11 – Change – 5

 

Only then did I realize what I had been doing. While all the other students were gazing at the luminescing blue magic circle, I was the only one emitting a purple spark.

 

That’s why I was the center of attention.

 

Not only the professor but also the other students in the classroom, even Aria was no exception. They were all watching my magic implement emit purple sparks.

 

……

 

Realizing that the magic circles of the two worlds were almost identical and being surprised about it, I fail to notice the scrutinizing gazes. It was my oversight. While I was looking for an excuse, the professor looked into the magic circle.

 

“So, you combined a thunderstrike magic into the space where the mana flows.”

 

“Huh? Oh, yes. That’s correct.”

 

Truly, the professor lived up to his title. Internally admiring his ability to pinpoint what I tweaked and how, in the complicated structure of the magic circle so quickly.

 

The lady professor stared at the magic implement for some time before opening her mouth.

 

“Can you explain?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I asked if you can explain the changes you made to the magic circle.”

 

“I mean, I could, of course, but…”

 

I trailed off as I glanced around nervously. The professor, catching onto my meaning, picked up her wand.

 

“I understand. It can be difficult with so many others listening.”

 

The tip of the staff lightly tapped the floor. A semi-transparent barrier sprung up like a soap bubble, enclosing the professor and me. The whispers that had been filling the room abruptly vanished. Ariya was looking at the barrier in awe from beside us.

 

“Did you get it?”

 

“Yes. Where would you like me to begin explaining?”

 

“Everything. From how you came up with this idea to how this magic circle works.”

 

His voice seemed a bit more urgent than before.

 

“First of all, if you examine this magic circle, you will notice that there is a gap at intervals. Here, here, and here. On the contrary, there is no empty space on the other side. This is where I inserted the thunderbolt magic circle.”

 

The professor, who had been closely listening with narrowed eyes, wore a dumbfounded expression.

 

“This empty space constitutes the gap?”

 

“Isn’t it?”

 

Even in response to my question, the professor, who had remained silent for quite a while, slightly furrowed his brows and then vigorously shook his head.

 

“It’s nothing, forget my earlier reaction. I understood, so keep on explaining.”

 

“There isn’t much more to explain. Just like filling the empty spaces on a circuit board, the magic circles to be operated together are drawn into the vacant sections. The mana then flows along the circuit, activating simultaneously.”

 

Even though this magic circle seemed to be completely packed with formulas, it wasn’t necessarily the case. I had left certain sections empty so the mana could flow smoothly.

 

What I did was fill these empty parts with other magic circles. This way, when mana circulates, the magic circles placed in the gaps will automatically activate as well.

 

“…Do you realize how unimaginable what you just accomplished is?”

 

Of course, the process isn’t this simple – any slight mishap could spell disaster as the entire magic circle would go haywire. If that happens, the mana could either backfire or explode from within, destroying the user’s mana circuit. Those grim possibilities were what the professor was getting at, and considering he knew them better than anyone else, he was looking at me like I was insane for actually making it work.

 

“I understand.”

 

“…”

 

Silence followed. Even after I finished my explanation, the professor didn’t say anything for a long time, and just alternated his gaze between my glowing purple magic tool and me.

 

Then, he finally sighed heavily and cancelled the barrier.

 

“Mira Crate.”

 

“Yes, professor.”

 

“Did you have any knowledge about the wide-area annihilation magic before my lecture?”

 

“No.”

 

Although I had experienced similar things endlessly in the previous world, and improved upon this magic based on those experiences, revealing this fact would mean disclosing that I am a reincarnator, which is irrelevant.

 

I had to lie, it’s definitely better than directly admitting I’m a reincarnator.

 

“I see…”

 

The professor opened his mouth again while tapping his foot, balancing on it with his arms crossed.

 

“I don’t know why you registered for this lecture. But if you can perfectly understand a wide-area annihilation magic circle at first glance, and even have the ability to adapt it, there’s no need for you to be here.”

 

Amidst the new whispers that flooded the room, the professor took my magic tool.

 

“This is a task only for you, Mira Crate.”

 

When the magic tool was returned to me, there were four reduced wide-area annihilation magic circles floating above it.

 

“Those are what I planned to teach this semester. Improve them as you did just now. It doesn’t matter what magic you mix in, just produce a convincing result. You have one month.”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, the professor’s stern face softened again.

 

“If you can do it, you will receive full marks, regardless of attendance, midterms, and final exams.”

 

The murmurs grew even louder at this huge concession. The people whose perception of me had changed over the past week were shocked. Even the few guys who still looked down on me were speechless.

 

“Return your focus. This does not concern those of you fussing over a single magic circle. Stop wasting my energy.”

 

The professor, swinging his staff and demanding silence, turned his back towards the class after finishing his speech. But everyone, pretending to concentrate on their magic tools, kept stealing glances at me.

 

“How did you do it just now?”

 

Aria too, was the same.

 

$ Combining other magic with annihilation magic was deemed impossible more than a decade ago. Are you saying that isn’t the case?$

 

$ ……What are you talking about?$

 

Having finished all her afternoon lectures, Ingrid, finally able to enjoy some time to herself, casually scanned the many magical devices stacked high on her personal chamber’s sofa.

 

From noble mtl dot com

 

Barely a second was spent on each magical device: a quick once-over.

 

From the perspective of a practitioner of Ingrid’s caliber, it was possible to gauge the rough value of a magic circle at a glance. Not to mention, these were magic circles tampered with by struggling students, so it went without saying.

 

‘Seems like all of them have no idea where to start.’

 

They floundered, unknowingly focusing on the wrong areas, and there were even some who only managed to change a few circuits altogether.

 

She wasn’t surprised. After all, the magic circles for annihilation magic were nothing like ordinary magic.

 

If we were to set the difficulty of regular high-level magic at one, then annihilation magic would be about two to three times more challenging even at the lowest level. So, talk about the highest level was nonesense.

 

Still, having attempted to analyze a magic circle they hadn’t seen before revealed their potential.

 

‘… Is this the last one?’

 

Ingrid, finished checking the projects and guesstimating the level of the next lecture, picked up the magical device she’d purposely left aside at the very bottom, a slight tremor in her heart as she did so.

 

If she saw it first, she felt she wouldn’t be able to evaluate the other students objectively.

 

Her concern proved right. The moment she checked the result, all other thoughts were cast aside.

 

‘Surely it didn’t take more than three hours.’

 

Ingrid smirked as she studied the magic circle.

 

The assignment had been given a full month’s duration. Yet, she saw the student diligently writing something during the lecture time and hand in his work along with the others at the end. However, there was nothing really to criticize about his work.

 

‘The concept was theoretically established…’

 

Nobody wanted to research it. About a decade ago, one of the top three magicians at the empire had been killed by a mana backlash while researching it.

 

It was disguised as impossible to the public due to the dismal death of the grand magician. Being a colleague of the deceased, Ingrid was well aware of the actual reason.

 

‘If well-improved, it could even be used in practice… No, it’s already sufficient.’

 

What shocked her further was that it had the potential to be implemented in real battle. It could be used on the frontlines as it is now.

 

The structure was so efficient, it felt as if it had been already tested in real combat.

 

‘It’s too precious to keep to myself.’

 

This was a concept that couldn’t be kept to oneself. Ingrid wished to publicize it, somehow. With this improved method, they could push back the demons more efficiently than ever.

 

The textbook of annihilation magic would certainly need to be rewritten from scratch.

 

‘…but before that, I should get permission.’

 

But before doing that, she needed to get permission. This was a result thought up by a student, not something Ingrid came up with. She didn’t have the slightest intention of stealing it.

 

$He has been the top student for three years straight, right…$

 

Ingrid chuckled to herself.

 

That student surely had a promising future ahead. Even before he graduated, several magical towers would be eager to bring him on board. Ingrid herself was considering personally backing him.

 

With a recommendation from a Grand Magician in service, he could even bust open the doors of the royal palace’s magic tower.

 

$His confidence wasn’t misplaced after all.$

 

And he expressed the same opinion as Professor Jake, who told him not to compare himself to such brain muscles and got upset if he did.

 

$You can do it like the way the professor did.$

 

$…What did you say?$

 

The paper cup in Ingrid’s hand dropped weakly. Fortunately, it had been emptied long ago, so it didn’t cause a mess on the paperwork laid out on the floor.

 

The professor couldn’t think to pick up the cup and hurriedly approached me.

 

$Do, do you know what you just said?$

 

“Yes, I am aware. I have my plan all thought out. You can say that my project offered a bit of inspiration, but ultimately, it was you, Professor, who completed it. It doesn’t feel right to claim that I fully developed it as there are students who experienced it in your lecture.”

 

“Why so?”

 

A baffled expression was etched on Ingrid’s face.

 

‘Well, it technically wasn’t mine to begin with.’

 

Someone else in that distant world had thought of this method, owing his downfall to a circuit location he ambiguously set, causing him to self-destruct due to mana backflow.

 

Furthermore, I had no intention of parading around bragging as if I’ve achieved something immense by fortuitously correlating this world’s magic circle. Ingrid being the only one informed of the truth, was sufficient.

 

“Wouldn’t such a wealth and honor that you could never imagine come along if you just announced it?”

 

“I’m quite intrigued to know how much money the youngest son of the Crate family could possibly not imagine. What could the amount be?”

 

“…”

 

Ingrid fell silent, apparently realizing how absurd his words sounded. A cough implying embarrassment could be heard.

 

“I must have misspoke. May I perhaps know the reason then?”

 

“I am averse to getting involved with the Mage Association.”

 

“Ah…”

 

There was an excellent excuse: the Mage Association. As soon as I mentioned my reluctance to be involved with the Mage Association, Ingrid conceded with a sigh that was barely audible. He seemed to be well cognizant of the infamy of the Mage Association.

 

“If that’s the case, it can’t be helped. Understood. However, to do so, there will be a corresponding price to pay, but I do not particularly have……”

 

“There’s one favor I’d like you to grant me.”

 

“Would that be enough? If you need more—”

 

“Someday, I might come to you with an outrageous request.”

 

I began to bring up the favor I’ve been contemplating. Upon realizing this, Ingrid stopped talking.

 

“When that time comes, don’t say anything, just follow my request. That’s it.”

 

“…”

 

Ingrid, chewing thoughtfully at my request, locked eyes with me while tapping his index finger lightly.

 

“It won’t be something like violating the Empire’s laws or seriously breaching Belrium Academy’s rules, would it?”

 

“Absolutely not. It is just likely to be a request that might not be comprehensible from a normal mindset.”

 

“I know I said it, but this already starts to make me worried. Okay, I will surely keep that in mind.”

 

Ingrid, letting out a deep sigh, reluctantly nodded.

 

‘That should suffice for now.’

 

With this, at least the minimum of contingency has been established.

 

The rest would be determined as I see how events play out, but at least there would be no circumstances involving the Academy going halfway bust.