Academy’s Genius Mage

The first lecture was a fundamental course for freshmen only.

“The History of Magic Theory, huh. Haha! The title sounds good! There should be many pretty girls in the class, right?”

Milo was excited, quite unbecoming of his large build. He spun his chair around, cheering.

Ian clicked his tongue.

“Is your mind filled with nothing but thoughts of women?”

“Of course, a man thinks about women. What, should I think about men instead?”

“…”

Faced with Milo’s unexpected logic, Ian couldn’t find words to reply. Beside him, Edel quietly chuckled, covering his mouth as he gathered his books.

Ian spoke up.

“Still, you must have had your eye on someone.”

“Not a single one, really. I barely got to see any of our peers. Everyone’s been holed up in the dorms slurping potions.”

“And what about the ladies you worked so hard on in social circles?”

“That’s there, and this is here. The tender love exchanged within the academy walls! Isn’t it romantic? You can attend social gatherings anytime, but you only get one chance at academy life.”

“You’ve got peculiar tastes.”

“As a virgin, it’s not something you can understand. Hehehe.”

Ian almost unconsciously formed a spell rune.

Just then, Edel’s eyes widened as he asked, “Wow, really? You’ve never been in a relationship?”

“Well, I just didn’t hit it off with anyone!”

Ian replied, regretting canceling his spell rune. He should have used magic to blow Milo away.

“Don’t be fooled, Edel! He’s just saying he’s given his heart to none to cover up his playboy nature.”

“I knew it!”

“There must be secret passages in the Oracle Family mansion that we don’t know about. Ladies must have snuck in and out every night. Maybe that’s why no social gatherings have ever been held at the Oracle mansion.”

It seemed like they were about to switch careers to detectives.

Edel nodded fervently in agreement with Milo’s guess.

Ian wanted to blast them both away.

This was what double-casting spells were for, but he hadn’t mastered it yet.

“You’re handsome, Ian. I bet you’re quite popular, unlike someone.”

“Damn it! Ugh! God is unfair!”

“Actually, it seems pretty fair.”

Ian retorted. Naturally, Milo couldn’t accept it.

“How so?”

“Generally speaking, one could deduce that mana is inversely proportional to appearance. You scored 982 points, Edel 221 points. I scored 77 points.”

“Hmm…”

Milo’s expression turned ambiguous. It suggested that he was less attractive due to his high mana score.

Thinking his colleagues were contemplating too deeply on his casual comment, Ian advised, “Let’s get ready for class. We need to leave soon. We’re out of time.”

“Ah!”

Startled, Milo stood in front of the mirror, starting to fix his hair, even humming a tune.

Anyone seeing this might think he was heading to a social event.

But it was inevitable. So far, they haven’t had the chance to mingle with classmates, let alone seniors. They needed to either attend classes together or participate in department or study group events to build connections.

Thus, one could say that real life at the academy begins after the term commences.

Having completed his hairdo, Milo turned swiftly to Ian.

“How is it?”

“I don’t see any difference.”

“Don’t just glance; take a good look.”

“I once heard from our butler that the completion of a hairstyle is the face.”

“Damn it! Curse it! To hell with it!”

Frustrated, Milo scratched his head vigorously. His once neatly styled hair became tousled in an instant.

“I haven’t even caught a glimpse of any lady’s lace, and yet someone has already locked eyes with a senior for a library date. The young ones today, it’s truly the end times!”

“You don’t mean me, do you?”

“I have this one acquaintance with a pathetic mana score of 77. I’m talking about him.”

“Hahaha.”

Ian laughed heartily.

Milo often felt envious of the connection he had formed with Isera.

“Be honest. You didn’t just write the paper, did you? You created a new, secret history together in a secluded place, right? Isn’t that what happened?”

“What nonsense is this? What would you do if our senior heard that?”

“I’m not worried about that. Do you really think Lucky Seven, our loyal friend, would betray us just because he’s blinded by love?”

“If it were sympathy instead of friendship, maybe he would.”

“Hey!”

Milo had given Ian the nickname Lucky Seven.

He was inspired by Ian’s mana level of 77.

Ian liked that nickname. After all, the number 7 was one of his favorite numbers.

“Milo, don’t forget that I’m listening too.”

At that moment, Edel cut in. Milo’s carefree expression became serious.

“Each favor should be returned. Hmm? Thanks to whom did you get the elixir, and now you plan to betray me?”

“What are you talking about? I’ve never received an elixir from you.”

“What?”

“I got it from Ian. Didn’t I?”

Ian nodded with a smile.

After his mana assessment, Edel gained confidence and was able to interact more comfortably with both of them, allowing for such jokes.

Edel grinned.

“When I meet our senior, I’ll be sure to tell her there’s a roommate with mischievous thoughts.”

“Oh no! What an oversight on my part, Sir Edel. If you need anything, just say the word. I’ll get it for you.”

“Hmm… I don’t ask for much. Perhaps you can forgive my fines.”

Milo sighed and glanced at Ian, who willingly nodded. Thus, Edel’s debt returned to zero.

“But are you really saying nothing happened with Senior Isera?”

“Not every interaction needs to lead to something.”

“Treat her well. After all, she’s the lady who saved your life.”

Ian chuckled softly.

Even if she was a noble of a vassal state, the difference in their family status was vast.

Most importantly, Ian was not interested in youth romances.

He realized that introducing himself through conventional methods would have been nearly impossible.

‘In that sense, I’ve indeed been fortunate.’

It had been a series of coincidences. He received help in a crisis, uncovered a new formula together, and co-authored a paper. Quite impressive for having met only twice.

Hence, he found himself curious about Isera.

There was a lack of information.

‘To get closer, it should be through club activities. I wonder what club is Senior a part of? Somehow, it feels like she’s not involved in anything.’

At the Royal Academy, students often engaged in student-led activities. Among them, club activities were the most prominent.

Upon choosing a department and school of thought, one inevitably focuses solely on that. Club activities were encouraged to enrich the academy life with hobbies.

Participation was optional, and joining multiple clubs was fine.

‘I should ask her later since there’s a need to get closer.’

Not because of her beauty, but because she’s someone with the insight to see through his speculations. She might even possess skills at a professor’s level.

Ding dong! Ding dong!

The sound from the mana speaker announced the call to prepare for class.

“Let’s go.”

The three left the dormitory, carrying both tension and excitement and headed to the lecture hall.

* * *

Engrossed in conversation, the three entered the lecture building but paused in their tracks.

Isera was standing in front of the lecture hall.

Milo asked, “Isn’t this the basic core course?”

“It is.”

“No way you’re retaking it, right? What’s up?”

At that moment, Isera’s gaze fell on Ian. She straightened from leaning against the wall.

‘Has she business with me?’

Ian felt a slight tension.

He bowed slightly to Isera, who was looking directly at him.

“Hello, senior. We meet again here.”

“I heard about your mana measurement results. They were awful, weren’t they?”

“That’s satisfactory for me.”

Ian Oracle gave a cool response, causing a new light to flicker in Isera Hebraim’s eyes.

“Hmm! Hello there. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I’m Milo Vinettia. Please take care of me!”

“Hello! I’m Edel Heinz. Please take care of me as well! But, senior, I…”

Noticing that Edel was plotting something mischievous, Milo grabbed him by the neck and hurriedly fled toward the lecture hall.

As a result, only Ian and Isera were left in the hallway.

“Forgive them. My roommates are a bit unusual.”

“Have you grown that close already?”

“There’s no reason not to befriend them, is there?”

“You seem a bit different from the rumors.”

“Well, they say I’m a recluse. I suppose that’s my fault for staying cooped up in the mansion.”

Isera, who had been watching Ian intently, casually handed him something. Ian’s gaze followed her action.

In her hand was a thin book.

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

Ian accepted the book without thinking.

Written on the cover was the title: “New Techniques and Applications of Basic Magic – Focusing on Lightning Magic.”

Ian recognized the title well. It was a paper that he had recently completed and submitted along with Isera.

“Has it been reviewed already?”

“Not yet. It’s one of the copies we prepared for submission. I thought you should have a copy, regardless of the outcome.”

“Thank you.”

Publishing a book with one’s name on it, especially a book related to magic, was quite exciting. It had been Ian’s goal.

‘I didn’t expect my goal to be accomplished so soon.’

He felt as though he was walking on air.

Ian planned to return to the mansion soon and place the paper before the portraits of his father and mother.

“You came all the way here just to give me this. Next time, just call me, and I’ll come to you.”

“That’s not the only reason.”

“What else then?”

“It’s about the next paper topic. What magic do you have in mind?”

It was such an assertive question that Ian momentarily wondered if Isera had entrusted him with the paper’s topic.

“I haven’t planned any follow-up research yet…”

“I heard you’ve improved the Fire Bolt spell. You must know improvement techniques for other spells as well. Even if you don’t know now, you will eventually.”

“Did you peek into my mind?”

“Just answer.”

For the first time, Ian realized that the woman who always seemed so cold and aloof was now showing signs of impatience.

Isera was revealing her desire.

It wasn’t a romantic desire towards a handsome junior. It was a challenge and conquest desire towards the vast systematic study of magic.

‘In that aspect, it’s quite similar to the senior. No, not just similar, almost identical.’

When a warm sense of camaraderie arose, Ian laughed.

Isera’s eyes, upon witnessing that laugh, sharpened like icy daggers. They almost pierced him.

“Yes, it’s true that I’ve improved the Fire Bolt spell process. I’m experimenting with other spells as well. But it’s difficult right now. As you know, I need to focus on the potion business for the time being.”

“If you want to write the paper alone or are thinking of someone else, you can just tell me honestly.”

“No, I really don’t have any intentions like that. You’re the only person I know, senior.”

“Then just share the process, and I’ll handle the rest.”

“I can’t do that.”

Ian spoke decisively, and Isera looked at him as if surprised.

“I understand about the paper on Lightning Magic, but for the next one, I can’t agree. Even if we’re co-authors, I want to take on a part of the writing myself.”

“Why? There’s an easy path to gaining fame.”

“I don’t want to hear that I succeeded just because I met the right senior.”

Ian spoke indirectly, but Isera understood the meaning right away.

“Alright. Then I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”

“Yes.”

Isera turned away without any hesitation.