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Mental magic and spirit magic were evaluated only with written exams during the midterm exams.
This was because there were hardly any students who could accomplish anything with a practical exam.
But now, as the semester comes to an end,
practical exams were included in all detailed subjects of the magic department for the final exams.
The next day, in the gymnasium.
The mental magic practical exam was underway.
Professor Billian Discipulus pointed to various cages set up on one side.
"I know very well that mental magic is difficult. But if you give up just because it's difficult, you can't be considered a student of Elton Academy."
Some students' expressions hardened at the mention of not being a student of Elton Academy.
These were students who had ranked in the lower tiers during the midterm exams.
"Now, we have prepared various animals and monsters here. If you go to the assistant over there, you can freely choose the materials to use as mediums. Try anything you can do. It would be better if you succeed, but even if you don't, I will evaluate the process."
Billian took out a magic pocket watch and checked the time.
"You have until lunchtime. Try to cast mental magic in any way you can. Now, begin."
Libere raised his hand.
"Professor."
"Libere Specula. Speak."
"Um... I have a mental magic prepared separately, can I cast it on someone other than the animals here?"
Professor Billian asked with a puzzled expression.
"Another target? What do you mean?"
"The assistant professor over there."
"What? An assistant?"
An assistant professor was standing where Libere pointed.
It was Dennis Fiourn, the telekinesis magic assistant professor.
Professor Billian asked Assistant Professor Dennis.
"Come to think of it, I was wondering why you were here when you're not even an assistant in my class. You're Dennis Fiourn under Professor Kinesis, right?"
"...Yes, Professor. That's right."
"I thought you were here to watch the mental magic. Are you saying you'll be the subject of the magic?"
Dennis reluctantly nodded.
"...Yes."
"Why would a telekinesis magic assistant professor suddenly offer to help with the mental magic exam? Even willing to be the target of the casting himself?"
"Well..."
Of course, it wasn't something he was doing willingly.
"I happened to see that student practicing mental magic, and I was so impressed that I wanted to help. I voluntarily decided to be the subject of the casting."
It was a lie.
The day before.
Knock knock.
"Yes, come in."
In the assistant's office.
Dennis's face turned pale at the sight of the person entering.
"Da, Davian? Why are you here at this hour...?"
"Ah, there's something I was hoping the assistant professor could help me with."
"Something I can help with?"
"Yes. Tomorrow, during the mental magic practical exam, Libere is planning to cast mental magic on a person."
A sense of unease began to creep in.
"Libere? Are you talking about Libere Specula?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"I was wondering if you could help out a bit."
"...I'm a telekinesis magic assistant professor, how can I help with mental magic? And I don't know much about mental magic."
"Ah, I'm not asking you to teach me mental magic. I'm asking you to be the subject."
The unease that had been creeping in became reality.
"What?"
"It's not difficult. Libere will cast a simple mental magic, and you just have to be the target."
"Why would I?"
"You're especially fond of our students, assistant professor. I thought you would help Libere with his practical exam."
He seemed to know why he thought that, but he couldn't help but ask.
"Why did you think I would help?"
"Because it would be better than Professor Kinesis finding out that you used mana acceleration that almost turned me into jerky."
"......"
It was devastating.
The result of being briefly excited had come back like this.
He had been completely taken in by that young freshman.
"...Is that all?"
"Yes. It's simple. You have such a great love for students, I knew you would allow it. Just like when you 'went out of your way to spar with me' to teach me mana acceleration, you can just help Libere a little."
The voice was filled with emphasis on 'went out of your way to spar with me.'
"I haven't agreed yet..."
"You're not going to refuse, are you?"
He was a devil.
Dennis began to see the face of the freshman in front of him as a devil.
"...So. You just decided to be the subject of mental magic because you were impressed?"
Billian didn't easily believe Dennis's words.
It was, in a way, natural.
A telekinesis magic assistant professor happened to pass by, was impressed, and decided to help with the mental magic practical exam?
The plausibility was too low.
On the other hand, Dennis, seeing Billian's completely disbelieving face, began to feel a glimmer of hope.
'Right. If Professor Billian tells me to get out, saying what nonsense is this... then I don't have to be the target of the mental magic.'
Professor Billian opened his mouth again.
"I don't know what kind of story is involved, but alright. Go ahead and try."
The seed of hope in Dennis's heart withered and died.
Regardless of Dennis's inner thoughts, the students moved busily.
They chose animals or monsters in cages, went to the assistant professor to get mediums, and took their places here and there in the gymnasium.
Davian, Luna, and Latia also took a cage containing lab rats and mediums, then sat down side by side.
It was a position where Libere and Assistant Professor Dennis could be seen well.
Luna asked.
"Do you think Libere can succeed in mental magic?"
"I don't know. But he's such a smart guy, he might pull it off somehow."
Latia, who was staring at Libere, opened her mouth.
"I think he'll do it. The loudmouth."
"How do you know, Latia?"
"I don't know, Luna. I just have a feeling. He succeeded in monkey mental magic more easily than I thought. Libere, that guy. He must be really smart."
Davian put the medium in front of the cage and said.
"Let's focus on ours for now."
"Taking a spot here? Isn't this basically the Libere mental magic audience seat?"
"Anyway. We have to focus on ours too."
Latia and Luna also moved their mediums and began to attempt mental magic.
Davian placed a black stone in the shape of a triangular kimbap between himself and the cage.
This triangular stone is a magnet, but it consists of three poles instead of two.
A magnet with each corner of the triangle being a different pole.
Magnetite, which has been transformed by the influence of magic power for a long time, natural tripolar magnets are traded at a very high price because of their rarity.
The magic tool that Davian is trying to use now is not a natural one, but an artificial product created by a mage of the Magic Tower by arbitrarily projecting magic power for a long time.
Unlike magic stones, which contain magic power, these tripolar magnets are not particularly used anywhere.
The Royal Engineering Research Institute is said to be researching automatically moving wheels using these tripolar magnets, but it is unknown when they will be put into practical use.
Anyway, it is currently mainly used as a medium for mental magic.
Whoo-oong.
When Davian injected magic power, the tripolar magnet vibrated finely and emitted a resonating sound.
Mana waves began to arise from the tripolar magnet.
Most freshmen are unable to create mana waves themselves.
'Up to here, it's something I succeeded in the last round as well.'
Even just doing this much will get you a top score on the practical exam.
In fact, Professor Billian is just walking around the gymnasium, looking at who has created mana waves and who hasn't.
Davian subtly adjusted the mana waves, recalling the brain waves of the lab rat he had listened to over four classes.
The longitudinal waves extending from the tripolar magnet must perfectly match the brain waves of the lab rat and cause a drift.
'The amplitude shouldn't be too large, and the wavelength shouldn't be too long.'
Davian subtly adjusted the amplitude and wavelength.
Before he knew it, Professor Billian was standing in front of him.
"Chirp."
The lab rat, which had been wandering around the cage, suddenly stopped.
The lab rat was motionless as if its whole body had stiffened.
'That's it!'
The longitudinal waves emitted from the tripolar magnet and the brain waves of the lab rat matched perfectly and merged.
It was a success in drift, in mental magic terms.
From here, it is even more important.
Now, you have to control the rat's brain waves to send magnetic field signals to the muscles.
Four classes.
Four written tests.
Four study sessions.
The effect of repetitive learning unfolded in Davian's head.
'If I had studied like this in Korea, I would have gone to Seoul National University...'
Well, back then, there was no quest like dying if you couldn't graduate.
Davian banished the momentarily surging thoughts and concentrated again.
Again, the contents of the lab rat's brain waves and nerve transmission unfolded in his head.
Davian began to manipulate the lab rat's brain waves in earnest.
Click.
The lab rat took a step forward with an awkward gait, as if a cheap robot was moving.
Click.
Again, the opposite foot.
Click.
This time, the hind paw.
The four feet repeated moving little by little, and the awkwardness of the movement gradually subsided.
"Hoo... Davian is coming out. He's not the overall top student of the midterm for nothing. Excellent."
Only then did Davian look up and look at Professor Billian.
"Thank you."
"You have succeeded in mental magic, so the final practical exam is perfect. But..."
Billian raised his head and spoke loudly so that other students could hear.
"Remember that not only mental magic, but everything you are learning and mastering at the academy now is not for the sake of exam scores. Don't dwell on the results of the exams, but always strive to improve and move forward. Don't forget that you are the future and hope of the Alcancia Kingdom."
"Yes!"
Loud answers erupted from here and there.
Davian stared silently at Professor Billian.
'He seems like a pretty decent person.'
No matter how you look at it, he is not an evil character at all.
Nor is he a spy for the Marino Empire.
It was just a misguided obsession with his master that made him a villain.
"Davian. Try sending more diverse commands to the lab rat for the rest of the time. Beyond the exam score, this moment when you first felt brainwave manipulation is a really important time for you. Try to do everything you can."
"Yes, Professor."
It was then.
"Chirp."
The lab rat in Latia's cage let out a cry.
Billian and Davian's heads turned at the same time.
The lab rat in front of Latia had stopped in its place and was staring silently at Latia.
"Hoo... Latia Meridem. You have also succeeded in drifting."
Billian stood in front of Latia with a curious expression.
Davian also stared silently at Latia.
'Latia Meridem. Is she even succeeding in mental magic now? She couldn't do it last round.'
Latia Meridem was really growing scarily.
She is making consecutive achievements that cannot be compared to Latia up to the 3rd round.
"Latia, the same goes for you. The exam is perfect, but you must not be satisfied here. Now that you have succeeded in mental magic for the first time, make the most of this feeling and inject as many commands as poss..."
Then.
Libere's boisterous voice echoed from the front.
"I did it!"
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