Chapter 54

EP.54 Can you solve it? (1)

At a brunch café in the capital.

Roselle sprinkled syrup on the pancake and began to speak.

"So, you refused the proposal from Elder Gyleon?"

"Yes, Master."

The voice of the disciple answering the question was the same as always, as if it were nothing special.

'I had a hunch you would, but...'

Roselle hadn't expected the disciple to cut ties so calmly. She smiled bitterly and pushed the plate of pancakes towards Lania.

"Eat first."

The disciple looked at the syrup-shimmering pancakes and exclaimed, "Wow!" She pushed the pancake into her mouth with a smile, as if it were the happiest thing in the world.

"Is it good?"

"Yes, would you like to try, Master?"

"No, these days, eating something so sweet makes my mouth feel sticky all day."

Hearing this, the disciple chuckled.

"Master, you're getting old."

"···I'm not exactly young anymore."

Roselle herself felt her age. Every time she heard news from acquaintances, she was reminded of it.

'About seeing grandchildren...'

Every time such letters arrived, she felt a strange sensation. Roselle had dedicated her life to the advancement of magic. She had lived a life far removed from a normal one.

'Still single at almost sixty...'

Of course, she didn't regret her life. It was a life she had chosen, not one forced upon her.

'But...'

Lately, she often heard stories about someone's child getting married and having grandchildren. When she asked whose child it was, it was often someone from her own cohort.

"···Hmm."

It was inevitable to feel a strange sentiment whenever she heard such news.

'Child, child...'

Roselle looked across the table, resting her chin in her hand.

The disciple was shoving pancakes into her mouth. Though not her biological child, she had raised her like one.

'Strange feeling...'

As she stared at the disciple, a voice echoed in her ear.

"Aren't you spoiling her too much?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about your disciple, Miss Lania. Why are you so protective of her? It's not like she'll wear out if you show her to the world."

Suddenly, Aaron's voice lingered in her ear. Roselle chuckled.

'Spoiling her?...'

If she had really intended to protect her, she wouldn't have let that cunning old man approach her.

Elder Gyleon.

Thinking of that senile mage, Roselle spoke, mentioning the disciple's name.

"Lania."

"Yes?"

"Can I ask why you refused the Elder's proposal?"

Roselle said,

"When you first came to the capital, didn't you tell me that you would return to the Ashen Tower after achieving great deeds?"

Lania had indeed said that. She wanted to return to the Ashen Tower with a new identity, and Roselle respected her decision.

"Regardless of whether it's morally right or wrong, wasn't this a good offer?"

After all, it was a recommendation from Elder Gyleon. He was the elder leading the largest faction in the Ashen Tower. The value of his recommendation was immeasurable.

'...I can't say it was right, but...'

If Lania's goal was still to return to the Ashen Tower,

'This would have been a good opportunity.'

Yet, the disciple had flatly refused. Roselle was puzzled by this.

"Hmm..."

Lania paused before speaking.

"I just didn't feel like it?"

"···What?"

Lania picked up her fork, twirling it between her fingers.

"Elder Gyleon is better than most, but I've always disliked the elders. Besides, he didn't come just because of my achievements, right?"

"···That's true. He always talked about the position of an Ashen Mage and such."

"I didn't like that."

Thud.

Lania stabbed the pancake with her fork. Syrup dripped out.

"A mage, for fuck's sake, should just be good at magic. When did we start caring about legitimacy and such? It was ridiculous to hear. Damn, talking about legitimacy."

"···Is that so?"

"Besides, the current successor to the Ashen Tower seems fine."

"·····."

She must be talking about Resty.

"Master, you saw it too, right? What was in that kid's eyes."

"I did."

"I tried to trade with the stars for it, but he wouldn't give it to me."

Lania poked her eyelids.

"Doesn't having it mean he's more talented than me in some way?"

"He is a talented kid."

"Master, wouldn't you teach him? If you taught him at the Ashen Tower, he might bloom faster."

"That would be difficult."

"Why?"

Roselle smiled bitterly.

"Lania, if your body were normal, would you have returned to the Ashen Tower?"

"Well... I don't think so. I'd probably just cause more chaos. I might visit occasionally... but..."

"That's why I don't visit the Ashen Tower often. My presence would only hinder that child."

The inauguration ceremony for the next Ashen Tower Master.

On that day, Roselle handed over the emblem to Resty, representing the elders in front of everyone.

'Representing the elders.'

The reason Roselle, not Elder Gyleon, who led the largest faction, was chosen for that role was simple.

'Because this disciple is too talented.'

At the ceremony, Roselle saw it.

The gazes directed at her.

The subtle expectations in those gazes.

And.

The malicious gazes directed at Resty as he received the emblem. She felt the temperature difference between those gazes and the ones directed at her.

That day, Roselle had a hunch.

That she shouldn't stay at the Ashen Tower any longer.

She realized what her presence there might lead to.

"What do you mean?"

"There's something to it."

Roselle didn't say more. Lania didn't ask any further questions, just tilting her head.

Clatter, clatter.

The sound of cutlery continued for a while.

Watching the disciple eat the bread enthusiastically, Roselle looked out the window. It was a sunny spring day.

Thinking about it, it was almost May.

The chaotic beginning of the semester had passed, and it was now approaching mid-semester.

May is a busy month.

Midterms, practical monster hunting classes, group projects... Professors and students alike would surely be busy.

'The past couple of months have been eventful.'

It was an excessively noisy month. But if she thought about it, the processes were settling down, which wasn't bad.

In any case, the incidents had concluded without major issues. There was no time to reflect on past events; she had to focus on the future.

'I've already informed them of the midterm scope, and it wouldn't be bad to review the course content in the next class.'

Thinking about the May curriculum, every task seemed important. Given the tight academic schedule, any more delays would be risky.

'Aaron would have a fit.'

Imagining her friend with thinning hair, Roselle muttered to herself.

"···Is there something else going on?"

Hiccup.

"···?"

Roselle turned her gaze from the window. It landed on the disciple, who was nibbling on the pancake.

"Hiccup."

It was an unexpected hiccup. She looked like she had swallowed something wrong.

Flick.

The disciple pressed her chest and turned her head, clearly avoiding eye contact.

"·····."

Narrowing her eyes, Roselle noticed the sweat beads on the disciple's forehead.

"···What is it?"

"Yes, yes?"

"Is there something you want to say?"

"No, no?"

The disciple still wouldn't meet her eyes. It was a very suspicious sight.

2.

The short break was over.

An unexpected holiday during the semester.

Thanks to the break, the students' expressions were bright even in the chaotic early May.

-The Sky Cloud Dessert Shop...

-They give an extra tart to Aphria students, right? I went there too.

-...The café milk tea was delicious.

The cheerful students contrasted sharply with the exhausted assistant professors. The students entered the lecture hall with energy.

Their faces showed no worry or anxiety. The first class began.

"Let's start the class."

The first class was Circuit Analysis by Professor Korte. Despite being a difficult and complex subject, Korte's class was popular among students.

He mentioned the topics for the day.

Then, he covered the mentioned content and ended the class before the bell rang. There was no homework.

Many students liked Korte for his clear and concise style. No homework and a quick finish meant there was no reason to dislike him.

"That's it for today."

However,

"And the circuit diagrams I'm about to distribute are homework to be completed by the next class. Take note."

Something was off today.

"I've checked the schedules of the students attending this class. Except for those majoring in Combat Magic, their schedules are free after this. And I know Professor Machart is also on leave today."

So, Korte said,

"Let's extend the class by one hour today."

And it began.

"I'll move on to the next topic."

A hellish extended class.

An hour passed.

The students' eyes gradually lost their clarity.

Two hours passed.

Shadows began to fall on their faces.

Three hours passed.

The class didn't end even though the promised time had come.

Another thirty minutes passed.

The students' eyes lost their focus.

That's how it went.

The class finally ended after exactly three hours and thirty minutes. The students looked at the board filled with circuits with dazed eyes.

They then looked at the circuit diagrams given as homework. The circuits were overwhelming just to look at.

Checking the clock, they realized it was already lunchtime, and the next classes were about to start. Some ran, some skipped lunch. There was no time to leisurely visit a café.

The classes continued.

As they went on, the students felt a growing sense of unease.

'Was this professor always like this?'

The professors seemed different. Something was off.

And they had one thing in common.

They were all professors who had returned from leave.

'What did they do during their leave...?'

She didn't know what they had done, but one thing was clear.

The classes were quite different from before. The students keenly felt this difference.

The difficulty level had jumped several steps. The cruel homework, similar to Roselle's, overwhelmed the students.

The day wore on. The students, drained of energy, muttered.

-The professors are crazy.

-I don't understand why they're doing this.

-Why?

-Something's wrong.

The professors had collectively gone mad. That was the only rumor circulating.

The students didn't know that this change was a result of a professor's 'observation'.

-Ugh...

-Ugh...

The assistant professors in the faculty were crawling around like zombies. Behind them, the students were turning into zombies.

And.

"From here to here."

A professor delivered the final blow.

"Ah, is it a bit less? I think this is better."

Her ash-gray hair swayed. Her blue eyes looked at the students indifferently.

"Just do your best to complete it."

Her voice was calm. She calmly delivered the death sentence.

"·····."

The students looked at the table in silence. The amount of study material laid out was alarming. If they gathered all the scattered papers, they could easily build a tower of paper.

Shadows fell on the students' faces. The future of dark circles under their eyes was clearly visible.

"I have a question."

"Yes, please speak."

To prevent that terrible future, a student bravely raised their hand.

"P, Professor Lania?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"The amount of homework is a bit... unusual..."

Lania van Trias.

The famous professor tilted her head slightly.

"Ah... I see..."

Then, she answered with a very sad expression.

"Still, I hope you learn as much as possible from my class."

"Uh, uh..."

"I've heard that more homework is better for you. I hope you try your best. These problems will become your bones and flesh."

Then she said,

"If it's too difficult, you don't have to complete everything."

Some students sighed in relief. But it was short-lived.

"Ah."

Just before leaving, Professor Lania added,

"The midterm will be based on the study material I'm giving you today. I recommend you check it thoroughly."

Despair washed over the students.

3.

The office for the professor of Mana Trade Studies.

Master had gone to class, and I was staring at the paper on my desk.

-Basics of Mana Trade Studies (Midterm).

-Exam Setter: Lania van Trias.

It was the midterm exam paper. I had postponed working on it because I couldn't quite grasp the level, but...

'I should finish it soon.'

"Hmm..."

I recalled the content of the class.

'Roughly, the constraints of circuits, the basic concepts of the balance scale... right?'

I had told the students it would be based on the study material, so I could just modify a few of the circuits I had drawn.

'If it's too difficult, it won't do... I need to adjust the difficulty level appropriately.'

This was my biggest concern. The only student whose level I knew precisely was Resty. If I focused on Resty's level, ...

'I'd get another lecture from Master.'

I checked the memo on my desk.

1. Don't think about the level of Ashen Tower mages.

2. Give problems that are doable.

3. A few problems for differentiation are enough.

Three things to keep in mind...

Tip: Refer to other professors' problems.

One piece of advice.

"So, I borrowed some."

I glanced to the side. The exam papers given by the professors were piled up.

'They must have marked them with stars to make it easier to refer to...'

They were quite considerate.

-This problem! How about this one? I listened to Professor Lania's advice...!

-I took a leave to create this problem. It's good enough to be submitted to the Magic Society. Professor Lania, your advice was a great inspiration.

-It's a masterpiece of my life. I'd be grateful if you could refer to it. Feel free to use it.

They were also very passionate.

"Hmm."

I quickly scanned the problems they had given. Then, I tilted my head.

'...Is this right?'

The