"What should I do first?"
Kevin continued to grin, clearly excited to test out his newfound abilities, eager to learn and break down the theories that made the magic possible.
A spell from a book believed to be useless, but now that same book had given him spells without any known limit.
It would have been weirder if he wasn’t excited.
"Let’s go somewhere more... hidden."
I looked around me, experimenting on fellow students while we were in a literal shady alley in the academy would definitely be a dumb idea.
But at the same time, teleporting a bunch of students all at once was definitely going to be a problem.
But... I can’t exactly get stronger if I take the easy route all the time.
[Profaned Step]
A dark halo appeared below all of us, slowly circling and consuming us with bright light.
I closed my eyes to focus myself; this was going to be the most difficult spell I’ll probably be casting for a while.
The formula was even more absurd than I expected; it was like I was taking an examination unprepared.
If I didn’t have my photographic memory, then this wouldn’t even be an option.
"Got it..."
I gave a strained smile, opening my eyes, my pupils slightly hazed due to the energy it took to solve it.
But it was worth it.
FWOOSH!
*** The Great Forest
The Great Forest, or more accurately, an old camping spot stored in my memories, where my father used to bring me to teach me hunting.
It was oddly nostalgic; I didn’t expect to feel something like that just from inherited memories.
But it was a good feeling, it helped ground me that this world was real, Evelina was real...
"Where are we?" Kevin asked, his feet slightly wobbling, not used to teleportation.
"An old spot I used to camp in, no one will find us here."
I replied, pointing back at the unlucky student.
"For your first task, I want you to hit him with a controlled blast, make it as weak as possible."
"Weak?"
"Yes, the weaker the better, being able to condense a spell of that caliber would show me how good you are at control."
Kevin only nodded, looking at the unlucky student as he began to focus. The serpent coiled around him, beginning to take in energy for its attack.
To my surprise, he was doing better than expected.
The ball of energy in front of the serpent is no bigger than a literal pebble.
He was better at spell control than I was, and I literally had an SSS-Rank artifact.
Guess being an important character really makes all the difference.
This body really is a curse...
"Got it..."
Kevin declared in a low voice, unleashing the attack, a dark beam as thin as a string, hitting the entangled student straight in the chest.
Barely even tickling the fabric of his uniform.
"..."
I froze, not sure how to react...
"Did I do well!?" Kevin looked at me with sparkling eyes, waiting for my feedback.
But... I can’t really say anything else. I was sure that if I taught him, it would only lessen his potential.
I guess I should know better than to teach a literal dark magic prodigy on how to use dark magic.
"You did great..." I laugh, placing a hand on my forehead in astonishment.
’Guess I should just let him experiment on his own...’
I thought it was the best choice if I wanted him to be strong enough to be useful to Evelina.
"I’ll let you continue alone, return to me once you grasp the basic theory... as for the students."
I eye them curiously.
Can’t really let them leave as they are, can I?
"Use the spell on the seventeenth page of the book on them to make them forget this ever happened."
"Got it, is there anything else you want, master?"
"Drop out of the tournament."
[Profaned Step]
That was my last sentence before I left them right in the middle of the forest they had no idea the layout of.
Kevin could easily leave by utilizing the dark step using my power, but what about the rest of the students?
That’s up to Kevin if he’ll try teleporting them with him, but I hope he doesn’t and just leaves them to return on their own.
Getting lost in the forest would be a fitting punishment for heathens who dare compare Evelina’s beauty to another.
"Pfft... Lillian?"
I laugh bitterly.
Come to think of it, she was also a very important character, but I didn’t need to meet her for now.
In fact, I hope I don’t meet her.
"That damn main heroine who dared steal my lady’s spotlight."
FWOOSH!
I reappeared in my dorm room, hands in my pockets.
"I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen here."