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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Clara]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 25: The Star Instructor, Oscar (4)
Today marked the third week of the "Reinterpretation of Basic Magic" class.
The atmosphere inside Lecture Hall 4 was quite different from usual.
"...Why are there so many people here today? I even see some senior-level mages, like 4th and 5th level."
"I heard rumors that Oscar is a top-tier instructor."
"Still, this is just a basic magic class... Wait, is that Elder Maxim at the back?"
"What the— it really is him. This feels more like a magic society seminar than a class."
This was evidence of how hotly debated Oscar’s lectures had become within the White Tower.
The mages who had attended from the start felt a strange sense of pride, while those coming for the first time were filled with a sense of expectation as they awaited Oscar.
Clank!
Finally, when Oscar appeared, over 70 pairs of eyes turned to him.
"........."
Without a hint of surprise or tension from the numerous gazes, he calmly walked up to the podium and began speaking without any introduction.
"Today, we will learn a spell that you should consider the most important as a mage."
"Ooh!"
The eyes of the mages, who came with half-expectation and half-skepticism, sparkled like stars.
Just as they were beginning to feel that coming here was a good idea—
"The spell is none other than 'Wind.'"
"........."
The excitement shattered like glass, and an unmistakable look of disappointment appeared on their faces.
What kind of spell was Wind?
It was as basic as it gets—a fundamental spell that even non-White Tower mages could use.
Sensing the mages' dissatisfaction, Maxim lightly raised his hand and spoke.
"I was just planning to observe quietly, but my curiosity got the better of me. Oscar, are you really going to teach Wind magic to this many mages?"
"Yes."
Oscar's confident attitude, as if wondering what the problem was, made Maxim give a wry smile.
"Well, it certainly aligns with the concept of reinterpreting basic magic, but I doubt there's anyone here who doesn't already know the Wind spell."
"As you said, there’s probably no one who doesn’t know it. But truly understanding it and making it your own is a completely different matter. Elder, could you perhaps demonstrate the Wind spell for us?"
It was an unexpected request, but Maxim nodded readily.
"Not difficult. Wind."
Whoosh!
A hot, desert-like gust of wind swept through the room, making everyone's hair and robes flutter before it vanished.
The stunned mages murmured among themselves.
"...Was that Wind? Not Gale or Wind Press?"
"That’s insane. This is the level you need to be an Elder, huh?"
Even a basic spell, when used by a high-level mage, had an entirely different power.
The mages, who had just witnessed a new level of magic, gazed at Maxim with profound respect.
Maxim chuckled at their reactions and asked,
"Was that sufficient?"
"Thank you."
After a brief bow of gratitude, Oscar turned his gaze to a mage sitting at the front.
"Amy Lavin, why don't you try casting the Wind spell now?"
"M-Me?"
‘Why me?’ she almost asked aloud, but with so many eyes already on her, she had no choice but to comply.
Reluctantly, she performed the spell.
This time, a gentle breeze, like that of a spring day, softly caressed the surroundings before dissipating.
Oscar raised his hand and scanned the students.
"Who thinks they can tell the difference between these two spells? Raise your hand."
A few cautious mages raised their hands and hesitantly offered their answers.
"The range and power were different?"
"Um... I think the temperature felt a bit different too."
"It was clearly the same spell, but the atmosphere or vibe felt a bit different."
While none of these answers were wrong, they weren’t what Oscar was looking for.
At that moment, Veronica Frix, sitting in the corner of the classroom, muttered softly.
"...The nature of the mana."
"Correct. Veronica Frix."
"Huh?"
Veronica was startled, having never expected her quiet musing to be heard.
Oscar gave her an approving nod as he continued.
"As she said, the difference between the two spells lies in the nature of the mana used."
Holding onto the podium, Oscar looked around the lecture hall.
"Isn't it fascinating? Both spells were identical in their composition and execution, yet one felt like a hot desert wind, and the other like a gentle spring breeze. The results were so different that it was hard to believe they were the same spell."
Oscar paused, giving the students a moment to ponder, then continued.
"Does anyone here understand what the nature of mana is?"
"Uh... isn't it the four attributes of mana?"
"That's the categorization of mana, but the nature of mana is a different concept altogether."
Oscar scanned the students before starting his explanation in a calm voice.
"To explain the nature of mana, we must first look at the roots of the White Tower. Historically, the White Tower and the Blue Tower have been classified as towers representing the Harmony System. Can anyone explain why?"
"...Because of the inherent properties of their attributes?"
Oscar nodded at the textbook answer.
"Correct. The Red Tower and the Yellow Tower are strong and fast, but they lack harmony. After all, there's no such thing as cold fire or lightning, right?"
But the White Tower and Blue Tower are different.
"Wind and water can be as cold as ice or as hot as fire. That’s why we represent the Harmony System."
Everyone nodded.
This was common knowledge for most mages.
"But even between the Blue Tower and the White Tower, which are both called part of the Harmony System, there is a clear difference."
The "Water" spell summoned a drop of water above Oscar's palm.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Clara]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Join our Discord for release updates!
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The water slowly began to boil.
"As everyone knows, the conditions for boiling water are simple: at standard atmospheric pressure, it needs a temperature of 100° and some time."
Fwoosh!
The boiling water quickly evaporated, becoming wind.
With a wave of Oscar's hand, the wind alternated between hot and cold within seconds.
"In contrast, wind, which easily adapts to its surroundings, can instantly change its nature."
Like a chameleon.
This was the crucial difference between the White Tower and the Blue Tower.
"Wind is freer than any other attribute. It can, if desired, produce power as intense as the flames of the Red Tower, move as swiftly as the lightning of the Yellow Tower, or take on forms as fluid as the water of the Blue Tower. Even though there is a saying that even water from the Blue Tower refuses to mix like oil, the wind has no such constraints."
Wind is the only attribute that can encompass any quality, shaped purely by the imagination of the mage.
Only the wind can contain the harmony of everything in this world.
"Thus, as a mage of the White Tower, you must be aware of how you perceive and view the wind."
Oscar's gaze turned towards Maxim.
"To some, the wind might be seen as a fierce, scorching force that could melt the very skin of their opponent."
He then looked at Amy Lavin, who was staring with her mouth agape.
"To others, it might feel like a warm and gentle breeze of spring."
There is no right or wrong in interpreting the nature of the wind.
Because the free wind embraces all the paths it stretches out to.
"The key takeaway from today’s lesson is to understand what kind of existence you perceive the wind to be."
The moment you realize this, the "nature of your magic" is determined, influencing every spell you cast.
Oscar looked at the faces deep in thought.
'In my previous life, I never shared these teachings. This concept is usually only grasped when one becomes a high-ranking mage.'
Back then, he believed that mages should learn everything through personal experience.
He thought both brilliant successes and devastating failures were the foundations of becoming an excellent mage.
'I realized only on my deathbed that this thinking was wrong. It was nothing but the arrogance and vanity of someone who had already walked the path.'
So, in this life, he decided not to hold back in his teachings.
'However, I won’t lay out the entire path to the top. The only path I know is the one I walked as Oscar Sage. Even though I reached the summit through that path, I don't believe it's the only right answer.’
'If there are ten thousand mages, then there are ten thousand correct answers.'
Teaching everything from start to finish would only limit the infinite possibilities the others hold.
So, the best he could do was offer just this much advice.
Those with potential would gain quite a lot from today’s lesson.
"......Hm?"
It was at that moment.
"The wind, to me, the wind is surely... surely..."
Maxim, who had been muttering, suddenly looked dazed.
The mage sitting next to him cautiously reached out to check his condition.
"Elder, are you alright?"
"Don't touch him!"
Oscar shouted and rushed up the stairs.
"Make space around Elder Maxim immediately. Do not interrupt his moment of realization."
The mages gasped in awe.
‘Ah, could this be the fabled...'
'The moment of enlightenment!'
'I heard that mages above level 7 need to gain certain realizations to advance in levels.'
'I never thought I’d witness this in person.'
From level 7, commonly classified as high-ranking mages, enlightenment became essential.
Without gaining such insights, installing additional circuits in their bodies was impossible.
'Maxim...'
If the level 7 mage could take this opportunity to advance to level 8, it would be a great asset.
However, after a brief moment, Maxim opened his eyes, unable to hide his disappointment.
“Whew."
In the end, he hadn’t crossed the threshold to level 8.
He only gained a small realization by retracing a path he had already walked.
Still, as a level 7 mage, his depth of understanding had grown even deeper.
Maxim turned his head and expressed pure gratitude.
"Thank you, Oscar! No, I should call you teacher here, shouldn’t I?"
"...It's honestly kind of creepy."
"Haha! I'm really grateful! Really! Hahaha!"
Maxim hugged Oscar tightly, nearly squeezing the life out of him, before finally letting go.
After that, the concentration of the students skyrocketed.
After all, it wasn’t just any lecture but one capable of granting insight to a level 7 mage.
'Thanks to this, things will be much smoother moving forward.'
Those of lower rank and level than Elder Maxim would not dare to challenge his words.
This meant that he could quickly elevate their skills before the 'Night of Magic.'
'But the greatest gain from today was...!'
Oscar subtly turned his head and locked eyes with a mage who couldn’t look away from him.
'Veronica Fricks! It means I’ve managed to capture the interest of that troublemaker.'
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Clara]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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