Oh My God! Sir Plan! I Get to See You Here!
Oh My God! Sir Plan! I Get to See You Here!
The practical assessment continued without pause.
But Trixie's attention no longer belonged to the evaluation. What was unfolding on Trivia's page had consumed her so completely that she had practically forgotten the assessment was happening at all.
'This is absurd.'
In her whole life, she had never once neglected the effort to learn. She was more certain than anyone that no student worked harder than she did.
And yet formulas that denied every one of those moments were being inscribed onto Trivia's page in real time.
[ ▷ From now on, think not of planes, but of solids. ]
In one corner of the page, the formula for the problem Trixie had posed earlier had already been drawn.
On the next page, a Support-type formula appeared, and the process linking the two began to be recorded in meticulous detail.
An analog approach.
In other words, it was the most textbook form of instruction imaginable.
[ ▷ No questions will be taken during this lesson. ]
[ ▷ If you don't understand, commit it to memory first. ]
The formulas, which moments ago had been nothing but black markings, now shifted through a half-dozen colors according to each section. The core circuits, it had been color-coded for readability.
'It's come to life.'
That was exactly the right word.
This Agora Board problem was a formula that transformed Trixie's own flat diagram into a three-dimensional solid.
Just as the description promised, the figure that had existed only as a plane began to breathe, alive now with depth and volume.
Before she knew it, Trixie's hand—the one gripping Trivia—was trembling.
The thrill of learning something new, pure instruction received directly from another person...
All of it was far too precious to Trixie. In truth, it felt almost like it was the very first time. The hours she had spent studying alone had been so very long.
Her heart raced. She traced her fingers over the formulas inscribed on the page, trying to feel them.
[ ▶ Thank you so much hehe ^ㅅ^ ]
She was just about to send the reply when—
"Trixie."
At the sound of someone calling her name, she reflexively snapped Trivia shut.
She turned her head to look.
She couldn't remember the name of this greasy-looking male student. She only vaguely recalled that he was in Group 11 with her.
His nameplate read: Martin Luke.
"Did you just see what I did?"
She hadn't seen it. She hadn't even registered that he was doing anything.
Martin's gaze slid toward the Trivia device Trixie was holding.
"Ah, Trixie. Want to swap Trivia codes?"
"No."
"Come on, I'll only contact you about the exploration assignment. We're in the same group. We ought to communicate smoothly if we want a good grade."
Trivia's system worked such that exchanging personal unique codes allowed for private contact.
Come to think of it, Trixie had never exchanged unique codes with anyone. No contacts whatsoever, to say nothing of code swaps.
Strictly speaking, though, there was one. The Teaching Auction.
Who could he be? Curiosity and interest welled up at the same time.
"Next, Plan."
At that moment, Professor Leonard called Plan's name.
The boy who had been summoned stepped forward without the slightest hesitation. The presence he exuded had long since left the realm of anything commoner-like.
Martin snickered and opened his mouth.
"Trixie. Watch closely what that guy does. It'll make a nice comparison against my run, don't you think?"
She fully intended to watch even without his prompting. This was Plan, who had already shown unexpected ability during the mock battle.
When the unexpected, the coincidental... when such things repeat, they become skill. She meant to verify his skill with her own two eyes.
"Tell me when you're ready. Or shall we begin at once?"
At the professor's words, the boy merely nodded.
◈
"What is it with first-years these days? Just nods at the professor."
"Isn't he the one who was acting all chummy earlier? Hey, share with the rest of us, why don't you."
I had no intention of looking up at the second-years and getting into a verbal spar with every last one of them. Instead of answering, I stepped forward.
Fuuu. I steadied my breathing and my mana in the same breath.
I didn't bother to run.
The process of advancing toward the red flag is a competition, and a competition is won simply by being superior to your competitors.
"Look at him taking his time. Is he out of his mind?"
Starting with someone from the second-year group grumbling irritably, a torrent of attacks surged toward me.
KWAANG! BOOM!
Enough force to send fragments of the training ground floor flying.
Every attack carried unmistakable hostility. The intensity was markedly higher than what they had unleashed during the other students' evaluations.
BOOM! BOOM! KWAANG!
Even so, they were simple attacks. I defended calmly and sank into thought.
The options available to me were numerous.
I could defend against the attacks. I could dodge the linear strikes and sprint all the way to the red flag.
I could also counterattack, and I could even consider pulling the flag all the way over to me.
'Mana.'
To bring the optimal move to mind, self-objectification must come first.
The results that had crystallized from my training over the past few days were simple and clear.
I had trained mana purification and total mana capacity in equal measure, but for now, only the level of purity had risen noticeably.
This body was somewhat ill-suited to expanding total mana volume, yet when it came to elevating mana purity, it boasted peerlessly high efficiency.
I was confident, of course, that I would eventually catch both rabbits.
For the moment, I would focus on generating extreme efficiency from a fixed quantity...
The experience and theory I had accumulated, and the effort that would underpin them, could never betray me.
In the end, I would prove myself the best in every area once again.
'For this round, first.'
I would prioritize quality over quantity.
Instead of obsessing over the number of spells cast, I would push their power to the limit.
FWIP!
A non-attribute arrow grazed my cheek. While I was at it, I generated a non-attribute sphere of my own.
A sphere I had called "Magic Missile" in my previous world—widely regarded as the basic elemental attack.
I fired it at a wall as a test. Its power was paltry, as expected.
In my previous life, I would have generated a hundred spheres simultaneously to produce a hundredfold force, but...
Fwooooosh—
This time was different. I fused the Magic Missile's circuit with my body, attuning them.
If I continued training steadily, I would eventually come to possess an above-average total mana capacity.
But the growth efficiency of total volume was low.
I could force it higher if I wanted, yet such a method of growth could never be called "optimal."
'That being the case.'
I would focus solely on mana purity. I would eliminate any necessity to obsess over total volume.
Use the same amount of mana, but modify the circuit to drive its power to the limit.
This modification of Magic Missile was the first step down that road.
To concentrate on the circuits tied to destructive force, I would have to discard something in return.
I discarded the "form" of the Magic Missile. The sphere, once aesthetically shaped, could not maintain its structure and warped.
And in the next instant, the non-attribute mass left my hand and hurtled toward the second-years.
"Keuheok!"
With a CRACK!, a second-year who took a direct hit to the forehead toppled backward.
Panic spread across their faces like spilling ink.
'Not bad at all. I quite like this.'
The modification of Magic Missile was a success. A method of discarding what must be discarded and pushing power to the extreme.
The force exceeded my expectations.
It was a method I had never adopted in my previous life, which made putting it into practice all the more entertaining.
"If you're going to ambush someone, you ought to brace for the counterattack."
Eliminating nuisances is an excellent strategy in itself. I tossed the words toward the second-years.
"Wh-what the—?"
"No, he's actually counterattacking? Professor, is that even allowed?"
At the second-years' murmuring, Professor Leonard simply burst into laughter.
"Are you allowed to be doing what you're doing? Is it acceptable for second-years to be counterattacked by a first-year?"
Those few words snapped the second-years' mouths shut.
I dismissed my defensive barrier and allocated all remaining mana purely to offense. Two or three non-attribute spheres rose around my body.
"That guy... what even is he...?"
I could begin to hear murmurs from the spectators behind me. That meant the second-years had fallen quiet to the same degree.
CRACK—!
"Ah, owww!"
This time, a second-year struck in the wrist collapsed, clutching his hand.
Only two had fallen so far, yet the attacks surging toward me had already ceased.
I was still walking.
The second-years had stopped using magic altogether, and walls that merely varied in height had never been much of an obstacle to begin with, so I had no reason to run.
Idly, I lifted my head.
I gazed upon the second-years as though they were beneath contempt—the ones who had been so insufferably arrogant.
Already, not one among them dared meet my eyes.
◈
The rest of the evaluation concluded smoothly.
"That will be all for today's practical assessment. Well done, everyone."
At Professor Leonard's words, the training ground reverted to its original cube-like form, and the second-year students were the first to leave.
Even as they departed, they stole glances at me one by one. I made no effort to avoid their gazes.
Professor Leonard continued.
"Today's evaluation doesn't carry a major weight in your grade, so don't be too disheartened. None of you had scrolls to begin with. What truly matters is the exploration assignment two days from now."
The exploration assignment.
At those words, dry swallowing rippled through the crowd.
Leonard was right: the exploration assignment was important. Its weight in the final grade was significant, so every student's state of mind would be anything but ordinary.
"Prepare scrolls suited to your group's strategy, manage your condition well. The basics, yes? Today's lecture is dismissed."
The professor departed the training ground first, and the other students began to scatter to attend to their own schedules.
At that moment, Trixie approached me with an unreadable look in her eyes. Her small lips were just about to part when—
"Trixie, the lecture's over. How about we grab some tea? I know a place with a great atmosphere."
Martin Luke interjected. His eyes, which had been following Trixie's gaze, turned toward me.
"Do you have business with Plan? He did well, sure... but honestly, if I wanted to counterattack a second-year I could do it too. I just held back, that's all."
"......Haah."
Trixie let out a deep sigh and irritably swept her hair back. Then she stretched out her long legs and headed toward the exit of the training ground.
"Hey, Trixie? Are you busy? Then let's just exchange Trivia codes today!"
Martin hurriedly chased after her.
Trixie's legs were long to begin with, so the shorter Martin practically had to run. The sight was so shabby that I clicked my tongue without realizing it.
"So, Becky, let's go with that. I'll handle the scrolls on my end...."
"Yeah, yeah. That sounds better."
Becky was busy talking with her group members. Then our eyes met for a moment.
"Oh, hey. Plan...."
She began walking toward me the instant she spotted me, but—
"Now that I think of it, Becky, did you check this part?"
"Ack."
Another group member deftly grabbed Becky's arm.
La.ter. We. Must. Talk.
Becky mouthed the words toward me. Then she was inevitably dragged off and resumed talking with her group members.
I took my leave as well.
I had settled on the direction for developing my magic. My mind felt considerably lighter, and my steps naturally grew easier.
Walking through the academy grounds, now dimmed by dusk, I meticulously laid out a plan right up until the moment I would sleep.
Stop by the bank inside the academy to exchange gold coins, finish bathing, and then pour my remaining energy into mana purification.
If there was spare time afterward, reading voraciously would be the right course. Figuring out the matter of meals was its own minor conundrum.
"Ah! Good heavens! Plan! Lord Plan!"
Someone's call shattered my thoughts.
This someone was even trying to embrace me. I naturally twisted my body and evaded, but my wariness doubled.
Who is it.
A second-year? Have they come charging in nursing a grudge from the practical evaluation?
I had just steeled myself to gladly engage in combat when—
Something dove straight into my arms. Before I could even grasp what it was, a fragrant scent teased my nose.
At the same time, an innocent voice struck my ears.
"Good heavens! Lord Plan! To think I'd meet Lord Plan here!"
......Something resembling an angel had thrown itself into my arms.