Ch.224219 – A+

At Room 301 in Building 28 of Korea University, an angel visits three times a week.

Those seated in the very front row are the angel’s 12 apostles.

Seven professors from Korea University’s Department of Mathematical Sciences. Other top authorities in analytic number theory were also in attendance.

These were the people captured by the main camera.

The recorded footage was scheduled to be sent to doctoral students around the world who were still busy analyzing NoName’s proofs.

Meanwhile, the people scattered between rows 2 and 5, outside the camera frame, varied in number each day.

Sometimes as few as 10, other times up to 30 filled the seats.

“Wow, she’s so cute…!”

These were professors or lecturers from other departments who came simply because they wanted to see the adorable NoName.

Though they couldn’t understand a word of what the 12 apostles and the angel were discussing, they enjoyed just listening to her chirping away in her nightingale-like voice.

“So if you look at page 154 where function f is Mellin transformed-“

“Wait, 154… 154…”

“Professor Choi, what was your question? The Acephite transformation? That’s related to saddle points and would take quite a while to explain, so please wait. Since it’s derived from manipulating equation 8.20 here, work through the calculations in the meantime. I’ll take someone else’s question first. Where now? Minor arc… sigh… Professor, please! We finished that part ages ago and moved on to major arcs, could you please focus…”

She was handling multiple people at once. It gave the impression of a professional chess player conducting ten simultaneous matches.

While everyone was still marveling at her extraordinary intelligence, a professor attending for the first time today called out to NoName with a question.

“Student NoName, how did you learn all this knowledge? These are fields that take at least 3-5 years to master even if you focus on just one.”

The other professors shot him sharp glances for disrupting the flow.

But he endured their stares, determined to ask the question that had been bothering him.

The Collatz conjecture and Goldbach’s conjecture aren’t problems that can be solved simply by being a genius.

If AlphaGo, which could beat humans at Go a hundred million times, were suddenly asked to cook, would it perform well?

Mathematics has systematic stages, and it didn’t make sense that an eight-year-old child would possess the same level of knowledge as professors.

“I was trapped in virtual reality for 7 years… There was no blue sky, no delicious cake, no sound of people laughing…”

NoName put on the saddest expression she could muster. Her eyes drooped at the corners. Her lips protruded in a pout.

Only then did the professor realize he had made a terrible mistake and began apologizing profusely.

“In that 3-square-meter room, all I could do was-“

“I’m sorry! I mean, I’m so sorry! Student, forget all the bad things and just focus on building good experiences from now on…”

“Bad things? Are you telling me to forget my deceased mother?”

“Aaaaargh!”

NoName had used a cheat key.

Have you ever been trapped in virtual reality for 7 years?

She consistently countered the professors’ questions with the meta of “if you haven’t experienced it, don’t talk about it.”

Eventually, the red-faced professor hurriedly slipped out through the back door.

“She speaks so clearly and well. Right? A genius really is a genius.”

“I’d like to invite her to our class too.”

“Oh? That’s a great idea! As it happens, my friend works in administration, so how about this?”

Her genius aside, her very existence was harmful to the heart.

Everyone regretted not being able to join their conversation due to the flood of technical terms.

As the audit session ended, the professors filed out under Emily Mayakovsky’s guidance, each lost in thought.

How could they bring that child to their own classes?

Those sharing the same thought flocked together to the Korea University administration building.

“Yaaawn… promotional video? Korea University doesn’t need to make such things.”

“That’s rich coming from your PR team, isn’t it?”

These salary-leeching… but he couldn’t argue since it wasn’t entirely wrong.

As Korea’s top university, Korea University had no need for promotion.

That’s why they simply changed the font on a 20-year-old promotional video and uploaded it to VTube every year as a formality.

“Then at least use the budget. I know you always return the leftover funds.”

They explained their grand plan.

* * *

“You want me to be a promotional ambassador? But I’m not even a Korea University student.”

“Other schools use celebrities with no connection as promotional models, so why can’t Korea University? Don’t you think?”

“I guess so.”

Korea University promotional ambassador.

Just the name alone sounds pointless.

But they offered too much money to refuse, and I became interested in university classes.

“Just find classes you like from this list and make experience videos! Do you know your way around, NoName?”

“I have a map, so I’ll be fine. I’ll do my best!”

I was chosen as the protagonist for the project to renew Korea University’s promotional video according to 2051’s latest trends.

To gather information, I sat on the administration building steps and watched videos of famous celebrities experiencing various occupations or university departments.

Unlike broadcasts where numerous PDs, cameramen, and staff move in precise coordination, I had to film with just one holographic multi-angle camera.

It was a harsh task in a way, but they probably didn’t expect high quality from a child, so I tried to stay positive.

‘Where should I go first?’

When I opened the map, I saw red X marks where the administration staff had kindly marked locations.

It feels like a treasure hunt.

For my first destination, I chose the Kim Woong Advanced Gymnasium where the “Structure and Function of Wands” class was being held.

* * *

Ring-ring-ring-

A phone rang in the corner of the gymnasium.

The students sitting in a circle in the auditorium all gulped nervously.

Eventually, the professor went to answer the phone.

The students all focused their aura on their ears to eavesdrop on the conversation.

“Hello? Ah, really? I understand! Come safely then!”

Click-

When the professor turned around, her face was beaming.

“She’s coming right now! I think this might be her first class?”

“Wooooow!”

“A-plus! A-plus! A-plus! A-plus!”

The Theoretical Magic students, usually sluggish, began enthusiastically praising the professor in their excitement.

The Theoretical Magic Department’s curriculum is different from other departments.

While most departments have 3-month semesters, theirs last 2.5 months.

If someone wonders if that’s better, I would grab them by the collar and say:

Four semesters a year.

Regular curriculum takes 10 months a year. Excluding exam periods, which take at least a week each, that’s already 11 months.

With less than a month of vacation time in total per year, taking easy classes was essential.

Professor Bae Seo-jin’s “Structure and Function of Wands” was famous for giving good grades.

The Theoretical Magic seniors unanimously called the relatively young Professor Bae an “A-plus bomber.”

But first-years misunderstood something: giving good grades doesn’t necessarily mean the class is easy.

“This semester has been incredibly tough…”

“You’re only in your second semester of freshman year? But if you get good grades, it all feels worth it.”

“True. Wow, she’s coming! Can you feel it too?”

Korea University’s Theoretical Magic Department.

The elite group of 86 students are the ultimate victors of Korea’s entrance exams.

Nearly 70 of the 86 were from academies, and as top students from each academy, their ability to handle aura was exceptional.

Sure enough, the auditorium door creaked open, and a small child appeared.

“Our junior has flipped the grading curve.”

“Hey, that’s not fair. NoName is in elementary school, and you’re suddenly pulling the alumni card?”

One student subtly emphasized being from the same Cephiron Academy.

Though they don’t show it openly, factions from the country’s eight academies exist subtly within the Theoretical Magic Department.

Especially connections formed over 12 years from elementary through high school can’t be ignored.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Professor Bae Seo-jin from Korea University! Looking forward to working with you today!”

“I’m NoName, second year at Cephiron Academy. Pleased to meet you.”

NoName took out the camera provided by the administration office and launched it on a drone.

After confirming the audio was recording properly, the class exploration began in earnest.

“I somehow ended up doing a one-day experience today. Could you briefly explain what ‘Structure and Function of Wands’ is about, Professor?”

“Of course! Since this is a first-year major course in Theoretical Magic, there’s no advanced content at all. We learn about the structure of wands that everyone has used at least once, and practice functions that can be used at the university level through hands-on experience. Usually-“

“Wait a moment. Let me ask the students.”

NoName recalled that other VTube videos focused on interviewing university students.

Rather than the professor’s biased explanation, the students’ firsthand experiences from the past two months might be more relatable.

“Hello there.”

“Wow, are we being recorded right now? Hi, hello!”

“What kind of class is Structure and Function of Wands?”

The university student fell into contemplation.

Should he tell the truth or just repeat the professor’s sugar-coated version?

The righteous student chose truth.

“It’s not that different from what the professor said initially. For example, we learn about different types of wands.”

Nod, nod-

“And we learn what to pay attention to in order to make wands function properly.”

Nod, nod-

“Now that we’ve learned about wands, our final project is to create our own wands in groups.”

“Suddenly…?”

“Haha… since we were taught, she thinks Korea University students should be able to do this much… hic…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence due to the unspoken pressure from the professor.

The male student’s eyes glistened pitifully like a pig about to be slaughtered.

If academies are institutions that inject large amounts of knowledge into students, universities are educational institutions where students must find and study knowledge on their own.

Not a place to learn, but a place to compete.

In the 21st century, methods to learn knowledge for free were widespread online.

Universities were merely institutions that evaluated this knowledge.

“So why did you choose this class?”

Even Professor Cheon doesn’t conduct such ruthlessly difficult classes.

Nevertheless, Professor Bae’s courses were always so popular that they had to be the first choice during course registration.

“She gives out A-pluses!”

“That’s right! The professor said that if NoName can use our handmade wands and they work properly, she’ll definitely give us A-pluses.”

“Me?”

NoName turned to look at the professor.

She secretly gave a generous smile.

Professor Bae Seo-jin, famous for torturing students but healing them with good grades.

She had decided to bring NoName into the class with the intention of finding a way to give good grades.

The students naturally cheered.

The wands produced at the undergraduate level are very crude.

But if it’s magic that an elementary school student can use, it would be at most 1st or 2nd circle.

There was hope that all students might enjoy an A+.

“What happens if I fail?”

“Well, I might give a C or D, who knows?”

“I see. Understood.”

“Here, this is a simple rune inscription device made by our students.”

NoName took Professor Bae’s hand and moved to another spot.

About 8 wands were neatly arranged in a row, suggesting groups of around 4 students each.

“They complained but ended up making them all?”

“When you try, anything is possible! The kids just exaggerate too much! This year, some students had already learned this in high school.”

“You learn how to make wands in high school?”

Such a thing wouldn’t be found in any academy curriculum.

NoName clicked her tongue as she looked over the wands.

‘It’s impressive they made finished products, but they’re quite crude.’

When NoName let a little aura flow as a test, she could see what the problems were.

The thermos-shaped wand had severely uneven walls, which could cause problems when casting symmetry-dependent magic.

The umbrella-shaped wand had circuits engraved too thinly, risking damage when using high-output magic above 3rd circle.

“Why are all the wands shaped differently?”

“There are points for creativity.”

“Ah, I see. The students must have had a lot to consider.”

Not a single student remained unmoved by NoName’s understanding of their situation.

A ray of light in a hellish class.

“Could you try casting any magic? Mana is free here, so don’t hold back!”

“Sure.”

NoName picked up the umbrella-shaped wand and cast a spell.

The magical current could be felt surging with considerable intensity.

It was amazing that she could handle high-volume mana despite her small frame, which suggested her aura heart wasn’t very large.

Meanwhile, some perceptive students felt a sense of crisis.

‘She’s not going to cast above 3rd circle, is she?’

‘Wait, if she uses that much magic, our wands will…!’

[3rd Circle Cast: Updraft]

Magic that moves massive fluid in an isolated system inevitably requires a large amount of mana.

Famous for requiring enormous energy even among 3rd circle magic, the crude umbrella’s fate was predictable.

Creak-

Bang-!

It exploded.

“Oh, I thought it could withstand up to 3rd circle. I guess I miscalculated.”

‘Mistake? A mistake?’

The group members who watched their hard-made final project explode before their eyes convulsed.

“Hahaha I knew it! What’s with the umbrella shape? I knew that would explode!”

Some students even mocked rather than consoled them.

NoName tilted her head and reached for the next wand.

[2nd Circle Cast: Dielectric Polarization]

Crack-

Splash-!

“That’s a shame… how did that happen with an insulator.”

[2nd Circle Cast: Adiabatic Expansion]

Whoosh-

Splash-!

“Was there too little space in the circuit…?”

Wooden sticks, thermoses, gloves, necklaces.

The students could only helplessly watch as all eight wands exploded in NoName’s hands.

“To be re-evaluated, you’ll need to repair and bring them back, right?”

* * *

Grades are temporary, but experience is forever.

I could have gone easy on them for the A+, but students handling magic are always expected to be perfect.

But some students rebelled against my teaching.

“P-Professor, this isn’t fair! I heard last year’s evaluation didn’t use magic above 2nd circle.”

“Oh dear… what should we do…?”

“NoName, why did you use such magic!”

A male student clutched his wand with its wire part detached, wailing pitifully.

“Even so, this doesn’t seem worthy of an A+…”

“What do you mean not worthy of an A+! Our group clearly made the best one!”

“Let’s do this then. Have a duel with me. You use that, and I’ll use my personal wand. If it’s a normal wand, you should easily defeat an elementary school student like me regardless of what product I use, right?”

A wand is just an accessory after all.

A craftsman doesn’t blame their tools, so if his wand has at least a minimally proper structure, he should be able to duel without issues.

“This was your goal from the beginning, kiddo.”

He took out a blueprint and wrapped it around the wand.

When he channeled red mana through it, a normal wand reappeared.

I also took out my IWC Reminiscence from my pocket.

The Kim Woong Advanced Gymnasium had anti-magic treatment throughout the building.

If there was one thing I really wanted to do in this life, it was a magic duel.

Not in a game, but in reality.

“You’ll allow it, Professor, right?”

She gave another generous smile.

To be honest, this had been planned between the professor and me before I even entered the auditorium.