Academy’s Genius Mage

“Is today finally the day?”

Ian Oracle woke up early in the morning and got out of bed. Today is Earth Day, which meant there were no classes.

Edel was already awake and diligently studying ancient languages. Watching him, Ian’s mind was filled with curiosity.

Edel turned his head just then, and their eyes met.

“You’re up early. Did you sleep well?”

“But I wonder, when do you actually get up and get ready?”

Edel always woke up and got ready earlier than anyone else.

Ian realized that he had never seen Edel change clothes in their room. Usually, such things wouldn’t bother him, but today it seemed a bit odd.

“Uh… Why are you asking all of a sudden?”

“Just curious.”

“I take a walk at dawn and do it all at once. Since there’s a shower room, I use it.”

“You’re diligent.”

The academy had student-only showers and baths.

As long as one used a gender-appropriate facility, anyone could access them regardless of their department.

“Compared to someone who studies and runs a business, I’m less diligent. You’re really amazing, Ian.”

Edel’s sparkling eyes were a bit daunting.

Ian changed the subject.

“How are your preparations?”

“I’m not confident… but I’ll give it my best shot!”

Today was finally the entrance exam day.

The test was to be held at the Great Library’s Ancient Magic section.

It was a less popular place, so most likely, aside from Isera Hebraim, no one would be there today.

Ian wondered what kind of questions would be on the test.

If it were a problem given by a professor, it wouldn’t be too burdensome. It was just part of the curriculum.

But the fact that it was a separate exam for entrance made it more nerve-wracking.

Of course, Ian was calm about everything.

He intended to take the test, but mostly to assess the capabilities of his glasses.

“Professor Frost asked us to come in the morning, so let’s eat and go right after.”

“Okay!”

Ian forced Milo Vinettia out of bed, and they all had breakfast at the student dining hall. It was quieter than usual, perhaps due to many students sleeping in.

Each round table was clean, with four chairs set around it. Since staff were assigned to each table, students just had to sit and order.

“Set A, please.”

“Set B with extra chicken breast!”

“I’d like set C, please.”

The students of Dormitory A, room 307, had distinct personalities, even noticeable from their food choices.

Ian aimed for a balanced diet, opting for set A, which included both meat and vegetables.

In contrast, Milo ordered copious amounts of meat, favoring set B with additional chicken breast.

Edel preferred a fully vegetarian meal, opting for light foods such as bread or salad.

“So when are we going to drink?”

Milo hadn’t given up yet.

“How about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

Tomorrow was Sun Day, a day with no classes and a high likelihood of getting permission to go out.

“Heh, tomorrow sounds great! I didn’t expect you, Ian, to set a date so willingly.”

“A promise is a promise.”

Their potion project had concluded safely, and Ian had won his bet with Sebastian. Taking a day to bond didn’t seem bad.

Of course, the circumstances around Ian were becoming unusually chaotic.

“But it’s best to live like a student, all the more for that reason.”

Ian was increasingly understanding the importance of maintaining his composure.

“Your order is here!”

A cheerful staff member set down plates from the cart to the table.

The food looked so delicious that just the aroma made their mouths water.

The three of them picked up their forks and knives and began eating.

“What are you guys doing today?”

“Later, Edel and I are taking the entrance exam.”

“Was that today?”

Ian had wanted Milo to join the Ancient Literature Reading Club, but Milo politely declined.

He had resolved not to engage in any club activities that involved studying.

“Then, tomorrow we’ll know if it’s a celebratory drink or a consolation one.”

“Yeah.”

“How about you, Edel? Are you prepared? It seemed you studied hard.”

“I’m not sure. I did study hard, but we’ll have to see.”

“Cheer up!”

“I’m still nervous.”

“If you fail, it’s Ian’s fault for teaching poorly. If you pass, it’s because you studied hard. Thinking like this might ease your mind.”

“We can’t forget the blame on someone who snored through their sleep.”

After a delicious meal, the three of them stepped outside.

Milo said he was heading to Gaus’s lab and left first.

“He’s so diligent, even on his days off. Going to his senior’s lab too.”

“He has things he needs to do.”

“Things he needs to do?”

“Do you remember the magic stone I gave before? I’m receiving the compensation now.”

Ian and Edel headed toward the Great Library.

As expected, Isera sat in her usual place in the Ancient Magic section.

“Oh, hello.”

Edel gulped nervously.

The atmosphere was completely different from seeing Isera in the lecture hall.

This was the first time since Isera had come looking for Ian, and Edel felt it again deeply now.

Isera’s indifferent gaze skimmed over Edel.

“The kid I saw in front of the lecture hall before, right? Edel Heinz?”

“Yes!”

Edel smiled brightly.

It felt good that she remembered his name just from seeing him once.

Isera stood and pointed to one side.

On the desk, there were test papers laid out.

“There are 10 questions in total. You need to read and translate the ancient language. It’s very simple. The time limit is 10 minutes.”

A translation per minute.

Ancient language was completely different in nature from the Continental language.

Words carried multiple meanings, so you needed to derive several meanings and combine them.

The interpretation that read most smoothly and plausibly was considered the best.

“The questions consider your level. The passing score is 60.”

“Is partial credit given?”

“There is.”

Ian and Edel sat down.

Isera, checking the time with a pocket watch, stood before them like a proctor.

“Begin.”

They had been waiting for this moment.

Ian donned his glasses.

Some characters became blurred before changing shape.

‘Huh?’

It felt a bit strange.

There were interpretations that are visible, and some not visible at all.

It was only natural.

Ian, having read countless books up until now, had a rough understanding of when interpretations would appear.

The glasses could only translate simple aphorisms of stage 1 or the beginning of stage 2. And those aphorisms had to be related to magic.

‘Five visible problems, five invisible ones.’

There was nothing peculiar about that in itself.

Commonly used ancient language didn’t show up as translated.

‘But the questions are arranged systematically.’

Ancient language related to magic was in odd-numbered questions, while the ones that are unrelated to magic was in even-numbered ones.

In other words, visible and invisible interpretations alternated.

‘These problems were made by Senior Isera. Why go to the trouble of arranging them this way?’

The intention of the examiner was evident in the test questions.

Sometimes, the questions got harder towards the end, or they were grouped by field.

But the test questions here weren’t of that nature. There was something unusual.

‘There’s intention behind this, needing to arrange the problems like this… Could she have sensed my ability?’

It wasn’t impossible.

First, Ian confirmed through his glasses that he had perfectly interpreted the first one. But he held off on writing it down for now.

Next, he moved to the second.

‘This one has nothing to do with magic.’

Not being able to see the translation didn’t mean he couldn’t interpret it.

Ian tried to interpret it using his knowledge of the ancient language.

‘It’s about a recipe.’

It wasn’t a particularly challenging problem.

However, it seemed likely that it wouldn’t be as perfect as interpreting ancient language related to magic.

Next was the third.

This one also contained magical aphorisms, so Ian could see a perfect translation through his glasses.

‘I’m certain. The senior is definitely trying to confirm something.’

Ian concluded that Isera’s intention was embedded in the problem arrangement.

It didn’t seem to be a malevolent intention.

But there was no need to showcase all his abilities. Solving them gradually would suffice.

‘It’s not the right time yet. I apologize, senior, but…’

Ian returned to the first question and began to write down his answers.

The answers he jotted down differed slightly from the perfect interpretations visible through his glasses.

Ian intentionally changed a few words to make his interpretations vague.

This way, all ten answers were recorded.

‘With this, I should just barely make the cut-off.’

Feeling a sense of relief, Ian glanced surreptitiously at Edel.

It was the first time he had seen Edel so focused.

It showed how earnest Edel was for this learning opportunity.

Ian thought teaching him the ancient language was a good decision.

‘Next, I should teach him some basic magic. At least he should know how to protect himself.’

Just then, Isera approached him.

“Ian.”

“Yes?”

“Cheating will lead to disqualification.”

Ian was at a loss for words.

At the same time, he had such a thought — perhaps it was not he who was enjoying the situation, but Isera.

“I’ve finished it.”

“Lies.”

“It’s true.”

Isera took his answer sheet and began grading it.

There were many more checks than crosses.

Ian was more curious about what Isera intended to do with the answer sheet rather than the grade itself.

However, once she finished grading, Isera simply wrote down the score and returned the test to him. He had expected her to take it, so this was a surprise.

‘Was I being overly sensitive?’

Either way, there was no way of knowing now. It wouldn’t hurt to be cautious, he thought.

“Our admission is assured now, right?”

The final recorded score was 72 points.

“For now.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

Isera still wore a displeased expression, but she turned her head primly and proceeded to check Edel’s answer sheet.

Edel clasped his hands together and closed his eyes tightly, as if praying.

In no time, the grading was over.

Edel, receiving his answer sheet, jumped to his feet, exclaiming joyfully.

“I did it!”

It seemed he had passed. The number 61 was written on his test.

“That was close.”

“Yes! I was really worried, but thank goodness…”

“It’s good that Milo won’t have anything to tease you about?”

“Actually, yes.”

Edel smiled, tears threatening to spill over.

Ian thought to himself how delicate he seemed.

“Alright. I permit both of you to join the Ancient Literature Reading Club.”

“Is there no admission ceremony or anything?”

“Admission ceremony?”

It’s something like a welcome party. When a new student joins, all the members gather to hold a small party.

‘Since it’s a club with only one member, perhaps an admission ceremony is impossible.’

He then realized that, although there were now three members, there wasn’t anyone else to celebrate with.

“I’ll show you the club room. Follow me.”

“There’s a club room too?”

“No club exists without a room.”

Ian and Edel obediently followed Isera out of the Great Library.

They stopped at a small building in a somewhat isolated part of the campus.

The wooden building looked like it could collapse at any moment, with rough vines enveloping it, giving it the aura of an abandoned lodge.

“Is this the Haunted Experience Club instead of the Ancient Literature Reading Club? It looks like ghosts could pop out any time.”

“It’s an old building, but it’s safe. A preservation spell had been cast on it.”

“The atmosphere is amazing!”

Edel seemed to be delighted.

The three of them entered and opened the door labeled ‘Ancient Literature Reading Club’.

“It’s better than I expected.”

“It’s so cozy! It feels like an attic.”

It had a certain charm.

A warm red carpet, a fireplace to one side with a tea set.

Rows of old books lined the wall, and there was a table and chairs in the middle for people to gather and talk.

Though it was a bit disappointing to see no experimental equipment, it felt neatly organized with everything needed.

It seemed to symbolize Isera herself.

On the outside, she appeared indifferent and cold, but perhaps her heart was as warm as this.

“But… what’s this?”

Ian pointed with his finger to something hanging on the wall.