Chapter 46 – Peaceful Midterm Week (3)

Due to the chairman’s hard work and budget issues, I put off getting a sword first and began repairing the store in earnest.
The broken window frame was removed and replaced with a new one, and the floor wood that had marks from the military uniform was also removed.
Broken display items were piled up behind the store to be discarded separately, and bread and reagents that had to be discarded after their expiration date were also removed.

The empty first floor looked quite spacious as all the shelves, bookcases, and display racks had been removed. There were certain things to consider when renovating this place.

Preventing someone from entering when I am away.

At first, we considered classic methods such as traps where thorns pop out when stepped on or boiling oil pouring from above.
But I guess that’s a bit dangerous. It would be a big deal if expensive items broke accidentally.

Of course, the best thing was to surround the entire store with defensive magic. Actually, it’s not that difficult.
Not only the Parenzia Academy but also most noble families and royal families have used all kinds of magic for security.
You can ask the chairman to call a company, or even if you search personally, there will be several places.
The problem is that the level of defensive magic I want is not simply the 〈 barrier 〉 level used in regular buildings.

What happened to the academy, which is equipped with defensive magic and is always guarded by guards?
The dog was stolen by Rochear soldiers. This means that it is of little use in front of a strong wizard.

Since those things were more like buying time anyway, what I wanted was a little more powerful defensive magic.

For example, how to have an advanced defense system such as the 〈 refractive phase 〉 used by Terra, or the 〈 iron dog 〉 of the counterintelligence battalion ‘Goliath’, one of the 12 alliances of the Ravier Mountains. What is missing?

“Excuse me, canteen owner.”

At that time, someone passed by the fallen door and came towards me. Look at that. If a trap had been laid out in front, there would have been one more tombstone in the basement.

“Who are you?”
“Vincent Vanilev. I am in charge of teaching the basics of elemental magic to new students. “There is a record of you teaching classes on my behalf while I was hospitalized.”

Oh, is Adela one of the victims when she was on a salon tour? Seeing that her right hand was still wrapped in a bandage, she must have been seriously injured.
His tone was quite authoritative, but he seemed older than me and I thought it was because he was a nobleman. But it seems like a conventional ship would be better…

“What business do you have?”
“I’m here for the freshmen’s midterm exams. According to the school rules, if a lecture was given by a special guest lecturer, the evaluation must also be done by the lecturer himself.”
“Therefore… “Are you asking me to create test questions?”
“The class wasn’t long, so one problem is enough. “I will submit it as an attachment at the end of the elemental magic test paper.”

Now that I think about it, it seems like it was like that the year before last too… I don’t really remember. But it wasn’t a very difficult request, so I nodded.
This means that all you have to do is create one problem: how to distinguish between doppelgängers.

“All right. “Let’s do that.”
“Is there anything you need?”
“I wish I had an anatomy diagram. “I’m thinking of including picture material.”
“If that’s the case, it’s in the lab, so follow me.”

I paused what I was doing and followed Professor Vincent to the Akasha Pavilion.
The atmosphere at the Academy was certainly very busy at this time of year. Students were seen hurriedly moving from classroom to classroom, or they came to the canteen to get supplies for exams and then left in despair.
As Professor Vincent, who walked half a step ahead of me with long strides, passed by, the students standing in the hallway split to left and right.

No, these bastards were moving so orderly that they ran into the cafeteria like starving wild dogs?
It certainly seems that the status of skilled wizards at the academy is special.

“It’s here. “It won’t take long, right?”
“I’ll bring it to you by tomorrow morning.”
“I won’t be there to supervise the exam, so please leave it in the mailbox in front of the lab.”
“Wouldn’t someone steal it?”
“There is a security spell on it. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

Certainly, professors also prepare in their own way.
I thought about asking him to introduce me to a skilled wizard there, but I quickly decided against it.
He didn’t seem to have any interest in me. He didn’t even ask what class he took in the first place.

Work increased again. As I was returning to the cafeteria with a copy of the human anatomy diagram in my hand, people were lined up on one side of the hallway leading to the classroom.

What, did someone famous come to visit?
As I was passing by, I glanced up and looked inside and saw a familiar face standing on the podium.

“You are the Baron?”

***

Antonio Boledi, a professor from Merak Matap, was one of the people second graders hated the most.
The reason was partly because of his difficult personality, but more than that it was because of his teaching style, which any student would hate.

His evaluation of students in all lectures consisted of 15 group assignments, 15 report submissions, 15 written exams, 15 individual assignments, 15 midterm and final exams, and 10 attendance scores for a total of 100 points.

Even if you sign up for just one course, you will be bombarded with so many vicious assignments and tests that no normal person would be able to maintain their sanity.
Even in the newly opened ‘Exploration of Magical Horizons’ course this semester, each student was given a trial lecture through a midterm exam.
By mobilizing all the magical knowledge you have learned during the semester, you will achieve new achievements that have not been reported in existing academia.
It was a ridiculous order: ‘Would you like to create a magic or law that has never existed before?’

Of course, considering that it was a midterm exam, I said it was okay to present only the basics, but for most students, this exam was a headache.

“Next.”

A sullen student came down from the podium. Looking at Professor Antonio’s distorted expression, the lowest score was confirmed.
While all the students in the classroom were holding their breath, the next person to come out was Liv Labre, a second-year senior.
As she lowered her head under the gaze of many people, Antonio raised her glasses and corrected her evaluation form.

“Sophomore year at the Ministry of Magic, Liv Labre. You are the last. “What is the announcement?”
“This is a theory about implementing imagery magic.”

— Image magic? Did you just say it was a mental image?
— Have you ever heard of such a thing?
– No. It won’t be in the curriculum.
— If I were to be specific, I think it’s the territory of the Pekda Magic Tower. You know, during the Great War…

“Quiet!”

Professor Antonio calmed the students down. And he gave a rough explanation to those who don’t yet know much about imagery magic.

“Image magic means turning the thought itself into magic. The closest way to implement it is the words of the long-extinct dragon race. However, it is still impossible for humans to imitate that method.”

Thoughts are ambiguous until they are organized. The entire process of composing a spell, drawing a magic circle, combining mana and karma, and chanting magic must be thoroughly calculated.

Thoughts cannot be magic. If that were possible, it would mean that we could change the world with just our thoughts.

“But that is just a somewhat exaggerated explanation. If we narrow it down, it is also a type of imagery magic that uses part of the brain as an unconscious computing device. Liv Labre.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Explain here exactly what imagery magic you are talking about.”
“All right.”

Liv took out his staff and slashed at the air.
Then, the realm of one of her three originals, the axis of the earth, ‘Terraius’, and her archduke, ‘Prium Mobile’, developed around her.

There were dozens of magic formulas floating in the air, and although they had a simple structure ranging from 1st to 2nd tier, it was not intended to simply increase output by gathering magic of those tier.

〈Baekmado: Water ⌜Surface⌟〉

With a clear and calm lake floating beneath her feet, Liv rhymed in a clear voice.

“What I mean by implementing imagery magic is removing the visible steps required for traditional magic.”

Numerous magic circles. They lined up and rotated slowly, half submerged under the water.

“There are a total of three spells being cast right now. 〈 Goblin 〉, 〈 Crystallization 〉, and 〈 Cheongpung 〉. It is similar in that it is not a simple first-tier system, but is a technique that transforms the unity of the original form, the homogeneity of the blue color, and a palindrome structure.”

In other words, the three magics have almost identical structural properties, ensuring stability in the combination and transformation of the magic.

“Rotation adds inertia. The contact area where the magic circle meets like a sawtooth maintains the output. “Because half of it is visible above the water, the other half is invisible to our eyes.”
“But it’s probably still working.”
“Yes. So that–.”

Widely!

Liv slammed her wand into her palm. A small vibration echoed from the surface of the water.

“Just now, I forcibly cut off the magic beneath the surface.”

If a round circle is cut in half, due to the slowly rotating nature of the magic circle, the part that has become a semicircle should be immediately exposed to the surface of the water.
No, since half of the magic was forced out in the first place, the magic must run out or be cancelled.

However, the dozens of blue magic circles spinning beneath Liv’s feet remained as stable as before.

“You used the reflected light from the water’s surface as a replacement for the other half. “It’s usually a method used to amplify the power of magic.”
“You’re right.”

Mirror one magic circle and expand it into two. It was part of 〈 Magic Amplification 〉 that I have been learning since second grade.
However, that only applies when projecting a completed magic circle. Increasing the incomplete form of the magic circle by two is of no help.

Although his skills are impressive up to this point, Liv is finally ready to show off his theory.

〈Dark Magic: Haze ⌜Black Mist⌟〉

Her black mist surrounds the platform she stands on. The blue light beneath the magic circle flickers through the smoke.
As if it were the finale of a performance, everyone inside and outside the classroom paid attention to Liv’s words coming from the darkness.

“Now, we release 〈Surface〉.”

– What?
— Breaking the magic?

“I don’t break it. Half of the magic that has been reflected on the surface of the water so far never existed in the first place and is now hidden from the eyes of all observers. “I am closing my eyes now, and I completely understand and explained the operating principle of the technique I put together.”

So, this is my image——

The moment those words came out, Professor Antonio’s eyes opened wide.

The magic that actually works was split in half and inverted into reality and half into virtual space.
Afterwards, he blocked the view of all other spectators and turned it into an ‘unobservable area of ​​disorder’ just like his image.

Magic is customizing the world according to one’s will.

Liv Labre has created a small world that is invisible but definitely exists by mixing reality and unreality.

The scales of fate are pointing exactly at zero. There is now only one weight left that can determine the success or failure of magic.
And finally——

“I have no doubt that this spell will succeed.”

The image of faith was placed on either side.

***

Paaaaang——!!

As the smoke cleared, a beautiful will-o’-the-wisp flame crystallized and spread out on the blue wind.
People looked mesmerized at Liv, who quietly opened her eyes in a dark blue haze.

It was the same for me too. I knew Liv was smart, but I had no idea he would be this great.
Her finale, with the stage lights and her sparkling powder surrounding her, was such a beautiful sight that she applauded in unison.

“That’s great.”

Professor Antonio began his remarks by writing down the evaluation sheet. However, his expression did not seem very bright.

“It’s not intuitive and the design is excessive, but the implementation of imagery magic has been done in a standard way. “I had no idea that I would see such a highly complete theory in just the midterm evaluation.”
“Thank you.”
“There is nothing much to point out here, but since you will continue to deal with this topic, let me just say two things.”

The bell rang and people started to leave. I went into the back of the quiet classroom and listened to the conversation between Liv and Antonio.

“First of all, as you know, imagery magic is about subtraction, not addition. What you see now is that the results are great, but the process is overly complicated. At least you shouldn’t have either Prium Mobile or Terraria. Because the realm of imagery is unnecessary.”
“All right.”
“And one more.”

He sighed softly, took out his handkerchief and wiped his glasses. The expression he made under his white beard was hard to see from this side.

“Image magic is dangerous, so don’t get too carried away with it.”
“Yes?”
“If you get too caught up in the magic of turning imagination into reality, one day you will be eaten by fantasy. Have deep interactions with other people. “Only then will you be able to hold yourself in reality.”
“…”
“In the Great War, Fenheim lost two archdukes. Her death has been confirmed by Lord Ice and Snow of Rochear, and his daughter has stepped forward as her successor, but the body of the remaining one has not yet been found.”

A master of imagery magic. One of the five princes of Penheim, the Duke of Illusion.
The supreme wizard who crossed the border between reality and fantasy went missing during the war.
Most people thought that she had either been defeated while fighting her demons, or that she had died because she was caught by an illusion of her that she had created.
The professor was also warning Liv about it.

“Oh, boss?”
“I enjoyed the lecture. “You’re amazing, right?”

Liv, who was leaving the classroom, ran into me. When I praised her, her cheeks turned red and she hesitated, then turned her head.

“She is not particularly happy to be praised by her boss.”

You look very happy. Wizards are inherently proud of the magic they create.
Even Tera, when I told her she was doing well and that she was doing well, the corners of her mouth went up. Should I say Liv?
I’m not sure how great the magic she used, but she must have put a lot of effort into it.

“No, it was really great. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life?”
“Do not lie.”
“Hey~ If you’re as good as Baron Greenwood, what kind of magic is that? Are you just writing something like that?”
“It’s still in the practice stage. Probably until the first semester…”
“Can that be applied to any magic? For example, defensive magic.”
“In theory. But you have to do a little more research…”
“Then would you like to show me again later?”
“Again, again?”
“Yes. “Just the two of us this time.”
“Two, two!? If you say so…”

As compliment after compliment continued, Liv’s head slowly lowered. I continued to encourage her, saying it was right, and eventually got her to promise to come to her store later.

“See you next time, Baron.”
“Yes. The boss too…”

Okay, I spent an hour with this.
Why is there a need to go around looking for people? There was a smart wizard right next to me who even the professor was so shocked that he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

‘When I come to the store later, I’ll have to ask them to cast some defensive magic with that.’

It seems to be a new magic theory called the invisible hand or something, but it will definitely be more useful than general defensive magic.
Still, just in case, we decided to additionally carry out conventional ships. It’s not because Professor Vincent’s unlucky face comes to mind.
If you think about it a little, you can use both, but wouldn’t it be weirder not to use them?

A more groundbreaking system for erasing intruders. The day is not far when autonomous defense will be introduced in canteens.