Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: First Class (2)
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"You said I couldn't teach just by watching you, right?"
"That's right."
"But now you're telling me to take over the lecture?"
"It shouldn't be that hard."
Raniel tilted her head.
Seeing that, Rosel spoke up.
"From the second class onward, I'll just be summarizing what I say and demonstrating it. The class you're handling is ultimately just assisting me."
"Hmm... Then what about the first class?"
Rosel shrugged.
"The first class will cover the basics."
"Basics?"
"You have something you're good at, don't you?"
He pointed to his disciple's heart. With that gesture, Raniel nodded as if she understood.
"Ah, that thing from the Next Mage Tower Lord inauguration ceremony?"
"Yes, just show that, and it'll be fine."
Rosel smiled.
"If you show just that, any doubts about you will fade away."
2.
The Ashen Mage, Raniel van Trias, is exceptionally talented.
At this point, it's hardly news.
Everyone in the nation knows of her competence.
The knights on the battlefield know the unyielding strength in the name Raniel. The Demon King's army contemplates retreat whenever that name echoes across the front lines.
Raniel van Trias is that kind of person.
Not just a single mage, but a symbol.
An insurmountable wall.
The pinnacle's emblem.
Before her, whether a novice just stepping into the path of magic or a seasoned master who has reached the heights, all stand on equal ground.
The child of talent.
The genius born of the era.
That genius had never taught anyone. She hadn't even held a proper presentation or preview of her research—events that any mage would dream of.
Except for one time.
The one time she had stood on stage.
The day she became the Ashen Next Mage Tower Lord.
Before countless mages, she showcased her specialty. She proved she was the right person for that position.
And.
Dean Aron was there.
He has never forgotten the magic he witnessed that day.
"... ."
Closing his eyes and recalling that memory for a moment, Aron opened them again. Before him stood his old friend. Turning his gaze, there was the girl with ash-gray hair.
"Hmm... It feels like I didn't explain it well. Was it okay?"
"...Didn't go well?"
"It felt kind of, like, rough? You know?"
The girl fidgeted with her fingers.
Mana rose and fell repeatedly.
"Hah... ."
After watching her for a moment, Aron turned his head.
"Rosel, what was that I just saw?"
"That child's mock lesson."
"Mock?"
"It's not the real class. Since it's the first lecture, she needs a bit more preparation, right? First impressions are everything."
What more is there to do here?
Aron let out a hollow laugh.
"Rosel."
"What is it?"
"I didn't originally plan on this, but... ."
Where he pointed was an official document.
"There are many from outside who want to see your disciple. I was going to refuse them all. No one knows how the first class will go."
"It'd be noisy too."
"Yes, so I planned to refuse, but... ."
After a pause, Aron spoke.
"I've changed my mind. Let's make it open to the public."
"...Is that necessary?"
"I think it's necessary. I want as many mages as possible to see this class... this lecture."
Aron smiled.
"Is that alright with you, Miss Lania?"
"I don't mind."
The girl nodded.
With her disciple already nodding, all that was left was the master. Rosel looked at Aron for a moment before reluctantly nodding.
"Do as you wish."
"Thank you."
With those words, they left the dean's office.
Left alone, Aron closed his eyes.
'This is the foundation of Balance.'
The "basics" pronounced through her lips.
Recalling it, Aron lingered in the afterglow for a moment.
3.
📋 New Course Announcement - Mana Trading (Basics) - Instructor: Lania van Trias A recent academic notice posted on Aphria's bulletin board.
The reactions were varied.
From the outside, attention focused on Rosel the professor—who raised the Ashen Mage—having a new disciple take over a class. Various institutions expressed their intent to visit Aphria.
Among them, those who had studied even a little magic theory took note of the class she was handling.
Mana Trading.
Those who knew the uniqueness of that subject also expressed their desire to visit Aphria. Even Mage Tower Lords were among them. The Black Tower was first to declare intent, followed by the White.
'They'll refuse, of course.'
The professors thought as they read those statements.
The students thought the same.
Aphria had never held an open class before.
And a few days later, a new notice went up.
📋 Mana Trading Basics Class Notice Some external personnel will be accommodated. The Mana Trading Basics class will be conducted as an open lecture. The professors' patience snapped.
*
"What is the meaning of this, Dean Aron?!"
The professors' outrage boiled over.
Professors stormed into the dean's office, grinding their teeth as they demanded answers.
"Handing a class to someone who's only been an assistant professor for a month?!"
"Not only that, but making it public? What are you saying?"
"Allowing outsiders in! This could lead to Aphria's disgrace... ."
The professors vented their fury.
Assigning her a class was already an issue, but... they could overlook it for Dean Aron's reputation.
But a public lecture was different.
It could tarnish Aphria's name. The burden was too heavy for a new instructor.
'What in the world is this about?'
Aphria's professors normally respected Dean Aron. They were drawn to his convictions. But even they now felt more bewilderment than respect.
"What are you thinking, Dean Aron?"
To that question.
"I didn't originally plan on this either."
Dean Aron let out a hollow laugh as he spoke.
"But I saw it."
"...Pardon?"
"I saw that young lady's class."
"What do you... ."
"Would you like to see it too?"
Aron sent a communication to Rosel. Soon, two figures arrived in the dean's office packed with professors.
One was the renowned Professor Rosel.
The other was the girl at the center of the rumors.
The girl at the heart of this controversy.
Lania van Trias.
The professors eyed her dubiously.
"Why did you call us, Aron?"
"That thing you showed me?"
"The mock lesson?"
"Yes, that one."
Aron pointed to the gathered professors.
"Could you show it to them too?"
"...It's not fully polished yet."
"Doesn't matter."
Rosel looked reluctant.
But he soon spoke.
"This place is too cramped. Let's go somewhere spacious."
"...Very well."
The professors followed Dean Aron and Rosel. As they walked in a line down the corridor, students' gazes poured in.
Eventually, they entered an empty lecture hall.
The professors sat in empty seats. Rosel placed his disciple on the podium and returned to his seat.
Silence fell.
In that silence, the girl spoke.
"Then... may I just explain the basic outline?"
Outline? What we're here to see is... .
Before the professors could respond, Aron spoke first.
"Yes, do it however you like."
The professors glanced at Aron.
He seemed almost entranced. Like a zealot with unshakeable faith in his eyes.
Where does that faith come from?
What did she show him?
The professors said no more.
They were mages too. Mages trusted only what they observed with their own eyes.
'I'll see and decide.'
The professors' sharp gazes fixed on the girl at the podium. Eyes that would miss no mistake.
"Hmm."
The girl receiving those gazes remained calm.
"I'll keep it to about thirty minutes."
The core of the lesson was Mana Trading—Balance.
The incantation that enables deals with the stars. What is the principle behind that foundational spell of all spells?
It was the most basic thing.
But while the law was understood, few grasped the principle.
What the girl would explain was that principle.
She pronounced the foundation. But she didn't stop at mere pronunciation.
Srash.
The girl's finger traced through the air.
Mana bloomed along its path.
"... ."
Five minutes passed.
The professors' narrowed eyes began to widen slightly.
"Ah."
Ten minutes passed.
Someone let out an exclamation.
"Ah, wait."
"Me too, just a moment... ."
Fifteen minutes passed.
The professors pulled out notebooks. Those without used their robes to start jotting notes.
"... ."
"...... ."
Twenty minutes, twenty-five minutes passed.
Only the girl's voice and the scratching of pens echoed.
"That's all."
Thirty minutes passed.
"...... ."
No professor spoke.
Their eyes trembled faintly. Soon, their gazes shifted from the girl to Aron.
"Did you see it?"
Aron shrugged.
"Now you understand."
He said.
"Why I decided to make this class a public lecture."
No professor raised any objections.
4.
On the day of the lecture, Aphria buzzed with outsiders.
They were allowed only passage to the grand hall under the knights' strict control.
Students filled the seats in the grand hall.
Professors sat behind the front rows taken by students. External guests occupied the seats behind them.
Aphria's grand hall was vast.
Mages packed that vast hall, waiting only for the lecture to begin. Reporters waited solely for Rosel the professor's adopted daughter, Lania van Trias, to appear.
Murmuring noise.
The rustle of clothes brushing.
Through that noise, someone entered.
The first thing that caught the eye was the ash-gray hair.
Hair reminiscent of the Ashen Mage.
Gazes drawn to that hair then moved to the girl's face. A pure white face, clear blue eyes. The refined girl ascended the podium.
Her movements were calm.
No sign of tension.
Standing at the podium, she swept her gaze over the assembled crowd. That gaze too was calm. Unwavering.
"Hello."
A short greeting.
"I am Lania, assistant professor at Aphria Academy, in charge of Mana Trading Basics."
Her voice, amplified by the podium's enchantment, filled the hall. Attention focused. Silence descended.
"Now."
In that silence, the girl spoke.
"We will begin the Mana Trading Basics class."
Clap.
"Balance."
Starlight filled the grand hall.