Chapter 76

### Chapter 76: Magic Analysis (2)

"Student Lee Hyeon. Just in case, is it possible to trace magic circles? Since Ellis can reverse-engineer them, why don't you try to learn by doing it as well!"

The professor encouraged me with a smile. It's already a foregone conclusion that I'll lose.

Actually, that's the right way to think about it.

Among the students, only Ellis is known to be capable of reverse-engineering.

Even active magicians often can't use this skill. It's that difficult and requires a lot of talent.

Tracing magic circles is a lower-level version of reverse-engineering.

It's a magic that traces magic circles, similar to reverse-engineering but with a significant difference in speed.

It's a convenient magic to use as a stepping stone for learning reverse-engineering.

Of course, I can reverse-engineer, but I can't trace magic circles.

"Hmm, I'm not very good at tracing magic circles, but there's no problem with the demonstration you want."

"Great. That's enough."

"..."

Ellis stood in front of me, her eyes showing that she didn't understand.

Well, I wouldn't understand either if I were in her position.

---

『A side quest has been transmitted.』

Ellis feels jealous when she sees someone her age who is better than her!

Should I provoke her jealousy to get her attention?

Be the first to manifest a magic circle before Ellis!

- Reward: +1 Strength

---

Oh, a quest has finally appeared after a long time.

But why is the reward Strength? I'm a magician, you know?

Of course, I have been seriously considering becoming a martial magician as Lilianna suggested recently.

Anyway, the appearance of a quest means I'm finally on the right path of the original story.

Well, it's natural since neither the assistant Lilianna nor the rape scene at the orphanage are in the original story.

"Magic, let's start with the most basic one. Force magic."

Force magic.

It's the most basic magic, which involves materializing mana and shooting it with physical force.

It's a magic that can be used without drawing a magic circle, and it's not very useful, so it's rarely used.

However, there was a huge problem.

"Are you ready?"

"Professor, I'm sorry... I don't know the magic circle for Force magic."

"...? Force magic? Oh, right. Student Lee Hyeon hasn't been a magician for long. I always forget that."

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

"Let's see... What other magic is there?"

"Just teach me the magic circle for Force magic."

"Huh? No, no. That wouldn't be fair. You haven't seen the magic circle yet."

"It's fine. I'm here to learn, and it would be easier for other students to learn if we start with the easiest magic, right?"

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Professor."

I said I would lose anyway, so why are you talking about fairness now?

That's why it's hard to deal with older professors. Just let it go.

"Then, let's try it. It's like this."

A very basic magic circle, a hexagon inside a circle.

I naturally followed it once. It seems so easy that there's no need to talk about fairness.

"I've memorized it."

"Then, let's start when this flame disappears."

The professor made a small flame in his hand.

*Fwoosh*

The flame was gradually shrinking in the air.

Ellis, standing in front of me, didn't seem very nervous as she gathered mana in her body.

I plan to win this reverse-engineering contest perfectly.

The quest said to manifest the magic circle before Ellis, but how will she be jealous and remember it if I do that?

There are a few women I need to charm right now.

I need to make her think about me all day, not just be jealous.

Today, I plan to make Ellis feel the gap in our abilities.

It will be a painful experience for her, but I hope she can endure it.

"If you want to donate books, I'll take them."

"I'll apologize in advance. Don't get too angry."

I shrugged and smiled.

I really hope she doesn't get too angry. I'm not sure if I can control it to just jealousy.

The flame is about to disappear.

I gathered mana throughout my body.

'Kaiyan'

My vision suddenly widened, and I could observe the mana gathering in Ellis's hand.

I also prepared the magic circle.

If I decide to release it quickly, I can do it in an instant, but winning that way would be meaningless.

*Swish*

The flame, the start signal, disappeared, and Ellis immediately began constructing the magic circle.

It seems her strategy is to create the magic circle first rather than interfere with my magic.

If she's confident in her mana control, that's the most straightforward strategy.

However, I didn't construct the magic circle with the mana I gathered.

I just read Ellis's mana.

The gaps between the magic circles, the intensity of the mana, Ellis's breathing.

I analyzed all the elements visible in the split second.

With so many elements to observe, reverse-engineering becomes much easier.

I slightly waved my hand to disrupt Ellis's mana.

"...?!"

The almost completed magic circle was disrupted.

Ellis finally looked at me.

I was slowly constructing the magic circle.

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

Ellis frowned and began to interfere with my mana.

In a fight, even if there's a skill gap, there could be some variables.

But in a pure reverse-engineering contest, the skill gap is impossible to close.

Moreover, Ellis has to calculate and interpret, while I just 'understand.'

That difference is insurmountable.

No matter how much Ellis tried to interfere with my mana, my magic circle was completed.

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

"Ha..."

In the end, Ellis couldn't even use her hands properly and lost to me.

She looked at the completed magic circle in my hand with a hopeless expression.

"Oh, oh! Student Lee Hyeon! You can reverse-engineer! Why didn't you say so earlier!"

"I just learned it by luck."

"What do you mean... No, that's not the point. Another talented first-year magician has emerged. This is great!"

The professor seemed more excited about the good news for Victoria Academy than my performance.

I ignored the professor and looked at Ellis.

Ellis was deeply thinking about why she lost.

"Ellis."

Ellis clenched her fists and glared at me. Her glare was scary.

"What's with that look?"

She seemed to conclude that the reason for her loss was my 'Kaiyan.'

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

If I decided to, I could complete the magic circle in a second and win. It's just meaningless.

"Of course, it's a secret. Oh, you're not holding a grudge, right?"

"... Sigh. Do as you please. So, what do you want me to do? I can do one thing for you."

Ellis's father is the guild master of 'Iris' in France.

Iris Guild, a representative guild in France, is the only information guild known worldwide.

It's so famous that people say you can buy any information if you pay enough money.

Despite receiving many threats, the guild maintains its position due to its overwhelming power.

"I have enough money to commission Iris Guild. If that were the case, I wouldn't have bet with you."

"Really...?"

"Yes. You're right. We'll talk about it later. I wouldn't ignore a bet I lost, would I?"

"... Okay. Don't worry. I'll definitely do it."

Not just commissioning Iris Guild, but directly asking the guild master.

It's not just about money; it requires a lot of connections and luck. But Ellis will get permission if she asks.

The guild master is a huge dad's girl.

But, she seems a bit angry. Or maybe not?

"Ellis, are you angry? It was just a bet."

"Not at all. I'm not angry. Stop saying weird things."

...She seems angry.

Well, the quest is completed, so it's fine.

Heroine charm quests have never caused me any harm.

*

"But where did you learn reverse-engineering? Beating Ellis is a big deal, you know?"

After lunch, as we were heading to the lecture room for the afternoon theory class, Lucy approached me.

"I've been telling you. I learned it on my own."

"Wow... Lee Hyeon is insane."

"Amazing, Hyeon...?"

"Stop it, I'm embarrassed. Let's prepare for the theory class."

I was really embarrassed all during lunch.

People passing by also glanced at me because of Lucy and Lumi.

Or maybe they were just looking because I was with twins on both sides?

We arrived at the lecture room and prepared for the class.

"Seriously, I hate modern hunter studies. I understand it when I hear it, but why do I have to memorize it?"

"Calm down, Lucy. Let's study together in the club room today."

"Should we? Then, Hyeon, come too. You're good at studying."

"Me?"

Actually, I have no plans, so it's fine...

Do I really need to refuse?

It's a good opportunity to be with Lumi.

"Sure, why not."

"Nice. We have a new teacher today. We need to give her a hard time."

"But, Hyeon, don't interfere too much with your studies."

"Got it. Got it. And you have questions to ask too, right?"

"Yeah, but..."

*Knock knock*

"Hello! I'm Professor Kang Hyo-rin! It's been a while."

Professor Kang Hyo-rin, who teaches modern hunter studies, is a very famous professor who often skips classes due to busy schedules.

"Today, we'll review key points for the exam. We don't have much time! We'll go from start to finish without a break, so stay focused and don't fall asleep!"

"Oh, we're doomed."

I heard Lucy's resigned voice next to me.

*

The sedan that always stops at the academy's main gate at the same time every day.

Ellis naturally got into the car.

"Good work, Miss."

"Thanks."

The middle-aged man in the driver's seat started the car as if it were routine.

Ellis always went to a specific restaurant for dinner.

"How is your midterm preparation going?"

"Fine, I guess..."

I hesitated to say, "I'll be first place as usual."

A man came to mind.

"I think I'll be second place."

"Second place? If you say so, there must be an amazing talent."

"Yeah. Lee Hyeon from the publicity department, whom you mentioned before."

"Oh, that handsome guy. Wow, he's good at studying too. I heard he caught an ogre or something. Is that true?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

Ellis didn't believe it, but after seeing Lee Hyeon's magic level today, she started to think, "Maybe..."

"So, can you do some background checks on Lee Hyeon?"

"Ooh! Finally interested in a friend?"

"No, not really. And please have Uncle do the investigation personally. Thanks."

"Then, is it more about monitoring than interest?"

The middle-aged man's demeanor changed. The smiling uncle disappeared, and he exuded a sharp aura.

"Well, it's just a hunch... I feel a bit uneasy."

"Understood. I will follow your orders, Miss."

"Thanks. Always."

Ellis doesn't usually care much about others. She didn't even do background checks on Namda, who was more talented than her.

But Lee Hyeon felt different.

His close relationship with the student council president, the strange atmosphere between him and the Holy Maiden, and his club with the twin beauties of the first year.

Not to mention his abnormal magic skills.

If there was only one suspicious point, Ellis wouldn't have ordered a background check.

But now, she felt like one of these points might be true.

It would be good if it were true, and if not, it's fine.

"Oh, right. Call Dad. Tell him I have a request."

"Understood. When should I start the investigation on Student Lee Hyeon?"

"Hmm, whenever it's convenient. It's not urgent."

"Then, I'll start today."

"Okay. Do as you please."

Ellis casually ordered a background check on Lee Hyeon.

She never imagined that he would be caught in every area she suspected.