BSS 05

chapter 05

“That’s what a Spirit Mage is. As you know, Spirit Mages are extremely rare even on this continent, and their effectiveness is hard to gauge. They are exceptional talents.

Therefore, finding a suitable teacher is difficult, and even if one is appointed, that student would likely be the only one in the school.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“So, you must know better than anyone how difficult this is.”

“Precisely why I considered it all the more valuable.”

“Valuable? The child? Or this task?”

Marquis Lyle was a cautious man, and the king was even more careful and formidable.

“Both, Your Majesty. Firstly, Jenny Crowell is… extraordinary.

She is cunning beyond what one could call a child, and her exceptional intellect can even surpass adults. All the teachers gave up trying to persuade her—she’s not the kind of child you can force into anything.

But this time, she said only one thing to me: either teach me Spirit Studies, or expel me.”

“…Expel, huh? So she’s interested in nothing but Spirit Studies. Does she not know what she wants, or is she that determined?”

“She seems that determined. Graduating from Drike is a great honor for any family, yet she desires this strongly enough to forgo it. Moreover, even without her request, I think her case warrants consideration—for the kingdom’s future as well.”

The words ‘kingdom’s future’ made Dikel III raise his eyebrows sharply.

“Consider why Drike Academy was founded. Was it not to fill the glaring shortage of scholars compared to other nations?

We sought talent in all fields, but the main goal was to cultivate more mages. After all, the number of mages can decide the outcome of a war.”

“True. You wanted mages, not Spirit Mages.”

“Your Majesty, Spirit Mages wield magic just as powerful as mages. Several ancient texts describe Spirit Mages demonstrating even greater magical prowess.

Did you know? In ancient times, Spirit Mages and mages were considered equals in power.”

“Nowadays, they’re rare. Probably because it’s inconvenient to have them.”

“The decrease in Spirit Mages is because the requirements to become one are far stricter than for mages.”

“Requirements… What about the child? Does she have talent?”

At Dikel III’s question, Marquis Lyle bowed deeply.

“I have already requested a Spirit Mage from the royal palace for evaluation.”

“Ah, one of the five Spirit Mages in our country. I’ve never even seen them. They seem to have no presence, and what they do is unknown, so I can’t tell what makes them special.”

The king seemed unimpressed by Spirit Mages, mainly because he knew so little about them. Mages are very visible, but Spirit Mages are an unknown profession. Spirit Studies itself is unfamiliar to nearly everyone.

“Through one of them, I verified Jenny Crowell’s aptitude as a Spirit Mage.”

“Aptitude?”

“If there are 1,000 people with the potential to be knights on this continent, only 50 have the potential to become mages. And those with the potential to be Spirit Mages… can be counted on one hand.”

“I see.”

“And this child is one of those few who can be counted on one hand.”

“That is good news.”

“She possesses the ‘affinity’ to summon spirits immediately. Isn’t this a blessing for our kingdom? Your Majesty, what I request isn’t for the child’s future—it is for your future.”

Marquis Lyle spoke with a slightly tense, excited tone, and Dikel III rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“A Spirit Mage…”

In Dmitri, Spirit Mages were so rare that even existing ones were barely noticeable. Other nations were in much the same situation.

“What is needed?”

“First, a mid-level or higher Spirit Mage to serve as her teacher. If approved, I will invite one of the palace Spirit Mages to serve as a professor at the academy.”

Dikel III pressed his fingers to his temples. After serious thought, he nodded decisively. Above all, he trusted Marquis Lyle.

“Very well. I will not spare support for that child. A new budget will be allocated in the Spirit Department’s name.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“I trust you alone, so raise her to become an exceptional Spirit Mage and bring glory to the kingdom.”

Hearing the king’s voice, full of trust, Marquis Lyle, head of Drike Academy and a marquis, felt both joy and worry.

Everything seemed perfectly in place—royal support, a mid-level Spirit Mage as a teacher, the academic diversity he aimed to achieve, even a naturally gifted student.

The problem was that at the center of it all was Jenny Crowell, infamous for her laziness.

There is nothing more troublesome than a lazy genius.

My honest thought was simple:

‘Has the old man gone mad?’

I knew the headmaster had taken an interest in me, but I never imagined he would actually create a Spirit Studies department just for me. That’s not an easy feat.

And to think he would use his incredible connection to the king as leverage!

Honestly, it felt more like my whining because I didn’t want to study had backfired.

I secretly hoped to be expelled!

To distort my pure intention like this!

When I said ‘expel me,’ I truly meant it!

Unaware of my disappointment over losing that chance, the headmaster boasted about the effort he had made for me.

Apparently, I was destined to become the first Spirit Mage to graduate from Drike Academy.

Well, if I were to blame anyone, I could only blame my own innate talent.

I decided to at least try learning Spirit Magic earnestly, partly out of respect for the headmaster’s efforts.

It did seem like an easier path than becoming a mage.

“From today, your teacher will be Iel Roenin, the royal chief Spirit Mage. You met him briefly before. Now, formally greet him, Jenny.”

Following the vice headmaster’s words, I slightly lifted the robe over my uniform to reveal the tips of my shoes.

I tilted my head politely to the left and spoke my name. I was a fairly well-mannered child, at least when I felt like it.

“I am Jenny Crowell, enrolled in the general class at Drike Academy. Pleased to meet you.”

The man in his late twenties with pale green hair smiled and extended his hand to me.

His hand was unnaturally white and soft, delicate as if it had never done any labor.

Were all Spirit Mages like this? Considering the best among them were elves, perhaps a gentle, nature-friendly temperament was natural.

I liked my new teacher. He seemed gentle and likely to be a good mentor.

So naturally, I could cause trouble…

“Yes, Jenny. I look forward to teaching you as well.”

Though my name was Jenny, everyone, even family, mispronounced it.

I placed my hand over his.

It was not a handshake but a common noble greeting: hands placed atop each other in the air while bowing slightly at the knees.

“Jenny?”

“Yes?”

“Why… are you holding my hand like that?”

I fiddled with his hand, and he looked visibly flustered.

“Your hands are so soft.”

Like my own future hands.

I smiled innocently, and both Iel and the vice headmaster thought I was a very sociable child.

Embarrassed, Iel removed his hand awkwardly, changing the subject.

“Maintaining a clean body is also a fundamental trait of a Spirit Mage. We always strive to keep our bodies as close as possible to the way they were at birth.”

“Ah.”

“A pure body leads to a pure soul, and a transparent soul enables smooth communication with spirits. That is the basic principle of Spirit Studies.”

I wasn’t sure I fully understood, but I liked that Spirit Mages had delicate bodies.

Weakness implied they didn’t do hard labor.

Spirit Mages, being placed in the rear in wars rather than at the front like mages, were naturally frail.

Being a Spirit Mage seemed like an easy job, much like Iel’s soft hands.

At least, that was true for now.

“I am curious. Drike Academy already has many excellent departments. How did you become interested in spirits, Jenny?”

“Eh… you want to know?”

“Well, we will be master and student, after all…”

“You’ll regret hearing it.”

“…Shall we leave it for later?”

I had prepared a smart answer—‘Because it seemed easy, and I could lie down while eating soup’—but Iel ignored his instincts and looked off into the distance to avoid my answer.

Iel was, in a way, like a herbivore: gentle, alert, and sensitive to instinct.