Episode 76. Magic Analysis (2)

“Lee Hoyeon cadet. Just in case I’m asking, magic circle tracking is possible, right? Since Alice-yang can do reverse calculation, let’s have Lee Hoyeon cadet try it too, like you’re learning!”

The professor sent a smile, encouraging me. It was already a foregone conclusion that I would lose.

Actually, thinking like that makes sense.

To begin with, the only cadet known to be capable of reverse calculation is Alice.

Many active-duty mages cannot use it either. That’s how difficult it is, and how much it relies on talent.

Magic circle tracking is a lesser version of reverse calculation, though similar.

It’s a magic that tracks magic circles, giving a similar feel to reverse calculation, but there’s an overwhelming difference in speed.

It’s convenient to think of it as a stepping stone magic used to teach reverse calculation.

Of course, while I can do reverse calculation, I don’t know how to do magic circle tracking.

“Hmm, I’m not great at magic circle tracking, but there’s no problem with the demonstration you want, Professor.”

“Great. That’s more than enough.”

“….”

Alice stood before me, giving me a look of disbelief.

Fair enough, I probably wouldn’t understand it either if I were in her shoes.

---

『A sub quest has been transmitted.』

[Provoke Alice’s Jealousy?!]

Alice gets jealous when she sees peers superior to herself!

Shall we provoke her jealousy to gain her attention?

Manifest a magic circle before Alice!

• Reward: Strength Stat Point +1

---

Oh, a quest popped up after a long time.

But why is the reward Strength? I’m a mage?

Of course, I am seriously considering becoming that ‘magic-fist user’ or whatever Liliana mentioned these days.

Anyway, the fact that a quest appeared means I’m finally following the proper original story route.

Then again, rape sex with Liliana the assistant instructor or in the orphanage doesn’t appear in the original work, so it makes sense, right?

“For the magic, shall I use the most basic one? Force Magic.”

Force Magic.

It’s the most basic magic. A magic that typifies mana, gives it physical power, and shoots it out.

It’s a magic that can be used without any issues even if you omit the magic circle, and in fact, it’s rarely used because it lacks significant utility.

“Then, are you ready?”

“Professor. I’m sorry, but… I don’t know the Force Magic magic circle.”

“?… Force Magic? Ah, right. Lee Hoyeon cadet, you said you haven’t been a mage for long. You’re so good, I always forget.”

The professor chuckled ‘ho ho’ and started flipping through the textbook from the beginning.

“Then… let’s see what other magic we have.”

“Just teach me the Force Magic magic circle, that’s all I need.”

“Huh? No, no. That won’t do. Competing with a magic circle you’re not familiar with yet goes against fairness.”

“It’s okay. Since I’m in a learning position anyway, and we should use the easiest magic so other cadets can watch and learn more easily, don’t you think?”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Professor.”

You were talking earlier like I was going to lose anyway, so why are you playing the fairness card now?

This is why older professors are so difficult to deal with. Why can’t they just let things slide?

“Okay, now. Try following along. It’s like this.”

It was a truly basic magic circle, with a hexagon inside a round circle.

I copied it perfectly on the first try. Honestly, if it’s this easy, I don’t think fairness or anything else matters.

“I’ve memorized it all.”

“Then, we’ll start when this flame disappears.”

The professor conjured a small flame from his hand.

Fwoosh-

The flame gradually shrank in mid-air.

Alice, standing before me, drew mana into her body without looking particularly nervous.

I intend to perfectly win this reverse calculation match.

The quest said to manifest the magic circle before Alice, but if I do that, when will she get jealous, and when will she remember me?

There are several women I need to capture right now.

I need to make her so jealous that she thinks about me all day long.

Today, I plan to make Alice feel the difference in our class.

It’s probably a harsh experience for her, being the first time, but she’ll endure it well, right?

“If you want to donate books like that, I’ll accept them.”

“I apologize in advance. Please don’t be too angry.”

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled.

I really hope she doesn’t get angry. I don’t know if I can control it to just the point of jealousy.

The flame soon disappeared.

I drew mana throughout my entire body.

‘Eye Opening’

Instantly, my vision widened, and I could observe the mana gathering in Alice’s hand.

I prepared my magic circle too.

If I decided to release it quickly, I could do so in an instant, but winning that way would be meaningless.

Shh-

The starting signal flame disappeared, and Alice immediately began constructing her magic circle.

It seems her strategy is to create her magic circle first, rather than interfering with my magic.

Actually, if one is confident in their mana control, that would be the safest strategy.

However, I did not construct a magic circle with the mana I had drawn up.

Instead, I read Alice’s mana.

The gaps between the magic circle’s lines, the intensity of the mana, Alice’s breathing.

I analyzed all the elements visible within the span of less than a second.

When so many elements are shown, reverse calculation is bound to be easy.

With a slight wave of my hand, I disturbed Alice’s mana.

“…?!”

The magic circle, almost complete, became distorted.

Only then did Alice look at me.

I was slowly constructing my magic circle.

Like a sloth crawling on the ground, I slowly drew out a solid magic circle.

Alice frowned and began interfering with my mana.

If this were a fight, there could be variables despite the skill difference.

But in a pure contest of reverse calculation, the skill gap can never be bridged.

Moreover, Alice has to perform calculations and interpretations, but I simply ‘understand’.

That difference can never be overcome.

No matter how much Alice tried to interfere with my mana, my magic circle was drawn.

Whenever she tried to draw her own magic circle, I precisely interfered with her mana and disrupted it.

“Ha….”

In the end, Alice lost to me without even being able to make a proper move.

She looked at the completed magic circle in my hand with a look of despair.

“Oh, Ohh…! Lee Hoyeon cadet! You can do reverse calculation! Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

“I luckily learned it just now.”

“What nonsense is that… No, that’s not the important part. Another talent has appeared among the first-year mages. Amazing! Truly amazing!”

The professor seems happier about the good fortune at Victoria Academy than my bullshit.

I ignored the professor and looked at Alice.

Alice was deep in thought, pondering why she had lost.

“Alice.”

Alice clenched her fists and looked at me. Her glaring eyes were scary.

“You, what the hell are those eyes?”

She seemed to have concluded that the reason for her defeat was my ‘Eye Opening’.

Actually, that’s almost correct, but I would have won even without it.

If I set my mind to it, I could complete the magic circle in one second and win. It’s just meaningless.

“Of course it’s a secret. Ah, this is okay, right? No hard feelings?”

“… Ha. Do whatever you want. So, what do you want to request? I can grant at least one thing within my discretion.”

Alice’s father is the Guild Master of France’s ‘Iris’.

The Iris Guild, France’s representative guild, is uniquely renowned in the world as an information guild.

The Iris Guild is so famous that rumors say any information can be bought if you just pay money.

Although they receive many threats, they possess overwhelming power and steadfastly maintain the guild.

“I have enough money to request from the Iris Guild. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have made a bet with you.”

“No way….”

“Yep. It’s probably what you’re thinking. Let’s talk about this later. Surely you won’t just ignore it after losing the bet, right?”

“…Fine. Don’t worry. I’ll definitely do it for you.”

This isn’t requesting from the Iris Guild, but requesting directly from the Guild Master.

This isn’t something you can do just because you have money.

Incredible connections and luck must follow, but if Alice asks, he will permit it.

The Iris Guild Master is a huge doting father.

But the way she answered seemed a little angry. It’s not, right?

“Alice. You’re not angry, right? It was just a simple bet.”

“Not at all. I’m not angry? Stop talking nonsense, will you?”

…She seems angry.

[Quest Complete!]

Well, since the quest is complete, it should be fine.

Heroine capture quests have never caused me any harm before.

*

“But seriously, where did you learn reverse calculation? Isn’t it incredible that you can beat Alice?”

After lunch ended, as I was heading to the lecture hall to prepare for the afternoon theory class, Lucy spoke to me.

“I’ve told you repeatedly. I just taught myself.”

“Wow… Lee Hoyeon is insane.”

“You’re amazing. Hoyeon-ssi….”

“It’s embarrassing, so stop it. Let’s just prepare for the theory class.”

They were like that throughout the entire lunch break, which was really embarrassing.

People passing by were also glancing at me, standing between Lucy and Lumi.

Or maybe not, maybe they’re just looking because I’m walking around with twins on both sides?

We arrived at the lecture hall and prepared for class.

“Nooo. But honestly, I hate Modern Hunter Studies so much. I understand it when I hear it, but why do I have to memorize this?”

“Calm down, Lucy. Let’s study together in the club room today.”

“Should we? Then Lee Hoyeon, you come too. You’re good at studying.”

“Me?”

Actually, I don’t have any plans afterwards, so it’s okay, but…

Is there really no need to refuse?

“Sure.”

“Nice. I got a teacher today. I’m going to leech off them tremendously.”

“Still, you shouldn’t disturb Hoyeon-ssi’s studying too much.”

“Okay. Okay. Besides, you’ll be asking questions too, right?”

“That’s true, but….”

Creak-

“Hello! I am Professor Kang Hyorin! It’s been a while.”

She is Dr. Kang Hyorin, the professor of Modern Hunter Studies.

She’s an excellent professor who often claims to be busy and takes it easy on her classes.

“Today, we’ll go over the key points to prepare for the exam. We don’t have much time! We’ll be running through it from beginning to end without breaks, so don’t doze off and concentrate!”

“Ah, I’m screwed.”

Lucy’s despairing voice could be heard next to me.

*

A sedan parked at the academy’s main gate every day at the same time.

Alice naturally got into the car.

“Thank you for your hard work. Miss.”

“Yep, thanks.”

The middle-aged man in the driver’s seat started driving the car as if he’d done it countless times.

Alice always had a set restaurant she went to for dinner.

“Are your midterm exam preparations going well?”

“Yeah, smoothly….”

She almost blurted out, ‘She’ll smoothly get first place, right?’ but hesitated.

“I think it’ll be first or second place.”

“Second place? For you to say that, Miss, there must be an incredible talent.”

“Yeah. Lee Hoyeon from the publicity department, whom you mentioned last time.”

Alice: “Aha, that handsome friend. Wow, to be good at studying too, that’s amazing. Last time, I heard something about him defeating an ogre or something. Is it true?”

“Well. Maybe it is true.”

Alice wasn’t the type to believe easily, but after seeing Lee Hoyeon’s magic level today, the thought ‘Maybe….’ began to creep in.

“So, about that, please investigate Lee Hoyeon.”

“Oh! It seems you’ve finally developed an interest in a friend?”

“It’s not like that. And Lee Hoyeon, I want you to investigate him personally. Please.”

“If so, is it vigilance rather than interest?”

The middle-aged man’s demeanor changed slightly. The smiling uncle disappeared, replaced by a sharp aura.

“Well, it’s just a hunch, but… something feels a bit off.”

“Understood. If you order me to, Miss, I have no choice but to obey.”

“Yep. Thanks, as always.”

Alice normally doesn’t pay much attention to others. That’s why she didn’t investigate Nam Daeun separately; there could be people more talented than her.

However, Lee Hoyeon bothered her for some reason.

He had a close relationship with the student council president, and a strange vibe flowed between him and the Saintess.

Furthermore, his club activities with the first-year twin beauties.

And his abnormal magic skills.

If there had been even one less suspicious matter, Alice wouldn’t have ordered an investigation.

But at this point, Alice felt, ‘Maybe at least one of these will catch him?’

It would be good if he’s caught, if not, then so be it.

“Ah, right. Call Dad for me. Your daughter has a request.”

“Yes. Understood. When should I start the investigation of Lee Hoyeon cadet?”

“Hmm, do it when you’re comfortable. It’s not that urgent.”

“Then I will begin immediately, starting today.”

“Yep, yep. Do as you please.”

Alice ordered Lee Hoyeon’s background check without much thought.

And she could never have imagined that Lee Hoyeon would be caught in all the aspects she suspected.