A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special - Chapter 87

Episode 87. Between Summer and Winter (1)

Chapter 18. Between Summer and Winter

The thick, stifling air that had hung heavy all summer turned cool the moment October arrived, as if it had never been any other way.
The gardens of Hebrion Academy, dotted with every manner of tree and shrub, blazed with a symphony of crimson and gold.
At the same time, summer break at Hebrion Academy came to an end, and the autumn semester began.
“Already the second term—time really does fly.”
With the new semester underway, students who had scattered beyond the academy’s walls during summer break returned, infusing Hebrion Academy with renewed vitality.
Looking around, one could spot groups of students clustering together in clusters of three or four.
Among them, one dark-haired boy stood out distinctly.
He wore the Close Line, a badge that marked him as a Single Ranker.
It was Dezir Armang.
Now that the second semester had begun and he had returned to Hebrion Academy, Dezir could feel the weight of countless eyes upon him. Students whispered whenever he passed, their sideways glances and murmured comments following him at every turn. Attention, in every form imaginable.
Not all of it was admiring, certainly, but there was no question that Dezir had become far more renowned than before.
Even students he’d never met approached him with eyes full of longing, asking for his autograph. Such requests continued until the opening ceremony concluded.
As evening fell, the opening ceremony came to an end. The students dispersed toward the banquet hall, eager to enjoy the reception that would begin shortly after.
As Dezir made his way toward the banquet hall, he became acutely aware of how much more difficult it had become. With one eye unable to see, his sense of distance felt painfully diminished.
Gripping the banister, he descended slowly, but suddenly his balance wavered.
In that moment, someone caught him.
“Be careful, Dezir.”
It was Fram Schneider. He looked up at Dezir with a bright smile spreading across his face.
Once he’d regained his footing, Dezir turned to Fram.
“Thanks, Fram.”
“Let me support you.”
Fram stepped closer, but Dezir politely declined.
“I’m fine. There’s no need to lean on anyone.”
“You might fall!”
Fram refused to relent.
“If you were to trip and get hurt, I’d be standing right beside you and yet I’d have failed to protect you—I might carry that guilt for the rest of my life….”
“Calm down! Just calm down!”
Watching Fram’s mood darken precipitously, Dezir hurried to dissuade him.
“So you’ll allow it?”
“…Fine. Go ahead, Fram.”
“Then I’ll take the liberty.”
As Dezir watched Fram’s expression brighten at once, he realized he’d been outmaneuvered—but it was already too late.
Fram linked his arm with Dezir’s.
“Lean your weight on me.”
Though his frame was slender, Fram supported Dezir steadily without faltering. He kept lifting his eyes to check that Dezir wasn’t troubled by the arrangement.
Fram was aware of Dezir’s condition. After Jord had left, Dezir had explained his situation to the rest of the party members.
When they reached the final step and came onto level ground, Dezir spoke to Fram.
“Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it. We’ll go back up together too.”
They quickened their pace toward the banquet hall. That evening’s menu consisted mainly of vegetarian fare—corn salad, rye bread, vegetable sandwiches, and the like.
It was a far cry from the elaborate spread typically served at Alpha Class events.
Naturally, most Alpha Class students found the menu wanting, and the majority left the banquet hall almost immediately. As a result, the interior remained pleasantly quiet.
“You made it.”
Dezir and Fram took seats beside Romantika and Azest, who were already seated in the hall.
They exchanged brief greetings before beginning their meal.
Finding the academy’s food disappointing after so long away, Romantika voiced her displeasure.
“I can’t understand why the quality has dropped so much. Did some scandal break?”
“It would take something extraordinary for a place like this to slip that badly.”
Hebrion Academy, the pinnacle of education in the Hebrion Empire, admitted the finest noble scions the empire had to offer.
It was inconceivable that such a prominent institution would allow a scandal of this nature to surface.
“Strictly speaking, the quality hasn’t declined—the menu composition has simply changed.”
Meat had been systematically excluded from every dish.
Romantika tilted her head in puzzlement.
“……Is there some reason for this? What’s the occasion?”
“It seems unlikely they’d serve something like this just for the opening ceremony…….”
That was precisely when it happened.
“There you all are!”
It was Ladorian Doriche. Ranked among the top of the second-year Single Rankers, she was practically vibrating with excitement.
She rummaged through her belongings and withdrew a pen and paper, addressing Dezir’s group with evident eagerness.
“My friend is a big fan of yours, and I was wondering—could I get your autographs? All of you?”
The group exchanged stunned glances before all nodding in agreement.
“Of course.”
It wasn’t a difficult request, so Dezir’s party readily obliged.
Dezir signed first, with Romantika going last.
“Here you go!”
“Thanks.”
As Ladorian accepted the signed paper, she noticed the considerable amount of food still remaining on Romantika’s plate.
“Doesn’t seem to be your taste?”
“Well, this is… it’s just not….”
Ladorian nodded with understanding.
“Actually, my friends aren’t thrilled with today’s reception either. But it’s meant as a memorial to those lost in the Outer terrorist attack, so there’s not much we can do about it.”
Now Dezir’s group understood why the menu had been arranged this way.
“They say things will go back to normal soon anyway, so don’t worry. Just hang in there. I’ll always be cheering you on!”
Ladorian offered her encouragement and hurried away.
Fram’s expression was one of disbelief.
“Ladorian from the Red Dragon Party just asked for our autographs. That Ladorian….”
“Looks like we’ve really become famous.”
Romantika said it with obvious delight.
Until summer break began, there had been an unspoken pressure from the other students toward those from Beta Class. But now, no one dared to express such sentiment openly.
“Though there are a few annoying aspects to it, I’ll admit.”
Azest seemed less than thrilled by their newfound notoriety. Unlike Romantika, she didn’t particularly enjoy being the center of attention.
“I see it positively. It’s a chance to make our party more well-known.”
Fame was an opportunity to spread their name. Dezir had resolved to capitalize on this momentum.
Dezir had founded the party to properly train those who possessed outstanding talent but failed to develop it.
Since he’d placed no restrictions on party admission, anyone could join.
Even those without talent could receive his help if they possessed the will.
Romantika spoke up.
“What good is the publicity? We still haven’t had a single person try to join our party.”
“……That’s true.”
Up to now, only Azest had applied to join—not another soul.
It was genuinely puzzling.
“It’s strange. We could forgive ignorance before, but now that we’re famous, not a single application? That’s suspicious.”
“Maybe they’ve heard rumors about our training methods?”
“……That might be it.”
The students admitted to Hebrion Academy all possessed considerable talent and had undergone rigorous preparation before enrollment.
Yet even they found Dezir’s training methods harsh. He walked a razor’s edge between instruction and torment, pushing his party members to their absolute limits.
“But your training really does work, Dezir! Compared to the start of the semester, I’m practically a different person now!”
Fram’s voice carried absolute conviction.
Azest, who had been listening in silence all along, finally contributed.
“……The training regimen you designed is more precise in identifying areas needing improvement than some of the instructors here. It’s been invaluable.”
Dezir’s training, though grueling, produced remarkable results. Party members who had endured it and experienced its benefits no longer voiced complaints.
Dezir grinned widely.
“Good then. We’re starting training tonight, so everyone get ready and meet me.”
“Understood!”
“Understood.”
…….
One party member said nothing. Dezir fixed her with a pointed look.
“Romantika?”
“I understand! I said I understand!”
Of late, Romantika had been throwing herself into Dezir’s training with genuine fervor.
Since returning from Freinopl, Romantika’s demeanor had transformed entirely. Once she’d skipped training on occasion, but now she threw herself into it with more dedication than anyone else.
As they were spinning out their idle talk, a loud voice suddenly boomed across the hall.
A woman was ascending the platform set up in front of the banquet hall. A familiar face she’d seen many times before—Professor Bridgette, who taught Magic.
She dabbed her face hastily with a handkerchief a couple of times, then switched on the Magical Amplification Device. Her voice, deep and resonant, filled the banquet hall.
“It’s wonderful to see you all again, students of Hebrion Academy. I am Professor Bridgette, instructor of Magic. I am here today to explain the changes to this semester that I was unable to cover during the opening ceremony.”
The chatter that had filled the hall died down at once.
“You’re all aware, I’m sure, of the recent events that have unfolded within the Western Kingdom Alliance. The Outer invaded the Western Kingdom Alliance and inflicted severe damage. In light of this, Hebrion Academy has decided to take this threat seriously and prepare accordingly. As a result, a patrol unit composed of graduates will now be stationed at the academy, and we have strengthened several security protocols to ensure your safety.”
Security protocols.
“These pertain to external activities. Henceforth, any venture outside Hebrion Academy will require approval from your Grade Advisor. Party activities must also be reported to the supervising professor, who must know your destination. Additionally, after ten o’clock in the evening, you must provide a valid reason to enter or leave the dormitories.”
Romantika exhaled slowly. For someone who had left the academy grounds so frequently, these were irksome restrictions indeed. Yet Bridgette’s words were far from over.
“Curfew will be enforced from six o’clock in the evening onwards, and I ask that you all obey your professors’ guidance. I have personally installed the academy’s barrier with great care, so unless you are a 5th Circle Mage, I suggest you abandon any thoughts of sneaking out.”
The announcement continued for a few minutes more, but it all amounted to the same conclusion—academy life would become considerably more burdensome.
When Bridgette finished, she cast a brief glance around at the scattered empty seats, mentioned that the information would also be distributed via pad, and descended from the platform.
As soon as Bridgette stepped down, the hall erupted in noise once more.
“So they’re saying we can only stay inside the academy now?”
“I won’t be able to go on dates.”
“I should’ve bought more snacks ahead of time.”
Most of the students, Romantika included, seemed rather displeased, but Dezir’s thoughts ran differently.
“Just imagine if what happened in the Western Kingdom Alliance happened here too. Terrifying, right?”
…….
Perhaps the memory of that time had surfaced unbidden. Romantika spoke no more complaints.
“You’re right. I can’t bear to see those monsters rampaging again.”
She tore into her rye bread with visible irritation, stuffing the pieces into her mouth.

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