Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Sirone found himself speechless when he saw Iruki standing there.

This led Nade to offer an awkward smile and explain the situation, “Sorry, our research club has a bit of a notorious reputation. Revealing our members could complicate things.”

Sirone now understood why the two were so close, but the source of his confusion lay in the nature of the club itself—the Paranormal Science Club. The fact that Iruki, a logic-driven individual, was part of a club deemed unscientific came as a surprise.

“Iruki is into this stuff?” Sirone asked.

Nade shook his head in response. “No, it’s actually the opposite. He participates in this club from a critical standpoint. He believes there’s nothing in the world that isn’t logical. Where else could I find such a suitable member for our club?”

As they conversed, Iruki was absorbed in his own thoughts and appeared oblivious to their presence as he muttered something to himself. Then, as he caught a glimpse of Nade, he noticed Sirone and brightened.

“Ah, Sirone!” Iruki beamed.

Before he could even respond, Iruki hurried over and shook his shoulder excitedly. “Great timing! I’ve stumbled upon an incredible idea! It revolves around splitting the smallest matter. You wonder how you can split something that’s already the smallest, right? That’s exactly my point. If it splits, it no longer becomes matter. Then... what is it? I’ve been calculating for three days, and believe it or not, it’s filled with tremendous energy. Imagine if this were possible. What do you think would happen? Hurry! Answer!”

Iruki’s rapid-fire questioning left Sirone struggling to keep up. Yet, seeing Iruki’s fervor, he felt compelled to respond. “I-I’m not sure. Would energy be released?”

“Exactly! A massive explosion! An unimaginable, colossal explosion that could obliterate an entire city! Can you picture that? I’m sure you of all people could.”

Sirone was taken aback. While he could envision it, the idea was horrifying. “If such a thing were to happen, it would result in the loss of countless lives.”

“Yeah, so? I’m talking about a massive explosion! An entire city would be utterly devastated!”

“That’s exactly the problem! If such an explosion were to occur, what about the innocent people living there?”

“The people living there?” Iruki’s puzzled expression only heightened the absurdity of the situation.

“Have you never considered that?” Sirone asked.

“Of course, I haven’t. Why should I consider every external factor?”

Sirone was displeased. He would have somehow preferred it if Iruki cynically stated that human lives didn’t matter. What on earth is going on in his head? “I don’t get you. As a mage, shouldn’t you consider the impact your magic has on the world? And what about the people who might be harmed by it?”

“You’re being foolish, Sirone. Do you think other magicians simply choose not to act on their thoughts? They don’t because they can’t. Our given genius exists solely for us to achieve something,” Iruki claimed.

“It’s not about being geniuses! If being a genius means harming others, I’d rather be a fool!”

Iruki stood his ground as well. “You only need a few geniuses to shepherd the sheep. History proves this, and that’s the reality we live in. Sirone, I despise idealistic nonsense.”

“No, it’s your logic that’s steeped in defeatism, not reality. Ideals can be realized.”

“Ideals are ultimately just desirable ideas.”

The argument was heated, and it was Nade who felt like he was burning from the tension. “Calm down, both of you. Let’s not turn this debate into a heated argument. Let’s sit down and talk this out calmly.”

“No, I’ve got nothing more to say. I’m leaving, Nade.” Sirone left, opening the door and walking out. His departure was marked by an uncharacteristic coldness, a clear indication of his deep-seated anger.

“W-wait, Sirone! Let’s go together! How will you find your way out alone?”

“Just let him be. The layout hasn’t changed. I’m sure he’s capable of remembering the way back. If he can’t even do that, then he really is a fool.”

Nade stepped out to follow after him but found that Sirone had already left the building. Returning inside, he frowned at Iruki. “Why did you have to upset Sirone? You could have explained it in a way he’d understand.”

“I don’t know. I admit that I was a bit more proactive than usual. He’s my rival, after all.”

“What?”

It was unusual for Iruki to refer to anyone as a rival, and it wasn’t said out of arrogance. As far as Nade knew, his friend had no interest in competition. The maverick of Class Five wasn’t moved by relationships, wealth, or honor. The only thing that truly captivated him was what he considered the most beautiful thing in the world—formulas.

“You seriously consider Sirone to be your rival?”

Iruki chuckled and sat on the sofa, stirring up a cloud of dust. “You saw Sirone’s early advancement exam too, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, that’s why he’s in our class now.”

“He had only just learned teleportation. Do you know how fast his thoughts had to be to not only cross the Pathless Bridge at level ten but also escape the Dragon’s Maze?”

Nade stayed silent, prompting Iruki to tap his own head and continue, “One needs to be capable of extraordinary segmentation of time for that. According to my calculations, the unit of time Sirone split during that moment was at least one ten-thousandth of a second.”

“One ten-thousandth of a second...?” Nade pondered the concept of such a brief moment.

Iruki laughed with a metallic tone in his voice. “That’s the enigma of insight. It’s faster than any effort and more precise than knowledge. Conventional calculation wouldn’t be able to match the speed of intuition. But think, Nade...” A sharp gleam appeared in his eyes. “What if it were me?”

He was comparing whether Sirone’s insight or his own calculations would be faster.

Nade fell into silence, realizing that it was an unanswerable question. The concept felt like a clash between mythical creatures from different legends, sending a thrilling shiver down his spine.

Limitless

After Sienna summoned Sirone, he followed her to the professors’ lounge.

Setting down a cup of tea, Sienna said, “Here. It’s my turn to treat you this time.”

Sirone thanked her with a light laugh.

Observing him, Sienna noted that he appeared more relaxed compared to his earlier days in Class Seven. Lately, Sirone had become quite the social butterfly, reportedly even joking around with his classmates.

“So, why did you want to see me?” he asked.

“I’ve been reviewing your grades. You’re maintaining a consistent pace of improvement. I find it particularly inspiring that your score in chemistry, the subject I teach, is the highest.”

“It’s only higher by one point, though,” Sirone chuckled modestly.

Indeed, it was just a one-point difference, but for Sienna, it was a point of pride. I honestly didn’t think he’d make it this far. Even geniuses exhibit some variance in aptitude after reaching a certain level, but Sirone’s scores displayed no more than a two-point deviation, even as he maintained an average in the mid-forties.

Sirone’s limit is higher than I anticipated. Concluding her thoughts, Sienna shared her perspective, “If you continue at this rate, you’ll soon be in the upper-middle rank. The school will likely take notice of your distinctive study methods too.”

“I’m not aiming for attention, though.”

“I know. That’s precisely why I asked to meet with you today. I have a suggestion for you.”

“A suggestion?”

“Yes. As you know, we conduct practical evaluations every two months. I’ve been reviewing the upcoming schedule and noticed there’s a targeting exam at the end of this month. Are you familiar with it?”

“I am. I remember watching Amy excel in it when she was in Class Four. The exam involves hitting emerging targets within a specified time limit. She was incredibly fast, considering targeting is her specialty. She was really impressive,” he recalled, his eyes lighting up with admiration.

Sienna noted Sirone’s easygoing demeanor, untroubled by comparisons or rankings, which she considered a true strength.

“You’re correct. Amy seems to have adapted well to the graduating class. It must be hard being away from your girlfriend.”

The distance and different curricula between the graduating and advanced classes meant there were few opportunities to meet. They could go on dates on weekends, but since they weren’t actually dating, he didn’t want to disturb her.

Sirone hesitated. “As long as I know she’s working hard, I’m happy. I should support her as her boyfriend.”

Sienna smiled gently, her initial worries about their relationship giving way to a sense of encouragement. “Healthy relationships like yours are quite rare. But let’s get back to the topic at hand. I brought you here to discuss the practical evaluation. Have you learned any spells besides teleportation?”

“Not yet. As you can tell from my grades, I haven’t reached the necessary criteria to cast active magic... Oh, yeah!” Sirone had an epiphany. To participate in the practical evaluation, I’ll need to learn at least one active spell.

While teleportation, the only spell Sirone had mastered, was passive and affected only the mage, active spells impacted the external world. The possibilities were diverse. Spell options varied with the likes of Fire Strike, Wind Cutter, Ice Sword, Lightning Bolt, and Atomic Bomb. There was no pressing need to focus exclusively on attack magic as healing magic existed too.

“What should I do? I need at least one spell to attack the targets, but I’ve been so focused on studying that I haven’t thought about exploring active magic.”

“Don’t worry. With your grasp of Rainbow Drop, you’ll pick up simple active spells in no time.”

“But my average theory score is only forty-five. The minimum requirement for casting magic is sixty, isn’t it?” Sirone asked.

“That’s generally true. However, you excel in another area with nearly perfect scores.”

“I do?” He blinked. “Ah, the theory of photonization!”

“Exactly. The photon spectrum is vast, and your in-depth study of its theory positions you well for practical application.”

“I see! Thank you, Professor.”

“It’s my job. If you ever run into difficulties, feel free to come to me for advice.”

“In that case, may I have your advice on what type of active spell could be derived from the theory of photonization?”

Sienna smiled at his keen inquiry. “Have you ever heard of Photon Emission?”

“Yes. It’s when photons are shot outward, right?”

Sirone had read about this phenomenon. However, simply releasing photons didn’t necessarily produce a significant effect. It could illuminate the surroundings if someone were lost on a mountain, but even then, light magic would be more convenient. The efficiency of even notable discoveries, such as the theory of photonization, could vary significantly based on their application.

Sirone contemplated this before voicing a concern. “I understand that I would be able to take the exam, but is it efficient to study Photon Emission solely for the upcoming exam? What if it’s a waste of time?”

Sienna offered a broader perspective. “In the short term, it might seem so. However, at the cutting edge of magic—places like the Ivory Tower, for instance—Photon Emission is considered the future of humanity.”

Sirone listened attentively.

“People often underestimate it, but the crucial factor lies in the fact that nothing surpasses the speed of light. Furthermore, its inherently straight trajectory makes it exceptionally easy to control. These unique attributes could potentially usher in groundbreaking innovations in the realm of information and communication in the future.”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

“The future of Photon Emission is bright. By the time you graduate, you could make significant advancements in this field. It might be worthwhile to start exploring a day sooner.”

Sirone nodded, accepting her advice. “Okay, as long it’s not a waste of time, I’m willing to give it a try. I’ll start practicing today.”

After all, Photon Emission was the only spell he could quickly master for the upcoming exam. Concluding his conversation with Sienna, Sirone headed to the training grounds. Time was tight, and he had to begin practicing the spell immediately for the practical evaluation.

“All right! Let’s do this!” he exclaimed, extending his hand while in a state of photonization.

Magical action... He thought about the special postures or actions a mage took to enhance their magical abilities. Here I go! But to his disappointment, light did not shoot out.

“Damn it,” he muttered in frustration.

Though his theoretical knowledge was impeccable, Sirone hadn’t yet attained the absolute mastery required for Photon Emission. Teleportation was easy compared to this.

His natural inclination leaned toward defense, while Photon Emission was more oriented toward offense. To shift to attack form, I’d have to sacrifice a considerable area of my Spirit Zone. But still... What if I’m unable to even cast Photon Emission? No, that can’t be. Even students with smaller Spirit Zones than me can perform simple active spells.

Then he recalled Etala’s words about the potential to technically strengthen one’s Spirit Zone. There must be a special way to do it. But what is it? Then Sirone recognized a contradiction in his thoughts. The Spirit Zone is the most sensitive state of mind. How can I enhance it even further?

Left with only questions and no answers, Sirone confronted the challenge of his first day attempting to master a new form of magic.