Chapter 084
Chapter Title: The Most Important Thing
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As the students wore bewildered expressions at Albi's sudden appearance, Torua, who had dismounted from her magic carpet, greeted him politely.
“Hello, Professor Albi.”
“What is all this?”
“My adorable juniors were entertaining their esteemed senior—me.”
‘You were working us to the bone for pocket change!’
The first-years screamed internally.
Of course, not a single student had the courage to say it out loud.
Albi glanced at the messy training ground with a blank expression, then waved his hand once.
Magic radiated from his fingertips, and in an instant, the training ground, which had been a mess due to Torua's commands, returned to its original state.
The students stared in awe.
‘Object Reversion Magic!’
A high-level spell that rewinds an object's time, it incorporates the concept of temporal interference.
To use it without an incantation...
“Everyone, assemble.”
At Albi's command, the first-years quickly fell into formation.
Torua sat down under the parasol Karl had handed her.
Since she was there to assist with the class, she didn't feel the need to join them.
“I am Albi Jer-on.”
Albi's brief introduction made the students tense up.
‘Why is he here? Is he just passing through?’
‘Could he be here to test a new spell? If so, we're incredibly lucky.’
Normally, when a professor appeared in a lecture hall, students would expect a class, but not a single first-year anticipated that Albi would be teaching.
And for good reason—Albi was famous for being a professor who never taught.
He had only become a professor for the privileges that came with the position at Lumerne.
He was a professor who was rarely on campus, as he was always out subjugating Tartaros.
In fact, despite having been a Lumerne professor for a long time, he had never once given a lecture.
Just as everyone's eyes began to sparkle with the expectation of seeing the magic of the renowned hero, Albi...
“Starting today, at Professor Ren's request, I will be assisting with your class.”
“……?”
The students couldn't comprehend Albi's words, so unexpected were they.
Just then, Torua Yan, who had been under the parasol, ran over.
“Wait a minute. Professor Albi, you're going to teach?”
“Is there a problem, Torua Yan?”
“No problem, but you never agreed when my juniors and I requested a special lecture time and time again!”
Albi was a mage who wielded fairy magic in a human body.
It was no exaggeration to say he was a rare type of mage, the only one of his kind among humans.
That was why every student in the Magic Department wanted to attend one of his lectures.
Torua herself had been consistently requesting Albi's lectures through suggestions since her first year.
She had asked for at least a special lecture if not a regular one.
When her requests weren't accepted, she had even been kicked out of the Magic Department office for visiting every single day.
After becoming the vice president of the student council, she had even been disciplined for trying to use her authority to make it happen.
And now, the lecture she couldn't get even after all that was being given to the first-years.
“I was busy.”
“…….”
At that one short phrase, Torua clenched her fists tightly.
Just then, Professor Ren and Assistant Professor Anna entered the magic training ground.
“Senior, you're here.”
Ren greeted Albi with the utmost respect.
Watching this, the students were once again reminded of Albi's stature.
Despite his youth, Ren was a mage who held immense influence not only in Lumerne's Magic Department but in the entire world of magic.
He was only interested in magic research and thus wasn't registered in the Hero Record, but his skills were on par with the combat mages active on the front lines.
The only professors Ren treated with such deference, besides Albi, were Sedjen of Class 1-1 and Halind of Class 1-5.
“Everyone, listen up! Professor Albi here is someone I've specially invited for you first-years! Let's all welcome him with a round of applause!”
A torrent of applause erupted from the first-years at Ren's shout.
“Torua, why are you sitting among the first-years and clapping? Come up here. You're participating in this class as an assistant.”
“Goo goo gaa gaa. I'm a newbie first-year. I wanna take Professor Albi's special lecture.”
“Assistant Professor Anna, drag her out of there immediately.”
Ren spoke mercilessly, as if he had expected this, and Anna approached Torua with a practiced air.
“Miss Torua. Come on out.”
“No! I wanna listen! I wanna listen to Professor Albi's lecture!”
Torua struggled, but was ultimately dragged to the front by Anna.
Ignoring Torua's pouting face, Ren spoke.
“The reason I've specially invited Senior Albi today is for magical combat.”
At those words, the students began to murmur amongst themselves.
“The event for the inter-departmental competition is a battle royale. In simple terms, it's survival. And mages are arguably the most disadvantaged class in that kind of field.”
The Magic Department students nodded in agreement at Professor Ren's words.
It was true that unless you were a battle mage like Chelsea, mages were at a disadvantage in one-on-one duels against other classes.
“Senior Albi is someone who has crossed numerous front lines alone. As far as I know, there is no one more skilled in magical combat than him. His advice will be a great help to you all ahead of the inter-departmental competition!”
The students clapped in admiration at Ren's words.
“Whatever the case, getting to hear Professor Albi's lecture is a stroke of luck.”
Karl said with a grin, and Chloe nodded.
“Yeah. I'm looking forward to it.”
“Torua, as a dungeon conqueror currently active on the front lines, will also not spare any advice for you.”
The first-years' eyes shone.
A truly luxurious practical lesson awaited them, starting today.
As Ren stepped back, Albi stepped forward.
“What do you all think is the most important thing in magical combat?”
At Albi's question, the students eagerly raised their hands.
They wanted to use this opportunity to make a strong impression on Albi, a hero and a member of the renowned Jer-on family.
“You there, answer.”
“Emio Luchan from Class 2!”
Emio Luchan, who had placed third in the Magic Department on the midterms, stood up.
“The most important thing for a mage is mana!”
“Wrong. Next. You.”
“Huh?”
As the enthusiastic Emio stood there flustered, Chelsea answered next.
“Casting speed!”
“Wrong. Next.”
The students each stated what they considered important.
But it seemed no one could guess the answer Albi had in mind.
After every answer was marked incorrect, all the first-years became hesitant to raise their hands, busy glancing around at each other.
Then, Torua shot her hand up.
“Me!”
“Put it down!”
Of course, Professor Ren forced her to lower her hand.
When no one else could answer, Leo raised his hand.
“Answer, Leo Flove.”
“Mobility.”
“Correct.”
“Tch. I raised my hand first.”
“Stop trying to compete with the first-years! You're in a teaching position today!”
As Torua grumbled, Professor Ren held his forehead.
Even for the young, charismatic Professor Ren, Torua was a troublesome student.
“Professor, I don't understand! Of course mobility is important, but I don't think it's the *most* important factor in magical combat! Besides, isn't the issue of mobility in magic a field that has already been overcome?”
‘As if I'd lose to some guy who isn't even in the Magic Department!’
Emio retorted hotly.
“By overcoming the mobility issue, are you referring to Wing magic?”
“Yes, sir!”
Wing magic.
A levitation spell invented ten years ago.
It was a kind of superior version of the long-used Fly spell, much easier to learn and allowing for faster movement.
Its most significant feature was its ability to grant flight to objects.
The versatile Fly spell could also grant flight to objects to enhance its effect.
But compared to Wing magic, its efficiency was lacking.
Wing magic was hailed as the spell of the century for its significant contribution to overcoming the relative weakness of mages: mobility.
Albi nodded at Emio's words.
“What's your name?”
“Emio Luchan.”
“Emio Luchan, step forward.”
Emio stepped forward with a quizzical expression.
“Is there any student among you who doesn't have a dedicated magic tool for Wing magic?”
At that question, the students looked dumbfounded.
For modern mages, Wing magic was considered an essential spell to master.
As such, a dedicated magic tool for Wing magic was a necessity for flight.
Of course, it wasn't a required item for the department, but it was essential given how often it was used.
For a Magic Department student not to have one was absurd.
However, contrary to the students' expectations, two students raised their hands.
It was Leo and Chloe.
Chloe seemed embarrassed and lowered her head slightly, while Leo stood tall.
“Leo Flove, forward.”
As Leo stepped forward, Emio showed his hostility.
‘Have I been living my school life wrong?’
Seeing it, Leo let out a dry laugh inwardly.
“You two will now begin an aerial battle.”
Albi pointed to the top of the distant Tower of Heroes.
“The first one to touch the target and return is the winner. Leo Flove. You will use this.”
Albi took a broom out of a subspace.
“Why a broom, of all things?”
“It's a magic tool I often use.”
Albi answered nonchalantly, looking at the incredulous Leo.
The students looked at Leo with envy.
It might look like a shabby broom on the outside, but since it was used by Albi, it was sure to be an incredible magic tool.
The students who had been staring at Leo with envy now looked puzzled.
‘But why a race out of nowhere when he's trying to emphasize the importance of aerial mobility?’
However, the complexions of a few students who saw the broom changed drastically.
“No way. That's so unfair, isn't it?”
“Why?”
“That's not a magic tool for flight! It's just a magic tool for cleaning—a broom!”
“What?”
“This should be interesting.”
Torua said with a grin, and Anna sighed.
“It might be interesting, but I wonder if it'll even be a competition.”
Leo and Emio stood at the starting line.
Anna raised her hand.
“Are both students ready?”
As the two nodded, Anna lowered her hand.
“Start!”
“Become my limbs, Wing!”
Having finished the incantation in an instant, Emio hopped onto a board-like magic tool and accelerated in a flash.
‘I don't know what kind of magic tool Professor Albi gave Leo, but mine is the absolute best of the best! Plus, I've practiced Wing magic every single day!’
Emio's lips curled into a smirk.
‘That guy Leo has never once come to practice! This duel is my victory!’
Just as Emio, feeling the wind against him, was convinced of his victory...
*Whoosh—!*
“……!”
In that moment, something pulled up alongside him at an incredible speed.
“What the?”
It was none other than Leo.
“Sorry, going on ahead!”
“You bastard! You think I'll let you?!”
With eyes practically shooting sparks, Emio drew his staff.
*Crackle—!*
“Lightning Bolt!”
Leo quickly veered to dodge the spell flying at him from behind.
“What? Why are you attacking?”
“This isn't a race, it's an aerial battle! Attacking the opponent is fair game!”
Emio shot a mocking laugh as he overtook Leo.
At those words, Leo's lips curled into a smirk.
“Oh? You're going to regret that.”