The Obsessive Regressor of The Academy

25: The Order

The term “mage” was quite infamous. Hadn’t it been coined by frontline fighters, those who directly engaged with the enemy, to disparage mages who just cast spells from the rear? It was almost a taboo word in Weiheim, so Asel knew its origin and meaning quite well.

Frankly, he didn’t have much personal animosity toward the word itself. But hearing it used directly to his face, well, he couldn’t deny it rubbed him the wrong way. He rather liked magic, and all of his closest friends were mages. He couldn’t take kindly to an expression that disparaged both his favorite field and the people he cared about.

Yes, simply put, it was *uncomfortable.*

“Brainless meat shield.”

So he responded with an equally derogatory term. It was longer than “mage,” but Grace’s twitching brow indicated it hit its mark. Asel’s lips curled into a smirk as he continued.

“So you only know how to swing a sword around without a brain in your head, and you’re going to disparage mages? Do you think civilization on this continent would have developed this far without mages?”

It was the truth. Nearly every convenience tool available on the continent had been designed by arcane engineers and had circuits weaved by mages. Without them, humanity would still be roasting meat over a fire, living a primitive existence. Many ignorant warriors tried to deny this truth, but it was an undeniable fact.

Grace seemed to inwardly acknowledge this, her lips pouting as she muttered.

“……Never thought I’d be having this kind of conversation with you. Is this, like, that butterfly effect thing…? But nothing’s even *happened* yet……”

“Speak louder if you want to argue. Can’t hear you.”

Acel said this and tilted his head back, gazing at the tent’s ceiling.

The crushing ache in his chest had subsided sometime ago. His core was more than halfway full of mana, after all. The mana exhaustion symptoms were almost completely gone now, and it seemed there wouldn’t be any major issues using magic. He sat up, rotating his shoulders, but even the creaking sensation was gone.

‘Guess I can move.’

His passing out, the reason he was lying so peacefully in this bed, it was all caused by mana exhaustion. With that all cleared up, there was no reason to just lie still. Acel immediately got out of bed and stretched his arms and legs. His body, stiff from lying down for so long, loosened up considerably.

“A-are you leaving?”

“Can’t just lie around, taking up space, when I’m perfectly fine.”

“I, I want to go too!”

Grace said, struggling to sit up, but after much effort, she only managed to raise her upper body. The injuries she sustained from Fernand must have been pretty severe.

‘Did he push her harder because she’s a fellow swordsman?’

Acel glanced at the bandages wrapped tightly around her abdomen, then handed her the last potion remaining in his backpack.

“Drink this. It’s a painkiller.”

“……You’re giving it to *me*?”

“It’ll just go back into storage if I save it. Might as well use it here.”

“T-thank you……”

Grace reached out with a trembling hand to receive the potion Acel offered. Acel noticed the bandages around her arm were slightly stained red, sighed, and opened the bottle for her instead.

“Tell me if it hurts.”

“……I was worried it would be a bother.”

“……I’m not twisted enough to see that as a bother.”

He subtly poured mana into the potion to check its effectiveness, then brought it directly to Grace’s lips. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting back and forth, but soon opened her mouth and drank the potion down.

*Glug, glug.*

The sound of her drinking the potion echoed softly within the tent. Acel watched her slightly flushed cheeks and conjured mana onto his palm. The mana, at his will, shifted wildly in form, dancing on his hand.

Thankfully, the nature of the mana had returned from electricity to a fluid form. It was because he’d used up all the mana absorbed through lightning absorption in high-level magic. Thanks to that, he could now use other types of magic again.

It wasn’t too inconvenient, but in order to use magic for convenience, he had to clear out the electric mana anyway.

‘Otherwise, I might end up frying the whole room just by using a simple cleaning spell.’

He had to avoid such accidents as much as possible. If only to avoid being murdered by Evelyn or Hailey.

“All done.”

While he was lost in thought, Grace licked the potion from the corner of her mouth and spoke. Acel recapped the empty bottle and put it back in his backpack.

Come to think of it, the cores he’d put in the backpack were nowhere to be seen. Did they disappear automatically when he left the testing grounds, or did the examiners collect them? He couldn’t tell. Either way, the study of circuits was over, so it didn’t really matter.

“Alright, I’m off. See you at the entrance ceremony.”

Asel slung his backpack over his shoulder and offered a faint smile. Grace bit her lip, about to nod, but then her eyes widened as if struck by a sudden thought.

“Ah, right! Asel!”

“……?”

“What’s your ideal type, by any chance?”

“……Why the sudden question?”

Asel frowned at the unexpected query. Ideal type? The question felt so out of place, so utterly mismatched with the situation. It wasn’t exactly a question one couldn’t ask, but still, it felt like they weren’t that close yet. The distance felt off, extremely so.

But Grace’s expression was nothing but serious. The most serious he’d seen so far. So Asel, after contemplating just ignoring it, gave a vague answer.

“I haven’t really thought about it.”

“But still! There must be a general idea!”

“……Hmph. Someone with… understanding?”

“You mean someone with big boobs, right?”

No, why did it turn out like that?

Asel stared at Grace, letting out a disbelieving chuckle, but she lightly dismissed his gaze and sighed in relief. Then, she gently looked down at her own chest, muttering.

“It’s still holding up. Good.”

“I’m going crazy.”

Asel mumbled and started walking towards the tent’s exit. Continuing the conversation wouldn’t lead to anything good.

“Asel!”

Grace called out to him. He turned around and saw her waving, a faint smile on her face.

“See you later.”

“……Yeah.”

Asel chuckled and waved back. He exited the tent.

As soon as he was out, bright sunlight greeted him intensely. He was sure it was night before he passed out, so it seemed a day had already gone by. The rain had stopped too, and the storm clouds were long gone.

The location… the entrance to the forest. A familiar place he recognized instantly. They must have been treating the injured here.

“Ah, Asel!”

While he was looking around, a familiar voice came from behind. He turned and saw Ellen and Elena, bandaged up. Asel smiled faintly and approached them.

“How are you feeling?”

“It was just mana exhaustion, after all. There’s no need to be bedridden for too long.”

“You’re probably the only one who could say that about mana exhaustion.”

Ellen replied, her voice sounding already tired of it. Asel checked the splint on her ankle and opened his mouth.

“Broken?”

“Just a crack, they said. Still, to come out of a fight with the Master with only this? Consider it a win.”

“Nothing else is wrong?”

“Yeah, just a simple bruising, that’s it. Must be thanks to Master Fernand’s control.”

It was true. If Fernand had gone all out, the three of them, including Asel, would have been knocked unconscious before they even knew what was happening. The gap between the Master and those who weren’t was that immense. The only reason Asel could even scratch him with magic was because Fernand had deliberately lowered the aura shielding his body.

‘A long road ahead.’

Asel thought, exhaling a long breath. Ellen chuckled and spoke.

“Hey, Asel, did you know?”

“…? Know what?”

“I asked one of the supervisors roaming around after the test how many cores you needed to pass. They said five.”

“What.”

Elena, who was beside her, reacted first to Ellen’s words. Asel frowned and repeated.

“…Five? But you need fifty to activate the device.”

“That’s right. But apparently, passing the test doesn’t depend on activating the device, but on whether or not you fill it with a meaningful amount of energy. And the minimum requirement for that is five.”

It was an absurd answer. Was she saying that all the hardship they’d endured until now was for nothing?

“If that was the case, we could have finished on the first day! Why didn’t they tell us?”

“Finding out the minimum requirement is apparently part of the test.”

“That’s just cruel!”

“You could say that.”

Ellen replied with a smile, and Elena huffed. Asel looked down at them and chuckled softly.

What’s done is done. Getting angry and arguing about it now wouldn’t change anything.

“Are you going to stay here?”

Asel asked the two of them. Ellen tapped the splint on her leg and nodded.

“I’m having a hard time walking, after all. I’m going to get some more treatment, and then leave with the people from my family when they arrive.”

“I’m going to wait until they come to pick me up too. I got a message that someone from the Duchy has been sent.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to go alone.”

They had become quite attached to each other, having taken the test and fought together. He was hoping to leave for the city together if possible, but it seemed he would have to go alone after all. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t disappointed, but he wasn’t too worried since there would be other opportunities to meet in the future.

Asel nodded with a smile and slowly got to his feet.

“See you at the entrance ceremony.”

“Yeah! Take care, Asel! Don’t you dare pretend you don’t know me then!”

“Farewell.”

Asel waved a hand at the departing pair, then turned away.

“Hah…”

He glanced sidelong at the healers bustling about, then started walking towards the distant silhouette of the city, barely visible through the trees.

He wasn’t concerned about admission to the Academy. Fernand had said he’d passed the minimum score right at the end, so his acceptance was likely guaranteed. No need for further confirmation. For now, he’d relax, return to Wihalm, and wait for the entrance ceremony.

As he mused, shifting his weight from foot to foot, a group of clerics appeared, walking towards him. They must be the ones the Academy summoned to tend to the injured.

All but one seemed unused to battle. But they all clearly wielded ‘Holy Power.’

It was his first time seeing clerics who could handle Holy Power directly. The elderly nun who’d visited his slum neighborhood offering volunteer work had simply been a devout believer. Those so openly connected to the divine tended to remain within the Order’s walls, avoiding outside interaction.

He’d heard that some clerics focused on missionary work, but in Wihalm, where magic was revered instead of gods, clerics didn’t often visit. The entry procedures were complicated, making it an unpopular destination.

‘I’d like to see Holy Law at least once.’

The ‘Holy Law’ wielded by clerics was a form of spellcraft rooted in Holy Power. Its range was vast, from the most basic healing to barriers and buffs. There were quite a few high-ranking clerics who could handle a variety of spells. They just never left the Order, remaining unseen.

Among the branches of Holy Law, healing, the most widely known and used, was similar in nature to healing magic. Both could rapidly regenerate even lost limbs, and neither consumed excessive amounts of mana or Holy Power.

However, while Holy Law healed wounds without any cost, healing spells were accompanied by excruciating pain. It was no wonder people paid clerics exorbitant fees instead of seeking out healing mages.

This difference couldn’t be overcome with talent or improved spells. Magic and Holy Law had completely different origins and development paths; just because they were similar didn’t mean they could be altered. Still, he wanted to get an idea of how it worked. Knowing something was vastly different than not knowing.

“Sister. Over there.”

Lost in thought, Asel overheard the whispers of the approaching clerics. He used an auditory enhancement spell to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“He’s coming from where we heard the injured were gathered?”

“Wow, he’s handsome.”

“…Sister?”

“…Ahem. He doesn’t appear to be seriously injured. Let’s approach him and inquire about the condition of the others.”

“Huh? Ah, yes!”

A small girl, having been in conversation with a woman with purple hair, nodded and hurried towards Asel. He’d overheard their entire conversation, but he tilted his head, feigning ignorance as he looked down at her.

“Who are you?”

“Greetings, brother. I am Tina, a priestess of the Order dispatched at the request of the Academy.”

“Ah, the Order… You’ve come to treat the injured?”

“Indeed. I wished to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind?”

The other clerics remained still while Tina spoke, simply watching her with approving smiles.

As the youngest sister, they probably wanted her to gain experience. Considering the rumors that clerics were inherently eloquent, it wasn’t hard to understand. She seemed eager to take the initiative in conversation, improving her communication skills.

He didn’t mind, and was willing to play along.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Ah, thank you. May the gods bless you.”

Tina mumbled, hands clasped together as if in prayer, then looked up at Asel and asked,

“Brother, you came directly from tending to the injured, yes?”

“Yes. Their condition improved enough for me to leave first.”

“Ah, it’s a relief to hear they’re improving. Still, if you wouldn’t mind, perhaps I could examine you directly, just to be certain?”

“That would be alright. I’d be grateful, in fact.”

Asel smiled, extending his arm. At that smile, Tina cleared her throat and took Asel’s pulse.

“Ahem… very well, let me examine you.”

She spoke thus and slowly began to channel her holy power. Asel narrowed his eyes, observing her movements.

Aura is contained within the heart and used from there. Since it has a physical form, destroying the heart also destroys the vessel.

The Core, on the other hand, has no physical form. To be precise, it exists within the mind of the sorcerer. It cannot be physically destroyed, but it can be shaken by damaging the soul or spirit. Or by interfering with the pathways through which mana flows. Another mage could even extract it through their mana.

Holy power was closer in nature to mana than aura. Without a physical form, one draws holy power from the well etched upon the soul, and uses it to wield holy techniques. No incantations or complex calculations were necessary in that process. One simply moved the holy power according to their will, and imagined what they desired.

‘In a way, it’s similar to yearning through prayer.’

If magic is a way of realizing certain principles, then holy techniques were akin to yearning for something from the gods. A miracle impossible to perform without unwavering faith in the divine. It was no accident that those lacking faith or who were not devout were unable to awaken holy power.

‘Regrettably, it seems difficult to use.’

The structure was understood at once. Simply observing it was enough to gain all the information he desired. But as expected, wielding holy techniques was impossible. However, it seemed possible to adjust and newly create holy techniques, excluding their healing arts, into the form of magic.

‘Another thing to research, then.’

No time, yet his desires continued to grow. Asel wore a wry smile as he watched Tina remove her hand from his arm.

“Are you finished?”

“Yes. As you said, there are no injuries. Thankfully.”

Asel answered with a smile instead of words, glancing at the gathered clergy.

“More than that, I worry I’m taking up the time of such esteemed people. You must return to the injured quickly…”

“Ah, it’s alright. I requested this directly, so there’s no need to concern yourself.”

“Still, I can’t help but feel burdened. Though it’s hardly equivalent, if you have any questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability.”

“Ah, then immediately…”

Asel adopted a formal tone, as he was dealing with clergy. There was no reason to antagonize them.

The conversation flowed smoothly. Tina asked Asel about the number and condition of the injured, and Asel explained in detail what he had seen. He also informed them of the appearances of those who seemed to be in critical condition. Having received the answers she sought, Tina gave a light bow and smiled.

“Thank you for your answers.”

“Haha, this is nothing. More than that, might I be excused? I’m a bit tired from taking the exam…”

“Ah, yes. Forgive me, it seems I held you for too long. May the gods bless your future, brother.”

“Thank you.”

Asel replied with a smile, and after a slight bow towards Tina, he started on his way.

Looking back briefly, he saw the priest who seemed to be the eldest ruffling Tina’s hair roughly. From what he could make out, it seemed he was praising her. Asel chuckled, about to turn his head forward.

Just then, he met eyes with a nun who had violet hair. She smiled thinly and waved at Asel.

Asel smiled back, waving in return. He thought to himself.

‘I have a feeling I’ll be seeing her often.’

That was the message his intuition as a mage conveyed.