Chapter 87. A Summons from Professor Marianne

“Does this even make sense?”

Inette clutched her head.

Just the fact that the midterms were approaching was a burden, but the addition of a vast scope for the written exams doubled her anguish.

“There's nothing nonsensical about it. Studying will solve it.”

“Do you think I'm like this because I don't know that….”

Gusto said what was right, as usual, but Inette, as if she didn't even have the strength to point it out, collapsed onto the table.

It was the same for the Cryptozoology lecture and the Alchemy lecture.

Like Summoning Magic, every lecture required studying several books.

It was the worst-case scenario for Inette, who already hated reading.

“Get up. Let's study.”

Tunia, who had recently been engrossed in her studies to pursue a new profession, said to Inette.

But Inette didn't budge.

She only mumbled with unclear pronunciation.

“……Owwa oo I ooo? I an't ooo it (What do I do? I can't do it).”

She would rather be told to catch a monster or go to a dungeon, but she really hated studying for exams.

Just then, Radel returned from writing something on the bulletin board.

It was the scope for the Transmutation Magic exam.

On the bulletin board of the Black Falcon Dormitory's common room, a list of the exam scope for each subject was posted, as per Radel's suggestion.

Thanks to this, the first-years had to witness the list of things they had to study grow in real time.

“Why is Inette like this?”

“It seems she doesn't want to study.”

To Radel, it seemed like a futile rebellion.

“Inette, do you know where the midterm report card goes when it comes out?”

At Radel's question, Inette answered while still collapsed on the table.

“……I don't know.”

“I heard it goes to your parents first.”

This was reliable information he had heard at the Grade Representative Meeting.

For the academy students who messed up their exams, this was perhaps the most dreadful thing.

It was said that after every exam, students would try to research magic to intercept their report cards before they reached home, but so far, no one had ever succeeded.

“What did you say?”

Upon hearing Radel's words, Inette shot her head up.

“Then my mom will know all my grades?!”

“Wouldn't that be natural? Even if others don't know, your parents should.”

Inette's brow furrowed.

The image of the 3rd Imperial Consort's laughter, teasing her while waving the report card, automatically came to mind.

“No way!”

As expected, thinking of one's parents makes one study hard.

Radel smiled at the sight of Inette, who seemed to have regained her energy.

Anyway, the scope for the Transmutation Magic midterm exam he had just written on the bulletin board was also two books.

Having to study on their own within the announced scope was the same for all subjects.

Was this the academy's way?

In any case, it seemed it was about time to start studying.

* * *

After finishing his overdue assignments, it was already afternoon.

Radel, having postponed his visit to the library for the unavoidable dormitory patrol as the first-year representative, was making his rounds through the Black Falcon Dormitory as usual.

Someone appeared before him.

It was Professor Marianne Painword, the professor in charge of the Black Falcon Dormitory.

“You're always working hard.”

“Not at all. It's only natural as the first-year representative.”

Professor Marianne looked at Radel with an expression of pride.

It was because she knew Radel's contribution was significant in the Black Falcon Dormitory's lack of any major incidents since the beginning of the semester.

After being assigned a dormitory for the first time, friction between classmates was bound to arise.

The Black Falcon Dormitory students who graduated last year also had a lot of trouble in the beginning, fighting every day when they were freshmen.

However, this year was truly quiet.

It was thanks to the Black Falcon Dormitory's fixer, who actively resolved conflicts among friends.

“I have something to talk to you about for a moment. Could you spare some time?”

“Of course, Professor.”

“Follow me.”

Radel followed behind Professor Marianne, who was leading the way.

‘What could it be?’

It was not often that a professor personally summoned a student at the academy.

Even as Radel pondered, he couldn't find an answer.

He could only guess that there was something to say to the first-year representative.

In his opinion, Professor Marianne was a more sensible educator than other academy professors. Though strict, she didn't insult students or conduct classes in an aggressive manner.

So, he wasn't particularly worried while following Professor Marianne.

“Come in.”

Professor Marianne said as she deactivated the security magic on her office.

It was Radel's first time visiting Marianne's office.

It was rare for a first-year who hadn't chosen a major yet to visit a professor's office.

Since a professor's office was also a place where academy professors researched magic, it was an opportunity to see various magic circles and rare reagents.

Radel was also curious about what kind of magic he would be able to see in Professor Marianne's office.

Click.

The door opened, and the office came into view.

Marianne's office was a space filled with plants.

A bookshelf made by hollowing out the inside of a huge tree and the ivy trailing by the window boasted a fresh presence.

On the desk, colorful flowers were in full bloom in a pot.

“You can sit there.”

Professor Marianne pointed to a chair.

As Radel sat down, a cool breeze came in through the window.

Along with the wind, a few butterflies fluttered into the office.

Watching the butterflies land on the flowers in the pot, Radel thought to himself.

‘Maybe because the professor is an elf. She's nature-friendly.’

Looking at the plants and butterflies inside the office, it was hard to tell if this was inside a building or outside.

It seemed some kind of magic was cast, but it was difficult for Radel to figure it out at his level.

“First, read this.”

Professor Marianne sat opposite Radel and handed him a piece of paper.

As Radel scanned it, he saw a long list of the first-year students' names.

“What is this?”

“It's a list of those who failed to meet the passing score on the recent pop quiz.”

Hearing Professor Marianne's words, he recalled the pop quiz they had taken in Summoning Magic class the other day.

Radel quickly checked if his name was on the list.

‘Looks like I passed.’

As he was relieved that his name wasn't there, Professor Marianne opened her mouth with a slightly tired face.

“As you can see, there are quite a few. As the first-year representative, I would like you to save all of these guys from failing.”

Even a quick glance showed it was a long list.

To have to save so many first-years from the danger of failing.

Did she mean to force them to study?

But how could he do that to grown kids?

He recalled Inette, who had collapsed on the table in the common room the other day, saying she didn't want to study.

Radel sensed that this would not be an easy task.

“Professor, to be honest, I'm not confident I can do it.”

“It's not difficult. You just have to bring these guys to the library.”

Although Radel had a look of incomprehension, Professor Marianne added in a much lighter tone.

She knew that Radel would manage it somehow.

“I'll make sure to reward you handsomely. Tell me if there's anything you want.”

A reward.

There was something he wanted.

Something that wouldn't be difficult for the professor to give, but that he needed right now.

“I need a permit to go out to Marcellent.”

There were many things he had to go to Marcellent to do right away.

Professor Marianne nodded her head.

That much wasn't difficult.

“Alright. I'll have it prepared.”

Radel's eyes shone upon hearing Professor Marianne's confirmation.

* * *

Radel stood in front of the library.

‘Knowledge is not permitted to the unprepared.’

The phrase written at the entrance of the library was impressive.

Although he had made his own preparations while coming to the library as his seniors had advised, seeing the words written at the entrance only amplified his curiosity.

‘The unprepared…’

Did it mean those who were not ready to study?

While thinking so, Radel checked that the sword he had brought was still there.

It was because he was certain there must be a reason why Shartea had advised him to bring a sword.

He had also brought candies and dried fruits on Anesha's advice that it would be good to pack some snacks.

This was advice that was at least understandable.

‘You can get hungry while studying.’

Radel entered the library, roughly guessing the reason.

And as soon as he entered, he was surprised.

Because the library was incredibly vast.

The high ceilings and the bookshelves that filled the walls were impressive. As befitting the empire's best magic academy, various magic books were arranged by type.

In the case of basic magic books, which freshmen often looked for, an entire bookshelf was sometimes filled with the same book.

“This is amazing.”

No other library would fill an entire bookshelf with the same book like this.

It was a sight that automatically made one think, ‘This is an academy indeed.’

As he went in a little further, he felt the air instantly calm down.

It was because the flow of mana had changed.

He could feel that a powerful spell was cast over the entire library.

Looking closely, the entire floor of the library was an intricate magic circle.

Students were walking around on top of it as if it were nothing.

He couldn't see any first-years except himself.

The library was quiet, but small whispers could be heard from here and there.

One senior was asking another senior.

“Did you pass?”

“No, they told me to go back to Volume 1.”

At a casual listen, it was incomprehensible.

He didn't know for sure, but a deep fatigue could be felt in the senior's voice, who had to go back to Volume 1.

Come to think of it, the faces of the people walking around the library looked strangely tired.

‘I guess it's because studying is hard.’

Until this point, Radel had no idea about the library at all.

“How's Volume 2?”

“It's the worst. It got even more cantankerous.”

Listening to the passing seniors' words, something was strange, but…….

“Found it.”

The first book Radel looked for in the library was Understanding Summoning Magic, Volume 1.

Understanding Summoning Magic, Volume 1 was among the basic magic books.

Radel pulled Understanding Summoning Magic, Volume 1 from the bookshelf.

‘Huh?’

And in that moment, his consciousness was sucked into another space.

* * *

Radel stood in a white space, feeling dazed.

To be precise, his body was in the library, and only his soul had been moved here.

It seemed that this kind of magic, which summoned the soul to another dimension, did not affect the physical body and thus wasn't blocked by Status Effect Nullification.

“But what am I supposed to do here?”

While he was flustered, something appeared in front of Radel.

It was something in the form of a giant book.

It seemed to be related to the magic circle drawn on the library floor.

“A first-year? Never seen you before. I am the spirit of the library. Got it?”

“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you.”

“I'm not happy to meet you at all!”

The self-proclaimed spirit of the library floated in mid-air and shouted at Radel.

Its personality didn't seem normal.

“You're here to study too, aren't you? It's really annoying. Wouldn't it be nice if you just studied on your own?”

The library spirit, who had been grumbling, suddenly asked Radel.

“Are you prepared to read this book?”

“Prepared?”

He had been hearing the word ‘prepared’ continuously before this.

From Radel's experience, when asked a question like this, the correct answer was to unconditionally say that he was prepared.

“I believe I am prepared.”

“Then let the questions begin.”

From that moment on, Radel was bombarded with a storm of questions from the strangely-tempered library spirit.