I woke up at dawn and, as always, started my day at the training ground.
Pola hadn't returned to her room, presumably because the interrogation by the royal knights hadn't finished.
Leaving the empty bed behind, I reviewed the battle with Kalahen from yesterday.
'The situation wasn't that bad.'
In the worst-case scenario, I imagined Professor Falun and Kalahen would team up, but that didn't happen. Instead, they attacked me like old enemies from my previous life, with sharp words and spells.
The reason I could easily capture Kalahen was largely due to Professor Falun's contribution.
If Professor Falun had been a slightly worse or much better magician, Kalahen's response would have been very different.
Anyway, that's the situation.
'Perhaps the elixir wasn't enough.'
It increased my magic power by 70%.
Still, I couldn't help but feel the lack of magic power when facing Kalahen yesterday.
If Kalahen had been more mentally intact and prolonged the battle, or if Professor Falun had fled for his life, the difference in magic power would have been more apparent.
'But... this isn't that urgent. After all, the comparison is with Professor Falun and Kalahen, so it's inevitable.'
It's enough to recognize the problem for now.
However, what I really need to pay attention to is...
"..."
I walked up to the mirror and slightly loosened my collar.
The rune of the grimoire was imprinted on my body, which had gained some weight.
Its shape hadn't changed since I first awoke.
'Or, has it gotten darker?'
I don't know.
I've been so used to it that I haven't noticed.
Still, considering the grimoire's rune reacted during the battle with Kalahen, it wouldn't be strange if there were some changes.
But.
'Then, at that moment...'
I clearly felt it.
When Kalahen's explosive magic hit my body, or rather, when the magic flames surged against the barrier surrounding my body.
Zzzz—
The aura from the rune was added to the barrier.
As a result, the barrier, which should have wavered, became more solid.
'Or, can I say it became more solid?'
It's more like...
'Ah, right.'
It felt as if the magic damage was almost imperceptible, as if I had cast the spell myself.
'As if I was excluded from the target.'
Yes, it was an exclusion phenomenon.
The exclusion phenomenon is a technique commonly used by elemental mages to avoid damage from their own spells.
No matter how intense the flames, the caster doesn't get hurt because of this.
Of course, the exclusion phenomenon isn't omnipotent. It's mostly used for elemental spells, and the additional incantations make it impractical to use all the time.
Anyway, it was an exclusion phenomenon...
"I don't get it."
Why did it react at that specific moment, and what were the activation conditions?
Each grimoire has unique abilities, and the triggers for those abilities vary.
So, even with the information I have about grimoires, I can't deduce the specifics.
'Still, I need to figure it out.'
The largest library in the eastern continent, Laphite.
I'm sure I can find information about grimoires there, or at least some clues.
'So, it's about time...'
I looked out the now bright window.
It was almost time to go to school.
* * *
After getting ready for school, I went downstairs to pick up Damian.
"...I'm sleepy."
Damian, who usually has a hard time waking up, was still half-asleep.
Damian generally has a hard time waking up in the morning.
This was the same in Blando.
The only person who could wake him up was the stern and clueless servant, Lance, but even waking up on his own was a significant improvement.
We arrived at the student cafeteria.
'Not bad.'
After presenting the meal ticket I had brought, we were greeted by a variety of dishes.
A buffet-style meal.
Vegetables, bread, meat.
Although there were no high-end dishes like steak, the selection was well-balanced, providing a good mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
'You need to eat well to grow well.'
My body has improved a lot, but at this age, you can never eat enough.
I led Damian to a table with a balanced meal and returned to our seats.
Damian, still half-asleep, started eating the food in his bowl.
After finishing my meal, I headed to the M3 class I had checked out yesterday.
When I arrived at the M3 class, there was still some time before the first lesson started.
The students were divided into three groups.
"..."
Some were already sprawled out on their desks, still asleep.
"So, yesterday..."
"I heard that the top-ranked combat student is actually a former mercenary..."
Others were gathered in small groups, chatting about the academy's latest gossip.
And in one corner, some model students were quietly reading books.
And.
"I... want to sleep."
Strangely, the first group was lying in the sunny spots, and Damian, as if drawn to them, went over to take a nap.
He left his book on my side, indicating that he recognized this as a sleeping spot.
Just as I was about to sit down, a shadow approached.
"Hi. Are you Aster?"
"So what?"
"I'm Chenbi. I heard you're famous. You made the second son of the Dolanpe family kneel, right?"
Chenbi had brown hair, common in the continent, and a face with freckles, making him a distinctive young boy.
As an M3 classmate, he was likely a magic student.
For reference, the academy's class assignments are divided into magic classes M1-M3 and combat classes E1-E5, totaling eight classes.
He naturally sat in the seat opposite Damian, where the book was placed, and I stared at him intently.
Maybe my gaze was too intense.
The awkwardly smiling boy.
"Ah, actually, I wanted to sit with you. I don't have many friends yet. It's a bit... you know."
What do I know?
'Well, I get the gist of it.'
It's like this.
Anyone can enroll in the Jenion Academy regardless of their background, and the academy promises equal treatment without regard to social status.
But that's just the academy's stance.
'The students are different.'
Even now, looking at the students around me, it's clear they stick to their own groups.
Rich kids stick together, and those from less privileged backgrounds form their own cliques.
Occasionally, there are mixed groups, but they don't seem to have normal friendships. It's more like a group of fools and their lackeys.
And the noble kids...
'They're so high and mighty.'
It's not hard to spot noble kids anywhere.
Those guys over there.
They stand apart, arms crossed, eyes closed, as if everyone else is beneath them. Or rather, they don't even consider others worth their attention.
Well, anyway, since it wasn't a big deal, I nodded.
"Sure, go ahead."
"Phew, thanks. Honestly, I was a bit worried. It's a bit awkward to be alone when everyone else is in groups, you know?"
"Yeah, I guess."
Actually, I don't really understand.
I've never thought of myself as alone, wherever I go. The reason is simple: I've rarely been with anyone.
Why didn't I think of myself as alone even though I was rarely with anyone?
'Fish don't know water.'
I was always alone, so I didn't even realize it.
During my time as a street urchin, other urchins were mostly trying to take advantage of me.
After becoming a troubleshooter, I was too busy surviving on my own to form any attachments.
Even when I became No. 1, it was the same.
Back then, the concept of a group was rare because everyone was like me.
A group is formed when people share a sense of community, but the relationship between troubleshooters was more like independent entities interacting.
Anyway, Chenbi was quite talkative.
"Wow, you really are a mage?"
"Yeah."
"But how can you fight so well? The Dolanpe family is known for their combat skills. You didn't lose in close combat, right?"
"I'm still lacking in ether. It'll be different later."
From the conversation, it seemed Chenbi wasn't from a noble family. He didn't seem to be from a wealthy family either.
Yet, he was quite bright and didn't seem intimidated.
After a few exchanges, I realized something.
'This is a normal conversation.'
In this life, I've mostly been around crazy people.
Damian, Hengji, and even Professor Falun, who is relatively normal compared to them.
Since I've regressed, this kind of normalcy isn't bad.
As the conversation continued, with Chenbi asking most of the questions and me answering, the classroom gradually filled up.
"Wait a minute."
I tried to wake Damian up before class started, but he wouldn't budge. In the end, I had to drag him by the neck and sit him next to me.
"Hey, did you know?"
"What?"
"I overheard some kids talking before you came. Our M3 class teacher is Professor Jera. The famous Professor Jera!"
"Jera?"
"You don't know Professor Jera? She was quite famous in our region. The best mage on the eastern front! They say she single-handedly slaughtered a group of trolls..."
Ah, now I remember.
'The professor who stood on the podium yesterday.'
The red-haired mage.
She was relatively young, but she was quite famous when she was active in the field.
'Sure enough...'
It's not easy for a mage to single-handedly eliminate a group of trolls.
It's a matter of elemental compatibility.
Just as I was thinking about this,
"Ah! She's here!"
...the boy straightened up.
Sure enough, a red-haired mage and an assistant professor entered through the front door.
'Hmm.'
After hearing Chenbi's description, her presence was indeed extraordinary.
She was one of the younger professors at the academy, but her walk and the aura she exuded were as strong as Professor Falun's.
She seemed quite straightforward.
"Hello, I'm Jera."
She didn't wake up the sleeping students. She just said what she needed to say.
"Before the first class, we'll measure your magic power. Follow the assistant professor."
Jera said this and left the classroom again.
"..."
As the M3 class students were stunned, Chenbi whispered to me.