Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: How to Steal the Protagonist's Woman
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"I thought I was gonna die..."
An hour.
That was how long it took for me to collapse from exhaustion and finally manage to speak.
I'd only used it once, but the mana drained out of me so fast I thought I was turning into a mummy.
"...Yeah, got it. Thanks for worrying."
I took that to mean a situation beyond healing was death.
The whole time I was out of it from exhaustion and couldn't respond, Armonia gave me a stern lecture.
For a full hour...
I had no choice but to lie there, drained, and listen.
I propped myself up on my left arm.
Ash-colored dust that had blanketed my body scattered everywhere.
I could feel the mana filling back up inside me, but the shock to my body from before lingered strong.
I sat on a pile of the dust like a cushion and spoke to Armonia while staring at the hole-riddled steel plate.
"If I tweak the magic circle a bit, this should work okay, right?"
Armonia's suggested improvements were as follows.
First, the magic circle.
The downside was that using that magic circle openly in front of others on this continent would be impossible. Creating multiple ones at once would cause a huge uproar.
So, it had to be miniaturized.
But that turned out easier than expected.
"Is this size about right?"
I'd shrunk the exact same magic circle from before down to the size of a coin.
Even at coin size, its performance wouldn't differ at all.
What mattered for a magic circle wasn't size, but whether the spells inside were properly inscribed.
I couldn't draw one that small by hand myself.
This was all thanks to the [Imagination Projection] skill.
At this size, no one would recognize it as a magic circle from a short distance away.
"...Yeah, got it."
This was the first time Armonia had spoken in such a commanding tone.
I took it to mean it was absolutely non-negotiable.
The professor's magic circle had infinite inputs, which was still too much for me to handle.
For now, we'd use the weaker but more stable one from the resurrection.
Second, the projectiles.
"Ooh, how much stronger?"
"Holy crap... How much Enel to produce them?"
"Damn Enel... Bullets are too pricey."
But they were worth every penny.
According to Armonia, once my mana pool grew, I could create more magic circles to exponentially boost the power.
Adding two more on each side would dramatically increase destructive power and range.
For now, I'd practice with iron balls and make superconductor bullets with Enel only when needed.
Third, mana exhaustion.
"Yeah, I learned that the hard way. Don't wanna go through it again."
It sucked the life right out of me—I really thought I was done for.
I couldn't use over 50% even if I wanted to, but in my case, wielding large-scale magic circles was like poking a hole in a paper cup: it all leaked out uncontrollably.
"Whoa, but my body's still not right. Can't get any strength back."
Especially in my case, dumping all that mana in one burst instead of gradually hitting 50% amplified the shock.
Staring at the hole-punched steel plate, a swell of pride rose in my chest.
My first brain magic lesson ended on a highly satisfying note.
"You okay?"
"Huh? Why?"
"You look tired."
Luna said that when she saw me in the classroom.
Ever since that exhaustion hit, I hadn't been able to shake the fog from my head.
The other kids barely talked to me anyway, but Luna, who kept glancing my way, must have noticed.
I scratched my temple and replied.
"Ah, drank too much dust. Feels stuffy."
"...? Dust?"
"Yeah, that stuff."
"... "
Luna pouted like she wanted to say something, but then the busty owner of ample assets entered the classroom.
...The hulking assistant professor in charge of magic circle practice.
The moment he entered, he marched to the podium while glaring at me.
'...Shit, he really has it out for me.'
'I'd never forget if I were him.'
The assistant professor wasn't wearing his usual crowd-control face.
He was giving me a murderous glare like he wanted to devour me.
Once at the podium, he scowled around the room.
Everyone stared back like he was a bug.
If it were just one or two, he could bully them into submission with point deductions, but not the whole class.
Gritting his teeth, the assistant professor spoke.
"...Remember how I said we'd have a test today. Front row, come up to the podium one by one."
He sat in the chair beside the podium and called the first student from the front row.
"Louis Brandt Rup."
"Yes."
Louis happened to be in the front row. He stepped up to the podium.
Confirming Louis in position, the assistant professor signaled.
"Begin."
Louis didn't reply and started drawing the magic circle with his fingers.
"""Whoa!"""
Exclamations erupted from every student in the room.
Red lines of light connected in a dazzling display.
Louis finished the magic circle in just 10 seconds.
It wasn't particularly complex or difficult, but drawing it that precisely at such speed was astonishing.
Even the assistant professor next to him looked flustered.
His own circle-drawing skills were clearly outclassed.
I snarked over comms.
'Filthy pay-to-win bastard...'
'That's the problem—he'll think it's his own talent.'
The punk would definitely delude himself that this was his achievement.
I'd think the same in his shoes.
I didn't know his exact magic circle level, but it was definitely higher than mine.
Even rushing, it'd take me 15-20 seconds.
But I wasn't too worried.
As long as I wasn't at the bottom, it was fine.
'Eh, I could still snag second in class.'
'...? What variable?'
'...Shit!!'
I'd been lounging casually, but it hit me—the guy grading us hated my guts.
No matter how well I did, he could zero me out on a whim.
'Haa... Whatever. Guess I'll tank the magic circle class.'
'Hope you're right...'
To me, it looked like he'd slap me with a zero no problem...
No joke—that type ignores higher-ups and does whatever if he's in charge.
Here, he was the boss, so as long as it didn't cause issues, he'd grade however he pleased.
He might even use me to make examples of the other students.
The test dragged on longer than expected.
Excluding Louis, the others took forever on a single circle.
Fast ones took a minute; slow ones, up to five.
Time passed, reaching the midpoint.
"Luna Staatfeldt."
"Yes."
Luna walked calmly to the podium, expression blank.
Up close, she looked much better than when she'd rushed in earlier.
Her hair was neatly combed, clothes tidy.
Still, compared to usual, she seemed a bit disheveled.
Luna stood at the podium, ready to draw.
"Hold on."
"...Yes?"
But as Luna began, the assistant professor stood, ogling her body shamelessly.
Not just me—every student gawked at him in disbelief.
He hadn't done anything overt yet, so we couldn't accuse him outright, but it was already making Luna uncomfortable.
When our eyes met, Luna quickly looked away.
'Isn't that some kinda illness?'
'Guy's insane.'
I'd ignored his pervy antics before.
As long as they didn't affect me, whatever.
But after a week with Luna, one crucial truth had taken root in my heart.
-Luna is mine.-
I didn't want anyone touching even a single hair on her head.
I wanted her devoted solely to me forever.
As rage boiled in my chest, the assistant professor tugged lightly at Luna's clothes with a lecherous grin.
"Your clothes are a mess. Let me fix them..."
"Eek..."
I couldn't take this anymore.
'You bastard!'
That was the moment.
BAM!
Louis slammed his desk and stood first.
"Professor!"
He looked pissed, ready to chew him out.
Not content to just glare like last time.
Not just students—even the professor's eyes turned to Louis.
'Perfect, now!'
Seizing the moment everyone's attention was on Louis, I projected and activated a magic circle on the assistant professor's ass from afar.
I cranked the output higher than what I'd zapped the punk's forehead with.
ZAP-ZAP-ZAP.
"GYAAAH!"
The assistant professor screamed, clutching his rear and tumbling over.
As he fell, grabbing for Luna, she startled and dodged his hand, fleeing down from the podium.
THUD!
He crashed ass-first, the room shaking.
"GYAAAH! You little shit, what did you do?!"
"I-It wasn't me!"
Tears welling, he pointed accusingly at Louis.
The other students eyed the prime suspect, Louis.
The only one not looking at him...
Was Luna.
She stared intently at me.
Our eyes met; embarrassed, I pretended nonchalance and looked toward Louis.
Watching the punk flail and rant was pure gold.
'So what if you're talented? Can't time it right. Dumbass. Heh heh.'
'Got it, I'll watch it.'
With Luna involved, I'd snapped and acted on impulse.
If the punk hadn't moved, I'd have stood up to yell myself.
Plan was to draw eyes to me and zap him secretly, but luck was on my side.
Tears streaming, clutching his ass, the assistant professor rose.
He bellowed at Louis.
"You're expelled!! How dare you attack a professor!?"
"I absolutely didn't!"
He threatened expulsion, but he couldn't pull it off.
What evidence? Everyone saw Louis didn't draw a circle.
But his rage didn't cool.
"Expulsion's not all! I'll personally reprimand your king too!"
Absurd.
No matter his professor power, he was just an assistant.
His reason gone, he was spewing whatever.
Then, a voice came from the classroom entrance amid his shouting.
"No matter how angry, you can't disrespect a king who rules a nation."
"You! Who the hell are you!!"
The assistant professor whipped around, furious.
All eyes turned to the door.
A figure I'd seen once before stood there.
Seeing him, the professor began trembling violently.
"D-Dean!"
The grand archmage and dean of Schutra Magic School.
Ludwig Rippenstein was there.