The spearman and archer's mock battle progressed, and finally it was the magician's turn.
The practical skills of the archer and the magician, while this time it was a mock battle, were not in a competitive format. Instead, they were to compare the casting speed, flight speed, accuracy, and power by aiming at targets.
After all, if they hit a person, it wouldn't be just a minor injury, so it was only natural.
One by one, attack spells were cast.
Fireballs, water balls, fire arrows, ice arrows, stone arrows, hellfire, flame explosions...
The size, speed, and power varied, but they were far from comparable to those at Exland Academy. In the first place, there were hardly any who could cast attack spells there.
What surprised everyone was Reina's attack spell.
"Blaze, hellfire! Burn to the bone!"
The crimson flames burst forth. The swirling flames engulfed and incinerated the target.
"Amazing..."
Mile, who muttered this, received a smug look from Reina.
(This is where the name 'Red Reina' comes from...
But, she doesn't seem to have particularly strong magical power or an especially vivid imagination...)
Mile could somehow sense a certain level of magical power, but she decided not to think about the reason. It felt like it would be tiring.
"That's because her passion is strong."
"Ah!"
Suddenly whispered in her ear, Mile couldn't help but let out a scream. A few of her classmates looked at her with puzzled expressions, but when Mile pretended nothing was wrong, they turned back to watch the next classmate casting spells.
(Don't scare me like that!)
"I'm sorry. It seemed you were asking for information."
(Just thinking to myself! But, since you're here, I might as well ask.
What do you mean by 'passion'?)
"Yes, we nanomachines set our reception sensitivity and selectivity randomly. This means that even within the range of thought waves, the number of nanomachines that react varies depending on the clarity of the thoughts, and the efficiency of the work changes based on the clarity of the image, which results in differences in the outcome of the magic.
However, occasionally, someone who casts powerful magic appears, even though their intensity, clarity, and imagery are not much different from others. We call this 'strong passion.' It's as if their thought waves are boiling and bubbling, and even nanomachines with very low sensitivity react."
(Hmm...)
Mile nodded, not really understanding the explanation, and ended the conversation through thought and eardrum vibrations. It was almost her turn.
From the previous performances, she thought it would be okay to cast a slightly stronger spell.
To achieve the 5th place among her classmates, she needed to be 2nd among the magicians, considering the number of people. So, she just needed to be a bit weaker than Reina...
Thinking this, Mile cast the same spell as Reina, but at about 80% of the power.
"Blaze, hellfire! Burn to the bone!"
Like Reina, crimson flames swirled, engulfing and incinerating the target.
"Wha...!"
The others were genuinely amazed by the powerful spell Mile cast, but they thought it was natural for someone who could use storage magic to have strong spells.
However, one person was not convinced.
"Mile, I have something to ask you later."
Mile, who was glared at fiercely by Reina, was scared.
"Why...?"
After a few more classmates finished their attack spells, the practical training moved on to support spells.
Healing spells were skipped this time, as they couldn't intentionally injure someone.
No one could only use healing spells, so they could show off their skills with other spells, which was fine.
After the practical training, the class dismissed on the field.
Mile, trying to avoid the ominous Reina, sneaked towards the cafeteria, hiding behind other classmates.
"Mile!"
"Ah!"
Suddenly tapped on the shoulder, Mile, who was already on edge, let out a scream.
"Sorry..."
When Mile turned around, she saw the male student who was her opponent in the second mock battle earlier.
"Sorry for scaring you. And sorry for the mock battle earlier.
Actually, it was on the instructor's orders, and I had no choice... But, even though it was on the instructor's orders, aiming at your unarmored parts was really bad. Sorry!"
"Eh? Ah, no, it's fine! In a fight, aiming at weak spots is normal, and if it was the instructor's orders, it couldn't be helped."
"Thanks. See you!"
Mile was impressed by the mature response of the male student.
"Wow, adults are different..."
"Mile, sorry about earlier!"
As Mile started walking towards the cafeteria again, she was called by another male student.
Turning around, she saw her first opponent from the mock battle.
"Did it hurt? Sorry.
By the way, how about a debriefing after dinner? I can give you some advice too!"
The lecherous grin and flared nostrils made Mile's intentions clear, and she was exasperated.
"Sorry, but after dinner, I have a party meeting...
Besides, I'm a magician, not a swordsman. It's normal to have flaws in sword skills. If I spend time improving my sword skills, which are only for self-defense, I might as well use that time to train as a magician..."
"Ah, um, well..."
"Excuse me."
Before the male student could think of a proper comeback, Mile quickly walked away, at a brisk pace.
Even among adults over 15, there are still some who are no good.
In the cafeteria, Mile and her three roommates, who were also her party members, had dinner as usual. Mile cautiously observed the situation, but Reina seemed to be eating normally, which relieved her.
However, as soon as they returned to their room:
"Second Party Meeting!"
Reina suddenly shouted loudly.
"Mile! What was that earlier?"
"Eh, what, what?"
"Don't play dumb! The spell you used!
What was that all about!"
Intimidated by Reina's fierce tone, Mile cowered, while Maevi and Pauline silently observed.
"Eh, it was just a normal fire spell like Reina's..."
"Right. Just like mine. The signature spell of 'Red Reina,' the original 'Red Inferno,' perfectly replicated, and you call it a 'normal fire spell'..."
"Whaaat!"
After being questioned for a long time, Mile was finally forced to confess.
Of course, she didn't tell the whole truth, but rather a cover story she came up with on the spot.
"So, the minister who targeted your talent teamed up with the demon king's henchmen, and you successfully escaped with the prince's help, right..."
"Yes! I thought I was going to die!"
"Who would believe that, you idiot!!"
"Why did you figure it out..."
"I read that novel too!"
"Oh!"
Mile slapped her hand on the table, finally understanding.
Again, she was interrogated and forced to confess.
"So, you can do various spells besides storage, have a lot of magical power, and couldn't stand being treated specially by everyone.
And you escaped because you were almost killed in a succession dispute at home, right?"
"Yes..."
While mixed, each element of the story was true, making it convincing. At least more so than the romantic drama earlier.
"I can understand that. Many who come here have been used or almost sold because of their talents.
This place also serves to protect such people."
With a bitter expression, Reina finally released Mile's collar.
"By the way, Mile, what was that conversation with the guy on the way to the cafeteria?"
"What!"
At Maevi's words, Reina's hand, which had just been released, grabbed Mile's collar again.
"Gi, give! It's tight..."
After explaining the conversations with the two guys in detail, Mile was finally released again.
"Well, if that's the case, it can't be helped.
But, be careful with the first guy. Maevi, if that guy approaches Mile again, please stop him!"
"Ah, sure, I'll take care of it..."
Maevi, who agreed with a wry smile, then asked Mile a question.
"But, why did the instructor do that? Mile is aiming to be a magician..."
"I don't know..."
Scratching her head, Mile asked Maevi casually.
"By the way, Mile, why didn't you block the final blow in both battles? Especially in the second battle, you blocked all the fast attacks but took the last deliberately slow and weak attack. Did you fall for a feint or something?"
"......Eh?"
"No, it was clearly a slow and weak attack, right?"
'On the instructor's orders'
'Aiming at unarmored parts'
'A deliberately slow and weak attack'
"......Got it!"
"What, what's wrong, exactly!"
Mile realized she had been tested by the instructor and had deliberately lost. Knowing this, she collapsed, and Reina interrogated her again, forcing her to admit she was also skilled in swordsmanship.
Once the instructor knew, it was only a matter of time before everyone else found out.
Thinking it was better to tell her comrades first, Mile didn't regret revealing her sword skills.
('Comrades'...)
There, the three of Mile's 'comrades' looked at her with puzzled expressions, smiling after hearing all her secrets.