The Adored Daughter of the Disliked Duke's House: My Magic Power Increases Every Time I'm Praised, So I've Been Perfecting Cuteness Since Infancy! - Episode 26

“It’s not earth magic?”

Professor Forselis raised his voice in surprise.

On the day of the entrance ceremony, I had split the ground apart.

If that wasn’t earth magic, then what was it supposed to be?

“To be honest, I wanted to keep this as a hidden card for a little longer.”

I shrugged lightly and glanced out the window.

After yesterday’s duel, I had restored the broken ground myself.

“Professor, are you aware of the secret classroom beneath the Rosenford Ducal House?”

At my question, the professor swallowed hard.

“I’ve only heard rumors.

They say there is a classroom where the magical knowledge and skills cultivated by the ducal house over its long history are passed down to direct bl00d relatives.”

Both the headmaster and Professor Glouff made small, throaty noises.

“I have been attending that classroom since I was three years old, learning various types of magic.”

The teacher’s name was Sigmund Caleb.

He was a mysterious magician of unknown age, said to have taught magic to the duke of two generations ago.

However, Caleb-sensei was not the only one who taught me magic.

In that mysterious classroom, I had learned magic from many different teachers.

“The basics end today. From now on, we will begin practical training in magic.”

For six months after I started attending the underground classroom, I had done nothing but basic training to refine my magical power.

So, when my teacher made that suggestion, I raised my hands in joy.

“Now then, which magic shall we begin with?”

Caleb-sensei muttered softly and crouched down on the floor.

Then, he gently touched the stone floor.

The next moment—

The wind swirled up.

“…!?”

At the same time, something strange began to rise from beneath the floor.

It was something different from magical power.

I stared intently at that something.

The swirling wind gradually became hot, gathering at the center of the classroom with a roaring sound.

『First, let’s start with the star of all magic! Fire magic!

At the center of the now-quiet classroom, sitting proudly on a stump-like table, was a small person.

No, calling it a “person” would be misleading.

It was about half my height and had a silhouette resembling a human.

But it was not human.

Its entire body was blazing like fire.

Its hair, skin, and nails—everything was formed from flames, and where a face would normally be, two orange gemstones gleamed brilliantly.

“My name is Ignis! Young one, I shall grant you the essence of fire magic!”

While I was still stunned by what was happening, Caleb-sensei deeply bowed his head to Ignis.

“Lord Ignis, it has been a long time.”

“Sigmund! You’re still alive, I see!”

“Ho ho ho, I believe this will be my final service.”

“You said the same thing last time!”

Ignis opened his large mouth and laughed heartily. It seemed the two were old acquaintances.

“Let me introduce her. This is Lady Lilietta.”

“Bertalius’s daughter, huh! She looks just like him!”

“Lady Lilietta, this is Lord Ignis.

…He is a fire spirit.”

A spirit.

I had heard of their existence before.

But they were mostly part of myths and old legends.

Spirits were said to be entities formed when tiny magical particles in nature gathered over long periods and gained consciousness.

The Song of Lakria from the northern lake.

The Kalandia’s Binder from the great river Kalandia flowing through the continent.

The Silent Forest of Greyarc, said to exist somewhere in the world.

Throughout the world, countless folktales and legends spoke of such mysterious beings.

Those beings were spirits.

“Why is a spirit here?”

This was the underground library of the Rosenford Ducal House.

I never imagined I would meet a real spirit in such a place.

“The heads of the Rosenford Ducal House have always had a natural affinity for spirits.

Each generation, they have formed contracts with various spirits.

One of those contracts is the ‘lessons’ in this classroom.”

“Exactly! I formed a contract with Zevelius and have taught many students fire magic here!”

“Lord Zevelius was the duke seven generations ago.”

In other words, in this classroom, the ducal heirs were able to learn magic directly from the spirits their ancestors had contracted with.

(This is certainly a serious secret.)

This was the reason why the Rosenford Ducal House had always produced the strongest magicians.

A spell had been cast to ensure that nothing spoken in this classroom could be revealed outside.

That was a necessary measure, indeed.

I respectfully bowed to Ignis.

“Ignis-sensei, I look forward to your guidance.”

“Very well!”

Ignis nodded grandly and stared at my face.

“What a strange girl. You do carry the Rosenford bl00d, but something else is mixed within you.”

It seemed spirits also had keen eyes that could see through things.

“Sigmund, this girl may change history.”

“Yes. I have the same feeling.”

…That kind of expectation was quite burdensome.

But this was an opportunity.

If I was going to become the strongest magician for the sake of my parents,
then learning magic from spirits was an unparalleled chance.
And so—

“Ignis-sensei, may I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead!”

“Can I form a contract with you?”

At my straightforward question, Ignis grinned.

“You are quite ambitious.”

“I aim to be the strongest.”

“I like that! But you cannot form a contract with me!”

Ignis suddenly floated up,

spreading both hands wide as flames roared from his palms.

A hot gust surged forth, and I instinctively stepped back.

“With such inexperience, you dare wish to contract with me? How laughable!”

—Whoosh!

Ignis swung his hand, and a torrent of flames came rushing at me.

I barely managed to block it with a shield.

If my magic had been even a moment too slow, I would have been burned to a crisp.

It was clear what his intent was.

“Now, let’s begin the lesson!”

Thus, I began learning magic from spirits.

Not just Ignis of fire.

Aqualina of water, Zephyr of wind, Terralis of earth…

Many spirits taught me the essence of magic.

And just recently—

I finally succeeded in forming a contract with one of them.

Of course, I could not share details about these lessons. A spell prevented it.

But I could use the magic I learned outside.

And I could use the magic of the spirit I had contracted with.

“The magic I used in that duel was illusion magic.”

At my words, Professor Glouff stiffened.

Thus, I revealed the truth behind my abilities—

And the secret of the Rosenford Ducal House.