Chapter 60

It had been about a month since Godolphin's challenge was cleared, on a certain afternoon after school.

"Hey Allen!

It's rare to see you show up here."

The club president, Al, approached with a bright smile.

I had hardly shown my face at the extracurricular magic research club that I had started on a whim.

The extracurricular magic, which the chosen ones used, was so dazzling that I couldn't bear to watch it.

However, when I showed up after a long time, I noticed that the number of those with chosen talents had increased significantly...

◆

On the first day of the club's founding.

When Allen joined "Apple House" and began his explorer activities.

Al, Ryo, Jue, Dol, and I, the five of us, started the extracurricular magic research club.

The location was the royal academy's magic training facility.

It was a vast facility, like a soccer stadium, with no ceiling but surrounded by sturdy walls.

Among the 1st year A class, only Al, Jue, and Dol were specializing in the magic course.

In this world, those with the ability to change properties, i.e., to produce fire or water through magic, are roughly one in ten.

To identify these precious talents, the practical skills test for mages is evaluated separately, and points are given for both basic martial arts and extracurricular magic.

In essence, it's a way to boost the overall score, making it easier for mages with special talents to pass, but the cutoff for the royal academy's magic and academic tests is strict.

Naturally, even if the practical skills test is lenient, the number of mages in a grade of 100 students stabilizes at around 25.

On the other hand, among the approximately 25 mages in a grade, about half are assigned to class D, and the closer to class D, the higher the ratio.

Whether or not they can keep up with the same practical classes as their classmates who aspire to the knight course is considered in the practical skills test, so the number of mages, who also train as knights, is reduced as the class level increases.

In some years, there are no mages in class A, which is not uncommon. In that sense, this year's class A, which has four mages including Ryo, is considered to be a class of exceptional talent.

By the way, before the first day's practice, when I, the one who proposed the idea, confessed that I had no talent for property change, everyone was stunned.

"What are you thinking?

I thought you were just specializing in physical enhancement because you were blessed with talent, and that you could actually perform property change...

I thought it made sense why Allen was so knowledgeable about magic theory in class...

But for Allen, extracurricular magic research is a waste of time.

You're still as incomprehensible as ever."

For me, studying magic in a world with magic is a matter of course, but it would seem like a waste to most people.

"Ryo.

I believe there are necessary wastes and unnecessary wastes in life.

Even if I don't have the talent, setting up a place to research extracurricular magic with my classmates at the school is necessary for me.

If you only focus on training with tutors or private teachers, you might achieve the desired results, but you won't make unexpected discoveries.

There are many places you can't reach through reasonable means."

I said this, adapting what a Nobel Prize-winning scholar from my previous life had said, and wrapped up the conversation forcefully.

"...Alright.

It's a good thing to have more places for training, and there are no disadvantages for anyone other than Allen.

But I'm busy with family matters right after entering the school.

There's also the issue of being the deputy leader of the morning hillside club, so I can't participate every day.

Until I can manage my time, I'll participate as much as I can."

When Ryo said this, Jue hesitantly raised her hand.

"I'm also a bit busy right after entering the school...

It would help if I could participate on an ad-hoc basis like Ryo."

These upper-class nobles, who are half in the commoner world, have struggles that poor nobles like us can't understand.

"Sure.

That's fine.

The club's purpose is research, not training.

There's no need to meet every day unless there's a specific common research theme.

The schedule is up to the president.

So, Al and Dol, who will be the president?"

When I turned to Al and Dol, they were surprised.

"Wait a minute.

Isn't Allen going to be the president?

Why us two?"

"Hahaha.

There's no way I, with zero talent, can lead the club.

I reluctantly accepted the nominal position of supervisor because I founded the club...

But the direction is up to the president.

Since Ryo and Jue are busy, it will inevitably fall to one of you two.

So, who will be the president and who will be the vice president?"

I pressed them, assuming that one of them would be the president and the other the vice president.

In such matters, the one who pushes harder wins.

By the way, I asked Mr. Musica to be the advisor.

He seems to be a very important person, like a deputy principal, but when I asked him to be the advisor as a last resort, he readily agreed.

It seems he is a mage and is interested in the club's activities.

"...I'll be the vice president.

I'm the middle child of three, and I've been good at reading people's moods and maintaining balance since childhood.

Al, who seems to be naturally well-liked, is the right person for president."

While Al was hesitating, Dol quickly read the situation and nominated himself as vice president, pushing Al to be president.

It was a typical move by Dol, who can skillfully handle any situation.

"Hey!

That's unfair, Dol!

If you say that, I have three older sisters—"

Al was about to say something, but I cut him off, thinking that if I listened to his argument, it would turn into a mud match and waste valuable time.

I was eager to see everyone's magic.

"Interesting!

Dol's organizational theory is very intriguing.

I think there are optimal solutions for both, regardless of who is the president...

But a somewhat clumsy leader, who is well-liked and straightforward, can make an organization more appealing."

"But I'm not clumsy—"

"But Dol.

If the leader is lax, the No. 2, Dol, must necessarily play a strict role.

A lax and appealing organization will inevitably collapse.

That's what history tells us.

Why don't you use this extracurricular magic research club to learn how to build a strong organization?

The key is not to train individuals strictly, but to train the organization as a whole...

Set ironclad rules!

From today, you are 'The Demon Vice President, Rudolph Austin'!"

I was joking, recalling a certain organization that was famous for security in Kyoto during the end of the shogunate.

I'm not particularly knowledgeable about it, but I remember the atmosphere was something like this.

"Wait, why am I the vice president and not the vice leader?

Did you even listen to what I said?

I read people's moods and maintain the balance—"

"It's my hobby!

You can do it! Break out of your shell!

This is my first and last command as supervisor!

By the way, what kind of magic can you all use?"

I cut off the conversation between Al and Dol, who were still trying to say something, and changed the topic forcefully.

I already knew from the mock battles that Ryo could use fire attribute magic, but I had no idea what talents the others had.

"I can use fire attribute magic."

"Huh?

Ryo can only use the most common fire attribute?

I'm just a talentless fool, but that's surprisingly ordinary."

Fire attribute magic is the most common, with one in fifteen people having an affinity for it.

Given this guy's reputation.

I wouldn't have been surprised if he was a seven-attribute mage who could use all seven types of property change, but he turned out to be surprisingly ordinary.

Hearing my words, Al looked at me with a troubled expression.

"...I'm not saying that the number and type of property changes aren't important...

But Ryo's absolute magic power and his ability to control it fully, along with his intelligence, are what make him Ryo.

They are a barrier that ordinary people can't overcome... but a certain magic manipulation freak breezed through the entrance exam."

Who's the freak, that's rude.

"Well, it's better to show it, isn't it?

Allen.

I can use fire attribute magic too, so watch.

Ryo, is that okay?"

Hearing Dol's words, Ryo smiled.

"Hmm.

Understood, Vice President."

Hearing this, Jue burst out laughing, Dol held his head, and I was satisfied.

Ryo and Dol stood side by side and extended their palms forward.

In no time, fireballs appeared in their palms and began to grow.

The speed of growth was similar, but the size was different.

Dol's fireball stopped growing at about 30 cm in diameter, but Ryo's kept getting bigger.

When Ryo's fireball reached nearly a meter in diameter, they both shot it forward simultaneously.

Boom!

The fireballs collided with the sturdy wall marked with a target.

"Wow! That's so cool!"