Chapter 15
When I entered the ‘Utilization and Understanding of Mana’ lecture hall, the gazes of the students fell on me and Lucian.
How burdensome. It’s probably natural, since I caused an accident that will go down in Academy history less than a week after transferring.
Since all eyes were on me anyway, I sat in a middle seat rather than a corner, took out my book and pen, and prepared for class.
Not long after, Professor Beatrice entered.
Oh, her face is so gaunt that a zombie would call her sis. It means she's in a state of extreme overwork, and the thought that I was involved in both incidents made me feel sorry on its own.
“It’s been a week since our last class. We will start with practical training right away today.”
The witch professor, who was slowly observing the noisy lecture hall, snapped her fingers.
Tap─ A sharp sound echoed inside the murmuring lecture hall, and the students shut their mouths.
In the instantly quieted lecture hall, the witch alone opened her red lips.
“If there is anyone here who can accurately explain the process by which an arm moves, please raise your hand.”
No one raised their hand.
That was the same for me. Moving an arm was a natural act that didn't require consciousness. A person who could provide such an explanation would probably be a doctor.
“That’s exactly why we’re starting with practical training. Because mana is one of the ancient mysteries remaining in the modern era.”
Ancient mystery, the witch’s explanation reminded me of the pure white lizard that had proposed a contract.
In Lapidemy, things with the name ‘ancient’ attached to them were mostly mysterious and unsolved riddles.
The world’s biggest secret and a major plot point that the game company rarely ever unraveled.
“The magic that a mage creates with mana was once called a miracle. Thanks to numerous geniuses, magic is no longer a miracle, but humanity has not yet completely uncovered the secrets of mana.”
Her gaze seemed to flick upwards for a moment.
“A representative example would be the Wind Masters of the Duchy of Nevera, known as the ducal family of wind.”
A small storm bloomed like a flower in Beatrice’s hand.
A sense of curiosity and interest could be felt in the eyes of the students watching it.
“The wind I created is due to magic, but the way the Wind Masters of the Duchy of Nevera control the wind is different from this.”
Magic can be used by anyone who has awakened to mana, but only a select few from the Duchy of Nevera can freely control the wind.
“In addition to this, there’s the power of light used by the hero, or the power of darkness used by demons. We know that the source of the power is mana, but we haven’t completely figured out the mechanism by which it operates. Therefore, theory is an incomplete, half-baked knowledge that can be overturned at any time.”
In that moment, a conviction glittered in Professor Beatrice’s eyes.
“But, practical training? No matter how theories change, and no matter what new discoveries appear, it remains unchanged and whole!”
Unlike the dark circles under her eyes, her voice blazed with fire.
No, that was closer to madness than conviction.
Is this a professor’s madness…. It would be truly perfect if she just put a flower in her hair.
“Everyone will come to the training ground instead of the lecture hall starting from the next class.”
The gaze of Professor Beatrice, who had been leisurely strolling on the platform, suddenly fixed on me.
What is it? Did I do something wrong? Professor, I was even taking notes diligently….
“Theo Lisitoel, come forward.”
But why?!
However, the opponent was a mad professor. You never know how she’ll react if you don’t obey meekly. For now, let’s just go up quietly.
“I heard you can use magic.”
As soon as I stood next to her, the professor got straight to the point.
“Yes.”
The method I was able to use against the demon in the dungeon, my exclusive skill, was a secret.
As Baal said, heretic inquisitors were still active in this world. There were quite a few people who were dragged away by heretic inquisitors for using a power of unknown origin and were never seen again.
So, before entering the Academy, the four of us had coordinated our stories to say that I had trapped the demon using a binding magic that my father had taught me.
However, the opponent was Professor Beatrice.
I looked at her, holding a strange anxiety, wondering if I would get caught.
In that moment, Professor Beatrice suddenly grabbed my hand. My father’s hand had a subtle feel of calluses, but Professor Beatrice’s hand was soft and squishy. It was the hand of a golden spoon lady who had never experienced any hardship.
“Raise your hand if it hurts.”
“Pardon?”
Why? The moment I was about to ask, what I felt was an intense heat that one would feel on an asphalt road at noon in midsummer.
As I hurriedly pulled my hand away from the heat that made me gasp and collapsed with a thud, I could see a deep smile spreading across Professor Beatrice’s lips.
“Haaaak.”
I forced my mouth open and hurriedly expelled the heat that filled my body.
The witch professor, who was leisurely observing me, clapped her hands, clap clap, to draw everyone’s attention.
“By holding hands, one can infuse mana into the other’s body. When you infuse mana into someone, the feeling one gets differs from person to person, and it’s commonly called an ‘attribute’. Theo Lisitoel, what did you feel?”
“The scorching heat of a midsummer noon.”
“Quite a romantic expression.”
What, is she trying to pick a fight?
“I am skilled in fire and wind-type magic, but I am a little clumsy with water and earth-type magic.”
In that moment, what bloomed in the sky of the lecture hall was a flower garden made of hot flames.
The flower garden of flames, which bloomed as if it were carved into the sky, was perfect without a single gram of insufficiency to overwhelm the newly enrolled students.
“Now, then, everyone pair up and have some ‘practical training’.”
…Can that even be called practical training? And not an experiment?
No, more importantly, was there really a need to call me up to demonstrate? Could it be that she's taking out her frustration about my father's affair on me?
I glared with suspicious eyes, but at the witch’s gaze turning to me again, I whipped my head away.
Damn it… no matter how much I disliked it, it was a student’s fate not to be able to defy a professor.
“You should pair up and try it quickly too.”
“Yeees….”
I quietly returned to my seat and held out my hand to Lucian, who was sitting next to me.
Hmm, this was the same gesture as when I asked for a handshake at our first meeting.
“Can you spare me a bone fracture this time?”
At my playful request, Lucian seemed to have realized it belatedly and slowly nodded with a resolute gaze.
“I’ll be careful.”
No, there’s no need to be that serious. Perhaps because he relaxed his grip, a major incident like my hand bones being crushed by a handshake didn’t happen like before.
“Theo, I think you should go first.”
I didn’t refuse Lucian’s suggestion, closed my eyes, and focused.
Infusing mana into the opponent’s body through the fingertips—
I was confused, as if I knew what it felt like but also didn't. If I recalled the sensation of mana draining away when I used a skill, it seemed like it might be possible….
“Hoo….”
After a long period of concentration, just like when using a skill, I felt a sensation as if some kind of energy was flowing.
I did it!
When I opened my eyes, thinking I had succeeded, what I saw was a system window.
+++
▷Skill: Mana Operation
A skilled mage knows how to use mana efficiently.
※Current Efficiency: 10% additional operation possible
+++
A new skill had appeared.
Which means! I immediately moved my finger slightly under the desk and brought up another skill window.
+++
▷Exclusive Skill: I Am the Writer
The text you write becomes reality.
※Usable Character Count: 17(+4)
+++
It increased by a whopping four characters!
The level up must have had an effect, but for now, I should focus on the fact that the restriction has been loosened, even if just a little.
Suppressing the twitching of my lips from joy, I asked Lucian a question.
“What does it feel like?”
“It feels cold but warm.”
What’s that now? Can something be cold and warm at the same time?
I glanced at Lucian, who was saying strange things, and decided not to ask for a more detailed explanation. I couldn't really understand from that description, but the frustrating protagonist had explained it to the best of his ability.
“Then now you try.”
Lucian, who nodded, closed his eyes as if to concentrate and sealed his lips shut.
His concentration was considerable, but things didn't go smoothly.
In the end, Lucian couldn't master the method of sending out mana until the class ended.
He wasn't particularly behind, as only myself and one other person had succeeded during the class time, but Lucian looked quite gloomy.
“Let’s keep trying in the dorm room. I’ll help you.”
“Really?”
It’s good for me too if the protagonist gets stronger quickly so I can rest easy.
“Thank you so much, Theo.”
“If you’re thankful, let’s go eat quickly.”
What would be good for a meat dish for dinner? I heard the roast meat is delicious, should we go for that?
As I was leaving the lecture hall, chatting idly with Lucian, someone blocked our path.
“Theo Lisitoel.”
Hair like silver threads fluttering in the wind and contrasting golden eyes.
A school uniform made of a much better quality fabric at a glance and buttons made of diamonds.
It was difficult not to recognize someone who was screaming with their whole body, ‘I am a real rich person and a high-ranking noble’.
“Zephyros Nevera.”
The Wind Master of the Duchy of Nevera that Professor Beatrice had mentioned.
A character who was like the sub-protagonist of the game, he was the one blocking our path.
“What’s the matter?”
“…It’s not a story for a hero candidate to hear.”
I was dumbfounded by Zephyros’s firm words. No, why does he get to decide that?
“Hero candidate, you may go first.”
Zephyros slightly twisted his body to make space and gestured with his chin.
The arrogance that oozed from even his light actions was amazing. Lucian looked timid no matter what he did.
Lucian looked back and forth between me and Zephyros, fidgeting, wondering if it was okay for him to leave.
“You have training before dinner, don't you? Go on ahead. Let’s see each other at the dorm dining hall later.”
“You have to let me know if anything happens.”
“Of course.”
I have no intention of siding with Zephyros, so you don’t have to worry.
So go on and leave to become stronger, O protagonist.
After Lucian, who had hesitated and lingered for a long time even after being told he could go, left, and all the other students had also left, only Zephyros and I remained in the lecture hall.
“So, the main point.”
I was just starting to get curious about what on earth he wanted to say that he held me back like this.
“Quickly.”
“I thought I would meet a brilliant genius when I came to the Academy, but it was below my expectations.”
Isn’t it just that your standards are too high?
And, the problem was that I knew Zephyros was putting on a huge act. He’s not originally this kind of character, is it because it’s our first meeting?
“Among them, you were the best.”
Ah, something feels ominous.
Wheeeeee─ The red light in my head blared annoyingly loud. Let’s just run away quickly.
“Will you not become my vassal?”
…Are you perhaps from On* P**ce??