Strata Magic School (3-3)
"Finally, just the two of us."
"…."
I couldn't tell exactly what expression I was making.
But one thing was clear: there was a high chance I looked disappointed.
Unaware or perhaps fully aware of my feelings, the Dean began inspecting the inside of the carriage with a smile.
"The world has truly improved. To think you can buy safety and other people's time with money…."
"Isn't that the same as the past?"
Just looking at Strata made it clear it was far removed from the medieval era I knew.
People hired others with currency, bought goods, and built their lives around it.
Though gaining the immense trust required to even enter Strata was another matter….
I'd even heard Strata was the only city that accepted currency from virtually every nation.
A man who'd built such an incredible city—but that was only the current story.
"Back when I was wandering the world in my prime, currency was a state's exclusive asset. Individuals couldn't freely accumulate wealth."
"Oh…."
The Dean began regaling me with tales of the old world, clearly enjoying himself.
Mostly stories of wars, but they held my interest anyway.
He had a decent way with words, making the tales engaging in themselves.
Midway through an especially lively anecdote, he let out a sigh and gave a wry smile.
"Sometimes when I share these with the professors, some can't comprehend. They dismiss it as tales of inefficiency and abnormality. Do you think the same?"
"Not at all. I get it."
"Oh ho…."
I couldn't fully understand, but I didn't need to.
The world always changes.
It's fine to understand and judge a civilization from your own perspective.
But criticizing and condemning it from that same self-centered view only proves your own barbarism.
It's no different from me feeling superior while reading about life in the Joseon era.
"The present we're enjoying now will eventually be judged by our future descendants anyway."
"Ho…."
The Dean nodded at my words.
"One who roams the cosmos is indeed different."
"Haha…."
I wondered what face he'd make if I said I roamed the universe stealing women. That piqued my curiosity.
But curiosity aside, it was time to get to the point.
"So, what's this about?"
Time to ask why he'd shattered my fantasy of cozy alone time with Luna.
The conversation with the Dean had been enjoyable.
But that enjoyment fell far short of compensating for dashed expectations.
Hand over Luna….
Gazing at me warmly, the Dean smiled and spoke.
"I've been too much of a nuisance, haven't I? My apologies."
"It's not that bad…."
It went beyond nuisance into outright sabotage.
But saying so would make me seem petty, so I gave him an out.
Not quite a nuisance… but you still ruined my mood!
Armonia: Why not broaden your mind a bit? You can see Luna anytime.
Hmph!
Armonia: Sigh….
My mood comes first!
Hearing Armonia's sigh—like she was dealing with a childish little brother—I waited for the Dean's next words.
He gave a wry smile, then got to the point.
"Did you enjoy this trip?"
"…?"
Odd phrasing.
We'd left Strata less than five hours ago—hardly a full trip.
Yet here he was, casually asking for my personal thoughts and overall impressions as if the entire ordeal had already reached its conclusion and been settled for good.
His next words made it click.
"It seems you've been quite busy for about a month this time. How was the other world?"
"Ah…."
Only a few hours had passed for me away from Strata, but the Dean had gauged the time from the discrepancy he sensed in me.
Meaning he'd tracked roughly how long I'd been gone each time I vanished.
Monster… total monster….
But that wasn't important right now.
I needed his intent behind the question.
"Various things happened."
"Heh heh… Still, I'm glad to see you back."
"…."
The Dean had secretly asked me for a favor once.
To kill him….
Not even Zodiac knew, nor did Armonia.
He wouldn't be desperate, but he'd be anxious.
I was an unknown entity, possibly the only one who could end his life.
Next most likely was Louis….
If I failed to kill him, the Dean might turn foe and side with Louis.
I had to find a way to kill him while staying in Strata.
Well… plenty of time left.
The Dean was anxious, not impatient.
A man who'd lived five hundred years wouldn't balk at three more….
As I pondered in silence, he seemed to read my thoughts and spoke with a pleased smile.
"While you're in Strata, I'll help with anything I can, wholeheartedly. Just say the word."
Now I grasped the conversation's purpose.
Don't suffer alone—ask for help if needed.
Help, huh… Ah!
Come to think of it, the Dean was the foremost expert on Magic Circles among those I knew.
If even he didn't know, no one in the universe would.
That was it….
"I do have one request."
"Oh ho. Didn't expect you'd bite so quickly."
His tone carried a playful lilt, but he nodded right away.
"What is it?"
I activated the Magic Circle-wielding bracelet and began drawing one in the carriage air.
A spell that popped out in 0.1 seconds with thought took ages by finger.
As I drew, the Dean's pleased smile shifted to narrowed eyes, intently studying the Magic Circle.
I finished and cautiously asked.
"This Magic Circle… can you make it work properly?"
The Magic Circle I'd shown was the random Magic Trap from the embassy.
The smile vanished from the Dean's face.
One might think it was because of the "weird" Magic Circle I'd drawn… but no.
"…Impressive."
He was purely astonished by the "novel Magic Circle" I'd created.
"Knowledge born from one world's foundations only applies there. Sure, there are common denominators, but only when the categories are universal."
Magic Circles were this continent's unique knowledge.
Fusing it with external knowledge wasn't easy, especially for something specialized like Magic Circles.
It took years—no, decades, even centuries of research.
Yet I'd blended such knowledge in short order, perfectly crafting something new and simple.
Scrutinizing my Magic Circle, the Dean continued.
"Looking at this… it won't work in our world. It doesn't use mana, but some other energy source… I can't pinpoint it exactly."
No matter his genius, without encountering magic infection, he could only abstractly grasp it through the Magic Circle.
I cut to the chase.
"Can't it be done?"
"…."
He pondered deeply, then spoke.
"It can. Or rather…."
"…?"
"I'll make it work."
Gone was his leisurely demeanor; now he brimmed with enthusiasm.
"But a day or two won't suffice. At least a week."
"No rush on time."
"Then…."
His voice filled with uncharacteristic fervor, he stared piercingly at my Magic Circle.
"It's been ages since I felt like a student taking an exam."
After that, he fixated on the Magic Circle I'd drawn, saying nothing more.
Pure focus.
Hope it works out.
Armonia: The Dean has mastered Magic Circles. He'll likely produce good results.
Here's hoping. The Magic Trap is great, but its flaws are too big.
Armonia: The embassy dungeon will become Su-ho's domain.
What I asked the Dean was to modularize the Magic Trap.
It only worked in poison-infested dungeons.
The Magic Circle itself was plenty useful.
But even useful tools had fatal flaws.
Randomness.
If I could dismantle and reassemble all the Magic Circles in the Magic Trap….
That fly like Cho Kang-hyun shows up in the dungeon? It'd be my tomb, pyramid pharaoh-style.
But at least hordes of those thugs from last time would be easy pickings.
Stay quiet for now.
With that thought, I turned to the important errand I'd put off.
I closed my eyes and went to sleep.
..
..
The coachmen arrived at the village and began their tasks.
One handled lodging for the guests, another tended the horses, another the carriage.
The most troubled was….
"Uh, what do we do?"
Our guide coachman.
The Dean's focus hadn't broken upon arrival.
No, not even after.
He stayed in the carriage, concentrating on reassembling the Magic Circle I'd requested.
The problem: his focus was so deep he hadn't thought to get out.
Not just the coachman was stumped.
Sonya, Karl, Luna, and Louis felt the same.
No one dared interrupt the concentrating Dean easily.
Guess I have to step in….
This mess was my doing. My puzzle to solve.
I called to the Dean inside the carriage.
"Dean."
"!?"
I'd just spoken, but the coachman jolted like a ghost had appeared, trembling.
From elite to fanatic to now "coward"—that'd be his new title.
Ignoring the coward coachman, I looked at the Dean.
"…."
Too focused to hear me.
Shaking my head, I gripped and shook his shoulder.
Shake, shake….
"S-Su-ho?!"
"Kuhk!?"
The coachman wailed like his life was ending; the others stared in shock.
Luna wore the most startled look—more worried than surprised.
Ignoring her, I shook the Dean's shoulder.
"Dean! Snap out of it!"
"Huh?"
The shaking and my booming voice finally roused him; he looked around bewildered.
Luna and the others stared rigidly.
After scanning awhile, he turned to me.
"Where…?"
"We've arrived at the village."
"Aha…."
Embarrassed, he climbed out of the carriage.
Once out, he said to me,
"The problem you gave me… it's truly difficult. But it filled my mind with enjoyable thoughts for the first time in ages."
"Haha…."
"I need to work on it more, so I'd like to head to the inn early."
"I-I'll escort you!"
The guide coachman led the Dean to the inn.
As they vanished, silence fell.
But it was a silence with all eyes fixed on me.
Feeling their quiet stares, I sighed inwardly.
Are they trying to help… or just annoy me….
Armonia: ….
In the end, through dinner, I was grilled not just by Luna, but Sonya and Karl too.
All except Louis, who ground his teeth in silence….