Book 1 Chapter 43
【43】42
First-year magic students were gathered in the main auditorium of the magic building.
Students sitting on the makeshift chairs set up in the main auditorium were reading their notes with tense expressions.
“Ugh! I'm nervous! My stomach hurts!”
Karl poured a few stomach medicines he made himself into his mouth.
Seeing that, nearby students rushed over and bought the stomach medicine.
“Even in this situation, you're good at making money, huh?”
“My test scores are predictable, so I should at least work hard on this. By the way, Leo, you're an honors student, so you probably aren't nervous?”
“That’s not true.”
“Someone who isn’t nervous wouldn’t be so nonchalant, would they?”
Karl, grumbling enviously, sneaked a glance at Chloe’s back, who was sitting in the very front row.
Chloe had been a mess like a wreck during the exam period, but today she looked very neat.
It wasn't just Chloe.
All the magic students were dressed up.
Today's unique magic presentation was not just an exam but also an occasion for a wizard to present their achievements.
Once one chooses the path of a wizard, it’s inevitable to frequently participate in magic theory thesis presentations.
Therefore, this was also a practice for future presentations.
Just then, the auditorium door opened, and three wizards entered.
All neatly dressed, they ascended the platform with stern expressions.
“Long time no see, Associate Professor Ren. Oh, you're a full professor now, aren't you?”
“Hoo hoo. It's good to see you after a long time. Yes. I’m a full professor now.”
Professor Ren greeted them warmly, then ascended the platform and spoke.
“Alright, everyone, pay attention.”
Professor Ren stood on the platform, drawing the students' attention.
“I will introduce them. From the left: Rilda Pedney, Eidman Slack, Shin Huzda. All three are your seniors who graduated from Lumern's Department of Magic three years ago. Today, they will evaluate you not as seniors and juniors, but as judges.”
At those words, the students' eyes sparkled.
Professor Ren is popular among the magic students.
He has handsome looks and a good personality, but more than that, his teaching ability was exceptionally outstanding.
However, beyond that, he was a professor famous for setting very strict standards.
Therefore, as a judge, he was a very intimidating opponent.
So, naturally, the tension eased considerably when they heard that graduated seniors, not Professor Ren, would be the judges.
Karl also cheered, saying, "Oh~! Lucky!"
“I don’t think this is something to be happy about.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Professor Ren specifically brought these judges from outside, didn't he? Do you really think they’ll be easygoing?”
“…….”
At those words, Karl’s face changed to a slightly uneasy expression.
Meanwhile, the three people sat down in the judging seats in front of the platform.
As they took out paper and pens, indicating they were ready, Professor Ren held up a list and called out a student's name.
“Illiana Raden.”
Scrape-!
At those words, Illiana went up to the platform.
“Hello, seniors. I am Illiana Raden from Class 5! It’s a great honor to meet you.”
“We’re happy to meet you too, Illiana. We're looking forward to hearing the presentation from our cute junior.”
Rilda Pedney adjusted her glasses and smiled softly.
In response, Illiana gently twisted her body and smiled as cutely as possible with a shy expression.
She was diligently performing her "cute junior" act, as if appealing, "Are you really going to say bad things to such a cute junior?"
“Leo, that tomboy acting like that makes me feel sick.”
“Endure it.”
“Then, please treat me well.”
“My main attribute is light.”
“Hoo, you possess a rare magic attribute.”
Seeing the seniors showing interest, Illiana inwardly rejoiced.
‘Good atmosphere~’
“……By adding a ‘flame’ attribute magic formula to a light attribute magic system like this, one can unleash powerful ‘heat ray’ magic!”
Illiana pointed with both hands at the blackboard where she had written out her self-created magic formula system and looked at the graduates.
Illiana, who had been appealing by wiggling her eyebrows a few times, hid her hands behind her back and smiled shyly.
“That concludes my presentation.”
As the presentation ended, applause erupted among the students.
Rilda, who was sitting on the far left, adjusted her glasses and spoke.
“Indeed, many light attribute mages choose powerful ‘laser’ magic as their unique magic. In the past, unique magic was literally one's own original… well, these days, thanks to the world of heroes, the inheritance of power is taken for granted, so unique magic itself doesn't need to be special. However, there must be originality in the process of its completion.”
Unconsciously, she gazed at Illiana with emotionless eyes.
“What’s different compared to existing laser-type magic?”
“Uhm… that, that’s… related to our family’s secret magic formula…”
“A formula related to secret magic. How complacent.”
Rilda clicked her tongue, "Tsk tsk," and pressed Illiana, pointing out each flaw in her magic formula system.
In the suddenly changed atmosphere, Illiana broke out in a cold sweat and answered with difficulty.
“Finally, just one more question. Illiana. What is the hierarchy rank of this magic you’ve conceived and are aiming for?”
“Th-that… I haven’t decided yet.”
Illiana fidgeted with her hands, avoiding Rilda's gaze.
“It’s good to have grand dreams, but presentations must be about what you perfectly understand. Do you think we came to watch a junior talent show?! C-! Next!”
“Hic!”
Rilda, who had suddenly transformed, glared with wide eyes and shouted, and at her intensity, Illiana was terrified and hurried down from the platform as if fleeing.
The faces of the other students hardened.
In the students’ opinion, Illiana’s presentation was quite excellent.
But only a C-?
Watching that, Ren folded his arms.
‘They’re doing well. It’s about time they felt a wall.’
Ren specifically invited graduates who were particularly meticulous in magic theory among those he had been close with during his associate professor days.
The reason was simple.
Initially, first-year students are overwhelmed by Lumern’s class difficulty.
But by the time midterms arrive, they gradually begin to adapt to classes.
Moreover, they had grown to a skill level incomparable to when they entered, in a short period.
It was a time when the entire first-year class was puffed up and falling into complacency.
Professor Ren knew from long experience that if they weren't reined in at this point, they would neglect their studies.
‘Many professors leave those who will succeed to their own devices and don't care about those who won't… but leaving capable students to their own devices doesn't suit my temperament.’
Ren believed that providing new stimulation to make them look upwards again was also a duty of an educator.
‘In the first place, it's impossible for first-year students to complete unique magic at their level.’
He did assign the task, but that was solely to emphasize the necessity of unique magic.
No matter how talented the mages entering Lumern were, it was impossible for them to complete unique magic in just a few months, magic that other mages spent their entire lives perfecting.
‘Well, there are some geniuses who can do such things, though.’
Ren looked at a few students.
Meanwhile, student presentations continued.
“I expected this year’s first-years to be special, but their level is utterly disappointing.”
“In terms of originality, I even feel they are worse than other batches. Well, what the higher-ups called ‘special’ was always their ‘combat ability,’ after all.”
Rilda and Shin Huz spoke as if to be overheard.
They, too, had heard from Ren what their role was.
How could they not find their juniors cute?
They very much wanted to pat them on the head and say "well done," but they willingly decided to play the villain for the sake of their juniors.
They themselves had experienced great hardship after becoming complacent around this time in their first year.
As the first-years were thoroughly getting roasted by the graduates, Ren called out the next student.
“Avad Lrewalyn.”
At those words, the graduates' expressions changed.
The strongest nation on the Western Continent.
Since the heir of the Lrewalyn family, the pinnacle of magic in the Rodren Empire, had been called, anticipation was inevitable.
“The name of my unique magic is Tempester.”
Avad, who had ascended the platform, gave a brief greeting and began his presentation.
Everyone gasped in admiration as they listened to the presentation.
Avad's magic was literally a type of magic close to a natural disaster, maximizing the power of wind.
“The expected hierarchy rank when it reaches its completed stage is top-tier.”
At those words, the students murmured.
‘Literally, it's the strongest magic that symbolizes himself.’
“Ugh! He’s annoying but cool! Which makes him even more annoying, but still, he’s cool!”
“Just pick one.”
Karl said, folding his arms, and Leo burst out laughing.
Female students gasped in admiration, seeing Avad with his refreshing smile.
Chelsea’s eyes sparkled as she wore an expression that said, "My big brother is the best!"
‘Brother Leo's magic formula is amazing, but my big brother is formidable too! Haa~ Who should I cheer for?’
“Remarkable. As expected of the Lrewalyn family heir.”
“It’s magic befitting the name ‘unique magic,’ which is a summation of an individual wizard’s values, philosophy, aspirations, and goals.”
The graduates praised Avad endlessly.
“Every batch seems to have a monster like this one. Avad Lrewalyn, you get an A+.”
Receiving applause from the graduates, Avad descended from the platform.
“Ugh~ I pity whoever has to present next!”
“Next presenter, Karl Thomas.”
“Huk!”
Karl's face, which had been giggling, turned pale.
The pitiful gazes of several students fell upon him.
Karl, who had gone up to the platform like livestock being led to a slaughterhouse, returned to his seat in a predictably miserable state.
Karl, with an expression as if his soul had left him, received comfort from the surrounding students.
In the meantime, Chelsea’s presentation also took place.
While Avad presented magic with absolute destructive power as his original magic, Chelsea chose field magic that could exert influence over the surrounding area with wind as her original.
“Remarkable, isn’t it?”
“Even though she’s a Lrewalyn, it’s hard to believe she’s only fourteen. A!”
“Thank you.”
Chelsea smiled brightly, bowed her head, and descended from the platform.
With Chelsea’s presentation, only two presenters remained.
“Next presenter, Leo Flobe.”
Clatter-
At those words, Leo rose from his seat.
All students’ gazes turned towards Leo.
Before ascending the platform, Leo made eye contact with Chloe, who was in the very front.
He smiled and waved his hand, but Chloe merely gazed at Leo.
Leo, wearing a slightly embarrassed expression, stood in the center of the platform.
“The unique magic I prepared is an attribute-less magic formula system.”
“Attribute-less magic formula system? What is that?”
Rilda adjusted her glasses and asked.
Because it was a concept she had never heard of before.
“It’s simple. All existing magic formulas have attribute manifestation formulas, don’t they?”
“Of course. It’s the minimum requirement to activate any magic, isn’t it?”
Shin Huz immediately replied as if asking why he was stating the obvious.
At those words, Leo smiled.
“A magic formula system that can be compatible with all attribute manifestation formulas is my unique magic.”
“What?”
“What nonsense is that?”
The three people in charge of judging showed shocked expressions, and the students wore dumbfounded expressions.
Professor Ren stared at Leo with wide eyes.
“Leo Flobe. So, what you’re saying is… you’re going to create a new magic formula system?”
When Eidman asked for confirmation, Leo shrugged and replied.
“Yes.”
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