Academy’s Genius Mage

The sun had set and night had descended upon the academy.

At that moment, the streetlights lining the path flickered on, dispelling the darkness.

They were beautiful lamps powered by mana.

And beneath those lights, a man sat with his legs crossed.

A young man with fiery red hair.

He was Helios, the kingdom’s most infamous rogue, and the second prince.

Though he was usually known for his unruly ways, his expression at that moment was far from the typical demeanor of a rogue.

He looked exceptionally serious, burdened with many thoughts.

“Now that the exams are over, haven’t you returned to the Royal Palace?”

At that moment, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

Helios’ indifferent gaze turned in that direction.

“What would be the point in going? No doubt my distinguished brother would only lecture me endlessly.”

“Still, shouldn’t you keep an eye on the situation?”

“There is no need. I receive reports daily, so it’s enough.”

When the standard exams concluded, a period for appeals would begin.

And during that week, there would be no classes, allowing students to move freely.

However, Helios chose not to leave.

Even though the exams had ended, he remained at the academy.

Likewise, Zickhardt, who had just appeared, did the same.

“And what about you? Why are you still hanging around here? It’s not like your mana will increase just by sticking around.”

“I have my own plan in mind.”

“Seems like you’re also under pressure. What does your father say?”

“He hasn’t said anything specific.”

Helios clicked his tongue.

“With helpers as inept as this, can I even ascend to the throne?”

It was a staggering statement.

No one would have imagined such talk taking place in a corner of the academy.

Once the crown prince was determined, it was akin to rebellion.

It was at that moment that the Telomian family’s support for Helios was subtly revealed through Zickhardt.

Zickhardt then knelt on one knee and respectfully greeted him.

“I see you, Your Highness.”

“Such prompt greeting.”

Usually, when his followers addressed him as ‘prince’, Helios displayed a very satisfied expression, but today was markedly different.

Helios stared at Zickhardt with a disinterested look.

“What’s the situation? I heard you’ve been struggling.”

“Struggling? I don’t know who told you that, but they must have a vendetta.”

“I hear and see it all myself.”

“It’s just a trivial matter. There’s still a long way to go, so why rush things?”

Zickhardt replied calmly.

Helios chuckled lightly and shifted his gaze forward once more.

The sunset still lingered faintly.

Helios felt uneasy as if that faint sunset resembled the color of his own hair.

“Just a trivial matter? How amusing. You flaunted your skills and ended up coming second in the standard exams, didn’t you?”

“An exam is merely an exam.”

“Of all things, losing the top spot to Ian, no less? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

Zickhardt’s smile faded in response to the ongoing questioning.

A feeling of deep animosity surged inside him.

The prince before him always viewed him as nothing but an insect, a mere tool.

Yet, it was still too early to reveal his true feelings.

For now, or perhaps for quite some time, he might have to share the same boat with the prince.

“If that Ian hadn’t been stirring so much, we wouldn’t even be having this meeting.”

“I have nothing to say about that.”

It was a moment when another connection between Helios and Zickhardt was revealed.

The two were deeply involved with the Hamel Trading Company.

“But there’s still the mana measurement left. You know, right? What level my mana is.”

“Yes, indeed.”

The prince cleverly used the past tense in his speech.

Zickhardt’s eyes twitched slightly.

“Ian, that bastard had a certified mana level of 77. But what happened to that fool from the Thousand family?”

He was talking about Rahel, who had been defeated in a duel with Ian.

Zickhardt chuckled humorlessly.

“I told that disgusting fool to grip the sword backward and stab it into his heart if he was embarrassed. But he couldn’t do that, instead mumbling about revenge or something.”

“There seems to be an answer in your words, Prince. Isn’t it because that friend of yours lacks something? After all, a fool is a fool.”

“No matter what, Rahel isn’t the type to be easily beaten like that. Especially not by someone with a mana level of 77.”

“There’s a common opinion among peers that he’s hiding his true power.”

“What do you think?”

“I think so too.”

Helios chuckled lightly.

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t this upcoming mana measurement be worth watching? Your mana level is 1482. Roughly, that’s nearly twenty times Ian’s magic. But who’s to say there won’t be an anomaly like during the last regular test? I’ve heard he was invited to the Magic Society after discovering a new spell?”

Once the resting period ended, the mana measurement would commence immediately.

Because of this, most of the high-ranking noble offspring returned to their main family.

They would consume elixirs and hire experts to amplify their mana.

Helios reproached Zickhardt for not returning to his family for this very reason.

“What’s the big deal about that? History and tradition aren’t created in a day.”

“The words ‘history and tradition’ are the ones I despise the most.”

“They belong to the victor. We are destined to win anyway.”

“It’s not ‘we,’ it’s ‘I’.”

Helios drew a cold line.

Zickhardt bowed his head slightly.

“By the way, what do you plan to do about the exchange battle?”

“I didn’t know you were concerned about that too.”

“Well, it would be easy to subdue someone like you… but I’d rather not have my men get hurt needlessly.”

Helios looked down on Zickhardt.

Not just Zickhardt, but he harbored a deep-seated grudge against mages.

“I have a plan. I assure you, Your Highness, I won’t cause you any trouble.”

“Make sure of that. I’m planning a very interesting event, and any interference would be a problem.”

“Understood. But, Your Highness, I have a question.”

“If you talk nonsense, you might lose your head.”

“I think it’s worth risking my life for.”

Impressed by his courage, Helios nodded.

“Why are you so preoccupied with that Ian?”

Helios chuckled lightly.

Zickhardt was asking a question that could easily lead to a fatal outcome.

Yet, that exact trait was what pleased him.

In other words, he was someone considered to be without pity or remorse.

“There’s a rumor that you despise handsome people, but there seems to be another reason.”

“It’s not exactly Ian. There’s a debt to be settled with the one who brought that bastard into this world.”

“Are you referring to Baron Lefevre?”

“Yes.”

Zickhardt nodded, refraining from probing further.

This prompted Helios’s curiosity.

“You’re not going to delve deeper?”

“I’m not interested. What use is there in listening to tales of some deceased baron? It’d only be a waste of ears.”

“Hahaha. Indeed.”

For an instant, Helios’s expression twisted with rage.

An unpleasant memory from the distant past had resurfaced.

At the heart of that past was Baron Lefevre.

“Anyway, since you seem to struggle, I plan to give you a gift.”

“I’m curious about what kind of gift it is.”

“Watch closely. Something very interesting will soon happen in the Department of Magic.”

With a sly grin, Helios left the room first.

* * *

It was a modest yet satisfying dinner.

Milo patted his full belly and displayed a lethargic expression.

“Ha! Experiencing the life of commoners isn’t so bad! Haha. It was a very satisfying meal.”

“Then why don’t you just live as a commoner?”

Ian gave a sharp remark, and Milo wiggled his fingers.

“Tsk tsk! Our dear Professor Ian doesn’t really get it. The trick is to enjoy it sparingly. If you do it every day, you’ll get tired of it quickly.”

“Don’t you get tired of being rejected by women? Every single day?”

“Damn it! Why’d you have to bring that up all of a sudden?”

The three of them rode back to the academy in the carriage.

Although it was a short time, Ian had gained a lot of inspiration from his conversation with Klefio.

Especially one phrase that Klefio had left resonated with him deeply.

― Healing is still akin to a barren land. I wish the skills to save people could advance more than those to harm.

In that single statement, Klefio’s entire life seemed to be reflected.

Ian’s respect for him deepened even further.

He also successfully secured the supply of herbs necessary for potion-making.

To manufacture a large quantity of potions, a significant amount of herbs is needed.

A skilled herbalist is something every healer knows best.

Fortunately, Klefio promised to introduce all the herbalists he’s in business with.

‘Now, the only things left are the mana measurement and the exchange match.’

While he could handle the mana measurement, the exchange match was understandably nerve-wracking.

‘Helios has been awfully quiet.’

When he happened across Helios on campus, Helios had mentioned the exchange match, leaving an ominous remark.

‘He’s definitely up to something.’

Ian kept his guard up.

“So, are we going to Milo’s estate next?!”

Edel asked expectantly. However, the once-confident Milo shrank at the mention of his family.

“Uh, well…”

“As expected, that’s difficult, huh? Come to think of it, even when you go out, you rarely visit your estate.”

“Do you always have to poke at other people’s wounds just to sound considerate?”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Does that look like the face of someone who’s sorry?”

Watching the two bicker, Ian smiled.

Inviting friends home and having a meal together was a more meaningful act than one might think.

Now, in Edel’s manner of speech and behavior, the differences in social status had been cleared away entirely.

“Still, I need to go to the estate tomorrow. I need to get some elixir. Ian, what about you?”

“I’m planning to study at the library.”

“How’s it that you can study again so soon after exams just ended?”

“Technically, it’s not that the midterms ended, it’s that the finals are beginning.”

“You insane bastard!”

Ian laughed silently.

Milo seemed to understand the meaning behind that smile and turned his gaze out of the window, pretending not to notice.

He resolved to defeat Ian in the next exam.

“Senior?”

Upon arriving at the dormitory, Isera was waiting by the door.

Her appearance, in a splendid dress, flickered and disappeared like a fading picture.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was waiting.”

There was no way to tell how long she had been waiting.

Even during their meal together, they hadn’t made any particular arrangements for her return.

Yet here Isera was, waiting.

Ian suddenly had a strange feeling.

Goyang felt the same.

『That girl, she looks really upset! Is it because things didn’t progress?』

Though Goyang tried to act cutesy in front of Isera, she showed little reaction.

“How long have you been waiting? If you had left a note, I could have…”

“Let’s talk.”

Isera cut him off quietly.

Milo, completely oblivious, whistled and dragged Edel into the room, leaving only Ian, Isera, and Goyang in the hallway.

“What’s going on?”

“Follow me.”

Without further explanation, Isera began to walk ahead.

There was nothing Ian could do but follow her.