Chapter 5. Discipline (3)
“Professor, me!”
“I want to give it a try!”
“……”
The students clamored passionately, begging me to pick them. Watching the scene, I felt a strange mix of emotions.
It was great that they were so engaged and eager—that's always a teacher's dream. But when I considered the specifics...
“Everyone, you really want to attack me that badly?”
I asked half-jokingly, though there was truth in it. Their response erupted like fireworks.
“Yes—!”
“Ah... okay then?”
These kids' eyes didn't look normal at all...
It felt just like that. Like the punching machines at street arcades, where people hype themselves up with dreams of smashing the high score, faces brimming with anticipation. Suddenly reduced to a mana-measuring device, I clung to my last shred of authority and issued an order.
“Group up in fives and decide democratically and rationally. Then pick three from those winners. Five minutes should do it, right?”
I meant rock-paper-scissors. With so many eager volunteers, picking just one felt unfair, so I bumped it to three.
Soon, lively shouts echoed from every corner of the lecture hall.
“Rock-paper-scissors! Rock-paper-scissors!”
“Hey, you were late. That's cheating, so re—!”
“Hesitate and you lose! Rock-paper-scissors!”
Even as kids, they were totally immersed, going wild over a simple game. They seemed to be having so much fun with just that...
For a moment, I wondered if I even needed to step in. But that optimistic hope was just wishful thinking. From the volunteers, three survivors emerged and came to the front of the room.
Their faces overflowed with enthusiasm: two guys and one girl.
“Professor, can I go first?”
The boy who stepped forward still had baby fat in his cheeks, a bit chubby in build. I remembered he majored in magic over martial arts.
“Go ahead. You're Shim Jeong-hyeon, right?”
“Ah, yes! I'll tell you the spell I'm using first!”
“No need. That's fine.”
I shook my head, and Shim Jeong-hyeon along with many other students looked puzzled. Smiling faintly, I continued.
“No need for attribute, type, rank, or power details. You wouldn't explain that to an enemy in real combat, right? Just use a spell that won't damage the surroundings when activated. That's all.”
“Uh, um... Got it!”
He hesitated briefly before nodding vigorously and positioning himself near the lecture hall entrance. Cupping his hands and thrusting them forward, he shouted.
“Here I go!”
“No holding back on mana. Give it everything you've got.”
Peeping Eye (Rank A)
The moment azure flames flickered around Shim Jeong-hyeon's hands, I'd already analyzed everything.
Fire attribute. Emission type. Mid-to-upper 4th rank. Power strong enough to barbecue a person effortlessly.
Handling it was no problem.
Boom!
The cannon-like mana bolt hurtled toward me, and I spotted someone leaping up from the back of the room—Lee Sea, of course.
The others had Professor Seo Sang-wook nearby and trusted me since it was my idea, but my sister couldn't relax that easily.
She's a bit prickly, but her heart's in the right place. Feeling quietly pleased, I activated my barrier.
Shoooo...
“Wh-what?”
Shim Jeong-hyeon let out a dazed sound. His spell had vanished upon hitting my barrier.
The other students were much the same, eyes locked on the barrier's core. They stared intently as the hat-like structure—dented in the center like a magician's top hat—absorbed his mana and glowed brighter.
Around then, Sea sheepishly sat back down. Luckily, she was in the far back corner, so only Yoo Hae-bin noticed, giggling and whispering something. Sea shot her a glare before looking at me, her worries eased.
“An absorption-type barrier like this offers strong protection against external impacts, especially emission attacks. Of course, quickly analyzing the opponent's spell boosts efficiency. Next student?”
The second was a slim boy, the opposite of Shim Jeong-hyeon. His choice was...
Whoooosh—
A gale swept through the lecture hall.
Wind attribute, upper 5th rank. He planned to disrupt the barrier with mana-infused gusts. Creative attempt, but...
Whooo, shhhh...
The wind visibly weakened near the barrier. Like a spinning top losing speed with each wall collision, its motion slowed until it fully died down.
“Whoa, wow...”
“Good try, Jeong Seong-hoon. But as you see, no real effect on the barrier construct.”
“Yes... I thought since it's all mana, it'd clash and disrupt it...”
“If you knew what I did right after you cast, it'd make sense.”
Nothing special—just a touch of earth-attribute mana.
“Ah, so that's why...”
“Not all barriers are the same. It depends on application. Remember that. Excellent attempt.”
“Thank you, Professor!”
The clock now read 2:59 p.m. Last one up: Jin Yu-ri, with a tense expression.
“Not much time left. Jin Yu-ri, ready to start right away?”
“...Of course.”
She raised both hands immediately, her left and right emitting different mana forms. A student up front muttered.
“Compound magic...”
Dual-attribute simultaneous casting—a high-difficulty technique called superposition or compounding.
Jin Yu-ri chose water and lightning. She swung her left hand first.
A water-jet-like mana stream surged to the barrier's edge, then she whipped her right hand. Crackling electricity wrapped around it.
“Professor, watch out!”
Despite the warning, her spell far exceeded second-year high school level. Her intent was clear: forget the teacher bit, let's see real skill.
I made no special preparations for the barrier. Just poured in more mana.
Kwaaaang—!
If Professor Seo Sang-wook hadn't handled the aftermath to spare the students' seats, the whole room would've been wrecked. Silence fell.
“Ah...”
Jin Yu-ri's voice bordered on despair. Calmly, I spoke.
“Matching attributes and types for a favorable barrier is one way, but if you're confident, pure mana counterforce can help depending on the fight. Hone both mana enhancement and technique. Class dismissed.”
Clap clap clap!
The second class ended successfully enough, but before questions, Professor Seo Sang-wook dragged me to his lab.
“Dojin, sit there.”
“Sure, but what is it...?”
“Tea first. Coffee or green?”
“Green, please.”
The electric kettle bubbled. After a couple minutes, he handed me tea and sat across.
“That thing you said in class. The paper Jeong Se-bin was planning to submit. I know it's a big ask, but could you tell me what it was about?”
“Well... As you know, I was young then, so I didn't hear details. Just bits while learning barriers—”
“Even that helps. I won't treat you poorly. You provide the clue, we co-author the paper—huge for your career—”
His tone bordered on mania as he persuaded me—then.
Bang! Bang!
Someone pounded the door urgently.
“Professor, you in there?”
“Huh?”
Interrupted at a key moment, he frowned and opened up. Magic Engineering students stood there, reporting an unexpected incident.
“Big trouble! Fight in the classroom—Sea and Yu-ri...”
“Professor, sorry, but we should go talk there.”
“Yeah, let's go.”
Soon, Professor Seo Sang-wook, the students, and I rushed to the lecture hall.
“……”
National Academy 1's student-only anonymous community. Reading the post, Jin Yu-ri bit her lip.
Her walking friends cautiously checked her face.
“Don't mind it.”
“But these anons talk so recklessly. Can't we track them?”
“Forget it. No point holding onto crap like that.”
She brushed it off casually, but her fingertips trembled slightly.
Anonymous ramblings weren't important. But part of it rang true.
She does well when she tries...
Top of the school in grades, yet Jin Yu-ri didn't see her talent as the best in her year. She lagged behind Yoo Hae-bin. Same against Lee Sea.
Today rarely confirmed it again.
Just work harder.
Talent isn't everything. She had their missing persistence. If that's talent too, she wouldn't lose to any peer.
Review today's lesson at home, preview as usual... I'll pull an all-nighter.
No big deal. She knew results followed.
Then her friends grumbled bitterly.
“But... isn't there some favoritism?”
“Who?”
“Professor Dojin. Special treatment for that Lee Sea girl.”
“I think so too.”
Jin Yu-ri started to reply. She hadn't felt that. He'd judged Lee Sea coldly on poor results, praised good work fairly. Nothing more—no need to stir.
Plus, Lee Sea walked nearby; no good if she overheard.
But first, someone muttered.
“And she's not even his real sister... He sure dotes on her?”
“...!”
Hearing that, Jin Yu-ri whipped around. Too late.
Lee Sea approached, face pale as a ghost. Expressionless, she asked quietly.
“What did you just say?”
Lee Sea thought to herself: I've held back a lot.
She'd endured leaving the funeral home. Endured mentions of her brother. After last week's class too.
Even “As expected of Archmage Jeong Se-bin's son.” Today too.
Endured Jin Yu-ri's glare when her brother mentioned their late mother.
No more.
She'd finally heard outright the one thing she hated most in the world—the thing she absolutely couldn't tolerate.
Fueled by blazing rage, she demanded.
“What did you just say?”