Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Who Says I Can't Catch It?
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"Y-Yes...?"
Professor Ko Euncheon looked down at the boy.
The older you get, the more things you accumulate, and among them—aside from things like turtle neck or presbyopia—is an eye for people.
A gut feeling built from years of accumulated experience gives you an instant sense of someone the moment you meet them: this one's probably like that.
What kind of look is that in a kid's eyes?
If the other Academy students had instinctively just felt a wall around him, Professor Ko saw something even more profound.
Eyes dulled like ancient relics, pupils numb to most things, scanning her as if sizing up whether she was a threat or not.
It was utterly unlike the attitude, gaze, or expression you'd expect from a boy who had just entered the Academy.
I've never seen a kid like this before.
"It's nothing major. I just wanted to have a chat with you as a student."
Professor Ko had come to see the boy out of curiosity about why the other Academy professors were making such a fuss over him.
The Academy was teeming with geniuses and prodigies.
It was a place overflowing with kids who were treated as at least prodigies back in their regions.
So why were the professors, who were already jaded by all sorts of talents, constantly bringing up this one boy?
"Me?"
Professor Ko had been away at a conference during the boy's transfer exam interview, so this was the first time she was seeing him in person.
"Yeah. Nothing special. I just wanted to check in on how you're settling into the Academy since you just arrived—as the professor in charge of student welfare."
"I see."
She skipped mentioning that she also planned to casually discuss his future academic path during the counseling.
Mages who could handle spatial magic were exceedingly rare. A kid with such a precious talent. As a professor, she couldn't pass up the chance to build rapport, network, and maybe even get some research help from him.
She'd heard his affinity for magic was unusually deep for a student. Treat him well now, coax him later into joining her department or faction—it'd pay off big time.
"There's no obligation to the counseling, so don't feel pressured. How about coming to my office for now?"
Professor Ko wasn't fully committed to recruiting him yet. He might just be a one-trick pony with spatial magic, so she figured she'd keep things friendly and gauge his level on the side.
"Hm..."
The boy let out a groan.
Why's this professor suddenly approaching me like this?
It reminded him of the stuffy old mages from the Magic Tower. They'd pop up out of nowhere just like this, and it never ended well.
As he pondered, another professor entered the classroom upon hearing that Professor Ko had arrived.
"Everyone, class is dismissed. You too, boy—head out for today, okay? I need to talk with Professor Ko."
To the kids sandwiched between Professor Ko and the transfer student, those words shone like a golden lifeline.
The children, dying to get out of school, bolted from the room in a frenzy, as if staying a second longer would kill them.
Professor Ko turned to the professor who had dismissed the kids.
"Professor Hwang?"
"Professor Ko. We have some professional courtesy here. Can't have you jumping the gun like this."
"What do you...?"
"Hey, you there—student. Pack up and get going. Time to head home. Kids are out, so go with them."
Professor Hwang shooed away even the boy standing in front of Professor Ko.
"...Transfer student, wanna head home together?"
"Huh? Yeah, sure."
In the end, the boy stepped out with Seo-ah and Seong-chan, who had come over.
For the boy, going home with the kids took priority over some professor meeting.
Why even bother with professor chats in the first place?
You might pick up some knowledge, but it didn't seem like that was the goal, so he sensed it'd just be pointless small talk.
It felt similar to those trivial conversations he'd had with nobles back in the day.
"I'll be going now."
He'd been held up for hours by nobles trying to schmooze. Endless nutrient-free chatter was torture, so he naturally left with the kids.
The moment the boy left, one of the first-year homeroom teachers, Professor Cheon, spoke up first.
"Professor Ko! That's sneaky—what's this?!"
"Pardon?"
"You can't just sneak ahead like this on your own."
Unlike Professor Ko, Professor Cheon handled first-years and knew the boy wasn't just limited to spatial magic.
The boy had a bored look throughout lessons but followed along perfectly. Overall. It had only been two days, but that was enough to tell he was no ordinary kid.
"I was planning to leave him alone for the first month, let him settle in, build some rapport at the right time, and then recruit. You can't cut in without any courtesy like this."
Professor Cheon's rant left Professor Ko stunned.
Then Professor Hwang made a suggestion.
"How about we don't do this? Other magic department professors want him too, so let's decide fairly."
"Fairly how...?"
"We always do the usual for stuff like this. Gather all the professors who want him and do a random draw—or a bidding war."
The department was broadly called the Magic Department, but each professor specialized in different fields.
Professors hoped brilliant students would study under them. When those students succeeded later, the professors got attention as their mentors—and built valuable connections.
Countless talented students had passed through the Academy.
Professors always reached amicable agreements in such cases.
This time was no different.
A new poll popped up in the Magic Department group chat after a while.
Professor Ko panicked at how much attention the boy with exceptional spatial talent was getting—more than expected.
But that only made her more determined not to let him slip away.
The moment Professors Hwang and Cheon left, she made some calls.
"Hey, TA. There's this thing kids love these days called Fan San Ping? Could you check how much it'd cost to buy a bunch?"
It was bribery, plain and simple.
With grandkids, Professor Ko was sensitive to trends.
These days, a box of Fan San Ping went over better with kids than a box of apples.
Since he left a bit late, the students had already cleared out, letting him stroll leisurely down the empty path home.
Seo-ah had been glancing at him from earlier, while Seong-chan kept his head down, glued to his phone.
Seo-ah aside, Seong-chan was unexpected.
The model student only on his phone outside class.
It reminded him a bit of that wise guy.
The guy was great at studies but hopeless in other ways.
Of course, the wise guy had been pampered at the Magic Tower, so he lacked basic social sense—that's what caused it.
Different circumstances, but that sudden quirk reminded him of the guy.
As his thoughts wrapped up, he addressed the owner of the prickling gaze.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
"Um... well..."
Seo-ah, who had boldly stepped up on the first day, hesitated this time.
Words come easy in your head, but saying them out loud is another story.
He waited patiently and calmly.
"It's you, right?"
No hints needed; context made the question obvious.
"Yeah."
The moment he nodded slightly, the earlier hesitation vanished as Seo-ah fired off the next question.
"How'd you do it?"
"Caught it with magic."
Nothing else to say.
He could explain in more detail if pressed, but she didn't seem to want that.
"Can you teach me magic?"
"If we're at the Academy, sure. But I'm not great at teaching magic?"
He'd learned magic, but his main focus was still the sword.
He could teach swordsmanship fine, but magic? He'd only seen the wise guy teach, so who knows.
"That's good enough."
Her laugh said she'd gotten what she wanted.
Childlike simplicity.
He turned to Seong-chan.
Worried the kid might feel left out since he hadn't joined the chat.
He was ignoring their conversation entirely, watching Yura's stream.
Seong-chan, you...?
"Yura's stream, huh?"
"Huh? You know it?"
"I watch too. The viewer reactions are pretty fun."
Not Fan San Ping or whatever boxes—League of Worlds.
Finally, a kid with the same interests.
Seong-chan felt the same, unleashing a torrent of words.
"Right? Especially this one viewer called Third Life who's super standout."
"Ah."
Me.
"You see the latest stream? The one I just mentioned."
He had.
Live, even.
But the kid watched too?
It must've been super late.
As he thought this kid's serious about Yura's streams, Seong-chan continued.
"That viewer suddenly dipped, probably 'cause they don't know Exploration Mode well. Or maybe couldn't catch the dragon, so no advice?"
Who...
Says they can't catch what?