Chapter 11
Hakuna Matata
1 p.m. — Natural Studies Class
In this world, Natural Studies was the equivalent of science class. Magic, though prominent, was considered a branch of science itself. The academy still taught core scientific disciplines alongside magic.
Students wore stark white lab coats, gloves, and protective goggles. Each group had a set of beakers and various materials spread out on their workstation. Most students passionate about this class came from Mathema... or Zentinel.
It was a relaxed subject with minimal credit weight—and students could form groups freely. That’s why Zeedee ended up with the “Angel Gang.”
Dan and Nora, unsurprisingly, were paired again.
Just the two of them.
Clink, clink, clink.
“What’s the point of studying bricks and salt?”
“So you know how they’re made and what they can do, of course.”
“Isn’t it obvious just by looking?”
“It’s more complicated than you think Mr.Fury. Listen to the lecture, you’ll see.”
“…Hmm.”
Seeing his interest, Nora turned to the book shelf and seemed to remember something.
“Oh, right—remember what Mr. Fury asked me that day?”
She reached up and pulled out a slim book, placing it on the table in front of him.
“Maybe this will help answer that question he asked—‘Where do we come from?’”
It was a biology book—on the topic of evolution.
“!”
The boy’s eyes widened as he picked it up.
“Your buddies are all here, Mr. Fury.”
“Very funny, Nora. These crickets are not my friends. But... what’s evolution?”
“It’s a new concept that’s really popular among Mathema scholars. I don’t know the details myself.”
“Do you think the Sheffield library has an answer?”
“It should, Mr. Fury.”
“Evolution, huh… I like that word.”
Right then, the table in front of them—Zeedee’s table—erupted in foam. Someone had mixed the wrong chemicals, and a cascade of bubbles overflowed from the beaker. The Angel Gang screamed at the top of their lungs in chaotic panic.
Dan sighed and returned to calmly mixing his solution according to the textbook.
“Mr. Fury, do you like grapes?”
“Huh? What was that, Nora?”
“I got a new batch from the supply unit. I thought I’d share.”
“…At this rate, you’re basically my neighbor, Nora. Want to set up a cottage next to mine?”
In truth, Fury had noticed.
Nora was probably very lonely. She didn’t have anyone she was close to. Her life was just a cycle—class, dorm, class, dorm.
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Without emotional support, she’d wither.
“I’m just teasing.”
“With jokes like that, you’re making me want to stay in, Mr. Fury.”
“I was gonna rope you into something, anyway… We’ve got to stock up for winter. Your ice magic might come in handy for food preservation.”
“Winter… right. When does it start, Mr. Fury?”
“This weekend, maybe? While we’re at it, let’s review Professor McClaff’s subject too.”
When did it start, this feeling?
This feeling that a demon brought her more warmth and comfort than her own “home”?
“Sure, Mr. Fury. I’ll interview you more, too.”
“WAAAHHHHHH!!”
Screams from Zeedee’s table—again. A beaker of blue liquid exploded out of control.
“Zeedee! You idiot! What the hell are you doing?!”
“It’s not my fault—it was yours!”
“My uniform?! GAAAAH!”
Dan rolled his eyes.
After class, they moved to review lessons for the upcoming days.
At this point, if nothing unexpected happened, life would just cycle as usual—students who’d left home for the city settling into a rhythm.
The place for review? As always—Sheffield Library.
“I know the back-end work for Project Blissful Home is done… but there’s still something bothering me.”
Nora looked up from her magic circle textbook.
“What is it, Mr. Fury?”
“It’s the morning and evening training.”
“Oh… the knight scholarship schedule.”
“It’s pretty exhausting—and it’s every day.”
Waking up early, training again in the evening. For a regular dorm student, it might be manageable. But for Dan, who wanted to do more, it felt like being chained down. When he got back, he was too tired to do anything. And then—he had to wake up early again.
“I’m trying to figure out how to fix this... Lucky me, you and Zeedee helped us get gear early, or I’d still be running around doing errands.”
If not for Nora, he’d have been scrambling nonstop.
“Most days, it’s fine. But when break comes around and I still have to train… when will I ever get time to look for Casca?”
He let out a long sigh.
“And that’s not even counting the fact that I have to claw my way up to avoid failing Knight Studies.”
“That’s true. What are you going to do, Mr. Fury?”
His first fight was this Friday—last period—at Madison Square Garden. The match schedule would be posted later today.
No way—no matter what—could Dan suddenly become strong in just a couple days.
“You can tell this isn’t a problem that can be fixed with training alone. There’s not enough time. Impossible.”
Dan said,
“Let’s test your wit, Princess Nora. What would you do in this situation?”
“!”
Nora blinked in surprise.
“…Mr. Fury?”
“Think of it as a test of your sharpness.”
“…Hmm…”
She lowered her gaze, deep in thought.
“Training isn’t going to be enough in time… so if it were me, in a high-pressure situation like this—I’d start by researching how to get an A.”
She began jotting down calculations on a blank corner of her notes.
“We’ve got over a hundred students. More than half want to enter the magic division, but not all will make it. So the rest will fall back on the knight track—meaning they can’t afford to fail Knight Studies. Let’s estimate about 25% are magic-focused but terrible at swordplay… add in another 35% from the magic engineering students who haven’t withdrawn yet… that’s 60%.”
Nora showed him the final tally.
“If you want an A and survive as a scholarship student, Mr. Fury, you’ll need to outperform that 60% competing for the knight division. Based on your level, I think you can reliably beat the bottom 10%, brawl your way through another 40%, and gamble on the top 10%. That totals 50%. The last 10% depends on real-time tactics in the ring.”
“But that’s your perspective—you’re on my side. You’re probably overestimating how much I can beat. In truth, I might only manage 30–35%.”
Nora’s voice softened.
“…That’s…”
“Admit it. If you didn’t know who I was, you’d have told me to drop the scholarship, right?”
She faltered and avoided his gaze—but her face gave the answer away.
“You really are the most perfect person in the academy. Your analysis is spot-on. But your methods… they’re too clean. Too by-the-book.”
“What do you mean, Mr. Fury?”
“I’ll show you how the real, brutal world works out there.”
“You… you have a plan, Mr. Fury?”
“I do.”
He nodded.
“Plan’s here.”
He looked toward the library entrance—
—and saw Zeedee burst in, looking utterly defeated.
Dan slid his chair back as she dropped her bag onto the table without a care for library silence, then flopped forward, face-first.
“…I hate lab. I hate chemistry so much. I’m losing my mind.”
“I believe it.”
“Your Highnesssss! How did your group finish so fast?!”
“I’m skilled.”
“It’s that girl! She saved your life—I know it!”
“Oh? So you noticed.”
He shrugged.
“You’re right. I barely did anything.”
Ever since the Snowhaven incident, if Dan didn’t explicitly tell her not to, Nora would solo all of Professor McClaff’s assignments—and happily hand him an A+ along with her homework answers.
“CHEATER!!”
“It’s called survival.”
“Put me in your group next time!!”
“What about your Angel Gang?”
“In survival mode, who even cares?!”
“Wow… that mindset deserves public execution.”
“How exactly is Ms. Zeedee supposed to help you survive, Mr. Fury?”
“I’ll show you. Don’t worry.”
Dan winked, then turned to Zeedee.
“Though… you look really out of it today. What happened? Did I overwork you, Freya?”
“…Hmm… Last night, I…”
“?”
“Hey, kid!”
“Ms. Zeedee?”
“Come talk to me outside. Now.”
“What’s going on?”
grabs wrist
“Just come on!”
“Ms. Zeedee?!”
And with that, Zeedee dragged Nora out with her.
Dan watched them go.
“…What the hell is that about?”
