Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Precision Magic Studies
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"Everyone, pay attention. I'm going to explain today's test."
I was in the middle of posting on the gallery when the professor, who had introduced herself as Juery, began her explanation.
I figured I'd listen first and then ask the gallery for advice.
"As you all know, this is the [Precision Magic Studies] class. Everyone should understand what 'precision' means in magical computation. Today, we'll just be checking your current skill levels. Of course, this will count toward your grades, so do your best."
Damn. What the hell does 'precision' even mean? Shouldn't she start by explaining that?
This is why private tutoring is a problem. Everyone comes in having studied ahead, so even the public academy skimps on explanations.
Poor commoners like me, who couldn't afford early education, have nowhere to turn!
"I'll demonstrate first. Then, come up one by one and carve the magic stone exactly like I do."
With that, an assistant brought over a box filled with sparkling stones.
Professor Juery took out one magic stone from inside.
It was an unprocessed, rough lump.
"This is the cheapest and most common magic stone, 'blue quartz.' But depending on how you process it, it can be used in all sorts of ways, making it essential for artifact crafting and most other applications. It's not very hard and has a regular particle structure, so it's relatively easy to shape as desired. In other words, if you can't do this properly, you don't belong in A-Class."
Gulp.
The cadets' throats bobbed at Professor Juery's words.
She'd called it easy, but everyone instinctively knew it wouldn't be.
Professor Juery demanded a high standard.
"I'll restrict you to the 1st-circle spell [Blade Wind]. Time limit is one minute. No, I'll give you a generous three minutes. Of course, you won't need all three, but since it's the first class."
I knew the 1st-circle spell [Blade Wind] at a basic level.
It consisted of a single, sharply curved blade-shaped construct.
The effect was a single line of razor-sharp wind slicing through the air.
It was an intuitive and simple spell, but as a 1st-circle, its power was weak.
The width of the blade wind depended on how you adjusted the size of the construct.
To carve that tiny magic stone, I'd probably need to draw the spell formula smaller than a fingernail.
Otherwise, the stone would split in two or I wouldn't get the precise shape.
Ah, so that's why it's [Precision Magic Studies].
The spell formula's shape stayed the same, but you could adjust its size, line thickness, and more.
That allowed for targeted range control and flexible use depending on the situation.
[Precision Magic Studies] was apparently a class for honing the ability to fine-tune spell formulas down to the tiniest details.
"Alright, let me show you. Just carve the stone exactly into this shape, like I did."
Professor Juery held out the magic stone where we could all see it clearly.
Her mana began to shimmer.
It was restrained and intricate like a finely cut gem, yet dazzling at the same time.
Professor Juery immediately began carving the magic stone.
Shooooosh-
The magic stone shaved away in an instant the moment Professor Juery cast [Blade Wind].
I couldn't even guess how many tens of [Blade Wind]s she unleashed in that brief moment.
Every time I blinked, more of the stone was carved.
It had clearly started as a rough lump, but it quickly took on a distinct form.
There wasn't a hint of hesitation or error in Professor Juery's magic.
Even though it was just a 1st-circle spell, the level of her construct was on another plane.
It was like the difference between a novice who'd just picked up a brush and a master painter of decades.
She meticulously adjusted the single-curve [Blade Wind] construct,
carving away even the finest particles of the stone at perfect angles.
Sometimes a puff of dust-sized blade winds.
Sometimes one the width of a finger joint.
Mixing various lengths of constructs, something was completed in a flash.
Whoa...
The cadets let out sighs of awe as one when Professor Juery's blade winds stopped.
In her hand, the ugly original stone was gone, replaced by a single blue rose.
The rose was so realistic that each petal looked vividly alive, intricately carved.
She called that easy? Even just carving a simple sphere would be tough, but every single petal with that level of detail?
"Whoa... As expected. She's famous for being picky."
"How are we supposed to do that? Such intricate carving with [Blade Wind]..."
The other cadets reacted the same way.
Her calling it "easy" earlier must have been a total bluff.
This professor had a tongue as sharp as Elrim's.
"Alright, let's begin. Test ends after three minutes. Or if you break the stone beforehand. First up: Cadet Hera Orbis."
"Why me of all people...!"
The cadet named Hera Orbis looked utterly dejected when her name was called.
She was one of the girls who'd been trash-talking me pretty viciously behind my back.
"Start as soon as you're ready."
"Y-yes, ma'am."
Hera stepped forward, looking miserable as she gripped the magic stone.
The moment everyone held their breath to watch,
Hera, the first on the hot seat, began her test.
Click- Kreeek- Crack- Kak-
Hera's blue quartz shaved away at a sluggish pace.
Compared to Professor Juery's gale-force [Blade Wind]s, it was visibly slow.
"Stop. Three minutes up."
Hera hadn't produced a rose even after three full minutes.
She'd carved diligently, but it was more scarred rock than rose.
"Abysmal. Next."
"Ugh..."
That was Professor Juery's entire evaluation of Hera.
Having shown such a pathetic display publicly, Hera slunk back to her seat in humiliation.
She took her carved stone with her.
Professor Juery advised her to practice more at home.
After that, Professor Juery's harsh critiques continued.
"Abysmal."
"Are you planning to cut your own hand off too?"
"How did you even make it to A-Class without controlling a mere 1st-circle spell?"
"Ha? You've gone and split the damn stone in half."
Almost none of the cadets managed to replicate Professor Juery's rose.
A few got somewhat close to the rose shape, but even they got an earful.
"...Hm. Cadet Elrim Shuskalra? Omit unnecessary strokes from your spell. Practice drawing your constructs as small and concise as possible."
"Y-yes, ma'am."
Very occasionally, cadets got advice alongside the venom.
Everyone quickly realized that was Professor Juery's way of showing satisfaction.
Even her satisfaction wasn't swayed by the results themselves.
So the ones who only got insults were even more pissed.
"What makes that guy better than me?"
"Right? Wasn't mine closer to a rose?"
"This is bullshit. What if her standards are totally arbitrary?"
The cadets grumbled among themselves.
But from what I could see, Professor Juery's standards were crystal clear.
How finely they'd honed their [Blade Wind], that 1st-circle spell.
The satisfied cadets all showed their personal quirks in their [Blade Wind].
In other words, they'd practiced that single-line construct so many times, habits had formed.
The way to 'precision' might be ridiculously simple.
Simple, but brutally hard, so most overlook it: effort.
"Seems like the ones who did well got the advice..."
I pitied the grumblers who couldn't see that.
Enough that I muttered it aloud without thinking.
"...What'd that guy say?"
"Hey, what'd he say?"
"Ah, nothing. Ahem."
But when they heard and reacted, I hurriedly cleared my throat and looked away.
Classic shut-in loner move: play dumb. Didn't expect them to hear... embarrassing.
Did I say anything wrong, though? They're the ones who sucked.
I wanted to snap back, but the magnanimous me held my tongue.
I quietly snorted and opened the gallery.
Title: Guys, emergency!!! Precision Magic test incoming, what do I do?!
Author: Kim Muggle
It's [Precision Magic Studies] class, and boom, surprise test. What do I do?
They want us to carve a 'blue quartz' magic stone into this shape with [Blade Wind]???
(Photo of Professor Juery's carved blue quartz rose)
She went super precise shiiiit in a flash and bam, rose done.
The kids before me all got roasted as 'abysmal.' No one's succeeded yet. Best they did was make a scarred-up rock.
Scarred-up rock lmao
Lulu-chan's never been to an academy like that, but stone carving is fun~ I make jewelry as a hobby sometimes~
Precision control in computation isn't that hard^^
Just smash it all and reassemble from the powder.
lmao this dude has no brain
Smash to powder and reassemble lmao
Hm. If I'd known about the precision test, taking 'Changelings' Spinal Fluid' beforehand might've been good.
What's that got to do with it?
Men and women excel at different ability factors in spellcasting. 'Changelings' Spinal Fluid' lets you tap into female factors too, boosting precision talent. But you probably didn't take it. The backlash could've been brutal—might not have woken up this morning.
Got it. Precision suits women more, yeah. I'm a guy who could do it if I tried, but probably can't. Pain's the issue—if I took it yesterday, I'd have to come to academy as a girl today lol
Going to academy as a girl is worth trying once in life
Or skip weekend and take it Monday morning before class?
;;
What the hell, these guys. I asked for help.
I get that women's mana structures favor precision.
So what do I do about it?
"Next. Hisenna Perryhill."
Then it was Hisenna's turn.
Like the others, she stepped forward and immediately started the test.
Pit- Pit-
Hisenna carved the blue quartz with decent precision, if slowly.
A bead of sweat dripped from her cheek as she intensely focused her [Blade Wind] on the stone.
The whole classroom zeroed in on her stone, drawn by the different vibe from the previous cadets.
"Stop. That's enough."
And just like that, three minutes flew by.
When Professor Juery called time, Hisenna held a blue quartz with a rough shape.
She hadn't managed individual petals, but it looked like a budded flower.
"...Hm. Be bolder. Have more confidence in your own magic. Then you'll become a better mage. Well done. Next."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
The classroom buzzed at the first "well done."
No one dared complain since it went to Hisenna of all people.
Frustrating, but everyone acknowledged it.
I turned back to the gallery.
So, no methods???
Just do your best. You're there to learn, not get lucky. Go learn properly.
It's not life or death if you fail. Just try. No one's holding a knife to your throat demanding perfection.
Just do it. That's practice level. Learn what you're lacking.
Freebie mentality is pathetic
Meditate once before the test
Precision isn't hard^^ You'll get better with practice. But to do even a bit well, focus your mind. Visualize the finished shape first, then compute the spell activations in reverse from there.
Reverse-engineer from the finished shape?
Still sounds tough. They all said it'd be fails, and I didn't expect to succeed either.
Just give it a shot.
And shortly after, my turn came.