The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 3.2
It was an hour after I had opened the book.
Cold sweat formed on my forehead.
There was a problem.
A very serious one.
‘Why is this so difficult?’
The title of the book I was currently reading was ‘Fundamentals of Star Ranking.’
The foundation of all magical studies.
Magic is the manifestation of phenomena through the arrangement of mana. This arrangement of mana is called a star, and studying this star is the basis of all magic.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t understand the sentences.
It was truly a beginner’s book, written for those who were encountering magic for the first time.
The problem lay in the content of the mana arrangement, the ‘star.’
The arrangement of the element ‘fire’ should be drawn in the following star.
This star serves as the fundamental arrangement applicable even to advanced fire-based magical spells…
‘…Why draw a star for fire?’
I couldn’t comprehend it at all.
‘Could there be a mistake in the content of this book?’
I tilted my head.
This book, like the Bible of the magical world, was first published a whopping 300 years ago.
For 300 years, every mage studied the basics through this book.
‘Not just the arrangement of fire. I don’t understand water and earth either. And what’s with the star of lightning?’
I wore a perplexed expression.
‘…Even if you have the aptitude of a novice magician, do you have to stack the basics from the ground up?’
Even if you were a future mathematician, it’s essential to first learn the existing formulas.
However, I still shook my head.
‘If that’s the case, it would be better to just dismiss it.’
Struggling to understand the basics, how on earth could one study the vast existing magical knowledge?
‘…Can’t I just learn it my own way?’
The persistent question in my mind.
Why draw the star of fire like this?
Why bother?
Doesn’t it seem awkward?
In the end, these questions led to one conclusion.
If it were me, I wouldn’t do it like this.
The image of a ‘star’ kept popping up in my mind.
Similar in shape to what I had seen in the book but fundamentally different.
‘I wonder if comparing it to the traditional method can help me figure out which one is better.’
At that moment, a fake cough echoed.
“Ah, indeed, it seems challenging for you. I understand. You’ve been distancing yourself from magic all this time, so it’s only natural. Besides, even at the Academy of Magic, Duke’s efforts were barely enough to graduate you with a bottom-tier performance.”
It was the mage, Hans.
Perhaps still harboring resentment from bowing to me earlier, he was sneering at me with a contemptuous expression.
“It’s okay. For someone with Mana Insensitivity like you, being a mage was never an option from the start. Instead, even if you’re not a mage, since you have the noble bloodline of the Duke, aren’t there many other things you can do?”
What kind of magic can someone with Mana Insensitivity do?
Look around for other opportunities with the ‘family connections.’
That seemed to be the implication.
I clenched my fist.
‘He keeps picking fights with me on the side.’
Having experienced all sorts of nonsense on Earth, I could recognize this type.
With someone like that, you had to assert yourself forcefully.
‘But how can I, against a 5th star ranked mage?’
At that moment, one solution popped into my mind.
“It seems you need some education.”
“…What did you say?”
“It’s a saying that suggests, when someone is too proud of their knowledge or abilities, it’s necessary to show them the vastness beyond their narrow perspective.”
Hans blinked for a moment.
Just for a moment.
Soon, his face turned red.
“…You’re the son of the Duke, but your words are too much.”
“Too much? I don’t see what’s wrong with providing proper education to those beneath you as someone in a higher position.”
I stood up.
“Let’s do it this way. We’ll compete right now using a 1st rank fire spell.”
“!!”
Hans growled in disbelief.
“Are you serious? Do you really think you, Master, can beat me even with a 1st-tier spell?”
Even with the same magic, the effectiveness could vary greatly depending on who cast it.
While a basic fire spell might exhibit tremendous power when cast by a higher-tier mage, I nodded confidently.
‘Even if not, I need to confirm the power of the star I’ve envisioned compared to the traditional ones.’
It seemed like the perfect test subject.
What about the ground?
‘…It somehow doesn’t feel like I’ll lose.’
An absurd thought.
Thinking that I wouldn’t lose against a 5th-tier mage?
But it wasn’t a lie.
“Just competing might be a bit dull, so let’s set a condition. If I win, you’ll become my teaching assistant whenever I study magic from now on.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Studying through books is good, but it’s more effective to study while witnessing magic unfold right beside you. Show me a demonstration as I instruct.”
Hans looked as if he might faint from frustration.
“Understood, but if I win, don’t ever put your presence around here again!!”
Fwoosh!
Flames erupted from his hands.
It was basic magic, but the momentum was extraordinary, typical of a 5th-tier advanced wizard.
I, too, unleashed a fire spell.
Sizzle.
It was a small flame.
Compared to what he displayed, it was embarrassingly modest.
