Chapter 5

6 days before the start of school (1)

[New finished product]

–

I cut off twigs from the tree trunk with a crude fishing rod dagger, hung silk thread taken from the fabric, and replaced the needle with a small nail.

The durability is poor and there is no float, so it is difficult to quickly judge whether or not there is a bite.

Production Difficulty: ●○○○○

– [ Production completed. Crafting proficiency has increased. ]

I realized the biggest drawback of spear fishing. The point is that it takes too much energy.

So I thought about trying fishing using a fishing rod, so I made it. There were tree trunks all over the place, so all I had to do was pick one of the right size.

Among the old clothes I had, there were some that used silk thread, so I pulled out the thread, twisted it into two or three layers, and used it as fishing line.

And I broke one of the wooden bags to use the small nails that held the hinges in place. It wasn’t like I had a long sword or something, so I couldn’t help it.

As a result, although it was crude, I completed a fishing rod. As bait, I decided to use earthworms, which can be found in abundance when you lift a stone in a wetland near a stream.

With everything ready, I threw the needle into the stream.

So I sat by the stream and waited blankly for a bite.

“Hmm...”

It didn’t feel too bad to sit with my chin resting and waiting for a bite. Compared to running around the water and getting my body wet, I feel like a fresh person.

“I hope it pays off.”

When I was young, I didn’t have to worry about starving to death when I played in the mountains and streams, so I just had fun. I feel like I’m remembering that time and my nose wrinkles for no reason.

“Hmm... I guess I didn’t do anything for nothing.”

As I was quietly casting my fishing rod, a lot of strange thoughts came to mind.

I wonder if it was a good thing to tell Princess Fenia the location of the golden bead.

“I guess I’ll have to be more careful next time.”

Knowing everything that will happen to Sylvania Academy in the future is the greatest advantage I have.

However, if I do something that could become a variable and the future does not go according to the scenario I know... I could become a fool and give up the advantage I have.

If the scenario I know follows, Princess Fenia discovering the golden bead will not happen.

If one follows the affair, the person who discovers the location of the bead is ‘Lazy Lucy’.

He is a person who is the embodiment of talent, never missing the top spot in the Ministry of Magic, starting from the placement test until graduation.

“Well, that’s the only solution that comes to mind right now, so there’s nothing we can do.”

In any case, the most urgent task is to prevent Princess Fenia from expelling me. Crying, blowing, begging, and appealing to one’s emotions was the handshake of all handshakes.

The best thing is something that makes you feel like something is going on, even though it feels strangely suspicious and doesn’t seem like it should be expelled.

It’s uncomfortable, but it doesn’t seem dangerous... It’s a strange stance.

When I asked what kind of bullshit that was, I had nothing to say. Because it is not as difficult as you think.

*

Professor Glast is known among students as ‘that cheap skull bastard.’

It’s not a big deal that professors have derogatory names going around among students. However, Professor Glast’s level was a bit extreme. This is because it is not cheap and actually looks like a skull.

“I will announce the results of the placement test I administered yesterday.”

The busiest and cleanest Gyosu-dong in the southeastern part of the island. Philes Hall auditorium there. The new students at the Ministry of Magic were gathered together and Professor Glast was on the podium.

Glast called Lucy’s name. But no answer came.

“Miss Lucy? You must be here now, Miss Lucy?”

There was a commotion in the audience again. The students checked their surroundings and tried to find where Lucy was.

“Ugh.”

Only then did the girl sitting two seats in front of Princess Fenia react.

His appearance looked very immature. The witch’s hat covering her face was so much bigger than her head that it almost covered her entire shoulder blades.

He was so small that even the cuffs of the student robe he was wearing were hanging around.

“Were you dozing off?”

“Ah... yes... I dozed off...”

His voice was drowsy itself. His eyes were droopy and he looked tired.

Moreover, the way he proudly declared that he had dozed off was clearly a special species among all kinds.

“Would you like to come up to the podium for a moment and discuss the intention for this test and its solution?”

At those words, the corners of Lucy’s eyes twitched and trembled.

It seemed like everyone was bothered by it.

“Do I... have to do it now?”

Those words created tension in the hall. It was as if he said ‘it’s annoying’ to the face of Professor Glast, who was not at all cheap.

However, some students who heard rumors about Professor Glast were not very upset.

“I see.”

“Ugh...”

It is infinitely harsh on those without talent. He is infinitely merciful to those with talent.

Professor Glast was that kind of person.

“Ouch... Aaaah...! Kyaaaak!”

The way she threw her wide-brimmed witch hat on the empty seat next to her and stretched out her arms and legs, looked like a kitten waking up from a nap.

And the way he tried to get up from his seat like a slug seemed like a sloth would look more sincere.

“If you don’t want to come up to the podium, you can answer right there. Just explain how you came to find the golden orb from ‘Merilda’s Guardian Tree’.”

“Oh really? It’ll be over soon.”

Lucy, who was sitting clinging to a chair, started talking as if it was nothing.

“Archmage Glokt defined... the three main qualities of a great wizard who desires the truth. Magic sensitivity, quick and accurate judgment, and the will to explore. You probably wanted to check that.”

When you open a magic history textbook, the name of the archmage that appears most prominently is Glokt. The qualities of an archmage he defined were already quite famous.

“Uhm... I was just taking a nap nearby and woke up around sunset... so I just hurriedly picked up the magic orbs that were detected around me.”

Watching the speaker continue talking with his mouth mumbling, the listener also feels helpless. Still, Professor Glast patiently waited for Lucy to finish speaking.

“Of course, no one other than me would have been able to find out the location of that marble.”

At first glance, this seems arrogant. However, there was no trace of arrogance in Lucy’s attitude as she said those words.

A tone that recites obvious ‘facts’. He seemed to be explaining it as if it was nothing unusual, like the sun rising in the east and a glass cup breaking on the ground.

The audience was already feeling a sense of discomfort as Lucy continued to explain while suppressing drowsiness.

He’s a genius.

It cannot be explained logically. However, those who are born with something innate tend to exude a unique strangeness.