* * *
“Unfortunately, we can’t punish them.”
The very first place I visited was, naturally, the department handling public authority inside the magic tower. Known as the <Magic Tower Security Force>, it served as the tower’s police station, but…
I can definitely see why people don’t bother reporting things here. I knew that looked all too familiar. That’s the face of an employee who just wants to avoid annoying work. Even so, it was worth trying at least once. After all, there would be a record that I had filed a report.
“Those people violated the school rules and harassed another mage, though.”
“The new rules are in effect.” He handed me the regulations with the same dead fish eyes.
[When disputes arise between mages, they are to resolve them among themselves.]
“I suppose mages constantly fighting with each other is pretty much an everyday occurrence.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“But this is serious harassment. You’re telling me they have to resolve this among themselves?”
“This is the magic tower’s rule, so there’s nothing we can do. The tower master has already approved the matter as well.”
Approved by the tower master, huh. But when the tower master asked me to reform this magic tower, it seemed like he didn’t know about anything like this. One thing was clear. Someone other than the tower master seemed to be controlling this magic tower from behind the scenes. And that person was very likely Count Melandorf.
I wasn’t exactly an apostle of justice.
“I see. You said we’re supposed to resolve things among ourselves, right? Then as for those kids, I guess I’ll have to give them some character education.”
“Pardon?”
“So that means no~ one~ can interfere even if I educate them myself, right?”
“Yes… Well, that is technically true.”
A faint trace of concern appeared in the mage’s dead fish eyes. Of course. From their perspective, I probably just looked like a gloomy, petite mage. But you see…
I rolled up my sleeves. Yeah, kids. I was really bored, so you picked the wrong person to mess with. I’ll show you how you’re going to trip over your own schemes. And while I’m at it, I’ll drag Count Melandorf out too.
* * *
“Would you like to have a duel with me~?”
“What?”
“I want to have a duel with Sir Gold. Like a competition! You know, the magic tower has something like that, right? Like an arena!”
I immediately challenged the guys who had invaded my room again today to a duel. Of course, there was no such thing as an arena. But normally, magic towers had facilities where mages could duel each other, so whatever.
“Aren’t you seriously crazy? Hey, do you really have no idea who you’re dealing with?”
Apparently, the request for a duel from someone who was only a 1st-circle mage really hit Gold’s anger button. His face turned bright red. I gave a sweet smile toward Silver and Bronze, who were chattering beside him.
“Yep, shut your mouth.”
“…What?”
I smiled brightly and said, “I said shut your mouth.”
“W-What did you say? I think I must’ve heard you wrong.”
I smiled sweetly at them. “I said shut your mouth, though.”
Yep, you guys are deep-rooted evils. Starting today, I’m clearing you out one by one.
They say there’s no one better than an irritating person when it comes to getting on people’s nerves. Those idiots had fallen into my plan incredibly easily.
“How dare you say something like that to a senior?”
“They said there’s no hierarchy in the magic tower. Even the 100-year-old grandpa doesn’t tell me what to do.”
“W-What?”
“What’s some mustache old geezer doing acting like that toward me~?”
“…W-What?”
“…W-What?”
“What is it, Old Geezer~?”
“D-Did you just call me a mustache old geezer?”
Of course, I had already figured out from the information I gathered that you were only twenty. And I also knew perfectly well that your old-looking face was your weak point.
I glanced at the magic tower identification badge hanging around the neck of the mage who had just suffered a massive shock. Through our conversation, they seemed to be experiencing an endless amount of frustration.
“What on earth gives you the confidence to act like this?”
That was right. Everyone had said the same thing to me. What on earth gives me the confidence to act like this? “I’m just naturally specialized in acting, that’s all.”
“…”
I grinned as I watched them fume. Yeah, even from your perspective, I’m weird, aren’t I? I’m not a noble, I have no skill, and it’s not like I have connections in the magic tower. It must seem strange that some girl with absolutely nothing would come to the magic tower and act so boldly. I think I’m strange, too. But you see, the moment you said that to me, you already lost. That’s just how people are. If you try too hard to understand weirdos, you become a sucker. And you guys just bought yourselves an express ticket on the Sucker Express.
I gave them an arrogant little smile. “And get out too~ This is my room.”
“Ha…”
They tried to grab me by the collar. Since I had no intention of letting them grab me, I swiftly slipped aside. To protect this precious body of mine at all costs. At my nimble movement, they raised their eyebrows.
“Looks like you’ve learned martial arts.”
“But there was nothing about her being from a martial arts family.”
“Anyway, she’s acting bold because she trusts her physical strength.”
It was magic, you idiots. Still, I had been so bored all this time. And it was actually quite fun to have idiots boldly picking a fight with me again after so long.
“So, are you not going to duel me~?”
They probably would.
I recalled the [Melandorf’s Magic Artifact] they had possessed. After investigating it properly, I returned it to that guy’s pocket. The investigation had revealed the identity of the magic artifact, but I needed to study it further. For example, I needed to determine the circumstances in which they used the magic artifact.
Figuring out when those guys used the magic artifact will be easy. I have a secret weapon, after all. Namely… an absolutely incredible talent for being annoying. Honestly, even I had to admit that I was pretty good at saying irritating things. So after thinking it over, I decided to provoke these thugs just enough and see how well my research had paid off. Besides, beating up the guys who bully others is fun.
I vigorously rubbed my face and grinned. Alright, time to start today’s havoc.
* * *
Just as I thought, one shot is all it takes. I lightly moved my fingers, and all three of them simultaneously dangled in midair.
“Come on, guys. Here. Give me your hands.”
“You, what on earth…”
“Are you really a 1st-circle mage?”
I grinned as I watched them struggle in midair.
“That’s why you shouldn’t act up. Seriously.”
Looking at them dangling around like silkworm cocoons, I lightly clapped my hands. Clap. Their bodies began moving through the air as though they were dancing.
“Uaaagh!”
“Sa-Save me…”
I tilted my head as I looked at them. “Mmmm, I don’t want~”
“You, you said you were a 1st-circle mage—!”
Well, nope.
“What are you talking about? You still haven’t come to your senses.” I lightly whistled. Their round, silkworm-cocoon-like bodies moved along with the sound of my whistle.
“Uaaack!”
After lightly beating up the school, I mean, the magic tower thugs, I started to feel better.
“Yeah, dancing feels pretty good, doesn’t it?”
But you know what?
“I haven’t forgotten the humiliation from my first day.”
At the word ‘humiliation,’ each of the underlings made expressions of complete bewilderment.
“Wait, what did we even do…”
“Honestly, we were the ones who got screwed over from the very first day!”
I narrowed my eyes. “Nope, I’m the victim~” Of course, I was perfectly fine right now, while their clothes had been reduced to rags. “You guys are the bad ones. So, hand it over~”
“W-What are you asking us to hand over…”
At that moment, I realized. It was about time to grab those guys by the collar. I picked up the magic artifact that had dropped with a thud from his pocket and grinned. “You were going to use this on me, weren’t you?”
“…”
And the moment that guy used the magic artifact, I realized. That… was an object that would steal my mana. It was a completely inferior version of the stone that the damn mosquito had used to steal my mana.
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