The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 39
Everyone gazed in astonishment, their eyes widening.
A miracle.
That was the only way to describe the spectacle unfolding before them.
Fwuoosh!
“!!”
The magic unleashed by Balas dissipated into thin air.
It was a spell of a Supreme Mage of the 5th rank, yet it vanished without a trace.
“W-What?!”
Everyone was left dumbfounded, unsure of what had just transpired.
‘Could it be that that was the technique Balas intentionally unleashed?’
As Rudolf gulped as he pondered, he heard someone beside him say.
“What’s going on?”
Burnstein asked.
“…Let’s watch a little longer. It’s still not certain if what Balas unleashed is truly that ‘technique’.”
Unable to trust his own eyes, Rudolf replied curtly.
But it was the next moment.
“Don’t just step forward one by one, all three of you attack at once.”
“!!”
The current opponents facing Van were not just two assistant professors but even a real professor, totaling three.
Kansir, a Sword Mage of the 4th rank, and the other two were Supreme Mages of the 5th rank.
And yet, they were all rushing in against someone with just a mere Mana Insensitivity of the 1st rank?
“You’ll regret this.”
“…Prepare yourselves.”
Kansir and Balas, who had already been defeated by Van, gritted their teeth, while the designated full professor for Van also hardened his expression.
All three of them unleashed their magic simultaneously.
Kwurur.
Hwarrrrruk!!
Pachachang!!
Magic of earth, fire, and ice attributes manifested.
However, the order in which they reached Van varied slightly depending on the elemental attribute.
First, it was the moment when the icy spear tip arrived the fastest, aiming to sever Van’s wrist.
Flick!
Something transparent flickered.
“That, that’s…?!”
It was crystal clear.
As thin as a needle, barely discernible without close scrutiny.
Its power was precise.
Clang-Clang!!
The ice spear pierced through the crystal ice that it shattered into pieces.
“!!”
But that wasn’t all.
One after another, unbelievable events unfolded.
Next was the fire magic.
Just as the flames’ whip was about to strike, once again, a needle-like crystal flickered.
Flick! Fwuosh! Flick!
This time, there were three.
The heads, centers, and tails of the whip were pierced by needles of light, and the flames sputtered out.
“W-What, could that be?”
Only then did those who vaguely sensed what Van had done appear.
However, they couldn’t be sure, as it was so unbelievable.
Professor Burnstein conveyed the content to Rudolf.
“Remarkable. To deploy remote magic through tactics and penetrate the core of high-level spells. How is such a thing possible?”
Rudolf fell silent, as if agreeing.
At this point, the defense of a mage is generally conceptualized as a shield.
It’s about deploying a defensive barrier to block the opponent’s attacks.
However, in the past, there was a mage who had such a notion.
If you intercept the opponent’s magic circles, wouldn’t you be able to defend against strong spells with less power?
Defense through shields is futile in the face of a stronger attack, as it becomes a confrontation of force against force.
In other words, a shield with a defense power of 10 can only crumble against an attack power exceeding 10.
Therefore, the mage of lower rank below was defenseless against the spells of a higher-ranking mage.
But what if they intercept the incoming attacks midway?
With much less power, they could defend against strong attacks.
‘It’s a theory that was discarded as impractical for real-world application. But I found the answer through Satellite Array.’
Rudolf swallowed hard.
It was a method where magic is manifested not by the mages themselves, but from designated coordinates (satellites) in the circle.
As soon as the opponent’s attack approaches the predetermined Satellite Array shield, it intercepts it.
However, this was also an absurdity, as the Satellite Array itself is difficult to manipulate, let alone accurately intercepting the opponent’s spells.
‘How did he imbue such power into the mana needles serving as interceptors? Could it be that he absorbed the Heartstone of the Frozen Sea? The Heartstone of the Frozen Sea can only be absorbed by mages of at least the 5th rank or higher, so how did he absorb it?’
The more he knew, the more bewildered he became.
A situation incomprehensible even to the eyes.
Basasak!
Even the last earth-based magic fizzled out, and the field fell into silence.
Only one person.
Van alone looked down at everyone with an arrogant gaze.
As if declaring himself the protagonist of this seminar.
Everyone swallowed hard as they looked at Van in such a way.
* * *
‘Phew. Thankfully, it was a success.’
It was touch and go.
If it weren’t for the new ultimate weapon, the Cold Shadow Blade, combining the Heartstone of the Frozen Sea and the Shadow Blade, it would have been impossible no matter who attempted it.
‘The problem now is the evaluation.’
Fortunately, the worry I had didn’t come to pass.
Clap, clap, the sound of applause thundered like lightning.
Burnstein exchanged glances with the crow perched on his shoulder and then stepped forward.
“No one thought the remote interception defense theory, considered impossible for anyone to achieve, would be implemented like this. Excellent. If Lant, who first conceived this theory, were to see it, he would have risen from his grave in joy. Van, your seminar academic evaluation score is perfect.”
No one raised objections to Burnstein’s words.
The spectacle I displayed was that shocking.
“Haha, Master! I knew you could do it!!”
“But, just a moment ago, you were incredibly anxious though?”
“Quiet down, you rascal! It’s all just a show of loyalty!!”
As Hans and Linden clamored, there were approaching figures who looked around cautiously one by one.
Those were the journalists.
Neutral reporters who didn’t receive bribes from any prestigious magic families.
‘Not everyone here is a hack.’
Most of them were from small media outlets, but surprisingly, many of them possessed a cleaner and more impartial journalistic spirit compared to major media outlets that had colluded with some powerful people.
“Professor Van, you’ve shown remarkable performances consecutively since yesterday. Please say a few words!”
I hesitated for a moment.
‘Hmm. What should I do? There’s no need to attract attention from the media.’
The reason I showcased my impressive performance today was simply to secure the top position in the new professor evaluation at the academy, to avoid being kicked out.
I didn’t particularly want to become famous among the public.
‘It’s nothing special. It’s just an exaggeration. Let’s respond with a safe answer.’
But then, the Flaming Dragon Charisma unexpectedly intervened.
The famous 8th grade syndrome Translation unfolded.
“What’s there to be surprised about? Is this something remarkable? It’s merely a trivial matter compared to my greatness, so stop making a fuss. Your astonishment is just the beginning.”
“!!”
‘Hey, this weird dragon charisma!’
I was horrified, but it was too late.
That day, such articles engulfed the magical world.
Van causes an eventful incident!
Watch and see. This is just the beginning.
Van, who proclaimed himself as greatness. Delusions of grandeur or a new star in the magical realm evolved from an ugly duckling?
Despite being spun in various ways, these articles all had one thing in common.
There were no articles calling me trash or a scoundrel anymore.
* * *
And then,
there were those having such conversations.
“What did you think of Van’s performance today?”
“…”
Former Chancellor Rudolph remained silent, his face filled with anguish in response to Burnstein’s question.
“I misunderstood Van… no, Professor Van.”
“I told you, right?”
“But it is unfortunate. No matter how talented Professor Van may be, this is as far as it goes.”
unfortunate.
Former Chancellor Rudolph felt this emotion as he watched Van’s performance.
‘Why did heaven bestow such lofty talent and terrible curse upon one individual?’
Van’s display was impressive.
To the point of doubting one’s own eyes.
It seemed like witnessing feats that could only be achieved with the mana of a 1st-tier mage.
But this was the limit.
‘…There’s no possibility that Van’s ascension during the entrance exam is related to this.’
No matter how talented Van may be, being an ascendant wasn’t something that could be achieved with just the accomplishments of a 1st-tier mage.
“Regretful enough to elicit sighs. In the end, Van will only be a half-baked mage.”
A harsh assessment.
In reality, even being half-baked was a generous evaluation.
All Van could aspire to be was merely a distinguished theoretical scholar.
However, Burnstein unexpectedly made another remark.
“Well, I have a different opinion. I believe that, in the end, Van will become a great mage.”
“What evidence do you have to make such a judgment?”
“None. It’s just a gut feeling.”
“Is that a bachelor’s intuition? A truly sharp intuition.”
Rudolph chuckled and nodded.
“Anyway, we’ll see once the public service starts tomorrow. We’ll find out what kind of performance Van will show.”
The induction of new professors lasts for two days.
The first day is dedicated to academic training.
The second day is for public service.
As a professor and a mage, it’s literally about helping out in the surrounding settlements.
If the academic training was a “theory” battle, then the public service is the “practical” aspect.
It was an automatic disadvantage for Van, being mana insensitive.
Rudolph thought that Van would never be able to shine in public service and headed back to the portal to return to the academy.
It was regrettable, but it was a rational decision.
* * *
Rudolph wasn’t the only one with that mindset.
The majority, including those who witnessed Van’s miracle yesterday, believed that he wouldn’t make much of an impact in the public service.
Even figures like Kansir and Balas saw this opportunity as a chance to show Van his true colors.
However, amidst all this, there was someone near the training grounds displaying odd behavior unrelated to the situation.
It was Amanda, the Black Crow.
Contrary to her reputation on the battlefield, she seemed quite unassuming today.
Truth be told, she had no interest in this training whatsoever.
Her goals lay elsewhere.
“…I must find the Master of Magic that was said to reside within the Ruby Academy.”
A daunting task.
Through the abilities of an “Escort,” who could read the skies for signs, she had only discovered this fact, yet the true identity of the Master of Magic remained unknown.
“There’s no time. Before it’s too late… Urgh!”
Amanda let out a pained sigh.
Her pupils turned a sickly green, and a terrible surge of flesh directed towards the world began to overwhelm her.
“No, this can’t happen.”
She gnashed her teeth, biting down hard on the flesh inside her mouth.
Pain surged through her, bringing her back to her senses.
But it was a temporary relief.
‘The episodes are becoming more frequent.’
Amanda reached for the dagger she always carried.
If the curse were to completely consume her, she had made up her mind to end her own life.
However, before that, she wanted to find the Master of Magic.
‘I don’t want to die.’
It was when she clenched her fist tightly.
An unexpected voice echoed in her ears.
Pitiful one, do you have a wish? I shall help you.
‘Who?!’
Amanda was utterly shocked.
Subtle and seductive,
the voice continued.
I am Ashtat, the fallen. Speak your wish, and I shall grant it, whatever it may be.
It was the name of the legendary dragon.
And then,
news of Amanda’s disappearance spread among the people.
