“This place should have strong protective magic cast on it, so where did that thing come from? And you…… how did you do that? That was amazing just now……!”

“Well…… I don’t know either, Belle.”

“I know what I saw. You must have exceptional magical talent, Aris! We should quickly……”

Belle paused for a moment as she saw the magic orb next to them. She had just noticed the broken magic orb.

Belle’s face turned pale as she looked at her. Aris kept her mouth shut and looked around nervously before asking.

“……What should we do?”

“I don’t know……? No, more importantly, you’re hurt! Let me see.”

Belle, who had been looking bewildered like Aris, suddenly widened her eyes and cupped Aris’s cheeks with both hands.

Her skin stung. When Aris frowned, Belle quickly removed her hands.

“You’re hurt all over. I guess it’s because you were right next to the orb when it shattered.”

“I’m fine, Belle. More importantly, what should we tell Dr. Andre……?”

It wasn’t for nothing that protective magic circles were cast here. Wasn’t this hall preserved by the Magic Department for hundreds of years?

Belle thought for a moment and then said with a solemn face.

“We have no choice but to tell the truth. We’d have to explain that anyway…… But we might get scolded a bit along with my uncle if the higher-ups find out we came in here when we’re not even third-year students.”

“……I’m sorry, Belle.”

Aris’s apology made Belle raise her eyes sharply.

“What are you sorry for? Isn’t it enough that you’re safe in that situation?”

“……”

“Getting scolded, well…. We’ll just have to write a few reflection papers. And the sudden appearance of the monster is the real problem! It’s not your fault, Aris.”

Aris’s eyes wavered at Belle’s straightforward words. Eventually, she lowered her gaze with reddened eyes. Belle asked in surprise,

“Why, why are you like this? Oh, you must have been really scared……”

Belle hugged her again. Aris felt like she was really going to burst into tears. Even though Belle was just as scared, she patted Aris’s back hard to comfort her.

They hadn’t been together for that long, so how could she care for someone like this? Aris suddenly felt skeptical about her past life.

How did she live in her past life surrounded only by  those who wanted to harm her?

Why wasn’t there anyone then who tried to understand her, to comfort her?

Why… did all the people I loved so much hate me that much?

Only after coming around like this did Aris meet someone who cared for her. This life felt more precious and valuable, and she wanted to cherish it forever.

Just as Aris buried her face in Belle’s high ponytail, a shocked voice was heard from far away.

“No, what’s going on here?”

Andre, who saw the state of the hall, shouted in disbelief and ran over.

“Uncle, why did you come so late? We almost had a big problem earlier……! A monster suddenly appeared, and we almost died…… Waaah.”

Belle, who had been pretending to be brave all along, burst into tears with watery eyes as Andre came near, seemingly feeling relieved.

Andre looked at the collapsed wall, the monster’s ashes, and the broken magic orb one by one with a complex gaze. Andre’s lips moved, and he asked Belle and Aris.

“……Are you all unhurt?”

“Aris is a bit hurt. She was next to the orb, and I think she got cut when it shattered.”

“Miss Eldeiz was in that spot the whole time?”

Andre narrowed his eyes. Although there was clearly worry in his eyes, there was even more suspicion and academic curiosity.

Belle, who interpreted him negatively, hugged Aris tightly while looking at Andre.

“The hall ending up like this couldn’t be helped. If Aris hadn’t used magic, the monster would have……!”

“Belle, are you saying Miss Eldeiz used magic? Is that why this mess happened? No, Miss Eldeiz, you tell me. For the record, I’m not angry right now.”

Aris couldn’t answer hastily, not knowing how the situation would unfold. From the start, Aris didn’t know the answer to Andre’s question either. Was it really something she had done?

Reading Aris’s vague gaze, Andre looked around again and sighed.

“Let’s go outside for now. We don’t know if that thing will appear again, and you’re hurt so we need to treat you. Originally, you can’t use magic inside because of the protective magic circle, but……”

Andre glanced at the broken wall and moved his hand silently. Then, a dazzling magic circle appeared under the feet of the three, and Belle and Aris were instantly transported to Andre’s research room.

“First, would you both sit on that sofa over there? I need to report this situation. Haah……”

Andre frowned as though it was quite a headache and opened his palm. A thin light shot from his hand and flew out the window.

Meanwhile, Belle clumsily treated Aris’s scratches with beginner-level healing magic.

“Thank you, Belle……”

“It’s nothing…… I’m just glad you’re safe, Aris.”

Andre, who had finished the receiving magic, turned to look at the two. His gaze was sharp as he looked back and forth between Belle and Aris.

“I’ll finish treating Miss Eldeiz, so go back first, Belle. I need to talk to your friend alone about what happened earlier.”

“Uncle! You know Aris didn’t do anything wrong, right?”

“Yes, I think so too, so hurry and go.”

Belle reluctantly nodded and waved goodbye to Aris. Aris waved back, and Belle left the research room. It was quite impressive how she glared at Andre until the very end.

“Now then, Miss Eldeiz. First, you must have been very surprised, so I’ll make you some tea. Is green tea okay?”

“Yes……”

Andre steeped tea leaves in a small teacup and handed it to Aris. Despite his clumsy technique, it tasted reasonably drinkable.

Andre sat across from Aris and asked,

“Let me summarize the situation as I understand it. After I left, you were about to measure your magical talent, and suddenly a monster appeared. You used magic to protect yourself. Is that right, Miss Eldeiz?”

“……I’m not sure. The monster appearing is correct, but I don’t think I used magic.”

“I see. You might feel that way. But you were the only one there who could have used such magic.”

“……”

“The protective magic circle lost its effect once it was broken, and the magic orb has no function other than measuring magical power.”

“……Yes.”

“Lastly, as you saw, Belle has a magical talent value in the 300s. That figure isn’t terrible, but it’s far from enough power to turn a monster into ashes.”

Andre, who had interlocked his hands on the table and rested his chin on them, said with a serious face.

“So, you were the only one there who could have used such magic.”

“But I’ve never learned magic, nor have I ever used it……”

“Magic tends to burst out in the most desperate moments. Whether you’ve learned it or not, it’s directly connected to your earnest wishes.”

“But if that’s the case, I’ve never used it in other urgent situations……”

“You probably weren’t desperate enough.”

Aris was at a loss for words at Andre’s remark. For a moment, she felt as if she had been hit on the back of the head.

Not desperate enough…….

When she died by a monster in her past life, what kind of mindset did she have?

She wanted to save Kalaian. But she had no intention of living herself. She was willing to sacrifice her wretched life, but she had no will to live on.

On that day… Aris had attempted suicide, and even before that, she had contemplated death dozens of times. The Aris of that time had no desperate desire to live.

Right. It was enough for her as long as Kalaian wasn’t hurt.

Aris bit her trembling lips.

‘But is it different now?’

In that brief moment, she really wanted to live. She was desperate enough to save herself. This life she had regained…… was just too precious.

“Miss Eldeiz. Why do you think the magic orb broke?”

“Because of the magic I used……”

“Good. You’re finally speaking properly. But that magic orb doesn’t break easily. It’s made sturdy for measuring magical power. But there’s only one exception.”

Aris looked at him quizzically.

“An exception?”

“When you have unprecedented magical talent. In other words, your value exceeded the upper limit that the orb could handle.”

“W-What……?”

Aris opened her mouth foolishly. Isn’t this situation too absurd?

“My magical talent is…… higher than the upper limit?”

“Yes…… Now that I think about it, it makes sense. If your magical talent was lower than or slightly higher than mine, I should have seen the magical power circling around you. But I couldn’t see anything.”

Andre looked at Aris with eyes full of aspiration. And he spoke in a voice that was cautious yet mixed with academic curiosity about the unknown.

“Miss Eldeiz. How about learning magic under me? You are a very exceptional talent.”

* * *