April 30th, Friday.
Dawn was creeping in.
One person was making his way through the academy’s research building corridor, heading alone to his laboratory. It was none other than Professor Dirck Ormine, in charge of the Magic Detection lecture.
How much time had passed?
Dirck’s steps came to a halt. He had arrived at his laboratory. Striding in, he immediately sat down in front of his desk.
Whoosh!
Flames ignited from a candle, illuminating the previously dark laboratory. Leaning back in his chair, Dirck silently opened the drawer of his desk.
What he pulled out was a letter.
The envelope bore a rather ornate seal. It was the seal of Count Dermore, one of the grand nobility and Dirck’s brother-in-law.
“……”
Dirck stared at it in silence.
He recalled an event from three days ago, on Tuesday, when he received an invitation to dinner from Count Dermore.
‘That was an invitation I couldn’t refuse.’
Count Dermore was a benefactor who supported the funding for Dirck’s research. Therefore, he headed to the designated location, the mansion, without any hesitation.
After finishing the dinner, the Count revealed the purpose of the invitation.
“I have an urgent request for you. There are two items I’m looking for, and I can think of no one else to ask.”
The reason the Count supported Dirck was simply that he was a professor at the Arsen Academy.
Dirck was well aware of this fact.
It meant that the items the Count was after could only be obtained by a professor from the Arsen Academy.
A short while later, his guess was confirmed.
‘The Source of Magic, Zone 3.’
That was the location the Count mentioned where the items existed.
As he said, Dirck was the only suitable candidate for this job. It was possible for him to enter Zone 3 under the pretext of conducting research.
Anyway, after stating the main point, the Count disclosed what the items were.
“To put it bluntly, what I want to obtain are ‘Luminescent Stones’ and ‘Depthwater’.”
Luminescent Stones.
These were unique stones found only in Zone 3, characterized by their hardness, comparable to steel.
And there was another feature.
‘When light shines on them, they emit light and stick to other nearby stones.’
They transform into a single mass, as if they were always one.
It was probably due to their property of attracting light that they were called Luminescent Stones.
‘Next up…’
Depthwater.
This refers to the water that flows from the depths of the Source of Magic. Its deep green color, resembling green algae, is characterized by a high concentration of magic power.
Just like the Luminescent Stones, this could only be found at the Source of Magic in Zone 3.
Because the moment Depthwater touches the fog at the boundary of Zone 2, it loses all its properties and turns into ordinary water.
‘Neither of them are particularly hard to obtain.’
The Luminescent Stones were so plentiful they could be kicked around, and Depthwater could be easily gathered from the edge of the water. So, when he heard that much, Dirck was inclined to agree.
But there was one issue.
It was about the quantity of the materials.
【Luminescent Stones: 8kg】
【Depthwater: 35L】
Just thinking about it, it was more than he could carry alone. Moreover, with such quantities, it would be impossible to evade the eyes of the golems guarding the boundaries of the Source of Magic.
All items existing at the Source of Magic were strictly prohibited from being taken outside. If caught, he could lose his position as a professor.
That’s why he initially declined.
This task was too risky.
Then Count Dermore, seemingly having anticipated Dirck’s answer, proposed a solution.
‘He mentioned a helper.’
The helper was a student from the academy.
And it was said that this helper had the ability to easily transport that quantity of materials.
‘So, my job is…’
To enter Zone 3 with the helper.
Then after securing the Luminescent Stones and Depthwater, he just had to hand it over to the helper, and everything would be done.
On top of that, the Count added an astonishing condition regarding the reward he’d provide upon successful completion of this task.
“If you successfully complete this request, I promise stable research funding until your research is successful.”
At that moment, Dirck immediately accepted the Count’s request.
Although his research was on the verge of success, he couldn’t finish it due to a lack of funds.
‘If only the money issue is resolved…!’
Dirck could see his research successfully completing.
If that were to happen, he’d finally obtain the ‘magical talent’ he had longed for. Just thinking about it made him happy, and he broke into a wide smile.
Just then.
Knock, knock!
A sound interrupted his thoughts.
It was a polite knock.
“Excuse me.”
The door swung open along with a youthful voice.
What appeared next was a girl with ash-colored hair.
Seeing her, Dirck tilted his head.
It was a face he had never seen before.
“Who are you…?”
“I’m here on the introduction of Count Dermore.”
In that instant, Dirck realized.
This girl was indeed the helper the Count had mentioned. Meanwhile, the girl who had entered the laboratory introduced herself politely.
“I’m Silfi Rudina, and I’ll be accompanying you to the Source of Magic today as your assistant.”
With that introduction, the last day of the midterm period began to dawn.
As the morning fully broke, Ulan opened his eyes wide.
The first thing he saw was a white ceiling.
Then he felt the hard sensation of the floor. He had fallen asleep on the floor instead of his perfectly good bed.
“Right, I was looking at the book… and then…”
He fainted from the overload.
Recalling that memory, Ulan smiled.
A smile filled with a strong sense of achievement.
The reason was simple.
“I’ve read everything.”
A total of 70 pages of textbook.
Over the past ten days, he had succeeded in storing all this information in his head, which was an accomplishment he had never achieved even in his previous life.
It was only natural for a sense of pride to swell up.
‘Now, there’s only one thing left.’
He had to challenge the written exam and win.
There wasn’t even a hint of anxiety.
He was fully prepared, after all. Just then, he noticed the clock.
“I should start getting ready.”
The current time was 7 AM.
In one hour, the exam would begin.
It was the final exam of this midterm.
It was the ‘Magic Detection’ exam.
And this time, the exam would oddly take place inside the ‘Source of Magic.’
‘So I need to arrive at the Source of Magic by 8 AM at the latest.’
That meant there was no time to waste.
Shaking off all distractions, Ulan quickly finished getting ready.
Just as he was about to leave the dormitory, he unexpectedly bumped into someone at the entrance.
“Noa?”
With her jet-black hair and blue eyes, the slender girl seemed to have been waiting for Ulan all along as she approached him with quick steps upon seeing him.
“You don’t look so good.”
“Well, it’s actually…”
“Is it about that dream you mentioned last time?”
“……”
Noa bit her lip.
Then she nodded with a serious face.
Two days ago, she had suddenly made an ominous statement.
She had been having the same dream for three nights in a row.
This was the continuation of the dream where a monster emerged from the Source of Magic that she had gotten a glimpse of ten days ago.
This was not a trivial premonition at all.
Noa could see the future through her dreams.
That meant today, as they visited the Source of Magic, her dream could very well become reality.
“I’m fine. I’m fully prepared.”
In contrast, Ulan didn’t seem too concerned.
He was completely ready, after all. The pair of axes strapped to his waist was proof of that.
Meanwhile, Noa’s expression remained tense.
“…But today’s dream felt a bit different.”
“How was it different?”
“You were in my dream.”
“Me?”
“Yes, and while fighting a monster, you were finding its vital points one by one.”
There are three vital points for a monster.
They’re located on the head, waist, and rear end.
Noa also added that unless these are destroyed first, they would constantly regenerate.
“And in the process of finding them, I saw you getting seriously hurt. So…”
Her heart felt uneasy.
Noa intended to say that. However, Ulan interrupted her before she could.
“Don’t worry.”
Ulan patted her head with his large hand.
He then grinned.
“If I know the enemy’s weaknesses before the fight, then I won’t get hurt.”
The reason he had a hard time fighting the Lords of the Abyss in his previous life was that it took him a while to find their weaknesses.
If he knew their weaknesses or vital points in advance, the story would be completely different. Ulan smiled confidently as he replied.
“I’ll win.”
His confident answer seemed to ease Noa’s expression. As her tense face began to soften, Ulan suddenly bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
“Huh? Where is this coming from?”
“I’ve always received help from your foresight.”
Just the other day when the Abyss Worshippers attacked, it was evident. And he felt that Noa’s prophecy would surely be of great help again this time.
Knowing the vital points of a monster, especially when battling a Demon Beast, was a massive advantage.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
In response to Ulan’s gratitude, Noa waved her hand as if it were no big deal.
“You help me a lot too, Ulan.”
“Me? When?”
“You’ve been protecting me ever since we left the prairie for the academy, and if something dangerous happens today, you’ll protect me, right?”
The last remark sounded somewhat strange.
As if she was requesting him to safeguard her if something happened. But without any hesitation, Ulan nodded.
“Of course. I’ll protect you.”
“Hehe, that’s all I needed to hear.”
Did Ulan’s immediate reply please her? Noa beamed as she suddenly grabbed Ulan’s hand and said,
“Now, let’s hurry up. We’re going to be late for the exam!”
With only 30 minutes left, Ulan and Noa hurriedly made their way.
Heading towards the Source of Magic, the exam site.
At 7:50 AM, just ten minutes before the exam was to start, the two reached the entrance of the Source of Magic.
Noa, loosening her stiff body, recalled the conversation she just had with Ulan.
‘I’ve conveyed all the necessary information.’
From the emergence of the monster to its weak points.
Moreover, she had clearly indicated her request for him to protect her if anything risky happened.
‘Now all that remains is…’
To subdue Professor Dirck, who would transform into a monster, and receive the reward. That’s how she thought until they arrived at the Source of Magic.
‘But…’
A new problem had emerged.
It was a variable that didn’t exist in the original story. And it was quite a significant variable.
‘…Why is she here?’
Noa narrowed her eyes as she looked at Ulan.
More precisely, at the silver-haired girl who was standing beside him.
It was Delia Arpen.
At first, Noa thought she had come just to see Ulan, but after listening to their conversation, she realized that wasn’t the case.
‘What’s up with this exam?’
Having missed some exams due to unavoidable circumstances, Delia was taking the ‘Magic Detection Exam’ as a substitute.
‘It must have been because of that incident.’
The Abyss Worshipper attack incident.
Delia had been hospitalized for ten whole days because of it.
During that time, she hadn’t been able to take the exams, and it seemed the Magic Detection Exam was chosen as a substitute for the subject she missed.
‘But…’
This was something that didn’t happen in the original story.
On the last day of the midterm period, only Professor Dirck and the students of the Magic Detection course were supposed to enter the Source of Magic.
That’s why she used the term “variable.”
‘Still, for now, it’s okay.’
She was slightly flustered by Delia’s sudden appearance, but it wouldn’t change the results.
On the contrary, it meant they had an extra named character, making it easier to subdue Professor Dirck. After all, Delia was on the verge of wizard-level proficiency.
Just as she was slowly regaining her composure, the clock struck 8 AM.
“It seems everyone is gathered.”
At the same time, a dry voice sounded.
It was Professor Dirck Ormine, the person in charge of the Magic Detection class and the supervisor for this exam.
Along with five male and female assistants, he looked over the gathered students and said,
“Then we shall now enter the Source of Magic.”
With those words signaling the start of the exam, the assistant supervisors quickly moved.
“Everyone, form a line!”
“The order is based on attendance numbers!”
“Substitute exam takers, go to the back!”
Ulan and Noa were near the front.
On the other hand, Delia was in the last row.
She pouted her lips in discontent, as if she didn’t like this arrangement.
However, she couldn’t go against the supervisor’s orders, so she reluctantly moved away from Ulan.
“Ulan, I’ll see you later.”
Swallowing her disappointment, Delia moved to the back.
As soon as she separated from Ulan, her expression turned blank again, as if she had never smiled.
A short while later, as the students formed a line, the assistant supervisors took their designated positions.
“Now, we begin.”
Finally, after all preparations were complete, led by Professor Dirck, a total of twenty-six students entered the Source of Magic.
Chapter 22. A Changing Future
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
