Chapter 85
As the students looked bewildered by Albi’s sudden appearance, Torua got off her magic carpet and greeted him politely.
“Hello, Professor Albi.”
“What are you doing?”
“My adorable juniors were entertaining a great senior like me.”
‘She was making us run errands for money!’
The first-years screamed internally.
Of course, none of them dared to say it aloud.
Albi looked over the messy practice area with a blank face, then waved his hand once.
The magic from his fingertips instantly restored the practice area, which had been wrecked by Torua’s commands, back to its original state.
The students looked on in awe.
‘Object Reversion Magic!’
A high-level spell that turns back the time of objects, with the concept of manipulating time itself.
And he’d used it without even chanting.
“Everyone, gather up.”
At Albi’s command, the first-years quickly assembled.
Torua sat under the parasol Carr had handed her.
She was only here to help, so she felt no need to join the others.
“I am Albi Zeron.”
Albi’s short introduction made the students tense.
‘Why is he here? Did he just stop by on the way somewhere?’
‘Or is he here to test out a new spell? If so, we’re lucky.’
Normally, if a professor showed up, it meant class was about to start, but none of the first-years expected Albi to actually teach.
That’s because Albi was famous for not giving classes.
He became a professor only for the privileges it offered at Lumene.
He was rarely at school, always off subjugating Tartarus.
Even though he’d been a professor for a while, he’d never given a single lecture.
Everyone’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought of witnessing the magic of the legendary Albi.
“Starting today, at Professor Len’s request, I’ll be helping with your classes.”
“…?”
The students were confused by something they hadn’t expected.
At that moment, Torua Yan ran over from under the parasol.
“Wait! Professor Albi, you’re going to lecture?”
“Is there a problem, Torua Yan?”
“There’s no problem, but you’ve never accepted my special lecture requests, not even once, and I’m not the only one! All of us juniors have been begging for a special lecture since first year!”
Albi is a mage who uses fairy magic with a human body.
He’s the only human who can do so—an extremely rare magician.
That’s why every magic student wanted to attend one of his classes.
Torua had been requesting Albi’s lectures since her first year.
If not a regular class, at least a special lecture.
She even got kicked out of the magic department office for showing up daily to request it.
After becoming the student council vice president, she even tried to use her power, but got disciplined for it.
And now, the class she never got to hear was being given to the first-years.
“I was busy.”
“….”
With that short reply, Torua clenched her fist.
At that moment, Professors Len and Assistant Professor Anna entered the practice area.
“Senior, you’re here already.”
Len greeted Albi with great respect.
Watching that, the students felt Albi’s status all over again.
Despite his youth, Len was not only influential at Lumene but throughout the entire world of magic.
Though he wasn’t registered in the Hero Record due to his sole interest in research, his skills were on par with front-line battle mages.
Besides Albi, the only other professors Len treated this politely were Sedgen from Class 1 and Professor Harrid from Class 5.
“Everyone, attention! Professor Albi is a special guest I invited for you first-years! Give him a round of applause!”
At Len’s words, the first-years gave Albi a thunderous applause.
“Torua, why are you sitting with the first-years and clapping? Come up front. You’re here as an assistant for this lesson.” (T/N: This is funny AF. lol)
“Waaah. I’m a baby first-year. I want to listen to Professor Albi’s special lecture.”
“Anna, bring her up here immediately.”
Len said mercilessly, as if he expected this, and Anna approached Torua with practiced ease.
“Miss Torua, come on.”
“No! I want to listen! I want Professor Albi’s class!”
Torua struggled, but was eventually dragged up front by Anna.
Ignoring the sulky Torua, Len continued.
“The reason I invited Senior Albi today is for magic combat.”
The students looked at each other and murmured.
“The Department Competition event is battle royale. In other words, survival. And mages are the most disadvantaged in that kind of field.”
The magic students nodded at Professor Len’s words.
Unless you’re a battle mage like Chelsea, it’s true that mages are at a disadvantage in one-on-one fights with other classes.
“Senior Albi is someone who’s survived countless battlefields alone. As far as I know, no one is better at magic combat than he is. His advice will be a huge help for you with the Department Competition coming up!”
The students clapped with admiration at Len’s words.
“Whatever the case, getting to hear Professor Albi’s lecture is lucky.”
Carr said with a grin, and Chloe nodded.
“Yeah, I’m excited.”
“Torua, as someone actively raiding dungeons on the front lines, will also give you advice.”
The first-years’ eyes sparkled.
From today on, they were in for a luxurious set of practical lessons.
Once Len stepped aside, Albi stepped forward.
“What do you think is most important in magic combat?”
At Albi’s question, the students eagerly raised their hands.
It was a rare chance to make an impression on a renowned hero from the Zeron family.
“You there, answer.”
“I’m Emio Luchan from Class 2!”
Emio Luchan, who ranked third in the Magic Department at midterms, stood up.
“For a mage, the most important thing is mana!”
“Wrong. Next. You.”
“Huh?”
Emio, who had answered so confidently, was startled. This time, Chelsea answered.
“Chant speed!”
“Wrong. Next.”
Each student announced what they valued most.
But no one gave the answer Albi was looking for.
No matter what was said, it was marked wrong, and eventually, no one dared to raise their hand anymore.
At that point, Torua shot her hand up.
“Me!”
“Put it down.”
Of course, Professor Len forced her to lower her hand.
While everyone struggled to answer, Leo raised his hand.
“Let’s hear it, Leo Plov.”
“Mobility.”
“Correct.”
“Tch. I was first.”
“Stop trying to compete with the first-years! You’re here to teach today!”
As Torua grumbled, Professor Len pressed his forehead in exasperation.
Even the charismatic young teacher Len found Torua a headache.
“Professor, I don’t get it! Sure, mobility is important, but is it really the most crucial factor in magic combat? Besides, hasn’t mobility in magic already been solved?”
‘As if I’m going to lose to a non-magic student!’
Emio cut in, indignant.
“By ‘solved mobility,’ do you mean Wing Magic?”
“Yes!”
Wing Magic.
A levitation spell invented ten years ago.
Much easier to learn and faster than the long-standing Fly spell, it was considered a superior replacement.
Its main feature is that it gives flight ability to objects.
Fly Magic could also grant flight, but not as efficiently as Wing Magic.
Wing Magic made a huge contribution to overcoming the mobility weakness of mages, earning it the title of spell of the century.
Albi nodded at Emio’s answer.
“What’s your name?”
“Emio Luchan.”
“Emio Luchan, come forward.”
Emio came up with a puzzled look.
“Does anyone here not have a dedicated Wing Magic tool?”
The students looked at him incredulously.
For modern mages, Wing Magic was essential.
So a tool for flying was a must.
It wasn’t a mandatory school supply, but it was used so often that it was practically required.
To be a magic student and not have one was unthinkable.
But contrary to expectations, two students raised their hands.
Leo and Chloe.
Chloe lowered her head in embarrassment, but Leo was unbothered.
“Leo Plov, come forward.”
As Leo stepped forward, Emio glared at him with open hostility.
‘Did I do something wrong at school?’
Leo let out a faint laugh inside.
“The two of you will now have an aerial match.”
Albi pointed to the top of the distant Hero’s Tower.
“Whoever touches the target and comes back first wins. Leo Plov, you’ll use this.”
Albi pulled a broom out of a subspace.
“Why a broom?”
“It’s what I use most often.”
Albi replied flatly to Leo’s incredulous question.
The students looked at Leo with envy.
It looked shabby, but since it was Albi’s, it had to be a powerful tool.
As they eyed Leo, confusion set in.
‘If mobility is so important, why a match like this?’
But some students’ faces changed when they saw the broom.
“No way. That’s totally unfair!”
“Why?”
“That’s not a flying tool! It’s just a cleaning broom magic tool!”
“What?”
“This’ll be fun.”
Torua smiled, while Anna sighed.
“Fun, sure, but is it really a fair competition?”
Leo and Emio took their places at the starting line.
Anna raised her hand.
“Are both students ready?”
When both nodded, Anna lowered her hand.
“Go!”
“Become my hands and feet, Wing!”
Emio finished his chant in an instant and jumped onto his board-like magic tool, accelerating instantly.
‘I don’t know what kind of tool Professor Albi gave Leo, but mine is top of the line! Plus, I practice Wing Magic every day!’
Emio curled his lip in a sneer.
‘Leo’s never even come to practice! This match is mine!’
Just as Emio was savoring victory—
Whoosh—!
“…!”
Something shot up beside him at tremendous speed.
“What the—?”
It was Leo.
“Sorry, I’m going ahead!”
“You little—! Like I’ll just let you!”
Sparks flew from Emio’s eyes as he drew his staff.
Crackle—!
“Lightning Bolt!”
Leo quickly dodged to the side as a spell shot at him from behind.
“What, you’re attacking?”
“This isn’t just a race—it’s an aerial battle! You can attack your opponent!”
Emio sneered as he overtook Leo.
At those words, Leo smirked.
“Oh? You’ll regret that.”