Editor : Amethyst00



“Do you even realize just how outrageous the thing you just said is?”

Shin Huzda asked, his expression one of sheer disbelief.

“In all of magical history, there’s only ever been one mage who possessed an entire formula system as their unique magic.”

“Yes. Poet of the Star, Luna.”

The magic formula systems in use today were, quite literally, the legacy of great mages across the ages, carried forward generation after generation.

And the only person in history who had achieved something of that scale alone was Luna.

To say you’d create a new magic formula system was no different from declaring yourself Luna’s equal.

“Do you seriously think you’re on par with the Poet of the Star?”

Rilda narrowed her eyes and asked, and Leo shook his head.

“Of course not. Luna was an unimaginably great mage, completely beyond comparison with me.”

Leo, who understood Luna’s genius more than anyone, knew perfectly well that he could never even chase her shadow in terms of magic.

“But creating a magic formula system doesn’t require as much genius as Luna had.”

Hearing that, Aydmon let out a laugh.

“Then, will you show us the original magic system you’ve created?”

At those words, Leo raised his palm.

A stream of gray mana surged outward, shaping itself into a magic formula system.

The observing graduates gasped in awe.

“He already has the basic framework of a formula system set up?”

“This isn’t just a copy.”

Shin Huzda and Rilda muttered as they analyzed the formation.

The first-years also tried their best to interpret Leo’s magic formula.

But soon their heads began to spin.

'What kind of formula is that complicated?'

'Something that complex can even activate?'

'Ugh, forget it. I’m done trying to interpret this.'

The top-ranking students, however, studied Leo’s system carefully, breaking it down with effort.

Aydmon spoke after a moment.

“You said your goal was to build a magic formula system capable of harmonizing every elemental manifestation formula, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Judging by the structure of the formula, it seems designed to let any magic be used without penalties.”

At that, the first-years’ faces drained of color.

'Wait—did he just grasp the system’s structure after a single glance?'

“That’s correct.”

“How ridiculous.”

“Now, I'm seeing it in person, you're even more insane.”

Rilda and Shin Huzda muttered after hearing Leo’s answer.

But their eyes were glowing.

Magic was the academic field of dragging the impossible into the realm of possibility.

Any attempt to overturn common sense was worthy of admiration.

“And your reason for making this system?”

“So that I can freely use every magic in existence.”

“You really are crazy, huh?”

'But… the framework is complete. Is this what genius is?'

It was so outrageous that whether such a magic could ever be completed was doubtful.

And yet, they liked what they saw.

'A completely unhinged junior has appeared. Now I see why the higher-ups rate this batch so highly.'

A being capable of wielding every spell.

Every magician had, at least once, dreamed of such a thing.

But because it was such a ludicrous fantasy, no one ever dared pursue it.

And now, before their very eyes, stood someone challenging that ideal.

“What’s the name of your unique magic?”

“The name of my magic is [Bible].”

A system once used solely by the Great Hero Kyle.

At that, Aydmon smirked.

“Leo Plov, A+.”

bl

“You actually pulled off an A+ with that insane idea.”

“The bigger the ambition, the better, isn’t it?”

“Even so, don’t you know moderation?”

Carl clicked his tongue.

The Bible’s system wasn’t something made from nothing—it had been in use since Kyle’s era.

'I can’t fully use it in my current state, though.'

Even back in Kyle’s prime, the Bible had only barely been made usable.

'And in the end, it was still incomplete.'

Because of its instability, Leo couldn’t use it perfectly with his current skill.

What he had presented during the exam was nothing more than the system’s foundational framework.

'If I’d shown the original as-is, it would’ve caused an uproar. I couldn’t possibly reveal it.'

Leo turned his gaze toward the stage.

Only one student was left.

“Presenter: Chloe Müeller. Step forward.”

Ren called the final student.

“Oh boy, I’m nervous for some reason.”

So far, only Leo and Abad had received A+.

Both had unveiled unique magics of enormous scale.

But in terms of practical feasibility, Abad’s clearly deserved the higher score.

Now, with Chloe—the top-performing first-year in practical magic—about to present, everyone’s attention naturally focused on her.

Carl, in particular, was tense, since he had witnessed Chloe’s declaration of rivalry against Leo.

“Good day, seniors.”

Chloe bowed her head politely.

“Yes, Chloe. What have you prepared?”

“My original magic is of the fire attribute.”

At that, murmurs instantly broke out across the hall.

“Fire?”

“Chloe, fire attribute?”

“No way… Chloe’s ice attribute!”

“Why would she make her original magic the opposite element?”

“Quiet! Quiet down!”

As the lecture hall grew noisy, Ren raised his voice to mediate.

But even Len’s expression was puzzled.

Chloe’s chosen attribute was too unexpected.

“I’ll demonstrate now.”

Chloe softly recited an incantation.

Whoosh—!

A red flame rose into the air.

“What kind of magic could this be?”

Carl swallowed nervously, focusing intently.

If it was Chloe’s magic, it had to be extraordinary.

Yet the flame simply burned quietly, nothing happening.

“Seems… rather ordinary?”

Rilda frowned.

Wasn’t she said to rival Leo or Abad?

Leo’s magic embodied the dreams and ideals of all magicians.

Abad’s magic embodied the pinnacle of achievable power.

Compared to those, Chloe’s flame looked far too plain.

“Why is that your unique magic?”

Aydmon asked seriously.

Chloe replied,

“Because now I’ll show you its true nature.”

Smiling confidently, she murmured again.

A mass of water appeared in midair.

“This flame isn’t receiving any mana supply right now. So, what happens if I pour water on it?”

“Obviously, it goes out.”

At Shin Huzda’s response, Chloe smiled and poured water onto the flame.

Ssshh—!

The fire dimmed.

Whoosh—!

But instead of dying, it roared back to life, blazing even fiercer.

“…!”

“…!”

Graduates and students alike froze.

Leo’s face hardened instantly.

“How… how did you do that?”

Rilda asked in shock.

“This is my unique magic.”

Chloe proudly extinguished the fire with her hand.

“Unless I wish it, this flame cannot be put out.”

“Wait! Wait! Chloe, are you saying… you’ve granted eternity to a spell?”

Rilda’s eyes widened.

“Yes! Unless I will it, it never goes out!”

Magic was governed by magic formula law.

Thus, absolutes could not exist.

Any magic without mana supply would vanish in time.

But Chloe had forged permanence within a spell.

She began explaining the structure behind her magic.

Everyone focused intently on her words.

'Impossible.'

Leo muttered inwardly as he listened.

He pieced together the magic formula structure she described in his mind.

Yet he could not replicate an unextinguishable flame.

Even if it were a trait unique to her mana, it should be impossible.

As far as Leo knew, only one being could produce an eternally burning flame.

'Erebos.'

Such power could never be achieved with magic.

Even Luna herself failed at this.

“Chloe Müeller, A+.”

“Thank you!”

As the presentation ended, Leo’s thoughts naturally drifted back to the summoning practical exam.

“What the hell did she just create?”

Carl muttered, dumbfounded.

“Hey, Leo, isn’t that crazy?”

He turned toward Leo.

“Leo?”

“Hm? Ah… incredible.”

“Why do you look so dazed?”

“It’s nothing.”

Leo’s gaze followed Chloe as she stepped down from the stage.

‘For now… I need to have a talk with Chloe.’

bl

That evening.

After dinner, Leo left the boys’ dorm and walked toward the girls’ dorm.

“Huh? Leo? What are you doing here?”

Celia, who had been chatting with a friend on a bench outside, approached with a puzzled look.

“Celia, sorry, but could you call Chloe out for me?”

“Chloe said she was going to bed early today. She barely slept during the exam period, always staying up till dawn.”

“Really? Then could you tell her I’d like to see her before the exam tomorrow, at the entrance to the Grand Drill Hall?”

“Alright. But why Chloe, all of a sudden?”

“There’s something I need to talk to her about. I’ll be off now.”

“Wait, Leo.”

Celia stopped him.

“What is it?”

“Has something been going on with Chloe lately?”

“Why are you asking me? You’re her classmate—you should know better than me.”

“She’s gotten into a few fights with classmates. At first, I thought it was just exam stress making her irritable, but it seems to be getting worse. Plus, I heard she’s been hanging around with some troublemakers in the magic department.”

'Chloe?'

Chloe was the type who cared for others.

At the start of the semester, she’d even tutored Leo after class to help him adapt to modern spell systems.

Even Celia, who had initially resented losing the class rep position to her, came to recognize Chloe’s leadership.

So the idea of Chloe constantly quarreling with others felt hard to picture.

'First Carl, now Celia too… is something really going on with her?'

Lost in thought about Chloe, Leo returned to the dorm.

He closed the curtains and sat on his bed, opening his palm.

Whoosh—!

A summoning circle of fire appeared.

From it, Fiora peeked her head out.

“Could you bring your mother?”

Fiora slipped back into the circle.

Moments later, Fyrina appeared.

“It’s been a while, Leo.”

“Have you been well?”

In her human form, Fyrina had Fiora perched on her head.

Chirp! Chirp!

Fiora spread her wings wide, chattering about something, and Fyrina looked at her daughter with adoration.

“Since being summoned to you, she’s been constantly talking about how she’ll be when she grows up.”

Fyrina set Fiora down on Leo’s desk, where she toddled about.

“So, Leo. What’s the reason you called me?”

“You know about the demonic monster showing up during the summoning exam, right?”

“Yes, I heard a monster tamer tried something with one of Lumene’s freshmen.”

Fyrina frowned in distaste.

To a contracted being like her, demonic monster were utterly repulsive beings, and their tamers were nothing less than enemies to be eliminated.

“You said you’re at Lumene because Principal requested it, right? Is this incident related to that?”

Fyrina propped her chin on her hand.

The attack on Lumene five years ago.

Very few even knew about it, let alone the identity of the culprits.

The upper echelons of Lumene were currently investigating whether there was a link between that incident and the recent one.

'I can’t tell a first-year like Leo about this.'

“We don’t yet know if there’s a connection. Even if there were, I couldn’t tell you.”

“I understand. I only want you to relay a message to the headmaster.”

“And what would that be?”

“That the student targeted by Tartaros might not have been Sen Liu alone.”

Fyrina’s expression changed instantly.

“Do you know something?”

“I can’t say for sure yet.”

Just because Chloe had created an unquenchable flame didn’t mean it was definitely tied to Erebos.

But to be safe, the higher-ups at Lumene needed to be alerted.

Hearing Leo’s words, Pirina looked serious, and as she took Fiora with her, she said.

“I’ll pass your words on to Kalian.”