Ch.225220 – Waiting Room

Professor Bae Seo-jin couldn’t shake the feeling that the quality of students taking her courses was declining with each passing day.

While the situation hadn’t deteriorated to the point where study guides and tips were being secretly passed between seniors and juniors, if students were gaining time advantages from these resources, they should be producing better results.

After hearing her concerns, I made a simple suggestion: I would expose all the flaws in the students’ wands if she would create an opportunity for me to duel them.

Being the clever person she was, Professor Bae devised a scheme. She handed over the wand evaluations to me and offered students a chance to improve their grades through dueling.

Professor Bae had intended to give students good grades from the start, but she wanted to heighten their sense of urgency to deliver an unforgettable lesson.

What a deviously professorial idea.

The students, assuming they were about to be bombarded with Cs and Ds, were busy repairing and improving their wands at the news of being given another chance.

“NoName, what are you doing?”

“I need witnesses. With so many high-ranking officials’ children here, it could be trouble if they try to seek revenge later.”

“Come on, they’re just kids! What revenge? Don’t worry about it. They’re all nice, really nice.”

Theoretical Magic students are even more privileged than music students.

In my previous life, many people challenged me to duels, but those who lost to me would often vent their frustration by mobilizing their marquis or count families to cause trouble around me.

The more safety measures, the better.

[NoName]

[Just Chatting – Korean University Challenge]

[Broadcast Time – 0:02:39]

[Viewers – 4910]

The broadcast itself is another problem.

I didn’t have much content besides gaming, so it was awkward facing viewers.

I’ve never been particularly good with words.

Sometimes I envy streamers who can spontaneously converse with strangers.

Postponing repeatedly isn’t good either, especially when people eagerly waiting for broadcasts are starting to complain.

I’m bored, so I should stream. But I don’t have content for a stream. I’ll postpone it.

This cycle of thoughts has continued like a game of rock-paper-scissors.

“What’s the guaranteed way to win at rock-paper-scissors?”

-First words of the stream are about rock-paper-scissors lol

-This is so disorienting…

-Where are we, NoName?

-I’m so cold… a world without NoName has frozen over…

-Teacher please don’t end the livestream!! Teacher please don’t end the livestream!!

-Huh? This is our school gymnasium?

-Korean University? Who are those people?

-So what’s the winning method!!!!! Tell us before you go!!!!!

“Hmm… this place is called the Kim Woong Advanced Gymnasium at Korean University. It was built with a 15 billion won donation from Mr. Kim Woong. It’s a cutting-edge facility with anti-magic treatments on the walls, ceiling, and floor.”

-So how do you win at rock-paper-scissors!!!!!

-When saying ‘rock-paper’, already have scissors out, then switch to paper on ‘scissors!’ – psychologically guaranteed to win.

└ Are you a genius?

└ That’s true, the opponent instinctively throws rock lol

-Teacher, you seem to be at Korean University a lot lately!

-Did you actually enroll there?

“Is it okay to talk about this? I’m not enrolled, but I was just appointed as a promotional ambassador for Korean University today. It’s quite random, but they asked me to film promotional videos, so I’m experiencing various classes.”

Are they not ready yet over there?

A male student proudly holding up a wand repaired with an emergency scroll was immediately grabbed by the hair and dragged away by a female student.

She was scolding him about rushing ahead when there were still many improvements to make.

As expected of Theoretical Magic students, they’re committed to giving their absolute best even when catching a rabbit.

[‘HanwhaFallBaseballPrayer’ donated 1,000 won!]

-Whoa…! Are those people all Theoretical Magic students?

“That’s right. I heard some do double majors, but they’re all from the same department.”

-Wow

-Korean University Theoretical Magic Department, damn

-Is there really a department that guarantees a starting salary of 100 million won after graduation?

-But why Korean University promotion?

└ For real lol

└ Wait, did we not go to Korean University because we didn’t know about it? lol

-Wow, so this is what Korean University is like!!! I must apply!!!

-Us kings and gods just didn’t know about it until now, for real lol

-They all look super smart

└ Is that a compliment or an insult?

└ Obviously an insult

-Academy top students, damn

“Ah, looks like they’re about to start. You viewers will be the judges. Please watch carefully.”

One team was finishing something like soldering work and going to the professor for final confirmation.

-???

-What are they trying to do?!

-Please explain what you’re doing lol

-Just don’t go climbing mountains and catching snakes like last time!

└ I heard that was a natural monument?

-NoName, I’m already terrified of what you’re going to do…

-Teacher, please restrain yourself.

└ Teacher (toddling)

└ Teacher (stomping)

-NoName is seriously so cute… you woman…

└ You’re crazy.. crazy…

“Do you all know what a magic duel is? The one where you put up barriers and fight.”

-Huh?

-If you don’t know that, you’re a spy.

-Come to think of it, this year’s Academy Competition is coming up soon

└ It’s in October, that’s still a while away…

-Surely you’re not thinking what I think you are, NoName?

-If only I knew how to use magic too…

-Even with a barrier, it’s terrifying when someone swings a fist at your face.

-What’s the physical/magical defense ratio these days?

└ That’s game terminology lol

└ It is pretty intuitive though – physical defense, magical defense

└ About 3:7?

└ The world has improved a lot… in my day it was 1:9 so we had to fight with fists only…

└ At 1:9 magic wouldn’t work at all lol Were you living in the barbaric age?

“The rules are simple. As part of their Wand Structure and Understanding class, these older students have each made wands. A representative from each team will use their wand to duel with me.”

[‘2D is Life’ donated 10,000 won!]

-NoName, that doesn’t make sense. How are you going to beat Korean University Theoretical Magic students in a magic duel? lol

-I bet my level 300 World of Arsheria account that at least one of them is an Academy Competition champion.

-For real, each one was probably at least their academy’s representative lol

-What’s this competition thing?

└ How young are you if you don’t know this?

-What will NoName fight with?

“The common rule is that we can only use 2nd circle magic or below, and since this is a class evaluating wands, it’s a hands-free duel (using only wands), so casting must be done with wands, not hands.”

Actually, using those toy wands for dueling already puts them at a considerable disadvantage.

“Since my wand is pretty good, I already have a big advantage… but they insisted on giving me a handicap. They said they won’t use direct hits at all.”

With that option gone, the only remaining method would be to surround themselves with aura and settle it with fists, but they’re adamant about not doing that either, so I have a huge advantage.

“My wand? It’s this one. Haven’t I shown it to you before?”

A Swiss portable formation writer that Professor Cheon gave me as a birthday gift.

It’s a very expensive product worth about 30 million won.

When I showed it to the broadcast camera, the chat stream doubled in speed.

-Whoa…!

-That looks like a luxury item!

-If it’s about gear advantage, then I get it lol

-But making a wand after just two months of classes? Are they even human?

└ That’s why Korean University Theoretical Magic is so prestigious.

Even the people gawking at me from a distance widened their eyes in surprise.

It’s definitely a product that might be a bit much for a child to use.

Unlike popular luxury brands like Omega or Rolex that often release kids’ editions, this is closer to a professional-grade product.

The “Reminiscence” series in particular sacrifices convenience for a variety of auxiliary functions.

[‘FamilyWreckerEomJunyong’ donated 1,000 won!]

-That’s insane, IWC Schaffhausen, damn. But who bought it for you?

[‘Dinosaur Jungle’ donated 3,000 won!]

-Was it bought in Switzerland…?

-????????

-Why is Switzerland suddenly being mentioned?

-Don’t you know about the Great Generation classified documents?

-Gasp gasp gasp

-Already preparing the groundwork?

-But it actually seems credible…

-What on earth is Korea doing!

-If I got that for free, I’d go to Switzerland too lol

-You’re not leaving, are you? You’ll stay on the Asian server, right?

“Ah, they’re ready to start now. Enjoy the match.”

[‘StrugglingForGains’ donated 20,000 won!]

-Tell us who gave it to you before you go! I mean, please tell us, teacher!

* * *

Shin Yeon-ho, second-highest graduate of Altair Academy in northern Seoul.

The very person who led his academy to victory in the Academy Competition against Cephiron Academy during his middle school years.

His academic performance was so outstanding that he switched his career path to Theoretical Magic at the recommendation of his parents and teachers.

However, unable to give up his dream of dueling, he secretly participated in the National Physical Arts Competition and, despite being only a second-year high school student, crushed his seniors and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Reaching the quarterfinals in a competition he entered without any preparation.

Not only was he talented in handling magic, but he also didn’t fall behind in aura utilization even against Philosophy students, making him known as the strongest in one-on-one duels within the Theoretical Magic department.

When the professor announced she would change the evaluation method to dueling with wands, Shin Yeon-ho was the first to smile.

‘So you’re the same type of person as me, kid.’

He felt sorry for his classmates who couldn’t understand the joy and ecstasy that could only be felt in duels with intense number battles.

Although they weren’t from the same academy, as a senior to a child who would someday enter Korean University, he intended to properly teach her what dueling was all about.

That is, until she suddenly turned on her personal broadcast.

“Besides hands-free, are we doing completely free rules? Free casting, free direct hits?”

“Hey! That’s dangerous talk!”

Female. Elementary school student. 8 years old. Terrorism victim.

And a child who receives the nation’s attention.

Who could possibly swing a fist at her in front of thousands of viewers?

“Why?”

When NoName made an innocent expression as if she genuinely didn’t understand, veins bulged on Yeon-ho’s forehead.

“You do free rules. I’ll only attack using this wand.”

“I really don’t mind if you use your fists on me.”

“NoName, please talk sense…! Are you trying to bury me here?”

Forget fists – even making a gesture of dodging would make headlines in the media the next day.

Several sensational headlines flashed through Yeon-ho’s mind:

‘Korean University student uses full force against 8-year-old child. Free pass to Korean University if grades are good?’

‘Is elite character education acceptable like this? Children of OO Clan continue their fearless misconduct.’

In an age where the pen is mightier than the sword, he needed to exercise restraint.

Meanwhile, NoName clicked her tongue in disappointment.

While the professor explained the dueling rules to other students in the auditorium, NoName and Yeon-ho entered the waiting room to put up barriers on their bodies.

The waiting room was darker than the auditorium.

Instead of bright LED fluorescent lights, a soft red glow welcomed them.

In the center of the room was a crystal orb as large as an adult’s body.

The two placed their right hands on opposite sides of the crystal orb, which sometimes looked like a transparent diamond and sometimes seemed to have a reddish hue.

[Access Approved: Theoretical Magic Department Professor Bae Seo-jin]

[Average Output: 5000kE]

[Particle : Mana Particle = 2 : 8]

While high-density energy slowly enveloped her body, NoName quietly closed her eyes and meditated.

Finding her cute appearance endearing, Yeon-ho smiled and asked:

“Who’s the strongest in your grade? Is NoName the top fighter?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean dueling. You know how there are grade dueling rankings.”

“Cephiron Academy starts dueling classes from 4th grade.”

NoName replied with an indifferent expression. Her voice carried no particular emotion.

“… So this is your first time dueling?”

“I suppose you could say that.”

“Hey! What are you thinking! If you don’t even know barrier theory, how are you going to fight later…!”

NoName, whose smaller body had finished barrier injection first, was rotating her wrists and ankles to loosen up.

He thought she was just a student obsessed with fighting, but it turned out this was her first time fighting in her life.

Shin Yeon-ho grabbed the back of his neck in disbelief.

NoName’s eyes were ice-cold as she looked at him.

“You haven’t watched my stream, have you? If you’d at least subscribed, I would have gone easy on you, but I guess you didn’t.”

If he had watched her World of Arsheria broadcasts even once, Shin Yeon-ho wouldn’t have reacted this way.

“Well, I hope your wand works properly.”

NoName left the waiting room first.

Perhaps due to the red lighting in the waiting room, the girl’s elongated shadow flickered ominously with a dark red glow.