Professor Magnus's Spell Puzzle
The assignment Professor Nataldi had announced the day before was only the beginning. Arina had resolved the night before to wake earlier than usual and start her day with a morning jog, but perhaps all that time spent fiddling with magical tools and practicing had taken its toll. On the very first day of her diet, she ended up postponing her morning jog just like countless other dieters who push their resolutions to tomorrow when faced with delicious food. Instead, she headed straight to the academy, only to be greeted by yet another assignment from Professor Spencer Magnus.
"The deadline is the end of the first semester," he said, handing out what appeared to be spell puzzle boxes. Each one was locked with multiple spell-formed locks, like a quiz. These were the sort of things mages from the Magic Tower carried around like games or that occasionally appeared as problems on quiz shows. This particular puzzle had been handmade by Professor Magnus himself, and true to his meticulous nature, it featured far more locks than anything she'd seen on entertainment broadcasts, each one more intricate than the last. The students were so moved by his apparent thoughtfulness that tears nearly welled up in their eyes.
"Some of the problems cover material we've already studied, while others include content we haven't covered yet. As you progress, a few will require light applications of what you've learned."
At those words, Arina and the rest of Class A were certain: when Professor Spencer said "light," he was clearly lying. Those problems would be heavier than eyelids after three all-nighters.
"So pay close attention in the upcoming classes. Only then will you be able to solve them."
"……."
"For your information, points will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. I've already arranged for the puzzles to be distributed to all first-years during this morning's assembly. Once you've solved yours, bring it to my office at any time."
The sooner a student solved the spell puzzle and retrieved its contents, the higher their score. The later they were, the lower the points. Fail to solve it by the end of the semester, and it would be an automatic zero for time over. Unlike Professor Nataldi's somewhat subjective grading, this was objective and crystal clear.
"There have been cases in the past where students hid or damaged their classmates' puzzles, ruining the entire exam."
"……."
"If you lose or break yours, come to my office and I'll replace it. However, anyone caught tampering with another's puzzle will receive an automatic zero. Keep that in mind."
Good grief. So if they couldn't pass, they'd make sure no one else could either. What a creative and novel form of cheating. If only they'd put that brainpower toward studying instead.
"If someone reports such an act with evidence, that person will receive bonus points."
"……."
"Also, stealing someone else's solved puzzle or selling an opened one for profit is strictly forbidden. When you submit it, I'll randomly select a few problems and ask you to explain your solving process."
Professor Spencer Magnus's long career had apparently exposed him to every possible form of cheating. Who would have thought someone would try to turn an assignment into a business?
"Hmm, as expected. This is much better than Professor Scape's assignment."
At that moment, Arina heard Marily murmur beside her. When she turned to look, her eyes widened in disbelief. Marily had already dismantled five locks in the short time since receiving the puzzle.
"Professor Magnus really is something. His personality leaves much to be desired, but his assignments are exactly to my liking."
As Marily spoke, another lock clicked open in her hands. And she was solving them all mentally? It was a truly astonishing sight, one that reminded Arina exactly why it was Marily.
Clearly, the students who sold solved puzzles for money had been people like her.
"Haha……."
In contrast, Arina's future looked bleak. She still had to practice mana manipulation, and now she couldn't afford to neglect spell studies either. It was as if the world were deliberately blocking her new resolve to start exercising.
'Come to think of it, I still haven't finished the books I borrowed from the library.'
There simply wasn't enough time. Why did a day only have twenty-four hours? If only whoever created time had been generous and made it a hundred hours instead.
"That concludes the announcements. Remember that steady, daily effort is the only shortcut to becoming an excellent mage. Now, focus on today's lessons."
With those parting words, Professor Spencer Magnus left the classroom, followed by the resentful glares of students who felt their daily grind had only grown heavier.
Arina's apartment, which she had moved into before entering Benedict Academy, was conveniently located just a five-to-ten-minute walk away. Even closer, right between the academy and her apartment, stood a large supermarket. Whenever the refrigerator ran low on ingredients, Arina would stop by on her way home from school.
"Hmm."
Today was no different. Arina entered the supermarket to buy dinner ingredients. While checking the prices of carrots and onions in the vegetable section, she nodded as if reaching a decision.
"Maybe I'll make curry for dinner tonight?"
With the assignment looming, the next few days were bound to be hectic. If she made a large batch today and portioned out the leftovers for the freezer, she could enjoy it for several days.
"It's nice that Uncle doesn't complain about side dishes and just eats whatever he's given."
Of course, Kain was the type to eat whatever was served without complaint, but that didn't mean he'd enjoy eating curry every single day. If he'd heard her, he would have frowned and suggested ordering delivery instead. Arina casually voiced the very words that would have earned that reaction as she began loading curry ingredients into her cart. She also added a bundle of udon noodles as a variation to rice and continued browsing.
Tap, tap.
Someone poked her shoulder with a finger. When she turned, a finger poked her cheek. The scene from the academy library days earlier replayed like déjà vu. Professor Karlsen, who had stood behind her then as well, grinned.
"As expected, it's you, Arina."
Even the line was the same. Whether then or now, poking her cheek with a finger seemed to be his way of showing familiarity. He probably meant it as playful bonding with students, but to the recipient, it was the sort of thing that could easily sour one's mood. Marily, for instance, would likely keep her distance from Professor Karlsen while hiding her discomfort.
"Ah, yes. Hello."
Arina, however, didn't mind at all. She greeted him with a bow, paying no particular attention to the poke.
"Are you here to shop?"
His low, listless tone, sunken eyes, dark circles, and gloomy all-black outfit remained unchanged. Professor Karlsen suddenly leaned in toward Arina's cart.
"Judging by the ingredients, you're planning curry. Or perhaps something more unique, like a creamy white stew?"
"Curry."
"Oh, as expected!"
After deducing Professor Magnus's assignment from the books she'd been carrying at the library and now guessing her dinner menu from ingredients alone, Arina couldn't help but think he had remarkable observational skills. At the same time, she realized he possessed an equally remarkable lack of awareness regarding others' stares and an abundance of pointless curiosity.
Still bent over the cart, he turned his head and smirked at her. Perhaps because of his gloomy aura, Arina could hear nearby adults whispering as if they were looking at a suspicious person.
"My, how admirable."
Yet Professor Karlsen's face was filled with nothing but pure goodwill. Straightening up, he patted Arina's head.
"Running errands in place of your parents. I'd like to have a daughter like you someday."
At his words, the whispering around them grew louder. They seemed to have concluded he was a kidnapper. Several women were gripping their smartphones tightly, as if ready to call the police at any moment.
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Parents, huh…… Well, that was the natural assumption from an ordinary perspective. A twelve-year-old who had lost both parents at an even younger age and now lived with her uncle while handling all the housework. Even someone with sharp observational skills couldn't easily imagine such a dramatic scenario.
Arina smiled and nodded without denying it, worried Professor Karlsen might feel embarrassed.
'Is he only eating cup ramen?'
She glanced at the basket in his hand. It was piled high with cup ramen of every variety: basic, jjajang, udon, stir-fried, curry, and more. Nothing else. Apparently, cup ramen was his sole staple.
'He guessed curry from the ingredients alone, so he must know how to cook, at least.'
It seemed more a matter of preference or habit than lack of skill. Maybe he found cooking bothersome, like her uncle, or simply enjoyed cup ramen enough to eat it daily. Of course, the notion that ramen was unconditionally bad for one's health was a common prejudice. These days, ramen companies added vitamins to the noodles and paid attention to nutritional balance. Still, eating nothing but ramen was problematic. At least, Arina thought so.
'Is that why he's so thin?'
Nutritional imbalance from ramen alone. Perhaps that was what had left Professor Karlsen looking so frail. As a twelve-year-old who had earned Kain's recognition as a level-nine housewife, Arina couldn't help but harbor such suspicions.
'I should make some side dishes and bring them to him later.'
A professor earning sympathy and pity from a student. It was a small incident born of Arina's kind nature. Had the strict Professor Ecleus Vivaldi been present, she would have thoroughly scolded Professor Karlsen for failing to maintain proper decorum as a faculty member.
"Ah, you must be tired from classes today. I shouldn't have kept you. I'll be on my way. Take care on your way home, and I'll see you at the academy tomorrow."
"Yes, you too, Professor!"
As Arina bowed, Professor Karlsen walked past her with his usual listless steps. People flinched and stepped aside as he approached. He remained oblivious to the fact that the crowd had gathered because of him.
"Haha, there must be some kind of sale today. There are so many people."
"……Eating only one kind of food all the time really is a problem."
Arina watched his retreating figure and nodded with a determined expression, as if realizing something important. It wasn't just about ramen. Simply put, curry seemed healthier than ramen, but perhaps seeing the pitiful result of someone who ate only one type of food had made her worry. Suddenly concerned for her uncle's health, she began returning some of the large quantity of curry ingredients to their original shelves.
Meanwhile, Kain, who had no idea a crisis was approaching his dinner table, was lying in his study, absorbed in reading. An unexpected savior had arrived for him. Without either of them knowing, Professor Karlsen had rendered a great service to the Death King he so admired.