The Academy’s Doomed Young Lord Dies Ten Thousand Times

Chapter 32 - There Are No Bad Lectures in the World

On Friday, the end of the week, I was leisurely crossing the campus to attend a lecture.

Several thoughts came to mind, one of which was about my progress so far.

After going through all that trouble to enter the academy, I would say my academy life was going quite smoothly.

This was partly because I had achieved good results in the entrance examination and practical test, but also because a good flow was continuing in various other aspects.

If I were to consider the unstable factors before pointing out the positive ones, first, there was the previously mentioned discrepancy between Rain Enlight’s ‘actual past’ and my current strength.

If someone asked where the shut-in Rain Enlight suddenly got this strong, I had nothing to say.

The answer to that question, at least for now, couldn’t be given without mentioning the existence of my regression skill, 『Overcoming Ten Thousand Deaths』. It was my alpha and omega.

But what if, in an attempt to explain it, I revealed the existence of 『Overcoming Ten Thousand Deaths』, and my enemies started acting with that in mind?

There was a high possibility that things would get quite complicated in the future. They would likely try to kill me by setting a trap from which I couldn’t escape no matter what.

Anyway, there were many things to think about on this topic. Such as…… how to explain my current state.

On the other hand, pointing out the positive factors, there had been progress in my combat power.

The fact that I had become stronger without using many regressions was particularly important. Like passing the monster suppression test during the entrance examination in just ten regressions.

Learning the monsters’ movements in just ten regressions seemed to be mainly due to the 『Combat Sense』 skill having risen to A-rank from previous battles. Should I say I could roughly see the flow of battle?

Anyway, that was good too…… and the fact that Acaite was giving me private lessons was also a positive factor.

I could also supplement my weaknesses by processing the magic stone I received as a reward for the practical test into a weapon. At this rate, my growth wouldn’t be halted.

There was also decent progress in my standing at the academy. I wasn’t a prominent figure or a popular person now, but at least I wasn’t in a position of being despised like right after the entrance ceremony. Since I had formed a close relationship with Regina, there was plenty of room for improvement in the future.

The most encouraging aspect was the human relationships. I had made a decent connection with Princess Regina, my advising professor Acaite was one of the world’s most renowned warriors, and most importantly, I was making fast progress in getting acquainted with the playable characters.

I had already gotten acquainted with three of the five playable characters—Serene, Yuna, and Khan. Moreover, I had even formed a pair with Yuna, so it could only be described as smooth sailing.

It bears repeating, but forming bonds with the playable characters was as important as me getting stronger. No, perhaps it was even more important than me getting stronger.

The playable characters were each designed to be able to endure the main story alone, so with the exception of Yuna, they basically had high specs.

If I, with my knowledge of the future, could control these individuals who possessed such extraordinary strength, I might be able to correct the world’s future in a positive direction, beyond simply following the story.

Anyway, the reason I was rambling on to myself like this was that today, another opportunity to make a new connection with a playable character had arisen.

And with the one I thought would be the hardest to connect with.

It all started with the only aptitude I possessed, 『Aptitude: Origin Magic』. The one I found out about during the entrance examination.

Perhaps they thought it was worth researching since, in the current era of the world, it was considered a lost magic that existed only in literature.

A dedicated lecture for Origin Magic was established, and I was forcibly assigned to that lecture. Like a required elective in a Korean university.

Anyway, for that reason, I was heading to a lecture hall in the Magic Department. As someone with an F+ in Magic Power, it was a place I would normally never go, but the Magic Department had forcibly assigned the lecture, saying it was a mandatory course.

I crossed the Magic Department’s lecture building and headed for a lecture hall on the top floor of the tower located in the center of the building.

Fortunately, this world had a magical tool that served as an elevator, so I didn’t have to walk up.

This top-floor lecture hall held a special meaning for the professors of the Magic Department; among mages, the act of ‘getting closer to the sky’ was considered an act of getting closer to the origin of magic.

In other words, the lecture halls on the top floor were usually only usable by professors with high authority…….

And that meant the professor who would teach me Origin Magic was a professor with a pretty solid standing.

Well, even without such speculation, I had a vague idea of who would be in charge of this lecture.

With such thoughts, I slowly approached the door of my destination lecture hall.

‘Is this it?’

And, I opened the door.

The first thing that came into view upon opening the door was…… the beautifully decorated top-floor lecture hall. And sitting inside was a single girl.

The girl, with hair and eyes the color of the sky, was sitting by the window, blankly gazing beyond it, draped in the sunlight shining through.

The sight of the girl was so transiently beautiful that the thought suddenly occurred to me that she might break if touched. Like a piece of glasswork.

That was my impression of Arien Ortega, the girl who would later become the world’s best and strongest mage.

The girl, who seemed to be watching the clouds floating by beyond the window, turned her head in response to the sound of me opening the door. And she seemed to be looking at me.

I found a suitable seat and sat down. Even if I approached her first right away, it would be almost impossible to catch the interest of Arien, who was aloof to all worldly affairs.

I sat down in my seat, and after sitting quietly for a while, I briefly glanced towards Arien.

There was no particular reason. It was just that Arien was the only other person in this lecture hall.

In that situation, the action Arien took was completely beyond my expectations.

That Arien, after looking at me, stood up from her seat and started walking towards me.

‘……?’

Why on earth? For now, I decided to calmly observe Arien’s actions. There could be some other intention.

But Arien shattered my thoughts and came closer and closer to me. And, in the end, she sat down right next to me and spoke first.

“Hello.”

With her round eyes showing not a single tremor, the girl offered such a greeting with a blank expression.

“……Hello.”

I could only respond to her greeting in a daze. No matter how I thought about it, the current situation was too far from my expectations.

What kind of character was Arien in ?

Because she had been confined in the Magic Tower as a research subject for the Magic Tower Master since birth, she had no social skills whatsoever, and she had no desire for relationships with others.

Only the attainment of magic. Among them, the one created for the Magic Tower Master Tyrion’s earnest wish of completing Origin Magic. That was Arien Ortega.

Until she formed bonds with the other playable characters she happened to get entangled with, she shouldn’t even show an attitude of approaching others first…….

‘What on earth is this.’

And in that state, Arien swept her side hair back and was just watching me as if observing me.

I couldn’t help but be confused in that situation.

It was certainly a good thing that Arien was approaching me like this, but when it deviated so much from my expectations, only question marks were engraved in my mind.

Even in that confusing situation, time continued to flow…….

Clank.

After about a minute had passed, the sound of the lecture hall door opening was heard.

‘He’s here.’

With a strange sense of relief, I turned my head to look at where the door had opened. And there, a gentleman with a monocle, possessing a neat appearance and a cold impression, was standing.

‘As expected, it’s Albert Eisner.’

Albert Eisner, the head professor of the Magic Department with the moniker ‘Seeker of the Origin,’ was, as his moniker suggested, a man crazy about the study of Origin Magic.

Based on his past magitechnical achievements, he had a solid position within the Magic Department, and the setting was that he was still regarded as a very competent professor.

Furthermore, Professor Albert was a figure directly involved in the collapse of the school in Part 3.

He didn't have malicious intentions from the start; rather, while researching Origin Magic, he came into contact with the main villain who could handle Origin Magic freely and ended up betraying them.

‘What should I do about him……. I’ll have to watch him for now.’

If I couldn’t think of any other means, I might have to kill him, but for now, the basis for judgment was insufficient, so I decided to reserve that decision. As I got to know him, another way might appear.

Anyway, when Professor Albert appeared, I gave a small nod, but he did not return my greeting. He simply walked towards the podium with a cold expression.

There were often descriptions of him being ‘as cold as ice’ in the game, and I felt like I could understand why.

Click, clack.

The sound of his shoes, without any irregularity, filled the silence of the lecture hall.

And, that sound stopped only when the professor reached the podium.

“I am Albert Eisner.”

And he opened his mouth with his characteristic cold voice.

‘Should I clap or something?’

I thought one should normally clap at times like this, but since Arien next to me didn’t seem to have any intention of clapping…… I just bowed my head in greeting instead.

Professor Albert glanced over me and Arien once with a chilly gaze, then opened his mouth.

“Arien Ortega, Rain Enlight. This lecture was established solely for the two of you. As you might have guessed, the purpose is to teach you Origin Magic…… no, it would be closer to exploring it together.”

The setting for Origin Magic was that due to its characteristic rarity, even the method of its manifestation was shrouded in mystery. I thought it was a lecture, so I wondered if he was going to lecture on how to manifest it…….

“So it’s closer to a joint research.”

“Correct.”

Professor Albert gave a small nod to my question.

‘He calls it a lecture, but he just plans to use us as research subjects.’

I thought inwardly, with some dissatisfaction, that this felt more like being conveniently used, but I didn’t bother to say it out loud. What would be the point?

“Considering that it does not have the nature of a general lecture, and considering that you were forcibly assigned, the lecture time will be minimal, and I will guarantee the highest grade regardless of performance.”

Gasp. My thoughts changed immediately.

All hail Origin Magic!