Chapter 212 : Chapter 212
Chapter 212. Magic is Will
Radel pressed the upgrade without hesitation.
Hayden’s Normal Mana Training Method.
It was a strange skill where the promotion conditions were tailored to swordsmanship training despite being a mana training method.
In particular, conditions like ‘Defeat an enemy stronger than myself’ or ‘Lie Down’ felt so distant that he wondered what they had to do with mana.
However, it was true that the more he upgraded Hayden’s Normal Mana Training Method, the higher his understanding of mana became.
The ability to feel the flow of mana also improved as the mana training method leveled up.
‘Why did it suddenly upgrade?’
Radel quickly examined the Status Window.
DING.
[Hayden’s Normal Mana Training Method (B)]
A mana training method researched by Archmage Hayden throughout his life.
If you can realize the essence of magic, you can be reborn as a true mage.
Slash (0/30,000)
Thrust (0/30,000)
Block (0/30,000)
Lie Down (0/30,000)
Defeat an enemy stronger than myself (0/1,000)
Defeat Overwhelmingly Strong Enemy (0/100)
Realize the essence of magic (0/1)
Clearly, a description that was not visible at C-rank had been added.
Originally, nothing was attached before the sentence ‘can be reborn as a true mage,’ but now the phrase ‘If you can realize the essence of magic’ was attached.
Furthermore, the promotion condition ‘Realize the essence of magic’ was also something he was seeing for the first time.
‘There was quite a bit left to upgrade to B-rank.’
In Radel’s memory, the promotion conditions for C-rank had not been fulfilled yet.
However, the skill had gone up a stage, stating that a hidden promotion condition had suddenly been fulfilled.
There were two things Radel could guess here.
1. Ancestor Hayden hid a secret promotion condition in the mana training method.
2. Meeting the hidden condition allows one to upgrade while ignoring the other promotion conditions.
The thing his ancestor hid was likely a realization regarding the essence of magic.
And what he just gained must be that realization.
Radel, having gotten the hang of it, clenched his fist tight amidst the pressure weighing down his whole body.
It was time to face Professor Bronson’s will.
* * *
The students chanted spells facing the pressure Professor Bronson exuded.
“Burn!”
A student appearing to be a third-year used Fire Element Magic.
However, his concentration was scattered by the pressure crushing him.
“Gasp!”
Magic was bound to fail if concentration scattered.
The flame died out powerlessly in midair.
There was also a student who managed to chant a spell by enduring the pressure somehow.
“Earth!”
He thought he could overcome this pressure.
If it was pulling with the force of gravity, Earth Element Magic could sufficiently block it.
“Ugh!”
However, even when he completed the Earth Element Magic, the sensation crushing his body did not disappear.
On one side, Wind Element Magic was also used.
“Wind!”
Pressure strong enough to choke.
Perhaps the professor used magic that obstructs breathing.
It was a strategy to try and make air holes with Wind Element Magic.
Professor Bronson watched the students trying various methods without missing anything.
And he graded them one by one inside.
Anyway, most of the guys here were non-combat magic majors, and even if they were Combat Magic majors, they were merely second-years.
‘Only guys who haven’t experienced real combat.’
They might have experience fighting monsters or clearing Dungeons, but their experience in interpersonal combat was bound to be lacking.
Furthermore, they had never been cornered to death fighting a combat mage at the level of an Academy professor.
That was why they did not know how to deal with a situation like the present.
‘Unfortunately, it seems there are only greenhorns here.’
The students continued to unfold the most powerful magic they knew.
From Professor Bronson’s perspective, it was all useless action.
This was not elemental magic.
What he showed the students was truly the essence of magic.
Changing the laws of the world with will alone, and a state where thought becomes reality.
‘Well, to realize this, one would have to be at least a fourth-year.’
Moreover, just because one realized it did not mean they could use it immediately.
If magic could be used easily just by understanding it with the head, everyone would have become Archmages and then some.
It was when Professor Bronson, having grasped the students’ level, was about to withdraw the will intending to crush them.
‘……What is this?’
Something bothering his senses was caught.
It was a flow going against his will.
Bronson thought it was unexpected and looked in that direction.
Radel was there.
It was clearly a power trying to go against the will, though it was weak.
* * *
“Grrrgh!”
Radel drew up his Magic Power as much as possible.
He felt his amount of Magic Power had increased compared to before, perhaps because Hayden’s Normal Mana Training Method had leveled up earlier.
Did the professor chant just now?
No.
This is not imagery, but a matter of will.
He recalled the defensive magic Professor Bronson had showed.
The sphere that appeared very clearly and wrapped around him.
The realization that grazed his mind at the words that magic is will.
That will, which had now turned into conviction, spewed out from Radel’s whole body.
The will to escape from here, to go against this pressure!
‘I must block.’
Radel repeated inwardly and concentrated.
‘No, I block!’
Then, a faint but clear flow of magic power was created around Radel.
Professor Bronson’s eyes widened as he watched that sight.
Though clumsy, it was clearly the form of defensive magic.
A mere first-year is achieving this?
Even if he is a guy who surprises him sometimes, he did not expect this much.
However, as time passed, Radel’s defensive magic was becoming solid little by little.
Sweat flowed down like rain from Radel’s forehead.
He might not show it, but he must feel like dying right now.
More magic power went into magic used for the first time.
This was because one could not gauge the necessary amount of Magic Power.
Since a guy with low Magic Power was trying to cast defensive magic he was using for the first time, how inefficiently must he be pouring it in.
Radel endured while his limbs trembled, then opened his mouth as if chewing out the words.
“Bl, ock……!”
It was the spell for defensive magic.
Professor Bronson raised one corner of his mouth and ended up smirking.
“Ha.”
A professor’s heart wants to test more if a student does that.
He raised his staff and cast additional magic.
“Pour down!”
Then, a stream of water was created in the sky and poured down toward the ground.
SWISH, WHOOSH!
The students could not suppress their shock.
It was hard enough just to overcome the oncoming pressure, but magic on top of that?
However, the magic did not pour down on other students.
It was rushing solely toward Radel.
The students who noticed that turned to look at Radel in panic.
‘He’s firing magic in this situation?’
‘No, no matter if that first-year is the Grade Representative, how can he block that?’
‘Is that professor really sane?’
At the same time everyone had similar thoughts, the earth rumbled.
BOOM!
Professor Bronson’s merciless magic overturned the ground.
Dust rose thickly in the training ground.
Every student held their breath and watched the scene.
“Oh my god……!”
Someone covered their mouth.
This was because the smoke was gradually clearing and revealing the appearance inside.
“Cough, cough!”
Surprisingly, the sound of a human coughing flowed out.
As the smoke cleared, Radel was seen wearing a slightly dented defensive magic.
He could not block all the impact, but it was still a properly completed defensive magic.
Radel, who had been curling up, tried to slowly raise his body.
He blocked the attack somehow, but perhaps the shock delivered to his bones was unavoidable, as standing up was not easy.
A notification window had been floating before his eyes for a while now.
DING.
[User’s body has been slightly damaged.]
[Trait, Troll’s Heart activates.]
[Warning! Pain is coming!]
“Ugh.”
It was not enough to kill him, but it seemed Troll’s Heart activated because he could not withstand the shock.
That was how severe the attack was.
Radel paused for a moment at the oncoming pain.
As he tried to stand up but clutched his chest and let out a groan, the hearts of the seniors watching him also lurched.
‘Even if he is an Academy professor, is it okay to do this to a first-year?’
‘Damn, this is too much!’
To the seniors’ eyes, that sight came as a shock.
It was amazing that a first-year pulled off defensive magic, but to see him standing up overcoming that adversity!
CLAP.
CLAP CLAP.
It was unknown who started it, but the sound of applause burst out.
It was quiet at first, but later it became cheers and filled the training ground.
WHISTLE!
CLAP CLAP CLAP!
“Junior, that was cool!”
“Amazing that you did this!”
“You’re the best!”
Radel stood up receiving the seniors’ encouragement with a bewildered feeling.
When Radel raised his body completely, the seniors watching that were even moved.
Fitting for students who came to learn defensive magic, their essence was that of pacifists.
Furthermore, they even felt grateful as it seemed Radel had taken the attack they would have received instead.
“To think he blocked that vicious professor’s magic.”
“He is a truly admirable Junior!”
Radel felt awkward and scratched the back of his head.
It was fortunate that the result was not bad since he tried it because Hayden’s Normal Mana Training Method had suddenly upgraded.
He also seemed to have gotten the hang of defensive magic.
When he glanced at Professor Bronson, the professor was also wearing a faint smile.
However, there was something more important to Radel than the seniors’ cheers or the professor’s smile.
‘With this much, I passed the practical midterm, right?’
The midterm grade was more important than anything else.
* * *
Radel took out his schedule and circled defensive magic.
It was a mark that he had passed the practical exam.
“Phew, that was close.”
Radel muttered, letting out a sigh of relief.
Something like Troll’s Heart activating was not dangerous.
If he had not passed defensive magic this time, he would have lacked the time to invest in other subjects.
He had to plan well because he was taking so many subjects.
One wrong move and he would end up with a failing grade.
In that case, he would incur the terrifying wrath of Professor Marianne.
‘That absolutely cannot happen.’
Whether as the representative of the Black Falcon Dormitory, the first-year Grade Representative, or a Summoning Magic major, he unconditionally had to keep seeing Professor Marianne’s face.
For a smooth school life, he needed to pass the second semester midterms safely as well.
Radel put the schedule back into his bosom and adjusted his space expansion backpack.
His backpack did not show it because magic was cast on it, but it was quite heavy.
“Prince.”
Gusto also approached Radel carrying something huge on his back.
As if that was not enough, his hands were also full of something.
Right now was the Enhancement Magic class the two were taking together.
“You came early. Where is Professor Beven?”
“I do not see him yet.”
“Really? Where could he be.”
This time, he definitely had to achieve the planned goal.
Radel looked around and searched for Professor Beven.
Seniors taking the lecture with them arrived at the gathering place one by one, but the professor was nowhere to be seen.
At that moment, Professor Beven’s voice was heard from far away.
“I will announce the scope for this midterm!”
It is over there.
Radel’s eyes shone as he looked toward the place where the sound came from.