“Because of Sian Mirmode, I earned Martin’s resentment.

Originally, I disliked her because she was a Mirmode, and it annoyed me that she wanted to enter the academy freely with that name.

But now, things were different. Intense anger had taken over Riena’s entire body.

She stared at the corridor corner where Martin had disappeared.

I hopped along. In my hand, I held my report card. Since a separate process was needed to reserve seats and select spectators, they said the next exam would be tomorrow.

“I’m going to brag to Dad!”

“…Sure, Sian?”

“Yeah! Because I’m first!”

Leonhardt smiled gently. It was the path where he, moved by the fact that I ranked first in the ancient language exam, broke several trophies on the way out.

“As expected, Bantol, you’re a genius!”

“What! You did well too!”

“But still, you’re not the first to get a perfect score in the academy.”

After gold-plating each other’s faces for a while, I suddenly realized that the audio was muted. I quickly looked at the adjacent seat.

Asid was calmly looking out the window without saying anything.

‘Disappointed?’

Asid didn’t fail, but compared to Leonhardt and me, his ancient language skills were poor. I laughed, poking Asid’s side.

“Our healer!”

“…Yes?”

“Asid is good at ancient languages too, right? Are people with divine power different? Even though you haven’t learned anything.”

“Ah…!”

Asid’s face turned pink. I laughed and poked his red cheek.

“Your face turned cherry blossom color!”

“I-I’m embarrassed. I’ll work harder from now on…”

Really shy, Asid lowered his dense eyelashes. His constantly faltering appearance was so cute that I exposed my rabbit-like front teeth and laughed.

“Cute!”

As I said that, Asid’s cheeks turned even redder. It was fascinating, so I kept teasing him.

At that moment, a crooked voice came from the side.

“Oh, look at this. These little things.”

“Huh?”

Leonhardt extended his lips and clicked his tongue.

“These little pebbles, is this a romance?”

“Not a romance!”

I was about to retort that I was only ten years old and it wasn’t romance, but I heard the sound of a teacher walking from a distance.

I looked at the teacher with a puzzled expression.

“There’s something I’d like to say about the questions on this test.”

“…?”

“The principal is calling you.”

Why is the principal calling me? I was curious, but I blinked and nodded.

If he calls, I have to go. Because the head of this place is the principal.

‘I might need to find out what kind of person he is.’

I said, getting out of the carriage.

“Yes. Principal, I’ll go see him!”

“Sian.”

The academy principal’s warm expression appeared. I stared at her intently.”
The soft, white curls on Sian’s head were so fluffy, like a white poodle, that I couldn’t help but want to touch them.

“Sian, ma’am?”

At the voice that seemed to clear up the situation, I quickly regained my composure and looked at the principal. She smiled warmly and said,

“I am Hepshiba, the headmistress of this academy.”

I nodded politely and said,

“Hello! Headmistress!”

Politeness is something everyone likes! A gentle smile appeared on Hepshiba’s lips.

“Madam Lucella strongly recommended you.”

‘If it’s Madam Lucella, she’s our grandmother!’

I widened my eyes and asked in return,

“Do you know our grandmother?”

Even though I no longer used short words like before, whenever I talked about my beloved grandmother, the word ‘grandmother’ automatically came out like an endearing nickname. Maybe the term “grandmother” felt warmer than just saying “grandmother.”

Still, in front of a headmistress I was meeting for the first time, I didn’t want to act like a child.

I blinked and smiled broadly at Hepshiba.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Oops…”

“But that’s not why I called you. I heard about your test results, Sian. You’re really smart.”

I intensified my smile and stared at her.

“Yes, I’m a little smart!”

After showing the confident appearance of a child, Hepshiba gently smiled and stroked my hair.

“You did really well. However, since you have proven your qualifications sufficiently, let’s skip the magic exam.”

“…Really? Why?”

As disappointment lengthened my words, Hepshiba swallowed a sigh of pity and said,

“You can take magic theory and formulas, but practical magic classes might be challenging. Do you know that there’s a lack of mana in your body? That’s what Madam Lucella mentioned.”

I nodded.

“Yes… she said I don’t have any.”

It had been a long time since I heard the story from Duchess Lucella that I had no mana when I was five years old.

“But is it bad to not have mana?”

Hepshiba tilted her head and smiled.

“No, it’s not. It just means you can’t use magic, but it’s a rare and special body. Especially for such a lovely and clever little lady like you, isn’t it nice to have at least one thing you can’t do?”

After seeing Hepshiba’s warm smile, I felt that it was okay not to have mana. I nodded energetically, feeling a surge of strength.