The Misunderstood Genius
"I didn't buy the textbooks, did I?"
"It’s been a while since I’ve worn a uniform, so it’s hard to get used to."
It had been a full ten years since I last wore a school uniform. Surprisingly, it didn't feel bad. Back then, I hated wearing one, but now that I was putting it on again, I realized there was nothing quite like it. Without the uniform, I felt like the distinction between nobles and commoners would be drawn immediately, creating an instant hierarchy. Come to think of it, maybe the uniform back then had its own functional benefits? A white dress shirt, a black tie, and a black robe embroidered with gold thread worn over it. Even someone like me, who couldn't even manage Mana Manifestation, looked like a proper mage.
After moving around in the clothes, I took out the paper handed out in the auditorium and read it. The paper listed the subjects available for each grade and information about the professors. I skipped everything else and checked the graduation requirements first. The total number of credits required for graduation was 128. 18 credits were mandatory for the first semester of freshman year. I had to earn 10 credits from commerce, humanities, arts, history, and arithmetic before graduation. The rest had to be filled with 70 credits for my major and 30 credits for my minor.
Combat Tactics. Knight Studies. Magic Department. Auxiliary Studies. Magic Engineering. Commerce Department. In the first semester of freshman year, I had to take one 3-credit course from each of the six departments to reach 18 credits. In effect, the real course registration for choosing majors and liberal arts would begin from the second semester of freshman year.
"Haa."
The graduation requirements were simpler than I thought, but no matter how I looked at it, I didn't think it would be easy. Just looking at the names of the major subjects I would eventually have to choose, they were all things I wasn't good at. The only one that seemed doable was the Commerce Department, but the problem was that after the Magic Department, it had the most textbooks, so it required quite a lot of money. The price of the books didn't start in silver coins, but in gold coins.
"You want me to buy all of these?"
I didn't need to worry about graduation; I needed to worry about the money to buy the books first. It was fortunate that not many classes required books right away. Except for the Magic Department, all of them were practical-oriented classes. In the case of the Commerce Department, they said they would distribute class materials. So, for now, that was out of the question.
"I need to go quickly."
It seemed like I had to stop by the library first. I thought I could save some money by moving fast on the first day and borrowing the textbooks, but... I don't know how many other commoners were there, but the few Magic Department textbooks in the library were completely empty.
"Damn it. I should have borrowed the books before washing up."
The next day, with a trembling heart, I entered the first class of the Magic Department. Heinz wrote his name and the key points of the upcoming curriculum on the blackboard and asked the students, "Is there anyone here who didn't bring their book?"
Because I didn't have a book, I raised my hand immediately and trembled. Listening to the sound, I heard quite a lot of rustling fabric from the back. When I turned around at the sound, most of the students had expressions of dissatisfaction and disbelief. Among them, a kid who looked particularly well-groomed spoke in a dissatisfied voice.
"Professor, some student swept up all the major textbooks at once."
"I see. It seems it's the same again this year. Well, figure out how to handle the parts where you don't have books."
"Yes."
Setting aside the fact that both the professor and the students were so nonchalant, someone had swept up hundreds of major textbooks at once? Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like a means to keep the students in check or a scheme to hoard them and sell them at a higher price. It was also strange that the professor didn't say anything. Thinking about it again, I was so envious of that guy.
'Wow.'
I couldn't even fathom how much money someone would have to have to sweep up expensive textbooks for dozens, no, hundreds of people. Is this the "flex" sense of the nobles? Still, I felt quite grateful. If that guy hadn't swept them up, I would have been the only one without a book.
"Well. Since that happened, I'll let it slide today. Could those of you who cannot perform Mana Manifestation raise your hands?"
Only three people, including me, raised our hands. Most of them could do it? I guess this is why people talk about private education.
The professor scrutinized the faces of the three of us, narrowing his eyes. He stared at us as if suspecting something, but soon looked at the other students and said, "The three of you, come to the front, and the rest of you may leave."
As soon as the professor finished speaking, all the students went outside. The professor began to explain the method of Mana Manifestation slowly.
"First, try to contemplate the mana within your body."
Two of them sat down and nodded at the professor's words, but for me, who was suddenly told to contemplate, I felt a sense of crisis. How do I do that... Cold sweat was running down my spine.
"Professor. I don't even know how to handle mana well."
"Is that so?"
I honestly thought I would get a good scolding here, but the professor was unexpectedly kind. Until a moment ago, he had been looking at the three students with suspicion, but now he had a relieved expression as if his questions had been answered. I didn't know what was going on, but they say it's good to have good things.
"Then I should give you some help."
The professor placed his hand on my back, and I began to feel something warm on my back. As I focused on where I felt it, my gaze naturally turned to the inside of my body.
"You could die if you open your mouth, so keep your mouth shut."
"..."
"You're already focusing."
Heinz thought after hearing that, 'It's faster than I thought this year.'
Usually, it was something that happened starting from the second semester of the first year, after feeling the difference in levels from the first semester. Of course, the Academy side wasn't stopping it. Heinz had even borrowed all the books in the library at his own discretion to secretly help that student and to teach the students the bitter taste of noble society. Such things happen often in life. Especially in the case of nobles or wealthy merchants. There are cases of collusive trading, buying and selling goods among each other to raise market prices, and the act of hoarding is not uncommon. So, Heinz was curious about who it was.
'Who is it that moved the timing up by a semester?'
Someone who thought faster than others. When someone was lost in the excitement of the new semester, someone else was realistically keeping the students in check. Heinz, curious about who that was, watched the three of them closely. There was one student who stood out. A student with silver hair and purple eyes. The student, who looked extraordinary just by his appearance, was restless. The others looked like commoner students. Among the three, he was the only student who looked like a noble.
'It seems... Kyle. It looks like it's this kid.'
It was a reasonable inference, as it was rare for a noble child to be unable to perform Mana Manifestation, no matter how untalented they were, even going back through the history of the Academy. Above all, they say the culprit returns to the scene once more to check the reaction. In the end, it all gets caught later. Among the students caught later, there were dozens of faces I could remember right away. Thinking of past faces, most of them graduated from the Academy with good grades, so I was looking forward to it.
Hearing Kyle's words, I realized. At first, he looked like a student who wanted to show off that he was a genius who could solve everything at once after pretending not to know, but I didn't like that kind of behavior originally, but that part suddenly started to look cute.
'Even if his actions are fast, a student is still a student.'
Thinking that, I put my hand on his back, and there really wasn't a single grain of mana in his body. First of all, I told him he could die if he opened his mouth... but I started to think he would be fine even if we kept talking.
'I guess it's not this kid...'
Just as I realized that the kid who swept up the major textbooks was someone else, and I was feeling disappointed, something flashed.
"Hmm?"
Heinz, who confirmed that purple mana was undulating in Kyle's body, began to focus on Kyle's inner self after seeing the quite unique mana color. The mana in his body was filling up, little by little. It was little by little, really only visible if you focused all your nerves. But seeing it fill up at this speed, it was true that he had talent.
'Seeing such a quick reaction, I have to consider his innate talent as top-tier.'
I have to divert the attention of other professors. To the extent that I intervene myself and isolate him so they can't meet him. And the Commerce Department will naturally pay attention to Kyle, who will be the person who swept up the major textbooks.
'I can just go and tell the professor that it's a misunderstanding myself.'
It was clear that he was a talent that many professors at the Academy would covet. Heinz swallowed his groan inwardly.
'I needed a disciple, after all.'
Heinz, who felt he should use the situation a little, smiled and said, "Can the two of you wait in the hallway for a moment?"
"Yes, understood!"
"And, you know. I don't really like lying."
"Yes?"
The two students tilted their heads.
"I'm saying don't pretend you can't perform mana when you can. I can assure you there isn't a professor at the Academy who likes that."
"I'm sorry!"
"Yes. Get out."
Heinz sent the two students out and took his hand off Kyle's back, saying, "You can speak now."
Heinz took his hand off his back and moved slowly to check Kyle's face. The face he faced couldn't hide its ecstasy. Seeing that, I could smile.
'Was he able to check the inside in that short time?'
Since the filling speed was superior, the student also felt it.
"Thank you. Professor."
"So, was there a harvest?"
"Yes."
Seeing Kyle answer firmly, Heinz called his assistant.
"Assistant Ariane."
"Yes, Professor."
"Can you bring me the major textbooks we'll be covering this semester?"
"The ones rented from the library..."
"Shh! I'm talking about my books."
"You mean your books, Professor?"
"Yes, they should be in my study. Please bring the oldest ones you can find."
"Understood."
Heinz, watching the assistant leave, leaned close to Kyle's ear and said quietly, "I'm asking just in case, are you a commoner?"
"Yes..."
As Kyle dropped his head as if he had been caught, Heinz stroked his beard and smiled kindly, "That's amazing. I thought you were a noble through and through. A fallen noble?"
"No, sir."
"I see."
Greed had settled on Heinz's face at some point.
'He's a commoner with no background, so I should definitely secure him.'
Come to think of it, there were two students outside. 'I can use this.'
Heinz, who had been speaking quietly so others wouldn't hear, began to raise his voice.
"Why did you buy all the major textbooks?"
"Yes? I never did such a thing..."
The moment Kyle tried to make an excuse, a sound of someone taking a deep breath was heard from the hallway.
"Hup!"
"So you were still there. You may go now."
"Yes, yes!"
Heinz, who returned to Kyle, closed the door and cast a soundproofing spell on the classroom.
"I'm sorry, but you'll have to suffer a bit for the time being."
"Yes? What do you mean by that..."
"If you have a hard time, come find me anytime. You're also welcome to come and ask about anything you don't understand in class."