Chapter 66: Whispers of the Devil

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After the second day of the competition, the students were enjoying their free time in various ways.

Some students gathered in their classes for meetings to prepare for the third day, while others returned to their dorm rooms early to rest. There were also those who dedicated themselves to activities in research clubs and committees even during this time.

Among them, Maiss Gracier had just finished a brief meeting in the classroom and was heading towards his dorm room. He hurriedly walked down the street, as if expressing isr inner anxiety.

(Damn it…! Damn it…!)

By the end of the second day, Class 2C ranked third out of twenty-one classes in the overall competition.

Class 3D took the second place. It was a class where excellent students, led by the Student Council President Crossgry, had gathered.

Since the score difference wasn’t significant, it seemed easy to turn the tables.

However, there was an overwhelmingly large gap between them and Class 1A, which held the first place.

(At this rate…!)

Even if they managed to secure top positions in all the events on the third day, it was uncertain whether they could reach the top spot. Unless they monopolized the first place and Class 1A experienced a significant setback, surpassing them would be impossible.

The attention of the audience was already focused on Class 1A, especially on Maron Melange.

It had become quite difficult to attract the crowd’s attention towards them at this point.

(I absolutely have to make a name for myself at this Starry blossom Festival!)

In Maiss’s mind, he recalled the image of his father, who was troubled.

Sudden poor harvest within the territory.

Frequent attacks by demonic beasts.

Furthermore, they were hit by natural disasters.

As a result of these “misfortunes” overlapping, the Gracier family was burdened with a large amount of debt.

If the business slump continued, they would have no choice but to relinquish their position as a duke’s family and the word “ruin” inevitably flashed through Maiss’s mind.

Due to these circumstances, her father’s health deteriorated, and now Maiss alone became the last hope for the Gracier family.

(I must not fall into ruin! I will definitely rebuild the Gracier family!)

For that purpose, it was necessary to win the Starry blossom Festival and make the name of Maiss Gracier known in the world of magicians. If he could gain recognition in the magician community at this festival, he would be given important military duties and have the opportunity to achieve military merits.

And if he could achieve impressive results, he would receive a reward from the king.

A reward far more valuable than research funding for a national magician.

If that could be accomplished, it wouldn’t be difficult to rebuild the Gracier family.

However, Maiss never expected that his plans would be disrupted by mere first-year students.

Not only that, there was one “concern” floating in the corner of Maiss’s mind.

(But still, is that really… “Sachi”?)

Sachi Marmulard, a member of Class 1A.

With some free time available, Maiss went to observe the Ghost Snatch spirit capture event that was taking place at the training ground.

During that time, he witnessed the overwhelming performance of a student named Sachi, leaving the audience speechless.

He had already heard from the students of the school’s public relations department that there were commoners among the first-year students, and one of them defeated a son of a prestigious family in a mock battle.

At first, he brushed it off, thinking it must be a different person with the same name…

(But… I think they look alike.)

If Sachi, who was expelled from her home ten years ago was still alive, wouldn’t she have a similar appearance?

The resemblance was enough to make Maiss believe that.

Since they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, and Sachi was expelled from the family when she was young, Maiss’s memories were honestly vague.

Nevertheless, the moment he saw that student’s face, something clicked in his mind.

That person is most likely the real Sachi.

(Why is she here…? She shouldn’t be able to enroll in a magic academy.)

If that person is Sachi Gracier, then it’s clearly strange for her to be here at this academy.

Moreover, her remarkable performance in the Ghost Snatch spirit capture event.

She possessed a power that couldn’t possibly belong to a dropout with a magic power level of 1.

It is said that the nature of magical essence doesn’t change after birth, so it’s unlikely that Sachi’s magic power level has fluctuated.

And yet, she is actively participating as a student in this academy. Could it be that she obtained some other power?

“Hey! Maiss-kun!”

“Hmm?”

As Maiss walked alone on the path to the student dormitory outside the academy, he suddenly heard a woman’s voice from behind. When he turned around, it was a female student from the school’s public relations department who often approached him for interviews.

“I’m glad I caught up with you! It’s unlike you, Maiss-kun, to forget after asking me to research something.”

“Come to think of it, that’s right.”

After the events of today’s competition, before the class meeting, he approached the girl and asked for research. In return, Maiss had also asked her to investigate something.

The main topic was Sachi Malmurard, whom he had been thinking about just now.

“I’ve looked into it, that person from Class 1A, Sachi. She’s an uncommon commoner in this academy and had a mock battle with the son of the Sifonard family shortly after enrolling… Oh, but you already knew that, right?”

“Yeah.”

“As for other information, Sachi Malmurard has a magic power level of 1, but she has been fighting through exams and mock battles using mysterious magic. So, I did some research, and it seems the magic she uses is a type called ‘Probability Magic,’ which was discovered a long time ago.”

Probability Magic…?

Maiss furrowed her brow at the unfamiliar magic.

“Well, to put it simply, it’s a magic that depends on luck to succeed or not. And it’s an extremely low-probability magic that’s practically useless. That’s why it’s completely unknown. But she’s been earning quite a high score using it at the Starry blossom Festival. I don’t know how she manages to control a luck-based magic, though.”

“…”

A magic that depends on luck to succeed or not.

Maiss had never heard of such a thing.

However, he had a faint idea about the reason why Sachi was able to master it.

(Luck value…)

The magical essence residing within Sachi’s body was quite small, resulting in a magic power level of 1. However, it was said to have an extraordinary brilliance, with a value reaching the limit of 999.

If you combine that “luck value of 999” with the obscure “Probability Magic,” it could potentially become practical magic. Even if she had managed to overcome the entrance exams and mock battles at the academy, it wouldn’t be surprising.

“Well, for now, this should be enough. If I had more time, I could investigate further, but should I continue…?”

“No, it’s fine. That’s sufficient.”

Afterwards, the girl from the public relations department hurriedly ran back to the academy, mentioning that there was someone else she wanted to interview. If Maiss had entrusted her with further investigation on Sachi, he might have been able to learn more detailed information about her background and personal details. He might have even confirmed whether she was truly his younger sister.

However, to be honest, whether Sachi was his real sister or not didn’t matter. Right now, all that mattered was whether she posed a threat at the Starry blossom Festival.

Hearing that she had earned a significant score in the training ground event, Maiss had requested the research just to be sure.

(But the one I should be wary of is Maron Melange.)

In the end, it seemed that Maron, as the representative, posed the greatest obstacle. While Sachi’s power was troublesome, relying on luck-based magic was unreliable compared to Maron’s stability.

There was no need to be overly concerned. After all, she was just a magic failure, with an abnormally high luck value, who had been declared a dropout as a magician.

(Luck value, huh…)

Suddenly, a premonition crossed Maiss’s mind.

Come to think of it, the decline of the Gracier family’s business began exactly ten years ago. More specifically, it started after Sachi was expelled from the mansion. After that, disasters began occurring frequently, leading to a significant decline of the Gracier family.

An extraordinary luck value. A series of misfortunes after her expulsion. The fall of the Gracier family.

Could it be…?

(…No, am I overthinking?)

Maiss shook her head, dispelling unnecessary thoughts. Right now, all he should be focusing on is how to overthrow Class 1A on the third day. If he confronted them head-on like on the first and second days, there would likely be no chance of winning.

Unless he somehow neutralized Maron Melange, it would be absolutely impossible to snatch the first place from Class 1A.

(What should I do…? How can I render Maron powerless…)

As he pondered over such matters, he found himself unknowingly arriving at the student dormitory.

For now, he decided to rest his body and calm down before heading to her own room.

And then…

“Hmm…?”

He noticed an unfamiliar handbag hanging from the doorknob of his room. He considered if it belonged to his roommate, but he was still out practicing for tomorrow and hadn’t returned yet.

Since he couldn’t ask them about it, he decided to at least check the contents.

“What is this…?”

Inside, there was a small vial containing some kind of liquid and a single letter.

The sender was unknown, but it was clear from the writing on the bag that it was intended for Maiss Gracier.

Momentarily bewildered, Maiss opened the letter and examined its contents with suspicion.

And there…

“…?”

The whispers of the devil were written.