Surviving at the Magic Academy

Of course, this wasn’t the end of it. These flowers only bloom and maintain their form at precise temperatures, so it was crucial to keep the cup warm. I used a magic to keep the cup warm until it was completely empty.

To complete this single cup, I experimented with over thirty different spells, breaking down and rebuilding them. The temporary life-giving magic I created helped the flowers seem alive for a brief moment.

Professor Ilian lifted her cup again. A soft smile graced her lips. It worked. I fist-pumped quietly. The living flowers gently bloomed, producing a spoonful of honey. A flower delicately adjusted for her sweet tooth.

The butler quietly moved behind the professor.

Six newly added arms unfurled from behind the butler’s back. Those hands began to gently massage the professor’s arms and legs. Simultaneously, the magics embedded within the doll’s arms activated.

A very weak electric magic lightly awakened her muscles, while a constant vibration magic relaxed them. Another magic channeled residual magical energy out of her body, aiding blood circulation and guiding magic to the farthest reaches of her body.

This was the secret technique I had painstakingly refined: the massage magic.

Oh, the effort it took to perfect this massage magic was immense. I had to experiment on myself to figure out how much magic to use and in what way for optimal results.

In the midst of that pain, I learned to adjust the magic to a threshold the professor would appreciate and tested it on others to achieve the ‘perfect massage’ magic.

“Um… this feels nice….”

This massage magic was actually a sort of illusion magic. Each mage’s body is meticulously managed by their own mana. It was like having an ideal body without any shortage.

How could anyone find satisfaction in such a state? I thought perhaps starting from a weakened state might do the trick. Applying a fake shock to tense the muscles and perfectly releasing them to create an even more relaxed state—that was what composed this massage.

After the massage, I helped her with stretching. It allowed the perfectly relaxed muscles to stretch beyond their usual limits, ensuring she felt the utmost comfort.

As the professor received the massage, she slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze, filled with pleasant satisfaction, turned toward me.

“You.”

“Yes, I’m all ears.”

“Are you all set?”

“Yes. Thank you for your concern. I’ve already packed my things.”

“Good. As long as you perform as you’ve done over the past year, you should be fine. If not, I’ll kill you.”

In an instant, cold sweat dripped down my spine. Over the past ten months, I learned that the professor never made idle threats. If she said to hit, she’d hit; if she said to kill, she would. The words about killing were undeniably genuine.

“I will do my best to ensure I make your teachings worthwhile and pass the exam.”

“Hmm. Of course, you should.”

The professor closed her eyes again and sank deeply into the doll’s hands. Gentle snoring began to fill the air. In this stillness, she looked just like a very cute girl. But immense magic was certainly swirling within her.

The spells from just moments ago were all already integrated within the butler’s circuitry, so I technically didn’t need to be present. But there was no way I was stepping away.

How could I leave Professor Ilian in just the doll’s hands? She had been my lifelong benefactor, guiding me all this time. I focused on adjusting the butler’s circuits moment by moment to achieve optimal movements.

A little more comfortable, a little more cozy. I tuned the magic to suit the professor’s petite frame.

The sun rose, and then it set again.

About ten hours since I started the massage, the professor opened her eyes slightly. As she glanced out the now-darkening window, she waved her hand.

“Go on, get ready for the exam.”

“Understood, I will take my leave now.”

Though there was still more to adjust, I sighed internally and stepped back toward the stairs. I gave a deep bow to the professor before heading down to the workshop.

Quietly, I cast a locking spell at the entrance, completely sealing the workshop off from the first floor. Only then did I feel my tension ease.

In the past ten months, I had learned so much. Magic, circuits, dolls, and knowledge about the world. I was fully aware of how great an opportunity it was to learn from a professor like Ilian, thrown into this experience with my heart racing and fears racing.

Of course, I wasn’t foolish enough to think she was teaching me without some hidden agenda. Who would invest a year of their time into someone like me, someone with no background or abilities?

Something must be up. But what could it be? I glanced at the contract on my wrist.

‘If one passes the exam after receiving Ilian’s teachings, they promise to serve Ilian until graduation.’

If I pass this exam, what kind of tasks will the professor assign me? Every time I read this contract, anxiety washed over me. Is there a place for someone like me at the university? Will I end up losing my body and soul as soon as I arrive, becoming a slave?

“But I should be grateful.”

So I murmured to myself. Knowledge is worth more than gold. The mere fact that someone stood up to teach me magic, even with some conditions, was a miracle.

Sitting on my bed, I drifted into thought. The professor was always cold and domineering. Whenever I fell short of her expectations, the punishment felt worse than death. I learned from her what it felt like to have one’s soul split.

Yet, when she smiled upon seeing the magic I created, I felt a deep sense of pride in that moment. It wasn’t merely about reaching a higher level; it was a sense of personal growth.

I reached for the spellbook resting on my desk. It was my own textbook crafted from the lessons learned over the past ten months. Flipping through its pages, I reminisced about the past.

In the first class, Professor Ilian had presented numerous doll blueprints. Just recalling it still sends shivers down my spine. I still hadn’t fully comprehended them. To present such a challenge right off the bat—clearly, she was setting the bar very high.

Each sheet of paper held memories of a day’s worth. The days I failed while researching the perfect black tea spell, the moments I was scolded by the professor, and the memories of growth throughout the process. Each moment was a valuable asset to me.

“Still not enough.”

I muttered softly. I wanted to pass the exam desperately. I studied the spellbook. I needed to be perfect—both to avoid punishment from the professor and, most importantly, for myself.

I wanted to achieve the fruition of this short miracle.

I took a sip of the tea. The flower melted in my mouth, releasing a stream of sweetness. That delightful sweetness made me smile gently. I had created this through magic. Quite astonishing.

“Let’s see what they’re up to.”

I squinted and focused my magic. I pierced through the clumsy protective spells they’d set up and peered down below. That kid was hugging a book and struggling a bit. I chuckled at the sight.

“Hmm, I didn’t expect them to go this far.”

That doll they referred to as a butler began the massage again. I injected magic into the doll’s body. It was still full of inefficiency. But it showed a different level of completion compared to yesterday. The kid had been developing gradually.

Never did I think they could reach this level in just ten months. I was well aware of their clumsy talent—just barely good enough to scrape by without passing the university entrance exam. But I never expected them to grow this quickly.

Could it be that I possess an extraordinary talent for teaching? Is that why the former Chancellor forced me into this teaching role a thousand years ago? I chuckled at that thought. Surely not. I know myself well enough. I’m not cut out to teach others.

I told the doll to stop the massage and pour more tea. The doll withdrew a teapot from its inner pocket and began to pour the black tea. Once again, multiple flowers bloomed within the cup. When I took a sip, the pleasant fragrance and warmth enveloped my body.

“Hmmm, I’m somewhat impressed.”

I knew the significance of the magic contained within this brew.

This was magic tailored solely for me. The ‘perfect black tea’ magic, as they called it. I easily picked up on the title came from the fact that it was entirely adjusted to my liking.

That kid probably knew that and named it ‘perfect’ on purpose, wanting to impress me. I didn’t dislike that cleverness. A quick-witted mage tends to enjoy a long life.

That kid had created an array of bizarre spells beyond just this. Last week was the spell for making the perfect cushion. Such spells were beyond my imagination. I had indeed encouraged them to learn such magic, but I never expected them to reach this level.

Merely spells to cater to others. These magics delighted me with their novel approach, having always considered a mage as an individual or a perfected existence.

They say noble families keep hundreds of servants at their disposal? I never understood why they’d engage in such inefficiency, but now, reflecting on the past ten months, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. A comfort I never experienced in my five thousand years of life.

These bizarre magics merged with that kid’s doll manipulation to evolve into something exceeding my expectations. Well, I couldn’t count on them for combat skills, though.

“Still, they’re quite the interesting kid.”

With a hundred years ahead to stick around the university, I was worried. But with that kid by my side, time seems to fly. Initially, I just raised them to be a magic user to use. Since they wouldn’t be graduating until they die natural. But now, my thoughts have shifted a bit.

To anyone else, I’d have become quite a fascinating mage. The older folks at the university would surely be pleased.

Even if I hadn’t been there, that kid would have eventually passed the exam. Just about another 30 years of study would have done it.

Thinking about it, that kid was the first human I ever taught in this life. I absentmindedly tapped the doll. The doll started massaging again. This was the reason I chose that kid. This comfort. A pleasant warmth enveloped me.

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