Chapter 5
A Magical Beast Appears at the Academy
—Bookmark—
The academy bell rang harshly during lunch break.
Tension spread through the school building. Teachers ran about shouting at students, “Don’t leave your classrooms!”
“What… what’s happened?”
“They say a magical beast appeared in the back garden!”
The moment I heard those words my heart leapt.
A magical beast — a creature that should normally live deep in the forest.
Something like that getting into the academy…!
Still, my feet moved forward on their own.
“Wait, are you really going?” a voice of surprise called after me as I took off.
“It’s dangerous — don’t!” someone yelled.
But I didn’t listen.
—If I can show my power here!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change my current situation.
To make my family, the academy, everyone look at me differently.
That thought alone pushed my feet onward.
⸻
When I reached the back garden a black, wolf-like magical beast was snarling.
Its fangs were sharp, and from its fur leaked a kind of malevolent magic.
While the other students cowered and backed away, I gripped my wooden practice sword and stepped forward.
“Come at me!”
I strengthened my body with magic and charged.
—but then.
“Ugh…!”
The instant I took the beast’s claw, a numb, jolting shock ran through my arm.
It was heavy. Fast. Nothing like an opponent trained at the academy.
I fought desperately to hang on, but I felt myself being overpowered.
Just then.
“Honestly, you always do the most reckless things♡”
A magic circle flared to life behind me and shot brilliant light.
Chains of flame writhed into being and wrapped around the beast’s legs.
“Professor Saphir!”
When I turned, the teacher stood there with their robe billowing.
Despite the flamboyant gesture, their eyes were sharp.
“M’lady, charging head-on like that is suicide. You’re such an idiot, really♡”
“Sh-shut up! But I can still—!”
I raised my wooden sword.
The beast, slowed by the flaming chains, left an opening. I seized it and struck its head with everything I had.
With a dull thud the beast collapsed to the ground.
After a moment of silence, cheers burst out from somewhere.
“We did it! It’s down!”
“Amazing…!”
Apparently a crowd of gawking students had gathered.
Panting, I glanced at Professor Saphir. They were smiling cheerfully.
“Well now♡ Not bad. Maybe I’ll think better of you a little?”
“…Just a little!”
Even as I snapped that back, my cheeks warmed.
It was true they’d helped me. But it was also true that my blow had finished it.
Despite everything, I found myself looking at the teacher with a little more respect than before.
