The fifth side story of Memory Records of Bastard Magic Instructor volume 2. Unlike the other four side stories before it, this story wasn't released in Dragon Magazine originally, and was made for the volume itself and takes place in the past instead of the present day.
Summary
Glenn is forced to clean up his room by Celica. While he cleans, he ends up finding an old Arcana Card, "The Fool". Glenn compares the old card compared to his current one and thinks back about his youth.Several years before the series, Glenn who at that time is 12 years old runs to Celica rather distraught. He questions her why she didn't tell him earlier about his magic characteristics. He found out that his are "Stagnation and Stop" which means that using magic would be harder for him and that his dream of becoming a "Magician of Justice" is close to impossible. Celica tries to calm him down by telling that it just makes him the person he is, but causes him to run away after slapping him.
During his run Glenn accidentally ran into a bad neighbourhood and accidentally bumps into some thugs who beat him up, but is saved by a young girl slightly older than him. Her name is Nina and she takes Glenn to her orphanage to clean his wounds, but before he leaves she asks him to teach her basic school subjects which includes math and reading. After school Glenn goes to her ophanage to teach her and one day he asks why she wants to learn so much she replies she wants more strength to protect those dear to her. Glenn inspired by this starts creating a new spell which he plans on never using.
A few days later, Nina made many strides in her studies and there is nothing Glenn can teach her. Glenn arrives at the orphanage as usual, but hears thath her bioligical father wants to take her with him after his other son died, but to his surprise she accepts which causes Glenn to take her away with him.
When they arrive at an alley, Glenn questions her choice. Nina breaks down, because she also doesn't want to go with her biological father, but this is the only way she can help the orphanage. However their talk is interupted by Danny, Nina's cousin. He reveals that he killed her brother and that he's going to kill her now to become the heir to the company. Glenn tries to fight with magic, but Danny also knows magic and easily negates his spells. Nina scared of her cousin tries to protect Glenn behind her, but instead he walks in front of her and tells her not to worry. Danny tries to shoot magic, but for some reason it activates really slowly. Glenn reveals a card in his hand and calls his magic "The Fool's World". He then proceeds to beat Danny with is martial art skills. Glenn feels rather conflicted at the way he won, but changes his mind once he sees Nina happy.
After this Danny was arrested for his crimes and Glenn and Nina never met again. Glenn in the present still wonders what happened to Nina and realizes just how long he has been reminiscing about the past. He then goes downstairs to Celica who is reading the newspaper. Celica tells Glenn of an article which peaked her interested. It's about the Venus Company which was taken over by a young girl and changed the company's structure and is now funding orphanages. Glenn asks Celica who the new president is much to her surprise, she tells him she is called Nina Venus. Glenn now felling cheerful starts eating dinner with Celica.
This story contains examples of:
- Age-Gap Romance: Downplayed and subverted since Glenn and Nina are only 3 years apart, but Glenn's young age of 12 makes a relationship very impropable since he's still a kid. The narrative even notes that a relation could form if they were adults.
- Bait-and-Switch: Nina tells Glenn she felt their meeting was fate and that she doesn't care about their age gap which sounds like a love confession, but turns out to be her way of asking him to teach her school subjects instead.
- Big Damn Heroes: When Glenn is beaten up by thugs, Nina comes in and beats up the thugs without any problem.
- Book Ends: The first time Glenn met Nina is when she saved him, the last time they meet is when he saves her.
- Call-Forward: Nina tells Glenn he could become a great teacher in the future, but he replies he wants to become a "Magician of Justice" and everyone knows how that went.
- Nerves of Steel: Glenn who at the time was 12 didn't even flinch when faced against Danny who clearly wants to kill Nina and him.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome:
- While healing magic closes the wounds, they can't destroy the bacteria on it, which forces Glenn to get first aid to disinfect it before applying healing magic.
- Nina may have been trained in military martial arts by Aldo, but even she is scared when faced against someone who truly wants to kill her.
- Tempting Fate: Glenn told Celica that the original magic he's creating will be something he never uses. Naturally he has to use it once a mage is trying to kill him and Nina and will use it a lot more in the future.
- Whole Episode Flashback: Most of the chapter takes place in Glenn's thoughts about his childhood 7 years ago.
