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While geniuses cast magic instinctively, the ordinary folks created formulas and calculations. Geniuses had a natural affinity for mana, but the ordinary ones developed training methods to acquire it. Thus, modern magic is essentially a mimicry of innate genius.

Of course, this field still heavily relies on talent…

I was sitting outdoors, enjoying a drink and reading when…

“Oh my, look at that.”

“Reading that in broad daylight?”

Passing maids blushed upon seeing the cover of the book, which had a suggestive title. However, they didn’t seem too surprised. It seemed Hersel often did such things.

“Back to his old self, it seems.”

“I was wondering, he seemed normal lately.”

The reactions of passing servants were similar. I paid them no mind and confidently turned the page. In reality, I was reading a magic book hidden inside the cover of a sensational novel.

“…The lines of an array are broadly divided into parallel and serial…”

I didn’t want to boast about just understanding basic theory, but it wasn’t too difficult. In the game, one could learn a skill with a single mouse click, but here, I had to learn the principles and the process of drawing an array in detail. Although it was a new field, understanding it indicated that my brain hadn’t rusted.

‘With this, I can self-study the basics.’

As I turned the page, a heavy, imposing shadow loomed over me.

“Ah, Father…”

“What are you reading?”

“…A literary piece about the deep love between a man and a woman.”

“Good. Stick to reading such things.”

His muscular hand reached into the book and pulled out the hidden magic text.

“Stop reading this useless magic.”

He then crumpled the book with both hands and tossed it onto the table. I looked at the now-candy-like book and thought. If my body were crumpled by those hands, how much would it shrink?

“This is a warning. Don’t let me see this again.”

Aol shot me a fierce look before turning away. My guts were tied in knots as I watched him disappear, my eyes trembling.

– Hersel, if you want to live, give up now.

‘You think I’ll submit to such threats?’

– Then die.

‘Bastard.’

Come to think of it, it’s all his fault. The thought of risking my life just to learn magic made me grind my teeth in anger.

Deisel.

The scoundrel who unleashed the monstrous bird, causing unnecessary misunderstandings, and who further upset Aol by running away. Because of him, I couldn’t even bring up the topic of giving up the head position.

“Thanks to that bastard, I have a long way to go.”

I had about six months left until the academy entrance. To survive among the player characters swarming with monsters, I needed to at least meet the average standards. I couldn’t afford to waste time.

I got up and looked at the clock. It was time for the magician sent by Aria to arrive.

“Time to go.”

I was curious about what kind of person they would be.

The place was an ordinary house. Aria had rented it as a secret classroom to avoid Aol’s eyes. My excitement quickly faded upon meeting the magician.

“Charles’s body was about to be torn apart by three goblins. Elri watched and said, ‘Oh, Charles’s body is 21 kilograms. How many grams should be divided equally among the goblins?’ Elri was puzzled.”

Charles and Elri were like the typical names used in textbooks. But wasn’t Charles in trouble?

“Can you solve Elri’s question, young master?”

I stared blankly at the magician. He was a man with striking glasses and a sharp, narrow gaze named Carmelo. According to Aria’s letter, he was a skilled magician…

“Hmm. It seems this problem was too difficult for you. Let me break it down step by step.”

Carmelo assumed my stunned silence meant I didn’t know the answer. He began writing equations with his pen.

“Divide 21 by 3 like this—”

“You.”

“Oh, was that too fast? Shall I go slower?”

“You’re a fraud, aren’t you?”

At my blunt question, Carmelo looked dumbfounded. He cleared his throat and spoke slightly irritated.

“May I ask why you think so?”

“You’re proudly presenting such a simple problem, so it’s natural to be suspicious.”

“Hmm, the problem is indeed easy. I didn’t expect you to know basic math.”

His condescending gaze irked me. Whatever he had heard about me, he seemed to think I was an ignorant fool. As I wondered how to fix his attitude, Carmelo narrowed his eyes and spoke in a stern tone.

“However, that doesn’t mean I’m a fraud.”

He swung the staff beside him.

Whoosh!

The room dimmed as the curtains closed. Simultaneously, the candlewick on the table lit up. Carmelo adjusted his glasses as if asking if I saw that.

“Does that answer your question?”

“…You are a wizard, it seems.”

“Then, young master, prove yourself as well.”

He smirked, rummaging through his bag before pulling out a piece of paper.

“This is a basic wind magic formula. Controlling the wind’s volume to ignite flames and manipulate water. Today, instead of a lesson, let’s gauge your level.”

His tone carried an undertone of ‘let’s see what you can do.’ There are many eccentric wizards, and it seems calling him a fraud had severely bruised his ego.

A wind manipulation formula? That sounded difficult, but starting strong showed his disdain.

At least I wouldn’t be stuck doing simple arithmetic.

I grabbed the pen.

“…Alright, let’s do this.”

I swallowed hard, feeling nervous as I looked over the problem. The pen slipped from my grasp.

Is this real?

“Do you need an abacus?”

“…”

I alternated my gaze between Carmelo, who looked smug, and the problem.

Then,

“I’m done.”

I solved it in less than a minute.

“Of course, this would be too… wait, done?”

Carmelo, who had been nodding, snapped his head up, eyes wide.

I simply nodded in response.

“Hmm… the formula looks a bit unconventional, but the answer is correct.”

The problem I solved was at a level a sixth grader could handle. If he seriously posed such a problem and acted haughty, he might indeed be a fraud.

Well, he did prove he was a wizard.

Let’s give him a chance.

“This is too easy. Bring something harder.”

My words, meant to avoid wasting time, seemed to provoke him. Carmelo frowned and started pulling more problems from his bag.

“Alright, try this one.”

What followed was a series of problems. Each time he presented one, I solved it. The difficulty gradually increased, but I kept writing down the answers, even though the problems were advancing by grade level.

However, the endless progression of problems eventually hit a snag. Suddenly, a much more challenging problem appeared, seemingly ten levels higher.

“…This seems way too advanced all of a sudden, doesn’t it?”

The lines of the formula were not just one-dimensional but three-dimensional. Though it was a wind-related problem, it required detailed calculations of both volume and angle, including calculus and vector calculations.

Does this fit within this world’s standards?

Indeed, this world might be more advanced than mine when it comes to mathematics due to the requirements of magic. Many more wizards would have devoted themselves to mathematical studies than mathematicians.

Given this, the level of mathematics here might be on par with or even surpass modern standards. If such difficult problems are presented just to gauge a beginner’s level, it speaks volumes.

“Can’t solve it?”

Carmelo smirked.

“You seem eager for me to fail, don’t you?”

“Hmph, of course not.”

His blatant denial annoyed me, so I grabbed the pen again.

“Fine, I’ll solve this one too.”

My head ached as soon as I looked at the problem. Fortunately, there were hints provided in the formula. Still, it was tough. By the time I finished, it was already night outside. I briefly greeted Carmelo and dragged my exhausted body back to the mansion.

“Magic is no joke.”

***

Normally, a wizard from the Magic Tower wouldn’t stoop to teaching a noble’s child. It was a matter of pride.

Let alone the idea of teaching the Duke’s son. If caught, it would be certain death for an average wizard.

Even if safety were guaranteed, no one from the Magic Tower accepted the job.

Carmelo, too, would have refused had he not urgently needed research funds.

“Hm…”

Carmelo pondered as he organized the answers Hersel had written.

“I heard he survived the breath of the monstrous bird, but is that really important? Is he really the famous dullard?”

Doubt gnawed at him. Typically, these types struggled with basic arithmetic. But Hersel’s calculations were at an intermediate level, as taught in the academy.

“Being a rich kid, it wouldn’t be strange if he had a high-level tutor. Still, it’s annoying.”

The type who pretends to be a genius in front of a new teacher, having already received high-level tutoring. In the field of magical studies, Carmelo often encountered such inflated egos.

“Acting like a genius when you’ve had extensive private lessons…”

Carmelo was about to tear up the answers when he noticed the strange symbols on the last page.

“Heh, just showing off…”

These were advanced, beyond high-level, problems meant for Magic Tower researchers.

“A pathetic attempt at looking knowledgeable…”

Initially, he planned to teach half-heartedly and kill time. But since the educational material was already solved, he had to change tactics. The last set was meant for personal use but seemed like a good way to trap Hersel.

He almost discarded the paper but decided to check the answers out of curiosity.

“…Hm?”

Carmelo trembled as he verified the answers.

They matched.

No ordinary person could solve these problems, not even with private tutoring.

Was his tutor from the Magic Tower?

He dismissed that thought, shaking his head. If Hersel’s tutor were from the Magic Tower, he would have known.

This left only one possibility.

“He’s got some natural talent, it seems. I thought I’d be wasting time teaching calculations, but it might be interesting after all.”

Carmelo smiled as he burned the papers.