Kunon’s first year at magic school was finally over.
He and his classmates had acquired enough credits to advance, and after a summer break that was nearly one month long, their second year was set to begin.
“See you later,” Kunon said to his maid as he left the house.
The moment he set foot outside, the sun beat down upon him. It was going to be another punishingly hot day.
Most students went home during the month-long break, but Kunon continued his life as normal in the magic city of Dirashik. The Kingdom of Hughlia was too distant to justify returning.
Instead, Kunon went to school nearly every day. He wasn’t busy enough to stay overnight, but he had much he wanted to do there.
Patrons of Kunon’s sleep service who remained at school during the break had also requested he drop by on a regular basis. In fact, he’d almost gotten caught in the middle of a tedious fight between those of his customers who preferred the giant hairless rat and those who didn’t. Now, however, that was nothing but another summer memory.
Starting today, Kunon was a second-year student. There was no denying it. Still, he didn’t feel any different.
“Good morning. Oh my, I’m a lucky man. It’s not every day one is blessed with the sight of such a beautiful woman first thing in the morning. You look like an angel who descended from the heavens.
“Good morning. Your drooling is in top form today. That saliva possesses the aqueous beauty of a goddess’s tear— H-hey, not on my clothes! Get off me, you fallen angel!”
He greeted his neighbors like the gentleman he was, even sparing the same grace for the dogs as he skillfully dodged their enthusiastic tackles.
The ogre was still smooshed into the back alley, looking hale as ever. He hadn’t moved an inch; he was basically just a part of the scenery.
Kunon walked to school along the same roads he’d used during his first year. His mind went to the friends who’d left over summer break. Maybe I’ll see them today, he thought.
When he arrived at school, the sudden spike in traffic at his business made him abruptly aware that it really was the first day of the new academic year. After going to school every day during summer break, it was abundantly clear just how many more people there were on campus when school was in session. Regular customers from the previous year came to greet him and use the Sleep Sanctuary, trapping him in his laboratory all morning.
It was his first ordinary day at school in a month, and Kunon wanted to immediately greet the Saint, the rest of his classmates, the members of the three factions, and the Inferno Prince’s group, but that would have to wait.
“…Well, I guess that’s life at magic school.”
Every student was busy. Being unable to see your friends as often as you wanted was something everyone grew accustomed to.
After a hectic morning, Kunon finally found time in the afternoon to visit the Saint’s classroom.
“Oh, Kunon. Long time no see.”
The Saint Reyes was there waiting. The sight of her was the first thing that truly gave Kunon the sense the school year had begun. Not that he could actually see her.
Reyes had returned to the Holy Kingdom of Saint Lance over summer break, so they hadn’t met in a month. She and Kunon had spent a lot of time together during their first year collaborating on the sacred herb; only now did he realize how much he had missed her.
“Indeed, my venerable lady. I’m glad to see you’re well.”
“And I am relieved to see you are surviving the summer heat.”
It was actually autumn, but the temperature had yet to drop from the sweltering highs of summer.
“How was your visit home?” he asked.
“I was called back once before break, so it wasn’t particularly noteworthy.”
Reyes had returned to Saint Lance for a ritual in her hometown late during their first year. Kunon was extremely busy at the time developing the magic-containing box, so his memory of everything else was fuzzy. He might have gone a month without seeing her then, too.
But this reunion felt more special.
“How did you spend your break, Kunon?” she asked. “You stayed here, right?”
“Yep. I devoted most of my time to helping teachers and reading books. Not having to think about credits was really relaxing.”
The need for credits had felt quite restrictive the previous year—he couldn’t do anything without them weighing on his mind.
Acquiring credits had sounded so simple at first. How hard could it be to perform ten research projects in a year? he had thought. But he knew now just how challenging the system was.
“There you guys are.”
At that point, Kunon and Reyes’s classmates Hank Beat and Riyah Houghs entered the room. Kunon hadn’t seen them in a month, either. Well, he’d actually seen Riyah a week before—his hometown was also too distant to return home over break—but that was beside the point.
Riyah had spent the whole break working in Dirashik to send money back to his family. He and Kunon had eaten together a few times.
“We’re all second-years already. Time flies, huh?” Hank said.
“Yeah,” Riyah agreed. “We’ll finally have underclassmen.”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that.” Kunon had yet to meet any of the new students. He was used to everyone at the school being older than him, but that wouldn’t be the case any longer.
It had been a year since his enrollment. Kunon didn’t feel very different, but a lot of time had passed, and his surroundings were changing just as much as he was.
Kunon spent a while talking to his classmates, then headed out to visit the three factions’ bases. He was a member of all three and figured he should make the rounds and greet everyone. There were many acquaintances in the factions he hadn’t seen over summer break and was excited to reunite with. That included each of their representatives, of course.
“Hey, it’s been a while.”
First was Bael Kirkington, the representative of the Ability Faction. He’d returned from his trip a few days ago and had spent the small remainder of his summer break in the city with his friends. Kunon also met with Genevis and Elia Hesson before heading to the next location.
“A pleasure to see you again, Kunon.”
After that, he went to see Lulomet, the Rationality Faction representative. He had gone home as well and returned to Dirashik two weeks ago. That was news to Kunon; he would have invited Lulomet to lunch at least once if he had known he was in the city.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were back?” he asked. “I thought we were friends.”
Lulomet responded that he had spent the whole two weeks in his laboratory without even returning to his dorm. He’d been so immersed in his research that even other members of his faction didn’t know his whereabouts. He’d practically been a hermit.
After Lulomet, Kunon greeted Cassis and Sandra, who both responded with slightly annoyed expressions. He also said hello to Rhadio and Eushida—who responded normally—and then he moved on.
“Did you come to say hello? That’s nice and all, but have you cleaned your room?”
Kunon’s final visit was to Shilto Lockson, the Harmony Faction representative. He kept the meeting as brief as he could.
Have you cleaned your room?
Please. As if he would answer that question.
And that was how Kunon Gurion’s second year at magic school began.
“What happened during break?” said Kunon. “Nothing, really… Oh, right. School Building Eleven was rebuilt.”
It was the second day of the new academic year, and he was at Gioelion’s house for dinner.
Gioelion F’louvain Arcion, known to many as the Inferno Prince, was the second imperial prince of the Arcion Empire. Kunon had met him at the end of his second semester and the two had formed a lasting friendship. They hardly ever met at school anymore because of their busy schedules, so they met at Gioelion’s house two or three times a week instead.
Garthries Gadanthus and Ilhi Bolyle—Gioelion’s friends and bodyguards—were also at the dinner table, which was set with food from the Empire.
The house was a large mansion located in a wealthy residential district. Gioelion was only renting it, but it was a residence fit for royalty—spacious, with a great many rooms.
There were also eight servants! That was eight times as many as Kunon had. He imagined having eight of Iko or Rinko. Every day would be so much fun, he thought.
“Is that the building that was destroyed and turned into a forest?” Ilhi asked.