Magic with Professor Im Sol! (4)
Professor Im Sol. Truth be told, our first encounter wasn't a great one. Looking back, I was the one who should have received the apology. It was just a simple accident. Some of Professor Im Sol's items had gotten mixed in with the magic tools for the practical lesson. Thanks to that, I nearly got seriously hurt. Fortunately, I had Mana Resonance, so I came out unscathed—or at least, that's how I remember it. If something like that happened now, I'd have called the chairman and raised hell from the start, but back then, I was still adjusting to this world. Even though I was pissed, I didn't want to make a big deal out of it.
Professor Im Sol apologized in person back then. Of course, it didn't fully blow over my anger, but honestly, she was so stunningly beautiful that I let it slide a bit. From that connection, we started interacting. Of course, it wasn't just the wholesome exchanges contributing to the advancement of world magic... She researched my magic by doing all sorts of naughty things to me—exchanges that were utterly abnormal for a professor and her student. Now, somehow, she's grown even fonder of me... Anyway, that's how it was. We always kept things smoothly balanced, and lately, we've gotten even closer.
At some point, Professor Im Sol started calling me her "disciple." At first, she definitely called me Lee Ho-yeon, or just "Ho-yeon." I figured it was her way of maintaining distance. The proper space between professor and student. Getting too close could stir up controversy or make things awkward from her position. So I played along, calling her "Master" and "Teacher."
But... seeing Im Sol gazing down at the Mines with that icy stare from the sky changed my mind.
The massive magic circles unfurled across the sky loomed over the vast convention hall like a god surveying its domain. And the body of their master, Im Sol, began to slowly rise into the air.
"...What the hell."
I muttered without thinking. An angel? A spirit? Covered in blue mana, Im Sol ascended into the heavens. She looked like something that shouldn't exist in this world—a unicorn or a dragon from myth.
Boom—
Rumble—
The entire convention hall trembled. It was due to the mana Im Sol dominated. Even for her, could she really handle such an enormous spell alone? And in such a short time? The area was still chaotic. People hadn't noticed Im Sol overlooking the hall from above, nor had the Mines. Explosions erupted here and there in the convention hall; people fled, and Mines chased them. The Mines looted magic tools and shattered magic circles. What they wanted was chaos and fear. The malice born from it. That was Pandemic's goal—to summon some unidentified entity called the Demon King.
But even those invaders couldn't ignore the thick mana forever.
Vmmm—
Dozens of massive magic circles hung in the sky, slowly rotating and beginning to glow. Then, one by one, the Mines on the ground noticed something off. Anyone would be startled by something like that floating overhead.
- Wh-what the hell is that?
- Block it! Block it!
- Grrrk, block... b-block...
The Mines who still clung to reason and those who'd lost it milled about in panic. At that moment—
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Four enormous pillars of light crashed down around Im Sol, and as she opened her eyes at their center, her figure... it wasn't enough to call her an angel descended from heaven to smite evil.
Soon, light began to generate slowly from the rotating magic circles.
"Die."
Pure white light descended upon spots all over the convention hall. Im Sol, the genius mage, unleashing her full power. The lights stabbed down indiscriminately, but they targeted only the Mines with pinpoint accuracy. Most of the weaker Mines were swept away by the initial pillars. A few stronger ones tried to resist, but it was futile. Even I wondered if my Rune Barrier could withstand that power.
- Th-this fucking bitch...!
Among them, the Mine who seemed to be the leader of this terror spat curses as he drew up his mana. He took the form of a middle-aged man. Just blocking Im Sol's light while wielding his own mana showed he wasn't weak. I couldn't guarantee victory even if I fought him seriously. With so many mages around, they'd sent a heavy hitter to account for variables.
The middle-aged Mine conjured a muddy orb of light mana and hurled it at Im Sol. Absorbing surrounding light, the accelerating orb shot straight toward her in a line.
"Professor!"
For something conjured so quickly, it was an astonishingly powerful spell. But contrary to my worry, Im Sol was utterly calm. She simply raised one hand and caught the mana orb like a casual game of catch.
Crack—!
Those far away might not have seen, but I clearly did. Im Sol gritting her teeth. And the quiet mutter escaping her lips.
"Annoying."
Crunch!
Im Sol crushed the mana orb in her hand and reversed it, murmuring at the Mines.
"Annoying. Annoying. Annoying. Annoying. Annoying. Annoying. Annoying. Annoying...! So annoying. You trash. Trash like you. Starfish that can't even touch my toe. Magic? Why? How? What right do you have? Die. Die, you trash. Die... Just drop dead."
The middle-aged Mine, seeing his full-power mana orb blocked by one hand, lost all will to fight. He stared blankly at Im Sol before being swallowed by the light and vanishing.
Thud!
Boom!
Rumble!
- Graaah!
- Grrrk, grrr!
Even after the leader fell, the lights from the sky didn't stop. Not until every Mine hiding in the convention hall was gone.
All the Mines in—or rather, who had been in—the convention hall were reduced to ash. Literally swallowed by the light, leaving no trace. Mages, spectators, civilians—everyone gaped at the sight.
A woman wept over her lost lover. Someone cheered cluelessly at the spectacle. Another stared wide-eyed as the Mine about to kill them vanished into light. Some stood frozen like toppling dolls, mouths agape. Among the mages, a few shed tears of awe. High-level mages who knew just how incredible what Im Sol had done was. Naturally, I was one of them.
- That's the genius mage Im Sol...
- Such wondrous magic... Sob, to witness this in my lifetime...
A few mages murmured their impressions while gazing at Im Sol.
- P-photo! Take photos! Quick!
The reporters there to cover the magic convention started snapping pictures. Probably by tomorrow—or a few hours from now—Im Sol's photo would headline with some cheesy title like [Genius Mage Im Sol! Stops Convention Terror Single-Handedly!].
Ignoring the others, Im Sol gathered her mana and descended from the sky. Floating up to observe directly had been the most efficient way to spot the Mines, so now it was time to come down. She landed, dusted herself off with a few pats, and gave me a slightly awkward smile.
"Saw everything?"
"...Yeah."
"...Heard it all too?"
"Uh... Yeah."
I swallowed hard. How to put it? It felt like some distance had opened between us and the professor. Like I couldn't treat her as casually as before. Now I knew she was a true powerhouse. Not the klutz who sucked me off whenever she had a chance. The woman before me was Im Sol, one of the world's top mages.
"...Professor."
But one thing was clear. She'd gotten that furious for me.
Current Status: I was having such a good time with my disciple after so long... Everything's ruined.
"Um, that was awesome. For real."
Her acting for my sake was truly, truly appreciated. Sure, it was a little scary. Anyone would get intimidated seeing someone unleash like that, spewing curses in rage. It wasn't my fault. Even if I tried to hide it, Im Sol seemed to pick up on my feelings a bit.
"Am I intimidating you or something?"
She gave a self-deprecating smile as she said it.
"No, no! I was just surprised, that's all."
I quickly protested. Couldn't let her misunderstand. But regardless of my intent, Im Sol continued.
"It's fine. You can call me a monster. I'm used to it."
"Professor, don't say that. How could you be a monster?"
I was just a little scared—no thoughts of her being a monster or anything.
...Well, okay, maybe a bit.
To be fair, it wasn't negative. It was positive.
"Still, I didn't want to show you that side."
"...Professor?"
Im Sol sighed deeply, flashing another self-deprecating smile before continuing.
"I put up walls. To protect my pride, to ignore what others say. If those walls crumble, this is what happens. What you just saw? That's the real me."
I listened quietly to Im Sol.
"I know. It's ugly proof I can't adapt to society. Can't even bow my head properly. A monster who only knows magic. That assessment isn't wrong."
"... "
"So I didn't want to show it to you."
"...Sigh, Professor."
I let out a deep breath. How do I convince her? I'd suspected Professor Im Sol had some trauma. There were parts about her that never quite added up. But... honestly, whatever she thought didn't concern me. Her true self? So what. She was still beautiful. No matter what she did, Im Sol remained Im Sol. Even if no one else understood, I did. I just had to express that so she'd get it.
"Professor, don't think weird things. At least I don't see you that way. Not at all."
"...Then what do you think?"
She met my eyes, pouring my sincerity into the words.
"Huh?"
"About me. What do you think of Im Sol, the maladjusted societal monster mage...?"
"You're just you, Professor."
"...Yeah. Thanks."
Im Sol smiled faintly and looked away. That wasn't it. She was smiling, but not really. Obvious words wouldn't cut it. Convinced I couldn't leave it like this, I quickly followed up.
"...To me, you're just Im Sol the person."
Im Sol turned back to me, as if saying go on. Her eyes held shame, helplessness, self-loathing, embarrassment, guilt—and a faint glimmer of hope. Seeing that, I felt encouraged. And I poured out what I'd held back.
"Someone barely older acting all grown-up."
"...?"
Im Sol furrowed her brow at my sudden words, clearly confused. But I didn't stop. I had to vent everything I'd bottled up.
"Loves sweets like a kid. Thinks she's the most special in the world, ignores other mages, even dumps important stuff on her students. A weird professor."
"What are you even... "
Just as Im Sol was about to snap—
I pulled out my prepared line.
"But that side of you is cute."
"...Wh-what?"
Im Sol's eyes flew wide. Her face, full of displeasure, flushed with shock.
"The way you grin ear-to-ear eating chocolate, how you celebrate finishing magic research, whining daily that no one gets it but pouring your heart into class more than anyone. All of it—cute."
"What're you saying? You, you're serious...!"
Im Sol's eyes darted around in bewilderment.
"Proud of being the world's greatest mage, yet burdened by it. Self-mockingly calls herself a monster but craves someone to hold her—a weak person. That's the Professor Im Sol I like."
"S-stop. Please... "
Im Sol glanced around, worried someone might hear, and reached to cover my mouth. Her face burned bright red from embarrassment.
"Kkh, khh... heh."
Seeing Professor Im Sol so disheveled—a first—I burst into genuine laughter after so long.
"You, you. Wanna get punished? Jokes have limits. This isn't funny, just unpleasant, and... urgh... "
"Professor, what I mean is."
Her face grew redder; I gripped her hand as she tried to silence me. Her cold hand seemed to mirror her lonely feelings. I met her flustered eyes. Shame filled her face, tears welling up—she was mortified. Holding back laughter, I continued.
"Don't push yourself too hard. No matter how weird you get, I don't mind. Because it's you, Im Sol."
The lifelong magic-obsessed misfit Im Sol. I wasn't sure if I could shatter her accumulated trauma. But I trusted the bond we'd built, the connection we'd shared. And thankfully, it seemed to work. Her devastated expression began to soften bit by bit.