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"What do you mean?"

Count Millennium asked again, a new wrinkle forming across his brow.

With her head bowed before him, Alice again monotonously reported what happened.

"The Young Master beat down the family's apprentice wizards, Daniel and Richard Paul."

Hearing that, the Count let out his breath and raised a hand to his forehead.

"This will drive me crazy."

After closing his eyes for a moment, he murmured.

Alice listened to him and then continued her explanation.

"Daniel and Richard Paul insulted the Young Master first and used magic."

"What did they say?"

"...They asked if he would attend the class again."

Alice, who was present then, could see that what they said was disrespectful toward Raymond.

Count Millennium also knew about their behavior to some extent already.

"And? What did Raymond say that made them try to use magic?"

"Um… he asked how dare dogs bark at their owner."

"Ha."

At Alice's words, Count Millennium made a sound as if it were absurd.

Never had anything like this happened before.

He had no talent for magic from birth to when his mother died several years ago.

'He's taken the wrong path since then... but it's always been directed at the servants and never at the family’s wizards.'

Count Millennium wasn’t sure what to make of Raymond’s sudden change.

He frowned for a second, then looked at Alice.

"By the way, how did Raymond knock them both down? They should have mastered at least one or two attack spells at their level."

"...He knocked them down with his fists."

"With his fists?"

"Yes. Daniel and Richard Paul were knocked to the floor after the Young Master dodged their magic arrows and threw a few punches and kicks."

Alice said politely. Upon hearing that, Count Millennium’s expression grew serious.

"What the hell is going on…?"

It was something he couldn't comprehend.

***

The situation was quickly sorted out.

The hurt apprentice wizard left with the help of the female apprentice who was with him by Beatrice's instructions, and the class started immediately.

"This is why you shouldn't try to accept Mana into the body. A wizard and Mana can never truly become one..."

I watched Beatrice as she conducted the class from the platform with a complicated beginner's magic book spread out in front of her.

It wasn't just her looks but the magical knowledge that made her stand out.

Besides, her explanations were clear, and thanks to her, I gained a basic understanding of magic. Like how magic is activated, basic magic history, and things like that.

This essential knowledge could not be gained by simply reading the novel.

I had come intending just to get to know Beatrice and talk to her, but the class was quite exciting, so I wasn't bored while waiting.

"Excuse me."

Someone sitting in the back raised their hand.

Beatrice looked to the naive apprentice.

"Go ahead."

"You just said that Mana makes up the whole world."

"I did."

"Then, after all, in a way, we are also made of Mana. So why do you say that Mana and a wizard can never become one?"

Beatrice furrowed her brow. She didn't seem to like the question.

"Who are you, and where are you from?"

"My name is Nairion; I’m from the Plane Magic Tower."

"Good, Mr. Nairion of the Plane Magic Tower. A long time ago, our Magic Tower conducted numerous studies, including a study of the correlation between water and people."

Beatrice continued her explanation without hesitation. I was in awe of her.

"Have any of you read 'Water and People' by Howard Royne?"

Nearly half of the apprentice wizards raised their hands.

Of course, I didn't know what the book called Water and People was, so I just quietly listened.

It was hard to figure out precisely what they were talking about.

"Howard Royne's work explains the elements that make up the human body and describes that 70 percent of our body is water. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Other scholars suggest that might be 65 percent or 68 percent. Although they insist on changing those numbers, it is undeniable that water composes a large percentage of the substances that make up our bodies. Is that correct?"

At Beatrice's words, everyone nodded.

I nodded along since it sounded like common sense. I had been taught about the fact that 70% of the human body was water since childhood.

"Now then, Mr. Nairion of the Plane Magic Tower."

"Yes?"

"Can you become one with water?"

"...?"

"About 70% of your body is made up of water, so maybe 70% could be water itself."

The apprentice wizard said nothing. Beatrice looked at him for a moment before continuing.

"When you become one with water, you die. The same goes for Mana. If you try to become one with Mana, you'll die. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Then would it be all right if I resumed the class?"

"...Please."

No questions were asked after that.

Beatrice proceeded unwavering with her lecture, and everyone listened attentively.

After the class was over, several asked her questions. But the question that piqued my curiosity the most soon came.

"Miss Beatrice! I wonder how you feel about reaching the 4th Circle despite being so young? Is there any special way you accomplished your feats?"

"The one who just asked that question. Who are you, and where are you from?" Beatrice asked back.

"My name is German of the Pergio Tower." The apprentice wizard responded.

"You're still in the 1st Circle, right?" Beatrice asked, in a tone that sounded like she already knew the answer to her question.

"Yes."

"How did you become a 1st Circle wizard?" Beatrice asked further.

"…I studied hard, trained… the usual stuff, you know?" The apprentice wizard responded.

"I did that too," Beatrice said, bringing an end to the short exchange.

After Beatrice gave that brief answer, she closed the book she was holding.

"Okay then, let's finish class."

That was the end of her lesson.

I learned one thing about her from taking her classes.

'She's a bit unfriendly.'

Her demeanor was unwelcoming and fierce.

Springing to my feet, I eagerly pursued her trail. 

"Beatrice,"

I called her name as she walked away.

Contrary to how others respected her, I did not add a 'Miss' to her name. After all, she and Raymond were on equal footing.

Beatrice glanced at me, then immediately turned her head away.

What was that? She saw me, but was she ignoring me?

Her gait slightly quickened.

I called to her again, now feeling disconcerted.

"Beatrice Skylar."

Although I called her name another time, her full name, I might add…

"Barrier."

As I tried to follow, a barrier of defensive magic higher than the shield was created to block my path.

Thud.

I was a bit dumbfounded.

Aside from the fight earlier, I didn't understand why she acted this way toward me.

Was my mere desire to engage her in conversation so heinous a crime that she felt the need to erect a magical barricade between us? 

I wondered if there was another side to the story I didn't know about.

"Why...?"

In the end, I gave up on catching her and headed home.

***

"You're back, Young Master."

"I’m home.”

As soon as I arrived, Alice greeted me. It seemed she’d been waiting.

"Have you been here all day?"

"No, I just arrived. I thought the class would be over by this point."

I scratched my cheek at her response and moved on.

"Let's go to my room."

"Yes, Young Master. I have prepared the bath."

"Bath?"

"Since you moved your body so intensely earlier, I prepared it in case you want to wash up... Should I just drain it?"

"No. I’ll go ahead and wash up."

It was already prepared, so there was no need to reject the offer.

After returning to the room, I immediately got help from Alice, took off my clothes, and entered the bath.

With the welcoming warmth and rest, my muscles tensed, and I had to do a little wiggle to release the tension.

"This body has minimal muscles."

Looking down, I could only sigh.

Perhaps thanks to his talent for Swordsmanship, this body moved almost spontaneously... but his muscles were screaming.

With minimal training, it was only natural to feel overworked after a day like this.

I anticipated that waking up the next day would be a real struggle, with waves of muscle pain crashing over me like a relentless tide.

"Umm… I think I need to train my body first."

I knew that Raymond had no talent for magic, so it was better to use the time he would spend on magic training on something more physical.

Knock, knock.

The knocking echoed through the large bathroom.

"Young Master, it's Alice. May I come in?"

"No. I'll wash up alone."

I wasn't used to her washing my body yet. It was uncomfortable, and the feeling was strange, so I felt better just being alone.

'It's clear that Beatrice doesn't like talking to me... Does she just hate people with no talent, or is there some other special reason?'

My head was full of thoughts on my next steps.

I never imagined that I would be rejected so firmly. I thought about it for a while, but in the end, I reached no conclusion. After washing up and putting on simple clothes, I came out.

Alice, who was tidying up the room, came over and handed me something a bit sturdier to wear.

Although I had no memory of Beatrice, Alice had been with me for a long time. She must know why Beatrice was avoiding me if there was a reason.

"Alice."

"Yes, Young Master."

"You know Beatrice, right?"

"Are you referring to Lady Beatrice of the Skylar family?"

Alice asked, looking at me. In her sparkling gaze, I saw my own visage staring back at me.

"Yeah, Beatrice Skylar."

"Of course, I know her."

"Has something happened between us? She doesn't seem to like me."

Perhaps the question was strange as Alice tilted her head.

But she soon opened her mouth with a worried look.

"Young Master, if you are not feeling well...?"

"I'm fine. It's just that sometimes I forget things."

The information I had on Raymond was obtained through the novel, and that, combined with the things I had learned since my time here began, was everything I knew.

Of course, I couldn't help not knowing about Beatrice.

Alice put her hands down to my waist and tightened the belt as she explained.

"Four years ago, there was an accident."

"An accident?"

"A group of orcs suddenly appeared in a hunting ground where usually only wild pigs live, and the Young Master was put in danger... At that time, Lord Xerion saved you."

Xerion? I had never heard that name.

That meant that he was a character that didn't appear in the novel, so who was he?

"He saved me?"

"Yes, and while dealing with the Orcs, he faced Mana exhaustion and suffered extreme trauma, so he has been unconscious for four years."

"You mean he is in a vegetative state? But who is Xerion?"

To that question, Alice looked worried once again.

As I gestured with my hand, urging her to answer regardless, she stared at me and said:

"Xerion Skylar is Lady Beatrice's older brother."

Fuck.

My head went blank at her words.

I guess I was screwed.