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There is no end to the path of magic.

This was an important phrase that every magician should know as a basic, so important that it could be called the foundation of all magic.

Probably, among those who sincerely pursue magic, there would be no one who doesn’t carry this phrase in their mind.

Then, here’s one question.

“I’ll ask one question… What is magic…?”
“””…”””

What is magic?

To say in advance, it was a question without much of an answer.

To explain it simply… well, you could say it’s a descriptive answer with multiple answers.

But while magicians should have their own answers, with the same foundational ground but different branching directions, seeing only silence in response, it seemed this question was still too early for them.

‘Haah… We have a long way to go.’

I didn’t think they wouldn’t even have an answer to this level of question. I inwardly let out a deep sigh.

Is it because Meiel’s body and brain that I had nurtured were so excellent? I couldn’t think of an easier question than this, and after struggling for about 10 seconds, I barely came up with an easier and new question.

“It seems conceptual questions are difficult, so I’ll ask something easier… What do you think is the most important thing in using magic…?”

The students looked at each other at my question. Among the students who seemed to be waiting to see who would present first before presenting themselves, the first to raise her hand was Pina, the Pope’s daughter.

As Pina, whom I was now so familiar with from seeing her at the temple every day, raised her hand, I nodded slightly, and Pina looked at me and spoke clearly.

“I think it’s chanting.”

“Oh, certainly.”
“That makes sense.”
“I was about to say that…”

The students murmured in agreement with Pina’s answer of chanting. However, as Pina’s answer didn’t even come close to the answer I had in mind, I shook my head.

“No…”
“Th-then, how about me? Is it perhaps mana distribution?”

A boy immediately raised his hand and spoke as soon as I shook my head. Glancing at him, I saw it was Fran, the representative character of the shaman job class.

“Mmm…”

Perhaps because I said Pina’s answer of chanting was wrong, the students again murmured that Fran’s answer of mana distribution seemed correct.

Mana distribution. It certainly wasn’t wrong, so I let out a small hum, but as it was still different from the answer I had in mind, I shook my head.

And after hearing Fran’s answer, I levitated the chalk I was holding with mana.

Since two of the most excellent ones had given such answers, there was no need to hear more. To begin with, there didn’t seem to be anyone else willing to raise their hands.

So I moved the levitated chalk to write the answer on the blackboard. The chalk tapped along with my staff.
After finishing writing, I tossed the chalk to the corner of the blackboard and turned my gaze back to the students.

The word I wrote on the blackboard was just two characters.

〈Imagination〉

“The most important thing when using magic is ‘imagination’…”
“…Imagination?”
“Suddenly?”
“Is imagination important?”

The students all tilted their heads as if it was a completely unexpected answer. However, I continued speaking without minding at all.

“Mana is the material that makes up everything in the world… You might have learned about chanting and such, but in fact, none of that is necessary. You just need to imagine… Believe firmly, with unwavering imagination…”

Mana is imbued in everything that exists in the world. In people, in animals, even in the stones lying on the street.

That’s why I was able to create the blackboard and chalk with mana just now.

As I said earlier, if you reach the extreme of handling mana, even omnipotence becomes possible, and with mana, you can do anything.

That’s why imagination was more important than anything else.

“Theoretically, a magician can realize anything they imagine… Of course, you need to have enough mana to support that… You there.”
“Y-yes? Me?”
“Yes… Tell me the image of the most powerful attack you can think of…”

The students showed half-believing, half-doubting expressions at my words that anything could be realized. I pointed to an extra student standing at the front to give them a direct example.
It was always faster to show something directly once than to explain it verbally for days.

And at my request to describe the image of the most powerful attack, the extra student thought for a moment and then hesitantly said to me.

“A giant fire dragon… maybe?”
“A fire dragon, you say…?”

A giant fire dragon. After hearing the extra student’s words, I nodded and slammed my staff down.

Just like when receiving Shati’s magic, I cast an Artifact Shield over the entire playground and additionally spread a visual distortion barrier.
I was going to show a truly large-scale attack magic, so to prevent any misunderstandings from elsewhere.

Kagagagang───

The students let out small exclamations at the opaque shield enveloping them again. I tapped the ground with my staff to refocus their attention.

“You’ll have to do this too, so watch carefully… Magic is always about imagination and a firm image… Believe without doubt that you can do it. Then, mana matching what you imagined will flow out like this…”

What I’m imagining is a giant fire dragon. And as my image solidified clearly, mana flowed out of my body. Roughly about 1/120 of my mana went out.

I quickly checked my mana status on the status window and looked up at the sky. And there was a giant dragon made entirely of fire.

It was a huge dragon that made Shati’s pseudo-Meteor look cute in comparison.

The head made of flames was barely visible in one glance, and the body pierced through the clouds so high that it couldn’t even be seen. But even at such a height, you could feel the warm heat coming from it.

Without the Artifact Shield, it wouldn’t be strange if we all burned to death right there.

If that mouth opened, it would probably be simple for it to swallow this huge academy whole.

And when I turned my gaze away from the fire dragon, the other students were trembling while looking up at the sky. It was probably trembling coming from awe towards Meiel.

“Impossible…”
“Is this even possible?”
“Professor, you’re incredibly strong!”

Hearing the students’ chatter, which sounded bustling at a glance and confused from another perspective, I plunged the giant fire dragon circling in the air straight down towards us.

Kwaaaaaaa────!!!!!

The flames exploding as the fire dragon plunged down and the spreading roar even swallowed the students’ screams.

“It’s warm.”

In the deafening aftermath of the fire dragon, I felt a moment of warmth and then hopped down from the podium to look at the students revealed as the flames receded.

“Uuuh…”
“Ugh…”
“My, my ears are still ringing…”

The students were still not recovered from the shock of the fire dragon plunging down. But since they could still hear, I looked around at everyone and said:

“Did you see well…? Magic can always be used without chanting as long as your imagination is firm. Of course… chanting helps solidify the image, so it might be necessary for inexperienced magicians… But since I’m teaching you directly…”

Checking the clock, there was still over an hour left. There was still a prize I hadn’t given out and class time remaining, so I smiled a smile that others might call devilish and said cheerfully:

“From now on, for the remaining time, everyone will try to use magic without chanting with all their might… If even one person succeeds, the class will end on time, but if no one succeeds, there will be no lunch break, so do your best…?”

At my cheerful smile and words, without anyone leading, everyone including Shati, Pina, and Fran urgently pulled out their wands and staves, which was one of the most amusing sights I’ve seen so far.
Isn’t this why being a professor is worth it?

“Have you finished the preparations?”
“You did it thoroughly, right?”

On the outskirts of the Puhara Kingdom. In a forest where people don’t come.

A man and a woman with their hoods pulled down deep asked their subordinate beside them.

And in response to that question, instead of answering, the subordinate took out two sets of Lua Academy uniforms and two crystals from their chest and handed them over.

The uniforms, already tailored to fit the man and woman with no need for alterations, and the purple crystals shimmering brightly.

The two received them one by one from the subordinate and smiled broadly.

“Kuhahaha!! This is perfect. The time has finally come to declare war on the human race.”
“Don’t rush. It’s not like everything is perfectly finished yet, right? Although…”

The woman trying to stop the man who was shouting with laughter. But even the woman couldn’t hide her expectant look, as she let out a small laugh and trailed off.

Then, looking at the ugly building called Lua Academy in the distance, where their enemies were gathered, she muttered.

“I can’t help but be excited… Heheh.”

Because I’m thinking about killing them all.