‘Alright, I think I’ve got a good grasp of throwing now.’
I wiped the sweat off my forehead and took a deep breath.
Even though I was by the seaside, I kept sweating from constantly launching fireballs.
‘So aligning the spell formula with the image really is the key, huh.’
Just because I had the exact formula in mind didn’t mean the spell would activate.
If I didn’t have a proper mental image of how the formula functioned and what kind of outcome it would produce, the spell wouldn’t work effectively.
Yet, no matter how elaborate a magic concept I came up with, if the formula needed to realize it was flawed, it wouldn’t amount to proper magic.
A spell could only be executed correctly when both the formula and the image were in sync.
‘Taking a throwing stance makes it work even better.’
What I had just tested was the magic of ‘throwing’ a fireball.
I had already gotten a feel for it through practice the day before yesterday, but the lecture I attended yesterday helped me fill in the gaps.
‘There’s a reason why the fireball is considered the most fundamental attack spell.’
In ancient times, humanity’s first long-range attack method was throwing stones—stone hurling.
Attacking with a fireball was similar to that. Thinking of it as throwing a ball of fire instead of a stone made it easier to understand.
‘Humans naturally have a body structure specialized for throwing, unlike other animals. So, in a way, throwing might be the most natural attack method for us.’
Of course, I wasn’t actually using my shoulder strength to throw.
I was enhancing the completeness of the spell by combining the act of ‘throwing’ with the formula.
With more practice, I might even be able to launch fireballs without taking a stance at all.
“Ah….”
Just then—
I sensed a presence behind me.
“……?”
Turning around, I saw Senia.
She was sweating lightly, as if she had been exercising.
“Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spy.”
“No, you don’t have to apologize.”
“You were practicing in secret, right? I shouldn’t have watched….”
“Practicing in secret?”
“Oh, was I mistaken?”
“It’s not that serious.”
I had just come here because I wanted to train in a quiet place.
I wasn’t particularly trying to keep it hidden.
“It’s no big deal, so don’t worry about it.”
“Oh, uh, okay then….”
Senia hesitated, glancing at me before asking,
“If it’s alright… could I watch for a bit?”
“Watch?”
“Uh, I mean, more like observe….”
She lowered her head slightly in embarrassment.
“I’m sorry. It just seemed like you were really good at throwing fireballs, and I thought I could learn something by watching….”
“You think you can learn by watching me?”
“Yes. To be honest, I feel completely lost… I reviewed everything last night, but I just can’t seem to get the hang of it.”
“…….”
I fell into thought for a moment.
“Senia.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want me to teach you?”
“What?!”
“Rather than just watching, wouldn’t it be better to pick up some tips?”
Senia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Would that be okay?”
“But on one condition.”
I added a term.
“I’d like you to help me with my training.”
“You want me… to help you?”
“That’s right.”
The Rookie Battle wasn’t just about objective performance—it also involved the subjective evaluation of the judges.
Simply launching a powerful fireball through throwing or shooting wouldn’t be enough to secure first place.
‘So….’
Senia, from the prestigious Artian swordsmanship family.
I intended to borrow her skills to find a way to claim first place in the Rookie Battle.
“Hmm? Klein.”
“Inies….”
On the way to the outdoor training grounds, Klein ran into Inies and frowned slightly.
Inies, one of the professors of the Elemental Department, was a senior from Klein’s hometown—one of the people Klein found most difficult to deal with.
“What brings you here? You don’t usually have any reason to visit the training grounds.”
“I came to observe the upper-rank students’ training. After all, I am their advisor.”
“I thought you came to see me.”
“T-That’s ridiculous.”
Klein’s face turned red.
“Either way, it’s rare for you to be poking around another professor’s class. You must have your eye on a student.”
“No comment.”
“Eriol Valencia?”
“Ugh….”
She hit the mark immediately.
“Horizon, the head of our Elemental Department, also seems to be keeping an eye on that kid. Apparently, he had his eye on him even before admission.”
“Hmm….”
“You’re going to have a hard time recruiting him into your Transcendental Department.”
“You don’t seem particularly interested in Eriol. You talk about him like he’s someone else’s problem.”
“Did you forget? I’m in charge of the upper-rank class.”
“Oh….”
The upper-rank class.
It wasn’t as elite as the top-rank class, but it consisted of students who had performed well on the entrance exam.
“I’m busy enough sorting out the promising students from the upper-rank class. I don’t have time to concern myself with top-rank students.”
“Is there anyone noteworthy in the upper-rank class?”
“Of course. There’s a chance they might even outperform the top-rank class in the Rookie Tournament.”
“…….”
The top-rank class had simply scored a little higher on the written entrance exam.
It didn’t necessarily mean they were more talented as mages compared to the upper-rank students who had just missed the requirement by a few points.
In fact, many past upper-rank students had outperformed the top-rank class in the tournament.
“Klein, recruiting talented students for the Transcendental Department is important, but… you should focus more on training the ones you’re responsible for.”
“…….”
“Wouldn’t it be humiliating if our Upper Class completely crushed you in the Rookie Tournament?”
At Inies’ provocation, Klein’s expression hardened.
But she wasn’t wrong.
The so-called Top Class being outperformed by the Upper Class would reflect poorly on Klein as their supervising professor.
Even if they didn’t take first place, or if their average performance fell behind, Klein would become a laughingstock among the other professors.
There would be rumors within the Transcendental Studies Department as well, and his ambitions of becoming the youngest department head would inevitably take a hit.
“I’ll say this just in case—you don’t have to worry. I’m not planning to neglect the Top Class. At least during lectures, I’ll teach them the same as the Upper Class.”
“I understand. I know you wouldn’t discriminate over something like that…”
“Glad you see it that way.”
“Regardless, Senior Inies, I appreciate your advice. But I have absolutely no intention of falling behind the Upper Class.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“Yes. The Top Class has many outstanding students.”
“You sound confident. Wanna bet on it?”
“A bet?”
“Let’s wager on which class will take first place in the Rookie Tournament—Top or Upper. What do you say?”
As Klein hesitated for a moment, Inies swept back her hair and smirked.
“If you win, I’ll go on a date with you.”
“Wh-What kind of nonsense is that?!”
“Why? Didn’t you used to follow me around begging for a date?”
“I-I’ve told you many times to forget about that! And please, don’t bring this up in front of the students! What kind of image would that give them of their professors?!”
“I doubt they care much…”
“Regardless, since the students might hear, never bring this up again!”
“Alright, alright. No need to get so worked up—ah.”
At that moment, Inies turned her head and flinched.
Wondering what had caught her attention, Klein also turned—only to see a blond boy standing there, looking awkward.
“C-Cain Trigger…!”
“Oh dear, what to do? I just happened to overhear something interesting.”
“Hey! Wait a second!”
“Enjoy yourselves, professors.”
Cain quickly bolted, and Klein instinctively moved to chase after him.
But Inies grabbed his shoulder.
“Hey, Klein.”
“S-Senior…”
“Practice starts soon. Don’t cause a scene and stay put.”
“Ugh…”
As always, her commanding tone made Klein bite his lip in frustration.
* * *
‘Seeing him all flustered like that, it’s safe to say the Upper Class will take the Rookie Tournament.’
Watching the assistants prepare the students for their training, Inies mused to herself.
‘Klein is still such a rookie.’
Personally, she found him to be an adorable junior.
But as a fellow professor at the academy, he was nothing more than a competitor.
Inies was a faculty member of the Elemental Studies Department and the supervising professor of the Upper Class.
Klein, from the Transcendental Studies Department, oversaw the Top Class, making them natural rivals.
‘And he still hasn’t fully grasped the situation.’
Earlier, Inies had assured Klein, “I have no intention of neglecting the Top Class, so don’t worry.”
She had also said, “At least during lectures, I’ll teach them the same as the Upper Class.”
But that didn’t mean she wasn’t favoring the Upper Class.
While the lectures were identical, she had been providing additional training exclusively for Upper Class students outside of class hours.
Several students in the Upper Class were already proficient in throwing and shooting techniques.
‘So pull yourself together and bring your best, Klein.’
Provoking her competitor was simply in Inies’ nature.
She found the greatest satisfaction in crushing opponents who put in the effort to challenge her.
She was hoping Klein would take the bait, panic, and scramble to devise a strategy.
‘Of course… it won’t make a difference.’
Even if Klein rushed to train his Top Class, they would never surpass the Upper Class under Inies’ guidance.
‘Because my Upper Class has geniuses.’
Magical talent wasn’t determined by written test scores alone.
There were prodigies in the Upper Class—students who hadn’t qualified for the Superior Class but possessed talent that surpassed most.
‘And not just one, but two.’
Inies smirked to herself and lifted her chin.
At the moment, the students of the Top Class were taking turns entering the throwing practice area, where assistants were guiding them through their exercises.
So far, not a single student had succeeded.
More than half couldn’t even launch a fireball.
The rest either dropped them at their feet or sent them flying in completely wrong directions.
‘That’s normal. They should struggle a bit.’
Meanwhile, the students Inies had personally trained in the Upper Class had already mastered throwing and shooting techniques.
In particular, the two “geniuses” she had her eye on were already capable of using offensive magic in real combat.
She planned to refine their skills over the next three weeks and ensure they secured first place in the Rookie Tournament.
‘As for the Top Class… they’re nowhere near that level yet. Right now, just hitting the target should be their goal—’
BOOM!
A sudden explosion made Inies flinch and turn her head.
“Senia Artian, direct hit! Rating: A!”
The assistant’s announcement rang out as Inies’ eyes landed on a distant target engulfed in flames.
One of the Top Class students had landed a perfect hit with a fireball.
‘Senia Artian…?’
She spotted a black-haired girl clenching her fists in excitement.
It wasn’t a name she recognized.
Yet she was already that skilled at throwing fireballs?
‘Wait… Artian… That’s a swordsmanship family, isn’t it?’
Just as she was recalling the name, an even louder explosion erupted.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Startled, she turned again—and her eyes widened in disbelief.
Not only was the target burning, but the entire area around it was ablaze.
“E-Eriol Valencia, direct hit! Rating: S!”
Inies swallowed hard as she observed the roaring flames.
With her expertise, she could estimate the magic’s caliber just from the results.
‘That level of firepower… without a targeting formula?’
Eriol Valencia had hurled a massive, human-sized fireball with perfect control.
Not even the geniuses she had been personally training in the Upper Class could do that.
‘Senia Artian’s performance was already impressive, but this…’
Inies gulped.
It seemed the Top Class was far more dangerous than she had anticipated.
