Chapter 40 (1/2)

Chapter 40 [There was a numbering issue prior]

“Nice to meet you.”

The audience grew silent.

“My name is Deculein, the Head Professor of the Imperial University Tower and a Monarch-ranked wizard.”

As always, I started my lectures with an introduction.

“My lecture will last exactly two hours, through which I will be discussing its main focal point: the pure elemental magic test that was auctioned last week.”

I had already prepared the contents and flow of the lecture a week ago. The problem was, there was a good chance that the lecture wouldn’t go my way.

As soon as I started…

Kekeke-

The chairman’s laugh irritated me.

“First, let me give you a brief description of ‘pure elements’ before we look at the questions.”

I was planning on holding the lecture in the form of problem explanations, but I first outlined what I said in my previous class at the tower.

I proceeded to give out a short briefing using pure elements such as [Scorched Fire], [Thundercloud], and [Will o’ the Wisp].

“… However, these ‘pure elements’ have no purpose. They only gain magic affiliation according to the aim of the wizard that implements the element. You have to be aware of that.”

Most people would have their brains twisting upon thinking about ‘pure elements’ and ‘magic affiliation’ together.

Simply put, it was like drawing two images with both hands simultaneously. Drawing one at a time was far more efficient.

“Let’s put aside numbers 1 to 5 for now and take a look at question number 6 first.”

The aforementioned problem came up in the air.

It embodied the magic [Bitter Cold Fog] in which three pure elements were combined in perfect harmony.

But, the core of my lecture was numbers 7 and 8, so I only explained the gists adequately and moved on.

Or at least tried to.

“I have a question!”

Someone raised their hand. As I had expected, it was the chairman.

“Question! Question!”

She jumped up and screamed like a nightingale, making her impossible to ignore. I paused for a moment and looked at her.

“Go ahead.”

“Yes! The Head Professor emphasized the distinction between ‘pure elements’ and ‘magic affiliation!”

The chairman radiated mana and drew a magic circle in the air.

“What should we do if we want to affiliate the magic in number 6 with the best destructive magic compatible with it?”

I looked at the chairman for a while using [Understanding]. Three seconds was enough.

I added a core circuit to his magic: a straight line composed of 28 strokes to form [Explosion].

“That will freeze and injure the enemy at the same time.”

“… Oh? Ah… I see. That’s right. Oh….thanks.”

The chairman blinked as she collected her mana and sat down. “Now, let’s look at question number 7.”

I made question number 7 hover in the air.

[Artificial Star] mobilized water, wind, earth, and fire elements. While I was explaining it, the chairman rose again.

“Professor! I have a question!”

“…”

“As you said, there are two core circuits in number 7. However, wouldn’t that many core circuits or more twist the magic itself?! I think…”

The chairman released mana and drew question number 7.

[Artificial Star] had the highest number of magic combinations, but her version took a different form from my question.

“It would be easier to set up only one core circuit just like this. Why risk setting up two core circuits and having the magic go haywire?!” The chairman asked, perhaps already knowing the answer to it. I looked vacantly at her for a moment while she grinned.

I nodded.

“That’s a good question.”

I drew a copy of the chairman’s magic.

“But an [Artificial Star] like yours, which only has one core circuit, will cause extreme mana consumption.”

The chairman replied as if she had been waiting.

“But wouldn’t we consume more mana if we use two core circuits?! That’s basic and common knowledge! Why would you rather use two if you can use one? Isn’t that just wasteful?!”

The other wizards’ expressions told me that they agreed with her. Those were the chairman’s words, after all.

I refuted her argument in a calm and orderly manner.

“Yes, that is generally true, but not unconditionally so. It depends on the characteristic of the magic. [Artificial Star]’s core circuits aren’t only for the user’s mana, but also for taking care of its energy.”

The chairman’s expression hardened slightly.

“The [Artificial Star] in number 7 has special properties. One of the two core circuits focuses on ‘circulation,’ and the other on ‘cohesion.’ Through them, its four pure elements will circulate and cohere inside the magic and release energy by themselves, allowing the caster to hold it for a longer duration while using less mana.”

After a brief pause, I continued.

“In that regard, the technique that the chairman showed isn’t a star. It is no different to a chunk of mana meant to drain the caster empty.”

“…”

The chairman kept her mouth shut. There was already a shadow on her grinning face.

“But…”

I looked at the clock. The appointed time was 120 minutes, and 110 minutes had already passed.

“I’ve used up too much time answering questions. I will no longer do any explanation on question number 8.”

“…”

Everyone looked at the chairman, who then pouted without saying anything.

“I’ll take a few more questions and wrap it up.”

At that moment, somewhere within the room, a cold voice rang.

“Did you think about question number 8 yourself?”

It was a blatant suspicion. Frowning, I looked over to where it was coming from and found a robed wizard staring at me.

“Please introduce yourself.”

“… I’m Louina.”

Her name sounded familiar.

I thought I knew who she was.

“Please be more specific with your question.”

“It’s as I said. Was question number 8 really your idea? Did you really write it yourself? I’m curious about that.”

Louina was a wizard who gave quests that opposed Deculein. I wasn’t certain, but he might have banished her from the tower and expelled her to the Kingdom.

She was a Named character overflowing with hatred for him.

“… Huh? No way! Are you saying someone else wrote the test questions for Professor Deculein?! A ghostwriter?!” The chairman jumped up and shouted. Murmurs soon filled the lecture room.

Louina laughed as the chairman continued talking.

“There’s no way! Professor Deculein isn’t like that!”

It would’ve been better if he just kept his mouth shut.

“…”

The wizards didn’t say anything, but their eyes told me what they were thinking. Some seemed suspicious of me, some looked like they sympathized with me, and the rest just looked curious.

I stood still and pondered about it. A good idea came to mind soon enough.

“Professor Deculein?”

I shook my head and laughed lowly at the chairman’s words.

“It’s common to be inspired by things that are not your own.”

The sounds of gasps echoed.

“… However.”

I emitted mana, the lines of which drew a technique in the air.

“This is entirely mine.”

I recalled a landscape with my eyes closed and turned it into a technique, arranging the correct pure elements to depict it as if painting on a canvas.

Just like that, the magical design that I envisioned emanated in the air using mana as its medium.

[Understanding] allowed me to reproduce what I had learned and deciphered before using much less mana.

I consumed over 50 thousand in writing number 8, but now, 3 thousand was enough to recall the same magic.

The wizards in the auditorium looked at the elaborately drawn picture that showcased eleven spells perfectly connected and intertwined with each other.

“Because I made it on the spot, the answer to this equation is completely different from number 8. Consider finding its answer as your homework.”

I then looked at Louina. “Does this answer your question, Professor Louina?”

No, I looked at where Louina was, but she was nowhere to be found.

I smirked… then sneered.

“I’ll be ending my lecture here.”

Standing by the table, I organized my materials, straightened my clothes, and looked at the chairman.

She looked bitter for some reason.