Chapter 36
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Professor Grand Prostration Counts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"There's no way you can fly on something like a broomstick. Even with high-circle magic, that's tough."
"What did you say?"
The vice president of the Flying Magic Research Club smirked at me mockingly.
The other three were laughing at me too.
"There's no way you can fly on something as lame as a broomstick? Pfft. Hehe."
"Brooms are just for cleaning, Ian."
"Why ride around on a broom when there are all these cool flying devices?"
"Won't your crotch rip if you ride one of those?"
What?! Riding a broom is common sense for mages.
Not only was the difficulty of broom flight an issue, but these guys were reacting like, 'Why the hell would you ride a broom?'
"You're a funny guy. No brooms here, so pick one of these."
I had no choice but to roughly select one of the beginner-friendly flying devices the vice president introduced.
They were all bulky and heavy, so it didn't matter which I chose.
"As you can see, this one's aided by artifacts, so just infuse it with mana and it'll fly. But it'll guzzle your mana. So it's best to ride it briefly and land before you exhaust yourself."
I boarded first, following the vice president's guidance.
As he said, when I poured in mana, it hummed and lifted off.
It really just hovered there, nothing more.
And the mana consumption was insane. Felt like almost 500 per second.
In the end, I could only hover for 3 or 4 seconds before landing again.
"This is basically the same as just jumping, isn't it?"
"Yep. All these devices are like that. Use magic instead of artifact aid, and mana cost drops. But you need the skill to cast that magic. The better you research spells and raise your circles, the more proper flight you get."
"Can't I try flying another device with flight magic?"
"Sorry, can't let you at the experience stage. Dangerous if you're not proficient. Join the club if you're interested and practice."
So the free trial ends here.
We each had our awkward flight experiences and left.
[Title: Tried the flying experience]
Author: Kim Muggle
Rode something like a mana stone-crusted brick and hovered for like 3 seconds.
Said I wanted to try proper flight with decent flying magic, but they told me to join the club for that.
Seems fun if you get serious, so I'm thinking of doing it, but problem.
Said I wanted to fly on a broom and got fucking laughed at.
Impossible to fly on a broom?
Those bricks suck lol
You gotta learn flight magic eventually. Flight's a field where efficiency matters a ton, so design schematics are key. Newbies like freshmen will be stuck on bricks for a while.
But why ride a broom? Planning to clean while flying?
Who's dumb enough to fly a broom lol
Seen guys on flying carpets, but a broom? What?
Once you develop the magic, anything's possible. But why a broom? Sky cleaning duty?
Broom's gonna burst your balls lol
The gallery reactions were similar.
At least as archmages, they figured you could ride a broom with enough skill.
But the question of 'why a lame broom?' persisted.
These mages clearly don't get the romance of the broomstick.
Fine. I'll show them me flying a broom and flatten the academy snobs and gallery alike.
Once they see the cool factor, they'll shut up.
"I've decided."
I stopped dead in my tracks while walking and declared it.
Hisenna, Elrim, and Chayuri walking with me startled to a halt too.
Chayuri being here made me uneasy, but oh well.
I'm flying that broom no matter what.
"I'm joining the Flying Magic Research Club."
"Oh, no!"
"Uwaaa... Nooo..."
"Great choice!"
Mixed reactions.
Why are they freaking out over me joining a club?
Anyway, the club was decided: Flying Magic Research Club.
As week two hit, academy life ramped up for real.
Free time went to training and third-circle magic practice.
I'd mastered about half the essential third-circle spells CantDoThisEither uploaded.
Third circle wasn't the freebie second circle was.
Of course, easy third-circle spells I picked up quick.
But complex constructs and orders took multiple practices.
Even [Lake Water Purification] hadn't succeeded on first try.
Won't be one-and-done anymore.
As the archmages said, basics and effort matter now.
Is this dude really a muggle?
First spell: 5th circle. Used 3rd circle a month after learning magic.
Training speed's insane too.
The gallery said even this was ridiculously fast.
Whatever. For me, keep training, raise circles. Can't fight success. Gotta get stronger.
And even attending the academy, I'm still under the chancellor's threat.
Never know when danger hits, so fast growth is good.
"Let's begin class."
Back to [Precision Magic Studies].
The class where I ignored the prof last week and carved mana stones for 11 minutes.
Professor Jury's terrifying glare was still fresh.
Made me overly conscious of her eyes.
Today's class went normally.
Unlike the test last time, Professor Jury started with theory lecture.
Theory's boring, but gallery said study it hard.
At least [Precision Magic] theory applies practically, unlike history.
I was diligently following the textbook when,
Tak tak tak!
"Cadet Ian Isaac?"
Professor Jury irritably tapped the board and called my name.
I looked up in total panic, dumbstruck.
Corner loner vibes... No time for that.
Unexpected callout had my palms sweating.
What? I was listening fine.
"Y-yes?"
"What's with that attitude during lecture? Planning to keep your head down snoring?"
"N-no, I wasn't sleeping, I was just looking at the book..."
Professor Jury misunderstood strangely.
I'd been listening with ears while eyes on the textbook.
Corner loner thing. Awkward eye contact with teacher tenses me up.
Just an introvert's way of class.
"Sleeping openly in my class is unacceptable."
"Y-yes, ma'am..."
Not sleeping, damn it. And people doze off sometimes.
But as ex-corner loner, nodding was safest.
Happened in school too.
Ears red, but I occasionally lifted my head to listen.
Her assumption pissed me off, but no desire to agro in class.
Would've let that one slide.
But,
"Cadet Ian Isaac?"
"Ian?"
"What are you doing?"
It wasn't once or twice.
Cough too loud? Called out.
Shift for comfort, chair squeaks? Called out.
Asked a question, then chewed me for not knowing.
Okay, I didn't know it. No early education like others.
"Now for practice. Use [Razor Wind] on your mana stones. As I said, precisely control the [Razor Wind]'s size. Precision magic is about 'precise' computation."
Hellish theory over, practice time.
I started on my mana stone.
From 20cm [Razor Wind] to 0.1cm fine cuts.
Practice controlling simple 1st-circle magic precisely.
'Not hard.'
[Razor Wind]'s basic 1st circle.
Finished quick.
Shuuu- shuuu- shuuu- all good first try.
Other cadets still practicing, so gallery time?
[Title: Precision Magic prof hates me]
Author: Kim Muggle
In mana stone carving class, prof nitpicks me nonstop.
Head down reading book? Why sleeping? Move chair? Too noisy.
She hates me, right?
Because I ignored her and did 11 minutes last time?
Even so, singling me out like this ain't right.
Flip her off? Make her Grand Prostration?
Grand Prostration on prof = legit lol
This guy's obsessed with Grand Prostration lol
Doesn't even have basic prof decorum.
Prof's kinda bitchy? Nitpicking petty shit ain't right.
Yeah, profs shouldn't nitpick like that. Calling out book-reading is nitpicky bs.
Getting scolded by teacher is scary~
Fr profs suck sometimes.
Profs have their own gripes...
Meditate. Don't waver over small things.
Kinda shitty tho. Seems openly hostile from the post. Not test-related, anything else?
Nah nothing. Feels like excessive targeting just me.
Then unprofessional. Next bitchfit, confront her.
Don't assault, but protesting's fair.
You can say one word. "Prof, you hate me?"
Academy can't discriminate beyond skill.
I'd stab.
"Cadet Ian?"
While gallerying hard, Professor Jury's voice cut in.
Looked up: her glaring down dissatisfied again.
Gallery backing fueled my sudden anger.
Why only me for nothing?
"Not practicing? What are you doing?"
"I'm done."
"...Pardon? Y-you expect me to believe you finished so quick?"
I showed the completed mana stone instead of arguing.
"You expect me to believe this?"
"Yes?"
"A freshman did this quality work in that short time? Others are still practicing."
"I did it."
I did it all. What's the issue?
Sees the work, still bitches. No clue how to respond.
Real discipline needed? But prof, not cadet.
This is straight tyranny.
"What can I do? I just did it."
"...Did you really do this with your own skill, Cadet Ian Isaac?"
"What? Of course..."
"—So, no cheating? Be honest."
——!
Her words shocked the classroom.
Cheating? On this crap?
"Cheating on something this simple?"
"Yes, simple. Unlike the class placement exam."
Why bring up placement exam?
I could only gape stupidly at her nonsense.
"Cheat on a hard exam, you'll cheat easy ones too."
Wait. That's not it.
This prof... no, what is she—
"I suspect Cadet Ian Isaac cheated on the class placement exam."