132: The Talented Girl, Meryl

Magic is a world of pure visualization.

The diagrams and formulas you draw inside your mind are constructed with mana and then manifested into reality. The procedure itself isn't exactly complex, but actually pulling it off? That’s where the nightmare begins.

The first time is always the hardest.

Take Fire Magic, for example. Simply "thinking" about fire isn't enough to make it happen. It’s a bit abstract, but you have to grasp the sensation—that specific friction of rubbing two sticks together until a spark finally catches.

Once you understand that, you’re still less than halfway there. Only then do the formula and your mana work together to bring it into the physical world. Plus, if you weren’t born with the innate talent for that specific attribute, you can’t even get the pilot light started.

I primarily train in four attributes—currently focusing on Wind, Darkness, and Light—and I have a very good reason for that. If the image in my head isn't rock-solid, the power doesn't just get cut in half; I end up flushing massive amounts of mana down the toilet.

This is exactly why nobles hire magic tutors from the time their kids are in diapers. They need to learn the correct procedures from the start. Mana capacity is like a never-ending muscle workout; the more time you sink into it, the more it grows. Sure, there are "prodigies" who break the rules, but those people are the exception to the rule.

It’s the same in any field, really. No one reaches the top without standing on the shoulders of giants. You inherit the teachings of those who came before you, you Copy them, and eventually, you sublimate those skills into your own Original style.

I made my way toward the new classroom in the Common Building.

The space was a sealed vacuum, protected by a barrier that used an absurd amount of Coco’s specialized formulas. Inside, it looked like a scaled-down gymnasium. The interior was decorated in the style of the White Team, giving it a serene atmosphere that made me feel like a planetarium show was about to start at any second. You even needed a password to get in.

Without it, the door wouldn't budge. It’s actually terrifying that her barrier is this effective.

It was no exaggeration to say this room was a monument to Coco’s genius. Only someone who had reached the pinnacle of defensive magic could create a barrier this absolute.

As the door slid open, I felt a sensation I hadn't experienced since coming to this world.

I looked at the magic being performed and thought it was beautiful—in the same way one might admire a rare flower.

"—Fire, Water, Wind, Earth—"

Meryl, the lowerclassman who was hopelessly obsessed with Cynthia, was dancing in the center of the room with a massive magic staff in one hand. Attribute magic glittered brilliantly around her, leaving a trail of prismatic light that chased her movements like a rainbow road.

"Heh... that's incredible."

Meryl’s family, House Stone, was the elite of the elite. As a member of a pure-blooded lineage of mages, she’d been put through a grueling, high-society education since she was a toddler. In the world of Noblesse Oblige, it’s generally accepted that female mages are superior. The reason isn't entirely clear, but perhaps a more delicate heart is more susceptible to the mental imagery required for high-level spells.

Among our group, Cynthia, Carta, and Shari certainly fit that mold. But even Cynthia had told me, "That girl is special."

Seeing it now with my own eyes... it was a masterpiece. Honestly, I doubted even Allen’s Copy could replicate this level of technical perfection.

"Phew... —Wait, W-Weiss-senpai!?"

Meryl finally noticed me. Her cheeks turned a bright, embarrassed crimson before she gave me a sharp, formal bow. Unlike Belk, she was polite and respectful. I've grown to tolerate Belk’s obnoxious energy, but Meryl’s poise is actually refreshing.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to stare, but it was... well, it was so beautiful I was entranced."

"Eh? You... you could actually see it?"

"Hm? Oh, right."

I’d completely forgotten. The magic she was handling was so far beyond the standard curriculum that most people wouldn't even be able to perceive the nuances.

"Anyway, why did you call me here?"

"Weiss-senpai. Would you... would you be willing to spar with me? Of course, I’m prepared to pay the standard instruction fee—"

"This is a school. I don't need your money. Besides... I already knew that's why you called. Let's go."

She was surprisingly casual when she talked to Belk, but she was usually polite. Honestly, a little too polite. Meryl bowed her head one more time and then leveled the tip of her staff at me, shifting into a combat stance.

And then—.

"Force Elemental."

She chanted the spell under her breath. Orbs of magic erupted in four directions from the tip of her staff. There wasn't a single ripple of stagnation in her mana flow; she wasn't wasting a drop of energy. Her efficiency was likely close to a perfect 100%.

The spells scattered toward the corners of the room, but then they banked mid-air, homing in on me from all sides. What was truly terrifying was that every single one of them was colorless and transparent.

However, this wasn't Non-attribute magic. She was using Concealment Magic to make her elemental spells almost entirely invisible.

Normally, when you use defensive magic, you chant a spell suited to the incoming attribute. Regardless of your own affinity, if a Water spell is coming at you, you visualize a Shield designed to stop water. But Meryl was mixing in Concealment Magic to hide the "flavor" of the attack.

It made it nearly impossible to block correctly. Even if you did get a shield up, the attack would likely penetrate it or force you to burn through your mana reserves just to stay standing.

Teacher Milk always said that the basics are everything. A Mana Cannon is just a basic, entry-level attack, but Meryl had sublimated it into something deadlier than a Special Move.

In that single instant, I truly grasped how terrifying she was.

But—.

"Black Shield."

I shrouded my surroundings in darkness. All of Meryl’s invisible spells shattered against it, cold and unyielding.

"...I knew it. You really are amazing. Just like Belk said."

The Darkness I possess is a complete cheat. I don't need to chant a defense suited to a specific attribute; it adapts to everything. In exchange, the mana consumption is high, but that’s a non-issue if you’ve trained enough to brute-force the cost.

Then, I stomped the ground, activating Blessing of Healing and Impulse of Destruction.

As the magic circle expanded, Meryl’s mana began flowing into me. ...Yeah, her power is absolutely off the charts.

"This is even better than I imagined."

"...Incredible. How do you even create magic like that?"

"Effort."

"Hehe. I'm so glad I came to Noblesse. I’ve finally realized just how vast the world really is."

Then, Meryl did the last thing I expected: she charged.

She imbued the tip of her staff with magic and cloaked it in Concealment Magic. It was a physical strike bolstered by a hidden elemental payload.

Earth? No, Water? Wait, Fire—?

She was cycling through attributes mid-swing. It’s incredibly difficult to block a physical object with Dark Defense.

Interesting. She can even pull off stunts like that?

"You're quite the little monster yourself."

I leaped backward to dodge the horizontal sweep of her staff and fired a Mana Cannon from my right hand. Since I was currently absorbing her mana, the blast was gargantuan.

Meryl threw up a Shield to catch it. Even her defensive barriers were elegant. Thanks to Coco’s lectures, I could see the quality clearly now. It was like watching someone draw perfectly straight lines without using a ruler. I could see the years of extraordinary effort etched into her technique.

"I can still keep going!"

Meryl continued to rain magic down on me, and for the first time in a long while, I was actually having fun.

"...I... I’m done..."

Eventually, she dropped to one knee, using her staff to keep herself upright. The room was climate-controlled, but she was drenched in sweat. Her level of focus must have been exhausting.

"That was fun. I actually learned a lot."

"Ehehe... before I came here, I’d never lost to anyone. But I couldn't beat Cynthia-san, and I never dreamed I wouldn't even be able to touch your cloak, Weiss-senpai."

"That's because I’m your senior. I'm just working hard to keep a straight face so I look cool."

"Fufufu. Belk was right. You really are kind, Senpai."

To be honest, I had been underestimating the lowerclassmen. I think I’d been letting my knowledge of the Original Story bias my judgment too much.

But this world is real. I’m not going to say I need to be humble, but I have to make sure my brain doesn't get stuck in a rut. When I first enrolled, I was the one begging Carta to teach me Flight Magic. That felt like the spark that started everything. Somewhere along the line, I’d started looking down on people.

I need to get back to my roots.

"Meryl, teach me the formula for that Concealment Magic. In exchange, I’ll grant you one wish. Anything you want."

"Eh? Really?"

"Yeah."

Unnatural, Wind Slash, Scale Up... heck, if it’s her, she might even be able to learn a version of Blessing of Healing. I wonder what she’ll ask for?

"In that case... I want the right to a one-day date with Cynthia-san! Oh, wait, if that’s too much... then a four-person date!"

"...Huh?"

"Ah, was that too greedy?"

"No... what do you mean by a 'four-person date'?"

"Belk and me!"

Wait. If it’s those two, then the other pair would be Cynthia and... me?

"You don't want to learn a spell or a technique?"

"I mean, I definitely want to know those too! But if you're asking for my number one wish, it has to be that!"

"Heh. You're a weird one. I can't decide for Cynthia, obviously. But... I'll put in a good word for you and see what she says."

"Really!? Yay! Okay, so the trick to Concealment Magic is..."

I felt a little guilty just taking the spell, so I offered to teach her some magic anyway, but she insisted that an exchange was an exchange.

Still, thanks to Belk and Meryl, I was remembering feelings I’d let slip away. Between the Demon Race appearing and the "plot" moving forward, I’d lost sight of the basics.

This world isn't a game. I am alive. And I should try my best not to forget that fighting can actually be fun.