Research Life of a New Professor at Magic University

TN: Changed vertex to ray cause it makes more sense. (25/04)

After enduring a few more complaints from Arien, I could see Claire again. She was still with Stella.

“Oh! It’s Professor!”

Stella spotted me first and enthusiastically waved her hand.
She’s not even a bit embarrassed! I feel so awkward in this situation.

Fortunately, I wasn’t alone in feeling embarrassed.
There was someone even more embarrassed than me, and she was standing next to Stella.

“Sis, quiet down…”

“Why did you come so late? How long did you expect me to wait?”

“You’re the one who told me to come.”

As shameless as ever.
Claire, with an embarrassing sister, seemed pitiable.

“It was all for today.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been trying to build a connection for the past week.”

“Is that so?”

Stella said with the same smile as before.

“About half was for a personal interest.”

“What kind of interest?”

“It’s a secret. Try to guess.”

“Never mind.”

I gave up. I ignored Stella and spoke to Claire instead.

“Sorry, I came late. I made you wait.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Ah! I need to go study~. See you later, Professor? Claire, get in touch before you leave.”

“Okay.”

I bid her farewell with a silent nod.
Stella disappeared quickly, taking fast strides.

Looking at Claire’s face, I was sure she was thinking the same thing as me.
It would be better to change the subject rather than make each other more embarrassed.

“There were some strange things in the middle, but let’s return to our previous conversation. Considering the ‘sincerity’ you’ve shown me, I’ll do my best for this request.”

“Yes? Oh, thank you.”

Claire looked somewhat surprised.
Since the money given was fixed regardless of the outcome, she might have thought it was just a formality, but I was sincere.

“While you said there are no strict conditions, there must be something you desire. Can I assume you want it to be faithful to the original purpose of the sword? Not enchantments like elemental magic?”

“Yes. I am not a wizard.”

“What about the shape of the sword? I know it’s important for a swordsman.”

“That’s fine. It doesn’t matter what type it is. Just make sure it’s not too heavy. Whether it’s a one-handed or two-handed sword, it doesn’t matter.”

“Do you prefer a double-edged sword?”

“I would prefer a double-edged one, but a single edge is also fine.”

Claire requested not to engrave a spell.
She simply wanted a sword with an enchantment.

Two possibilities immediately come to mind.
Either she is not attached to the sword she currently uses, or, conversely, she values it greatly.

If someone looks at a Swordmaster, they would have handled various weapons.
They would have dealt with countless swords, and if they knew all their features and how to use them, there is no reason to insist on one type.
Which means the difference won’t matter once she’s accustomed to it.

‘But what if she’s too attached to her sword?’

She should know it is a rough process and could damage her sword.
In that case, would she really give her favorite sword?

Stella said Claire is crazy about her sword.
If so, there are equally likely possibilities on both sides.

But if it’s the latter, it’s pointless for me to worry about it.
I should just think of her as someone who can use any sword I hand her.

I might as well make it simpler for myself.
The efficiency of the spell varies depending on the shape of the engraving.
That means I can choose the sword type according to the spell to be engraved.

“Is anything else really okay? Like a crossguard?”

“No, that’s not possible. It has to be a hexagonal guard.”

It’s a pity that this part is crucial. Most followers of the Apis faith have a hexagonal guard.
Humans prefer a hexagonal guard, even if they’re not devout believers.

Although it is considered an efficient form, it’s mainly due to religious reasons.
Elves or others put a long, straight guard on a sword.
Given that the elf’s symbol of faith is a cross, it might look like a heretic, not just an unbeliever.

However, occasionally, a human swordsman can be seen wielding a crossguard sword.
It’s not because they’re influenced by elven faith.

It’s to engrave a spell.

“It’s a shame. The cross is the best shape for spell engraving.”

Among non-circular magic circles, the most representative ones are polygonal and radial.
The number of rays in a radial magic circle has no upper limit. If there are too many, it will simply become circular.

However, there is a lower limit. It’s four.
If the distance between the spread rays is too far, the circulation weakens, and the mana cannot reach the next section.
With the current magic system, four is the minimum; even implementing this requires a doctorate-level knowledge of spellcraft.

Running a three-raystructure is impossible with human power.
If you borrow divine power, that might work, but if not, you must draw a circle to connect them.
Two-rayones are simply impossible. No need to fuss over it.

“Are you talking about the cross-shaped magic circle? I’ve seen it before.”

When there are four rays, each ray is extended long and straight, becoming a cross shape.
Of course, this cross has complex shapes, lines, and runes.
Magic circles of such extremely distorted forms can only be used for limited purposes. Fortunately for the swordsmen, “Sharpness” is included in the list.

“No matter how sharp the sword could be, a crossguard won’t do.”

“I understand.”

So, by drawing the magic circle around the center of the crossguard sword handle, you can engrave a considerably large circle.
Of course, at most, only half of the blade will touch the circle. Symmetry is life.
If you extend the handle and guard to match the length of the blade, that wouldn’t be a sword.

But one thing is clear: some people use this method, even at the risk of being seen as heretics.
I wondered if Claire would be flexible enough, but she couldn’t ignore the public’s gaze while securing her successor’s legitimacy.

“It’s a bit disappointing, but it can’t be helped.”

“Is circulation so important in magic circles?”

Claire clearly seemed unfamiliar with magic, seeing how she asked such basic questions.

“I heard you broke the traditional spellcasting mold, so wouldn’t it be possible here?”

“The framework I broke was dimensions, from 2D to 3D. The circulation structure had to be adhered to more thoroughly rather than less. When it becomes a three-dimensional form, you also have to specify the direction of the circulation, which adds another layer of difficulty.”

“Then, can’t you lower the dimension? Can’t we use a line?”

I flinched at the question posed by the non-wizard. And the next moment, I laughed lightly.

“Circulation is not possible in one. Your words are contradictory from the start.”

“If we extend the end of the line shape and connect it to the other side, we can make it circulate…”

“Yes, that’s possible. And we call that a circle.”

“Ah…”

Upon hearing my response, Claire looked extremely puzzled.

“I’m sorry for saying something foolish…”

“It’s okay.”

She seemed to have tried to help me in her way, so it was hard to be too harsh.
Sometimes, unconventional thinking that only non-professionals can come up with can be helpful.
Although the success rate is really low.

“Anyway, there’s no need to worry about it here. Let’s stop pondering over the headache-inducing questions.”

“Oh, yes. It’s not an urgent request.”

“Then are you going back to Honlake now?”

“I’m not sure. I think I’ll stay for a while.”

With Stella, her sister, living within the university, finding a place to stay should be no difficulty.

* * *

“Sis, I’m here.”

“What? You’re already here? Let’s have dinner with Professor.”

“Dinner? That would be awkward and uncomfortable.”

“Why? It’s good to get along while we have the chance.”

“Yes, but…”

Stella felt a bit frustrated.
There is a simple solution to the successor problem.
Her father must have considered this possibility.

When determining the succession order among sons, the elder is given priority by default.
The same applies when ranking daughters; the elder usually holds an advantage.
However, in the case of noblewomen in this country, there’s something even more important than age.

Children.

Currently, by law, a woman who has children and no male siblings is the first in line of succession regardless of age.
If several have children, the one with the eldest child becomes the successor.
The daughter’s age is irrelevant.

“I’m sure Professor Atwell has much to do. He seems to take the request much more seriously than anticipated.”

Moreover, most wizards don’t care much about their family, children, or lineage.
Male wizards usually have no qualms about becoming the son-in-law or fathering illegitimate children.

Nobles don’t hesitate to marry wizards to strengthen their lineage.
If a marriage alliance with another family is difficult or not beneficial, the next consideration is a wizard.
There’s no need to worry about being controlled by in-laws either.

‘In the first place, granting non-hereditary noble status to wizards strengthens the nobility’s bloodline.’

Since the advancement of magic, it has been discovered that magical talent is, to some extent, hereditary.
Now, even male nobles make great efforts to take a female wizard as a concubine.
There have been cases where people have died trying to pass off a son from a powerful female wizard as the child of their legitimate wife.

Noble families who want to strengthen their lineage try to mix a wizard’s exceptional magical blood into their own.
The Lacton family is no exception, so Stella’s magical talent is likely a result of this.
Claire’s acquisition of such skills at a young age is also not unrelated.

“But you two should get along even better!”

“It’s fine. It’s not like I particularly like such things. If anything, it’s impolite, isn’t it?”

“Ah…”

“Sis… Did you see his expression earlier?”

Stella also understands what it’s like to have a partner without love, only for profit.
She is also in a situation where she’s been arranged to marry someone she’s never seen before.

“And would the conversation even flow? I don’t know anything about magic.”

“You don’t have to worry about that…”

However, Claire didn’t even catch on to Stella’s intentions.
It seems that Atwell is the same way.

When he was studying at the Royal University and the Imperial University, the list of people he rejected was enough to make one’s jaw drop just by reading the names.

Anyone who wants to know why Atwell has such a poor reputation could understand half of it just by looking at that list.
Of course, the other half is from the religious trial records.

‘This is why it’s meaningless.’

The Earl Lacton probably didn’t have high expectations.
The likelihood of Atwell becoming his son-in-law is almost non-existent anyway.

However, the amount invested suggests that he’s also considering the possibility of another relationship.
‘Somehow’ incorporating the continent’s top talent into the Lacton lineage.

If it succeeds, the benefits will be enormous, even enough to endure the dishonor of having an illegitimate child.
Of course, Stella couldn’t convey this directly to Claire since she would never accept it.

“Father must be frustrated, too.”

“With what?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Stella let out a small sigh.