Chapter 56

EP.56 Can You Solve It? (3)

Standing alone in the professor's office, I looked at the papers on the table. They were the exam papers I had created.

“Hmm...”

As I stared at the exam papers, various thoughts came to mind, including some doubts.

‘When was the first time I created a problem?’

Suddenly, such a thought crossed my mind.

What was certain was that this wasn't the first time.

‘It was probably about seven years ago, when the magic club kids were causing a fuss.’

It must have been during the time of the next head of the magic tower.

There were some magic club members who constantly criticized my papers. There were quite a few of them.

‘They said things like, "This is a fake paper, a paper with omitted processes has no value"...’

It was something like that.

I remember creating a problem filled with malice to shut them up.

‘It was a problem that mixed dozens of circuits, wasn't it?’

It was a problem I deliberately threw out, not wanting anyone to solve it.

It could be solved, but it would take an incredibly long time.

And the effect was quite significant.

‘They said it was a difficult problem, and it seemed to be quiet for about half a year.’

That was the first problem I had created.

A problem recorded as a difficult one in the magic club.

Recalling the old memories, I slowly opened my eyes.

“...”

Then, without a word, I lifted the exam paper.

As I lifted the exam paper, the words left by the black magic tower head echoed in my ears.

-I think it would be better to lower the difficulty a bit.

-To be honest, this is a difficult problem, the level of a challenge set by the magic club. Isn't it too hard for the students?

I had a troubled expression.

“This is the same level of difficulty as that problem?”

No matter how I looked at it, it didn't seem to be the case.

Honestly, it was a bit of an unfair evaluation.

‘I didn't put as much malice into it as I did back then, and I even provided a solution method in the first question...’

A difficult problem.

‘Can't it be solved if you try?’

It was something I couldn't understand.

After all, I had created the problem based on the questions that the professors had marked with circles for reference.

‘The students' level is this, right?’

A way to maintain this level while lowering the difficulty.

I couldn't figure out how to do it.

“Hmm.”

No matter how long I thought about it, I couldn't find an answer.

I couldn't grasp how to tweak it. All I did was crumple the paper.

“Hmm.”

There was a way in such situations.

I gathered the exam papers in my arms and stood up.

‘I'll go to my teacher.’

If I didn't know, I could just ask.

It was a simple and effective method.

2.

The professor in charge of the study of mana transactions.

Roselle von Trias.

He looked at the paper in his hand.

The paper had eight circuits drawn on it, and below each circuit were the requirements of the problem.

Roselle was a mage, a professor, and an elder of the magic tower.

Having taught and evaluated people for a long time, he was familiar with assessing the quality of problems.

“...”

Roselle narrowed his eyes.

The first thing he noticed was the circuits engraved in each problem. If there were errors in the circuits, it would be a problem before even considering the quality.

Roselle's eyes quickly scanned the circuits.

‘The circuits themselves are perfect.’

He quickly came to a conclusion.

There was no need to look further. The circuits were flawless, a perfect example.

‘Next, the requirements of the problem, I suppose.’

The requirements of the problem were also straightforward.

It wasn't the kind of problem that twisted the wording of the question. It stood on its content alone.

Indeed, that straightforwardness was praiseworthy.

“Hmm.”

After checking several other elements, Roselle nodded slightly.

‘Not bad.’

Overall, it was a pretty good problem.

The requirements were clear. The examples were perfect, and the content wasn't too difficult.

The problem discussed the basics from start to finish.

Considering that the study of mana transactions was the foundation of all studies and a basic subject, this aspect was praiseworthy.

Roselle put down the exam paper and said,

“It's a good problem.”

As he said this, Roselle raised his head.

The student sitting opposite him smiled brightly.

“Right? It's okay, right?”

Ranier shrugged. As if he had been right all along, he nodded confidently and then stood up.

“Then, I'll submit it...”

“Stop making a fuss and sit down.”

“Huh?”

To the puzzled student, Roselle said bluntly,

“I said it was a good problem, not that you can submit it as it is.”

“Uh...”

“Rania, have you ever seen Dean Aaron really angry?”

“No, I haven't...”

“If you submit this problem as it is, you will see it. You'll see a sight that makes you feel sorry for him.”

When Aaron got angry, he would pull his hair.

Watching his sparse hair fly into the air, even if you hadn't done anything wrong, you would feel guilty.

‘...If I submit this problem as it is.’

You might see that sight.

The image of a friend screaming in agony was vivid in Roselle's mind.

“Sigh...”

Roselle sighed deeply.

His palm naturally hit his forehead. He felt like he was doing this more often lately.

“Rania, what subject are you in charge of?”

“Uh... the study of mana transactions?”

“Basics. The basics of the study of mana transactions. Basics, I say.”

Roselle emphasized.

“Basics! You foolish student. What are you trying to do by including a problem that the magic club would set in a basic exam...”

With a sigh mixed in his voice, Ranier tilted his head.

“Uh... isn't it solvable?”

“...What did you say?”

As Roselle glared, Ranier flinched and then fumbled to pull out a few papers from his arms.

“Well, that is...”

Then, in a hesitant voice, he replied.

“Other professors also set problems at this level. So, I thought this level would be solvable.”

“...Let me see.”

Roselle looked at the exam paper he received.

As he looked at the exam paper with stars marked, Roselle felt his blood pressure rise.

‘Really, this is maddening.’

The difficulty was jaw-dropping.

The passion poured into the exam questions made it feel like reading a research report.

If it were up to him, he would have something to say.

But with the culprit right in front of him, he couldn't blame the professors.

“Sigh...”

He couldn't stop sighing.

As his vision went dark, Roselle picked up a pen and underlined the annotations on the exam paper.

Even if they went overboard, the professors of Aphria were excellent educators. They didn't create problems that were impossible to solve.

This was the proof.

“Here, look.”

Roselle thrust the exam paper in front of his student.

“Do you see the underlined parts? It means that even if the professors set difficult problems, they provided at least some direction. Like this.”

The annotations at the bottom of the exam paper showed the general solution method. Even if they didn't show the whole process, you could understand the direction.

“It means that at least some hints are provided.”

“Hints?”

“Yes, hints. If your problem is like throwing students into the middle of the sea with a few pieces of wood and telling them to build a boat and survive...”

Tap, tap, Roselle pointed to the exam paper.

“The professors' problems, at the very least, provide a model. So they can see and follow it.”

“Oh...”

Ranier had a subtle expression.

He still didn't quite get it.

“Anyway...”

Roselle leaned back in his chair and said,

“You