The Genius Magician Hides His Swordsmanship - Chapter 26

Chapter 26. What happened during the test

‘Professor Andrei. It’s mine.’

It was at that moment, I gave a gaze asking for help.

“Associate Professor Aloy?”

Aloy appeared with a puzzled expression. Just as he was entering the magic tower, he came and stood next to me.

“Thank you, Ian. You really helped me by holding onto this.”

Gradually snatching the black bag, he lowered his head towards Andrei.

“I’m sorry for bothering you.”

Andrei’s hand, which was already extended to me, had no choice but to return in shame.

“Alright. Was Associate Professor Aloy with these kids?”

“Yes. I just happened to run into them outside.”

At those words, Andrei’s eyebrows frowned.

“You didn’t give them special treatment outside the tower, did you? You shouldn’t treat them special because you’re from the same Delemar family.”

His hand pointed at my red eyes.

“Students at the Mage Tower should be evaluated based on their skills, not their background.”
“I didn’t give them any special treatment, I just ran into them while passing by. Oh, and while this kid has a great background, his skills are even better.”

Aloy smirked, but he’d said his piece.

Andrei didn’t like his smirking demeanor.

“If he can’t even pay attention in class, he can’t possibly be good.”
“Is it true that Associate Professor Aloy is also from Delemar Academy?”

Andrei’s furrowed brow didn’t lift.

“So the rumors were true, that he was hired as an associate professor because of his Delemar background.”

Andrei’s low muttering to himself made Aloy’s expression harden.

“…It’s not like that.”

Eventually, Aloy’s brows also furrowed.

“You’re glaring at me right now, aren’t you? Haha! The power of the Delemar household is so great that an associate professor can disrespect a full fledged professor!”
“When did I ever disrespect you? I merely disagreed with you.”
“Are you saying I was wrong?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, about the things you just said.”

Aloy didn’t budge under Andrei’s pressure.
The old professor’s expression grew even sterner. Telling a mage who was so self-centered that he was wrong was not only an affront to his pride, it was also unbecoming.

“Can you prove me wrong?”

Andrei’s expression turned sour.

“How can I prove it?”

Aloy didn’t seem to be backing down. They haven’t attacked each other, but the tension was already sky-high.

‘Haha. Things are going strangely.’

Andrei’s eyes were directed at me.

“There’s no need to prove it this instant. If this child is good, we would know in a week, Wouldn’t we?”
“Are you talking about the upcoming tests?”
“Yes. If Ian gets first place in two or more subjects, I’ll admit you’re right.”

I don’t know why I got caught up in a fight between the two of them out of nowhere.

“All right.”

Against my will, Aloy’s head nodded.

‘What?!’

Aloy’s gaze also turned to me.

“Can you?”

What would you answer in this situation? The water has already been spilled.

‘……Yes’

I was given an unexpected homework.

* * * 

“Umm, I’m sorry for being so careless.”

While in the lobby of the Mage Tower, Aloy patted my shoulder.

‘It doesn’t matter, I was going to be first anyway.’

I figured I might as well hurt Andrei’s pride as a bonus.

“It’s not going to be easy. Although you’re the top of your class, you’re still going to have to compete with kids from other classes. And you’ll have to top two subjects at that.”

If I wanted to stomp on his pride, I have to stomp on it properly.

‘Don’t worry. I’ll get first place in three subjects.’
“What? Three subjects?”
‘Yep. I’m quite prideful too, and I need to show Professor Andrei what I’m made of.’

That way, the old professor won’t be able to complain.

[That’s Adonis for you.]

Aloy was grinning like Oberon.

“That’s right. Save my face, whether it’s two classes or three.”
“Hell, I’m going to top Professor Aloy’s class.”

“That’s a good idea. You’re good at handling mana, so it should be doable. Oh, do you want to be my teaching assistant?”
“Yeah. I would love to.”

It seems like being Aloy’s assistant would make it easier for me to move around the magic tower.

“Oh. Really?”

Aloy’s mouth curved into a wide smile.

“I’m the reason you’re in this situation. If you really want to be my assistant, I’ll give you a benefit.”
‘A benefit?’

“Yes. I won’t make you do any lab work, if that’s what you want.”

Aloy’s offer made my mouth curve into an arc.

‘What kind of rice cake is this?’

It was truly a perfect condition for me. Teaching assistants help professors with research and achieve achievements, but they also have to suffer from chores.

‘I could spend more time looking for Aylen.’

[You must do this.]

I had no reason to refuse.

“Great!”

Aloy had a bright smile. His expression was unusual.

He checked the contents of the black bag before I knew it.

“Where did you get this?”

‘That’s…’

Before I could answer anything.

“Yes, it’s understandable. I was curious too when I was your age.”

Aloy furrowed one eyebrow in understanding.

[Oh, does he really understand?]

‘Ah! It’s because he’s a teacher.’

However, Aloy thrusted the black bag into his arm.

“But now that I’ve seen my student with it and have taken it away. I can’t just give it back, can I? I’ll confiscate it.”

I couldn’t help but swallow the sigh that almost leaked out since I wasn’t caught by Andrei but had to settle for this.

‘……Damn.’

* * * 

The magic tower is filled with the burning flames of learning.

“Here we go. This is how you’re supposed to handle wind speed. Okay?”

Everyone wanted to be a teaching assistant. They were eager to learn. We were learning six subjects in total.
Aloy’s Basic Mana Management.
Andrei’s Principles of Attributes.
And basic magic for the four elements: fire, water, wind, and earth.

‘I think I’ll take first place in Basic Mana Management and Principles of Attributes.’

[Are you going to try Andrei’s class too?]
‘Yes. It’d be a huge blow to his pride if I got first in his own class.’

Besides, I’ve been practicing with ancient language books, so it should be easier than the other subjects.

‘I just have to choose one more remaining subject…’

I had to choose one more subject because I boasted that I would win first place in three subjects.

‘I don’t know how they’re going to test me.
I’m sure the basic magical subjects will have to be tested in practice. But the specifics are what I couldn’t tell.’

[I wonder if they’ll ask you to implement the spells they’ve taught.]
‘That would make it hard to get first place.’

This was because there were a lot of kids who were exceptionally talented in each attribute. Whoosh! Just then, a gust of wind swept through the classroom. It belonged to Tony Glun, the windiest and friendliest kid in our class.
Tony Glunn.

‘He’s certainly above average when it comes to wind magic.’

As the professor said, he was a natural with the wind.

‘As for my third subject, I’ll just have to deal with it when I get there.’
[When you don’t know the answer, that’s the best.]

I nodded, trying to organize my thoughts, when I heard a giggle next to me.

“Ha ha…. Ian. I guess I’m not talented.”

It was Drew, creating a small breeze in his hand. He was heartbroken to see what Tony Glun had created.

‘What do you mean, you’re not talented?’

“I don’t have Tony’s control.”
‘He’s seventeen, and you came to the magic tower at fifteen, and you’re so much better. You’ll be better than that in two years, won’t you?’
‘…Isn’t that so?’
“Yes, yes.”

His face flattened a little. Of course, it’s true that Drew’s magical talents were only on par with the other kids, but he is far more talented as a knight than anyone else, there is no need for him to be disheartened.

‘If you were good at both, it would be too good to be true.’

The world is too unfair for someone who has the blood of a knight in his veins to also be good at magic.

[Are you describing yourself?]

Oberon was watching with a displeased expression.

‘I’m a special case.’

[Naeronambul comes to mind.]

‘What does that mean? What is naeronambul, and what is Iljin?’
[They’re sayings that were popular for a while in the past. It just means that you are cool.]

‘Oh, why do you give me all these compliments?’

Iljin, or naeronambul? Oberon sometimes uses strange words.

* * * 

A week later in the morning.

Whoo!

I wielded the Pragarach inside the inn.

[You should have a lower posture. That would be more powerful.]

Oberon also took this with a very serious expression. It was a new morning routine to hone my swordsmanship according to my current body.

Whoa!
As Oberon said, I lowered my center of gravity, and it was followed by a much more powerful wave sound.

‘As expected, you haven’t lost your touch Oberon.’
[You’re just a kid. I don’t care how good of a swordsman you become.]

Maybe it’s because I am still growing. The posture Oberon corrected felt much better.

‘By the way, I need to go out soon.’

I’ll put Pragarach down.

Knock, knock.

There was a timely knock on the door.

“Ian! Let’s go! Today’s the test!”

When I opened the door, Drew was waiting.

“Hey, Drew, how’d you prepare for the test?”
“Nothing special, I just want to avoid getting placed at the bottom of the class!”

And with that, we headed to the magic tower’s entrance instead of the classroom.

[You said the test is in the outdoor lab, right?]
‘Yeah. I guess that’s because we’ll have to use magic.’

The outdoors would be a better place to use magic than indoors. At the entrance of the magic tower, about a hundred students gathered, from all four classes.
All right. Today, as you know, we’ll be having a test. We’ll be going to the outdoor training grounds owned by the tower, so please follow me. The associate professor in charge of the elementary magic class, at Midran’s shout, began the long procession.

‘The leaders are all young professors.’

Young wizards walked alongside the new students, most of them around the 5th or 6th star level.

[Usually, it’s the younger ones who do the heavy lifting]

That’s only natural, while they are students of the magic tower, most are in their mid-to-late teens, and it’s quite a hassle to take a hundred of them outside.

[Aloy is here too]

He couldn’t avoid babysitting us either. He restrained the children who were making a ruckus on his own.

‘…that’s hard work.’

The young wizards toiled away. We arrived in the woods outside the city center of Ias. There was a large, circular clearing in the center of the forest. The professor led us to it.

“So this is the outdoor training grounds.”

At the front of the group, Associate Professor Midran stepped forward once more.

“Ziim!”

He shouted, casting a voice amplifying magic on his own neck. ( PR: change amplification spell into voice amplification magic)
“We’re going to conduct the test now! Gather in your classes!”

To be continued…