The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 21: Impossible...

Academy enrollment, first day.

After finishing classes, I visited the white tower that stood towering next to the school building.

The magicians’ tower—the Magic Tower. A library where enrolled magicians gathered.

Wondering what kind of spellbooks were kept there, I was about to enter through the main entrance with excitement… when I was called out to by a woman who could be called a heroine in the scenario.

Her name was Sheila Calera.

A white-haired beautiful girl with an inorganic, expressionless face. Those cool eyes were directed straight at my face.

“Do you know me?”

A voice as cold as ice and mechanical as a machine was emitted. It was a face I had seen many times in the game. The voice also brought back nostalgia.

“Yeah. You’re honor student Sheila-senpai, right? Everyone knows you.”

“I see. Are you from the Salvatore family?”

“How did you know?”

“I can tell from that hair color and bearing. Could you be Luka-sama?”

“Correct. Am I famous?”

“There’s no one among nobles close to your age who doesn’t know about you. But it’s strange.”

“Strange?”

I tilted my head. What was strange about it?

“Why is someone from the Salvatore family in front of the Magic Tower?”

“Ah, that’s what you mean.”

I understood what she wanted to say in seconds.

The Salvatore family basically favored aura. Both parents were chosen from aura users. The legitimate wife, concubines—everyone could use aura.

Why were they so particular about aura? The reason was simple. Abilities in this world were easily inherited by children. That’s why they had been passing down the aura that the first head had mastered through generations.

As the condition for giving the first trial was ‘awakening of aura,’ all members of the Salvatore family had awakened to aura.

Of course, there were some who were blessed with abilities other than aura. However, proportionally, aura was the majority. That’s probably why she had doubts. What business did someone from such a clan have at the Magic Tower?

I decided to answer her concisely.

“If I’m entering the Magic Tower, I’m obviously here to learn magic. Is there anything else?”

“You… can use magic?”

“Nope. I’ve never used it even once.”

“Then you should stop. You’ll regret it if you don’t have aptitude.”

“I have aptitude. No problem.”

“Then why can’t you use magic?”

“I can’t use it—no, I just haven’t used it.”

They sound similar but were completely different, you know? Don’t mistake them.

“To me, it’s the same thing.”

“No no no. I have other abilities I can use. That’s why I focused on developing those.”

“Magic was secondary?”

“Depending on how you put it.”

“I’m a bit annoyed.”

“Why?”

I didn’t even say anything harsh or anything.

“All the students in the Magic Tower are serious. They’re seriously working hard. We don’t welcome dilettantes.”

“Who’s a dilettante?”

I grinned and released magical power from my entire body.

“That is… magical power?”

“That’s right.”

“I thought you couldn’t use it.”

“Magic, yeah. I can at least release magical power.”

What I was doing now was just meaninglessly leaking magical power. Anyone who can use magic should be able to do this.

“Are you a bit convinced now?”

“Not at all. You’re only a magician if you can use magic.”

“That’s logical. Don’t worry, I’ll master it now.”

“I don’t think it’s that simple.”

“You became able to use magic quickly too.”

“Because I’m a genius.”

“You sure say it.”

As expected of a magician with talent to rival that of Lucia despite not being from the Morgan family. Nicely arrogant.

“Then you’d better watch carefully. There’s a genius greater than you right in front of you?”

“…What do you mean?”

Sheila’s eyes narrowed. Hostility was clearly emanating. But it didn’t work on me. I’d even had bloodlust directed at me before, you know? I turned on my heel without concern and entered the Magic Tower.

Perhaps curious despite her words, Sheila chased after me. The two of us first headed to the library where the spellbooks were kept.

☆

I entered the library with Sheila. The nostalgic scene I had seen on the game screen spread out there.

Bookshelves that filled my vision. Arranged in a circle, they continued further upward via connecting stairs. Just how many bookshelves were there?

“I expected it, but it looks like finding spellbooks will also take time…”

“I’ll help you.”

“Hm? Is that okay?”

“I don’t mind. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of failure you’ll show me.”

“You sure are blunt. Fine then. Please bring me books that are easy for beginners to understand from what’s here!”

“Light demands for such an attitude.”

“I’m seriously a beginner.”

I won’t put on unnecessary airs. Not forcing myself was my creed.

“I understand for now. I’ll bring something readable.”

Saying that, she headed to a nearby bookshelf. After a while, she brought about three books.

“Are those beginner-oriented books?”

“Yes. Try your best to learn.”

I opened the book handed to me. Reading through several pages, there were indeed detailed instructions on how to use magic for beginners.

As expected of a senpai one year ahead. She knows well.

“Thanks. Well then, let’s try using magic right away.”

“Huh? What are you saying?”

“I said I’m going to use magic. What do you think the spellbook is for?”

“That’s impossible. If magic could be used so easily, anyone could become a great magician—”

Whoosh!

In the middle of Sheila’s words, a small flame shot out from my raised index finger. Seeing that, Sheila froze.

“Wh-what… magic?”

“No matter how you look at it, it’s magic.”

“Why?! How did you use magic in one shot?! Could you actually use magic all along?”

“Of course not. If I could, I wouldn’t have had you bring me beginner books. That would be a waste of time.”

I extinguished the fire and made a smug face. I delivered my finishing line to Sheila, who was stunned as if seeing a dream.

“The reason I could use magic was purely because I’m a genius. There’s no other reason.”

“Lies… impossible. To use magic in such a short time, and to maintain it properly… even people from the Morgan ducal family couldn’t do that.”

“The starting point was easy. It was similar to aura and divine prayer.”

The sensation of manipulating magical power was similar to aura. And the process of converting magical power’s properties was similar to divine prayer. More concrete images and manipulation are required than divine prayer, but it worked out surprisingly well.

—With this, I can start that experiment sooner than I thought.

Kukuku. I can’t help but look forward to it. While Sheila remained stunned, I inwardly smirked endlessly.

———————————

Normally, activating magic would take much more time!

Being able to use it this quickly is probably limited to Lucia, Sheila, and Luka.

Even Cornelia would take three days when it comes to magic! (Luka is currently the fastest)