The Schoolwide Standardized Magic Proficiency Exam is not just a routine test. It’s being trumpeted like it’s practically a school event─a major one at that.
Because of that, preparations are being made all over the campus.
“Wow, look, Brother Haruto! There’s a big cube thing over there, too!”
“It’s white as snow. But who’d make a snow sculpture at this time of year?”
The two girls giggle as they walk ahead of me.
It’s the all-too-adorable Charlotte and the mysterious exchange student Yulia.
Classes have ended for the day, and now we’re exploring the campus.
The students in the knight’s course are training for their exam outside. Char and her team (minus Iris) were just doing the same, but they’re taking a break to look around. What’s the point in taking a break if they’re gonna walk around everywhere?
On the other hand, the students from the researcher’s course are all scrambling out of the labs and into unused classrooms to prepare their presentations.
And whatever presentation that doesn’t fit in a classroom is being worked on outdoors.
“What do you think their thesis is about?” asks Char.
“Now that you’ve asked, we have to go check them out,” answers Yulia.
Gee, she sure has a can-do attitude. She’s the complete opposite of me, but Char’s eagerly following right behind her. I’m a little jealous.
By the way…
“You’re not going?” I ask the mysterious pretty-boy exchange student who’s staring off lifelessly next to me.
“There’s no hindrance to guarding her from this range. Besides, my being in her field of vision may spoil her enjoyment. This is the best position.”
He’s saying something eccentric.
“Do you guys not get along? It doesn’t look like it, though.”
“Whether we get along or not is not a value that affects our relationship.”
Is he trying to derail me with nonsense?
Oh, my little angel Charlotte is waving this way. They reached the odd white monument.
“Brother Haruto-o-o-o! Come over heeereee!”
What’s up? I head over to her.
“Hwah?! Haruto’s here too?!”
I hear a voice I recognize.
As I get closer…
I know her.
“Ha-Ha-Ha-Harwutryuo?!”
The girl who’s tripping all over her tongue is the student council president, my big sister Marianne. Don’t tell anyone, but she’s my paternal half-sister.
On top of that, she’s the princess of this kingdom. She’s got her sleeves rolled up and it looks like she’s in the middle of a project.
“I-I’m sorry…for the way I’m dressed today…”
“Oh no, I’m sorry for interrupting you,” I say. “Are you preparing for a research presentation?”
“Yes, but it’s not mine. I’m not participating in the event; I’m just helping out a younger student who’s in the same research lab.”
From what I’ve heard, students who already earned a certain number of credits don’t have to take part in the schoolwide something-something exam.
Alexei-senpai was the one who told me that. He’s already gotten all the necessary credits to graduate. As a result, he doesn’t have to play a role in this exam either. I envy him.
Setting that aside, the princess running errands for a younger schoolmate? That’s quite a sight.
Marianne says, “The truth is, this was a project I proposed; my juniors are taking over it for me. I have some emotional attachment, too, so I’m hoping to see it succeed.”
She should be the one to govern as queen instead of my crappy father. Although, personally, I’m rooting for Char to be the next queen.
Anyway…
I ask her, “What is this thing?” as I look at the giant white monument. It’s about ten feet in height and length.
“This,” Marianne proudly puffs her big chest, “is a magic device that washes your clothes automatically!”
I’d hate to interrupt her while she’s boasting, but…
…that’s a washing machine.
“This?” I gulp.
It’s a little too…gigantic, wouldn’t you say?
But I get it now. From where I’m standing, it looks like a simple cubic monument. When you look at it from the other side, however, there’s a door at chest-height that’s about twenty square inches in size.
“First, you put the laundry in here,” Marianne says, then skips over to the next side of the structure, “and pour water through this hole.” She runs back to the first door. “Then you cast your hand here and activate it with magic. The device will do the rest!”
Once again, she beams. It’s rare to see her brag. I can’t help but feel warm inside at the discovery of a whole new side of her.
“I figured maybe Water magic would be enough to maneuver the water, but that alone isn’t powerful enough. Paired with Wind magic, the laundry would be struck by strong water currents─”
Seeing her smugly deliver a lecture is another sweet sight to see. However…
“But it doesn’t look like it’ll hold a lot,” Yulia, who’s been wandering around this way and that way, finally comes over to hit my big sister with the brutal truth. “The size of the magic device is way too large for the amount of clothing it can wash.”
“Y-You’re right about the size. The current spell used to run it is complicated, so we had to use the finest material possible, which is why it’s so big. But this is still a prototype. With this as the base, we can make improvements─”
Yulia counters, “You can do laundry without a magic device, can’t you? If you’re gathering a large volume of water, you may as well just do the rest with magic. Conjuring a water current can be done in the air; that would save space.”
“Huh?”
Charlotte pipes up. “Speaking of which, I recall seeing Liza using magic to do laundry. She washed dozens of sheets all at once using the same method you just described, Yulia.”
“Oh, err…” whimpers Marianne.
Uh-oh. This is getting bad.
Their candid critiques are like daggers scraping off the sunlight in Marianne’s eyes.
“Uh, but,” I start. “People with a low mana level would surely appreciate it being in the form of a magic device.”
“Haruto…”
Whew. The light in Marianne’s eyes is coming back.
One more for good measure.
“A magic device for cleaning clothes─that’s a very grounded approach. I think it’s important for a member of the royal family to be mindful of the working class’s perspective.”
“D-Do you think so?” she blushes.
Phew, I pulled it off.
Yulia cuts in out of nowhere. “You’re a member of the royal family?” She leans in.
Charlotte is the one who answers. “Yes! Marianne is the royal princess!”
Turns out they haven’t introduced themselves yet. Probably because Yulia was wandering all over the place.
“Princess…? Of the kingdom?!”
The exchange student’s golden eyes light up. Do daughters of noble families ever visit the princesses in the empire? Not that I know if there are any princesses in the empire.
However, Yulia’s interest wasn’t in Marianne’s royal status.
“Direct heirs of the royal family have something called a royal insignia, right? Where’s yours? I’d love to see it!”
The royal insignia─a peculiar seal that appears only on those with pure royal blood. Peculiar indeed, but there’s no real use for them other than as proof of ID.
“They’re meant to enhance one’s magic,” explains Marianne. “Even the littlest of mana can be expanded greatly. Because the effects are so tremendous, I must only use it sparingly. I do apologize, but…”
What?! Seriously?! I didn’t know it had such a significant role…
“Huh?! What are you─?” yelps Marianne.
Yulia makes a bold move by grabbing Princess Marianne’s left hand and tugging it toward her. Turns out she’s not the type to give up so easily. The golden-eyed girl stares intently at the back of the princess’s hand. It’s an unusual sight to see her without a smile.
“…What a unique spell,” she breathes. “It was passed down from your ancestors. I can see why so many generations were able to inherit this. There’s hardly any deterioration─no, there’s a spell to regenerate when any defect or damage occurs. Amazing.”
Her tone is eerily monotonous, but maybe she’s just really focused. She gives off a similar impression to Professor Tear when she’s concentrating.
Meanwhile, Marianne looks shocked. “How do you know so much…?”
Yulia continues to examine Marianne’s hand. “But if the legacy is so assured, the number of heirs should increase with each generation… Oh, you can shut it down with a special ritual. Marianne, if you were to accede to the throne, what would happen to the insignia on the other heirs? Do they lose their power?”
“Y-Yes. Their royal insignia would disappear…”
“Hm, I see. And then if the ruler on the throne dies, the insignia takes effect again. It’s well thought out. The spell itself is quite sloppy work, though.” Yulia switches back to her usual smile as she makes the rude comment. “Marianne, I want to see it in action. Can you show me? Just a little? Please?”
“Uhm…”
Oh, Yulia’s good. Looking up with those doe eyes as she pleads─she’s really good.
And Marianne is easily swayed when someone younger depends on her. She’s wavering.
“J-Just a little, okay…?” she says, red-cheeked.
The princess clears her throat and focuses.
She casts her left hand up, palm faced down, and whispers an incantation.
A slight breeze stirs around us.
“Wow!”
A glowing pattern appears on the back of her left hand, illuminating brighter and brighter, and then disappears in a flash.
“Phew… How was that?” asks Marianne.
Her forehead is slightly damp with sweat. She didn’t conjure any magic. I guess it takes a mental load just to focus.
“That was amazing. I’m very satisfied. Thank you for showing me!”
Yulia flashes her innocent grin, bringing a soft smile to Marianne’s face as well. Even I can’t help but let my lips curl up.
Just as I’m letting myself relax…
“I knew it. It’s just like Brother Haruto’s─?!”
As soon as she says it, Char clamps her hand over her mouth.
Marianne turns to her in disbelief.
Yulia’s eyes light up. “Haruto has one, too?!” She’s practically pouncing on Char.
“That can’t be…” gasps Marianne. “They only appear on members of the royal family. Not even extended family could─wait, Haruto is not related by blood to begin with…”
She’s starting to swirl down a drain of confusion.
“Where? Where does yours appear, Haruto?!” exclaims Yulia. “Is it hidden under your clothes? Take them off!”
She’s asking for a lot.
“Hua-wa-wa-wa-…”
My adorable sister flaps around in panic.
This is becoming unmanageable. I have no choice but to…
Fight chaos with chaos!
That’s my motto when I’m in a pinch─I came up with it just now. I discreetly conjure a bunch of barriers.