It's been a day since they drew my blood… and since Carlotta almost drilled a hole into my forehead…
That time, I really had bad luck.
Right when we were heading to the academy's restaurant, that damn system showed up! And I had planned to use that time to try getting along with her.
The mission was ridiculous: "Fanservice time: A main character must let out sweet moans!"
WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?
Honestly, I had no idea how I was going to get out of that situation without humiliating myself.
So I gambled everything on luck.
I decided to tickle Carlotta.
I don't remember where I read that laughter sounds are similar to moans… Yeah… now that I think about it, that sounds completely made up…
But hey, it worked.
I tickled the back of her neck, and she let out a… ahem… interesting sound… let's leave it at that.
After that, I thought Carlotta would kill me, but surprisingly, she changed her attitude after slapping me hard and shooting at me. Almost like a switch flipped.
She acted really nice, even giving me a delicious pudding!
…That scared me.
Don't get me wrong, I do want to get along with her, but that sudden shift from absolute rage to kindness… I don't know, it gave me a bad feeling.
…Maybe she's bipolar?
Anyway, I don't want to think about that anymore.
Better focus on the fact that today they're giving us the results of that blood test.
Though, thanks to that Stupid Trash, I already have a pretty good idea of my stats.
***
"Next, you may come and check your results on the Jade Tablet."
I waited for my turn.
When the way was clear, I went to pick up the Jade Tablet.
I read my name—Kathryn's, of course; nowhere did it say Julia—engraved on the glowing surface.
Kathryn von Adelheid; (A,.,.,.d .,.,.,.,. ., .,.,.,.,) (Affini.,.,.,.,. ., .,.,.,., - Def.,.,.ive Tra.,.,.)
…Hmm. Weird.
There was something like a blur in my record, an undefined stain that wouldn't settle.
"Uh… professor, I think mine is bugged. Look, it looks like a smudge."
"Huh…? That's strange. Let me see."
With his usual sleepy voice, Isac took the Jade Abacus and, without warning…
He smacked it a couple of times at the base!
"WAIT!"
Carlotta and I shouted at the same time.
Huh? When did this personality-disordered blonde appear next to me?
Whatever, she spoke before I could.
"What do you think you're doing, Master Isac?"
"…Well, I'm not an engineer. I fix my microwave like this at home. Is that so strange?"
The way he looked at us, like that was completely normal…
ARE YOU SERIOUSLY TELLING ME THIS GUY IS OUR TEACHER?
I mean, it's not that I don't trust him. That talk he gave me when I collapsed after Maxi rejected me did help… but you'd expect a magic teacher to be a bit more… competent. Or something. I don't know.
"See? It's working now."
"Ah… yeah."
The text rearranged itself.
Kathryn von Adelheid; (Non-Elemental Magic Affinity: Void) – (Physical Magic Affinity: Defensive)
Okay. It clearly says Defensive. So yeah, as expected, my choices ended up affecting this route of the game.
From what I remembered, Kathryn was supposed to have an Attack Trait.
I wondered how much this would change the story.
As for Non-Elemental Magic, that was explained by that Stupid Trash. Turns out it's absurdly complicated. Basically, I can give it whatever properties I want… as long as I understand how they work.
Meaning, I can't create black holes because my brain doesn't understand how the hell they form.
It's… how did it put it?
Giving imaginary attributes to existing attributes.
…Not very clear, but I'll figure it out eventually.
At least, I hope so.
I remember one of the storylines in Love Between Battles was about the protagonist learning about her rare magical trait.
So I'll just trust that my decisions haven't screwed that part up!
"Well then, since we'll begin partner mentoring, I remind you it will last three hours."
The teacher's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
Oh crap… when did we move?
Somehow, we were in that huge courtyard.
Which I learned—thanks to the blonde beside me—is called the Special Practice Yard.
"For now, we'll start with the first group. Lady Adelheid and Lady Carlotta. The rest of you may leave. Read books or something… I don't know."
Alright… here we go.
***
"I'll explain how we'll work from now on, though that doesn't mean it'll always be like this."
Once the other students left, the professor—with his usual disheveled appearance—began explaining.
"We have three hours. We'll work in one-hour blocks for each of you, then do a paired exercise. Who wants to start?"
I looked at Carlotta, expecting one of her usual lines, something like: "I'll go first, what could a commoner possibly do?"
But no.
Her face was tense, slightly twisted in discomfort. Her lips pressed tight. Her fingers stiff.
It was hard to believe this woman was a threat to my life.
…Could it be that Blood Magic makes her uncomfortable?
That wouldn't make sense. I've seen her use it—on me—in public.
But it was true she only used it when she was furious. When she wasn't… she didn't use her magic.
Looking more closely at her eyes, I noticed something I knew all too well from my own past.
The look of someone uncomfortable… and afraid.
What could possibly scare her that much?
What could be so terrible that it makes someone as crazy and proud as her show fear?
Ugh… damn it. Stupid plan to avoid making her hate me even more.
I took a deep breath and raised my hand.
The idea was simple: I'd go first. Maybe that would give this bipolar blonde time to breathe… and gather herself.
"Very well. Lady Carlotta, would you like to stay, or would you prefer to wait elsewhere?"
What's going to happen? In the original game, this scene was skipped. We went straight to the event.
"…I'll stay. I doubt a stray ca— ahem! I doubt Lady Adelheid will understand what's about to happen."
…There's her usual attitude again… I want my sympathy back!
"Please trust me. This won't take long."
The professor cleared his throat, pointing at a small chair with an armrest.
I sat down, and Isac spoke.
"The foundation of Aura lies in the essence of a person. Those capable of using it can manifest aspects of reality: magic, as we call it. The more refined the Aura, the better the interpretation of sorcery upon the world."
As he spoke, he asked me to extend my palm. He drew something on it—a kind of square with a star inside… then took out a syringe.
"What's the syringe for? Are you going to poke me again?"
"Yes."
He rolled up my sleeve and placed a tourniquet.
"Blood is one of the best catalysts. We're using the same sample from yesterday."
"…Are you sure about that? As far as I remember, my blood isn't blue…"
I said it honestly.
That thing could not be my blood.
The syringe contained neon blue liquid—it gave me a very bad feeling.
"It's refined blood. Blood is the best catalyst, as Master Isac said, so it's easy to remove unnecessary elements and extract the purest part."
"Indeed. Think of it as filtering out what isn't needed and keeping only pure Aura. This allows us to observe your characteristics more precisely. Yesterday was just to determine your Trait regarding Magic—in your case, Physical-Defensive. But within that, there are others."
I didn't fully understand everything they were saying, but that last part—I got it.
It must refer to those upgrade options the system gave me before.
I wish I could just tell them I already know, so they wouldn't inject me. I hate needles.
But that's not an option.
Without warning, the needle pierced my vein.
"…I apologize in advance."
"Huh…?"
Seconds later, it began.
A brutal burning tore through my veins. It felt like tiny needles running through my bloodstream.
It was awful. Painful—so much that I collapsed to my knees, knocking over the stool I had been sitting on.
"IT HURTS! WHAT THE HELL?!"
My breathing faltered. I fell forward.
The sensation climbed to my heart.
"AAAH!"
Isac knelt down and grabbed my hand. I squeezed it as hard as I could; sweat soaked our grip.
The pain seeped into my bones, then my muscles… and finally my back.
Like someone was tattooing me.
"Don't worry… it's over."
"Ah… what?"
The burning remained.
"Now, could you remove your shirt and coat?"
"…Damn it…"
Carlotta helped me up, making me sit again.
"Don't be such a crybaby. You had it easy."
She said it so quietly I almost didn't hear.
"…What?"
"Nothing. Move. If you're uncomfortable, I'll be the only one looking."
Looking at what?! Damn it, no one explained anything!
"What just happened was the manifestation of your Aura on your skin."
"Wasn't there a less painful way…?"
"Enough!"
Carlotta suddenly silenced me, placing both hands on my chest and ripping my clothes open.
"H-Hey! Professor!"
"Oh, sorry."
That idiot thought I meant for him not to look, but I actually wanted him to get this pervert off me.
"There it is."
Somehow, Carlotta managed to remove my shirt, exposing my back.
"What are you looking at?"
"…Master. She only has Defense as a Trait. No Vitality, no Attack. Nothing. Just Defense… and well, her Non-Elemental Magic has no Traits either."
"I see… We have a… situation. For some reason, you cannot use other Physical Magic Traits. In other words, you can only use defensive sorcery."
"O-Only defense…?"
I had to pretend to be surprised. I already knew that.
Damn it, if I had known it would hurt like hell, I would've said it earlier.
"That's like… no, never mind." Carlotta suddenly looked troubled. "Excuse me, Master Isac. Could there be a mistake?"
"Hmm. Perhaps. After all, Lady Adelheid is a commoner who ascended to nobility by awakening an affinity. Still, I doubt it. This ritual is quite sensitive. I don't think there's an error. In any case, I don't plan to repeat it."
Thank God.
Still, I needed to know why.
"Why not repeat it?"
Isac didn't seem eager to answer. Instead, Carlotta did.
She placed her hand on my shoulder, her warmth spreading across my bare skin. It felt… oddly comforting.
"That ritual is lethal for commoners. Since it's rare for them to awaken Aura, forcing its traits out puts excessive strain on their bodies."
Her smile… was a mix of tenderness and sadism.
C-Come on… she's lying, right?
They wouldn't be so irresponsible as to risk my life without telling me… right?
I looked at the professor, hoping he'd deny it. But the idiot immediately looked away.
…You've got to be kidding me.
"…It's true. In the case of ascended commoners, the first attempt has never been lethal. Repeating it would be arrogance. Go rest."
I got dressed in silence, unsure how to process the fact that I had unknowingly danced with death.
"You exposed me to death without telling me?! That's criminal negligence!"
I want my mom…
"Now it's your turn, Lady Wiebke."
"Understood."
Carlotta looked… scared.
"…Nen, could you leave for a moment?"
"Huh?"
Seeing the pain on her face, I realized this wasn't about me. Hell, it even looked like she forgot she hated me.
"…Alright."
***
When I stepped out, my heart skipped a beat.
"AAAAAH! ARGH! NOOO!"
That voice…
It was Carlotta.
A bloodcurdling scream.
Sh*t… The hell was happening in there?