I Became The Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight - Chapter 15

Chapter 15 – World Where Only I Don’t Have Mana Is Wrong 4

“A three-dimensional magic circle.”

Dennis tilted his head.

He didn’t seem to know about it yet. There were skills, so-called “ultimates,” that only specific characters could use. Players had to follow extremely difficult routes to learn them.

‘Drake’s was Dragonslayer, and Dennis’s was the three-dimensional magic circle.’

I walked over to the blackboard. I drew a large circle in the center and a smaller circle next to it, like a satellite.  There was chalk here too.

“It’s simple. You turn a two-dimensional plane into three dimensions and use multiple spells simultaneously.”

“Then couldn’t you just cast multiple spells?”

“Your ability to improvise decreases.  When would you have the time to draw multiple circuits?

If we do it the way I’m thinking, you can carry over 100 magic circles in one hand, Professor.”

Like slicing a pizza, I drew lines dividing the large circle into several sections. I used four different colors for the eight sections.

“Licht, this is an interesting theory. Are you sure you haven’t missed anything?”

“I’m aware that magic circles are only activated on a two-dimensional plane.”

“Good. Continue.”

He spoke, looking intrigued.

This is yours.  I’m just pretending to be the one explaining it, like with Kainel.

I made eye contact with the Yellow Dog, who was staring intently at the blackboard.  He wouldn’t be able to use it even if he saw it, though.  Only Dennis could.

“Like this, you use the small circle drawn next to it as a satellite, making it revolve along these lines.”

I drew a long, curved line connecting the large circle, like Saturn’s rings.

I made the circle look like a sphere.

“Then a cross-section is created.  Is this the equivalent of one magic circle?”

“Correct.  As expected of you, Professor.”

“I didn’t go through a doctoral program at the Magic Tower for nothing, Licht.”

Dennis smiled, sipping his coffee.

“Then what about the problem of magic clashing? There are elemental affinities, you know, Helmet Man.”

“That’s right. It could cause an explosion.”

Oh, good point.  Was she talking about elemental weaknesses?  As expected of the Mage of the Blazing Flame.

My eyebrows rose slightly at the unexpected question.

“That’s why only Professor Dennis will be able to use it.  Water easily neutralizes most elements.”

“Right. Advantageous.”

The Glass Knight agreed.  Perhaps because they were magic users. They seemed to know everything I knew.

I felt ashamed of my arrogance, thinking I knew future information.

“But then, even if you layer two-dimensional magic circles to create a three-dimensional sphere, don’t you have to memorize all of them?”

“That’s why this ‘satellite’ magic is important.”

“Like a guide.  Similar to a table of contents in an encyclopedia.”

This time, Kainel and Dennis spoke.

The Hero, putting his hand on his chin as if deep in thought, and Dennis, looking at me as if he had found something to do.

“Licht, where did you hear about this theory?”

“I came up with it myself.  Since I can’t use magic, I tend to fantasize about it.”

My voice trembled. How could I tell them that it was nicknamed the 3D magic circle among players?  The three of them stared at me.

“…I’ll approve your application.”

“Really? Thank you, Professor!”

After a brief silence, he signed the paper I submitted.

Success. He even did that with magic.

“But, Licht,”

Eyes like a predator spotting its prey. I had experienced this before.  Dennis put his hand on my shoulder.

“Why don’t you join my research lab?”

“Excuse me? Me?”

“Your intellect and academic enthusiasm are impressive.  Your theory is as if you know the future of magic.”

I *do* know the future of magic. I got goosebumps.

What if I get kidnapped and they read my mind?

“I do use water magic…”

He created a sphere consisting of four rings in his palm. The same shape I drew on the blackboard. He did it instantly.  As expected of the 3rd ranked mage among the Ten Swords.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen something like this confirmed right in front of my eyes.”

He created another water sphere with his other hand.  Its properties changed every time the satellite of the three-dimensional magic circle next to it revolved.

It repeatedly shifted from gas to solid, and back to liquid.

“I’ll give you as many books and necessary materials as you need.  Why don’t you work under me, Licht?”

“I’m not sure… what you mean.”

“I’m asking if you’ve considered graduate school. Come find me after you graduate. Until then, you can participate in club activities.”

I felt dizzy.  There was graduate school here too?  This was supposed to be a romance fantasy academy,

why was there a research lab overflowing with academic zeal and the exhaustion of teaching assistants?

“You don’t like not being able to use magic either, do you?  I’m just asking you to invest a few more years.”

Dennis, were you always like this?

“If you use a medium instead of circuits, it might be possible.  So I need your help as a test subject… I mean, your help.”

You’re looking for a legal slave in the 21st century.

“These days, it’s hard to even get a job if you can’t use magic.  You know that, right?”

“That’s true, but I’ll have to decline.”

“Are you really not interested? You’ll even receive funding from the Empire.  We’re currently researching a teleportation magic circle in our lab, and I think you could be of great help…”

“No, Licht.”

Thank you, Your Highness! You saved me from becoming a magic theory dispenser.

Maybe they were a good person after all. They weren’t even hitting on Ariel.

Mardol separated me from Dennis.

“Swordsmanship, teach me.”

“Ah, yes.”

They spoke, standing right in front of me, their voice echoing and overlapping.  That was a really fancy helmet.

‘I take back what I thought about them being a good person.’

I gulped, feeling dejected.  Either way, I was in for a tough time.  Was it right to participate in club activities like this?  Dennis had no choice but to back down when the Glass Knight intervened.

“…There’s still plenty of time, so think about it some more, Licht.”

The blue-haired man returned to his seat.  When did his way of addressing me change again?

Was Dennis relieved because they had no other route besides *that* person?

“For now, I sincerely welcome all of you to the Magic Club.”

In any case, it was a success.

It would be easier to build love lines if I spent time with Dennis like this.  I had to prepare for the <Knight Heart> story as well. I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Professor.”

“Same club.”

Huh,

the distance between me and Mardol had subtly decreased.

Come to think of it, they were obsessed with strength for some reason.

What was the reason… I erased it from my memory because I didn’t understand it, as it was a Mary Sue character setting.

“That’s great, Helmet Man!”

“Licht, you’re not allowed to use magic.  It wouldn’t be fair.”

I decided to think about it later.  It was already hard enough to play matchmaker for these two.  The Crown Prince didn’t have a partner, so it should be fine.

“We’ll see about that later, Kainel.”

With that mindset, we sat around in the club room, enjoying refreshments together.

—–CROW—–

*Click—*

The sound of heels echoed.

A dark underground space without a single ray of light.

While Licht and his companions were meeting Dennis, a special meeting was taking place elsewhere.

“Oh my, hello, my lambs.  It’s been a while since the war, hasn’t it?”

A narrow-eyed woman in a black nun’s habit.

“Cardinal Beatrice.  The Day of Prophecy is approaching.”

“I know. Why did you call me right after I left the academy?  I almost got caught.”

The professor who taught Theology just this afternoon.

She stood before a group dressed in white robes with four swords emblazoned on them.

“I apologize. The Hero only confirmed the final schedule yesterday.”

“…He’s so soft-hearted.  Is the list of sacrifices finalized?”

A symbol of differently colored swords arranged in a # shape.

The tallest among them answered.

“Yes, all preparations are complete, Cardinal.”

“The moment of destiny foretold by the Hero of Omniscience is almost upon us.”

She opened her golden eyes slightly and gave a twisted smile.

“I’ve already chosen the Hero.  He’s so naive.”

“Really? As expected of you, Cardinal.  Amazing.”

“I just told him the truth, and he didn’t even suspect a thing.”

A chuckle escaped her lips.

“Well, there is one slightly bothersome person.”

“Who is it? Could it be that the Hero of Omniscience was wrong…?”

“Disgusting.”

As soon as the words were spoken, the blond-haired nun reached out towards the person who had just spoken.

“…Watch your mouth. That wouldn’t happen, would it?”

“A-Ah… Cardinal, please forgive me…!! Ugh!  Ugh!”

“Would the next person continue? I don’t want to hear any more filth.”

She sealed the speaker’s lips with divine power and narrowed her eyes again.

The chilling act froze the surrounding air.

Suddenly, someone raised their hand and asked Beatrice a question.

“A-Are they one of the Ten Swords…?  Has our plan been discovered?”

“No, I feel like I’ve seen a tiger cub.”

“If you say so…?”

“There won’t be a problem.  I trust our Hero, who always does their best.”

She recalled the Black Knight she saw in class. Drake’s swordsmanship, which no one had learned.  He and the Hero she believed in were polar opposites.

It was advantageous, if anything. There wouldn’t be any disadvantages.

‘Ah, His gentle grace will soon be upon this world again…’

Her face was filled with ecstasy.  A pang of emotion struck her heart, and she clasped her hands to her chest and prayed.  Like a girl in love, her face flushed, but

“I’m so glad I became a professor.”

Her eyes still didn’t smile.

“As predicted, we’ll be able to easily capture the Princess thanks to this.”

“Is that true…? Cardinal?”

“Yes, it will be a tremendous harvest.”

The nun wrapped her arms around herself and trembled.

“We’ll finally succeed this time!!”

“Does this mean we don’t have to stay in the shadows anymore, Cardinal?!”

“Long live the Hero of Omniscience! Long live!!”

Beatrice’s words sent the surroundings into a frenzy.

“That’s right.  He knows everything!”

She spread her arms wide.  A light like the sun, divine power, shone from behind her. The unnatural radiance created by the black nun

signified that something was seriously wrong.

“…For the ‘Hero Cult’, let’s all do our best. My lambs!”

The short-haired nun concluded her speech.

—–CROW—–