Chapter 13 - The True Strength of Comrades

My baby-faced exclusive maid turned out to be one of the great heroes who defeated the Demon King a hundred years ago.

“Tina… how old are you really?”

“It’s Professor Tina. And besides, Halt-kun, it’s taboo to ask a woman about her age.”

“Ma’am, I have a question!”

Lifa raised her hand vigorously.

“You’re Leaffa, yes? What is it?”

“Tina Harivell-sama is a legendary heroine even among the clan of Elves. After defeating the Demon King by fighting alongside the heroes who came from another world, she was supposed to be missing. Can Professor Tina prove your identity as that ‘Tina Harivell-sama’?”

“Well, you’ll understand faster if I show my status board to you.”

With that, Tina conjured her status board for us to look at.

“I-it’s the real deal…”

“Level 250!?”

“Eh, Tina-san is that strong?”

Everyone was dumbfounded. Luke and Luna, who had enjoyed the delicious food made by the baby-faced maid Tina the day before, never expected her to have such a monstrous status.

“This person also has something to ask of you. Is this alright?”

“Yes, please, Youko-san.”

“Why did a high-level person such as yourself agree to teach novices like us? There seems to be no merit in doing this.”

“Hmm… I don’t have a deep reason, but I do have some free time as a caretaker, so maybe that’s why.”

“Caretaker?”

Youko apparently did not understand.

Perhaps Tina thought it would be boring to stay alone at the mansion while I’m in class, so she decided to become a teacher instead.

But is it really that easy to become a teacher at a magical academy? The question-and-answer period with Tina ended as I pondered this.

“Well, I believe everyone understands by now that I am qualified to be your teacher, since you’ve seen my status board. Let’s move to the training room immediately to start the lesson.”

──***──

Tina led the ten of us to the annex outdoor training grounds connected to the classroom. The facilities were top-notch, as expected near the center of the academy.

In addition, strong defensive magic was cast to secure the entire training facility, so even if high-level magic was used, it would not affect the outside.

“Everyone will experience battling with your fellow classmates as well as students from higher grade levels. Because your classroom is near the center, this class will be involved in many competitions.”

Ifrus Academy of Magic has an inter-class competition system. The rules and prizes for winning matches, as well as the types of magic-related battles and races, are all decided in advance.

Classroom assignments can also be changed based on the outcomes of matches. Classes near the center must compete against other classes within a certain period.

"The competition quota for this classroom is once a month. There are delicious cake shops and bakeries in this area, and you have access to the largest library in the academy. That’s why please do your best to win the competitions so you can keep this place.”

Though Tina said that quite lightly, a once-a-month competition quota seemed severe. Luke realized something and spoke.

“If several classes wanted to compete for a classroom, the upperclassmen are prioritized, right?”

“That’s right, Luke-kun.”

“Our class will probably be targeted by seniors, so we might have to fight upperclassmen every month.”

“Well, that’s going to happen.”

“…Isn’t it a little too hard for us freshmen to keep this classroom?”

“First of all, there is practically no chance of dying even if you lose, so I don’t think you need to be on edge all the time. Besides, I am here to guide you, so I don’t think anyone among you will lose.”

Well, I wonder where Tina got all that confidence.

“By the way, did you do your self-introductions before I came?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Leaffa answered as a representative. If we were to decide on a class leader, it would definitely be Leaffa. She takes the initiative, and I think she’ll be willing to manage the class.

“Is that so. Alright, next, please introduce your magic to each other.”

While speaking, Tina tapped the floor lightly with the staff she was holding, and at the farthest side of the training grounds, the magic training target that I’m most familiar with appeared.

“Please aim and release your strongest magical attack towards that target.”

“Is it really alright to use full force?”

Ryûshin asked.

“Yes, please use all your power. From now on, you will be facing competitions as a class—a group—but unless you cooperate with each other and make the best use of your strengths while compensating for your weaknesses, you won’t be able to win against the upperclassmen. Knowing the full strength of your comrades is the first step to understanding each other.”

“I understand. Would it be acceptable if I go first?”

Leaffa raised her hand.

“Thank you. Then, Leaffa-san, please stand right here. The rest of you stay behind me.”

When we stood at the place Tina directed us, a transparent film of magic surrounded us. It was Tina’s defensive magic.

“Leaffa-san, you can go as soon as you are ready.”

“Yes!”

Leaffa stood in a stance, with one leg bent in front and the other extended behind her. She thrust her left hand forward, and a green bow appeared. As the string was pulled, magical power began to accumulate and was formed into the shape of an arrow.

The arrow was already fully formed, but Leaffa showed no signs of shooting it. The magical power continued to gather from the surrounding space into the arrow.

Due to the colossal amount of magical power being concentrated in one area, fluctuations began to occur in the surrounding space.

“Wind Arrow!”

Leaffa released the arrow.

The arrow, wrapped with swirling wind, flew towards the target at ultra-high speed.

Bang!

A deafening crashing sound echoed throughout the room as the arrow impacted the target.

Although the arrow did not pierce the target completely, it managed to penetrate half of the supposedly impenetrable intermediate-level target.

“Notwithstanding your concentration on a single point, to be able to penetrate that target in itself is truly a great feat! Thanks for the hard work.”

“Thank you very much.”

Gathering magic from the surrounding space is a characteristic of the Elves. Among them, Leaffa is able to gather more power than usual.

“Who would like to go next?”

““We volunteer.””

Mai and Mei raised their hands simultaneously.

“Mai-san and Mei-san, right. Well, go ahead.”

“Will the two of them use magic together?”

“Yes, both of them are special, so they need to do the magic at the same time.”

Tina answered Youko’s question.

It seems like Tina has a good grasp of the circumstances surrounding all her students.

Mai and Mei linked their hands together and stretched their other hands towards the target.

Hot air from Mai’s side and icy air from Mei’s side overflowed.

““Unison Ray!””

The block of ice with trailing flames shot from their hands towards the target.

Doggooooooooon!!!

As soon as the ice-flame bundle hit the target, a great explosion occurred and white smoke rose. Due to the instantaneous warming of the ice and the extreme differences in temperature, a phreatic explosion* occurred.

“To be able to fuse antithesis elemental magic to this extent—I can’t say anything except bravo.”

Just like when it was Leaffa’s turn, Tina also praised their magic. It was truly astounding. The target retained its shape, but its surface was tattered.

“Okay, next.”

“My turn.”

Ryûshin stepped forward.