Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 35

35. Teaching Assistant Selection Ceremony

The next morning, we gathered in the Great Hall again, instead of the classroom.

“No one skipped out because they overslept, right? Today, we’re announcing the Teaching Assistants.”

Alloy was using amplification magic from the podium. He was in charge of running the Teaching Assistant selection ceremony.

‘Everyone’s quiet.’

The kids, who were usually busy chattering away whenever they gathered, were silent at this moment.

Although he didn’t have the presence to dominate the entire place like the Tower Lord, Alloy probably looked like a war god to the kids.

[He single-handedly wiped out all those guys from the Circle.]

Moreover, he seemed ready to give up his life for the kids, so the impression was even greater.

“I know you’re all looking forward to it, but as you know, only six people can be Teaching Assistants. It’s a shame, but you can try again next semester, so don’t be too disappointed, okay?”

“Yes!”

It was a resounding answer from the kids, who had now become Alloy’s fans.

“First, the Teaching Assistant for Basic Fire Attribute Magic class is Lopeo Hamon. Wind attribute is Tony Gloon. Water attribute is Hugo Lim. Earth attribute is Kata Diano. Everyone, please come up to the stage.”

They were all kids who had received high scores on the mana operation test.

“Wow, I’m so jealous.”

“Tony! Congratulations!”

“So, do they do research separately too?”

The kids were the center of envy from those around them. The expressions of the guys who went up on stage were full of pride.

[They’re all excited without knowing they were picked as your substitutes.]

‘Well, what does it matter? They’re still kids.’

It was an age where they would want to show off enough.

“Next is Professor Andrei’s Teaching Assistant…….”

Professor Andrei, who was standing next to Alloy, had a frowning face that told of his displeasure.

‘He still can’t let go of me, huh?’

However, I had already decided to be Alloy’s Teaching Assistant.

“Macduff Delema. You are the Teaching Assistant for the Basic Attribute Understanding class.”

His next choice was Macduff.

[Well, before you overturned the test scores, Scribbles was said to be number one.]

‘But Macduff’s expression doesn’t look too good either?’

As the attention focused on Macduff following Alloy’s announcement, the guy’s face was scrunched up like Andrei’s.

“Um…… Associate Professor Alloy!”

Eventually, Macduff raised his hand.

“What is it?”

“Could I possibly switch with another subject’s Teaching Assistant?”

“What?”

It was only natural that the auditorium was abuzz with the guy’s sudden words.

“I have more talent in the fire attribute. I think I can do better research in that area…….”

However, Andrei, who was as crumpled as could be, finally shouted.

“You! How dare you leave me, a full professor, and go under an associate professor!”

“N, no, that’s not it!”

“It’s not like I chose you because I liked you! You ignorant fool who doesn’t know your place.”

“I’m, I’m sorry! That wasn’t my intention.”

“Enough! I will select another child instead of you. I will announce it separately during my class.”

In the instantly frozen atmosphere, Macduff’s eyes were shaking greatly.

[Scribbles, that guy. He kicked away an opportunity.]

‘Why is he suddenly like that?’

[Well, isn’t that a characteristic of kids who grew up in well-off families? They’re always coddled wherever they go, so they can’t fix their bad habits. They must have always lived as they pleased.]

‘Tsk, you stupid guy.’

Andrei, who was already in a bad mood because he couldn’t choose me, didn’t give Macduff a second chance.

“Ahem, ahem. Professor Andrei will reselect his Teaching Assistant, so listen separately during class. Next, I will announce my Teaching Assistant last.”

Alloy’s gaze turned to me.

“Ian Delema. He got the highest score on my test by resonating with 32 mana stones. Come up to the stage.”

The kids all let out a sigh at those words.

“Wow……. 32?”

“Ah, that’s right. He did a lot before the terrorists showed up back then.”

“He even took down a terrorist!”

“He’s really amazing.”

Numerous gazes were focused on me as I went up to the stage.

[Wow, Adonis is getting praised for his magic. I’m living to see the day.]

‘Tsk. Be quiet. It’s just competing with kids.’

That’s what I said, but the corners of my lips were slightly raised. The truth was, I felt good inside.

‘Still, I did well, right?’

[Yeah, you did well, you rascal.]

I had already reached the stage. The kids’ envious gazes were directed at the Teaching Assistants.

“Don’t be too envious. Instead of having a little benefit, these guys are now no different from the professors’ slaves.”

Alloy was trying to comfort the kids.

“With this, the Teaching Assistant selection ceremony is over. Teaching Assistants, move to the lab with your respective professors. The rest of you, go to the joint practice room. The professors who will help you with your research will be waiting there. That’s all, dismissed!”

“Yes!”

The kids left the Great Hall with Alloy’s words.

“Then, let’s go too.”

Alloy grabbed my hand and led me.

* * *

Whoosh!

Alloy grabbed the teleportation marble.

‘I’m glad I can keep him by my side.’

He smiled as he looked at the boy next to him, Ian Delema.

The child his lord had told him to protect. He hadn’t explained the reason why, but he didn’t ask why he had to. He would just follow whatever he ordered.

‘Things have gotten easier.’

He was just satisfied with the current situation where he could keep him by his side.

As he opened the door to the lab, Stenos and the Circle members who had set up soundproofing magic came into view.

‘Let’s just do my job well for now.’

Stenos would take care of those guys on his own. He focused on research and Ian.

“How is it? Did you decide on a research topic yesterday?”

“Ah, yes. I’m going to research attribute combinations.”

“Attribute combinations……. That’s not an easy topic from the start. Well, you used Lightning Cloud too.”

The magic Ian had shown during the Delema Academy graduation evaluation. Alloy was quite surprised at the time.

‘To think he could apply such magic.’

It was hard to believe that it was a magic created by a fledgling at the academy level.

If Luxon Delema hadn’t put up a shield first, he would have destroyed the Lightning Cloud.

“Okay. You’ll be able to come up with something else.”

“I’ll ask you if there’s anything difficult.”

“Anytime. I’ll be happy to help if I can.”

Suddenly, the messy utensils lined up on the desk came into view.

‘Sigh. Who’s going to teach who? I can’t even solve my own problems.’

They were all traces of Alloy’s research.

Even though he had entered the Magic Tower as a professor under the commander’s orders, his passion for magic was not a lie.

‘I can’t figure out how to solve it.’

It was a topic that Alloy was also racking his brains over. He wanted to give flexibility to the earth attribute, but he failed every time.

‘It would be nice if it could move freely like water or wind.’

Moreover, the earth attribute was one of Alloy’s specialties. If he could succeed in the research, it was obvious that he would become a more mature magician.

‘What kind of method should I try today…….’

Just as he was about to sit down and fall into thought.

“Associate Professor?”

Ian Delema tilted his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“Could you tell me about this?”

Ian approached his seat and placed his hand on the desk.

‘Soil and fire, huh.’

Flames rose in his right hand, and a pile of dirt rose in his left hand.

“I want to mix these two attributes, but I don’t understand the two properties well.”

Fortunately, they were attributes that Alloy was confident in.

‘I can save face.’

He was worried that he might present a problem that he couldn’t solve. Ian had been an extraordinary child so far.

“Hmm. This is hard for you to understand. To do this, you must first know the unique characteristics of the attributes.”

“The characteristics of the attributes?”

“Yes. You used Lightning Cloud before, right? That’s a combination of water and lightning attributes.”

“Yes.”

“Those two have properties that try to combine well with each other, just like electricity generally flows well through water. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I understand that.”

“But fire and earth are not. They don’t try to mix well because there is no connection. Moreover, both are attributes that always try to be superior. When combining such attributes…….”

Alloy stretched out his hands towards the flames and dirt on Ian’s hands.

“This is how you do it.”

Alloy put water and wood attributes in each hand.

Whoosh!

Each attribute began to react. The water attribute cooled the heat of the flame a little. The wood attribute absorbed the nutrients from the pile of dirt.

It was as if the flames and dirt on Ian’s hands were shrinking. It was killing the energy of the two strong attributes with other attributes.

“Ah! I understand now!”

Ian gathered the two weakened attributes in one place.

Whoa…….

Then the pile of dirt began to melt from the flames. Finally, the two attributes were being combined.

“How is it? Is it a bit complicated?”

“Yes. There was a reason why I couldn’t understand it. You have to go through two steps…….”

“To combine magic, you need to know the characteristics of the attributes well. Some get stronger when combined, and some have their energy absorbed to one side.”

It was Ian who was smiling brightly.

“Thank you! The part I didn’t understand has been resolved!”

“I’m glad. I’m glad I was able to help.”

Alloy also smiled at the sight.

‘To understand this right away after seeing it. He’s definitely a genius.’

Just as he was about to look at Ian, who was returning to his seat, with a satisfied expression, the spot where the guy was standing came into view.

‘……Ah?’

The pile of dirt that had flowed to the floor. The sight of the red-stained pile of dirt made it seem as if he had been hit hard in the head.

“Oh, my.”

A hollow breath popped out.

‘Why didn’t I try mixing the fire attribute sooner!’

He had only tried to add water and wind to give flexibility to the earth attribute.

‘If you mix flames, it melts so easily…….’

The pile of dirt melted like water. The freely flowing soil even had tremendous heat inherent in it.

‘I learned something from him again today.’

Ian Delema. A boy who always exceeds expectations. With the idea that the guy gave him, he felt like he could solve the blocked part.

‘Let’s give it a try.’

Alloy immediately picked up the magic tools.

* * *

[But how did you know that mixing dirt and fire would make it flow?]

Oberon was looking at the pile of dirt that had melted on the floor as if it were amazing.

‘The answer was written in the ancient language book. To give flexibility to the soil, mix fire. But I need to know how to do it.’

Thanks to Alloy, he was able to realize the omitted step in the middle.

[Sigh, you’re even using the professor. Dirty world!]

‘Hey, don’t you see his expression?’

Alloy, with his mouth wide open, was fiddling with the magic tools.

‘It’s a win-win situation. Let’s copy some of Alloy’s research results later.’

[How come the professor and the teaching assistant seem to be reversed?]

‘Isn’t it good to be good? Let’s just stop here for today and go out.’

[Where are you going?]

‘I have to check if Drew is training well.’

It was time for him to have customized guidance. He was just starting to gather proper aura.

‘I don’t even need to say hello and go.’

Alloy, who was already immersed in research, didn’t seem to have time to feel my presence.

‘Then good luck.’

I carefully opened the door to the lab and stepped out.

[Okay. Let’s go train quickly. Let’s do a thousand horizontal cuts today!]

‘Okay. I need to sweat for a while.’

It was when I was heading to the teleportation marble with Oberon, who was excited for no reason.

“Hey. Ian.”

A voice came from behind.

In the place where I turned my head, an old professor was gesturing at me.

“……Professor Andrei?”