The next day.
Despite the monstrous display of power we had witnessed the day before, classes at the Academy resumed as if nothing had happened.
It was currently time for Magic Theory.
The instructor standing at the podium drew a circle on the blackboard.
"Many of you likely saw the mock battle in the Magic Sword Arts Department yesterday. It serves as an excellent case study."
A murmur rippled through the classroom.
"The international student and Hero Candidate, Leonis Alseid, possesses an aptitude for three attributes: fire, water, and wind."
The teacher sketched three symbols on the board.
"Normally, a person's magical power circuit is optimized for a single attribute. Mastering two makes one a genius; three is a rarity that occurs once in a generation."
Allen nodded silently.
Elysia remained expressionless, her eyes fixed on the blackboard.
I crossed my arms, my mind drifting back to the previous day’s events. The simultaneous deployment of three attributes—a power defined by innate talent.
Well, what could I say? It really drove home how powerless I was. Leonis was certainly impressive; he felt like a true Hero.
But—
"Teacher."
Before I knew it, my mouth had moved on its own. Every eye in the classroom converged on me.
"Even with three attributes, doesn't it ultimately come down to the total amount of magical power if the spells collide?"
The teacher narrowed his eyes. "...Oh? Continue."
I thought for a moment before pressing on. It was a point of genuine curiosity. Even if it was pointless for someone like me to ask, I couldn't help but be fascinated by the mechanics of magic.
"If two spells have roughly the same amount of magical power, they'll repel each other, reach a point of saturation, and then vanish, right? Regardless of their attributes."
The teacher drew two circles on the board and made them overlap.
"That is correct. If the magical power is equal, the spells will cancel each other out."
"Is that the same for low-level and mid-level magic?"
"Essentially, yes."
I thought back to Lene’s victory. Her use of binding magic—specifically, an application of the low-level water spell, Slipstream.
"Take binding magic, for example. The difference between low and mid-levels is ultimately just a definition of how the magic is used, isn't it? Things like the strength of the restraint, its speed, or its stability."
The teacher nodded.
"Indeed. Rank is merely a template. It is a blueprint for how to channel magical power, nothing more."
The room fell silent. I continued.
Wait, don't I sound incredibly smart right now?
"Then, if someone poured an abnormal amount of magical power into a low-level spell, could it exceed the power of a mid-level one?"
Allen stole a glance at me. The teacher crossed his arms.
"Theoretically, it is possible. However, it is highly inefficient."
I figured as much.
"Suppose tying someone with a rope is low-level and using chains is mid-level. If you didn't try to make the rope stronger than the chain, but instead just bound them with an impossible amount of rope... would the outcome change?"
If the original blueprint used a rope instead of a chain, I figured one could just overwhelm the opponent with quantity over quality. But if that logic always held true, ranks wouldn't have much meaning.
A momentary silence hung in the air. Elysia shifted her gaze slightly toward me. The teacher chuckled softly.
"That is an interesting analogy. It is indeed possible to overcome rank through sheer quantity."
Several students likely recalled Lene’s water bind at that moment. That water magic had neutralized three separate attributes and captured Leonis, despite his high-speed movements.
Allen spoke up.
"But wouldn't you need an incredible amount of magical power just to control that much energy stably?"
Great. No matter how you slice it, magical power is everything.
The teacher nodded in agreement.
"Precisely. To push through with quantity, both a massive magical power amount and perfect control are indispensable."
"So, in the end," I said, "it's more about output and control than the number of attributes someone has."
"That is largely correct."
The teacher wrote three words in large letters on the blackboard.
Output Control Aptitude
"Attribute compatibility does exist—for instance, fire is weak against water. However, that only goes so far."
Elysia spoke up quietly. "It is not enough of a factor to overturn a significant gap in power."
"Exactly," the teacher replied. "Compatibility is a modifier, not an absolute."
He continued, "Wind, too, is no different from other attributes in terms of magical power, even if it is invisible. If you look purely at the energy involved, they can all interfere with one another."
"..."
Man, this stuff was complicated. I could learn the theory behind attributes I couldn't use, but the level of understanding was vastly different for those who could actually wield them.
The atmosphere in the room shifted. Allen rested his chin in his hand, looking pensive.
"...So having three attributes just means you have more options, not that you're inherently superior..."
"That's the gist of it." The teacher nodded. "And even with a single attribute, if your output and control are exceptional, you can surpass someone with three."
The expressions around the room ranged from enlightened to utterly confused.
Lene’s true nature is starting to leak out...
I thought about the fight again. Leonis had used his three attributes perfectly, utilizing each for reinforcement or support. From my perspective, his strategy had been flawless. And yet, a single water spell had faced it head-on and won.
Lene really is a terrifying child.
I propped my head up with my hand and sighed. If it wasn't about the number of attributes, I was still stuck. I couldn't exactly expect my own magical power to suddenly increase. I was back at square one.
In the end, it was all about how much effort those with talent put into their craft.
Well, it’s not like I want to fight anyway. I should just be grateful I got a second chance at life through reincarnation.
"Hm? Is something wrong, Elysia?"
Elysia was leaning in, peering into my face with a curious look.
"...No. I just thought it was unusual of you."
"Haha, fair enough. Did I talk too much?"
"Not at all. It was just... lovely."
I was genuinely caught off guard. I wanted to say something in response, but my mind went blank. Elysia turned away the moment the words left her mouth.
Someone with your level of beauty shouldn't be allowed to say things like that...
That evening.
When I left the Academy and returned to the estate by carriage, I felt the tension in the air finally begin to lift.
The house had felt heavy for the past few days. Ever since Fia had collapsed with a fever, everyone had been on edge. I walked through the entrance hall and headed for the living room.
I heard voices coming from behind the door.
Wait...
When I pushed the door open, I found Fia sitting on the sofa. Her pale pink hair flowed over her shoulders. Though her complexion was still a little wan, she looked much more energetic.
Yuka, who had stayed behind at my request, was there as well. Steaming teacups sat on the table.
"Welcome home, Luka-sama."
Yuka gave me a bright smile. Fia turned toward me too.
"...Welcome home, Master."
Her voice was still a bit thin, but there was a noticeable strength in it that hadn't been there before.
"Are you okay now?"
I instinctively knit my brows in concern, causing Fia to pout slightly.
"...I'm bored of just sleeping."
Yuka chimed in from the side.
"She spent some time in the sun today. The doctor said she’s recovering well."
A wave of relief washed over me. Thank goodness it didn't turn into something serious. Fia stared at me, tilting her head to the side.
"How was... the Academy?"
"Hmm, it was fun. There’s so much I don't know, so it’s never boring."
Reading books was exhausting, but I could actually enjoy learning when it was presented in a lecture.
"...I want to go, too."
"I think it might be a bit early for you, Fia."
I had no idea what kind of trouble I’d be in if I brought her along. I still wondered who that Slave Merchant had originally intended to sell her to. Besides, I already had Yuka as my attendant.
"...Master, you go away every day."
And there it was—the cute point.
"Well, I can't exactly skip class. But I can play with you as much as you want once I get back, okay?"
"...Okay."
Right, I'm dropping out. (I'm ready.)
"Luka-sama?"
Wait, what was I just thinking?!
"...?"
Fia tilted her head, seemingly unaware of the effect she had. Her cuteness was genuinely dangerous. It was a crime for a child to be this adorable.
"I know. Fia, let's go shopping on our next day off."
"...Outside?"
"Yeah, it'll be fine. We'll all go together."
I said it confidently, but Fia still looked a bit hesitant. I couldn't truly understand what she was going through, but I wanted to support her as best I could.
"We still have some time, so just think about it, okay?"
When I reached out and stroked her hair, she gave a small, hesitant nod. I didn't want to rush her, but I wanted to help her take those first steps forward.
"Yuka, thanks for looking after her today. It's about time for dinner, right?"
"...Yes."
Now that I thought about it, Yuka had adjusted to this life instantly. She had mastered the duties of a maid before I even realized it. She was fundamentally different from Fia in some way.
"...Let's go, Fia. I think it might be stew tonight."
"Okay."
Well, whatever the reason was, it didn't really matter. For now, I just had to protect this life of ours.
...Even if I didn't actually have the power to do it.