Author: Yume Neiji

On the door of the headmaster’s room, there is a sign that says “Millenia Weed” is inside.

Yes, the school headmaster is my older stepsister. She is called the school’s most talented woman. In the entire history, she is also the youngest one to take over the headmaster’s position.

My stepsister took office three years ago, and since then, I have been called in about once a week to report on my recent circumstances. I think that I’m not that unreliable to still be supervised by my stepsister, but I can’t say “I’m an independent adult, don’t call me too often” when I face her.

“What are you doing? Why don’t you enter the room when you’re already there?”

“Err… Sorry Headmaster. Excuse me, I’m coming in…”

Inside the school, I don’t address the Headmaster as my older sister.  It should have been such an arrangement, but that rule is not applied to this room – Ah no, that should be until outside of the room only. Since I got inside, I would also change the address from here.

As soon as I enter the room, my stepsister looks at me intently.

“Umm… Nee-san…” I wanted to ask what is the problem – ah never mind.

Sunlight shines through a thin curtain from the window behind my older sister, and her long, jade-colored hair appears to shine. She used to have chestnut-colored hair in the past but it changed when she contracted with a higher spirit of the wind element. The color of hair and eyes changed to the color that symbolizes ones spirit attributes.

If we were not a family, I would have been ten times more nervous than I am now! – It’s not so often that you can find such a beautiful woman.

My father remarried when I was still young and that’s when my stepsister came about. At first, I didn’t know what to do with my father’s remarriage partner’s child but it seemed that she was the same. I was able to get over it little by little because of my mother-in-law’s mediation. Now, I have been treated as a younger brother to the extent that I would like to refrain from being one.

When she left her seat, she walked around the big desk she used all the time and came to me. The light that shined on her through the window was dazzling, but eventually my eyes were getting used to it. My stepsister is wearing a black cloak over her white shirt. It must have been customized as it would undoubtedly expose her big chests if not.

The cloak she wears also proves her identity as a court magician. In addition to that, the gold pendant locket she hangs around her neck was engraved with the number “17” – meaning magician of the country, at the seventeenth rank.

“What happened? You couldn’t take part in the mock battle class again because you’re still depressed?”

“I already get used to it. Since I contracted my spirit, I lost few of my friends but it’s not like they are distancing themselves because they hate me – or does that sound like I’m acting tough?”

“With your contracted spirit, you are inevitably left out in this school. To some extent, it is not unusual to get close to someone you will fight in a mock battle, or to get close to someone with the same contracted spirit as you. That’s not impossible.”

Frankly speaking, I’d rather do something refreshing. If you cannot draw elemental spirits, there is no choice but to live as a flop in this academy.

No matter how excellent your grade is, it is not evaluated. In the end, one would only be categorized by the lineage of their contracted spirits. I was even treated like a roadside grass by my classmates. I’m so used to the current situation and as a plant spirit user, I don’t need to indulge in self-mockery.

“But if this country weren’t surrounded on all sides by an enemy nation, it might be possible to focus not only on the lines of military use but also on the spirits of you, Leslie, and Sven. Is what I think.”

“… I know that the history of this country is accompanied by war. Alumni of the academy have also been thrown into the front lines and are achieving results. In the Eastern Front, it is possible to push back the border line after a long time.”

I think it’s ironic. There can be no enemies in this country for the next 100 years – my stepsister, who was a member of the Southern Front of the military, understands the current situation much better than I am.

My stepsister has a contract with a spirit called ‘Tempest’, which is one of the highest spirits in the world, has the power to stop the army of 1,000 people. I’ve never seen her on the battlefield, but I heard rumors that even the male knights of the battle-hardened men were afraid of her and followed her commands.

Why was she able to leave the front line and move to the Silvana Magic Academy? It was because of her achievement that she entered into a cease-fire agreement with a southern enemy.

The military magician can return to the office by living and returning from the front. She will return to the army if the ceasefire agreement is broken, otherwise she will not be forced to join another front.

“My friend who is coming from the Eastern Front will be able to come back safely if things go as is. I was hoping to let you two meet but…”

“Nee-san, what is the errand that you called me here for? The way I see it, I think I’ll be leaving the school…”

I did say so because scouts for graduate students from the outside are mostly communicated by the headmaster.

When one door is shut, another door is open. I expected that already – apparently this would be those too good to be true offers.

With a mysterious face, my stepsister handed me a paper that was on the desk.

“This…  isn’t this a military convocation order?… –No. It’s from the royal family, an imperial decree…?”

“Yeah. Congratulations, Glass. You have been qualified to the last seat of the Court Magician, with special exception.”

“Me?… a court magician…?”

Indeed, it was a blue sky.

Since Leslie was also called, I expected it would just be the usual call for status updates – I can’t even think that I, who cannot participate in mock battles, will be chosen as a court magician.

I knew that it wasn’t a good story simply by looking at Millenia-nee’s face. It was something, such as a grim resolve. Seriously, I can’t just avert my eyes.

“You always have high classroom grades, magic theory, spiritual architecture, science, natural sciences, political science, commerce even pharmacy. Almost all subjects were marked ‘Excellence’.”

Since there are only three types of evaluation at the magic school, excellent, good and bad. Even if it is said to be good, it will be so if you get a decent score. Certainly, no student will take credit for as many subjects as I do.

However, since there is no place to show the skill of spirit magic, the skill is treated as zero or no evaluation. If I put a total of 100 points in both practical skill and classroom learning, I will get only 50 points no matter how hard I try, and I will be below the average rank.

As a result, even if one submits an application, he could not take the examination of the court magician. It is only a miracle that I was exempted from the exam and selected as a court magician.

–Or are you involved in some kind of plot?

If that is the case, I can only agree that this was not some kind of blessing.

“And not only good grades, but you’ve also been qualified as a Spirit Doctor this year.”

“Ha – Yes, Sorry, if I could only ask your approval afterwards”

“To some extent, I get a report from my secretary to understand what kind of activity you are doing at the school.  I’m rather happy that you’re trying to find a path to independence and make utmost effort.”

Arms crossed, my older stepsister looked at me with kind eyes that is making me so embarrassed. As always, she treated me as a child – I’m an adult and I even struggle to divert my attention from that big breast on her arms!

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Anyway, only me and my acquaintance can eat the fruit of the elder at this time. Even if it’s useless in battle, it’s still a blessing in everyday life.

“I don’t really like fig tree fruits… but I’m glad Glass-nii gave me this.”

With a cup, her small mouth took a bite, Leslie’s white throat moves as she swallows the pulp.

She looks healthy today, and I’m worried about that because I was busy looking for another profession while I was on the exam for a Court Magician.

That is the ‘Spirit Doctor’. In the path of the Spirit Magician, very few choose a doctor because the reward for medical treatment is very low compared to the reward for a combat magician.

Attacks are the greatest defense in the Kingdom’s view. However, I also think that Spirit Doctors, which is regarded as a lesser profession, is an important job that is sometimes needed.

Most of all, it is essential that a court magician be a combat magician, so becoming a Spirit Doctor was synonymous with giving up the path to a court magician.

“…What happened? Did you fight with Sven?”

“No, that’s not the case. Sven is running around to get a job, so we can’t meet easily.”

“Fu-n”

Leslie says it doesn’t look very impressive. Sven is my roommate, and he is one of the guys who, like us, have pulled an unlucky spirit.

About five out of every 100 people draw unlucky spirits, and then they cannot participate in combat exercise classes at all. The combat exercises are conducted on the assumption that the spirit magic of the earth, water, fire, wind elements will be used, so other spirits cannot participate.

A mock battle is still taking place at the training ground, but we can’t go there. So Leslie, who was three years younger, was also free to come here. Originally, I was in my class, but because there were no other students, I became a self-study student. Although I and Sven are in the same situation, we are of different tracks.

“The air spirit that Leslie contracted could be used like the wind spirits.”

“Wind is ‘wind’, air is ‘air’. Not the same.”

I know Leslie’s magic can be used in battle. It can be very scary depending on how you use it because you can interfere with the spirits that reside in the ‘air’ – which is everywhere.

For example, what happens if the oxygen contained in the air is locally concentrated? On the contrary, if you lose oxygen – it’s a little radical idea, but it should have great potential, but it is not evaluated by the standards of the Academy.

That is because the teachers of the school have contracted with one of the elemental spirits of the earth, water, fire and wind. Other spirits are “evil ways” for teachers.

Though Leslie said that she wanted to see me pull a flop, she also ended up doing the same thing but she didn’t seem too depressed about it.

Air spirits probably go hand in hand with plant spirits. But if I said that, it would seem to be an invitation from me to do joint research with her, so I couldn’t say anything.

Magical collaborators often get married. It is said that the users of spirits of the same system are compatible with each other. Although it is said that similar things do not work well, it is a different story about spirits.

Leslie lent me a handkerchief when I finished eating the fruits and vegetables. I wiped my hands and ask her.

“So what did you do today Leslie?”

“I went to the headmaster’s office and I was told to call Glass-nii.”

“The headmaster?… Leslie, what did she say?”

Leslie tried to say something but then she just placed an index finger on her lips.

“I understand. It’s a secret right? I’ll go then.”

“……Sorry”

“Don’t apologize. If it’s a call from the headmaster, it’s better to tell me directly.”

That she apologizes in this way means that the Headmaster’s talk is not easy to listen to.

“Well then, I’ll go ahead. Leslie, thank you for coming.”

“Yeah. Glass-nii, see you tomorrow.”

Separated from Leslie, I entered the school building and headed for the headmaster’s office. Along the way, I suddenly realized. Leslie said ‘See you tomorrow’, although there is chance of seeing her again today. This somehow caught my attention.

In any case, I will understand everything once I talked to the headmaster. I speed up my pace while thinking of the headmaster who I would see for the first time after a while.

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At Silvana Magic Academy, all students must find another job by the age of 20 and voluntarily leave the school unless they become assistants or other staff members of the school.

Graduation ceremonies at other schools do not exist at this institution. After the “Spirit Selection Ceremony” is completed, the students would receive more and more scouts and exit, so the opportunity to get together with all the classes is gone.

Five years from receiving the “spirit of choice” at the age of 15 to the age of 20. The time given is sufficient for ordinary students, but students who have pulled out flop will not be able to get a job by being scouted if they do it normally.

Elemental spirit users can be classified as a force prepared for military use, and since the absolute number of magicians is small, they are sought after in all directions.

The assessment of which spirits are superior and which are inferior, which is derived from the history of 200 years at the institute, cannot be easily overturned.

I thought I first had a contract with a “grass” spirit, but it was exactly a “plant spirit”. From the time I signed the contract, I could hear the grass and I could talk to the trees. However, hearing those voices is normal, but when the flowers on the side of the road are likely to be stepped on by people, they are seeking help, with that, they can’t be left alone.

Today I was walking in the courtyard of the school listening to the voices of plants.

The spirits of a large tree, who can be said to be the master of the courtyard, are planted from the beginning of this school – like an elder. When I get near, it shakes the branches slightly and greets me.

“Gee, you got better than yesterday. Tell me if there are too many branches and I’ll give you a haircut.”

Cutting off branches would be what we would normally call pruning, but since I was able to talk to trees, I began to see them like living things. Therefore, it is ‘haircut’.

“Sorry Glass-kun. We can’t cut the branches ourselves, so we’ll ask you again if it gets too heavy. I can only thank you like this, but will you please?”

“I’m doing it because I want to do it, so no need to say thank you…”

“Really, I want to thank you more, so here you go.”

Until a while ago, the elder had become too weak because the branches were too heavy and the trunk was overloaded. None of the academy came up with the idea that the branches are spreading and the trees are weakened by the weight.

I also thought that the branch was splendid, and I thought it could not be helped because it died when it died. Being able to talk to the spirits of plants has changed my perception significantly –plants live by thinking about various things, and when they aren’t in good shape, they sometimes get sick.

This elder is a “Fig” tree, and although the fruit is not growing this season, it has matured two for me and dropped it from the branch.

“Thank you. If you make fruit in that way, it might put a strain on your body.”

“There is nothing like that. Originally, the magical institute’s soil contained more magical power than other lands. The exhausted power could be sucked up again from the soil.”

It may be that the elder can do this because he is a spirit that has lived for a long time.I lifted the fruit and thanked him again. With a promise that I would come again, I then headed to the resting place in the courtyard nearby.

I love such a scenic view from here. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I was chosen as a plant spirit. I truly like to spend time in nature and I find it a pleasure to eat while watching the trees. That’s why I don’t have to worry about how Professor Hendrick and other teachers treat me.

“The dream of a court magician has been virtually cut off. If you have a track record in other jobs, it may not be impossible.”

Those words obviously hold double sided meaning…

I have been applying for the exam of a court magician for two years, but I have been dropped just because I was a flop. Since I can’t take classes with other students, I have more time to study classroom lectures, so the score from the other examinees should be above the average.

It can’t be helped if it’s the norm here.

I sat on the wooden chair at the resting place, spread the cloth on the table, and put the two fruits on it.

“Glass-nii~ I knew you were here after all!”

“Oh, Leslie. The elder gave me some fruit. It looks really good.”

It is said that the juice of fruits from fig trees could easily give you rashes, but the condition of the fruits changes depending on the relationship with plants. The more familiar it is, the sweeter the fruit, the more toxic ingredients may disappear, or the stronger it may be depending on the application.

The fruits that the elder gives are not ordinary fig tree fruits, and the juice does not irritate the skin. I can’t believe it when someone tells me that it can’t happen that way. For me, even poisonous plants can be eliminated through dialogue.

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“—Glass-kun, are you all right? Glass-kun!”

When I heard Professor Hendrick’s voice and returned to my senses, I was held and supported on both sides by Leslie and another person.

“I-I’m sorry, I’m okay. I just spaced out for a moment.”

“Oh- It’s something that happens a lot when making a contract. If your fine, there’s no need to apologize to me.”

Professor Hendrick’s current attitude was different from his normal description. Professor Hendrick was said to be stone-headed and strict but right now, this teacher is kind.

No—not really. Right now, the expression in his eyes…

“… People can’t choose spirits. No matter how hard you study, they won’t answer you. It’s not your fault.”

I could understand immediately how Professor Hendrick felt about me – it was sympathy.

Heh… There was no other reason than me getting a flop!

“I know from your homeroom teacher what your old goals are. I know that, even if the road is closed, it doesn’t end there. As an educator, we are your path. We will seek out together.”

He then leaves the room. Another student goes out and the remaining one –Leslie, also moved towards the door. As she passed by me, she stopped.

With a very weak voice she spoke, “I-I might also pull out the same thing three years later. At that time, you can scold me as much as you want…”

She did say earlier that she wanted to see me pull out a flop but when I actually pull it out, she was now shrinking as she thought it’s her fault.

When I see her like that, I don’t feel like getting depressed.

“If it’s Leslie, you’ll surely get a jackpot!”

Standing up, I smiled. “You know even though it’s a flop, I’m glad I got a contract. Now I’m a magician too.”

Leslie with her eyes turned a little reddish was now troubled to face me. Really, if you’re this kind-hearted, you shouldn’t have said something so mischievous for you not to feel distressed.

However, it was not surprising that she was careful. I’m trying to behave comfortably, but in fact, as a magician – I’m off course.

Most of the nearly 1,000 students of the Magic Academy selected one of the elements of the earth, water, fire, wind. Although there are differences between upper spirits and lower spirits, they are certified as “combat magicians” who can have a role in military fields etc. to be done.

Apparently, I wasn’t one of them. Above all, I seemed to have pulled out the worst out of all the flops, where even Professor Hendrick lost interest on the spot.

Leslie should not feel responsible though. Usually as thanks for attending the ceremony, one needs to pay for it. In fact, the other one, except for Leslie, should get the part-time fee I paid through my teacher.

“Anyway, thank you for helping me out. I’ll treat you to some good food next time.”

“Uhm yeah… Glass-nii’s home cooking is good. I haven’t eaten it for a while.”

Even though I was depressed, I said something like that. My cooking is not a big deal, but I’m pretty confident in making something that can be eaten in its own way with ready-made ingredients.

“I think it’s better to eat out but if Leslie says so, I’ll make sure to make it as it has been a while.”

“Really? I just tried to say it. I’m glad I went to your ceremony.”

Fiddling her hair, Leslie smiled then left the ritual room.

“…In the end, I couldn’t show you a cool part…”

I murmured softly, being alone, I suddenly looked at my feet.

The power of the spirits dwelling on me has spread, and the magic circle has changed. A fire spirit produces flames, and a water spirit springs water –not both. Grass is growing along the shape of the magic circle.

Where was the grass coming from? This was certainly a stone floor… could this be…

It’s certainly the power of the spirit. In other words, my spirit wasn’t the elemental spirit I was hoping for – apparently it was the spirit around “grass”.

◆ ◇ ◆

Leslie also received a ritual three years later at the age of fifteen, and although it is a system different from mine, it was a spirit that is said to be flop.

Since she attended my ceremony I was also told to do the same. But since I would be confirming the ‘spirit mark’ on Leslie’s body – I couldn’t!

The main reason is that though she was still innocent at the age of twelve, by the time she was fifteen, she had grown far beyond my imagination.

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Silvana Magic Academy

This is the only school in the kingdom that trains spirit magicians.

Seven years after I entered school, I was now fifteen years old, and I was about to undergo a ceremony to decide my future destiny.

“Glass Weed. From now on, I will carry on your ‘Spirit Selection Ceremony’.”

I came to the ceremonial room of the academy, and was told by Professor Hendrick.

Students who turned 15 would undergo the ‘Spirit Selection Ceremony’. The ‘Spirit Selection Ceremony’ is a ritual to make a contract with the spirit, but it is not known which spirit will be selected until the contract is made.

The Spirit Magician uses the power of the spirit to exercise magic. The spirits also have a special character, and the spirits of the four major elements such as Earth, Water, Fire and Wind are especially high ranks, and students who can contract them are said to be excellent.

However, some spirits dwell in substances and other living things, and these are subordinated, so to speak, they are called as ‘Flop’.

For example, if the spirit of fire is powerful, it creates destructive power enough to cross the army of one country, but the spirit of the ‘cat’, which is off the mark, becomes able to talk to a cat, and temporarily becomes a beast human. Although it can be done, it seems to be less useful.

In this case, I also want to hit a jackpot!

If I do so, my dream of becoming a Court Magician will surely come true. It is difficult to be selected as a Court Magician no matter how much effort you make if you lose the margin.

Just like my stepsister who became a school principal at a young age, I wanted to become a Court Magician and become a person my family would not be ashamed of.

“Then, we will make a final confirmation of your ‘Spirit Mark’. Mr. Glass please remove your shirt.”

“Yes Teacher.” I then took my shirt off.

Before the ritual, a ‘Spirit Mark’ was written on the whole body – this is a mark for holding a spirit in the body of a magician, and it disappears when the contract ends.

Professor Hendrick asks the two female students he brought as an assistant to check the marks on my body. It’s necessary, but it’s embarrassing to see that one of them is my friend Leslie.

Three years younger than me, Leslie is always on hand. Seeing her, I can’t help but feel a little nervous. Being an assistant of the ‘Spirit Selection Ceremony’ is all voluntary so Leslie must have come up by her own request.

But I was not informed about it! I didn’t have any idea why Leslie came to attend the ceremony.

“Glass-nii~ I’m going to watch you intently! I’ll watch you get a flop!”

Leslie whispers in a very soft voice as she approaches to see my back markings. She doesn’t speak too obediently, but that’s always the case, so I’m not particularly angry.

After the confirmation, only me remains in the magic circle to make a contract. Leslie, with her shiny black hair and eyes of the same color, was deeply hooded just like another student, and her expression disappeared.

“Glass-kun, which spirit you contract with is determined by the bloodline you were born with, the nature of your magical power that has been developed over the last 15 years, and your personality. The Academy is not responsible for what your signing a contract with. If that’s okay, I’d like to your blood pressed on this contract. “

“Understood.” I replied shortly.

Slowly, I put the short blade of a dagger on my thumb and stamped the contract with smeared blood. Bleeding will immediately stop if you apply powdered herbal medicine to stop the bleeding then smeared it with oil. This is a very effective family medicine that has been passed down to my mother’s family.

The ritual is about to begin – I believe it will be a good result. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm myself.

“To the one who controls all things, or the great one who dwells in all things, I, Glass Weed, seek a contract with my blood. Heed my summoning and came forth!”

Wow…!!!

At that time, I saw a mysterious scenery that I had never seen before, but it somehow feels very nostalgic. It’s in the deep forest. Someone is bathed in the brilliant light of the sun, amidst flowers and grass that I have never seen.

I truly felt that someone was waiting for me.

Then a beautiful girl in white clothes that shines brightly, unlike anything else in the world came to be. It’s beautiful – I’m so dumbfounded that I could only come up with such mundane impressions.

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