Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

6 Days Before School Starts

6 Days Before School Starts

Magic Department Freshman Orientation.

With 6 days until the start of the semester, the freshmen who had taken their entrance exams before the Knight Department gathered in one place.

The lecture hall, used for announcements to the first-year students.

There, Irina scanned the surroundings.

─Hey. What magic ball did you take? I took the easiest one.

─Lame. I did one that was harder than that.

─What am I going to do? My bead broke. Look at this.

─Wow, I almost died when electricity suddenly shot out. Totally freaked me out.

They were in small groups, talking about the entrance exam the day before.

They showed each other the beads they held in their hands.

Most of them were significantly easier than Irina’s.

“……Hah.”

For some reason, it made her feel quite good.

To have chosen the most difficult difficulty and completed it so excellently. I really am amazing.

‘…Well, there was some minor assistance in the middle, though?’

The monster who didn’t even bat an eye when the magic ball shell shattered at once and electricity shot out.

What kind of person is that anyway, but it’s not a crucial issue.

Even if that person hadn’t been there, Irina would have eventually unlocked it anyway.

He just reduced the time it took.

─Look over there. Isn’t that the one they’re saying is…

─Yeah. That’s him. That so-called next Magic Tower Master candidate.

─The one he’s holding is the hardest bead, right? How the hell did he solve that?

─He’s supposed to be a magic genius. He’s on a different level than us.

Whispers and glances around her were nothing but praise.

Magic prodigy. A title she’d never lost while training at the Magic Tower.

Of course, this time, she hadn’t solved it with her own power, but still…

“Whatever, it’s not like I asked for the help.”

So what if someone offered to assist?

My conscience is clear.

“Oh? Ms. Irina, hello there?”

Just then, someone plops down next to Irina.

The way they sat was casual, without any hesitation.

Magic prodigy, someone practically every freshman thought was the top of the magic department this year, yet they showed no sign of being intimidated.

“Wasn’t the last time we saw each other back during your Magic Tower visit? How have you been?”

“Hello, Princess.”

Well, she is a princess, so it makes sense.

A woman with long, braided, radiant blonde hair, dressed in a gown.

Princess Helene smiled brightly, seemingly thrilled to see Irina.

“Are you also part of the magic department, Princess?”

“Ah, no? I’m neither. It wouldn’t be ideal for a royal to take sides, so I’m just here to observe.”

‘Yeah, well.’

The sharp conflict between the Knight and Magic departments at Olympia is famous worldwide.

If a royal were to belong to either side, it would disrupt the balance.

That’s why Helene entered this year as an independent. To remain politically free.

Tick, tick. Dong— Dong— Dong—

Just then, it struck the hour.

Thump, thump.

As the time for the Orientation began, the hall fell silent instantly.

The students straightened their postures, waiting for the instructor’s words.

All the freshmen were aware of the nature of their 1st-year guidance instructor.

“Greetings. My name is Digory. I will be your guidance instructor this year.”

His tone, as he slightly pushed up his rimless glasses, was nothing but icy.

His meticulously maintained attire was free of even a speck of dust.

“Originally, my only task was to inform you of your entrance exam results and be done with it. But, since I’m in charge of the first years, I’ll make a special exception and add a few words beforehand.”

—Perfectionist, Digory.

＜Song of Sword and Magic＞, a character in charge of teaching magic at the beginning.

His fussy temperament has turned countless players into his anti-fans.

That’s true even in the real Atenel Island, so even Irina was listening with her mouth shut.

“You who have entered the Department of Magic have undoubtedly grown up basking in praise from your hometowns. You’re sitting here now thanks to your talents that surpass your peers.”

“…….”

“But it’ll be hard to hear such praise anymore here at Olympia. No, rather, you’ll find it much easier to be criticized.”

Olympia is a place of learning where many of the most talented people gather.

You might have puffed out your chest, showing off your magic in your village, but here, you’ll shrink back when you meet even greater geniuses.

“Talent is devoured by greater talent. …For example, like the student who was the only one to take the most difficult Magic Ball on this entrance exam.”

Heh heh. Digory chuckled lowly. His gaze was clearly directed at Irina.

It was a tense situation, with the first-year instructor focused solely on her.

“Yes, Miss Irina. Speaking of which, may I ask a favor? About how you unlocked the lock on the Magic Ball.”

“It wasn’t difficult at all.”

But Irina wasn’t trembling.

She took a short breath—*hiss*—and then immediately explained the principle behind the lock.

Each time she spoke, Digory’s smile deepened.

He seemed very satisfied.

“……That’s all.”

“Excellent indeed. As expected, you are worthy of choosing the most difficult level for yourself.”

‘Hmm.’

Irina’s lip twitched slightly.

She was trying to suppress it so as not to appear lightweight, but it was difficult to hide her delight after being praised so openly.

‘It’s me after all!’

Irina had been predicted to be the top new student in the Department of Magic ever since before she even enrolled.

Hearing such high praise from her instructor made her feel so proud.

“But it is certainly astonishing. I already knew about your reputation as a magic genius, but I had no idea you’d submit the sphere so quickly.”

“……Ah.”

The twitching of her lip suddenly stopped.

Irina subtly averted her gaze. At this moment, she couldn’t meet Digory’s eyes.

Her conscience pricked her.

“That’s the fastest time ever. Considering the complexity of the lock, it’s an absurd speed. Irina, I can’t help but be truly amazed by your skills.”

“Ah, ahaha…! Well, yes.”

*Drip*—A bead of sweat trickled down Irina’s cheek.

Absolutely no one must realize the truth.

After having laid it on this thick, she couldn’t possibly say she had help.

“A slight mistake could have sent current shooting out and fried you. The fact that you didn’t even experience that is incredible.”

“Ah, Instructor, about that.”

“Hmm?”

She seized the moment and asked.

Irina remembered clearly.

Oh, yeah. It did come out.

What that unknown upperclassman had said after breaking the magic ball.

The phenomenon of not being hurt at all despite the current shooting out in front of her.

“Is the current really that dangerous? Like, for example, it only *looks* scary, but it’s actually harmless to the human body.”

“Haha. Still naive for all that talent, Irina.”

“…….”

Her cheeks flushed crimson with shame.

“Olympia doesn’t do such flimsy consideration. It’s the most difficult level of magic ball. If you get hit by the current, you’ll definitely be injured, and there’s a chance you could even die.”

…To that extent?

Cold sweat ran down Irina’s spine.

‘Then that upperclassman could have died?’

Now that she thought about it, wasn’t that a really big deal?

Then, Digory’s added words reached Irina’s ears.

“Well, if someone wasn’t hurt at all by the current, they must have overwhelming skill. It would be impossible for anyone but the Chairman or the Dean of the Department.”

“…Thank you.”

The Dean, or the Chairman.

Either one, wizards who had shaken the world.

To not be hurt at all, it would take that level of mastery.

‘……That upperclassman, what the hell is with him?’

“Looks like it’s time. I’ll announce the rankings now.”

*Snap!*

Digory flicks his fingers. At the same moment, chalk moves automatically across the blackboard, etching out the entrance exam results.

────────────────

1st : Irina Elethal

2nd : Ruby Duer

3rd : Sapphire Duer

…

────────────────

“Hmph.”

Irina smiles, having seen the results.

Of course, figures. There’s no one who’d get 1st place besides me.

“Woah, woah. Amazing, Ms. Irina. 1st place!”

In the lecture hall, buzzing with students checking their rankings, Helene raises her voice.

“It’s nothing special. It’s basic.”

“Indeed, just as Ms. Irina says, it’s basic here in the Magic Department. Your Highness.”

Digory adds, after Irina’s response.

He adjusts his glasses, twisting the corner of his mouth.

He’d been about to announce the results and leave, but he’d paused, having noticed the Princess’s reaction.

“Though Your Highness isn’t affiliated with any department. I’ll dare to speak plainly, on behalf of the Magic Department.”

“Oh my. Sir Digory. What is it?”

“That attending the Knight Department’s orientation would be pointless.”

An arrogant declaration.

Words that could easily come across as rude.

But Digory doesn’t care in the least.

Because he’s sure it’s the truth.

It’s already common knowledge that the Magic Department disparages the Knight Department.

“Those big oafs, all brawn and no brain, they can only sweat. You’d just go there, take a whiff of their foul stench, and come back.”

“Heh. Thank you for the apt advice, Sir. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Thank you. And you all, keep this in mind.”

The words, like an arrow, passed over Helene and landed on the students.

Digory, refocusing the gazes of the magic department freshmen,

with his pupils hidden behind his glasses, declared with his face backlit,

“Now that I’m in charge of the first-years, defeat will not be tolerated. This year, we will absolutely triumph over the knight department.”

“……”

“Pour your all into achieving our objective. It’s not difficult for high-intelligence individuals like us to face those muscle-brains. Even so, if the magic department were to lose….”

*Gulp.*

Someone swallowed hard, someone gripped their hands tightly, someone squeezed their eyes shut.

Digory’s pressure held that much power.

“……I’ll deliver you hell.”

That promise, muttered low, was so terrifying.

Every single magic department freshman resolved with deadly determination.

─Shit, that’s fucking terrifying.

─Fuck…… Did I join the wrong department?

─Come on. We’re not going to lose to those dumbasses in the knight department, are we? We’ll win.

─That’s right.

While leaving the lecture hall one by one, following behind Digory,

Irina didn’t join in with those reactions, and instead, replayed the words she had just heard.

Well, if he’s able to be unharmed by electricity, he’s got to have overwhelming power. That’s impossible for anyone other than the president or the department head.

“……No way.”

She’d never heard of such a genius among the sophomores.

A powerhouse comparable to the department head or the president?

Someone just a year older than Irina?

─But the vivid scene she remembered made it fact.

The skill to shatter a magic ball with his hand, then immediately dispel the electricity that burst out.

He was clearly powerful.

At least twice as strong as Irina.

“I have to find out.”

If all of these hypotheses were true.

…I was willing to use a little bit of polite speech.

If you’re asking to be taught, you should at least have that much courtesy.

*

“Yeah, just as I thought.”

It’s not working.

After finishing my workout and returning to my room.

Today, I was trying to do magic with a book spread open.

The so-called 【Nutcracker】.

A simple magic to crack a faraway walnut using only mana.

A widely used magic for beginners.

“…It’s not working?”

Still, zero mana sensitivity.

I couldn’t feel a single damn bit of mana.

So, I just flopped onto the bed.

“Damn it, what is it with being in a fantasy world and not being able to use magic?”

It was kind of a romance for me.

I sighed.

As I stared blankly at the ceiling, the one I saw yesterday came to mind.

Irina Eletal, the protagonist of the mage route in ＜Song of Sword and Magic＞.

That one could easily do a walnutcracker like that.

No, what am I saying? She could probably crush rocks.

“Yeah, I definitely shouldn’t get involved with her.”

A magical prodigy, incomparable to a dullard like me.

I should just let her push through her story as the protagonist, and definitely not get close.

There’s no way she’d be interested in me anyway.