Chapter 41 Extra： The Memories of Sesto Toritt
The first time I learned about Tsukumo Kreis, I honestly thought he was an insufferable brat.
I mean, come on.
It's common knowledge that at Arcane Art Academy, you should graduate from elementary school, study at a prep school for a few years, and then finally pass the entrance exam.
But this kid, who's 3 years younger and comes straight in, bypassing the sought-after Arcanist track to aim for Arcane Engineering──
How could I not find him irritating?
Of course, for better or worse──mostly worse──he became a hot topic right after he enrolled, often surrounded by both classmates and upperclassmen.
"What a cocky little brat, acting like he owns the place."
Whenever someone shoved him, he'd stumble easily with that tiny frame of his.
Looking back, it was such pathetic jealousy.
I was too timid to help, just watching from a distance, but Kreis was strong.
"Age doesn't matter now that I'm here. Take it up with the professor who passed me."
There was a reckless boldness that came with being a kid.
But he was right, so there was no comeback to that.
"Why don't you focus on getting good grades instead of meddling in my affairs? That sounds way more productive."
"You...!"
Even if they were older, those bullies were still just kids.
If words didn't work, fists would come next.
"[Shield]"
Even as a fist came swinging down, I didn't flinch or quiver my shoulders.
With unwavering focus, I kept my eyes locked on my opponent, and a barrier unfolded calmly to block the attack.
The bully hit nothing but a solid wall and ended up hurting himself──just desserts for their bullying.
"..."
Kreis didn't say another word.
He just sighed, clearly exasperated, and walked away.
Even when he caught sight of me lurking in the shadows, he barely spared a glance, showing less interest than a fraction of the papers in his hands.
The bullies and the bystanders who didn't intervene were equally insignificant to him.
Before long, everyone just stopped messing with Kreis.
Half of them figured out that bullying was pointless, some 40 percent were too busy struggling to keep up with class to bother, and the last ten percent either flunked out or got caught plotting some nonsense by the professors──and dropped for bad conduct.
Without a care for what his classmates were up to, Kreis kept sharpening his skills and held tight to the top spot.
I was stuck at 7th the whole time.
I'd always been top in elementary school and at the Arcane Arts academy──proud of being a standout.
But facing the fact there were 6 people ahead of me just about crushed my spirit.
"Why are you always so careless about things?"
"I do take my assignments seriously. I'm just busy."
"You're biting off more than you can chew juggling Arcane Engineering with this."
"I agree. I'll quit Arcanist and focus on one program. Thanks for everything."
"Wait, Kreis! You can't do that!"
The professors kept nagging Kreis in class, annoyed by his talent yet minimal effort──just enough to pass, nothing more.
But when it came to Arcane Engineering, he always seemed excited, practically jogging to class with his eyes shining.
I didn't understand much about Arcane Machinery, but even in his first year Kreis was already producing results.
Whispered voices saying, *"That's Mr. Kreis's grandson for you,"* began to circle──and only later did I grasp the weight of those words.
The moment the Arcanist crowd had no choice but to acknowledge Kreis was during the massive magic exam in the latter half of the year.
Everyone else cast their spells evenly, spreading magic in a mesh as they were taught──playing it safe.
But Kreis?
He did something else.
The magic lines he drew through the air weren't some clumsy web──they were breathtaking, focused precisely where the power was needed.
After that day, none of his classmates dared talk behind Kreis's back ever again.
That's when the odd nickname [Maga Ex Machina] started spreading.
Even I, who'd been all about keeping my head down, finally couldn't hold back my curiosity──and one day, I worked up the nerve to actually talk to him.
"Kreis! What are you up to today?"
"...I don't think you'd understand even if I told you."
True to his words, peering into his notebook or looking at the circuit board he was working on didn't give me a clue about what he was doing.
"You're something else, man. I'm wiped just from Arcanist classes."
"I wanted to focus on Arcane Engineering too."
Kreis wasn't the chatty type, but when he spoke, he made his point clear.
Sometimes there was a pause before he started talking.
He was always pondering things in his head, but only about one or 2-tenths of it actually came out of his mouth.
That was just how he was.
"The rumor that you were forced into the Arcanist department... it was true, huh?"
"Who spread it?"
"You're a current qualifier, everyone's curious. Who taught you magic?"
"...My brother."
"Ah, right, your brother's a graduate too. I've seen the trophies with the same name on them in front of the principal's office. You guys are quite the talented siblings."
How different from my family, where a little academic skill and a hint of potential to become an Arcanist caused such a stir.
"There are people who notice, after all..."
I think that was the first and last time Kreis really looked me in the eye.
Seeing him slightly pleased at the praise for his family, I caught a glimpse of the human side of the man often called a machine.
By graduation, he'd outgrown me, and I felt like I had nothing left to win against Kreis.
Well, maybe except for the stubbornness to keep talking to him even when ignored.
Later, I ended up working at an office where I coincidentally met his brother, and it didn't take long to realize this guy was indeed the brother of that kid.
I was surprised when Chief Kreis told me his brother had left the military, but when I saw him again after so long, he'd grown taller and more built, had his own shop, and even a stunningly beautiful girlfriend──or so I misunderstood──making me feel like I couldn't compete anymore without feeling like a fool.
His face looked calmer than it did back in school.
Somehow, Kreis──who never quite fit in with either the Arcanist or Arcane Engineer departments──seemed to have finally found where he belonged.
Being forgotten stung a bit, but hey, stubbornness is kind of my thing.
Now that he actually remembers my name, I'm definitely going to keep inviting him out for drinks.
No giving up this time.
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