The atmosphere solidified into the confrontation between Ian Oracle and Zickhardt.
With the variable named Sebastian out of the equation, the attention of both peers and professors focused solely on the two individuals.
“How do you think it will turn out?”
Milo Vinettia doubted his ears.
Ophelia approached and spoke to him.
“What? Did you just ask me?”
“To be precise, I was asking both of you.”
Edel also got pointed out.
Edel’s gaze naturally turned to Milo. He openly displayed his displeasure.
“Ha, how honored should I be? Someone who used to call me vulgar is now even talking to me.”
“Even if vulgar, excellence is a fact.”
Milo flinched.
Being called excellent was no less than a compliment.
“Did you eat something wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m on a diet these days.”
“Then why are you acting like this?”
“People change.”
It was something he had heard from Ian earlier as well.
Milo slightly eased his guard.
“Hmph. So you’re just pampering to make some gain?”
“Crooked, just as you look. Aren’t we cheering for the same person right now?”
“I never thought you’d use the word cheer.”
The thought struck him as quite shameless.
However, it wasn’t a lie.
Despite bickering, Milo, Edel, and Ophelia were all staring at Ian, who had just begun his measurement.
The three of them were cheering for Ian.
Hoping he would surpass Zickhardt.
‘Is that even a realistic possibility?’
A part of him wondered.
He knew that Ian’s mana had increased just by looking.
But surpassing a score of 1,796 that had silenced the professors was another matter altogether.
“No need to worry. Somehow, I feel he’ll show us another miracle.”
“Wow, have you become a follower now?”
“None of your business.”
Ophelia laughed gracefully.
Milo disliked Ophelia.
He thought of her as an ultimate snob. Yet, seeing her support Ian now, he couldn’t push her away.
Right at that moment.
“Look at that color!”
“It’s incredibly intense!”
“Insane! I’ve never seen such a glow before!”
The peers exclaimed in awe.
A blue light flickered from Ian’s hand and began to infiltrate the orb of the Mana Meter.
Fwoosh!
Even the professor conducting the measurement was surprised.
The table trembled slightly.
Although some students further away couldn’t see the tremor, he witnessed it with his own eyes.
It was not a usual reaction.
The professor in charge hurriedly glanced up at Ian.
Ian was in a trance.
‘Slowly rotate two circles and heat the connecting veins.’
Thrum, thrum…
His heart and lower abdomen flared up with heat.
The two circles, which had been stationary, began to move slowly, then whirled madly as if never having been stationary.
The thick veins fully activated.
‘And like drawing a magic array, slowly awaken and reorganize the surrounding veins.’
He applied the magic array he had learned from Professor Frost’s private lessons to his veins.
It was the moment those lessons shone.
As a price, his whole body ached.
The veins contracted and expanded repeatedly.
Crack! Creak!
Though obscured by his robe, Ian’s entire body stretched tautly and vibrated.
Yet Ian seemed to enjoy the situation.
‘This time, I’ll hide none of my abilities. I’ll pour all my mana into the orb!’
This one act wouldn’t change everything.
But he wanted to show.
That anyone daring to challenge him in the future must be ready to face him.
In an instant, a different vigor enveloped him.
Shhhh―
Those who had been admiring him fell silent.
An enchanting light, as if holding the mysteries of primordial times, emanated and surrounded Ian.
This was clearly an unexpected situation.
Nobody displayed such phenomena during a mana measurement.
Yet the professors and the students remained silent.
They wanted to capture this marvelous sight in their memory, foregoing any time to explain the situation.
‘Just a little more. Just a bit!’
Ian poured all his energy, ready to collapse if needed.
Rumble!
The orb of the Mana Meter began to fill up tightly as if it might burst if touched even slightly.
The orb quivered. As if begging for him to stop.
The sphere was filled with mana. There seemed to be no more space left.
“This can’t be.”
Zickhardt looked at the Mana Meter in disbelief, then quickly turned to the screen.
The mana measurement had concluded.
And the recorded number.
It was the “miracle” someone had mentioned.
“1,999…?”
For the first time, the expression of Zickhardt, who loved to look down on others arrogantly, cracked.
He stumbled, overwhelmed by a sudden dizziness.
‘Unbelievable.’
But his eyes remained glued to the screen showing the impossible result.
“The Mana Meter! Yes… That must be it! The device is broken! Professor! Please check it again!”
Zickhardt shouted.
The professor in charge firmly shook his head.
“There’s no issue with the machine. I was monitoring it. It’s hard to believe, but this result is accurate.”
“That’s impossible!”
“Didn’t you see that light? Such an entrancing glow is unprecedented.”
Not only the professor in charge but other students displayed similar reactions.
Had Ian shown nothing peculiar during the measurement, they might have suspected a malfunction.
But the mysterious, wondrous light that flowed forth quelled any doubts.
Everyone present was a practitioner of magic. They would know the value of such light.
Except for one person.
“Isn’t it possible to create such light as an illusion? He must have used some trick! Check it once more!”
“This is quite troublesome.”
Zickhardt couldn’t accept the result. However, such occurrences were not uncommon throughout the academy.
“I never knew someone as lethargic in class as you could be so enthusiastic today.”
The professor chided him.
Yet Zickhardt was not in his right mind. He had to overturn the results somehow.
Eventually, the professor in charge sought permission from Jessica, the dean, on the podium.
Surprisingly, she nodded coolly.
“Hmm. Then let’s verify once more. Let’s not mention this result anymore. Understood?”
The professor, infusing his mana, checked the mana circuits of both the orb of the Mana Meter and the measurement device for any issues.
And shortly after.
“There really is no issue.”
“That can’t be right! There has to be…”
“Accept the results. Didn’t I say not to mention it anymore?”
“But!”
The situation was swiftly settled.
Jessica, who had come down from the podium, blocked Zickhardt’s path.
Instead of a harsh command, unexpected words came forth.
“I understand you’re upset about losing your rank, but how about congratulating your peers’ achievements just once? A gesture of goodwill will eventually return to you doubly.”
“… Understood.”
Zickhardt backed down.
Jessica was the authority among the professors.
Even for someone who looked down on other professors, Jessica was different.
Other professors were merely talented in magic or had commendable research achievements.
But Jessica was a ‘strong person.’
Zickhardt was a typical person who was strong to the weak and weak to the strong.
“I acknowledge it. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. Healthy competition breeds improvement. Your achievement is remarkable as well. Raising 300 points from the late 1,400s isn’t easy.”
Jessica smiled, even patting the student’s shoulder.
“I will keep an eye on you. Zickhardt.”
“Yes, madam Dean.”
Zickhardt retreated.
Jessica wriggled the hand she had used to pat his shoulder. It felt different, sticky.
Although nothing was physically evident, it felt unpleasant, like filth.
‘As expected, something is up.’
Jessica gazed keenly at Zickhardt’s retreating figure.
Meanwhile, the temporarily halted mana measurements resumed.
As expected, Edel had achieved a good record. Scoring 490 points without consuming any elixir or whatever.
Now he was in a position where, with an epiphany, he could break through to the second circle.
No more unusual incidents occurred afterward.
Most achieved moderate scores, and the mana assessment ceremony concluded.
“—Everyone, thank you for your efforts. Some students were impressive. Especially Ian Oracle’s achievement will go down in academy history.”
In official records, his mana increased by more than 1,900 points.
The greatest increase since the academy’s establishment.
It was not a matter that would fade within the academy.
Ian’s reputation would spread further.
If only the dungeon exploration had ended safely, he could have engaged in more outside activities.
However, with the disciplinary committee convening pending, that would be difficult.
Jessica’s gaze landed on Ian.
‘And yet… are you saying this doesn’t bother you at all?’
Ian just smiled. As if telling her not to worry.
Her heart felt hollow.
Despite being an unofficial guardian, it felt as if she hadn’t done anything properly.
‘I’m actually having fun.’
It seemed like she could hear Ian’s voice.
Jessica resumed her speech.
“—This measurement won’t be the end of the test. Both those who showed results and those who didn’t need to improve further.”
The students, who had loosened up a bit, became tense again.
“—The inter-department exchange battle is not far off.”
The students swallowed nervously at the same time.
Jessica continued with a stern and clear warning.
“—The competition so far took place within the walls of the Department of Magic. The exchange battle will be different. It will be a very dangerous test. Sometimes, serious injuries may occur. If unlucky, one’s life could be at risk. So prepare thoroughly.”
A trainer was scheduled to arrive soon to aid their practice.
Specifically, a knight from the Royal Guard.
The opponents the Department of Magic students would face were from the martial arts faculty. Thus, a knight was a suitable match.
Conversely, a mage from the royal spell-intervention unit was assigned to assist the martial arts faculty students.
“—Everyone, disperse!”
At Jessica’s command, the students began to disperse one by one. Even Zickhardt, who was glaring at Ian as if to devour him, disappeared as if fleeing.
‘The mana came out higher than I expected. With Professor Frost, it was about 1,750.’
There wasn’t a clear reason that came to mind.
So much had happened.
It might have been from doing something with Goyang, receiving crash courses from Professor Frost.
Double casting was also a candidate.
The desperate battle with Castro had an impact too, surely.
Edel’s father Klefio’s influence couldn’t be ignored either.
‘Perhaps… all of this had an impact somehow.’
He decided to think positively.
Ian returned to his friends.
“What’s up, Milo? You look more composed than I thought?”
“Ah, well.”
Milo scratched his head, avoiding direct eye contact.
“The difference was so large that it… didn’t feel real, I guess? So it doesn’t even matter?”
“Well, that’s good then.”
“Ugh, seeing your annoying face now feels like a jolt… Damn, blasted!”
Milo finally spoke his true feelings.
“I’d like to have a little party, but as you know, the situation’s not great.”
“We get it, man.”
Both friends understood. An intense investigation would soon follow.
“I have somewhere to be, so you guys head out first.”
“Where to?”
“To the martial arts faculty dorm.”
Both friends momentarily doubted their ears.