This Is Truly Amazing!
The next day, Professor Paracelsus stared with wide eyes at the Fluid Magic Circle theory Kain had created, which Arina had shown him. He couldn't hold back his applause. This wasn't magic—it was art. No, calling it a miracle wouldn't be an exaggeration in the slightest.
"I knew Tenured Professor Frankhorn had announced his theory on modifying the shape of magic circles, but I never imagined an application like this would be developed so soon."
Actually, could it even be called an application? One could only confirm that the core idea had been drawn from there. But when you dismantled its internals, it became clear that every single component was an entirely different kind of magic. Unlike Professor Frankhorn, who focused on liquefying magic circles so they could be inscribed freely anytime and anywhere, the person who created this magic had placed the emphasis on the use of the fluidized magic circle itself.
"This is revolutionary! A revolution in the field of alchemy!"
"......"
Was it really that impressive? Faced with even more fervent praise than she'd expected, Arina smiled somewhat awkwardly. She'd thought her uncle's creation would be amazing, but she hadn't imagined the professor would lavish it with this level of acclaim.
Perhaps noticing from Arina's expression that she hadn't fully grasped the true brilliance of this magic circle, Professor Paracelsus quickly added an explanation she could understand.
"It's a theory and line of thinking that's completely opposite to Tenured Professor Frankhorn's."
Though it was built on alchemical theory, it pointed in a completely different direction from what alchemists hoped to achieve. Magic that focused on thorough destruction rather than creation. This spell set its purpose on extraction rather than imprinting.
"It'll be faster if I just show you."
With those words, Professor Paracelsus pulled something from his pocket. It was a ring-shaped artifact embedded with a small gem. He placed it on his left palm and covered it with his right hand, smiling with the pure excitement of a child accepting chocolate.
Suuuuck.
He lifted his overlapping right hand upward. Something clung to his right palm like iron to a magnet and stretched out with it. It was a magic circle that had lost its original form, pulled long and thin like taffy.
"Something like this, for example."
The arrangement of the formulas written inside the magic circle deformed irregularly. An amorphous shape. It could no longer be called a magic circle, nor a magic square. Yet despite that, this bizarre magic still retained the original effects a magic circle possessed.
"Storing the magic circle in a liquefied state and then spraying it onto an object to rapidly reconstruct it into its original form. That was the main point of the theory Tenured Professor Frankhorn announced."
In other words, in its unreconstructed liquefied state, it couldn't exhibit its original effects. But this was different. The magic Kain had created omitted the reconstruction process entirely and had been improved to exert its effects even in its formless state.
'Has necromancy been added? Along with curse magic?'
The basic principle of necromancy was to transform the living memories in a dead corpse's brain into an ego and forcibly animate it. But this went far beyond such common sense. It treated the magic circle that had lost its form as something dead, then forcibly turned it into an undead to draw out the power to move it. Using the concept of a posthumous curse.
'Is this what they call a dark mage's Divine Rule?'
A distorted law heavily laced with personal selfishness that ordinary mages could never imitate. To melt that into magic given to others, extending beyond the realm of the Inner World.
'The one who created this must undoubtedly be a high-ranking dark mage.'
A personal mental image constructed with enough strength to overcome the laws of the world. Even at the lowest estimate, its creator had to be at least superhuman. To think such a high-ranking dark mage had been by Arina's side. Moreover, upon hearing that she was learning alchemy, he had created something this absurd—showing just how deeply he cared for her.
"On the other hand, this magic system can be used in roughly this manner."
The magic circle drawn from the ring reconstructed itself into a new form according to Professor Paracelsus's will. Kneaded like clay, the magic circle tangled and compressed in the air before being reborn in the shape of an arrow. It shot forward rapidly at the professor's gesture.
Thud!
Kwaaaang!
The arrow embedded itself precisely in the center of the whiteboard. At the same time, the flame magic imprinted within the circle exploded, wrapping the area around the board in scorching heat.
"Even though it's been crushed, the magic's form remains intact. This has already entered the realm of will rather than mere formulas."
The most basic application using this magic system. Yet even this alone proved its greatness. It created something from nothing, granted physical force to a magic circle, and made that single aspect serve the full role of a magic tool.
It was truly a revolution in the enchantment field. This was exactly why Professor Paracelsus had been so impressed when he first saw the theory.
"Magic circles become completely useless if two or more overlap. The reason is that the formulas composing each circle interfere with one another, completely breaking the function of the magic circle."
An absolute taboo that must never be committed when creating magic tools. The computational power required to make two magic circles overlap and function simultaneously was squared—or worse. It was something only high-grade mages could even attempt, but this magic system had no reason to concern itself with that taboo.
Because it had never intended to use magic in the form of tools from the beginning.
"Store multiple magic circles by overlapping them, then take them out and use them one by one when the moment arrives. In theory, you could store them infinitely up to the limit of the tool's durability."
And coincidentally, Arina possessed a magic tool perfectly suited for that very purpose. The Mana Restriction Cuffs—the device placed on criminals who committed crimes within the Ellemental Kingdom, considered the finest among magic tools when it came to durability alone.
Professor Paracelsus glanced at the magic tool worn on Arina's arm like an accessory and smiled.
"Personally, I feel it's superior to the mental-type magic 'Memorize,' which stores magic formulas in the shape of circles in a corner of the brain for instant activation. If this could be commercialized, all the alchemists holed up in the Magic Tower could immediately become combat mages and serve as active forces on the battlefield."
The most chronic problem and weakness of alchemists was that the higher the level of magic they tried to use, the longer it took to draw the magic circle in proportion. And this completely covered that weakness of alchemy.
"Moreover, if done well, it could even be used to construct magic squares."
Like drawing formations in the Fan Empire. By placing magic circles standing straight like rods in a set pattern, it seemed possible to build a magic square.
"If that's possible, controlling magic squares—which have been considered realistically impossible—might actually become feasible."
Of course, whether this would truly work remained unknown. The formulas within the circles composing the magic square might interfere with each other, causing the square to fail entirely or function in some completely bizarre way. This was something that could only be known through actual experimentation. Because of the difficulty, he hadn't even dared to attempt it yet.
"......"
With his outstanding comprehension, Professor Paracelsus was already suggesting various directions for applying this magic system. The more Arina listened, the more she realized just how incredible the magic system her uncle had given her truly was.
It was far too powerful a force to be granted to a mere 3-star mage. This magic could rival the secret arts quietly passed down in noble families, and if it were published in a Magic Tower thesis, the patent fees alone might bring in an astronomical sum.
Faced with power too great for an ordinary citizen, Arina unconsciously let out a hiccup.
"However, it's not without its drawbacks."
A magic circle that functioned even in an unfixed state was astonishing, but at the same time, it greatly highlighted the biggest flaw in the paper Tenured Professor Frankhorn had presented.
The reductive force of mana that constantly tried to return to nature. If Professor Paracelsus hadn't forcibly suppressed it with his powerful will, the magic circle would have lost its essence and vanished into the air before even reaching the whiteboard.
The amount of control power required to use the magic even once was absurdly high.
"There are two main methods to use this system."
The first was to forcibly suppress it using strong mana control, like Kain or Professor Paracelsus had done. This was probably the most common method ordinary mages could employ.
"And the second is to be born with innate mana affinity strong enough to resist the reductive force of nature."
The method Arina could use was likely the second. She had been born with high affinity and sensitivity, but her dominance and operational power over mana were only average, or slightly below.
"This magic looks like it was created specifically for you, Student Arina."
To other mages, including Professor Paracelsus, it was a spell with a grotesquely high entry barrier. But for her, who possessed high mana affinity by birth, that wasn't the case. A magic system that could be learned relatively easily and used in tandem with the magic tool she wore on her body every day.
It was clear how much thought the creator had put into her when making it.
With those words, Professor Paracelsus handed the smartphone back to Arina. It was truly an incredible treasure. Submitting it to the Magic Tower could greatly raise one's reputation, but there wasn't a trace of greed in the professor's eyes. It was as if he had drawn the line from the very beginning that this belonged to Arina, not him.
"If it's alright with you, could I meet the person who created this later? I'd like to have a deep conversation with them."
He expressed deep interest in the creator of the magic. Though a dark mage, his level of magical knowledge was far from ordinary.
"I'll ask my uncle about it."
"Thank you. Now, returning to the main topic, it's currently impossible for you to handle this, Student Arina."
A magic made entirely for Arina alone. Her high mana affinity meant controlling it wouldn't be too difficult, but her current formula ability was still insufficient to fully wield it. It was the complete opposite of Professor Paracelsus, who controlled this magic through overwhelming formula ability despite somewhat lacking affinity.
"For now, focus on becoming more proficient in the formula lessons you're learning from Professor Magnus and on generating magic circles."
No matter what one did in this world, if the fundamentals were lacking, it would eventually collapse. Only with solid foundational work could a castle be built that wouldn't fall even in an earthquake.
"In addition, whenever you have a spare moment, close your eyes and meditate. Listening to your own heartbeat while contemplating your inner self is good. Imagining drawing magic circles in your mind is good. Even thinking about what you'll eat for dinner tonight isn't bad."
No matter how excellent one's affinity was, without at least a minimum of control power, one wouldn't be able to fully control this magic. A process of gradually training the mind through meditation was necessary.
"Trust me. I'll make sure you can use this magic before the Academy Tournament."
"Yes!"
At Arina's energetic reply, Professor Paracelsus smiled warmly. And he thought to himself that in the upcoming Academy Tournament, with this student at the center, there might just be a first-year rebellion that would leave everyone watching completely stunned.