Chapter 37: The First Piece (1)

[37] 6. The First Piece (1)

Parsley. It is a name that stands above all others.

The name of Patrina, the founder of the magic tower,

And Sli-Gorke The 52nd tower master who invented the Garion-Diana Model 78, Structural Magic 9th Form Mana Conversion formula, commonly known as ‘Star Gate.’

It’s a name created by arranging the names of the two most revered mages in the Magic Tower, based on their constellations.

It is a name so brilliant, that just writing it down makes one feel intelligent, and just speaking it makes your tongue tingle with sweetness.

When this name was created, even the most ignorant knew of its greatness.

It is a name that is truly worthy of being called royalty among names.

But some things are so precious that they are shunned.

The ignorant wouldn’t dare to take on this name, nor would they give it to their children. And those geniuses, who wished to appear humble, also felt the same.

So the name wandered alone, among intellectuals, unable to find an owner.

But even the lowliest rat has a mate. So how could this majestic name not have an owner?

15 years ago, a girl worthy of that name was born.

A girl whose beauty rivals that of Princess Juliana,

And whose intelligence rivals that of Edery III.

Truly…

The most intellect among intellectuals,

The most genius of geniuses,

The most mages among mages,

The daughter of Sage, the 143rd master of the magic tower, who is said to be the greatest mage since Sli-Gorke,

And a girl who’s already been appointed as the next master of the magic tower (If the High Council hasn’t made that decision yet, then they must be idiots).

And also, a genius who has never missed first place at Al-Rain Academy, the continent’s most prestigious magic academy.

Me.

The moment I was given the name ‘Parsley’, the very stars aligned to praise and celebrate it.

“Parsley! Stop looking in the mirror and come out already!”

The voice of an ignorant fool broke my precise and profound imagination. I frowned and shouted back at the commoner outside the door.

“I’ll be out in a minute!”

And then, one last time, I looked at myself in the mirror.

Red hair like the setting sun, like that of my mother, and emerald green eyes, green enough to make even the grandest of forests jealous.

A face, whiter than white jade, with features that only God could have sculpted.

And then when I put on the wide-brimmed hat, with a blue band, just like my mother’s…

The perfect girl in the mirror cupped her cheeks, her expression ecstatic.

But fools have no idea how to read the room.

“Parsley!!”

“I said I’m coming!!”

I couldn’t take it anymore and shouted back.

***

The hallways of the magic tower is the ultimate insult to God.

Even God himself couldn’t have made something this perfect.

The interior, a blend of 7th-century Ailleyde style and late 11th-century Gallaia style, is aesthetically perfect.

And functionally as well, it was flawless. It could seemingly read the destination of the walker, leading them to their destination even if they just walked straight ahead.

A truly perfect hallway. However, fools simply can’t comprehend how to appreciate such perfection.

“You know the final exam scores are being announced today, right?”

Marianne, a girl slightly better than the other fools, looks at me with a furrowed brow. What a low-level question, typical from a fool.

I elegantly adjusted my blue-brimmed hat and answered.

“Of course I do.”

“And yet you spent 30 minutes staring at yourself in the mirror? Are you insane?”

The harsh words of fool sometimes annoy me. However, I am as merciful as I am wise.

“Visionaries are often mistaken for lunatics…”

“Alain have mercy, here we go again.”

Marianne rolled her eyes. Feeling frustrated, and before I know it, I’m using a tone that’s uncharacteristic of me.

“What does it matter anyway? I’m going to be at the top, just like always.”

That’s right.

I, Parsley, was the undisputed number one at Al-Rain academy. No student would dare challenge my position.

In fact, the act of checking the score sheet itself was meaningless.

Because, just like always, my name would be at the very top.

“Right, right, you’re so amazing.”

Fools tend to snap back when they have nothing else to say. Because their reactions are proof of my victory, I simply smiled.

And then, I turned my gaze towards the approaching crowd.

Teenagers, all looking like magic students.

And at the top of the notice board they were surrounding was, “The Results of the 1,752nd Regular Exam”.

So, I walked towards them, my footsteps echoing loudly, my chin held high, my chest puffed out.

Come on then, Fools!

Hurry and send me those envious and reverent looks!

Treat me with the respect worthy of this era’s greatest genius!

“It’s Parsley…”

“Is she going to be okay…?”

“Maybe she doesn’t know…?”

“Just how in the world did she…”

Something was wrong.

Usually, they’d just give me stupid, unintelligent looks like the ignorant fools they were, but now, they’re whispering among themselves.

Some snickered as if enjoying my misfortune, while others deliberately avoided my gaze.

Someone even gave me a look of pity!

I was so surprised that I couldn’t even speak. Pushing past them, I stepped before the notice board.

And there I saw.

———————————————————–

[The Results of the 1,752nd Regular Exam]

Top, Rem

Second, Parsley

Third, Marianne

…

…

…

———————————————————–

The collapse of common sense.

“Wow, first place.”

A soft voice, and suddenly, as if entranced, everyone’s gaze, including mine, turned to a single spot.

Standing there was a boy, with a listless look on his face.

His unfocused eyes were fixed on who knows where, and the sleeves of his robe were so long that they were covering not just his hands, but even his thighs.

He said in a flat tone,

“Gotta go brag about it.”

And then he disappeared down the hallway, leaving behind the stunned crowd.

No, calling them a stunned crowd isn’t exactly accurate.

Because I was already walking towards the faculty office.

This was unacceptable.

***

“I object to the results of the 1,752nd Regular Exam.”

The bald-headed fool in front of me, Professor Claine, set down the papers he was reading. Running his tired hand over his shiny head, he asked,

“And what is it you object to, Ms. Parsley?”

“The fact that I’m second, and some unknown kid named Rem is first.”

Professor Claine let out a long sigh.

“Ms. Parsley, I know that this must have come as a shock to you, but…”

“This is absurd!”

I couldn’t bear his ignorance and slammed my hand on the desk. Looking into his stupid eyes, I injected some logic into him.

“My Ariadne 3-angle 24-form transformation octagonal magic circle was perfect! Even Professor Gillian said so! How could I possibly be in second place?!”

Perfection is the crown given to the best,

And I am perfect.

Therefore, I should be the best.

Even a four-year-old imbecile would understand this simple three-stage logical reasoning.

But the man before me, despite holding the title of Professor, couldn’t grasp this simple logic.

He must be someone who got his position by sucking up to Drubis, despite having no noteworthy research achievements, I’m sure.

As mother always says, people like him should be eliminated.

“…Because Rem provided a solution that went beyond perfection.”

Hah! Now he’s spouting complete nonsense because he doesn’t know what to say.

Fine, you asked for it.

I’m going to write a scathing condemnation of this professor right this instant and post it on the notice board where everyone can see…

“Here, take a look.”

The bald headed idiot suddenly pulled out a thick bundle of papers from his desk. He handed them to me, saying in a tired voice,

“This is Rem’s answer sheet. You’re a bright girl, Ms. Parsley, so you’ll understand once you read it.”

Suggesting I ‘just look’ without a proper explanation. A typical swindler’s tactic. I detested it.

But curiosity really is a deadly disease.

Although suspicious, I took the stack of papers. I flipped through them quickly, commenting,

“This is nothing special. This one is just standard procedure. This calculation method is nothing new either. This one is… Huh?”

And then, my mind went blank.

***

Those who are truly intelligent aren’t fools who are lost in their own daydreams.

The ultimate outcome of intellect is action.

It is through action that one’s genius is proven, and only then can they leave their mark on the world.

In that sense, it was no coincidence that I, who am destined to be the greatest intellect of this era, was quick to act.

“How did you do this?”

The boy looked at the stack of papers that I had shoved in his face, his expression baffled. After a moment of hesitation, he answered like all the other ignorant fools, completely missing the point,

“I’m sorry, but I’m in the middle of running an errand for Professor Killian…”

“I’m asking you, how did you do this?”

But it’s fine.

If he didn’t understand, then all I have to do is repeat myself as many times as necessary..

I said, glaring at him.

“Just how did you think of changing the magic formula from a 24-form formula to a 27-form formula? And this part here, just where did you copy this from? How could a mere student use such skilled modification…”

“W-Wait.”

The boy raises his sleeve-covered arm, interrupting me.

“I’m sorry, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I was speechless.

What a tragedy!

How could the person who bested me, taking my place, be so slow!

He wasn’t even looking at the papers I thrust at him! He’s just staring at the ground with those unfocused eyes.

How dare he be so rude…

“…!”

At that moment, it hit me like a bolt of lightning.

This rudeness, this timidness, and more importantly, this lack of understanding!

Everything was crystal clear under the sun.

This boy had cheated!

Yes, thinking about it logically, there’s no way any other kid my age could surpass me. I am an unparalleled genius after all.

Clearly, this answer sheet must have been written by someone else!

Out of greed to steal my throne, he has defiled this sacred place of learning!

The moment I thought this, I felt anger boiling up inside me.

“What? Can’t you see it? Do you not have eyes? I’m asking how you wrote these answers…”

The boy nodded calmly.

“Yeah, I don’t have eyes. This is a prosthetic.”

“What?”

I now felt nothing but disgust towards this despicable boy.

He dared respond to my righteous anger with such a pathetic joke…!!

I felt the veins in my neck bulging.

“Just what the hell are you trying to…!”

*Pop-*

It was like a scene straight out of a comedy I once saw.

The boy tapped his temple and then, with a clear popping sound, his eyeball popped out, landing on his hand.

He held out the prosthetic eye, a spherical piece of glass, towards me and smiled gently.

“See? It’s prosthetic.”

Sometimes, people react dramatically when they witness something shocking.

They become speechless, or their minds go blank.

In severe cases, they might even faint.

And unfortunately, before a genius, I was human.

“So, stop waving that paper in front of me. Could you explain to me what… Huh? Hey! H-Hey!!”

And just like that, I fainted.