Academy’s Genius Mage

It was a picture.

To be precise, it was a map depicting the terrain.

However, it was somewhat different from a typical map.

Maps used by ordinary people focus on paths where one can walk, emphasizing fast and safe travel.

But this map was not like that.

If it were claimed to be a military map, that would be incorrect as well.

This map exuded an unfriendly aura in every way.

Although villages and cities were indeed drawn, what stood out even more were tiny squares scattered all over the map.

“If you aspire to be a theoretical mage, you should find the answers yourself.”

“Can’t I just take it easy? Now that the entrance exams are over, you should treat me like a member.”

“That’s the tradition of the Ancient Literature Reading Club.”

“What tradition exists in a club that has only one member?”

“The view that tradition is related to the number of people is quite fresh, isn’t it?”

That wasn’t a compliment. It was sarcasm.

“Tradition is passed between people, hence it is related. If we hadn’t joined, the tradition would’ve been discontinued, you know?”

“I always intended to have more members.”

“Sure you did.”

Edel, who observed the two bickering, chuckled quietly.

Someone who didn’t know them well might worry, but Edel felt no unease. Instead, he sensed the two were quite close.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to co-author papers or ask to be accepted as a member for a friend.

Above all, Ian and Isera got along remarkably well.

‘They truly look like a painting!’

Not only were their appearances outstanding, but their intellectual aura also added to the warm, cozy atmosphere of the room, which seemed to embrace them warmly.

He felt a tinge of envy.

The fact that he could be so close to a senior in the second year already.

The Academy’s academic atmosphere was very strict.

The Natural Sciences Department was relatively free, but the Department of Magic had clear senior-junior hierarchies.

The Department of Martial Arts felt like superiors rather than seniors. They were closer to cadets over there.

Because of this, even if people were close outside, they often drew lines here.

Every action was tied to the honor of their family.

In that regard, Ian and Isera’s relationship provided much food for thought.

“You seem to have become close quickly.”

“Who?”

“You and Senior Isera.”

“No way.”

Ian smirked as he focused on the map.

When Edel looked at Isera, she showed no particular reaction.

“Let me see……”

Ian took a step back and propped his chin as he examined the map as a whole.

The map encompassed the Kingdom of Sonokin and parts of adjacent countries, covering a substantial range.

‘Instead of focusing on specific areas, it feels like it gives an overall perspective.’

Ian’s eyes, which were darting around busily, caught a clue.

Near the capital, a square labeled with a name he recognized was marked.

‘Abyss?’

It was the name of a training dungeon he had recently explored.

That was the decisive clue.

‘So that was it.’

Ian recalled the famous dungeons known within the Kingdom of Sonokin and their locations.

Unfailingly, those locations bore square markings. The mystery was solved.

“It’s a map marking dungeons and ruins. It seems the color delineates them – red for dungeons and blue for ruins, right?”

“You solved it later than expected.”

“I’m not as smart as you, senior.”

Isera looked at Ian as if questioning what he meant.

Ian’s gaze remained fixed on the map.

“Seeing something like this hanging on the wall suggests our club takes part in exploring ruins, right?”

“It’s an old tradition.”

“That sounds interesting.”

The thought of unearthing unknown ancient scripts and discovering treasures brought a smile to her face as she envisioned sitting in a dark dungeon while enjoying a packed lunch.

That was truly an exemplary blend of study and recreation within a club activity.

“Wouldn’t exploring be difficult on your own, senior? While a known dungeon might be manageable, ruins would be quite different.”

The nature of dungeons and ruins was completely different.

If a dungeon was an ecosystem, ruins were literally spaces constructed with a specific purpose.

Those purposes varied. Among the most commonly discovered were altars for ancient deities or tombs of ancient people.

The monsters appearing in ruins were notably strong. Despite not being affected by magic, they easily subdued explorers.

Sometimes, what’s not alive was scarier than what’s alive.

The traps set by ancient people were particularly dangerous.

‘There was even a story about how my parents vanished due to hidden traps.’

Therefore, exploring ruins inevitably required a lot of manpower and resources. While new discoveries were important, safety couldn’t be ignored.

So, many ancient ruins still remained unexplored and mysterious.

“If you don’t push your luck, dangerous situations don’t occur that often. In fact, it might be safer to be alone.”

Ian was not exactly aware of Isera’s capabilities. But considering her potential and knowledge, it was doubtful that she was less skilled than most mages.

“I’m looking forward to it. Our club’s first exploration. How often do you go out on expeditions now?”

“Once or twice a semester.”

“Since the number of members tripled, how about exploring once a month?”

“I’ll consider it.”

Isera poured the hot tea into cups and set them on the table.

Ian returned to his seat and shared the tea with Edel.

This time, he became interested in the books lined up on the shelf.

What one reads could offer a glimpse into their character or level of knowledge.

However, since visiting Isera’s dorm room wasn’t an option, he figured the books on these shelves might be useful.

‘Something seems quite serious here.’

There were far more books on ancient culture and myths than on ancient languages themselves.

There were even several books that Ian had never seen before.

Consequently, it seemed the name ‘Ancient Literature Reading Club’ didn’t quite fit.

“What’s the purpose of our club?”

“I remember explaining that once before.”

“That seems like a superficial reason.”

Ian went to the shelf and took out a book. Its title was ‘History and New Perspectives on Ancient Anthropology’.

“Aren’t these the kind of books you’d find in the research labs of the professors in the Department of Natural Sciences? There are quite a few of these here. An outsider might mistake this for an ancient studies research room.”

“It’s a personal hobby.”

“Since you were the only member, your personal taste kind of defines the club’s character.”

Isera blew on her tea and paused.

Then her deep eyes landed on Edel, who was startled and blushed, averting his gaze.

“Alright. With new members, it’s time for an explanation.”

“I’m a new member too, though.”

“To understand a culture, comprehending the language used by its people is most important. In any era, people wanted to leave something behind, whether in writing or drawings.”

Edel nodded vigorously, as if he is in a lecture hall.

“But without understanding that, nothing can be done, just as you can’t perform arithmetic without knowing numbers and symbols.”

“In the end, it’s a comprehensive study of ancient times.”

Ian snapped the book shut, placed it back on the shelf, and returned to his seat.

“Again, it’s a purely personal hobby.”

“There’s no need to draw such a line. I quite like that hobby. Neither Edel nor I joined just to learn ancient languages. Right?”

Edel nodded several times, and Isera’s eyes sparkled.

“So?”

“We want to know. What was true magic like? It’s said that ancient people cast spells with just their thoughts, right? We’re considered inferior, which is why we go through the cumbersome process of formulas and gestures.”

“It’s just a hypothesis that was once fashionable.”

“That’s the problem. Most hypotheses are wrong, but sometimes they hit the mark perfectly.”

“Even dragons can wield magic that is close to a mental technique.”

“But their language is fundamental, right? That can’t be considered a true mental technique. Even elves eventually use word magic.”

When Isera slightly tilted her head, her soft hair cascaded over her shoulder.

“Can it be interpreted that you’ve come here to become stronger?”

“Of course, that’s one of the reasons. Honestly speaking, yes. But there’s something I’m more curious about. What exactly is magic?”

Isera couldn’t answer immediately.

Professor Frost and Dean Jessica would probably feel the same.

No mage could easily answer what magic truly is.

Perhaps only those who don’t walk the path of magic or novice mages who focus on superficial flair would dare to give a simple answer.

“The one who created it must know the exact meaning. So we need to ask. That’s why I want to study ancient languages. Conversations need to make sense.”

Moreover, they needed to uncover the secrets of the glasses.

“There are countless things that could counter that view, but… since the newcomer seems burdened, shall we stop here?”

“I didn’t know you could be so kind.”

Ian joked, and Edel, realizing belatedly that it was about him, flinched in surprise.

“Oh, I’m fine… Really, I’m fine!”

“Edel.”

“Yes?”

“Since Ian seems to have a sense of it, I’ll give you something else to ponder.”

“Please do.”

“What do you think about who spoke the ancient language?”

“Uh… Obviously… ancient people?”

The moment he answered, Edel berated himself for such a foolish response.

If the answer were that obvious, they wouldn’t have asked. His expression turned sullen.

“That’s what most people think. But there might be another possibility.”

Ian suspected what would be said next but kept silent for his friend’s sake.

“The descendants of ancient people, to put it more precisely, those who are biologically the same but culturally different, might have restored the ancient culture and myths in their own language.”

“So, you mean… the ancient language we’re studying might not be the language the actual ancient people used, but rather one written by their distant descendants… is that what you’re saying?”

“Not that it is for sure, but it’s a possibility.”

“That’s quite complicated.”

Edel’s head throbbed.

It was challenging enough to interpret the language without needing to understand the intent behind it.

“Studying a language requires such considerations. Especially with an old language no longer in use, you have to consider various possibilities to avoid falling into bias.”

“Bias?”

“Studying with the certainty that it was the ancient people’s language versus studying with the suspicion that it might not be, can fundamentally change the nature of the research.”

“Oh, I think I understand what you’re saying. Simply put… keep all possibilities open while studying, right?”

“You’re smart.”

Ian laughed so unexpectedly that he couldn’t help it.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you praise someone, senior. Isn’t that a bit partial?”

“It’s because he has talent worth praising.”

“What kind of talent?”

“That’s something he has to find for himself. Perhaps imagine the mindset of a child doing a good deed to earn candy?”

It didn’t seem like just a joke. Hence, Ian refrained from asking further and sank into contemplation.

“But, senior.”

Edel raised his hand.

“Aren’t there any club activities besides the exploration?”

“Seems like you don’t like just studying.”

“No, absolutely, absolutely not!”

Edel vehemently waved both arms in denial, standing up unconsciously.

“Even with studying, there’s… something like a curriculum, right? I’m curious about how often we meet each week.”

“The ancient language research seminar meets once a week. The rest are free activities.”

“It’s not on the Earth Day or Sun Day, is it?”

Ian asked nervously, but bad premonitions often became reality.

“Sun Day.”

It felt like he’d lost an entire day of his weekend.