The Tiny Loophole I Need
It was an incident at the academy's side gate—an event that wouldn't normally happen. Students who occasionally went out rarely used the main gate and instead slipped through this side entrance. Aside from that, it wouldn't open for anything... except cases like this. Visiting magic scholars from outside.
Normally, if an unauthorized person approached the academy, they'd be detected from a kilometer away, triggering automatic counter-magic. The spells were so fearsome that even a large army couldn't get close. But kingdom envoys with permission or approved magic researchers were exceptions. They usually came through the side gate unless they arrived by carriage.
Today was no different. A scholar passing through the side gate met a waiting student in the alley. The tense scholar casually approached and leaned against the wall beside him.
"You bring it?"
The student brazenly asked while puffing on something.
Despite all efforts to eradicate it, tobacco still circulated underground. The scholar coughed at the smoke billowing in his face, waving it away with his hand before pulling something from his pocket. In his grasp was a mysterious small pouch—barely big enough for ten coins, yet heavy with contents.
"That's it?"
"You cocky little punk. What, you want me to bring an armful?"
"Even so, this is barely a handful. Half price."
"Don't push it. That punishment instructor's been poking around everywhere lately, so this is the limit of what I could get."
Tsk. The student clicked his tongue and opened the pouch to inspect the contents.
"This amount'll only last about seven times? Not even worth selling."
"Half price is off the table. I'm not some thug you can haggle down."
Tsk. "This is bad. Ios won't let it slide."
As their haggling and lamenting continued, it was time for me to make my move.
"No deal. Half price or nothing."
"Damn it! At least don't slash it in half! Who sells at half?"
"How about you just give it to me for free?"
I slipped naturally into their conversation. The two startled violently and dropped low.
"Wh-who the hell? Shit, you're supposed to come alone!"
"I was alone. Who's there? Show yourself!"
Just as I wanted, I pushed open the inner side gate and stepped in. At first, the shadows hid my identity, but as they squinted, the scholar freaked out and fell on his ass.
"Gaaah! Shit, it's the instructor!"
That's right—Lee Hyun, Luna Magic Academy's one and only Punishment Instructor. Lately, I'd been cracking down on illegal research and dealings inside the academy as the unofficial "academy sheriff."
"Don't chicken out! We can take him if we rush together!"
But the student fearlessly drew his wand. Rumors had spread about two months ago that the instructor, who couldn't even use magic, had suddenly started wielding it. Some students dismissed it as mere gossip. How could a servant who'd been helpless with even basic magic change overnight? Let alone achieve explosive growth that rivaled seasoned mages? No one would buy it. Magic was their world, their pride—who'd believe some lowly servant had stepped into their sacred domain?
"Die!"
The student swung his wand, and a stone from the ground shot up like a bullet toward me. I drew my wand with my left hand as swiftly as pulling a pistol and countered.
Whoosh.
The light swish of the wand slicing air. The stone veered off course, slamming into the ceiling and wall.
Thud thud thud crack.
"Wha—?"
The student gawked at the impossible sight. The servant who'd been magicless months ago now handled it with ease? Countering his spell that quickly?
"This... this can't happen. A servant beating a mage?"
"Quiet down."
Whoosh. Boom!
A snap of the wrist unleashed an invisible air wave from my wand. It shoved the stumbling student back, slamming him into the wall.
Crack.
His body froze solid against the wall. Ice crystals formed on his hands, feet, and back, binding him.
"Wh-what?! Attribute magic too?"
"And next."
I closed the distance to the scholar with un-mage-like footwork, tripping his fleeing ankle with my instep.
Crash.
"Urk!"
The scholar face-planted pathetically and scrambled up, drawing a weapon from his robes—a knife, longer than a dagger but for self-defense.
"D-damn it! You think I'll go quietly?"
He clutched his bruised nose with one hand and flailed the knife wildly. No chance of hitting me like that, but I couldn't close in either. I casually backed off, out of his reach.
"Get lost! Just go!"
"Tsk, acting all shameless after your dirty deeds."
My right hand went to my waist, where a scabbard hung.
"Guess you won't listen to words."
I drew the sword in a flash. Smaller than Grand's bastard sword, but perfect as a gladius for one hand. After twirling the ornate, decorated blade once, I counterattacked.
Stab. Clang.
"Gaaah!"
I easily pierced the scholar's hand, disarming him. Wild swings without skill are tricky up close, but keep distance and they're just flailing scarecrows. I kicked the dropped dagger away and pointed my blade at him.
"I've been enjoying my growth spurt lately. I'd love to test it out right now, but I don't want the hassle, so surrender."
"Urgh... f-fuck you!"
That rude bastard! After spewing curses, the scholar bolted, kicking open the side gate and fleeing outside.
I watched his frantic retreat from the academy, raising my sword.
"Being a magic swordsman has its perks."
Spinning the blade, a blade formed above my head. It writhed, morphing into an arrow that shot out, piercing the scholar's calf.
Thunk.
"Gaaaaah!"
He screamed and collapsed, clutching his leg and sobbing. Dragging him back would be a headache.
'Tried out a new spell and just made more work for myself.'
My skills were skyrocketing lately—using magic was addictive, an itch I had to scratch with every new trick. Felt like I had cheats or solo level-ups. Anyone who's felt that unique thrill of personal growth would get it. That's why I hunted these illegal spots—to try out what I'd learned. Raiding them even gave me a thrill.
"Ah."
Rumble.
Oh, too slow. While I watched the sobbing scholar outside, the allotted time expired. The academy had strict "no-entry hours." Visitors could only come and go within them, or counter-magic activated.
A blue-glowing light gathered above the academy. It coalesced into a long body—a massive arrow fit for a ballista, aimed precisely at the crawling scholar despite no launcher.
Kieeeen—
Launched without a string. The enormous projectile dwarfed the pitiful scholar and struck dead-on.
Boom!
The ground shook from the impact. The arrow bored into the earth, leaving a deep crater. The scholar was shredded without a trace, as if he'd never existed.
'Tsk. Should've memorized the rules.'
I watched the remains regretfully, then re-entered through the side gate. Passing the still-frozen student on the wall, I pointed my wand skyward.
Piiiing—
A red light flared like a signal flare, forming a pillar that summoned my makeshift "disciplinary committee"—commoner mages I'd appointed.
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The commoner mages struggled to pry the frozen student from the wall. I handed the confiscated drugs and tobacco to a commoner witch, instructing her to store them in the evidence warehouse.
"Don't sniff the drugs. One whiff and you're hooked."
"I know that much!"
Then I leaned against the wall, squatting for a break. As I savored the afterglow of battle, a red figure dropped from above.
Tap.
It landed lightly—a heteroclite with scales like Volga's. Igneel, the dragon-blood witch.
"Your skills have improved dramatically lately, pervert human."
No greetings. I shrugged casually.
Igneel continued. "Mages grow in big leaps when they do."
"I know."
"But you... honestly, something's off about you."
"Me? ...Guys, hurry up and get him off."
"Yes!"
Igneel nudged my shoe to focus. "You're especially different from other mages. Normal growth slows as you near your limit."
I dodged her gaze, rubbing my chin on my hand.
"Why do you have no end to your growth?"
"Guess I have high potential."
"High potential? And it awakens at your age?"
Tch, sharp as ever.
"Human, your growth outpaces normal mages by far. Are you doing something?"
"Like what?"
"Using some other method to boost magic growth?"
Helena, Sena, even Leden had warned me. The "stimulation" that accelerates magic growth—known only as "emotional stimulation" so far. Giving appropriate punishment to trigger it was still a secret. These greedy mages would steal or monopolize it. Until proper research was done and announced to the magical community, it had to stay hidden.
"Something like that exist?"
"I'm asking!"
"No way. If it did, the magic world would be in chaos already."
I had plenty of prepared excuses. Suspicion alone wouldn't corner me—barely even that.
"Just high potential, that's all."
"How do I believe that?"
"Know who my master is? Makes sense then."
Sena Michele. Even Igneel shut up at the name. A servant made by the Ice Witch? That explained the abnormal growth plausibly.
"The director said early on."
I glanced at her.
"You'd show us mages the path to growth."
"Did she?"
"We took it as 'cut illegal acts and forbidden magic, pursue proper research and the right path.'"
"That's right."
"You know Clara human?"
Clara? Why her, from Igneel's mouth?
"Word is that idiot's skills improved lately."
"She's working hard."
"Since she met you."
Silence fell. I swallowed dryly; Igneel glared.
"You... have something, don't you?"
No escaping her sharp eyes. No matter how I hid, I ended up as the suspicious punishment instructor with the director's backing—raiding, punishing students without backlash. Something was up. Even I'd think so.
Just then, the disciplinary committee dragged the freed student before me, changing the subject.
"I-instructor! Come on, you know this is bad."
"Why?"
"You know who's behind me? Really wanna make an enemy of her?"
Ios, huh? I clicked my tongue briefly.
"Poking around just digs your own grave. Pretend you saw nothing, let me go, and we'll call it even."
"No need."
I stood, dusted my butt, and pinched the student's bruised nose—he hadn't even checked his own state.
"Grrrr..."
"Based on the sites you've raided so far, I'm calling Ios to a disciplinary hearing."
"Whaa? That won't work!"
"Of course not. How many times has she cut off tails to save herself?"
I released him with a sly grin.
"But I'm not after punishment. Just need a tiny loophole to trip her up."
Loophole. Yes—a single small loophole to snag Ios, even briefly. That's all I needed.