'Survival probability?'
Dawn777
―Final outcome 'Chapter X. Death' in 774 days, 0 hours, 1 minute, and 19 seconds
―Chance of change: 0.3% (+0.1%p)
It increased by 0.1%p.
'That means I'm on the right track.'
Good.
For now, I won't go out of my way to respond, but I've realized I don't need to act like a social misfit as I did at home.
I can't live as the original Luka forever.
To succeed in overthrowing the hierarchy, and to increase the credibility of my words and actions, I can't maintain my current social standing.
To catch up with my brother, who is highly esteemed in the Empire and neighboring countries, I need to start moving as soon as possible.
Of course, my brother won't tolerate my changes forever.
One day, he'll either assign a monitor to me or come to check on me himself.
So, I need to improve my skills and lay the groundwork to dispel any ridiculous rumors before then.
* * *
The first day of classes ended smoothly.
Fortunately, the practical classes were also just orientation, so there was no need to use magic.
Thinking it best to postpone magic training until the effects of the potion wear off, I spent Friday evening and the weekend in the library. Immersed in studying divine power to raise my skill scores, the weekend flew by in the blink of an eye.
Finally, Monday arrived, and the first practical magic class began.
"Hello, everyone. Did you have a good weekend? Today, we will practice a simple attack spell."
The professor, who had called all the students to the training ground, amplified his voice with a spell and guided us. After a tedious introduction, the professor called each student to use magic.
'They're all quite good.'
As expected of the Empire's top magic academy, the students' skills were impressive.
And then… when it was Leo's turn, I retracted my previous evaluation.
'...Not just anyone can be the protagonist's friend.'
In the novel, Leo was clearly not one of the stronger members of the protagonist's group, but here, he stood out starkly among the other students.
Everything is different from an extra who dies at the age of twenty by his brother's hand. If I had to enter, I should have entered a character like him.
While I was having these idle thoughts, the students' names continued to be called, and dazzling magic flashed incessantly before my eyes.
Cruelly, the practical magic class didn't exempt anyone unless they were absent.
'Until now, Luka couldn't do anything.'
Even then, that Leo guy always kept an eye on Luka. According to my memory, Leo used to send Luka a look of contempt every single time. It must have made Luka think of quitting every hour.
At that moment, the professor called a familiar name.
"Next, Lukas Askanian!"
* * *
"I was surprised. Isn't this almost the first time you've walked around looking like a human?"
Friday, the day the new semester began.
One student entered the training ground used by the magic department, speaking in an excited voice.
Although there was no subject, it was obvious who they were referring to. Other students who had been resting on the floor responded with intense reactions.
"Yeah, I almost fainted."
"I saw his face for the first time today. Does it make sense that I've been at this school for this long and only just saw his face?"
"You must not have been attending school properly."
"What are you talking about, XX."
The students burst into laughter among themselves.
Ignoring his friends, one student brought up Lukas again.
"But he seemed like a completely different person. Don't you think he did more than just cut his hair?"
"What's so surprising? He probably spent the two-month vacation at home learning how to walk again. And how to open his eyes."
"Haha! I guess he's planning to live properly now. I was really surprised when he answered in class."
A student who had been sitting with a dark face without participating in the conversation the entire time shook his head.
"I don't know, a guy who was a rat at school now acting normal…."
At those words, the constant undercurrent of laughter in the conversation died out.
It wasn't because there were always stories criticizing Lukas.
The silence dragged on for a while until one student, trying to lighten the mood, spoke with a playful expression.
"Isn't that a ridiculous rumor? No matter how it is, that's a bit…."
"Why are you so complacent? What if the fact that he dressed properly now means he plans to shamelessly drink blood like other Pleroma bastards?"
"Well… would he really do that openly while tied to the school? The royal family would come after him."
"And has the royal family ever succeeded? Why did everyone avoid him? It's because they feared he might really be with Pleroma."
"..."
The follow-up comments weren't important.
Has the royal family ever succeeded?
Those words could lead to charges of blasphemy, and the other students exchanged tense glances.
At that moment, one student raised his hands and stepped in.
"Hey, guys. We weren't trying to talk about this. Calm down a bit."
"Yeah, you go out and get some air. We were just curious how long he'd keep this up."
The student furrowed his brows and shouted.
"Why are you so complacent? At this rate…!"
"Stop spouting nonsense."
A cold voice from above made the students look up.
Leo, who had been listening silently to his friends' conversation, answered with a frosty expression.
"Changing appearances doesn't change the essence. What can a guy who can't even use magic do?"
It wasn't typical for Leo, who usually didn't engage in others' conversations, to say something like this.
Yet, his friends weren't surprised at all.
Leo, who usually softened situations with a smile, had always criticized Lukas, so there was no reason to find it strange now.
One student laughed nonchalantly.
"Haha, that's true. How is it that he can't even do the basics? It seems like he can't cast any magic at all."
"Even if he knew how to, everyone here knows he's just a charity case. Showing some shitty magic skills won't change anything."
"Didn't they say he can't use magic because he can't drink blood?"
"Pleroma folks know how to use magic without drinking blood. Regardless of the process, he can't use magic at all, so why is he even here?"
Despite the time allotted for training passing by, the students' conversation didn't stray from Lukas's defamation.
By now, Leo had tuned out his friends' words, lost in his own thoughts.
* * *
'…But you never know.'
Leo, who had been half-listening to his friends' chatter and staring into space, shook his head.
'Changing appearances doesn't change the essence.'
Even though he said that, it wasn't true that Lukas had no magic abilities.
The dazzling magic he saw ten years ago was still vivid in his memory.
The Askanian family was renowned in the Empire for their magic, known for their bright and flamboyant spells, unlike any other family.
But the magic he witnessed was not just a typical spell passed down through the family.
Anyone who saw his magic once would never forget that moment.
Seeing Lukas's magic made me, who had no talent for magic, seriously study it and come this far.
The period when he turned into the wreck he is now coincided with rumors spreading across the Empire that he had joined Pleroma.
I don't know the details as it happened before he entered this academy, but I heard he stopped using magic around that time.
'Pathetic.'
If it were me, I'd flaunt my magic even more.
I wouldn't let such insulting and rebellious rumors reach my ears.
In this society where magic supremacy is extreme, magical prowess is the most powerful authority.
With magnificent and strong magic that could shut everyone's mouths, why does he act like he's committed a mortal sin all by himself?
If it were me, even if I really belonged to Pleroma, I wouldn't live like that.
Just thinking about it made me angry.
Was the magic I saw just an illusion?
At this point, that seems like the only possibility. Otherwise, that guy must be the biggest idiot in the Empire for doing nothing.
'Still.'
The Lukas I saw during the day was completely different from usual.
It wasn't just a haircut that made me think this. His gaze, his walk, his attitude towards people—all had changed. He even actively participated in class. It was as if he had become a completely different person.
Perhaps he has decided to turn over a new leaf.
'Maybe… I can see it again.'
Caught by a sudden hope, Leo shook his head.
No, I shouldn't get my hopes up.
When I first came here and saw how he lived, I was so disappointed.
Yet, I couldn't help but grip my wand tightly. No matter how much I tried to kill it, that glimmer of hope never completely vanished.
* * *
Monday, the first magic class of the week.
"Excellent, Leo. Next!"
After finishing his turn, Leo returned to his seat.
His friends, who had gathered around, didn't spare their praise.
"Hey, that was awesome. You seem even stronger than last year."
"Do I?"
Their flattery fell on deaf ears.
It was just more flattery for his family.
They had always been like this since childhood.
Leo's gaze naturally turned to Lukas.
Sitting far away from the other students as usual, but something was different.
Before, he would be trembling with fear, but now he showed no emotion at all.
That he could be so calm in a magic class was honestly surprising.
'He has definitely changed.'
Leo wasn't the only one who thought so.
The change was so shocking that all he could hear around him was talk about Lukas.
"Isn't it his turn soon?"
"Yeah. He's up in about three turns? Oh, now only two more to go."
Students calculated Lukas's turn and debated whether he would use magic or not.
'Don't get your hopes up.'
Leo gritted his teeth.
No matter how much he's changed, how much could he have changed?
He might not even think of using magic.
Maybe the rumors are true, and he can't use magic because he can't drink blood.
If so, then there's nothing more to say.
He sighed deeply.
"Next! Lukas Askanian!"
Leo quickly looked up.
Lost in thought, he hadn't noticed it was already Lukas's turn.
Unlike usual, Lukas walked forward with a rather normal gait.
"Begin."
At the professor's indifferent command, Lukas raised his wand to his chest.
'…What?'
Leo frowned as he watched Lukas.
The professor, who had been absent-mindedly watching, raised his eyebrows in surprise. It was unexpected for a student who usually stood still with his head down to be raising his wand.
From where the students were waiting, there were sounds of sharp intakes of breath.
Crackle―!
At that moment, a red light flickered at the tip of the wand.
Then, it immediately died out.
"…!"
"Oh!"
"What was that?!"
Exclamations erupted from the students.
Although it wasn't the kind of magic a near-adult mage should use, the classroom was shocked by the faint magic. Some students stood up from their seats.
"Did he just use magic?!"
"What was that? Wasn't he supposed to be unable to use it?"
Leo, who had been frozen with wide eyes, slowly stood up in the now chaotic classroom.
'This can't be.'
It wasn't an illusion.
The emotion from that day surged again.
That moment, which had inspired him to pursue magic despite not being born into a proper mage family, replayed vividly in his mind.
But the excitement was short-lived.
Lukas lightly shook the hand holding the wand, then, without doing anything more, he bowed his head and stood still.