Saikyou Mahoushi no Inton Keikaku (LN) - Volume 1 - Chapter SS

Bonus Short Stories 

The Night Before the Entrance Ceremony 

“It’s finally starting,” Tesfia said, as she got out of bed in the early morning, her hands on her hips. 

She’d woken up while the sun was still low. Her eyelids were heavy, a sign that she could use some more sleep, but she forced them open. 

...Well, she was just too excited for the day to sleep any more. “Come on Alice, wake up. We’ll be late for the entrance ceremony!” 

“Okaa-y... Wait! There’s still four hours left!” 

Without even rubbing her eyes, Alice slumped back into bed. Not about to let that slide, Tesfia walked up to her bed and pulled off her quilt, freely exposing a strangely seductive appearance. 

Urgh... we’re the same age, so why are we so different... 

Alice tried to reel the quilt back in and go back to sleep. Her thighs were wrapped in short pants, and she was wearing a one-piece nightdress with exposed shoulders. The longer hem just barely covered the short pants. 

Tesfia struggled with what to say, and where to look. As a noble, she was wearing something befitting of her status, a camisole one-piece, where her faint pink skin was just barely showing through... In terms of exposure she wasn’t losing to Alice. But... after seeing how sexy Alice was when sleeping, she didn’t have the courage to stand before a mirror. 

“...Don’t come crying to me if you’re late.” 

After throwing that out, Tesfia began getting ready. 

She took a shower, then got to work drying her hair. She could do that even without a maid now. She was confident she was skilled enough to prepare herself to the point where she could attend any event without being ashamed. 

Her uniform had no wrinkles whatsoever, full of expectations and dreams. It was the perfect symbol for the start of her new life. 

After some time, Alice finally woke up. Tesfia spun around and asked her how she looked, but she was confident that her looks were perfect. 

“...Really?” 

But going against Tesfia’s expectations, Alice sounded exasperated. Seeing the mess the room was in, her sleepiness was blown away. Clothes were on the floor, with personal care items scattered about. They’d only moved in yesterday, so why did their room look like they’d lived here for months? 

After putting her hand on her forehead, Alice looked at the clock and spoke in a troubled fashion, “Fia, that hair... no, there’s no time to fix it...” 

Tesfia looked at her in amazement. According to Alice, not only had she mixed up her buttons, but her collar was disheveled, and just how did she mess up drying her red hair? She looked like a delinquent in her rebellious phase? Despite Tesfia’s own confidence, not even Alice, who wasn’t particularly picky about appearances, felt like she was above a passing grade for a maiden her age. She’d done her best without a maid, but Alice felt a headache coming on if this was the result of her waking up so early. 

Hearing Alice’s opinion, Tesfia timidly brought herself before the mirror. “Uhm... really?” 

She couldn’t believe how she looked. “I tried so hard, too,” she muttered, as she looked questioningly at herself, with tears in her eyes. 

...Thanks to Alice’s efforts, she finished fixing Tesfia up quicker than expected. And Tesfia then pulled her hand while they made their way to the Institute, as if nothing had happened. 

It would be a few more hours before the two, making their way to the entrance ceremony, would meet with him. 

Chasing that Distant Back 

She’d been watching from afar, trying to feel him, and now that distance had shrunk a little. 

But right now, all she was allowed to do was watch from the shadows. It was the moment she’d longed for. That’s why to her, her assigned role as an observer was just a pretense. 

It was possible to perceive a specific existence through mana wavelengths. Normally that kind of detection was used against Fiends, and this was the first time she’d used it for something else. Though she couldn’t see him, she could feel his awe-inspiring wavelengths... which made it much easier to find him. 

When she sensed him, she felt a warmth in her chest. But it was a different sensation from burning his appearance into her mind. That’s why the spectacle before her didn’t quite feel real, and deep emotions washed over her. 

She watched him from afar, and the guilt she felt from it was very painful. 

He’d surely already noticed. If she could, she would want nothing less than to throw herself before him, get on her knees, thank him for what he did that day and reveal all the feelings she kept hidden within. 

Keeping her feelings in check, she stared at his back, thinking that he might turn her way any second now. He still had traces of his old self, but now looked even more manly. Seeing his back brought up Loki’s unease caused by the passage of time. 

Does he even remember me? 

She wanted him to remember. But, raising her head, Loki shook away her desire. As long as she remembered—that was enough. She didn’t ask for anything more, she couldn’t. All she had was near-infinite gratitude, and words of thanks. The only wish she had was to repay the favor for that day. When she caught a glance at his profile, she reconfirmed that her feelings remained true and unchanged. 

Loki reforged her resolve. With him finally before her, she was able to identify that her feelings were neither lies nor deception. 

“If it’s for that person’s sake...” 

Her heart was pounding, racing rapidly, and she pressed against her chest as if to tell herself that her unexpected discomposure was just a trick of the mind. She put more and more force into her hands, until her clothes were wrinkled. 

She’d only been given the mission to observe him a few days ago, and she’d worn herself out considerably just waiting for this time to arrive. But she no longer had to wait. 

Loki had put her everything into anything she did, charging straight through her ordeals, with that back as her goal. In terms of ability she was no closer than when she began... but right now she yearned for that back that was within arm’s reach. 

Finally, it would begin. 

Finally, she could repay him. 

Finally, I can exist for you. 

Loki’s eyes were fixated on him, to the point where she forgot about the eyes of others. Yes... Finally she could feel him. 

* * * 

I’ve caught you. 

Silver hair danced in rhythm with her steps. With a slightly mischievous look, she bent forward and peeked at his face. 

“Sir Alus?” 

“Hm? What?” his usual blunt voice replied. 

“Sir Alus... I caught you.” 

She lightly grabbed his sleeve. She’d yearned for his very existence. And when she traced through her memories of the beginning all those years ago, she smiled with a light blush. 

The Greatest Magicmaster’s Infiltration Plan 

Fuck! He completely took me in, that goddamned old man! 

Hiding in the space under the stairs, Alus kept himself from swearing out loud. At this very moment a group as angry as Fiends was hurriedly running down those stairs. In their hands were weapons of all kinds, AWRs... 

Their normally beautiful voices were now replaced by maddened bellowing as the girl’s dorm turned noisy. 

For each time a phrase such as “Pervert!” or “Creep!” was shouted out, Alus’ cheeks twitched from the damage to his pride. 

The other day, he’d stepped into the unknown land known as the Second Magical Institute and didn’t know left from right. That said, he personally didn’t think it was anything worth knowing, either. But the Governor-General made sure to insist that he greet the principal and girl’s dorm supervisor. The principal was one thing, but he had no idea why he needed to pay the dorm supervisor any respect. Especially as it was the girl’s dorm and not the boy’s dorm. 

However, if it was to avoid a future mess, then he wasn’t against saying hello. The reality, though, was incomprehensible. And now he was in this situation just from taking one step inside the place. 

To think this would happen just because I entered from the roof... Why do I even need an appointment to come in through the front door? This is all that old bastard’s fault! 

He’d come all this way, and turning back right away would be too much of a pain. Ultimately, he’d decided to forcibly infiltrate the building without being noticed. But the security in the dorm far exceeded Alus’ expectations, it was like a fortress. Before long the alarm rang out and several of the girls saw him from behind. That was enough to identify that the intruder was a boy. 

Now they were gunning for him with bloodshot eyes. If he was caught he’d surely be bombarded by curses until they got bored, and perhaps even made into an example in front of the whole Institute. At the very extreme, he might be dishonorably discharged from the Institute, but for this to be the reason was too much for Alus. 

“This is just the worst.” It was only a matter of time before he was found at this rate. In that case? The moment he thought that, he could feel the presence of somebody sneaking close to him. 

“Is someone there... ?” somebody said, in a frightened tone of voice. At the same time, the female student peeked down to look at the bottom of the stairs. She felt like she’d just seen a strange shadow... Suddenly an arm came out from the shadows and blocked her sight. 

“Eeek?!” 

The next moment she could see again. While she had been unable to see, her body hadn’t been touched. She’d closed her eyes in fear, but when she opened them there was nobody there. She nervously looked around, but the owner of that arm was long gone. 

With Alus’ speed, it wasn’t difficult to get past her without being seen. But with how cramped the area was, he would need to pass close by the girls. And there was a high chance he’d be detected due to the wind pressure from his speed indicating to the girls that someone had passed them, and in a specific direction. 

That’s why he made a swift decision. With the girls gathering on the first floor, he headed towards the roof. But his efforts went to waste after all. 

“...He’s not coming. He must have run up to the roof!” a pursuer with good intuition shouted. 

“Now that you mention it, I did feel something strange, what was that?” “It was so fast, I couldn’t see it!” the voices said, one after another. 

But it was too late to change his plans now. He clicked his tongue in his mind and dashed down the hallway, making his way to the stairs leading up to the roof on the opposite side. That’s when his sharp senses picked up people talking. Strictly speaking, the origin of the voices wasn’t the hallway, but a room connected to it. 

Just as Alus realized what was going on, the door directly ahead of him on his path opened, and a redheaded girl appeared. She was still talking to someone, looking back into the room. 

“Fia, it’s dangerous. Come back inside!” 

“It’s okay, I’m just going to?” 

“Tsk?” The redheaded girl wasn’t paying attention to Alus at all. But unable to stop, he was rapidly approaching her. 

But—he had no need to slow down to escape from this predicament. Before they crashed, Alus skillfully kicked off the wall and disappeared from her field of view in an instant. 

“Ahh?!” 

Using the wall to jump over her, he continued running without looking back. She couldn’t have seen his face from their brief exchange. Just moments after safely arriving at the roof, the door slammed open and all the girls piled onto the roof. 

“Huh...?” 

“This is the fifth floor, isn’t it?” 

They’d heard the door to the roof open, and were sure they had the intruder cornered... but the culprit was nowhere to be found. 

I could escape if they leave... but what to do... 

Alus was hanging off the wall, but when he looked down, he lamented that this commotion probably wouldn’t die down for a while. 

The Greatest Heroine’s Presentation Plan 

Attention! 

This short story contains spoilers, so it’s recommended that you read it after finishing the book first.

Tesfia: “Ahem. Hello, all of you Greatest Magicmaster’s Retirement Plan fans... ah ha...” 

Tesfia’s smile is awkward and forced. Her red hair lacks its usual luster, and her ponytail hangs low. She tells the silver-haired girl next to her how she really feels. 

Tesfia: “This is just too sudden...! I couldn’t prepare at all!” 

Loki: “Would you like to practice your forced smiles some more?” 

Tesfia: “Urgh... I’m supposed to be a guest here.” 

Loki: “So it seems... By some mistake, you’re here instead of Sir Alus. Talk about ruining the mood. Of all the times for him to be given an important mission! Normally, Sir Alus should get priority over her too, geez.” 

Tesfia: “You’re complaining out loud!” 

Loki: “Hmm? What are you talking about? I don’t think you have any right to talk about others. Well, now that you’re here there’s no helping it. I’ll just have to endure it for Sir Alus’ sake.” 

Tesfia: “Ms. Loki? Your way of speaking is becoming careless. I think you’re being too rough with me.” 

Loki: “No, I’ve been like this from the start. Besides, a red pickled ginger is enough to replace you.” 

Tesfia: “Cruel!” 

Loki: “None of that matters, so just go finish your work already so you can leave.” 

Tesfia: “I’m going to cry here...” 

Loki: “That would be unsightly. But I don’t mind, so go ahead and cry your heart out, go on.” 

Tesfia: “... I’ll pass!! Just start the show already.” 

Loki: “Oh well. Then I’ll begin.” 

Loki casts her eyes down, and then raises her head. In the blink of an eye, the atmosphere changes, and it’s like a flower blooms before Tesfia. Loki normally never lets her emotions show on the surface, but right now she has a big bright smile on her face. 

Loki: “Hello everyone, my name is Loki Leevehl and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance!” 

Tesfia: “W-What?! ...How can you change that fast? I didn’t know you had a special trick like that!” 

Loki: “If you call yourself a heroine, at least be able to do something like this. What was that just now? That’s just rude to all of the readers.” 

Tesfia: “Urk... uh, nice, to meet you...” 

Loki: “Ahh, that strained smile is just perfect! Then let’s move on.” 

Tesfia: “Wait a minuuute!” 

Loki: “So Ms. Tesfia, which scene left the biggest impression on you? Go.” 

Clapping her hands, Loki urges Tesfia to answer. Tesfia recoils, but eventually recovers and puts her finger on her chin as she goes through her memories. 

Tesfia: “Hmm, the highlight for Volume 1 would be my showdown against Al where I just barely lost, and that time when he looked down at me from the roof of the research building. I thought he was an intruder, and he didn’t even greet me. Considering that look in his eyes, he must’ve been looking to avoid paying the debt he owed me from the cafeteria.” 

Loki: “To think something like that happened when I wasn’t around ...that’s a little unpleasant, so I think it’s time to wrap this up.” 

Tesfia: “...You just do whatever you please, don’t you?” 

Loki: “I’m the host, so I won’t accept any complaints. You low-ranker can just be quiet.” 

Tesfia: “Yes, yes... just do what you want!” 

Loki: “So, Ms. Tesfia, don’t you feel like doing one last job?” 

Tesfia: “Huh? You’re going to say that after wrapping things up?” 

Loki: “Of course. You’re the one using Sir Alus’ precious appearance time. What can I do with you? I’ll give you one last chance, so go ahead and give the final thanks.” 

Tesfia: “So sudden!” 

Loki: “3, 2, 1. Go.” 

Tesfia grips her skirt, drags one foot behind the other and bows. With a glossy smile and upturned look, she speaks. 

Tesfia: “Thank you for your purchase. It has been an honor for this Tesfia Fable.” 

Loki: “To think you wouldn’t hesitate to flirt like that... the only grace you have is disgrace.” 

Tesfia: “...” 

Tesfia’s shoulders tremble, before coming to a complete stop. Eventually her head drops. She then mechanically turns to look at Loki. Her eyes are blank, reflecting nothing but hollowness. A dry “hahaha” signals that she’s lost it, and she has tears in her eyes. 

Tesfia: “Waaaaah...” 

Loki: “She snapped?! What, you have tears in your eyes!? Ah, that’s ice magic! We really will get scolded if you use that! Whoa, stop!”