Chapter 9

8.

“It’s an honor to see such distinguished individuals.”

A graceful smile accompanied by a soft eye-smile appeared.

Whether it was out of respect for the main figures of the empire, the youthful girl’s figure soon closed her eyes gently.

However, just because all six clan leaders had been restrained in mere seconds…

“Then, please continue your conversation.”

As she walked through the focused gazes of everyone without a care, silence reigned. The quiet flutters of the ancient dragon crest with each steady step…

The light steps carried a heavy weight and eventually left the dean’s office entirely.

The solemn stares from the clan leaders watching her weren’t coincidental, were they?

“I’ll admit, she’s not ordinary.”

“Hmph. That old dragon must’ve raised someone exactly like himself.”

“Am I the only one reminded of the Sage?”

“The Sage… There are similarities indeed. Especially those eyes.”

Even though every clan leader was a towering authority, none seemed intimidated by her presence.

How long has it been since they met someone so bold?

Though Letter had saved the children of the six clans, this fact held little sway over the current clan leaders. To them, Letter wasn’t merely a benefactor but rather someone unsettlingly intriguing.

They could almost understand how she wielded that insignia of the ancient dragon.

Especially her unfathomable mana reserves.

‘It’d be ideal if we could make her an ally.’

‘But as an enemy, she’d surely be troublesome.’

‘This is why the dean was confident.’

The clan leaders finally acknowledged the new professor’s qualifications after sensing a mana flow comparable to the Sage’s.

Such a prodigy born of the times—this must be what they mean.

An ordinary person would never reach such heights in their lifetime.

Someone with slightly shining talent might barely achieve it after a lifetime of effort, yet she had reached it at such a young age—her potential cannot be underestimated.

In other words, there was more to gain than lose with her arrival.

This was possible because she chose the teaching staff over combat equipment.

Since she intended to share these insights, there was no reason to refuse.

“Mana Design, right?”

“Yes.”

“This year’s freshmen will have a solid foundation. In a way, this is good.”

Having lived their lives calculating gains and losses, the clan leaders valued the ‘worth’ of the new professor highly.

First and foremost, they aimed to acquire her knowledge.

However, ultimately…

Like their ancestors, they planned to gradually coax and manipulate her into becoming part of their clans.

If they could subordinate her unprecedented talent to their clans, naturally their houses would gain the title of strongest.

There was no intention whatsoever to let anyone else have her.

Hence…

Each clan leader sent a brief letter to their family members upon returning home.

‘Attend Professor Leter Yurt’s class,’ it said.

“Hmm? Grandfather actually said this directly?”

“…Why is he paying attention to such a young child?”

“Mana Design is a basic subject anyway…”

The reactions of the students who received the letters were roughly along these lines.

This happened because the students didn’t yet grasp the weight behind the ancient dragon insignia.

They also failed to realize that the reverse side of the letter implied they should investigate Leter Yurt.

Still, unable to disobey the clan leader’s command, they signed up for the class with a mix of curiosity and confusion.

Thus, an unexpected scene unfolded.

-Rustle.

-Rustle rustle.

-Rustle rustle rustle rustle…

“Ah, Dean. Are these…all the students who registered for my class?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Ugh, maybe the basics are lacking too much…?”

Not only most freshmen but even some upperclassmen wanted to attend the Mana Design course.

Given Premus’ esteemed reputation, Letter found this puzzling.

Especially when the top students from the six clans had also enrolled in her class, which left Letter bewildered.

The names she recognized from the “original story” were undoubtedly once-in-a-century geniuses.

‘What is this? A hidden camera prank?’

Letter’s mind naturally entertained such thoughts due to the overwhelming interest in the Mana Design subject.

Thus, additional classes were newly established.

Regardless, gathering both star upperclassmen and fresh-faced rookies in the same classroom was impractical.

Therefore, the originally basic-level Mana Design subject now included intermediate and advanced levels.

After about three days passed…

Finally, the day of Letter’s first lecture arrived.

“Excuse me, Professor.”

“Yes?”

“Um, sorry…but the podium blocks you from view.”

“Ah.”

Upon arriving at Premus’ vast auditorium, Letter encountered a minor obstacle.

Despite thorough preparation and simulations, she hadn’t accounted for the podium’s height.

“Ugh…”

Thus, Letter simply pushed the podium aside, revealing countless student faces.

‘Goodness, so many people came…’

Even dividing the students into beginner, intermediate, and advanced sections resulted in this turnout.

Significantly, the class Letter currently stood in was the smallest group—the advanced section—which made her feel somewhat awkward.

Still, on the bright side, all these students had come to attend her lectures.

Motivated by the students’ enthusiasm, Letter resolved to reciprocate.

“Alright then, let’s begin.”

A simple round circle appeared next.

A foundational magic circle drew the students’ attention.

“A magic circle is a diagram controlling mana flow. Therefore, the circular form is considered ideal for evenly distributing mana.”

Moments later, a very simple pattern emerged within the circle.

This represented a breeze-level wind magic, causing puzzled looks among the students.

Naturally so.

None of the students gathered in the auditorium were unfamiliar with such basic magic.

‘What is this?’

‘Isn’t this supposed to be the advanced section?’

‘Hmm…’

At that moment, while most students were sending curious glances towards Letter’s lecture…

-Rustle.

New patterns began overlaying the floating basic magic circle.

A seemingly endless sequence of magic circles started appearing.

“Each element composing it follows rules, making a magic circle akin to a language.”

The extremely fundamental magic circle gradually evolved into intermediate level.

From intermediate to advanced level.

And finally…

“If you interpret and read what this magic circle language aims to express, you’ll see what it discarded and what it chose to become a gentle breeze evolving into a typhoon.”

It transformed into an overwhelmingly powerful gale magic capable of devastating the area.

However, the final magic circle looked strange to the students.

While its form and structure resembled earlier stages, it felt more like a mutation than evolution.

It appeared connected at times but abruptly disconnected elsewhere, feeling awkward overall.

When students tilted their heads again in confusion…

“Now, analyze according to what you’ve learned before, break it down, and reassemble it into the same form as this magic circle.”

Another new magic circle appeared, indicating the students’ target.

Reluctantly setting aside their doubts, students began breaking down the magic circle following established rules.

Once they deconstructed it to its smallest analyzable unit and reconstructed it step-by-step according to Letter’s explanation…

“…Huh?”

Instead of a sense of accomplishment, a jarring shock resonated through their heads.

The magic circle before them now completely trampled everything passed down through centuries.

Things deemed inefficient or impossible were forcibly confined together.

Yet, it was astonishingly precise, with no contradictions detectable anywhere.

Relationships discovered in things degraded over time sparked unforeseen paradigm shifts.

Perhaps no magic could surpass this in magical-ness.

Certain elements previously considered inefficient were now incredibly practical.

Moreover, things long forgotten as “impossible” mocked their neglectful past.

They proudly showcased their existence within the softly glowing magic circle.

“You need to know how to use everything available. After all, exploration and discovery are fundamental virtues of magic studies.”

The patterns and development—or evolution—of magic learned through hundreds of pages of magic circles.

Even absolute truths taken for granted over eons were laughably dismissed by this…

“To my knowledge, you’ve already learned a lot. So instead of teaching something new…”

-Rustle.

“I intend to teach you how to handle what you’ve learned. In a more efficient and practical manner.”

Revolution.

No other word could describe it.