Chapter 11

After the employee recruitment (or competition?) week ended, the school-related activities came to a temporary halt.

Taiga's class finally entered the formal magic practical training.

Formal magic professional education begins in high school, but from the fact that the entrance exam includes practical magic skills, it can be inferred that students already have a certain level of basic magic skills when they enter school.

The course content is designed based on this standard, so although it is a systematic re-teaching of the basics, students who are not good at practical skills may fall behind from the start.

In a certain sense, dividing students into Class 1 and Class 2 is a reasonable approach to avoid negative impacts on both sides, even if it means completely discarding one side.

◇ ◇ ◇

"940ms (milliseconds), Taiga, you passed!"

"Really... I finally passed on the third try..."

Mizuki's eyes sparkled as if she had passed herself, while Taiga responded with a tired smile.

Currently, Taiga's class was undergoing a magic practical course.

Today's practical assignment was for pairs to compile and successfully activate a basic single-system magic formula within a set time limit.

Reading the activation formula and building the magic formula based on it in the subconscious domain of the magician, and then activating it, is the modern magic system.

In this system, the step of converting the activation formula, which can be stored in a machine in file form, into a magic formula that cannot be replicated by a machine, is called "compilation," a term borrowed from information engineering.

Modern magic converts the necessary procedures for activating magic into an activation formula, and then builds the magic formula based on it. This structure makes magic more accurate, safe, and diverse.

The trade-off for this is the loss of the speed of "psychic abilities," which can change phenomena with mere thoughts.

The addition of the "building the magic formula" step is inevitable.

However, while the time for building the magic formula cannot be eliminated, it can be reduced to almost zero.

The emphasis on the speed of building the magic formula in modern magic is based on this background.

CADs were originally just storage devices for recording the original files of activation formulas, but they quickly became a means to accelerate the activation of magic.

The CADs used in today's class do not require adjustments for different users and are completely devoid of speed-enhancing auxiliary functions. Using such a primitive CAD to practice improving one's compilation speed is the purpose of today's practical session.

If one member of a pair fails, the other must naturally stay behind. Since Mizuki passed on her first try, Taiga felt a great relief upon passing this time.

"But I'm surprised, Taiga, you're really not good at practical skills..."

For a task like today's—compiling and activating a single-system, single-procedure magic formula from the activation formula—if one can activate the magic within 500ms, they are considered a competent magician.

Taiga, who had to challenge three times to activate the magic within 1000ms, is not considered excellent even by polite standards.

"Surprised? I've said it many times, haven't I?"

"Although I have heard it... I always thought it was modesty.

Because someone as versatile as Taiga is not good at practical skills...

Mizuki tilted her head in genuine surprise, causing Taiga to smile wryly—there was no other expression he could choose.

"...Although it sounds strange for me to say, if my practical skills were at a normal level, I probably wouldn't have been assigned to this class."

Taiga tried to avoid sounding resentful. Whether his effort was effective or not, Mizuki nodded frankly.

"That's true. If Taiga were good at practical skills... you might be too perfect, making it hard for people to approach you."

Mizuki finished with an innocent smile.

Was his smile the same? Taiga was a bit concerned.

"But, Taiga... aren't you frustrated?"

"...Frustrated about what?"

Mizuki's puzzled expression showed no ulterior motives, so Taiga was willing to answer her question.

"Even if you have real skills, being evaluated as if you don't, I think most people would be frustrated.

If it were me, I would be very frustrated. If I had Taiga's skills, I would find it hard to tolerate being treated as a weed and looked down upon... But Taiga doesn't seem to care, so..."

This was a very difficult question to answer.

Given Mizuki's character, it was hard to imagine she would spread bad words or report to others after hearing the answer, but if he wanted to give her an answer she could accept, Taiga would have to reveal some of his inner secrets.

"Speed is also a form of skill.

And it's an important factor.

There are situations where a fraction of a second can mean life or death, so it's not wrong for me to be evaluated as lacking in skill."

In the end, Taiga chose to stick to the principle.

If Mizuki were an ordinary Class 2 student, this answer would be acceptable.

However, she has special "eyes."

"As long as it's based on practice, Taiga can actually activate magic faster, right?"

"...Why do you think that?"

Taiga knew that by asking this question, he was already admitting to her speculation and conceding the argument. However, his shaken mind could not calculate a better response.

"Regarding the practical task just now, Taiga struggled with all three attempts.

I'll use a metaphor to explain, since my mother works as a translator. It's like someone who can think and answer in English using English grammar being forced to answer in Japanese and then translate it into English.

And during the first attempt, Taiga abandoned a nearly completed magic formula and recompiled it?

In terms of time, you were simultaneously reading the activation formula and building the first part of the magic formula.

When I saw that, I had this thought.

For a magic formula of this level, Taiga should be able to build it directly without using an activation formula, right?"

Not using an activation formula means being able to use magic at the same speed without a CAD. Taiga had an obligation to keep this technique strictly confidential.

However, Mizuki saw through it after just one practical attempt.

Taiga felt a chill run through his mind.

His alertness reached its peak, and his agitation exceeded its limit, which paradoxically restored his composure.

For Taiga, who rarely loses his composure, this was a rare experience.

"I didn't expect you to see this much.

You have a keen eye."

This time, it was Mizuki's turn to lose color in her face. Mizuki clearly wanted to keep her "eyes" a secret.

Was this a bit mean? Taiga thought and slightly raised the corners of his mouth. However, from Mizuki's reaction, the risk of his secret technique being exposed was significantly reduced.

Taiga decided to press his advantage. Mizuki already knew he had the skill to call out magic formulas without using an activation formula. Since that was the case, he would make her believe it was a personal skill and lose interest in the system. Given her character, as long as he could satisfy her curiosity to some extent, she would not investigate further.

"That's right. For basic single-system magic, I can indeed build the magic formula directly to speed up activation.

However, this technique only works for magic with few procedures. My limit is five procedures."

In modern magic, the term "procedure" has two meanings: one is the process of activating magic, and the other is the sequence of operations when combining multiple spells to change a phenomenon. The "five-procedure magic" Taiga referred to here is a spell that combines five operations to change a single phenomenon.

For example, to move an egg from the kitchen to the dining table, it requires four procedures: acceleration, movement, deceleration (negative acceleration), and stopping (end of movement).

Movement magic is a spell that rewrites the speed and linear coordinates of an object. If the acceleration procedure is omitted, the object will continue to accelerate regardless of inertia. If the object is an egg, it will break.

If the movement procedure is omitted and only acceleration and deceleration are performed, the egg will fly in a parabolic trajectory, requiring extremely precise deceleration control. It is easier to first reduce the speed to a certain level with an acceleration spell and then bring it to a stop with a movement spell, even though it adds an extra procedure.

In contrast, for a spell that knocks an opponent away in combat, a single movement procedure is sufficient. The purpose of using magic is to inflict damage, so there is no need to add a procedure to soften the impact.

"I think for combat magic, five procedures are more than enough..."

Generally, civilian magic requires more procedures than combat magic.

As Mizuki said, most combat magic consists of one to five procedures.

"I didn't learn magic for combat.

To master multi-procedure magic, activation formulas are still essential, and my handling speed in this area is poor, so it's inevitable that I receive a corresponding evaluation. I can accept this situation."

Taiga finished and smiled again, and Mizuki looked up at him with moist eyes.

Taiga felt a sense of discomfort, as if

there was a calculation error.

And the erroneous calculation result immediately appeared before Taiga.

"Taiga, you're amazing... I really admire you."

Mizuki clasped her hands together in front of her chest and said with an entranced tone (which Taiga could not ignore).

"Huh?"

"Because most people become magicians because they can use magic... but Taiga has a clear goal and is learning magic for that purpose..."

"Wait, yes, that's true, but..."

"I'm going to change my mindset!"

"Uh..."

"I was just learning magic to control these 'eyes' without thinking about what I wanted to do with it in the future, but from now on, I will think about it!"

What? Didn't she want to keep her eyes a secret? Although Taiga thought of this question at the moment, he was constrained by Mizuki's momentum and found no opportunity to point it out.

"Hello, Mizuki?"

"You're right, as long as you have a firm goal, a little setback won't discourage you.

As long as you can achieve the important goals in your life, school grades are secondary.

This is the value of life.

People must pursue their own unique value in life..."

"Wait, Mizuki, what are you getting excited about?"

Mizuki's monologue—during class—continued until Erica interrupted.

The strange looks from classmates—more like rolling eyes—finally made Mizuki realize, and she blushed and lowered her head.

Taiga watched this Mizuki and carefully maintained his expression to avoid a mocking look.

Value of life?

It's not that great a thing.

He could not choose a way of life unrelated to magic.

It's not that he became a magician because he could use magic, but that he was molded into a magician despite not being able to use magic.

Magic was a curse he bore from the moment of his birth.

He was just struggling to turn the curse into something he could tolerate.

However—if most people become magicians just because they can use magic, then it's not surprising that some magic students would reject magic.

Perhaps his view was a bit wrong.

—Taiga thought.

◇ ◇ ◇

Then came lunchtime.

Later, Taiga stayed after class.

At the request of Erica and Leo.

"1060ms... good, keep it up, it's just a little more."

"So... so far away... I didn't expect 0.1 seconds to be so far away..."

"Idiot, you shouldn't describe time as 'far,' it should be 'long.'"

"Erica... 1052ms."

"Ah!

Don't say it!

I just managed to get over being called an idiot!"

"Sorry..."

"No, it's okay, Mizuki.

No matter how harsh reality is, I must face it..."

"...It's your problem if you want to act like a bad actor, but don't use others as toys anymore."

Erica and Leo didn't pass the one-second mark during class.

So they asked Taiga for help.

"Leo, you're spending too much time setting the aim.

This kind of magic doesn't require such precise coordinate settings."

"I understand, but..."

Leo had no strength left to be stubborn, and Taiga nodded at him with sympathy.

"Anyway, it's inevitable...

There's no choice. Although it's a secret technique, why don't you try setting the aim first and then reading the activation formula?"

"Huh? Can you do that?"

"That's why it's a secret technique. It's a method with no practical value, only useful for temporary expedience. I didn't really want to teach it..."

"How can you say that! Taiga, please! At this point, whether it's a secret technique or a cheating method, please teach me!"

Leo clasped his hands together on his head in a praying gesture, and Taiga sighed deeply.

"Don't say it so harshly, it's not a foul method.

...Really, I already said I'm not good at practical skills. If you really want to find someone to teach, wouldn't it be better to ask a classmate with better grades?"

"Although you're not good at it, you're still better than me.

And only you understand the structure of the compilation and can point out where I'm doing it wrong."

"Don't flatter me, I'll still teach you...

And for Erica, it's..."

"What? Whether it's a secret technique, a cheating method, or a foul, please teach me!

I'm so hungry~"

"I said, don't say it so harshly.

Ah~ Regarding Erica... I don't know where you're going wrong."

"Huh?"

"Correctly speaking, I don't know why you're going wrong.

Your compilation process is much smoother than mine."

"How can you say that! Taiga, don't abandon me!"

Erica's eyes welled up with tears—though somewhat exaggerated—and she clasped her fingers together in a praying gesture, looking up at him. Taiga sighed again.

Although their behavior patterns are the same, what came out of his mouth was different.

"So, Erica, when you read the activation formula, try overlapping your hands on the touchpad."

"Huh?"

Not only Erica, but even Mizuki looked surprised at this suggestion.

"Will this work?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but let's see if it goes smoothly before I explain."

"Um... I'll give it a try."

Erica put her doubts aside and turned to face the fixed CAD.

Taiga watched her start the challenge and then began to teach Leo the secret technique.

A flash of excess thought particles disappeared, and a number different from the time appeared above the small target. The weight gauge attached to the target displayed the maximum pressure caused by the basic single magic on the target. The most important activation time was recorded when the weight gauge detected the pressure exceeding the standard.

"1010ms.

Erica, you shortened it by forty in one go!

It's really just a little more!"

"Great!

I feel motivated!"

"1016.

Leo, don't hesitate. Since you already know the target's position, there's no need to confirm it with your eyes every time."

"Understood.

Okay, I'll pass this time!"

While Taiga and Mizuki reset the measuring instruments, Erica and Leo closed their eyes, rotated their arms, and focused their minds and increased their motivation in their own ways.

At this moment, a somewhat polite voice came from behind Taiga.

"Brother, is it convenient to disturb you...?"

Without turning around, Taiga knew the voice belonged to his sister.

The footsteps were not just one person, so Erica turned around.

"Miyuki, and... I remember, it's Hikari and Nishiyama?"

"Erica, don't get distracted.

Sorry, Miyuki, just one more time, please wait a moment."

"Huh?"

"Understood. Brother, I'm sorry."

Taiga turned to apologize, and Miyuki smiled and nodded in response.

The pressure inadvertently applied made Leo's expression twitch.

Miyuki greeted the two people behind her and moved to the side of the door.

Taiga nodded slightly.

"Alright, you two, pass this time."

The volume did not increase, but the tone was unyielding.

"Okay!"

"Um! I'll pass this time!"

The two faced the CAD touchpad with enthusiasm.

"Finally, it's over~"

Erica's cheer was the bell signaling the end of the task.

"Phew... Danke (Note: German for 'thanks'), Taiga."

Taiga raised his hand in response to