Chapter 691 The Start of Magic Training and Leo’s Plan.txt
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Kazumi’s POV)
Free time ended, and until noon it was back to lectures. We sat in the wide wooden hall, the air warm with the smell of sunlit wood, the hard chairs creaking under us. Gentle light streamed in through the tall windows, catching on the drifting dust like tiny sparks, and Miss Maria’s calm voice filled the air.
”Let me explain why this ‘Closed World’ was chosen for our magic camp.”
Everyone’s eyes flicked to her at once. She picked up a stick of chalk, and with crisp *kat-kat* strokes wrote the words “magic taint” across the blackboard in big letters.
”The ‘magic taint’ floating in this World is different from the kind on the surface. It’s born from the magical power of the ‘dungeon master’. Unlike natural magic taint, it’s easy for your body to absorb, and it heals your magical power incredibly fast. Because of that, you can cast magic over and over, and your training improves at an amazing rate.”
The hall buzzed. Rena and I already knew, but the other students stared wide-eyed, whispering in shock. The boy next to me muttered “No way…” under his breath, and the girl in front scribbled furiously in her Noo notebook.
”If you’re just starting magic, don’t be afraid to fail—just try as many times as you can. If you’ve already learned spells, keep using them. Focus on improving your precision and power.”
With that, Miss Maria straightened her back and motioned for everyone to rise. There was always this quiet authority in her voice that made your spine want to obey.
”Tomorrow morning, Principal Milia will arrive. The real training begins then, but for today—after lunch—please focus on self-practice.”
Leaving those words behind, she glided out of the hall. The soft click of the door closing echoed in the sudden stillness.
* * *
Lunch turned the hall into chaos again, chairs scraping together as everyone crammed the tables side by side. Villagers brought out trays piled with food: bowls of bright veggie Suu soup, golden-brown roasted meat, grilled river fish still crackling from the fire—all harvested right here in this World. Steam curled off the plates, rich smells swirling like a teasing hand at my nose.
”As expected of a World created by Frejya,” Rena whispered, eyes sparkling as she picked up her fork.
”Yeah… it really does feel like the goddess’s blessing,” I murmured back with a grin. Well, it was actually ‘Sir Wash’ [T/N: current caretaker deity of this Closed World] who was maintaining it now, but still.
As we ate, one of the village leaders appeared: a tall man named Vlad Dragan, sharp-eyed, with this mysterious air like he’d just stepped out of an old legend. He introduced himself as a ‘Hidden One’ (Vampire), his deep voice carrying a strange calm.
”We are grateful to this World, yes,” he said, “but the only reason we can live so freely in such a bright World is because of the Raetia people and our lord.”
Everyone quieted to listen. The only sounds were a soft clink of spoons, a tiny cough from somewhere down the table.
”Think of it as our small way of repaying you—Raetia’s future. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call on us.”
When Vlad smiled, the tension melted away like mist. And then came the dessert: plates of glossy fruit, juicy peaches and bright red berries. We stuffed ourselves, rubbing our full bellies as we headed out to start afternoon self-practice. A soft breeze slid through the air as I breathed deep, and it honestly felt like magical power was welling up inside me just from standing there.
* * *
(Leo’s POV)
”We’ll have to do it tonight. Before the principal gets here.”
The moment I’d heard in class that Principal Milia would arrive tomorrow, my eyes met Yan-senpai’s across the noisy hall. If we were going to declare our challenge against the ‘Third Floor boss Elia,’ this was our chance—before the Sage herself arrived to crush it. Our voices blended into the hum of chatter around us, whispers hidden among the clatter of spoons on wood.
”Let’s talk to Jan’s group during self-practice,” Yan Richter-senpai murmured, glancing at where Jan sat laughing with his friends across the room. His fingers tightened on his spoon until his knuckles flashed pale for an instant.
”They’re close with Kazumi and Rena,” Jonas Keller-senpai muttered, pushing his empty plate aside and adjusting his glasses with a sharp click. “If those two find out, this gets messy.”
”Leave that to me,” Lia said lightly, spearing a peach with her fork. Juice ran down the golden flesh as she lifted it, eyes glinting like she’d already mapped the trap.
Peach sweetness floated between us.
”Kazumi and Rena are off doing their own training, right? Jan’s group is still stuck on basic magic drills. If I invite them with a ‘I’ll teach you,’ they’ll follow. No problem.”
She took a dainty bite, dabbing her lips with a napkin, every motion elegant—and yet her eyes shone like a hunter who’d just scented prey.
”…Alright. It’s on you, then,” Jonas said with a small nod. But unease itched in my chest. I set down my fork and traced circles in the crumbs on my plate without thinking.
”The problem is… what if Jan says no.”
My voice came low, almost drowned by the roar of chatter. Yan’s brow twitched as he rubbed his chin, thinking.
”True. If they refuse, they could leak the plan. If that happens…”
”Then I Bind them and lock them somewhere.”
Yan’s eyes went wide. His spoon slipped and tapped his plate with a sharp *clink.* For a second, the chatter seemed to fade, and cold air settled around our table.
”…Leo… that’s… going too far.”
”Only until the challenge is done. I’ll release them right after.”
I gave a small smile, but fear flickered in their eyes—just a thin flash, but it was there, even in Jonas’s steady gaze. Outside the window, the sunless sky glowed an eerie blue, washing strange light over the hall’s wooden walls.
* * *
(Kazumi’s POV)
We left the noise of the village behind, boots crunching down the forest path, Rena at my side. The whole sky above glowed soft and blue, shining like sunlight that had forgotten the sun. Wind whispered through the grass with a quiet *sawa-sawa*, brushing my ears.
”Hey, Carla. Are the other students okay without us?” I asked the ‘Black Sheep’ Vice-Captain walking ahead. Her boots scuffed lightly against the dirt.
”They’re just practicing around the village,” Carla said, flashing a bright grin over her shoulder. Her brown hair caught the glowing sky-light and shimmered like copper threads. It was like the ‘Closed World’ itself was blessing her.
”There might not be monsters, but we still get wild boars sometimes. I know you two are strong, but I want you focused on training magic, okay?”
She faced forward again, her steps bouncing with this infectious excitement, like a kid exploring somewhere new.
”Still… this place. Hard to believe it’s the Fourth Floor of a dungeon, right?” she added softly, gazing around.
She wasn’t wrong. The trees rose green and endless, sunlight-like glow sifting down through their leaves, and birdsong echoed somewhere distant. The leaves glittered as the blue light passed through them, like tiny shards of glass drifting on the air. We followed her deeper, hearts caught by the quiet beauty of this strange World.
* * *
We reached a clearing at last, and Rena began my wind-magic training. The soft glow drifted through the branches, and the cool breeze stroked my cheek like a friendly hand.
”Wind magic can speed up allies or slow enemies. It’s mostly support-based,” Rena said, voice steady but underlined with the easy confidence of an S-ranked magician.
I started practicing ‘Wind Cutter’ [T/N: basic wind-element attack spell]. It was hard to picture something invisible like air. The magical power slipping from my fingertips just scattered, refusing to form. I failed again and again, irritation prickling sharp in my chest. But then—finally—a leaf split clean down the middle. The air let out a brief sharp hiss, and the leaf twirled to the ground.
”As expected of Ms. Kazumi!” Carla cheered from a nearby stump, clapping her hands. Her bright voice rang through the forest, and wings thumped as birds startled into the air.
”It’s still slow and weak… but hey, at least I finally pictured the wind,” I muttered. Rena smiled and sent out her own ‘Wind Cutter.’ It flashed like a blade of clear glass, and the distant tree she’d aimed at toppled in one clean slice.
The thud of it hitting the earth echoed through the trees. Dust sparkled in the strange sunlight as it rose, and I caught my breath at the sheer power of it.
”Among wind magic, ‘Swift Gale’ speeds up allies, and ‘Crushing Gust’ slows enemies. Try to use them by the end of the day. You can do it, Kazumi.”
Rena’s smile was kind, but I saw the glimpse of a demon drill sergeant behind it. I swallowed hard, then nodded. The blue-lit wind stirred my hair, like the ‘Closed World’ itself was silently watching my challenge.
Notes:
• Leo – A character reflecting on his surroundings and the conditions of their journey.
• Lia – Leo’s twin sister, who offers support and encouragement.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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