[Elmer]

When I ran towards the source of the sound, it lead me outside to the back of the building and into the deserted courtyard.

Well, I don’t really care since I’ll likely reach the faculty room as long as I meet that person.

“It’s a large… j.a.panese Bantam…!!”

What was there was a chicken. It’s shaking its foot violently so the metal shackles create a loud sound every time it did that.

It’s a chicken we raised in elementary school. Is the size big because this is a different world? I let out those words because I’ve seen a bantam before.

I’ve seen a bantam dozens of times so I felt that their cuteness diminish a little.

The bantam began to struggle more violently when a person it doesn’t recognize came by.

“Calm down!”

Its foot might be injured by the metal shackle if it continue to struggle. I feel sorry for it.

I thought that it may feel rea.s.sured if I pat it so I approached slowly.

However I stopped after taking several steps. Even if I approach it, it may just feel afraid even more. What should I do to calm it down?

While I was lost in thought, Chabo-kun continued to strum the… metal shackles.

“Wait!”

The Chabo-kun that should have been far away started to head to my direction.

It expanded its wings as it stared straight at me.

Is this the result of my feelings of wanting to be friends being transmitted, that it will come to me after tearing off its chains? Or could it be…? No, it’s not good to think badly of others just from the first meeting.

Should I flee back to the building? Or should I call for help? Those are the two choices I can think of at that instant. Unfortunately, there’s no one I could ask for help in this place and I think it will just catch up to me even if I escape to my back.

If going backwards is useless then there’s only one path left.

I shove my hand to my bag and took out a flask made of leather. It scattered some water on my left hand when I roughly opened the cover due o my impatience. And then I crouched down without taking my eyes off the sight in front of me.

I wonder how much distance is necessary…

“Make it in time…!”

Before I can even finish talking, Chabo-kun had long ago started to charge into the place where I am.

When I felt no pain on my body, I opened my eyes which I closed just before that and then confirmed the situation.

To my delight, Chabo-kun seemed to have acted more than what I expected. Did the speed decrease because of its large body?

Chabo-kun was now squatting close to me obediently.

With that opportunity, I went up its back and clung to it. I was wrapped up in soft and airy feathers. I buried my face on it. Though it slightly stinks, it’s soft and fluffy and comfortable.

While I’m enjoying its softness, Chabo-kun seemed to have finally realized that he’s carrying his target on his back, and suddenly began to struggle madly.

The flask that had fallen over was. .h.i.t by Chabo-kun’s legs and got kicked farther. There might not even be a drop of water left in it. Instead, it had been used a while ago to form ice in the ground like a skating rink. That’s why struggling too much will sweep it off its feet. It slipped on ice a while ago and failed to attack me. It was not possible for it to stop so suddenly while running that fast.

I held on to its neck tightly so I won’t be thrown off.

“You can continue struggling. But I won’t say you’ll be any different from yakitori after this.”

I don’t know whether the message was transmitted, but the tone of the tone is important.

Yakitori. If the chicken is this big, it will be a long skewer. It will be covered fully in sweet and salty sauce and then roast carefully in an open fire until it’s brown…

“Oops.”

I seemed to have put too much strength on my arms while I was preoccupied with my delusions. Chabo-kun had become completely limp as if his he hadn’t raged so violently before.

“Hey! If this goes on you’ll really become a yakitori…”

I stopped reluctantly. This chicken is not mine but probably owned by the princ.i.p.al.

Then, Chabo-kun seemed to recover its vigor suddenly and started to tremble slightly. It’s as if it understood my words.

“Can you understand what I’m saying?”

It turned its neck forcefully towards me who’s sitting on it’s back, when it heard that and a.s.sesed me using its big round eye.

Even so, seeing from how it never talk since a while a go, it doesn’t seem like it can speak.

“Then, I want you to tell me where the faculty room is.”

I have only one companion who can understand me, and whom I can ask. I’ve just realized it but I think I’m already late. I wanted it to tell me since just directing me to the right direction will be enough.

“Uwaaa!”

It sprang up so the feather on its body arched. Chabo-kun is swinging its body.

What’s going on!?

Suddenly, dust storms began to fly left and right and from the gap left, my eyes caught sight of the lanscape flowing behind.

The wind that hit against cheeks hurt.

I’ve forgotten that Chabo-kun’s shackles came off. Is he going to send me to the faculty room himself?

What a nice Chabo! I was utterly and deeply moved.

It must have lose its mind based on its aggressive stance from before. I’m sure of it. On the other hand, I who even thought of making it into a yakitori for an instant, became ashamed.

Meanwhile, Chabo-kun hasn’t stopped running either. Sometimes, it shakes intensely during a sudden brake, but the impact is absorbed by its body.

“Thanks.”

I thanked Chabo-kun as it dropped me in front of the door.

It went *hmph* *hmph* and then lowered it’s head.

I wonder if I should I pat it?

“Go back to your original place properly. If I pa.s.s the entrance exam, let’s play again. See ‘ya…”

I won’t be able to bear it if I get dropped as a punishment for letting Chabo escape. Well, since Chabo is this obedient, I don’t have to worry about anything.

I waited until Chabo-kun’s large body which is enough to fill the corridor was out of sight then turned towards the door of the faculty room. I took a deep breath as my heart began to race once more.

Now then, it will be a crucial moment from here on out…

“Well then. Can you use magic? You can go ahead with anything.”

The written exam is done. It’s something similar to what you would expect from a primary school’s entrance exam.

There’s just me and the teacher who will proctor the exam. I heard a loud sound outside for a moment, but there’s no one watching over me except the teacher who even went somewhere particularly a while ago. In the first place, there’s no prolem even if I’m left alone since there’s no one I can cheat with.

I finished answering before the time limit and offered to end the exam period.

“I’m sorry, there’s still an examination so would you follow me?”

I was preparing to depart when the female teacher who was my exam supervisor called out to me.

Is there a subject I haven’t taken yet? I finished my preparations and was guided by the teacher to the next room.

“Sit down there.”

The room I was guided to was a dull room. I sat on the chair she indicated.

There’s no desk in front of the chair, instead I saw an old man sitting at some distance from me.

“El-kun… was it?”

“Yes.”

This feeling… it’s like an interview isn’t it? I had my hands on my knees and I consciously gave a firm answer.

“Anything is fine, so can you use magic?

It appears to be a magic exam. I’m troubled on what should I do after being told so suddenly.

Still, I absolutely have to show all my magic here. I can use magic accurately since this isn’t the first time I did it.

What should I do?

I looked around the dull room and saw the courtyard from the window to my right. The courtyard is vast and there’s a pond in it.

“Here I go!”

“Yes…”

I firmly stared at the window.

The man went patiently silent and I also had my mouth shut.

“It’s done.”

“You, don’t joke around.”

I got anxious when he said that with irritation.

“No, I used magic properly. Please look! Outside the window…”

Is it useless after all?

“If you can’t use magic, you should have just said so from the beginning! Well, you can go.”

“Eh, What… wait…!”

The man said so with a fed-up tone and left.

Now that I thought of it, the pond can’t be viewed from the position where the teacher was. I briefly considered that he must have magic for looking through the walls, but he must have felt offended after thinking he’s being made fun of.

I’m troubled that I’ll fail this exam.

I tried to go to the staff room to let them reconsider my explanation but no one took notice and I was driven out by a female teacher nearby.

“El-sama, how did you do?”

I arrived while walking dejectedly to the academy gates where Matthias came to pick me up.

“It’s hopeless… sorry…”

I’d like to apologize for Matthias for now. I think that the results will be based on the ratio of the magic and academic exam scores. I told him the details while being dispirited.

Matthias had a strange expression as I briefly talked about the situation.

“There was a magic exam, but it didn’t go well.”

I continued talking by myself as Matthias pondered on my words for a while.

“You weren’t able to use magic?”

“I froze the whole pond in the courtyard but…”

“Well, the points for the magic exam wouldn’t be counted… Wait, excuse me–”

“Really? I’m glad! If that’s the case, I may be able to pa.s.s!”

I’m saved!

I was relieved and cheerful at the same time and began to inadvertently run.

When I looked to my side, Matthias hasn’t followed me.

“Matthias! Let’s go shopping! Hurry up and come!”

I turned back and called out.

“The pond… Eh!? El-sama!”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, please go straight to the point.”

What is Matthias saying? My mind danced, but as far as I’m concerned it may be just something trivial.

“Please tell me more about it!”