In a Female-Dominant World with a 5:1 Gender Ratio, I Saved a Girl as a Kid, and She Said She Wanted to Be My Bride—Who Would’ve Thought She Was a Princess… - 6

Chapter 6: Practical Magic Training

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(Alto’s POV)

Several days had passed since academy life began. Just as I had promised my father, I had been focusing solely on my studies.

The level of lectures at this academy was low and, to be honest, boring. Whether it was magic theory or history, compared to the knowledge I had crammed into myself through memories of my previous life and my father’s teachings, I had to say they were shallow.

But that was fine. I had not been expecting much from the lectures alone. Days spent simply going back and forth between the old dormitory, the lecture halls, and the library. No one interfered with me, and no one paid attention to me.

…Perfect. This is the most peaceful mob life imaginable.

I wanted to quietly self-study, accumulate knowledge, and graduate after three years just like this. Then one day, at the end of a magic theory lecture, the instructor announced:

“Everyone. Tomorrow, we will finally conduct the first practical magic training.”

The classroom buzzed with excitement. The female students’ eyes sparkled as they whispered about what kind of magic they would use, while the male students wore resigned expressions. But I alone was breaking into a cold sweat for an entirely different reason.

Practical training…?

The sound of it was the worst possible. With theory, I could slack off as much as I wanted. But once it became “practical,” there was a chance my magical power would be seen in some form.

In this world’s common sense, even if men had magical power, it was negligible. What if they made us touch something like a magic power measuring device? Making my infinite magical power appear as zero would require extremely advanced magic control.

…I just hope this doesn’t turn into something troublesome.

And then, the day of the practical training arrived. All the new students were gathered in the vast training grounds. The training was clearly divided between female students and male students.

The female students, standing at the center of the training grounds, were showing off flashy magic like “Fireball!” toward targets. Other female students and teachers praised them enthusiastically. Meanwhile, the male students…

“Alright, male students. Just as usual, touch the magic power measuring device, and after that, go do some training over there.”

At the teacher’s listless voice, the male students sluggishly formed a line.

This is the worst… So it really is happening…

I thought to myself and took my place at the very back of the line. The measuring device was an utterly ordinary crystal ball placed on the lectern. One by one, the male students touched the crystal. Those whose crystals glowed with a faint light rejoiced, but to me, that level of magic power was practically the same as having none.

“Next.” “Next.” 

The boys proceeded like an assembly line.

“Next, Alto von Kirschwasser.”

At last, it was my turn. I stepped forward, hiding a sigh. At that moment, for some reason, the air in the training grounds changed.

…What?

Whether it was because I was a recommendation student, or because I was seen as a weirdo living in the old dormitory, everyone’s eyes were focused on me. Ignoring all those gazes, I concentrated on the crystal ball.

It’s fine. Suppress the magic power to “nothing”… Compress it to the center of my body to a level where it cannot be detected at all…

Taking utmost care, I slowly touched the crystal with my finger. With my entire being, I suppressed the raging torrent of magic power.

I can do this…! I’m controlling it…! If it’s like this—

That was when it happened.

“Hey, how long are you going to keep touching it, you recommendation admission guy over there?”

A sticky, familiar voice echoed. Leonardo stood there with his arms crossed, sneering at me.

“It’s obvious that men barely have any magic power. Because of you alone, the training is being held up, you know?”

At that malicious tone, my concentration slipped for just an instant.

PAAAN!

The crystal ball I was touching emitted a dazzling flash of light for a moment. The training grounds fell silent, as if doused with water.

““““…………Eh?””””

Everyone’s gaze stabbed into the crystal ball. The light itself was nothing compared to the “Fireballs” the female students were producing. But that wasn’t the real problem.

“Th-That’s impossible!?”

The teacher rushed over to the crystal ball in a panic.

“Wh-What was that light just now!? For a man’s magic power to make the measuring device spike like that, even for an instant!?”

“Hey, did you see that?”

“Was that a trick?”

The male students murmured among themselves, while the female students frowned, muttering that it was impossible…

This is the worst…! I messed up…!

Internally, I clutched my head. I hadn’t wanted to stand out, yet I had stood out in the worst possible way. Leonardo’s expression flipped as he glared at me suspiciously.

“Y-You! What did you do!?”

“No, I just touched it… Maybe it was static electricity or something?”

As I desperately tried to brush it off, the teacher, still confused, began inspecting the crystal ball.

“…No, wait. The magic reaction is… Zero. Even now, there’s no reaction at all… Could it be deterioration of the crystal? Yes, that must be it! The crystal must be malfunctioning due to aging!”

The teacher forcibly came to that conclusion and glared at me.

“…Tch. Don’t do such confusing things! Hurry up and go clean the magic tools!”

I bowed my head, saying, “Sorry,” and quickly left the scene.

I was saved. They managed to treat it as a malfunction. But the gazes stabbing into my back still hadn’t disappeared.

At that time, I was still oblivious… I hadn’t noticed that was the moment when cracks first appeared in my peaceful mob life. Yes. I hadn’t noticed that an extraordinary gaze was being fixed on me from the spectator seats in one corner of the training grounds.

(Lilianna’s POV)

Those of us who had advanced from the middle division were seated in a corner of the training grounds, watching the new students through seats covered with magically shaded glass. Leonardo’s greeting, and the clumsy magic of the other students—none of that mattered.

The only one I wanted to see was Alto, who was erasing his presence at the very back of the line. And then, the moment arrived. With a PAAAN! sound, a silver-white flash burst forth. Everyone around called it a “malfunction,” but my heart trembled.

…There’s no doubt about it.

The afterglow of magic that brushed my skin… That warm, nostalgic feeling… It was the same miraculous light that had held my shattered body together in that forest ten years ago.

“…Wonderful.”

I pressed a hand to my eyes as they grew hot. My fingertips trembled with joy. The memories from my childhood had not been false after all.

“…Alto, you really are different from the others.”

Staring at the exit through which he had left, I made a quiet, yet firm vow.

No matter what obstacles stood in the way, I would absolutely become Alto’s bride…

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