–The entrance exam for Crawford Magic Academy, like the regular exams, involved measuring ability by unleashing magic of each basic attribute at targets prepared by the academy.
Alphonse, at the young age of fifteen at the time, unleashed a series of magical spells with power incomparable even to the school’s teaching staff, and ended up half-destroying the exam venue.
The supervising teachers and other examinees were astounded by this extraordinary firepower, and words of surprise and praise were directed at him.
“…?”
…However, Alphonse couldn’t understand the situation.
This was because Alphonse had grown up constantly being told, “Your ability is at the level of an ordinary person,” “This brings shame to the Fried family,” and “You’re still not good enough for the outside world.”
In reality, Alphonse had exceptionally outstanding qualities, but his parents used harsh words deliberately to further develop his talent, raising him in a Spartan manner.
However, unaware of this fact, Alphonse firmly believed that “my ability is ordinary,” so he couldn’t understand why those around him were surprised when they saw his magic during the practical exam.
And then, with a bewildered expression, he said to the people around him in the examination hall… he actually said it:
“Isn’t this normal?”
As a result, he became extremely disliked—hated even.
He meant no harm; it was just an unfortunate accident. But, of course, the people around him had no way of knowing that.
To them, his words sounded like, “Isn’t this normal? Can’t you even do this?” They could only interpret his words as an insult to their abilities.
And so, because of that incident, Alphonse Fried was labeled as “an arrogant and unpleasant person,” and became the target of his classmates’ disdain…
In the academy’s cafeteria, Dessel and the other three were gossiping about Alphonse, enjoying themselves.
However, the conversation didn’t stay on that topic forever, and gradually, they started talking about their classes and engaging in casual banter.
“—Oh, by the way, do you know why the teachers were summoned to the capital today?”
“Oh, yeah, I heard it was for an emergency meeting, but nothing specific.”
“Almost all the teachers were called in urgently. Could it be something really big?”
“Do you know anything about it?”
Dessel asked the person who brought up the topic.
“It’s just a rumor, but—apparently, there’s been a sighting of a dragon.”
“A dragon? Is that related to why the teachers were summoned?”
“Maybe, that’s what the rumor says.”
“Sure, dragons are strong, but it’s not that unusual for top guilds to hunt them down. Would they really mobilize the academy’s mages and form a whole task force just to slay a dragon?”
“No way, that’s gotta be an exaggeration.”
“Yeah. It’s not like it’s ‘Schwarzwaldius, the Black Dragon of Destruction’ or anything.”
“…Actually, the rumor says it might be that very Black Dragon.”
“…What?”
Everyone looked at each other with puzzled expressions.
“The dragon that was spotted was said to be pitch black.”
“Yeah, but just because it’s black doesn’t mean it’s…”
Dessel began to dismiss the idea.
“Don’t you know? A dragon that’s completely pitch black—there’s only ever been one in history, and that’s Schwarzwaldius, the Black Dragon of Destruction.”
“!!”
“…!”
“So, if the sighting is true, then it really is…”
Could it really be… Schwarzwaldius, the Black Dragon of Destruction, returned?
The thought sent chills down Dessel’s spine.
The records of the destruction caused by that dragon, the power inferred from its scale, would be impossible for humanity’s current forces to withstand.
It’s said that if not for the great hero, humanity would have been destroyed by Schwarzwaldius, and no one disputes that conclusion today.
Four hundred years ago, there was a warrior of unparalleled skill named Sieg Fried.
But that great hero is no longer here.
“(If Schwarzwaldius, the Black Dragon of Destruction, really did appear, then this world—)”
Suddenly, a shiver ran down the spines of the three.
“—Just kidding. It’s a joke.”
“…Huh?”
“I did hear that there was a sighting of something that looked like a black dragon, but even that’s probably unreliable. Don’t take it seriously.”
The student who brought up the topic laughed as he said this.
“So, Schwarzwaldius, the Black Dragon of Destruction…”
“Impossible. The records say the Black Dragon was obliterated by the great hero, leaving not even a trace behind. Even if the sighting of a black dragon is true, it must be some other black dragon, not Schwarzwaldius.”
“Y-you, you just contradicted yourself!”
“Haha, it’s your fault for being gullible. Unconfirmed dragons are common enough in this world.”
The tense atmosphere from earlier suddenly vanished, and everyone showed signs of relief.
“Man, that scared me…”
“Yeah, thank goodness it was just a joke…”
“…Wait, then why were the teachers summoned to the capital? Could it be that the kingdom actually took such a dubious rumor seriously?”
“Probably not. Hey, isn’t there that competition with the Knight School in the capital in two months? Maybe it’s a meeting related to that.”
“Oh, yeah, that makes sense.”
The group accepted this reasoning for why the teachers were summoned to the capital.
“But still, if the Black Dragon of Destruction really did appear, it would be no laughing matter.”
“Yeah, no doubt about that. No matter how much military power we gather from around the world, we probably couldn’t beat the Black Dragon.”
“And the descendants of the hero who defeated the Black Dragon four hundred years ago, well, they’re a joke.”
“Exactly, haha. Seriously, how did the descendants of the great hero end up like that?”
With that, the gossip about Alphonse ignited once more.
Whether they were chatting or doing something else, they would find any excuse to ridicule Alphonse.
This was the everyday life for Dessel and his friends.
…But it wasn’t just them who were going about their usual routine. Students eating their meals, others studying for class, and some chatting with friends.
In the cafeteria, the students were immersed in what was, for them, just another ordinary day.
—However, that ordinary day was suddenly shattered.
The academy’s cafeteria, where everything was normal, was suddenly rocked by a loud explosion and a violent shockwave.
One of the cafeteria walls suddenly blew apart with tremendous force, leaving a huge hole.
As the students screamed and looked around in confusion, a figure appeared through the gaping hole in the wall—a dragon, pitch black from head to toe.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
Alphonse Fried, Year 2, Class A, Crawford Magic Academy.
—He was blessed with talent.
Four hundred years ago, a hero named Sieg Fried single-handedly defeated the most terrifying dragon and saved the world. The Fried family, who carry his blood, have excelled in magic and swordsmanship, achieving countless feats throughout history.
Even among such a distinguished family, Alphonse was born with exceptional talent, possessing extraordinary strength from a young age.
—He was blessed with a favorable environment.
His father was the commander of the kingdom’s knights, and his mother was the kingdom’s foremost magic researcher.
Born to such parents, Alphonse received top-notch training in swordsmanship and magic from the moment he could walk.
When his parents were home, they trained him themselves. When they weren’t, he was taught by their renowned knight and mage acquaintances.
Of course, he never lacked for quality textbooks or nutritious meals.
—He was blessed with good looks.
A tall and slender figure, with beautiful blonde hair and striking blue eyes, and well-defined features.
He possessed a visage that everyone recognized as that of a handsome young man.
—He was driven by a strong desire for self-improvement.
As a child, Alphonse voluntarily trained and studied magic even outside of the time spent being instructed by his parents.
Even after enrolling at Crawford Magic Academy, he would rise early to practice swordsmanship, train until dusk after returning home, and study magic until late at night.
He never let his success get to his head and never skipped a day of effort.
All of this was solely to live up to the name of the great hero’s descendant.
—Alphonse Fried, a man who seemed born with a divine promise of success in life.
However, along with his blessed talents and environment, he also harbored an intense sense of inferiority.
His parents, those around him, and, most of all, Alphonse himself constantly compared him to the great hero.
Sieg Fried is known as the strongest being in history, unmatched by anyone.
And yet, despite carrying his blood, Alphonse couldn’t even become the top student in his class.
No matter how much Alphonse might rise as a knight, gain fame as an adventurer, or carve his name into history as a mage, it was clear that none of it could ever compare to the achievements of Sieg Fried.
Alphonse was destined to spend his life plagued by an overwhelming sense of inferiority, forever failing to live up to the great hero’s legacy, reproached by his parents, mocked by those around him, struggling and suffering until the very end.
—However, a meeting with one man changed Alphonse Fried’s fate.
A man who altered the fate of Alphonse, who bore the blood of the great hero—a curse that could never be lifted.
Alphonse met this man on the day when the most terrifying dragon, Schwarzwaldius, the Black Dragon of Destruction, which was supposed to have been slain four hundred years ago, suddenly reappeared at Crawford Magic Academy…
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