Chapter 53 (1/2)
Epherene and Sylvia, who were trying series applications, were now damp with sweat. Sylvia somehow succeeded, but Epherene was one step behind.
“Beck. Lucia. Come.”
I asked other debutantes to apply the series as well.
Confused, the next duo just drew formulas. There was more intuition than logic in their magic and only intuition.
“… Enough.”
I turned off the crystal protecting the classroom. It dismantled its barrier and reverted the scenery around us to a regular lecture room.
“This shows where your levels are. It’s my fault for overestimating you. Sit down.”
The debutantes did as instructed.
“I was going to teach you to see magic as logic, not intuition. Without a theoretical framework, intuition is bound to get lost.”
Of course, this was an unfamiliar method, making it difficult for them to comprehend it. It was even more annoying since they would probably go back to square one.
“…”
I didn’t spare any efforts to teach them. In fact, there was probably no professor more faithful to education than I was.
For it, I scoured all methodologies, the game system, and even books from ancient theocracies, which was rumored to be more magically prosperous.
Logic was emphasized in the past, and even I thought it was ‘systematically correct,’ but in reality, only five or six people could embody this teaching.
In short, reality hit me in the face.
“I will explain it in detail again.”
There were several ‘bonus systems’ in the game.
Attribute bonuses, series bonuses, combination bonuses, harmony bonuses, etc…
Attribute bonuses, of course, meant boosting performance and reducing magic consumption when using attributes that matched the character’s talent, and series bonuses were no different.
However, harmony bonuses were a little more complicated.
To start with, this game’s system made learning magic much more complicated than just reading magic books.
It required practical proficiency in magic and the process of ‘internalizing’ it, which the people at our company called [Understanding]. That process took a reasonable amount of time, even within the game.
Harmony bonuses were activated when the resonance between one’s [Understanding] and practical proficiency was perfect.
I wanted to teach the debutantes how to activate them.
“Observe closely.”
I picked up the chalk with [Psychokinesis] and drew [Wildfire]’s formula on one column of the blackboard and the formula of the auxiliary series on the other column. I then wrote down the process of connecting them in detail.
This lecture had turned into an analog class.
“[Wildfire] has a special effect when applied to an ‘auxiliary series.’ Memorize the entire connection between this formula and the circuit.”
If it was difficult to understand, then they should start at memorization.
Debutantes were required to be at a certain level to enter the Imperial University Tower, considering there would be many cases where they would have to memorize difficult information and, more often than not, understand it afterward.
“When applied to the ‘Destruction’ series, [Thundercloud] has a special effect. Memorize this too.”
I wrote about the ‘logic’ of transplanting each pure element into its appropriate series.
Scratch—
Six pieces of chalk moved at the same time. In consideration of readability and understandability, the colors of the core circuits were also different.
I hoped this level of detail would help the students.
“[Metal Rust], which treats metal like a blade, unexpectedly exhibits a special effect when applied to the ‘summoning’ series. You do not yet know its mysterious depth, so just memorize it.”
I wrote ceaselessly, stopping not even for a moment until the blackboard was filled with geometrical objects that seemed like patterns. There were almost thousands of lines and circles applied in a total of eight magical series.
It was a two-hour class.
“Time’s up.”
There was no answer.
Half of them looked exhausted, and the other half was still taking notes.
A little later, I looked at the blackboard.
The huge, nearly-5-meter-high blackboard was covered in formulas.
“Feel and bask yourselves in the sense of helplessness that cannot be solved by intuition alone. You have to experience that to know what you lack and need.”
They would keep thinking their plan was plausible until they hit a barrier that it couldn’t break.
Once they did, they’d change their mind.
“I am going to give a simple exam right away next week. Be sure to prepare for it.” I added coldly.
Looking at the clock, I noticed it was already 11 seconds past 6 o’clock.
I left the classroom feeling very uncomfortable.
* * *
As soon as the class was over, Epherene headed to the library. Today’s class was quite complicated and difficult.
[‘Logical’ application of [Wildfire] to support series.]
[‘Logical’ application of [Thunderclouds] to destruction series.]
[‘Logical’ application of [Metal Rust] to summoning series.]
[★Important★ Efforts must be made to look at it ‘logically,’ that is, ‘magically’]
According to Deculein, in magic, if intuition was walking, logic was paving the way. Intuition alone could get one lost.
Of course, basic magic and problems could be solved by intuition alone. Rather, it might actually be more efficient to do so. The knowledge they had accumulated thus far would help them gain insight anyway.
However, when faced with difficult magic that couldn’t be controlled by intuition or when delving into the magical unknown for the first time, the ‘path’ called ‘logic’ would prove far more useful.
“… This is hard.”
It was great information and could prove extremely functional in the future.
The problem was its difficulty.
At first, it started with something as simple as 1+1.
She felt like she just closed her eyes for a moment and opened them to a blackboard full of geometric formulas and mathematical operations that explained the circuit.
“How the hell did Deculein know about this…”
No matter how much she thought about it, so many things contradicted her father’s letter.
If so, did he also have some degree of theoretical competence?
Or did he learn from her father?
Or did he hire another person to take her father’s place?
“… Let’s just study.”
After learning and familiarizing herself with it, she decided to try again later.
Professor Deculein seemed to be openly challenging them.
[12:00 PM]
She started at noon, but by the time she finished studying like crazy, it was already past midnight.
Epherene put her thick notebook in her bag and stood up.
On the way back to the dormitory, she passed an alleyway.
“…!”
Finding people holding an interesting conversation in it, Epherene instinctively hid.
She identified the round silhouette to be Professor Relin. The thin silhouette was Professor Ciare.
“… What do you mean Louina is missing? Is that really true, Professor Ciare?”
“Yes, it is. I even watched her leave after completing Her Majesty’s lessons, but her whereabouts became unknown after that.”
“Why now of all times… No way, no way! Head Professor Deculein?!”
“Shh. Shhhhhhh.”
Epherene’s eyes widened.
“The Magic Association has more information. Her disappearance is still a secret. There is fear that the tower will fall into chaos if it leaks out.”
“Yes. But this is an odd time. The countersigning is coming soon…”
Epherene, who had shut her mouth and held her breath, gasped as soon as they left.
“… Kidnap? Missing?”
Even Epherene knew about Louina.
Not only was it the name she read in her father’s letter, but it was also one of the special, talented people of the current magic world.
“No way.”
The professors’ words weren’t always true, and she couldn’t give herself the luxury to worry about others.
What was her current bank account balance?
She received support worth 100,000 Elnes at the beginning of the semester.
Of these, 85,000 Elnes were spent for magic books, writing instruments for wizards, departments, and events, and 5,000 Elnes were sacrificed for food, so her remaining money was only 10,000 Elnes…
“Miss Luna?”
As soon as she arrived at the dormitory, the housekeeper in the lobby called her.
“Yes?”
Epherene walked over to her as the housekeeper raised her pointed glasses with her fingers, but contrary to the impression she made, she was the most reliable person in this building.
“I have received several letters addressed to you. Take it. I didn’t put them in your mailbox since the other kids might rip them.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you for always keeping an eye out for me.”
“You’re welcome.”
Epherene saw the letter as she climbed the stairs.
One was a letter from her hometown, and the other was…
Epherene’s eyes became the size of a ping-pong ball.
It was a sponsorship certificate.
She hurriedly opened it and found it was worth 100,000 Elnes again this time.
“Wow…”
The deed shone like gold, causing her pupils to gleam.
‘By any chance, did this person hear that I finished second in the midterm exams? Does this mean for as long as I maintain my grades in the future, he’ll continue to support me?’
Epherene smiled brightly and put the certificate in her arms. Then she looked at the letter from her hometown.
“…!”
As soon as she finished doing so, she turned around and ran to the magistrate.
“H-Hey!” She yelled as she opened the door. The administrative staff who greeted people at night looked at her in annoyance.
“Yes.”
“I received my sponsorship certificate today…”
The letter from her grandmother contained something that she didn’t know.
300,000 Elnes was deposited to them in the name of ‘donation money.’
She thought her grandmother was just saying, ‘We’re okay now. Thank you, and I’m sorry. You don’t have to worry about our family anymore.’
“Is it anonymous again?”
“Yes. Anonymous.”
The staff yawned and nodded.
Epherene urgently added. “Do you—”
“Just take it. You’re not in a good situation. People don’t usually reveal their names when they donate anyway.”
“…”
It was a cold statement, but it was true. Rumors about the so-called ‘crazy commoner’ Epherene had emerged.
The staff glanced at Epherene and added a few more words when she found her gloomy.
“If you want to do something for the donator, write a letter.”
“… A letter?”
“Yes. Even if it is an anonymous sponsorship, the letter will be delivered. If you’re lucky, they’ll reply. You already received 200,000 Elnes from them. That’s a lot of money.”
“Ah… Yes, that’s right. Okay!” Epherene pondered and then nodded. That person might hate the letter, but if so, they simply won’t reply.
There was nothing wrong with the act of sending a letter itself.
“Hey, what about the paper? Don’t you provide one?” Epherene inquired.
“… You have to bring one yourself. We only take care of the letters themselves. It shouldn’t be too much for you since you already received 200,000 Elnes anyway.”
“… Got it. Thank you.”
* * *
The next day. At the Imperial University Tower, where festivals and parties were in full swing.
♩♬♪♬♪♩~
With the parade music flowing in from the outside, the ‘correlation between runes and circuits,’ which I had been focusing on lately, was almost complete.
It was an accurate interpretation.
A total of 14 runes were used in question 6 of the Symposium. Among them, only three were usable as circuits.
It seemed that I could solve the Symposium based on this study.
I sealed the documents with magic and put them in my briefcase.
“… Hmmm.”
Unexpectedly, it caught my attention again.
[ ─ ]
The untitled notebook.