pisode 4: Special Magic
[Characters]
- Kai (Toudou Toudou Kai)
Protagonist. Black hair, black eyes. Reincarnated as the eldest son of a poor noble family in this world where beauty and ugliness are reversed, with memories from his previous life.
I enrolled in a military academy where titles are granted for "marriage rights."
- Erika (Jōgasaki Erika)
The heir of the Jōgasaki family, one of the three noble families. A beautiful girl with blonde hair, emerald eyes, and an O-cup bust, she is the same age as Kai.
I'm not really fitting in at military school.
- Norihiko (Akisada Ake, Norihiko)
Kai's one of the few male friends and roommates. He is enrolled in the nursing program at military school.
In this world, there are times when I have to express my discontent with Kai's actions that go against common sense.
- Komazawa Haruka
The heir daughter of the Komazawa family, one of the three prestigious families. Misled by her fiancé, Usui, she is glaring at Erika, accusing her of misconduct.
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Standing in front of the arranged marriage photos, I feel a tightness in my chest as if I can't breathe.
A woman with a pig-like nose and a smug expression , and a woman with a face swollen like a water balloon and narrow eyes that seem strong-willed—both are famous "beauties" from noble families captured in the photograph.
I don't know anything about their personalities, and honestly, they can't be called beautiful by any stretch of the imagination. If I had to marry one of these women from a matchmaking photo, I'd rather stay single.
However, it seems that my mother, being a staunch military aristocrat, is not lenient enough to allow such modern-day claims.
"Kai, you should marry these kids. There's no point in complaining. You've already been kicked out of the military academy by Lord Komazawa and you have no title left..."
The moment my mother said that, the marriage candidates in the photo all jumped at me like toads.
Faced with girls who lick their lips, I...
"Ahhh I-I-I don't want toooooo!!!... Hah, hah. Huh, uh, what?"
"Hey, hey, you were really tossing and turning. If it's going to be like that, then don't go picking a fight with Komazawa-san in the first place..."
When I lifted the sweat-soaked sheets, it was the usual room in the boys' dormitory.
My roommate Norihiko is looking at me with an expression that mixes exasperation and sympathy.
It seems that I am more delicate than I thought.
◆◆◆◆
Just as I was about to head to the classroom for the next lecture after the morning assembly, I noticed Komazawa, who had been glaring at me, approaching with heavy steps.
Looking at her hawk-like glare, it feels like the nightmare from this morning is coming back.
Yesterday, even though I had boldly declared my intentions in front of Komazawa's fiancé, I was already regretting my reckless bravery.
"Todo... was it? You might think you're currying favor with the Jōgasaki family, but I have no intention of overlooking a noble who behaves so cowardly."
(...no, that's scary)
From Komazawa, a voice that sends chills down your spine.
Honestly, if Erika hadn't been nearby, I might have shamelessly apologized without any regard for appearances.
"...I-I didn't flatter the power or anything. I formed a team because I recognized Jōgasaki's 'ability.' Aren't you the one being cowardly, using your family's power to harass me?"
"Oh... Speaking of which, my fiancé Usui mentioned it. You said you would crush me in the mock battle with your fair and square skills, right? Fine then, even if you're a man, I have no intention of holding back, so be prepared."
For some reason, Komazawa wore a slightly satisfied smile, quickly turned on her heel, and left the classroom.
(Ah, my peaceful life at military school, goodbye...)
The sympathetic gazes from my classmates left behind are painful.
I slumped into my seat with a sense of utter exhaustion, realizing all too late that there was no turning back now...
◆◆◆◆
After finishing the day's lessons, on the way to the magic training grounds for self-study, Norihiko, who couldn't talk leisurely this morning, presses me with questions.
"Huh?! So, you just picked a fight on the spur of the moment, huh?!"
"Uh, umm. Well, I guess that's how it will be."
Norihiko gives me a look as if he were watching a child who had played a cruel prank.
In a fit of anger, I declared war on Komazawa's fiancé and, dragging along the bewildered Erika, I ended up filing a notice to form a team...
Considering that I had been trying to behave rationally until recently, it's no wonder this guy is making a sour face.
"Hey, Kai. Why don't you apologize to Jougasaki-san now and dissolve the team? After all, Komazawa-san said, 'I won't go easy on anyone who teams up with Jougasaki!'"
"Well, even if I apologize now, it might be too late. Besides, I declared war on Komazawa again this morning."
"...Are you stupid?"
To be honest, I would have preferred if we could have handled this more peacefully.
Well, I can't exactly say, "Please forgive me," to that woman with the eyes of a demon warrior now, can I?
"So, does Kai have a chance of winning in the training battle?"
"Hmm. I wonder."
"I wonder how it will be..."
During our training together, Erika has already become proficient in basic attack magic.
However, that alone won't be enough to overcome the difference in numbers.
The team for the magic training battle can have up to four members.
Of course, most teams participate with the maximum number of four members.
On the other hand, since Komazawa is keeping a close watch, we can't expect any more reinforcements for Erika and my team.
(So, it seems that whether or not we can incorporate the "unique magic" known as the "Tuning Magic," which has been passed down through the generations in the Jougasaki family, into our strategy will determine the outcome.)
As I was devising a plan in my head, Norihiko showed an impatient expression.
"...If you can't win this, that guy who claims to be Komazawa's fiancé will be right about you 'selling out to the Jōgasaki family's power.' Hey, Kai! Are you even listening?"
"Huh?! Ah, no. I get it, I get it. Well, I'll try my best until the last minute."
I waved my hand at Norihiko, who was still grumbling, and entered the training ground.In the reserved training room, Erika had already activated the
"Jōgasaki-san, sorry to keep you waiting."
"Ah, Toudou. No, I just got here too."
Hearing her answer, I thought to myself, (Somehow, it feels like a conversation between lovers meeting up).
When I'm in front of a beautiful girl like Erika, I just can't seem to handle it.
Trying to switch my mindset, I immediately put on the training magic wand and the magic control bracelet, and started preparing for practice.
And so, after starting the training for the rapid deployment of basic magical formulas, some time passed.
"...W-why did you team up with someone like me for the training battle?"
Erika asked in an demanding tone.
"Ah. I feel sorry for suddenly forcing you to form a team. My bad..."
"That's not what I mean. I'm asking what benefit you get from teaming up with someone like me."
In Erika's eyes, which sway gently, one can see hints of sadness, fatigue, and confusion.
Usually, her eyes are bright, but today there were dark circles under them.
"I, I only just learned the basics of magic thanks to you, but until recently, I couldn't even use magic properly. And... Usui also said it, didn't he? Being with someone like me, a creepy woman..."
With a self-deprecating smile, Erika uttered those words.
However, halfway through, perhaps the cup of emotions overflowed, and tears welled up in her eyes. To avoid me noticing, she quickly turned her face away.
"Even if you suspect backdoor dealings, there's no benefit to be gained, right?"
"…Ah. If you're aiming to become an officer, ingratiating yourself with Jougasaki and being scolded by Komazawa would be putting the cart before the horse."
Erika, without taking her eyes off me, nodded slightly and replied like that.
I let out a shallow sigh and gathered my thoughts.
After graduating from military school, you will be commissioned as a military officer.
If you keep climbing the ranks there, you can expect social status, connections, and a certain level of financial return, and you might even aim to marry a commoner woman ( a beauty according to my sense of standards) who is looking to marry up.
Given such a career plan, it would indeed be a wiser choice to prioritize connections with Komazawa, who has strong influence in the military, rather than trying to ingratiate oneself with Jogasaki, who has strong influence in the business world.
However, this is not a choice made based on such reasoning.
For me, even if I tell her that Erika is at least a perfect beautiful girl in appearance, she would probably just think I have a tendency to lie and flatter.
That said, I can't just leave her alone while she's feeling down.
Suppressing my inner anxiety and unease, I put on a face as if it were nothing to Erika.
"If there's a gain, then sure. I told you before, didn't I? I hate people like Komazawa or Usui who arrogantly impose their unreasonable demands on others."
"Even so, it's ridiculous to challenge a fight you can't win. As for me, no matter what, if you get accused of being a 'dirty noble who engages in underhanded dealings,' you'll easily get expelled with the power of the Komazawa family. ...There's a limit to how much I can protect you."
"being kicked out of military school and being taken in by the Jougasaki family might not be such a bad option",
I joked lightly, but Erika's face darkened even more.
"Then, you just need to win against Komazawa and prove your ability."
"That's impossible... Even without that, their team is already made up of particularly outstanding candidates from military academies, and on top of that, she has the 'Unique Magic of the Shadow Puppeteer,' which is the lineal magic of the Komazawa family..."
"Unique Magic" — it is an ancient magic that was passed down only to the legitimate heirs of old noble families, a magic that cannot be replicated in modern times.
In this world, magic is systematized as a discipline, just like the science of the previous world.
That's why, as a "skill" that anyone can learn with effort, magic supports the foundation of this society.
However, "Unique Magic" is different.
The "unique magic," often referred to as "blood secret arts," which has been passed down only to the direct firstborns of the "ancient nobility" since the mythological era, is a type of "miracle" that even the wisdom of modern magical analysis cannot replicate.
Among such "unique magic," the "Shadow Puppeteer's Magic," said to be bestowed upon the heir of the Komazawa family, has been rumored to be in a league of its own.
A cheat-level magic that can endlessly summon shadow clones with combat abilities equal to the master, without knowing fatigue or fear, until the magical power runs out.
It is precisely because of this technique, which completely ignores the concepts of logistics and military strategy in modern magical warfare, that the Komazawa family has been renowned for generations as the core magicians of the "Empire's" military.
"But if it's 'unique magic,' then Jougasaki must have it too."
At my words, Erika furrows her brows and shows a sad expression.
"If you're expecting the 'Tuning Magic' to be useful, it won't be... Bringing magical tools into the training battle is prohibited, you know."
The "Tuning Magic," passed down through generations in the Jougasaki family, is also known as a powerful "Unique Magic."
The power of that magic, which dramatically enhances the abilities of the enchanted tools, is said to have greatly contributed not only to her family's prosperity but also to the development of the "Empire."
Indeed, as she said, the only things that can be brought into the training battle are training magic wands and magic control bracelets.
"But using the magical tools that were already there from the beginning isn't cheating or anything, right?"
"What do you mean?"
To the puzzled Erika, I put on a smug face and pointed to the magic stone used to construct the "virtual battlefield" set up in the training ground.
"If we broaden our interpretation of magic, there will definitely be a chance of victory. Let's show Komazawa and the others, who are too arrogant thinking they can't lose, what we're made of."