Chapter 78

"Alright, let's start today's special training."

"Yes, Miss Mary."

The training between Safina and me has become a daily routine and is going smoothly. Today, we were planning to practice moving together using transmission magic. Transmission magic only works between two people and requires a contract-like agreement. Moreover, the contract loses its effect after a day, which is quite troublesome. Of course, both of us need to have learned transmission magic. Fortunately, Safina had also studied this type of magic, so there were no issues.

(I feel like we're exchanging phone numbers. I've never actually done it, but it's kind of exciting♪)

"Alright, let's try communicating and moving using transmission magic."

"Um, Miss Mary, I don't have much magic power, and if I use enhancement magic during battle and also use transmission magic, my power will run out quickly."

"Hmm, that's a valid point. Let's try to have me initiate the communication most of the time."

"Yes, ma'am!"

We decided to give it a try, so Safina and I got into position, imagining an enemy. Incidentally, the senior students, including Magilka, were not around today.

'Move diagonally forward.'

As I sent the magical words, Safina immediately moved diagonally forward.

'Move to the left.'

Safina stopped moving to the right and moved to the left. It was fun to see the girl in front of me move silently without me saying a word.

'Spin around.'

At my signal, Safina obediently spun around cutely.

'Bark.'

"Woof!"

Safina, without any hesitation, imitated a dog's bark, and I couldn't help but smile at the adorable sight.

"Miss, don't play with Miss Safina."

"Ah! I just got carried away because I could control her. S-Sorry, Safina?"

But when I looked at Safina, her words came out as a question.

"Haah~♪ Right now, I'm being controlled by Miss Mary~♪"

She was blushing and looking up at the sky with sparkling eyes, completely entranced.

"Sorry, Safina. Come back, please."

I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and beckoned Safina with my fingers. She seemed to snap back to her senses and ran back to me, her cheeks still red, which made her even cuter.

"Good girl."

I remembered a scene from a TV show where a dog owner patted their dog after it came back, and I couldn't help but gently stroke Safina's soft, fluffy hair.

"Ahem! Miss."

"Ah!"

I was about to playfully tickle Safina's chin when Tütte's cough brought me back to my senses.

(I almost went overboard because of Safina's lack of resistance. That was dangerous.)

"Cough... Anyway, this way, we can avoid our actions being out of sync. However, Magilka and the others will likely use the same method, so we won't have an advantage."

I cleared my throat and started over, and Safina nodded reluctantly.

"By the way, Zaha hasn't learned transmission magic, right?"

I suddenly thought of a hope and asked.

"Yes, he didn't think it was necessary, but recently, Magilka, who had a scary face, made him study intensively, and he managed to learn it."

"Ah... I see..."

Safina's wry smile at the memory made me unsure of what to say, so I responded vaguely.

"Alright! Let's get serious with the training."

"Yes. What are we going to do?"

The awkward atmosphere made me push the conversation forward, and Safina followed along.

"Hmm, we really need a special move. Since we're working as a team, a combo special move would be great. The two-character combo moves in RPGs were really cool!"

"RPG?"

Safina tilted her head, unable to follow my excitement.

"Well, one character attacks the enemy, stopping their movement, and then the other character immediately follows up with a powerful attack! When you get over twenty combos, it's so satisfying."

I was so excited that I didn't realize my gestures and explanations were making things even more confusing for Safina.

"Miss, your explanation is too vague and I don't understand at all."

"Ah!"

Tütte's comment brought me back to reality.

"Cough... Anyway, let's create a special move that will definitely take down an opponent with both of us working together."

"Yes. What specifically?"

"Well, one character attacks the enemy, stopping their movement, and then the other character immediately follows up with a powerful attack... Wait, I'm repeating myself."

I realized I wasn't learning and there was a moment of silence.

I decided to be more specific.

"For example, first, I'll use earth magic to lift an opponent from the ground and launch them into the air."

"Yes."

As I thought out loud, Safina nodded in agreement.

"Then, while they're in the air, Safina will quickly approach and slash them, immediately reappear on the opposite side and slash again, repeating this to create a cross-slash combo for about ten seconds, pinning the opponent in mid-air."

"Y-Yes?"

"Then, while Safina is executing the combo, I'll use a large magic spell to slam the opponent to the ground and follow up with a series of spells. Finally, Safina will deliver a heavy blow as they fall! How does that sound?"

I looked at Safina confidently, thinking it was perfect.

"Miss Mary... To do that, I would have to exceed human limits."

Seeing Safina on the verge of tears, I finally realized I had set an unrealistic goal, mistaking what I could do in a game for what Safina could do.

(That's right. I'm surrounded by talented people, so my standards get skewed. I shouldn't do that.)

"Sorry. I just realized it might be too difficult."

I laughed it off, pretending I had noticed from the start.

(I need to take a break from games.)

That's why my ideas have been so unrealistic.

"You're working hard."

While I was thinking, a voice came from the door. I turned to see the prince standing there.

"Your Highness, Prince Riffors."

We all bowed. He smiled and entered the room, looking a bit awkward.

"Miss Mary, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Yes, of course. What is it?"

I tilted my head at the prince's hesitant expression, where he was rubbing his cheek.

"Um, it's a very personal matter, so can we change the location?"

"Oh, then I'll leave. Your Highness."

"Y-Yes, thank you."

For some reason, Safina and Tütte quickly left the room, their cheeks slightly red.

I was confused and watched them leave before turning to the prince.

"So, what is it?"

"Um... You were practicing for the tag battle. It seems to be going well."

"Thank you."

It felt like he was avoiding the topic, and I looked at him suspiciously. Seeing my face, the prince blushed and looked away.

"Um... The security arrangements are also going smoothly. Professor Ix has implemented a new security system, and everything is proceeding smoothly."

"Thank you. Did you come here just to tell me that?"

"Um... No, that's not it. It's a very personal matter, and I'm not sure if I should tell you now..."

The prince, who is usually composed, was unusually hesitant. He looked like a boy his age, stumbling over his words. I tilted my head even more in confusion.

After a moment, the prince closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said softly, "Okay," as if to encourage himself. Then he looked at me.

"Miss Mary."

"Yes."

"For a while now, I've been struggling with whether to tell you this. I was embarrassed and hesitant, but I realized I need to move forward and tell you. I want you to listen."

He was blushing but looking at me seriously, and my heart skipped a beat as I imagined the situation.

(What is this? Wait... Is he going to confess to me? The prince is determined and so embarrassed. Could it be...?)

A two-word phrase flashed in my mind.

'Confession'

Thinking about it, I started to believe his actions made sense.

(No, but... W-Wait! The prince is going to confess?)

My face turned red and I felt a heat rush to my cheeks. I was at a loss for how to react and froze like a statue.

"I'm going to gather my courage and tell you."

"..."

"Miss Mary."

"Y-Yes..."

I responded with a trembling voice, frozen in place as the prince looked at me seriously. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

"..."

"..."

"My mother is coming."

"..."

The prince's serious words were unexpected, and I couldn't understand what he meant, so I asked him to repeat it.

His words, however, marked the beginning of another tumultuous chapter, which I didn't realize at the time...

As I reported in my activity report, I received an award in the 5th Net Novel Grand Prize. Thank you to everyone who supported me. Currently, the book is being produced, and pre-orders are available. I would greatly appreciate your support.