Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: How to Steal the Protagonist's Woman
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"No magic for one week."
"…."
I bowed my head and clutched my stomach upon hearing those words.
'Holy shit!'
'Still... I used half my Enel, and it was all for nothing...'
It was Enel I had to spend, sure, but the empty feeling gnawed at me.
The professor saw me hunched over, groaning inwardly, and approached.
"...Student, what's wrong?"
"Ah... Sorry. My stomach just started hurting all of a sudden..."
The professor was a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in black robes.
He was skinny, with a deeply unpleasant face.
There wasn't a shred of concern in his expression.
"You think you can take my words lightly just because your stomach hurts?"
"...Pardon?"
"Deduction: 1 point."
'Fuck!'
'Goddamn it!'
I'd just started, and already I had a deduction, drawing every eye in the class.
The professor returned to the podium and continued.
"I don't care who you are, and it's none of my business. But if anyone's attitude in class is lax, they'll get deductions."
There were nobles among the students here, yet everyone sat ramrod straight, listening intently.
"There are no royals or nobles here—only students and professors. Got it?"
"""Yes."""
The class responded in crisp unison, full of vigor.
I was pissed, so I just opened my mouth without saying anything...
"Let's start over. No matter the situation, you are not to use magic for one week."
The professor briefly explained why magic was banned.
This continent, home to Schutra Magic School where I'd arrived, used magic circles for spellcasting.
Not incantations spoken aloud, but a place where only magic circles had developed.
Unproven students using them could easily cause chaos, so to prevent accidents, magic was forbidden in all cases.
Especially to avoid fatalities at a magic school.
He'd boasted there were no royals or nobles, but harm to them would be a huge hassle.
"Now, my formal introduction. I am Wolfgang Davrek. I teach Magic Circle Usage and Flame Magic."
As his words ended, polite applause filled the room.
Clap, clap, clap.
Dude, clap~
I just pretended to clap this time too.
"For the next week, we'll focus on one subject: Magic Circle Usage. Students in the front row, come to the podium, take the bracelets, and distribute them to those behind."
They hurried up tensely.
Except one, who ascended with elegant poise.
Louis Brandt Rup.
'Hmph, get dinged by the prof.'
Unfortunately, no such fun happened.
I took the bracelet from the guy in front and turned it over curiously.
'Just a silver bracelet.'
As Armonia said. The professor explained.
"That bracelet materializes your magic circles."
Magic circles didn't appear just by drawing them.
You had to shape mana inside you while drawing, or no spell would fire, he said.
Beginners often focused on drawing and lost their mana, leaving pretty shapes on the floor.
This bracelet instilled the sensation of infusing mana while drawing.
"Wear it and draw a circle. It'll glow in your primary element's color. Everyone, try drawing a circle in the air."
They began tracing circles in the air with fingers.
Red, blue, brown, sky blue.
Colors of all hues started shining everywhere.
It was like elementary art class.
No one could even draw a proper circle.
They made fluorescent bulb rejects that'd get sent back.
'Heh, they really suck.'
'Me? Sure~ Wha?'
Magic Circle Usage LV 1 has awakened.
Corrected to Magic Circle Usage LV 43 due to Hand Skill LV 555.
Same message as from the village chief's house.
Exactly like when Old Lockpicking LV 25 appeared.
We consulted after, but couldn't pinpoint the cause.
'Hm... Even limited to hand skills, it's pretty damn good, right?'
I got Armonia's unease.
'Why? Scared a god'll demand it back later?'
Nothing scarier than getting something just to have it taken away.
'Armonia.'
'Then let's use it hard till they take it.'
If it's gonna be taken, might as well abuse it.
Less regret that way.
...Hope I don't get cosmic ban like exploiting a bug.
I drew the magic circle.
A perfect circle, leagues beyond the others.
Perfectly precise, machine-drawn, no wobbles or distortions.
But mine had no color yet.
Primary element undecided, probably.
Just a white circle.
'Ooh~ Not messing around.'
I admired my circle.
The professor at the podium addressed the class.
"Draw something fancy if you've practiced before, and it won't end with deductions."
He threatened instant expulsion for full spells.
So all I did was practice circles.
While drawing, I snuck glances beside me.
Not just me.
All the guys nearby peeked too.
Luna Staatfeldt.
Luck had seated me next to her.
Or not luck—manipulation.
Class assignment and seat felt too coincidental.
But she ignored me, diligently drawing shapes.
'Damn, draws clean. Not as good as me, though.'
As Armonia said, Luna's were pretty, but mine outclassed.
The professor wandered, inspecting, and stopped at Luna's.
"Name?"
"Luna Staatfeldt."
"Merit points: 3."
"Thank you."
He brushed off her reply and came to me.
Furrowing his brow, he stared at my circle for a minute.
Then spoke.
"You. Name."
"Seong Suho."
"...Odd name. Merit points: 10."
He moved on.
'Jackpot!! Deduction canceled?'
'Shit...'
Merits didn't cancel deductions, Armonia explained.
Deductions absolute, merits relative for benefits.
Top 10 merits: free use of labs, training rooms.
Top 30: weekend off-campus.
Top 50: weekend outings.
Merits mattered for dorms too, alongside grades.
More the better.
Only Luna and I had merits in class.
I drew stares again.
This time, murmurs.
All sorts of talk buzzed.
'...Annoying as fuck. Here we go again.'
'Shut up...'
The professor silenced the whispers.
"Who said you could talk? So relaxed. From now on, looking at others' circles earns deductions to heighten tension."
They folded like paper, frantically drawing reject bulbs.
I traced my white circle, sinking into narcissism.
'Hoo... Perfect every time. I'm a genius.'
'Drawing circles seems tougher than expected.'
Even perfect, one took time.
Hand-drawn, after all.
Simple now, but later dense runes and shapes? Daunting.
I erased mine and sighed.
'Haa... Like this every one? Gonna suck later.'
'Fun now 'cause it's easy, but motivation's gone. Pop if I think the circle. Huh?'
Poof.
A circle appeared before me.
Class ended, evening came.
I sat on a terrace chair, chatting with Armonia.
"What a day."
I checked my status.
A new trait:
-[Imagination Projection]-
"Is this even a power...? Does it do everything?"
Imagination Projection: Project mental images into reality, making them feel real.
"I always did that jerking off. Thought it was normal."
I'd always pulled women from my mind during solo sessions, focusing fully.
Family entering? Didn't care—or notice.
Actually, past memories of rage from interruptions...
But I did finish.
Not innate, though.
"Did I desperately want it, and it appeared?"
I'd thought a circle and wished it'd draw—boom, magic circle.
-[Imagination Projection], [Magic Circle Usage LV 43]-
Bracelet synergy made imagination materialize, not project.
Armonia warned, seeing me.
No human here manifests circles by thought—be careful.
Could get dragged somewhere...
Like immortality experiments back home.
Absurd in a mage-dominated world.
Later, in my room secretly: easy to manifest with bracelet anywhere.
"Practice only in room. Caught? Headache."
"Heh, I am kinda amazing."
Mid self-praise, a voice.
"You were impressive."
"Gah!"
A calm woman's voice from behind jolted me off the chair.
Turning: one woman stood there.
Luna Staatfeldt.
No reason for her to seek me, yet here.
The one I'd vowed hellish revenge on with stolen hand.
She spoke bluntly.
"The magic circle... how?"