“…So you mean the professor from the Alchemy Magic Department wants to see me?”
“Yes, yes… that’s right…”
“…”
Sion rubbed his forehead for a moment.
He had never met the professor mentioned by Lunia, and it was the first time he learned that ‘alchemy magic’ even existed in this world.
But why…
“Is there a specific reason you want to see me…?”
“Uh? I conveyed the ideas that you, Sion, shared last time to Professor Huain…”
“…Ideas? Oh, no way…”
Sion was about to say that he never came up with any such ideas, but upon reflection, there were things that struck him.
When he ate the mud cookie here last week, the conversation he had with Professor Lunia…
“Do you think there are grains or nuts in this?”
“Hmm… no, probably animal fat? Chocolate? Cheese? They mainly use those kinds of stuff…”
“How many do you eat of these in a day?”
“Usually, I eat 2 or 3 a day… and I also snack on a little bit. Oh! I made a meal yesterday because I went grocery shopping, but it was too much hassle, so today it’s all cookies…”
He had only asked a few questions after eating the mud cookie she handed over.
Even that was based on references from energy bars he ate in his previous life.
It was hard to consider it any kind of creative idea.
“At that time, I conveyed that story to Professor Huain… asking if it would be good to try making it with grains and nuts. And then she sent me the sample right away…”
“…So this cookie is the sample?”
“Yes, yes… she definitely asked for you! To evaluate it!”
“…”
Sion gazed at the cookie he had taken a bite of.
…Honestly, the quality was good enough to sell as it is.
There were some lacking aspects regarding texture and taste, but…
“…I think it’s good.”
“Really? Is that it…?”
“Expressing my opinion lightly might be rude.”
Professor Lunia seemed to be expecting something, but Sion held his tongue.
‘If I throw out another idea unnecessarily… things could get weird again. So I should be careful!’
It was better if the professors’ interest was minimal.
So… he would not leave room for that at all.
This was the countermeasure Sion had thought of.
However, Lunia smiled even more.
“Certainly…! You’re worried that it might negatively impact the professor, right?”
“…Huh? No, not to that extent…”
“Indeed, Sion is different…! I’ll make sure to tell Professor Huain that Sion is humble and considerate toward the professors…”
Ears perked up!
Professor Lunia was showing enthusiasm by flicking her ears.
‘No, please don’t do that…’
He felt a strong urge to shout that, but it wasn’t easy to pour cold water on someone who was so pleased.
What Sion could do was… simply change the subject.
“By the way… could you explain exactly how having a high Spirit Affinity is beneficial?”
“Spirit Affinity…? Now that I think about it, Sion’s Spirit Affinity… was exceptionally high…”
Professor Lunia waved her arms and began to explain.
No, she was about to start.
[What’s the curiosity about Spirit Affinity!]
“…What?”
“Si-Silphia!”
Suddenly, Silphia appeared with a pop in mid-air.
A Persian cat lightly landed atop the clutter.
With graceful movements, she hopped onto Sion’s lap.
“Why, why did you come out all of a sudden…!”
[Well, I came to explain. You think I would listen if you forcibly sent me to the spirit realm?]
“Ugh…”
“Professor, let’s stay calm and listen to the explanation.”
[Oh! As expected, human males understand!]
Silphia said while kneading Sion’s thigh.
‘It’d be more comfortable just to listen to Silphia’s explanation… but if I say that, it’s obvious that Professor Lunia would be hurt.’
While Sion was having such thoughts, Silphia continued her explanation.
[To have high Spirit Affinity, you must have a magic wave that spirits favor.]
“…Magic wave?”
[That’s right. Every person has a unique wave. This is determined from the moment you are born but can change due to later experiences.]
Sion nodded at Silphia’s words.
‘Is it similar to height, roughly?’
Height is determined by inheritance. However, depending on what and how you eat during the growth process, it can be larger or smaller.
Spirit Affinity, like height, is influenced by both innate and acquired factors simultaneously.
[There, male! Your Spirit Affinity is outstanding. Whether innate or acquired, it’s completely your talent.]
“Thank you…”
Rustle—
Silphia’s tail brushed against Sion’s face.
It seemed to be a warning not to say anything more, or…
…Perhaps it was just a seductive gesture.
[From what I see, this male’s Spirit Affinity is… superior to any human male or female I have seen up until now. It’s as if… there’s nothing strange about the wave of someone who was just born.]
“…!”
For no reason, Sion trembled at the edges of his eyes.
‘It’s not wrong to say I’m like a newborn…’
It had been less than a month since Sion opened his eyes in this world.
What if he was able to maintain the purity of the magic wave because of that?
…Sion realized why his Spirit Affinity was overwhelmingly high.
“By the way, didn’t you sign a contract with a spirit really early? Could you show it to me?”
“Ah… that’s right.”
Sion scratched the back of his head at her words.
‘I did sign a contract with a spirit.’
The little spirit he had met in Professor Lunia’s class.
He had contracted with it but hadn’t summoned it even once since.
With a feeling of awkwardness, Sion summoned his spirit from the spirit realm.
“…Spirit Summon!”
Pah!
The hut’s floor glowed as a form began to manifest.
It had been a while since he summoned a spirit.
That appearance was… quite different from what Sion remembered.
‘…A puppy?’
Back when he contracted, it had been a small SD character-like human.
Now it was a small dog that could barely fit into the palms of his hands.
…Moreover, a dog made of water.
-Wang Wang!
“Whoa!”
It jumped around and climbed up Sion’s arm, landing on his head.
It felt as if a cool plastic bottle was placed on top of him.
From the sense he felt above, it seemed the little creature was lying down on Sion’s head.
Professor Lunia blinked in surprise.
“It’s on the 2nd Circle…!”
“…2nd Circle?”
“Yes, yes! You evolved into the 2nd Circle in less than a month!”
Sion grabbed the puppy spirit from his head and brought it in front of his face.
-Bark?
The puppy spirit tilted its head and panted.
Its information began to display in Sion’s ‘Identification Eye.’
[Attribute: Water]
[Hierarchy: 2nd Circle]
[Description: A 2nd Circle Water Attribute Spirit. Can use 1st Circle elemental (water) magic.]
‘…It really did rise to a 2nd Circle.’
It had been a 1st Circle at the time of contracting, but now it was 2nd Circle.
Did original spirits really grow this fast?
When that thought crossed his mind, Lunia murmured.
[The higher the Spirit Affinity, the purer the mana obtained from the master increases.]
“…Purer mana.”
[Pure mana is akin to an elixir for spirits themselves. So once contracted, they grow quickly. Spirits don’t just contract with those who have high Spirit Affinity for no reason!]
“Ah…”
In other words, it meant that the higher the Spirit Affinity, the faster the spirit’s growth rate.
He now understood why spirits wanted to contract with those who had high Spirit Affinity.
Whether it be a person or a spirit, they couldn’t resist rapid leveling up.
[However, the spirit cannot grow beyond the Circle of the master.]
“…I see.”
[So raise your Circle!… Then I can also contract with you.]
“Si-Silphia?! Wh-what do you mean…?”
[Shut up! Hey, male! Hurry up and pet me!]
“Ah, yes….”
“Ugh….”
Grrr—
Silphia rubbed her face against Sion’s hand, acting cutely, and he couldn’t help but be flustered.
…It felt strange, as if he was stealing Lunia’s spirit.
Is this what they called NTR in professional terms?
[Nya! Suddenly lifting a lady’s body!]
Sion quickly lifted Silphia and returned her to Professor Lunia.
“I think I should be going, since there’s an afternoon class too.”
“Ah… I’m sorry for holding you back…”
“No, I actually enjoyed today’s class.”
“…Really?”
Professor Lunia stood up, draping Silphia around her neck like a scarf.
“Then, I’ll see you next week.”
“…We could even see each other before next week….”
“Yes?”
“Ah, it’s nothing! See you next time!”
Professor Lunia waved goodbye to Sion while hesitating.
…He pretended not to hear that mention of seeing each other before next week.
As he turned to leave and went down the hill.
[So when exactly are you mating with that male?]
“Y-you’re being too loud! Silphia… if Sion hears that….”
[I actually want him to hear! Lunia, that’s your problem. You’re a good-looking female, but you should be more actively tempting him—]
“……”
Crunch.
Sion quickened his footsteps as he stepped on a twig.
…Let’s just pretend he didn’t hear that.
He continued down the hill.
*
A little while later.
“Hey, Sion. You’re here?”
“Yeah. Am I late?”
“You arrived just on time.”
In the Coliseum-type combat training hall.
Magic Department students were clustered together.
Sion lightly warmed up while waiting for the class.
‘What are we doing today?’
It was time for Huain Demurni’s ‘Magic Combat Practice’ in Tuesday afternoon classes.
Last week, not all students were able to spar.
So, there was a high probability that students would continue to spar.
‘I brought my wand; I wonder if I’ll use it much.’
Sion fiddled with the wand while waiting for the professor.
In fact, he knew better than anyone that he wouldn’t really use the wand.
The sparring had already ended, and the professor hadn’t given Sion an affirmative response, had he?
-Your score in this class is 100 out of 100… thus, an A+.
-…!
-So next time, please adjust your strength. If you don’t properly check your sparring partner’s abilities, there will be issues with the class.
-Thank you!
That was the word Sion heard from Professor Huain after finishing his sparring.
It was the highest praise a student could receive.
How could one receive an A+ for merely breathing and doing nothing?
Sion planned to take full advantage of this opportunity and actively attend the class.
“Patrick, you still have sparring left, right?”
“Hmm? Uh, why?”
“Just wanted to see you struggle.”
“You finished yours! You jerk!”
“Just kidding.”
“Ugh, what if you get matched with a strong opponent?”
While joking around with Patrick, who hadn’t yet sparred…
About five minutes passed.
Professor Huain entered the Coliseum.
“Everyone quiet down. I’ll start the class.”
The students quickly fell silent.
After calling out the roll, he scanned the students with a sharp gaze.
Sion, however, was observing someone next to Professor Huain closely.
‘…Who is that person?’
Next to Professor Huain, there stood a woman devoid of presence, appearing weak.
With a drooping neck, a ragged appearance, and bangs so thick they obscured her eyes.
“Continuing from last time, we’ll resume sparring. Today’s sparring will be handled by the teaching assistant.”
“…Hello. I’m the teaching assistant, Kelly. Just call me Assistant Kelly.”
Although she looked like she would fall over at any moment, her voice was mechanical.
Seeing her like that, Sion felt a bite of sadness.
‘Teaching assistant… she looks exhausted.’
She seemed so close to collapsing and was glancing at Professor Huain as if seeking permission, causing tears to well up in Sion’s eyes.
…Is this what they called the pain of shared suffering?
“The class will be conducted by Assistant Kelly. Follow her instructions for the sparring. And…”
At that moment, Professor Huain’s gaze locked onto Sion.
“Sion, come up here.”
“…You mean me?”
“Yeah, come here.”
“…”
Sion stepped forward at the professor’s call.
The eyes of the other students concentrated sharply on the back of his head.
‘He’s not going to ask me to do something, is he?’
A+ means that the class is meaningless anyway.
So, wouldn’t he be trying to take advantage of me like the teaching assistant?
Though he thought that…
His prediction was completely off the mark.
“Sion will have a one-on-one private lesson with me.”
“…Huh?”
“It’s not a ‘huh.’ Come along. I’ll teach you magic combat separately next to the Coliseum. You’ve brought your wand and robe, so I guess you were expecting this? Heh. Well done.”
Tap, tap.
He patted Sion’s shoulder approvingly.
…What did he just say? He would teach me separately?
A professor is going to take a student for a one-on-one lesson during class time?
‘…Was that the reason he brought in a teaching assistant?’
It was only now that Sion grasped the reason behind the professor bringing in a teaching assistant who hadn’t been there last week.
Professor Huain Demurni.
He wanted to personally teach Sion by having a graduate student assist with his lessons.
