For office workers, mornings can be lethal.

The moment you open your eyes, you roll around in bed, muttering about not wanting to go.

You debate whether to take a day off, but eventually, like a zombie, you get up, splash some water on your face, and throw on some clothes. That’s the usual routine, they say…

But, alas, I’ve never experienced that!

I’ve never even uttered the common phrase, “Just five more minutes…”

Is it because I’m diligent?

“No!”

Whether it’s university or high school, I’m always heading to school.

And at school?

“There’s magic at school!”

Magic is the best!

Plus, classes have already started.

Ah, every day is just so delightful.

“Ughhh…”

But today, even I was rolling around like a zombie.

Why, you ask?

To put it simply, it’s a kind of mana exhaustion.

I used magic here and there before my mana could properly recover.

I used it for classes, and for traps against dark wizards.

Since I can’t use dark mana, I can only utilize 30% of my mana, so it’s no wonder.

I’ve used quite a bit.

And recently, I’ve even started exercising, so there’s no energy left…

“Ughhh…”

I finally got up and stood in front of the mirror, a chuckle escaping my lips.

My eyes were hollow from not sleeping all weekend.

I looked like I was on the brink of death, but at least I still had some color in my cheeks.

“Back then, I was a complete skeleton.”

And annoyingly, this face.

It’s haggard, but somehow still handsome.

Even the dark circles look like makeup.

Damn. The world is so unfair.

Oh, so I’m the handsome one now?

The world is inherently unfair.

“I need to solve this mana issue, at least a little.”

I might have said I look cool, but there are plenty of problems.

Overall, I look so gloomy I could be mistaken for a dark wizard.

Which I am, technically…

“Isn’t it about time the purified mana gathered?”

“Cynthia.”

At my call, mana rippled like water and gathered before my eyes.

Has it been almost two weeks?

With a cascade of blue hair, Cynthia appeared.

“Hello, contractor… Gasp!”

What’s with the gasp?

And why are you clutching your chest?

“Deca…”

“Deca?”

“Decadent beauty…!”

What are you talking about?

“Contractor, how about you keep this look? It’s incredibly sexy. Oh, if you do this here…”

Cynthia, who had been fussing with my hair, stepped back and gazed at me intently.

“Wow.”

– Drip

“Perfect.”

She wiped away a clear liquid, presumably a nosebleed, and gave me a thumbs-up.

“Contractor, have you ever thought about becoming an idol?”

“That’s nonsense. Why would I become an idol?”

“Dream big.”

“I’ve never had such a dream.”

“Well, start having one.”

“?”

“Let’s start today. First, with vocals…”

She continued her bizarre attempts to turn me into an idol for quite some time.

Seeing her after so long, and she’s still spouting nonsense.

Wow, really.

I love how consistent you are.

At least you won’t stab me in the back.

***

– Whack!

As soon as I entered the lab, I was immediately smacked on the head.

The culprit was none other than the esteemed water spirit.

“…”

“Explain. Why are you hiding a girl in the lab? Depending on your answer, I might make it hurt a little.”

“Isn’t something out of order here? My head already hurts.”

“Explain.”

Under her piercing gaze, I slowly explained what had happened during the days Cynthia was absent.

“Uh… contractor?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m a bit confused… This all happened while I was gone?”

“That’s right.”

“But how could so much happen!?”

Exactly my point!

That’s exactly what I’ve been saying!!!

They just won’t let me rest, will they?

“A dark magic circle in the lab… a girl who looks like your sister… and now you’ve even got a decadent beauty aura.”

“Is that last one even significant?”

“Sigh. I need to correct myself. You’re weirder than Liz. You’re number one!”

“Wow… Number one, huh? That’s impressive, teacher.”

– Clap, clap, clap

Hana, this isn’t something to applaud.

And why are you hiding behind my desk?

“Well, it looked like you were being attacked, teacher…”

“Then you should help.”

“I have a habit of hiding when danger approaches… Ah!”

Before I could ask what kind of habit that was, Cynthia was already peering behind the desk at Hana.

“But it’s fascinating.”

“What is?”

“How can someone who looks like your sister be this pretty?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“If you’re radioactive waste, your sister is like burning trash.”

That’s harsh.

“Do beams shoot out of your eyes? Like, zzzing—”

“Even if you mimic a beam with your fingers, it won’t work. She’s completely human… Wait. Could it be possible?”

After all, she did go through experiments by dark wizards…

It wouldn’t be strange if she had something special, right?

“Hana, do you have any special abilities?”

“Yeah, like steel claws coming out of your hands?”

“I know what you watched while I was gone, but don’t say weird things to the kid.”

“Hey, you never know. Who knows what those dark wizards did to her. Oh, can you run at supersonic speed?”

As we debated, Hana’s face crumpled, and she looked like she was about to cry.

“I’m… I’m sorry… I’m sorry for not having any abilities…”

No need to cry…

Now we look like the bad guys.

“She’s crying! The contractor made her cry!”

“That was you. Don’t cry. We’re not blaming you.”

I pulled a few tissues from the desk and wiped away her falling tears.

“Hana, you have to understand. She hasn’t shaken off her habits from when she was ugly.”

What kind of habit is that?

And you’re the one who made her cry.

“…Was the teacher really ugly?”

“Yeah. It was pretty serious. Now…”

Cynthia glanced at me, then pulled her face down with her palm, making a stingray-like face, as if to say, “See, this is what he looked like.”

How rude.

“Ahaha. Really?”

…Well, at least she’s stopped crying.

And she doesn’t seem to be wary of Cynthia anymore.

She’s got a way with people, like water.

“Enough about my face. Cynthia, how’s the mana stone?”

“Oh, right. I was going to show you.”

The mana flowing through her body turned into a stream, and soon a mana stone the size of my two fists appeared in the air.

And the moment I touched the mana stone.

– Shhh.

The pure mana from the stone began to be absorbed into my body.

“Oh.”

Is it about half of the black mana the previous mana stone absorbed?

“It’s already been purified this much?”

“The Spirit King helped.”

The Spirit King?

Why would he help me?

‘Wait a minute.’

Before I could unravel my questions about the Spirit King, I had to focus on the mana stone again.

– Swoosh…

The mana stone absorbed all the black mana flowing from my body.

“Just as the Spirit King said. He mentioned that the mana stone is special.”

Special?

“He said its composition is a bit different from regular mana stones. The reason… might be because of Gemut?”

“Gemut?”

“Yeah. He said that having Gemut for ten years caused some change in the mana stone’s structure.”

“Is that so.”

I was immensely curious about how it changed and by what principle.

‘Gemut.’

– Contractor, contractor. Look here!

– Oh, it’s all sprouted?

– Hehe. It’s all thanks to you, contractor. Yes, I want to give you a gift.

– No need for gifts. Give it to me later.

– Ah, if you just leave, contractor…

Amidst my curiosity, I suddenly remembered the past.

Gemut had been heartbroken looking at the drought-stricken land.

Thanks to Gemut’s efforts, who nurtured the barren land with all his heart, flowers could bloom again.

All I did was provide mana.

So I refused the gift.

‘A gift, huh.’

Perhaps this mana stone is a gift from Gemut.

A mana stone that absorbs and hides all the black mana.

I did say to give it to me later, but to receive such a big gift.

– Hehe. Contractor. Thank you. For making a contract with me.

“…I hope I can meet Gemut again soon.”

“Huh? What did you just say, contractor?”

“Nothing. Take this back.”

“Ah! Oh no! Contractor! You can’t just throw it! If it breaks, the Spirit King will scold me!”

“Is it okay for you to not respect the Spirit King?”

“What’s the big deal? He’s not here anyway.”

Cynthia, who barely caught the mana stone I threw, grumbled and conjured a spray of water again.

Soon, the mana stone disappeared into the rising water droplets.

‘Hmm.’

I clenched my fists a few times to check my mana state.

‘Is this enough to be okay?’

I originally aimed to alleviate the symptoms of mana exhaustion.

But with this amount of mana, I can do more than that.

“Alright. Time to get started.”

“Huh? Get started with what?”

“What else?”

Dark wizards keep showing up.

I need to be prepared.

And next week, there’s a full moon.

I managed to defeat the first dark wizard I encountered by catching him off guard, but I can’t guarantee the next one.

Non-verbal magic is tricky.

It’s time for me to prepare something new.

“A new weapon.”

There are three ways to use magic.

Isn’t it time to use the last method?

– Sss…

Watching the mana rise in my hands, I grinned.

***

[Are you taking Modern Magic Basics?]

[Yeah, the class is no joke. It’s super fun.]

[Don’t spoil it for me. I’m taking it next year. If not, the year after. If not, the year after that!]

[But we graduate in the third year?]

[I’ll just repeat the year!]

[Respect for your determination, lol]

“Hey, is anyone taking the Basics of Spirit Studies?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Oh, Haeryeong! How’s the class? Is it any good?”

“Come on, spill! You were calling Mr. Jaesang a fraud, remember? LOL.”

“Let’s not talk about that.”

“Aw, look at you getting all embarrassed. You’re so cute, Haeryeong.”

“Stop teasing, or you’ll get stepped on again.”

“Okay, okay… So, how’s the class?”

“It’s alright.”

“That’s it? Nothing exciting? Like, no ‘poof!’ moments like in Modern Magic History?”

“Not really… Oh, wait.”

“Oh?”

“The next class is going to be a field practice in the Spirit Forest.”

—

“…and the conversation just keeps going like this!”

Ah, so your class group chat is buzzing with praise about my class. That’s nice to hear.

But Liz, could you not shove your phone in my face while I’m eating?

“Oops, it splattered everywhere.”

“Hmm~ You’re not as neat as I thought, Professor.”

“That’s your fault.”

“Hehe, is it?”

As I wiped the rice off my clothes with a napkin, Liz leaned in with a question.

“But why do you eat the school lunch, Professor?”

“Because I can’t be bothered to decide on a menu.”

If I spend just one minute a day deciding, that’s 30 minutes a month, and a whole year… I’d rather spend that time on magic research.

“Wow, that’s so wizard-like.”

“In what way?”

“The laziness. My dad says human wizards are always lazy.”

Your father seems to have a lot of prejudices. I should probably pay a visit to your home someday.

“So, what’s the field practice about, Professor?”

“…You attend my class, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“I explained it last time.”

“Hmm~ Did you?”

“Alright, from the next class, you can stand.”

“That’s harsh~”

Liz said this with a playful grin.

“So, Professor, what’s the next class about?”

“It’s nothing special.”

In Spirit Studies, practical experience is key. Luckily, we have a large practice area known as the Spirit Forest. And when it comes to spirit studies, what do you think the practice involves?

“Everyone in the next class will get to form a contract with a spirit.”

“Wow, really!?”

Of course, she’s surprised. It’s not common to conduct spirit contract practices by the second class.

“I already explained the magic circle last time.”

If you attended my first class, even a puppy could successfully form a spirit contract. ‘Woof… woof… bark bark…!’ and all that.

So be grateful, kids. Without a competent teacher like me, you’d be lucky to get a low-level spirit by the end of the semester.

“A spirit!”

Liz’s face lit up with excitement.

“Then can I create a spirit like Aunt Cynthia?”

– Splash!

Liz’s words and the water from my cup seemed to erupt simultaneously.

“…?”

“Oh, Cynthia’s back. She’s not materialized, but she’s here.”

“Wow! You’re back, Auntie!”

– Splash!!!

“Eek!”

You really are something, teasing even while getting splashed.

“Auntie….”

Oh. It’s quiet now.

…The cup’s empty.

– Ripple ripple.

The soup on the tray began to part, forming letters.

[Not Auntie!]

“Wow! Look, Professor! The soup’s performing a miracle like Moses!”

…What a trivial miracle.

“Fascinating. Is this a poltergeist?”

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Hmm~ Who knows?”

Watching Liz’s mischievous smile, I decided to clear the tray. I had no desire to eat soup that spelled out ‘Not Auntie.’

“Oh, right, Professor! The practice is in the Spirit Forest, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“If it’s the Spirit Forest, there must be divine beasts, right? Great, I’m going to catch one!”

“…”

I looked at Liz for a moment. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell if she’s joking or serious.

“…I’m leaving.”

“Oh, Professor! See you in class later!”

As I walked away, leaving Liz waving behind me, I thought to myself.

Sure, divine beasts are great. Contracting one would let you wield mana beyond human limits, a dream for any wizard.

But in a high school spirit studies practice area like the Spirit Forest? A divine beast?

“…”

Yeah, right.