NOVPUBElisa, eyes glued to Ludger’s test paper, couldn’t stop murmuring in awe.
“Hmm? Huh. This is... interesting...”
She mumbled to herself, her words barely coherent, then suddenly shut her mouth tight, picked up a pen, and began solving the test herself.
Wilford, watching quietly from the side, took a step back.
It was rare to see the Headmaster this absorbed in anything—he didn’t want to disturb her.
After all, knowing her abilities, she’d likely finish it in under five minutes.
But Wilford’s prediction was wrong.
Five minutes passed, then ten. Still, Elisa showed no signs of being done.
Fifteen minutes.
Twenty.
Even then, she remained fully immersed, pen gliding across the page like someone possessed.
‘Has the Headmaster ever spent this long on a test before?’
The unexpected sight made Wilford slightly uneasy.
Normally, even the most difficult tests submitted each term would be solved by Elisa on the spot, in mere minutes.
It was her way of evaluating the instructors at Seorn.
All assessments were conducted by none other than the Headmaster herself.
Elisa preferred to solve the test questions with her own hands. She was a scholar, a mage with deep academic fervor.
Seeing a new way of approaching knowledge was always thrilling for her.
Of course, in cases where the questions were beneath her standards, she’d just skim them without actually solving.
But if she did decide to solve them, it never took more than five minutes—regardless of difficulty.
Even the advanced 4th- and 5th-year tests were the same.
While those might’ve left students reeling, they barely left a scratch on her.
Perhaps that was why she’d started to feel bored lately.
Which made it all the more apparent when something truly stimulating came along—like right now.
Swish, swish, swish.
Elisa, for the first time in a long while, felt something familiar return—an old sensation from her days of youthful academic curiosity.
Back when magic was a vast unknown, and every breakthrough brought a sense of conquest and exhilaration.
Thirty minutes.
That’s how long it took Elisa to complete Ludger’s test.
For someone who typically needed five minutes at most, thirty was telling. It wasn't just the complexity that drew her in—it was also her desire to savor the experience, like slowly enjoying a gourmet meal.
Even if she had tried to rush, it would’ve taken at least fifteen to twenty minutes.
“Amazing.”
“You’ve finished?” Wilford asked, his voice full of surprise.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No, not at all. It’s just... it’s been a long time since I saw you so fired up. It’s refreshing.”
“Yes, I suppose it is.”
Elisa didn’t bother denying how much she’d been drawn into the problems.
They were truly exceptional.
The questions demanded solid fundamentals, yet didn’t trap the student there—they invited flexible thinking and encouraged diverse interpretations.
Even the hidden traps scattered throughout weren’t irritating—instead, they were cleverly delightful.
“Honestly, it’s shocking. To think this was written by a new instructor. If I could, I’d make the other professors take it too.”
“Was it really that impressive?”
“I expected something dry and formulaic. Professor Ludger is so serious—I figured his test would be equally dull.”
She gave an exaggerated shrug.
“But I was wrong.”
Thinking back, Ludger had already demonstrated magic far beyond the standard.
Take the [Source Code] spell he used in his first class, for example.
A spell that allowed him to build other spells at extreme speed—effectively a spell that constructed spells.
It wasn’t something someone with an ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ ordinary mindset would ever conceive, let alone execute.
“There’s not a single flaw in the test.”
“How does it compare to Professor Chris’s exam?”
“There’s no comparison. One is a test shaped by respect and genuine inquiry into magic. The other is just an excuse to flaunt knowledge. It would be insulting to even place them side by side.”
Chris Bennimore had designed his exam to prove that he was superior to Ludger Cherish.
That he knew more, and knew better—especially since they both handled Manifestation-based instruction.
It was childish—an immature attempt to start a one-sided rivalry.
But Ludger hadn’t played into it.
To him, Chris wasn’t even on his radar. He didn’t dignify the petty provocation with a reaction. He simply did his job to the best of his ability.
Could that even be called a “fight”?
“If we asked Professor Chris to solve Ludger’s test... oh, I’d love to see the look on his face.”
Elisa smiled mischievously, imagining the scene like a child with a secret prank.
Wilford could only shake his head with a helpless chuckle.
* * *
Ludger slipped the stack of test papers neatly into his suitcase.
Having finished his class’s exam early in the schedule, all he had left to do was take his time grading over the next few days.
‘I did put a lot of thought into the questions... I’m genuinely curious to see what kind of answers I’ll get.’
Would the students who paid attention in class do well?
What kinds of absurd answers would those who slacked off come up with?
As a teacher—no matter how fake the identity—there was a peculiar thrill in finding out.
He was beginning to feel a strange sense of natural fulfillment in the role.
As Ludger returned to the dorms, he noticed a crowd of students gathered nearby.
‘Outdoors during exam week? Ah, a practical test.’
Around fifty students. 𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝒐𝙢
Leading them at the front along with a few assistants was someone Ludger was quite familiar with.
The first thing that caught the eye was her pink hair shining under the sun.
A kind, ever-smiling teacher who felt like a fairy-tale princess.
Selina.
‘A test for Spirit Studies, then.’
Selina specialized in <Spirits>, a branch of the Summoning category.
Spirits were manifestations of natural forces—beings that embodied the energy of nature.
Spirit Studies revolved around communicating with such spirits and borrowing their power.
As such, its theory segment was mostly historical. In practice, it was a hands-on discipline.
From summoning spirits, forming contracts, to bonding with them to use their power—it was almost entirely field-based.
Since it was still early in the semester, today’s test likely wouldn’t be anything too advanced.
‘No spirits are visible around the students... so the exam must be about forming a contract.’
Because the ability to learn Spirit Studies was limited to select individuals, the tests weren’t graded on a curve—they followed an absolute grading scale.
Even a single successful contract with a low-tier spirit would be enough for a passing score.
Just as Ludger was thinking that, Selina noticed him approaching.
“Oh! Professor Ludger!”
The distance between them quickly closed.
Selina greeted him with her usual glowing smile.
“You’re done with your exam? That was your first one, right?”
“Yes. I just finished a while ago—heading home now.”
“Ah, I see! I’m just about to start mine.”
“Spirit Studies test, I assume.”
“That’s right! Would you like to observe?”
I’m fine, thank you.
That’s what Ludger intended to say.
But when he saw the desperate glimmer in her eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to turn her down.
She was staring at him with a silent SOS, almost pleading.
‘Nervous, is she?’
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Ludger had a good idea why Selina had asked him to come with her.
This test was her first as well. She might not yet fully feel like a “teacher,” and the act of evaluating students could easily become a source of pressure and nerves.
That’s likely why she’d reached out to him—someone who had already completed his test.
Even though Ludger wasn’t in charge of Spirit Studies and couldn’t offer her any real help in that area...
‘Still, just having a fellow rookie nearby probably puts her at ease.’
Under normal circumstances, he might’ve brushed it off as someone else’s business.
He could’ve even used grading as an excuse to slip away.
But a thought crossed his mind.
After everything—they’ve eaten together, talked on several occasions—wouldn’t it be a bit cold to reject her now?
‘Even if this identity is fake, I’m still a teacher. It wouldn’t be wise to draw unnecessary resentment from fellow faculty.’
He was already on poor terms with the aristocrat faction among the staff, led by Chris Bennimore.
And Selina—popular not only among students but also fellow teachers—was now asking for his support. If he were to turn her down without a second thought, it could damage the reputation he’d been quietly building.
‘Not that I care much for reputation, but...’
Still, she had gone out of her way to approach him first and helped him break the ice with other staff.
He owed her at least this much.
“...Very well.”
The moment Ludger nodded, Selina’s entire face lit up with relief.
The students exchanged glances and murmured among themselves.
“Wait, is Professor Ludger coming with us too?”
“What’s going on between those two? Are they, like, together?”
“Nah, didn’t they join at the same time? Probably just fellow newbies.”
“Oh right—you had a thing for Professor Selina, didn’t you?”
“W-What?! N-No I didn’t!”
While the students whispered and snickered among themselves, Selina, encouraged by Ludger’s agreement, turned to the group.
“Alright, everyone! The test’s about to begin, so let’s move! The faster we start, the faster we finish!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
With a cheer, the students began moving in an orderly line.
Selina took the lead, Ludger followed behind her, and the students trailed them.
Eventually, they arrived at the edge of the “Forest of Illusions,” one of Seorn’s Three Great Forests.
A massive sea of trees teeming with spirits, animals, and a myriad of natural life.
The Forest of Illusions was the largest of the three.
Its danger level was Grade 3—enough to prohibit ordinary civilians from entering.
However, compared to the other two forests, both marked Grade 2 and higher, this one was relatively safe. And since they were only venturing to its outskirts, there was little to worry about.
‘This area seems to be used often for tests like this. Looks like it's been well-prepared.’
Signs of human presence were everywhere—warning signs, carved paths, and clear guide markers.
Ludger tilted his head back, gazing up at the colossal trees that stretched toward the sky.
With thick roots and trunks thicker than columns, many soared well over ten meters high.
And this was only the forest’s outer edge.
‘If it’s like this already, the deeper parts must be almost like a fantasy jungle—dense enough to rival the Amazon.’
‘That’s... a spirit of light, isn’t it?’
Between the trees, small glowing motes floated through the air.
Truly, this was the Forest of Illusions, brimming with life—even here at the entrance, spirits could be seen effortlessly drifting about.
It was the perfect place for beginners to attempt spirit contracts.
“As announced in advance, today’s test is to form a contract with a spirit. Use your mana to connect with them and make a friend,” Selina explained.
But she didn’t just say it—she demonstrated.
Closing her eyes, she gently released her mana.
A warm, radiant aura shimmered around her.
Students gasped in awe.
“Whoa...”
“That’s what a Spirit Studies teacher can do...”
Spirits that had been hiding throughout the forest began to reveal themselves in response to her mana.
Some more curious ones floated over, circling around her like little fireflies.
In no time, Selina was surrounded by small, colorful spirits.
The scene looked like something out of a fairytale—like a forest princess commanding the love of nature itself. The students were completely mesmerized.
Opening her eyes, Selina smiled gently at the cluster of spirits and reached out to one—a fluffy, snow-white puff floating in the air.
“Hello there.”
Boing!
The spirit bounced in place, responding to her greeting.
A natural, seamless interaction and contract with a spirit of light.
Ludger watched it all silently.
“Hehe. You saw that, didn’t you? It’s not hard at all. Just do what I did!”
Perhaps it was her cheerful energy that gave the students courage.
They began releasing their own mana, attempting to commune with the spirits.
One by one.
Small spirits began to gather around the students as well.
“Whoa! I did it!”
“Aww, this one’s adorable...”
“Hello, little guy!”
Laughter and shouts of delight echoed across the clearing.
The sight of students bonding with spirits was pleasant even from Ludger’s perspective.
Not wanting to interfere, he quietly stepped aside, away from the main group.
“Professor Ludger, would you like to try too?”
Selina approached with a smile, her voice warm.
He was about to ask why she wasn’t overseeing the students—but a glance showed three assistants diligently helping and guiding them. He shook his head.
“Thank you, but I’ll have to decline.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Spirits... don’t particularly like me.”
“Whaaat? That can’t be. Spirits are so kind! Here, I’ll introduce you to a really cute one! It’s the light spirit I just made a contract with—I named him Pongpong!”
Selina smiled and held out her hand.
The white puffball spirit floated gently atop her palm.
But then—her eyes widened in surprise.
“Pongpong?”
The spirit on her hand had begun trembling violently.
“P-Pongpong? What’s wrong? What’s happening...?”
Selina quickly realized what was happening.
‘It’s afraid?’
And not just Pongpong.
The other spirits that had been playfully floating through the clearing didn’t even dare approach Ludger’s direction.
Seeing Selina’s puzzled expression, Ludger replied calmly, as if this were routine.
“Didn’t I tell you?”
“H-Huh...?”
“Spirits don’t like me very much.”
