BEM: Chapter 20 – Outside the Academy #2

Outside the Academy #2

Theo nodded at the irresistible words, and Vince immediately handed him the application form to fill in .

It was an event which people couldn’t attend unless they proved their identities clearly . For this reason, Theo spent a long time trying to recall the name of his great-grandfather on his mother’s side .  However, he eventually managed to fill in all the blanks .

Vince received the application form from Theo and nodded .

“…Okay, this is fine . Last year, a magician misspelled the name of one of his family members and was dragged out by the guards . So, if you can, it is better to put everything down . ”

“Hoo, it is thorough . ”

“The magic contest is a symbol of the kingdom . This level of security is justified for this event . ”

There were quite a few foreign spies or magicians who tried to sneak into the affairs of the kingdom, so they had to be thorough . Theo checked the application form again; there were no parts which needed to be fixed .

Theo’s face was tired from spending nearly two hours on the application form, but the conversation wasn’t over yet .

Vince smiled at him and said, “Theodore, do you know why I am taking you to the magic contest?”

Theo tried to answer but soon fell silent . Professor Vince wouldn’t ask about obvious things . Perhaps there was something Theo didn’t know or couldn’t guess . Indeed, his reaction was satisfactory as Professor Vince smiled .

“It is important to distinguish between knowing and not knowing, but understanding what you don’t know is the most important thing . You have a talent for the path of a magician . ”

“Thank you . ”

“Then I’ll explain . ”

There was a thud as a thick book hit the desk .  Theo looked at the familiar cover and soon realized the identity of the book .  It was the guidebook which contained all the rules of Bergen Academy .  Theo had read the book once when he’d been admitted to the academy, then he’d stuck it in his dormitory’s closet . There was no test on the book, so it was enough to just look through it .

Vince laughed at Theo’s bewildered expression .

“You must be wondering why I brought out this old book . Well, don’t worry . I don’t intend to teach a class on it . ”

Then he opened the book and pointed to the corner of one page . Theo unconsciously chased his finger and read the words .  It was a recently revised Article 38, Clause 12 . Looking at the year, it had been changed approximately 10 years ago .  

[Section 38 . 12 . Students of this academy are eligible for graduation after completing three and a half years of studying . However, there is an exception if the student wins a level 3 prize or higher at an contest organized by the Magic Society . The winners can obtain their diploma whenever they want . ]

Theo had read it, but he couldn’t understand .

“Professor, this…?”

“You might have guessed already . I don’t think you can obtain anything else from this academy . ”

“That…”

Theo stopped because he couldn’t deny it . Vince’s words stabbed straight at the boredom he’d been feeling these days .  In fact, Theodore’s theoretical knowledge was already comparable to the professors . This was already the third time he was repeating the third grade, so he couldn’t help getting tired of it .

He could only relieve his boredom briefly with the library books .  However, the level of the books in the academy weren’t very high, and he hadn’t been able to find a single magic book over the 4th Circle .

“Additionally, you have become a controversial subject in this academy . ”

To Professor Vince, Theo wasn’t a student but a fellow adult .

“Do you remember the professors who tried to expel you? They are people who live for the sake of their pride and authority . Those idiots will never regret their actions . They will just blame the other person . ”

“…Ah . ”

Theo couldn’t help recalling Professor Bernard .  He was a middle-aged man who never looked in Theo’s direction, and sometimes an unknown expression would cross his eyes . Perhaps, malice was growing behind that expression .  It was quiet now, but Theo didn’t know what Bernard might do someday .

“It would be better to put some distance between you, rather than get tangled up in something dirty . Anyway, I will soon be going to the capital . If you graduate early, you can practice in an environment better than this place . ”

“I understand what you are saying . ”

The capital of the Meltor Kingdom, Mana-vil…

It was a place with four magic towers and a central magic institute . There was no magician on the continent who hadn’t heard about it, and there was nobody who dared not to feel respect for it .  Mana-vil was overflowing with all types of artifacts, magic books, and talented magicians…

However, Theodore couldn’t help but ask, “But can I win the contest? I might have the grimoire, but I am still just a 3rd Circle master . ”

“Well, normally, it would be impossible . ” Vince agreed with Theo’s words . “But the story is a little different when it comes to you . Garcia can’t be compared to them, but with your skills, you should be able to deal with 4th Circle magicians . Against another student, you will win . ”

“The battle magic division?”

“That’s right . The magic contest has a division where only the assistants of the magicians invited can participate . They are students like you . ”

At that moment, Theo had a hunch . ‘Indeed, it is worth a try . ’

Even though the difference between the 3rd and 4th Circles was large, Theo’s situation was a bit unusual .

He had the ‘Memorize’ ability and his perception had risen thanks to Alfred’s experience . It was a sensory perception which other magicians could only achieve by spending years or decades on the battlefield . If it had been so beneficial in a spar, he couldn’t imagine what it would be like in a contest .

Vince, who had once been a war magician, must have realized this and made the proposal . If Theo had expert-level experience, then he would be able to overcome his magic power difficulty .  Truth be told, if Theodore could use Alfred-style Magic Missiles at will, then he would have no reason to fear 4th Circle magicians .

“I will try it . ”

“Well, I can fill in some of the lacking parts . ”

As if Vince had been waiting for it, he opened a chest of drawers .

“The Magic Society prohibited the distinction of the original and copies of books 50 years ago . Therefore, distinguishing between an original and a copy can’t be done using an ordinary method . But people are always looking for methods . Do you know what this is?” He laughed and handed over the book to Theo .

“A duplicate can’t be made from another duplicate . So, you will know if you use duplication magic on it . It is a simple and reckless trick, but there are some people who go around collecting original books . For reference, this one is worth 50 gold . ”

The price of a normal magic book was around 1 silver, so this was a huge price .  It proved that people had a strong **** for collections . However, Vince didn’t care about such things . He would never have bought this book if it wasn’t something that Theodore needed .

However, Theo’s reaction was more intense than Vince had expected .

“C-Can I appraise this?”

“Of course . This was the deal . ”

Theo reached out cautiously and picked up the book on the desk . If this was an original, it likely had a special ability like Alfred’s [Ballistics Magic] .  He took a few deep breaths before touching the book with his left hand .

“Appraisal . ”

The tongue stuck out and licked the cover of the book .

[Introduction to Elemental Magic]

[This book describes the four elementals in more detail than any other book . It is a book about the relationship between magicians and elementals, how to call and make a contract with elementals, and the concept of elemental magic . The author, Myrdal, has been called the greatest elementalist of the century . He is the only one who has succeeded in calling an elemental king .

* Your understanding is very high . (95 . 4%)

* This magic book is rated ‘Rare’ .  

* When consumed, the proficiency of ‘elemental magic’ will increase .

* This is the original which was directly written by the author . When consumed, the elemental affinity which suits you will be opened . There is a low chance that you might form a contract with an elemental . ]

‘Elemental affinity!’

Theodore’s mouth dropped open as he discovered what he had been hoping for . He didn’t know how many times he’d read the books on elemental magic in the library . [Introduction to Elemental Magic] was a book that he had read many times .

However, it wasn’t the original book, and he had given up on eating it due to having no elemental affinity .  Yet Professor Vince was giving him a gift like this?

“This is one book . What is the rating?” Vince murmured in a low voice .

Theo finally realized the meaning of this gift .

One week ago, Theo had confided his secret to Vince and signed a contract with him . It was in order to obtain the infinite wisdom which the owner of Gluttony had available to him .

–Vince Haidel will provide Theodore Miller with magic books or artifacts .
–Theodore Miller will give Vince Haidel the right to ask a question and receive an answer .

“It is Rare . ”

“Then there are two books left . I’ll give them to you soon . ”

It would be either three Rare grade items or one Precious grade .  That was the decision which Theodore and Vince had made . The Precious rating was difficult for even Vince to find, but Rare grade items could be obtained through just a little difficulty .

Even so, receiving one book after a week was really very resourceful .

“That’s it for today . ”

It seemed like it was over .

Vince picked up the parchment he had laid down and spoke while picking up his pen, “We are departing for the capital in three days, so be ready to leave . ”