“Iona has arrived!”
It’s been a while since I’ve seen this.
I wasn’t the only one thinking that. As soon as Iona struck a strange pose, small chuckles were heard from all around the classroom.
Iona, enjoying the attention, waved her hand dramatically and greeted everyone.
“Hello! Hello! It’s been a while, everyone! Well, not for everyone, but I haven’t seen most of you during the break!”
Iona threw a aningful glance in my direction.
However, since it was well-known within the academy that I officially provided blood to Iona, everyone just accepted it as usual.
Seeing the students’ lukewarm reactions, Iona smacked her lips in disappointnt and continued speaking.
“Starting today, the 2nd sester begins! Let briefly explain the 2nd-sester classes! They’re a bit different from the 1st sester!”
As she said that, Iona lightly scattered her magic, engraving words into the air.
[Have a Fun Start to the 2nd Sester!]
The letters were round and oddly cute. In the corner, there was a chibi 2-head-tall character of Iona drawn as well.
What on earth is that?
Iona smiled proudly as laughter erupted from all around, then she waved her hand again, altering the image she had created.
This ti, it was a table summarizing the changes in each subject… although there was still a mini Iona drawn in the corner.
“First of all, in my Magic Combat class, we won’t be having duels among ourselves anymore!”
The mini Iona walked cutely over and helped up another mini Iona that had been in opposition.
“Instead, we’ll be dueling with the Knight Departnt. We’ll have both individual and team matches, so look forward to it! The battles will be completely different from what you’ve experienced so far!”
Next to the two mini Ionas shaking hands amicably, two sinister, black mini Ionas appeared, grinning wickedly.
Holding toothpick-like swords, they must be representing the Knight Departnt. The adorable portrayal was quite charming.
However, it seed the original mini Ionas didn’t find it as amusing; they appeared tense as they floated flas and ice above their hands.
Why is this so well made?
I was only able to admire it briefly. Just as the mini Ionas seed ready to fight, they suddenly vanished, and new words appeared.
[Let’s Partner with the Crafting Departnt!]
Along with that phrase, two newly drawn mini Ionas shook hands seriously.
One held a staff, and the other a hamr, clearly representing the Magic and Crafting Departnts.
“Everyone, everyone. You might know that the Crafting Departnt exists, but you probably don’t know exactly what they do, right? This is a chance to get to know each other better! Whether you’re a magician or a knight, equipnt is important!”
The mini Iona holding the staff tilted its head, then spun around, pulling out a potion bottle with a confident expression.
“From the 2nd year, you’ll need to choose a major, right? There are quite a few overlaps with the Crafting Departnt, like enchantnts or alchemy. Who knows? You might discover your true calling, so don’t neglect your connection with the Crafting Departnt!”
Iona continued to explain, adding cute drawings and clear text.
Pure academic subjects like mana manipulation and formula theory remained much the sa as in the 1st sester.
However, most of the other subjects were expanded to connect with or have potential ties to other fields.
This was probably to give us various experiences in preparation for choosing our majors in the 2nd year, just as Iona ntioned.
Well… I’d already decided to major in Magic Combat with a minor in Elental Magic, so I didn’t have to worry much.
I listened intently for a while, wondering if anything had changed, but when I realized it was just the sa as I rembered, I started to tune out Iona’s explanation.
Instead, I couldn’t take my eyes off the mini Iona, who was continuously showing various adorable expressions—arguing, rejoicing, being disappointed, smirking mischievously, and even staring blankly.
Could I make sothing like that too? I might be able to write text or draw simple images, but making sothing that moves that vividly might be beyond .
Still, I should give it a try.
The magic itself was basic. It was probably just light magic. The problem was having a firm grasp of the magic and a clear image…
I slipped my hand under the desk and tried projecting my mana.
Wooong.
It seed impossible to succeed on the first try. The image I created looked fine when still, but as soon as it moved, it always distorted sowhere.
How many tis did I pretend to listen to Iona’s lesson while secretly focusing on creating a mini Yandel?
Ding~ Ding~ Ding~
Before I knew it, the bell rang throughout the academy, signaling the end of class.
“Alright, alright. I tid it perfectly! It was nice seeing everyone again, and let’s work hard starting tomorrow! For today, go rest well! Oh, Yandel, drop by my lab before you go ho!”
“Yes.”
I nodded indifferently at Iona’s words.
She probably wanted her daily dose of blood.
“You know, Yandel, you didn’t really listen to my explanation today, did you? I put in so much effort to prepare for this…”
“Weren’t you calling for blood?”
“Of course, I am going to drink blood! But it’s so sad that you didn’t listen to my lesson properly, even if it was just the opening day! Sniff, sniff.”
Iona covered her eyes with her hands, making a clearly fake crying sound that anyone could recognize.
Scratching the back of my head awkwardly, I moved closer and sat right next to Iona.
Our shoulders touched. In other words, I was close enough to see the mischievous grin that had been playing on Iona’s lips earlier as I extended my finger into the air.
“It’s because of this.”
As I lightly drew upon my magic, a small light began to glow at my fingertip. Using it, I started to draw the chibi Yandel I had been practicing earlier, leaving a trace in the air as the image ford.
It was still difficult to shape it perfectly with a single wave of the hand, like Iona.
“Hmm? What’s this…?”
“Ta-da.”
As she stopped pretending to cry, I wiggled my finger toward Iona.
Although the image distorted as if soone had hit it, the chibi Yandel still managed to walk toward Iona and look up at her from below.
Then, as if startled, it fussed over Iona, going so far as to reach up and pretend to wipe her eyes.
Hmm… the movents were still awkward. And I haven’t figured out how to fix the distortion issue either.
But considering I only practiced for a little while today, wasn’t this pretty decent? I didn’t know how it would look to Iona, who was the original user, though.
As I waited with a nervous feeling, like a student awaiting their test results, Iona stared at and the chibi Yandel in turn, her mouth slightly agape.
“Yandel… Did you imitate ?”
“Yes. It looked like fun.”
“Yandel, are you really interested in magic that’s neither sexy nor related to combat?”
“??? You’re making it sound like I’m obsessed with blood and won.”
I was so taken aback that my mouth fell open, but Iona, shaking her head as if she were the one more aggrieved, continued.
“But think about the magic you’ve used and the magic you know!”
“Aren’t they ordinary?”
“No, they’re not! The mont you beca a Junior Magician, you were already slinging interdiate-level magic with ease. You’re an expert in combat magic, but you’re a novice in daily life magic.”
“I can use Clean, at least!”
“But that’s the only one you can use! And you even twisted it into so weird version you call Anal Clean!”
“It’s not weird! It’s an amazing spell!”
“Sure, sure. I’ve heard about it from Iris, so I have a rough idea! But besides Clean, is there any other daily life magic you know?”
“Telekin–”
“Don’t ntion telekinesis! That’s a multipurpose spell intended for both combat and daily use.”
“…”
What else was there? I thought for a mont but couldn’t co up with an answer.
“Goodness, goodness. Do you really not know? Not even one? What about plant growth magic or charming magic?”
“Ah, I know the basics of the principles and where the visions lie for druids and tars, but I can’t use them.”
“How do you even know that?! No, those two magics are different from what you think! They’re just for improving crops and seducing soone!”
“Oh.”
But those kinds of spells weren’t in H&A.
Thanks to my exceptional mory trait, I could recall a multitude of spells, but none of them fit the criteria.
There were so spells classified as non-combat, but those were mostly used indirectly in battles rather than directly.
Enchanting, after all, was a spell learned to create amazing magical tools to obliterate enemies, and spells like Sleep or Paralyze were ant to make combat easier by inducing status effects.
Now that I thought about it, it was obvious. H&A was faithful to combat content but completely lacked any life content.
The closest thing to it would be the Crafting Departnt route, but in the end, that was just about equipping party mbers or showering them with consumable items to achieve a gear-dependent ending.
No matter how you looked at it, calling a bomber playstyle a peaceful playthrough was impossible. So, that’s out too.
…Actually, there’s a reason for this.
The academy was created to completely clear out cultists and dungeons. Naturally, they focused on teaching combat-related skills.
In H&A, it must have been implented so that only combat-related skills could be learned, which was why I didn’t rember any others.
More importantly, the person who brought here and the one who created H&A likely intended for to avoid the dood future and reach a happy ending.
To achieve that, combat power was paramount, and any unnecessary parts were probably intentionally omitted.
For example, the hidden piece in the Cassis Valley, which was left only in the ga code, was one such thing.
“…”
The thought that I was moving in a direction soone else had planned, regardless of my will, suddenly irritated .
My face hardened without realizing it. Iona, perhaps interpreting my expression in her own way, pulled into a gentle embrace.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. You can learn from now on. That’s what the academy is for, right?”
“Professor Iona…”
It sounded like a touching statent, but wasn’t she just treating like a pitiful child?
While I was briefly caught in these mixed emotions, accepting Iona’s embrace, she suddenly declared…
“Then, then. I’ll drink your blood now!”
“Right now, at this timing?”
Despite letting out a helpless chuckle, I pulled my collar down to my shoulder.
Iona didn’t hesitate and imdiately sank her teeth into my neck.
Crunch.
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