Free Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Volume 03 - Nine Schools Competition (I) by Sato Tsutomu

. Hence why you have a different outlook than I do."
    Azusa didn't completely understand, but allowed herself to be convinced.
    "Hey, hey, Shiba-kun, let me ask you, what do you think Taurus Silver is like?"
    A purely inquisitive gaze.
    Wanting to change the subject, Tatsuya replied back trying to stall for time.
    "Well. . . . . . I wonder how shocking would it be if he turned out to be a Japanese teenager like us."
    Once again, electric clamors rang out from near the wall.
    Miyuki continued to sit in a posture with her back completely straight as she toiled away.
    —But she didn't allow anyone to see her current expression.
    "Speaking of which, A-chan."
    "Yes, President, what is it?"
    In the end, Mayumi finally extended a helping hand towards Tatsuya, who was almost unable to handle Azusa. This might be a little biased, but this was the first time Tatsuya felt like Mayumi was someone dependable. At any rate, Mayumi's stance was that she wanted Azusa to hurry back to her work on the Student Council.
    "Weren't you supposed to finish your homework before the end of lunch?"
    However, even if this was lending a hand to Tatsuya, this was undoubtedly the knell of doom for Azusa. . . . . . That description might be a hyperbole, but Azusa's expression was just so. The very fact that she was engrossed in talking about Taurus Silver was likely a way for her to escape from reality.
    "President~"
    From the way Azusa tearfully implored Mayumi for help, she was likely doomed.
    "Don't make such an embarrassing sound."
    Mayumi smiled wryly and turned her gaze from the completed inventory invoice towards Azusa.
    "I can help a little bit, so what's your assignment?"
    Mari directed a "You're pampering her too much" gaze towards Mayumi, who promptly ignored it — more like pretended not to see it as she smiled towards Azusa.
    "I'm sorry. . . . . . It's a report on the 'Three Great Puzzles of Weight Systemic Magic'. . . . . ."
    At this, Suzune, Mari, and Tatsuya immediately turned their gazes on the glum Azusa.
    ". . . . . . W-what?"
    Like a deer in the headlights, Azusa shrank into a ball in terror. Her tearful eyes and terrified movements gave the impression that everyone was bullying her, at which Tatsuya turned his eyes away, with Suzune mirroring his thoughts and actions.
    Only Mari still stared at Azusa.
    "Ho ho. . . . . ."
    Mari watched Azusa with deep interest, though she was more focused on the flat screen terminal in Azusa's hands.
    "I was wondering what was puzzling the annual top 5 honor student Nakajou and it turned out to be this."
    "Isn't this the topic they ask every year?"
    After Mari spoke, Mayumi continued with an uncomprehending expression.
    "A-chan, what's this year's prompt?"
    Because the prompts were routine, there were already enough prompts that the school was incapable of creating new ideas. This wasn't just homework, it was also one of the primary essay topics for magic university entrance exams. A cursory search would reveal a bountiful harvest of model answers to this prompt.
    "The subject of the homework involves how to solve the bottlenecks of the 'Three Great Puzzles'. The first two I get, but I am unable to explain the reason why Generalized Flying-Type Magic hasn't been successfully developed. . . . . ."
    Hearing this, Suzune nodded with an "I understand" expression on her face.
    "In other words, Azusa-kun is unable to accept the currently proposed concepts."
    "Exactly!"
    With Suzune able to express her inner thoughts for her, Azusa nodded vigorously.
    "The foundation for magic that can defy gravity and allow the physical body to float into the air has already been laid down by the Four Great Systemic and the Eight Major Types of Modern Magic and has already entered the practical phase."
    "Yes, though injury caused by free fall remains one of the major dangers for Magicians."
    Azusa shifted her gaze to Mayumi, who supported her argument.
    "Magicians adept in Speed and Weight Magics are already capable of leaping