Episode 16. Semifinal (1)

“Ian Leiber, first-time professor of magic linguistics.”

‘no wonder… It seems that there are more people?’

Even though the end of the last class exploded with an explosive ending, I wonder if the evaluation wasn’t bad. Or did it get word of mouth because of that broken ending?

When I arrived at the auditorium exactly at 2 o’clock, almost half of the seats were occupied.

‘I’m sure there were less than 80 people in the first round, but now it seems to be around 200?’

And, obviously.

‘The total number of students in this class was 80… .’

In this case, attendance could not be called.

‘Mister, were you giving a class in front of so many people?’

“yes… . I live so hard.”

‘Wow… . That’s great.’

“Whoa… . Let’s not be nervous. I will never do the sword dance today, really.”

‘Just do what you did yesterday. That’s enough!’

You can’t tell all those who haven’t signed up for classes to leave.

I came here from a warm dormitory on a precious and cold winter vacation, but if I let go of the rejection like that, there would be a lot of backlash. I don’t want to do that to students who come to learn.

“Students sitting at the far end won’t be able to hear my voice. wait.”

Last time, I almost choked to control 80 people in this large space with raw trees, but this time it’s different.

‘I asked Rien to prepare a magic loudspeaker.’

I had tested it in advance in the morning, so I brought the mic to my mouth right away without a mic test.

“… It seems that many people who did not sign up for this lecture also came. Students at the back, can you hear me?”

“… .”

“You stretched over there. I asked if you could hear me.”

“… Oh, I can hear you!”

“Answer when I call. I can ask for your opinion at any time, so I hope you don’t let go of your tension even though there are many people.”

‘… You said you wouldn’t do the sword dance?’

“This is fine.”

More than twice as many students as I expected were staring at me, but that’s okay. This variable was expected.

They must have come to see the professor who had a spectacular accident from the first class, or to see the powerful magic of Mint students.

Aside from the students who came to see what I was doing, the kids who came to see the Mint students were regretful.

‘Because I have no intention of accepting help from Mint students today.’

I was about to start class by looking around at the students in the front seats that I could see, but in an instant, familiar faces passed by. Seeing them again… .

“It’s not late today. Professor Ian.”

“… A frill princess? It looks like you arrived early.”

“yes. As I said in the first class, I left the articles behind. So teach me today.”

“This is the highest honor you can receive as a professor.”

Even the fact that Princess Frill is sitting in the front row is surprising, but right next to her is a Mint student.

‘Is there any particular reason why a commoner student would sit next to Princess Frill? what’s going on… ? I’ve never thought of such a variable before.’

What the hell happened in one day?

“… First of all, for the students who didn’t participate in the last class, let’s talk about the direction of today’s class. Most of the students who applied for this class stayed at a level where they couldn’t even feel mana for a long time. So, I can’t ask you to read a theoretical book written in the magic language.”

As the lecture began, someone from a seat fairly close to the podium waved at me.

Wearing a white study uniform. It was Dana.

‘He really came.’

When our eyes met, she slid down her white gown, trying to look sexy to me, revealing the school uniform hidden under it.

The last time I did something about 10 charms, the one that was the most absurd was a high school girl.

‘You really do that. A dragon that is over 400 years old is amazing. really.’

I ignored her neatly and continued the introduction.

“So, this class will also be conducted without books. In the last class, I explained the concept of the level of background knowledge about mana. Today, we will teach you what magic language is and how we should accept and use it.”

Let’s put aside the things that bother us, such as Princess Frill’s changed class attitude, students Mina, and Professor Dana, and look into them later.

“If you feel that your academic achievement is low, you will be able to set the direction of learning the magic language based on today’s lesson. For students who feel familiar with the Mado language, I hope that today’s meeting will serve as an opportunity to change their attitude toward studying the Mado language. Then we will begin class.”

* * *

‘direction? attitude? What are you talking about?’

Dana, seeing a class that started in this way for the first time, tilted her head and focused on Ian’s class.

“Let’s review some of the things we learned in the last class. The Goddess scattered her power across the sky and the earth so that the world could constantly change, and she called it mana.”

“And. It is called magic to freely use mana, a transparent and chaotic energy, by giving order to it with your awareness and will. Any students having trouble following this far?”

Do you have a lot of experience teaching in the military?

Professor Ian didn’t seem to be nervous at all even in front of so many people. He is quite good at controlling the intensity of his voice and handling his gaze.

“You also know two ways to react to this force, mana, that always exists around us. One is for everyone to recognize and react to mana with their own senses. Second, when you chant the magical language with the correct pronunciation, the mana responds. Because magic language has the power to move mana.”

So far, everyone knows the story.

“It was said that the reason why magic language reacts to mana is because magic language is excerpted from the Bible. In short, sorcerers are using magic in the language of the Bible.”

Then, Professor Ian picked up a theology degree. He was rather large and conspicuous.

“Fourth row from the right, students of theology.”

“Ah yes!”

“… I’m used to it Didn’t you get my point in the last class too?”

“Yep. This is Tasca, an apprentice theologian at Saint-Ballain Cathedral.”

“Saint-Ballain? I will serve the light and the spear. Yes, Tasca. Sorcerers use magic in the language of the Bible. But, as you well know, most of us wizards are on the same page as theology students. Theology is also in opposition to magic.”

“Uh, that… . sorry.”

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s to the extent that I want to commend you on your courage to come to this mage’s lair, alone and on a tour. No matter how much the school receives the protection of the goddess, you must have worried a lot before coming here.”

At Ian’s shocking words, the students in the auditorium began to murmur.

Professor Kiruna insults Kiruna. could there be such a thing?

If his words and actions reached the ears of other professors, he would remain in his position for the rest of his life. You will never rise higher than a full professor.

Now, going to the academic society has become a joke to him, and even if he gets older and accumulates years of experience, he will always be treated like a low-level professor.

‘I heard that first-time professors in Kiruna are inspected three times every two years, and if they fall out of there, they are kicked out. If I do that, I’ll be fired in two years right now?’

‘They say I’m not crazy, but it seems to be true.’

‘But you didn’t say anything wrong, did you?’

‘If Professor Hadley sees this, he’ll grab his neck and collapse.’

Even Dana, who is famous for being an eccentric, had never publicly cursed school like that.

‘What are you thinking?’

She observed Professor Ian with a serious expression.

A theology student named Tasca was embarrassed by the maniac on the podium, regretting his strong muscles.

“that’s… . Uh, I was actually a little worried… .”

“If I’m too honest, I won’t hear anything nice from all the wizards here except me. Didn’t you even tell me your name?”

“ah.”

“Are you also a theologian? You look like a goddess and can’t lie. Alright, I’ll ask you pious people.”

Everyone shut their mouths and focused on Ian and Tasca.

“Tasca. Why the hell do the wizards refuse and push you away who serve the goddess even though you live with mana, the power of the goddess? Honestly, if there were no goddesses, there would be no wizards. Isn’t it?”

“that’s… . I was a little curious about that too, and a little dissatisfied, ah… .”

“Again, if you are too honest, you will be in trouble. It wasn’t meant to be bullying. Sit down, Tasca.”

Professor Ian, who lied to the seminary students in front of the goddess, told everyone again.

“Now, the core of today’s lesson is not the grammatical system of the magic language. I have no intention of teaching you what process you must go through to form a circle and cast magic. You can learn enough of those things in other classes.”

Ian sat cross-legged on a chair at the pulpit.

This was also an unconventional action, but he said while taking the puzzled gazes of 200 people at ease.

“It is a class taken by a professor who will be expelled after two years, who will be dropped from the first faculty check. Shall we tell you something that is not often heard in this damn school?”

Everyone in the auditorium began to doubt their ears, and the students who had laughed and enjoyed themselves at first seemed to be getting a little serious now.

As they chatted, Professor Ian smiled slightly at Dana.

“The core of today’s class is the distinction between theology and sorcery.”

“wow… . really crazy… .”

“Both are studies that make miracles with the power of goddesses, but why do they push each other away? Where does the difference that separates each other so much come from? Let’s think about this topic together today.”

* * *

It’s not a lie to say I won’t do the sword dance. It just meant that I would not lead the class by harassing some of the students like in the last class.

That level of shock wouldn’t satisfy Professor Dana.

I was hoping the class itself would be traumatic for her. Judging by Professor Dana’s expression, it seems that he succeeded to some extent.

“hahahaha. This fake madness dragon guy. I will show you the true madness of man.”

‘… Mister, honestly, isn’t this class postponed?’

There is a reason why I suddenly changed my route like this.

After hearing about Professor Ian’s situation from Professor Dana yesterday, I seriously thought about the direction I should go… .

‘teacher. I said Let’s turn crisis into opportunity?’

‘chance? this?’

‘Teacher, what did Dana say earlier? Teacher, you said you couldn’t let go of this professor’s position at will, right? Because the other military wizards have to believe in you and die on the front line.’

‘right. Wait, to actively use it… ?’

which way should i go

First, just like Ian in the original work, there is a way to become a professor in the Department of Magical Linguistics and live like a rat while learning professorships under Dana.

Or, there is a way to resonate in a suffocating school by using something that can’t get me out of this school anyway… .

‘For survival right now, the former is much more advantageous. But can we get to the end of the novel with that?’

‘Simply by surviving, can I prevent destruction here and go to reality?’

If I had been possessed by the game, I could have hoped that this possession would end with the ending.

But if the possessed world is a novel whose ending has not yet been written, what should I aim for and endure?

The answer to that is, I can only tell you that you can’t do it if you hold on.

‘Did you say you shouldn’t break the flow of the novel? By the way, teacher, if you go with the flow like that, you’re not going to say that there will be a happy ending waiting for you at the end, right?’

‘exactly… . If Ayoung is her personality, she could end with the end of the world and burn the entire manuscript saying that it was fun so far… . I can do that enough.’

‘I think it would be better to move actively within the scope of control?’

Within the controllable range, I must develop my strength and power. Even if you keep the flow of the novel, you can turn it right away if you don’t want to.

My tinnitus of overly powerful performance, use it as carefully as possible.

I do not intervene too openly in the circumstances of the main characters in the novel, but instead focus on restoring the storyline that has been damaged by my influence.

The main character of this novel has a genius sense, and the speed of growth is ridiculously fast. As in the original story, I entrust her with solving the case, and I quietly help her from behind.

To do that, I have to establish my place within this school. I need to gather people to support me.

It was already too early to be recognized as a professor in this department. Structurally, I can’t live here as a decent professor.

So, I’d rather have Professor Dana on my side. Leading the few, like her, fed up with the dark side of the school, slowly clearing away its vices.

That way, even if the future I knew was somewhat ruined, I had to rise to a position where I could have some influence on this novel.

That was the conclusion I came to yesterday.

‘yes. Now, what kind of modesty can you pretend to be? Anyway, since the first day of class, I’ve been a crazy person who arranges the ranks against the princess… .’

‘Are you conscious?’

As for the weight he had to endure as a nobleman, he just had to trust Meriel and endure it.

‘As a professor, I… .’

It’s rather good because no one expects it around.

If only magic knowledge can be raised to expert level, adaptation here may not be that difficult.

Now is the time to think about what’s next.

“The difference between magic and theology is the presence or absence of freedom. Originally, magic was free. If the magic you are learning now is free, it isn’t.”

* * *

‘Dana. One of the places I’ve never been to is the Kiruna Magic School.’

‘yes? After traveling around the world so many times, have you not been there? It’s a famous place.’

‘Somehow it happened… . I really want to go there someday.’

‘How frustrating would that be?’

‘How cute.’

I couldn’t find my sister even after wandering around the world for 100 years. So, for 100 years, I’m going to wait here where my sister wanted to come.

‘sister. I thought waiting for you would be so pointless, depressing and boring?’

“Freedom, the foundation of magic. A magic school that doesn’t teach this? It’s ridiculous. To be honest, when I first arrived at this school and met you, all my expectations for this place collapsed. This place is the best magic education institution, the future is bleak.”

“Wow… .”

Maybe not?