NOVEL NEXT Chapter 104
EP.104 The Runaway of Group Project (1)
“Shall we start by dividing into groups?”
As Professor Rania called out names, the students moved to different seats. Now formed into groups of four, they looked at each other.
Flick.
She flicked her finger. The Resistance Stones that were in the air split up. Each group received one Resistance Stone.
“…?”
The students could only stare at the Resistance Stone placed on the table. What was the reason for giving this? They had no idea.
“The gist of the assignment is simple.”
As they blankly stared at the Resistance Stone, Professor Rania began to speak. The students looked at her, half expecting it to be simple.
“What you need to do is smash the mid-level Resistance Stone you’ve just received with a spell.”
Smash the mid-level Resistance Stone?
To destroy such an expensive mineral was an unimaginable demand.
Well, I could smash it if I really try…
If they spent some time crafting a high-level circuit, they could indeed break a mid-level Resistance Stone. It was as simple as Professor Rania had said.
Destruction is the foundation of all magic.
They knew plenty of spells efficient for breaking the Resistance Stone. At that moment, the students sighed in relief, thinking the assignment would be easy.
“However, there are two conditions.”
Professor Rania raised her index and middle fingers.
She bent her middle finger and continued, “First, all four members of the group must participate in circuit creation.”
She distributed papers.
It was a report with spaces for interpreting and analyzing the circuit and areas to record the circuit.
“This report is a four-part circuit recording sheet. It must be fully filled out from all four sides for the circuit to activate.”
Although it was a hassle, it was understandable. The students nodded.
“Now, for the second condition.”
She bent her index finger next.
The second condition rolled off her tongue.
“The amount of mana used to manifest the spell is limited to 1 pi.”
As soon as her words ended, the students doubted their ears.
Only 1 pi of mana?
What even is 1 pi?
It’s the mana needed to fill out a circle, which is the most basic unit of mana.
The only spells that can be manifested with 1 pi are…
Only basic spells.
The students’ gazes naturally turned towards the Resistance Stone on the table. So, Professor Rania means…
Using only basic spells to break the Resistance Stone?
And that too, a mid-level one?
All they could think of was the word impossible. While the bewildered students blinked, Professor Rania continued.
“The time frame is about 2 to 3 weeks. Think it through, and carefully design the circuit.”
After saying this, she smiled brightly.
“It will greatly help you all.”
As she cheerfully smiled and patted the blackboard with her knuckles, the topic ‘The Limits of Basic Spells’ was neatly written on it.
…Is she serious?
The students cast resentful glances at Professor Rania. She seemed oblivious to their stares, or perhaps she just didn’t understand their gaze.
“Hmph, hmm.”
Professor Rania hummed while awaiting the bell to ring.
That sight infuriated the students.
Unable to hold back any longer, one student raised his hand to ask a question.
“Uh… Professor?”
“Yes, what is it, Mack?”
“No matter how I think about it, the difficulty of the assignment seems a bit…”
“Is that so?”
She tilted her head.
Mack, who stood courageously to convey the students’ opinions, continued slowly.
“I think that with just 1 pi of mana, we can only manage to use basic spells. To break a mid-level Resistance Stone with basic spells… ”
He logically continued.
All the students silently cheered on Mack. Gaining confidence, he emphasized his point.
“It feels like asking us to break rocks with an egg.”
And gaining even more confidence, Mack said, “I think it’s impossible. No mage in the world could achieve this…”
In his excitement, he had let slip a mistake.
…Oh.
Only after saying it did Mack realize what he had just blurted out. He quickly closed his mouth, but words once spilled could not be gathered back, like trying to collect spilled water.
“Hmm.”
Professor Rania adjusted her lips.
Glup, Mack swallowed hard.
“It is not impossible.”
Professor Rania stated.
“Look here.”
She held out the remaining Resistance Stone and lightly tossed it up. The students focused on the stone floating through the air.
Then she snapped her fingers.
Snap, the sound rang out.
In an instant, the circuit was complete.
The circuit completed and the spell burst forth almost simultaneously. The students didn’t even recognize what circuit had been drawn.
Boom!
A thunderous sound erupted, as if lightning had struck.
Then came the thud of something falling to the ground. The students looked at what had fallen.
It was a Resistance Stone split in half. The cut surface was incredibly clean, as if it had been sliced with a knife.
“……”
The students fell silent.
They couldn’t discern what circuit had been used. However, they could infer how much mana had been used from the traces of mana left in the air.
“1 pi…”
Someone muttered.
The mana used was indeed 1 pi. The figure was exact, with not a trace of deviation from what Professor Rania had stated.
“Yes, that’s right.”
She nodded atop the podium.
“It is not impossible. If you all put your heads together and research, you will surely find a way.”
She smiled.
“Then, this concludes today’s class.”
Ding, dang the bell rang.
As usual, she exited the classroom.
After watching her for a while, when she finally disappeared from sight, the students turned to each other.
A group of four.
Fellow warriors ready to take on a ridiculous assignment that required making the impossible, possible.
“…Um.”
“…Yeah.”
They looked at each other and spoke.
“Let’s do our best…”
“Yeah…”
…Humans sometimes cooperate.
To achieve the impossible task.
—
An unprecedented assignment had descended upon the students of Apuria. The notorious nature of the assignment spread beyond the students to even the ears of the professors.
“I heard the assignment is to smash a mid-level Resistance Stone.”
“…A mid-level Resistance Stone? What a waste.”
“But it shouldn’t be too difficult, right?”
“That’s what you think…”
The professors expressed their astonishment in various ways upon hearing the details of the assignment.
“…What did you say?”
“No way, you mean they have to smash it with basic spells?’
“It’s theoretically possible, but it sounds like it’s just barely possible.”
The professors inquired.
“Who on earth gave such an assignment?”
The students answered.
“It was Professor Rania.”
Upon hearing that answer, the expressions of the professors momentarily hardened. Soon after, they nodded, showing their support. Their attitudes flipped like a palm turning over.
“…If it’s Professor Rania, that makes sense.”
“…There must be a valid reason behind it, right? You should all do your best. It will help.”
“You managed to buy the Resistance Stones at your own expense, so work hard.”
Sadly, no one was on the students’ side.
No one spoke for their feelings. Swallowing their tears, the students made a pact.
It was an assignment that needed joint resolution.
Regardless, they had to gather and research together, so they coordinated schedules and set a date to meet.
And they realized.
Why this group assignment carried such a notorious reputation. Why the seniors warned to avoid group projects at all costs.
Finally,
“When people gather, one of them is bound to be useless.”
The true meaning of that sentence.
The students learned it while weeping tears of blood.
—
This time, there was no designated group leader for the group project. Most groups busied themselves with electing a leader. However, there also existed groups that seemed to have a leader decided already.
Four groups.
Although all were treated equally as ‘students’ in Apuria, differences existed among them.
Four honorary freshman students.
These four had nearly aced the difficult entrance exam, maintaining top-tier grades throughout the semester.
—
The top scorer.
Future Master of the Ashen Tower, Resti Elenoa.
“First, we need to consider the types of basic spells. Since we need to focus on breaking the Resistance Stone, I think it’s best to use impact-type spells.”
The students in Group C listened to her words. After all, she was a person destined to become the master of the prestigious Ashen Tower.
Even though they are students, the levels are different.
For the group members, Resti’s words felt like the very answer itself.
“Yes, let’s follow Resti’s suggestion.”
“Is there anything more for me to do?”
The group members adhered to Resti’s guidance.
Though they stumbled a bit, with a leader, the work proceeded smoothly. They spent the predetermined time on the assignment and parted ways with a smile.
—
The second top scorer.
The Fourth Princess, Ayla.
“Shall we think together? Let’s each share our opinions. I believe we should approach it this way.”
“Hmm, I think…”
“This route doesn’t seem bad either.”
The students in Group A, alongside Ayla, spoke their opinions even while trying to gauge her reaction.
One student tried to slip by without saying anything, but once Ayla shot a friendly glance, he reluctantly shared his view.
“It seems opinions have been collected. Shall we decide on one from these?”
She never forced her suggestion.
After discussing sufficiently and holding a meeting, she gathered and summarized everyone’s opinions. The assignment proceeded smoothly, feeling more like walking together than leading.
Group A, which Ayla was part of, also achieved sufficient results in their first meeting.
—
The joint top scorer of the Battle Magic Department.
The Prince from the North, Lac von Grace.
“Isn’t it better to smash it with an axe?”
“No, Lac. The professor said to do it with a spell. An axe is a weapon, Lac.”
“Lac, that’s a bit much…”
“I just prefer an axe…”
The students in Group D sighed and facepalmed. They shook their heads, glancing exasperatedly at Lac.
“Hmm. So we need to smash this, huh…?”
Looking at Lac, who was clenching his fist, one would wonder how someone with a brain seemingly made of muscle could maintain top grades.
The students sighed and shared their thoughts.
“Right, maybe smashing it with an impact spell wouldn’t be bad?”
“Yeah, then let’s try using impact-type spells.”
“Oh, that sounds like a good idea.”
Lac nodded in satisfaction.
After about ten minutes of continuing the discussion, Lac crossed his arms and said, “By the way, one person isn’t showing up.”
“That kid is probably oversleeping.”
“It seems like they overslept again because it’s the weekend?”
After hearing this, Lac pondered for a moment.
“I heard collaboration is essential for group assignments.”
“…Right?”
“I’ll go get them.”
“Huh?”
“Just wait a moment. I’ll be back soon.”
With an axe in hand, Lac confidently strode towards the dormitory. The remaining members of Group D tilted their heads, puzzled.
—
Regardless, Group D was also proceeding smoothly.
There were a few issues, but compared to the notorious reputation of the group project, it was within the realm of manageable levels.
—
The joint top scorer of the Battle Magic Department.
The Ghost of the Slums, Belnoa.
“……”
“……”
Group E, where Belnoa resided.
“Uh…”
“Yeah…”
“Strange. We had four members in our group, right?”
One student remarked that one member was missing.
Unlike Group F, which had a focal point in Lac, Group E lacked such a nucleus.
“Hey.”
However, E was different.
“…When is Belnoa coming?”
The person who should be central to Group E.
Belnoa, who held top grades and was knowledgeable about spells, was nowhere to be seen. Twenty minutes had passed from the appointed time, yet Belnoa had not shown up.
“When people gather,”
A phrase flickered in their minds.
“One of them is bound to be useless.”
…They shook their heads, trying to brush the thought away.
That can’t be true.
Belnoa was blunt but showed a diligent and responsible demeanor. Surely, there must be a reason for the delay. They thought as they began to converse.
“Shall we discuss it among ourselves then…?”
“Yeah, let’s at least set a direction?”
While waiting for Belnoa, they tried to hold a meeting together. However, without a center to guide them, the conversation failed to flow properly. Only useless chatter drifted into the air.
Two hours passed from the appointed time.
Eventually, Belnoa never appeared.
News of Belnoa’s disappearance shook Apuria and the Ashen Tower the following day.
Author’s Note
A runaway from the group project has emerged…!