted his head like he was a dog.

That was enough to bring a faint smile back to Junpei’s face, and Kaede smiled in relief.

“That was… quite a unique result.”

“Haha…”

“But now I understand even less. You soaked your classmate earlier today, right? You summoned a banana peel under Sonia’s feet. And with me, my uniform buttons burst open. What do all these have in common? They’re completely inconsistent. I thought if I saw your magic, I might be able to give you some advice, but…”

Kaede lowered her head, as if biting down on her own helplessness. But Junpei wasn’t even paying attention to that anymore. What she just said completely blew away the flustered feeling he had from seeing her chest.

—No common point? No… there is one. The soaked classmate’s see-through bra. Sonia’s panties. And now Kaede-san…

They all had one thing in common.

Something lewd happened every single time.

“No way… that’s impossible.”

The words slipped out before he could stop himself, and Junpei immediately realized his mistake. Kaede was staring at him, wide-eyed. Trying to cover it up somehow, he blurted.

“Ah, no, um… it was purple, right?”

The moment he said it, his face went pale.

—What am I saying!? I’m supposed to pretend I didn’t see anything!

He braced himself, thinking this time he was definitely going to be killed. But contrary to his expectation, Kaede was the one flustered, her face turning bright red.

“N-no, that’s not it. I usually wear something much plainer. This… I went shopping for underwear with a friend the other day, and she insisted I get it… But since I bought it, it felt like a waste not to wear it… And I didn’t have PE today, so I thought no one would see it… I never thought anyone actually would…”

After a short pause, Kaede looked at him almost pleadingly.

“Please… don’t think it’s improper.”

“No, it suited you. It looked… mature.”

“…Y-you fool.”

Kaede, who usually spoke loudly and confidently, muttered that in a barely audible voice.

At that moment, the door to the Red Room suddenly opened from outside.

“Kaede-kun.”

The voice was somewhat high-pitched for a man. Kaede’s demeanor instantly shifted, and she turned sharply toward the voice with crisp, almost military precision.

“Over here, Okumura-sensei!”

Right, Kaede had asked Sonia to call a teacher. It had taken a while, but he had finally arrived.

“I’ve already grasped the situation. I went ahead to the storage area that was destroyed with the other teachers, so I’m a bit late.”

With that, Okumura Kyoyu stepped in front of them. He looked to be around thirty, wearing glasses. Though tall, he had a thin, lanky build that gave off a frail impression. His roughly tied hair and worn-out suit made him seem older than his age.

Despite working at a magic school, he was not a magician. His subject was general studies, mathematics. Even at a magic school, subjects like Japanese and math were still taught, and teachers for those didn’t need to be magicians.

Looking at Junpei, Okumura raised a hand in greeting.

“Hey there. You’re the one… the reporter and the troublemaker, right? I hear you can’t use magic very well. But skipping class isn’t good, you know.”

“…Sorry.”

Junpei apologized honestly, and Kaede spoke up with a hint of pride.

“Come to think of it, this is your first time meeting. Junpei, this is Okumura-sensei. He teaches mathematics, is one of the vice-advisors of Red Heart Brave and also an inspector from the Magical Rehabilitation Institute.”

“I know. You’re pretty famous.”

At that, Okumura shrugged and laughed.

“In a bad way, right? I know the students don’t like me. They call me a prison spy.”

“Sensei, that’s not—”

Kaede looked troubled but Okumura simply shook his head lazily.

“It’s fine, really. If I were a student, I wouldn’t like a teacher dispatched from the Magical Rehabilitation Institute either.”

Then Okumura fixed his gaze on Junpei, his eyes sharpening behind his glasses.

“You know about the Magical Rehabilitation Institute, right?”

“Yeah. In simple terms, it’s a juvenile detention center for magicians.”

“Exactly. It’s a facility to reform young magicians who commit crimes like fighting or shoplifting using magic, or those with serious behavioral issues. Things that might only earn a warning or probation for normal kids can get magicians sent there, since they’re seen as potential future threats. I’m originally staff from there. The reason I’m here teaching is to observe students, and decide whether problem cases should be sent to the institute.”

Junpei naturally frowned. He had already known that was Okumura’s real job, but hearing it again made his stomach churn.

As if to calm him, Kaede stepped beside Okumura and said.

“It’s necessary, Junpei. Even if someone turns delinquent, the level of danger to society is completely different between an ordinary person and a magician. Once something happens, it’s already too late. We need adults watching over us from within the school.”

That『model student』tone irritated Junpei.

“You’re awfully obedient about it.”

“I follow the law. And besides, my father also works at the Magical Rehabilitation Institute.”

“…Wait, really?”

Surprised, Junpei looked at her, and Okumura chuckled.

“Kaede-kun’s father is actually the deputy director of the Institute. Second only to the director. I’ve been under his care quite a bit, and he often asks me to look after her.”

“I see…”

That explained why they seemed so familiar with each other. As Junpei nodded in understanding, Kaede spoke calmly.

“Because of his position, many students keep their distance from Okumura-sensei, but he’s not a bad person. He works to maintain social order. Personally, he’s someone worthy of respect.”

“Haha, you’re the only one who says that.”

Okumura shrugged with a laugh, but quickly returned to a serious expression and addressed Junpei.

“You got into a fight with a classmate today, ran out of the classroom, and skipped class, didn’t you? That in itself isn’t a big deal, but you should be aware of something. All magicians carry invisible weapons. If you cause an incident or accident, you’ll lose your freedom. Summer break is coming up soon, but don’t get carried away.”

“…Okay.”

Junpei replied with a bitter feeling, like swallowing something scalding. Okumura nodded once, then sat heavily in the chair Kaede had been using, crossing his legs high as he looked at her.

“Well then, let’s get to the main point. Though this case will be handled by the police, so there’s no need to worry too much. I’m just glad no students were injured. Otherwise, it would become a matter of responsibility.”

He chuckled as he said that, then glanced suspiciously at Junpei, who was still standing there.

“Ah, you can go now. Head back. Make sure you attend the rest of your classes. Oh, and don’t talk about this incident. Don’t post it on social media either, alright? If you do, you’ll be disciplined.”

“Yes, excuse me.”

Junpei gave a respectful bow to Okumura, then exchanged a glance of farewell with Kaede before turning to leave. Just as he was about to exit the room, Kaede called out as if remembering something.

“Junpei. Don’t forget your Red Heart.”

“…Yes.”

He answered, but his resolve wavered. Now that he had started to suspect his magic might actually be『ero magic』he couldn’t help but hesitate. If that were true, who would ever accept such a power? Wouldn’t he just become a laughingstock?

And yet—

—Talking with Kaede feels like being under a spell.

Despite being a failure, he couldn’t help but dream of mastering the magic sleeping within him.

Even if that magic turned out to be something as ridiculous as ero magic.