Chapter 495
Chapter Title: An Eccentric Proposal
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495.
Associate Professor Anna was at a loss for words as she looked at the bizarre magic formula Ren had created.
‘This man… he’s definitely a genius.’
Although he had his occasional fits, as a fellow mage, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of respect when she watched him.
Even to Associate Professor Anna, whose knowledge of magic was profound, the formula was mind-boggling. Ren, who had designed it, was genuinely delighted.
‘Hehehe! This will make for an interesting class.’
His passion and sense of responsibility as a professor in the magic department were also immense.
He had spent the last few days immersed in researching this magic formula, eagerly awaiting the students’ return from their mission training.
And today.
The students had finally returned, and classes had resumed.
Watching Ren proudly display his magic formula to the students, Anna found herself smiling without realizing it.
And then…
“I think the formula’s calculation is incorrect, Professor.”
At the Seirun exchange student’s words, Anna felt her mind go blank.
Ren stared at Luna, who had her hand raised, his eyes practically glowing.
“Are you the exchange student from Seirun?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Alright. And how is this formula’s calculation incorrect?”
“I believe the approach to the first step of solving the formula is flawed!”
Anna screamed internally.
The other students murmured, looking back and forth between Ren and Luna.
For a mage, a magic formula was a matter of pride.
Of course, new ideas and approaches were always welcome.
But in this case, the magic formula was something that didn't exist before… a new creation by Ren himself.
To say that the approach to his own formula was flawed was to directly challenge Ren’s pride as a mage.
“The approach to the first step is flawed? Interesting.”
Ren’s lips curled into a smirk.
“Exchange student, what is your name?”
“It’s Lu.”
“Are there any other students who agree with student Lu’s opinion?”
At Ren’s question, Chloe timidly raised her hand.
“I also think there’s a slight mistake in the approach to the formula.”
Clap— clap— clap—
“Excellent. Truly excellent.”
Ren clapped his hands, looking satisfied.
Seeing Ren offer praise instead of having a fit as she’d expected, Associate Professor Anna let out a sigh of relief, though she wore a puzzled expression.
“This magic formula is the very first version I conceptualized. It has been significantly refined since then, but as you all know, creating new magic isn’t something that happens overnight. The revised formula I created could just as easily become useless. That’s why I wanted to use this initial concept to discuss and refine it with all of you. Collective intelligence is important. You might discover something I completely missed.”
Hearing Ren’s words, Luna applauded enthusiastically.
Spurred on by Luna’s fervor, the other students glanced around before joining in the applause.
At the enthusiastic response, Ren chuckled, “Hmph.”
“Student Lu, your attitude in class is quite admirable.”
As he wore a satisfied expression, Luna spoke to Leo.
“I love this school’s magic class. That professor, Ren, seems like a proper mage.”
“You look like you’re having fun.”
“How could I not be? I could tell the extent of magic’s development in this era just by looking at that formula.”
Luna’s eyes sparkled.
“You noticed the flawed approach in the formula too, right?”
“I did.”
Having taught Leo magic before, Luna knew his capabilities well.
“Anyway, that girl Chloe is also impressive. She’s still so young.”
“She’s a mage with a promising future.”
“I like this. Seeing children with bright futures.”
Resting her chin on her hand, Luna scanned the lecture hall.
Leo and Luna had taken seats at the very back.
“You get to see this every day. What does it feel like, watching these kids grow day by day?”
“It’s very reassuring.”
“I can imagine.”
Luna smiled benevolently as she looked at the students who would one day lead the history of magic.
“This is truly wonderful.”
Watching her smile, which seemed tinged with a hint of loneliness, Leo couldn’t say a word.
***
After class, Leo and Luna remained in the lecture hall, waiting for all the other students to leave.
Eiran had already left with Chloe, as she had a lunch appointment with Chen Xia.
“Hm? Student Leo, Student Lu. Is there something you wanted to ask?”
Ren, who was tidying up the lecture hall, asked with a smile.
Luna looked at him and nodded.
“Yes, I have a question about the magic formula Professor Ren showed us in class today.”
“Elves are usually only interested in star magic! Your passion for magic is commendable!”
Ren nodded in satisfaction.
“I was also very impressed by your passion for magic, Professor Ren. Every single thing you did today was based on a truly brilliant idea.”
“I’m delighted to meet a student who understands me so well. You said you were in the lower class? It seems Seirun is completely incapable of recognizing your value. Have you considered dropping out and transferring to our academy?”
The two shared a friendly conversation.
“So, what is it you’re curious about?”
“The magic formula you designed is for traveling to the future, isn’t it?”
At Luna’s question, Ren’s shoulders flinched.
“How… did you know?”
Ren hadn’t told the students anything beyond the fact that the theme of today’s magic formula was ‘time.’
He hadn’t even told his associate professor, Anna.
He believed that the process of deducing the final objective while researching the formula was a significant part of learning.
But he never imagined someone would grasp his intentions so perfectly in the very first class.
“Actually, I’ve had a similar idea recently.”
“A similar idea?”
“I was thinking it would be nice to have magic that could travel to the past.”
“Why would you think of that?”
“I want to fix a mistake I made in the past.”
*I want to smack the other me from the World of Heroes who confessed to Leo,* she thought.
…It was for an utterly absurd reason.
“I, too, designed this formula because I wanted to see my future self.”
Ren was curious to know how great of a figure he would be praised as in the magical world.
Both of their reasons were extremely faithful to their own desires and incredibly petty, but that’s what magic was.
Achieving great change from trivial reasons.
That was the essence of magic.
Of course, the chances of completing a magic spell that enabled time travel were virtually nonexistent.
Even so, the idea itself was by no means wrong.
‘That is magical progress.’
“Looking at your formula, Professor, I felt the urge to compare it with the one I designed and have a discussion.”
“Oho.”
Ren let out a sound of admiration.
He then looked at Luna as if she were a prodigy.
“Could you show me?”
At his words, Luna nodded and stood before the large lecture hall’s chalkboard.
She then snapped her fingers lightly.
Snap—!
The pieces of chalk on the board instantly turned to dust.
The fine chalk powder, gathered in the air like smoke, soon began to draw a magic formula on the chalkboard.
Seeing this, Anna’s jaw dropped.
Ren stared, mesmerized, at the magic formula materializing on the board.
‘Is this… a work of art?’
Ren’s body trembled.
The magic formula drawn on the chalkboard looked like one from ancient texts.
It wasn't a modern, trendy formula.
But that was precisely why it was more valuable and possessed an unfathomable depth.
‘This feeling… where have I felt it before?’
Ren’s gaze shifted to Leo.
‘Right, I felt this when I first met Student Leo.’
Leo’s existence had been a shock to Ren.
He had thought Leo was the very future of the magical world.
But the elven student before him surpassed even that.
‘Just what is this elf student?’
Ren had seen countless magical talents.
He considered himself to be a genius.
But today, his perspective had changed.
The female elf student before him was on a completely different ‘level.’
Anna was 100% certain Ren was about to have a fit.
But Ren was calm.
“What kind of feedback are you looking for?”
“Are there any points that need improvement or any mistakes?”
“Hmm.”
Ren crossed his arms and studied the magic formula.
Then, he finally spoke.
“Perhaps it would be better to slightly alter the runic language in the intermediate formula. Instead of simply having the mana flow backward, make it flow in reverse in a spiral. The concept of time is one that transcends dimensions, after all.”
“Aha.”
Luna clapped her hands.
“That makes perfect sense!”
After that, Luna and Ren continued their discussion about magic.
Ren was amazed as he watched Luna accept his opinions and develop the formula in an even better direction.
‘To have such talent and ability, yet still possess an attitude of actively accepting others’ opinions! Isn’t this the ideal of a mage itself?!’
“Leo, what do you think?”
“It’s incredible.”
“Right?”
Luna wore a happy expression.
Watching her, Leo chuckled softly.
Luna Rubinance.
A mage who loved magic more than anything.
She was an elf whose greatest joy came from exploring and researching the discipline of magic, pursuing its ultimate truth.
For Luna, magical research was happiness itself.
That was why, when it came to magic, he wanted to let her do as she pleased.
Watching the two converse, Ren looked up at the ceiling and burst into laughter.’
“Hehehe. Hehehehehe!”
At his sudden laughter, Anna’s expression grew anxious.
“Associate Professor Anna, I have just felt my destiny. I have realized the greatest achievement I can leave behind in this magical world.”
‘Here we go.’
Anna tensed, expecting one of Ren’s fits.
“You two students, could you please take a seat in front of the lecture hall?”
At his words, Leo and Luna sat down with puzzled expressions.
Anna stared at Ren, her face clearly asking, *what is that man planning to do now?*
“Today, I realized that you two are in need of a special lesson.”
“A special lesson?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of lesson?”
“A lesson on how a man and a woman make a baby.”
At the completely unexpected words, Luna’s expression went blank.
“This is something that Student Leo and Student Lu must do together in the future…”
“What kind of crazy thing are you saying to the students! You madman!”
Her face flushing bright red, Anna smacked the back of Ren’s head with the attendance book with all her might.
“What is the meaning of this!”
“That’s what I want to ask you! What in the world are you doing with students sitting right there!”
At Anna’s shout, Ren spoke firmly.
“This is all for the sake of the magical world! Student Leo and Student Lu. Just imagine a child born between these two magical geniuses! What a great blessing it would be for the world of magic!”
“Student Leo! Student Lu! Get out of here! Don’t listen to another word from this pervert!”
At Anna’s words, Leo and Luna promptly left the lecture hall.
“He’s an interesting professor.”
Luna said, giggling.
“I like this school!”
“I’m glad. Where do you want to go next?”
Luna grinned.
“The library.”
***
Gwooooh—!
A powerful dark magic swirled.
Crack—!
Soon, a woman emerged, breaking through the floor.
“It has been a while, Kinesi.”
“Hel Kaiser.”
The demon with transparent hair and transparent eyes, the Mirror Queen Kinesi, looked at the Necro King.
“What is this situation?”
Looking at her old comrade who asked with a blank face, the Necro King’s lips curled up.
“I have brought you back to life with the power of a god.”