A week passed by in the blink of an eye.

Even without Luca, the clock of the Academy kept ticking. All the students were just waiting for this week to be over.

Time flowed on, and at last, Sunday arrived. It was the day before the Foundation Day.

"......."

Luca, as usual, was practicing in the hospital room—or rather, in a Different World—trying to master the power of the clouds.

Despite a week of effort, he hadn't even been able to change the color of a single petal.

The only thing that had changed since the first day was the cross-legged posture he sat in.

― Hmm... It doesn't seem to be working very well.― There's nothing to be done. Just have to keep trying until it works.― Don't you have any hints or anything?― Uhm... Ah! What about this? You cross your legs like this when you sit! My previous master used to say that this was the best posture to feel nature whenever she wanted to think!-...... Isn't that just sitting cross-legged?― Huh? How did you know about that, master?

Whistle, somehow mimicking the cross-legged position with his bird-like legs, claimed that this posture would make it easier to sense the power of the clouds.

At first, Luca's legs would go numb and he couldn't sit for long, but now he could maintain that posture for quite a while.

'Was Whistle's previous master a spiritual seeker?'

The cross-legged sitting was the posture of spiritual seekers of the "Enlightenment(桃源)" which was inspired by martial arts novels.

Of course, there was no way to confirm any of this just by guessing, so Luca let go of the thought and emptied his mind again.

Now, he could properly do something akin to meditation.

'Uplift the mind.......'

He closed his eyes and focused on his other senses.

The Different World was silent.

Even though he sat in the middle of a field, there was neither the scent of grass in the wind nor the warmth of sunlight.

All he could feel was the silence.

Within that silence, Luca sensed something out of place.

'It's not mana, nor magic power.'

Mana was the most fundamental natural force, and magic power was mana refined so that humans could use it.

Magic, Alchemy, sorcery—they all required it.

Yet, in the Different World, there was nothing like that.

'Now I finally understand. The difference between the power of the sky and magic power.'

He hadn't noticed when using lightning. He couldn't tell the difference between using magic power and using lightning energy.

But now, meditating in the Different World, he finally sensed the difference between those two powers.

The problem was, that was as far as he got.

'I can tell the two powers apart, but I don't know how to use them.'

Luca slowly opened his eyes.

The flower before him was still red.

"...... It's not easy."

Muttering so, Luca unfolded his legs and checked the time on his phone.

He tapped Whistle.

Whistle, who had been quietly sitting beside him as if asleep, lifted his head.

"Master?"

"Let's stop here for today. We have a visitor coming."

"Really? Okay!"

Pii!

With Whistle's cry, the Different World disappeared.

Bella, who had been waiting outside the door, peeked her head in.

"Are you finished, young master?"

"Yeah. What about Archiond?"

"He hasn't arrived yet."

Today's visitor was Archiond.

― Luca. Archiond says he wants to visit you. Is that okay?― Archiond?― Yeah. He says he has something to discuss about the bet.

Luca found it understandable at the mention of the bet.

After all, he had won, but being stuck in the hospital, he hadn't been able to properly wrap things up.

― Tell him to come.― Got it!

And that was how he ended up accepting Archiond's visit today.

"Tsk, he's later than I expected."

"Indeed. The appointed time has already passed."

"I didn't think he was the sort to be late. He'll probably say something about his friends again."

When Luca made a grumpy face, Bella flinched and peeked outside.

"Curiously, as soon as we mention him, he appears."

"I guess nobles can't help themselves."

"What do you mean by that?"

At Luca's worldview that Bella couldn't quite understand, she tilted her head, while Luca just shrugged.

Before long, Archiond came into the room wearing a troubled expression.

"Ah, sorry! My friends wanted to come with me."

"That's dreadful."

"Right? I thought you'd hate it, so it took a while to stop them. Sorry."

Luca had expected something like that as the backstory.

He replied with a disinterested look.

"Enough with the apologies. What is it you want to say about the bet? Don't tell me you're going to make excuses now."

"Haha, no way. The bet is clearly my complete loss."

Archiond spread his arms wide with a cheerful smile.

"I just have a few things I wanted to talk about."

"If it's a bother, I'd rather not hear it."

"Haha. It's a little bothersome, but I'd really appreciate it if you listened. It's sort of important."

Archiond put his hands together and gave a wry smile.

"Do you remember when we talked about picking the grade representative? In the carriage?"

"You? Or Brace Avint?"

"Haha, you remember well."

Brace Avint was the eldest son of Count Avint, famous for their swordsmanship.

Unlike the Traverse family, famous for battlefield exploits, the Avint family had a reputation for producing knights.

Brace Avint had reportedly received excellent knight training and was well-known for entering the swordsmanship department at the top of his class.

"To be honest, if it's a popularity contest between you and Brace, you'd win by miles. In the magic departments, there's no reason to pick him over you."

"Huh, am I supposed to thank you?"

"Haha, but a problem's come up."

Archiond scratched his cheek.

"When I said I wouldn't run, a few others volunteered. Two or three people, I think."

"Are you saying you think I'll lose to them?"

"The magic departments' votes will drop, that's for sure. People tend to want the grade representative to be from their own department."

Luca clicked his tongue and crossed his arms.

"What are you trying to say here?"

"Personally, I want you to be the grade representative. The other guys are a bit... shady inside."

"Huh, aren't they your friends?"

Archiond gave a bitter smile.

"I always say that friends shouldn't fight and get along, but not everyone feels the same as me."

"So you're not quite as naive as I thought."

"Haha, that's harsh. But I actually like it better that way."

Even at Luca's sharp words, Archiond smiled. If anything, that seemed to please him more.

"Luca, you don't feel like a noble at all. Ah, don't take it the wrong way. I mean it in a good sense."

"Sounds like you're trying to pick a fight."

"It's true! Uhm... I don't know how this will sound, but you remind me of my mother."

Luca fell silent for a moment, looking at Archiond, who seemed a bit flustered after his own words.

"Well... that is......"

"I'd like to get angry, but it's hard to."

"Haha, sorry. For some reason, I just can't talk to you the way I do with others."

Awkwardly scratching his cheek, Archiond put on a serious look again.

"Grade representative is a pretty important position. The face of your class and someone who sets the tone for the year. I think you being the representative would be great for the 100th class."

"Even if you hadn't said anything, I was going to become the grade representative. So stop worrying."

"Unfortunately, it will be hard for you this time. You're injured."

Archiond put his hands together again.

"Luca, do you know what this year's grade representative candidate selection game is?"

"It hasn't been announced yet, has it?"

"Right. But I heard it from someone. This year, it's supposed to be 'Trap Running'."

Looking at him speak seriously, Luca replied with an indifferent face.

"What's that?"

"Oh, I have to explain that?"

Flustered, Archiond energetically began to explain the origins of Trap Running. Luca soon thought,

'Isn't that just a fancy obstacle race?'

They said something about commemorating a hero's deed, testing quick response skills, but it was, in the end, a race dodging and overcoming traps to reach the finish.

Granted, as it's for talented students, there would be unique traps, but with his current health, breaking through would be tough.

"If I don't participate in that, I can't be a candidate?"

"No, anyone can be a candidate just by signing up. But if you miss the selection game for unavoidable reasons, it'll have a big impact on the votes."

"...... Tsk."

Regardless of whether Luca could or couldn't, the Academy would probably stop him from participating.

"Even if I gave a speech, I don't know how many from the magic department would follow me. Especially since people like Igar might've already swayed all the students from their own families."

"Who's Igar?"

"Oh, the guy you blew away the other time."

Even at that, Luca tilted his head as if he didn't remember.Archiond scratched his cheek.

"Well, you saw Ottbo being pranked, and you blew him away......."

"Ah."

Only then did Luca remember.

"The kid who bullied Ottbo."

His eyes flashed dangerously, making Archiond shrink back.

"W-whoa, calm down, Luca."

"That guy's running for grade representative?"

"Yeah. I don't know about anyone else, but I think we need to make sure he doesn't win."

Luca fell silent at his seriousness, then replied sharply.

"You have a plan, right?"

"Yeah. I thought about it, and..."

As if he'd been waiting, Archiond laid out his proposed plan.

After hearing him out, Luca's expression remained flat.

"...... Are you serious?"

"Yeah. It's the only way, I think."

Looking solemn, Archiond nodded.Luca asked again.

"No, are you serious you came up with that plan?"

"Huh? Why? Is it weird?"

"......."

Luca leveled a flat stare at him, then turned away.

"I'll think about it."

"Oh, and I realized you don't have a comm code yet. That's why I had to ask Ottbo about the visit!"

"...... Tsk."

Luca clicked his tongue and handed over his student booklet.

Archiond smiled brightly, entered his comm code in Luca's booklet, and rose from his seat.

"Well, I'll get going. Take care, and be sure to contact me!"

"Got it."

"Bye!"

Waving all the way to the door, Archiond left the hospital room.

Once he'd gone, Luca pouted his lips for a moment and then looked at Bella, who had been listening quietly.

"Is that guy for real?"

"Hehe, it might work, but it's quite a high-level move for you, young master."

"Tsk. High-level nothing. It just sounds ludicrous."

Brushing off Archiond's plan as nonsense, Luca suddenly noticed a sheet of paper where Archiond had been sitting and showed a puzzled expression.

"Bella. Was that paper always there?"

"Huh? Oh? When did that show up..."

Bella carefully used a stick to probe around the paper, then seemed relieved.

"Thank goodness, there's no bad magic on it."

"Is that so."

Still cautious, Bella picked up the paper first, then handed it to Luca.Luca read what was written and frowned.

"What is this? Archiond's idea of a prank?"

"What is it?"

At Bella's question, Luca twisted his lips.

"What a ridiculous joke."

Luca's eyes sharpened as he stared at the writing on the paper.

[Notice Letter]

Dear Luca Traverse,Are you enjoying Academy life?I heard you've had a hard time recently due to some unfortunate events.I've prepared a little gift for you.Somewhere at the Academy, a magic stone set to explode on the last day of the festival has been hidden.To make things interesting, it's been concealed using 'devil's magic,' so I think someone like you should be able to find it.Still, the Academy is vast, so it might not be easy.I'll give you some hints, so do your best to stop it before too many people get hurt.The first hint is 'Pre-Festival Parade'.Please try to find all the hints to prevent a sad accident and seek out my gift.

P. S. 1: I recommend you don't tell anyone besides your lovely maid and precious friends next to you about this.P. S. 2: If you use the 'eye' you stole wisely, it might help you more than you expect?P. S. 3: Of course, it'd be best if you just gave it back. Ha ha.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Hmmm, will they be an enemy or an ally?With this kind of prank, there's a high chance they're an enemy...【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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