Chapter 224

In room 301 of Building 28 at Korea University, an angel visits three times a week.

The individuals seated in the front row are the 12 apostles of the angel.

There are seven professors from the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Korea University. Additionally, some of the highest authorities in interpretative number theory were present on-site.

The people captured on the main camera are just the beginning.

The recorded video was to be sent to PhD students worldwide who would be diligently analyzing Nameya’s proof.

On the other hand, people seated in the second to fifth rows, outside of the screen, changed daily in number.

There were 10 on some days, and at most, 30 filled the seats.

“Wow, how cute…!”

These individuals came as professors or instructors from other subjects, simply wanting to see the cute Nameya.

They had no idea what the apostles and the angel were discussing, but just listening to her chirp like a canary brought them joy.

“So, if you look at the function f transformed by the Mellin transform on page 154—”

“Wait, 154… 154…”

“What did Professor Choi ask? The Asymmetric transformation? That’s related to saddle points, and explaining it will take a while, so hang on. For now, it’s derived from the quadratic equation in Equation 8.20, so please calculate in the meantime. I’ll take another question first. Where to this time? Minor arcs… Ah, please, professor! We finished explaining that earlier, and it’s been ages since we moved on to major arcs—focus a little…”

The scene was busy, with not just one but multiple people being addressed. It felt like a professional chess player taking on 10 opponents simultaneously.

For a moment, they admired her astonishing intelligence, but then a professor attending for the first time asked Nameya.

“How did you know all this, No-name? Each domain requires at least three to five years to master one topic.”

Other professors shot sharp glances at the disruptive question.

Yet, feeling it was something they had to ask, he withstood their stares.

The Collatz conjecture and Goldbach’s conjecture aren’t just problems that can be solved because one is a genius.

If AlphaGo can win over a hundred million games against humans, would it be able to cook well if asked suddenly?

Mathematics has systematic steps, and it doesn’t make sense for an eight-year-old to possess the same level as professors.

“I was trapped in virtual reality for seven years… There, there was no blue sky, no delicious cake, and no people’s laughter…”

Nameya tried to make the saddest expression possible. Her eyes drooped. Her lips pushed outward.

Only then did the professor realize he had made a huge mistake and began to grovel.

“The only thing I could do locked in a room the size of three pyeong was—”

“I’m sorry! No, I’m really sorry! Forget all the bad things, and just focus on accumulating good experiences moving forward…”

“Bad things? Are you telling me to forget about my deceased mother?”

“Aaah!”

Nameya had played her cheat card.

Have you ever been trapped in virtual reality for seven years?

“If you haven’t, don’t talk,” she retaliated against the professors’ inquiries.

Ultimately, the professor’s face burned with embarrassment as he hurriedly left through the back door.

“That kid speaks really well, doesn’t he? Right? Truly a genius.”

“I want to invite him to our class sometime.”

“Oh? That’s a great idea! By chance, my friend works in the Administrative Office; how about we consider this?”

Her genius aside, her very existence was harmful to the heart.

Now, they felt regretful not being able to participate in the conversation due to the overwhelming use of technical terms.

As the auditing time ended, the professors, guided by Emilie Mayakovsky, streamed out, each deep in thought.

How could they invite that child to their class?

Those sharing the same thought flocked to the Korea University Administrative Office.

“Ugh, do we really need a promotional video? Korea University doesn’t need something like that.”

“That’s not something your PR team should be saying, is it?”

These salary-thieving brats eating away at Korea University… But they couldn’t deny the truth, so they didn’t argue.

As Korea University is the best university in the country, there was no need for promotion.

Thus, the annual promotional video made is just the same as the one from 20 years ago, with only the fonts changed being released on VTuber.

“Well then, at least use the budget. We all know you have unused funds that get returned every time.”

They elaborated on their grand plans.

* * *

“Are you asking me to be a promotional ambassador? But I’m not even a student of Korea University.”

“Other schools use unrelated celebrities as promotional models; there’s no reason Korea University shouldn’t do the same. Isn’t that right?”

“Indeed.”

Korea University’s promotional ambassador.

It sounded utterly unnecessary.

However, the offer was too enticing to reject, and it sparked an interest in university classes.

“If there’s any class here you like, just go experience it and shoot a video! Nameya, do you know how to get there?”

“I have a map with me. I’ll do my best.”

“Then let’s go for it!”

I was chosen as the protagonist for the project to renew the Korea University promotional video to match the latest trends of 2051.

To collect information, I sat on the Administrative Office stairs and watched various content videos featuring famous celebrities experiencing different jobs or the departments of various universities.

Unlike the broadcasts where numerous PDs, cameramen, and staff worked in close coordination, I had to shoot with only a one-person holographic camera.

While it seemed like a harsh task, they likely didn’t expect much quality from a child, so I needed to feel at ease.

‘Where should I go first.’

Unfolding the map, I saw that the spot kindly marked by the Administrative Office staff was indicated with a red X.

It felt like a treasure hunt.

The first location I chose was the ‘Structure and Function of Wands’ class held in the Kim Woong Advanced Sports Center.

* * *

Ding ding—

The phone in a corner of the gym rang.

The students seated in the assembly hall swallowed nervously.

Finally, the professor went to answer the call.

All students focused their auras on their ears to eavesdrop on the conversation.

“Yes, hello? Ah, really? Got it! Then be careful coming over!”

Clap—

A smile bloomed on the professor’s face as he turned his head back.

“He said he’d come right away. This might be his first time in our class?”

“Waah!”

“APL! APL! APL! APL!”

The normally lazy students of the Theory of Magic department began to sing the professor’s praises excitedly.

The curriculum of the Theory of Magic department is distinct from other departments.

Unlike other departments that have classes for three months per semester, they have a semester that lasts only two and a half months.

If someone were to question if that isn’t better, they would likely be seized by the collar.

It’s four semesters a year.

With the regular curriculum lasting 10 months a year, excluding exam periods, that’s already at least 11 months.

With vacations barely adding up to a month each year, it was essential to take classes that seemed easier.

‘Structure and Function of Wands’ by Professor Baeseojin, known for being generous with grades.

He is relatively young among theory of magic seniors, and students refer to him in unison as the APL bomber.

However, first-year students were misunderstanding; receiving good grades didn’t mean the class was easy.

“It was the toughest semester ever…”

“It’s already the second semester for the first year? But if we get good grades, it all gets glorified.”

“I’ll admit that. Wow, it’s coming! Can you feel it too?”

The Theory of Magic department at Korea University.

With only 86 select students, they are the final winners of the Korean entrance exam.

Of those 86, nearly 70 belong to the academy, being the top-ranked students from their respective academies and excelling in their ability to handle auras.

Just as expected, the assembly hall door creaked open, and a small child appeared.

“Our junior has turned the grades upside down!”

“Hey, this isn’t right! Nameya is in elementary school, and suddenly you’re pulling connections here?”

A student discreetly emphasized that they were also from Seviron Academy.

While they didn’t show it outwardly, there was an unspoken rivalry among the eight academy factions existing within the Theory of Magic department.

Especially for relationships that have spanned 12 years from elementary to high school, one could not ignore them.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Professor Baeseojin from Korea University! I look forward to working with you today!”

“I’m No-name from the second year of Seviron Academy. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Nameya took out the camera prepared by the Administrative Office and sent it flying on a drone.

After confirming that the video captured sound well, the real class exploration began.

“Today’s day has somehow turned into a one-day experience, could you briefly explain what the Structure and Function of Wands class is about, professor?”

“Of course! Since we’re the first-year major of the Theory of Magic department, the content is not advanced at all. We learn the structure of wands, which everyone has probably used at least once, and practice the functions that can be used at the university level. Usually—”

“Wait a minute. Let me ask the students.”

Nameya recalled that other VTuber videos conducted interviews mainly focusing on college students.

Because the vivid experiences of students who had attended classes for the past two months would resonate more than the professor’s biased words.

“Hello.”

“Wow, is the video rolling now? Yes, hello!”

“What’s the Structure and Understanding of Wands class like?”

The college student fell into thought.

Should they tell the truth or just convey the glorified content per the professor’s narrative?

The righteous student chose to opt for the truth.

“It doesn’t differ much from what the professor said at first. For instance, we learn about various types of wands.”

Nods—

“And we also learn about various aspects to make a wand work properly.”

Nods—

“After learning about wands, our final project is to create our own wand in groups.”

“Suddenly…?”

“Haha… Since you’ve taught us this much, I thought Korean University students could do this much… Heh…”

Due to the unspoken pressure from the professor, he couldn’t finish his sentence.

The male student’s eyes looked pitiful as they were on the verge of slaughter.

If the academy is an institution that injects students with vast amounts of knowledge, the university is an educational institution where one must independently seek and study knowledge.

A place not for learning but for competition.

In the 21st century, free ways to acquire knowledge are widespread online.

The university is, after all, merely an institution for evaluating that knowledge.

“Then, why did you choose this class?”

Even Professor Cheon wouldn’t conduct such a malicious class.

Still, Professor Baeseojin’s courses were always popular enough that one had to register for them first.

“He gives APLs!”

“That’s right! If Nameya uses the wand we made correctly, he said he would definitely give an APL.”

“Me?”

Nameya turned her head to look at the professor.

She secretly wore a generous smile.

Though known for his torment, Professor Baeseojin was famous for healing everyone with grades.

She had resolved to draw Nameya into the class while thinking of ways to offer generous grades.

The students cheered, of course.

After all, the wands produced at the undergraduate level were very crude.

However, at best, the magic that an elementary student could wield would be of the first or second circle level.

Perhaps every student in the class could hope for an A+.

“What happens if we fail?”

“Well, I could give a C or D, or who knows what the results will be.”

“Aha. Got it.”

“Here, this is the simple resonance generation device our students created.”

Nameya took the professor’s hand and moved to the workspace.

It appeared they were divided into groups of about four, with approximately eight wands neatly lined up.

“They complained a lot, but they ultimately made them all, huh?”

“I told you, if they put in the effort, they can do it! This year, some friends came straight from high school.”

“Do they learn how to make wands in high school?”

Such a concept wouldn’t be found in any academy curriculum.

Nameya clicked her tongue and examined the wands closely.

“It’s impressive to create a finished product, but still, they’re pretty crude.”

When Nameya casually flowed aura through the wands for demonstration, she quickly identified the problems.

The wand shaped like a tumbler had walls severely uneven, leading to issues when casting symmetry-dependent magic.

Meanwhile, the wand that looked like an open umbrella had circuits that were too thinly engraved. Using high-powered magic above the third circle could easily break it.

“Why are all the wands shaped differently?”

“Because of the creativity score.”

“Ah, I see. The students must have had various worries.”

All the students were moved, as Nameya understood their predicament.

A ray of light emerging from a hellish class.

“Then, could you cast any spell? Feel free to use mana here since it’s free!”

“Yes.”

Nameya held up the umbrella-shaped wand and started casting magic.

She could feel the air subtly vibrating with considerable force.

Looking at Nameya’s small frame, it was surprising she could handle high volumes of mana already.

Meanwhile, some sharp students sensed the impending crisis.

‘Could she be casting something over the third circle?’

‘Wait, if she casts at that level, our wands…!’

[Cast 3rd Circle: Updraft]

Magic that moves a huge volume of fluid in a confined space inherently requires a significant amount of mana. Known for needing enormous energy among the third circle spells, the destiny of the crude umbrella was obvious.

Creak—

Boom!

It burst apart.

“I thought I could handle up to the third circle. I guess I miscalculated this time.”

‘A mistake? A mistake?!’

The group members who witnessed their painstakingly made final project explode in front of their eyes trembled.

“Hahaha! I knew it! What’s so great about an umbrella-shaped wand! I knew it would burst!”

Instead of offering consolation, a few students began to mock.

Nameya cocked her head and immediately reached for the next wand.

[Cast 2nd Circle: Genetic Polarization]

Creak—

BOOM!

“A bit regrettable… Even if it’s an insulator…”

[Cast 2nd Circle: Adiabatic Expansion]

Woosh—

BANG!

“Was the circuitry’s spacing too small…?”

Be it wooden rods, tumblers, gloves, or necklaces.

The students could only helplessly watch as the eight wands burst one after another from Nameya’s hands.

“I’ll need to repair them if I want to get evaluated again.”

* * *

Grades are temporary, but experiences are eternal.

Though I could overlook it for an APL, for students wielding magic, perfection is always demanded.

But there were students who rebelled against my teaching.

“Prof… This isn’t right! I heard you didn’t use magic above the second circle during evaluations last year.”

“True… What do we do…?”

“Wait, Nameya, why did you cast that spell!”

A male student wept bitterly holding the wand with the wire part broken off.

“As much as I can see, this isn’t the level of work for an APL…”

“What’s not worthy of an APL here? No matter how you look at it, our group made the best one!”

“Well, how about this? Let’s duel. You use that in your hand, and I’ll use my personal wand. If it’s a normal wand, shouldn’t you be able to easily defeat an elementary student with whatever wand I use?”

Wands are merely accessories.

A true artisan does not blame their tools, so as long as the wand has at least the minimum normal structure, they should be able to duel without issues.

“So that was your intention from the beginning, kiddo.”

He pulled out schematics and wrapped the wand tightly.

As he channeled the red mana, a normal wand sprang to life once more.

I also took out my IWC recall from my pocket.

In the Kim Woong Advanced Sports Center, where the entire building had defensive mana applied.

If there’s something I wanted to do before I die in this life, it would be a magic duel.

Not in a game but in reality.

“Professor, you’ll permit this, right?”

Once again, she smiled generously.

To confess the truth, the showdown had already been planned between the professor and me before we entered the assembly hall.