Academy’s Genius Mage

“Alright. I’ll meet him.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Sergeant Jim stepped out, and soon returned with Ian Oracle.

“The meeting time is one hour. Please adhere to it.”

“Thank you.”

Only then did Sergeant Jim smile.

The potion that Ian had newly developed possessed an oddly addictive quality.

The refreshing sensation it provided, especially when consumed after sweating profusely, was incomparable.

“When will that item be ready?”

“I’ll bring it to you by tomorrow.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Soon, sergeant Jim exited, leaving Ian and Ophelia alone.

“……”

Ophelia turned her gaze away, deliberately avoiding Ian.

Yet, Ian recognized that all her attention was open and directed towards him.

“I’m sorry things have turned out this way.”

At Ian’s words, Ophelia snapped her head around.

Her eyes were filled with defiance.

“What are you up to? Did you come here to mock me?”

“That’s not it. I thought we could have a productive conversation.”

Ian laughed leisurely.

Ophelia found his laughter irritating.

The heir of a humble family dared to act arrogantly in front of her.

Still, she admitted she was curious.

Ian had clearly stated this: ‘If you want to get out of here, you should meet me.’ It meant he had a way to get her out of this place.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Do you really think you have the power to get me out of here? Do you not understand how serious insubordination is?”

“You didn’t seem to understand how serious it was either.”

“……”

“If you cooperate, I will help you.”

Ophelia bit her lip tightly.

If she let herself get caught up in this, she wouldn’t have a word to say while being dragged around by Ian.

“But.”

If only she could get out of here, if only the disciplinary committee would impose a light penalty like house arrest, she was ready to do anything.

Whatever it took, she could not afford to let her family’s reputation fall.

It wasn’t out of loyalty to the family.

Simply put, it was a matter of pride.

“What exactly do you mean by a productive conversation? It might be beneficial to me, but I can’t understand how it would benefit you.”

“From your perspective, it might not seem like much, but for me, it has clear advantages.”

“Are you suggesting you want money?”

“That’s not it.”

Ian deliberately kept his words brief.

This was part of his plan to ensure Ophelia could no longer treat him dismissively.

“However, there is a condition.”

“Speak.”

“You must not lie to me and do not speak harshly.”

Ophelia bit her lip hard once more.

But then a thought emerged.

Not even Sebastian, whom she once considered her ally, had come to visit her.

He’s probably trying to protect himself.

She understood it logically. Such was the nature of family interests.

The Marquis of Kent would not wish to be involved in this matter.

Her heart, however, couldn’t understand.

She was furious.

Yet the heir of the Oracle Family, whom she had always belittled, had come to see her.

Claiming to have a way to help her leave this place.

Ophelia, who had lived her entire life without wanting for anything, realized that this was the moment to think, ‘What do I have to lose?’

So Ophelia nodded.

“I accept the condition.”

“First, I need to confirm something. You made a pact with a spirit, didn’t you?”

Suddenly, Ophelia was stunned, as if she had been caught off guard by an unexpected revelation.

Then her eyes widened.

It was a look of shock, like someone whose well-kept secret had been discovered.

‘I knew it, she really did make a pact with a spirit.’

Ian was certain of it.

He realized that all the hypotheses he had formed so far were spot on.

Ophelia was a spirit mage, and she had come here due to troubles related to it.

“How… how did you…”

“If you help me observe and feel the spirit, I can report the fact to the disciplinary committee. I could even write a report if necessary. If the problem is a mana outburst due to disharmony with the spirit, the disciplinary committee might take it into consideration.”

“Hmph. You think someone like you could feel a spirit?”

“When you had that bet with Sebastian in the salon, and when you stood up to Professor Frost, I’m certain the spirit’s voice echoed. I sensed it.”

“Nonsense!”

Ophelia jumped to her feet in frustration.

But Ian only smiled, not giving in to her pace.

“You might not want to believe it, but it’s true. If it were a lie, why would I go through the trouble of coming here?”

Ian gestured for her to sit down.

Remarkably, Ophelia responded to the gesture and sank back into her seat.

“And the impression I got from that voice was extremely negative. Almost like a scream.”

“…”

“From what I’ve learned, it’s not uncommon for disharmony to occur between a spirit mage and their spirit. It happens when the mage’s character or habits don’t match the spirit’s traits. Isn’t that right?”

Ophelia lowered her head.

Ian’s deductions were all correct.

Every time her emotions ran high, aside from the two times Ian perceived the spirit’s presence, the spirit would inevitably scream.

Simply put, it was due to her frequent anger.

Ophelia was inherently more compatible with fire-based magic, even though she had formed a bond with a water spirit at a young age.

In her childish ways back then, she hastily made the pact, but her selfish nature, devoid of consideration for others, ultimately tormented the spirit.

Usually, when mages make a pact with a spirit, their specialty aligns with the spirit’s attribute.

If they make a pact with a water spirit, they practice water-based magic; with a fire spirit, fire-based magic; and the same goes for earth and wind spirits.

However, Ophelia did not follow those norms.

“Because you are a person who is very self-absorbed. You heard the spirit’s voice and chose to ignore it. As a spirit mage, you lack the essential qualifications.”

“Why should I bother listening to something like that?”

“Don’t fool yourself. You didn’t choose the spirit; the spirit chose you. Not anyone can receive a spirit’s blessing. Do you know what that means?”

“What do I care?”

“It means it’s not something for you to dismiss. A spirit follows you, but you should be the one following the spirit.”

“…”

“People who don’t understand spirits think of them as subordinates. But high-level spirit mages unanimously say this: Spirits are partners.”

“I…”

“Once a spirit chooses a partner, they can’t break the contract. Breaking it leads to their dissolution in the natural world. Eventually, it means waiting until your lifespan ends for the contract to naturally dissolve. Does that sound easy?”

Mages live long lives.

Especially high-level mages who sometimes even grow younger. With Ophelia’s level of talent, a hundred years would be trivial.

“Shut up! Don’t talk about it as if it’s so simple!”

“I told you not to speak harshly, didn’t I? If you keep disregarding that, I might just have to leave.”

“…”

The patronizing tone of his words drove her mad.

It was a story she had heard often before.

Very few people knew that Ophelia had made a pact with a spirit, but every one of them guided her to the right path.

A spirit is your friend.

Treat it kindly as it is precious.

Ultimately, you must become one with the spirit.

But her position as a cherished daughter monopolizing her family’s power and love, combined with her unique arrogance, ruined things.

As Ophelia grew, she stopped listening to the spirit’s words.

In the end, she concealed the fact that she had made a pact with a spirit.

“I understand. You are more accustomed to commanding than collaborating; you enjoy being the sole focus of attention. But it can’t continue like this. It only leads to mutual suffering.”

Ophelia covered her face with both hands. A deep sigh escaped her.

“… If there’s a way, I want to break the contract.”

“There is no way.”

Ian declared firmly.

Ophelia’s emotions were once again shaken, and she felt like crying her heart out.

“Why are you trying to kick away the blessing of the gods? Other mages can’t become spirit summoners even if they want to. You have to be chosen multiple times to control spirits.”

“It doesn’t suit my taste.”

“Magic isn’t a noble’s refined hobby, Ophelia. If you’re going to talk about taste, do it in front of the maids at the mansion.”

“…”

“You are a mage. You must conform to nature and accept its power to give meaning to your existence.”

“You.”

Ophelia withdrew her hand, her eyes red and brimming with tears.

“How can you speak so recklessly? Have you considered my position?”

“I have. That’s why I’m here.”

“…”

“To be honest, I’m not the kind of person who offers a hand to someone who dislikes me.”

Ophelia was taken aback.

She had never been confronted face-to-face by anyone she had tormented with such disdain before.

“But if it weren’t for you… I wouldn’t have heard the spirits’ thoughts. That much is clear. So, this is closer to helping myself than helping you. Don’t be mistaken. The only person who will move for you right now is yourself.”

Ian drew a clear line.

The effect was obvious.

In the end, Ophelia gave up everything. Even if she waited, Sebastian would not come.

“What should I do?”

“Summon the spirit.”

Ophelia closed her eyes, resigned.

Soon, Ian felt a blue haze rising before his glasses.

Whoosh!

The sound of water overflowing reverberated.

The haze transformed into droplets.

Eventually, this energy floated in the air, swirling into a singular entity.

A wondrous sight he had never seen before in his life.

‘Is this a spirit?’

Soon, a blue, transparent spirit appeared before Ian’s eyes.

Emerging unclad and beautiful was the water spirit.

Yet, the expression of the water spirit, which symbolized life and vitality, was filled with despair.

“Undine.”

Ian spoke to it but Undine showed no response.

It behaved as if no one was in front of it.

However, Ian did not give up.

‘I still can’t communicate. I can only understand through letters. There must be traces of the spirit language. Let’s find the pattern I saw in the classroom.’

Ian adjusted his glasses and moved his face closer to observe intently.

He closely examined the magical particles scattering around Undine.

‘Indeed, there’s a segmented wave. It’s definitely spirit language. If I can just understand this…’

Though less distinct than the haze, countless characters were swirling near Undine’s form.

Ian concentrated harder, relying even more on his glasses.

But that alone was insufficient.

‘Be more daring.’

He eventually reached out and touched Undine.

Squish!

It felt as if he was touching something softer than water, and suddenly, an indescribable, peculiar sensation began at his fingertips.

‘What is this sensation?’

A refreshing breeze seemed to blow, filling his body with vitality.

It was a sensation of cleansing past burdens and being replaced by something invigorating.

The refreshing sensation that started from his hand touching Undine soon spread throughout Ian’s body.

‘It’s amazing!’

Even though he was surprised by the sudden change in sensation, Ian calmly accepted it.

He realized it was a part of nature.

And when all the changes subsided, his glasses once again created a miracle.

『No, it’s hot. Let go. Please.』

At last, he began to see the spirit’s language.