Ch.8686. Reversal (2)

Others might ask why I’m leisurely attending lectures when I know what will happen in the future if people were in the same situation.

But this is the correct answer.

With my current power alone, I cannot solve or prepare for these things. Therefore, prioritizing means to build strength is essential.

‘I’ve tried using the magical armor against those creatures… but this isn’t its complete form.’

That sensation alone was clearly etched in Junon’s mind.

This magical armor created from artificial mana stones felt so incomplete that it deserved the word “temporary” attached to it.

Beyond that, he wasn’t sure about its form or the essence of its power, and there were many ambiguities about its growth direction. Fighting magical beasts in this state? That would be utterly foolish.

Unlike before his regression, he needed to embrace new knowledge.

“Welcome. I am Professor Muniher, in charge of this course, Magical Armor Manifestation. Since it’s the first day, I’ll briefly summarize what you’ll be learning. Any objections?”

Magical Armor Manifestation.

Unlike the lectures from yesterday, this was a course only for students who had just manifested their magical armor.

This was the path he had chosen.

‘No fools raising objections, I see.’

Perhaps because they’ve all transferred to classes E and F. Silence prevailed.

There were no longer any fools in this class who would refuse to listen to Professor Muniher’s lecture.

However, his eccentric personality remained unchanged, as incomprehensible words echoed from the very beginning.

“Then I’ll get straight to the summary. The magical armor you manifested using mana stones in the compatibility test is simply garbage.”

…This person really doesn’t hold back.

But that eccentric professor wasn’t one to speak falsely. That’s what made him more trustworthy.

One student, unable to accept this, raised his hand to question.

“What do you mean the magical armor we manifested in the compatibility test is useless? What are you saying?”

“You. I’ll give you this, so manifest your magical armor.”

“Y-Yes…”

The student who was called upon followed Professor Muniher’s instruction, received the mana stone, and spent several minutes manifesting his magical armor. It was an ordinary gladius-type armor that frontline attackers would typically use.

Professor Muniher positioned himself where everyone could see clearly.

Then he glanced somewhere briefly before smirking.

‘…I think he just looked at me for a moment.’

Must be my imagination? Junon thought so. At least until he saw what was about to happen.

“You might feel a bit dizzy. Relax your body, or it will be more painful if you tense up.”

“Ugh…?!”

Professor Muniher placed his hand on the student’s shoulder as if about to demonstrate something, and immediately the student clutched his head and collapsed.

Simultaneously, the magical armor lost its form and disappeared.

Most didn’t understand what had just happened, but for one person, it was an all-too-familiar sight.

Anti-cast.

Judging by the reaction when the magical armor he was holding disappeared, there was no other explanation.

This must have been why Professor Muniher had glanced back earlier.

“Most of you probably forced familiar mana into the mana stone to extract the magical armor. As you can see, it’s so unstable that it easily disappears with just a slight distortion of mana. This is why what you’ve created is garbage.”

“Then… can’t we just recreate it? The distorted mana will recover if we give it time.”

“Recreate the magical armor, you say? Then you’d need to carry mana stones as consumables, have time to manifest it each time, and even if you concentrate to prevent mana distortion, the balance between you and your magical armor will fluctuate in every situation you use mana. Catching and restoring this? Do you think you’ll have such luxury on the battlefield?”

Nonsense. Attempting such a thing might result in losing your head in an instant.

“Even without such reasons, magical armor only uses as much as it’s oversaturated after manifestation. This means that once that mana is depleted or after a certain time passes, the armor will naturally disappear with this method. If this happens on the battlefield, you’re as good as dead. So what should we do?”

“We need to make it so it doesn’t disappear even if the mana gets distorted…”

“And we need to extend its duration so the magical armor doesn’t vanish…”

Various suggestions emerged, but they were all unrefined answers.

Professor Muniher directly provided the solution.

“Create and maintain the magical armor with your own mana, not the mana stone’s. This is the second step you’ll take.”

A solution that left them speechless.

And with that, today’s lecture ended.

***

It’s inevitable that when a problem is presented, one must find the answer.

If the solution doesn’t come to mind, one can review and learn it again.

But being asked to figure out the solution to an unknown problem instead of being given the problem and answer is an entirely different matter.

The assignment Professor Muniher gave us was essentially: “I’ll give you the problem and answer, figure out the solution yourself.”

“Telling us to find a way to create and maintain magical armor with our own mana… really.”

There must be a reason for his approach.

I knew he was eccentric, so I’m less shocked than others, but that doesn’t solve the problem.

Starting from the first step, I need to refine the most important basics to properly build the tower of magical armor.

“Are you here, senior?”

“Hmm?”

As I left the lecture hall, someone was waiting.

It was Renias, who had been giving me tips about lecture halls, routes, and other useful information yesterday.

“Are your lectures over?”

“As you can see. But why are you here so early? It’s not even training time yet.”

“I was waiting. I have something to tell you.”

Something to tell me? Is it important enough to wait outside a lecture hall that she couldn’t attend because I manifested magical armor?

Renias slowly took out a letter from her handbag and handed it to me. After looking around, she whispered in a small voice.

“It’s a letter from sister Adel.”

“…Adel?”

I’ve been getting most news from Renias, so I wonder why this needed to be in a letter.

But sending a letter like this must mean it contains something important.

The letter’s content didn’t include any greetings or anything different from what I’d heard. The issue was…

‘She wants to talk to me in person?’

A sentence stating she wanted to meet and talk one-on-one. That was it.

***

Meanwhile, the Dube Building he was heading to was bustling.

The period for the magical armor compatibility test spans a few days at the beginning of each semester. One must manifest magical armor within this period to proceed to the next stage.

Students move busily to not miss this period, so the practice room in the Dube Building, where artificial mana stones are created, was constantly filled with visitors.

“It’s not working again. What’s the problem?”

“I can see something settling at the bottom. The mixture seems slightly off this time.”

“Hmm… Okay, I’ll try making it again… Ah!”

“What do you mean ‘make it again’?”

A student falls on his backside after being kicked.

Who would kick someone like this out of nowhere? Clearly, they were outsiders, so to speak.

“Cayden…!”

“The ones who used to call me ‘Lord Cayden’ have gotten quite short with their words, haven’t they?”

“Indeed. These fools who used to bow their heads without knowing their place.”

They’ve come back to threaten again, but having realized and resolved something because of one person, the students don’t repeat the past.

“Ignore them. Just keep doing what we were doing.”

Junon, who had stood up to the nobles without turning his back, had become a role model for students in frontline and support positions.

‘You dare ignore me?’

Cayden was already accumulating various grievances.

From being defeated by Junon to the fact that the others didn’t receive severe punishment, and the very fact that they didn’t despair and kneel—it all irked him.

What displeased him most was that these inferiors dared to walk proudly before nobles.

“You guys. Do as we discussed earlier.”

“Got it.”

Cayden’s gang began systematically interfering with those synthesizing mana stones in the practice room.

“Kyaaah!”

“W-What are you doing?”

“Since you’re unfairly monopolizing this place, we should use it too, right?”

“Ha, don’t be ridiculous. You already have mana stones, so why are you here?!”

“Unfortunately, mana stones are meant to be consumed. Due to their skyrocketing prices, we need to use those artificial mana stones too.”

“Besides, we who at least have potential are much better than those who can’t even manifest.”

“So quietly go back. Don’t waste materials for nothing. Heh heh.”

In short, they meant they would use the practice room now, so everyone else should leave.

Crash!

“Oh my, I made a mistake. My arm still hasn’t healed from being hit.”

Cayden said this while deliberately dropping and breaking a container that someone had carefully prepared.

While it’s possible to still have injuries after being hit, he’s a noble. He hired a healer for treatment and is attending the academy just fine.

Obviously, everyone knew this was just a pretext.

“Do you think… we’ll be pushed around again?!”

“In this narrow indoor space, the advantage is with us who know how to fight!”

“Have you truly gone mad?! How dare…!”

“Everyone, charge!!”

Even without Jon and Noel. Even without Junon appearing.

They still charged at the nobles, refusing to give up what they had.

Using the indoor advantage to turn it into a mud fight and then a physical brawl, they could potentially achieve victory against the nobles.

“Serves you right! Acting high and mighty as nobles, but you can’t even throw a punch!”

“Ugh…!”

A noble, filled with rage, finally can’t hold back and begins to draw up magic, but the fight doesn’t continue.

“Who told you to fight and hit each other here?”

With Dalia’s appearance, the commotion ends. The nobles had to retreat with their tails between their legs.

But who could have known? At that time, the students were too caught up in their victory to notice.

That they were dealing with meticulously calculating individuals who would stop at nothing to salvage their pride.

This incident, which seemed like it would pass without consequence, would bring about an unexpected event.