Chapter 127 — Special Abilities Always…
1
Kael sat quietly, waiting.
The room carried a subtle but undeniable pressure.
Looking around, all she could see were the bleak and rigid walls of the room. There was nothing comforting about the space, as if it had been deliberately designed to unsettle whoever sat there.
What was so important that they had made her sit there, alone, waiting? No one had come to speak to her yet.
Outside, she could faintly hear voices. Muffled murmurs from beyond the door filled the silence.
Kael let the distant sounds drift by as she tried to organize her thoughts.
‘Was it a mistake to use Cadenza?’
She knew it all too well.
The magic she used—Cadenza, and the magic Manus wielded—was something truly special.
So special, in fact, that they only used it when climbing the Tower.
Over the last month and a half, even Manus hadn’t used it.
Not even in the last year had she heard of him relying on it.
Was it too soon to reveal it?
Her thoughts felt tangled.
She didn’t know if she had made the right choice.
“But still…”
She recalled the look in Manus’ eyes.
His gentle expression seemed to be telling her it was okay.
Do what you feel is right.
But Kael knew what came with that freedom: the responsibility of the consequences. Manus’ gaze, while supportive, also seemed to carry an unspoken message—you’ll have to bear the consequences.
Ugh!
Had she made the wrong move, trusting only in her senior’s assurance?
Kael ruffled her hair in frustration as various thoughts and doubts swirled in her head.
Her neat, short hair quickly became disheveled.
Just as her hair began to resemble a messy bird’s nest, the door finally creaked open.
“Aah, sorry to have kept you waiting. I’m Professor Chandler, as you may already know?”
“Oh… yes, you teach Summoning…”
“Indeed. I’ve gathered questions from the other professors to ask you. After all, it wouldn’t be fair to overwhelm you by bringing them all here at once, would it?”
“Haha—”
In truth, she would have been fine with that.
Kael hurriedly tidied her hair and sat up straight.
Professor Chandler set down a tray of refreshments, conjured with magic, neatly arranging them on the table in front of her.
It looked like he had gone to some effort, but something about the gesture felt oddly intimidating, making it hard for Kael to touch any of it.
There was something in his manner that carried an unseen pressure.
The mana emanating from Chandler’s body made the air in the room feel tight, suffocating.
And then there was the small lizard on Chandler’s shoulder, watching her intently with sharp, unblinking eyes.
Barbaros, the mythical creature.
A divine beast, said to rival even the most powerful Masters, was glaring at her with piercing blue eyes.
“Alright, let’s get started, shall we?”
“—Yes.”
Chandler’s mana began to flow.
That mana channeled into Barbaros, and his eyes began to glow red.
The eyes of a divine beast could distinguish truth from lies, enabling them to understand the intent of the person they observed.
This method was often used at the academy when interrogating someone.
As long as the questioning didn’t cross any moral boundaries, this was Chandler’s specialty.
From now on, every word Kael spoke would be filtered through Barbaros, ensuring no lies escaped her lips.
Kael noticed the change in the air, glancing around the room.
Chandler smiled, a hint of amusement in his expression.
“Your sensitivity to mana is remarkable. It’s an excellent talent to have.”
“This is about my magic, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Your magic is quite special—and powerful. In fact, it’s something that shouldn’t exist.”
“Then…”
Kael saw a slight tremor in the professor’s eyes.
She was frightened, and who wouldn’t be?
It wasn’t impossible that they might see her magic as dangerous.
Chandler, noticing her fear, smiled warmly to reassure her.
After all, her magic was a rare treasure.
“Don’t worry. The academy will do everything in its power to protect you. Actually, some of the other professors tried to replicate your magic.”
“Were they successful?”
Chandler shook his head.
“No. Magic theory is something that has been established over centuries. It’s impossible to break those rules, except for certain… special individuals.”
“Then, does that mean I’m… unique?”
“Yes. You mentioned that you come from a commoner background, right? Still, I’m certain there must be someone in your distant ancestry with an exceptional ability.”
A unique individual.
Kael could only nod.
Then Chandler moved to the most important question.
Sometimes, such people existed.
Those who could bend the laws of causality itself.
One common trait among them was the ability to make contracts with beings beyond human understanding.
Those who did so often gained extraordinary power—and inevitably became a disaster for humanity.
“Lastly, I have to ask. Have you ever made a contract with a being beyond this world?”
“—No, never.”
Barbaros’ eyes gleamed sharply.
There was a brief but intense silence.
Then Chandler’s smile deepened.
Kael waited quietly for his response, anxiety creeping in as she fidgeted with her fingers.
What was the professor going to say?
“—I’m relieved. It’s good that you haven’t. Contracts with such beings never end well. Now, would you mind showing me your magic one more time?”
“Yes.”
Kael combined two 1st-class spells and demonstrated them for Chandler.
The professor observed carefully, his expression one of deep admiration.
It was truly a fascinating phenomenon.
This alone could be the foundation for new magical research.
But that was a dream that could never come true.
Ordinary mages would never be able to replicate what Kael had just done.
Infusing mana into a magic circle and then splitting it in such a way…
‘This… this is a truly blessed ability.’
Who else in this world could perform such a feat?
Chandler studied the magic circles, nodding thoughtfully.
No one could copy this—not even the most talented mage.
It was a gift that belonged solely to this student.
Rather than feeling envious, Chandler was filled with a strong desire to help guide this student to even greater heights.
Out there, there would be people who would be jealous of her talent.
It wasn’t the professors Chandler worried about, but rather her peers—those who lived alongside her in this generation.
Jealousy among students could be far more terrifying.
“You seem to have good friends around you. Make sure they know about your abilities so they don’t let jealousy cloud their judgment.”
“There’s no need to worry about that. They’re all good people.”
“Oh-ho! That’s a relief. Well then, the professors’ questions are over. If you ever need anything, feel free to come ask.”
Kael smiled softly and nodded.
She had dependable friends.
They recognized her abilities as something unique and special.
They were even glad that someone stronger than them would be by their side when they climbed the Tower together.
With friends like these, Kael felt at ease and ready to absorb as much knowledge as she could.
The days spent studying and discussing magic with her friends had forged a strong bond of friendship.
Though it had only been a month, the intensity of their shared experiences and trials made it feel like much longer.
“Can I go now?”
“Of course. Go and celebrate with your friends.”
Kael stood, bowing slightly.
She practically skipped out of the room, her steps light and full of energy.
Her eagerness to see her friends spoke volumes—it was clear that she was still on the right path.
Chandler watched her leave, nodding to himself.
Taking advantage of a student’s talent was not something a proper professor would do.
At least, that’s how he saw it.
[We should ask her to join our research team immediately.]
[If we can harness that bloodline…]
[If we can standardize that method, magic will evolve to a new level.]
Chandler remembered the words of the outsiders, who had often sought to leverage such talents.
Hearing their voices always made his blood boil.
Calmly, he had rejected them, removing their hands from the academy’s affairs.
[No one outside of the academy will influence our decisions, and no one will steal the talents that belong here. You should already know this.]
A polite but firm refusal.
Their expressions had hardened for a moment, but Chandler hadn’t flinched.
This place, after all, was the one place in the entire continent where even the Emperor couldn’t exert his will freely.
The academy was a sanctuary of peace.
‘Things are going to get more complicated from here on…’
Chandler stood, preparing to leave the room.
A new star had risen.
The Flois family had a long history, and they had already proven themselves many times over.
The rising families of this era were all making their mark at Mythos Academy.
And now, the Flois family had taken its first step.
Pushing aside any negative thoughts, Chandler allowed himself to dwell on the positive future ahead.
“Shoo, bad thoughts, be gone!”
Like a child, he waved his hands, banishing his worries as his voice echoed down the empty hallway.
2
Becoming the Student Council President came with an overwhelming amount of attention.
Not just from the academy, but also from various noble houses.
After all, the title was given to the brightest and most powerful student of the first-year class.
Some even believed the academy’s affairs reflected the future of the noble houses themselves.
And, in truth, they weren’t entirely wrong.
After all, the students’ talents would one day return to their houses, carrying the knowledge they’d acquired here.
[Please, give a round of applause for our new Student Council President.]
Waaaaaah—!
Cheers echoed throughout the hall.
The fiery red hair of the victor fluttered in the breeze stirred by the crowd’s enthusiasm.
Anais held her head high, a proud smile on her face, and raised her hand to the audience.
“Haha, looks like the young lady has grown splendidly.”
“I appreciate the compliment, Margrave. She’s full of surprises, my daughter.”
In the highest seats, among the nobility, murmurs of conversation floated around.
The red hair of Anais was the unmistakable symbol of her house—a house that represented the Sun.
Her father smiled bitterly.
Seeing her laughing like that made him wonder if his worries had been for nothing.
But still, there were things that weighed on his mind.
‘That magic… and her mana—it’s increased drastically. She shouldn’t be able to grow this much in just a month.’
His thoughts raced.
His daughter, Flois Anais, was already a prodigy.
But even a prodigy couldn’t suddenly increase their mana reserves to such a degree.
Mana wasn’t something you could gain through talent alone; it was a blessing from the heavens.
And yet, here she was, casting 3rd-class magic with ease.
It was a sign of unprecedented talent—something divine.
But it was also that very fact that made him feel uneasy.
“The talent pool this year is impressive—whether noble or commoner. Especially that blue-haired student.”
“…She was quite something. Most 3rd-years would struggle to cast such magic.”
“Third-years? Haha, only the best of the 3rd-years could pull that off.”
Aventato Flois, head of the Flois family, nodded in agreement.
It was a fact he couldn’t deny.
They were watching the future Archmages in the making.
And one of them was his daughter.
Should he be happy about that?
Or should he be worried that she was stepping onto a dangerous path?
As he stroked his rough beard, deep in thought, the Margrave next to him chuckled.
“Why don’t you go see your daughter, Lord Flois?”
“Hmm. Yes, I think I will. I’ll take my leave.”
“Of course.”
Lord Flois hurried away, disappearing down the hall, while the marquis smiled after him.
It wasn’t just Anais that caught his attention.
From the academy halls to the grandstands, all eyes were on the blue-haired girl racing toward the stage.
The marquis smiled, seeing the sea of gazes trailing after her.
‘It looks like competition will be fierce.’
They said she was a commoner.
Soon enough, she would have a noble title attached to her name.
And that title would be fought over fiercely.
–TL Notes–
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