Stupid Heroes ~We Draft Candidates~ (WN): Chapter 4

 

Chapter 4: Magic Lecture

 Being [unique] is difficult. It is good if that uniqueness is recognized by many people, but if it is not, it will bring misfortune.

 Appearance is also an individuality. It is enviable to be good-looking, and it usually produces good results. But it is not always the case. It is not uncommon to hear stories of women who are good-looking enough to be models being bullied as children simply because one parent is a foreigner.

 Even if they are the same beauty, girls who are purely Japanese, or just look that way even if they are actually different, are adored from a young age, while those who are not are sometimes mistreated without the advantage of their looks. You never know which way things will turn out, lucky or unlucky.

 Individuality is a quality or characteristic that is different from others. Being different is a risk.

 There are two major ways to reduce that risk.

 The first is to have your individuality recognized by those around you. This requires not only the quality of the individuality, but also other qualities such as the effort to make people recognize it, and the cooperativeness to be able to do so.

 If this is not possible, what can be done? They have to hide their individuality. They must put on an act in order to be recognized by those around them.

 He chose to do that. He chose to hide his uniqueness, to hide his inner self, and to perform so that people would not look at it.

◇◇◇

 The third day after the summon. The day of the magic class that many students have been waiting for has arrived. However, the lesson that has started is not what the students expected.

"Magic is roughly divided into three types. Attribute magic, spirit magic, and unique magic."

 The class began with an explanation of the basics of magic.

“Of the three, the magic we can use is the attribute magic and the unique magic. Unique magic is special, so I won't explain it here. What I will teach you will be about attribute magic."

 At the mention of teaching, there was a slight murmur among the students, but it was nothing more than a hasty assumption. The teacher's explanation continued.

"Since we call it attribute magic, it has attributes. There are six attributes: the four elemental attributes of fire, water, wind, and earth, and the two attributes of light and nothingness. Does anyone have any questions so far?"

"Yes"

 Mei immediately raised her hand in response to the teacher's question. Mei was given the title of [Great Mage Egg]. It was only natural that she would actively ask questions about magic.

"Please go ahead."

"How can I use spirit magic?"

“In order to use spirit magic, you need to make a contract with a spirit. I'm not saying there is no possibility at all, but it would be difficult."

"It doesn't mean it can't be used?"

"To make a contract with a spirit, you must be recognized by the spirit."

"How can I be recognized?"

"...You're Mei-san, aren't you? Your title is [Great Mage Egg], and the special skills include an aptitude for all four elemental attributes."

 Looking down at the list in hand, the teacher confirmed with Mei.

"Yes"

 Mei replied with a slightly proud expression on her face.

"You can't do it"

"Eh?"

 The teacher's words came as a surprise to Mei, who thought she was the best when it came to magic.

"Not only is it impossible, but you must not enter into a contract with a spirit."

"Why!?"

 Unsatisfied, Mei's voice naturally grew louder.

“In essence, it is abnormal to have an aptitude for more than one attribute, because there is a part of them that is repulsive to each other."

"Like fire and water?"

"That is one of them. Spirits also have attributes. And because they have an ego, the repulsion is much stronger. A contract can only be made with a spirit of one attribute. This means that magic with the same attribute as the spirit will have a stronger effect, but magic with other attributes will be significantly less effective."

"I see."

 With this explanation by the teacher, Mei understood why she should not make a contract with a spirit.

"You must understand. There is a possibility that you will lose the aptitude for multiple attributes that you have, so Mei-san should not make a contract with a spirit."

"I understand"

 Mei understood the teacher's explanation. Mei was not going to take the risk of losing the excellent talent she had acquired.

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes, teacher"

 Next, a male student sitting next to Mei raised his hand. Jin Takamiya, his title is [Holy Knight Egg].

"Then please ask a question."

"I have an aptitude for light magic. What about that case?"

"It's the same. If the spirit you contract with has a different attribute, that aptitude loses its effect."

“Does the light also repel…”

“Since you seem to be interested, let me explain in more detail. Do not equate the repulsion of an attribute with the repulsion of a spirit. A spirit just doesn't want its contractual partner to contract with another spirit. They don't want their contractual partner to adopt attributes different from their own."

 To put it simply, spirits have a strong desire to monopolize, and they are jealous. The teacher is just talking about this like it is a lesson.

"Is there a light-attribute spirit?"

"Probably yes. Attributes come from the elements that create the world. And to that element, there is a spirit that protects and nurtures it. As long as there is a light attribute, we should assume that there is a spirit with that attribute."

“So I just have to make a contract with it?”

"Yes."

"How can I make a contract with a spirit?"

"...We're in attribute magic class, and all you're doing is asking questions about spirits."

"I'm sorry."

 The existence of a spirit is otherworldly. Contracting with it makes them feel that they are special. Many students are attracted to spirit magic rather than just attribute magic.　

"I don't have the answer to that question. There are very few people who have made a contract with spirits, and information about them is not generally available to the public."

"Why is that?"

"Spirits are shy."

"Huh?"

"It is a myth. Those who don't know spirits don't know the truth. There is one thing we do know."

"That is?"

"People who can make a contract can see spirits."

"Um, where is that?"

 The answer was different from what he was expecting, and Jin was a little disappointed, but he continued to ask questions.

"You don't see me giving you an answer. That means you can't make a contract."

"But teacher, I have never been to a place where there are spirits."

"Spirits are near the source that generates this world, which means they are everywhere."

""""Eh!?"""

 Confused by the teacher's words, the students began to look around. They were looking for a spirit somewhere, but they would soon learn that it was useless to look for it.

"It is useless to look for them. What you see or don't see is whether or not the spirit wants to be seen. Spirits will show themself in front of the person they are interested in. That's how they try to attract the attention of others."

“…………”

"You get it now, right? By the way, is there anyone who can see them?"

 No one answers the teacher's question. The teacher does not find this strange. The teacher has never actually met anyone who can see spirits, only hearing rumors. It is natural that he would think they do not exist.

“Then everyone can't use spirit magic. Now, do you have any other questions?"

 Contrary to the teacher's wishes, a hand was raised in the place.

“…………”

 However, the student remained silent without saying anything.

“Did you raise your hand just now? Um..."

 The teacher confirms the name of the student in the list at hand.

"Ren-san"

"……Yes"

"What's your question?"

"No, my hands are brushing away bugs."

"I know it's confusing. But, since we're talking, do you have any?"

"Um... Why is unique magic classified separately from attribute magic? Don't they have attributes?"

 After thinking for a moment, Ren asked a question.

"Is it unique magic this time?"

"Sorry"

"No, it's a good question, so I'll answer it. Well, what is unique magic? Actually, there is no clear definition for this. Magic that does not belong to attribute magic and spirit magic is called unique magic."

“…………”

 Ren's eyebrows frown. The teacher's explanation is like saying that he doesn't know anything about unique magic. All the magic they don't understand is unique magic.

“Let me give you an example. There is a monster called thunder beast, which has attacks similar to lightning. It does not have the attribute of lightning. So it cannot be attribute magic."

"Not light?"

"Yes. It wouldn't be strange to call it a light attribute. However, the light attribute refers to sunlight. Lightning is not sunlight."

"...The opposite of sunlight is nothingness."

"Not that it is the opposite. No, I would say it is the opposite."

“…………”

 The teacher's explanation is quite unreasonable. He stopped talking, thinking it was useless to ask, but the teacher got impatient with that and added more explanations.

"If light is life, nothingness is death. In that sense, it's the opposite."

"……Yes"

 Ren wasn't convinced at all, but since it would be troublesome to continue asking questions, he decided to answer [yes] and end it.

“Anyway, unique magic is, in essence, unclassified magic. It's not so much that this kind of magic is unique magic, but rather that all magic that doesn't fit into an attribute is called unique magic."

"Yes"

“And most of them are magic used by monsters. So it is being researched. Not for use, but for prevention."

"Can't people use it?"

 Ren had intended to end the conversation, but he was a little concerned about this.  He is more eager than other students to gain knowledge.

"No, you can use it. If you use magic that doesn't apply to the attribute, it's unique magic. That's right. To give you an example, the Thunder Emperor and the one who was called the Ice Witch, used unique magic.

"Is there such a person?"

"It was a long time ago. It's more like a legend, but it is said that there was such a hero."

"What about the magic itself?"

"It has not been handed down. Only that person can use it, that's why it is unique. That's right. There was one definition of unique magic. It is something that can only be used by that person or that race. It's just as the word says."

"Race?"

 The meaning of the expression [race] was not clear to Ren.

“The thunder beast I used as an example earlier is not a proper noun, but means a thunder beast species. There are many different thunder beast species, such as the thunder rabbit in the form of a rabbit, the thunder bear in the form of a bear, the thunder tiger in the form of a tiger, and so on.”

"So they are species?"

"People are also a species. If all people could use it, it would not be a unique magic."

"...So a clan?"

 Ren thought that the teacher's explanation was strange. The human race, in other words, is a race. The teacher, however, refers to the human race as a species.

“Because the magic that is passed down in the clan is also unique magic. Just because it is a secret, it shouldn’t mean that other people can’t use it, so it’s a little different.”

"……Yes"

"It was not an academic way of explaining it. I still assume there is no clear definition."

 After explaining the situation in detail, the teacher reverted to his original conclusion. The teacher, after all the explanations he had given so far were based on the human race, and he himself knew that there were contradictions in his explanations.

"Now, that's enough. The lesson has not progressed at all. Are there any more questions?"

 There was no way they could ask any more questions after being told this. No one raises their hands.

"Then, let's move on. Attribute magic can be categorized differently. There are two types of magic: external magic and internal magic. External magic is magic that affects people other than oneself. Internal magic is magic that affects oneself. There is also a category. The four categories: attack, support, recovery, and special. Now...... Yuya-san."

"Y-yes!"

"Is attack magic classified as external magic or internal magic?"

"External magic"

"That's right. Then which one is recovery magic?"

"……That's?"

"Yes. Correct answer."

"Eh?"

 The teacher said the correct answer even though he did not answer anything. Yuya did not understand the meaning of that.

"The fact that you are troubled is proof that you know. If you want to heal yourself, it is internal magic, and if you want to heal others, it is external magic."

“The same magic, but in different categories?”

"Oh, that's wrong."

"Wrong?"

"For example, there is a magic called healing that heals injuries, but this has no effect on oneself. It's just an external magic."

"So what is the magic that heals your own injuries?"

"Recovery"

"I see……"

“By the way, healing is light attribute magic, and recovery is non-attribute magic. Since they have different attributes, it is rare to find someone who can use both."

“…………”

"Do you understand external magic and internal magic? All you need to understand is whether it can only be cast to others or to yourself.

"Um, is that true for me as well, the hero?"

"I don't know. Maybe you can use both. However, it's an abnormal state, and usually, it's just like I said."

"Yes, I understand"

"Now, next we will talk about magic chanting......"

 In the end, that day's magic class ended with just a lecture. For the students who wanted to be able to use magic, the content left nothing but frustration.

 In fact, in the place where the teacher had left, the remaining students were complaining verbally.

 It was the same for the four who had earned the superior title. Mei and Jin, sitting in front of him, are facing each other with their backs to him, talking about the class.

"The class is so boring that it ends with just talking."

"We have only just been summoned."

"Yes, but I'm the hero."

 After being summoned to this world, this line has become Yuya's favorite phrase.

"It's an egg"

"Even if it's an egg, it is a hero egg. If it hatches, it's a hero."

"That's true, but......"

 Shizuru feels a little uncomfortable with Yuya's habit of saying that. Because, depending on how she listens, he seems to be appealing that only he is special.

"If you actually try it, you'll be able to use it easily."

"I don't know about that."

"You'll find out. We know that our special skills have a magic aptitude."

"That may be so, but......"

“Shizuru is cautious. But if you're careful, even more so, you have to learn to use it quickly, whether it's magic or a sword, and you have to hone it. That way, when the time comes, you'll be ready."

"We have four years. What are we going to do with just a few days?"

"No, it's not. It's less than a year."

"That's until the start of school, isn't it?"

"That's right. Don't you know about this information? Everyone is said to be rivals when they enter the school."

"...That's how it usually is"

"Don't you know? We will be evaluated during our three years of school."

"That's right."

"No, it's the country you go to that determines that evaluation."

"I know that. Bishop Mikhail explained it."

"There is something Bishop Mikhail did not explain."

"What?"

"The conditions change depending on the evaluation. For example, there is a country that really wants me to come to their country. If there is more than one country, how do you think you will decide which country you will go to?"

"Condition?"

“Yes. Salary, a place to live, people to take care of you, and so on. They'll give you all these benefits, and you will choose which country."

"Bidding?"

"It's a draft"

"It's a bid, right?

 Shizuru is right. A draft is to distribute the right to negotiate, and is different from a bid in which the conditions are presented and the bidder is asked to choose.

"...It's the same. In other words, we're draft candidates."

 Yuya's insistence on the draft was just to say this.

"Maybe our will is irrelevant, and the country gets to choose?"

"...I'll do my best to prevent that from happening."

 Yuya's expression suddenly darkened after his precious words were lightly washed away by Shizuru.

"How?"

“The other students at the school have a role to play in evaluating us. It's their role to find people who want to come to their country. You just have to be friends with those people in the country you want to go to."

"So that's how it is."

"Do you understand?"

"It is not like that……"

 Shizuru's gaze was directed to Ren's seat diagonally in front of her. Of course, Ren is not in the seat. Before she knew it, he had left the place.

"Oh, that's what you mean."

 Mei knew where her gaze was and spoke to her.

"Yes. Takashiro-kun said that we can't all cooperate with each other."

"We are all competitors. We can't cooperate. Yes, but is that all?"

"Eh?"

"The way he said it, it sounded more serious."

"Yes..."

"Speaking of which, where did Yuya hear that information from?"

"...Who was it? I heard someone talking about it."

"How do you know it's true?"

"I don't know."

"It's no good. That's the kind of information Yuya brings. It's just going to end up being swayed."

"That's terrible. But I can't deny it."

 That was the end of the conversation. After that, it was just a conversation about enjoying imagining this world that they don't know much about. It's all just chit-chat now.

 After confirming that, Ren, who was standing alone in the hallway, decided to leave the place.

(...Was it true? Is it wrong to doubt him? There's no way he would lie.)

 With a look of surprise on his face, Ren walked down the corridor.

(I went to the trouble of passing on the information, but it was all in vain.)

 By information, it is what Yuya was talking about. Ren secretly spread the information he obtained to the other hero candidates. Because there was something he wanted to confirm.

(It's no good. They are useless. Let's leave them alone.)

 After confirming this, Ren made a decision.

 To live in this world, he must not rely on the other hero candidates. He would not use them.