A full day passed.
Thick introductory books on magic circles borrowed from the library were stacked like a tower on the desk, while Aion’s notebook had turned black with layers of writing and erasing.
“Hmm....”
Rubbing his sore eyes, Aion read a passage from the book aloud.
— A magic circle is a collection of conventions that assigns laws to formless mana. Points, lines, and planes. All of them become a language that determines the properties of a formula.
“A convention, a language... It should at least be written so people can read it if it wants to have a conversation.”
Flip—
Irritably, he turned the page of his notebook.
The complex diagram Professor Helsen had drawn on the blackboard.
No matter how he looked at it, it did not resemble an agreed-upon language. It looked more like the trail left behind by a drunken earthworm.
“...What is what?”
It was utterly incomprehensible.
【Fire: Tch. I cannot even tell him directly. This is frustrating enough to kill me.】
He looked as though his mouth itched to give Aion the answer immediately. But someone beside him restrained him.
【Earth: Be patient. What would be the point if we spoon-fed him everything? We are trying to raise this brat into a proper mage, not turn him into an idiot who steals someone else’s answer to scrape together points.】
Aion agreed with that a hundred times over.
If Fire’s Ultimate Point had tried to tell him the answer outright, he was confident he would have covered his ears.
“...That is true.”
Aion nodded and picked up his pen again.
“If I cannot solve even a trivial assignment like this on my own, I cannot become a mage. There would be no meaning to the task, either.”
This task was for Aion, not for the Ultimate Points.
【Arcana: A sound judgment. Yggdrasil is no fool, either.】
Aion lightly tapped his pen against his finger.
He had already expected as much, but now it was confirmed.
【Arcana: If you do not think independently, Yggdrasil will not recognize it as your achievement.】
“...As expected.”
【Fire: ...Can I not even give simple advice?】
【Arcana: There is a permitted line. As long as you are careful, that is not a problem.】
【Fire: Tch. That is at least a relief.】
How much longer did he turn the pages?
“...Found it.”
【Fire: Hm?】
【Earth: Ho....】
【Waterflow: At this rate, he is not completely without potential. As expected of my past self.】
One of the magic circles included as an example in a reference book exactly matched part of the composite magic circle.
The name of that magic circle was—
“...Rotation?”
One of the lowest-tier magic circles.
The explanation only said that it was a magic circle that simply induced rotation.
“...Why is it lowest-tier?”
【Fire: Th-that... Hmm... Never mind.】
【Earth: ...You held back well.】
“If it was designed by a fifth-tier mage... a grand mage, then why would they use a lowest-tier magic circle?”
Tiers.
The term used to describe a mage’s rank.
From first-tier mages, who had only just begun walking the path of magic, to fifth-tier mages—beings who had reached a realm where they could overturn the earth and rain down fire and lightning.
It was common knowledge that even if dozens of mages at Aion’s level gathered together, they could not defeat a single fifth-tier mage.
The path of magic was a long journey, but it was never level ground.
It was an uphill path with steep inclines. Among them, the wall of the fifth tier was so formidable that it was called the Wall of Ignorance. Those who crossed it had all established domains of their own.
And yet, ironically, the magic circle such a powerful mage had used in this composite magic circle was of the lowest tier.
...There must have been a reason.
A lowest-tier circle was not useless. What if that was precisely why it had been used?
“...Could it be?”
Aion opened the book and began searching through the lowest-tier magic circles.
“...Hm?”
A familiar shape.
“...Found another.”
【Fire: Brat! You are doing well!】
【Life: Keep going, Aion. You can do it.】
He found two additional magic circles.
“Tracking... and Vibration?”
Track something, make it vibrate, and rotate it?
“An offensive spell?”
【Fire: Th-that, really....】
【Earth: Stop making such a fuss, you old man.】
“So it is an offensive spell. ...Or is it?”
【Earth: ...Damn it!】
【Fire: Heh heh heh... Who are you to talk?】
Aion tilted his head and turned the page of his notebook.
“The vibration circle is divided by tiers. ...Why?”
After searching even through the footnotes, he found the answer.
“It is because of the intensity.”
Aion marked a large X in his notebook.
“Then it does not seem to be an offensive spell.”
【Arcana: Why did you judge that?】
“If it were an offensive spell, there would be no reason to set the vibration so weakly. Half the component circles are lowest-tier, too.”
【Arcana: ...I see.】
A brief silence followed.
It would have been reasonable to ask the Ultimate Points for a hint, but Aion had no intention of doing so. It was right to push through to the end on his own.
“The vibration could have been strengthened... but it was not. What if that exact degree of force was necessary?”
Why?
Why use such a spell?
Why...?
A remarkable mage who had reached the fifth tier.
Yet the combination of magic circles had neither significant power nor an impressive concept.
It was not the sort of magic circle someone like that would create.
Why? Why this magic circle...?
At that moment, a thought flashed through Aion’s mind.
“I have one question.”
【Arcana: Speak.】
“Is the form fixed? For example, if it is a vibration magic circle, is there a rule that says it must be drawn this way?”
【Arcana: ...There are rules. In this case, it would be more appropriate to call them standards. Look at the vibration magic circles of each tier. Their core frameworks will be similar, but each will have its own characteristics.】
“...Ah.”
【Arcana: If you study more deeply, you could memorize even those minute characteristics. But you are short on time right now.】
“...I think I understand. That helped.”
Flip—!
...Flip—!
Aion rapidly turned the pages, filling his notebook with writing.
...Flip!
As he immersed himself so completely that he forgot the passage of time, the remaining white pages of his notebook darkened with ink. Outside the window, the sky too darkened as dusk gave way to night.
【Fire: This brat....】
【Waterflow: It is not a bad start. No, it is fast.】
【Fire: I do not think I was like this in my day....】
【Lightning: Heeheeheehee! We were idiots! That is why we suffered for all those years!】
...Thud.
Aion closed the thick book and spoke.
“...So this was it.”
***
The next day, in the Fundamentals of Magic Circle Design classroom.
The air was so heavy it was almost suffocating.
Below the podium, students who had already been shipwrecked by Professor Helsen returned to their seats.
“A spell that compresses and fires flames... perhaps a rapid-fire magic circle... something like that....”
“Go back to your seat. Monkey.”
“I-I think it is a defensive spell! Rotating mana could deflect an enemy’s attacks....”
“Your imagination is impressive. Go back to your seat. Monkey.”
He showed no mercy.
It did not matter whether they were elites from the Magic Tower’s youth research program or children of prestigious families.
The moment they stood before the blackboard, they all looked the same in Helsen’s eyes.
Not mages.
Monkeys.
“Next.”
At Helsen’s dry voice, the classroom froze.
“My turn.”
A blond male student seated in the center rose from his chair.
“It is Kael....”
“Kael is taking this class, too?”
“Oh my, that is the young lord of House Pyron. Of course he will be different.”
“He is the heir of the Pyrons. He must have something the rest of us do not, right?”
Kael Pyron.
The heir of the long-established Marquisate of Pyron, and a talented student who had been admitted with a high entrance-exam score.
With an arrogant expression, he looked around at the others and walked to the blackboard.
...This is easier than blowing my nose.
Kael took up the chalk and confidently began analyzing the magic circle.
“This composite magic circle has four core components.”
Tap, tap, tap—
He wrote Tracking, Rotation, Vibration, and Stripping on the blackboard.
Striking the board with his palm, Kael announced loudly,“This is a restraint trap designed for use against people. It detects intruders, uses a mana vortex and vibrations to disrupt their balance, then disarms them.”
“I have heard enough.”
“Yes!”
He waited for an assessment with a triumphant smile, but Professor Helsen was examining the answer sheets submitted by other students.
Then he glanced at Kael and said,“What are you doing?”
“...Pardon?”
“Why are you still standing there?”
“B-but I clearly gave my answer....”
“So?”
“Um... I have not received an evaluation yet....”
“Monkey, do not waste any more of my time.”
Pfft—
Someone’s laughter escaped.
Soon, the lecture hall fell quiet again.
Kael returned to his seat with a dazed expression.
Without even looking at his retreating back, Helsen muttered as he turned over another answer sheet.
“Combat magic.... Your imagination is impressive. Unfortunately, your ability to see magic circles is woefully inadequate.”
Still bent over the papers, he called out,“Next. Come forward.”
The female student seated at the center of the front row stood.
Her hair carried a bluish tint, and her large, round eyes made her features striking. Her face did not look as though she belonged to any particular country.
“...Who is she?”
“I have never seen her before. Is she not from an Imperial house?”
The classroom fell quiet as she walked to the blackboard.
Eyes followed her.
Professor Helsen looked up from the answer sheet.
“Leila Draconis. Where are you from?”
Leila looked at the professor briefly.
She was not hesitating to answer.
Rather, she seemed slightly unfamiliar with the Empire’s language.
“Rexon. Kingdom of Rexon.”
A short silence.
A faint stir spread through the classroom.
She had not used an honorific.
Then someone raised a hand.
“Um... Leila is not yet accustomed to the language here, so toward the professor....”
“I know. Do not concern yourself with it.”
Helsen cut them off.
Leila watched the exchange quietly before turning to the blackboard.
“The magic circle has five components.”
Picking up the chalk, she filled the blackboard in smooth handwriting.
Tracking, Vibration, Rotation, Stripping, and Decomposition.
Exclamations broke out among the students.
“Ah! It was Decomposition!”
“That circle was Decomposition...? No wonder... I was so close....”
Setting down her chalk, she said,“This is a laundry spell. It tracks the target, strips away surface contaminants, shakes and rotates them off, then decomposes them.”
The classroom fell quiet for a moment.
“...Why do you think so?”
“The strengths are all too weak to use on a human. I thought the target must be something else.”
Professor Helsen stroked his chin as he studied her.
“Not bad.”
The classroom stirred again.
It was the gentlest evaluation he had given anyone so far.
“I knew she would be different!”
“...Why?”
“Because she is pretty!”
“....”
“...It is impressive, though. She found the Decomposition circle. I did not get that far....”
Unconcerned by their reaction, Helsen continued to look at Leila.
“Still, it is insufficient.”
“...”
“You should not have stopped thinking.”
Helsen waved his hand.
“Go back to your seat. Monkey.”
After that, countless names were called.
And every one of them was eventually called the same thing by Professor Helsen.
Monkey.
Just before every student gathered in the classroom was turned into a monkey, he called the name of the final student who had submitted an answer.
“Aion Iskar. Come forward.”
Helsen raised his eyes slightly and met Aion’s gaze.
At first, the classroom did not react.
It was an unfamiliar name.
Then, one by one, students looked up to confirm who Aion was. Whispers emerged from every corner of the room.
“Hey, is that not the kid from the malfunctioning crystal-ball incident?”
“Yeah. I heard he even had to be tested again.”
Aion did not avoid their gazes. He walked to the podium, chalk in hand.
Then he wrote the names of the magic circles.
Tracking, Vibration, Rotation, Stripping, Decomposition.
“It is the same as that girl’s answer.”
“Did he secretly copy her or something?”
As Aion set the chalk down, Helsen spoke.
“Write whatever answer you wish. Explain the process through which you concluded what this magic circle is.”
“...Understood.”
“I focused on the fact that the mage who designed this magic circle was a fifth-tier mage.”
“...Why?”
“Because that is what you said, Professor.”
— It is a composite magic circle designed by a fifth-tier mage. By the next class, infer how many magic circles it is composed of.
Helsen immediately countered him.
“I am asking why you focused on that statement. Why did the fact that it was designed by a fifth-tier mage seem important?”
“Because of what you said at the end....”
— I did not say a single unnecessary word in this class.
Low exclamations escaped throughout the classroom.
How many students had remembered that statement?
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“...Ah, wait.”
A disturbance rose among the students.
There were those among them who understood Aion’s words.
“If you had merely wanted us to interpret the composite magic circle, then telling us it had been designed by a fifth-tier mage would not have been necessary.”
“...Continue.”
“For a magic circle designed by a fifth-tier mage, its composition is excessively low-level. At this level of power, it could not inflict meaningful harm on an enemy.”
Helsen crossed his arms without a word.
“So I judged that it was not a combat spell, but a household spell. A household spell that would require rotation and vibration... cleaning, or laundry.”
“...And?”
“I searched for magic circles from that category.”
Murmur, murmur....
“His answer is the same as Leila’s... but something feels strange.”
“...Right? It is a little... different somehow.”
Aion continued without faltering.
“I found Stripping and Decomposition that way. I became certain it was laundry rather than general cleaning because of the Rotation circle.”
“...There was more on the answer sheet you submitted.”
“...Yes.”
“Write it.”
Tap—
Aion wrote one more magic circle on the blackboard.
Water Ball.
“It felt strange that a mage would go fetch water directly when the spell is for laundry.”
“...Why?”
Helsen’s eyebrow moved slightly.
“Because a mage who devised such a complex magic circle just to avoid the inconvenience of doing laundry would not fetch water personally.”
Scratch, scratch—
Aion used the chalk to mark and emphasize a portion where the magic circles intersected.
“This part. I thought the point where the circles cross resembled another magic circle.”
“...That would be Water Ball.”
“That is correct.”
Another magic circle hidden between the five circles.
Setting down his chalk, Aion looked directly at Helsen.
“...Why?”
“There is something I could not put on my answer sheet.”
“What is it?”
Every student’s gaze focused on Aion.
“I could not find how this magic circle handles the contaminated water after the laundry is done.”
“...Why did you assume that this magic circle would even consider wastewater disposal?”
Aion did not hesitate.
“Because it was designed by a fifth-tier mage.”
A brief silence.
Then—
Step.
Professor Helsen approached him and took the chalk from his hand.
Stroke—
When he added two curved lines, Aion’s eyes narrowed.
“...This is!?”
Whooooom—
Light shone from the magic circle drawn on the blackboard, and a blue sphere formed above Professor Helsen’s palm.
The Water Ball spun and vibrated. Then, in an instant—
Fwoooosh—!
It turned into vapor and vanished.
Everyone realized that the magic circle that had just been drawn on the blackboard had been activated in Professor Helsen’s hand.
The classroom held its breath.
“Aion Iskar.”
Professor Helsen looked directly at him.
“You are not a monkey.”
Ding!
***
[!] Task completed.
[!] Rewards granted: Intelligence +3, Wisdom +3
***