My Uncle is the Strongest Dark Mage

There is a saying that exists in the world.

To achieve greatness in academics, warriors must have strong bodies, magicians must have sharp minds, spirit mages must have good personalities, and supernatural power users must have good luck.

And black mages can only achieve greatness when all of these traits are twisted in strange ways.

Reflecting on this from the perspective of a magician, it ultimately meant that only those with sharp minds could pursue the profession of a magician.

“At this point, what Horro Nubis devised to easily unravel this ritual is the ‘Nubis Equation.’ Based on this, you can interpret the ritual by substituting x² as the denominator…”

And so, such an absurd situation ends up happening in reality.

Fundamentally, the average admission age for Benedict Academy is around 12 to 15 years old.

Typically, this is the age when one has just begun to grasp the basics and is being introduced to fundamental mathematical formulas.

However, their homeroom teacher and the professor of ‘Ritual Theory,’ Spencer Magnus, assumed they had already mastered all of this and brought advanced theories to the very first class.

As Professor Magnus began drawing graphs on the blackboard, Arina felt as though her head was spinning.

‘This is impossible.’

Arina is a second-star magician.

But it wasn’t because she had an exceptionally sharp mind or outstanding ritual calculation skills.

It was possible because she possessed a talent for magic power, a gift that any scholar, including magicians, would covet.

Frankly, even if it wasn’t magic, her talent was enough to excel in any field.

If one were to evaluate her talent, it might be said that she was better suited to being a spirit mage than a magician.

The reason she chose magic as her career path was that she was born in the Elemental Kingdom and naturally developed an interest in magic.

“The interesting part of the Nubis Equation is right here. When you convert the ritual into a graph and reverse-substitute it into this equation, this shape appears.”

No, it wasn’t interesting at all.

It was vastly different from Professor Carlson, who had started his first class with lighthearted topics.

A textbook example of FM (Field Manual).

A rigorous, theory-heavy, rote-learning approach that shoved dense information directly into their heads.

Now she understood why Maril had shuddered at the sight of this professor during their first encounter.

“Hmph.”

And yet, unlike Arina, Maril was effortlessly keeping up with Professor Magnus’s pace.

Without even taking notes, she hummed a tune, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at the blackboard.

At first glance, it might have seemed like she had given up entirely and was lost in her own thoughts. But whenever Arina got stuck, Maril would somehow notice and silently write out detailed explanations with her pen, proving she had fully grasped the material.

Unlike Arina, who hadn’t even reached the first star, Maril was a natural-born magician with an extraordinary intellect.

It felt like Maril was a living demonstration of what a magician was supposed to be.

‘I thought I had prepared by studying theory books before enrolling.’

After the Grant Department Store incident, she had realized her shortcomings and thought she had caught up by studying ritual theory.

But now, it seemed like that realization had come far too late.

‘Still, it’s a relief I studied at least that much before coming here.’

Arina felt like patting her past self on the back for studying enough to keep up to this extent.

‘I need to work harder.’

And like the diligent student she was, she resolved to thoroughly prepare and review her lessons moving forward.

If Cain had known, he would have sighed at the thought of having to forcefully help her every time she encountered something she didn’t understand.

“Hmm.”

Meanwhile, it seemed Arina wasn’t the only one struggling in this dismal situation.

Focused on the blackboard as if she couldn’t afford to miss a single formula Professor Magnus wrote down, Arina failed to notice the sighs and murmurs erupting from various spots behind her.

“Ahhh!”

Most notably, Tokun Masao, who had declared his grand ambitions on the very first day.

Was he unable to keep up with the pace?

Despair filled his eyes as he watched the blackboard being erased.

“Here, take this.”

At that moment, a small gesture of kindness appeared beside him, much like Maril’s assistance to Arina.

“Hurry and copy this down. If you don’t, you’ll fall behind, and it’ll be a real mess.”

Among the group of kids in their early to mid-teens, a middle-aged man stood out.

Looking like he was well past his thirties, the man chuckled as he saw Tokun gazing up at him with a grateful expression.

‘How adorable.’

Though he was a man who had married late and had a six-year-old child to care for.

Had he married earlier, he might have already had a son Tokun’s age by now.

With a casual wave of his hand, Heming continued jotting down notes.

Seeing this, Tokun snapped out of his daze and refocused on Professor Magnus’s lecture.

“That’s all for today’s class.”

“Phew!”

Finally, the long and grueling class came to an end, and the students collapsed onto their desks, utterly drained.

“Next time, we’ll briefly review today’s lesson and jump straight into the next topic, so make sure to study hard. I’ve uploaded all of today’s materials onto the app, so download them if you need to.”

Strict.

Was this really the same professor who had emphasized the importance of dreams on the first day?

At this rate, it felt like they’d spend the entire year buried in studies, unable to even think about finding their dreams.

“Maril, I didn’t quite understand this part earlier.”

“Ah, well, the professor skipped over some steps, assuming everyone already knew them. So, in this part, you start with this basic formula…”

“Oh, I see!”

While most of the students were already feeling defeated and gloomy about the year ahead, Arina had already started reviewing, just as Professor Magnus had advised.

Meanwhile, amidst the students packing up to leave, Tokun approached Heming with a weary expression.

“Thank you for your help today.”

“Oh, it was nothing, really.”

It truly wasn’t much.

Thanks to his habit of keeping the ledger for his restaurant, Heming prided himself on being faster at note-taking than most.

And having dreamed of becoming a magician for so long, he had studied magic theory whenever he had free time.

It was only natural that he had a bit more leeway than the other kids.

In such a situation, offering a small gesture of kindness was nothing extraordinary from his perspective.

‘These days won’t last much longer.’

Heming had ended up at the academy late because he lacked natural talent.

His wife had supported him in pursuing his passion for magic, allowing him to attend the academy, but…

Balancing his evening restaurant work with his studies was proving to be a significant challenge.

For now, he could help because of the knowledge he had accumulated, but it was only a matter of time before Tokun and the other kids caught up to him.

Of course, since he had enrolled purely out of love for magic without any aspirations of becoming a great magician, he didn’t feel jealous, but he couldn’t help feeling a little bittersweet.

“Do you have a moment? I’d like to buy you a drink to thank you.”

“It’s fine. My wife is busy handling the lunch rush alone, so I need to get back quickly. I also have to pick up my child from kindergarten.”

“Ah, I see.”

Tokun let out a disappointed sigh at Heming’s words.

But then, his eyes lit up as he quickly spoke again.

“Do you run a restaurant? Can I visit sometime?”

It must not have been easy for him to approach someone so much older.

What a kind-hearted kid.

“Of course.”

His wife often worried that he might feel isolated because of his age.

It seemed he now had something to brag about to her.

That he had made a young friend.

Smiling warmly at Tokun’s words, Heming nodded.

＊＊＊

‘I need to work harder.’

Today’s class with Professor Magnus had been another source of motivation for Arina.

A class that had made her keenly aware of her own inadequacies.

That’s why, instead of heading home like the other students, she went to the academy library with Maril.

Cain’s study was filled with miscellaneous books, but most of them were ones he had bought out of personal interest.

Basic theory books that Arina could actually use were few and far between, which was why she had come here to borrow something more suitable.

“Wow.”

The towering bookshelf, stretching up to the third floor, naturally elicited a gasp of admiration from her.

The spiral staircase winding upward and the countless bookshelves lining the walls in long rows.

All of it connected seamlessly, with the chandelier-style lighting on the high ceiling reaching its peak.

“Isn’t this the epitome of inefficiency?”

Unlike Arina, who was awestruck by the sight, Maril’s face was filled with dissatisfaction toward the library’s design.

“If they had divided the second and third floors and placed desks and chairs in between, more people could have sat and studied. But since desks and chairs are only on the first floor, those who need books from the upper floors have to keep climbing up and down the three-story staircase.”

Utterly impractical.

A building designed purely for aesthetics, disregarding functionality.

It would have been better if they had at least installed an elevator.

But it seemed the person who designed this library couldn’t even aesthetically tolerate an elevator, as they refused to include one.

“Whoever said magicians are supposed to be smart? If someone saw aspiring magicians struggling in a library like this, they’d have a good laugh.”

“…….”

“Or maybe that’s just a narrow perspective. After all, the pinnacle of Spirit Magic claims that those with good personalities succeed, yet the Empress, the most capricious and hot-tempered being in this world, is its master.”

There was no trace of reverence for the Absolute in her words.

At those words, Arina flinched and nervously glanced around.

It was a boldness that made one question if she was truly a princess of the Elemental Kingdom.

“If the Demon Lord’s words are to be believed, the fact that such a capricious being became the leader of nature itself already proves that Spirit Magicians having good personalities is a myth.”

But Maril simply continued speaking shamelessly, shrugging her shoulders.

Frankly, categorizing personalities by profession is meaningless.

Saying so, Maril took Arina’s hand and led her deeper into the library.

“Now, let’s see. The areas you’re lacking in are…….”

Soundproof Magic, which suppresses vibrations in the surrounding air to prevent sound from spreading.

Thanks to the library-wide installation of that magic, they could converse relatively freely as Maril began stacking several books onto Arina’s hands.

“After seeing you today, that area seemed a bit weak. Oh, and there was another part I thought could use some reinforcement…….”

Could it be that this princess spent the entire class observing her?

With a highly plausible suspicion, Arina watched Maril as she moved up and down the stairs.

Of course, she didn’t feel bad about it.

Rather, she was so touched by the fact that she had a friend who would go to such lengths for her.

‘Come to think of it, I feel like I’m always the one receiving help.’

She couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

Of course, if Maril had read her thoughts, she would have laughed heartily, saying, “What nonsense is my lifesaver spouting now?”

Tap, tap.

Just how far had she gone?

While waiting idly for the now out-of-sight Maril, someone lightly tapped Arina on the shoulder.

Then, a finger poked her cheek as she turned her head.

“Ah, as I thought, it’s Student Arina.”

What kind of outdated prank was this?

Someone else might have gotten angry at such behavior, but Arina, unsure of how to react, took a small step back and bowed her head awkwardly to the suddenly appearing Professor Carlson.

“Hello.”

“Yes, nice to see you. Are you here to study?”

Up close, his gloomy face seemed even more shadowed by dark circles.

He tried to smile, perhaps to ease her tension, but the effort only seemed to amplify the eerie atmosphere.

“Ah, yes.”

But Arina knew all too well that he was a kind-hearted professor.

Look at him now.

A professor who remembered her name.

If he could recognize her at a glance from behind, it meant he likely remembered the names and faces of most students in his classes.

It must be his way of showing his passion for the profession of teaching.

“Judging by the books in your hands, it seems related to Professor Magnus’s lecture.”

Most of them were books on spell theory.

As a newcomer who hadn’t graduated from this academy, he didn’t know much.

But he vaguely recalled hearing rumors about Professor Magnus.

Usually, it was Clara, a fellow new professor, who gathered and shared gossip about other professors.

“Hang in there. If there’s anything you don’t understand, visiting Professor Magnus directly might help. I’ve heard that no matter how busy he is, he always sets everything aside to explain when a student comes to him.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Grateful for his genuine kindness, Arina bowed her head once more.

Then, her gaze inadvertently landed on the book he was holding.

‘The Footsteps of the Death King.’

‘The Death King Heukcheon: Who Is He?’

‘The Death King’s Daring Revenge Against the Empress.’

Every single book was related to the Death King.

Come to think of it, wasn’t this the professor who once said his dream was to be killed by the Death King?

A Death King fanatic—apparently, his earlier statement wasn’t a joke but pure, unfiltered truth.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Study hard.”

“Yes, you too, Professor.”

Though she tried not to show it.

As she watched Professor Carlson’s retreating figure, Arina’s mind began carefully filing away information about him.