Ex-Hero, Now Freeloader - Chapter 21 – Don’t Plunge Into a School Arc 2

Being a magic academy, there were many classes related to magic.

「Can you tell me the difference between those who can use magic and those you can’t~? Hmm~ Rain, please answer~」

Louto called my name and I answered.

「I forgot.」

I feel like the Sage explained that to me a really long time ago, but I don’t remember it.

「Yes, what a cute voice you have~」

『I really don’t get this one…』

Even Mika is baffled.

「Well then, let me explain it to you all as a review~ Originally, mana is known as the power to make miracles happen. When it comes into contact with the desire of a person with a will, the natural pools of mana will move to turn that desire into reality. This is well-known~」

A Rift can be said to be one type of such miracle.

The problematic part about pools of mana goes without saying.

If a person happens to pass by them thinking『I want money.』money will appear there, but if someone thinks『I wonder if something interesting will happen』, then we have a problem.

The mana will move to realize the something interesting in that person’s head. Even with a vague image, it will forcibly realize it.

There is a theory that the first Rift happened because a human wished「To connect with another world.」and it came true.

These days, even if humans don’t wish for that, the bad demons on this side will keep on wishing for it.

「That was a hint~ Now, please try again, Rain~」

Is a teacher supposed to call the same student twice?

Although, after hearing that explanation, I vaguely remember something.

「Uh… The people who can use magic are the descendants of people from long ago whose wish of『I want to be able to use magic』was granted by the pools of mana.」

「Yes, exactly~ You’re a genius! A child prodigy! Straight As!」

I feel sorry for my classmates.

All I wanted was to be a part of the lesson normally…

「Ms. Louto, please take this seriously.」

Said Fripp.

「But I am.」

『Out of those we’ve met from the group of seven so far, she takes the cake.』

She does not care about the attention gets, or she just does what she wants.

「Honestly, Fripp. Do you think I’m just messing around with this whole conversation~? I’m not~. What we just talked about are the basics of basics~, but with that in mind, what do you see when you consider the Saviors of mankind~?」

Louto’s narrow eyes opened slightly.

「…! The Savior’s Crest… Could it be a form of magic that continuously grants someone’s wish?!」

Shouts Fripp.

「Huh… That’s an interesting thought.」

Even the Sage considered the various comments made about the crests and wrote them down in a notepad. She doesn’t like explaining things based on incomplete theories, so I never heard anything about them.

「Do you know anything about that, Mika?」

『…No. When I was passed into the hands of the first generation, the crests were already there.』

But you would need a ridiculous amount of mana to sustain such magic.

I wonder if it sucks mana out of the person the crest is engraved on, little by little.

Either way, an enormous amount of mana and a detailed image should have been essential for the very first one.

I doubt there was anyone who could have prepared all that.

「If it is magic, it can be interfered with. For example… Theoretically, it is not impossible to release someone who was chosen by the Savior’s Crest but did not want it.」

Louto’s eyes were completely open.

When she gets serious, even her tone changes.

『…I see. So, to her, “Saving Rain” means removing the Savior’s Crest from you.』

Ah, so that’s it.

I look at the back of my hand.

So long as I have this, I will continue to be a Savior.

I thought that it wouldn’t disappear until the day I died, but if you think of it as one large-scale magic spell, then it shouldn’t be impossible to do something about it.

『It sounds dangerous. I’m against it.』

There’s no telling what would happen to my body after the Crest disappears.

Since the Crest is what made it possible for me to train my body beyond its limits, it might just fall apart once the Crest disappears.

Louto might have thought that far and is searching for a solution for it.

「…Although to be able to construct such a mechanism, you would have to be what we call a God class~. And we don’t call it “God class” for nothing~. So, boys and girls, stop casting looks of suspicion towards Rain because of his unbelievable cuteness~.」

Louto’s eyes were once again narrow, with a smile on her face.

But she had four pieces of chalk at the ready between her fingers.

I’ve seen enemies who held needles or knives like that.

A portion of the students trembled.

「Isn’t it better to see with our own eyes?」

A sole female student raised her voice.

Her hair was done up into twintails. She seems very determined.

「Everyone knows the tale of the Seven Prodigies, but the people that held the ritual were small fries, right? While I’m glad that you were rescued, putting the Saviors on a pedestal because of that seems a little overboard.」

I guess the impression people have of the Saviors differs from person to person.

That makes sense.

Even when I heard what that King of whatever demon said, I didn’t get it.

But Fripp talked about those guys I beat up with fear, and Eleanor said that King of whatever guy from before was really strong.

To the students of a faraway country, the tales of us saving the sacrificial girls and our activities would be no different than rumors to them.

But the person teaching the class should be proof that it isn’t a rumor. But I suppose…it can’t be helped that people can doubt your abilities.

「……」

Louto was smiling, but…it looked like a black haze was seeping out of her back…I think.

「He is the Savior of mankind. We founded this academy to train magic users who will protect this country, and we have produced a plethora of talented individuals. I believe you are expecting slightly too much of him, Ms. Louto.」

That’s a pretty honest opinion.

She probably thinks that the Demon King Army is counting me among their combat forces.

Actually, that’s the normal thing to assume.

She wouldn’t imagine that I would be enjoying life as a freeloader freely.

「I see. Well, next up is Practical Arts class~. Rain is taking part in it as well, so would you be so kind as to show us some of your power~?」

Said Ms. Louto with a smile, while crushing the chalk in her hands.

「Hm? Ah, I don’t mind.」

「I’m grateful for that. Let us see just how powerful a Hero is.」

「Ah, I think that would be impossible.」

I say without thinking.

「Whatever do you mean, Sir Hero?」

「’Cause I have to regulate my power a little. If I don’t…there might not be a school left.」

I think only someone on the level of the other Saviors would be able to witness my full power.

「…You certainly have a lot of confidence in yourself. If it pleases you, how about going up against me in live combat?」

「Oh, something like that, huh? Yeah, sure. Oh and don’t worry, I’ll be careful not to harm you while we fight.」

「…! Y-you little…!」

She was visibly shaking.

『Pipe down, twintails. I’ll tell you upfront, Rain isn’t trying to rile you up. He’s telling the truth.』

She seems to be better than her fellow students. I can tell from her mana.

I suppress my mana so that it doesn’t leak out, so maybe that’s why she can’t tell.

After that, the lesson proceeded smoothly.

Then it came time for Practical Arts class.

「Now, Hero dear, fight me!」

And that’s how we got here.

Even after reminiscing, I still get it…