Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Joint Class
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[Title: This feeling is a first for me in my mage life.]
Author: ExtremeEfficiencyFanatic
Honestly, I thought it was impossible.
A Muggle who can't even memorize basic theory perfectly pulls off optimization?
Thinking about it, it's baffling.
But remembering all those days I shared optimization knowledge with Kim Muggle... it brings tears to my eyes.
At first, I lurked in the gallery out of curiosity. But as Kim Muggle's feats grew more astonishing, I couldn't stop checking it.
I used to think raising a disciple was inefficient.
Yet one day, I realized I'd been steadily teaching Kim Muggle.
It must be inefficient. But seeing him achieve his first optimization... this feeling is a first.
What the hell is this feeling?
It's the first time I've seen this guy write such a long shitpost.
Always droning on about efficiency facts, but he must be really moved.
He came!
Kim Muggle even makes EfficiencyFanatic abandon efficiency... he's something else.
That's the feeling of having a child...
MagicGirlLulu-chan) (Pats the magical girl)
What's up with this uncle? I don't feel like I did anything special.
This guy's something else; no one can just do that. An archmage like us might, but typical mages take forever to even approach optimization.
?? I just reduced 3rd circle to 2nd circle.
Even starting that usually requires 7th or 8th circle realm.
Optimization is harder than just casting spells. Explaining complex concepts in multiple sentences is easy. But condensing it into one sentence? That's tough.
There are many optimization methods, of course. Yours is basic but also one of the hardest.
I did it instinctively; isn't it obvious? Combining them makes it one formula.
But seriously, how did you do it?
The guy who bombs written exams optimizes like it's nothing.
Muggle isn't hiding his power anymore.
Maybe you learned from us. Normal mages learn easy, inefficient spells first. Remember the spells I posted?
Yeah, I memorized all the low-circle essentials. But what you taught was different from academy stuff.
I only posted the 'essentials'—the most efficient low-circle ones, not beginner trash.
So he instinctively rejected inefficient spells.
Yeah, honestly, first-year stuff gets obsolete later.
Kim Muggle only learned low-circle spells that last forever.
Fact is, pure Muggles can't use those, even if low-circle.
CantDoThisEither) I was shocked he mastered them in days lol.
This guy's no Muggle.
Optimization must've been a big deal, because even a day later, the gallery was still buzzing about it.
Especially ExtremeEfficiencyFanatic, who was still hyped up.
I'd never seen him this excited.
"The subjugation festival is still on as planned."
"Of course! It's an event where guilds and the imperial family all show up. You can't cancel something that huge!"
Now it was break time between classes.
Hisenna, Chayuri, and Elrim were chatting about something called the Subjugation Festival.
"Subjugation Festival? What's that?"
"Huh? You're that clueless? You don't even know what the Subjugation Festival is?"
Subjugation Festival. An event held between midterms and finals in the first semester.
All cadets form teams and compete on beast subjugation records.
Plus, it's a full-blown festival with tons of spectators.
Guilds, imperial mage corps, and occasionally the Magic Tower scout promising cadets early.
That was Elrim's explanation.
"So graduates end up in guilds, the imperial family, or the Magic Tower?"
"Usually. But each has different requirements. Some give up on all three to become free adventurers."
"The Magic Tower is a step higher, so you can't join right after graduation. You need experience, grad school, or notable research they recognize."
"The imperial mage corps has separate evaluations beyond magic skill—like whether you're imperial material."
Job hunting in this world is brutal.
You have to meet each group's specs.
"What about Archmage Dukes? Just family titles?"
"They build careers in guilds, imperial corps, or the Tower first, then the top ones become Archmage Dukes."
"Socializing first, then there?"
"Yes. Archmage Dukes are the pinnacle of mage society. Even if heirs become next in line, being a key retainer is the highest achievement otherwise."
"There are rumors of even higher archmages, but they don't show up in the world anyway."
"Archmages beyond Duke level are achievements normal mages can't reach."
Got it. Makes sense.
So Archmage Dukes are like the strongest in human society.
The gallery archmages treated Duke talk like child's play.
Archmages at gallery level pursue higher magic, not family games.
They don't care about worldly affairs.
Anyone surpassing Dukes isn't even findable in human lands.
So for normal mages, Archmage Duke is the top goal.
It really hit me how lofty the gallery folks are compared to Archmage Dukes.
Wonder how much higher Gonic is.
Well, FlapFlap casually wrecked taboo mages.
[Title: I respect you all anew]
Author: Kim Muggle
Gallery archmages are so cool. Always counting on you.
Damn, I love you guys, Archmage Gallery forever lol.
What's this guy's deal?
Hand over Mamama-tong's chastity belt!
I dropped a shitpost in the gallery.
Meanwhile, the three were chatting again.
"So before graduation, I'll get scout offers from 10 guilds! But I'll join the imperial mages. Then after retiring from there, the Magic Tower! For that, I'll join the student council next semester!"
Elrim proudly laid out her plans.
The other two just chuckled awkwardly.
They're too nice to roast her, so I had to step in.
"Hey, scrub. What guild would scout a has-been like you 10 times? And quitting the imperials? Bull. You won't even make it in."
"What? What do you know, scrub! I heard the student council president got scouted by 4 guilds as a first-year? Over 10 as a second-year? If I follow her, it's totally possible!"
"Yeah, she won't pick you for council~"
"Eeeeeek! You scrub!"
Elrim flung her red hair and shoved me.
As I schooled Elrim, the professor arrived, and class began.
This class was [Field Practice 1].
Fighting beasts in the field to build combat sense.
Mostly theory until midterms.
We'd tasted the field, but real practice started this week.
We were in the field entrance lounge,
but the professor wasn't alone.
Rumble—
"What? Seniors?"
"Second-years?"
"Wait, isn't that the Rimgoft family senior?"
Second-year cadets poured in too.
The second-years smiled leisurely at us.
The lounge was huge, so they sat opposite.
"Alright~ It's first-year A-Class field practice time. Today, we'll do something special."
The professor explained.
With real field practice starting, better to have examples to learn from.
"The field doesn't run on one mage. Vast space, hordes of beasts, mages interacting endlessly. Theory alone can't capture the feel."
Sync with second-year class: watch them to grasp field dynamics live.
That was the plan.
"So today, second-year A-Class practices first, then first-year A-Class. And mutual evaluations between years.
Second-years, grade juniors fairly. Juniors, grade seniors and reflect on yourselves."
There are quantitative field system scores,
but cadets do peer reviews too.
First-years tensed at evaluating second-years.
A-Class elites, no less.
"Second-years, no revenge for low scores~ Pick partners by drawing numbered balls."
One-on-one evaluations.
I grade Senior A, they grade me.
Wonder who I'll get.
Doesn't matter, I don't know them anyway.
My turn: drew 28.
Now paired with the second-year who drew 28.
[Title: Field practice together with this... kinda fun?]
Author: Kim Muggle
Field practice time, but with second-year A-Class.
Even mutual eval, gotta grade a senior lol.
Not anonymous either.
Maybe roast them sharp lol.
Senior sucked, total noob barrier spam lol.
Ooh, this is prime entertainment.
Latte would headbutt the senior.
Headbutt and can't eval.
Don't hold back just 'cause senior. Grade mercilessly.
This guy must've been bullied by seniors at academy lol.
???: Why should the victim bow!?
Isn't it risky? Don't wanna get on bad side.
Kim Muggle would Grand Prostration-teach any senior lol.
Bending here wouldn't be Kim Muggle lol.
Season 1 vibe: Senior Grand Prostration incoming?
Hmm. Guess no mercy for seniors.
If they get mad about low score, just fight.
Wait, no. I might lose.
I fought Nayu once.
Without internalization, I'd have lost for sure.
Checked, and there was Nayu in the corner.
A-Class, obviously with his skill.
Nayu scanned around, then locked eyes with me.
Briefly glad, but his face twisted weirdly.
Stomachache? Then it hit me.
I glanced at Chayuri beside me.
His watermelon was still impressive.
"Hey. You didn't tell Senior Nayu you're a girl?"
"...No. I've been avoiding him since coming back."
Figured.
Tough spot for Chayuri.
Coming out to the girl he'd crushed on thinking she was a guy.
Nayu looked devastated, like the sky fell.
...I ignored him and turned away. They'll sort it.
"Ugh... this is bad."
"Still, grade fairly, Elrim."
"Yes. Be objective."
"You two are Archmage Duke heirs, so no sweat! For a collateral like me, getting on a high noble's bad side is trouble!"
The other two reassured worried Elrim.
Hisenna and Chayuri, direct heirs, unbothered.
Elrim, not so much.
"You ignore everyone usually, act like a showoff, but chicken out here?"
"That's different, scrub!"
Showoff who overthinks small stuff.
Maybe overcompensates big by fretting small.
"Alright, announcing pairs~"
Second-years finished drawing.
Chayuri paired with average noble second-year.
Senior eyed direct heir Chayuri nervously.
Cadet now, but Duke power post-grad looms.
Academy's 3 years; life goes on.
Hisenna with Rimgoft Archmage Duke direct.
Seemed bigger than other directs.
"W-what do I do..."
"You'll be fine, Hisenna!"
Even she was tense.
Elrim got similar collateral senior.
Plan: polite senior treatment.
Next, my 28.
"28s, stand and confirm~"
My turn. Time to check partner senior.
Now it mattered: I grade them, they grade me.
Midterms bombed; need every point to avoid demotion.
Checked partner...
"It's the Princess."
"Ian's the only commoner in class? Not Dukes, but he's screwed."
"Ian better grade nice."
Despite fairness talk, worries about her.
My partner: curvy golden blonde to waist.
Hair, posture, skin glow screamed elite.
"Who's that?"
"What? Total scrub? That's the Fourth Princess!"
"Huh."
Princess. They attend academy?
"Looking forward to it, Junior Ian Isaac."
She smiled and nodded.
"Likewise."
Panicked bow.
Sat back.
Then realized something wrong.
How'd she know my name?
Oh, name tag on uniform~
Right. Tags on uniforms.
From that far? Royals have good eyes.
Looked down... not uniform.
"...Gym clothes."
No tag on my gym clothes.
Dread hit. Glanced at princess.
There,
"Hehe."
She stared and smiled.