Chapter 11 (1/2)

Volume 1

Chapter 11

*Mira’s POV *

After I received a pa.s.sing mark for the earth attribute physical enhancement, I went to the wind attribute physical enhancement training range.

My objective is to learn all four types of physical enhancement, so I plan to partic.i.p.ate in all of the trainings. While listening to wind attribute teacher, who is explaining the lesson beside me, I observed the others to learn what is going on..

Five students are standing behind a straight line on the ground. When another teacher gave the signal, they clad their body in magic power and began to run. The finish line was 50 meters ahead, and 30 meter behind it are 10 senpais waiting. If the students can’t slow down, then the senpais will chase them and hold them down, since there are students that run in speed they can’t control.

The majority can’t invoke the magic properly and are just running normally. Sometimes, there are children who can concentrate their magic power on their feet and run really fast, but it seems that they didn’t receive a pa.s.sing mark. There are also students who jump as if their body are floating -- of course their speed was low.

Ah, just now there was a child that covered almost 5 meters with one step.

「Teacher, is there anything wrong with what just happened?」(Mira)

I look up at Teacher beside me, and she nods smilingly.

「Let’s see. It would’ve been be better if he was closer to the ground. Also, if he could do it consecutively and smoothly, then he would pa.s.s. If it’s Mira-san, it’s possible that you can go evem further with just one step.」(Wind Attribute Teacher)

「Then it wouldn’t be any different from flying right?」(Mira)

Teacher chuckled.

「That’s the dream of all magicians, right? Although it is possible to float things using the spirits’ power, experiments have shown that it is impossible for a human to fly.」(WA Teacher)

Hearing Teacher’s words made me remembered the toy, which is a pipe you blow into to suspend a ball in the air[1]. If we replaced the ball with human being then, although it is possible, it’s kinda surreal.

By the way, there are children who move forward by jumping. If it was me, then I could end up like an astronaut. Although I don’t know what to imagine to make it come true, if I used the large amount of magic power inside me through the Spirits and then put it to use, then flying in the air wouldn’t be something that is impossible anymore, right? Flying in the air, doesn’t matter which the world it is, doesn’t matter whether or not magic exists, will always be humanity’s dream.

「Fufu, however since it’s you, don’t try to fly in the sky, okay?」(WA Teacher)

Then do you mean, please if it possible try to fly?

The fact about I have abnormal amount of magic power seemed to be known by every teachers in the Academy. Then I need to interpret teacher’s statement just now in opposite manner. So what she really means is, please try to fly.

「Now, now, Mira-san also needs to line up. Even if you run normally, it would at least built up your physical power.」(WA Teacher)

「……Ye~s」(Mira)

Ahahaha… Hah…. I think it will be hard for me to increase my physical power. After all, for the last three months, even though there were physical education cla.s.ses, there weren’t any changes to it. My face is laughing, but my heart is weeping.

✦✧✦✧

The line is steadily progressing and it will soon be my turn.

Maybe because the children around me have ran many times, there were some children with dazed looks and exhausted looks. Conversely, there are also excited children that can’t stop moving.

Ah maybe this is what they call a runner’s high[2] after sprinting?

While pondering the mystery, my ears continue to overhear the conversations around me and pick up the lamenting sigh.[3]

「I completely can’t do it. I wonder if I don’t have the knack for this.」(Tired Student)

「Huhu, tenth time. I ‘m about to run for the tenth times. Am I really a wind attribute?」 (Depressed Student)

Ah there are children with a bad mental condition. Perhaps it will be better if I call a teacher?

「It’s alright. If you keep running, sooner or later you will be able to do it.」(High Student)

「Now-now, it is impossible just by depending on willpower alone. Hey, if you are tired, you can take a little rest right? I also want to rest for a bit.」(Tired Student)

The high[4] student embraced the depressed student, but then the tired student separated them. And then without hearing the reply, the slumped student let go of the high student and then left the line. She said few words with the Teacher, who then began a lesson at the place where the group of girls are sitting.

Now then, what about me? The girl sitting there has already ran for nine times, but I can’t run nine times like her. Before that, I will surely already exhaust my physical power before then.

Based on Teacher explanation, for Wind Attribute Physical Enhancement, the whole body will be clad in magic power to get rid of the wind pressure. That’s why even if the students succeeded in cladding their feet with magic power, they can’t pa.s.s the lesson.

This is the reason why the Earth Attribute Teacher said that although it is possible for me to achieve high speed movement using my previous Physical Enhancement, it can’t be considered as a proper wind attribute magic.[5]

That reminds me, when we were running away from Mana Eater, Swyn-san used a magic stone to cast Wind Attribute High Speed Movement Magic. He even did it while carrying me. Even though he is a man, you wouldn’t believe just by looking that with his slender arm, he was able to hold me while running. I believed that he was also using Earth Attribute Physical Enhancement.

Teacher had said that using magic from several different attributes or several different enhancement magic is hard. That’s why Swyn-san is truly an amazing magician.

Whoaa, while I was being impressed, my turn has come. Oh dear! I still hadn’t thought of anything.

「Go!」(Teacher)

Teacher heartlessly claps her hand. The sound, amplified by wind magic signaled to start running. We immediately began to run. I don’t have enough time to think of anything and it’s impossible to clad myself in a magic power armor in such short span of time. It can’t be helped. It’s only 50 meters, this round. Let’s run normally.

Yes. It’s only 50 meter. However, but for me it might be well not be 50 meters.

T-the breathing…… difficult…..

After a running with all of my strength for such a long time, I finally reached the finish line. Thereafter, I was staggeringly strayed off course and fell on my knees.

Eh, what with this kind of sorry state? Is running 50 meters really this hard?

There are children who running without magic power just like me; however, compared to them, my feet are terribly slow. Since the course can’t be used by the next team if I took my time running, I hurriedly kept running, and this is the result.

Can I cry?

While I was being crushed by the weight of my misfortune, there were a refres.h.i.+ng breeze blew towards me. It has a faint scent of custard.

「Rufi--?」(Mira)

When I raised my face, Rufi floated in the air and approached me to take a peek on my face.

『Master, are you okay?』(Rufi)

「Rufi…… You truly are a good child!」(Mira)

Overwhelmed by the surging emotion, I hug Rufi tightly.

「It’s alright~, I’m doing my best.」(Mira)

「Eh? You’re alright?」(Girl)

「Hawaaa!」(Mira)

There was someone asking behind me, so I turned back while being surprised.

「Hawa?」(Girl)

「No, umm, I only surprised.」(Mira)

There was a senpai with long chestnut ponytail and she is looking at the bent over me.

「Ah, sorry to surprise you. Since you were crouching down and weren’t moving, I came to check your condition.」(Girl)

「Thank you very much, I’m alright.」(Mira)

Well my heart is throbbing. Heart throbbing from running, heart throbbing from being surprised, and heart throbbing from wondering if my conversation with Rufi was been overheard. If she had seen me from the beginning, then I would look like talking alone, right? Will my heart be okay like this?

「I, don’t have much physical power.」(Mira)

I correct myself as I said these words. How shameful, to be downed just by running for 50 meter is really too miserable…… Since I don’t have much physical power.

「I’ve already recovered to a state where I can move, so I’ll return to my line.」(Mira)

「Alright. If you still feel bad, don’t hesitate to say so, okay?」(Senpai)

After saying this, senpai ran towards Teacher’s direction. She was covered by magic power and, with one step, she covered 8 meters. It’s was like she’s flying along, like gliding. With just 6 steps she reached the starting line, before decelerating and approaching Teacher. Perhaps she was reporting about my condition. Both of them sent a glance towards me.

Teacher nods, and then senpai rushes back to me.

Step, step, she came leaping, and stopped beside me.

「Teacher said to not push yourself too hard.」(Senpai)

Then she returns to the point 30 meters behind the finish line.

「So that’s is the Wind Attribute Physical Enhancement……」(Mira)

I closed my eyes, and while taking a deep breath, I circulated the magic power inside me. While trying to do quickly recover my physical power, I was contemplated over the scene that I had just seen.

Wind Attribute Physical Strengthening ———— High Speed Movement. There’s no change to the running posture. There no need to jump too high. It’s just running for several meters with each step while only being several centimeters above the ground.

I’ve also confirmed the range of the magic power’s influence this time. In the senpai’s direction of movement, there was an eggsh.e.l.l like s.h.i.+eld. I believe it’s to ward of the wind and decrease air resistance as she moves forward.

Speaking of a streamline shape to reduce air resistance, I’m reminded of s.h.i.+nkansen.[6]

If I remember correctly, it has something to do with fluid mechanics? It was made smooth in order to decrease friction and increase fuel efficiency. It was something that I watched on television, so I don’t remember it clearly. However, this isn’t caused by the gap in my memory. I was originally weak in science, so when I was watching the program, I only commented, 「Engineers are so amazing」 and that was it.

Returning to the topic at hand, even though it was a world with magic, not only are there no Physical Enhancements, like today, but also no magic that could completely enable someone to fly. How disappointing.

Then how about attaching wings onto the magic power armor? Or would something like a hang-glider would be better? I could jump from a high alt.i.tude and then glide forward.[7]

It’s something that Teacher dreamed of, right? Although they aren’t wings, but if I run hard then I could take off, maybe I can reach a height higher than a house roof, then slowly glide down…… Hm? If we’re talking about taking off, then it’s an airplane, right? Though the flight alt.i.tude is low and the distance is also short.

For now, let’s try running while wearing the magic power armor, and test if it possible to create an egg shaped image from my magic power.

I had decided what my next step will be. I didn’t look at my status card, but since my panting has stopped and my heartbeat hads calmed, I think I’m already alright now. I stood up and jogged towards the starting point.

「Mira-san, how’s your condition?」(WA Teacher)

I was going to return to my line and wait, but the Teacher waited en route and called out to me.

「Yes. I’m not out of breath anymore.」(Mira)

「That’s surprised me. I’ve already been warned by Magic Master-sama concerning your physical power, however……」(WA Teacher)

「I’m also surprised. Even though I was only running with all of my power……」(Mira)