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Prologue: The Reason I, an instructor, seemed to make an effort for the magic competition
Afterschool, at the headmaster’s office of Alzano Imperial Magic Academy—
“—T-, That said, I’d like to be paid in advance. If possible, I’d also like to get some allowance as well, puhleaze.”
“<Don’t mess with me · You · Stupid idiot>–!”
Suddenly, whirlpool of crimson flames formed, and erupted into a violent explosion.
Serika’s explosion spell mercilessly blew Glen – who had been speaking nonsense – away.
The aftershock of the explosion sent the glass of the windows flying, incinerated the lace-curtains, charred the walls, and turned the carpet into ashes. The gorgeous paintings, the antique bookshelves, the polished decorative armor, the sofa, the shade lamps, and a variety of other furnishing were not spared from the same fate. The interior of the headmaster’s room looked nothing like it was a moment ago.
“Gack-!? Ga-, Geho!? W-, What do you think you’re doing, are you trying to kill me you bastard!?”
Glen, whose burnt-black body lay on the floor, cried in rage.
“How annoying! You told me that ‘the survival of a species is at stake’ and said that we needed to have an important conversation, so I came all the way here, but then you give me this nonsense!?”
“What do you mean by nonsense!? If I die from starvation, then I’ll go extinct right!? There’s only one of me left in this world you know!? I’m a endangered species you know!? Treat me with care ok!?”
“Shut up, for all I care you can go extinct! Rather, I’ll personally bring an end to an inferior species like you!”
In the room where Glen and Serika began their pointless scuffle, the owner of the room – headmaster Rick – continued to sit still on his work desk and observe the situation. After a brief while, he interrupted the conversation.
“Well well, please calm down you two. Though, your conversation is staggeringly indirect in some sense… Basically, it’s about Glen-kun’s living expenses is it not…? And he primarily needs money for his food expenses yes?”
“Exactly. As expected of the headmaster, you get what I mean! My-, Serika suddenly told me to pay for my own food expenses you see-?”
“It should be a given! Your time as an unemployed bum aside, you’re now a magic instructor at this academy! You should have a respectable income!”
Serika irritatedly crossed her arms, and glared at Glen.
“To sum it all up, I’m in trouble this month headmaster! At this rate, starting tomorrow,, I’ll be partially forced into the plight of dieting….”
“However, wasn’t payday just one week ago? What exactly did you do with that money?”
In response to that question, Glen showed an expression filled with grief. He walked up to the window, and turned his eyes to the scenery outside.
Outside the window was the academy’s courtyard which was decorated by an impressive flowerbed of a hundred colors. Beyond the metallic fence of the academy was the antiquated town of Fejiti. Finally, floating high in the sky was the grandeur, phantasmal visage of Fejiti’s symbol, the Melgarius’ Sky Castle.
“You asked me how I used the money… Of course, I invested it into my future.”
“Invested in the future?”
“Yes, for the infinite possibilities that lies in what we call ‘tomorrow’, and for the sake of grasping onto a broader wish—”
In response to Glen, who looked into the distance whilst monologuing, Serika interjected with murmurs.
“In other words, you gambled it didn’t you? Ah there’s really no saving you. Just go die already.”
“Can you stop? Despite all the trouble I went through to look cool there, you just had to throw in the bucket didn’t you.”
In response to Serika’s unrestrained comment, Glen sharply protested.
“To start with, this none of this is my fault you know? It’s the three-of-hearts’ fault! If I picked a card higher than that, then I would’ve—”
In any case, he was the prime example of human trash.
“—All’s said and done, please help me you two.”
“However… the rules are the rules, I can’t give you an advance payment.”
“Guh-, is that so… that’s troubling. Even the loan-sharks said that ‘We won’t loan money to someone of the likes of you who doesn’t even have a stable job’ and other fishy things. The food storage at Serika’s mansion also uses a magic lock, so…”
Glen, who seemed to fall into despair, pressed his palms against his face and took a deep breath.
“Hey Serika-kun. Until the next payday, could you lend Glen-kun some food expenses? He’s lived under the same roof as you for a long time has he not?”
Rick suggested such to Serika. Perhaps he was somewhat sympathetic of Glen.
“I refuse, headmaster. If I spoil this brat then he’ll do the same thing again in the future. In the first place, he deserves everything that he’s brought upon himself. Occasionally, he needs to learn his lesson. Well, until the next payday, work hard to stay alive ok?”
In contrast, Serika’s reaction was cold and blunt.
“If I were to only provide for his food expenses, then it will be on the basis of our former relationship. Well, that is, if I were to ‘only’ provide for his food expenses. That is the absolute condition, because I’m already turning a blind eye on his rent.”
“Hear that? Headmaster. Geez, this girl, why does she have to… She was always a really selfish person but… my my, how troublesome.”
Glen showed an amazed expression and sighed. Then, the corner of his lips curved upward into a sneer, and then he shrugged his shoulders and began to scornfully laugh.
“W—h—y, why are you speaking as though I have done something wrong!? The one who’s wrong is you isn’t it!?”
“He-, Kack!? My temples hurt! My head is gonna get crushed!? Save me mamaaaa—!?”
Serika grabbed Glen’s head with her hand, and constricted her grip with the extreme force. Grinding sounds could be heard.
Hearing Glen’s angstful cries, Rick showed a wry smile, and suggested.
“Although I can’t give you an advance payment, there’s still the possibility of a special award, Glen-kun.”
“Special award!?”
Glen shook out of Serika’s grasp, and quickly rushed towards Rick.
“What do you mean by that exactly?”
“I’m talking about the ‘Magic Games Festival’ that will be hosted by the academy next week.”
“Wh-!? M-Magic Games Festival…? What exactly is…?”
“Mhm. It is a competition of magical skills between the students here, and this will mark the third time that we – the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy – will hold this event. The groups will be split by class year, and the representatives of each class will compete in various magic competitions. The instructor in charge of the class that receives the best overall score will receive a special reward, as per custom.”
“The heck, are you for real!? So there was a wonderful event like this all along!?”
“It also happens that the class Glen-kun is in charge of will participate in the Magic Games Festival next week as part of the second year’s group. Since that is the case, how about you try working hard with the special reward as your goal?”
“Yes, I will do my best! Well, despite that, Magic Games Festival… To think there was something like this!? Keh-! If only I was told about this sooner…-!”
Hearing Glen’s calculating mutters, Serika pressed her temple with an amused expressed, and coldly murmured.
“No, you, you’re an alumni of this academy right? How could you not know about this? To begin with, the second years should all be riled up about it. To add onto that, this time around, the empress herself is—”
“Yeah yeah, that doesn’t matter anymore! There are more important things that I must do! Tch—, those guys, hopefully they’re still there but… — Till next time then!”
However, Glen did not even spare a moment to listen to Serika. It seemed that he had something on his mind, but he clenched his fists tightly, and turned on his heels to leave, dashing out of the headmaster’s office.
Seeing Glen off, Serika released a long sigh.
“…So headmaster? In reality, what are the chances of Glen’s class winning?”
“… To be honest, it will be rather tough.”
Rick responded to Serika’s question with a smile.
“It’s true that Glen-kun’s class has Sistina-kun, who has the top grades of her year, but… from a holistic standpoint, Harry-kun’s class will more likely to come out victorious.”
“Ah, the class Harry is in charge of hm? Well, after all, his class is excessively well-matched…”
“Mhm. His class has many top-scoring students, so their foundations are set in stone. Even in Glen-kun’s class has Sistina-kun, it would be farfetched to put her up to the task of participating in every single competition.”
“Participate in every competition …hm?”
Then, for some reason, Serika sighed disconcertedly.
“Is this right Serika-kun? At this rate, your beloved disciple will really starve to death won’t he? Why don’t you give him a hand?”
“Well, there’s no need to worry about that, headmaster.”
Serika replied indifferently.
“Even if he has to eat grass or chew at sticks, he will surely find some way to keep on living. I’ve taught him about such things in the past you see? On top of that, it seems that it would be more interesting to leave him as he is right now.”
“…Oho?”
The headmaster, seemingly enticed by Serika’s refusal, curved his lips into a smile.
“His motivation might be ‘that’, but at the very least, Glen seems like he ‘feels like it’ right now. Recently, the ‘sports festival atmosphere’ has been spreading like a disease, and I was starting to get fed up with it, but… Now then, what will he do?”
Somehow enjoying herself, Serika showed a bright smile.