Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: The Runaway from Group Assignment (1)
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“Then, shall we start by dividing into groups?”
Lania called out names, and the students shifted seats accordingly. Once seated in their assigned groups, it looked like four per team.
Snap.
She flicked her finger. The resistance stones, lined up in midair, split apart. Each group received one.
“...?”
The students just stared at the resistance stone that suddenly appeared on their table. What was the reason for handing these out? They had no idea.
“The core of the assignment is simple.”
As they blankly stared at the stones, Professor Lania spoke up. Skeptical at her claim of simplicity, the students looked her way.
“Your group task is to shatter the mid-to-high-grade resistance stone you just received using a spell.”
...Shatter a mid-to-high-grade resistance stone?
Destroying such an expensive ore? It was an unimaginable demand.
‘I could shatter it if I had to...’
It might take time, but with an advanced circuit, smashing a mid-to-high-grade resistance stone was doable. Simple, as Professor Lania said.
‘Destruction is the foundation of all magic.’
She knew plenty of efficient spells for breaking resistance stones. Just as the students sighed in relief, thinking this assignment would be easy.
“But there are two conditions.”
Professor Lania raised her index and middle fingers.
She folded her middle finger.
“First, all four group members must participate in creating the circuit.”
She handed out sheets of paper.
They were reports with sections for circuit analysis and blank space to record the circuit, divided into four parts.
“The reports I just distributed are quartered circuit sheets. All four sections must be filled for the circuit to activate.”
It was a hassle, but understandable so far. The students nodded.
“The second condition.”
She folded her index finger next.
The second condition came from her lips.
“The mana used to manifest the spell is limited to 1 pi.”
The moment she finished, the students doubted their own ears.
‘Only 1 pi of mana?’
What was 1 pi?
The mana needed to fill the basic circle, the minimum unit.
‘Spells manifestable with 1 pi...’
Only basic spells.
Their gazes naturally turned to the resistance stone on the desk. So, Professor Lania meant...
‘Smash the resistance stone using only basic spells?’
A mid-to-high-grade one at that?
Impossible was the only word that came to mind. As the flustered students blinked in shock, Professor Lania continued.
“Think of it as taking 2 to 3 weeks. Take your time to think it through and draw up a circuit.”
With that, she smiled brightly.
“It will be very helpful to you all.”
She cheerfully tapped the blackboard with the back of her hand. Neatly written on it was the topic: ‘The Limits of Basic Spells’.
‘...She really means it?’
The students shot resentful glances at Professor Lania. She seemed oblivious, perhaps genuinely unaware.
“Hmph, hm hm.”
Professor Lania just hummed, waiting for the end-of-class bell.
That sight made the students' insides boil.
Finally, one student raised a hand to ask.
“Um... Professor?”
“Yes? What is it, Mack student?”
“No matter how I think about it, the assignment's difficulty is a bit...”
“Hmm, is that so?”
She tilted her head.
Gathering courage to speak for the students, Mack stood and continued slowly.
“With 1 pi of mana, all you can make is basic spells, I believe. Shattering a mid-to-high-grade resistance stone with basic spells...”
He spoke logically.
All the students cheered him on inwardly. Gaining confidence, Mack emphasized his voice.
“To us, it feels like smashing a rock with an egg.”
And so, emboldened Mack.
“I think it's impossible. No mage in the world could possibly...”
In his excitement, he misspoke.
‘...Ah.’
Only after speaking did Mack realize what he'd said. He clamped his mouth shut, but spilled words couldn't be taken back, like water poured out.
“Ahem.”
Professor Lania touched her lips.
Gulp. Mack swallowed dryly.
“It's not impossible.”
Professor Lania said.
“Watch.”
She picked up a leftover resistance stone, lightly tossing it upward. The students' eyes followed it in the air.
Then, she snapped her fingers.
Snap, the sound echoed.
A circuit completed in an instant.
The circuit finished and the spell glowed almost simultaneously. The students couldn't even perceive what circuit or how it was drawn.
Boom!
A thunderous roar like lightning striking.
Then, plop. Something hit the floor. The students looked down.
A resistance stone split in half. Its cross-section was impeccably clean, as if sliced by a blade.
“...”
The students fell silent.
They couldn't tell what circuit was used. But from the lingering mana traces, they could infer how much was used.
“1 pi...”
Someone murmured.
The mana used was exactly 1 pi. No deviation from Professor Lania's conditions.
“Yes, correct.”
She nodded from the podium.
“It's not impossible. If you put your heads together and research, you'll find it easily enough.”
She smiled.
“That ends today's class.”
Ding, dooong.
The end-of-class bell rang. She left the lecture hall as usual.
They stared at her back for a long while.
Once she was out of sight, their gazes turned to each other.
‘Groups of four.’
Comrades to tackle this absurd task of turning impossible into possible.
“...Hey.”
“...Yeah.”
They looked at each other and spoke.
“Let's do our best...”
“Yeah...”
...Humans sometimes cooperate.
To accomplish the impossible.
2.
An unprecedented assignment struck Aphria's students. Its notoriety spread beyond students to the professors' ears.
‘They say the assignment is to shatter a mid-to-high-grade resistance stone.’
‘...A mid-to-high-grade one? Aww, such a waste.’
‘But isn't it that hard?’
‘Well, about that...’
The professors, hearing the details, expressed surprise in their own ways.
‘...What?’
‘Basic spells to shatter it?’
‘It's possible. Theoretically possible, but just barely on the edge, right?’
The professors asked.
‘Who gave out that assignment?’
The students answered.
“It's Professor Lania.”
The professors' expressions stiffened briefly at the reply. Then they nodded approvingly, flipping attitudes like pancakes.
‘...If it's Professor Lania, it makes sense.’
‘...There must be good reason. Work hard, it'll help you.’
‘She even bought the stones out of pocket for you. Do your best.’
Unfortunately, the students had no allies.
No one spoke for their plight. Swallowing tears, they scheduled meetings.
It was a task to solve together.
They needed to meet and research anyway, so they coordinated times.
And then, they realized.
Why group assignments had such a bad reputation. Why seniors said to avoid them if possible.
Finally.
‘When several people gather,’
The true meaning of that phrase.
‘One is always trash.’
The students learned it through bloodshot tears.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ No group leader was assigned for this assignment.
Most groups busied themselves electing one. But some groups effectively had one already.
‘Four groups.’
Even in Aphria, where all were equal as ‘students,’ there were hierarchies.
‘Four honorary admits.’
Four students who nearly aced the tough entrance exam. They maintained top grades throughout the semester.
Top admit.
The Ashen Mage Tower's next lord, Resti Ellenoa.
“First, we need to consider basic spell types. Since the focus is breaking the resistance stone, I think impact spells would be good.”
The students in her Group C listened intently. She was the famed future lord of the Ashen Mage Tower.
‘Even as fellow students, the level differs.’
To her groupmates, Resti's words felt like the answer itself.
“Yeah, let's go with what Resti says.”
“Is there more I can do?”
The group followed Resti.
Awkward and stumbling, but with a leader, progress was smooth. They worked the planned time, then parted smiling.
Second admit.
Fourth Princess, Aila.
“Shall we brainstorm together? Let's share ideas one by one. I think going this way would be good.”
“Hm, my thought is...”
“This doesn't sound bad either.”
The students in Aila's Group A shared opinions, mindful of her gaze.
One tried to skip speaking slyly, but Aila's smiling glare made them reluctantly contribute.
“Opinions gathered. Shall we pick one?”
She didn't force hers.
After thorough discussion, she compiled them. Less leading, more walking together—the assignment progressed smoothly.
Aila's Group A also achieved solid results in their first meeting.
Combat Magic Department co-top.
Northern noble heir, Rak van Grace.
“Can't we just axe it down?”
“No, Rak. Professor said spell only. Axe is a weapon, Rak.”
“Rak, that's a bit...”
“I like axe though...”
The students in Rak's Group D clutched their foreheads and sighed. They shook heads, glaring at Rak.
“Hm. Gotta break this, huh...?”
Watching muscle-brained Rak clench his fist, one wondered how he stayed top-ranked.
The students sighed and suggested.
“Yeah, maybe impact like Rak says?”
“Right, let's try impact spells.”
“Oh, good idea.”
Rak nodded satisfied.
About 10 minutes into the meeting, arms crossed, Rak said.
“By the way, one's not here.”
“That kid sleeps in.”
“Probably thought today was holiday and slept in again?”
Rak touched his chin at that.
“Heard cooperation is key in group work.”
“...Yeah?”
“I'll fetch 'em.”
“Huh?”
“Wait a bit. Back soon.”
Rak strode toward the dorms, handaxe in hand. The two left in Group D tilted heads.
...Group D progressed smoothly anyway.
A minor issue, but laughable compared to group assignment horror stories.
Combat Magic Department co-top.
Slum ghost, Belnoa.
“...”
“...”
Belnoa's Group E.
“Um...”
“Yeah...”
“Weird. Our group has four... right?”
One student was missing.
Unlike Rak's F Group? Wait, text has Rak in D, Belnoa in E.
F Group had Rak as clear center.
But E Group differed.
“Hey.”
“...When's Belnoa coming?”
E Group's would-be leader.
Top scorer, spell expert Belnoa hadn't arrived. 20 minutes past schedule, no show.
‘When several people gather’
The phrase floated in their minds.
‘One is always trash.’
...They shook heads, dismissing it.
‘No way.’
Belnoa was blunt but diligent and responsible. Surely delayed by something. They started discussing.
“Just us then...”
“Yeah, let's set direction first?”
They tried meeting while waiting. But without a center, talk drifted aimlessly.
Two hours past schedule.
Belnoa never showed.
The news of Belnoa's disappearance upending Aphria and the Black Mage Tower came the next day.
Author's Note
Group assignment runaway occurred...!