CHAPTER 116
CHAPTER 116
Rampaging Mana
“Oh, as expected of Isolde.”
“Impressive. The deviation from the existing formula is less than 1%….”
“So she optimized the spell formula to a level comparable to the wisdom of the ancients?”
“Truly remarkable.”
The other students were unable to hide their admiration at Isolde’s outstanding aptitude in magic.
“Ugh. I can do it too.”
Fiona from the Notos dormitory succeeded afterward, but since she also used an air spirit like Isolde, her accomplishment seemed less impressive.
Wasn’t she simply copying the method that Isolde had already demonstrated?
“Ahaha, Fiona. There’s no need to burn with such competitiveness. Let’s take it slowly.”
Lorenzo also successfully recalled his wand by summoning an air spirit in a simple manner.
“This is rather… embarrassing.”
Rudolf also completed the retrieval spell without difficulty using the air spirit method.
“Ah….”
“The Elector families and those who did prior learning are all doing well.”
“What was the point of saying not to do prior learning?”
However, the noble students who had invited private tutors for prior learning, as well as the gentry class students, stepped forward next and attempted to cast the spell, only to fail.
“Ugh, why isn’t it working.”
“It’s not as easy as it sounds.”
“We only memorized the activation words….”
“This retrieval spell can’t be done just by memorizing activation words.”
“Isn’t remotely summoning a spirit without a wand already too difficult?”
Magicians outside Duunais Academy focused only on casting magic by memorizing activation words created by previous generations of magicians. They neglected optimizing spells to suit their needs or developing new magic.
Students who had come after prior learning outside the academy failed to adapt to Duunais Academy’s magical approach, and instead could not cast spells properly due to their preconceived notions.
“Oh, retrieval!”
Percyphire, who came from the Adventurers’ Guild, used an adventurer-style retrieval spell.
An air barrier formed around the wand, and it flew straight toward him.
If an obstacle was in the way, the air barrier would push it aside, altering the wand’s trajectory before redirecting it straight back to Percyphire, the caster.
“This is a retrieval spell with a different activation word, not ‘to my hand.’ Well, that’s fine. It’s good to see such a method of implementation exists.
However, in that case, the wand may be damaged. Moreover, the mana consumption must be considerable.”
“Yes, that’s correct. It’s a spell I learned privately outside the academy.”
“Yes. The mana consumption is indeed enormous. Still, for broadening your perspective, I’ll award you 1 point.”
Magram also awarded Percyphire 1 point.
After Isolde used the method of summoning an air spirit to retrieve the wand, everyone else followed that approach. So merely attempting and succeeding with a different method seemed worthy of receiving points.
Then Karl stepped forward.
“Everyone is using dull methods. The northern wind is far more ferocious than that! Behold! And tremble!”
As Karl demonstrated, a cold northern wind infused with chilling energy swept through the academy lecture hall.
Cold air began pouring out from Karl’s wand.
And with terrifying force, the wand flew forward. As it traveled, ice formed around it, turning it into a massive ice spike—utterly ominous.
The wand flew with the intent to pierce Karl to death, avoiding obstacles as it charged toward him. Unlike a typical retrieval spell, Karl had modified a combat spell, the “Nordic Ice Spear,” to target himself.
“W-what!?”
Even as the assistants panicked, Karl canceled the spell.
However, the ice did not disappear in time, remaining attached to the wand as it flew.
Karl activated aura and caught it. It was an acrobatic feat, catching the wand like a thrown spear.
Even after canceling the Ice Spear spell, its momentum was so strong that Karl’s feet were pushed backward.
Crack!
On top of that, the wand broke.
“Hmm. Well, that is certainly an innovative method… Though I had been criticizing everyone for using the same approach, I didn’t expect something like this. I will award 2 points. However, please refrain from doing things like this. If an accident occurs, your life could be at risk.”
“Yes, thank you. I won’t do this again.”
Karl, who had boldly demonstrated the northern wind, seemed to regret his actions after catching the wand.
“That said, this wand must have been quite expensive. It’s broken. Shall I repair it? That will be 5 Aca coins.”
Professor Magram continued to charge fees diligently even in this situation.
“…Please repair it.”
“Very well.”
Magram casually cast a spell and repaired Karl’s cracked wand. He also cast a healing spell on Karl’s hand.
“This is a service.”
Although the Ice Spear spell had been canceled, Karl had injured his hand when catching the wand. Magram seemed reluctant to charge for that and treated him free of charge.
“Wow, that Ice Spear magic is terrifying.”
“Prince Karl’s magical ability is impressive, and from how he caught it, his martial skills seem extraordinary as well….”
“But why does he seem so foolish?”
No one doubted Karl’s abilities anymore.
With this round, Karl earned 2 more points, bringing his total to 11 points, once again surpassing Isolde.
The real-time changes in rankings strongly stimulated the students of the academy.
“Oh… my. The rankings can actually change.”
“Didn’t we forget that Idnia-sama still has 9 communal points?”
“Come on, someone from an Elector family… surely wouldn’t shamelessly give those points to herself, right?”
“Anyway, the rankings are changing again. Who’s next?”
And now it was Astraea’s Saint Candidate Mary’s turn.
“Sp, spirit of the air! Retrieve the wand ‘Nae-son-eu-ro’!”
Mary chose the same method Isolde had demonstrated, summoning an air spirit without overexerting herself.
In response to her call, an air spirit appeared. Unlike the others, a transparent spirit with wings emerged and merged with the wand.
It was as if transparent wings had grown from the wand itself.
The winged wand then shot forward at incredible speed, circling around Mary.
“Ah!”
When Mary raised her hand, the wand was swiftly drawn into her grasp.
A powerful and extremely fast air spirit had appeared—without the ferocity of Karl’s method.
“Hmm?”
“It’s an Air Archon. Impressive. As expected of a Saint Candidate.”
Magram was impressed.
He usually reacted generously to even minor accomplishments of students, so everyone assumed this was no different… but—
“An Air Archon is the lowest-ranking angel within the air spirit hierarchy.
The fire spirit she summoned earlier was also a Flame Archon… and now she has summoned another lower angel. In this retrieval magic, spirit summoning is merely used for their cognition and mobility, so there is no need to summon powerful spirits.
In temporary summoning spells without additional control, powerful spirits like Archons typically do not respond. It seems she is under the protection of angels.”
Surprisingly, Magram publicly declared in front of everyone that Mary was under the protection of angels.
In other words, Magram himself had effectively certified that Mary had high potential as a Saint Candidate.
“Eh?”
“So that means… Mary is a Saint?”
“No, she is simply under angelic protection. That does not necessarily make her a Saint. The concept of a Saint is somewhat….”
Magram trailed off, smiling as he looked at Mary.
“I will also award Mary 1 point. While the method of spell implementation is somewhat outdated, her skill has improved significantly compared to before.”
Magram awarded Mary 1 point as well.
With this, Mary also had a total of 4 points—seemingly behind Idnia, Isolde, and Karl, yet tied with Prince Lorenzo.
“Ah, no. This is all thanks to Idnia-sama’s guidance. She has been taking care of me in every way, even outside class.”
Mary publicly acknowledged Idnia’s support.
“Ooo….”
“To be so generous even to a rival Saint Candidate… as expected….”
Everyone admired Idnia’s character.
However, Nora grumbled.
“Seriously, she’s struggling with magic herself, so what is she teaching others? She should be the one learning. What if an accident happens?”
“Shh. Quiet.”
Kate silenced Nora.
At that moment, it was Idnia’s turn to demonstrate her retrieval magic.
After Mary had even expressed gratitude for her teaching, the timing placed Idnia under pressure—especially now, when she was experiencing unstable condition due to pulse-type magical circuits.
Everyone’s attention was on Idnia.
All heirs of the Elector families had succeeded, and Mary had once again proven herself as a Saint Candidate.
Meanwhile, the rankings continued to fluctuate.
With the atmosphere heating up, all eyes naturally turned to Idnia.
“Mary’s words were likely meant in gratitude, but… the atmosphere is becoming rather burdensome.”
Idnia, who had previously held an undisputed first place, had now been surpassed by Karl with 11 points, and Isolde with 10 points had also overtaken her.
She was now in third place individually. Even though she tried not to care about rankings or points, the atmosphere itself was becoming increasingly intense.
“I would prefer not to care about points at all, but somehow I get swept up in it as well.”
Feeling everyone’s gaze on her, Idnia placed her black iron wand at its position and stepped into place to begin casting the retrieval spell.
After having exhausted her mana to successfully perform the basic retrieval spell, would she be able to cast a far more mana-intensive spell like this?
“Then I shall begin. Spirit of the air….”
Idnia also attempted to summon an air spirit and retrieve the wand in a standard manner, but the moment she began chanting, her magical circuits surged.
Her pulse-type magical circuits were functioning properly due to her depleted mana… but—
A large amount of mana was flowing in, and she could not control it.
“This is troublesome!”
Idnia realized she had lost control of the spell.
With her pulse-type magical circuits, spells that require less mana than her total reserves do not activate properly.
Conversely, if she deliberately depletes her mana and then casts a spell, it is like someone who has pushed their body to its limit through exercise suddenly trying to do even more—only to collapse under the weight and lose control.
Now that control was lost and far more mana than required had flowed in… continuing like this could lead to an accident.
Thinking so, Idnia immediately responded.
“Then I’ll switch to a method that uses more mana proportional to what has already been input!”
Idnia instantly modified the spell and recited the activation word.
“To my hand!”
And at that moment, an anomaly occurred.