Chapter CI - Dummy Class (part 1)

The level of knowledge in this world is truly fallen behind.

The fact that they are still teaching simple algebra at the age of sixteen to eighteen is a clear problem that needs fixing. I get that they are still attempting it, but this isn't the first year of junior high school. It's an academy for teenagers who are already turning into adults.

This is the question that was written on the board, and how my mind easily solves it.

(X + 9) (X + 13) = 117

X^2 + 13X + 9X + 117 = 117

X^2 + 22X + 117 = 117

X^2 + 22X = 0

X^2 = -22X

X = -22

That's about how the answer goes.

But, I simply stared at the numbers and understood the answer immediately.

Everyone else can only watch and ask how I suddenly got the answer without writing down the details or the calculations. But, luckily the teacher covers that for me. 

She explained the answer by herself, and the others understood.

Looks like in the future, people will sometimes come to me for help in mathematics. If they are brave enough, that is.

The class continued for a while, and I wasn't bothered anymore. And once it ended, the teacher left the class.

The next class is practical magic, which will be held in the gymnasium. All the students returned to their dorms and came to the gymnasium when the time came. The mathematics class ended at 10, and the gymnasium class started at 10.5, which is only half an hour away.

Time only goes until 10, and to mark how far deep we are in the hour, they use commas. So, when it's 10.30, they just say it as 10.5, because it's half way down the hour already.

We gathered at the gymnasium half an hour later. Everyone is wearing their training clothes. My training clothes were already out, but luckily I didn't break a sweat, so it's still pretty comfortable to wear.

"Say... Did you watch this morning?"

"Huh? You mean the battles? Yeah, I watched it."

"She beat every single person that challenges her, right?"

"Yes, I know. And a lot of them are seniors, too!"

I can hear some murmurs behind my back about this morning's challenges using my super hearings. I look around the gymnasium, and it looks like the damage I did to the building has already been fixed.

As expected of the magic academy… They really do things neatly and swiftly, unlike a certain arena of a mercenary group.

"Good morning, everyone."

A teacher came from the entrance. He is wearing a proper adult training suit, but the one he is wearing is coloured white, while ours is blue and long sleeved. He walked all the way until the middle part of the arena, where everyone else followed. I guess this is a custom for this class.

"For today, I know everyone is already aware. We are going to learn magical affinity augmentation. Now, does anyone care to explain?"

The teacher asked, but no one lifted their hands nor said anything. They knew, but they just didn't want to say it.

"Anyone who explains gets extra points."

Still, not a single sound was made. Everyone was only turning at each other, not daring enough to answer. Seeing the silence, the teacher let out a sigh.

"Ha~... fine, then. Magical affinity augmentation is where you insert your magic energy to your hand, and then activate a magic exactly where it is. So, for example..."

The teacher lifted the sleeves of his left hand and showed everyone how it's done. First, he enchanted his fist with magic energy. And then, he activates his magic affinity. 

Now, his fist is cladded in an earthen ball, like an earth golem's fist.

"This... is what we are going to do today. You will be testing the augmentation technique by trying to punch these dummies."

The teacher lifted his right hand and a bunch of statues got summoned out of thin air. The statues lined up perfectly next to him, just the way he wanted it.

"The dummies are incredibly sturdy, so you don't have to worry and you can go all out. But be careful, because you might break your hand!"

The teacher said as he picked up one of the dummies and placed it a bit further from the group. He grabbed another dummy and moved it on another spot.

There are ten dummies in total. So, to split the dummies fairly among the students, there's at least two or three students working on a single dummy.

And yet, I'm all alone with my dummy.

"Lonely, huh? You are the new girl, aren't you? Maybe next time don't annoy everyone by proclaiming the number one."

The teacher said to me jokingly, and I simply smiled back at him so he could leave me alone. My gaze then turned back at the dummy.

Underneath the dummy, there's a button that drops down the spike and sticks the dummy to the ground. That way, when the dummy gets punched, it won't get thrown back.

BAKK!!

BAAKKK!!!!

Everyone else started punching the dummies. Most of them failed in enchanting their fists with magic energy, while some of them did manage to properly enchant their fists in magic energy.

But even after getting punched by a powerful strike, the dummies have no dents.

"That's good, but next time, try to imagine. Imagine like you are conjuring magic exactly on your hand!"

"Yes sir."

One of the students got a tip from the teacher. The teacher goes around the crowds, looking at some students getting their turn to punch the dummy. So far, no one succeeded in augmenting. Only some were able to enchant their fists.

"You need to enchant your fist first! Then you can augment it!"

The teacher said to the girl who somehow punched the dummy without enchanting. Her fist is bright red from punching the sturdy object, and she wrinkles from the pain.

I turned to my dummy and stared at it while thinking. I have never tried this before… so this is quite interesting for me as well.

Full body enchanting… How did Jonus do it? 

First, I enchant the fist with magic energy, and then I imagined conjuring a flame on it.

A spark of flame can be seen.

Only... a small spark.

Hiks…