Chapter 53
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: 25. Wilderness Rite
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘Moderately. Just moderately enough.’
"Classmate! Show us what you've got!"
Vulcan's cheers were loud enough to split eardrums.
Amid the gazes of the many students watching me from the front.
I took a deep breath and slowly began infusing mana into the crystal.
Woooong.
The mana flowing from my fingertips seeped into the crystal.
The crystal began to vibrate faintly and emit light.
‘Little by little.’
The key was to make it unnoticeable yet definite.
I restrained the amount of mana, adjusting it to wrap evenly and thinly around the entire crystal.
Not too fast, not too slow.
In a natural rhythm, like breathing.
Fwaaah.
After a brief moment, the mana-coated crystal began glowing with a subtle black hue.
A perfect balance teetering on the edge of shattering.
‘This should be good enough.’
"Ooh! As expected of our classmate! I knew you could do it!"
"…Hmph. What's so impressive about that?"
Even in S-Class, everyone excelled in different fields.
To others, the evenly balanced crystal didn't seem particularly remarkable.
It just looked like a crystal emitting a bit of light.
…Hoo.
Right beside me, Professor Aria, who had been watching with an intrigued expression, sharpened her gaze for a moment.
She didn't miss the subtle mana fluctuations at my fingertips.
Someone who only swung a sword or was ignorant of this field might not notice.
But what Evan Dreadnote was doing wasn't simply injecting mana and stopping there.
He was channeling mana along the crystal's grain, resonating it with the crystal's inherent vibrations.
And it wasn't just superior control.
It was a realm possible only by piercing through the essence of mana.
‘Evan Dreadnote. I thought he was no ordinary one from the start, but…’
Rumors about him had already spread among the professors.
When they heard he'd entered S-Class, they assumed he'd pulled some dirty trick.
But now it was clear.
This guy was definitely something unexpected.
‘Professor Ingrid was right.’
Professor Aria turned her head so the students wouldn't notice.
But for a brief moment, her expression toward Evan turned icy.
…
In the front row, Kaien, who had been propping his chin and looking bored, narrowed his eyes.
Celine and Elisicia couldn't hide their surprise either.
"Brother…"
"My, such delicate control…"
"Professor, is this sufficient?"
I cut off the mana at an appropriate timing and handed the crystal to the professor.
Once it left my hand, the crystal emitting a faint black light returned to its ordinary transparent glow.
…
‘I need to be cautious of him.’
He wouldn't be a problem right now. But thinking ahead, he could become an obstacle in the near future.
Of course, this alone wouldn't derail the plan, but it wouldn't hurt to stay vigilant.
[Wait. I sense something from him. A familiar energy.]
"…What?"
"…Professor?"
Professor Aria glanced back and forth between the crystal and me for a moment.
Then, as if nothing had happened, she nodded with her usual affable smile.
…Impressive.
"Such delicate control from a student who doesn't specialize in magic…it's hard to believe. To be honest… I was a bit surprised."
"You're too kind. It was just luck."
I feigned humility and hurried back to my seat.
Because I sensed the professor's gaze on me was anything but ordinary.
Fortunately, Professor Aria's class proceeded without further issues after that.
"Alright. That's all for today."
At the professor's words signaling the end of class, the students sighed in relief and began packing their things.
Of course, I was no different. Before Iris could catch up to me, I hurriedly grabbed my bag to stand.
"Young Master Evan?"
Just as I was rising from my chair.
Professor Aria, organizing her things at the lectern, called out to me.
…Yes?
"Could you stay behind for a moment to talk?"
My movement to leave froze at those words.
‘…Talk?’
What about?
There was no reason for her to have business with me.
"It'll only take a very short while."
Honestly, having a one-on-one talk with that woman made me uneasy.
I didn't feel like it, but there was no choice.
With that kind, friendly face asking, I couldn't just say I was busy and refuse.
‘…Should I just refuse anyway?’
Honestly, refusing wouldn't cause much trouble.
She was someone who would disappear soon anyway—what did it matter if I got on her bad side?
…
As I seriously pondered, I snapped out of it to feel the surrounding gazes focusing on me.
Tsk.
I clicked my tongue briefly but ended up nodding.
There were too many eyes watching to refuse.
…Understood, Professor.
"Brother…?"
"Go on ahead. I'll catch up soon."
The girls on either side of me looked puzzled at the sudden summons.
But all I could do was tell them to go first.
Once all the remaining students in the classroom had dispersed.
Now, only I and Professor Aria remained in S-Class.
"Professor. What did you need me for…?"
I asked in a politely composed manner.
Of course, inwardly, I wanted to demand why she'd singled me out.
"Ah, well."
Tap tap.
She stopped organizing the lectern and slowly turned to me.
"It's not ideal here. Let's go to my office. I’d like to chat over some tea."
…Pardon?
No, I still have classes left.
As I looked at her with a reluctant expression.
She nodded lightly as if understanding, and said,
"I know. It won't take long. This way."
With her signature gentle smile, she started walking ahead without waiting for a reply.
Left alone, I had no choice but to follow behind.
…
Step. Step.
As we left the classroom and walked the corridor, Professor Aria said nothing.
She simply led the way in silence.
‘What on earth is she scheming?’
Unease began to creep up.
It couldn't just be praise for my skills.
In The Glory, she never called a student aside after class like this.
As all sorts of thoughts chained together, we arrived at the professor's private office.
"We're here."
Creeeak.
As the professor opened the door and entered, a faint scent of old books and ink wafted out.
My first impression of the office interior, which I'd never even entered in the game.
Was how surprisingly neatly organized it was, with thick magic tomes densely packed on the bookshelves.
The interior was more ordinary than expected.
No, it was so ordinary that it felt off-putting.
A potted plant by the window, an old grandfather clock above the fireplace.
And bundles of parchment scattered messily on the desk.
It looked like the space of a scholar immersed in magical research, no matter who saw it.
Of course, to my eyes, it all seemed like an elaborately staged set.
"Please, make yourself comfortable."
…
Professor Aria gestured to the sofa with a soft invitation and prepared tea while I sat.
"Have some."
"…Thank you."
As I took the teacup she offered, steam rose gently from it, freshly brewed.
"The aroma is quite nice, isn't it? I blended the leaves myself."
"…Yes. The taste is excellent too."
I took a sip and replied briefly.
The flavor was smooth and sweet on the tongue, but for some reason, it felt uncomfortable going down.
‘Maybe because I'm in this awkward situation.’
I even wondered if it was poisoned.
But there were no abnormalities inside my body.
"I'm glad you like it."
Clink.
She set down her teacup and leaned back into the sofa, exhaling softly.
Her calm demeanor showed no sign of getting to the point soon. I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Tsk.
Excuse me. I still have classes left, you know?
You might be fine as a professor, but I don't have time to sit here idly.
"By the way."
As if reading my impatient mind.
After a long pause, she slowly began to speak.
"That demonstration earlier was truly impressive."
I set down my teacup and started in response to Professor Aria's words.
"It was just luck."
"Luck… They say luck is also skill. But Young Master’s mana control was too precise to dismiss as mere luck. It was almost as if…"
She paused and stared at me.
"…you could see right through the flow of mana."
‘See through it.’
It wasn't wrong.
Thanks to the Black King's power, even the finest flows of mana were clear to me.
But I had no need to admit it.
Especially not to her—I had no intention of revealing it.
"You're too kind. I just have a good intuition."
"Intuition. It seems the Dreadnote Family has many born with such exceptional senses."
What was so amusing?
Professor Aria kept smiling as she lifted her teacup.
"Well, fine. It's always a pleasure to see a talented student."
As she took a sip, silence filled the office for a moment.
Only the chirping of birds outside and the clink of teacups broke the quiet.
…Did she really call me just to praise me?
As time passed and my impatience grew.
Professor Aria set down her cup and opened her firmly closed lips.
"By the way, Young Master. Do you have any particular fields of interest?"
…Pardon?
I gave a puzzled look at the sudden question.
"For example, ancient civilizations or forgotten relics."
"…Well, I'm not particularly interested in those."
"Haha. I see. Well, young students these days prefer practical magic or swordsmanship over such dusty topics."
The professor gave a wry smile and sat on the opposite sofa.
She stared piercingly at me for a moment, then tossed out a remark.
"Young Master Evan. Truth be told, I'm quite interested in you."
…What?
At the completely unexpected, sudden confession, I lost my words for a moment and could only stare at her.
Interested? Interested in what?
"Ah, don't misunderstand. Not romantic interest—as an educator."
The professor added playfully, but her eyes were serious.
"…I understand."
"The reason I'm interested in you is simple. Young Master, do you know the rumors about yourself?"
Rumors.
Of course. Evan Dreadnote's past.
The sordid acts he'd committed while growing up clung to me like a stigma, still circling around.
Of course, they had no idea about the past that forced him to grow that way.
"I know."
"The family wastrel suddenly changes and proudly enters S-Class."
"…I just came to my senses late."
I replied flatly.
"Coming to one's senses doesn't make everyone change so dramatically."
"…Get to the point."
I hated beating around the bush. Especially not riddle games with this shady woman.
At my blunt attitude, Professor Aria grinned.
"Impatient temperament. Very well, straight to it."
She leaned forward and whispered lowly.