I stared blankly at the glowing orb that Sagrad had created.
The duration wasn't very long.
Perhaps just 1 or 2 seconds.
Considering the size of the glowing orb, it was an incredibly short time, but in fact, its power wasn't something to be seriously considered.
'This defies common sense.'
The way magic works.
The caster emits mana to stimulate natural mana, causing phenomena to manifest.
The method varies slightly depending on the type of magic, but the basic framework is this.
The important thing here is...
'The caster.'
All magical actions are centered around the caster.
But, what happened just now?
The glowing orb.
Although I willed it to manifest, the reference point wasn't me, the caster.
Truly, a phenomenon that defies common sense.
"Hold on... then?"
I immediately got up and started a few experiments.
It was quite troublesome to have to draw blood for the experiments, but it was a manageable effort.
How much time had passed?
Munch, munch.
After a few experiments, I filled my stomach by chewing on the bread I had brought from the pocket dimension.
First,
'...Let's call this Blood Magic.'
Blood Magic.
Just the name alone was as taboo as any forbidden magic.
But, since I'm the only one calling it that, it shouldn't be much of a problem.
Anyway.
To summarize the results of the experiment, what can I say about Blood Magic?
'It seems quite useful.'
The fact that the center of the magic isn't the caster has significant implications in combat.
It allows you to manifest magic from unexpected angles to catch the enemy off guard or gain a favorable position in various battles.
However,
Zzzz...
A glowing orb rose from the wall of the training room.
The manifestation of Blood Magic, which I had become familiar with during the experiment.
But, compared to the first time, its size wasn't much larger. It was just a bit faster in manifestation.
'The output... is ambiguous.'
Increasing the amount of blood would solve the issue, but it's not a good method.
It's like the belly button being bigger than the belly.
Of course, there is a way.
'Proliferation spell.'
A spell used in healing magic that shows excellent effects in regenerating blood and flesh.
It would certainly help increase the amount of blood in the body.
However, that's not all.
'Let's see...'
I applied the proliferation spell to a single drop of blood.
Zzzz...
Soon, the blood began to expand on its own.
It only doubled in size, but it was a significant change.
This proved that the proliferation spell affects not only the blood inside the body but also the blood outside the body.
However,
'To use it properly, a simple proliferation spell won't do.'
I crossed my arms and looked at the enlarged blood droplet.
The crimson hemisphere glowed brilliantly, and soon, the vision of healing light that I received from Hengji came to mind.
If I could extract only the 'proliferation spell' from the vision of healing light?
What would happen then?
After a moment of contemplation,
'It won't be easy.'
I shook my head.
Combining spells to create magic is one thing, but extracting a spell from an already combined magic is several times more difficult.
It's impossible unless you are thoroughly familiar with the magic.
The best option would be to obtain the proliferation spell from Blando.
'But I don't need the highest-level spell.'
The level provided to non-bloodline servants would be sufficient.
That level of proliferation spell is often exchanged in the field of magical studies.
"Hengji might be willing to give it to me..."
Or, perhaps even the highest-level proliferation spell.
But, I soon shook my head.
'It's best not to get involved with that lunatic. By the way, didn't Lansi say she would visit before returning?'
It might be a good idea to bring it up.
Even if it doesn't work out, it's worth a try.
Blood Magic is worth the effort, even if it doesn't pan out.
* * *
Lansi visited Damian the morning after the Pistineke Festival ended.
"Take care, okay?"
"Listen to the professors, and the mid-term evaluation is coming up soon, right? I heard the exam schedule is a bit delayed, so don't get too relaxed."
The cafeteria of the temporary dormitory was bustling with parents visiting their children who were affected.
'They said normal classes will resume next week, right?'
Once normal classes resume, parent-teacher meetings won't be as free, so they're saying goodbye before leaving.
However, in this noisy atmosphere, there was one table that was unusually quiet.
It was our table.
'...'
I took a sip of the coffee on the table and glanced around.
First, Lansi sitting across from me.
As usual, she's stoic.
Her face shows no expression, and her eyes are gently looking down.
She looks incredibly calm, but...
I glanced to the side.
"..."
Damian, with a puffed-up face.
Is it a sulky face? His cheeks are swollen, and his eyes are a mix of anger and frustration.
His gaze is directed at Lansi.
The story goes like this.
- Young Master Damian, I came to say goodbye before returning to the family.
- Yeah, go well! Go quickly! Hurry up and go!
In fact, until this point, Damian was quite cheerful.
I hadn't seen him smile so brightly in a long time, but it seemed Lansi's presence was quite bothersome.
'It's understandable.'
In a way, this stoic and clueless servant was better at handling Damian than even Gamo Bianca.
However, that cheerful expression didn't last long.
- By the way, Lady Gamo asked me to convey a message. To be precise, she asked me to convey it after the festival.
- What is it?
- It's about the 'Blando Estate Lake Construction and Statue Building Proposal' you suggested when the Blando procession came this time.
The lake is the first Blood, Sweat, and Tears.
The statue is the second.
It seems the proposal was handed over to the Blando procession that came to the academy due to the Ordeal of the Gate incident.
- Yeah! How is it? Isn't it great! Isn't it good!
- I don't know who helped you, but the proposal was quite well-prepared. The proposal itself was quite good.
Damian's face lit up with unexpected praise.
Up to this point, it seemed like a positive response from Gamo.
However,
- Lady Gamo's message is...
- What message?
- Rejected.
- ...
The situation was clear even without seeing it.
'Someone must have rushed to Gamo and pleaded.'
The Warp Gate can reach Blando in a day or two.
They must have bowed and pleaded, saying it can't be done and asking to reject the young master's request.
Gamo Bianca's quick response was probably due to this.
It was a bit disappointing for me.
'Tch.'
Honestly, I wasn't particularly interested in constructing a lake and building a statue.
A lake is just a lake, and a statue is just a statue.
How great could it be?
But, what I wanted to feel was the blood, sweat, and tears of the Blando servants in building the lake and statue.
It was more about the process than the result.
Well, after that, it was quite a noisy time.
- Lansi, is that true? Really? Why? Why is it rejected? It's so great!
Damian trying to persuade Lansi...
- Lady Gamo said it's a waste of resources.
Lansi repeating Gamo Bianca's message like a parrot.
It was a battle between an impenetrable spear and an unbreakable shield.
After that,
"..."
"..."
An uncomfortable silence continued.
"Um... Can I get up now?"
Chenbi, unable to bear the silence, cautiously lifted her bottom.
But, Lansi shook her head.
"Please stay a little longer, Chenbi."
"Um, yes."
Chenbi, who quickly slumped back into her seat, had a look of utter frustration, but no one at the table paid attention to her.
Lansi is naturally stoic and clueless, and Damian was busy suppressing his anger.
And I...
'Hmm.'
My mind was racing to find a way to change the atmosphere.
'This is problematic.'
The rejection of the Blood, Sweat, and Tears project.
On the surface, it seems like it's just Damian's problem, but it's not just that.
When Lansi mentioned 'who helped you' regarding the proposal,
Her gaze was clearly directed at me.
'...Did she notice?'
I am a well-informed troubleshooter.
I helped write the proposal by digging up old memories for the Blood, Sweat, and Tears project.
Someone else's misfortune is my happiness, so I didn't hold back in showing my abilities, and the clueless servant noticed.
I thought my image as an ignorant street urchin from the black and white zone would shield me, but it's a pity.
In that situation,
'Should I talk about the proliferation spell?'
The timing wasn't good.
From Blando's perspective, how would they see me?
Would they think I manipulated the naive young master to lead someone who was already slightly off course even further astray?
In other words, a bad influence.
'That... would be me.'
That's why.
'Ugh.'
A sense of disruption in the plan.
'I wanted to finish the Blood Magic research before going to the Hamern Great Forest.'
There was plenty of time.
The trip to the Hamern Great Forest was scheduled for the break, and there were about three months left until the break.
So, what should I do?
'Senior?'
If it's Senior, he could easily give me the proliferation spell.
While Blando's spells are the best, this is just an experiment, so efficiency isn't a big concern.
However,
- Thug.
- Gulp! Crunch!
'Too much has been taken.'
The fierce glare of Breakfast 1 and the even fiercer gaze of Senior.
If I go near them now, it won't end well.
They might not kill me, but they could beat me up.
'Professor Pelina...'
We're still awkward.
'Falun...'
It wasn't good.
Although Deculan took a step back after the Ordeal of the Gate, it's just on the surface.
He wouldn't have taken his watchful eyes off.
'Raphiter might have the spell...'
I just got the ticket to Raphiter from Senior.
However, the ticket has an expiration date.
So, the earliest I could go to Raphiter would be right before the break, just before entering the Great Forest.
'Sigh.'
I stared at the empty coffee cup, half in despair.
'This is my karma.'
Just as I thought that,
"Really, it's rejected?"
Damian's slumped shoulders.
His face, a mix of anger and frustration, now showed a clear look of resignation.
At that moment, the corners of Lansi's mouth slightly lifted.
'...?'
Of course, it quickly disappeared, but I saw it clearly.
'Why... is she smiling?'
Is she up to something?
Just as I thought that,
Lansi, who had returned to her expressionless state, spoke.
"There is a way."
"Really?!"
"But, Young Master, you have to do something too."
"What? What?"
Damian, his face lighting up.
Lansi then said,
And when she finished, despair settled on Damian's face.
"Place in the top 16 in the upcoming mid-term evaluation."
The top 16.
A high rank, but also a low one.
It was a rank that someone dedicated to academy life could achieve.
However,
For Damian, it was an unreachable rank.
"1, 160th place?"
"16th place, Young Master."
"..."
Lansi, stoic as ever, brought Damian back to reality.
Leaving the despondent Damian behind, she said,
"16th place is doable. That way, I can have something to say when I ask Lady Gamo."
"..."
At that moment, I realized.
'It's Gamo's plan!'
While Lansi is a favored servant, she can't overturn Gamo's decision.
But, her confident statement suggests it's Gamo's arrangement to improve Damian's grades.
However, Gamo's plan didn't stop there.
"Young Master Damian, don't worry too much. Don't you have good friends around you? I'm sure they will help you."
"Really, they will?"
Damian lifted his head, hopeful.
But, the hope in his eyes faded when he saw me.
Because,
"..."
I wasn't much different from Damian.
There was a glimmer of hope when he looked at Chenbi, but...
"I, I... Actually, I'm struggling with my studies too. I'll try my best to help, but I don't think I can be of much help..."
Chenbi's words extinguished the last spark of hope.
Actually, it was a fair statement.
'Chenbi is a model student, but...'
She doesn't have the spare capacity to help others.
Her willingness to help as much as she can shows her good heart, but that's her limit.
However, Lansi's next words ignited Chenbi's enthusiasm.
"Chenbi, Aster. If you help Young Master Damian this time, the Blando Estate will provide a generous reward. Is that... too much to ask?"
Lansi deliberately emphasized 'Blando.'
Chenbi realized the situation.
So, naturally, her response was...
"I actually don't think my grades are that important. Friends are more important."
Acceptance.
Her sudden change in attitude was bewildering, but Lansi's gaze turned to me.
"Aster...?"
"Sure, I'll try my best."
It wasn't a bad deal for me.
It was a suitable opportunity to obtain the proliferation spell.
Anyway, Damian looked at us with a moved expression, inspired by the friendship forged by financial incentives.