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[Magic Casting with Knowledge Judgment]
-Tuesday 5th Period 20:00~23:00
-Professor: Pythagoras
-Magic Department, General Education
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As I entered the last lecture hall to wrap up a long day, I noticed that Titosso, who was already there, looked like he was about to cry.
“Why are you already on the verge of reaching level 3 before the lecture has even started?!”
“Waaah! Oknodie! They said the disciples of the Magic Tower Elders came as our exam opponents. We’re doomed!”
Looking around, it wasn’t just Titosso; the second-years who were also attending the lecture had a gloomy aura.
“You made it, Junior.”
“Why is Senior Bixton looking like that too?”
“Do you really not know? I’m pissed off because those shameless guys came to bully us.”
“Even if they’re our exam opponents, they can’t be as practical as we are, learning directly at the academy!”
“Our exam is to use magic through knowledge judgment. The longer you learn, the more accurately and swiftly you can cast magic without side effects. The disciples of the Tower Elders have at least 5 years of experience.”
If we only consider the time spent learning, those of us who have only been at the academy for 1 to 2 years are up against people who have 5 years of solid foundation!
“At least those who learned something outside aren’t as bad. But this lecture is attended by total beginners who just want to mess around with magic.”
Senior Bixton was right.
Students who could use magic already like Rosgini from the Red Magic Tower or Sandkooker from the Yellow Magic Tower don’t need to rely on knowledge judgment to test out magic with a Mana Board.
It’s only normal that the magic knowledge these novices have is inferior to that of the disciples who learned professionally at the Tower!
“Enough whining, kids. The exam time has already begun. If I hear any more chatter, I’ll penalize you immediately.”
With Professor Pythagoras’s stern declaration, the instructors set up the exam Mana Boards and targets.
“Snicker. Look at the losers fretting.”
“It’s a guaranteed win.”
“Seriously, Master doesn’t need to partake in such bullying.”
The disciples from the council began openly mocking the students.
Professor Pythagoras glared sharply at the elders.
The elders, leisurely stroking their beards or enjoying a cafe, seemed relaxed as if savoring a carefree shepherd’s life while the kids ran around.
“The reputation of the Magic Tower elders is just hot air. You can’t even keep your disciples in check during an exam.”
The previously cheerful atmosphere turned icy.
The head elder of the Yellow Magic Tower, representing the council, stiffened his expression and spoke.
“Can you handle the repercussions? Provoking us before the exam and what your disciples will face afterward.”
“Consider it fortunate that you’re not my student. Any student who refuses to comply in my exam domain won’t walk out on two feet.”
Wow. Our professor is so cool.
Forget about the Tower Elders; he’s just going all in!
But why do Titosso and Senior Bixton look so gloomy?
Ah, I see.
They must have overstuffed themselves at dinner.
Geez, even though the exam is exciting, they really are naïve.
“Here, eat this. It’s a candy that aids digestion!”
“Oknodie… Do you think that candy will help my insides digest too…?”
“Don’t worry. That one’s black candy, and this is the one with white candy speckled with black dots!”
“Ew, just give me one of those. I can’t help but shake from nerves at this rate.”
As Senior Bixton took the candy, Titosso’s eyes trembled intensely.
What’s with Titosso?
He claims he doesn’t want to eat sweets at night because he’ll get fat, yet here he is, wanting just one—it’s fine!
“Don’t even think about backing off after challenging the honor of the Magic Tower. If our disciples win more matches in this exam, you, as their Master, will kneel and apologize as a price to pay.”
“Sure.”
“What?!”
As Senior Bixton munched on the candy instead of calming his nerves with calming pills, the situation escalated further.
“If we win, your disciples must stay at the academy as exam opponents until the final exams of the second semester. Let them realize how petty the status of a Tower Elder’s disciple really is.”
“How dare you, you little brat!”
“Wow. You’re just a young one with too much spirit.”
“To look down on us old magicians when you’re not even seventy, it’s infuriating.”
As if agreeing with the elders’ anger, the head elder of the Yellow Magic Tower flailed his robe and shouted.
“Fine! If you want to raise the stakes, I will gladly accept, but this won’t end with just a kneeling. You will resign from your professor position and take a six-month break.”
“Gladly.”
Our students suddenly found themselves in a high-stakes match that would determine the professor’s job!
“The competition format is simple. Each student will choose an opponent and select one magic they learned during the lecture. We’ll simultaneously start a knowledge judgment match to see who produces the better results.”
The exam began, but none of the students could step up confidently.
They felt intimidated by the name of the Magic Tower.
“Titosso, you need to go first to gain an advantage.”
“Waaah! I’m scared. What if I embarrass myself?”
“Think about it the other way. Even if you join later, if your skills are embarrassing, it’s still the same, but you could at least score some extra points for being the first challenger!”
“How unfair!”
Despite his teary expression, Titosso reluctantly stepped onto the exam stage first.
“Ah, hello. My name is Titosso.”
The Tower disciples stared blankly at Titosso before bursting into laughter.
“Wow, he’s so tiny.”
“What’s with that thing he dragged out? A light stand?”
“Man, he’s gonna attract bugs at night. Is he a bug summoner?”
“How tacky.”
“Now we see the academy’s true level.”
Titosso, already small, shrank further under the rain of ridicule.
“People like that are terrible.”
“Don’t insult Titosso!”
“What makes them think they’re so great?”
Titosso, almost crying, pointed a shaky finger at one student.
“Is your friend okay?”
“He’s fine.”
“On what basis?”
“You just pointed at the guy who laughed the loudest.”
“Huh?”
Curiosity sparked in Senior Bixton’s eyes.
“It’s true!”
“Titosso, even I can see you’re mad. A mad Titosso is scary!”
Titosso, with tears in his eyes, managed to speak.
“I-I choose [Light] as the topic for our duel.”
“Wait, what’s Titosso’s light?!”
“Shhh!”
With a mischievous smile, I covered my mouth with a finger, and Senior Bixton also managed to stifle his laughter.
“Ha ha ha, look at those guys.”
“Is it because they can’t watch with their eyes open that they cover them?”
“It’s a sad sight to be distrusted even by comrades.”
“Hey, don’t be too cruel, just end it. It’ll be lame if they all forfeit before we get our turn.”
“That’s not happening. Just because that loser picked me doesn’t mean he thinks I’m a pushover. How dare he call a bug summoner a bug summoner? I’ll smash him!”
Wow, he’s really fired up!
We all covered our eyes, not because we were worried about Titosso’s loss.
On the contrary, we were aware of how much Titosso excelled specifically in light magic, and he was just protecting himself.
Think about it.
In magic casting, using knowledge judgment means casting as well as you know.
Titosso, wielding the light-emitting stand, carried it around as if it were an IV for hospitalized patients all day.
A patient would certainly realize what that visible IV does and what its components are when bored, so it’s no surprise Titosso would take an interest in light magic.
“The target board is set up. We will now measure the power of the magic using light. Please place your hands on the Mana Board. Countdown begins. 3, 2, 1, 0!”
Titosso and Sis placed their hands on the Mana Boards simultaneously.
Light is the basic magic of all basics.
The knowledge required for the cast isn’t too much.
This isn’t a battle to see who can start it first.
It’s a contest of who can cast that obvious magic stronger.
The challenge is to see whose light from the Mana Board consumes the other’s light.
Flash!
Sis’s Mana Board emitted a remarkably strong beam of light.
It shone bright enough to pierce the deepest dungeon darkness.
“Bring it on if you can. You’ll just embarrass yourself.”
“YAAAAAAH!”
Titosso gave it his all.
Then he realized the soft yellow light emanating from his palm had disappeared.
Titosso turned off the power to the light stand and removed his hand.
Without the influence of mana absorption, he placed his bare hand on the Mana Board.
Since he had completely detached from the light stand that usually operated with mana suppression, all that accumulated mana was directed to the Mana Board.
ZSAP!!
Even with his palm covering his eyes, the light shone so brightly it filled the exam hall.
“Aaaah! My EYES!”
“Please turn that off!”
“My EYEESSSS!”
Once Titosso’s magic demonstration ended, everyone cautiously removed their hands from their eyes.
The disciples of the elders were now rolling on the floor, shielding their eyes.
Especially Sis, who had confidently provoked Titosso just a moment ago, was in such agony that tears dripped from his eyes.
“See? It’s not actually that impressive, is it?”
“That’s only possible because it’s Titosso!”
“Yeah, don’t compare us to a prodigy!”
For some reason, I was bewildered seeing the upset second-years. Yes, Titosso’s light magic is special, but was it really that strong?
“Good job. The winner is Titosso. The academy takes the first victory.”
The instructor declared the victory while waving a flag.
“Instructor, that’s the direction of the Yellow Magic Tower elders.”
Unable to bear the dazzle, the instructor, with his eyes tightly shut, bashfully waved the flag in the opposite hand.
…Titosso might be stronger than I thought!
