Academy's Drunk Fighter-Chapter 24: Magic (3)

There are still countless things in this world that remain unknown.

Even now, humanity strives to explore the universe beyond the skies, yet knows only a fraction of the land and sea beneath its feet.

And still, humans believe — no, assume — that they know everything.

All the while, completely unaware of what might be slumbering below.

This kind of arrogance has played out over and over throughout human history.

Tragedies, overshadowed by so-called “geniuses.” The forgotten figures buried beneath their glow.

The person I’m about to visit... is one of those people.

A genius, forgotten not by fate but by her own personality — and because someone else who enrolled with her cast a shadow so wide, she simply faded into the background.

Naturally erased. Naturally forgotten.

****

[Who the hell is this at the library?]

Seriously, every time I run in the library, she grabs me and locks movement. It’s pissing me off.

– If you keep doing big actions in the library, she’ll come grab you.

ㄴ Is she like... a romanceable character or something?

ㄴ Technically, yeah, but it’s ridiculously hard and not worth it.

ㄴ Why not?

ㄴ Personality’s too passive. Doesn’t really have any standout abilities either. Way too resource-heavy.

ㄴ Got it, thanks.

****

[What’s this thing carved into the library ceiling?]

(Photo of a giant magical seal etched into the ceiling)

Looked up while moving and spotted this — is this an easter egg?

– As if.

– Just ask the librarian. She’ll say she drew it herself, lol.

ㄴ You sure she doesn’t have any hidden powers or something?

ㄴ I took her almost halfway through the game. Nothing. Always drops out of fights instantly, does zero real damage.

ㄴ Then what the fuck is she even for?

ㄴ She’s a librarian. That’s it.

ㄴ She’s my type though... kinda wanted to bring her along. Guess not.

– Seriously, nothing? After all that obvious setup?

ㄴ (Image: Developers watching people freak out over nothing)

ㄴ (Image: Guys leaping out of the water when someone pours booze in the river)

ㄴ Y’all are idiots lol

ㄴ So cruel...

Eventually, my steps stopped in front of the library inside the Academy.

If I remember right, there’s only one gimmick that triggers her appearance.

You can’t bring her out through normal means. Not this librarian.

What you need is chaos. A disturbance. A mess.

That’s the only way she shows up automatically.

But that also means there's a high chance of making a bad first impression.

Even if her personality is passive, she’s not a fool who can't tell who to avoid.

So it’s probably better to start off on the right ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) foot.

“Let’s seee~ Where would she be hiding...”

But the Academy’s library is massive.

The kind of towering, multi-floor structure you'd expect to see in fantasy manga or some ultra-mega research facility — bookshelves stacked so high you’d break your neck trying to take it all in from the ground floor.

And it’s not like the layout is straightforward either. Just wandering around looking for someone is hopeless.

But for me — someone who played Dreaming World — it’s a different story.

[Supply room in the library’s far corner.]

[Inside: a small box and a cabinet.]

[Within that cabinet, the little librarian always waits for you.]

This path — these actions — aren’t things most players would ever choose.

Even I only discovered it by complete accident, but once I did, her story lodged itself in my brain like a splinter.

Honestly, even that was a miracle-tier discovery.

“Man, I really lost it back then...”

Maybe I stuck with her because she reminded me of me back then.

Or maybe there was some other reason I didn’t want to let go.

Can’t remember.

But I do know this — I spent hundreds of hours digging into a character most people would skip right past like a useless NPC.

And I found out.

She’s a powerhouse — strong enough to be considered a top-tier asset even at the endgame.

That’s why I quietly reached out and opened the door to the nearby supply room, the same one I used to meet her in during gameplay.

Creak.

The door opened with the sound of un-oiled metal grinding against itself.

Inside, I saw mops, rags, a few magical devices — and walls covered in strange markings.

Each one looked a little like a magic circle... but also like some kind of incomprehensible, alien language.

I didn’t bother trying to make sense of them. I knew I wouldn’t understand.

So I ignored them and stepped further inside.

Step. Step.

A few more paces, and then — I saw it.

A slightly oversized cabinet, the kind you see all the time in games.

Big enough for a single small person to sit inside.

And from within... a faint light glowed.

[She’s always asleep inside that glowing cabinet.]

[Waking her up is easy.]

[Just smack her in the head.]

As soon as I opened the cabinet, the first thing I saw was a face I’d seen countless times in the game.

And just for that moment, I completely understood those players who dream of interacting with game characters in real life.

She looked so familiar, so comfortingly familiar.

Tousled brown hair spilled down around her neck.

A wizard’s hat — the same one I’d seen her wear before — was haphazardly perched on her head. The girl beneath it was asleep, a glowing orb hovering beside her.

“Charlotte...”

Just like always, she was asleep in that exact spot.

So I raised my hand and brought it down hard on her head.

Thump!

...Ah. That might’ve been harder than I intended.

“Waaah!!”

She clutched her head and looked up at me with wide, hazel eyes.

“H-Hello? Hehe.”

“W-Who are you?”

“I need your help.”

“Eh? W-What’s this all of a sudden...”

Ah, this feeling.

Exactly like that first time. Like a veteran player in a trash game meeting a total newbie for the first time — that weird little thrill.

My whole body buzzed with nostalgia as I dropped the first line meant to win her over.

“You’re Aina Charlotte, right?”

“Y-Yes, that’s me...”

“I’m interested in your magic. Especially your record magic.”

“Eh...?”

Her entire body seemed to freeze, like time had stopped.

Then slowly, her eyes lit up — truly lit up — and focused on me.

“Y-You really mean that...?”

“Some people call it inefficient, but I think your magic is amazing.”

“O-Ohhh!!”

Her eyes sparkled so brightly it was borderline overwhelming, but I held her gaze anyway.

Charlotte, by default, has social anxiety. She doesn’t talk to people easily and has trouble getting close to anyone.

That’s why so many players give up on her — no matter how pretty she looks, she acts like she’s swallowed a brick and can’t get words out, so most people just pass her by.

There are really only two topics you can use to talk with her smoothly.

Her current job as a librarian, and the independent magic she developed by herself.

Only in those two areas can you have anything like a normal conversation with her.

I mean, I’m not exactly the talkative type either, so I kind of get it.

People who are shy by nature only open up when they feel a connection through something they know well.

“D-Don’t you think the Partheo Ea Phologia theory is kind of useless...?”

“Totally.”

The thing is, I didn’t even have basic knowledge about magic, so I just nodded along at whatever she said to keep the conversation going.

“I-It’s just... people don’t even realize how incredible record magic is... But wait, how did you even know about it...? I don’t remember showing it to anyone...”

“Well...”

This is the branching point.

Charlotte isn’t suspicious of me.

She’s just asking out of pure curiosity.

But if I answer this the wrong way, it’ll tank my favorability score, and climbing back up from that is a nightmare.

Luckily for me, I’m the only player who ever managed to clear Charlotte’s route — and I’d already memorized the perfect answer.

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

“I saw it in the Hydri Offense Document you posted!”

I have no idea what the Hydri Offense Document even is.

I just remember it because I clicked that dialogue option hundreds, maybe thousands of times.

“Y-You read that...?!”

She looked genuinely moved, her eyes glittering like stars.

“Oh! Since you’ve never seen it in person... would you like me to show you?”

“Please do!”

Overjoyed, she pulled out a chalk-like tool and started drawing on the nearby floor and wall — big circles, complex runes, strange characters forming intricate symbols.

The kind of magic circle you see all the time in anime or fantasy comics.

But unlike those flashy projections floating in midair, or the instant conjurations the professors whipped out in class, Charlotte was drawing hers by hand.

I’d always assumed she had the mental capacity to construct these circles instantly in her head if she wanted.

And she probably does.

But the reason she chooses to draw them manually is simple.

Because it looks cool.

Put plainly, Charlotte is a hardline idealist.

She draws elaborate magic circles on the ground and in the air, not because she has to — but because she thinks it’s awesome.

Even though she could cast instantly, she stubbornly insists on doing it the old-fashioned way.

“Ta-da! All done!!”

And finally, a tiny glowing orb popped out of the completed circle with a little pop! and began floating around.

“P-Pretty cool, right?”

Compared to the time and effort she just poured in, the result was laughably underwhelming.

Other people can summon thunderbolts strong enough to flatten a building in less than a second.

But Charlotte had spent two whole minutes drawing a circle just to create a tiny floating orb that helps you read books.

This is exactly why, despite being a certified genius, Charlotte is overlooked and dismissed by most other mages.

She’s strong enough to be a contender for the next Tower Master, but the world just isn’t ready to accept her.

And yet—

“Yes, it’s amazing!”

I really liked that part of her.