Chapter 54: A Professor’s Special Interest

“…So, the Alchemy Magic professor wants to see me?”

“Y-yes, yes…. That’s right….”

“…….”

Sion rubbed his temples for a moment.

He had never met the professor Lunia was talking about, and he was learning that ‘Alchemy Magic’ existed in this world for the first time.

Then why…

“Is there a reason why they want to see me…?”

“Yes? I, I passed on the ideas that Sion, Student Ha, suggested to Professor Huen last time….”

“……Ideas? Ah, could it be….”

Sion was about to say, ‘I never gave any such ideas,’ but.

Thinking back, there was something that came to mind.

The conversation he had with Professor Lunia when he ate the mud cookie here last week….

• Would there be any grains or nuts in this?

• Hmm… No, they probably mainly use animal fat? Chocolate? Cheese? They s-say they use things like that….

• Then how many of these do you eat in a day?

• I usually eat two or three a day… and I eat them little by little as snacks.

Ah! I went grocery shopping yesterday and made r-rice, but it was too much trouble, so today it’s all cookies….

He had only asked a few questions after eating the mud cookie she offered.

Even then, he was only asking based on the energy bars he had eaten in his previous life.

It was hard to see it as any kind of creative idea.

“I passed on the story from that time to Professor H-Huen….

I asked if it would be good to make it with grains and n-nuts.

Then they s-sent a prototype right away….”

“……So, this cookie is a prototype?”

“Yes, y-yes….

They said to be sure! to ask for Sion’s evaluation, p-please….”

“…….”

Sion stared at the cookie he had taken a bite of.

…To be honest, the quality was good enough to sell as it was.

There were some aspects lacking in terms of texture and taste, but…

“…It seems good.”

“Yes? Is, is that all…?”

“It might be rude for me to carelessly evaluate it.”

Professor Lunia looked like she was expecting something, but Sion kept his mouth shut.

‘If I carelessly suggest another idea… it might get weird again.

So, let’s be careful what I say!’

The less attention from professors, the better.

So… don’t give them any room to latch on to.

That was the countermeasure Sion came up with.

But Lunia smiled instead.

“As expected…!

You’re w-worried it might negatively affect the professor….

Y-you’re worried, aren’t you…?”

“…Yes? No, not that much….”

“As expected, Sion, Student Ha, is different….

I’ll t-tell Professor Huen well!

That Sion is a humble student, and also c-considerate of the professor….”

Twitch, twitch!

Professor Lunia twitched her ears, showing her enthusiasm.

‘No, please don’t….’

He desperately wanted to shout that, but.

It wasn’t easy to pour cold water on her when she was twitching her ears and looking so happy.

All Sion could do was… just change the subject.

“By the way… could you explain exactly how having high spirit affinity is good?”

“Spirit a-affinity…?

Come to think of it, Sion’s spirit affinity… was re-really high….”

Professor Lunia waved her arms and began to explain.

No, she was about to begin.

[I’m curious about spirit affinity, nya!]

“…Oh.”

“S-Sylphia!”

Sylphia appeared with a pop in mid-air.

The Persian cat landed lightly on the pile of junk.

With a graceful movement, she jumped up and landed right on Sion’s lap.

“Why, why did you suddenly come out…!”

[Because I came out to explain, nya.

Did you think I would listen if you tried to force me back to the spirit realm, nya?]

“Eek….”

“Professor, calm down for now and let’s listen to the explanation.”

[Hoo! As expected, the human male is reasonable, nya.]

Sylphia rubbed her face against Sion’s thigh as she spoke.

‘It wouldn’t do to say that Sylphia’s explanation is easier to understand….’

Professor Lunia was trying her best, but she was still stuttering, and her voice was quiet.

…It would be easier for Sion if Sylphia explained.

Of course, he kept his mouth shut, as it was obvious that Professor Lunia would be hurt if he said that.

While Sion was thinking that, Sylphia’s explanation continued.

[To have high spirit affinity, you must have a magic wavelength that spirits like, nya.]

“…Magic wavelength?”

[That’s right, nya.

Everyone has their own unique wavelength, nya.

This is sometimes determined from birth, but it can also change later, nya.]

Sion nodded at Sylphia’s words.

‘Is it roughly similar to height?’

Height is determined by genetics.

However, depending on what food you eat, when, and how you eat it during the growing process, your height may increase or decrease.

Spirit affinity also involves both congenital and acquired factors, like height.

[There, male! Your spirit affinity is excellent, nya.

Whether it’s congenital or acquired, it’s entirely the male’s talent, nya.]

“Thank… mph.”

Swoosh-

Sylphia’s tail caressed Sion’s face.

It felt like a warning not to say anything more,
…or just a seductive gesture.

[When this body saw it, this male’s spirit affinity was… superior to any human male or female I’ve ever seen, nya.

It’s like… a newborn child, there are no strange parts in the wavelength, nya.]

“…!”

Sion’s eyes trembled at Sylphia’s words.

‘A newborn child… that’s not wrong.’

It hadn’t even been a month since Sion had opened his eyes in this world.

If that was why he was able to maintain the purity of his magic wavelength?
…Sion realized the reason why his spirit affinity was so overwhelmingly high.

“Come to think of it, Sion, Student Ha, made a contract with a spirit very early, didn’t he…?

Could you possibly show it to us…?”

“Ah…. Th, that’s right.”

Sion scratched the back of his head at her words.

‘I did make a contract with a spirit.’

The small spirit he met in Professor Lunia’s class.

He made a contract with it, but he had never taken it out since.

With an awkward feeling, Sion summoned his spirit from the spirit realm.

“…Spirit Summon!”

Flash!

The floor of the hut lit up and a shape began to form.

The spirit he had summoned after a long time.

Its appearance was… a little, very different from what Sion remembered.

‘…A puppy?’

When he made the contract, it was definitely a human with a small SD character feel.

Now, it was a small dog that could barely fit on two palms.

…Moreover, a dog made of water.

• Woof woof!

“Whoa.”

It jumped up and down, then climbed up Sion’s arm and onto his head.

It felt like a cool plastic bottle had been placed on top of his head.

Judging from the sensation on his head, it seemed like it was lying down on Sion’s head.

Professor Lunia blinked in surprise.

“It’s 2nd Circle…!”

“…2nd Circle?”

“Yes, it evolved to 2nd Circle in less than a month!”

Sion grabbed the puppy spirit on his head and brought it in front of his face.

• Woof?

The puppy spirit tilted its head and panted.

Its information began to be displayed in Sion’s ‘Appraisal Eye’.

[Attribute: Water]
[Rank: 2nd Circle]
[Description: 2nd Circle Water Attribute Spirit.

Can use 1st Circle elemental (water) magic.]

‘…It really did rise a circle.’

It was 1st Circle at the time of the contract, but now it’s 2nd Circle.

Does a spirit’s circle originally grow this quickly?

Just as he was thinking that, Lunia purred and said.

[The higher the spirit affinity, the higher the purity of mana received from the owner, nya.]

“…Mana purity.”

[Pure mana is like an elixir to the spirit itself, nya.

So, after making a contract, it grows quickly, nya.

It’s not for nothing that spirits make contracts with spirit masters with high spirit affinity, nya!]

“Ah-ha….”

In other words, the higher the spirit affinity, the faster the spirit’s growth rate.

He understood the spirits’ desire to contract with spirit masters with high spirit affinity.

Whether it’s a person or a spirit, no one can resist a quick level-up.

[Instead, the spirit cannot grow beyond the spirit master’s circle, nya.]

“…I see.”

[So, raise your circle, nya!

…Then this body will be able to contract, nya.]

“S-Sylphia?!

Wh, what are you saying….”

[Shut up, nya!

Hey, male!

Hurry up and stroke this body, nya.]

“Ah, y-yes….”

“Uuuu….”

Grumble, grumble.

Sylphia rubbed her face against Sion’s hand, showing a lot of affection.

Sylphia couldn’t stand still as she watched that scene.

…It felt strange, as if she was taking away Professor Lunia’s spirit.

Is this what they call NTR in professional terms?

[Nyaa!

How dare you suddenly lift up a lady’s body!]

Sion lifted Sylphia up and returned her to Professor Lunia.

“I have class in the afternoon, so I think I should go soon.”

“Ah… I’m s-sorry….

For holding you back….”

“No, I enjoyed today’s class.”

“…Really?”

Professor Lunia, with Sylphia wrapped around her like a scarf, stood up following Sion.

“Then I’ll see you next week.”

“…I could see you before next week….”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, it’s nothing!

I, I’ll see you next time….”

Professor Lunia hesitated and saw Sion off.

…Let’s pretend I didn’t hear the words about seeing her before next week.

Turning around and walking down the mountain like that.

[So when are you going to mate with that male, nya?]

“Y-your voice is loud!

Sylphia… If Student Sion hears that….”

[I’m saying it so he can hear, nya!

Lunia, that’s your problem, nya.

As a female, you have a good figure, but you need to be more active in seducing—]

“…….”

Rustle.

Sion’s footsteps going down while stepping on the branches quickened.

…Let’s really pretend I didn’t hear that.

He went down the mountain like that.

A while later.

“Yo, Sion.

You’re here?”

“Yeah.

I’m not late, am I?”

“Looks like you came just in time.”

The colosseum-shaped battle training ground.

Magic department students were gathered there.

Sion loosened his body lightly and waited for class.

‘I wonder what we’re going to do today.’

Professor Mehden Demurniza’s ‘Magic Combat Practice’ class, which was held on Tuesday afternoons.

Not all students were able to spar last week.

So, there was a high probability that the students’ sparring would continue.

‘I even brought my wand, but I probably won’t have much use for it.’

Sion waited for the professor while fiddling with his wand.

In fact, he knew better than anyone that he wouldn’t have any use for the wand.

The sparring was already over, and the professor had already given Sion a definite answer.

• Your score in this class is 100 out of 100… that is, A+.

• …!

• So, try to control your power next time.

If you don’t properly check the skills of your sparring partner, it will disrupt the class.

• Th, thank you!

What Sion heard from Professor Mehden after the sparring.

It was the best praise a student could receive.

A+ just for doing nothing and breathing.

Sion planned to actively skip class, not wanting to miss this opportunity.

“Patrick, you have sparring left, right?”

“Huh?

Oh, why?”

“No, just telling you to have a hard time.”

“You’re already done with yours!

You bastard!”

“I’m just kidding.”

“Haa, I’m worried.

What if I get matched with a strong guy?”

While joking with Patrick, who hadn’t been able to spar yet…
About 5 minutes passed like that.

Professor Mehden entered the colosseum.

“Everyone be quiet.

I’ll start the class.”

The students became quiet in an instant.

After lightly calling the roll, he scanned the students with fierce eyes.

Sion was watching the side of Mehden more carefully than Mehden himself.

‘…But who is that person?’

Next to Professor Mehden.

A woman with no presence was standing powerlessly.

A bent neck, shabby appearance, and dark black bangs that covered her eyes.

“Following last time, I will continue the sparring.

The sparring today will be done by the teaching assistant.”

“…Hello.

I’m the teaching assistant Kelly.

Just call me TA Kelly.”

She looked like she was about to collapse at any moment, but her voice was mechanical.

Looking at her, Sion felt a pang of sadness.

‘The teaching assistant… looks tired.’

She was staggering as if she was about to fall, and Sion felt tears welling up at Kelly’s appearance of watching Professor Mehden’s mood.

…Is this what the pain of shared sympathy is like?

“TA Kelly will conduct the class.

Follow her instructions for sparring.

And….”

At that moment, Professor Mehden’s gaze met Sion’s.

“Student Sion, come over here.”

“…Are you talking to me?”

“Yes, come out.”

“….”

Sion came forward at the professor’s call.

The students’ gazes were intensely fixed on the back of his head.

‘He’s not going to make me do something, is he?’

If it’s A+, then the class doesn’t matter anyway.

So, isn’t he trying to use me comfortably like a teaching assistant?

Thinking that…

His prediction was completely wrong.

“Student Sion will have a separate 1-on-1 personal lesson with me.”

“…Pardon?”

“No ‘pardon’.

Follow me.

I’ll teach you magic combat separately next to the colosseum.

You even brought your wand and robe?

Did you expect this?

Hmph.

Not bad.”

Tap tap.

He tapped Sion’s shoulder as if he was proud.

…What?

You’re going to teach me separately?

A professor teaching a student 1-on-1 during class time?

‘…Bringing the teaching assistant was for this?’

The reason why he brought the teaching assistant, who wasn’t there last week, was now understood.

Professor Mehden Demurniza.

He… wanted to teach Sion directly, so he pawned off his class to a graduate student.