Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Teacher vs Teacher (3)
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Class was over.
The teachers had left, and the students sat around chatting about today's lesson.
"That was amazing. Truly amazing!"
"I've never seen a magic circle like that before."
"I know a bit about magic circles, but that kind of theory doesn't exist. Teacher Jamie must have created it himself!"
"And then Teacher Kediak showed up... I always thought he was just a scary guy, but I was shocked when he instantly dissected that new magic circle into a three-dimensional model right there."
"Teacher Kediak is a pretty twisted person, but his skills are the real deal, my dad said."
"What do you think, Anne?"
One student turned to Anne and asked.
But Anne was resting her chin on her hand, staring at the blackboard as if lost in thought.
"Anne's zoning out again."
"She probably can't hear us at all like that."
"Can't blame her for being in that state."
"She always gets like this when she's shocked."
They nodded, roughly understanding Anne's condition.
Lennon leaned back in his chair, hands clasped behind his head, watching Anne.
He recalled the look in her eyes from earlier, when Jamie and Kediak had been going at it over that one magic circle.
'It was just like looking at Father.'
Of course, there was a world of difference between Count Simon and Anne in terms of skill, but at least when they were immersed in something, they looked similar.
It wasn't just Count Simon. Most renowned scholars concentrated like that when absorbed in their work.
But what surprised him more than her focus was that she had understood the magic circles the two teachers had demonstrated.
'I barely grasped a little of it myself...'
Layers, three-dimensional structures, multiples, composites, and so on.
Magic circles weren't just simple drawings. If skill in drawing made one good at magic circles, then the world's greatest painters would be the greatest mages, right?
They were more like formulas. You could replicate them just by looking, sure. Just draw it. But drawing was only the beginning. You had to find the symmetry points, decide which symbols to incorporate, and determine the distribution ratios.
Lennon was smart. Smart enough to be called a genius without exaggeration.
Even he hadn't fully understood today's lesson.
'She's pondering it so intently because even she didn't get it all.'
At that moment, a few students approached Lennon.
Lennon sighed softly as he looked at them.
"L-Lennon. Want to hit the vending area together? I'll buy you something."
"This is a nutritional supplement processed only in my family. My father said to give it to you as a gift."
"If you don't know something, just ask me! Your big bro here will tell you everything!"
Once they learned he was from the Simon family, these sycophants were trying to cozy up to him.
'Their parents are even more the sycophants.'
Sel Dam had many nobles, and they all wanted to curry favor with Count Simon, the leading noble of the East.
With the second son coming to study magic on top of that, their eyes must be burning with opportunity.
It was obvious without looking.
Lennon shook his head and stood, brushing past them.
"L-Lennon?"
"Hey, second son of Simon?"
"I-I'll leave the gift here!"
The students' eyes focused on Lennon.
Ignoring them completely, Lennon stood beside Anne.
"Hey."
Even at his call, Anne blankly stared at the blackboard, as if she hadn't heard.
"Anne gets lost in thought like this and doesn't snap out of it easily. She won't hear you even if you call."
The boy sitting next to Anne spoke up.
He looked about fifteen, and still being in elementary division meant he must be exceptionally untalented.
"I'm Finn, by the way."
"I didn't ask your name."
"Classmates should at least know each other's names."
"So, when does this one come to her senses? Maybe smack her on the back of the head?"
"No idea. Never tried."
"Then let's try."
The only one in this class Lennon cared about was Anne.
He wanted to discuss the lesson with her.
As Lennon raised his hand, Finn's eyes widened. Was he really going to hit her?
H-Hey!"
"That was it!"
Just as he was about to smack the back of her head, Anne kicked her desk and shot up.
She then hurriedly dashed out of the classroom.
Lennon wiggled his awkwardly raised hand before lowering it.
"Ignoring me so blatantly like this."
Grinning sinisterly, Lennon followed after Anne.
Finn watched them go, shook his head, and opened his textbook again.
"Not just hype after all."
Kediak recalled Jamie's performance from the previous class.
He'd heard the talk of the greatest talent in history.
Even reaching 6th class at that young age was hard to believe, even after seeing it.
He had a personality that envied others easily, so he'd dismissed it like always. Especially since a kid was playing teacher.
He still felt some inferiority toward Jamie Welton.
'Even catching up in my field.'
Magic circles were Kediak's specialty.
He'd published several papers on them, recognized by the association itself.
But an 8-year-old genius mage had shattered the very formulas of existing magic circles. With a completely new method—one that wasn't even that difficult.
'I even benefited from it.'
He'd realized three-dimensional magic circles from the layer method.
And learned to use symbols in magic circles afterward. At that moment, Kediak hadn't been much different from the other students.
"Teacher Kediak."
As Kediak gazed outside, lost in thought, Javelin approached.
As homeroom teacher for Alpha Class, he was essentially Jamie's direct superior.
A man who casually chatted without reserve.
Kediak found Javelin uncomfortable. He always smiled faintly, making his thoughts unreadable.
Maybe a good person, but he never shared personal stories with anyone.
Thorough, if nothing else. Kediak didn't like him much.
"A genius. No other word fits."
"Oh ho."
"He teaches pretty well too. Impressive how he commanded authority despite his age."
"Haha... He's a bit of a young fogey."
"Young... fogey. Odd phrase."
Kediak chuckled.
An intriguing kid. He'd only seen him as an annoying brat.
'Still an annoying brat, though?'
"I'll be going. Want to organize today's insights."
"Insights?"
"You'll find out eventually."
Javelin tilted his head, watching Kediak walk away.
"That guy prepared his lessons meticulously."
Jamie was examining the teaching materials Kediak had given him, one by one.
For the next month, he'd be teaching magic circles alone. These were the materials from Kediak's previous lessons, organized with notes on what to cover going forward.
Surprisingly, for someone who seemed so sloppy, there were comments everywhere on how to conduct classes—showing he actually cared about the students.
'Doesn't suit him.'
Jamie had pegged him as the type who lived consumed by inferiority toward superiors, but this showed he worked hard at his own job.
'Not just driven by envy alone.'
People who only envied and resented others never advanced.
But those who used inferiority as fuel progressed surprisingly fast.
Kediak seemed exactly that type.
Better than the 3rd Elder.
'And good intuition too.'
Jamie hadn't dreamed he'd conceive a three-dimensional magic circle on the spot.
From today, Kediak would advance rapidly. Already 5th class, he'd reach 6th soon enough.
"Lunchtime anyway. Let's grab some food."
The academy cafeteria had looked quite luxurious earlier, with heavy investment in student meals.
For a great noble like Jamie, cafeteria food shouldn't appeal, but with his past life's memories intact, as long as it was edible, he didn't care.
"Afternoon classes are late, so after eating, head to the 7th Elder's office to rest."
Ziegfried would gripe about turning the place into a playground, but Jamie was deaf to his nagging by now.
However, Jamie's lunch ended up delayed.
"T-Teacher!"
Someone came running up, panting, and called him.
"Anne Mayer?"
It was Anne from Alpha Class.
A boy chasing right behind her.
"Lennon?"
Lennon Simon, second son of the count.
"Huff, huff, huff! F-Freaking fast... urk!"
Lennon collapsed to the floor, dry-heaving from exhaustion.
Anne glanced back and yelped in surprise.
"Wh-What?!"
She hadn't even noticed Lennon following.
"Lennon? Why are you here? You have questions for Teacher too?"
"D-Don't... talk to me... urp..."
"Filthy bastard."
Jamie shook his head pityingly at Lennon, then turned to Anne.
"What's up, Anne Mayer? Not an entrance ceremony day."
"D-Don't tease."
"Hmph. So why'd you come?"
"I have questions about the magic circle you showed earlier."
So she'd come with questions.
"Ask away."
"In the magic circle you showed... this part..."
Jamie smirked as he listened to Anne's question.
Old memories surfaced.
Disciples gathered on the grass, passionately questioning a demonstrated spell.
Some learned from it, others asked again because they didn't understand.
Only Anne had come, but it was enough to stir Jamie's memories.
'Not a good feeling.'
Beautiful memories.
But with an ugly end.
Jamie answered Anne's questions swiftly. He didn't want to dwell on painful recollections.
"It's this formula. Still too advanced for you. Broaden your knowledge first, then it'll click. No rush."
Multiple three-dimensional magic circles were beyond elementary level.
Anne was exceptionally analytical, but understanding a hundreds-line formula from one class was impossible.
"Think of it as gradual..."
"Ah, I get it somewhat. It's like this, right?"
Anne clapped her hands with an innocent smile and slowly explained.
A magic circle began to form.
The layer-structured circle shifted to three-dimensional, with several standard circles substituting symbols to complete the whole.
Jamie’s eyes widened in shock at the sight.
"Tada! What do you think?!"
Her mana was still insufficient to maintain such a complex circle for long.
But Anne beamed, satisfied with her achievement.
Jamie was speechless.
'This child...'
He let out a hollow laugh.
Anne Mayer. A 10-year-old girl mage from the minor Mayer family.
But that little head of hers was anything but small.
'Owner of absurd intelligence?'
After just one look, she'd replicated it—imperfectly, but still.
A genius.