Book 1 Chapter 85

【85】84.

As the students wore bewildered expressions at Albi's sudden appearance, Toura, who had descended from the magic carpet, bowed politely.

"Hello, Professor Albi."

"What are you doing?"

"My cute juniors were entertaining me, their senior."

'You were making us run errands after paying us for them!'

The first-years silently screamed in their minds.

Of course, no student had the courage to voice it out loud.

Albi looked at the messy training ground with an expressionless face, then waved a hand.

The magic that spread from his fingertips instantly restored the training ground, which had been messed up by Toura's commands, to its original state.

The students looked on in wonder.

'Temporal Reversal Magic!'

This magic reverses the time of objects, a highly difficult spell involving the concept of time intrusion.

And he used it without chanting.

"Everyone, gather."

At Albi's words, the first-years quickly gathered.

Toura sat under the parasol that Kal had given him.

Since he was there to assist with the class, he didn't feel the need to join them.

"My name is Albi Zerion."

At Albi's brief introduction, the students tensed up.

'Why is he here? Did he just happen to pass by?'

'Perhaps he came here to test a new spell? That would be incredibly lucky.'

Normally, when a professor appeared in a lecture hall, students would expect a class, but none of the first-years expected Albi to teach them.

This was because Albi was famous for not teaching classes.

His becoming a professor was solely due to the privileges held by Professor Lumern.

He was a professor who was rarely at school because he was busy subduing Tartaros.

In fact, even though he had been a Lumern professor for a long time, he had never lectured once.

It was a moment when everyone's eyes sparkled with anticipation, hoping to see the magic of Albi, renowned as a hero.

"Starting today, at Professor Len's request, I will be assisting with your classes."

"……?"

The students couldn't comprehend Albi's words, which they hadn't expected at all.

At that moment, Toura Yan, who had been under the parasol, rushed over.

"Wait a minute. Professor Albi is going to lecture?"

"Is there a problem, Toura Yan?"

"There's no problem, but you didn't give us a special lecture, including me and my juniors, even after we requested it several times!"

Albi was a mage who wielded fairy magic in a human body.

He was a rare mage, arguably the only one among humans.

That's why every magic student wanted to attend Albi's lectures.

Toura had also consistently requested Albi's lectures in suggestions since his first year.

He had asked for a special lecture if not a regular one.

When his requests were not accepted, he had even been chased out after frequenting the magic department office every day.

He had even been disciplined for attempting to use student council power after becoming vice-president.

And now, he was going to give a lecture to the first-years, a lecture he couldn't attend despite all that effort.

"I was busy."

"……"

At that brief remark, Toura clenched his fists.

At that moment, Professor Len and Associate Professor Anna entered the magic training ground.

"Senior, you're here."

Len greeted Albi respectfully.

Seeing this, the students once again felt Albi's prestige.

Despite his youth, Len was a mage with immense influence not only in the Lumern Magic Department but also in the entire magic world.

He was only interested in magic research and was not registered in the Hero Record, but his skill was comparable to that of combat mages active on the front lines.

The only professors Len treated with such respect, besides Albi, were Sedgen of Class 1-1 and Harlind of Class 1-5.

"Everyone, listen up! Professor Albi here is someone I specially invited for you first-years! I hope everyone will welcome him with applause!"

At Len's shout, a round of applause erupted from the first-years.

"Toura, why are you sitting among the first-years and clapping? Come forward. You're participating in this class as an assistant, aren't you?"

"Waaah. I'm a freshman first-year. I want to hear Professor Albi's special lecture."

"Associate Professor Anna, pull her out immediately."

Len spoke ruthlessly as if he had expected it, and Anna approached Toura as if accustomed to it.

"Miss Toura. Please come out now."

"No! I want to listen! I want to hear Professor Albi's lecture!"

Toura struggled, but in the end, Anna dragged her forward.

Ignoring Toura, who was pouting, Len said,

"The reason I specially invited Senior Albi today is for magic combat."

At his words, the students looked at each other and murmured.

"The event for the department competition is Battle Royale. In short, it's survival. And mages can be said to be the most disadvantaged class in such a field."

The students of the Magic Department nodded at Professor Len's words.

It was true that mages were at a disadvantage in one-on-one battles with other classes, unless they were battle mages like Chelsea.

"Senior Albi is someone who has crossed numerous front lines alone. As far as I know, there is no one more skilled than Senior Albi when it comes to magic combat. Senior Albi's advice will be of great help to you as you approach the department competition!"

At Len's words, the students exclaimed in admiration and clapped their hands.

"Whatever it is, it's lucky to be able to hear Professor Albi's lecture."

Kal grinned, and Chloe nodded.

"Yeah, I'm excited."

"Toura, as an active dungeon raider on the front lines, will also offer you unsparing advice."

The first-years' eyes sparkled.

Literally, luxurious practical training awaited them starting today.

As Len stepped back, Albi stepped forward.

"What do you think is the most important thing in magic combat?"

At Albi's question, students eagerly raised their hands.

This was an opportunity to make a definite impression on Albi, a hero and a member of the renowned Zerion family.

"You, there, answer."

"I am Emio Luchan of Class 2!"

Emio Luchan, who ranked third in the magic department's midterm exams, stood up from his seat.

"The most important thing for a mage is magical power!"

"Incorrect. Next. You, there."

"Huh?"

As Emio, who had shouted enthusiastically, was flustered, this time Chelsea answered.

"Chanting speed!"

"Incorrect. Next."

Students each presented what they considered important.

But there seemed to be no correct answer in Albi's mind, and no one got it right.

As every answer was declared incorrect, eventually all the first-years hesitated to raise their hands and were busy looking at each other.

Then Toura raised his hand high.

"Me!"

"Down!"

Of course, Professor Len forced her hand down.

When everyone was unable to answer, Leo raised his hand.

"Answer, Leo Flobe."

"Mobility."

"Correct."

"Hmph. I raised my hand first."

"Don't try to compete with the first-years! You're in a teaching position today!"

As Toura grumbled, Professor Len held his forehead.

To Len, the young charismatic teacher, Toura was a troublesome student.

"Professor, I don't understand! While mobility is important, I don't think it's the most crucial factor in magic combat! Moreover, isn't the problem of mobility in magic an overcome field!"

'There's no way I'll fall behind someone who isn't even in the magic department!'

Emio bristled.

"Are you referring to Wing Magic when you say overcoming the mobility problem?"

"That's right!"

Wing Magic.

It was a levitation spell invented 10 years ago.

It was a kind of superior version of the Fly spell, much simpler to learn and allowing for faster movement than the Fly spell, which had been used for a long time.

Its biggest feature was granting flight ability to objects.

The highly versatile Fly spell could also enhance its effect by granting flight ability to objects.

However, its efficiency was inferior when compared to Wing Magic.

Wing Magic significantly contributed to overcoming the relative weakness of mages, mobility, and thus was hailed as the magic of the century.

Albi nodded at Emio's words.

"What's your name?"

"Emio Luce."

"Emio Luce, step forward."

Emio came forward with a puzzled expression.

"Is there anyone among you who doesn't have a Wing Magic exclusive magic tool?"

At that question, the students looked dumbfounded.

For modern mages, Wing Magic is considered an essential spell to learn.

Therefore, a magic tool exclusively for Wing Magic to fly in the sky was indispensable.

Of course, it wasn't a mandatory item for the department, but it was a necessary item as it was frequently used.

It was unbelievable for a magic student not to have it.

But contrary to the students' expectations, two students raised their hands.

It was Leo and Chloe.

Chloe was slightly bowing her head in embarrassment, while Leo was confident.

"Leo Flobe, forward."

As Leo stepped forward, Emio showed hostility.

'Did I do something wrong in my school life?'

Seeing that, Leo let out a hollow laugh inwardly.

"The two of you will now begin an aerial battle."

Albi pointed to the top of the Hero's Tower far in the distance.

"The first one to reach the target point and return wins. Leo Flobe. You'll use this."

Albi pulled out a broom from a subspace.

"Why a broom of all things?"

"It's a magic tool I often use."

Albi answered calmly, looking at Leo who asked with an incredulous expression.

The students looked at Leo with envious faces.

Though it looked like a shabby broom on the outside, it was surely an amazing magic tool since Albi used it.

The students, who had been looking at Leo with envious faces, then wore puzzled expressions.

'But if he's emphasizing the importance of aerial mobility, why a sudden competition?'

However, the expressions of some students changed drastically when they saw the broom.

"That's unbelievable. It's too unfair, isn't it?"

"Why?"

"That's not an aerial magic tool! It's just a cleaning broom!"

"What?"

"This should be fun."

Toura said with a slight smile, and Anna sighed.

"It's fun, but I wonder if it will even be a competition."

Leo and Emio stood at the starting line.

Anna raised her hand.

"Are both students ready?"

As the two nodded, Anna lowered her hand.

"Go!"

"Be my limbs, Wing!"

Emio, who finished chanting in an instant, rode on a board-like magic tool and accelerated rapidly.

'I don't know what kind of magic tool Professor Albi gave Leo, but mine is the best of the best! And I've practiced Wing Magic every single day!'

Emio curled up the corners of his mouth.

'That Leo guy has never come to practice once! This match is my victory!'

It was when Emio, feeling the wind, was convinced of his victory.

Whoosh-!

"……!"

Something incredibly fast instantly caught up beside him.

"What?"

It was none other than Leo.

"Sorry, I'm going ahead!"

"You bastard! As if I'd let you go!"

Emio, whose eyes were sparking with anger, pulled out his staff.

Crackle-!

"Lightning Bolt!"

Leo quickly changed direction and dodged the magic flying from behind him.

"What? Why are you attacking?"

"This isn't just a race, it's an aerial battle! It doesn't matter if I attack my opponent!"

Emio, who had overtaken Leo, scoffed.

At his words, Leo curled up the corners of his mouth.

"Oh? You'll regret it, won't you?"

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