Published: August 15, 2025
“Number 13, Lord Wilfried and Lady Rosemine.”
Hearing that, Wilfried and I stood up and walked towards the group of teachers waiting there.
Ten teachers, paired up in twos, were observing the mana compression, calling out the lord candidates one by one. It seemed that the lord candidates from large territories were somewhat accustomed to handling mana, so they were quick to learn how to compress it. After two students succeeded in compressing their mana, they returned to their seats and furrowed their brows, trying to compress even more.
Looking around, I saw three lord candidates surrounded by teachers, all furrowing their brows in an effort to compress their mana. One teacher was holding some kind of magic tool, carefully observing the student compressing mana, while another teacher was staring intently at the magic tool strapped on their wrist, rather than at the student.
I caught sight of Fraurelm staring fixedly at the magic tool. Since I had fainted him yesterday, it was a bit awkward, so I silently thanked the gods that Fraurelm wasn’t assigned to oversee me.
…Now then, how should I compress mana?
If I needed a compression method beyond what I had done so far, I’d have to quickly come up with a new technique. But how could I compress mana any further after already using vacuum compression bags?
…If I imagined compressing it with a machine, it would get even smaller, right?
When I think of machine compression, I picture aluminum cans crushed tightly into squares. They’re smaller, yes, but when you want to use the mana afterward, it doesn’t feel like you can release it. If I think it’s impossible, then it truly is. If I store mana I can’t use myself, I’d need Yureve to release it again.
…I really don’t want another Urashima Tarō situation!
Is there anything that could serve as a reference for a new compression method?
I recalled the teachers earlier sharing their images of how to compress mana.
I had already done “gathering the spread mana to the center” and “pushing, pushing, and pushing hard.” So, perhaps from hints like “extracting water from juice” or “similar to simmering down a medicinal liquid,” I might create a new compression technique.
…Hmm, if I imagine simmering soup like Teacher Hilsure does when cooking, it might be easy to do.
When soup is simmered to reduce water and becomes thick, its volume decreases. What if I applied that image of simmering to the initial stage of compression? Then I’d further compress the simmered mana with the Rosemine method.
…Alright, let’s give it a try.
Determined to pass successfully, I stood in front of the teachers.
There was Hilsure and another teacher, probably one who taught knight apprentices—a muscular man. I overheard him mutter, “I’d heard the rumors, but she’s small.”
“I’m Hilsure, and with me is Rufen, here to assist Lady Rosemine with mana compression.”
“Don’t worry while I’m here. Just push, push, and push to suppress the mana; compression won’t be difficult. I’ll cheer you on, so let’s do our best together.”
His smiling face reminded me of a gym teacher’s freshness, but from what I gathered, he was the type of passionate teacher I wasn’t very fond of. Back in Reno’s time, I was dragged outside during breaks to exercise instead of reading books, so I couldn’t quite shake my discomfort.
“Now, Lady Rosemine, please expose your left wrist. We’ll attach this magic tool.”
At Hilsure’s instruction, I rolled up my sleeve to reveal my wrist and extended my left hand.
He fastened the magic tool—a bulky, rugged device resembling a large wristwatch—to my wrist. The belt adjusted smoothly to fit perfectly.
…Heavy!
My arm dropped suddenly, but Hilsure supported it and stared intently at the tool.
“We’re ready here. Lady Rosemine, please begin compression.”
“All right. Focus and suppress your mana! Push it firmly and beat your own mana.”
I gave a faint smile at Rufen’s somewhat noisy encouragement, then lightly closed my eyes to concentrate on the mana in my body.