The next day, the whole class is being taught by Walkner Sensei. I've started sitting next to Will now.
Will says, "Not this again," and lets out a heavy sigh.
Me: "What happened, Will?" I ask, confused.
Walkner Sensei: "…which means that the majority of students must rely on the latter. However—everyone here is in danger of not making it to graduation, much less the upper institute! So today, I will thoroughly drill you in supplementary lessons!"
As he says this, Walkner Sensei begins the supplementary lessons.
After the lessons, Will and I are walking outside when we see Colette waiting for us.
Colette: "I heard Walkner Sensei's supplementary exam was brutal again."
Will and I nod in unison.
As we're talking about the academy, Sion notices us and starts walking toward Will, grabbing him by the collar.
Sion: "You're talentless. Yet you—"
Colette steps forward to stop him, but I hold out my hand to stop her first.
Me: "Colette, wait."
Seeing me, Colette stops.
Me: "Sion. You know this is futile, don't you?"
Hearing me, Sion grits his teeth and releases Will's collar.
Sion is a little unsettled by how Will defeated the monster and saved him. He has complicated feelings about Will—he wanted to help him before, but now he's started bullying him instead, wanting Will to focus on him.
Akashic: "If I remember correctly, Edward Sensei is testing Will today."
We head toward the locker room and then to the library, talking about the dwarf battle along the way. There, Colette notices a strand of white hair on Will and reaches to pull it out, but a sudden voice stops her. It's Edward Sensei.
Edward Sensei: "What are you doing here? Will, come with me—I have something for you."
Colette watches Will leave with a worried expression.
Colette: "What do you think this is about?"
Akashic: "I don't know, but let's go. We have to help Will."
Hearing this, Colette looks confused. I tell her to grab Will's sword while I head toward the hall where they're fighting.
Kiki comes out of the room, crying for help. I pick her up.
Akashic: "Don't worry, Kiki, everything's going to be all right."
Colette soon arrives with Will's sword. I take it from her and hand her the injured Kiki, then run toward the hall.
Will is about to lose. I shout his name and throw him the sword—and just like in the original anime, he passes Edward Sensei's test.
I walk over to him.
Will: "Thank you, Akashic."
Akashic: "No problem, Will."
He notices Colette there too, along with the injured Kiki. As they start walking toward the exit, I stay behind to talk with Edward Sensei.
Akashic: "So, Edward Sensei—why are you so focused on Will?"
Edward: "That's none of your concern."
Akashic: "He's my friend. And by the way, I know you actually want to save him, don't you? You don't want him to face the cruel treatment of the upper institute. But sensei, what about Will's happiness? If he's this determined, don't you think you should give him a chance, as his teacher?"
Hearing this, Edward grits his teeth and starts to walk away. I add one last thing.
Akashic: "Please think about it, sensei. After all, you deserve a chance too."
Then I leave. Edward stares at the wall, lost in memories of the past.
After reaching home, I try to tap into my Divineness, meditating and focusing my mana within my body, thinking back on this power.
Akashic: "What does this power even do? I still don't know."
I try focusing Divineness together with magic, and realize I can use multiple types of magic at once.
Ding.
Congratulations to the host for discovering: you can use multiple types of magic.Reward: limited information on Divineness.Divineness progress: 1%.
Divineness can be fused with magic and wis, but it can also be used directly. However, you're still too weak to use its full power. Your body itself is now infused with divine energy, giving it boundless potential. The only limit to Divineness is your own thinking.
Because the host's body is now touched by divinity, it possesses abilities such as:
— Adaptability: can adapt to new situations quickly.— Mind Power: thinks faster than most people here; has photographic memory.— Strength: strong even without magic or Divineness, and can be increased further through training.
New abilities may also be unlocked depending on how Divineness is used.
Reading this, I realize Divineness isn't nearly as simple a power as I thought.
After that, I start reading every magic book I can find, training myself in every spare moment. At the same time, I create several clones of myself to handle other tasks. For now, I can make up to nine clones. One meditates, one cooks, some train, and one practices magic.
The best part is that I retain all the knowledge my clones gain. With this, I can grow far stronger in far less time.