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On the morning of the day we were heading to the Kyokuto region, I woke up and stretched while basking in the morning sun that had just begun to peek through the window.
Then I heard the sound of footsteps—thump thump thump—approaching.
"Master! Look, look~!"
The door burst open energetically, and Carol came flying in.
"Good morning, Carol. You're full of energy this early."
"Energy is my specialty!"
Carol puffed out her chest proudly in response, then took a step back and spread both arms wide.
"But more importantly! Ta-da! How is it? Does it look good~?"
When I turned my gaze to her body, there was Carol wearing the academy uniform.
Unlike the black-and-blue-based uniform of the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky, the school uniform was based on a bright blue color.
There was supposed to be a white jacket as part of the uniform, but she wasn't wearing it and had only the vest on. She had even wrapped a sweater around her waist, which suited the lively Carol perfectly.
"It's the academy uniform. It looks good on you."
When I honestly gave my opinion, Carol broke into a huge smile and spun around once.
"See, see! Ehehe~ Thanks!"
Today was the day I would head to the Kyokuto region with Fuuka, Shion, and the others, but for my disciples, it was the day they would enroll in the academy.
I had heard they were planning to head to the academy and take the practical ability test required for enrollment.
"You're so fast, Carol…"
From behind her, a quiet voice came as Sophia peeked timidly from the shadow of the door.
She slowly entered the room.
Her outfit was also the same academy uniform as Carol's.
Sophia was wearing the uniform perfectly without any dishevelment. It suited her serious personality.
"Good morning, Sophia. The uniform looks good on you too."
"Th-thank you…"
When I mentioned Sophia's uniform as well, she shyly adjusted the hem of her uniform.
"Master, sorry for barging in so early in the morning."
Log entered last with an apology.
He was also wearing the academy uniform, but unlike Carol who wore it casually, and unlike Sophia who wore it perfectly, he had adjusted the collar of his jacket in a way that gave him a somewhat mature atmosphere.
"You three look great in the uniforms."
When I complimented them, Log looked pleased, but when Carol and Sophia gave their opinions, he awkwardly averted his gaze.
"Uh, yeah… You two look… cute too, I guess?"
"Ehh, what kind of compliment is that? If you're going to praise us, do it more honestly! …Ah! Are you embarrassed~?"
"Sh-shut up!"
As I watched the usual playful banter between the three of them from the side, I glanced out the window and saw that the sun had fully risen and the city was gradually coming to life.
"You three start your academy life today. Your lives belong to you. So I have no intention of saying anything about it. But if you're still aiming to conquer the southern Great Labyrinth, you should return to Tsutrail and resume the conquest in half a year—at the latest, one year from now. If you take it easy, the First Division might conquer it first."
"One year…"
"No problem at all! We've gotten this strong in just one year! So by next year we'll definitely be even stronger!"
"Yeah. We'll definitely overtake the seniors in the First Division!"
They're motivated in a good way.
I probably don't need to worry about Log and Carol.
The problem, as expected, is Sophia.
"Well then, shall we head out soon? Master also has preparations to make before heading to the Kyokuto region."
"Yeah. We showed off our uniforms, so let's go!"
"Then Orun, sorry for bothering you so early. We'll do our best to become even stronger. So please do your best too, Orun!"
With those words, the three of them started to leave the room.
'Once you hesitate before making a decision, you will definitely regret it. Therefore—you should make a choice that the future you who will regret it can at least accept a little.' Right, Grandpa?
"—Wait."
I stopped the three of them just as Log was reaching for the door.
"…? Master, what is it?"
"Before seeing you off, there's something I want to talk to Sophia about. —Preferably just the two of us."
"J-just the two of us!?"
"Ooh~. This is something we can't interrupt. Log, let's go on ahead. Sophia, we'll wait for you at the entrance!"
"Uh, yeah. Got it."
Carol left the room with Log, wearing a meaningful grin.
◇
"S-so… what did you want to talk about…?"
After Carol and Log left and it was just the two of us, Sophia spoke with a tense expression.
"To put it simply, it's about your future, Sophia."
"My future!? Th-that means…"
"I was hesitating until the very last moment whether to say this. I thought that saying it would narrow your future. But I think you would notice it sooner or later anyway, so I decided it would be better to hear it from me."
"W-wait a second! Let me calm down first!"
"Ah, yeah. Got it."
Sophia, who had stopped my words, took several deep breaths.
"G-go ahead!"
She looked very tense, her expression stiff.
"Before I tell you this, there's something I want to ask you."
"Wh-what is it…?"
"What do you plan to learn at the academy?"
"Eh—. At the academy?"
She seemed surprised by my unexpected question and looked taken aback.
But she quickly put on a serious expression and answered.
"About magic tools. I also want to deepen my knowledge of magic, but I want to create magic tools that can bring out the full potential of my special ability."
"…By your special ability, you mean Psychokinesis?"
"Yes. My current fighting style treats magic and Psychokinesis as separate things, so I want to establish my own unique combat style that can skillfully combine the two into one."
"…So that's the combat style you're aiming for."
"Yes."
Sophia answered my question while looking straight at me with clear eyes.
Looking at her like that, guilt welled up inside me.
Because I had definitively told her that her Psychokinesis was a special ability, she had come to believe it was one.
If I hadn't said it was a special ability, she might have noticed the true nature of her power much sooner.
On top of that, the engagement uproar with Sophia at the beginning of this year might also have started because of my irresponsible remark.
That incident was orchestrated behind the scenes by the Doctor, Ozwell McCloud, who was enthusiastic about researching special abilities.
Now I understand that he had his eye on Sophia because she fell outside the principle of special abilities that "no other ability user appears within two degrees of kinship of an ability user," and he wanted to make her a research subject.
"There's something I need to apologize to you for, Sophia."
"Apologize…?"
"Yeah. The Psychokinesis you think is your special ability—it's not a special ability."
"…Huh?"
"I declared something that wasn't a special ability to be one and crushed your possibilities. I'm truly sorry."
As I said that, I slowly bowed my head.
"Um… sorry. I'm still confused… Psychokinesis isn't a special ability? Then what is this power…?"
"Psychokinesis is an application of ki manipulation."