Chapter: 523
The story that Soul Academy would be closed for a few months made the students of the Academy gradually prepare to go home one by one.
Some couldn’t resist the nagging of parents worried about their children.
Others had practical reasons, needing to earn tuition for the next semester.
Some thought, having worked hard for so long, they should take some time to relax.
In addition, many people packed their bags for their own reasons.
Because of that, as the day brightened, the atmosphere at the Academy grew increasingly chaotic, but Joy found herself detached from that narrative.
“This part of the magic circle had this meaning.”
“Seeing it like this, I can see parts that match. Especially, if we consider this part as a divine magic of recovery, it really aligns better.”
“Lord Erginius’s idea is definitely impressive.”
“Is there a way to apply this to existing magic?”
“Absolutely! We can use it at our Academy’s training grounds right away…”
In front of numerous professors from the magic department, Joy, who had been demonstrating the interpretation of the magic circle, blankly listened to their conversation, which soared far beyond her student level, letting out a sigh internally.
When she was first asked by the head of the magic department to interpret the magic circle, Joy never thought it would come to this.
It wasn’t that she underestimated the passion of the Academy’s professors. After all, how could she not recognize their zeal, given how much time she had spent learning?
The reason Joy thought it would be easy at the start was simply because she didn’t know much.
Not long ago, receiving teachings directly from Erginius about the magic circle had affirmed her understanding as she proved her mastery by restoring a broken magic circle.
In fact, she accepted the headmaster’s proposal because she was confident she could do the same thing multiple times.
However, if you asked whether she had reached a level where she could understand and explain all the knowledge contained in the magic circle, Joy would shake her head in panic.
There’s no way she could grasp the essence of Lord Erginius’s magic in just a little over a month!
She could use magic, but to accept the principles and ideas behind it was beyond Joy. She intended to draw the magic circles for the headmaster and explain the functions of each drawing, then step back.
“Wait a moment. Is this magic incorporating the function of purification?”
“Yes. As far as I know, that’s correct.”
“How can this be?”
The problem started from the headmaster’s question. The magic circle, which had a completely different appearance from the current mainstream magic systems, gave him a headache.
“I only learned that it just works!”
It wasn’t like Joy had a way to answer his question.
Joy, who had learned the magic circles through thorough rote education, had no idea why the magic circle was drawn like that.
“…Ducal Young Lady Partlan, I have one request.”
In his endless pondering, the headmaster made one request.
Non-disclosure and prohibition of misuse. Along with various other restrictions, he asked if it was alright to bring in other Academy professors.
In front of the headmaster’s serious gaze, Joy nodded her head willingly. She had no intention of monopolizing the knowledge related to this magic circle, and Erginius hadn’t mentioned to keep it confidential.
“It appears to resemble an ancient magic system… Please wait a moment. I’ll bring the data.”
“…That’s right. Some of the magic that was practically applied in the past aligns with this magic circle.”
After combing through countless materials, the professor the headmaster brought clarified the doubts, but he couldn’t resolve the new questions that arose.
“I think we need to call Professor Conta. If it’s someone researching ancient offensive magic, surely…”
“Ducal Young Lady Partlan, is that alright?”
“I don’t mind at all.”
With that, another professor joined the research.
After clearing up one question, new ones emerged again.
To solve those questions, yet another professor came to visit.
Throughout this ongoing process, there existed no professor who refused the headmaster’s proposal, despite the heavy restrictions placed by him.
As if they had all made up their minds, the professors nodded their heads unquestioningly, prompting Joy, laden with questions, to timidly ask, and one of the professors replied while smiling with childlike innocence.
“The biggest reason we struggled to interpret Lord Erginius’s magic circle was because there were too many mixed magic circles. But now, dear Young Lady, you’ve broken that barrier!”
“We’ve gotten the opportunity to face the wisdom left by Great Wizard Erginius! How could we refuse such an opportunity!”
“Anyone refusing this would have no qualification to be in Soul Academy.”
“Thank you for providing such an honorable opportunity, Ducal Young Lady. If there’s anything I can ask of you in the future, please do let me know.”
Of course, it wasn’t like Joy had no escape route at all.
In the meantime, other young ladies and her friend Phoebe, along with her older brother, came to check up on her.
Each time, Joy tried to say something about leaving, but failed to part her lips under the passionate gazes of the other professors.
Caught in the overwhelming enthusiasm of various scholars, Joy felt powerless as a mere female student.
Thus, forcibly participating in the professors’ heated discussions, Joy could only watch the moon rise and set with a lifeless gaze.
The dialogues among those who had produced remarkable achievements in their respective fields were academically valuable.
Joy couldn’t deny that she had learned a lot from their conversations.
But, hey, there’s a limit to everything!
She had just suffered through hell yesterday, and to be working all night without rest wasn’t right!
I’m really too tired! At this rate, I feel like I might genuinely collapse from overwork!
“Ducal Young Lady?”
“…Ah. Yes. I’m listening.”
“This part is the basis of the barrier, right?”
While grumbling internally, Joy earnestly answered the professor’s question.
“Yes. That’s correct. I believe it plays a role in distinguishing between inside and outside.”
“Is that so?”
“…Is that so?”
“Aha! It seems similar to what I saw elsewhere.”
The professor who was researching both barrier studies and archaeology lighted up with a gleam in his eyes beyond the murky horizon.
“Do you know about the fairy forest that Lord Erginius sealed?”
“Yes. I know. I understand it to be an area prohibited for access due to the Evil God’s Energy invading the vicinity.”
“I had an opportunity to go there with priests from Jushin Church a while back. And at that time, I discovered a similar magic.”
“Ducal Young Lady?”
Just as the professor’s story was about to become truly interesting, a voice calling Joy from outside broke in at the perfect timing.
“The Young Lady of the Allen Family is looking for you.”
Lucy? I heard she collapsed yesterday, but she seems fine.
Thank goodness. Letting out a sigh of relief, Joy felt the usual eyes of others upon her again, but she steeled herself to turn away from those gazes.
If I miss this opportunity, who knows when I’ll escape this hell! I have to get out! Absolutely!
“Shall we go? I’ll tell you the rest later.”
Leaving the professor’s voice behind, Joy stepped outside the research room, letting out a bright chuckle without a cloud in sight.
I’m tired. Really tired to the point of feeling like dying.
Forget about the body; my mind is more exhausted than when I trained in the Allen Family!
Ugh, I’d love to just head back to the dorm and sleep right away, but I guess I can’t…
For now, I need to greet the various young ladies, check in with my friends, contact my family, and then more.
“Hey, silly! Did you die and come back? What’s with your face?”
Joy, who was blankly staring at the sky, turned her head at the cheerful voice.
Wow, it’s Lucy! She’s wearing such a cute outfit.
She’s got shorts that show off her thighs and a loose white shirt tucked in, topped with a long outer garment that covers her wrists.
Usually, Lucy has this sharp princess vibe, but now she feels more like a lively girl. She looks like she’s about to bounce around.
What a bummer. If we weren’t outside, I’d have hugged her to regain my sanity. And behind such a Lucy stands…
“…Benedict?”
“Long time no see, Ducal Young Lady.”
Shaken from her stupor by the intimidating smile of the giant, Joy hurriedly pulled out her fan to hide her weary face.
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