The Munchkin Magic Genius is Laughing

There was still some time left until the academy instructor exam. It was about 3 hours and 30 minutes, and judging that sleeping during such a short time wouldn’t be very meaningful, we decided to share stories about each other instead.

Though we had just met, Ariel absolutely needed a companion to assist with her exam by morning, and Jeff needed money, so they were strongly intertwined by necessity. Additionally, to coordinate well during the academy exam, they needed to understand each other.

Since they didn’t know whether the newly changed academy instructor exam would require cooperation, emotional bonding, or something else entirely.

Jeff, as the assistant, and Ariel, as the client, shared the necessary information.

Jeff briefly explained what had happened at the magic tower until now, and Ariel told him about her family atmosphere, why she wanted to become an instructor, and what level of magic she could use and handle.

“Ms. Ariel, you’re a 3-element magician?”

What surprised me was none other than the fact that Ariel’s abilities were far more impressive than I had thought.

In this world, magic is composed of five natural elements.

Fire, Wind, Earth, Electricity, Water.

The number of elements people can handle varies. While some can only use fire, others can use fire, wind, and even earth. The elements one can handle are innate. However, that doesn’t mean one should despair. As one reaches higher levels, they can handle magic of other attributes.

For example, if a 1-element magician who can only use fire magic reaches the ultimate level of fire magic, they can handle one more random element from wind, earth, electricity, or water. But despite this, it’s difficult to overcome innate differences.

Some are born as 1-element magicians, unable to use magic of other elements until they reach the ultimate level of one magic, while others are fortunate enough to be born as 3-element magicians, having a superior starting point from birth.

‘Since many people can’t master even one element in their lifetime, someone like Ariel is indeed blessed.’

To acquire other elements later in life, one has to put in an incredible amount of effort. Some people practice magic their entire lives without reaching the ultimate level, not uncommon to end their lives with only the elements they were born with. That’s how impressive Ariel was. Having 3 elements is a level recognized anywhere.

After hearing about her number of elements, Jeff grew curious.

“If you’re a 3-element magician, why have you failed the Riness Academy instructor exam until now? Although Riness Academy is considered prestigious, with your level of 3 elements, you should have passed easily.”

When I asked out of pure curiosity, she hesitated a bit and then said.

“I have panic disorder…”

“Ah….”

As soon as I heard her words, I immediately understood. The foundation of magic comes from mental strength. The stronger one’s mental power, the more efficiently, powerfully, and creatively they can utilize magic, even with the same amount of mana.

But panic disorder drives people crazy regardless of time and place.

Panic disorder causes extreme anxiety, seizures, shortness of breath, and other symptoms without warning. Those who don’t know might dismiss it as insignificant, but it’s not something to be taken lightly.

Imagine this. Suppose someone is standing with a knife about 1cm deep in their neck, smiling. What if they were swinging an axe in the other hand? That pain, anxiety, fear, the extreme terror of not knowing when you might die. Panic disorder is comparable to that. I understand because I experienced it when I was on Earth.

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen during this exam.”

The most important thing for someone with panic disorder is stability. They shouldn’t be made to feel the fear of being alone. They must always be given psychological reassurance that someone is by their side.

In this current situation with nothing, Ariel is an excellent source of income… no, an excellent client.

She casually offers alcohol worth 100 gold per glass, and she’ll pay 200 gold for just assisting in the instructor exam for one day. Where else could I find such a sweet job? When working with those damn bastards at the magic tower, they always cut or didn’t pay my salary claiming I didn’t produce results, so I often didn’t even receive 50 gold a month. Just picking up the crumbs that fall from Ariel’s side would be more profitable than most manual labor. My intuition tells me so.

While I was deeply thinking about this, Ariel smiled and said.

“Jeff. You seem like a really kind person. Usually, when I talk about panic disorder or such things, people dismiss it. But for you to think so seriously after hearing it… honestly, I’m really grateful.”

— Flinch

I reprimand myself for mentally punching numbers on a calculator. But what can I do? Ariel is someone I met just yesterday. Moreover, she’s my employer now. There’s no significant reason or occasion for me to develop strong feelings for her. I don’t know how things will turn out later… but at least for now, there wasn’t a big problem with my way of thinking.

“Ahem….”

As I cleared my throat and moved on, Ariel spoke again.

“To be honest, didn’t you find it strange? A person you just met offers you alcohol, hires you as a client, didn’t you think I was too naive?”

“That’s true. For me, I’m doing this because I can earn a lot of money, but it’s different for you, Ms. Ariel. It’s hard to explain it as simply as you urgently needed someone to assist you until the exam time. What if I had been a con artist?”

“As I mentioned before, I have absolute mana sensitivity. But Jeff, you showed neither goodwill nor malice towards me. I’ve never met someone like you before. Actually… most men immediately feel goodwill when they first see me. But seeing someone who seems to have no emotions at all, I thought you were trustworthy.”

I silently looked at Ariel. Large eyes, beautiful facial contours, a straight nose, a voluptuous body… let’s stop here. Anyway, Ariel was an excellent woman by anyone’s standards. It’s not hard to understand why someone would fall for her at first sight. However, to me, Ariel was just one of the many people in the game I had possessed. That’s all she was. One of the many people in this world with a different race, living place, and even time zone.

“It’s late. Let’s move.”

I didn’t engage in further small talk. The 200 gold I need to receive. And as a repayment for the “Tears of the World Tree, 17 years aged” she gave me. For that, I’ll help Ariel pass the Riness Academy instructor exam. And then I’ll look for a job again…

Shit.

Come to think of it, there’s nothing I can do after finishing this job. Should I do manual labor? Or looting? Or should I enter a gate where magical beasts are teeming?

Wouldn’t it be more profitable to become something like Ariel’s secretary… I thought for a moment and then shook my head.

Ariel said to Jeff.

“We’ve arrived….”

While I was thinking about various unnecessary things, we had already arrived at Riness Academy. There, many people had already arrived and were filling out documents.

From a distance, a large man approached. He’s a security guard of Riness Academy.

“Before entering the main building, you need to verify your identity through me. Both of you, please present your magician identification cards that can verify your identity.”

Name, age, place of residence, etc. The ‘Magician ID’ with various personal information. Ariel and I handed it to the man without hesitation.

Then, the man’s face distorts severely.

“Why is a magic tower magician here…?”

Obvious malice. Even without absolute mana sensitivity, I could infer this man’s emotions. The man’s emotions were hostility and contempt.

I understand. The relationship between the magic tower and Riness Academy wasn’t particularly good.

“I was expelled from the magic tower, so I’m no longer a magic tower magician.”

But the man instead shook his head and said.

“To be expelled from among those low-level riff-raff, I can already guess your skill level. If you’re a fool who was expelled from the magic tower, there’s no need to be considerate. You’ll fail anyway, so don’t waste time and just go back. I’ll report to the superiors.”

“Hey… why are you talking like that..!”

Ariel tried to say something, but I stopped her. And I moved in front of the security guard and said.

“The academy instructor applicant is not me, I’ve just taken on the role of assistant. And even if I were the applicant, you don’t have the authority to block my entry.”

“So? What do you want me to do about it? If I don’t let you in, are you going to report this somewhere? There’s only 20 minutes left until the exam anyway. There’s no benefit to arguing with me here, is there? If you’re going to fail either way, wouldn’t it be better to preserve your body? That’s why people from the magic tower are like this.”

To the man who was arrogantly crossing his arms, I spoke while cracking my fingers one by one.

“Move aside, or get buried in the ground, choose.”

“What? You’re a funny guy. What can you do here? Fists are closer than the law. If you’re counting on the kingdom’s police, it’s better to give up.”

While the man was speaking arrogantly, on Jeff’s hand hidden behind his back, fragments of all elements—fire, water, wind, electricity, earth—were beautifully circling, forming a ring.

Jeff slowly walks forward.

“Won’t move? Then I’ll make you move.”