The Duke’s Madness

A clear and elegant sound spreads out.

The students who were watching raised their eyes and murmured.

“… what?”

“Is that the end?”

“I swung it… that’s right?”

Along with the whispers, most of the students tilt their heads.

In a test whose purpose was to cut down minerals, to show such a weak blow?

Most of them blinked their eyes because of that, but some students were different.

‘A wooden sword and iron met, and it sounds like that?’

‘No matter how elegantly he drew it down… It does not make sense. That’s a sound that can’t fly.’

‘Could that be the sound it makes when cutting?’

Among the 100 freshmen this year, they are among the singularities.

Most of them were prodigies who had reached the 2nd or 3rd circle, and among the aspiring knights of this quarter, they could be said to be the top ones.

So, I watched Arthur’s blow from a different point of view than the lower level students, but there was no big difference.

It was just the resonating sound that was different, that’s all I could tell apart.

However, Elin Leverkusen was different.

She opened her mouth in amazement.

“Bear… Did you pay?”

Professor Knowles, who was watching the muttering from the side, repeated the same thing.

‘Cut it off. It’s not an illusion… really cut it But how?’

Arthur Bayern cut the mineral.

It was no illusion, the sword really penetrated the mineral.

However, the mineral in front of him did not split.

If the blow earlier hadn’t been an illusion, it would have to be split in half.

That caused Professor Knowles to be suspicious and embarrassed.

And it was time to look at Arthur with a mixture of surprise and admiration.

Retrieving the raised wooden sword, Arthur licked his lips.

‘sh*t… I couldn’t cut it after all.’

When I expected it, I thought it was worth a try, but the results were disappointing.

I only pretended to cut it, but in the end I couldn’t penetrate the hardness of the mineral.

‘If I hit it a little more elaborately, would it break?’

Arthur stroked his chin and immediately shook his head.

The blow he had just delivered was the best blow he could deliver in his current state.

If you couldn’t cut it with that one blow, you wouldn’t be able to cut it even if you hit it twice.

So Arthur turned around without hesitation.

It’s unfortunate that I missed a good opportunity not to take swordsmanship lessons, but it was because I got some results.

‘Professor Knowles… Can this mineral be cut down? If I can’t cut it, I won’t even cut it in the first place.’

Maybe you can learn something from such a teacher.

Arthur, who raised the corner of his mouth with a thought, came down the podium.

Professor Knowles, who was watching her back, muttered in a shaky voice.

“… Let the next student come up.”

After that, 20 more students came out and hit the mineral.

However, there was no student who could not break a wooden sword even once like Arthur.

In it, students were able to know what the purpose of this test was.

‘It was a trap in itself to cut down the minerals.’

‘Stance of throwing a sword, strength. basic physical condition. I made you see it.’

‘but···. It doesn’t make sense to let me skip classes for the first test in the first place.’

Is that why?

It has been clearly decided who will be ranked first and last in this test.

It was time for the students to turn their eyes and look at Arthur Bayern and Elin Leverkusen.

Professor Knowles shouts and declares.

“Today’s class ends here. Good job everyone. From the next class, the curriculum will be tailored to your ability.”

At these words, the students hurriedly rose from their seats.

Even though it was the first day, it was because there were still 2-3 classes left on average.

As the last student left in the classroom left, Professor Knowles turned his gaze to the mineral.

“… My prediction was correct, but there is one guy who can’t get it right.”

It was when Professor Knowles picked up the mineral in front of him with a murmur.

The ore in my hand was suddenly split in half.

“… !”

Startled, Professor Knowles steps back.

In the meantime, the ore split in half emits a magical light.

Professor Knowles muttered after belatedly coming to his senses.

“Is it broken…? Unbreakable… A mineral?”

&

After the first lecture, Elin and Arthur stood at a crossroads.

This was because Elin had to go to the King’s Tower and Arthur had to go to the Magic Engineering Tower to take classes.

“Ellin then see you next time.”

With a greeting, Arthur first turns around and heads for the Tower of Magical Engineering.

Elin, who was looking at her back, pursed her lips, but it was already too late.

Arthur’s back, mingling with the crowd, was nowhere to be seen.

“… ha.”

Erin let out a sigh and closed her mouth.

And looking at the place where Arthur had left, he muttered.

“That blow… What is it? Is it my delusion?”

I saw it clearly.

However, the mineral did not break.

That said, it was an illusion, but Elin couldn’t accept that fact.

Arthur’s blow, which he saw then, must have cut through the mineral.

It was clearly not an illusion.

It was when Elin, who was confused by that, let out a sigh.

I belatedly find Arthur’s note crumpled in my hand.

“This is also a problem… Was it a mistake for me to approach you?”

Concerned, Elin shook her head.

It was not a sin to approach Arthur.

But it was true that the intention was impure.

‘Because I was aiming for that gaze… But, I never thought of blaming myself for that.’

Erin bit her lip as she thought.

After thinking about it for a long time, she belatedly flinched and murmured.

“what···? What time is it?”

With these words, Elin’s expression hardened as she looked at the watch on her wrist.

10:15.

The class started at 10:10, so I was 5 minutes late.

But the more problematic thing is that they haven’t even reached the classroom yet.

“… Aww! Nothing happens!”

Elin ran away with a cry, but it was already too late.

The cold gaze of the professor of royal studies and the subtle gaze of the students made her expression turn into tears.

* * *

After Arthur broke up with Elin, he opened the door to the classroom where the next lecture was to be held.

As in Professor Knowles’ class, there were already students waiting to come first, but Arthur avoided them and headed to the farthest corner.

It was an action to avoid being noticed, but rather, the action attracted the attention of the students.

They muttered as they stared at Arthur, who was seated in a corner.

‘It’s unique.’

‘What can I say…’

‘A person who lives in another dimension?’

‘4th dimension? Is that how you feel?’

I didn’t have a conversation, but it was usually possible to infer what kind of person he was just from the atmosphere that emanated from him.

In that sense, Arthur Bayern was unique.

It wasn’t just what happened during the swordsmanship lecture, but in many ways.

At that time, some of the students who had been paying attention quietly rose from their seats.

‘When Elin Leverkusen was around… I couldn’t speak.’

‘Is it worth trying now?’

‘Isn’t there anything wrong with a full voice?’

There was no reason not to build a friendship with Arthur Bayern just because it was unique.

The purpose of the establishment of this school was also to strengthen the network of students who will one day sit in an important position that will dominate the continent.

And if you are the successor of the Bavarian family, you are a prestigious family that has no shortage of connections.

So now, without Elin, it was time for some students to approach Arthur in order to build a friendship.

“Will you move away?”

“… uh, huh?”

“I have to go that way.”

At the cool voice, one of the students who was approaching Arthur was startled and backed away.

In the meantime, Jenika Hazel walks out and sits down next to Arthur.

“… ?”

“What are you looking at, Gongja?”

“Isn’t it normal to look? Why are you sitting next to me?”

“It’s the same class, right?”

“Were we really that close?”

“Aren’t we close enough to share each other’s secrets?”

Arthur frowned.

And the moment I was about to shout, I belatedly felt the eyes of the students looking at me.

Arthur, realizing that he was paying attention, lowered his voice and muttered.

“No, Jenika. When I’m with you, I get attention!”

“… Are you talking about me?”

“yes! I’m not trying to attract attention, so please sit somewhere else!”

Jenika narrowed her eyes.

‘Not because I’m uncomfortable, but because it attracts attention?’

It was a very, very unique reason.

Because of that, Yenica burst into laughter.

“… After all, Confucius is fun.”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

“That would be people who didn’t recognize the value of Confucius. You’re funny enough, so be proud of yourself, Confucius.”

It was time for Arthur to gather his eyebrows and try to refute.

The classroom door opens, and the professor enters.

Because of that, Arthur, who missed the timing to refute, shuts up.

“… … .”

In the meantime, Chizui Yuola, who is in charge of this magic engineering class, stands on the podium.

If Professor Knowles was a knight boasting a sturdy physique that could not be outdone even in his twenties, Professor Chizui was an old man with a stoop.

Is it because of that?

“ah···. everyone···. hello?”

The pronunciation was quite slow, no, very slow.

I thought so at first, but as it continued, some of the students asked what was that? Why are you doing that? started whispering.

Just when the classroom started to become noisy, Professor Chizui, who was explaining the class outline, looked away.

“there. Just now···. A wandering student?”

“yes?”

“Student sitting in seat 32 by the window on the left. you are… Warning. If you get two warnings, it’s a failing grade… Please don’t talk.”

The student pointed out raises his eyes in surprise.

In the meantime, the other students catch the mood and cleverly keep their mouths shut.

However, Professor Chizui’s cool gaze pierced all the students who had just been talking.

“This is a school. It is a place to teach, share knowledge, and nurture great talent… Even to students who don’t even have the basics… It is not a place to do that.”

“… … .”

“Please show courtesy to any professor besides me…. That is what I want to tell you… This is the first teaching I imparted.”

Students swallow dry saliva.

In the changed mood, Professor Chizui takes out a chalk.

At the same time, a tail that came out of nowhere grabbed the chalk and quickly wrote down.

“First of all, let me explain what magic engineering is… Also, how has the science developed… I will write about that outline.”

“… … .”

“With this content, in the next class… I’ll do a simple test. That test… It will be reflected in the final exam, so please memorize everything well.”

The students’ faces became stunned when they were told that they would have classes from the first day and a test the next day.

But no one raised their hand to ask a question.

It was because Professor Chizui’s remarks that he had just seen made it immediately clear what kind of professor he was.

‘It’s tough.’

‘That professor is real.’

‘and···. Isn’t this the wrong choice for the lecture?’

With thoughts, students quickly take out their notebooks and pens.

In the meantime, Professor Chizui quickly wrote down the contents of the lesson on the blackboard.

Students were busy taking notes without understanding the contents.

In the first place, Professor Chizui didn’t even think about explaining it, he just listed all the explanations.

Thanks to that, there were times when only the sound of pens scratching could be heard in the classroom.

Arthur, who was listening attentively to the class, exclaimed.

‘Magic engineering class… is it fun? How to put magic into things. A way to put magic into things. The principle was like this.’

Hundreds of years ago, magic was the preserve of wizards.

However, with the current magic, even non-magicians could benefit from it.

A simple example is a train powered by a mana engine.

many other cars.

All of them were products of magic engineering.

Professor Chizui explained the magic engineering very simply and in a fun way.

Because of that, it was time for Arthur to listen carefully to Professor Chizui’s words so as not to miss a single one.

Professor Chizui, who continued the class with a slow tone of voice, looked away.

“there···. The student sitting in seat 17 on the left.”

“… … .”

“In the 17th seat on the left… A seated student, I say… Can’t you hear me?”

Yenica tapped Arthur’s arm.

Arthur, who belatedly realized that he had been pointed out, stood up.

“Yes, yes! professor.”

“All the other students are taking notes… Why don’t students do it?”

Arthur raised his eyes.

Then he turned around and looked at the other students.

As Professor Chizui said, he was holding all his pens and notebooks open.

Because of that, Arthur realized that he had made a mistake and burst into exclamations.

‘ah···. sh*t. I missed that lecture because it was interesting. I didn’t pretend to take notes.’

Thanks to his abnormal memory, Arthur remembered every word Professor Chizui had said.

But to those who don’t know this, you’ll look like a bad student who didn’t pay attention in class.

Professor Chizui pointed out that point.

“Writing is free, but… Even though I said I would take a test, there are not a few things. That means you have confidence.”

With these words, Professor Chizui asks a question.

“Magic Engineering… Regarding that outline, recite the same thing I said. If you can’t tell… There will be punishment accordingly… I will.”

The eyes of the students are drawn to Arthur.

With that attention focused, Arthur swallows dry saliva.

‘You have to answer. Never make a mistake.’

In such a tense state, Arthur opens his mouth.

“Magic engineering is… magic and magic… to these two… It is a study that combines things.”

“… … ?”

“Because of that, magic and science… A person who is proficient in these two things… If not… It is a science that can never be understood… There must be complete knowledge according to it… It is a science that can be understood.”

Professor Chizui’s half-closed eyes widen.

The students watching Arthur were no different.

Everyone looked at Arthur with astonished eyes, but Arthur, who was focused on the explanation, did not notice the gaze.

In the midst of it, Arthur’s eyes are shining and he reproduces the same words Professor Chizui said.

“Magic and Science. What was created by combining them… It is magic engineering, a new study that will carry the future of the continent.”