Academy’s Genius Mage

The situation was entirely different from when Ian Oracle sensed Ophelia’s spirit, Undine.

Back then, he was unable to see Undine’s form; he only perceived wave-like energy with the aid of glasses his father had passed down to him.

“Even so, compared to that, it seemed the current situation was somewhat better now.”

At the very least, he could see the spirit’s form. He could also feel its texture and hear its sounds.

However, it couldn’t be said that this was the spirit’s true appearance.

Since Ian didn’t yet know what kind of spirit this was, accurately guessing its form was impossible.

“Let’s not rush. Take it slowly and try to converse. There has to be a clue.”

Ian leisurely spent time reclining on his bed with the cat.

A story Wilson had shared with him popped into his mind from the times he spent alone at the mansion.

Animals have places they like and dislike to be touched, he had said.

Each animal has different preferred spots for this.

He also recalled that cats are significantly more sensitive compared to dogs.

“Physical contact is the most important non-verbal element when beginning a new relationship.”

Ian calmly took his time touching the cat all over.

And shortly, he received a surprising result.

“Does it like being petted everywhere?”

Wherever Ian touched, the cat squeezed its eyes shut and burrowed into his hand, demanding more strokes.

“Meow.”

It was indeed a puzzling situation.

“Then again, it seemed to follow me much more closely.”

He felt as though the look in the cat’s eyes carried deeper affection for him.

“Meow!”

The cat meowed cheerfully.

As expected, Milo Vinettia and Edel did not hear the sound, remaining engrossed in their respective tasks.

“Meow!”

The snow-white cat rolled on Ian’s belly and darted around the dorm room.

At times, it even climbed up onto Milo’s broad back.

Watching it, Ian couldn’t help but laugh.

“What an energetic little one.”

Perhaps because he had only ever seen dignified and businesslike spirits, this was a refreshing sight.

“Hmm? What’s up?”

Feeling a strange gaze, Milo quickly turned his head. Their eyes met squarely.

Ian felt a chill run down his spine.

The nightmare of the Great Library came rushing back.

He found himself once again in a situation that could unintentionally lead to a bizarre misunderstanding.

“Why are you looking at me with such a creepy look? Is there something on my back?”

“No, not really. Just…”

“Wow… Ian Oracle even stammering? Really weird today. Are you sure you’re not sick?”

“Right, you’re acting a bit odd today!”

Edel chimed in.

While Milo’s nonsense could be ignored, Edel’s words carried a certain weight. They were quite serious, one could say.

“I’m experimenting. I’ll explain later.”

“You aren’t conducting some sort of strange experiment, right? You didn’t set anything up on my bed, did you? A bomb? No, couldn’t be that. Surely not Senior Gaus’s invention!”

“That thing’s not finished yet. He say it’ll be done by tomorrow.”

“Oh, right.”

“I met Gaus earlier, and he was praising you. Said you were more useful than expected.”

Ian quickly diverted the conversation, and the effect was immediate.

“As expected! A genius recognizes another genius!”

Milo boasted with a smug expression, nodding his head emphatically.

Ian didn’t want to share it because he disliked seeing this kind of attitude, but there was no choice if he wanted to escape the current awkward atmosphere.

When Ian gestured, the cat quickly lept and dove into his stomach.

Ding-dong!

At that moment, an alarm rang from the direction of the door.

It was a sound he had heard before—the signal from the mailbox, indicating the arrival of a new message.

“I’ll go check it out.”

Edel opened the door and exited.

The rough mechanical noise from the mana printer was heard.

A while later, Edel returned and read the content printed on the paper.

“The results of the student council election are out! Sebastian and Ophelia got elected, they say.”

“Really?”

Though some amusing things could have happened if they hadn’t been elected, Ian felt slightly disappointed.

“Forget about Sebastian; Ophelia got elected? Are you sure that’s right?”

“No, I read it correctly. She got elected.”

“Damn, that’s unbelievable!”

Milo’s reaction was more than just emotional.

In reality, right after the incident of disobedience, there was much talk among the students about Ophelia being unsuitable for vice president.

Therefore, there were many predictions that she would withdraw from the election.

However, Ophelia did not give up on the election.

And she obtained the result she desired.

Although Ian’s help played a part, it was her own repentance that moved her peers’ hearts.

Particularly, volunteering at the salon, even at the cost of her pride, was the turning point.

It was truly a case of turning misfortune into a blessing.

“Besides, it’s not like there was any alternative, right? No one else ran for the position anyway.”

“I’d rather the position remain vacant than have that sly woman as vice president.”

“In that case, why didn’t you run? Just complaining won’t help. You should express dissatisfaction while presenting alternatives.”

When Ian taunted Milo, his face turned red. He found it annoying how well Ian knew his weaknesses.

The three of them returned to their separate activities again.

While observing the cat for a while, Ian noticed something peculiar.

‘The cat’s behavior seems to be following some kind of pattern.’

It seemed like it wanted to convey something through its gestures. It circled around Ian, sending various signals.

However, those gestures were wild. Being human, Ian couldn’t understand them.

Once more, Ian began to have doubts about the fact that this cat was a spirit.

‘No, I can’t give up like this. Should I ask the others?’

Ian turned his head.

“Edel.”

“Yes?”

Edel, who had recently gained an interest in studying ancient languages, looked back at Ian.

“Do you happen to have a cat at home?”

“A cat? No. I like them, but I can’t keep one. I live in a healer’s house, so we can’t have animals. Their fur could be bad for patients.”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

From that one word, Ian gathered that Edel’s father was quite a professional.

“But why the sudden interest in cats?”

“I got curious about something. I’ve never had a cat, so I didn’t have anyone to ask.”

“Does it have something to do with your current research?”

“No, not exactly… or maybe I should say it is related?”

At that moment, Milo slowly turned his chair. Sitting in a manner fit for the boss of an organization, he crossed his legs arrogantly.

“If it’s about cats, I know a thing or two, my friend. We have about ten at our family estate.”

“Let me ask you something.”

“Is that the way to ask a question?”

Milo grinned slyly.

Ian had momentarily forgotten just how vindictive Milo could be.

“I’ll tell you something good later.”

“I’m not asking for much. Just introduce me to Isera’s friends.”

“… That might be difficult for a while.”

“Why? You get along with your senior, don’t you?”

He couldn’t reveal what had happened at the Great Library. He could only hope that Isera would forget about it.

Ian rose from the bed.

“I guess I have no choice but to ask Ophelia. The Drias Marquis family probably has more than ten.”

“I’ll tell you! I promise I’ll tell you!”

Apparently, Milo disliked being compared.

Ian, who smiled subtly where Milo couldn’t see him, casually turned back. He then asked a curious question.

“Hmm. So you’re saying the cat meows a lot, prowls around, glares, and bites?”

Milo confirmed Ian’s explanation. Ian nodded.

“Does that behavior mean something?”

“It has a very important meaning. If it’s displaying those actions, the cat is hungry.”

“Hungry?”

He hadn’t thought of that at all.

‘Come to think of it, it hasn’t eaten anything since I met it in the library until now.’

It might not have eaten anything before then either. Yet, simultaneously, he had a strange thought.

‘I heard that spirits don’t need to eat. Hungry?’

Ian rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

Even in that situation, the cat nipped at Ian’s leg or rubbed its face against him playfully.

‘Hungry… What does being hungry mean for a spirit?’

Ian found himself deep in the mire of thought.

Watching him closely, Milo let out a deep sigh.

“Ha, he’s such a self-absorbed guy, isn’t he? Like a sly rascal who takes the core and escapes. He won’t starve out there; he knows how to take care of himself.”

“Still, isn’t it cool? Seeing him so deep in thought like that…”

“Are you into him or something?”

“W-what are you talking about!”

Edel reacted angrily.

Milo, scoffing, then immersed himself back into adjusting the experimental apparatus.

Meanwhile, Ian’s vague thoughts managed to capture a lead. Gradually, it became clearer.

‘When a spirit is hungry, it doesn’t mean it needs food. Food is strictly human language. Consuming food provides strength and vitality… So, what’s the way for a spirit to acquire strength and vitality, just as humans do by eating food?’

Ian jumped when a single word sprang vividly to his mind while petting the cat’s chin.

‘Mana!’

Why hadn’t this simple idea occurred to him before?

Mana is the most fundamental force constituting nature, and it also acts as the medium that allows spirits and various races to exist in this world.

‘But that’s not all.’

Ian believed there was a more fundamental reason behind the cat’s repetitive behavior.

‘It’s not just hunger. Perhaps it’s necessary to share my mana to create conditions for some sort of communion.’

An intriguing hypothesis took shape.

Ian was a descendant of a renowned theoretical mage. Thus, he knew well that a hypothesis without experimental proof was pointless.

A hypothesis only becomes a theory through verification via experimentation.

Therefore, Ian immediately began the verification process.

Wooong!

Ian gathered pure mana at his fingertips.

A peculiar thrill and the pulse of his circle made his heart pound.

Mana, imbued with a blue light, pooled at his fingertips like water.

When Ian extended it towards the cat, the cat quietly lapped up the mana.

After a short while, the cat had absorbed all the mana.

“Hoo…”

Ian felt a dizzying sense of exhaustion.

He gathered all the mana within his circle. He instinctively felt that it was necessary.

The opponent was an unknown spirit.

He thought that approaching with a light heart would lead the spirit not to open its heart.

That thought proved to be true.

『Hello?』

For the first time, Ian heard the cat’s voice.

However, the exhilaration didn’t last long.

『You pitiful human! You’re worse than a rotting fish head! Not even worth a dog… Ah, is that too harsh?』

Ian’s mind went blank for a moment.

‘Did I… hear that wrong?’

Yet, the cat’s fierce words lingered too vividly.

Eventually, the cat sighed and sprawled out on the bed.

It was reminiscent of someone who had lost a fortune in gambling.

The reason soon became clear.

『It’s been a while since I’ve felt a favorable aura, decided to give some of my attention, and ended up with such a lousy person. They say life as a cat is real… Damn that Spirit King! Fall into the demon realm! It’s been so long since I came to the human world! … Eh?』

Ian, holding the cat in his arms, hurriedly ran outside. He wanted to confirm something in a quiet place.

『Let go, you loser human! This body isn’t meant for your touch! Let gooo!』

The cat struggled.

But ultimately, it was just a cat.

It couldn’t escape Ian’s grasp.

Ian, having reached a secluded spot outside the dormitory, asked, “What are you? What kind of spirit are you?”

『Why should you know? Hmph! Telling a dimwit like you wouldn’t mean anything; you wouldn’t understand anyway. It’s a waste of breath.』

For the first time in his life, Ian was called a dimwit.

“Weren’t you here to make a contract with me?”

『I was at first. For a human, you seemed a bit shrewd and reasonably diligent, so I considered it… and your mana is what? 1st Circle? 1st Ciiircle? On top of that, you have Mana Concentration Disorder? Is this for real? Eh?』

The cat poked Ian’s cheek with its paw.

Ian grabbed the cat’s paw. Then the cat swatted Ian’s cheek with the other paw.

『How dare you interrupt while the elder speaks!』

Yet Ian didn’t give up.

He grabbed hold of the other paw with his hand.

“Let’s make a contract. I need your power.”

The cat’s two forepaws were held tightly. Still, the upper hand belonged to the cat.

『A contract? Why would I?』

The cat was more arrogant than any human.

However, Ian’s reaction was peculiar. He was smiling. This was not the response the cat had predicted.