Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: The Mage of the Final Exams (1)
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Four days before the final exam period began, on a Thursday.
It had been a really long time since I'd attended Professor Raymond's lecture.
The magic barrier construction project had wrapped up ages ago, but he'd been swamped with backlog administrative work ever since.
Truth be told, he could've skipped today too, but he had to make time for the final class and to turn in the evaluation reports.
And the class? As usual, it was a one-on-one spar with the professor in the magic lab practice building.
And then.
"..."
I got utterly demolished.
I lay sprawled on the floor in a mana exhaustion plus physical exhaustion state, completely wiped out.
...Man, the cool floor feels kinda nice, actually. The weather's getting to that point where I'm starting to miss air conditioning.
Summer with the AC cranked up and a thick comforter? I can't handle that.
Ah, once I finish inventing the apple phone, my next magic tool is definitely an air conditioner.
"Miss Lunaris."
As I was lost in all sorts of useless thoughts, Professor Raymond's shadow fell over me.
"You don't seem to be in top form today? D-Don't tell me you pulled an all-nighter studying for the exams?!"
"Well, something like that..."
"Don't lie to me! There's no way you'd do that, Miss Lunaris!"
I mean... it's not wrong, exactly.
I did attend Her Highness's all-night study session hosted by the princess.
Of course, the fact that I actually studied for only about an hour is the problem.
But if anything, my condition was actually great.
Lately, with exam season, the maids had been half-neglecting me, so I'd been getting plenty of sleep.
The reason I got so spectacularly taken down by Professor Raymond today? In a way, it was because I was in such good shape that I tried something stupid.
"Actually, last time when I was fighting that magic golem, something just went whoosh!"
"Hm?"
"So I was trying to recreate it, but it didn't work."
Now that I said it out loud, it sounded like total nonsense.
But our professor was eating it up like it made perfect sense.
"What were you trying to recreate? What did it feel like exactly?"
"Just, y'know..."
Still lying on the floor, I flailed my arms around vaguely.
"While casting normal spells, I mixed in some natural mana with telekinesis magic and tried an overdrive sort of thing."
"And?"
"Back then, it felt like I was firmly grasping starlight or something, but now I can't get it right."
"...!"
Professor Raymond's eyes went wide at my words.
"D-Do it again!"
"Huh?"
"I'll just block it, so try it one more time! That might be the key to breaking through the wall!"
Ugh, what a hassle. Why bother...
"Won't something just click eventually?"
I waved my hand dismissively while savoring the cool air rising from the floor.
Aaah... this is the appeal of a stone bed...?
Unlike my laid-back attitude, the professor seemed incredibly urgent about it.
"No way! You've got the chance to become the youngest grand mage right in front of you! Passing up a shot at making history would be such a waste!"
"Eh, rushing it won't make it happen."
If you think about it, having the talent for grand mage felt less like a blessing and more like a curse sometimes.
It just dragged me into all sorts of annoying stuff.
"Sigh... If I were you, Miss Lunaris, I'd chase the limits of magic no matter what!"
He was already blocked by the grand mage wall himself, so what was this about the limits of magic...? Way too greedy.
"Oh, that reminds me—I came across an interesting record while researching ancient magic golems recently."
Seeing my continued apathy, Professor Raymond paused, licked his lips, and abruptly changed the subject.
"These days, magic is systematized and standardized to replicate natural phenomena directly, but in ancient times, magic was a means for individuals to achieve their personal goals."
"...?"
I blinked blankly, not getting it, so he elaborated.
"In other words, magic back then was incredibly intuitive."
For example.
If you wanted to smash an obstacle in front of you, you'd use 'rock-smashing magic.'
If you wanted to fly through the sky, 'levitating body magic.'
If you wanted to slay a beast, 'monster-killing magic.'
"That sounds less intuitive and more vague, doesn't it?"
My face naturally scrunched up as I listened.
"It skips the 'how' entirely."
"Hohoho! Exactly! That's why ancient magic is so difficult!"
The professor excitedly stepped closer to me.
"There are countless ways to kill a beast, but you had to figure out the most efficient one yourself."
As I listened quietly, a sudden question popped into my head.
"Honestly, if that's how it works, what's the point of using magic at all...?"
Sure, something impossible like flying might need it.
But killing beasts? Wouldn't building muscle and swinging a sword be faster?
"The doubt you're feeling right now, Miss Lunaris—that's the core flaw of ancient magic."
With all those other methods and tools available.
The 'why'—why use magic specifically?
"Back then, those who found their own answer to that question were called grand mages."
So that's what this was all about.
He was trying to show me a new path to reaching grand mage status.
"Something tells me you could control top-tier magic without even contracting a spirit."
So give this angle some thought too, he said.
Professor Raymond puffed out his chest and cleared his throat like a proper mentor.
"...By the way, the magic theory exam's next Monday, right? Can I use this 'ancient magic theory' you told me about in my answers?"
He chuckled in disbelief and shrugged.
"Do whatever. As long as the logic holds, any answer's fine for a magic exam, right?"
"Nice."
I suddenly burst out laughing.
It was funny—he told Her Highness to stick to the textbook faithfully, but here he was telling me to go wild.
"Oh, and the theory questions this time? They're gonna be really fun."
"...Just to check, you didn't make them harder than the fourth-years', did you?"
"If you've attended faithfully and didn't sleep through lectures, you can solve them no problem."
...Why answer a different question than what I asked?
"So basically, they're insanely hard."
"...Ahem! It's relative grading just for first-years anyway—difficulty doesn't matter. And if it's hard, it separates the wheat from the chaff, so you should be happy!"
A sigh escaped me involuntarily at his words.
Hard problems weren't exactly welcome for me either.
Going from a 10-minute solve-and-nap to a 1-hour solve-and-nap?
That's serious sleep deprivation.
*
Monday, the start of finals week.
"Nngh~"
I woke up late and stretched luxuriously on the bed.
The sun was already high in the sky outside the window.
Linea Hall was eerily quiet.
The maids who should've woken me were probably all drafted for exam proctoring support.
The other students had headed to the exam halls early.
Why was everyone so diligent on the first day? Probably because of the major subject theory exam.
Putting the most important test right at the start of the period was downright vicious.
I glanced at the clock.
Noon sharp. One hour until the exam starts.
Yup. Plenty of time.
"Guess I should get ready and head out... Yaaawn~"
Some people talk about adjusting to the exam hall, cramming last-minute notes, or snagging good seats.
All that? Meaningless.
The best is sleeping soundly, going in peak condition, scribbling on the paper, and leaving.
I splashed water on my face cat-style, then ran my fingers through my messy hair a few times.
The maids would've been horrified, but whatever— not my problem.
The exam room was the large lecture hall in the main magic building. Us lowly first-years had snagged the biggest, widest spot over the seniors.
"Whoa..."
The massive hall was already packed with first-year magic and magic engineering students.
As soon as I stepped in, countless eyes flicked my way briefly before returning to their notes like nothing happened.
I pushed through the crowd to the seat next to Claire, who sat in the corner looking half-dead.
"...Oh, hey, you're here?"
Claire looked up at me with hollow eyes.
"You look in good shape."
"You look like crap. Did you sleep at all?"
"Of course I pulled an all-nighter. Couldn't sleep a wink."
Claire mumbled, chewing her lip.
"Didn't feel this tense for midterms."
"You went in blind back then."
Claire made a miserable face.
"Now... now Linea Hall's right there in front of me..."
"Her Highness isn't here yet, huh?"
"The TAs escorted her to a private room ages ago."
Claire grumbled resentfully.
"Saw them take Edwin Belka and a few others separately too."
Makes sense. Having VIPs mix in with us plebs in this sardine can solving problems would've been weird.
Then someone suddenly shoved through the crowd toward me.
"Miss Lunaris Evermoon, right?"
"...Yes, that's me."
"Hello, I'm the TA for 'Fundamentals of Magic Theory.' Could you come with me? We're moving you to a private room."
"...Me too?"
Why bother? I'll finish quick and leave anyway.
"All Linea Hall students have private rooms prepared for the exam."
"Ah, in that case."
I shot a glance at Claire next to me.
"Ugh... j-just you wait... I'll crack top three in the department and get into Linea Hall...!!"
...Sorry, Claire.
And so it was.