43 - Counseling
[Finish 6th period and come back. Teacher, wrap up the closing ceremony and bring the child with you.]
[Yes... I'm truly ashamed...]
Seo Yu-na was allowed to rest in the nurse's office before being sent home early on her own. The reason I'd suddenly been summoned to the administrative office was none other than unauthorized magic use.
The academy grounds were designated as a special tax-exempt zone by the state, where all mana usage fees within the area were paid under the academy's name. This reflected the academy's partial extraterritorial status. Of course, it wasn't just nominal—the academy covered most payments in practice. They couldn't exactly ask elementary students to pay up every practice session.
Certain academy foundations budgeted for this in advance, paying monthly and getting refunds for unused portions at year-end. Seferon Foundation was the prime example. When I'd used magic like water from a faucet, it wasn't me grabbing my neck—it was the foundation's budget officer. If anything, I should count myself lucky.
I remembered the time I'd tried a 4th Circle spell once before. Even pooling every penny I had, I still fell 120,000 won short and had to borrow from Professor Cheon without shame. Thanks to that, I was broke now.
"You really didn't do anything weird to Seo Yu-na, right?"
Why are you like this again? Yoon Si-hu eyed me suspiciously.
"I told you, it's the medicine I take. She drank it on her own."
"You can't bring something that dangerous to the academy!"
"Stop annoying me, kid. I'll bury you alive."
No matter how many times I explained, Si-hu wouldn't believe me. Think whatever you want.
Finally, the bell rang for dismissal. I had to disappoint Ji-hye and Se-ri, who were waiting for me. I'd promised them Pokémon bread, but I apologized to Ji-hye.
"No, it's okay...! Nami must be busy today too."
Jackie Teacher and I descended the stairs in silence. She muttered to herself in English now and then, her strong regional accent making it hard to catch. The only thing I could make out from this Korean-American teacher was something like "Oh my gosh." Was she foreseeing the future ahead?
Actually, the atmosphere had been tense even when I'd been called in earlier. Now it was time for the incident investigation and grilling over the unauthorized magic. It was a trial we had to face together.
Jackie Teacher took a deep breath. On the surface, Jacqueline Carol looked like she was only in her late twenties—a young teacher. And her actual age was around there. But according to the kids, she had a stellar reputation even within the Seferon Foundation.
She'd graduated Seferon Academy early at seventeen, finished college at twenty, gone back to her hometown in America, and earned a PhD in education by twenty-six. Elite of elites. Last year was her first posting, taking 4th year Class C, and in her second year, she'd been officially appointed homeroom teacher for A Class—proof of the foundation's trust.
Jacqueline had expected a peaceful year, but one of her students had caused a massive incident right from the first week of school. Her head throbbed thinking how to navigate this mess.
"You know you can't use magic without permission at the academy, right? Didn't I tell you?"
"You did, on the first day."
"Then why?"
"It was to help a friend."
"Yeah, yeah. Just emphasize that point well to the director too."
"Aren't we going to see that officer from earlier?"
Jackie Teacher knocked on the door next to where I'd stopped.
"This is the Planning and Coordination Director."
"Usually for stuff like this, you'd meet the grade head or the vice principal."
"Has this happened before? Well, this is an academy—get used to it."
[Come in.]
We eased the door open, and a secretary greeted us warmly. The room had a double layout. The meeting area was L-shaped, requiring another door.
In the frigid air, Jackie Teacher gave me one last reminder.
"Nami."
"Yes, Teacher."
"No matter what they say in there, just get used to it."
Why does that sound so scary? The secretary sister kindly opened the door for us.
"Director Kim, I've brought Teacher Carol from 2-A."
"Ah, you've arrived. Long way—good work."
"Not really far."
"Coffee? Tea better? Plenty of tangerines on the table—help yourself."
"Just water, please. My throat's dry. What about you, Nami?"
"Water for me too."
At Jackie Teacher's polite refusal, Director Kim—Kim Yong-seong, judging by his nameplate—sat across from us with a friendly smile. His impeccable suit screamed typical salaryman.
Was Jackie Teacher that nervous? Her hand trembled slightly as she picked up her glass.
"I think you know why I called you two here today. If not, I'd be quite disappointed."
"Yes, I do."
"Nice to meet you, student."
"Yeah, whatever."
Director Kim pulled a file from his bag and handed it to the teacher. Straight to business.
"Data from the academy's portable mana meter. See the result at the bottom? 24,627 kE."
"Yes, clear as day."
"It better be."
The teacher suddenly closed her eyes lightly. Director Kim inhaled sharply.
"At least two thousand dollars—two thousand! What the hell did you do to burn that much mana? Are you insane?!"
His scolding voice boomed impressively.
"24,627? Must've been a 4th Circle spell, huh? Whoa, look at the mana graph—two peaks? A camel? One wasn't enough to fill you up?"
"Director Kim."
"And you're a teacher, not even a student, casually slinging intermediate magic?!"
"Director Kim, calm down a bit—in front of the student."
"Hoo... You better have a good explanation, Teacher Carol."
"One of my class students fell ill today."
The teacher laid out the afternoon events: a classmate mistook my potion for medicine, had a seizure, and in the emergency, magic was unavoidable. It was heavily exaggerated, but she fleshed it out convincingly.
"Does that justify a 4th Circle spell?"
"Seems like the administrative office got the wrong info—you're misunderstanding. Nami."
She signaled me. No prior rehearsal, but I got the gist.
"I cast that magic."
"What...?"
"A 3rd Circle localized anesthetic over 20 square centimeters, plus a 4th Circle irreversible reduction spell."
"Don't joke around...!"
"Want me to show you right here?"
No mana injection meant no transmutation medium needed. I breathed on the glossy desk glass, fogging it up. Like a kid doodling on a frosty window, but this was no mere scribble.
"Whoa..."
Jackie Teacher let out a soft gasp of admiration. This was two thousand dollars—four million won worth of magic? If the academy was covering it, I could perform this show a few more times.
Director Kim Yong-seong, however, frowned, displeased. Why do so many people these days have such annoying stares? Fine, I had a counter.
"You don't believe me? Then let me demonstrate again right here."
Glass wasn't ideal for transmutation circles because reflections messed up the formula recording. Humans draw in visible light, so on smooth surfaces like glass, perfect reflection scrambles the activation sequence. That's why we use diffuse stone slabs or portable drafters. Not impossible, just flawed.
"[4th Circle Homogeneous Projection: Ice...]"
As I adjusted the formula and injected mana, Director Kim caught on late and grabbed my wrist.
"What's the student's name again?"
Of course he'd stop me. Who wants to burn another four million?
* * *
"It's been ages since a standout talent joined the academy—ha ha!"
"Right? Ha... ha..."
Director Kim couldn't believe his eyes. A mere 2nd-year elementary student casting 4th Circle magic—and not just homogeneous manifestation, but anomalous! How had this gem stayed hidden? She could've been on a genius scout show.
No wonder Dr. Hwang Jeong-hoon, who oversaw her transfer exam, had praised her so highly. But this exceeded imagination.
Not just student level.
Her grasp of "image," spatial perception to realize it, mental math for dozens of formulas, flawless rune placement from memory, observation... She seemed born for magic.
Historically, most prodigies flashed bright young then faded. Modern magic's vanguard was always late-blooming creatives. But a transcendent genius? Different story. If she grew like this, Korea might finally produce a world-class theoretical mage.
"Student, what medicine did your friend take that needed anesthetic?"
"She mistook my potion."
"Potion...? You mean what combat mages drink?"
"Professor Cheon said the same. Yes."
"Ah..."
Shocked, Director Kim covered his mouth. Teacher Carol tilted her head at his reaction.
That idiot...! As homeroom teacher, doesn't she know what drinking a potion means?!
God was cruelly fair. National idol LK confessed a rough childhood recently; pretty-boy "thousand-year idol" Chen succumbed to depression. Such cases abounded nearby. Kim Yong-seong's lifelong rival, the golden boy Cheon Byeong-ho, seemed set for glory but lost his fiancée in war, becoming a wreck.
Not morphine or field mage IVs—this age kid on potions meant one thing: terminal illness. Countdown to death.
With a heavy expression, Director Kim stood.
Money talk was adult business—no need in front of the kid. He whispered to Nami's homeroom that no blame would fall on her.
"NoName student too... Study hard."
Talent and dreams, yet no hope or future—how tragic. Director Kim couldn't shake the unease. At least while she attended, he'd help however he could—as an adult should.
"Terminal... so heartbreaking."
He muttered to himself, leaving the meeting room.
"Terminal...?"