I Was Reincarnated as a Duke as a Matter of Course, So I Bought a Slave on a Whim and Now There’s No Turning Back - 36

Chapter 36: What I Want to Protect

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The next day. Even after witnessing such a monstrous battle yesterday, the academy began classes as if nothing had happened. Right now it was time for Magic Theory. The teacher standing at the podium drew a circle on the blackboard.

“Many of you probably saw the mock battle in the Magic Swordsmanship Department yesterday. It is a perfect example.”

A ripple moved through the classroom.

“The exchange student, Hero Candidate Leonis Arseid, possesses aptitude for three attributes. Fire, water, and wind.”

Three symbol-like marks were drawn on the board.

“Normally, a person’s magic circuits are optimized for a single attribute. Two attributes make you a genius. Three attributes are historic.”

Allen nodded quietly. Elysia remained expressionless, staring at the blackboard. I crossed my arms and remembered yesterday’s scene. Three attributes deployed simultaneously. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the power of talent was decided at birth.

Well, what should I say? It really made me feel powerless. Leonis really was amazing. He felt exactly like a hero.

But…

“Teacher.”

Before I realized it, my mouth had moved on its own. The classroom’s attention gathered on me.

“Even with three attributes, if magic clashes, it ultimately comes down to magical power, right?”

The teacher narrowed his eyes.

“…Oh? Go on.”

I thought for a moment before continuing. It was something I had been curious about. Even if asking would not change anything for me, magic was simply fascinating.

“If two spells have about the same magical power, they repel each other and cancel out, right? Regardless of the attribute?”

The teacher drew two circles on the blackboard and made them collide.

“Correct. If the magical power of two spells is balanced, they cancel each other.”

“Is that the same even between low-tier and mid-tier spells?”

“Generally speaking, yes.”

I remembered yesterday’s battle. The restraint spell that led to Rine’s victory. An application of Slipstream, a low-tier water spell.

“For example, restraint magic. The difference between low-tier and mid-tier spells basically just defines how the magic power is used, right? Binding strength, speed, stability, things like that.”

The teacher nodded.

“Correct. A tier is simply a form. It is nothing more than a blueprint for how magic power is used.”

The classroom grew quiet. I continued.

Don’t I sound really smart right now?

“Then if you poured an abnormal amount of magic into a low-tier spell, could it surpass a mid-tier one?”

Allen glanced at me. The teacher crossed his arms.

“In theory, it is possible. However, it is inefficient.”

I see.

“For example, if tying someone with rope is a low-tier spell and tying them with chains is a mid-tier spell. Instead of making a rope stronger than chains, what if you used an impossible amount of rope to bind them?”

If the original blueprint was rope instead of chains, then instead of quality you could overwhelm with quantity. But if that worked easily, there would be no point in having tiers.

A brief silence ensued. Elysia’s gaze shifted slightly toward me. The teacher chuckled softly.

“What an interesting analogy. It is certainly possible to surpass tiers with sheer quantity.”

Several people in the classroom probably unconsciously remembered yesterday’s water restraint. That water magic that stopped three attributes and captured Leonis even while he moved at high speed. Allen spoke.

“But to stably control that much magical power, wouldn’t you need an abnormal amount of magic?”

No matter where you went, magical power was still king. The teacher nodded.

“Correct. To overwhelm with quantity, both magical capacity and control are essential.”

I said, “So in the end, it is about output and control rather than the number of attributes.”

“That is mostly correct.”

The teacher wrote largely on the board. Output. Control. Aptitude.

“Attribute compatibility does exist. Fire is weak to water, for example. However, it only goes so far.”

Elysia spoke quietly.

“It is not enough to overturn things drastically.”

The teacher looked at her.

“Exactly. Compatibility is a modifier, not an absolute rule.”

The teacher continued.

“Wind may be invisible, but as magic it is no different from the other attributes. If you look purely at magical power, all attributes are capable of interfering with one another.”

“…”

This was difficult. You could learn about attributes other than your own as knowledge, but people who could actually use them understood them very differently from those who could not. The atmosphere in the classroom shifted slightly. Allen touched his chin and pondered.

“…Three attributes are simply more options, not absolute superiority…”

“Precisely.”

The teacher nodded.

“And even with a single attribute, if output and control are abnormal, it can surpass three attributes.”

Everyone wore expressions that seemed both convinced and not entirely understanding.

…Rine’s absurdity was starting to show through. I remembered yesterday’s battle. Each of Leonis’s three attributes had played the role of enhancement or support. From my perspective, it had been a perfect fighting style. Yet the water magic that faced it head-on had won.

…Rine really was terrifying. I rested my cheek on my hand and thought. If the number of attributes did not matter, I had thought maybe there was hope. But my magical capacity probably would not increase, so maybe it was still hopeless. In the end, it came down to how much someone with talent for magic had built up over time.

…I did not even have a desire to fight. I should just be satisfied that I was given another chance through reincarnation in another world.

“Hm? Is something wrong, Elysia?”

Elysia was peering at my face with a curious look.

“…No, I was just thinking it was unusual.”

“Haha, true. Maybe I talked too much?”

“Not at all. It was just… wonderful.”

I was honestly surprised. Even when I tried to respond, nothing came to mind. Elysia had already turned her face away right after saying it.

With that kind of face, you should not be saying things like that…

That evening…

When I left the academy and returned to the mansion by carriage, I felt that the atmosphere had softened slightly. For the past few days, the mansion had felt heavy somehow. Ever since Fia collapsed with a fever, everyone had been tense.

I passed through the entrance hall and headed for the living room. Voices could be heard from the other side of the door.

…Huh?

When I opened the door, Fia was sitting on the sofa. Her pale pink hair flowed over her shoulders. Her complexion was still a bit pale, but she seemed to have regained some energy. Yuka, who had stayed behind at the mansion at my request, was also there.

A teapot with steam rising from it sat on the table.

“Welcome back, Luka-sama.”

Yuka smiled gently. Fia also turned toward me.

“…Welcome back, Master.”

Her voice was still faint. But there was clearly more strength in it than before.

“Are you okay now?”

Without thinking, I frowned slightly. Fia puffed her lips a little.

“…All I do is sleep. It’s boring.”

Yuka spoke from the side.

“Today she went outside to get a little sunlight. The doctor said there were no problems with her conditions.”

Relief loosened something in my chest. I was glad it had not become serious. Fia stared at me and tilted her head slightly.

“How was the academy?”

“Hmm, it was fun again today. There are so many things I don’t know, I never get bored.”

Reading books can get tiring, but with classes you can listen and learn.

“…I want to go too.”

“It might still be a little early for you, Fia.”

If I took Fia with me, I had no idea what would happen. Who had that slave trader even planned to sell her to? For now Yuka was here, and the academy already had attendants assigned.

“…Master always goes to this place called the academy every day….”

Yes, this was one of the cute points.

“Even so, I can’t skip school. But when I come back home, we can play a lot.”

“…Mm.”

Alright, maybe I should quit the academy. (determined!)

“Luka-sama?”

Huh!? What was I just thinking!?

“…?”

Fia tilted her head. Was she doing it unconsciously? That level of cuteness was dangerous. I never imagined there could be a child who lived while carrying the sin of being this cute.

“Right, Fia. Let’s go shopping on the next day off.”

“…Outside?”

“Yeah. It’s okay. Everyone will go together.”

I said that, but Fia still looked troubled about going outside.

…I could not fully understand how she felt, but I had to stay as close to her feelings as possible.

“We still have time, so think about it.”

When I said that and patted her head, she gave a small nod. I was not rushing her, but I wanted to help her move forward even a little.

“Yuka, thanks for taking care of Fia again today. It should be about time for dinner, right?”

“…Yes.”

Come to think of it, Yuka had adapted quickly. She had learned the work of a maid before I even noticed. She felt fundamentally different from Fia somehow.

“…Fia, let’s go too. We might have stew for dinner today.”

“Okay.”

Well, whatever. Even if I knew the reason, it would not change anything. For now, I just had to protect this life.

…Even though I did not have the power to do that.

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