A Hardworking Genius is a Monster
Karnaroph looked out at the murmuring spectator seats and spoke. The atmosphere had sunk into a heavy silence.
"Listen well. You're all laboring under a misconception."
I recalled the grading criteria. First, the base score for hitting the targets: 2 points. So, that's 0.2 points per target, basically.
Where did the rest of the points go? They got eaten up by the strict grading criteria.
Karnaroph began his lecture, facing the spectator seats.
"Basic Attack Magic isn't called that simply because it's an easy attack spell to learn."
"Remove the Limiter Magic Formula from Basic Attack Magic, and you get Beginner Attack Magic. Add the Amplification Formula and Transformation Formula to that, and it's Mid-level Attack Magic."
"Add mana rei to Mid-level Attack Magic for Advanced Attack Magic. And Supreme Attack Magic incorporates countless transformations on top of that."
Karnaroph's solemn voice echoed through the air. Every single student was staring at him without exception. It wasn't just the situation—the sheer presence of his self-generated mana was overwhelming.
"This is all laid out in the Magic Theory textbook from second-year first semester. If you're curious, I'll grant permission for anyone to go to the library and read it."
His gaze shifted to Oliver.
"Now, about the grading criteria. You called it unfair, didn't you?"
"Y-yes, sir."
Oliver still looked unconvinced. Fair enough—the criteria were pretty brutal.
But if I were a guild interviewer judging this guy?
He'd be out on his ass.
"First score: 6 points. 2 points for hitting the targets."
"Casting speed: 0 out of 5. He took over 10 seconds just to cast Basic Attack Magic. That's what happens when you don't practice."
"Minimum power: 2 out of 5. Even to my eyes, the power wasn't impressive. Means he doesn't know how to properly circulate his mana."
"Projectile speed: 1 out of 3. He loaded it with mana so heavily it slowed down."
"Effective range: 1 out of 2. Modifications of any kind: 0 out of 3."
This last one might seem harsh, but... honestly, tweaking the formula a bit is easy if you know magic circles. If you'd paid attention in math class, you could've at least added some redundant formula without issues. Anyone who'd actually read the full criteria would've known that.
"Any objections?"
Oliver cried out indignantly.
"The criteria are way too strict!"
Karnaroph just laughed at his protest.
"Ha. Haha. Hahahahaha!"
"Why are you laughing?!"
At that, Karnaroph's face went deadpan.
"I know you didn't do the practice assignment properly and just copied from others."
Oliver's face flushed with shock.
"...W-what are you talking about..."
"They say you can tell at a glance. Of course, I don't have a direct way to prove it, so this is just friendly advice."
To me, it looks like he could prove it but it's too much hassle.What a shady guy.
He turned back to the students. Everyone was riveted on Karnaroph. Those with guilty consciences over their assignments looked uncomfortable. The ones who'd done theirs honestly seemed a bit more at ease.
But no one was taking it lightly.
"I tolerate a certain amount of corner-cutting. I even know some of you got help from others on the Magical Biology assignment."
Oof. Kinda hits close to home.
"But how long do you think tricks like that will work? I'll show you they won't. From here on, I'm calling up students who at least did the assignment properly."
Then he started naming students. They cast their spells amid the heavy atmosphere. The results were similar.
"12 points."
"8 points."
"15 points."
"11 points."
"12 points."
"5 points."
...
The criteria were set assuming perfect mastery of Basic Attack Magic, so everyone's scores were low. It couldn't be helped—the ones he called early barely showed up to practice.
"What do you think caused these results?"
Karnaroph looked our way as he spoke.
"There's danger lurking everywhere outside. Just recently, there was that incident at the School Market."
"Work hard. You all have talent. But talent alone won't let you surpass monsters. The only way to surpass a monster is to become one yourself."
"Feel some rivalry. Don't envy your friends next to you, but at least take pride in your growth. Then your friends will grow seeing you improve."
"Be true to yourself. Scores from copying assignments mean nothing. What matters is your own skill."
He turned to Oliver, who was still standing there. His face was beet red.
"Go sit down. If you feel any shame at all, then put in the effort."
Oliver slunk back to his seat.
"Ugh..."
This atmosphere needs some airing out.Not my vibe at all. Feels like I'll choke on my cola.
Time to stir things up?
I glanced at Karnaroph's eyes. Hmm. Better not—he looks ready to kill right now.
He was scanning for the next student—victim, rather.
"Now, someone suitable..."
His eyes landed on Linea, sitting near me.
"Hmm, the top student, as expected. Go show off your skills."
"No desire to go up there, huh...?"
Aris whispered to me.
"If he had something flashy in mind, he'd save skilled ones like me or Robert for later."
No need to crush everyone's spirits.Aris could probably snag 50 points easy.
The last two targets were at ridiculous distances—who even knows why they placed them there. Students who practiced properly without extras could aim for 30.
Linea was just the example: You can do this too.
His gaze lingered on Linea, then slyly met mine as I lounged casually.
"Yumia, you're up."
Ah.
Why me over the top student?!
Then someone whispered from behind.
"Hey."
"Aris? What..."
Wait, why isn't she blonde? Pink hair?
It was Linea, holding her sleep mask, staring at me intently.
I want that sleep mask.
Why had this perpetually tired girl crawled over to my seat?
"...Draw their attention for me."
"Huh? Why?"
"Yaaawn. Too much hassle. I'm gonna hit 'em all anyway."
Look at that confidence. I'd seen her cast before—it was justified. I could hit them all too.
Drawing eyes isn't hard. Full power blast would be boring, though. Something else?
"Just with my mouth?"
"Mm... I'll take you to my family home once, and lend you any magic book you want. Deal?"
Not bad? Her family didn't interest me, but magic books are just memorized and done—lending or giving is the same.
"Okay. Throw in a sleep mask."
"Easy. Make it flashy?"
"Wait! What crazy thing are you planning?!"
Aris yelped in panic.
"Just granting Linea's request?"
"Linea, Yumia pulls out the wildest stuff for favors like this!"
"Even better."
"Deal!"
I bounced out excitedly.
Karnaroph chuckled inwardly.
Plan's working.
Now no student would dream of copying assignments or faking data. Not after this example.
He knew not everyone studied diligently.
But making them do so was his job as professor—crushing shortcuts and inspiring them.
Just show a model example now.
Linea had the edge in basic magic proficiency. But for a demo, Yumia or Linea were equal.
Of course, picking her the moment their eyes met—out of annoyance—was true too.
Should be fine.
As Yumia raised her wand and began chanting...
He sensed something off.
"Hey, was that always gathered like that?"
"Her eyes look weird too."
The diligent students noticed first.
Natural mana swirled around her eyes. Yumia's pupils were vertically slit, like a lizardman's. But pure, pristine natural mana pooled there.
Because those weren't lizardman eyes to begin with.
A trait passed to a rare few humans from the sky dominators.
How does she have Dragon Eyes?!
Karnaroph shuddered.
And that wasn't all.
"Make it flashy, right?"
She brought a finger to her lips lightly.
"No guidance formula? This is the only way."
The slight moisture from her mouth caught the light and gleamed.
When he realized she was intuitively gauging the wind...
He understood.
Mana control? Aris wins.
Power or sense? Linea.
Wealth? Carter.
But the top freshman prodigy was this girl.
Yumia's Dragon Eyes locked on the distant targets—set to be nearly impossible without guidance or extra spells.
"Casting Bullet. Penta."
⟨ Basic Attack Magic, Triple Chant ⟩
Almost simultaneously with the incantation, five silver threads burst into the air.