Becoming a Problem Child is Easy

Becoming a problem child is easy. Those born as a Witch who wield power from the moment they draw breath, aware of it all along, and those who suddenly become one. The demon from hell known as Grand Duke Change had never really pondered how vast that difference could be.

Her talent alone surpassed all-time greats, reaching a level where calling her the "strongest ever" wouldn't be an exaggeration. She didn't seem poor or anything, but she was blocked by the harsh wall of reality—"Can I even do that?"—managing to use only 1% of her abilities. If she'd run wild freely from childhood, swinging her powers without restraint, things might've been different. But if she had, childcare would've been a nightmare of historic proportions, right?

A Witch's abilities naturally have limits, defined by their capacity and talent, so they instinctively tune their power to an appropriate "field." The second generation, however, has no such constraints—she could turn the sea into a desert if she set her mind to it. The only issue is that, having lived her whole life in a mana-less, handicapped body, even the bare minimum is a struggle.

She can pull off things others deem utterly impossible with a mere blink. But she can't even control the sweat pouring from her overheated body, so she just strips down to deal with it. Controlling her power is crucial, and for safety's sake, this is probably better. From a viewer's perspective, though, it's like dangling jewels on a fish's tail—an utterly baffling sight.

"Ugh... math is so freaking hard..."

""

"I can complete it, but the answers will probably ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be a mess."

No, wrong. A Witch's power would automatically engrave the correct answers for the given problems. But since she can't solve them herself, she'll assume the answers are a total mess—and that prejudice will embed itself perfectly into the power, making it so. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠That bad habit needs fixing, but Change couldn't pinpoint where to start, so he decided to just watch for now.

"Magic comes in many forms, but for Enchant, we typically use Rune Magic. The reason is that runes—compressed magical words—can hold more information than other languages."

In Rune Magic (Enchant) class, the professor was drawing what looked like pictures on the blackboard, explaining they were the magical language of runes. Wiyu, who knew nothing about runes, could only scratch her head.

Beatus shot her a look like, "You're a Witch and you don't know runes?" Change could only sigh in pity. The professor had no reason to accommodate students who couldn't keep up, so he flipped through textbook pages, writing words on the board one by one, explaining nonstop.

"If 'sharpness' takes four characters, a rune does it with a simple symbol like ᚠ. To layer sharpness and keenness on your sword while protecting the blade, engrave ᚠᛞᚣ."

"Note that runes don't activate just by writing them. You must infuse mana while engraving."

With that, the professor levitated black pens with magic and distributed them to the students.

"Now, use these pens to copy the runes from the board onto paper."

Soon, using special pens filled with mana ink, students tore paper and engraved the board's runes. No one struggled much, and since enchanting a single sheet didn't take much mana, they marveled at the now-stiff paper, examining it closely.

"Huh, is this right? Looks kinda off?"

And inevitably, some struggled even with copying. They drew it as they saw it, but their awful handwriting mangled the rune forms on the page. Normally, a distorted rune would hold no meaning and do nothing.

But the Witch with the greatest talent in history overflowed with power beyond measure.

"Okay, looks about right."

A magic circle far beyond mere recognition responded to the rune on the paper, manifesting on the floor as a monster from another dimension peeked its face through. Distorting grotesquely depending on the angle, it praised its summoner.

""

"No idea, me neither."

Deeply disappointed, the otherworldly monster wasn't needed for academy class anyway. It asked to be summoned anytime before tearing space and departing. Wiyu, with near-nonexistent detection skills, was fine, but the fallout left students foaming at the mouth and fainting, the professor slamming his head on the desk and passing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out.

"What about our class now, Grand Duke?"

""

The cost of activating a mangled, forgotten "rune language"—which should've been impossible—was a disaster. The Rune Magic professor took three days' mental health leave. Students, left to self-study from the textbook, rained curses on Wiyu.

"Greetings, everyone. Today, we'll cover forgotten ancient languages."

The linguistics professor strode in boldly, having seen the Rune Magic prof carted off unconscious. As a veteran educator who'd lived ages, he was determined! Change offered silent condolences.

"Ancient languages encompass tongues of gods, lost civilizations, and extinct races."

The scope was vast, but mastering them allowed chatting with ancient gods or deep-sea kin, the professor said. First lesson: common ancient Elvish. Students murmured at the tongue-twisting pronunciations, but he explained phonetics meticulously—not for nothing was he the prof. Familiarity even eased spirit contracts, firing up the class. He captivated them instantly, making the lesson a joy.

"Amazing, Grand Duke! This class feels so easy!"

""

"Alright! Wiyu Witchcraft! How do you read this ancient Elvish on the board?"

"Yes! Um... so... Ia ia Cthulhu fhtagn?"

" "

She'd been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠taking perfect notes, claiming it was simple. But mangling it into straight-up ancient tongue summoned an old god into the classroom—the peril of ancient languages. Forgotten elder gods are hypersensitive to being called. Especially by a Witch brimming with immense power—like a hammer to the head mid-sleep.

Thus—even just speaking ancient without invoking— the old god manifested, wondering what was up.

In this polytheistic era(?), gaining believers was tough, so the summoned god pitched faith to the students. Sadly, too exalted for them to handle. Failed "rolls"(?) sent kids into panic under overwhelming pressure, gripped by terror of abyssal darkness devouring them. Clutching heads, they wailed like beasts before the thrilling, great, indescribable ancient presence.

"Kieeeek!!! The end of humanity is here!! The deep sea engulfs the city, the sleeping god awakens!!"

The god spoke incomprehensible ancient, so students endured. The professor, understanding it, submitted, took a keychain(?), and shattered a window diving out. Resilient kids peeked at the splash—saw the black sea, quietly closed the curtains.

The harmless old god blessed the kids before leaving quietly. A blessing where drowning just sinks you to the deep-sea city—debatable if it's a blessing. Mild breakdowns might scar, but total collapse wiped memories; kids just griped of headaches.

"I wanna change classes..."

"One life ain't enough..."

"Three profs down already?"

"Four? Four...? Why four...? The sea whispers..."

Some kids still delirious. Then a professor entered, performing divine miracles to heal minds and spirits.

"Divine Magic heals and shields minds like this. Even non-believers can wield gods' love and mercy through their gracious miracles—so let's start with basic mental healing rites?"

She handed out not textbooks, but scriptures. Chanting lines repeatedly shields the mind and invokes protection, she explained.

"Memorize by steady recitation, then clasp hands, pray, and chant for greater effect."

But first: hold scriptures and crosses, chant together to purify(?) the room.

"Grand Duke! Safe to read this, right?!"

""

"Gasp, what if I become a zealot?!"

""

"?"

Wasn't it usually the reverse? Change earnestly begged no worship between them—just friends. Nodding, Wiyu slowly read the scripture. Holy radiance seeped out, filling the room with heartwarming light. Teacher relaxed, students relaxed, and the demon answering the scripture's call... relaxed.

"?"

""

""""?"""""

The "demon" passage summoned a demon clutching a resume. Humans act so demonic lately, demons lose jobs—Change had heard, but not the extent. He teared up.

Meanwhile, the "terrifying demon" mention panicked the prof into exorcism rites.

""

The demon, summoned to the mortal plane, fought for its livelihood, grappling the prof's hair.

"Everyone!! Don't let this evil demon steal your hearts!! I won't let you tempt my dear students!"

""

Crash. Prof hugged the demon, window-tumbling out. The window-side friend lamented closing it.

"What, window-smashing contest?"

Beatus chugged expensive potions to recover, genuinely asking Wiyu.

"No, I'm innocent!"

" "

Wiyu protested injustice; Change noted the second-gen's superior problem-child prowess despite personality differences. For his tastes in thrills and delights, he'd endure. Protecting students left him drained, though. But he endures!! Warlord pride!

""

"Necromancy."

""

"...Can you say that?"

" "

"If salvation comes, squeeze me in next seat too."

Beatus steeled herself too. Just textbook classes—why were they wrecked? Drained students met the necromancy prof, oozing eerie vibes.

"Heh heh! Post-divine magic is prime time! Necromancy, wicked dark magic, amps up with demons around."

"""....."""

""

Students eyed Change silently, then dropped gazes. Prof greeted him politely, tilting head.

"Feels demon-full... Anyway, basic necromancy: summoning wandering souls."

Dark magic seems evil, but useful at crime scenes—even cops learn basics, prof said, starting class—and pointed at Wiyu Witchcraft.

"Draw magic circle with beast blood... summon a soul!!"

"What if ancient language prof shows?"

""

Terrified of vengeful ghosts, Wiyu cast anyway. Blinding white light filled the room, healing exhausted, injured, broken kids—snapping them back to sanity.

"What light is this...? Did my necromancy summon a demon?!"

Flustered Wiyu questioned the black magic circle's respondent. The summoned being seemed baffled at being called by necromancy.

"...No, I'm an angel."

"Pardon?"

How do you summon an angel with dark magic? Change gave up critiquing the infinite strongest Witch's possibilities. The angel, here anyway, fished out the two window-diving profs before ascending.

"Ugh... will every class be like this? What now, Grand Duke?"

""

Two days in, soul-drained Change lamented, slumped over desk. Wiyu gazed sympathetically. Class over—time for cafe. Hands full with bag and books, pondering Change's transport...

"Might smell sweaty, bear with it a sec."

Used to her chest's utility, Wiyu tucked Change between her breasts. Handy storage sans arms!! Unexpected use from her "uselessly huge" assets made her proud as she headed to the cafe with friends.

"G-Grand Duke okay?"

Beatus worried at the buried face peeking out, like being devoured.

""

Utterly spent voice murmured. Claiming earthly paradise, nest-returned bird-like, Change dozed chick-like.

"Sleeping happily... sweet dreams, Grand Duke..."

Drool.

Kali and Beatus hugged self-study homework from profs, envying and weeping. Just classes, no quadruple assignments!!