Imperial Academy Girl Magic Officer

Despite the cool weather, it felt as hot as midsummer. After various training sessions followed by running for dozens of minutes, my whole body was damp with sweat to the point of feeling heavy.

“One, two, one, two. Move faster!”
“Huff, huff…, Yes!”

Even the other cadets seemed out of their minds, so how much worse must it be for me?

“Haa, haa.”

My tongue was hanging out from the burning thirst, and my arms were drooping almost to the ground. With relatively poor stamina, I ran at the very back.
Still, I didn’t stop my feet. Even if my stamina was depleted, I moved my body steadily with willpower.
I knew that if I hesitated even for a moment here, I would never be able to move my feet again.
“One last lap left!”

I bit my tongue hard to wake up my dazed mind, and moved towards the finish line.
It’s even harder when combining training.
It had been three days since I started training to raise my mana grade, and even though my recovery speed was faster than others, there was a limit.
Even if I regained my senses a little, I would immediately release the mana in my body, and as soon as I recovered, I would shoot magic again to the point of death, so how could my condition be good? I lived with muscle pain every day.
“Haak, haak……”
“Good job, Yena. You managed not to drop out.”

Having finally crossed the finish line within the time limit, I collapsed face-down on the ground.
Rustle─!
Then I turned my body so my face was towards the sky and took a deep breath.
“Phaa!”
I thought I was going to die.
I closed my eyes while peeling off the fine hair sticking to my cheeks. Pain like someone squeezing with their hands rushed to my lungs. If I had been a little later, I would have fainted.
That’s how much effort I put in, I calmed my pounding heart while inhaling the cool breeze brushing against my skin.
“Yena, take my hand!”
“Okay, thanks.”
Then I grabbed Erika’s outstretched hand and stood on my two feet.
“Hehe, hehe. Good job!”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes! I’m actually quite confident in my stamina, you know.”
Erika struck a pose showing off her muscles by raising her arms with soft flesh.
At a glance, Erika seemed quite clumsy, but in fact, she was someone who could have such confidence.
When most cadets except Rina, Wolf, etc. were panting and struggling, she had completed the run at an outstanding speed and then waited for me.
That’s reassuring.
“That’s good spirit.”
“Hehe.”
I wrapped one arm around Erika’s neck as if putting an arm over her shoulder, and laughed together while patting her sky-blue shining hair.
“Wh-Why is this so hard?”
“I should have exercised beforehand.”
And as usual, to attend the closing ceremony, I entered among the cadets and lined up in formation.
“Hm?”
Wolf?
Then I first noticed that the empty space next to me had been filled. It was none other than Wolf von Streman.
He’s been discharged.
It seemed he was joining the closing ceremony together, though he didn’t participate in training due to reasons like injury. He even had the appearance of having removed the bandages that had wrapped his entire body.
The military doctors here are certainly skilled.
Even the gap in Wolf’s teeth had been filled, as if his teeth had been reattached. At this level, it’s not just a simple doctor, but probably one of the support-type awakened ones specializing in healing.
I spent a moment admiring the skills of the military doctors who must have treated Wolf while observing his appearance.
“……”
“……”
Soon I shifted my gaze after meeting Wolf’s glaring eyes.
He looks like he wants to kill me.
Hostility was thickly oozing out. Having punched him in the face with all my sincerity, his desire for revenge must be burning fiercely too.
I had hoped he would change, but it was disappointing though expected.
I had hoped Wolf would realize the gap between us from the previous duel and correct his nasty personality, but it seems that was too much to ask.
People don’t change, huh.
Nothing is as useless as unnecessary pride. Is he somehow denying the fact that he lost? If he’s like this, it was certain he would cross the line again someday.
“Tch.”
How pathetic.
It would have been nice if he had shown the aspect of accepting defeat as a soldier, but well, it was fine with me. There was nothing more enjoyable than dealing with someone who rushes in without knowing their place.
Only, it was sad to see the appearance of someone who had lost their qualification as an officer.
“Everyone, attention!”
I shook my head from side to side and listened to Gartel’s words.
“If you do as well as today, there’s nothing more to ask. No one gave up in the middle, I was very satisfied.”
“Thank you!”
“Yes, anyway, there’s one thing to announce, so listen carefully.”
Clap clap─!
He clapped his fingers to draw attention, then continued speaking.
“From today, applications for research departments will begin, so look into it well and join. It will have a significant influence after graduation later, so consider sufficiently and decide.”

The content that burst from his mouth soon gave the cadets quite a shock.
Research department applications, it was announcing that one of the important schedules of the military academy had finally begun.
“The list of departments is on the plaza bulletin board, so those who want to refer to it can go. Now, enjoy your lunch.”
“Th-Thank you for your hard work!”
Gartel ended the announcement concisely and finished the class.
Thud─ Thud─
“Yena, come to my office after eating. You know what I mean, right?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good. I’ll be waiting.”
He didn’t forget to speak to me personally on his way.
“Where are you going?”
“I might go to the Monster Operation Research Department……”
“Let’s go apply together!”
Perhaps influenced by the previous announcement, the topic of conversation among the cadets heading to the cafeteria was mostly about research departments.
“Haha, have you decided, Rina?”
“Roughly.”
Among them were Rina, who hadn’t asked for a conversation since the previous duel, and Wolf, who still showed interest in her despite that.
There was no one particularly shocked like “What’s a research department?” It was information the cadets roughly knew about. Stories heard from seniors must have spread here and there.
“Yena! Let’s go.”
“Okay.”

Thud─ Thud─

I moved my steps following Erika, who was pulling my hand, while checking the backs of the cadets moving away.

“What do you want to do, Yena?”
“Magic Tactics Planning Department.”
“Isn’t that a really famous place?”
“The instructor said he would write me a recommendation letter.”
The conversation with Gartel just now was about that, but I swallowed my words as there was no need to say it.

“As expected, you’re amazing, Yena……”
Erika was speaking while twirling her hair with her finger, then opened her eyes wide when she heard my words. At the same time, she let go of her hair that she had twisted several times.
“Which department are you planning to go to, Erika?”
“I, I……”

I looked at her as she pouted her lips and hung her head low. Since the research department also makes a big decision about future work placement, I secretly hoped she would say the same department.

Isn’t she a true comrade now?

I had long since gained considerable trust in Erika, and wanted to fill in her shortcomings while being with her.

Of course, with training methods that don’t exist in this world yet. Although my physical stats were lower than hers, there was no problem because I was more knowledgeable than anyone in theory.
“Erika, you’re not bad in ability and you’re consistently working hard, so you’ll be able to enter the department you want. Have some confidence.”
I leaned towards Erika, who looked gloomy for no reason, and smiled with my eyes.
“Mmm.”
“Let’s go eat quickly.”
I held her warm hand tightly and moved to the cafeteria.
*
The meal ended quickly.

I received less food itself because of the interview with Gartel, and moreover, many cadets didn’t even come to the cafeteria, saying they would look at the department list on the bulletin board.

Crunch─

I walked around the plaza, which had fewer people than usual, rolling the candy that came as dessert in my mouth.

“You said you’re going to Instructor Gartel, right Yena?”
“Yeah, I’m going to apply right away today.”
“I see, of course……”

When the sweet lump of sugar had completely melted, I spoke to Erika who was always by my side.
I should go now.
I planned to finish the department application while receiving the recommendation letter today. I should finish it comfortably now. I didn’t want to cause any disruption to my daily training schedule by putting it off unnecessarily.

“It’s only the first day, so think seriously about what you really want to do. There’s still plenty of time, right?”
“I guess I should……”
“Then I’ll be going. See you tomorrow.”
“Okay, take care!”

Erika waved both arms with round eyes like a rabbit to see me off. I waved my hand lightly to greet her back, and
Creak, thud─!
Headed straight into the main building of the military academy.

【 Main Building 】

It was the area where most of the instructors’ offices were located, as well as where the research departments were. In simple terms, it was the space forming the core of Astrakhan Military Academy.
Therefore, I had to show proper etiquette.
I immediately put on the cap I had taken off in the warm sunlight. I buttoned up the shirt I had unbuttoned to the end to maintain neatness.
Click─! Click─!
Only after smoothing out even the wrinkles in my uniform did I step forward on the gray marble floor.
Wilhelm Gartel.
To his office.