Chapter 27 – 11. Looking at the Meteor (2)
I climbed the stairs and stood next to Nicholas. A middle-aged professor opened a chest of drawers at the back of the classroom and was looking for something with his teaching assistant.
Eyes of various colors look up at us.
During class, the professor preached to the students the attribute-superiority view that the influence of attributes and their ranks was absolute, and Nicholas spoke out against the claim. In response, the professor called Nicholas to the podium and called me.
“······.”
What am I doing here
Under the circumstances, I think I’ll show my [Heaven] Attribute…
In web novels, in this case, it is usually concluded that a confrontation between professor and student or students wins or loses.
However, sparring is impossible in the current environment. This is an indoor high school, and there are no barriers to protect spectators from blind magic or slashes, nor priests to heal any injuries.
Eventually, the teaching assistant followed the professor with a long, cylindrical object and set it down in front of Nicholas and me.
“These are a pair of ‘elemental magic generating devices’! As the name suggests, they are devices that generate elemental magic in a pre-set amount. Originally, it was an auxiliary tool for new students who cannot handle properties, but it can be used in the same situation as now. . Come on, stand on either side of the device and hold onto the handles!”
We followed his instructions. The professor continued while operating the machine.
“Now, after exactly the same amount of elemental magic has been implemented inside each, they will collide with each other. Before we begin, both of you, please tell us your attributes and ranks.”
“I am a normal level [Wind] Attribute.”
A low, subdued voice pierced my ears.
Nicholas Bondrania. The attribute of a noble prince was the common class.
Well, it’s not something to be too shocked about. The absolute majority of Awakeners acquire normal level attributes, and only a very small number acquire continental level attributes. Narrative level has rarely appeared in the history of mankind, and Shinhwa level is the first on record for me and Hyerin.
That is why summoners who have awakened all kinds of rare attributes are special, and this is why the imperial family wants to embrace us in the empire.
“I am a [Heaven] Attribute. My grade is Mythic.”
From the podium, I could clearly see the students agitated by my answer. The professor nodded his head as if he was really good near me.
“Are you both ready?”
“Yes.”
“I’m ready.”
“Then let’s begin!”
When the button on the machine was pressed, magic drained from his right hand, like a vacuum cleaner sucking up dust. My magic power gradually condensed into a circle inside the device.
Ugh
An unblemished, pure sky blue sphere that materialized moments later. It looks like Uranus in the solar system seen in pictures.
Looking at the other side, the wind-type mana began to gather as it swirled around in the form of a sphere.
‘Na X ring…?’
That looks like a technique that the main character of a famous Japanese manga on Earth likes to use.
Eventually, the two magic spheres were completed. Both are approximately the same size when viewed with the naked eye.
When the professor pressed the next button, the membrane separating the middle of the cylinder disappeared and the two spheres moved toward each other.
While my sky blue sphere moved heavily and slowly, the X-ray circle flew like it was shot from a cannon.
Nicholas and my magic sphere got closer in the blink of an eye,
Shhh…
Before they even touched each other, the wind blew indiscriminately, and his magical sphere was completely destroyed.
“Oh… Oh oh!!”
Only my sky blue sphere showed off its unchanging presence, and the professor liked it as he clapped his lips over his ears. He looks like an immature child.
As his applause resonated throughout the classroom, other students began bumping their palms one by one. But most of them didn’t quite know what had just happened.
Even if there are freshmen who are already capable of mana condensation, there will be few who can put attributes into it.
“The wind couldn’t handle the sky.”
After the excitement subsided to some extent, the professor explained with a smile on his face.
“The two spheres are composed of attributes of exactly the same size, magic power, and concentration. As you will learn later in class, the just disappearance is solely due to the attribute superiority. The higher the rank of the attribute, the more powerful the Awoken can wield mana.”
Under completely equal conditions, my attributes overpowered those of Nicholas.
And that’s not all.
“Faster magic power increase and recovery speed, lower elemental fatigue, and higher mana efficiency. Even if you don’t take into account invisible talent, no one can deny the superiority of the class.”
He didn’t stop there.
“Would Jeon Ji-Hye of the [Death] Attribute, Choi Ji-Hoon of the [Sun (Yang)] Attribute come up too?”
Epic and continental.
Choi Ji-hoon seemed to be happy with the opportunity to be in the spotlight, and quickly approached the professor.
Wisdom walked slowly, rubbing her eyes and covering her yawn with her hand. A person who is obedient to that appearance would consider it disrespectful, but it seems that the analysis has already been completed in her head.
There’s no way that professor would dislike himself for having epic attributes.
Ugh
Nicholas had to use his magic twice more against Jihye and Choi Jihoon.
As a result,
The wild wind vanished without a trace as soon as it touched the gray orb of wisdom. It’s almost the same as mine.
“I didn’t expect this…”
A twinkle appeared in the professor’s eyes.
Nicholas’ Spiral X and Choi Ji-hoon’s small crater made a decent match. The two had a fairly equal strength contest in the cylinder. Still, the strong wind was just firewood that intensified the flames.
The wind couldn’t handle death and the sun.
“Do you know now? The Awakened people of the continental level and above did not stand out in the long history for nothing.”
There is a lion idiom that points out this reality.
Nangjungjichu (囊中之錐).
An awl in your pocket.
Even if you leave it alone, a sharp awl will one day pierce your pocket and reveal itself, so beings with outstanding talent have no choice but to be noticed by others.
His argument is persuasive. Evidence can be proven through experiments with precise devices, and logic is reasonable based on objective data.
I still don’t know much about this world, but I wanted to raise the professor’s hand.
Of course, this is also because his values are much more favorable to me.
At this time, the opponent opened his mouth.
“I understand that the influence of the attribute class on the physical side is absolute. However, the spirit is different.”
Although Nicholas was humiliated 3 times in front of many students, he was upright without showing any signs of being intimidated.
“The higher the grade, the more diligent the Awakener is, and it doesn’t mean that they have the persistence they didn’t have. Innate talents are meaningful only when they are developed. Therefore, I think passionate efforts are much more important.”
Effort has a greater impact than attributes and talent.
Park Min-ho nodding his head was caught in my field of vision.
Nicholas moved his gaze from the professor to me and declared in a firm voice.
“Ji-Hoo Jeong definitely has better conditions than me. But I won’t be discouraged and give up before I even hit it.”
I did not avoid the eyes that seemed to cut me. The professor murmured with a dissatisfied expression.
“…Then prove it in the future.”
We went back to our respective seats, and when it was time to finish, the professor finished the class.
From the second class at the academy, something eventful happened.
Today’s incident is, in a way, an insult to the royal family, Nicholas. His attributes have been repeatedly denounced in front of so many people, so he can’t be in a good mood.
However, in my view, Nicholas is not inclined to wield his power recklessly. He resembles Park Min-ho. I don’t think there’s any possibility that he would put a disadvantage on me for just following the professor’s instructions.
Likewise, the professors will not be too far off. If so, wouldn’t he try to change the professor’s values by personally proving his point rather than harming the professor?
But in case you don’t know, I’ll have to tell Soniel. Please pay special attention to the professor of ‘Elementary Attribution 1’ and protect him.
It’s because it’s to my advantage for the attribute supremacist to stay at the academy.
* * *
Tuesday, Professor’s office.
“Student! My experiment ch… Kuhum khum! Are you thinking of becoming a research assistant at my laboratory?”
“·······.”
The first week of ‘Mana Management 1’, a morning class on Tuesday, is unusual. One-on-one interviews between professors and students.
This week, instead of taking classes, students talk alone with the professor for a short time at set times on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Check each person’s magical power and mana manipulation ability, and collect the goals they want to achieve through each lecture. Based on this, the curriculum and difficulty of the subject are adjusted.
I feel a sense of caring for the students.
Knights use mana to strengthen their bodies or weapons, and wizards use magic. Therefore, mana management is a skill that must be acquired regardless of the career path. The class to learn various magics in earnest is said to be in the next semester.
To be honest, I don’t need this lecture from my point of view.
It was because I had already mastered all the basics through previous studies in the imperial palace and my own talents.
Since ‘Mana Management 1’ is a theory class, it is regrettable that exemption is not possible according to the academy regulations.
Realizing this situation and the fact that I could already handle elemental magic even though I was a freshman, the professor gave me an interesting proposal.
“Research assistant…? I’m just a freshman who entered last week, so I don’t know anything about attributes or magic theory.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Everything is an experience. Aspiring to be a wizard, right? A wizard’s life is a series of experiments and studies! Opportunity!”
“I don’t have the knowledge to understand advanced theories…”
“Eh, don’t worry! All the other teaching assistants will teach you kindly and easily. So, as long as the student is physically fit, heuheum!”
“·······.”
An award-winning professor.
The professor’s bright eyes are a little burdensome. I am not happy at all if I receive excessive attention for M-shaped hair loss.
His candid mind can be guessed at. Probably because of my [Heaven] Attribute.
If I lose Hyerin or I, the opportunity to research mythical attribute magic will never come again. He will definitely give the same proposal to Hye-rin.
I stared at him with mischievous eyes.
The professor couldn’t stand my gaze and eventually confessed his true intentions.
“…Actually, I want to study the attributes of the students too much. But rest assured! There will be absolutely no force on the students. Students will have 100% right to refuse the experiment. Studying magic there! Studying the experiment! I’m going to share it, and yes, I go to work on my own! You can go to work only when you want to!”
He listed the benefits I would receive from participating in the experiment, tore up a notebook, wrote something down, and showed it to me.
“·······.”
A fairly large amount is written on it.
“I’m thinking about the activity cost per experiment.”
His words hardened my heart. Participation benefits are so attractive. Anyway, if a problem arises later, Soniel will intervene and prevent or solve it.
In fact, in this regard, there is something that Amer has told me and other Rare Attribute Awakeners.
ㅡAre you going to the academy soon? If you have time in the future, could you freely participate in academy research for the advancement of the Empire’s academics? Of course, it’s not a command, it’s a request! The imperial family will take responsibility for all disadvantages!
“Could you give me some time to think about it?”
“Sure! As much as you like! Contact me whenever it’s convenient for you. You can come after the semester ends.”
It won’t take that long.
* * *
The interview is over. I feel exhausted because I receive his passion with all my body.
I ate lunch alone in the cafeteria and headed to the afternoon class.
The lecture I am going to attend now is ‘Sex and Sex’. It’s the subject I’ve been waiting for. I think the class content will be very interesting.
Ji-hye and Hye-rin also attend this lecture. Hye-rin was ashamed of this class that Ji-hye found on her list, so Hye-rin made her take it as well in exchange for winning the duel with Kyle. Her reaction is so expected.
We arrived at a small room located on a corner wall of a corner building. Compared to huge classrooms of required subjects.
Jihye and Hyerin haven’t come yet.
I spotted a familiar person and stopped. I never expected to take this class, but upon reflection on her, it suits her well.
Dark robes covering the whole body, and protruding pink hair.
“Hi?”
The moment I realized she was her Amer, I sat down next to her without hesitation.
“Ah, ah, hello…?”
I grinned as I observed Amer’s pupils shake in embarrassment.
