Once again, I’m reminded of a simple fact. The physical age of Adel Bliss, the body I’ve possessed, is only sixteen.
He was still at an age of growth. To put it another way, he hasn’t fully matured yet.
For starters, he’s short. His arms and legs are slim…even for a boy.
To sum it up in one word: he’s a boy. Plain and simple.
As if to prove the frailty that comes with his “Shifter” trait, Adel’s skin is pale white and almost sickly.
Sometimes, when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, even I get a little startled. His features are so perfectly drawn it’s like he stepped out of a painting.
Which is probably why… this keeps happening.
“He’s so cute──!!!!”
“Hmm? Are you from the attached middle school? Looking for someone? Your big brother? Big sister?”
“U-Uh……”
“Look at him stutter!! Ack, I can’t! He’s too much!”
“Want something to eat? Chicken breast?”
“Girl, what are you giving a kid that for?! I’m losing it!”
Third-year Knight Department students.
This place I came to find Aaron…. well, it’s kind of overwhelming. It feels like everyone here is taller than me.
I felt like a child.
And honestly, that made sense.
They’re third-year students in the Knight Department, which makes them nineteen. That’s a full three years older than sixteen-year-old Adel.
In modern-day society, a three-year gap might just be brushed off with a “Just be friends” but during your growth years? That’s a huge difference!
And this is the Knight Department. The elite track for swordsmanship. Naturally, most students here are bigger and taller than those in other departments.
So when a young-looking boy suddenly appears in their halls, of course he draws attention.
“Oh… I’m so used to seeing nothing but dark, muscle-bound guys every day… this is healing me…”
“Should we just take him back to the dorms? We could hide him and raise him ourselves.”
Even though I understood what was happening, I still couldn’t think straight. Unlike the halls of the Magic Department, the air here felt hot. Their chaotic energy was infectious. Being hugged left and right by people burning with body heat, my head was spinning…
But I couldn’t back down now.
“Um… I came to see Senior Aaron.”
“Mm? Aaron? Aaron Damir?”
“Are you a Damir too? That’s odd…your hair color’s different.”
“Let me see… Adel… Bliss. Bliss?”
The moment they checked my name, the hands that had been patting me suddenly froze.
It happened right after they confirmed who I was.
But I couldn’t quite figure out why.
Was it because they realized I was the early admission student?
Or maybe because I shared the same last name as Camilla?
Or perhaps there’s some hidden secret behind the Bliss family that wasn’t mentioned in the original story?
“I’ll go get Aaron. Just wait here a moment.”
“…If it’s not too rude, may I keep petting you? Please? Hmm?”
…Or maybe they just realized I could actually speak for myself?
Well, whatever the reason, it didn’t matter much.
One of them disappeared, and not long after, Aaron was brought out from a classroom at the far end of the hallway.
“…Junior?”
“Senior.”
“It’s been a while. What brings you here?”
“Would you happen to have time for a cup of tea?”
“Sure, that’s not a problem. I was planning to head out anyway.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“Hmm. Alright.”
Aaron hadn’t changed a bit.
That made sense, I guess. It hadn’t even been two weeks since I last saw him.
But for someone like me, who knows the full story, his steady presence was strangely reassuring.
And no, this wasn’t just because I was finally getting a break from being hounded by Knight Department students.
“…Um… big sisters, could you maybe… stop that…?”
“He called us big sisters! He said big sisters!! Should we just kidnap him?”
“He looks dangerous, but I’m in.”
“Uh… for the record, I’m 16 years old…”
“Oh my. Sixteen? You’re still a baby.”
“But how are you wearing a uniform~? Did you sneak your big brother’s?”
“…….”
These women. That moment of hesitation earlier? It was a lie.
The way they’re slowly reaching out to me again….it’s the desperation of someone who hasn’t eaten in days.
No matter how you look at it, they’re not planning to stop.
Realizing that, I gave up trying to back away.
He can handle it… I’m done caring.
Might as well go with the flow.
The mountain is a mountain. The water is water…
***
“A sparring match?”
“Yes.”
“…I heard you’ve gotten into a few scuffles recently. I take it you stuck to what you told me back then? I only heard bits and pieces, but I was glad nonetheless.”
“So you heard about that.”
“Yeah. There were other juniors in that training hall, so word got around.”
“And the magical tools you gave me….I’ve been using them well.”
“Glad to hear it. I was a little worried I might’ve just forced you into weight training.”
Aaron took a sip of coffee.
“…Hmm? This coffee is pretty good. The aroma’s especially nice.”
Sweet Tane. It’s a café on campus that I’ve started frequenting after visiting it once before, and I’ve gotten familiar with the manager.
The one Aaron’s drinking now is a version I personally ordered. Low in caffeine, but rich in flavor.
“Back to what we were saying Adel. I’m fine with sparring. You want to build up some real combat experience, right?”
“Exactly.”
“As expected. I’m truly glad to see you putting in the effort. But you’ve got the order wrong. As a first-year, it’s far more important to develop other foundational qualities than to focus on real combat experience. Especially in the Department of Magic …I’ve heard that holds even more true there.”
“…That’s true.”
I knew Aaron would say that.
Laying a solid foundation before real combat experience…
At Tane Academy, that’s considered basic common sense. No one expects first-years to be engaging in actual combat during their first semester.
Besides, I’m known to be magically disabled.
Just from the titles alone, third-year, Knight Department, Class A…. it’s clear there’s a huge gap between Aaron and me.
Logically speaking, it wouldn’t benefit either of us.
Unless I meticulously prepare and aim for a surprise attack, it’s hard to imagine the match being worth much. But sparring is supposed to help both sides improve.
Still, that doesn’t mean I’m going to back down quietly.
“…But I have to prove myself.”
“…I see. It’s only natural you’d already understand everything I’ve said. So, you must have your reasons? Mind sharing them with me?”
“Could you keep what I’m about to say a secret? You’ll be the first I’m telling this to.”
“Of course. I, Aaron Damir, swear I won’t breathe a word even if it costs me my head.”
That’s a bit much, honestly.
I began whispering as though I were about to reveal a huge secret. Sweet Tane was fairly crowded after school, but Aaron and I were sitting in a tucked-away corner. There was little chance of anyone overhearing us.
Truthfully, I didn’t care if anyone heard. I was just trying to set the mood.
“In fact, I’m no longer incapable of using magic. I fixed it a little while ago.”
“───!!!”
“I’ll show you briefly. ‘Flare’.”
Whoosh—.
“I would’ve believed you even without the demonstration. More importantly, that’s amazing. Truly. No one in history has ever recovered from magic disability.”
“But it’s not a complete recovery. You’ve heard I got into a few fights, right? It happened during one of those.”
That’s a lie.
“Oh?”
“It’s embarrassing to admit, but I was deeply provoked, my family was insulted, and I felt this intense emotion. Before I knew it, I was casting magic.”
Another lie.
If magic really worked like that, everyone and their dog would be flinging spells around whenever they got emotional.
“I see…! So it was your willpower, your refusal to be looked down on, that awakened your magic…!”
“Strangely though, I haven’t been able to use magic at all since then except for that one spell. That’s why I thought at the very least, I should experience a real combat situation… and came to you.”
“…I understand. But in that case, don’t you think you’d be better off sparring with another first-year? It’d be a more balanced match…”
Just as expected.
I smiled faintly.
The scenario I had prepared didn’t end here.
“The reason I came to you specifically, senior, isn’t anything else. Do you happen to know Camilla from the second year?”
“Hmm. Of course I do. I have a younger sister named Awen. She’s close to Camilla. I’ve heard a bit from her… Wait. Bliss?”
“Yes. Camilla Bliss is my sister. I thought you might’ve heard from senior Awen…”
“I’m not that close with my sister… I see. Camilla is your sister…”
At that point, I took a deep breath. Then, putting on a determined expression, I spoke as if making a declaration.
“I’m going to challenge my sister Camilla at the [Interdepartmental Exchange] at the end of this semester!”
“What, the Interdepartmental Exchange…!! …Why would you do that?”
“To prove it. That I’ve become a proper mage— o everyone… No. Saying ‘everyone’ is a lie. Just one person.”
To be honest, from start to finish, it’s all a lie.
I simply clenched my teeth tightly.
“To Camilla Bliss, the genius swordswoman of the Knight Department.”
“……”
“I’m going to show her. That I’ve become a fine mage. That what I did back then was never something that brought shame to our family!”
“……I see.”
“I’ll prove it by winning. I’ll tell her she was wrong. That I have never, never once, done anything that would disgrace the name of Bliss!”
I pretended to wipe away tears.
But instead, Aaron sniffled and covered his nose. Wondering what was going on, I glanced sideways at him. He was wiping away tears…!
“…So, a third-year who’s seen Camilla’s swordsmanship before… you came to ask me for help…? To help you train against her…?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“I see.”
“I know it’s a bother. You’re in your third year now, and most fourth-years are basically ready to graduate, so I’m sure you’re busy. But… But I…”
“…Siblings really are siblings, huh…”
“……?”
“…No, never mind. That doesn’t matter. I accept it. You’ve got spirit. Impressive. Hm…! HMMM!!! You haven’t changed a bit!! Truly admirable!!!”
Got him.
Aaron had entered his exclamation-point mode. I cheered internally.
“I’ll help you as much as you need! I, Aaron Damir! All my training would be for nothing if I didn’t step in at times like this! Don’t worry, junior!!”
“R-Really?!”
“Draw your sword….no! Your staff, Adel Bliss!! I’ll lend you my full support! I’ve seen Camilla’s sword techniques a few times! Don’t worry!”
“Ooh!”
“From now on, I’ll teach you how to defeat the genius swordswoman of the Knight Department!!!!”
“O-Ooohhh!!!”
“I’ll be in your care!! Senior!!”
“Of course!! Starting today, come to that same gym at 7 o’clock every day!!”
“Starting tomorrow… right?”
“No!! Starting today!!!”
“…Yes!!!”
And just like that, I gave a loud and energetic reply.
I did want to rest for at least a day… but hey, sometimes it’s better to go with the flow.
***
And so they left.
Someone who had been leaning against the wall also wiped away tears.
“So that’s what you were thinking, Adel…! If you were my little brother, I’d be so proud, I’d hug you every single day…”
Sniff!
Awen, who had been tearing up, suddenly blew her nose.
“Throw this away for me, Manager.”
“…Ma’am…”
***
The gym next to the Magic Department.
Located far from the Knight Department building, this gym is used by students who were late applying for gym time or who didn’t rank highly enough on entrance scores.
Because of the distance, not many students make the effort to come all the way out here regularly.
Only a few dedicated ones, like Irina Harunsdel, show up consistently.
But even for these diligent students, there was one thing they just couldn’t stand.
“Adel….!! Cast a cooling spell, please!! The water’s so lukewarm I feel like throwing up!!!”
“Adel’s not here today.”
“Huh? Again?”
“Yeah…”
“Ugh—! Lukewarm water again?! It’s already been a week!”
Adel who used to cool the water for them as a favor. Before anyone realized it, the regulars at the gym had become completely addicted to Adel’s cooling magic.
Their bodies just couldn’t be satisfied with lukewarm water anymore.
Irina let out a small sigh at the sight of them.
It had already been about a week since Adel who had always trained here stopped showing up.
Ever since that day when his older sister Camilla ignored him.
“Think he’s avoiding this place because he feels like he causes trouble? We don’t mind though, right guys?”
“Ugh—I love watching fights… I don’t care if he fights every day, just give us cold water again…”
“Totally agree!”
Even in the words of the other students, his absence could clearly be felt.
Irina looked toward the entrance of the gym that day as well.
Only the little angel statue was playing a soft melody.
There were surely other students around too, but for some reason, the gym felt unusually quiet and lonely.
…Everyone’s worried about you, you idiot.
Suddenly, an image of Adel walking away into Black Alley flashed through her mind.
Surely he’s not caught up in something dangerous, right? Is his hand okay? It didn’t get worse, did it? That ointment was expensive…
“…….”
Shaking her head to chase away the growing worry, Irina looked back at the entrance.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that Adel might walk through the door at any moment…
…And then it happened.
“…Huh?”
Was it her imagination? She thought she heard some commotion.
“…Exactly!! She relies on fundamentally disciplined swordsmanship!!”
“…I see…”
“—A style that values extreme efficiency above all. But that’s precisely what makes it look beautiful!! People who face her for the first time always describe it that way!!”
“Ohh! Amazing…!”
Recognizing the two voices, Irina was so delighted she gave a little hop in place before dashing toward them.
“—Adel!!! Senior Aaron!!”
“What? Who? Adel?”
“Adel’s back? Cooling, cooling…!”
And just like that, that day became the day Adel Bliss returned to his routine.
At the same time….it was also the day when, moved by everyone’s warm welcome, Adel felt a strange wave of emotion.
I will survive. I’m not going to die.
It wasn’t a lie he told Aaron anymore.
It was the day he made a true vow.
Leave a Reply