Chapter 18 - Why should I accept you?

I went down to the fields near our school building. To pass the time, I did some magic experiments. Ever since last year, this had become a habit, and since it was quite constructive, I had no intention of stopping.

A few minutes passed when I suddenly heard Emilia’s voice.

“Lumina-sama.”

“Ah, Emilia. So, how many are willing?”

“Ummm…”

“Hmmm?”

I looked at Emilia and noticed a large group of students lined up in the fields behind her.

“Hey, Emilia… what’s with this?”

“It’s expected to have at least this many, Lumina-sama.”

“Why!? I’m a loner with only three… no, one friend in this school!”

Emilia sighed and said, “Though I’m happy to be called your friend, Lumina-sama, friends and followers are different.”

“Followers?”

“Yes, followers.”

“Since when did I have followers?”

Cold sweat dripped down my forehead as I asked her.

“Since you arrived at this school.”

“Wait, what?”

“I was your first follower, Lumina-sama.”

“… I see.”

“You’re smart, talented, beautiful, and noble. So it’s expected to have followers.”

I wanted to refute everything she said, but her stern expression kept me from arguing.

“Then please step forward and tell them why you gathered them here, Lumina-sama.”

“You… haaa~”

Since it was me who had asked for them, I didn’t have a choice but to stand in front of them. As I looked at each of them, I noticed they were lined up in neat rows, segregated by grade. The first graders were on the leftmost side, while the sixth graders stood on the right.

(Ain’t this the entire student body of the General Studies Primary Division!?)

I quickly put on a composed façade and faced everybody.

“As you know, we, the General Studies students, have been neglected by the school ever since the principal was changed. Our teachers have been decreasing. Because of that, the only thing we’re doing here is either loafing around or playing.”

At the back of the lined students, I spotted our sword-fighting teacher, George Lancastar, standing with a frown on his face.

“A school is a place where we learn, right? Especially this one—Isn’t this place called Farlingstad Magic Academy? So why aren’t they teaching us? Why are they neglecting us?”

As I continued my speech, the emotions I had bottled up began to spill over, intertwining with my words. Anger, frustration, and jealousy grew more intense with each word.

“It’s simple, and I know that everyone here knows why.”

I paused for a moment and met the eyes of each student.

“It’s because we don’t have enough mana.”

The atmosphere became heavy as my words hung in the air. Reactions varied: some students began to cry, others showed frustration, while a few remained apathetic.

“But!”

I shouted loudly to regain everyone’s attention.

“I, along with my servant Emilia, have discovered a new element that doesn’t use our own mana. Instead, it draws from the mana in the surroundings. It is very easy to learn, master, and develop.”

I glanced at Emilia, and she started climbing an invisible flight of stairs, then shot a mana ball at the ground.

*Bang*

A loud sound echoed as the earth cracked and dust filled the air. I used wind magic to clear away the dust, revealing the crater left behind.

Everyone stared at the crater with wide eyes. Some were shocked, while others were confused. But in their eyes, I could see the embers of ambition reignite, burning with intensity.

I then told them about the disaster I felt was coming to this school. I explained that this disaster might or might not happen, and this was why I decided to teach them this magic—to prepare for it.

After a while, six students, who appeared to be the sons and daughters of influential nobles, stepped forward and knelt before me.

“I am Frank Hurstorn.”

“I am Achil Mayers.”

“I am Anthony Weinberger.”

“I am Mary Faustina.”

“I am Elizabeth Harlington.”

“I am Victoria Ginsburg.”

““““““We are students whose families have served one of the four great houses for generations. From this day forth, the six of us are now your servants. Please make a contract with us.””””””

(Wait, wait, wait! You guys are being hasty! Your families have served one of those houses for generations! Won’t you get in trouble if you serve me? I mean, I’m just the daughter of a lowly noble house.)

I pretended to scrutinize each of them, trying to buy time as I thought of a way to make them reconsider. An idea suddenly came to me to discourage them from making rash decisions like this.

“Tell me… why should I accept people like you?”

(I should act as cold as possible to shoo them away.)

Sweat dripped from their foreheads as they knelt in front of me.

(Ooh! It’s working!)

A boy with blue hair and golden eyes clenched his fist and prostrated himself before me.

“Please accept our request, Lumina-sama. The six of us were cast aside. We were forced to enroll here by our families when they discovered we couldn’t cast high-level magic.”

(This one’s Frank, right?)

A girl with blonde hair styled into vertical rolls prostrated herself before me.

“We’ll devote our entire beings to serving you. We’ll even make a blood oath to never betray you.”

(What was her name again?)

A boy with messy red hair and fiery eyes followed suit, begging, “Even if you order us to kill our families in cold blood, we’ll gladly execute it!”

(No! Don’t say stuff like that! That’s scary!)

The other three also prostrated themselves. I gave them a stern look, hoping they’d back down. But after a few minutes, they showed no signs of standing up.

“Haa~”

I sighed heavily and glanced at Emilia, who stood behind me with a radiant smile.

“Very well. I don’t know what you see in me, but I’ll grant your request.”

When I said that, the entire student body started murmuring among themselves. Then, like the six before them, they all prostrated themselves. Even George was no exception.

(What!)

If I could see my own face, I was sure my jaw was hanging open and my eyes were wide with shock.

Looking behind me, I still saw Emilia smiling her brightest smile.

I then explained to them what forming a contract would entail. I told them it would be irrevocable and that they couldn’t choose another master besides me afterward. This was because it was a self-made magic circle that lasted a lifetime. I knew this because I had experimented with Emilia to see if the contract could be annulled. We discovered it couldn’t be canceled. The only way for this contract to disappear was for either me or the servant to die.

All of them made resolved expressions and accepted what I said. It seemed their decision was unwavering.

I walked over to Emilia and complained to her for a bit. Though I was surprised she didn’t know what ‘Noblesse Oblige’ meant, it was irrelevant. When I told her I wasn’t worthy to be served, she suddenly started a passionate speech. I couldn’t help but be moved, so I decided to let them become my servants.

I stood in front of them again and, just like when Emilia became my servant, I made a small wound on one of my fingers, letting the blood fall to the ground. I then created a Null Element magic circle with the fourth to sixth graders at the center. I didn’t include the third graders and below because they were still too young and might change their minds.

When the ceremony concluded safely, I suddenly heard the sound of a branch being stepped on. I quickly glanced behind me and saw Eclara-sama with an amazed expression. I was left speechless by her appearance.

(Why is Eclara-sama here?! Shouldn’t she be with her master?)

I continued to stare at her for a while when I suddenly remembered that game. It was all thanks to Eclara-sama’s appearance.

(Now I remember why the summoned student and the principal seemed familiar… Aren’t they characters from that game? Hehehe… Does this mean this is the game world!? THE F**K!!!)