After returning home, I lay on the floor, having spread out a blanket, and let my thoughts wander.

“Who would’ve thought Hana was a homunculus?”

I knew she was involved in homunculus experiments, but to think she was one herself…

“No, that’s not it.”

In truth, the idea had crossed my mind before. My instincts had always nagged at me about Hana.

“Well, her identity doesn’t really matter now.”

If anything, her being a homunculus could be beneficial. If she could protect herself with minimal magic, or even better…

“If she could assist me in battle.”

This could be more valuable than any draconic power. A being with a homunculus body who can use spatial magic without incantations.

Most importantly…

“She’s someone who won’t care if she finds out I’m a dark mage.”

The conclusion was clear. Hana being a homunculus doesn’t change much. If anything…

“I can worry a bit less now.”

She was someone I had to keep close and protect to track down Min Haejin. But if Hana can defend herself, she’s no longer just someone I need to protect. Instead, she becomes a powerful ally.

“Feels a bit like I’m treating someone who resembles a younger sibling as a tool.”

But it’s for her own good. The dark cult will keep targeting her.

“I should teach her how to fight.”

With that thought, I slowly closed my eyes.

***

The Understanding Modern Magic Warfare class usually focused on theory. Yet today, it was held in the auditorium. The official reason was simple: applying the theories we’d learned. But the real reason was different.

“I want to show Hana what magic warfare is like.”

A homunculus body surpasses human capabilities. If she can use spatial magic without a full moon, she’d be an invaluable ally.

“Uh, I’ll take attendance now…!”

Hana managed the students much more efficiently than before.

“Doesn’t that assistant look really young? Like our age?”

“Maybe she just looks young? They wouldn’t hire someone our age as an assistant in high school.”

“True. Mr. Jaesang wouldn’t do that. It must be against some rule.”

“Yeah, and she’s got silver hair. Silver-haired beauties always look young.”

Hearing the students talk about Hana made me turn my head with a strange sense of guilt. Ah, she’s not really our age.

“I don’t know her exact age, but… being a homunculus, she might be around three or four?”

I chuckled at the thought of the potential issues if anyone found out.

“Everyone’s here!”

“Hana, you can relax a bit.”

“Yes…!”

Since discovering her spatial magic, Hana had been oddly excited.

[She was thrilled to be able to help her contractor.]

“Was she?”

[Yeah. She practiced alone for a long time after you went home yesterday.]

Listening to Cynthia’s voice in my head, I looked at Hana with pride. Perhaps, on the night of the next full moon, Hana could be our wildcard.

“They don’t know she can actively use her abilities.”

Even Venomous seemed unaware.

“Alright, Hana. As we discussed.”

“Yes! Everyone, please gather in your assigned groups…!”

Despite her soft voice, there was a newfound strength in it, and the students quickly found their places without complaint.

“What’s going on, teacher? What are we doing today?”

Of course, the one to ask was Liz.

“…As I mentioned in the announcement, today we’ll have a practical session.”

Ignoring Liz, I addressed the class.

“Isn’t it a bit sudden for a practical?”

“Yeah, it is sudden.”

The students’ voices echoed. Was it too abrupt, even if it was for Hana’s sake?

“No way. It’s Mr. Jaesang’s class. Just trust him.”

“I never doubted him. I actually prefer it. Indoor classes are so boring.”

“Right. I’d vouch for Mr. Jaesang any day. This class must have a deeper purpose.”

The students’ reactions seemed to lean positively in the end.

“If it’s Mr. Jaesang, he must have a plan.”

Even Shin Haeryeong, who used to be wary of me, seemed at ease.

“Alright, let me explain the rules.”

The rules of the mock magic battle were simple. Each group was given a mana orb. The goal was to break the opponent’s orb first.

“You can directly hit the mana orb, but… Liz, hold this.”

“Huh? Okay!”

I handed Liz a mana orb. Then…

“Mana Blade.”

– Pop.

I sent a weak mana blade her way.

“Whoa…! The teacher just…!”

Some students were shocked, but Liz stood still, letting the mana blade hit her.

– Shhh….

The moment it touched her, the mana blade vanished without a trace.

“Wow! What’s this, teacher? A shield? What’s going on?!”

As she said, a transparent blue barrier surrounded her like a shield.

“Yes, it’s a shield. A type of mana shield. And if it takes critical damage…”

I took the mana orb from Liz and shot several mana blades at myself.

– Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

And soon…

– Crack!

With a crisp sound, the shield shattered.

– Clatter!

The mana orb in my hand broke and fell to the floor.

“Like this. The mana orb will break.”

The point was to either directly hit the mana orb or use attack magic to break it. That was the entirety of the mock magic battle rules.

“However, using physical force is a disqualification. So, which group wants to go first?”

Even at a young age, high school students have their own personalities. Some hesitated, while others discussed when to go.

And then…

“Me! Me! Me!”

Liz, always eager to raise her hand and say something unexpected.

“Alright, Liz. Your group goes first.”

At my response, Shin Haeryeong snapped at Liz.

“Wait! Liz! You didn’t even consult with me!”

Shin Haeryeong was Liz’s group member.

“Why? Is there any advantage to going later?”

“Not really, but…”

“Well, you wanted to go early anyway.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Then it’s settled! Let’s be number one! Number one!”

Wasn’t Shin Haeryeong supposed to be the leader? It seemed like she was being dragged along by Liz.

“Alright! We’re going first, right?”

Liz said, smiling as she unzipped her jacket, revealing a short-sleeved sports shirt underneath. It boldly declared, “I’m the strongest,” with a crude drawing of what seemed to be a dragon.

Shin Haeryeong glanced at Liz, then turned to me with a frown.

“…Can I forfeit? I don’t want to fight that.”

“No. And don’t call your friend ‘that.'”

“But it’s just… Ugh. Fine.”

In the end, Shin Haeryeong also stepped forward in her short-sleeved sportswear. The two climbed to the top of the auditorium stage. Hana handed each of them a mana orb. As they infused mana into the orbs, they began to hum and float in the air.

“By the way, Cynthia. You’ve seen Liz fight before, right?”

[Yeah? Yeah, I did.]

The day we first fought Venomous, Cynthia had faced three dark mages with Liz.

“So you know what kind of magic Liz uses?”

[Hmm… It’s a bit tricky.]

“Tricky?”

[Yeah. Judging by the power she used to subdue the dark mages… it seems like magic, but I’m not sure.]

Not sure if it’s magic?

[Just watch. You might see something different.]

Hearing Cynthia’s response, I raised my hand.

“Begin.”

At my signal, the two took their stances.

“I told them to prepare magic for the battle.”

Given the sudden nature of the practical, they probably didn’t have much time to prepare. But I expected them to bring their most confident magic.

“Go ahead, Haeryeong!”

Liz cheerfully offered the first move.

“…Disqualified.”

Offering the first move? If this were a test, she’d be disqualified. Some might prepare counter-magic that triggers on the opponent’s move, but…

“Liz wouldn’t do that.”

I shook my head and focused on Shin Haeryeong. What had she prepared?

“Maybe some kind of device?”

In the previous class, she seemed adept with magitech devices. She was likely more advanced than me in that field.

“Alright. I won’t hold back.”

But what Shin Haeryeong prepared wasn’t a magical tool or a magitech device. It was the mana flowing through her body. I immediately recognized what she was about to do.

“Wow. Is this for real?”

It was enough to send shivers down my spine. In the previous spirit class, she was the only one who hadn’t contracted with a single spirit. Yet now, she was preparing a spirit summoning.

“She said she wouldn’t contract with lower spirits…!”

If this much mana is required, it must be a mid-level spirit!

Now, if she just calls the spirit’s name…

“…”

But for some reason, Shin Haeryeong hesitated.

All she had to do was say the name, yet she stood there, silent.

Is something wrong?

After a moment of contemplation, she finally lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, and whispered softly.

“…Whitey…”

At that moment, the mana that had been surging explosively began to coalesce in front of her like ice.

The mana, gathering coldly, soon took shape.

What appeared was unmistakably a mid-level spirit—a pure white snake.

Wait, what did she say?

‘Whitey?’

Most of the students seemed to have missed it due to her soft voice, but I heard it clearly.

‘What kind of name is that…?’

And it seemed I wasn’t the only one who heard it.

“Ha… Whitey… Oh my gosh!”

Liz clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably.

“Ha… Whitey… I’m dying…”

“Don’t laugh!”

Shin Haeryeong’s voice, tinged with anger, caused the mid-level ice spirit, Whitey, to react fiercely.

The snake, as tall as Shin Haeryeong, flicked its tongue and erected an ice barrier around them.

‘A protective shield, huh.’

The goal was to protect the mana orb, so there was no need to attack, but still…

‘I expected more from Haeryeong. I thought she’d show us something incredible.’

Liz, who had been rolling on the floor, suddenly stood up and shouted at Shin Haeryeong.

“What? You were supposed to attack, and you put up a shield?”

“It’s not over yet.”

Instead of responding, Shin Haeryeong pulled something from her pocket.

“The attack order still stands, right?”

In her hand were several sheets of paper, each the size of her palm.

Even from a distance, it was clear they were inscribed with magic circles.

“Alright then!”

“Don’t regret it!”

Shin Haeryeong activated the magic circles.

The ice surrounding her receded slightly, and the first sheet of paper unleashed its magic.

A wind-themed spell.

The wind that rose between the ice barriers quickly sent the sheets of paper flying toward Liz.

The papers, marked with magic circles, scattered around Liz, but they had no destructive power.

“What? Is that it?”

“Wow, I was so impressed when she summoned a mid-level spirit.”

“But she didn’t have any attack magic ready?”

The students’ voices were filled with disappointment.

But I saw it.

‘As expected of a model student, Shin Haeryeong.’

I couldn’t help but smile with pride.

Meanwhile, Liz shrugged off the scattered papers without a second thought, stretching her arms.

“Is that all? Then it’s my turn?”

Liz crouched, ready to spring forward at any moment.

But.

“Don’t move.”

At Shin Haeryeong’s command.

– Whoosh!

The scattered magic circles activated in an instant.

Massive fire-themed spells erupted.

Liz was engulfed in flames in the blink of an eye.

“What, what is this?”

Most of the students were taken aback by the sudden magic activation.

“That’s it!”

“Delayed magic!”

Those who paid attention in my class immediately recognized what Shin Haeryeong had used.

They had doubted me during the first lesson, but this model student had perfectly executed the magic transformation I taught.

‘This is why I teach.’

Seeing talented students absorb the knowledge I impart is the most rewarding part of being an educator.

However.

“Ouch, hot.”

As the flames subsided, Liz stood there unharmed.

Above her head, the low-level spirit she had contracted with last time was flapping its wings energetically.

‘Could it be?’

The papers scattered around her.

It seemed she had used the wind to blow them away at the moment the magic circles activated.

The damage was significantly reduced due to the increased distance.

‘The damage was definitely lessened, but it wasn’t completely blocked.’

However, the mana orb floating beside Liz was cracked, looking ready to shatter at any moment.

“Wow! That was amazing! You looked just like a teacher!”

Liz exclaimed with genuine admiration, crossing her arms.

“Now it’s my turn!”

She crouched again, ready to dash forward.

A bird with blue feathers perched confidently on her head.

‘What was its name again?’

She mentioned it during the last spirit studies class, but I was too exhausted from fighting the divine beast to pay attention.

‘But it’s Liz. It’s probably something like Chirpy, or maybe Chicken.’

Even Shin Haeryeong named her spirit Whitey.

With Liz, it’s predictable.

“Alright…!”

The mana gathered at Liz’s feet began to crackle like blue lightning.

As she prepared to launch herself forward, she shouted with a bright smile.

“Let’s go, Gerard!”

– Squeak!!!!

With the wind spirit, Gerard, perched on her head, Liz shot forward toward Shin Haeryeong.

‘What a ridiculously cool name!’

I was left speechless by Liz’s naming sense.