How to Live as a Martial Arts Writer in a Fantasy World

24 – Teia Professor(2)

24.

Having been engrossed in his own thoughts while writing notes about the concept of magic, Allan hadn’t really heard anything that Professor Teia said.

Therefore, he momentarily couldn’t come up with a response, his mind was in complete disarray.

Seeing Allan’s silence, Professor Teia clicked his tongue lightly.

“Hmm, maybe he didn’t hear because he was focused on taking notes. It’s good to write notes during class, but at least concentrate on the lecture, Mr. Celebrity.”

“I… am sorry.”

“Anyhow, to recap our discussion -.”

Professor Teia continued speaking.

“There is a variety of magic in the world, and funnily enough its origin is from the elves. Specifically, the so-called high elves. Does anyone know about their magic system? Maybe someone who has attended the ‘Elven Culture Understanding’ lecture.”

Groans erupted from all over the room.

Most of the groans came from students belonging to Humanities.

Allan was one of them.

‘Ah, understanding elven culture…’

Just thinking about it made his head hurt.

From Allan’s perspective, it was a compulsory mandate in one of the 24 subjects assigned in Humanitarian Studies that made him truly bitter.

Felicia raised her hand.

“I heard that elves based their magic system on the so-called ‘source.’ It’s slightly different from the magic system of humans, and its efficiency is said to be different too…”

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“My, princess, you are well informed. That’s the correct answer.”

Professor Teia gave a bright smile at Felicia’s response.

“Exactly as the princess has said. To put it another way, human magic is a lower classification or more commonly referred to as a subcategory of high magic used by elves. That’s what the high elves would say.”

Of course, that race of high elves does not exist in the current continent of Rozelia.

The high elves who once built a great empire crumbled over time, triggering civil wars, and the northern empire was occupied by the ‘Ancient Trolls,’ and ultimately their tribe disappeared after the war.

The surviving high elves dispersed throughout the continent of Rojeyra, each finding their own way to live, and depending on where they settled, they divided into several branches.

Elves who settled in forests, like those in the great forest of Belsta in the west of the empire, were referred to as ‘Elves’, those who hid underground, shunning sunlight, became known as ‘Dark Elves’, and those who went to Kunlung became ‘Fairies’.

After the fall of the Elf Empire, the high elves who traveled to the Northern Sea, north of the present-day Tiranto Empire, flourished and proclaimed themselves as ‘High Elves’.

Fairies, Elves, Dark Elves, and High Elves.

Among them, there are supposed offshoots from elves known as the Siren race, akin to merfolk, and even cases where, unable to overcome symptoms of magical addiction, they fall and become monsters.

In many ways, they have significantly contributed to the racial distribution across the Rojeyra continent.

“It’s not Warcraft with its factions, but still… There’s no actual difference between high elves and elves. The name change is just that, a change in terminology. What difference does it make?”

Whether or not Allen had such a question, Professor Teia’s explanation went on.

“High elves, having inherited the magical structure of the now-gone high elves, could be the basis for such a story… but because the magic system was created over a thousand years ago, it’s not unlike the outdated tendencies of old wizards.”

The eraser floating in mid-air erased the words written on the blackboard.

Without turning to look, Professor Teia casually grasped the chalk through magic.

“Anyway, human magic began with elven magic and has now developed its own structure. The concept of ‘unique spells’ is only present in human magic.”

With a click, the phrase ‘unique spells’ was inscribed on the blackboard.

Professor Teia drew a line under it and spoke.

“Now that we’ve covered that, Eumin?”

“…Yes, Professor.”

“Can you share your thoughts about the definition of ‘unique spells’?”

“I believe it’s a further step beyond the definition of magic.”

“Exactly. Expand on that.”

At Professor Teia’s directive, Allen sighed slightly before responding.

“If reinterpreting and redesigning the way of the world according to one’s own perspective is the essence of magic, then ‘unique spells’ are an extreme stance where one goes even further and excludes anything that isn’t his own imagination.”

In martial arts terms, unique spells parallel the concept of proprietarily inherited martial arts or life-saving arts. That was Allen’s general comprehension.

“Excellent, Eumin. That’s the fundamental idea behind unique spells.”

Professor Teia complimented, lightly clapping her hands.

“Unique spells refer to a unique magic construction that one magician has created, not existing within traditional systems. It’s like a distillation of their lifetime. Families which have birthed such unique spells are given titles without fail and serve the empire. Like our family.”

The Bernhardt family, one of three ducal houses.

The first family within the empire to develop unique spells, and a family reigning as guardians of the empire alongside the Muller family.

Professor Teia chuckled softly as she looked over the students.

“I originally planned to discuss the relationship between spirit and spell, but we’ve veered off-track. Nonetheless, it was interesting, wasn’t it, ladies and gentlemen?”

Upon hearing the students’ responses, Professor Teia nodded in approval.

“Then, let’s talk about the relationship between incantations and spells in the next lecture. I have to end the class here for today. See you in the next lecture, darlings.”

Professor Teia ended the lecture unilaterally and briskly walked out of the classroom.

Allen, who was watching her retreat, sighed in disappointment.

“…Really can’t handle that professor.”

***

Three days after Allen commissioned the Morrison Detective Agency, Diabella came for an interim report.

Hearing the report from Diabella, Allen clicked his tongue.

“…There seems to be no progress at all, Diabella.”

“I’m sorry, Allen. We’re short-staffed.”

“Can’t help it. But at least I know Lenox is really running around.”

According to Diabella, Lenox was apparently focusing on investigation outside his class hours.

Allen went “hmm,” and scratched his cheek.

“Didn’t find any additional paintings?”

“Perhaps because the boss has been turning everything upside down, we don’t see any right now. He’d likely notice fast that you’re behind this, Allen.”

“Yeah, I’d probably be the only one to commission such a thing.”

Allen shrugged.

He earnestly wished to catch whoever was spreading such paintings and meet him face-to-face.

“I’d like to get it done quickly.”

“Oh, right. I really enjoyed reading the second volume. It was hard to find, Allen.”

“…You just need to have fun reading it. No need to be moved.”

“But Shuren was truly moving. He still had compassion for humans in a corner of his heart which was burning with desire for revenge, his decision to save the people of Melnor territory by convincing himself. Don’t you think it must have been tough?”

She had forgotten for a moment.

That Diabella is a huge fan of The Chronicles of Shuren.

She even knew the story in detail. It was a pleasant thing as an author, but his fan was a fellow student he often ran into at the academy.

Allen scratched his awkward cheek.

“That’s what I found human about Shuren.”

“The fact that the vengeful ghost still hasn’t completely lost his human heart was really charming! I’ve never seen such a novel. There’s nothing like that in my hometown!”

‘Well, that might be the case.’

Allen smirked.

It was his own writing, Allen, who got bored with those literary anthologies immediately. At least it would have been more relaxed to read than those novels filled with blatant praise.

Diabella beamed with a joyful smile.

“I can’t wait for your next move. Being able to chat like this with the author who wrote such a novel…it’s the best luck of my life!”

Thinking that this much was not short of fanatic admiration, Allen gave an awkward smile.

“Don’t say it like that. It’s burdensome.”

“Oh, was I being burdensome…?”

“It’s your reaction that’s burdensome….”

Slightly sighing, Allen spoke.

“Anyway, keep investigating. If there are any suspicious guys, they will sure move.”

“Alright. Then I’ll take my leave. Please continue to write the next volume strongly! I’ll bring the book next time, so I wish you could sign it.”

“Do you plan on receiving a signature each volume?”

“Of course! I’ll consider them as my keepsake.”

“That’s an honor.”

Looking at the jittery Allen, Diabella laughed and rose from her seat.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave now, Mr. Allen.”

“Alright. Be careful.”

“Yep.”

As Diabella opened the door, she saw a basket of bread held by Mayah.

When Diabella left the room after greeting her, Mayah entered.

As Allen slumped on the sofa, he watched her.

“Welcome, Mayah. Any news or something?”

“No particular news as of yet. Was there any other information in Miss Belsta’s report?”

“No, there wasn’t. Judging from the fact they’re not taking any additional actions, they seem to be keeping their distance….”

“I see. Even if the distribution of the painting has ceased, it’s still a significant achievement.”

“It’s a headache. I just wrote a novel. Why in the world are these things happening?”

At Allen’s mutterings, Mayah gave a faint smile.

“It’s because of your exceptional talent, young master.”

“So, eventually, it’s my talent that’s the problem……..”

“Even his lordship has praised you.”

“…I have nothing to say.”

It didn’t seem strange that things had ended up this way, having received high praise from his meticulous father, Duke Muller, to begin with.

Alan heaved a sigh.

Maiya’s voice reached his ears.

“Professor Teia asked if you could meet up when you have the time.”

“Eh? The professor?”

“Yes.”

In response to Alan’s question, Maiya affirmed it.

“Why?”

“It’s hard to pin down exactly why, as he has a reputation for acting based on his interests.”

“What a headache.”

A genius magician from the same three-generation noble house, the Bernhardt family.

The most prominent amongst his peers, yet also known to have the quirkiest personality. Given his memories of her, Alan was not exactly thrilled to meet her.

In the first place, meeting with the professor privately was not something to be expected.

‘Do I really want to engage and risk being pulled into some graduate work?’

Ignoring her was equally challenging.

Especially given that she was from the Bernhardt family.

Ruffling his hair, Alan clicked his tongue.

“Damn. Might as well meet her now since it’s come this far. Let’s go, Maiya.”

“Right away, Sir.”