Book 1 Chapter 16

Episode 15

Yonbatrikibre.

- The rune of Yoon (蝡) has been redefined with the theory of matrix mechanics and modified to Yoon (蜦).

Rudien's fourth function.

In addition to detecting magic that can be acquired from the surroundings, it also summarizes the research conducted today.

Socrafres.

- You can inherit the progress of 'unique magic' research from the surrounding environment.

- Progress: 37.1%.

Look at this.

The progress has increased by 0.1%? But the problem is the criteria for this progress.

Does it mean the mathematical theory has been definitively completed, or that the runes have become more sophisticated? Or does the process of training like this have meaning…?

'There's no need to rack my brain thinking about it.'

Because there's plenty of time. And I raised it by 0.1% this morning.

As I closed my notebook with a smile, I heard the sound of an unfamiliar gust of wind slicing through the air.

When I looked to see what it was, I saw a familiar back.

'That rookie from the Rohwinum school.'

Every time a fan-shaped magic circle shattered in Wiber's hand, blades of wind shrieked chillingly as they flew, tearing apart the targets darting about.

'Not bad skill. It's decent skill, but…'

Both this guy and that guy, why do they all look like using magic is so painful and annoying?

Why, seriously?

Unable to understand, I just shrugged my shoulders and turned away. It was time to go back to the dormitory and prepare for school.

* * *

[The procedures necessary to cast magic are largely divided into three categories.

1. Setting the magic circle.

2. Granting runes.

3. Calculating mathematical formulas.

Anyone who knows the basics of magic can perform steps 1 and 2, but the problem magicians face lies in step 3.

Magic refers to interpreting the equations that constitute the world, that is, providence, and then displacing those equations in a different way (of course, without causing errors in providence) to perform miracles.

The process of step 3 can be enumerated in detail as follows:

3.1 Setting coordinates for casting magic and calculating formulas.

3.2 Solving coordinate equations.

3.3 Inputting alternative equations after solving the providence equations existing on the coordinates.

If even a single calculation in these equations is mistaken, or if the mathematical formula used is incorrect and yields imaginary roots, a catastrophe often occurs.

For example, fire magic might engulf the caster themselves, land at the wrong coordinates might sink, or summoned beasts might not obey control…

Therefore, the Archmage Rin established a mathematical formula called 'Rin's Discriminant' to quickly distinguish between real and imaginary roots.

Let's calculate the quadratic equation ax²+bx+c=0 (where a, b, c are real numbers) in terms of x, based on the premise that D=b²-4ac.

If D>0, real roots.

If D=0, multiple roots (when real roots are identical).

If D<0, imaginary roots.

This formula is extremely simple, easy, and perfectly distinguishes between real and imaginary roots, so it was immediately adopted as an essential formula by the Magic Alliance…]

A week had passed since entering university. The third-period class was on quadratic equations and discriminants.

He had never imagined his name would appear in a textbook, so he let out a wry laugh, but…

"From now on, I'll give you five examples using 'Rin's Discriminant,' so solve them within 10 minutes!"

"Yes."

"Even though your brain capacity is smaller than a monkey's testicles, 10 minutes should be enough, right? Archmage Rin made this formula so easy for blockheads like you?"

While inwardly applauding Professor Owen's rhetorical skills specialized in insulting humans, Rein had to furrow his brows in deep doubt.

'Who is it?'

Rin had always been on the battlefield, so there was no opportunity to make such formulas known to the public. It would be different if she had returned alive with her comrades, but…

'Rista, Kiesz, and Friede only knew addition and subtraction in math, and I never taught them my formulas.'

But weren't several formulas created by Rin already commercialized in the Imperial magic system? If not those three, then who on earth?

He knew that the Osarius school had organized and published this, but who conveyed this knowledge to the school in the first place?

Wait, there was one suspect. A vexing little brat who called himself her top disciple and persistently followed her around…

'Tureina.'

Could it have been that kid?

When I go to the library, I should investigate that kid's life too. If any records remain, that is.

'Could it also be that kid who sent me the diary?'

There was no possibility of that, so he shook his head to clear away the stray thought. It was already an era 300 years in the future. Everything he knew had become a legend of the past, buried.

Since it was a formula he had created, it took less than 30 seconds to solve the five problems. They were all standardized problems designed to make the formula easy to grasp.

Just then, Kristal nudged his arm with her elbow from the seat next to him.

"This."

"You want me to teach you? Give it here."

"What would I learn from you? I'm Krista, a genius of the century. A genius among geniuses, equal to or greater than you."

When Owen glared their way, she immediately lowered her head deeply, then handed something over with fidgeting hands. It was a luxurious wooden box.

"What is this?"

"Cookies."

"Cookies?"

"Why are you glancing? Don't men like this kind of thing?"

"???"

"I had some time left over from magic training, so I tried making them. I originally bought a popular one from the cafeteria, but I gave that to someone else."

He tilted his head, opened the wooden box, and then immediately slammed it shut. Cold sweat ran down, and his fingers trembled with chills.

Hell was inside.

A feast of hell… charred black by hellfire, making its form barely recognizable.

"Is this, by any chance, made of mud? Assassin's mud cookies?"

"What?"

"Or perhaps laced with deadly poison…"

Had he ever seen such a devilish woman?

To make poison cookies just because she was a little displeased…

As his body trembled, he heard students whispering.

"To find imaginary roots this easily, wasn't Rin actually a god?"

No.

She was a human being.

"Or an angel descended from heaven?"

She was human.

"Or the reincarnation of a great sage?"

Stop it, please!

He was so embarrassed that his face actually flushed hot.

But there was someone who interpreted it differently, and that was Krista.

'What? To blush so red over such a small gift, he pretends to be an adult but has an innocent side?'

A few minutes later, Owen began his detailed explanation of the examples on the blackboard, initiating countless personal insults, and the bell rang just as thoughts of suicide began to surface.

"Wow, that was super hard."

"My head nearly exploded."

One by one, they groaned, but unlike the last class, they were all smiling broadly. There was no need to ask why.

"Rein, which club are you going to join?"

Because today's fourth-period class was club promotion time, known as the 'flower of <Delaiten>'.

Students went around the clubrooms, looking for a club to join.

"Magic volleyball, of course? Descendants of the magic noble families have a duty to play magic volleyball to uphold their dignity, don't they?"

"Well…"

"Well?"

A club, huh. Would there be something like a book club?

Rather than rubbing shoulders with others, I just wanted to read books in the library.

Quietly, and lost in thought. I wanted to immerse myself in a sea of books.

"I haven't decided yet. I'm going to look around a bit."

He truly, genuinely intended to just look around.

Seriously.

He had no intention whatsoever of having a magic duel with a disciple of the Eight Great Schools, but…

* * *

<Delaiten> was said to have a club (同好會) system to promote interaction and competition among students.

For quick understanding, let's start with three examples:

1. Combat Magic Club.

2. Fire Attribute Magic Club.

3. Festival Magic Club.

Clubs are formed when students with the same goals and motivations gather, and once an advisory professor or instructor is found and approval is received, they are recognized as official clubs and even receive activity support funds.

"There are more decent places than I thought."

Looking at the club promotion posters decorating the stalls in front of the main school building, quite a few interesting places caught his eye.

▶Adventure Magic Club:

1. In cooperation with the Adventurers' Guild (Alliance) Southern District, after basic education is completed, members can actually cooperate with adventurers on missions.

2. Even opportunities to receive advice from seniors who have actually become adventurers!

3. It's more fun to live freely than to confine one's life to a magic tower!

Oh, adventurers?

It looked fun at a glance, and apparently, it was one of the most popular clubs, with overflowing student applications and fierce competition every year.

"Didn't you hear anything from Duke Ludwig? Descendants of the magic noble families must join this one!"

Of course, he didn't have the leisure to quietly look at the clubs, and that was because of Krista Warden, who was stuck to him like a burr.

"That won't be a problem."

"Why?"

"My father won't care where I join."

"That can't be."

As he replied nonchalantly and tried to turn his attention back to the poster, Gertrude Fenton spoke up next to Krista.

"The Magic Volleyball Club is a Royal Club. It's a place you must join for the glory of the magic noble families. You could even consider it a duty."

"A duty?"

"When Sir Kayvon Ludwig and Lady Madelia Page were both members of the Magic Volleyball Club, it was called the golden age of <Delaiten>. They won championship after championship as super aces."

Most subjects only had one club, but the Magic Volleyball Club, known as the Royal Club, was an exception.

This game, playing volleyball with magic balls (魔法毬), was an entertainment that only those with overwhelming talent in magic could enjoy.

To set up (Set-up), spike (Spike), or receive (receive) a magic ball, one had to not only dive like in volleyball each time but also perform magic calculations mentally.

Traditionally, there was one club from the Magic Noble Families, one from the Eight Great Schools, and two from the mid-tier and minor schools.

'A duty…'

Being born a noble didn't seem to be all good. Duties seemed to follow him like shackles no matter what he did.

"The Sculpture Magic Club looks more interesting than that, and this is the Local Development Magic Club? Oh, what's this?"

He remembered something Rista had said once, sitting next to him while he was reading a book on guard duty somewhere in the desert when the chill of night had fallen.

- When the world becomes peaceful, people will be able to do what they want, even if just a little. Right now, many people are clinging to survival…

Indeed, in that era, magic itself was focused solely on combat, so the diversity of academia was hard to find.

Even before the long summer began, that is, since his childhood, a strange sense of war had been brewing in the world because of the Black Church.

At the time, he hadn't reacted much to Rista's words and was just turning the pages of his book, but then he remembered Rista suddenly placing her hand on his head and saying:

- Later, in the world where Rin has grown up, there will be abundant forms of life. I hope Rin protects those lives.

Protects what? It seems to have been doing just fine for 300 years without me…

He touched the crown of his head where Rista's hand had rested back then, but he could no longer feel the inexplicable warmth Rista possessed.

He smiled wryly, turning away from the desert of the past, from the stalls, when a perplexed voice came from behind him.

"…You did hear me, didn't you, Young Master? Where are you going?"

"I'm going to check out the Local Development Magic Club."

Staring at the back of the boy who waved and walked away, Gertrude, bewildered, let out a gasp.

'He couldn't possibly not know that magic volleyball is an essential virtue even in social gatherings among high-ranking magicians.'

Is he doing that because he's not confident?

It's true that magic volleyball requires overwhelming talent… but it makes no sense for a descendant of a prestigious family not to join.

'The glory of the Ludwig family, which has competed neck and neck with the Page family, the leading magic noble family, for 100 years, might end with Rein's generation.'

As this realization dawned on her, a triumphant smile spread across Gertrude's lips.

'The Page family's eldest daughter disappeared after a certain incident. And the downfall of Ludwig… Now Lady Krista will usher in the era of the Wardens.'

And the moment she turned to look at her proud master, Krista.

Gertrude blinked.

She wasn't there.

Where had the young lady disappeared to? Surely, no, surely not, following Rein?