Academy's Gumiho is a Magic Genius

"Oh, my back. I've finished my morning tasks, so I'll take a little break." 

"Um, what about my tasks…?" 

"Oh my, oh my! Look at me forgetting! The document sorting isn't done yet!" 

"..." 

I tried to talk to a woman in a suit passing by, but she ran off without even listening. 

I definitely heard her mutter that she needed a break. 

At first, I thought I might have misheard, but it wasn't just her. 

No matter who I talked to among the teaching assistants here, I got no response. 

They were all just frantically doing their own work. 

It was only then that I realized I was being ostracized. 

Is this what workplace bullying feels like? 

It was unpleasant, but it wasn't as uncomfortable as I thought it would be. 

That's because no one gave me any work to do. 

'Even if they're ostracizing me, they should at least give me some work.' 

Sitting alone in the large research lab with nothing to do, I felt awkward and like I was wasting time. Since there was nothing to do, I figured I might as well read a textbook. 

I had already finished reading the magic book I borrowed from the library, so I planned to check out another one on my way home. 

The textbook's content was very solid and systematic. 

I guess that's because it's a textbook for students. Even someone like me, who has no prior knowledge of the subject, could vaguely understand it. 

At first, I only planned to read textbooks related to magic, but before I knew it, I started reading every textbook within reach. 

Defensive magic, martial arts, hunting studies, and so on. It had been about an hour since I started reading various genres. 

Tap! Tap!

Someone tapped my shoulder. 

It felt completely different from when Bang Seok-hoon tapped me yesterday. 

When I turned my head, I saw Nam Hwa-yeon. 

"You're reading the textbook diligently. Are you interested in the lecture?" 

Her gaze fell on the title of the book. 

The textbook authored by Nam Hwa-yeon, [First Steps in Magic]. If my memory serves me right, it was the textbook used for her lectures. 

I guess the fact that I was reading this textbook piqued her interest. Well, if I were in her shoes, I'd probably tap the youngest assistant on the shoulder and ask questions if they were reading the professor's textbook instead of working. 

"No, I'm not particularly interested in the lecture. I just had some free time, so…" 

"Huh? Looks like you're pretty free, then." 

"...." 

I had nothing to say to that. 

To be honest, until yesterday, the atmosphere wasn't one of ostracism. 

There was only one factor that could have caused the teaching assistants' behaviour to change so drastically overnight. It was because of the rumours surrounding me. 

Everyone would compliment my looks and even flirt with me, but as soon as their gaze moved downward and they saw my tail, they'd get scared and run away. 

Curious, I searched my name, [Baek Seung-woo], online and found rumours ranging from assaulting and verbally abusing my fiancée to embezzling billions from my family's company and committing random acts of violence. 

Of course, the rumours were a mix of truth and lies, making it hard to tell what was real, but after yesterday's incident with Bang Seok-hoon, it seemed like new rumours had started, and everyone began avoiding me. 

Swish~ Swish~ 

Unaware of the situation, my tail wagged happily, as if something good had happened. 

Of course, it wasn't like I could see my own back, so my tail kept wagging, drawing the attention of everyone in the office. 

The teaching assistants, who were well aware of the rumours, tried their best not to look, but the temptation of the fox tail wagging like a puppy's was hard to resist. It would've been easier if they just openly showed their interest. 

Everyone was in an awkward situation because of the rumours surrounding me. 

Unable to stand it any longer, Nam Hwa-yeon stepped in. 

"If you really have nothing to do, why don't you try this?" 

Nam Hwa-yeon snatched a document from a passing teaching assistant and handed it to me. 

It was the same format as the one I read yesterday. 

A lecture script. 

"P-Professor, that's the script I was working on…" 

"Hey, the youngest has nothing to do. You're not going to argue with me, are you?" 

"O-Of course not! Hahaha, I'll just be going then…" 

The teaching assistant ran off with a forced smile at Nam Hwa-yeon's words. 

It seemed like they didn't want to associate with her. Whether she knew that or not, she tilted her head in confusion. 

"Why are they acting like that? Do they have an urgent bathroom break or something?" 

"...I wonder." 

Her casual tone sent shivers down my spine. 

Was she genuinely asking, or was she enjoying this situation? 

Either way, I didn't want to delve deeper, so I just nodded along and changed the subject. 

"Um, professor, by when do I need to finish this script?" 

"I'll give you three hours." 

"...Huh?" 

Three hours was way too tight. 

Was there a reason for this? 

"That script. I'm planning to use it for a lecture this afternoon." 

"..." 

I'm going to lose my mind. 

Yesterday, she dragged me to a lecture and made me answer questions, and today, she's giving me three hours to write a script. 

Maybe it wasn't Bang Seok-hoon who had a grudge against me, but Nam Hwa-yeon. 

I had many thoughts, but in this situation, there was only one thing I could say. 

"Understood..." 

"Good, then I'll come pick it up in three hours." 

She left the research lab with leisurely steps. 

As soon as Nam Hwa-yeon left, the other teaching assistants' gazes turned toward me. 

Just a moment ago, they were pretending not to know me. 

Sigh, my mind was in turmoil, but for now, finishing the script was the priority. I opened [First Steps in Magic] and compared the passages in the script to find the corresponding sections in the textbook. 

Maybe it's because it hasn't even been a week since I enrolled. The scope wasn't too broad, and the content wasn't too difficult. 

However, the importance of the content was high. 

The foundation of the knowledge we'd be learning over the next year. The deeper you went, the more solid your understanding would become, and today's lecture was one of those key parts. 

'This seems like a more significant task than I thought.' 

If I carelessly wrote the script, it wouldn't just be a matter of getting on Nam Hwa-yeon's bad side—it could also affect the protagonist and the main characters. 

Since they've only been enrolled for less than a week, this is a crucial time for their growth. 

If I messed up this period, it could cause a butterfly effect. I had no choice but to do my best. 

Flip Flip! 

I immediately opened the textbook and started reading through the lecture material. 

For a moment, I thought of using「Magical Aptitude」but I quickly shook my head. 

The world seen through「Magical Aptitude」is extremely intuitive and subjective. 

It's fundamentally different from a lecture that students need to digest and reflect on. 

I did my best to base the script on the textbook, writing within the scope of what I could recall. Where necessary, I referenced Nam Hwa-yeon's research papers and modified the content to make it easier to understand. 

It wasn't an easy task, but I was so engrossed that I lost track of time. 

By the time I finished and revised it three times, the lecture time was approaching. 

I printed out the script, and without even checking it, Nam Hwa-yeon headed to the lecture hall. 

Fortunately, she didn't tell me to stand by her side today. 

But I felt uneasy and uncomfortable for no reason. 

Ah, maybe I should've revised it one more time. 

I felt a pang of regret. 

***

The noisy lecture hall. 

Perhaps because 17-year-old boys and girls were gathered in one place, the lecture hall was always lively before the professor arrived. 

But that didn't last long once the professor entered. 

Chilseong Academy is a globally renowned educational institution. 

As one of the world's top five academies, its prestige is immense. 

To be a professor at such a place, one needs significant achievements and skills that are still relevant in the field. That's why professors at Chilseong Academy are untouchable figures. 

"Huh? Where's the teaching assistant who was next to the professor yesterday?" 

"Oh, you're right. I was looking forward to this time all day." 

"Hey, what's so great about that playboy style? He looked so smug." 

"Isn't 'playboy' the highest compliment a guy can give another guy? Honestly, even as a guy, I thought he was good-looking." 

"If I looked like that, life would be so much more fun. I wish I were that handsome." 

"You'll never be that handsome in your life. Be content with your current life." 

But today seemed different. 

Listening to the students' conversations, Nam Hwa-yeon could see how Seung-woo's appearance affected the young boys and girls. 

'Well, beautiful looks always attract people's favour, no matter the era or situation.' 

People are naturally drawn to beauty. 

Whether male or female, young or old, being captivated by beauty is an instinctive behaviour. Especially if that beauty is of a calibre that could topple nations. 

Then, a sudden curiosity arose. 

Did they know? 

That Seung-woo's charm didn't just come from his external appearance, but from some kind of power at work. 

'It's not a simple ability like pheromones or perfume. At least an A-grade skill, maybe even a step above that.' 

The combination of「Nation-Toppling Beauty」and「Enchantment」was something even a grand mage like Nam Hwa-yeon would find intriguing. Although Seung-woo himself had never shown much interest in these skills. 

She suddenly wondered. 

What would happen to the students here if Seung-woo ever mastered his abilities? 

Would they abandon all reason, like the gods enchanted by the Daji of the Shang Dynasty? Or would they pine away like Emperor Toba, who fell for Tamamo-no-Mae? 

While lost in these amusing thoughts, she realized she was standing at the lectern and quickly began the lecture. 

"Alright, yesterday we had a special lecture that should be helpful to you all. Today, open your textbooks." 

Today's lecture was on 'Methods and Forms of Handling Magical Energy.' It's an important topic, appearing early in the first-year textbook. 

How well you understand this content could determine the course of your academic life. 

Nam Hwa-yeon opened the lecture script. 

The usual format and introduction. Out of curiosity, she had asked Seung-woo to write the script, and it turned out surprisingly well. 

It seemed to be on par with the scripts the other teaching assistants usually prepared. 

"...?" 

Before reciting the script, her eyes, which had been scanning it, curved into crescent moons. Nam Hwa-yeon muttered softly, so no one else could hear. 

"...This is unexpected." 

She had expected a script similar to what the other teaching assistants usually prepared, but Seung-woo had exceeded her expectations and created something she genuinely liked. 

It was on par with a script she would have written herself. 

Had he been inspired by yesterday's lecture script? 

That could be it. 

The old script Seung-woo had been reading in the research lab was one Nam Hwa-yeon had written herself, so it was well-worn with use. 

"Everyone has opened to page 21, right? The formula at the top shows how efficiently you can conserve magical energy by substituting the Hernos function into the spell." 

Her lecture was textbook-focused. 

When difficult content came up, she would call on students to present, fostering a student-led atmosphere. 

"If you directly substitute this formula into a magic circle, what kind of disaster could occur? Any students want to present?" 

"First-year Class 3, Number 57, Shin Cheol-soo! Since the spell wasn't verified with the Hernos function, an excessive amount of magical energy would be supplied, causing it to misfire." 

A male student stood up, calling out his class, number, and name. 

As he stood, a teaching assistant noted down his details and the content of his presentation. 

Chilseong Academy had 2,000 students per grade. 

It was a number too large for professors to remember all the names, so calling out one's class, number, and name before presenting was a sort of rule. 

"Good answer, but wouldn't 'self-destruct' be a more accurate term than 'misfire'?" 

Nam Hwa-yeon flicked her finger, and the spell written in the textbook was recreated. 

The formulas are crammed into a circular magic circle. The magic circle, swollen to the point of bursting, was on the verge of self-destruction, just as she had said. 

Exactly as described in the textbook. 

All the students watched, expecting the magic circle to explode. 

Right then, Nam Hwa-yeon added, 

"But there's always an exception." 

At that moment, everything froze as if the video had been paused. 

As she raised her finger, the magic circle floated into the air. The magic circle, which had been on the verge of exploding, began to revert to its original form. 

It wasn't like rewinding time or restoring something. 

It was more like reassembling. 

She took the previous contents and settled them into a new framework. 

"Even if you didn't verify it with the Hernos function, you can adjust it by substituting it in reverse midway." 

This was contrary to what had been taught so far. 

The students, flustered by Nam Hwa-yeon's words, checked their textbooks. 

The textbook didn't mention that the Hernos function could be substituted in reverse midway. Of course not. 

That's because it wasn't in the textbook—it was only in the script. 

'First-years would find this content difficult. It's usually taught in the second or third year.' 

If her memory served her right, it was probably in the second semester of the second year this year. 

But to include such content in a lecture script… 

It was an ignorant move. 

However, there was the caveat that it had been 'adjusted to fit the first-year level.' 

'I boldly cut out parts to match the first-years' level. It's a bit challenging, but not impossible to learn.' 

To have done this in just three hours… 

A deep curiosity and interest welled up within her. 

Perhaps this could breathe new life into her professorial duties, which had been tied down by her debt to the chairman. 

After all, geniuses like him always make things interesting just by being around. 

As she continued the lecture with these thoughts, the students diligently took notes on content not found in their textbooks. 

That day, the students instinctively realized something. 

They might need to prepare thoroughly for this year's first midterm exam. 

All because someone had caused the lecture difficulty to skyrocket.