[sys.msg: A vehicle has entered.]
Phew.
It was a truly exhausting day.
The power to the capsule cut off, automatically switching to cooling and cleaning mode.
Stretching my stiff body in various directions didn’t ease the fatigue accumulated over the past week.
Since I hadn’t ventured outside the capsule all day, dust shouldn’t have accumulated in the house, but I still glanced around, wondering if there was even a speck of dust, aware that the landlord would be coming.
“Did you do well?”
“Today was your last day at work, right? How was it?”
“Why do you make it sound like I’ve retired? Well, nothing special happened. Did you finish the report?”
“Can I really get into the academy with just this?”
“I don’t know. I think they might find you a bit much at the academy instead.”
While having dinner with Professor Cheon every evening, our conversations revolved solely around the topic of the magic circle.
To be fair, we might have similar life experiences, but my physical age still remained at seven, and his hobbies, apart from math and magic formation, were nearly nonexistent.
[The Complex Analytical Form of Modular Groups and Local Solutions of Perfectoid Curves with n≤3]
The report to be submitted to the academy required a vast background of knowledge, but once mastered, even young wizards could digest the theoretical content about dimensional descent of circles without difficulty.
“Honestly, this is more like a thesis than a report. Our graduate students need to see this.”
“I’m not the one who came up with it alone—I just transcribed what we talked about.”
“Who else but Name or someone would I discuss modular groups and perfectoid fields with?”
“It’s actually odd that basic magic isn’t covered at the university. What do they teach there, then?”
“Magic engineering dealing with the Ideals is all the rage.”
“I can understand that. I guess one has to make a living.”
Kids these days have no romance.
I also remember the old companions from the Magic Tower, who would try every bizarre spell to amplify the circle’s size.
Now, we’re stuck within the same methodology, wondering how to achieve better efficiency with identical procedures—it seems strange that magic is progressing at all.
Modern times aren’t much different from past lives, really.
We continued our discussions over dinner today.
From time to time, I heard stories from the surrounding professors and graduate students, like one about someone getting caught stealing ginseng extract from the president’s office, leaving everyone awkward and embarrassed, which was honestly absurd and funny.
“I need to write your four recommendations for the Sephiron Academy; how about we write them together?”
“Is it okay for me to see that?”
“Technically, no.”
“Then I’ll trust that you’ll write it well on your own.”
“Wow, you’re getting quite slick at dodging responsibility.”
So, Professor Cheon printed out just the recommendation format instead of writing the content.
“There isn’t much to it. There aren’t many fields to fill in.”
“I’m really not good at writing. No matter what I want to write, getting started is super tough.”
“I think it’s better to express the person as they are in the recommendation rather than just listing their strengths. After all, as you said, there’s no one in my age group who could produce such a report.”
“I need to include what Name said… How about a brief interview session with me? I think it could really help me write the recommendation.”
“Well… I’ll answer according to what I think. What do you want to know?”
Professor Cheon came prepared with A4 paper and a pencil, giving the interview a serious vibe.
With the house dimly lit by just one light, it felt like I was being interrogated—must be just my imagination, right?
“Let’s start with the first question. When did Name first become interested in magic?”
*
“Is the princess still staging a protest in her room?”
“Unfortunately, yes…”
“Talk about stubbornness! Must’ve taken after someone!”
Due to the troublesome princess who had been causing headaches for Butler Varus since a few days ago…
The prince, Hiasen, who used to play with the princess, had gone off to receive successor training like Jade and Feiran, which was unfortunate.
Upon hearing this news, Princess Estasha, wanting to learn magic as well, began her hunger strike in her young body.
I thought it was just a childish whim and planned to show her a lesson for a day, but the princess had already entered her third day of protest.
“Butler, with all due respect, if this continues, the princess might collapse…”
“Hoo… Get Verstappen. I need to apply for an audience with the Emperor.”
Unaware of their circumstances, the three princes, finishing their successor training, often gathered in Princess Estasha’s bedroom as if they had a pact.
“Hey! Silly Shasha! Didn’t you miss your brothers?”
It was always Feiran, the second prince, making a ruckus.
He would tease the princess by pinching her cheeks while Crown Prince Jade would pull him back.
“I heard you were on a hunger strike. You should’ve outgrown throwing tantrums by now. Maintain the dignity of the Kaizen imperial family.”
But Jade also took the chance to admonish Estasha for her antics.
The feelings of betrayal always stung greater from those who had treated you well than from those who had been harsh.
Estasha’s eyes reddened, tears brimming, but she stubbornly kept her mouth shut.
“Don’t be too harsh on Esha. Estasha? I’ll ask Father again. Stop crying.”
For once, Hiasen, who usually stayed out of their disputes, sided with her, trying to comfort her.
“Ah, you silly kids fit together too well. Go on and starve; I’m off to eat a delicious turkey tonight!”
Feiran, venting his frustration on the princess, took Jade with him and left.
“You too, go out.”
“Huh?”
“I said Hiasen, you too!”
“I don’t like turkey that much. Can I go a bit later?”
“Why do you always come here in the first place?”
“I’m bored. Don’t you want to play with me anymore? You’ve forgotten how amusing I always was?”
“…”
The princess was speechless, in shock. Who played with whom now?
But Hiasen, singing a little tune, began exploring the room.
“I started learning magic to follow my brothers, but it’s so difficult. Count Dmitri told me to memorize the rune characters by next time. It’s quite daunting! Do you want to see?”
Hiasen pulled out his homework from their teacher to show the princess.
“Stop pretending to be dumb. I know you’re smarter than your brothers… no, than your oppas.”
“Esha talks like she really attended classes. It was genuinely difficult!”
“Then teach me, I want to see how hard it is.”
“No way. The Count said I shouldn’t disclose it outside.”
“…”
“But if my dear sister asks very nicely, I might consider it?”
*
“I started learning because my oppas were doing it.”
“Oppas?”
“They’re not my real brothers.”
“Oh, so you learned magic at the orphanage.”
To be precise, they’re half-siblings, but still.
“Then did you have difficulties learning magic?”
“It was fun. It was fascinating, too.”
“Do you have a favorite type of magic?”
“Do you know about the Raoul-Syst of the 5th Circle?”
“How does it look roughly?”
I roughly sketched the outline of the Raoul-Syst magic circle on the paper. At first, the professor seemed troubled but then found a clue.
“In Korea, it’s called an alchemist. It’s a truly romantic magic that allows you to see stars even in broad daylight.
It’s quite a minor magic among the 5th Circle, but you seem to know a lot.”
The magic discovered by Raoul Luminos, an ancestor of the Luminos family.
Hiasen, who had always been reluctant to show magic in front of others, demonstrated this magic to me for the first time.
Using a total of 128 runes to represent 128 stars, from El, Ras, Mabeon, Sutra, to Leshaikbar, Saleantirumone, and HarayeTreyka, it was a romantic spell anyone who conquered 4th Circle magic usually tried out at least once.
The use of this magic is still unknown, but its role as a map showcasing the amalgamation of 4th Circle magic couldn’t be denied.
“Well done. I’ll try to write the rest of it, even if it takes all night.”
“Is the deadline for the academy recommendation submission tomorrow?”
“Hahaha.”
Whether it’s a university student or a professor, it seems doing assignments under pressure is an unavoidable human instinct.
After finishing my shower and brushing my teeth to prepare for the end of the day, I greeted the professor wrestling with the recommendation before entering my room.
My still damp hair was really bothering me.
[Hyebam: Do you have a moment? I need to tell you something regarding Nameya’s settlement.]
It was a message from Shia.
I activated the hologram text mode on the capsule and laid down on the bed, requesting a chat with her, not forgetting to cover the pillow with a towel to avoid getting it wet.
[NoName: Yeah, I’m good now.]
[Hyebam: Oh, what timing! I just applied for the settlement earlier, and luck would have it that it can be processed today!]
[NoName: Thanks. I owe that to you, Shia.]
[Hyebam: Oh, come on! I benefited so much from you. Initially, I included the 500,000 Won mission reward for the Master achievement for you. The total donations received over the week came to 2,564,496 Won!]
[NoName: ?]
[NoName: Isn’t that a bit too much?]
[Hyebam: Not at all! I didn’t even include V-tube profits! You earn income from V-tube based on view counts as well.]
[NoName: I just learned that.]
[Hyebam: Anyway, if this momentum continues, it’ll definitely exceed 200.]
[NoName: What do I do? If such a large amount comes in, they will surely suspect something.]
[Hyebam: ??? Wasn’t it your account?]
[NoName: Yeah, so the remaining amount after excluding 500,000 Won will be later…]
[Hyebam: Oh no, I already transferred it!]
[NoName: Ah.]
Tonight’s urban noise felt particularly loud.
Footsteps could be heard somewhere.
Knock knock
“Name? Are you sleeping? I have something to say.”
It was Professor Cheon’s voice.
[Hyebam: Sorry, haha.]
[NoName: It’s fine, I’ll handle it myself.]
[Hyebam: Fighting! Let’s play games together later!]
I chuckled and replied to her.
Actually, this worked out well.
After all, lying was never my nature.
