The Academy Regressor is Obsessed

Three weeks had already passed since the new year began.
It was still winter. However, the severe cold wave had long since passed. Even though the cold wave wasn’t really felt in Wiheim, it was still technically the season for it.

But the weather was still cold, so snow was falling from the sky instead of rain. Although the city system could stop the snow or rain, unless it was falling too heavily, they usually allowed some to maintain the atmosphere.

Today was like that. Snow that didn’t accumulate but fell moderately was scattering in the streets. Asel looked at the snow for a moment, then turned his head towards the desk.

There was a letter on the desk. It was something the Academy had sent through Norium. The content informed that the Academy entrance exam would start in three weeks and told where the location would be. Asel checked the map attached with the letter and sat on the bed.

‘The southern forest of the Academy, huh.’

Luminous Academy is located in the southwest of the Empire. It has its own territory, which is wide enough to easily surpass the size of an average city. It’s not for nothing that the Academy is called an educational city.

The problem is that the Empire where the Academy is located is quite far from Wiheim. Even after arriving in the Empire, it would take at least a few days to reach the Academy.

Weren’t Wiheim and the Academy on good terms? He had certainly heard they were friendly, but the physical distance was farther than enemies, let alone friends. At this point, they might as well be complete strangers. It seemed like it would take a full two weeks even by carriage. It might even take longer than that.

‘To reduce variables, I should leave tomorrow.’

Asel thought as he folded his arms and lay back.

If only he could change his body into lightning and fly like Ena, there would be no problem. It was a pity that he hadn’t reached that level yet.
In the end, he would have to hire a coachman and move directly on the road. However, he might encounter bandits on the way, or have to take a detour due to broken roads. Then it would take even longer than expected.

In the end, there was only one way.

‘Right, let’s just ask for permission and leave tomorrow.’

It was a sudden decision, but there was no other way. He had to leave as soon as possible. Asel thought this and got up to tell Ena.

At that moment, something flew and knocked on the window.

Knock knock.

“?”

When he turned his head, a metal bird with wings was sitting outside the window, pecking at it with its beak. It was a product of magical engineering used to deliver letters in Wiheim, but it was Asel’s first time seeing it directly. The letter from the Academy had been handed to him by Evelyn as soon as he returned from going out.

‘It’s well-made.’

Asel narrowed his eyes and stared at the metal bird.

The power is implemented through a magical power drive device, and the overall frame and tendons are composed of metals with good magical conductivity. An autonomy-granting magic is applied to replace the brain so it can think on its own, and wind magic is partially inserted in both wings to reduce air resistance.

Designed like this, it should be able to evenly distribute the magical power flowing through the entire body to fly faster and more accurately. Asel thought this while staring at the messenger bird. But the bird seemed to interpret his curious gaze differently, as it trembled and repeatedly looked at the sky and then at the window.

It looked as if it was scared. It must have thought he was going to disassemble it. Asel was surprised by the fact that this metal bird was capable of such imagination and opened the window. The messenger bird crawled into the room with a reluctant gesture, then widely opened its belly and took out a letter from inside.

Looking at the outside, he could see the word Norium written on it. He already knew this because the magical power felt from the messenger bird was the same as his. Asel opened the envelope of the letter and, while stroking the cold metal head of the messenger bird, said:

“Thank you.”

[Beep!]

The messenger bird made a cute sound and nodded its head, then flew up into the sky with a big flap of its wings. Asel closed the window, sat in the chair, and read the letter.

[Asel, the date for the Academy entrance exam has been set. You probably already know since I’ve already sent a letter there, but just in case, I’m telling you again. You were aware of it, right? I’ll believe you were.]

[Anyway. The reason I’m sending another letter even though I’ve already sent one is because I forgot to tell you this. You see, as I get older, my memory gets fuzzy. It seems even magicians can’t escape the passage of time.]

Nonsense. When you reach the level of an archmage, your lifespan increases exponentially. It’s not immortality, but you can achieve agelessness.

To begin with, when you can change your appearance as you wish, what’s aging? Although you can only change to your younger or older self, it’s the same in that you’ve stepped out of the flow of time.

The fact that Norium appears as an old man is purely his will. Moreover, his brain is likely to be much sharper than it was in his youth.

Still, there was a high possibility that he really did forget. That was merciless whether you were a magician or an ordinary person.

Asel continued reading the letter.

[I’ll end the introduction here and tell you the main point. You were probably quite surprised to see the date and place of the entrance exam written in the letter, but don’t worry. I’ll open the space for you directly on the day of the exam. That’s why I left this letter. And just in case, you don’t need to send a reply to this letter.]

“Oh.”

He exclaimed in admiration after confirming the contents of the letter.

If the Federation leader directly tears open space to connect the coordinates, there was no need to leave by carriage tomorrow. He could leisurely stay until the day of and there wouldn’t be much problem. Asel nodded and carefully folded the letter to store it in the drawer.

Since he said a reply wasn’t necessary, there seemed to be no need to spend time conveying thanks. He could just do it directly on the day.

‘With this, the plan is completely canceled. Let’s focus only on magic research for the time being.’

Asel thought as he took out a book he had put on the bookshelf.

There were 3 weeks left. He had to go through the process of refining some high-level magic he hadn’t mastered yet, and also conduct research on revising the basic magic ‘Lightning Release’ into more diverse forms. Ena had said that to create magic, one must start by revising the most basic magic, so this had to be achieved first.

‘I should also regain my feel for fire magic, which I’ve rested from for a few days.’

In addition to this, he planned to learn how to intricately weave barriers on the skin and practice circuits suitable for using various branches of magic in advance.

There was a lot to do. It wasn’t so leisurely after all.

So, he started his research without hesitation. He repeatedly drew and erased magic formulas on paper, and ran simulations focusing on the flow, fluidity, repulsion, expansion, compression, and decomposition of magical power. He accumulated data by actually using magic and repeating failures.

It wasn’t research that would end in a day. Asel finished his research for the day only when dawn came, and got up again before the sun rose the next day to continue his research.

This life continued for 3 weeks.

I’m tired.

Asel thought as he pressed his throbbing eyelids.

Looking in the mirror, his already sharp features had become even sharper than usual. Dark circles had also settled heavily under his eyes. He clicked his tongue and left the room.

He had overdone it because it seemed like the results of the experiment would come out, and ended up staying up all night. Although he got satisfactory results, it was also true that it was tough. It was natural, considering he had drastically reduced his sleep time for nearly 3 weeks and then stayed up all night.

“Did you pull an all-nighter again?”

As he went down to the dining room, Evelyn, who was setting the tableware, asked with a stern expression. Asel sat down with a bitter smile.

“It’s manageable.”
“Oh my. Try to hold back a bit today! It’s an important day!”
“That’s right. Stupid Asel doesn’t even know what day it is today.”

Hailey, who brought out breakfast, said in a playful tone.

Not knowing what day it is? That was a fact Asel knew better than anyone else.

“Isn’t it the day of the Academy entrance exam? I know well.”
“But you stayed up all night?”
“I’m sorry.”

Having no excuse, Asel immediately apologized. Evelyn, who was making a “hmph” sound with her hands on her hips, plopped down in the seat next to Asel. Hailey also sat in an empty seat and twirled the knife in her hand deftly.

“Our little brother. Why can’t you take care of your body? Do I need to do it for you?”
“It’s just this time, just this time. You’re making a fuss.”
“You said the same thing last time, and then came out looking like a corpse after doing nothing but research for two days.”

I have nothing to say to that.

Asel cleanly ignored Evelyn’s words and drank water. Getting involved in an argument you can’t win is something only third-rate magicians would do.

“The water tastes good.”
“Don’t ignore me!”

Evelyn poked Asel’s side with her finger, pouting her lips.

“Ugh. Ugh.”

Asel obediently submitted to this attack. Not long after that, Ena appeared in the dining room, rubbing her eyes in her pajamas. Asel got up slightly from his seat to welcome her. The other two also bowed, saying, “You’re up, Lady Ena.”

“Good morning, Master.”
“…Mmm.”

Ena answered in a very sleepy voice, then narrowed her eyes when she saw Asel’s appearance.

“Did you stay up all night?”
“…It just happened. Haha.”
“You’re laughing.”
“……”

Asel closed his mouth. Ena sighed deeply and sat down.

“You stayed up all night on the day of the exam. What about your condition?”
“It’s fine. It’s not the first time I’ve stayed awake all day.”
“Is that something to brag about?”
“……”
“Haah… I have a medicine that eliminates fatigue, so take that before you go. I’ll also pack a few things you’ll need for the exam.”
“Thank you.”

Asel said, bowing his head. Ena, who had been looking at him with disapproving eyes, soon picked up her spoon and started eating. Following her lead, the other three also began their breakfast.

After that, when the meal was finished, Asel headed to Ena’s room with a backpack of appropriate size. Ena brought out a few medicines she had stashed in the storage and handed them to Asel.

“Drink the yellow one first. It’s a stimulant.”
“Yes.”

Asel immediately drank the yellow liquid in the reagent bottle. The effect was instantaneous. His slightly foggy mind cleared up, and his heavy eyelids lightened. Ena explained about the rest of the medicines she had brought while watching Asel exclaim in admiration.

“I’m not sure how the exam will be conducted, but there will definitely be combat. So I brought some medicines that will help with that.”
“What are their effects?”
“They are, respectively, a nerve stabilizer, magical power amplifier, instant recovery potion, magical power regeneration potion, local anesthetic, painkiller, and hemostatic agent. I’ve selected only useful ones, so their performance should be sufficient.”

Ena said in a confident voice. Asel looked at the medicine in his hand with a dubious expression.

…Isn’t it cheating to bring these? Even while thinking this, he still put the medicines in his backpack. Even if it’s not allowed, he could just return them on-site. There was no disadvantage in packing them.

“Thank you, Master. I’ll definitely pass the exam and come back.”

Asel said to Ena as he carefully organized the medicine bottles so they wouldn’t break. Ena pointed to a box placed in the corner of the room, as if to say ‘what are you talking about?’

“I still have more to give you.”
“What? There’s more?”
“Yes. A magical power enhancement ring, a presence concealment pendant, a lucky charm, a magical power recovery amplification ring, a heating device, a distraction bomb, a magical power flow control device, an external magical power source. There’s even more besides these. Take them all.”
“…Isn’t this too much? I’m not going to war.”
“You might need them. Take them.”

Ena’s attitude was firm. In the end, Asel was only able to head to the Federation after wearing all the artifacts Ena handed to him.

The ten rings on his fingers and various necklaces around his neck made clinking sounds with every movement. The glasses he was wearing for the first time were very uncomfortable.

In that state, he arrived at the Federation. Perhaps thanks to Norium’s advance notice, the path to the leader’s reception room was very smooth.

Arriving at the reception room with everyone from the mansion. When he knocked on the door, a welcoming voice was heard from the other side.

-Come in.

“Excuse me.”

Asel slowly opened the door and entered the reception room. His eyes met with Norium and his party, who were already brewing tea. Asel immediately bowed his head and greeted him.

“Good morning, Federation Leader.”
“Yes, yes. Good morning. Come, sit… Wait.”

Norium’s voice, which had been speaking with a smile, suddenly turned cold. He detected the numerous artifacts all over Asel’s body and muttered with a hollow laugh.

“Are you going to war?”
“That’s what I wanted to say.”

Asel replied with an aggrieved expression.