Chapter 1 –

“It’s quiet, so it’s comfortable, but…… doesn’t this make you feel anxious?”

Recently, the atmosphere around the Yukline mansion had quieted down. Silence was rather unusual in this magnificent mansion that’s considered the best in this world.

“Hey, don’t say that. Don’t worry about it. Just stay still, stay still”

The unusual calmness was awkward for the maids and servants of the mansion, but after a week, they were able to adjust to it.

“Oh, do you perhaps think that it’s because things are going well with Miss Freyden?”

At the young maid’s question, the other maid shook her head.

“Ei. Do you really think so? I think it’s the opposite.”

“Really? I’m confused because I’ve only been here in this house for a week and they don’t even check the cleaning.”

“Enjoy it. Since we don’t know how long it’ll last……”

The servants were chatting about the strange changes in the mansion’s owner.

“Has this ever happened before?”

“Well. It’s been 10 years since Lord Deculein has been in office…….”

Their owner was so famous and sensitive, so there were many anecdotes that came to their minds that the flow of the conversation completely changed.

It was at that moment.

Creaaak

The front door was opened wide and the sound of shoes echoed through the hall.

Clack, clack

A cool and sinister echo.

The maids rushed to line up quickly in front of the unexpected visitor.

“……Where is that man?”

The VIP who posed this sharp question was a beauty with short-cut, black hair.

“Yes, right now, the master is…….”

Yeriel, their master’s sister, was equally well-known for being as sensitive as him. Her presence made the maids bow.

“Guide me”

The servants guided her without daring to make eye contact.

Together, they climbed the central stairs of the mansion and ended up standing in front of the gates of the highest floor which was completely used as a single room.

Knock, knock

Yeriel lightly knocked on the door that everyone in this house feared.

Knock, knock.

There was no response.

Knock, knock! Knock, knock!

Yeriel tried it a few more times but couldn’t take it anymore and burst open the door.

“……Hey!”

In the neat room a handsome man with a disheveled face lay there.

His hair shone subtly like a dark crystal and his fine, white skin and straight, intelligent features were darkened today.

This was enough to shake any woman’s heart, but Yeriel just fired away without caring about anything else.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

Yeriel’s insolent way of speaking shook the servants.

However the owner of this grand mansion only murmured in a low voice.

“……I thought I’d wake up if I just went back to sleep a bunch of times. Guess I’m still dreaming.”

At the end of his words, the maids gave him a strange look.

Just how badly did things with Miss Freyden go?!

“And…….”

Yeriel frowned as if she understood his words in a similar way.

Right now, everyone but Deculein had the name, “Julie von Deya-Freyden”, floating in their minds.

The second daughter of the northern Freyden family. The current fiancée of “Deculein von Grahan-Yukline”.

Externally, the two were promised to each other, but their feelings towards each other were insanely different.

Deculein seemed to love Julie with all his heart, but her feelings for him bordered on disgust.

This wasn’t just simple speculation, this fact was actually pretty well-known.

“Can’t you stop thinking about her? What are you doing, even canceling all your lectures?!”

“……Lectures?”

“Yes!”

Yeriel took some documents out of a luxurious clutch bag. Then she threw the bunch of papers on the bed.

“You said you’d do it yourself. And if you just stay here like an idiot, you’ll bring shame to our family. Are you fine with this?”

“……..”

“There’s an event at the university, so make sure to attend! At least if you don’t want to lose your professorship you’re so proud of!”

“You’re…… very bold.”

Deculein smirked. At that moment, Yeriel became angry. Blood vessels were throbbing at her white temple.

“I’m not being bold, you’re just being stupid! Idiot!”

Very harsh swear words. The maids trembled, but the master didn’t react even a little.

If it was his usual self, he would have punished me. How could he have become so lethargic?

I wish he’d return back to normal.

“……Alright, go out.”

“Hmpf.”

Yeriel snorted and went out the door.

She didn’t want to see that idiot who turned out like this just because he was dumped by some woman either.

“Ye, ye, Yeriel-nim. Would you like to have a meal?”

“I’m going”

“But you’ve come such a long way. Hold, hold on!”

“I’m going!”

Many of the servants followed her in a hurry.

The master seemed to be in a bad mood today, so it was best to stay out of his sight……

* * *

“……Lectures, huh.”

I looked at the documents given to me by Deculein’s sister, Yeriel.

The title of the lecture was: “Imperial Senior Professor Deculein: A Fundamental Understanding of Magic and Attitude toward Mana”.

Furthermore, the table of contents was as follows.

Magical distinction between attributes and types.

A rough Outline of circles of each magic branch, such as Destruction, Support, Summoning and Spirit.

Proper usage of Mana…….

“What kind of magic system is so diverse?”

Where did science go in a world where magic is so diverse?…… I remember it was said that science when developed sufficiently wasn’t much different from magic though.

I lay on my bed thinking nonsense.

“……Haah.”

A week had passed.

Before I knew it, a whole week had passed in the blink of an eye.

I couldn’t find out why I’m stuck here even after all that time.

I thought it was a regular dream, but it wasn’t. Then I thought it was a lucid dream, but it wasn’t. After that I thought it was a VR game, but it wasn’t.

The most convincing reason was that I got struck by lightning, that what I’m experiencing is the after life.

Anyway, I’ve become that fricking game’s character I was modeled after “Deculein von Grahan-Yukline ”.

For reference, Deculein was a link that connected the whole game, an arch-rival to many Named Characters or otherwise known as the mid-boss to players, a Named Villain.

The enemy of his parents, the enemy of his lover, the enemy of his hometown, the enemy of his peers and so on.

In addition to this, I’m sure that there were many more people who bore a grudge against him, a villian only woven to die and experience hardship.

Of course, Lane said that there was a little twist to this character, but did he mean the fact that I’d possess this guy……..?

“He’s going to die on almost every Route.”

This villain would die almost inevitably, like a villain should.

Whether the player killed him themselves, he got killed by a Named Character who bore a grudge, randomly got into a fight and died, got assassinated or died some other way.

Like that purple haired guy from that famous hero movie. (TN: I have no idea who that is)

“Rather than that, this is…….”

I sorted the papers that Yeriel threw.

I took them in one hand and glanced at them, the lecture was scheduled today.

“……I have to go”

It was my first time giving a lecture, but I couldn’t just sit idle. I couldn’t be lazy anymore.

I had to somehow gather information, I had to find some things out regardless of whether I could go back or not..

[Top Survival Goal: Be a necessary part of the game.]

[Side Quest: University Lecture]

Store currency +0.5

These strange sentences flickered in my field of vision.

I was resuming my activities part because of Yeriel and part because of this. Not only was Yeriel among my “Death Flags”, but that “Store Currency” was quite important as well.

Fortunately, the knowledge, attitude and experience to give the lecture didn’t pose a problem.

[Understanding]

Rating

: Unique

Explanation

: The ability to comprehend things. It’s activated by consuming Mana.

Before being trapped in this world I added [Understanding] mistaking it for something similar to [Sympathy].

I believed in this skill’s performance.

No, that’s not it, it’s just because it was a unique ranked skill. It was the unique rank that only appeared in the latter half of the game and the character I was playing before didn’t even get it.

“Let’s wash up……”

I got out of bed and went into the bathroom. I took off my clothes and turned on the shower.

A clean environment, hot water and a shower with good water pressure. These were all things I liked.

After taking a shower, I opened the door to the dressing room. This room that was bigger than my apartment was filled with all kinds of valuables and suits.

I chose clothes by trusting my instinct.

A white shirt and an aristocratic navy suit. A blue tie and intelligent looking glasses. Then I put a coat over it, sprayed my whole body with perfume and put up my hair neatly, not leaving a single strand unattended.

After that, I looked in the mirror.

“…….”

Honestly this style looked nauseating, but it seemed rather elegant. That overflowing ego felt quite arrogant, but a graceful dignity certainly seemed to mingle with it.

It’s probably the work of [Intimidating Grace], [Aesthetic Sense] and [Noble Etiquette].

In fact I can’t say or do anything against etiquette. No matter how hungry, one shouldn’t just eat one’s food at will, one shouldn’t blabber and one has to act elegant and cultured at all times.

As such it also became natural for me to do that. As if my personality completely changed, it felt as comfortable to use these inefficient manners as breathing.

Even just witnessing crude and unsophisticated behavior, I’d feel scorn and contempt rising up.

“……I won’t let myself get swallowed by this guy.”

This character had a lot of characteristics, especially under the “Personality” category.

What was written in the system log at the moment were: “Noble Etiquette”, “Elitist”, “Mysophobe”, “Authoritative”, “OCD” and so on.

Those personality traits were most certainly transmitted to me.

That’s why even this “obligation” to hold that

His height alone was rather overbearing, at around 190 cm.

He wore formal attire, appearing close to perfection. An eye-catching appearance that had a strong impact on others. The perfect golden ratio was shown by his appearance and clothing.

……Deculein von Grahan-Yukline.

There were no flaws or gaps in him, to the point that he seemed to be “Noble Dignity” incarnate. His elegance flowed into his gait, his speech, his facial expressions, into everything he did.

“That jerk……”

But even these perfect looks seemed like nothing more than a “detestable shell” to some, or rather quite a few.

“Sigh…….”

Ifrin Luna. As soon as Deculein appeared, she vented her anger.

Not only were her words bloody, her actions were as well. She clenched her fists so tightly that she drew blood and bit her lower lip.

He had stolen her legacy, her father’s achievements and had ruined him which had led to his death in the end.

The public praised Deculein as a “Genius in interpreting Magic Circles” but his reputation was solely reliant on her father’s work…….

[…….Attention.]

At that time, a magic crystal amplified Deculein’s voice.

[I shall start the lecture now.]

The spacious auditorium was filled with hundreds of people. Deculein finally scanned the sea of people below his stage. His gaze was as sharp as a knife.

She wanted to immediately pull out a knife and stab both of those eyes.

“That trash……”

However, it was not the right time yet.

Deculein was the enemy she wanted to kill. That was the only reason she applied for the University Tower, but revenge without a proper backdrop would just make her feel regret.

She lived just for this sweet moment, so there was no problem waiting for it a bit longer.

[Nice to meet you]

But…… Maybe she’ll just cause a bit of trouble for him. Suddenly having gotten an idea, Ifrin smiled innocently while pulling down the hood of her robe.

* * *

……I saw hundreds of people in this vast auditorium. Their eyes glistened brudensomely and a vintage styled camera flashed dizzyingly.

I faced all of this alone.

Well, it was weird.

I didn’t feel even a bit of tension.

I just took all these things for granted.

In my life, this kind of treatment was just natural, this attention wasn’t pressuring but a privilege. This noble sense of being one of the chosen ones stuck to my body like skin.

“……Nice to meet you. I’m Deculein of the Yukline family.”

So I just leisurely started my lecture.

The beginning of this lecture was the first line of the script and the introduction of this character named Deculein. 

“I’m a senior professor at the Imperial University Tower and a magician of the “Monarch” rank who governs over the elements. No matter if it’s the water, wind, fire or earth attribute there is no difference.”

It was a sentence filled with an intoxicating feeling.

“…… As is known, magic is largely divided into three ‘attributes’ and nine ‘types’. Attributes include elements, origins and vessels. Types include summons, spirits, destruction, support, control, malleability, harmony, illusion and specialized.”

I was just saying what was written on the script.

Even though that’s all I did, I focused my breath and attention. It was part of the trait “Intimidating Grace”.

“Therefore, a magician can only earn achievements in magic if they work on their attributes and the right type.”

When I finished speaking, I flicked my finger.

Tack!

With a refreshing sound, the lights in the auditorium went out and magic circles filled the air.

“The perfection and release of mana. The realization of that is what we call magic. Therefore, one has to first gain an understanding of the magic circle for the realization of magic to succeed. Now, let’s take a look at the magic circles above.”

I paused for a moment, so the visitors could properly look at the magic circle.

At first glance, it seemed like a geometric figure consisting of multiple lines and curves, similar to fractals.

“This 68 stroke magic circle uses a circuit that looks like a curved indentment, and the mana is first concentrated in the center and is then pushed outwards. What spreads from inside to outside is the nature of “Destruction” and “Support”, but the destruction magic has to be a straight line in the form of an indentation. Therefore, this is a submagic formula. Next……”

The first item on the table of contents was “Foundation of magic”.

The lecture went on for about 15 minutes and I didn’t lose my composure even for a moment. The script flowed so naturally out of my mouth as if it was stuck in there. 

Curiously enough – I completely “understood” the composition of this script I saw for the first time today. 

“……This is how magic is based on magic circles. However, does mana always lead to magic and if one wants to use magic is it really necessary to study magic circles?”

From this point on it was about “How to use Mana”.

Now, the auditorium was holding general students, knights or aspiring students who weren’t magicians so it was a topic out of their scope.

“No. It depends on which part of the body you put your mana into.”

At the end of my words, the magic circle disappeared and a picture of the human anatomy took its place. Its heart, head and abdomen each held a mass of blue mana. 

“First, the “Head”. In other words, the brain. It’s easy to imagine a technique in your brain, so, of course, more complex lines and circles can be implemented. Therefore, magicans usually keep their mana in their head.”

Maybe this guy also had his mana in his head.

In numerical terms “3375”.

It’s not that much. I remember seeing some named characters having an “initial” mana amount of “30000”.

“Next, the “heart”. The heart is the place where blood gets pumped out, so mana that gets stored in the heart spreads more easily. However, it’s difficult to keep it in one place. Therefore, the heart is a better place for knights than magicians to keep mana in.” 

I spoke slowly and easily so that everybody could comprehend the content of the script.

I probably grasped how to give a lecture well through “Understanding”.

“Finally, the “abdomen”. In other words, the lower abdomen. In this area the outside and inside are most often mixed, so its use is universal whether you are a knight, a magician or a normal person…….”

After talking like that, I suddenly checked my watch. 40 minutes had passed.

“……What I want to say is simple. Effort is of course important. However, if you’re not talented enough, you have to consider efficiency. Talent isn’t given to everyone, so most of you need to choose and focus.”

I almost laughed while reading this line.

If you’re not talented enough, you have to consider efficiency — What you need is to choose and focus.

That advice was incredibly fitting for the current Deculein.

“And…….”

I finally reached the end of the script.

But that paragraph was a bit obtuse.

I was wondering whether I should say it or not.

Would the original Deculein have read that?

I didn’t know. I read it in there, so he must’ve written it.

“Lastly, is there anyone who has a question?”

There was only silence.

That’s good.

“If not then-”

When I was about to turn around, relieved that no one had a question, someone raised their hand. Then she got up from her seat.

“Professor Deculein. A mysterious magic technique was found in the Magician’s Dormitory last night. It’s also believed to be the devil’s work, so if Professor Deculein who is said to be a genius in interpreting magic circles could–”

“Are you a member of the University Tower? Well, isn’t it basic courtesy to say one’s name and affiliation first?”

I spoke right away. On the inside I was in a rush, but what I showed on the outside was pure elegance. I instinctively spoke in an aristocratic way.

“What? Oh, my name is-”

“Too late. I won’t take questions from rude children.”

“……Eh?”

The lower part of the robe-wearing magician’s face turned red. 

I’m sorry, but I can’t help it. The mana consumption of “Understanding” is pretty overwhelming.

[Mana : 2005 / 3375]

It’s as much as 1300 points at a time.

It would take a lot more mana to interpret that new circle, I don’t want to overdo it. I think I’m getting dizzy.

“This is the end of the lecture”

puh- phuhuhu-Kuhuhu

In the midst of the ridicule and cynicism the magician received, I adjusted my disheveled sleeves.

I removed the wrinkles from my suit. I put on my overcoat and buttoned it up. Finally, I finished reading the script and came down from the podium.

This sequence of gestures were as natural to me as breathing.  

“……But still!”

When I turned around a loud sound rang in my ears. I stopped in my tracks and turned my head to look back.

The unknown female magician, who was still standing, floated into the air and drew a magic circle with mana.

“Even the Tower refused to interpret it, dismissing it as just some rumor! If Professor Deculein is such a genius, then I think you’ll be able to recognize these lines immediately”

“…….”

I looked at that persistent magician.

How dare you be so hard on Deculein? I wonder if there was a character like that in the game, but that magic circle definitely looked a little weird.

A normal magic circle cannot be defined as just a straight or curved line with different arks, but as dozens of living parasites that randomly intertwine.

The moment I looked at the magic circle — Regardless of my intentions,”it” got activated.

As if my eyes were covered in paint, my vision turned blue, my speed of thinking and calculating had been amplified and time seemed to have slowed down, the smell of something burning lingered in my nose as the brain couldn’t handle the load.

It was only a moment.

[Mana : 360/3375]

 In less than one second, nearly all my mana got wasted.

With that I was “only” able to barely grasp the magic’s identity.

[Illusion type: Barrier Magic]

Comprehending more than this, in other words, to know how to “implement” the technique would require double the mana, which I didn’t have, but fortunately, she didn’t want to know that either.

She just wanted to know the identity of that magic circle.

“The rest of the freshmen in the dormitory are working hard to analyze this, but since it’s vacation right now, there aren’t enough seniors or professors to ask for help. Professor, if you could give us a hint that would-”

“I won’t have to give you a hint. It’s barrier magic of the illusion type. It seems someone was trying to lock you up.”

“……Excuse me?”

“That’s it.”

A confident answer.

The bold magician seemed embarrassed, but I just left the auditorium without looking back.

Bathroom. Bathroom, bathroom. Do you know where the bathroom is? I really need to go to the bathroom……

This is proof that I wasn’t Deculein.

Even if part of Deculein’s personality got transmitted to me, it’s only a part and most of it was still me, Kim Woojin, so my stomach hurt as a result of that extreme mental stress I accumulated without noticing.

–Grooowwwl

Right now, I was the only one that knew I suffered from this very painful physiological phenomenon.

Nevertheless, on the outside I seemed like the perfect model, walking.

“…….”

I walked. She stood still.

So the gap between us naturally shrunk. When I was in her reach I stopped.

“Long time no see.”

She bowed her head to greet me first.

She was a beautiful woman.

White, fine hair and clear, icy eyes. They reminded me of that bloody scene I once saw on the monitor that one day.

Eight out of sixteen of Deculein’s deaths I identified involved her.

“……Long time no see.”

Her name is Julie, this body’s fiancée.

And the named character who will rise to the top of the knights in the future.

“How have you been?”

Asked Julie. It was a question I had no answer to.

I looked at Julie without any expression. If she were a servant she would have looked down without being able to take this look, but Julie just silently waited.

In the end, I only answered with this.

“Fine”

This was the best I could do, however Julie creased her unperturbed forehead. 

She took a deep breath and said,

“Do you remember the promise you made me last week?”

I stood still and looked into her eyes. Deep inside these beautiful eyes, flames of hostility were raging.

“You broke that promise.”

“…….”

It was unknown what promise she was talking about.

I nodded and tried to pass by. I really had to shit.

Julie stepped one step to the side and blocked my way.

“Again, like this?”

That woman didn’t let me run away. She was staring at me with a face as cold as an awl. 

In this situation, the only thing I could do was something rather terrible.

“……We made some kind of promise?”

I really didn’t know, but I still got goosebumps on the back of my neck. Julie’s anger caused a reaction on my skin.

It tickled. My back felt hot. I really wanted to scratch myself, but this noble body didn’t allow such low class behavior.

Instead I continued saying slightly awkward things.

“I’m seriously asking. I had a fever for a few days so I forgot some things”

“Hah.”

The woman’s face was filled with despair.

It was more lament than anger.

“…….God damn it. You’ve lost it now.”

She used a cool and cold voice towards her fiancé.

A mixture of sorrow and discouragement.

“Go ahead.”

She stepped out of the way and I brushed past her. Even with her so far away, the back of my head was still tickling.

After leaving the hallway, I entered the guest bathroom. I looked around to see if someone was coming in and only after confirming that no one was around, I did what I had to do.

“I almost died from that itching…….”

I scratched my back and my neck while relieving myself.

What a tiring personality, to only be able to scratch myself while minding the place and occasion.

That’s why I won’t be able to live a long life.

* * *

Julie spent a long time standing there even after letting Deculein go. The anger and hurt that swelled inside her burnt red hot.

She was trying to force it, but Deculein turned out to be a more difficult opponent than she thought. He was a board member of the university.

“Gosh.”

A young magician of the “Ether” rank wearing a cone hat came along. She was the chairman of the board, counted as a promising archmage candidate, just below the “Eternal” rank, at which one would become immortal, however among Julie’s personal connections her personality meshed the worst with her.

As soon as she found Julie, she covered her mouth with both her hands.

“Oh my! If it isn’t Professor Deculein’s wife?!”

“…….”

They weren’t married yet, she already knew that that guy didn’t use these words to describe them. So Julie just nodded her head.

“That lecture was great~ As expected from a senior professor, he explains really well, that’s what I thought while listening! It would be nice if I could acquire his teaching methods as well.”

“I know. I was watching.”

She tried to cut her off like that, but the chairman grabbed on to every single detail.

“Oh, really?! Were you supporting your husband? Are you finally getting along?”

“…….”

She never had such a romantic purpose as supporting him as his wife.

Today, Julie came to see with her own eyes if Deculein would keep his promise.

Julie made it clear to him.

If you, Deculein, keep your faith, that is, confess your continued deceit to everyone and ask for forgiveness, I will be with you even if the world collapses.

This was not a matter of what shame a broken engagement would bring, or of maintaining a formal relationship to save the family’s face.

It’s just the release of her beliefs she wants to keep as a knight transcending all worldliness…….

That’s all there is to it.

She was sure he’d agree.

“What’s wrong~? Today’s lecture was great.”

Julie nodded, while grinding her teeth despite her natural virtue.

Deculein broke his promise in the end.

Achievements reached by stealing and exhorting them from other people, not by his own ability.  He didn’t even repent on the wickedness and corruption behind it.

He wasn’t even brave enough to do that. Now she really had to give up.

He would forever live pitifully among his manipulated subordinates and his own deceit…….

“……What a little lamb. You’re not much fun today. Well, good luck! I’ll get going!”

The chairman left with her lips pouting.

Julie was still standing on the marble floor as if she’d taken root. Deep inside her were a slew of distorted emotions that seemed to devour her.

His Yukline.

Her own Fryden.

Someday, something which someone told her repeated in her ear.

‘Deculein, who stands out as a magician, and Julie, who has the qualities of a gifted knight. If the blood of our two noble families are in harmony it would be beneficial both in pedigree and politically.’

However, at some point, both noble families came to know that Deculein’s magical talent was nothing but average.

Deculein lied to the world and became a professor, calling himself “Genius of Magic Circle Interpretation”…… After some incident, the source of his theories got cut off.

If the two families weren’t connected to the central politics or if they were less distant, either side would have gone wild.

They were easy on each other because both were prestigious.

If neither of them stepped forward and rejected the other side, the engagement would not be broken, and even if it were broken, Deculein’s sins would not get revealed.

So Julie thought she would have Deculein right his wrongs himself.

Nevertheless, he broke and rejected his evils by acting more firmly than ever today.

If so, now, she’ll have to bring it about herself.

The end of this contemptible engagement.

……No matter what, the end of this relationship shall come.

“Are you okay?”

The lieutenant, standing behind her back like a shadow, spoke in a low voice.

His name was Veron, a man with jet-black hair that covered his face.

Julie shook her head without looking back at him.

“It’s alright. It’s time for the lecture. Let’s go.”

She started walking. A lot of subjects followed behind that thin back.

The immediate descendant of the prestigious Fryden family, also known as master of knights and the Holy Land. Julie, who was also called an example for all young knights of this world, was caught up in her lecture.

Unlike Deculein, who used nothing but words, she held something that could be called a “real lecture” in which she demonstrated herself and swung her sword…….

……One of the knights following her stopped. His red eyes flashed through his thick black hair.

His gaze slowly turned back, glaring at the departing Deculein. A cold, desperate life stretched out towards his neck.

……Julie’s knight, Veron, thought. 

Today, he sought answers to the endless suffering and anguish.

To keep his Lord from danger, this was his chance.

It was only something he could do.

……Let’s kill him.

That, nasty, dirty man.

I shall cut his throat, then dice him into little pieces.

Let’s make my Lord happy…….

* * *

The school cafeteria. 

Ifrin sighed as she rummaged through the pitiful omelette rice.

“……Urg.”

She tried to screw Deculein over back in the lecture hall.

Deculein’s “Magic Circle interpretation method” he was so proud of was obviously just hot air and he couldn’t make use of her father’s ability, so it would put him in a pickle if he were asked to interpret a new technique in a situation he couldn’t cheat in.

Of course, there was a risk of her getting shot down by Deculein……but for him to reverse the situation like that?

She didn’t think he’d turn a person into an impolite idiot just because they didn’t say their name. He’s a tough opponent.

“I thought I’d die out of embarrassment……..”

Puhuhuhu Pfft — The laughter still rang in her ear, but it worked out.

“Pft. Sounds like an Illusion type.”

Ifrin was all smiles.

As expected he must have been embarrassed because he didn’t have any real experience, right?

What illusion magic? If he were desperate, why’d he choose illusion magic? 

Illusion magic is a very difficult type of magic, because in order to overcome and deceive the perception and consciousness of others, it takes a tremendous amount of mana to the point where the cost-performance rate is utterly miserable. That’s why a “Medium” is essential when using most illusion type magic techniques.

But, illusion type magic without a medium?

“You’re not only an idiot. you’re a real idiot.”

That time she felt really satisfied.

“Ifrin! Ifrin!”

A loud voice calling Ifrin along with footsteps approached. She looked over.

They caught her eye last week at the newcomer orientation for magicians.

“Thank you!”

“……Huh? What? For what?”

Ifrin only blinked. That same sorcerer put his hands on her shoulders and shouted.

“The magic circle by the entrance of the dorm!”

Last night, an unidentified magic circle drawn with red liquid appeared on the Sorcerer’s Dormitory’s front door.

It was a magic circle that has never appeared before in the academic world, so people were raging saying things like “It’s the devil’s work”, but now newbies were all motivated saying things like “I’ll analyze it and build my foundation on that”. There was fierce competition for it in each division.

“……What? But I didn’t do anything.”

“Come on. You did nothing? You asked Professor Deculein.”

“……Huh?”

Ifrin felt embarrassed.

‘I didn’t ask him, I just screwed with him, you know? What are you talking about?’

“Ah~ That’s so awesome. We were so scared we couldn’t even ask. You’ve got some balls.”

“Huh? No, wait a minute, that magic is…….really barrier magic?”

Ifrin was bewildered.

‘So you’re saying Deculein was actually right?’

“Yes. Really. If we assume it’s barrier magic and reconstruct from there it fits perfectly. Wow~ Professor Deculein sure is great, isn’t he? There was no medium so how did he figure out that it’s illusion type magic?”

Ifrin’s mouth that slowly opened almost hit the table. From that wide open mouth only the sound of sharp breathing could be heard.

“Thank you, Ifrin. We’re going to write up a report and hand it in. I’ll write your name under it as well.”

“Uh? No, you don’t have…… to do that……but, ye, yeah. Hand it in.”

“Okay!”

They hurriedly rushed away.

Ifrin stared blankly at their back.

What nice people they are. They could’ve just not said anything, but they said they’d share the credit…….

However, the situation itself wasn’t good.

Deculein’s reputation had gone up for no reason.

“H, he just got lucky. Did he guess?”

After some time, Ifrin, who was in denial, took out a piece of paper from her backpack.

It was a plan with lectures, written by the professors at the Tower, which were about to begin.

[Understanding Elemental Magic]

[Grade: Debutant restricted, Advanced (5 Credits)]

[Lecturer: Deculein von Grahan Yukline]

“…….”

Deculein’s lecture.

Although she didn’t have an elemental attribute, that wasn’t a reason not to sit in on it. In the first place, elements were the basis of all magic. Since ancient times, it has been said “Know thy enemy and yourself, then you’ll never lose”.

“Just you wait……”

Ifrin growled, while staring at the syllabus.