Academy’s Genius Mage

“Did you hear he used modified magic at the training ground?”

“At least a thousand, maybe he could surpass Zickhardt if it comes out intensely.”

“Crazy! Do you think surpassing a thousand is that easy?”

“But I heard it was powerful enough to break the walls of the training ground. Doesn’t that suggest he’s reached at least the 3rd Circle?”

“If a firebolt could cause a shockwave…”

Even at the moment when Ian Oracle placed his hand on the orb, the freshmen of the Department of Magic were making guesses about Ian’s abilities.

Not all opinions were favorable, though.

There were quite a few people who looked at Ian with skepticism in their eyes.

“When you step on a worm, it squirms. Isn’t that just the right phrase for this situation?”

A female student with an arrogant expression made a remark. She didn’t like that Ian was receiving too much attention.

She was a student who harbored the dangerous belief that all attention should belong to her.

The name of this thoughtless student was Ophelia, the young lady of Marquis Drias Family.

“Oh, my lady, calling him a worm is too much, don’t you think?”

A princelike male student standing nearby smiled lazily. His gaze towards Ian wasn’t very friendly either.

“Let’s watch calmly. Frowning will give you wrinkles on that pretty forehead of yours.”

“It’s none of your concern.”

“It makes me sad to hear that. My mother likes you a lot, you know. And so do I, of course.”

“Ew! Disgusting! Get away.”

Ophelia coldly brushed off the hand that had sneakily been placed on her shoulder.

His name was Sebastian, the eldest son of the renowned Marquis Kent Family, alongside the Drias Family in the kingdom.

He was also the one who recorded the second-highest score after Zickhardt, who had the highest.

Ophelia maintained the third position.

People say birds of a feather flock together.

Zickhardt, Sebastian, and Ophelia were secretly competing with each other, and they had met once more at the academy.

However, not long ago, rumors spread that the heir of a baronial family, whom they hadn’t paid much attention to, had cast an extraordinary spell.

They wanted to dismiss it as just a rumor, but there were too many witnesses.

“There’s no way that little upstart is going to surpass my score, is there?”

Ophelia bit her nails nervously. Sebastian smirked.

“For a mage from a theoretical family, isn’t it more fitting to just study in the library? Do we really need to worry about something that hasn’t even happened?”

“It would have been better if Helios had crushed him back then.”

“Calm down.”

Although Sebastian tried to soothe her, Ophelia’s eyes were filled with obvious hostility.

“It gives me chills to be studying alongside someone from such a lowly family. Isn’t he an introverted recluse? Isn’t there something mentally wrong with him? If he can’t get along with people, he should quietly stay under house arrest. Why did he enroll just to muddle things up?”

“Haha. He must be quite something to make the great Lady Ophelia this jealous.”

“Who said anything about jealousy!”

“Shh. It’s starting.”

At that moment, Ian closed his eyes and released his magic.

Wooong!

A blue light began to flicker inside the orb. Soon, the orb started filling with blue mana.

‘This is a good opportunity to find out the exact measurement. Let’s do this properly.’

The machine he had measured with Professor Frost before didn’t provide an exact number. This device was said to be precise enough to measure even single-digit mana, so he would be able to verify to some extent immediately.

Ian emptied his mind. He focused so that the circle in his heart could vigorously expel mana by opening all the blood vessels.

But the results came sooner than expected.

Ian’s mana, which had begun to fill the orb, started dispersing quickly.

The students had already figured out the basic principle of the Mana Meter.

One could roughly estimate the mana by observing the mana filling the orb. Yet now, Ian’s mana was not filling the orb but escaping from it.

There was only one meaning behind that.

“What is it?”

“Could it be that it’s already over?”

The murmurs only lasted a moment before the Mana Meter indicated that the measurement was complete. Everyone’s attention turned to the screen.

And everyone was astonished.

“No way!”

“Isn’t the machine broken?”

“Until now, there hasn’t been a single person below 100, right?”

Ian’s mana score was recorded as 77.

In other words, Ian’s recorded mana score was the lowest among the new students at the Department of Magic.

“Ha! 77? That’s not even child’s play. How did such an inferior student get into the academy? So lowly. Just so lowly! They should tell him to transfer to the Department of Natural Sciences!”

Ophelia laughed with ridicule. Sebastian also looked somewhat relieved.

“In any case, isn’t it good that you maintained third place? The Marquis will be very pleased.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? He should only be pleased if I defeat my brother. Would it kill you to yield a little? This was a rare chance to earn some points with father.”

“There will be countless opportunities to earn points in the future, so don’t worry, my lady.”

Ophelia was visibly annoyed by the overly sweet smile.

“Let’s get out of here! I feel like I’m becoming lowly just standing here.”

Unlike the confused freshmen, Ian maintained a calm demeanor. He politely greeted the professor in charge of the measurements.

“Thank you for your efforts.”

“Oh, yes. Ian Oracle. Don’t worry too much about your low score. If you train diligently, you’ll achieve good results.”

“Thank you for your words.”

Ian’s expression and stride were more confident than anyone’s.

To someone unaware of the situation, it might have seemed like he had scored the highest.

Ian approached the two roommates who awaited him.

“Do you believe me now? That I’m a 1-circle mage.”

“Sigh…”

Milo hesitated to reply.

It was hard to dismiss it as nonsense, given that there were no issues with the measurement, but the magic he had witnessed from Ian was too powerful to just comfort him over the results.

“What on earth was the magic I saw?”

“If you’re curious, why don’t you take a hit next time? It might just be flashy on the outside. You’ll get your answer by how much it hurts.”

“Talk some sense!”

Ian chuckled and turned his head.

Just then, he saw Sebastian and Ophelia leaving the auditorium.

He also turned to observe the reactions of his fellow students.

They all had puzzled expressions.

However, the looks that once disregarded those with low scores were missing. There was a cautious atmosphere among them.

‘Is this a success, then?’

He felt grateful towards Professor Frost. If it hadn’t been for his advice, he might have left the auditorium feeling dispirited.

“Let’s go too. We need to eat and prepare for class.”

“Where should we eat?”

“A quick bite at the salon? We can have a cup of tea since it’s been a while.”

“Oh~ sounds good! You’re treating us, Ian?”

“The hyung should treat us.”

“Hyung?”

Edel asked, puzzled. Ian put his arm around Milo’s shoulder.

“The one with the highest mana score is hyung. Treat us to commemorate.”

“What do you mean the highest? There are four or five people ahead of me.”

“In room 307 of the dormitory, you are.”

“I’d rather be the tail of a dragon… forget it! Let’s go, let’s go! This is disgraceful!”

Milo felt like he had been helping others for days, but he brushed it off as just a feeling.

The three individuals exited the auditorium.

There was a noble presence that had been observing this scene all along.

“I am quite disappointed. I was anxiously waiting, worrying he might forgo admission, but this is the outcome.”

It was not only the academy students who were anticipating Ian’s mana measurement results. The professors on the podium were also interested in Ian’s mana.

Among those most intrigued was Dean Jessica.

She was particularly one of the few mages eagerly awaiting Ian’s admission.

“What is going on here? Professor Frost. I demand an explanation.”

The reprimand was cast in an unexpected direction.

Professor Frost pulled out a soft cloth from his pocket and wiped his glasses.

“Just because someone’s mana is strong doesn’t mean they are a great mage. There can be achievements as long as one doesn’t neglect study and practice.”

“I heard Ian, along with young Isera, discovered a new formula for Lightning Spell. They’re even submitting a paper. Yet the magic level was just 77? This isn’t just any magic, changing the basic formula means something significant, doesn’t it?”

In a word, it was a revolution against the existing system of knowledge.

If Ian and Isera’s paper passed, it would create a significant stir.

“The paper has only been submitted, not yet approved. You talk as though it has already been passed. Have you read it?”

“You know Isera isn’t one to exaggerate.”

“If you think the results are strange, why not measure again?”

“The device has no issues. If there were any, it would have been flagged first.”

Professor Frost smiled charmingly as he put his glasses back on.

Dean Jessica had long disliked that overly relaxed expression.

“By finding an efficient formula, you can execute powerful magic with less power. It’s not an odd concept. It’s surprising to hear such a remark from you, who knows this well.”

“This efficiency nonsense. Efficiency! I am really sick of it! Are all theoretical mages as inflexible as you?”

“That’s a prejudice.”

Professor Frost replied lightly as he descended from the platform.

Fellow professors flinched and checked Dean Jessica’s reaction.

Though the two were similar in age, Frost was considerably lower in rank. Yet, he could be so confident.

“We should avoid presenting any requests for approval to the Dean for a while.”

“Professor Frost certainly has some tenacity. To handle the fiery Dean like that.”

“It must be due to their old ties.”

The other professors, wary, shared their thoughts cautiously.

In reality, the two had graduated together from the Royal Academy’s Department of Magic.

While Jessica made a name for herself in the world, Frost focused on studying at the Great Library. Their paths were completely different.

By the time they met again at the academy after many years, their statuses had changed significantly.

Frost had just become a professor from an instructor, whereas Jessica was a dean-level professor. The titles reflected as much; Frost was a baronet with no benefice, and Jessica was a countess with one.

The presence or absence of benefice made a significant difference.

It determined whether wealth could be accumulated across generations.

Despite this, Frost was always leisurely and uncompromising in his opinions, making him a very challenging professor from Dean Jessica’s perspective.

“Where are you going?”

“The event is over, so I need to leave. I must also prepare for my afternoon lecture.”

Professor Frost made a dismissive comment and began to walk away again. Dean Jessica frowned as she trailed behind Frost.

“Won’t those who were waiting for Ian’s admission be disappointed now? Including us.”

“Please don’t include me in that. I’m more than satisfied as it is.”

“What on earth is satisfying?”

“He quietly asserts his presence when needed, doesn’t he? It reminds me of the young Lord Lefevre.”

“So, could you explain where this presence shows up? Isn’t understanding and explaining things the specialty of theoretical mages?”

“Oh dear. Has it gotten this late already? Shall we have a meal? It’ll soon be lunchtime.”

“Ah… yes, right. Nothing in life is free. Let’s go. Great Professor Frost, I shall buy lunch.”

“That’s the most pleasant thing I’ve heard recently.”

The two of them also left the auditorium.