Ch.16Black Magic Professor (1)

The written exam was conducted in the presence of my master and the dean.

“Perfect score.”

Those were the words the dean uttered after finishing grading my exam paper.

Contrary to my worries, the exam’s difficulty wasn’t particularly high.

Rather, I wondered if this level was appropriate for the Academy, the nation’s highest educational institution.

The dean added praise, seemingly pleased with my perfect score.

“Impressive. There were several questions mixed in that even experienced adventurers couldn’t solve.”

It seems the exam was only easy for me.

My master took a sip of tea, set down her cup, and said:

“How about hiring him as a professor?”

“Indeed, his theoretical knowledge is so accurate it’s as if he copied the textbook verbatim.”

The dean’s assessment was correct.

I had written down the content from the books without a single error.

I figured there was no need to include personal opinions when the correct answers were already in my head.

“His practical knowledge is also excellent, making him suitable as a theory professor, but we already have many theory professors.”

This implied that I couldn’t become a theory professor at the Academy.

But I didn’t want to be a theory professor anyway.

The only lectures I could give would be reading straight from textbooks.

That’s all the knowledge in my head amounts to.

Of course, I could teach practical aspects based on experience, but wouldn’t that make me only half a professor?

In the end, my only path is to become a Black Magic professor.

The dean rose and retrieved a crystal ball that had been placed on top of a cabinet.

The transparent orb, clear enough to see his hand through it, gave the impression it could be tinted any color.

He placed it in front of me and sat back down across from me.

“I completely trust Riano’s word, but as the Academy’s dean, I must verify.”

Checking attribute talent.

“I believe you know how to use it. Simply channel your mana into the crystal ball.”

I gulped.

I was curious about what expression the dean would make when I showed my five talents, but I was also somewhat anxious.

One talent is ordinary, two talents is capable, three talents is genius.

Of course, abilities vary greatly depending on the quality of talent and how much it’s been honed, but the expectations are vastly different.

Moreover, five talents fall outside the normal range entirely.

My master, seemingly aware of my concern, whispered softly in my ear.

“Don’t worry.”

Though brief, it was exactly what I needed to hear in that moment.

I slowly nodded and placed my hand on the crystal ball.

Then I began gathering mana circulating around my core and gradually transferring it to the crystal ball.

A small red light appeared in the center of the transparent crystal ball.

This indicated talent in the fire attribute.

At this point, the dean’s expression remained impassive.

Two talents aren’t common, but they’re not difficult to find if you look.

However, when blue representing water and dark brown representing earth appeared in succession, his expression changed to surprise.

Naturally he’d be shocked—the only person known to possess three attributes was the Sage.

Eventually, pure white light signifying holiness rose, and the last remaining was the most important—darkness.

Darkness emerged from the center of the crystal ball as if to devour everything, soon obscuring all other lights.

With a crack, the crystal ball developed a fissure, and black mana spread through the gap like mist.

I hastily removed my hand from the crystal ball. It immediately returned to its transparent state, though still cracked.

My master maintained a composed expression as if she’d expected this, but the dean was dumbfounded.

But I don’t think my talent was this strong.

When I first measured my talent with my master, it filled the crystal ball completely, but not enough to crack it.

Come to think of it, the other lights seemed smaller back then too.

Well, I must have grown.

My master took a sip of tea and deliberately set her cup down with a thud, which finally brought the dean back to his senses.

My master raised one corner of her mouth slightly and said:

“Is he eligible for professorship?”

“…I’ll hire him as a temporary professor for now. His talent is certain, but whether he can teach students well remains to be seen.”

“So if he shows talent for teaching as well, he can become an official professor…?”

“Yes, we would welcome that. Crow, please come see me again tomorrow.”

After I agreed, my master stood up.

She probably figured there was no need to stay any longer since our business was concluded.

But I felt like I’d heard the name Benin Strum somewhere before, though I couldn’t quite remember.

I got my answer from my master on our way back to the workshop.

“Ha, my disciple. Benin Strum is the Sage.”

“Ah…?”

Now that I think about it, I had vaguely heard that the Sage had become the Academy’s dean, and it seems that was true.

That day, my master bought me a new spoon.

“Originally disciples should be disciplined by hand, but these days spoons seem better.”

“There’s a problem with hitting your disciple in the first place.”

“Huh? Kid, just don’t do things that deserve punishment!”

That was a fair point, so I couldn’t argue back.

* * * * *

The next morning, my master summoned me as soon as I opened my eyes.

Since the dean hadn’t specified a time and just said to visit, there was no particular rush.

My master tapped a wooden chair and said:

“Sit here.”

After I sat down, my master circled around me once, carefully examining my hair.

With scissors in her hand, her intention was obviously to cut my hair.

“Do I have to cut it?”

Honestly, I’d been growing my hair for a long time, and somehow I felt I wouldn’t be at ease without it.

But my master was, as always, adamant.

“How are you any different from a wild beast right now?”

My master held out a mirror as if telling me to see for myself.

My reflection indeed looked no different from a wild beast.

My long black hair, reaching my shoulders, had become frizzy and curly from long adventures.

“I should cut it.”

“Even you think it’s bad, right?”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

Instead of my master’s voice, only the snipping sound of hair being cut echoed through the room.

She seemed to be concentrating intensely on cutting my hair.

In the mirror, I could see my master furrowing her brow and biting her lower lip with her upper teeth.

Finding that expression quite comical, I couldn’t help but let out a snicker.

And promptly received a smack on the back of my head.

“Don’t laugh! Your shoulders are shaking!”

My master’s skill was surprisingly good.

Perhaps her dexterity, usually applied to alchemy, was shining through.

When the haircut was complete, my master brought a string from somewhere and tied my hair back.

The ponytail swinging at the back of my head was a hairstyle typically worn by women.

But my master seemed pleased with it, nodding her head.

My reflection in the mirror had definitely changed.

With the frizzy hair gone and my hair neatly tied back, I had a clean appearance.

The only thing that bothered me was that the tattoo behind my ear was now exposed.

But that was probably my master’s intention.

Well, there was no reason to hide it anymore, so it wasn’t an issue.

I just felt a little uneasy about it.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

“Yes, it looks much better cut.”

“Good. Please take better care of yourself from now on. As your master, I’m too embarrassed to show my face.”

As my master snatched the mirror from my hands and was about to turn away,

I noticed a small hair stuck to her face.

“Master, just a moment.”

I stood up and grabbed her wrist as she was about to leave the room.

My master turned toward me with a puzzled look, and I reached out toward her face.

“W-what?! Why?!”

“Just hold still for a second.”

As my hand approached her face, my master’s eyes grew wide, then squeezed shut.

Her lips trembled slightly, as if she was afraid of something.

I removed the hair that was stuck to her cheek.

My master opened one eye cautiously, then both eyes widened as she glared at me.

What followed was a love tap.

No, a love punch.

“You fool! Use your words! If there was hair stuck to my face, say so!”

“You didn’t have to hit me for that!”

“Didn’t I tell you?! I won’t hit you if you don’t deserve it!”

“Why did you hit harder than usual?!”

And so I fled from my master’s workshop and headed to the Academy.