Academy’s Genius Mage

Morning had broken.

As sunlight streamed in, Ian Oracle, who had collapsed asleep at the magic training ground, startled awake and sat up.

He finally regained his senses and assessed the situation.

Having fainted after receiving magic training all through the night, he did not recall anything that happened afterward.

It felt as if he’d had a vivid dream.

But upon reflection, he realized it was all an experience he’d gone through in reality.

“Did Professor Frost leave?”

Last night, Professor Frost had returned unexpectedly to the academy and began imparting practical magic training to Ian.

It was exceptionally rare for a professor to personally teach magic to an academy student.

It could cause problems if someone objected.

However, Professor Frost taught Ian all the major spells up to the 4th circle.

This implied that the situation was urgent.

He judged that even if Jessica officially complained to the higher-ups, her opinion would not be accepted.

Believing in fighting unfairness with unfairness, he passed on this magic knowledge to Ian.

“The professor left quite a while ago. He’s probably having tea in his office by now.”

“Isn’t he going back to his estate?”

“He generally spends more time in his office than at his estate.”

Isera Hebraim, who was beside him, handed over a water bottle.

She had waited by Ian’s side for him to awaken. Throughout the early morning, she assisted, making it easier for Ian to absorb the magic lesson.

“Aren’t you tired, senior? You went through it all with me.”

“Just drink.”

“Thank you.”

Ian took the water bottle. It was warmly comforting.

『This, this smell!』

The cat responded.

It had been curled up watching the training scene all night, yawning.

『Goat milk! It’s definitely delicious goat milk!』

“Do you like goat milk?”

『Of course! No cat hates goat milk!』

“But you’re not a cat.”

『…』

The smell was rich and slightly tangy when he brought it to his nose.

It was indeed goat milk.

Where did she get this at such an hour before dawn?

From the warmth of the bottle, Ian also sensed Isera’s thoughtfulness.

『Just a sip!』

“The saying goes, ‘He who does not work, shall not eat.'”

『I wanted to train too!』

Although the cat voiced its frustration, Ian chuckled and started drinking the goat milk by himself.

“Is it okay to learn all the magic like this?”

“You have a unique way of boasting.”

“It’s not boasting. I’m just concerned about Professor Frost.”

“You can be surprisingly sly, you know.”

“This is the first time I’ve been told that.”

Isera paused briefly.

Her mind was full of thoughts from Ian’s response, being the first of its kind.

Of course, those thoughts had nothing to do with the issues the two were currently facing.

“If you thought the professor’s private lesson would be problematic, you should have said it was a bad idea last night.”

“True.”

“Instead of worrying, you used it as an opportunity and are now concerned about it.”

“To be honest, I was surprised.”

Ian smirked and shook his head in disbelief.

Images of Professor Frost executing highly refined practical magic were still vivid in his mind.

“I never imagined Professor Frost would be so knowledgeable in practical magic. He normally seems like a walking encyclopedia, doesn’t he?”

“I felt the same way.”

“About practical magic, or about being an encyclopedia?”

“The former.”

Isera acknowledged that aspect as well.

Throughout the early morning, both of them witnessed a new side of Professor Frost, which they hadn’t seen in the classroom or his office before.

And then, Ian was reminded of a scene from the past.

“It felt just like watching Father utilize real combat magic.”

The fireball that fell in the middle of a vast forest, leaving everything scorched in its wake.

The 4-circle fireball his father cast gave off the illusion of a 9-circle meteor fall, which left an unforgettable impression.

Though his father’s magic far exceeded in power, Professor Frost’s magic was still strong enough to warrant recognition.

“I’m getting curious about what theoretical mages actually do. Does everyone end up like that after graduating from the academy?”

“Does ‘everyone ends up like that’ mean there’s someone other than Professor Frost?”

“My father.”

“You’ll have plenty of time to think about that after you’ve chosen a subject in Major in Theoretical Magic. It might even be a matter of talent.”

“You’re being unusually sharp-tongued today.”

“Am I?”

Isera smiled gently.

Ian was taken aback.

He hadn’t expected her to be someone who could smile so naturally in everyday situations.

But that sentiment didn’t linger long.

Isera stood up from her seat.

“You don’t have to worry too much about Professor Frost teaching you magic. According to the school regulations, in special cases, a professor can directly instruct their student.”

“Really? You should’ve told me sooner because I worried unnecessarily.”

“The interpretation of what counts as ‘special cases’ can vary, so it’s not a perfect answer.”

In short, the event from earlier that morning was best kept a secret.

Nevertheless, since Ian wasn’t alone and Isera was with him, they could probably pass it off as a magic demonstration for thesis purposes.

Professor Frost probably had that much in mind.

The two of them left the Great Library.

“Go back and be thoroughly prepared. An order will likely come today. Being a newly discovered dungeon, even the higher-ups will be tense.”

“Understood. You should get some rest too, you must be tired.”

“Have you ever been to the equipment rental shop?”

“No, I’ve only heard about it and never gone.”

The equipment rental shop, as the name suggested, was a place where students or professors could borrow various equipment.

Discount sales occasionally occurred as well.

Though the quality was lower compared to professional shops or auction houses in the royal capital, students frequently used the store because sometimes good items could be found.

Typically, students can only use main weapons approved by the academy, making armor and accessories popular rental items.

“Why not try visiting it? They’ll probably open soon. This situation is different from the last educational dungeon practice. They’ll lend you almost anything.”

During the educational dungeon practice, the assistant office provided exploration supplies.

Although there were no artifacts, this time they seemed necessary.

Artifacts had truly boundless functions.

Since they were often customized based on the commissioner’s weaknesses or habits, identifying an artifact’s hidden abilities was extremely important.

Of course, Ian had a plan.

“I don’t think that’s necessary. There’s a better place than that.”

“A better place? It might be hard to go out again today, don’t you think?”

“It’s inside the academy.”

Ian didn’t disclose where that place was.

Isera was curious but merely turned away with an aloof expression.

And so, the two returned to their respective dormitories.

Ian didn’t enter to avoid waking his two still-sleeping friends and spent his time outside.

『Where is this ‘better place’?』

Goyang asked.

Ian told it straightforwardly.

“The old item storage.”

『Is it a place where old items are kept?』

“They store old, unusable items there too. You could say it’s a space where discarded tools gather.”

Goyang was puzzled.

Back in the day, it would’ve criticized humans as foolish and ignorant, but not now.

Ian was the brightest of any human it had encountered.

『What are you plotting? What are you expecting to find in a pile of junk?』

“Before that, shouldn’t you be asking why I’m telling you so freely? I haven’t even told Senior Isera.”

『Hmm, that is indeed strange!』

Goyang pretended to know it all. But to Ian, it only appeared awkward.

“There’s been something I’ve suspected from the moment we contracted.”

『What is it?』

“You.”

『You’re suspicious of me?』

“Yes.”

『What an affront! I am a great spirit!』

“It’s not about whether it’s ordinary or great. It’s not about being good or bad either. It’s a fundamental doubt about your identity.”

『Didn’t I say I’m the spirit of everything?』

“Your explanation is too vague.”

Goyang couldn’t respond.

Thus, Ian had defined Goyang as an ‘no attribute spirit.’ However, he increasingly felt that this alone was insufficient.

As he experienced more, he was realizing the boundless potential of Goyang.

『Then why didn’t you ask more?』

“You would have proudly declared it if you were going to answer. You’re a spirit who loves to show off.”

『…….』

“But since you didn’t, doesn’t that mean you don’t know much about yourself either?”

Once again, Goyang couldn’t respond.

Indeed, Ian was a daunting person.

“Admitting you don’t know something isn’t shameful. An ancient sage once said that there must be a hundred confessions of ignorance for every success.”

『Well… it doesn’t seem like success is all that important.』

“Don’t change the subject.”

Goyang let out a deep sigh.

『Fine! I don’t know! I just don’t know!』

“You admitted it at last. You haven’t been around long, have you?”

『… Yeah.』

Hence, the only explanation was as a ‘spirit of everything’ in such abstract terms.

It felt special, but even Goyang couldn’t fully comprehend it.

“And I’m your first master?”

『… Yeah! So what!』

“I thought so.”

At Ian’s words, Goyang furrowed its brow.

It was a blow to its pride.

Yet, in a way, after being entirely honest, it felt a sense of relief.

It realized how hard it was to pretend to know something when he didn’t have the experience.

“Didn’t your Spirit King teach you anything?”

『He just told me to go out into the world. Didn’t tell me anything else. He’s a typical old codger who stays silent.』

“Got it. Thanks for being honest, partner.”

『Sure, thanks a ton!』

“Without honesty, we can’t understand each other. In that sense, we’ve become much closer. Thanks to your courage.”

『Hahaha! I am a generous spirit after all!』

Goyang had added another descriptor for itself, now calling itself a generous spirit.

Indeed, Goyang was vulnerable to compliments.

『But what does my identity have to do with the old item storage?』

“While I defined your identity as an no attribute spirit, I actually have a different conjecture.”

『What is it?』

“Primordial Spirit.”

Goyang tilted its head. ‘Primordial Spirit’ was an expression it had never heard before.

『What does that mean?』

“In human language, it means a spirit that is the origin of all other spirits. It’s a new concept not dealt with in spiritual academia, so it’s hard to bring up easily.”

People had believed for ages that divine powers resided in natural objects.

From there began the concept of attributing spirits.

Thus, the currently established four elemental spirits were almost the culmination of that.

Therefore, the idea of a spirit being the origin of all other spirits was not an easy one to discuss.

『It’s a very interesting concept. The origin of everything… that’s indeed the right term to describe the great me!』

Goyang seemed to like the term primordial spirit.

“Just as ancient magic branched into various attributes, I wondered if spirits were the same. Perhaps before the four elemental spirits appeared, there was a primordial spirit blending all attributes. That’s my assumption.”

『And you’re saying that spirit is me?』

“For now.”

『Then I should be extremely old… but I was born just a little while ago?』

“How long has it been?”

『About a thousand years? I’m not sure. Counting time is something mortal humans do.』

Goyang’s point was valid.

If Goyang were indeed a primordial spirit, it should be incredibly old or possess versatile abilities.

But in Ian’s view, Goyang seemed to be in an immature stage.

He realized that as he grew, so would Goyang.

“Well, we’ll find out in time. Shall we get going?”

Ian stood up from his seat.

Goyang followed him but suddenly remembered something, shouting aloud.

『Hey, you! You still haven’t properly answered my question! Why are we going to the old item storage!?』