Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Shall We Check, Man to Man?
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"Professor Juri suspects that Cadet Ian Isaac may have cheated during the class placement exam."
What the hell is this lady talking about all of a sudden?
"What? What did the professor just say?"
"Cheating? So that was real?"
"But then how did he beat Hera back then? Was that cheating too?"
Professor Juri's bombshell remark had even the cadets in the middle of practical training starting to murmur.
Cheating? Obviously nonsense.
Thanks to showing my skills in arithmetic class, those suspicions had been fading.
But now a professor—not even a regular cadet—was saying this, so the cadets started whispering again.
"What are you talking about? That's ridiculous..."
"Then prove it. Redo the practical assignment with pure skill. I'll watch with both eyes wide open."
That much is easy, of course.
But just letting it slide like that doesn't sit right.
This is clearly a situation where I've taken unnecessary flak because of Professor Juri.
Getting picked on throughout class was already unfair and infuriating, and I'm not bowing my head this time either.
No matter that she's a professor, this is straight-up baseless tyranny.
Subject: Guys, hurry hurry!! Urgent - Professor picking a fight
Writer: Kim Muggle
That professor who just spoke? Legendary fight-picker.
Was doing a simple practical, finished it quick and was about to gallery-surf,
then she comes at me asking if I'm not doing the practical, total bullshit.
So I say 'It's so easy I already did it all,' and she flips out saying I must've cheated.
Then suddenly she's like 'You cheated in the class placement exam too, right?'
Finally schooled that delinquent chick and cleared the suspicions, but now this professor has the kids whispering again.
Of course when a prof says it, the idiots think it's legit.
Should I put up with this? Even if she's a professor, this ain't right.
Right now she's telling me to redo the practical, so I'm about to.
Practical's an easy assignment, so I can show it off right now, but I've been dealing with bullshit all day and don't wanna let it slide. What do I do?
Am I overreacting? Honestly, isn't the professor the weird one here?
That professor a real psycho?
This is blatant discrimination. You gotta fight back legitimately!
I can't take this.
Professor Grand Prostration lol
Hooooook-! Professor Grand Prostration, this is governed-
Ao, if it was my prof I'd really not take it
But really, would a prof do this for no reason? It's weird she's going this far over the 11-minute thing
Just slap her with Grand Prostration. If she's suspecting an innocent guy, even a prof's gotta pay the price
Professor Grand Prostration for real lol
The Archmage Gallery's great mages were thinking the same as me.
This really is an incomprehensible situation.
No matter how I think about it, I didn't do anything wrong.
Dragging cheating into it over the 11-minute thing is crossing the line.
Scary as a professor is, I have to speak up.
If I let it slide here, I'll be dealing with rumors again.
"I'll show you. But if I pull off the practical perfectly here, what then?"
"...What?"
"I've never cheated. Even from a professor, throwing around suspicions like that crosses the line. If I really nail the practical in a flash... do the Grand Prostration."
I went and said it.
Elrim and Hera, with their trauma, let out stifled yelps at the word.
"Hmph. Go ahead."
I picked up the magic stone.
The opposite side from where I'd already done the practical.
Just like before, I carved the magic stone flawlessly with [Blade Winds] of varying sizes.
Shk- shk- shk- shk- shk-
In a flash, I etched shrinking [Blade Wind] traces onto the magic stone.
The practical completed at the exact same speed as before.
"What, that fast?"
"Where'd he learn that precision?"
"He's good."
Even accounting for A-Class, my speed must've seemed fast.
The cadets murmured once I showed my speed.
I looked at Professor Juri with a smug expression, but she was furrowing her brow.
"...At least this is real. I'll apologize for this incident. Class ends here today."
Then Professor Juri arbitrarily ended class and left the lecture hall.
"Do the Grand Prostration! Professor!"
What the hell? That professor ran off without doing it.
She's a total thug.
"Um... Ian. Did you do something to Professor Juri?"
"Do something? I've never even seen her outside class. Running off without the Grand Prostration..."
"Pfft. Puhaha. For a scrub like you, that's par for the course, right? Total scrub."
"You wanna do another Grand Prostration?"
Hisenna looked a bit flustered too, seeming to share my thoughts.
Are all the professors at this academy messed up?
Once I get strong, I'll get revenge with the headmaster.
To do that, I dove back into training and magic studies.
Returning to her lab, Professor Juri sank into the custom armchair she'd made herself.
Being sensitive in many ways, she used a chair tailored to her body.
"I definitely felt it back then..."
Professor Juri recalled Ian's test from last week.
The magic stone carving test she'd prepared for the first class to instill discipline in the cadets.
She hadn't expected anyone to succeed.
Not even A-Class freshmen could manage a complex rose shape.
Historically, only a handful could do it from day one.
The current student council president, or the sole direct heir of the Rimgoft family.
Of course, they had the background for it.
They were known geniuses before enrollment.
Ian wasn't impossible either.
The world is wide, full of hidden archmages.
He could be one's disciple.
But Professor Juri suspected Ian for another reason.
"The aura of the taboo..."
When Ian started carving in the test, she'd faintly but clearly sensed the taboo's aura brushing past.
Normal mages rarely encounter it, and low affinity makes it hard to notice.
But Professor Juri had experienced it, so she vaguely knew.
Her loathing for taboos made her react violently even to a whiff.
"Professor Juri! What's for lunch today!"
Then someone flung open the lab door without knocking.
Professor Plma, the arithmetic instructor.
Seeing Professor Juri's expression, Plma grinned awkwardly and said,
"Still thinking about that cadet? I didn't feel a thing. Just seemed like a good mage."
Juri and Plma had a good relationship from past incidents.
"But I definitely felt it. Just for an instant, that nasty scent brushed my nose."
"Must be your imagination. Hasn't happened since."
"Of course he adjusted. And the carving itself was impossible."
She'd already told Plma.
About faintly sensing taboo aura from Ian.
Of course, it was only at first, briefly, and nothing after.
Today too, nothing.
Plma thought it was Juri's imagination.
After that incident, Juri twitched at the mere letter "taboo."
Plus, Plma had seen Ian's skills and felt nothing.
"There was the cheating suspicion in the placement exam, and the test was too weird. It wasn't practiced magic—it felt instinctive. More plausible as taboo mage than impossible talent."
"Juri. I think you're overreacting. Kid seemed fine. Sincere about magic."
"Anyone can say that."
"...Juri. This won't bring back Yuto."
"......"
Juri ground her molars.
Her head shook violently as she yelled "Ha!"
As if shaking something off.
"Anyway, I can't drop the suspicion."
"Fine. But don't discriminate too much. Might be tough on Ian if wrong. Let's eat."
"I'm pissed today, so something spicy."
With that, they headed to lunch with nothing gained.
A few days later, the weekend arrived.
Professor Juri, living in the academy's city, was enjoying her weekend alone.
While carving a magic stone at her favorite café, she spotted two familiar cadets.
'...Ian Isaac. And... Cadet Chayuri?'
Ian and Chayuri were walking side by side somewhere.
This time of day, probably to lunch.
The combo of suspected taboo mage Ian and Archmage Duke direct heir Chayuri was baffling.
Was Chayuri involved too?
'...Gotta tail them.'
A commoner like Ian with Chayuri was definitely suspicious.
Maybe she'd find a clue.
Professor Juri quietly left the café and began shadowing them.
Subject: Heart pounding top student spicy pork date F*ck
Writer: Kim Muggle
Weekend finally here, out with top student for spicy pork.
This city's pretty big btw, massive around the academy.
Anyway, scary being with a guy of 'that taste' but can't resist spicy pork.
If shit hits the fan, help out.
This dude still clueless
But what can we even do to help lol
Upvoted for now
Upvoting counts as helping right lol
Kim Muggle is really clueless, straight up die
Down in the city, buy a knife at least
Spicy pork looks tasty
Watching cluelessness unfold is peak entertainment lol
The long-awaited weekend had arrived.
I'd come down to the city with Chayuri Floridel for spicy pork stir-fry.
Merhen, the city built around Merhen Magic Academy's infrastructure.
Didn't realize how big it was riding the carriage. Lots of tasty spots.
But why'd Chayuri insist on meeting here?
We're both in the men's dorm—could've met there.
Plus, it's almost time, where is this guy?
Then I spotted Chayuri approaching from afar.
Good, he kept the appointment.
But as he got closer, something felt off.
"Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?"
"A bit, but you... today something..."
Outfit looks like usual, but the vibe's different.
Like... prettier than normal?
Could pass for a girl, no problem?
Neutral casuals amplified it.
He was delicate before, but today? Total girl vibe.
'No way, this guy...?'
A very bad premonition flashed through my head.
Did this bastard already drink it?
Come as a girl already?
"You... that... no way, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"That stuff... you didn't drink it? Already turned girl?"
"Ah, no. I haven't drunk it."
Chayuri smiled awkwardly.
That awkward smile was super suspicious.
What's with that? Why smile like that? Makes me more suspicious!
Did he come fully committed today?
Chayuri probably knows more 3rd-circle spells than me.
Like that acceleration one, and physical enhancement stuff.
If he buffs and jumps me?
I'd resist with magic, but who knows how it'd go.
Not just magic—he might have other prep.
If there's risk, better dodge early.
"R-right? You're not, right?"
Then I gotta check.
If he's really a girl or didn't drink the spinal fluid.
Groin grab. If no spinal fluid, elephant trunk.
This is standard guy prank.
If he's still guy, 'haha, just bros joking, right?' and move on.
But if girl's... bolt without looking back.
"Yeah. You're not, right dude? Bros. Right?"
Sidestep, aim for the angle.
Internally simulating defenses and attacks for worst case.
"Bros, dude. Shall we check?"
Now!
I lunged my hand out in a surprise attack, and unprepared Chayuri just presented his groin...!
But,
Whoosh-
'Gone?'
My hand grasped nothing.
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