Chapter 139: Upheaval (3) (1/2)

“It’s snowing~ snow, snow, snow~.”

On the way to Deculein’s class, in the middle of the university campus where the snow had already piled up, Epherene welcomed the still falling snow with open arms. Drent, still reading, smirked as he followed her.

“Is this your first time seeing snow?”

Epherene turned around and nodded, nearly jumping up and down.

“Yeah! It’s my first time!”

“Hmm? …Oh~, your hometown is Juhalle.”

It didn’t snow in Iliade’s estate. It was considered one of the most livable places along with the Yukline estate, though the territory wasn’t large, and the climate was mild all year round, making it a monotonous place.

“I see you learned geography poorly, huh?”

At Epherene’s point, Drent shook his head with a smirk.

“Let’s just go. If we’re late, we’ll be in trouble.”

Today, Deculein’s class was outside the tower.

“Yeah.”

Epherene stepped through the snow, enjoying the sound of it crunching underfoot. Almost all of the students and professors in the class had already gathered in the Robheim Pavilion. In Deculein’s strict class, if you were even one second late, you would be kicked out.

Drent and Epherene sat in the back seats.

“…Everyone seems to be reading the thesis.”

Drent looked around the classroom. As he said, almost all of them were reading Deculein and Luna’s New Elements Thesis.

“Yeah. They’re taking quite a while….”

Epherene had been looking forward to it. She hoped that the high-ranking wizards would first understand the thesis and then use the materials they distributed to boost her family’s name. However, as it was a magic that required talents in the four elements [Earth, Wind, Fire, Water], even the professors were having a hard time.

“I’m expecting that they’ll take a year or two.”

“That long?”

Epherene blinked, but Drent shook his head.

“This is an optimistic outlook too. Wizards usually learn theories by casting their magic. But this requires each of the four fundamental elements to implement… there is no answer. No matter how high-ranking they are, they can’t create abilities they don’t have.”

“…Really?”

After all, it took two years to prove the theory for Dukan’s sub-magic. When Epherene nodded-

Slam-

The classroom door opened, and Deculein entered.

“Nice to see you.”

He walked over and put his materials on the table. Everyone put their copy of the thesis down and focused on Deculein.

“Today’s class is a light question-and-answer session. I would ask you if you understood the content. Points will be deducted if you do not answer. If the deductions build up, you will be expelled.”

Deculein said it was light, but those parameters felt heavy.

“Are there any wizards who would like to volunteer first?”

Everyone in the hall avoided his gaze. Epherene did the same, lowering her head until her crown was visible.

“There. The wizard with the hair whorl showing.”

Epherene flinched. Then she slowly raised her head until she could see Deculein watching her.

“…Yes?”

“Get up and look at this formula.”

“Yes, yes!”

Epherene jumped to her feet. Deculein projected the magic circle of Iron Man in the air. Hundreds of lines and dozens of circles were connected in a single stroke, now floating in the air around her. Deculein zoomed in and pointed to some of them.

“I’ll ask. What is the role of this triple circuit?”

It was an abrupt question, but Epherene recalled what she had learned and stuttered out the answer.

“Ah… it connects the magician’s mana and the formula… no, it smooths the connection.”

“Then what is the mechanical structure that connects the mana?”

The mechanical structure that connected the mana? Epherene saw a triple circuit floating nearby. If the search was narrowed down to three or more magic circuits overlapping, the number of cases reached the hundreds. All points, lines, and faces had to be considered.

“The mechanical structure of this procedure is…”

“You can draw the formula yourself if you prefer.”

“Oh, okay. Um…”

Epherene looked at her notes and drew a formula in the air.

Swish- Swish-

Deculein, unable to bear it, pounded hard on the desk.

“Too slow.”

“Yes! I’m sorry. So…”

It was something she learned. Epherene swallowed hard.

“…The mechanical structure starts like this… first, this double circuit…”

“Are you unable to speak properly? Or is your head empty?”

“No, no…”

Deculein took a step forward, slowly approaching Epherene. Her heart was beating as loud as the sound of his footsteps.

“You think you’ll understand my class when you don’t even know the mechanics of circuits?”

“I know, I know.”

“If you know, give me an answer.”

Suddenly, he stood in front of her. Epherene looked up at him, startled by the magical aura pressuring her. This in itself was a test.

“…The mechanics of mana start with a double circuit. This connection point of the double circuit. That is while complementing the weakest part-“

“Why is the double circuit so weak? In magic theory, a double circuit is considered ‘the safest structure.’”

“This is because this formula is not magic itself, but rather a kind of magic enchantment that is added to and strengthened by a certain magic.”

Epherene didn’t even know what she was talking about; the words flowed out on instinct. Along the way, she glanced up at Deculein’s expression, which fortunately didn’t seem too disapproving.

“Good. So again, let’s talk about the mechanics of the triple circuit. Why do we have to use a triple circuit?”

“That, it is… so… well…”

“Are you messing around again?”

Deculein’s voice calmed down, causing Epherene to flinch.

“If you waste any more time, you will be kicked out of this lecture. I’ll ask again. Why did I have to use a triple circuit for this magic?”

That stern warning engulfed the crowd.

“I’ll give you three seconds.”

A cold sweat formed on Epherene’s forehead. Her back felt hot.

“Three.”

Deculein looked down at Epherene.

“Two.”

The other wizards eagerly hoped that they weren’t next in line.

“One.”

And…

* * *

Break time. Epherene, exhausted, was reclining in a chair and resting. Steam rose from her reddened face.

“…Leaf. Are you okay?”

As Drent asked carefully, Epherene turned only her head to stare at him.

“I said don’t call me Leaf.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Somehow, that sounds more friendly.”

“…I almost died. I’m still dizzy.”

Deculein’s unrelenting pressure questions felt like he was squeezing her heart and throttling her neck. Epherene somehow passed it, but following that, six people were kicked out one after another. Professor Deculein today intended to cull the students.

“But weren’t only my questions difficult?”

“Yeah. The triple circuit was too hard. He could’ve asked that question to a professor, but for a Kendall like us-“

“Right?!”

Epherene jumped back again.

“Why was I the only one to get a hard question and…”

But she didn’t finish the thought. Suddenly, she recalled what she overheard Deculein say before.

—I think of her as a disciple.

Because she was a disciple, he harshly raised her. Was that it? So, were these tests growing worse and worse for that reason? She never said that she would become his disciple. Was Professor Deculein counting his chickens before they hatched?

“Still…”

Epherene sighed. Suddenly, the voice of the distant future lingered in her ears.

-The Professor doesn’t exist in my world.

Her future self said it to her present self. What the hell happened that day?

“…”

Epherene, dazed for a moment, floated Deculein’s wood steel with Psychokinesis. She was playing with it when Deculein came back.

“Professor!”

Rose Rio raised her hand.

“I have something I learned with this class. Would you like to take a look? I changed it on my own.”

Deculein nodded after checking the time.

“Okay.”

“Oh, yes. Come on, see it. It is Ductility enchanted with Iron Man.”