It has been one year and two months since enrollment.
Without any particularly significant events, Adel, now a second-year student, has been leading a peaceful school life. Most of her classmates remained in Class A, and only a few students changed classes.
Adel, who was born early in the year, is already twelve years old.
In this year and a bit, she earned 144 silver coins from part-time jobs, half of which she saved in her item box. If it weren't for the many undergarments she received from Marcela, she wouldn't have been able to save so much. Drawers are quite expensive, after all.
The undergarments she received from Marcela over a year ago included chest protectors, but unfortunately, she hasn't had the chance to use them yet. They are still sleeping in the item box with her worn-out casual clothes and silver coins.
Well, her chest has started to develop a little, a little...
Her academic performance is top-notch. In combat, she is a power player, compensating for her lack of skill with strength and speed. In magic, she is at the level of a typical "apprentice magician." At the time of enrollment, she could only cast a very weak fireball spell without incantation.
This is Adel's current evaluation at school.
On the other hand, since the blooming of her magic, Marcela has entered a period of popularity and is being pursued as a top prospect. Her family, upon learning that she can use offensive magic, has sent her multiple letters advising her not to rush and to avoid getting involved with the sons of poor nobles. It is natural for them to want her to marry into a high-ranking family, but since Marcela insists that she will only marry a man she likes, there have been no engagement talks yet.
"This is all thanks to you. I never thought I would have the power to choose my own fiancé."
"Oh, no, I should be the one to thank you for taking the brunt of the male students' attacks."
Marcela and Adel smiled at each other.
Monica, whose ability to use practical water magic became known, has started receiving marriage proposals from capable employees of her family's business and the sons of their clients. However, she refuses to get engaged, saying, "Merchants can rise and fall dramatically. What if the person you make a promise to five years from now ends up in ruin?" As expected of a merchant's daughter.
Oriana, who receives a scholarship, can only work for a public institution or become a teacher in the future. The magic she can use is limited to household convenience.
Still, Oriana is happy that she can use magic. She will never lack for water. Even if she were stranded, she wouldn't have to worry about drinking water. And Adel secretly taught her a spell to easily cool water. This is very useful.
There is a cooling spell, but the method Adel taught her is "more efficient." Even with her limited magical power, Oriana can cool drinks and chill meat and fish. This is a great help...
"Hey, you understand, right!"
"Ah, yes, it's the day of the match, isn't it?"
Kelvin, who suddenly approached Adel and her friends, left with a sullen face after hearing her response.
"But he doesn't learn, does he..."
"Hehe, yeah..."
Adel responded with a wry smile to Marcela's comment.
Since the mock battle right after enrollment, Kelvin has been challenging Adel to a fight once a month. These matches are arranged by Instructor Burgess during practical combat classes, so there are no issues, but they are quite painful for Adel.
She knows he is trying hard and can somewhat understand his feelings, but she really dislikes his hostile eyes and the indescribable look on his face after losing. She endures it because he is a classmate, but she is not happy about it.
He is friendly with others and seems like a decent guy, so why does he treat Adel this way?
The more she thinks about it, the more unpleasant it becomes for Adel.
"Listen, you must never intentionally lose! If you do that again, Kelvin will really lose it.
Honestly, you need to understand a man's pride a little more..."
Adel received a long, personal lecture from Burgess about "male sensitivity," which made it impossible for her to intentionally lose.
It's tough to see Kelvin's eyes and face after each match.
However, Burgess's lecture on "boys" was very helpful for Adel. Extremely helpful.
During the practical combat class, as usual, the match between Adel and Kelvin was held at the beginning of the lesson, and as usual, Adel won.
Technically, Kelvin is far superior, but there is no way to overcome the overwhelming difference in power and speed.
Of course, Adel doesn't use inhuman strength, but even at her "normal mode" level, which is that of an ordinary girl her age, a 11-12 year old boy can't win, no matter how talented he is, unless Adel intentionally loses.
And that is forbidden by Burgess, and Adel is also aware of her lack of acting skills.
As usual, Adel felt irritated by Kelvin's hostile gaze. The same unpleasant look as always.
(Why does he have to glare at me? Did I do something wrong?)
After repeating this dozens of times and ignoring it each time, this time, anger welled up inside her, as if all the accumulated frustration had burst out at once.
"I won't fight you anymore. This is the last time!"
"Eh..."
Kelvin, who was momentarily stunned, quickly turned red and shouted.
"What are you saying! I will keep fighting until I beat you..."
"That's just your delusion! What does it have to do with me?"
Adel interrupted Kelvin and continued.
"Besides, can you really be satisfied with just one win after trying so many times? Even if you win once out of 13 losses, you'll stop and say, 'I won'? Are you stupid?"
"Wha...?"
"Besides, what does it even mean to beat me? I'm not aiming to be a knight. Are you going to say in a knight's interview, 'My three years at school were all about beating a girl who works at a bakery. Now, she is doing bridal training'?"
The class burst into laughter. Instructor Burgess was trying hard not to laugh. As a teacher who cares about his students, he couldn't laugh here. Absolutely not.
"Besides, I'm a magician type and not good with swords, you know? Are you going to say in an interview, 'I kept challenging a magician who is bad with swords and finally won after 15 tries!' and be proud of it?"
Finally, even the caring Burgess couldn't hold it in.
"What are you...?"
"You are doing this, aren't you? You never challenge me during magic practice, but you always come at me during combat. What's so great about beating a magician with sword skills?"
"Wh...?"
"Wh...?"
"I, I... Ughhhh!!!"
Kelvin ran away.
"Adel, you know..."
Burgess, with a troubled look.
"There are things in this world that, even if they are true, shouldn't be said...
Shall we talk about it?"
In the end, the remaining time of the practical combat class was spent on a lesson for Adel about "consideration for boys" by Burgess and the entire class.