Episode 77

In summoning magic, failure meant when the result differed even 1% from the target.

However, the magical quill pens fluttering down through the air right now matched the targets perfectly.

There were just too many of them.

Professor Garcia quickly understood this and nodded.

“I see. It isn’t a failure.”

The troll professor let out a small sigh of relief.

It was the professor’s duty to care equally for all students, but it was impossible not to worry just a bit more about that boy from the Wardanaz family.

Born with far too much mana, even basic magic became inevitably difficult for him.

Fortunately, Ihaan, with a calmness and perseverance uncharacteristic of a new student, was resolutely facing these trials, but as a professor, she still felt sorry.

Wasn’t it originally the teacher’s job to find a solution for such things?

Professor Garcia, unable to provide a proper solution, was the only professor at this magical school who carried a sense of guilt.

“Ihaan is quite talented, isn’t he? Seeing him succeed perfectly…”

As the relieved Professor Garcia began to speak, Professor Millay nodded.

“He’s gifted.”

“I thought you might say that.”

Professor Garcia knew well how difficult summoning magic was, as well as how strict Professor Millay could be.

That made Millay’s acknowledgment all the more valuable.

“He’s talented enough to learn summoning magic. But… there’s one weakness.”

“??”

Professor Garcia was a bit flustered.

“Of course, his mana is a little—I mean, quite—ahem, actually incredibly high, but his control is improving…”

Professor Garcia, attempting to fib, could not go through with it out of conscience.

Still, considering the amount of mana Ihaan held, he was adapting at a remarkably fast pace.

“I think he’ll get better as time goes on…”

“I’m not talking about mana, Professor Garcia.”

“Then what is it?”

“The weakness I mentioned is arrogance.”

“…?”

Arrogance?

Professor Garcia was a bit flustered.

It was true the Wardanaz boy might look arrogant at first glance.

With a cold appearance like a marble sculpture and noble dignity, he was daunting enough that ordinary people found it hard to approach.

But Professor Garcia knew Ihaan was not that kind of boy.

A student who personally fed the Blue Dragon Tower children could not have such an arrogant nature.

“I think you may misunderstand…”

“Professor Garcia. Please, look closely.”

Professor Millay pointed sternly at the dozens of magical quill pens.

“That student succeeded on his first try. And yet, he deliberately summoned dozens of magical quill pens. What does that mean?”

To succeed on the first try indicated a high understanding of magic circles and excellent mana control.

A freshman with both knowledge and talent was rare. It was an outstanding ability, and objectively, he was an asset worthy of entering the world of summoning.

But why would such a student deliberately summon dozens of magical quill pens?

If he could succeed in one go, summoning just one would have sufficed.

There was only one answer.

It was to arrogantly show off his own skill.

“No…”

Professor Garcia was flustered by what Millay said.

“Ihaan isn’t that kind of person…”

“Arrogance is a virtue for a mage, but having it from too young an age is a dangerous poison, Professor Garcia. All the more so if one is born with knowledge and talent.”

“So, it’s just…”

Professor Millay’s eyebrows shot up. Professor Garcia flinched.

Not all relationships between professors were equal—especially if one professor had once been the other’s disciple.

But Professor Garcia still wanted to clear up the misunderstanding.

“I really don’t think that’s his personality. Maybe it was a mistake… perhaps…”

“A mistake?”

A hint of disbelief colored Millay’s voice. It wasn’t a good sign.

“So, you are saying, Professor Garcia… that that summoning was a mistake?”

Professor Garcia’s face flushed red. In retrospect, she felt just how absurd it sounded.

To summon multiple quill pens with that magic circle, it was not enough to just pour in several times the mana needed for one quill pen.

Since it wasn’t a magic circle for multiple summons in the first place, just pouring in more mana at once would have destroyed the circle or caused backlash.

Once mana had been injected into a circuit, it took on different properties from before.

Therefore, calculations had to change each time. To inject more mana into a charged circuit, you had to recalculate.

In other words…

The only way to summon multiple quills with that magic circle was to repeat the process carefully, several times.

Accurately calculate the mana amount summonable through the circle and inject it.

Then, closely examine the altered state of the circle, recalculate the exact amount, and inject it again.

Repeat again. And again, and again.

Unless one took great pride in their own skills, it was a feat few would even attempt.

A trick only possible with intent!

“Maybe he practiced not breaking the circle first… then forgot there was still mana left in the circle…”

“……”

Staring at Professor Garcia with a stern face, Professor Millay gradually relaxed her expression.

There was a look as if she pitied her kindhearted disciple.

“Professor Garcia. There’s no way a student that skilled would forget something like that.”

‘That’s true…’

Professor Garcia fell silent, having nothing more to say.

She honestly felt her excuses were thin.

But what could she do when it really felt plausible?

“Trust and affection for students are good, but you must not close your eyes to their shortcomings and mistakes, Professor Garcia. Sometimes affection and trust can blind you.”

“Yes…”

“I say all this, but I’m not denying the student’s outstanding talent. However, arrogance can end up hurting oneself, so he must be cautious.”

“Okay.”

“You don’t have to worry so much. If he learns summoning magic, he’ll soon have that arrogance corrected.”

Summoning magic had always trampled on students who thought themselves the Empire’s greatest geniuses.

If Millay’s strictness was added, uncontrollable arrogance would soon be subdued to a reasonable level of pride.

Professor Garcia turned her head.

Ihaan was bombarding Angrago with the summoned magic quills, trying to scribble “I have no quill” on him.

Because of that, a brawl had broken out between White Tiger Tower and Blue Dragon Tower students.

Trying to stop it, Professor Garcia still felt, no matter how she thought about it, that it wasn’t arrogance.

‘No matter how I think about it, it really doesn’t seem like arrogance.’

• * *

The commotion subsided. The students had splotchy ink stains all over their faces.

It was the aftereffect left by imperfectly and perfectly summoned magical quill pens.

Summoned magical quill pens vanished over time, but the ink they left behind did not disappear.

“I trust you all now understand a little of how difficult summoning magic is. Today’s practice was only the very basics of summoning magic. Normally, you must do it without a magic circle.”

Professor Millay instilled fear in the students. Yet she continued soberly.

“Even so, if you have a strong intent for summoning magic and wish to study seriously, come to my workshop. You would do well to remember: people often think talent or intelligence is what’s needed to learn magic, but…”

Ihaan felt Professor Millay’s gaze linger on him for a moment.

Was it his imagination?

‘Am I in trouble for harassing Angrago with the quill pens?’

“…in the end, what’s necessary is perseverance and patience. If you continue without giving up and are sincerely dedicated, summoning magic will open a path for you.”

With those words, Professor Millay left the classroom.

The remaining students gathered together and whispered among themselves.

“Should I go to the workshop?”

“The professor said if you start in second year, it’ll be too hard to keep up. I guess if you want to learn summoning, you really have to start practicing even in first year.”

The students nodded.

The difficulty of summoning magic became clear after just trying to summon a quill pen.

To summon an object that acts on its own with a magician’s power…

“But can we really go to the professor and learn summoning magic separately?”

“Why not?”

“Really? We already have so much homework and soon we have to prep for pop quizzes—can we seriously study summoning magic on top of that?”

“……”

Realistic worries made the students falter.

Summoning magic was appealing, but not many students could manage if extra assignments came with it.

‘That’s why I said to take an easy course.’

Ihaan thought that, then regretted it.

After all, in seeking easy courses, hadn’t he already put his life at risk?

Ihaan suddenly became curious.

What electives were the others taking?

“What electives are you all taking?”

“Me? . Everyone takes it, don’t they?”

“I’m in . It’s basically a semi-required course.”

“. I even want to buy one over the holidays later.”

“……”

Ihaan was a bit taken aback at his friends’ electives.

…Was he the only one without culture?

“There isn’t a single course without homework, you know.”

“Me too. But it’s not like I can just not take summoning magic.”

“The school should let us borrow some artifact that turns back time or something, right?”

“Gainando, that’s just a fairy tale. Something like that doesn’t exist.”

“Even if it did, would they really lend it to a student just to take a class? It’d be used somewhere far more important.”

Listening to their friends, Ihaan checked the time and stood up.

“Gainando, let’s go.”

“Where are we going? And why are you taking Gainando?”

“Are you planning to use him as bait in case we run into any summons?”

“No, I need to see Professor Mortum.”

While everyone else debated whether to study summoning magic, there was a professor left behind without a care.

It was Professor Mortum, who taught black magic.

Since Mortum had called them by name, Ihaan and Gainando were obliged to regularly go and learn black magic, unlike the others.

“Do we really have to go? Can’t you just send Gainando?”

The others didn’t want to send Ihaan, but Gainando refused to go alone.

“…If I end up going alone, I’ll recommend all of you, you know.”

“Gainando! My noble friend! I think you misunderstand!”

His friends changed their tune immediately.

Yoner asked, as if to check.

“I think the students who want to learn summoning magic are heading off now. Is that okay?”

“The time wasn’t set, so after seeing Professor Mortum, Gainando and I can go together.”

Ihaan was interested in summoning magic too. He just had a prior commitment.

It was best not to break appointments with professors—especially if the professor was lonely for lack of students.

“See you later, then.”

“Take care, Wardanaz.”

“Watch out for the summoned beasts on the loose, and don’t forget the potion Priestess Siana gave you.”

“Be careful with Professor Mortum, too.”

“Watch yourself, Gainando.”

At Asan’s words, Gainando looked a little touched.

“Dalkard…”

“You’d better be careful too, because if Gainando screws up, you’ll be the one in danger.”

“……”

The warning wasn’t for Gainando to be careful, but for Ihaan to beware of Gainando.

Gainando decided that as soon as he met Professor Mortum, he would recommend Asan.