Chapter 8: The Burden of Mana and the Shadow of War

People who use mana to achieve superhuman strength are called mana users, often shortened to mages.

Since only mana-infused attacks can harm the higher-level magical beasts that come through the ‘Gate,’ mages are essential on the front lines.

Mana awakening usually occurs between the ages of 10 and 15 for 95% of people. The remaining 5% awaken between 16 and 25. So far, no one has been recorded awakening after 25.

Mana is a powerful force, granted to only a select few. As mentioned, mages are indispensable for combating high-level magical beasts. Humanity faced a severe crisis, pushed back by the beasts.

Therefore, a mage’s participation in the war against magical beasts inevitably became a ‘duty.’

Naturally, mages wanted to refuse, but if they didn’t fight, everyone, including themselves, would die, and humanity would face extinction. So, noble or commoner, they had no choice but to join the fight.

To motivate these mages, a valuable resource, those in power fostered a culture among nobles that fighting was the most aristocratic and honorable act. Commoners were incentivized with money—financial rewards.

Since refusal wasn’t an option, and rewards were offered, the system functioned relatively smoothly for several decades until the world stabilized.

But that was in the past.

Even now, most commoner graduates from the academy are sent to the front lines, but as the world stabilized, most nobles no longer wanted to risk their lives for mere honor.

Nobles began employing various tactics to avoid the front lines.

Noble families established laws exempting them from service if one mage had already been conscripted from their lineage, regardless of how many more awakened.

Another method was substituting service with enormous ‘donations.’

These ‘donations’ were exorbitant, forcing less wealthy noble families to resort to other loopholes.

One common tactic was bribing the inspectors who conducted annual mana checks until the age of 26, concealing their mage status. This was the simplest method, but also the riskiest, as the secret could be exposed.

Another was to join the rear reserves after graduation and then find a way to leave even that. This was generally safe, as the reserves were rarely deployed, though problems could arise if a section of the front lines collapsed.

Numerous nobles shirked their duty using such methods. The nations were aware, but turned a blind eye.

Amidst this, two members of the royal family, siblings of the direct line and exempt from service, enrolled in the academy this year. This was certainly enough to shock noble society in these times.

It was Just Friday, the first weekend since the start of the new semester.

Princess Euru had someone new on her watch list. Sayoreinne, notorious for her abrasive personality, had become quiet since the start of the second semester.

Everyone in Class A, not just Euru, who remembered Sayoreinne’s behavior in the first semester, found this change perplexing.

While she almost always wore a smile, it felt forced and stiff, creating an unsettling and unpleasant impression. When she hid her mouth behind her fan, only her eyes visible, the smile vanished entirely, sometimes replaced by a look of simmering resentment.

Now, her expressionless face seemed more human, less unsettling.

Her previously aggressive demeanor had caused frequent conflicts. Notably, she had allegedly instigated her admirers to harass Nell, a commoner girl. Euru had intervened when she witnessed such incidents, but she couldn’t always be there.

Now, Sayoreinne was keeping a low profile. Not only had she stopped bothering Nell, but she also seemed to let things slide, even when wronged, her expression unreadable.

While the academy preached equality, reality differed. Euru’s royal status automatically granted her special treatment, making others uncomfortable. While they pretended to be casual at her request, the underlying awkwardness remained.

Sayoreinne was different. Outwardly polite, she made no attempt to hide her negativity, even towards the princess. Her exaggerated deference after Euru’s request to be treated normally was clearly sarcastic.

That sarcasm was gone now. She simply greeted Euru like any other student and moved on.

Euru had even tried to provoke her, implying she was now acting out of fear, but Sayoreinne merely apologized with a sullen expression. Even their brief encounter before the semester had felt out of character, but now, she was genuinely different.

Some students prematurely commented on Sayoreinne’s change, but Euru disagreed. That arrogant, hysterical girl couldn’t have changed in just a month. She was merely biding her time. It had only been a week. She couldn’t keep up the act forever.

Euru was watching Sayoreinne.

‘She’s staring again.’

Sayo felt the weight of Euru’s intense gaze these past few days.

She hadn’t realized how uncomfortable it could be to be stared at by a beautiful woman, especially with that suspicious look that seemed to say, “Just try making one mistake.”

Moreover, Euru’s gaze seemed to trigger Sayoreinne’s anger and irritation. Managing these emotions was giving her a headache.

If she lost control, her efforts to improve her image over the past week would be wasted.

‘I wish she’d just leave me alone.’

Exhausted by Euru’s scrutiny, Sayo longed for the weekend when she could shut herself in her room, free from any disturbances.

“So relaxing.”

“…”

Having finished lunch and returned to her dorm, Sayo relaxed, holding Ahrin close in her lap.

Hugging the small, soft girl was incredibly comforting.

Sayo had tried to refrain from such physical contact after Ahrin’s ‘misunderstanding,’ but she needed emotional stability due to Euru. This was part of her coping mechanism.

Ahrin, though somewhat accustomed to it, still blushed crimson.

Sayo recalled the times Ahrin had asked, “Do you like me?”

“Understand? I think of you as a little sister… no, a pet.”

“A p-pet…? Waaah…“

…That should settle it, right? She was treating Ahrin that way, anyway.

Since her realization a few days ago, Sayo felt more emotionally stable and less influenced by Sayoreinne.

Holding someone in her lap like this would normally have been repulsive. It wasn’t something Juseong would do either…

Friday’s class was ‘Practical Magic.’

As the name suggested, it was a class designed for practical combat against magical beasts and humans.

“Huh? Why do we learn to fight against people in ‘Practical Magic’ tomorrow? There aren’t any human wars anymore.”

“Ahrin, have you heard of the ‘Magical Beast Angel Theory’?”

“Um… No. This is the first time. Sounds complicated…”

“It’s full of nonsense, but in short… they claim magical beasts are angels sent by God.”

“Oh… Is that true?”

“No. There are just some crazy people who say that. To summarize, they believe, ‘There’s no way such terrifying and powerful beings appeared suddenly. Magical beasts are God’s messengers, sent to punish fallen humanity.'”

“Hmm… I don’t understand. Could it be true?”

“Well, everyone except those fanatics thinks it’s nonsense.”

“What about you, Miss?”

“Of course, it’s nonsense.”

“I thought so.”

“If I were God, I’d cause earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, typhoons, and plagues rather than send such ugly and hideous angels. It’s much simpler. Besides, they offer no evidence, just claiming, ‘God sent them.’”

“How is this related to what we were talking about?”

“Those people apparently want to help the ‘angels’ destroy humanity.”

“Why would they do that? I don’t understand…”

“You don’t need to understand. It’s abnormal to understand. Anyway, we train to fight against such people.”
‘Yes, you wouldn’t understand unless you’re like Sayoreinne.’

“Hee hee.”

“What’s so funny?”

“Just happy that you always answer my questions so kindly without getting annoyed!”

“…I’m a little tired after all that talking. Come here.”

“Uh… yes…”

Sayo hadn’t told Ahrin, but there were other reasons for training against humans, aside from the cult.

In fact, this was the main reason, rather than that small, insignificant cult with barely any mages.

Those corrupted by the miasma emitted by magical beasts, turning against humanity. Majin.

Even ordinary people, upon becoming Majin, could wield miasma like mages wield mana. While rare, if a mage was corrupted, the combined power of mana and miasma became an immense threat.

[TL Note: Miasma = dark, corrupting energy from monsters.

Majin = people turned into powerful, corrupted beings by miasma.]

Therefore, anti-personnel combat couldn’t be neglected.

“Let’s keep it simple for the first day. Pair up with someone from the same department, similar skill level, and spar.”

In the spacious training grounds, Professor Brynn of ‘Practical Magic’ instructed the students to find partners and then plopped down on a chair.

‘This class always seems to be like this. They just set up the situation and conditions and we get right to it.’

Looking through her memories, Sayo recalled it was indeed a straightforward, almost crude class.

‘Similar skill level means I’ll likely be paired with either Meirel, Euru, or Lutz. Or maybe Meirel is still too weak.’

Suddenly, she felt an intense gaze and turned to see—

Princess Euru, with her fiery red hair.

‘My opponent is decided. Just as well. She’s been getting on my nerves, so I’ll give her a little lesson.’