Chapter 23: Practical Training (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 23: Practical Training (2)
Professor Fernando stood at the final destination, watching me with his usual frigid, blue eyes.
His teaching assistant shuffled over and took the performance evaluation bracelet from me, muttering, “Right, yes, this way…” He looked like a total zombie—overworked, hollow, and utterly exhausted.
Professor Fernando, who managed such a shell of a man, looked more like a necromancer than a teacher.
“Group F, your practical training is officially over. The results will be announced and feedback delivered in one week. Good work.”
“Am I allowed to tell my group members the results?” I asked, since they had all been eliminated early.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll be delivering the news to everyone simultaneously before class starts tomorrow.”
Professor Fernando then dismissed me, telling me I could return to the dorms. Alan and Ethan, the first to fail, had likely already retreated to theirs.
The specific methods of the performance evaluation and the criteria used were strictly confidential. Because of that, I didn’t have to worry about the student council president, Alice Carroll, discovering anything suspicious—like the Sheath of Disaster.
The only thing made public would be the final grades. A week from now, the results would be posted in the central hall of Orphin Hall.
Can I actually expect a decent grade this time?
Even though Rose’s interference meant I only got to perform once, I still managed to take down the final boss.
Surely I can have some expectations, right?
Of course, now that I had gathered enough gels and confirmed the power of the Sheath of Disaster, I didn’t strictly need to dwell on the results of a school evaluation. Still, getting a good grade would be a nice bonus.
I stepped out of Kalis Hall. The sunlight was so piercing that I had to shield my eyes with my hand for a moment.
My entire body felt unusually light. It reminded me of that specific high school feeling—the relief of heading home early after finishing midterm exams.
But it wasn’t time to slack off. I had to begin training immediately.
I had barely started walking away from Kalis Hall when a voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Wait a minute!”
It was a fierce, yet delicate, feminine voice.
“How did you do it?”
It was Rose. She was standing in the shade of the building, arms crossed, glaring at me with intensity.
“What are you talking about?”
I knew exactly what she meant, but I chose to play dumb.
Snap.
Rose took a step toward me, a vein throbbing on her forehead.
“I don’t understand how a Grade E like you could defeat a Tauro! Even if it was just an illusion, there’s no way you could have beaten something that powerful! And besides, what the hell did you do? There’s no way a Grade E from Class D—the lowest of the low—could have cast five-star magic!”
Her voice trembled, bordering on tears. The way she tried to deny reality was truly pitiful.
She was the type who could only maintain her self-esteem by looking down on others. Now, her pride had been crushed by the very person she despised most. It must have been devastating to see someone she considered trash effortlessly leap over a wall she couldn't even scale.
She was trying to protect her ego by denying my existence. If she didn't, her entire world would fall apart.
I’d seen plenty of people like her back in Sillim-dong¹. Those kids were the ones who never passed the exams.
“Even if I humored you a hundred times over, why didn't you save me when you had the means to defeat the enemy? Are you mocking me?!”
I decided to apply a very important life lesson here: The secret to happiness is to never argue with fools.
“Whatever.”
“Wh—!”
When I snapped at her with an icy glare, Rose’s face flushed a deep crimson, her anger reaching a breaking point. She seemed speechless, caught between fury and frustration.
Deep down, she probably knew how pathetic she sounded.
“Ah, ughhh…!”
Rose gritted her teeth and stomped her foot in a fit of rage.
Since she clearly had nothing of substance left to say, I simply turned and walked away.
You stay down there.
I’m heading for the top.
*
A professor in the Märchen Academy’s Magic Department was expected to be a master of all magical theories.
Fernando Frost had become a full-time professor at the tender age of twenty-five, purely on the strength of his theoretical genius. Even at Märchen Academy, which gathered the finest talents from across the continent, he was an object of envy. He possessed a sharp intellect, striking looks, and a lecturing style that commanded absolute attention.
Fernando’s near-perfect appearance was the result of rigorous self-discipline and obsession.
He was always immaculate. Even when alone, he sat with his back perfectly straight and his posture upright. He refused to look disheveled, regardless of who was watching. Every action had to be dignified, befitting an elite professor of an elite institution.
Deep into the night, rain pounded against the windows, the rhythmic drumming breaking the silence of the office.
Fernando sat in his office in Orphin Hall, reviewing the results of the practical training. Various documents were lined up neatly in the air, suspended by his telekinesis.
Knock.
Hearing a knock, Fernando looked up.
“Ahhhhh…”
“Marco. Come in.”
Marco, a male assistant with messy brown hair, stepped inside. His soulless expression barely looked human. He trudged over to Fernando’s desk and handed him a stack of papers.
“Uh-huh.”
Marco groaned like a zombie as Fernando accepted the documents. They were the summaries of each student’s practical training, including their grades and evaluation reviews. Fernando had to review them for any discrepancies before sending them up the chain of command. He skimmed the pages, confirmed everything looked correct, and nodded.
“Next, this one.”
“Uh-huh…!”
When Fernando pointed to the massive stack of papers beside him, Marco let out a sob that sounded more like a muffled scream. But the assistant had no choice. Marco picked up the mountain of paperwork—high enough to obscure his entire upper body—and trudged out of the office.
He would be staying up all night again.
“…”
Fernando flipped through the remaining papers, his eyes darting across the pages as his telekinesis moved them in a blur.
During today’s training, he had been tasked with overseeing Kalis Hall. He had monitored the progress of each group through a crystal ball and messenger reports, ensuring the evaluation ran smoothly and removing eliminated students from the field.
Now, he was finalizing the grades by reviewing the recorded footage of the sessions.
While the current first-year class of the Magic Department wasn't quite a "Jade Generation," there were still several diamonds in the rough.
Top Seat: Luce Eltania.
Luce Eltania. Her mana capacity was overwhelming. Her control and elemental firepower were flawless. During the training, she had dispatched the monster illusions with effortless water magic.
However, her collaboration score was a flat zero. Her lack of social skills was a glaring issue; even when her teammates tried to be friendly, she remained cold and cynical.
You cannot survive on the battlefield alone.
Luce’s weakness was her uncooperative, dogmatic nature.
Second Seat: Kaya Astrea…
Kaya Astrea. She possessed the second-highest mana capacity after Luce. Her skills were also impeccable, but she was an unfortunate prodigy, forever destined to be overshadowed by Luce Eltania’s brilliance.
Ciel Carnedas needs to reflect on her actions.
Ciel, another top-ranking student, had shown zero remorse for hurting her teammates. She had even gotten into a heated argument with Ian Fairytale. No matter how excellent her magic was, her divisive attitude tanked her collaboration score.
Mateo Jordana is showing promise.
Mateo was a frequent subject of student gossip, but contrary to the rumors of him being a playboy, he had a diligent side. While weaker than Luce or Kaya, he used effective tactics and targeted the monsters' weak points. More importantly, he had the charisma to lead. He possessed the qualities of a true commander.
Tristan Humphrey… talented, but problematic.
Tristan was another standout, but his reliance on raw power was an issue. He completely ignored the task of analyzing weaknesses, choosing instead to just fire off high-level spells. He received the lowest possible score for "magical efficiency." Furthermore, he used his family’s prestige to bully other students into following him. His collaboration score was also zero.
As he continued his review, Fernando’s eyes stopped on the file for Group F.
“This boy…”
If he had to pick the student who stood out the most today, it was undoubtedly the Class D student named Isaac.
Silver hair with a hint of blue, and blood-red eyes. Fernando remembered him clearly—he was the student who had received a Grade E during the mana evaluation.
Yet, today, this student had cast the 5-star spell [Frost Explosion]. The proficiency level seemed low, but the spell itself was unmistakable.
It was clearly the work of a magic tool.
Is there a magic tool capable of engraving a 5-star magic circle?
The world of magical artifacts was vast, but common sense dictated that such a tool was an anomaly. Theoretically, it was possible if the tool had an incredibly high number of mana circuits and extreme durability to withstand the pressure of a 5-star spell.
However, the main concern wasn't the tool—it was the user.
It was nearly impossible to imbue a magic tool with anything above 3-star magic. The circuits were too complex, and the mana requirements were on a different scale. Even if such a tool existed, the user generally had to be capable of casting the spell themselves to trigger the complex activation sequence. Exceptions to this rule were considered impossible.
The other professors were likely scouring the library right now to identify the tool Isaac had used. They couldn't ask him directly, as the Marx Pact prohibited contacting students regarding exam content.
Fernando was just as curious, but he was bound by the same rules.
The mana evaluation was only two months ago. What are the odds that a Grade E student could master 5-star magic in that time?
It wasn't impossible, but the probability was infinitesimally low.
Unless he was a dormant genius who never realized his own potential…
Did he only awaken to his talent after entering the academy?
This isn't a novel or a play… could such a dramatic story really be happening?
Fernando stroked his chin, pondering the possibility, before shaking his head.
Regardless of the "how," the student existed. Isaac’s performance scores had been on a steady upward trajectory. There was even a record of him recently repaying all of his bank loans in a single lump sum, including the maturity interest, without even waiting for the deadline.
The boy was clearly working hard. It was likely a case of a late bloomer finally awakening to his magical talent.
This was Märchen Academy, after all. It was a place where the extraordinary was ordinary, and brilliance was expected.
“…”
Professor Fernando decided to give him a positive review. He began typing out the personal feedback for Isaac’s evaluation.
[Isaac is a student who has shown exceptional growth. While he relies heavily on magic tools to compensate for his low mana, his tactical timing deserves high praise for practical combat ability. However, as a first-year, it is recommended that he refrains from over-reliance on tools and focuses on developing his raw, personal abilities.]
Watching students demonstrate their potential was the most fascinating part of his job. Aside from Isaac, Ian Fairytale—another Grade E—was also showing incredible growth lately.
“It’s fun…” Fernando murmured.
Watching his students grow was his favorite part of being a professor.