Academy’s Genius Mage

The entire way back to the dormitory, Ian was plagued by Milo’s barrage of questions.

It had been easy to shake off the other fellow students, but not Milo. He was strong, and more importantly, they were roommates sharing the same room.

“What on earth did you do? Where did you learn that technique?”

“Is it a secret of the Oracle Family?”

“It wasn’t a Firebolt, right? It was a Fireball, wasn’t it?”

“Why aren’t you answering me? It’s so frustrating!”

“Iaaan!”

In the end, Milo shouted loudly.

Knights on patrol glanced in their direction.

Sighing, Ian placed a hand on his shoulder.

“There are many hidden experts in the world. It’s wise to stay humble to live a long life.”

“Hah, so you’re saying you’re such a hidden expert?”

“Milo. Let me turn the question around. Did you think my mana was weak? Why? Just because I’m the heir of the Oracle Family?”

Ian asked shamelessly.

If Professor Frost had witnessed this scene, he wouldn’t have been able to contain his laughter. He might have even recommended Ian to the Royal Theater as an actor.

Naturally, Milo kept his mouth shut.

Ian’s question implied he was wondering if Milo, coming from a practical magic perspective, was looking down on him because the Oracle Family was known for their theoretical magic.

From Ian’s point of view, it was quite a rude assumption.

In reality, there were many such prejudices.

After all, theoretical mages, buried in books and papers all their lives, were bound to be distant from strong mana.

“No, well, that’s not it, but…”

“Be honest. You’re not that kind of person. Just speak openly.”

“Fine! Yes! It’s true I underestimated you. I was pretty confident in my own magic.”

Milo sighed deeply as if the ground was about to collapse.

Ian chuckled.

How many noble children were as emotional and straightforward as Milo?

Despite his stature, Milo was endearingly cute.

“If I offended you, I apologize. I acted rudely.”

“I wasn’t offended. I didn’t even think it was rude. I just wanted to advise that prejudices are not good. If we had met in enemy territory instead of the training ground, that excuse wouldn’t fly, right?”

“Right.”

Ian patted his friend on the shoulder and began to walk.

Milo refrained from asking any more about the secrets of Ian’s magic.

Seeing Milo twist his body while holding back his curiosity, Ian couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Upon entering the dorm, they found Edel handling herbs.

“You’re back? You returned early.”

“Don’t even ask. It was exhausting.”

“Hmm? Did a fight break out? Aren’t the martial arts students prohibited from entering the training ground?”

“Not that. It’s about him.”

Milo gestured toward Ian.

For Edel, who was tilting his head in confusion, Milo recounted what had happened in the training ground.

The only issue was that he exaggerated the story a bit too much.

“Wow… You say the wall in the training ground cracked? That’s incredible.”

“Don’t exaggerate. A crack? It was just dust.”

Having responded that way suddenly gave Ian a foreboding feeling.

It’s a natural human tendency to exaggerate when recounting stories about others.

Somehow, Ian felt that this could lead to troublesome events.

‘But if that story reaches Helios’ ears, it wouldn’t be so bad.’

Ian thought it was clear that Helios was underestimating him.

Martial artists generally hesitated to fight mages. Due to the varied strategies depending on attributes and circles, and their limited numbers, they had little experience dealing with mages.

Even though there was a power called ‘Aura’ to counter mana, it was still risky.

Despite that, Helios had submitted a duel request, implying he had something to rely on.

‘I don’t know what information he has, but there’s no harm in buying time.’

Though Ian wanted to put Helios in his place all at once, he concluded that taking care of the matter related to the Hamel Trading Company and focusing on his academy life should come first.

“He excelled in studies as well as magic; Ian might graduate as the top student.”

Edel, with a slight blush, gazed intently at Ian.

For some reason, meeting his eyes felt a bit awkward.

In the strange atmosphere, Ian subtly averted his gaze.

“If being top was decided by such things, the academy wouldn’t be anything special. If I were that remarkable, would I have asked for help making potions?”

“Isn’t it Ian who’s helping us instead?”

“What? Me?”

“I suddenly had that thought. I learned a new potion formula and got an elixir. Milo made a distillation apparatus. It seems we’re the ones benefiting, right?”

“That’s true. It’s also a chance to make a good impression on Professor Frost.”

Milo agreed.

It seemed this was the first time Edel spoke so assertively.

“If that’s how you see it, I’m grateful.”

“If you’re grateful, share some secrets!”

“Still can’t give up, can you?”

“Give up? If I were just someone from the Department of Martial Arts, I’d let it slide. But casting magic by changing the formula? That’s something I’ve never seen before!”

“I just did what felt right. It seemed better that way.”

“Ha, really? Hey! Does that make any sense to you?”

Of course, he knew it didn’t make sense. But there was no other way. He couldn’t just boast by showing his glasses either.

However, if Isera’s paper, which she submitted, was soon approved by the Magic Society, the narrative would change.

Some understanding of how magic’s efficiency was increased would be revealed.

“Lightning magic and firebolt magic have definitive signs! It means the formulas are already complete, just like how 1 plus 1 equals 2. If you draw the signs even slightly wrong, it’s an immediate failed spell. It’s hard to discover by accident!”

“That’s true.”

“…… And that’s it for ‘that’s true’?”

Milo looked incredulous. Ian crossed his arms and laughed.

“1 plus 1 equals 2 indeed. When it becomes a law, no one questions it. They just memorize that 1 plus 1 is 2 because it’s easier and no one will challenge it. Magic is the same.”

He felt a bit parched.

Ian poured himself a glass of water from a cup set aside and drank it down. He filled another glass to the brim and placed it in front of Milo.

“But theoretical mages are different. They explore if there are exceptions to the laws deemed complete or if there are other laws. Some might call that a waste of time or foolish, but, who knows?”

Ian extended his hand, offering water, implying Milo should calm down.

Milo drank the water.

“I have a fondness for ancient languages. So, I’ve been revisiting basic magic. I achieved something in the process. Is that so strange?”

“So… you’re saying it was possible because you’re a theoretical mage?”

“Not exactly. It’s something anyone who’s curious about minor things could discover. I got a hint from an ancient script.”

“Ancient script?”

“Precisely, the interpretation of aphorisms.”

Milo’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Did you really find a different interpretation?”

“Not vastly different. Considering how many ancient languages are dense and symbolic, there’s always room for varied interpretations. I just discovered a slightly improved method.”

“If this becomes known in society…”

Ian shared something the two hadn’t imagined.

“It’ll be known soon enough. I already submitted a research paper on a new formula for Lightning Spell.”

“What?”

Both Milo and Edel were startled.

Discovering a new formula was one thing; submitting a paper to the Magic Society was another matter altogether.

The Magic Society is a transnational organization joined by all mages and scholars of magic. They have branches in each country, and the headquarters operates like a separate state.

The branches and headquarters are commonly called the ‘Tower of Magic.’

Naturally, there’s a Tower of Magic in the Kingdom of Sonokin. It stands in a quiet forest a bit away from the capital.

This meant that Ian’s paper had been submitted to the Magic Society in the Kingdom of Sonokin’s Tower of Magic.

If the paper was exceptional, it could spread not only to the headquarters but also to other branches.

“An extraordinary fellow indeed is right beside me. How long has it been since you entered the academy, and you’ve already written a paper?”

“Of course, I didn’t write it alone.”

“Then who?”

“Senior Isera helped me. I’ll be co-authoring it with her.”

“It’s unbelievable…”

The succession of shocks was unending.

The Oracle Family, which had barely been surviving on their past glory, had suddenly risen to prominence in such a remarkable way.

“Wait a moment. You said you didn’t know this person before?”

“Thanks to the noble prince, we got acquainted. I sometimes meet her at the library. Always sitting in the same spot.”

“Where?”

“Why, are you interested?”

As Ian smirked, Milo frowned and waved his hand dismissively.

“I don’t like people like that! Feels like they’d eat me alive.”

“Yeah, she is a bit scary. Even a brief glance is chilling.”

Contrary to their perspectives, Ian saw Isera differently. Outside, she seemed cold, but inside he thought she might not be.

‘If she were truly cold and calculative, she would have taken all the credit for the paper alone.’

Despite the academy’s emphasis on research ethics, it was not uncommon to have ideas stolen.

In this scenario, Isera graciously allowed Ian’s name to be included on the paper.

Even though Ian hadn’t written a single word.

An ordinary person couldn’t do such a thing, especially not someone competing at the academy.

“So, are all your questions settled now, Milo?”

“Can I ask just one more?”

“Go ahead.”

“What circle are you?”

Asking someone’s circle was considered rude since it indicated their level of skill.

Nevertheless, Milo couldn’t help but ask.

Milo’s mind was vividly filled with the magic Ian had displayed in the training ground.

“1st Circle.”

“1st Circle? What nonsense is that? How can a 1st Circle perform such magic?”

“It’s true. If you don’t believe me, you’ll see at the mana measurement.”

“Mmm.”

With that, Ian left an air of mystery as he got up and lay down comfortably on his bed.

Milo believed that Ian was hiding his true power.

Of course, that was precisely what Ian intended.

* * *

The next day, the Department of Magic’s freshman mana measurement ceremony was held in the auditorium.

“Thanks to someone, the best I can hope for is second place.”

Milo clicked his tongue. Ian ignored him and entered the auditorium with a smile.

Many freshmen from the Department of Magic had gathered. Their faces were clearly tense.

‘It’s a completely different atmosphere from the induction ceremony.’

Once they had united their minds against the Department of Martial Arts freshmen, but not anymore. Now, they regarded each other as competitors.

And this was exactly what the Department of Magic professors and the academy president desired.

Competition was the fastest and most accurate way to improve skills.

On the podium stood professors from the Department of Magic.

Milo pointed with his finger to the far left.

“Is that Professor Frost?”

“Yes.”

The only familiar face to him was Professor Frost. Besides him, several professors began preparing for the measurement.

There was only one mana measuring device.

It wasn’t because of its cost that there was only one.

It was set up to heighten the tension and competitive spirit to its peak.

“Preparation complete, Dean.”

“Good.”

The high-level mage reported with her voice imbued with mana.

She was the Dean of the Department of Magic, Jessica.

― Attention, everyone.

The chattering students immediately fell silent.