The Confiscated Ki Manual and the Midnight Break-In
The distinctive texture of worn hanji paper, faintly musty with mold. The deep scent of ingrained ink and the excessive blank spaces scattered throughout. The book Professor Lien had tossed my way was so ancient it was a miracle it was even written in a readable language.
Isn't this basically cultural artifact theft? Typical Europeans—treating the plunder of Eastern relics like it's no big deal.
Thanks to it, though, I've got a path forward. I slipped Lien's book between the pages of my magic textbook and made it to the lecture hall.
"Oh."
The moment I pushed open the lecture hall door, my eyes locked with Elena Parau's. ...There were already about fifty students inside, so how the hell did our gazes meet like that?
...This seat's empty! We weren't close enough to have telepathic chats like this, but somehow, it worked. I strode past the stares like it was nothing and plopped down right next to her.
My plan to coast through academy life as a background extra was already shot to hell anyway. No point avoiding her now.
For someone so popular, though, no one's sitting around her. I'd figured a star like Elena would have people fighting for the seat next to her.
"Look at that guy sitting next to the lady again."
"...Is he clueless? Or are they actually close?"
"Duels with His Highness in the morning, hangs with the lady in the afternoon?"
The glares aimed my way felt even sharper now. Whatever. I'd just do my thing and mind my business.
Soon, someone entered through the door—a female professor with piercing eyes like sharpened steel and hair burning like fire. She looked mid-twenties at most, but from what I remembered, she was over two hundred years old. Not an elf or some special race. Pure human, living two centuries and still looking twenty-something. Argue with that and you'd lose. Just feel it.
How's a pure human living to 200? And staying in her twenties? -> Wrong answer.
She's an incredible mage, so maybe that's it. -> Golden answer.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Andante, your professor for first-year Magic Class, Section 2."
Since most of the novel unfolded from Elena's perspective, I knew a fair bit about Professor Andante. First off, she never gave F grades to students. Magic was a domain only a tiny fraction of mana-sensitive humans could wield. Academy enrollees were mostly talented, so most could use it—but every year, one or two couldn't. Handing them an F just for that felt cruel to her, or so she said.
Of course, announcing that would turn the class into chaos, so she only spilled it after the protagonist graduated. Watching the students focus intently, unaware no F's were coming, gave me this weird sense of superiority.
Perks of being the possessor—you get these little edges.
I flipped open my magic textbook and laid Lien's book on top. No mana meant magic lectures were pointless for me. Better to fill two hours of dead time with actual useful knowledge, right?
Chapter 1.
Understanding Ki.
Hmm.
Surprisingly ordinary textbook. I'd hoped for something like the Heavenly Demon's Absolute Manual, but this was disappointing. The content looked no different from my old university books—just fancier paper.
"Ram Artel?"
Ah.
"...Yes, Professor."
"Is basic magic theory boring you? You're reading something other than the textbook."
Uh... I was just at the table of contents. Do I stand out that much? I'm in the back row.
"Sorry, Professor. I'll put it away right now."
"No need."
"...Pardon?"
Does she know I can't handle mana at all and is letting it slide? Makes sense for a great mage...
"Come up front and solve this problem, and you can read your other book for the rest of class."
Yeah, fuck, should've known.
"If you truly understand today's lesson, this should be easy."
Chalk scraped the board, leaving a trail that twisted into an unrecognizable formula as white lines connected.
"But if you can't... I'll confiscate that book you're reading."
I stood carefully, glancing at Elena.
Know the answer?
Elena was one of the top magic talents in this world. Time to cash in on that friendship.
...This is my first time in this class too.
Useless.
...You just swore at me. Definitely swore.
No choice—I handed Professor Andante the book Lien had given me. Hadn't even finished the table of contents, but oh well. My bad this time.
"Sorry."
"Quite the old book. Doesn't look like academy material."
"Professor Lien told me to read it."
"Ah, Lien...? "
Andante's face soured the instant she heard the name.
"Lien gave it to you...?"
"Birds of a feather, huh."
"...I'd die before taking anything extra from that guy."
The students murmured in unison. What the hell was Lien's deal here? Guy hands you a dagger and tells you to stab him—not surprised at the reactions. Starting to wonder if I'd grabbed the wrong "opportunity."
"Anyway, this stays confiscated until you solve my problem and explain it."
Andante pointed her chalk at the board formula.
"...Yes, ma'am."
I knew jack shit about magic, but I wasn't worried. She'd said diligent listening would let anyone solve it. And Elena was right next to me.
Toward the end of class, I'd ask her for the answer and solution, memorize it, recite to the prof. Friendship win!
Of course, sitting through the whole class left me clueless. Lectures assume you already know the basics—that's why you're there.
Still, no big deal. Elena would hook me up.
"The answers are 'Seongsa' and 'Ilsun.' In specific cases, 'Ilsun' substitutes for 'Jatbit,' but generally, it's 'Seongsa' and 'Ilsun.'"
Elena stuck around after class to explain. Next one's here too, apparently—most students lingered, sneaking glances at us.
"Sangsa, Ilsun... sometimes Ilsun's Jatbit, but generally Seongsa and Ilsun."
She talked with her thick ice mask on. Wonder how long she'd keep that cool girl act. The original novel portrayed her as ice queen for 700 chapters. ...It wrapped up about ten in-story years later, so was she stuck like this for a decade? Kinda admirable.
"I'll explain the solution. Know the Lienta equations?"
"Nope."
"Tyler III's redefinition of the three elements?"
"No clue."
"Intercomplementary theory of the five elements?"
"No, why do you need to know all this shit just to cast one spell?"
In the novel I'd read, it was just "Fire!" and flames shot up, "Ice!" and ice appeared.
"That's because you only saw people who make it look easy. Experts always do."
If someone's making something look effortless, they're a master beyond your grasp. Timeless truth, even in fantasy magic.
"People spitting spells casually have dozens—hundreds—of formulas in their heads. Don't underestimate magic."
Rom-fantasy magic's too damn complicated. Anyway.
"Whatever, just rattle it off. Gotta get my book back."
I memorized Elena's ten-minute rundown and headed to the prof's research office.
"...Thus, the answers are 'Seongsa' and 'Ilsun.'"
"Memorized, huh? Who taught you?"
Busted immediately.
"..."
Damn, sharp as hell. Practiced for thirty minutes to sound natural.
"Sorry, Professor. Born without mana, never studied magic."
Time to appeal to sympathy.
"No prior knowledge, so even your lecture couldn't help me solve it. But that book from Professor Lien's important to me—I memorized answer and solution just to get it back."
Full frontal assault!
"Worst excuse ever."
No dice!
"Anyone can solve theory problems without mana."
Andante laid out facts in a cold, frosty voice.
"Think it's okay to be ignorant of magic just because you can't use it? You might fight a mage someday."
Not a single opening.
"Even without wielding it, you must learn it. No knowledge harms itself in this world."
No slip-ups to grab.
"Study up and come back. You're not a total loner like the rumors—nice friend explained it all."
"Uh... so the book—"
"Ask her to teach you magic theory. Solve it yourself, then it's yours."
Hmm.
I got kicked out and thought,
Gotta steal it.
Crime? Shut up. Just reclaiming what's mine. How's that a crime?
Before leaving the research building, I unlatched a second-floor window.
A full moon night. I slipped easily through the open second-floor window of the professor dorms.
Andante's office is 309, right?
Guided by faint moonlight, I climbed stairs and crossed the hall.
307... 308... Here, 309.
Locked door? I'd brought paperclips, but could I pick it like in movies or games?
Praying it wasn't, I grabbed the handle.
"Oh."
Lucky tonight! Andante must've forgotten to lock up...
"Kyaaack!"
"Fuck."
The sudden scream made my heart drop. Someone was inside Professor Andante's office.
"Sorry, Professor! This isn't... uh, what do I call it, not theft! I had magic questions I really wanted answered, so—"
The shadow hurriedly hid a hairpin clutched in her hand inside her uniform. Panicked, her movements were clumsy.
"Sorrryyyy!"
The mystery figure bellowed loud enough to wake the neighborhood, slamming her forehead to the floor. Bright light-brown hair fanned out like silk in the air, then cascaded down slowly.
"..."
The blast hit so hard my ears rang. What kinda lungs does a thief need to scream like that?