Chapter 40

EP.40 Tower of Magic - 2

While Aria was looking at the table of contents titled "The Human Body and the Castle," Leonardo was wandering around the lecture hall of the magic tower.

[But there are too many lecture halls. Can we find it?]

<It's over there.>

Leo pointed to a small dot with his finger. It was so far away that the sage had to strain his eyes to barely see it.

[...Were you a nomad?]

<You've already seen my hometown.>

[But can you see that?]

<If you try hard enough, you can see everything.>

Leo walked towards a graduate student who was hesitating at the entrance of a lecture hall, invoking the old folks' favorite perseverance theory.

"...Where is it...? It's definitely here..."

"Ameri, you dropped this."

As she frantically searched her pockets, Leo handed her the wallet he had picked up.

"Ah...! It was here...! Thank you so much...!"

She opened the door to the lecture hall, almost sobbing with relief as she took the wallet.

"Thank you... There... It contained meal tickets I bought for food... If it was gone... I would have only eaten kimchi and rice this month..."

The word 'this month' indirectly revealed that she had suffered the same hardship last month.

Feeling sorry for her, Leonardo couldn't even express his sympathy.

"...Ah, by the way... Would you like to listen to the lecture, Leonardo...?"

"Huh? Is that okay?"

"Yes...! Sometimes visitors come to observe and listen to lectures..."

There was no reason for Leonardo to refuse. This was a good opportunity to understand the educational level of the magic tower.

"Then I'll stay."

[Let's see how well the juniors are doing.]

When they opened the door to the lecture hall, students were seated in rows like in a large auditorium. At the center stood a professor at the lectern.

His plump figure, greasy mustache, and hair unfortunately did not give a good impression.

"...Ah, Leonardo. I think it's better not to attend this lecture..."

"Huh? Why?"

Unable to understand her advice, Leonardo asked. Ameri, feeling the complexity of the explanation, sighed and answered.

"Then just listen for 10 minutes. Don't misunderstand..."

Curious about this strange advice, Leo and the sage silently listened to the lecture.

After about 7 minutes, Leo and the sage could not help but agree.

[Is this even a lecture?]

"Is this a lecture?"

It was so ridiculous that it was beyond comprehension.

Of course, compared to the sage, it was expected to be worse, but even considering that, it was a pitiful lecture.

[This is not a lecture but brainwashing.]

The lecture so far was nothing more than memorizing high-level magic arrays and their usage and significance.

It was a rote learning lecture with no value other than the sheer number of magic arrays taught in a short time.

Even Lios wouldn't have given such a worthless lecture.

What was even more ridiculous was that the students were the same.

They were only evaluated on who could say the shape and definition of the magic array faster and more accurately, with no discussion of its significance or application.

It would have been better to do a speed quiz.

"Ah... I see why I shouldn't listen. Quickly..."

"...Leonardo...?"

Ameri, drenched in cold sweat, looked at Leo with a flustered expression. Leo then looked around.

Not only Ameri, but the students were also looking at Leo.

The professor teaching was also looking at him.

[...The professor probably saw me first. That's why everyone is looking at you.]

He felt like sighing.

He deeply regretted not listening to Ameri's advice sooner.

"Hey, who are you? Come down here."

The arrogant and coercive tone made Leonardo, who didn't want to escalate the situation, walk silently to the lectern.

As he walked, the students' gazes made his steps heavier.

"...I heard you commented on my lecture. Can you repeat it?"

"That... that was..."

Suddenly, he slammed his heavy hand on the lectern.

"That's not it, is it? Say it again."

Now, all pretense of civility was gone. It was a clear reprimand.

"...I said, 'Is this a lecture?' and 'I see why I shouldn't listen.' I apologize for causing trouble."

[Hey, just apologize?! Do you have no self-respect?]

Leo wanted to listen to the sage's advice, but now he had to bow his head and endure. If there were any problems with his intermediate magic license, it would be a bigger loss.

"No. Your words might be true. So, I'll give you a chance."

The hypocritical mercy was laughable. If there were no people around, he would have wanted to throw up.

"Since you're dissatisfied with my lecture, why don't you give one yourself? It means you can give a better lecture than a professor who graduated from a formal university, right?"

It was clear to everyone that he intended to humiliate him publicly, to bring shame upon the students of the magic tower.

"...Then I'll sit down. I'll be looking forward to it."

Some students sneered, while others sighed at the professor's childish punishment.

But

<...I have no choice.>

[Good. Completely turn the classroom upside down.]

The sage's disciple showed no signs of unease. The sage was the same.

Tap, tap

Leonardo silently wrote three types of magic arrays on the blackboard.

"I assume you all know these. They are basic 1st Circle magic."

Indeed, they were the first magic arrays Leonardo had learned.

[Fireball]

[Lightning]

[Magic Missile]

"Are you going to teach such basics? This isn't an elementary academy, is it?"

The professor, perhaps gauging Leonardo's level, mocked him.

"...Then let me ask you a question about these basics."

Leonardo, feeling that the mockery was meaningless, looked at the students with a dry voice.

"What are the commonalities and differences among these magic arrays?"

"That's simple..."

"By the way, this is not about the Circle or element. I'm asking about something more fundamental, so please think carefully before answering."

No one answered immediately.

Not to interfere with Leonardo's lecture, but because they genuinely couldn't see any other commonalities or differences.

"Since no one is answering, I'll tell you."

Leonardo drew dotted lines on the magic arrays. He drew vertical dotted lines on Fireball, horizontal dotted lines on Lightning, and a 180-degree inverted form of the magic array on Magic Missile.

"The commonality among these magic arrays is that they are all symmetrical. The difference is that the symmetry is vertical, horizontal, or point symmetry."

Everyone started to respond a little. The fat professor tried to suppress it, but some students quietly nodded.

"These magic arrays are just examples. In fact, all magic arrays are symmetrical. They just become more complex and harder to understand as they get more advanced."

He continued with another question.

"Then why do we put symmetry in magic arrays?"

No one could answer this question. They knew the answer but found it hard to hide their sadness in the bleak educational environment.

"The reason is simple. The foundation of the universe's balance is symmetry."

To make it easier to understand, Leonardo picked up a bead from the table and rotated it.

"This bead always maintains the same shape no matter how you turn it. The fact that it remains the same despite changes is a simple example of symmetry."

Now, some students quietly took out their pens. The instinct of professional learners, who had been in the educational field for a long time, was stimulated to record this lecture in writing.

"The reason magic arrays are symmetrical is here. To extract elements like fire, water, and wind from the universe, symmetry is the most efficient form."

Since the universe is symmetrical, magic arrays are also symmetrical.

It was a logical and clear lecture that could be understood with common sense and the basics of magic.

At that moment, a student cautiously raised her hand.

"Yes, please ask your question."

"...Then... why is there a difference in the types of symmetry?"

She hesitated, aware of the professor's piercing gaze.

"That's also simple. It's to adjust the use of magic for different purposes."

Adjusting the symmetry is a kind of processing. Just as the fire used for cooking and the fire used to melt iron are different, there are processing methods in magic as well.

"So, if you understand the meaning of the magic array, such things are also possible."

Leo materialized a magic array on his hand. It was the shape of Fireball, but it was 180-degree symmetrical based on a point, not vertically symmetrical.

A flame like an arrow was fired as the magic manifested.

"...This is..."

"This is a fusion of Fireball and Magic Missile, a basic way to combine magic. Through understanding and application, countless magic can be developed."

Leo touched the magic arrays drawn on the blackboard.

"Of course, these magic arrays are the basics and the standard. They allow you to use magic quickly and efficiently."

And he erased the magic arrays with an eraser.

"But to live as a magician, not just a magic user, you need to understand more. Remember the standard, but strive for more. That's the essence of a scholar and a magician."

The professor was speechless, and the students were busy taking notes.

Satisfied with the scene, Leo briefly replied.

"Thank you."

With that, he stopped speaking.

It meant the lecture was over.

Clap, clap, clap, clap!!

Weak claps turned into thunderous applause.

All the students unanimously cheered for Leonardo's lecture.

<But what now...>

[Why? You did well. You're not as good as me, but you're much better than that inhuman pig.]

<But... since that pig is the professor, he might raise objections to my intermediate magic license.>

Professor Hageman Pergen

Not a target for immediate punishment or a black magician, but Leonardo personally had no good feelings towards him.

As seen earlier, he was an incompetent professor who was arrogant and condescending.

[Ha... Would he dare to raise petty objections?]

<It feels like a setup, so let's not say more.>

As if responding to the setup, Professor Hageman rushed to Leonardo.

"You...! What's your student number and name!?"

His voice clearly showed no intention of praising.

"That... I'm... Leonardo. I'm not a student, so I don't have a student number."

The students looked at Leonardo with puzzled expressions.

"Could you... be here for a magic license?"

"...Yes."

Then a rotten smile appeared on the professor's face. It seemed the setup had worked.

"Hmm... Then..."

Clap, clap, clap

Short and uniform claps, as if synchronized with the ticking of a clock.

"Excellent lecture, Leonardo."

A man in black walked up. Like Leonardo, he had black hair and red eyes, but he was extremely pale, so they didn't look alike.

[...Is he...?]

That was the thought.

"Ma... Master of the Black Tower...!!"

The Master of the Black Tower, Bernan Verdaine.

"Thank you, but I still have much to improve."

"Still, you deserve this."

The Master of the Black Tower, with a blank expression, handed him a document.

《Intermediate Magic License》

[Subject: Leonardo]

Next to it was a special seal as proof of the Master's approval.

"...Are you giving it to me... right away?"

"What reason is there to delay? I skip unnecessary procedures. It's a waste of time."

[He's reasonable. Not all of them are fools.]

Leonardo agreed with this thought. As he took the license, he gratefully held it.

"Then, if there's an opportunity, at the Black Tower's graduate school..."

"I don't want to."

[No, he's a devil.]

They both agreed on this thought.

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