Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Researching Mage (4)
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“In my opinion, if we keep going like this, we'll both just end up losing out.”
Raymond, the department head, rubbed his temples wearily, looking exhausted.
“True enough. If we keep clashing like this, the only casualty will be the poor academy building collapsing.”
I had no interest in continuing to be misunderstood as some academy demolition terrorist.
“So, how about we set some rules for our magic battles from now on?”
The expected proposal came from the department head's mouth.
“From here on out, we'll hold the battles in the practical training annex of the Magic Hall main building, starting at 9 a.m.”
There went my element of surprise.
I really should have forced a resolution last week somehow. My problem is that I'm too soft-hearted.
“And... I promise too. From now on, I'll summon just one primordial spirit.”
Raymond, the department head, swept his finger over the four spirits hovering behind him.
“Of course, which spirit I summon is up to me. In exchange, once the battle starts, you can use any means necessary—no holds barred.”
He added that I could use magic tools or whatever else I wanted.
Everything sounded fine... except spirits themselves were asymmetrical powerhouses.
“Honestly, summoning spirits feels like cheating in the first place.”
I grumbled, and the department head snorted in response.
“Aren't you forgetting something? Why we're doing this every week?”
“...Huh? Now that you mention it, why are we?”
“This is all to turn you, Miss Lunaris, into an archmage.”
Oh, right.
This was a class, after all.
“The essential requirement for an archmage is contracting with a primordial spirit to stably wield supreme magic.”
Raymond's eyes began to gleam with serious intensity.
“So if you want to beat me, contract with a primordial spirit yourself and earn the right to be called an archmage.”
With a snap of his fingers, the mattress that had been pinning me down returned to its place on the bed.
The moment I was freed from the restraint, I scrambled onto the bed and wrapped myself in the blanket.
Ahh... this comforting embrace around my body... this fulfilling sense of satisfaction... pure bliss.
Raymond watched my limp form for a moment before clearing his throat awkwardly and speaking up.
“While we're on the topic of your magic level, let me add this: the power of your spells is already at archmage level. Your mana capacity is about average for an upper mage.”
However.
What followed was a somewhat(?) serious critique.
“The problem is that the mana consumption for each of your spells is disastrously inefficient. Your mana efficiency is at beginner level, like someone who just learned magic.”
A pang hit me in the chest.
Even as an educator, the department head had accurately pinpointed my issue.
Of course, my real problem was something else entirely.
“But you know, that's actually the easiest problem to fix.”
My ears perked up involuntarily at his words.
I leaned forward without thinking.
“Really? How?”
“Simple. It resolves naturally once you become an archmage.”
“...”
I was at a loss for words.
Archmage wasn't some miracle cure-all. And it wasn't as easy as he made it sound.
“What I'm saying is, your mana efficiency will definitely improve, regardless of anything else.”
As I shook my head in disbelief, the department head looked flustered and hurriedly added an excuse.
“The whole reason for contracting with a primordial spirit is precisely to boost mana efficiency.”
“Ah, so the spirit acts like a staff of sorts?”
“If anything, it's the opposite. A staff is a magic tool that mimics the principles of a spirit.”
Staff.
A magic tool shaped like a long rod with a gem infused with spirit power at the tip... or so I'd heard.
They supposedly improved mana efficiency and provided various other magical effects, but I'd never used one, so I wouldn't know.
And for good reason—they were absurdly expensive.
Plus, they just didn't look cool.
To put it bluntly, it's like slapping training wheels on a top-of-the-line carbon-frame bike: utter ruination of style.
“Anyway, shall we start with communing with the spirits today?”
No sooner had the department head finished speaking than four glowing ores descended onto the desk.
Each emitted a soft light: red, blue, turquoise, and brown.
“These are called 'Breath of Spirits' ores.”
I tilted my head curiously, and Raymond puffed up with pride as he explained.
“Using these makes communing with spirits much easier, allowing even first-timers to communicate with primordial spirits to some degree.”
I carefully examined the stones.
Palm-sized chunks of ore, brimming with a fluffy glow.
“Impressive, right? I'm the only one in the empire who can conduct lessons like this.”
There was an inexplicable pride in the department head's voice.
“Using expensive materials like Breath of Spirits as teaching aids? Summoning all four primordial elemental spirits at once? Only I can pull that off!”
“Ooh—”
I let out a dry exclamation toward the shameless auntie figure standing with hands on hips and chest puffed out, demanding more respect.
“You're truly amazing—really.”
My soulless reaction clearly didn't sit well, as Raymond furrowed his brow slightly.
“If you know how great I am, how about joining my personal lab as an undergrad researcher? Even transferring to the Magic Department would—”
“So, what do I do with these stones?”
I cut him off and picked up the red ore, prompting a sigh from the department head.
“Fine. Let's start with the primordial spirit of fire, then.”
A minor issue arose.
Honestly, I didn't even consider it a problem.
“How in the world did this...?”
Judging by Raymond tearing at his hair with a look like he'd lost everything, it seemed pretty serious.
The spirits had all outright refused to communicate.
And it wasn't just ignoring me—they freaked out and bolted the moment I tried communing while holding the ore.
-Ugh, what the—! This human... gives me bad vibes!
-S-Sorry, can I come back later?!
-Eek~! Scary!!
-This one's a bit... too much for me.
Honestly, it was baffling. It wasn't like I was going to eat them or anything.
On the other hand, their fleeing antics were oddly cute.
“The spirits' reactions are cuter than I expected. Like little kids.”
My comment only darkened Raymond's expression further.
He muttered to himself in disbelief.
“Primordial spirits cowering like that? Impossible...”
According to Raymond, spirits were inherently arrogant beings who looked down on humans.
The idea that they were all terrified was beyond his comprehension.
An awkward silence stretched on.
I gazed at the ores sitting abandoned before me and quietly spoke up.
“Department head, do we really have to contract with a spirit?”
He glanced up at my words.
“As long as I can use supreme magic, that's what matters, right?”
Since I couldn't even hold a proper conversation with them, let alone commune, I figured we should look for alternatives.
No point wasting energy on something doomed to fail.
Raymond still looked dazed but finally pulled himself together at my question, wiping cold sweat from his brow and nodding.
“Controlling supreme magic without a spirit contract is... theoretically near impossible.”
“What's the exact principle behind spirits controlling supreme magic?”
“Well, supreme magic touches on natural forces, so... wait, that's a fresh angle.”
His eyes sparkled for a moment.
“If we pinpoint the principle and apply it, there might be a way to wield supreme magic without a spirit contract.”
Soon, his scholarly passion reignited, and he launched into a lecture like a true mage.
“Excellent question, Miss Lunaris. To answer that, we need to delve into the essence of magic first.”
Oh no, here we go.
Boring, pretentious magic theory.
“Magic originally began as manifesting natural phenomena with mana. The early mages—”
“I already know all that. Just the key points, please.”
I cut him off before it dragged on, even yawning theatrically.
He cleared his throat awkwardly, looking sheepish.
“...Ahem! In short, spirits convert the mana humans wield into a form akin to the natural mana in the atmosphere.”
In essence, boosting mana efficiency.
But thinking it over, did I really need to borrow a spirit's power?
“Why not just draw atmospheric mana directly for spells?”
This could be a huge breakthrough.
If applied right... it might even solve mana charging for magic tools?
Like solar panels.
The connections were fuzzy, but my innate talent for magic told me it wasn't impossible.
“If it were that easy, everyone would do it.”
He scoffed, dismissing it.
“Is that so? Looks doable to me.”
“Sure, the Mage Tower has a few papers on it, but they're purely theoretical—no one's succeeded in practice.”
Why not? It seemed way easier than placating finicky spirits.
I calmly raised my hand.
Then cast Telekinesis Magic, gripping the surrounding space tightly.
Whoosh, air hissed out, extinguishing the flame on the aroma candle.
Papers on the table fluttered up in the wind.
Air swirled into the vacuumed space at its center.
As the room filled with the roar of rushing wind battering my ears,
I closed my eyes and focused my senses around me.
A familiar energy, previously undetectable, tingled at my fingertips.
“...Found it.”
I gently swirled my wrist.
Precise and thorough, like dipping a quill in ink.
Coating my fingers thickly with mana.
“L-Lunaris? W-What in the world are you...?”
I twisted my waist, thrusting my arm toward the window with full force.
Drawing a magic circle in the air with sweeping strokes, like painting.
Soon, flames erupted from my fingertips.
-BOOM!!
The sudden explosion shattered the window.
Shards flew everywhere.
Flames licked the window frame, leaving black scorch marks on the walls as they shot skyward.
Power-wise, about mid-tier spell level.
Soon, pounding footsteps came racing up the stairs from below.
“What happened?!”
“I-Is it a fire?!”
Neither Raymond nor I could answer the maids' questions.
“H-How... how is this... this can't be...”
The department head just gaped in shock.
“...Huh, it actually worked?”
I was pretty surprised myself at how easily it succeeded.