Overpowered Archmage Doesn’t Hide His Talent

Chapter 26: “Oh my goodness! Sir Flan! To think I would meet Sir Flan here!”

The evaluation practice continued.

However, Trixie’s interest wasn’t in the evaluation. So engrossed was she in Trivia’s page that she almost forgot about the assessment.

‘This is ridiculous.’

There had never been a moment in her life when she neglected the effort to learn. Perhaps, there was no student who worked harder than her.

However, it was as if those moments were being denied by the formulas now appearing on Trivia’s page in real-time.

[ ▷ From now on, think not in two dimensions, but in three. ]

On one side of the page, a formula from a problem Trixie had previously created was drawn.

On the next page, the formula for the auxiliary system was illustrated, and the process connecting the two began to be meticulously recorded.

An analog approach.

But in other words, it was the most standard teaching.

[ ▷ No questions will be accepted for this lesson. ]

[ ▷ If you do not understand, prioritize memorization. ]

The formulas, which had only been black, now varied in about six different colors for each section. It seemed that the key circuits were colored differently for readability.

‘It’s alive.’

She had approached it.

This time on the Agora Board, the problem was to transform Trixie’s spade plane drawing into a three-dimensional formula.

Literally, the spade drawing that was confined to a plane began to breathe as a three-dimensional shape.

Trixie unknowingly trembled as she held Trivia.

The joy of learning, the pure teaching received from another….

All of this was so delightful to Trixie. In fact, it was almost the first time for her. She had spent so much time learning alone.

Her heart pounded.

She tried to feel the formulas etched on the page by running her hand over them.

[ ▶ Thank you so much ㅎㅅㅎ ]

Just as she was about to send that reply,

“Trixie.”

At the sound of her name being called, she reflexively closed Trivia.

She turned her head to check….

She couldn’t remember the name of the boy with the annoyingly slick appearance. She vaguely recalled that he was a member of Group 11 like her.

His name tag read Martin Luke.

“Did you see what I just did?”

She hadn’t. She hadn’t even known he was doing anything.

Martin’s gaze turned towards the Trivia Trixie was holding.

“Oh, Trixie. Want to exchange our Trivia codes?”

“No.”

“Come on, I’ll only contact you about the exploration assignment. We’re in the same group, right? We need to communicate well to get good grades.”

Exchanging personal codes on Trivia allows for private contact.

Come to think of it, Trixie had never exchanged her unique code with anyone. In fact, she hadn’t contacted anyone at all.

Well, if she were to strictly consider it, there was one person. The Teaching Auction.

Who could they be? Curiosity and interest surged simultaneously.

“Next, Flan.”

At that moment, Professor Leonard called Flan.

The boy called stepped forward without any hesitation. The spirit he exuded was already beyond that of a commoner.

Martin chuckled as he spoke.

“Trixie, watch him closely. You’ll see a big difference from when I did it.”

Even if he hadn’t urged, she was already planning to watch. It’s Flan, who had shown an unexpected side during the simulated combat.

Unexpected, coincidental… If such factors repeat, it’s skill. She planned to confirm his skill with her own eyes.

“Let me know when you’re ready. We can start right away if you’re good to go.”

At the professor’s words, the boy merely nodded.

◈

“Why are the first-years like this these days? They only nod at the professor’s words.”

“Is that the kid who was acting familiar earlier? Tell us too. Hey.”

I had no intention of arguing with the second-years looking down at me. Instead of answering, I took a step forward.

I took a deep breath, aligning my breath with my mana simultaneously.

I didn’t need to run.

The process of reaching the red flag was a competition, and as long as you could excel over your competitors, you would win.

“He’s taking it easy. Has he lost his mind?”

As someone among the second-years grumbled irritably, a barrage of attacks rained down on me.

Boom! Bang!

The impact was powerful enough to send shards of the training ground floor flying.

Each attack carried unmistakable malice. Compared to the attacks during other students’ evaluations, they were far stronger.

Bang! Bang! Boom!

But at the end of the day, they were simple attacks. Calmly defending, I deliberated.

I had various choices.

I could block the attacks, dodge the straight-line strikes, and dash towards the red flag.

I could counterattack instead, or even consider pulling the flag over to me.

‘Mana.’

To devise the best move, one must first undergo self-objectification.

The results revealed through days of training were simple and clear.

Mana purification, mana capacity—these two exercises were practiced in equal measure, but only the level of purity had notably risen.

This body was somewhat unsuitable for increasing the total amount of mana but boasted exceptional efficiency in enhancing the purity of mana.

Of course, I was confident that I could eventually capture both pursuits.

For now, I would focus intensely on maximizing extreme efficiency with the set amount.

The accumulated experience, theories, and the efforts to back them up would never betray me.

In the end, I would prove to be the best in every aspect once again.

‘For now,’

I focus on quality rather than quantity.

Instead of obsessing over the number of times I cast spells, I will push their power to the extreme.

Swish!

An attribute-less arrow grazed my cheek as it flew past. Riding the momentum, I created an attribute-less orb.

It was the basic attack of the elemental series, a sphere known in my previous world as the “Magic Missile.”

I fired it at the wall as a test. As expected, the power was weak.

In my previous life, I would have created a hundred orbs simultaneously to unleash a hundredfold power….

Woooosh—

This time, it’s different. I fused the Magic Missile’s circuit with my body and attuned it.

If I continued to train like this, I would eventually possess more than the average mana capacity.

However, growth efficiency in the total amount aspect is low.

It’s not that I couldn’t force it higher, but such growth would be far from the “optimal” method.

‘Therefore,’

I focus solely on mana purity. I remove the need to obsess over capacity.

I use the same amount of mana but modify the circuit to maximize power.

The modification of this Magic Missile is the first step in that direction.

Emphasizing the circuits related to destructive power means discarding something equivalent.

I discarded the ‘form’ of the Magic Missile. The neatly shaped orb distorted and lost its shape.

And the next moment, the attribute-less element left my hand and hurtled towards the second-years.

“Ugh!”

Smack-! With a loud sound, a second-year who was struck in the forehead fell backward.

Their faces spread with bewilderment like paint running down.

‘This is quite impressive. I like it.’

The modification of the Magic Missile was successful. A method of discarding unnecessary parts to maximize destructive power.

Its power exceeded my expectations.

Because it was a method I hadn’t particularly used in my previous life, I found it quite amusing as I wielded it.

“When you make a surprise attack, you should be prepared for counterattacks too.”

Eliminating obstacles is also a good strategy. I offered the second-years some advice.

“What, what the hell?”

“Is he actually counterattacking? Professor, is this allowed?”

As the second-years muttered among themselves, Professor Leonard burst into laughter.

“Is it okay for you guys, though? Is it okay for second-years to get countered by a first-year?”

At that remark, the second-years clammed up.

I lowered my shield and reallocated all remaining mana solely to offense. A couple of attribute-less orbs floated around me.

“Who is… he…?”

From behind, the murmurs of onlookers reached my ears. The second-years had become quiet.

Smack-!

“Ow, ouch!”

This time, a second-year hit in the wrist clutched their hand and sat down.

So far, only two had fallen, yet the attacks directed at me had already ceased.

I kept walking.

The second-years no longer cast spells, and the uneven walls, which weren’t much of a restriction in the first place, meant there was no need to run.

I looked up.

I glanced disdainfully at the arrogant second-years.

None of them dared to meet my gaze.

◈

The evaluation concluded smoothly afterward.

“This concludes today’s practical evaluation. Good work, everyone.”

At Professor Leonard’s words, the training ground reverted to its original cubic shape, and the second-year students left first.

As they left, they glanced at me several times. I didn’t bother avoiding their stares.

Professor Leonard continued speaking.

“Today’s evaluation doesn’t hold much weight in your grades, so don’t be too disheartened. We did this without scrolls, remember? What matters is the exploration assignment in two days.”

The exploration assignment.

At those words, dry gulps could be heard here and there.

Just as Leonard said, the exploration assignment was important. Its weight in the grades was significant, so everyone’s mindset would be far from ordinary.

“Prepare the right scrolls for your group’s strategy, manage your condition well, you know, the basics, right? Today’s lecture is over

.”

The professor left the training ground first, and the other students began to disperse, attending to their next schedules.

At that moment, Trixie approached me with a curious look in her eyes. Just as her small lips were about to part.

“Trixie, the lecture’s over. Want to grab some tea? I know a place with a good atmosphere.”

Martin Luke interrupted. His gaze, which had been following Trixie’s, now turned to me.

“Do you have business with Flan? He did well, but… honestly, counterattacking the second-years? I could’ve done that too if I wanted. But I held back.”

“…Haa.”

Trixie sighed deeply, irritably swept back her hair, and stretched her long legs towards the exit.

“Uh, Trixie? Busy? Then let’s at least exchange Trivia codes today!”

Martin hurriedly chased after her.

Since Trixie’s legs were inherently long, Martin, who was much shorter, practically had to run, making him look so pitiful that I clicked my tongue without realizing it.

“So Becky, that’s how we’ll do it. I’ll handle the scrolls on my end….”

“Yeah, that’s probably best.”

Becky was busy talking with her group members. Then our eyes met briefly.

“Oh, hey. Flan….”

As soon as she spotted me, she started heading in my direction, but.

“By the way, Becky, did you check this part?”

“Ah.”

One of her group members promptly grabbed Becky’s arm.

Lat-er. I’ll. Definitely. Talk. To. You.

Becky mouthed the words to me. Then, sure enough, she got dragged back to continue talking with her group.

I began to walk as well.

Having decided the direction in which to develop my magic, I felt at ease, and naturally, my steps grew lighter.

As I walked through the now dimly lit academy grounds, I meticulously planned my evening until bedtime.

I intended to visit the academy’s bank to exchange gold coins, take a bath, and then devote my remaining energy to mana purification.

If time allowed afterward, immersing myself in knowledge would be the right choice. Deciding on what to eat was still a bit of a dilemma.

“Oh! Oh my goodness! Flan! Sir Flan!”

Someone’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Moreover, this person even tried to hug me. Naturally, I twisted my body to avoid it but doubled my vigilance.

Who could it be?

A second-year? Were they rushing at me, harboring a grudge from the evaluation?

Just as I prepared myself for battle.

Something suddenly clung tightly to my chest. Before I could even identify what it was, a fragrant scent tickled my nose.

Simultaneously, a bright voice rang in my ears.

“Oh my goodness! Sir Flan! To think I would meet Sir Flan here!”

…A creature resembling an angel was clinging to my chest.