Alicia missed the target on her turn, but people exclaimed in awe because she used very rare light magic. Oswald was able to use all four of the main elements to hit the target each time. Though his magic looked more potent than the others’, the target still wouldn’t budge.
That target must be really sturdy.
“Wonderful! I expected nothing less of you, Oswald. It’s no wonder you’re hailed as a magical genius!” the teacher enthused.
“It’s only natural to be able to do this much.” Oswald then turned to me. “It seems that she’s the only one who hasn’t shown her magic yet. I wonder what kind of amazing magic she’ll perform for us.” He pushed up his glasses, looking at me mockingly.
Oh, right, he didn’t participate in the swordsmanship lesson. I guess he doesn’t know that I sent William flying.
As I stepped forward, the students who had participated in the swordsmanship class stepped back in anticipation of something happening.
There’s no need to be so cautious...
The truth was, I couldn’t properly use any of the four main elements. At most, I could produce a flame as strong as a lighter or create a gentle breeze. Yes, I was the woman who allocated all her skill points to her muscles and dark magic.
“I was wondering, would it be all right to destroy the target?” I wanted to know if it was okay to destroy such sturdy school equipment, but Oswald answered in place of the teacher.
“The armor on that scarecrow has gone through a special treatment. Besides, how could you destroy something that even I couldn’t?”
If you’re going to speak, could you at least answer my question?
I ignored him and turned my attention to the teacher.
“Only the Court Mages are strong enough to destroy them, but if you think you can do it, go ahead.” With the teacher’s approval, I cast my magic.
“All right, then, Dark Flame.” A pea-sized black flame appeared from the tip of my finger and shot straight out toward the target.
“What was that?” Oswald chortled. “I was curious as to what you would show us, but I didn’t think it would be a popgun.”
On the other hand, the teacher seemed to have noticed that I used dark magic and was wide-eyed with amazement. The pea-sized flame finally landed and immediately upon contact set the entire target ablaze. Now engulfed in flames, the armor began to melt into a viscous mess.
Dark Flame was a spell that I used often. Though it produced no heat, just like its name suggested, it was magic that looked like fire, even though the way it melted stone and metal looked more like acid than a fire—using it on a monster led to quite a grotesque result.
The scarecrow, once protected by the armor, had completely dissolved, and the black flame dissipated. The training area fell silent for a few moments, but then, someone spoke up.
“Is that...dark magic?” they muttered.
“Yes, it is,” I replied without hesitation. “It seems to be the only element I’m any good at.”
“B-Brilliant work, Lady Yumiella! Oh, there have even been some Court Mages who were dark magic users, so try not to be biased toward it,” the teacher explained with a slight stutter. I hadn’t realized that dark magic had such a negative connotation.
Come to think of it, most villains in picture books had black hair and were dark magic users... Am I a villain? Oh, right, I’m the villainess and hidden boss, duh.
Oswald, who had been quiet until now, began to mutter under his breath. “That’s impossible! Something’s not right! I’m the genius when it comes to magic!”
I think it’s just our difference in levels, not ability.
“I-I won’t accept this, you got that?!” His dissatisfaction culminated in a scream before he fled the training area.
How out of character... What happened to being the cool glasses guy?
As I stood there, put off by Oswald’s behavior, Prince Edwin appeared with the headmaster, just barely missing his friend.
“Yumiella Dolkness, the paperwork for your expulsion has been completed. You aren’t fit for the Royal Academy.”
Prince Edwin had apparently been making preparations for my expulsion.
Huh, so that’s why I hadn’t seen him since this morning. What a busy day you’ve had, Your Highness!
“My expulsion...?”
While I reassessed my plans moving forward, the headmaster chimed in.
“Someone who would lie to a member of the royal family is not fit for the Academy, nor are they fit to be an aristocrat in Valschein. If you are expelled, it will be quite difficult to remain at your current standing.”
“Hah, maybe a vacation would do you some good. Perhaps foreigners would treat you better,” Prince Edwin chimed in.
Is he implying that I should be exiled to a different kingdom?
Just then, the magic teacher spoke up in a panic.
“Y-Your Highness, Headmaster, please hear me out. She’s able to use the very rare dark magic and was able to destroy a target that even a Court Mage would struggle with. She may be telling the truth about being level 99. I believe that expelling her would be a loss for this kingdom.”
“But a Court Mage could destroy it? Then that isn’t proof of her being level 99.” His Highness turned to address me. “If you want to stay enrolled, you’ll have to convince me.”
It seemed that Prince Edwin was insistent on getting me expelled.
Wouldn’t it be a problem if a member of the royal family were to hand someone as strong as a Court Mage over to another kingdom, Your Highness? Hm... I wonder which would be better, going into exile and being harbored by another kingdom or hiding my identity and living as a commoner?
While I weighed the pros and cons of each, the magic teacher begged me to prove my innocence. “Lady Yumiella, that magic that you performed earlier wasn’t your full strength, was it? Please, show us what you can do at full power.” He seemed to be ready to prostrate himself if necessary. Perhaps it was his loyalty to his kingdom that drove him to such desperation, but I couldn’t turn down someone pleading so earnestly.
“Very well, I will launch a spell into the sky.” I turned to face the prince. “Your Highness, would it be all right if I used my magic?”
“Do as you wish. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“Are you really sure about that?”
“Stop talking and get on with it!”
“The thing is, if something were to happen, I would need someone to take responsibility...” I don’t want to be liable, you know?
“Why would something happen when you’re aiming for the sky? Fine, I’ll take responsibility!”
All right, gonna hold you to that, Your Highness. Pushing responsibility onto the prince is my best option, considering what’s about to happen.
“In that case, let us move to an area with no roof.” I left the training area, and the prince, the headmaster, and the magic teacher followed suit, with the other students anxiously trailing along.
Though I said I would showcase my full power, I wasn’t planning on actually going all out. I had refrained from using my full magical power since an incident in the past where I left a forest with a crater. As I had most definitely grown since then, my current full strength was beyond even my own imagination. Regardless, I decided to use the strongest dark magic spell—a spell that could only be used by the Demon Lord and myself in the game.
“Black Hole.”
✦ ✦ ✦
In the blink of an eye, the Royal Academy was enveloped in darkness. If someone were looking in from far away, it would have looked like a black orb appeared above the Academy. It was large enough to be spotted from anywhere in the Royal Capital.
All the sunlight was completely obstructed at the Academy, making all the surroundings as dark as night. However, it only lasted for a moment before the black orb shrank before everyone’s eyes. Once it had disappeared, it was quickly followed by a strong gust of wind blowing up toward the air.
Black Hole was a spell that unconditionally obliterated any matter within its range. In other words, the air above the Academy had been eradicated in an instant. This caused the atmosphere in the area to become a vacuum and pull in all the surrounding air.
Once the violent winds had subsided, I did my best to put on a kind face and addressed the prince. “How was that, Your Highness? Was it enough to prove that I am level 99?”
“Eeek!” was all he managed.
Though he was scared stiff, Prince Edwin was desperately trying to run away from me.
Goodness, there’s no need to be so scared.