Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Why Don't They Know This...?
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Someone once said it.
Expectations breed disappointment.
So I hadn't really held out much hope...
"Sorry, I can't teach someone who's not too bright."
So why did it still sting so much?
"...What? What did you just say?"
"Oh, was that a bit harsh?"
I'd let a rude comment slip out without thinking.
But seriously, it was easy.
Why couldn't she get it?
"Let me explain again."
"...Fine."
I could see Charlotte trying to calm herself down.
At least she still wanted to learn, so I switched to an even simpler explanation.
"Before making a circuit, you need to understand how mana moves. The rules of mana are still a mystery, but there are patterns in certain situations. We call those 'mana values.'... A circuit creates that 'certain situation.'"
"Got it so far."
"Good. Now I'll show you how to calculate mana values."
There are things called prime numbers—numbers divisible only by 1 and themselves. Mana values are similar to randomly generated primes. The Perkio Hypothesis, which I'd solved not long ago, was related to this.
Of course, what I was teaching now wasn't some puzzle. It was much simpler by comparison.
"When you stimulate mana in its normal state, its properties change slightly. Plug that into the equation I came up with, and you get the mana value."
"... ."
"From there, it's just straight calculation."
"So, if I understand this equation, I can find the mana value?"
"Exactly. Once you have the mana value, you use the circuit to control the mana. Easy, right?"
Charlotte stared blankly for a moment.
"Fellow student? You're going too fast."
"Huh?"
She looked frustrated. And I was the one feeling frustrated.
"You still don't get it?"
This was straight from the main text of my assignment.
Rachel Arte had said this part was fairly easy when I asked her once.
Of course, comparing to a professor was a bit unfair, but even to me, it was genuinely basic.
Was it? Maybe it was hard?
...It did seem kind of complicated.
"This isn't basic at all—it's beyond advanced. How is this beginner stuff?"
"That's what it is."
"Ugh, this is why geniuses are..."
"I'm not that smart."
"You little... "
For some reason, Charlotte was getting angry. Why was she pissed?
Unable to hold back any longer, she stormed out of the lab.
"...What?"
We still had so much left.
I hadn't even started on circuit design.
"Her resolve is weak."
The lesson ended before it even began.
Another day passed, and "that day" arrived. The one I'd desperately hoped wouldn't.
What day was it?
The first day I'd attend classes from every department, by imperial decree.
"Look at this schedule..."
First period: Magic. Second: Magic Engineering. Third: Alchemy.
Every day was like this, except for one free day out of five. The bizarre mix of different majors was downright eerie.
My grim future had finally become reality. No backing out now that I'd committed.
I clenched my fists tight.
Steel myself once more, I pulled out a box.
After Charlotte fled, I'd returned straight to the dorm. The box was waiting at my door.
It turned out to be new textbooks supplied by the academy.
Lucky break—I'd worried I'd have to buy them myself.
There was also a letter from the president with words of encouragement, but I hadn't read it yet.
I grabbed the textbooks for today's classes and left the dorm.
Now, activating "ChatGPT Navigation" to avoid getting lost, and I was ready to go.
"Nice weather."
The sun was blazing, but a perfect breeze made it ideal for a day out. Normally, it'd put me in a great mood from the morning.
"Woo, pumped."
I hyped myself up as I walked.
My route to class was a bit different today. Different classrooms meant different paths, naturally.
"Hope nothing happens here."
A strange feeling washed over me. Yesterday, I'd wished it was all a dream. Now, I was hoping for something else...
Was I asking for too much?
"Nah, my wishes are simple."
Hoping not to get hit by a car isn't weird at all.
Mine was the same caliber. Pretty modest lifelong dream.
So why did this keep happening?
I thought about it.
This was just some irrational persecution.
Yeah, anything else wouldn't make sense.
"Not my fault."
Rationalizing it lightened my mood a bit.
"Oh, here we are."
The classroom I really didn't want to enter.
I took a deep breath and grabbed the doorknob. Opening it, no eyes turned my way.
No one paying attention to me was oddly comforting.
At least the classroom wouldn't turn into a zoo calling me a crazy multi-major nutjob.
"Phew..."
I lucked into an empty back-row seat and pulled out my pristine major textbook, flipping it open.
"Good morning, everyone."
The professor who entered soon after was Meriel Gardner.
"Oh."
Come to think of it, she handled the Magic Department. Seeing a familiar face was nice.
Meriel Gardner smiled brightly and spoke.
"The midterm was easy, right?"
No one answered. She looked a bit awkward at the cold response, but as a student, I knew.
This silence came from immeasurable agony.
Midterm? Easy—for her, sure.
I had no clue as a first-timer in Magic Department classes. But students don't lie. This lecture seemed tough.
Our department had easy tests... Not anymore.
"Ahem. The final will be hard, so start preparing now."
Sighs escaped everywhere this time. She seemed flustered again, but I got it.
If a professor says it's hard, students can't solve it.
"D-don't worry. It'll be open-book..."
Professor.
Best to stop there.
Not many want to know their doom...
"...Anyway. Let's start today's lecture."
Meriel quickly reviewed concepts up to the midterm, probably for my sake.
Principles of magic, the process, controlling mana with spells, low-tier spell calculations. Interesting stuff flew by. I jotted it all down.
The main lecture was on "Creating Magic Spells," not as hard as feared. Fun enough that I looked forward to practice.
"That's it for today. Enjoy your lunch."
The class ended.
My take?
"Manageable."
Separate from adaptation pains, it was way better than I'd dreaded.
Too early to judge after one first-period class, but...
If it stayed like this, multiple majors might not suck.
Graduate with tons of degrees? Profit. Filial piety to parents, too.
"Rain student."
Meriel approached as I packed my books.
"How was the lecture?"
"Good."
"Right? Some say it's hard, but since you were coming, I toned it down. Easier to adjust that way."
"Really?"
I thought for a sec and said,
"You could do the regular difficulty."
"Oh? Really?"
"Yes. It was easy for me."
"Nah, that's 'cause you're you..."
"No, if it's easy for me, it's easy for everyone."
"...?"
"Anyway."
"Hmm."
Felt like I'd said something dumb, but I just spoke the truth.
"Then I'll bump the difficulty back up. Wanna grab tea? Got something to discuss."
"Th-that... Sorry, but I have the next class right away."
No tea with professors, even without class. Lucky excuse.
"Oh, right. Magic Engineering is pretty far... Hurry along."
Haha.
Professor.
Shifting departments is a pain anywhere.
"See you."
I bowed slightly and left.
The way to Magic Engineering was familiar. No system needed.
"Let's begin the lecture."
And this one was Rachel Arte's.
If asked if I had a friendly professor, I'd kill them and say:
Rachel Arte.
This familiar class was heaven amid my adaptation hell.
"Rain student."
After class, Rachel approached as expected.
"Surviving?"
"Better than expected."
"Oh ho."
Rachel grinned.
Regretted my words.
"Then we can keep researching like befo—"
"Sorry, next class. Gotta go."
I bolted.
Thankfully, she didn't chase. Considering my situation, maybe consideration on her part.
Not grateful. Don't say it if you know.
"...Next is Alchemy."
Not super rushed, but I headed early.
New professor—better make a good impression.
My situation's weird, but grading's the same.
"System, directions to Alchemy Department."
I followed the system's guidance. Alchemy was close—no long trek.
"This it...?"
I peeked through the back door cautiously.
Early, so empty, it seemed.
I slipped in to snag the last back-row seat.
"Huh."
Not quite empty.
One person hidden by the angle and dim interior.
"Hm? Who's that? New face."
All chairs faced front—except one facing back.
The professor's desk.
A woman there eyed me.
"Oh, right—one more student was coming..."
She stood and approached.
"Your name?"
"Rain Ortiz."
"Knew it."
She was a beauty with obsidian eyes.
A decadent aura...
Someone flashed in my mind.
"You're the genius, huh?"
Got it.
Pelliana Miron. Runia Academy's most infamous professor.
Rumor: Her students never sleep...
"Let me warn you now."
She warned me.
"I'll hold you to a higher standard than others. If you think you'll coast, think again."
Hallucination?
Somehow...
"Get ready. Rain Ortiz."
She disliked me already, on first sight.