Academy’s Genius Mage

“Is this it?”

A new path cut vertically through from the heart to the dantian.

The mana embedded in the circle was, by default, spread throughout the body via meticulously intertwined mana veins.

When gathered in the hands, mages could form runes to perform magic, and when gathered in the feet, they could run faster or protect themselves from impacts.

However, this particular mana vein did not branch out to organs or limbs; it simply connected circle to circle.

“It felt thick and solid, as if made from an unchanging metal…”

The thought that it was extraordinary arose naturally. Despite the whole body being broken and burned, there lingered a vague hope that this vein alone would endure to the end. Yet, this did not resolve Ian’s suspicions.

“It seems to amplify mana, but beyond that, I don’t know. I guess I have no choice but to observe it further. I’m curious about how much my mana has increased, too.”

He was certain the numbers were not small.

Manipulating mana within his body alone changed the surrounding air currents.

“At the very least, I’ve surpassed Milo.”

Milo had set a record in mana measurement at the latter part of the 2nd Circle, specifically 982 points. Of course, mana measurement wasn’t a measure of a mage’s strength but was a useful tool for gauging the absolute volume of a mage’s mana.

Previously, Ian’s recorded mana measurement was 77. If he had surpassed Milo, he must have crossed the mana of 1000, achieving results tens of times greater in one go.

He had never heard of a mage advancing from the 1st Circle to the 3rd Circle in one step.

“When the day’s over, I need to visit Professor Frost.”

Previously, Professor Frost supported Ian’s idea of solving Mana Concentration Disorder by contracting with a spirit.

He promised to measure Ian’s mana if he was successful. Now that he had succeeded, it was time to measure the absolute amount of that achievement.

“With this, the exchange match against the Department of Martial Arts might turn out to be quite fun.”

His heart felt considerably lighter.

There was still no news about the exchange battle with the Department of Martial Arts.

It was said such large events wouldn’t be announced in advance to increase tension. Of course, Ian hadn’t been idle during this time.

He verified the abilities of his glasses and refined some basic magic spells to acquire a few powerful spells. However, stronger spells didn’t necessarily make a mage stronger, because a fight was practical.

No matter how powerful a spell was, if it could only be used once or twice, it was meaningless.

Both mages and martial artists knew several ways to evade or neutralize each other’s attacks. One needed to seize the right moment to deliver a decisive blow, but Ian lacked that ‘stamina.’

The stamina of knights came from physical strength and muscles, while the stamina of mages came from circles.

Ian was in the early stages of the 1st Circle. In such a situation, winning a fight would require relying on luck.

But now the situation had completely changed.

Ian’s expression became noticeably more relaxed.

“Hey, mister.”

『Are you talking to me?』

The cat looked taken aback.

Ian nodded.

“Weren’t you an elder just a moment ago?”

『Well, that’s because I am vastly older than mere humans!』

“So, you’re a mister. Or should I call you grandpa?”

The cat fell silent.

In truth, treating someone this roughly wasn’t Ian’s style. Despite being somewhat blunt at times, he was exceptionally considerate of his companions.

This change was precisely why Ophelia, who constantly tried to devour Ian whenever she could, had softened a bit.

Ian didn’t just have a brilliant mind; he also possessed sincerity that captivated people’s hearts. Of course, Milo didn’t acknowledge this, often retorting that sincerity equated to appearance.

In any case, Ian felt that if he let things slide initially, it would be challenging later on. Therefore, just before forming a contract with the cat, he set a condition.

“No matter what happens, trust and follow me.”

The cat protested fiercely, but Ian’s next words calmed it down.

“I’m not commanding you as your Master. Let’s move together as partners.”

This was exactly the fun and cool relationship the cat desired.

“By the way, what kind of spirit are you?”

『Ha, you ask so quickly. I was wondering when you would ask. Tsk tsk!』

The cat shook its head, although its front paws were boldly raised toward the sky.

“I couldn’t help it. I didn’t expect a circle to form right after the contract.”

Upon confirming the circle’s presence, the first thing Ian Oracle did was rush to an isolated training ground.

He intended to ask questions after making the contract, but the sequence got slightly reversed.

The cat understood his feelings.

『I suppose breaking through the first circle’s barrier was your biggest wish?』

“It wasn’t the biggest wish, hmm. Maybe the second biggest?”

『Myaang? Then what is your biggest wish?』

“Answer what I asked first.”

The cat was not pleased with having lost the initiative.

It had planned to line up the contractor and the other spirits he had contracted, wielding a whip and reigning over them, but that fantasy had to be put on hold.

『I told you before. Even if I explain it, you won’t understand. That’s the truth.』

“Oh, like even if I tell a fool, he won’t get it, that sort of thing?”

『That’s right, human.』

Of course, that evaluation had changed slightly now.

The human before him was smart. His instant wit and resourcefulness were so immense that even he, a great spirit, often couldn’t provide an immediate answer.

“That’s a mistaken thought.”

『What nonsense are you going to spout now!』

“If you don’t explain because you think they won’t understand, that person will never know. People study because they want to understand what they don’t know.”

『Hmm… so this is what’s called studying?』

“That’s right.”

A subtle sense of satisfaction spread across the cat’s face.

For the first time, it felt acknowledged.

A spirit teaching a human—not bad at all.

『Very well. I’ll tell you then. I am the spirit of everything!』

The cat spoke with a determined voice.

Ian almost laughed at the absurdity of it.

“The spirit of everything? What nonsense is that?”

『See! I told you, you wouldn’t understand!』

But it did indeed feel like nonsense.

“How can there be a spirit of everything? We humans classify spirits into four broad categories. First―”

『I know. That’s a very primitive classification.』

Even while responding confidently, the cat gulped.

It decided it should stop interrupting conversations from now on.

“It’s not primitive. Some people believe there might be other elements that haven’t been discovered yet.”

『That’s just a pathetic excuse by incompetent humans.』

“Isn’t saying it’s primitive just because time is needed a hasty judgment? Like it’s not primitive because a certain naughty cat begged and groveled. That naughty cat just needed time.”

『Ahem! Ahem!』

“No matter how you think about it, isn’t ‘undiscovered’ and ‘everything’ quite different?”

『That’s because human knowledge is endlessly shallow and superficial.』

“Could it be that you also don’t know?”

The unforeseen question made the cat falter.

『Th-that can’t be! I am a great spirit!』

“In my view, someone great is someone who can explain difficult concepts simply so that everyone can understand. So you’re not great.”

Someone like that was very close to him.

It was his father.

“Anyway, what’s your name?”

『Of course, you should give me one!』

“What did your previous owner call you?”

『I don’t want to tell you.』

A thought crossed Ian’s mind.

Perhaps no one had given the cat a name before?

“Then how about ‘Goyang’, just as I first called you.”

『Make it properly, with care!』

“And your rank?”

『Ra…nk?』

“We primitive humans classify spirits into lower, middle, upper, and spirit king levels. I know. Don’t look at me like that. I know this classification is rudimentary. I’m just asking for convenience.”

『Of course, spirit king level! No, even higher!』

Ian scratched the side of his head and sighed.

“You must not remember, but at first, you cursed the Spirit King, telling him to fall into the demon world. If he’s called a king, he must rank higher than you, right? So you are probably a high-level spirit, or maybe an intermediate one… But judging by your behavior, you must be lower-level.”

The cat was flustered.

However, it tried hard to maintain its composure.

『As I said before, I am a great spirit.』

“Stay up all night if you must. Let’s get going. Goyang!”

The calm exterior quickly crumbled.

No matter how it thought about it, the name ‘Goyang’ was too much to bear.

『Keng!』

Then the cat bumped into Ian.

This time, it finally had something to say. It was because Ian had suddenly stopped, causing the collision.

『Can’t you walk properly! Even dogs don’t walk like this!』

Ian did not respond.

He was simply staring intently at something. It was a mana streetlamp illuminating the pitch-black sky.

It felt as though a star had appeared before his eyes.

Suddenly, Ian realized that the light he had always seen appeared particularly beautiful that day.

And thoughts led to more thoughts.

“A spirit of everything. Everything. A spirit for everything…”

After quite some time, which would be excessively long if only spent looking at a streetlamp, Ian’s sharp gaze turned to the cat.

Soon after, Ian propped his chin on his hand.

“Right. That’s why you said it was everything… Such a cute fellow. So that’s what you meant, a spirit of everything.”

Mumbling to himself with unknowable words, Ian began to walk again.

『What is going on? He’s scary!』

The cat shivered in fear.

* * *

“Professor.”

“Looks like there’s been progress.”

Even though they saw each other daily except on weekends, Professor Frost sensed a change in Ian.

After class, Ian immediately followed Professor Frost to report his progress.

“Everything has returned to its rightful place now.”

“Congratulations.”

Professor Frost understood intimately how much meaning was packed into that simple statement.

As a mage, Ian had essentially just been born anew.

“Then, as promised, shall we conduct a mana measurement?”

“Would it be alright if I visited you this evening?”

“Certainly. This time, I’ll prepare more precise equipment.”

Unlike students, professors come and go as they please. However, Professor Frost often stayed late at the academy.

“See you later then.”

“Today’s class was really informative as well.”

“It seems the days of hearing that it was informative for you are numbered.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Ian was surprised.

Could Professor Frost be planning on leaving the academy?

“If things continue like this, there might be nothing left for you to learn from the general curriculum before you even pick a specialty. As a student, isn’t it when you don’t know something that a class becomes informative?”

“Oh… I thought you were thinking of moving elsewhere. That scared me.”

“Not that I haven’t considered it, but not for now. If a student finds something informative, the professor finds subtle satisfaction in that.”

Ian bowed his head with a humble smile.

After parting with Professor Frost, Ian went directly to Professor Elena’s lab.

Elena seemed to have an inkling why Ian had come all this way.

“Did you already do it?”

Ian didn’t bother to hide his elemental power.

“Yes, it happened like that.”

“Wow! Congratulations!”

To be congratulated by eminent mages, especially the professors of the Royal Academy, felt gratifying.

“Since there was a promise, I will show you my spirit first, Professor.”

“Really, I’m the first?”

“If you exclude me, you’re the first.”

“Wow!”

Professor Elena’s face turned red. She was as excited as a child awaiting a gift on a national holiday.

“But before that, could you promise me one more thing? I know it may be rude.”