The Educated Angel (4)

So, which department's class did Refri like the most? The martial arts classes where he was close with all his peers? Or the swordsmanship classes, which boasted the largest faction in the academy?

Neither.

Refri's favorite class was the magic engineering class led by Professor Klein.

'Why? Because magic engineering classes are peaceful. No one beats you up like Rusa, and no one intimidates you like Park Jinho...'

Moreover, martial arts and swordsmanship departments naturally focused on practical training. Staring at books wouldn't improve your martial arts or sword skills. And practical classes for superhumans... Every time Refri had to endure one, he truly felt what it was like to be a normal person sandwiched between Hulks.

That's why Refri loved the magic engineering classes with fewer practicals.

'I can even sleep like this. How great is that.'

Refri dozed off, using the class as a sleeping pill. ASMR, was it? That smooth, pleasant voice perfect for his tastes, paired with topics so complex they lulled him to sleep just by listening. After the hardships of the day, Refri couldn't help but nod off.

"Thus, substituting Akalan's formula shows that red mana isn't completely opposed to blue mana but shares some correlation. So, what caused the antagonistic reactions in the previous experiments? There are several hypotheses. First, in this human realm..."

'Ah, I saw this on YouTube in my past life... The one who won the Nobel Prize in Magic for this was Professor Klein. I think it was the year after next...'

Nod—nod—Refri half-dozed, lost in random thoughts. The other students glanced at him with contempt, while Soya muttered, 'Ah, really... dozing off again?' and fiddled with Refri's arm.

Even so, Refri kept sleeping. After getting pummeled in sparring with Rusa and drilled by Park Jinho, he deserved praise just for not being fully asleep.

"Ahem. Then, Miss Juhyun, what do you think of this hypothesis?"

Whether the boy slept or not, the class continued, until one student finally complained about Refri.

"Professor, if I may... shouldn't the dozing Refri get a chance to answer too?"

"Indeed. He's probably sleeping because he already understands. Miss Juhyun is right."

Thus, all eyes from Professor Klein and the students turned to Refri, and Soya pinched him with a teary face.

"Refri...!"

"Ow, ow. Soya? What?"

"You're dozing off again... and now you're getting called out...!"

Oh no. Refri rubbed his eyes and looked at the podium and students. To the professor and the magic engineering girls, he looked like an angel rubbing sleepy eyes upon waking.

'I want to take a picture and keep it.' A thought shared by several girls.

Professor Klein, momentarily captivated, smiled and said,

"Refri, what do you think is the correct hypothesis?"

What the heck were they talking about? Refri glanced at the magic formula on the board. He wasn't sure exactly, but it seemed to be about the correlation coefficient between red and blue mana.

'What did YouTube say again?'

Refri dredged up his memory and mumbled,

"As various theories suggest, red mana and blue mana aren't complete opposites. Yet in the human realm, they appear fully antagonistic because the fire realms dense with red mana and the ice realms dense with blue mana are polar extremes."

Something like that? He didn't know the exact principles. It was just something he'd vaguely seen on YouTube while eating.

"...Wait, I've never heard this hypothesis... Yes... that's right. Mana tends to cluster by attribute, and fire and ice realms are spaces where such mana is astronomically condensed, so they could interfere with the human realm by breaching dimensional walls...!"

But Professor Klein stared at Refri in shock.

"...Impressive. Not a human realm issue, not mana itself... to hypothesize other dimensions. A true shift in perspective."

Klein nodded repeatedly, then suddenly clapped as if it were truly amazing.

"Everyone, applause for Refri."

The students clapped half-heartedly.

'Professor Klein... overdoing it again...'

Refri didn't enjoy the applause much either. How much more would the prideful magic engineering students envy him now?

"...Not jealous."

Even Soya looked at him enviously. If Soya felt that way, what about the others?

"Teaching assistant, add merit points to Refri."

"Understood."

Merit points? How many did that guy have stacked up already? Ridiculous. Refri heard the same grumbles.

'Professor... are you doing this on purpose...'

Refri sighed inwardly.

'Soya's growth rate is insane.'

Refri concluded, staring at the popup message.

In his past life, Soya couldn't spread her wings due to various trials, but at this point, she wasn't just spreading them—she was soaring.

Of course, the reason was...

'Professor Klein's classes and my life skills collaboration...!'

Klein handled her education, and Refri took care of her daily life. This was the perfect princess ma— no, life maker.

At this rate, Soya would grow far stronger than in her past life, perhaps even becoming a hero who could reach the Demon King.

Plus angel power and...

...titles too. And this title had a very useful ability for classes.

For example, during occasional magic engineering practicals...

Professor Klein sometimes demanded interpretations of magic formulas or demonstrations. Activating this ability then produced near-magic engineering student-level performance.

No... actually much better.

Seeing it, Professor Klein always smirked and said,

"Look at this. Youngsik has never attended a magic academy, private lessons from other mages—nothing. You've all investigated through your families and guilds, right? Hahaha."

Then Klein's expression turned icy.

"Yet some of you perform worse than ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Refri? Can you confidently say you've explored magic engineering on your own?"

And Klein delivered the final blow.

"Award merit points to Refri, and add penalty points to students with lower scores than him."

The classroom atmosphere soured instantly.

Refri hung his head, muttering inwardly,

'Professor... are you messing with me on purpose...'

Hostile glares stabbed at him. Soya, understanding, whispered, 'Don't mind those idiots.'

...Separate from the discomfort, Refri was racking up merit points nicely in magic engineering.

Ten or more merits earned a special potion called Elixir, which randomly developed stats, skill levels, and traits. It was insanely expensive.

Naturally tempting for a materialistic angel like Refri.

And moreover...

'Mix it with heavenly oil for a blessed elixir. Gotta be amazing for the body.'

Such cheeky plans too...

Anyway, Refri loved magic engineering classes. Even if most of the boys hated him... the classes were easy on the body, high scores, and even free merits—who wouldn't like that?

And the boys' harassment amounted to...

"This won't do. That rootless punk... we need to teach him a lesson."

"Yeah, our magic engineering department's honor... tamper moderately to ruin his mana circuits..."

"...Not bad. But who is this rootless punk?"

"Who else? That orphan Refri!"

Orphan Refri. One man muttered.

He had an arrogant expression suiting his slicked-back hair. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The blond youth in a perfectly fitted uniform had a White family crest pin on his tie.

Among first-year magic engineering students, top five in skill, and as the next White family head, he commanded loyalty from some seniors...

Jack White.

"You want to ruin that kid's mana circuits? I almost had mine ruined once; I know the pain well. It hurts like hell, like you're dying."

"Jack... that's..."

"When you all mocked me, that fool healed me. Ha, first time I'd seen someone rush over so desperately... face full of worry... so stupid. Hahaha."

Of course, Refri rushed because Jack might run off after breaking the bracelet, and the worry was for the same reason.

But Jack would never know.

"Hahahahaha! Ha... ha..."

Jack White was laughing. Grinning wide, teeth bared.

But you know? When someone who never laughs does, it's terrifying?

They backed away another step upon seeing it.

"That kid's only 'crime' was healing you entrance exam trash... and you repay it with precious drugs? Ah, this deserves commendation. Real award-worthy."

"Wait, White. That's not what we—"

Jack White pulled something from his pocket and said to the retreating students,

"The award's name... funeral procession fits."

And those students missed class for a week. No one knew why.

But strangely, despite no one knowing, students who insulted Refri started fearing him instead.

Truly odd.

Anyway, the hated Refri in magic engineering...

Hadn't been retaliated against. 'Luckily.' Yet.

Why do people attend classes? Obviously to learn something.

So, what had Refri learned after intensive 'education'—er, abuse—from three professors?

'Finally... all that hardship bears fruit...'

Through that effort, Refri finally gained three new skills.