Volume 1 Chapter 10 The Sorcery Users Spinning Their Wheels
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Lunch break had finally arrived, and I headed to the cafeteria with Chifumi.
After splitting up at the entrance, I grabbed a tray with two daily specials and scanned the room for the table Chifumi had supposedly claimed. …There.
At a table against the back wall, Chifumi was waving both hands to get my attention. Sitting across from her were Kibe-san and Naruse-san.
As I got closer, I noticed what they were eating: the deluxe special. Naruse-san’s family was loaded, so there was no competing with her lunch budget. I could accept that.
Still, quit looking at my daily special like it’s a punchline.
Wait, no. That was not the point.
We were here to scout them. Friendly. We had to be friendly.
The four of us ate in silence until I finally steered the conversation toward the reason we were here.
”So, yeah. We really want the two of you to join our group.”
Naruse-san did not even hesitate.
”I told you already—no.”
She shot down Chifumi’s proposal without missing a beat.
”Go find some other ‘Free’ students. We have no intention of serving under anyone.”
Chifumi narrowed her eyes and shifted her attention to Kibe-san.
”You keep saying ‘we,’ but you’re really talking about yourself, aren’t you? Naruse-san, are you trying to become the group leader?”
”That’s right,” Naruse-san replied coldly.
”Why?” Chifumi rested her chin on one hand. “Being a group leader sounds like a huge pain. Wouldn’t it be easier to stay under someone competent?”
”That’s exactly why I’m doing it.”
Chifumi blinked, completely thrown by the logic. She turned back to Kibe-san.
”Kibe-san, do you actually agree with her?”
”Yes,” Kibe-san answered quietly.
”But you know things are going to get messy if Naruse-san takes the lead, right? You’re aware of that?”
Kibe-san hesitated.
”…I am.”
Naruse-san immediately stepped in.
”Yurina and I have been best friends since we were little. No matter what you say, there is absolutely no way you’re poaching her.”
”…That’s how it is,” Kibe-san added while looking down. “I’m sorry. I know that isn’t the answer you wanted.”
Hmm.
What was the next move?
”You two are the ones who should be scouting people,” Naruse-san said, folding her arms. “There are plenty of ‘Free’ girls who would jump at the chance to join a group.”
”Yeah, that’s true.”
I could not deny it.
”Then why invite Sorcery users who look as plain as we do?”
I glanced at Chifumi. She met my eyes and silently handed the conversation over to me.
”It’s because I’m a complete beauty-snob with very specific tastes.”
The two of them froze.
”!!??”
”I like this body type. Chifumi’s included. I prefer a slimmer waist.”
Naruse-san blinked.
”S-so that’s it… you like slimmer stomachs…”
”Honestly, I just think the two of you look great,” I continued. “That’s why we’re scouting you instead of anyone else. So, what do you think? Want to join my group?”
”Uhh…”
Both of them were turning bright red.
Were they really that unused to compliments?
”You look pretty cute when you’re flustered,” I said. “Come on. I want to get to know both of you better.”
”D-don’t think you can fool me with lines like that!” Naruse-san snapped. Her voice cracked at the end. “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve heard this? I know exactly what game you’re playing. Plenty of guys have told me they ‘like me’ before. Every single one of them was after my family’s money. You’re the same, aren’t you!?”
”Eh? No, not at all…”
”No way. You’re lying. You’ll say whatever I want to hear, take everything you can from me, and laugh behind my back when you’re done. I know how this works!”
For a moment, I could almost see the life that had taught her to react that way.
”B-but what if… what if he’s telling the truth?” Kibe-san murmured as she tugged on Naruse-san’s sleeve. She glanced at me and Chifumi before quickly looking away.
”Found you.”
A loud voice cut through the air.
I looked up and found a group standing beside our table. The man at the front, clearly their leader, stepped forward and interrupted us. He was the textbook definition of a refreshing pretty boy.
”So you’re the woman who’s been hitting on the ‘Free’ girls in our class,” he said, glaring at Naruse-san.
”…And what if I am?” she shot back, her expression instantly turning icy.
”The ‘Free Girls’ of a class are supposed to prioritize forming groups within that class. We have rules here. I’d appreciate it if you followed them.”
”Oh, really? My apologies.”
The sarcasm practically dripped from her voice.
This was bad.
For a Strong-Male, being looked down on by a Strong-Female in front of his followers was a direct hit to his pride.
”Haaai, let’s stop there, okay?” Chifumi said, clapping her hands together with a bright smile. “Naruse-san, Komoda-san, let’s all calm down.”
”Hmph.”
”We are very sorry for causing trouble for another class,” Chifumi continued with a slight bow. “As for this matter, we will make sure to give them a proper talking-to ourselves, so could you please be a little lenient?”
”Even so, that attitude was unacceptable.”
”True. As a Strong-Female, speaking that way to a Strong-Male is certainly harsh. My master, Tatemiya, is already arranging to have her ‘Instructed’ as a Majin. Could we call it even with that?”
Komoda looked between me and Naruse-san, weighing his options.
”Wait… ouch!”
Naruse-san suddenly yelped. Tears filled her eyes.
Apparently satisfied that she was already being disciplined, Komoda relaxed.
”If that’s the case, I’ll leave it to you.”
”Thank you very much.”
”Make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
”Of course.”
Once the group left, I let out a long sigh.
”Haa…”
Naruse-san turned away.
”I didn’t know there was a rule like that!”
”Naruse-san, you really do not understand the unspoken rules among Sorcery users, do you? You honestly had no idea?”
”Rules?”
”Yeah. That’s why you keep saying things like wanting to be the group leader. Have your parents never explained any of this?”
Kibe-san lowered her gaze.
”My family isn’t a Sorcery-user family either, so I’m not very knowledgeable about these things. My grandmother is a Sorcery user, but she never went to high school.”
”I see.”
I gestured around the cafeteria.
”In that case, the two of you are going to have a match against us.”
”A match…” Naruse-san murmured. “…You mean the one where you use the Guidance facility for a mock battle, and the winner earns the right to ‘Instruct’ the loser?”
”Come to think of it,” Kibe-san said, “everyone was getting excited about ‘Instruction’ this morning. People kept talking about ‘Unlocking’ and ‘Mastery,’ but what exactly are those?”
”Ah…”
Chifumi and I exchanged a look.
”I see.”
We spent the next few minutes explaining the basics.
”…That’s exactly what I was doing.”
The color drained from Naruse-san’s face as she realized how many social landmines she had stepped on.
”Well, it’s only the third day,” I said. “If you stop now, it probably will not turn into a major issue.”
”I certainly hope so…”
”And that guy earlier? Coming over to warn girls from another class is technically a rule violation. Or at least it falls into a gray area.”
”It is?”
”At a school for Sorcery users, class lines matter far more than you think. The boys in your own class are supposed to teach you those things first. In your case, that means me and the other three guys. When someone from another class comes over and tries to step into that role, it can be seen as picking a fight with every guy in my class.”
Naruse-san sighed.
”I do not like the word ‘teach,’ but… I understand the situation now. This really is complicated.”
”He ignored Minoru at first, too,” Chifumi added. “That is not good either. If Minoru is supposed to be the one educating you, it undermines his position.”
”In the worst case, if I had raised my voice, it could have turned into a full-blown fight between classes. Fortunately, his view was a little narrow and he did not even notice me at first. We both agreed to overlook each other’s mistakes, and Chifumi suggested the compromise.”
Naruse-san looked at us, her expression softening.
”…Thank you. You’ve actually been helping us a lot, haven’t you?”
Then she tilted her head.
”But going back to the beginning, why does the leader have to be a guy? Why can’t a girl be the leader?”
”It’s common knowledge in the Sorcery-user world that men receive preferential treatment.”
”Just because there are fewer of them? That sounds outdated. We live in an age of gender equality.”
”It is not really that simple.”
”Then what is it?”
I paused.
”…Honestly, I think it would be better for you to experience it than hear me explain it. Let’s have that match.”
”Mmph… fine. Is that okay with you, Yurina?”
”No problem.”
On the way back to the classroom, we stopped by to reserve the Guidance facility.
The teacher checked the schedule and sighed.
”It’s fully booked for the rest of the week.”
”Eh? What’s the earliest opening?”
”After school next Monday. Would you like to reserve it?”
”Please.”
While I wrote our names down, Chifumi chatted with the teacher.
”Why are there suddenly so many reservations? It was completely empty yesterday.”
”It seems many of the boys were inspired by your group. They’re prioritizing ‘Instructing’ the Strong-Females they’ve secured first. As a teacher, I’m pleased to see students taking initiative.”
The four of us returned to the classroom together.
Along the way, Naruse-san muttered under her breath.
”Are matches and ‘Instruction’ really that important?”
”They’re crucial!” Chifumi chirped. “It’s the very first step that shapes your future as a Sorcery user.”
Suddenly, Naruse-san clapped her hands together.
”I’ve got it! Since we have to have a match anyway, why don’t we hold a training session at my house this weekend?”
”Training?”
That suggestion was about to cause quite a stir.
—
Summary:
Minoru and Chifumi attempt to recruit Naruse and Kibe for their group in the school cafeteria, but the girls’ lack of knowledge regarding Sorcery user social norms creates immediate tension and nearly leads to a conflict with another student named Komoda. Chifumi successfully de-escalates the situation, and the group decides to schedule a mock battle to resolve recruitment rights. As they discuss the importance of training, Naruse proposes a weekend study session, leaving the outcome uncertain.
—
Trivia:
The school has a strict “class” system where students are encouraged to form groups within their own class.
The recruitment of “Free” girls is heavily regulated and often subject to class-based social pressures.
The “Instruction” process and mock battles are critical for a Sorcery user’s career trajectory.
There is a distinct social hierarchy that favors men, which Naruse finds frustrating.
Notes:
• Chifumi – Minoru’s 15-year-old childhood friend, classmate, and devoted J-cup Majo (witch servant) is a scrawny, long-haired, frost/water magic user who wields a staff. Cheerfully naive yet sharply-tongued, this well-rounded balance-type warrior hides deceptive strength. As a close, physically attracted confidante, she handles group discoveries, dungeon traversal, and his “Instruction” negotiations.
• Naruse – A grumpy, wide-eyed female student and fiercely independent youngest daughter of the wealthy Naruse merchant family. A childhood friend of Kibe and dungeon explorer partnered with Yurina, she hosts training sessions at her estate. Guarded, analytical, and lonely, her ignorance of sorcery social rules leads to confrontational behavior. Skeptical of Minoru, she is his upcoming duel target.
• Kibe – A pragmatic, capable magic knight and female student from a struggling sorcery family tied to an old dojo. Naruse’s best friend, submissive companion, and rear guard, she follows her lead and acts as a mediator. Highly skilled with a bamboo sword, she dispatches multiple Apparitions in single strikes, possesses rare dungeon-dropped items, and stays behind to train while her party departs.
• Yurina – A serious, disciplined dungeon explorer with long black hair tied in a ponytail. One of the target Free Girls, she is a stubborn but highly capable swordfighter who partners with Naruse to battle Apparitions.
• Komoda – A male student who acts as a group leader. He is concerned with social rules and class boundaries, coming into conflict with Naruse over recruitment practices.
• Tatemiya – A local family lineage that produces sorcerers and wields significant power.
• Minoru – An athletic male student leader with 21st-century Japanese memories reincarnated into a world with reversed beauty standards. Cautious yet predatory, this “Strong-Male” hides a lecherous, dominant side, using shock-based sorcery and Apparition subdual to see hidden smoke remnants. He targets slim women and secures dungeons by placing his childhood friend and Majo under mastery contracts.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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