Chapter 46

[Come back after the 6th period class. Teacher, please come along with the child after your closing announcements.]

[Yes, I’m really sorry…]

Seoyuna was allowed to leave early after resting in the infirmary.

The reason I was suddenly summoned to the Administrative Office was simply due to unauthorized magic use.

The academy grounds had been designated as a special tax-exempt zone by the state, meaning that all mana usage fees within the area had to be paid in the name of the academy.

This was also a provision reflecting the academy’s unique partial extraterritoriality.

Of course, in most cases, the academy was responsible not only for the name but also for the actual payments.

After all, it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask elementary school students to pay every time during practice.

A specific academy foundation had set up a budget in advance to cover these payments and utilized a system to receive refunds for any unused amounts at the end of the year, with the Seviron Foundation being the most representative example.

When I recklessly overused magic, it was not I who would hold my neck in distress but rather the budget officer affiliated with the foundation.

Perhaps I should consider myself fortunate.

I recalled the time I had used a 4th-circle spell and, despite pooling all available funds, I still fell short by 120,000 won and embarrassingly borrowed money from Professor Cheon.

Thanks to that, I was now broke.

“Did you really not do anything weird to Seoyuna?”

“Why are you asking that?”

Yoon Si Hoo shot me a suspicious glance.

“That’s my medication! She drank it without permission.”

“You can’t bring something that dangerous to the academy!”

“Stop being annoying, you brat. I might just bury you alive.”

No matter how many times I explained, Si Hoo wouldn’t believe me.

Let him think whatever he wants.

Finally, it was the long-awaited dismissal time.

I had to reluctantly send away Ji Hye and Seori, who were waiting for me.

I had promised to buy them Pokémon bread, so I offered an apology to Ji Hye.

“No, it’s okay…! It must be busy for Na Mei too.”

As Jackie Teacher and I descended the stairs, we exchanged no words.

Occasionally, I would mumble something in English, but her strong regional accent made it hard to understand.

The only thing I could interpret from this Korean-American teacher was something like “Oh my gosh.”

Was she predicting the future?

In fact, the atmosphere had felt unusual when I had been summoned earlier.

Thus began the investigation into the day’s incident and the questioning about unauthorized magical use.

It was a task that both of us had to overcome.

Jackie Teacher took a deep breath.

On the surface, Jacqueline Carroll looked like a young teacher in her late twenties, and in reality, her age was about that.

But according to the children, she was renowned as a highly skilled individual within the Seviron Foundation.

She graduated early from Seviron Academy at seventeen and finished university at twenty, then moved to her hometown in the U.S. to earn a doctorate in education at twenty-six—an elite among elites.

She started teaching the 4th-grade C-class last year and was quickly appointed as the A-class homeroom teacher in her second year, showing the foundation’s trust in her.

Jackie had expected to enjoy a peaceful year, but from the very first week of school, one of her students caused such a significant incident that her head was spinning trying to figure out how to navigate through this obstacle.

“Didn’t the teacher tell you that you can’t use magic without permission at the academy?”

“You told us on the first day.”

“Then why?”

“It was to help a friend.”

“Right, right. I hope you can convey that point well to the director you’ll soon meet.”

“Weren’t we supposed to meet that administrator earlier?”

Jackie Teacher knocked on a side door next to where I had stopped.

“It’s the Planning and Coordination Director.”

“Usually, when something like this happens, we meet with the head of the grade or the vice principal.”

“Is this something that has happened before? But this is the academy, so get used to it.”

Knock, knock.

[Yes, come in.]

As I gently opened the door, a secretary welcomed us.

The structure of the room was double-layered.

The consultation room required opening another door after a corner.

In the icy cold air, Jackie Teacher spoke to me once more.

“Na Mei.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“Regardless of what is discussed inside, just get used to it.”

Why such a foreboding tone?

The secretary opened the door for us with her own hands; how nice of her.

“Director Kim, I’ve brought Teacher Carol from 2-A.”

“Oh, you have arrived. Thank you for coming such a long way.”

“It wasn’t that far, really.”

“Would you like some coffee? Or tea? There are plenty of tangerines on this table, so feel free to eat as many as you want.”

“I’ll just have a glass of water. I’m thirsty. What about Na Mei?”

“I’d like water too.”

With Jackie Teacher’s polite refusal, Director Kim (presumably his full name was Kim Yong Sung based on the nameplate) sat down opposite us with a friendly smile.

His perfectly tailored suit exuded the aura of a typical salaryman.

Was Jackie Teacher very nervous?

Her hand holding the glass trembled slightly.

“I think you understand the reason I have summoned you both today. If not, that would be quite disappointing.”

“Yes, I understand well.”

“I’m happy to see the student too.”

“Yes, well.”

Director Kim took a binder from his bag and handed it to the teacher.

He seemed eager to get right to the point.

“This is data collected from the academy’s portable magic measurement device. Do you see the result at the bottom? 24,627 kE.”

“Yes, I see it clearly.”

“Of course, you should be able to see it well.”

Suddenly, the teacher lightly closed her eyes.

Director Kim took a deep breath.

“At least $2,000! What kind of mess did you make for using this much mana?! Are you crazy?!”

The shouting was quite loud indeed.

“24,627? Did you use a 4th-circle spell? Wow, look at the magic graph—it has two peaks! Are you a camel? Was once not enough?”

“Director Kim.”

“Is it acceptable for someone who isn’t even a student to casually use intermediate magic?!”

“Director Kim, we’re in front of a student; please calm down a bit.”

“Haah… You better explain yourself well, Teacher Carroll.”

“One of my students was unwell today.”

The teacher went on to explain the events that had occurred that afternoon.

A student had taken incorrect medication and exhibited seizure symptoms, compelling her to use magic in an emergency situation.

While this seemed to involve considerable exaggeration, Jackie Teacher delivered it with enough conviction to convey the urgency.

“But was there really a reason to use a 4th-circle spell?”

“I think there has been some misunderstanding in the communication from the Administrative Office; there’s something you’re misinterpreting, Na Mei.”

The teacher gestured at me.

Though we hadn’t rehearsed, I could roughly sense what she intended.

“I used that magic.”

“What?”

“The 20 cm³ 3rd-circle local anesthetic spell and the 4th-circle irreversible reduction spell.”

“There’s got to be a level to how much you’re messing with me!”

“Should I show you right here?”

Since I wouldn’t be infusing mana anyway, I didn’t need a catalyst.

I blew my breath onto the smooth glass desk, fogging it up.

Like a child playing with a frosted window, I began to draw, but it wasn’t mere scribbling.

“Wow…”

Jackie let out a small exclamation.

Is this a $2,000, or rather, a 4 million won spell?

If the academy was going to cover it, I could certainly perform this act multiple times.

On the other hand, Director Kim’s expression turned sour as if something displeased him.

Why are there so many people lately with such dreadful expressions?

In this case, I had a way to deal with it.

“It seems you don’t believe me; then why don’t I demonstrate it here again?”

Using glass as a casting medium is tricky because we also have to consider the reflections when recording the reflection formula.

Humans draw magic circles within the visible light range, so if light hits a smooth surface like glass, it causes total reflection.

This inevitably tangles the activation sequence of the magic circle. Therefore, we use slate with a high diffuse reflectance or simple casting devices.

It’s just that there’s a significant flaw; it isn’t in the realm of impossibility.

[4th Circle Reversal: Re-…)

As I modified the formula and infused all the mana, Director Kim belatedly noticed and grabbed my wrist.

“What was your name again, student?”

Of course, I had to stop him.

Unless he wanted to throw away another 4 million won.

* * *

“It’s been a while since we’ve had such an exceptional talent come into the academy, really, haha!”

“Right? Hahaha…”

Director Kim couldn’t believe his eyes.

That a mere second-grade elementary student could perform a 4th-circle spell, and not just any spell but an advanced implementation beyond simple mimicry!

How had such talent only now come to light?

After all, Dr. Hwang Jeong Hoon, who presided over the transfer exams, was not one to throw around praise without reason. But wasn’t this beyond imagination?

‘This is not just a simple student level.’

The understanding of ‘concepts’ and the spatial perception to implement them, the ability to mentally calculate dozens of formulas, and the memory to arrange runes seamlessly—this individual seemed like they were born to use magic.

Historically, countless prodigies shone brightly in their youth only to vanish into the shadows of history.

And those pushing 발전 in the forefront of modern magic were always creative late bloomers.

But wouldn’t a transcendent genius be different?

If they continue to grow like this, Korea could finally produce a world-class theoretical magician.

“Student, what kind of medication did your friend take that required anesthesia magic?”

“They unknowingly took my potion.”

“Potion…? Is it the kind that war mages usually drink?”

“You sound just like Professor Cheon. Yes, that’s right.”

“Ah…”

In shock, Director Kim covered his mouth with his hand.

Teacher Carroll gazed curiously at Director Kim’s actions.

‘How can someone so foolish…! Doesn’t he realize what it means for a homeroom teacher to have a student taking potions?!’

God is cruelly fair.

The beloved national singer LK recently confessed about his troubled childhood in the news, and the idol Chae Na, who exploded in popularity for her looks, couldn’t overcome depression and committed suicide.

Such cases were no less common in everyday life.

Director Kim himself had spent his life envying the so-called ‘perfectionist child’ Cho Byung Ho, who seemed poised for a smooth path, only to be left a broken man after losing his fiancée post-war.

The idea of a child of this age taking potions is easy to interpret.

Terminal illness.

And a deadline.

With a troubled expression, Director Kim rose from his seat.

[Teacher Jacqueline Carroll…? Regarding today’s incident, I won’t hold the student accountable and will handle it from my end. I’ll take my leave now, so you may go once you finish up.]

The financial matters were adult issues, and there was no need to discuss them in front of the student.

He conveyed to Na Mei’s homeroom teacher in a whisper that the student would bear no responsibility.

“And Na Mei, do focus on your school life.”

A life with talent and dreams yet devoid of hope and future—how pitiful it is.

Director Kim could not mask his uneasy feelings.

He thought the best he could do as an adult would be to support that child in every possible way while they attended the academy.

“How sad it is to be terminally ill.”

He kept muttering to himself as he left the consultation room.

“Terminally ill…?”