12.
“Miss Mary is a bit…”
“A bit much, isn’t she?”
‘……?’
Lancel learned about the rumors surrounding Marigold through the new students at the Magic Department.
Marigold. She was already a well-known figure within the academy, someone everyone knew.
.
.
.
———
[Fallen Noblewoman Simulation]
Schedule for the first week of March:
Monday – Dormitory assignment (Location: Academy Dormitory).
Tuesday – Introduction to Magical Compatibility (Location: Lecture Hall).
Wednesday – Magical Power Collision Experiment (Location: Research Wing).
Thursday – Light and Sphere Guidance Practice (Location: Training Grounds).
Friday – Magical Power Gathering through Meditation (Location: Garden).
Saturday – Dormitory Deep Cleaning (Location: Academy Dormitory).
Sunday – Group Outing (Location: Academy Hunting Grounds).
※The day of Academy admission is approaching! Can she truly succeed? A great mage who insults knights…!
———
“Hello!”
When Marigold first enrolled and was assigned to her dormitory, her life wasn’t so bad.
“Who’s that?”
“I heard that her name is Mary.”
If one had to choose, she made a good impression.
With her striking blonde hair, bright demeanor, and a subtly pleasant wildflower scent that lingered when you got close, her gemstone-like eyes sparkled constantly, captivating anyone who looked at her.
“She’s quite pretty.”
“A bit short, though.”
“How old is she?”
“Seventeen.”
“She is small.”
“I heard she’s Baron Zenith’s disciple.”
“Really?”
The fact that she was a commoner with an excellent mentor.
The fact that she was a commoner with refined manners.
The fact that she seemed a bit shy and aloof at first, but quickly warmed up and created a comfortable atmosphere once you spoke to her directly.
On her first day at the academy, Marigold was actually one of the most noticed students—in a good way.
“Yes, wizards should get along. We need to unite our strength until the day we overthrow the knights…”
“…?”
She occasionally blurted out strange remarks that left those around her bewildered.
“Ah, anyway, take care, Miss Mary.”
“Huh.”
The real problem began the following week.
[Tuesday: Introduction to Magical Compatibility (Location: Lecture Hall).]
“Magic truly begins in the phenomena of interaction, fusion, and repulsion between different attributes. Carefully focus your magic powers and observe the effects of their collision. Very delicately and cautiously…”
“P-Professor! Miss Mary!”
“Hmm?”
Just then, an intense light and heat erupted from Marigold’s hand.
The tangled strands of magical power swelled ominously, beginning to show signs of instability.
The professor’s eyes widened sharply.
“Evacuate! Evacuate!”
KABOOM!
The deafening explosion left chaos in its wake. Desks, chairs, and the floor splintered into wooden shards that swirled through the air.
It was an explosion caused by Marigold’s inability to control her magic power.
The incident forced the professor and all the academy students to evacuate, however, did it truly damage Marigold’s reputation?
No.
That wasn’t exactly the case.
This was a common occurrence among academy students still inexperienced in controlling their magical powers, so it was initially dismissed as a minor incident.
[Wednesday: Magical Power Collision Experiment (Location: Research Wing).]
“Professor! Miss Mary!”
“Mary! Reduce your magical output! Now!”
“Ah, I can’t! It won’t decrease!”
“Damn it! Everyone, evacuate!”
“Again?”
KABOOM!
Of course, when the same incident repeated itself for two consecutive days, some panicked reactions surfaced, but things were still manageable.
Her classmates simply perceived Marigold as someone whose innate magical talent far outstripped her current skill in wielding magic.
“I’m so sorry…”
“Oh, uh-huh. It’s okay, Miss Mary.”
After every major blunder, she would go around apologizing to everyone.
It was hard to be harsh with her when she was constantly bowing her head in apology.
Only Marigold’s long golden hair was heavily scorched by the explosion, its natural curls now even more pronounced.
[Thursday: Light and Sphere Guidance Practice (Location: Training Grounds).
“Professor! Miss Mary got into a fight!”
“What? With whom?”
“With the students of the Department of Knights…!”
“Oh, no!”
The next day, a fierce argument erupted between the knights and Mary, who shared the training grounds.
“What? Did I say something wrong? Were you not the ones who mocked magic first?”
“This commoner dares to talk back…!”
A student from the Department of Knights grabbed Marigold by the collar, his grip tight.
With a height difference of at least 40 centimeters, she looked like she might be lifted off her feet at any moment, but her expression showed no sign of backing down.
“Say that again. I dare you.”
“You want to hear it again? I said it’s ridiculous for knights—who think building muscle is all it takes—to mock magic.”
“Wh-what did you say?”
“Swordplay is just a matter of drawing your sword and swinging it. Magic, on the other hand, is a far more complex and sophisticated discipline.”
“Is that how a commoner speaks to a noble?! There’s a limit to how much insult I’ll tolerate!”
“Then act like a proper noble. Who started this by mocking wizards as weaklings who could be taken down with a single punch?”
“Are you finished, brat? You’ve insulted both knights and nobles! I am a noble! Unlike you, I am a noble! Of the esteemed Solis family…!”
“Want to hear more?”
“Come outside! Let’s settle this outside!”
“Hmph!”
Magic powers surged from Marigold’s body as the knight grabbed her by the collar.
“Stop! Stop!”
“I tried to reason with you!”
In the next instant, a fist flew between Marigold and the knight.
“Ack!”
A large, red bruise marred Marigold’s face.
The punch had landed before she could even cast a spell, leaving her utterly defenseless.
“She lost.”
“Miss Mary lost.”
As punishment, both the Magic Department and the Department of Knights had their lunch and snacks confiscated for the day.
Of course, this incident alone wasn’t the decisive factor that dragged Marigold’s reputation into the mud.
The real trouble began the following day.
13.
“A nightmare?”
“Yes, a nightmare.”
Lancel heard these unexpected words from the Magic Department’s freshmen.
“The nightmare spread throughout the entire dormitory. None of us were able to sleep a wink all weekend… Ugh.”
The freshman shuddered, wrapping their arms around themselves as if the mere thought sent chills down their spine.
‘A nightmare?’
The content of the dreams varied from person to person, but they shared one crucial trait: it activated the moment Marigold fell asleep and persisted until she woke up.
All the common wizards who shared the same dormitory as Marigold had to endure the same phenomenon.
“Even though I knew it was a nightmare, I couldn’t wake up. I wanted to run, but something kept chasing me…”
“Eek!”
They reacted as if traumatized.
It was human nature after all to become sensitive even after just one sleepless night. So even Lancel understood— he wouldn’t be in a good mood if he had experienced something similar for several days.
“So, Miss Mary was behind this?”
“Yes, that’s what we’ve determined. I heard it was because of the meditation she learned on Friday…”
‘Meditation?’
“It’s a simple training method where you focus your mind and gather magic power around your body. I heard Miss Mary practiced it every night. If I just said that, she’d sound like a diligent wizard, but… unfortunately, it turned out to be…”
“So she caused the nightmare.”
“Yes, the professors believe that Miss Mary’s magic power, gathered through meditation, might have activated some kind of advanced mental magic.”
If one might consider such a feat a talent, then it’s a talent indeed.
“Hmm.”
In the end, the week-long ordeal turned Marigold into an outcast.
A commoner, an orphan, Baron Zenith’s disciple, a novice wizard just starting out, a pretty-faced kid, someone awkward to be around, a wizard apprentice who constantly attracts trouble, a woman who brings nightmares…
All these perceptions of Marigold formed in just one week.
Rumors even circulated that she had incurred the wrath of the Department of Knights and was now being directly harassed.
Considering she was picking up discarded items from the pond, other students of the Magic Department believed that the rumors were likely true.
If there was a way to completely ruin one’s academy life in a single week, this must be it.
‘You’re completely isolated now, Marigold.’
.
.
.
“It’s the completion of a world where no one gets hurt.”
“No. It’s all your own fault.”
Lancel retorted, watching the girl’s hair curl into tight ringlets.
“Hngh… sniff…” Marigold buried her face in her knees.
“You’re right. It’s all my fault. I’m just a troublemaker who knows a little magic. When I heard that Sir Lancel was coming as a temporary professor, I wanted to show you a cool, impressive side of myself, but I ruined everything.”
“Get a grip.”
“Ow!”
Lancel plucked a leaf from the crown of Marigold’s head.
“Hmm.”
He picked up Marigold’s sandwich from the floor. It was the food she’d been carrying around since she started avoiding the dining hall.
‘What should I do about this?’
Lancel took a bite of the sandwich and pondered.
“Hey, my lunch…!”
“Want a bite?”
“…It’s okay.”
Marigold buried her face in her knees again.
‘For starters, her talent for becoming a great wizard seems undeniable.’
Yes. She had triggered a wide-ranging mental magic spell simply by meditating.
The result was the nightmare incident, but still, it proved that Marigold’s magical talent was genuine.
============
—Air isn’t your friend, Marigold! If you don’t make any friends, your three years at the Academy’s Magic Department will be bleak!
※Status condition: Loneliness triggered. Marigold feels exposed and humiliated in front of Lancel Dante, wishing she could just die. Her Dignity, Emotions, Morality, and Faith have gone down. Her overall condition has decreased significantly.
============
‘Isn’t this dangerous?’
This was bad.
If Marigold was left in this state, the story might take another strange turn.
Especially if her stats were directly affected, it meant that the worst possible ending awaited her.
Yes.
For example, her condition.
Lancel knew all too well what would happen if Marigold’s condition dropped below single digits.
An ending worthy of being ranked among the game’s three worst.
‘That ending must be avoided at all costs!’
Drastic measures were needed.
“Mary, from today onward, your goal isn’t to make 100 friends, but to become the goddess of the Magic Department. Do you understand?”
“Huh?”
Lancel immediately set off.
“Sir Lancel? No, Professor Lancel?”
Lancel left, taking with him the sandwich Marigold had been eating.
The sound of a hollow gurgling growl followed him from behind.
* * *
“So, what Sir Lancel is suggesting is that we involve the Magic Department in the training of the Department of Knights?”
“You heard me correctly.”
Training knights and wizards together in the same sessions.
The professors of the Department of Knights were stunned by Lancel’s proposal.
“This… this is just pitting knights and wizards against each other, isn’t it?”
“Growth begins with competition and conflict, after all.”
“Enough with this nonsense. Their relationship is already strained enough. This would only fan the flames of discord.”
‘That’s an astute observation,’ Lancel thought.
That was precisely his intention.
He just took it lmao, so shameless