Academy’s Undercover Professor-Chapter 341: Summoning a Magibeast (3)

After the field trip ended, the first and second years were in complete disarray.

Even someone as dense as Aidan could clearly sense the atmosphere.

“Leo, why is everyone acting like that?”

Aidan looked at his classmates chatting excitedly and asked Leo.

Leo gave him a look like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

“You seriously don’t know why everyone’s like this?”

“No? Did something happen?”

“...Forget it. You being clueless isn’t exactly new.”

Having known Aidan long enough, Leo didn’t waste time and gave him the answer.

“You heard about the curriculum change, right?”

“Yeah. They said the field trip messed up the schedule too much, so they had to make some changes.”

“Exactly. Our already-packed schedule got stretched by almost 1.5 times, so everyone’s feeling dead inside.”

“Really? They don’t look like they’re suffering, though?”

“That’s because almost half of the courses were replaced with something else.”

“Oh.”

Aidan hadn’t checked that far, so he hadn’t known.

Leo continued, clearly not surprised.

“Seems like the academy is treating that terrorist attack as a major incident.”

“Of course. It was serious.”

“You know the combat magic classes that normally start in third year? They’ve restructured everything so that even first and second years can take them now.”

“Wait, really? What kind of classes?”

“There are a few, but the one everyone’s hyped for is...”

“Magical Beast Summoning!”

Taishy, who’d been eavesdropping, suddenly popped her head in and interrupted.

Leo frowned, but Taishy completely ignored him and barreled on.

“Aidan, you know how Magical Beast Summoning is normally a third-year class, right? But now we get to take it too! Isn’t that something to be excited about?”

“Magical beast...”

Aidan repeated the words like he was savoring candy in his mouth.

His eyes lit up, brimming with excitement and curiosity at this unknown form of magic.

“That sounds awesome!”

Taishy nodded, proud of the reaction, while Leo scoffed like he saw it coming.

Still, even Leo was secretly looking forward to it.

There isn’t a single mage who wouldn’t be curious about summoning their future companion.

Especially when magical beasts were an entirely different category from spirits.

Unlike spirits, which embody natural forces, magical beasts vary drastically in form and function depending on the caster’s mana and personality.

For some people, their magical beast could even do things a spirit never could.

Of course, that was wishful thinking for students who had no idea what kind of magical beast they might summon.

But unlike Spirit Magic, which only those with talent could study, Magical Beast Summoning was something every mage was inherently capable of.

In a way, it was a field of equal opportunity.

That’s why the students were already thrilled, imagining what they might summon.

“It’s all wishful thinking, really. Less than 1% of magical beasts are unusual enough to even make it into academic journals.”

“Wait, seriously?”

“Most magical beasts are pretty standard. They usually take the shape of animals or plants. If you get something that looks like a tool or weapon, that’s already a lucky break. But the crazy stuff these kids are hoping for? Not gonna happen.”

Leo shot a sideways glance at Taishy as he said that.

As if to say, You included.

Taishy bristled.

“Hah, laugh all you want. I’m going to summon a magical beast that’s way more impressive than yours.”

“Sure, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) sure. Good luck with that. Let’s just hope it doesn’t end up looking like you.”

“Hmph. If anything, your beast is going to be pathetic and tiny, just like its master.”

“You wanna repeat that?”

As the two started snapping at each other, Aidan scrambled to get between them and break it up.

Once he finally managed to cool them down, he wiped his brow and changed the topic.

“But is Magical Beast Summoning really that easy? If it’s something taught in third year, isn’t it kind of a stretch for us to learn it now?”

A valid question—and one that made Leo and Taishy fall silent.

Leo spoke first.

“Well, you’ve got a point. There’s a reason it’s in the third-year curriculum. They must’ve figured that’s the earliest students could handle it.”

Just because they were being pushed into the class didn’t mean they’d actually manage it.

“I disagree.”

Taishy jumped in immediately.

“You’ve heard about the Tower, right? Not this place—the Tower. The old one.”

“What about it?”

“Students who study magic there don’t wait until third year to learn summoning. They start younger. Way younger. If they can do it, why can’t we?”

“Those kids have been training in a structured system for years. We just started. You really think we’re the same?”

“You never know unless you try. Maybe we’ve got some hidden talent for summoning beasts.”

That’s when Iona, who had been silently listening, added quietly:

“Or maybe the teacher is just really good at explaining it in a way even beginners can follow.”

Leo turned to her with a smirk.

“So, you heard too?”

Iona nodded.

Only Aidan and Taishy were still clueless.

“Huh? Heard what?”

“Wait—do we know who the teacher is already?”

A magical beast summoning instructor?

Maybe it was someone who usually taught third and fourth years.

Or maybe it was an outside guest lecturer like those from the field trip.

Their curiosity was soon satisfied—but in a very different way than they expected.

“You didn’t know? Professor Ludger is the one teaching the summoning special course.”

* * *

“It’s been a while.”

Ludger glanced over the gathered students as he spoke.

Even though he’d seen them during the field trip, calling it “a while” wasn’t exactly a lie.

After the attack, the students had all been given time to rest. Enough time had passed to make this their first real reunion.

“Glad to see everyone still in one piece.”

Even someone like Ludger wasn’t heartless enough to berate students who had just lived through a terrorist attack.

Still, his naturally cold tone made even that sound stiff and distant.

It didn’t feel like he was saying “Glad you’re okay”—more like “Good, no one’s missing from class.”

“As you all know, you’ve been assigned to a special lecture. I’ll be the one teaching it. Since most of you are already familiar with me, I assume there’s no need for introductions. Understood?”

A scattered “Yes, sir” echoed across the group.

“Good. Then let’s begin our class on Magical Beast Summoning. The schedule is tight, so you’ll need to keep up. This isn’t a suggestion. Understood?”

Someone raised a hand.

It was Princess Erendir, the Third Imperial Princess.

“Yes, Erendir. What’s your question?”

“Sir, I heard this was a Magical Beast Summoning class.”

“That’s right. I just said so, didn’t I?”

“You did. But...”

She looked around.

“Why are we holding the class in the training field?”

They weren’t in Ludger’s usual lecture hall.

They were standing in a massive training ground—far larger than even a standard sports field.

Over eighty students had gathered there.

“I heard summoning classes usually involve meditation and are held indoors.”

“Other classes are. But this is my class. Where it’s held is entirely up to me.”

“...Fair enough.”

There wasn’t much to argue with.

If the teacher says this is how they’re going to run the class, what student could complain?

Still, since she didn’t seem fully convinced, Ludger offered an explanation.

“Very well. Since it’s the first day, I’ll be generous.”

Ooh.

Was he going to explain?

“You’re not third-years. Compared to the upperclassmen who’ve been through two years of Seorn’s curriculum, you’re basically newborn chicks. Yet now you’re expected to take the same course they do. Do you think that’ll produce the same results?”

“...”

All the students collectively thought the same thing:

That’s not generous, sir.

“Obviously, the way I teach you will be different. You’ll learn faster—but it’ll be harder. If anyone objects, speak now. Not that it’ll matter, because I’ll make you take it anyway.”

Then why even ask?

Ludger’s attitude was arrogant and one-sided, but it also made sense.

And honestly, this was hardly their first time dealing with him.

“So this class... you’ll be teaching it in your own unique style?” Taishy asked, raising her hand with visible excitement.

All eyes turned to Ludger.

His “special methods” had become a kind of legend.

Was it going to be another mind-blowing strategy?

Something that boosts mana output?

An entirely new technique?

Ludger could see all their hopeful expectations written on their faces.

And said flatly:

“No.”

“...Huh?”

“If there was some special secret to this, it would’ve already been published by the Arcane Chamber.”

“Oh...”

“But what I can promise is that what I’m about to teach you is proven to work. It’s used in multiple institutions.”

“Which institutions?”

“The military.”

The moment he said military, a chill ran down every student’s spine.

Did he really just say the military?

As if crushing their last hope, Ludger calmly confirmed:

“From this moment on, you will follow the same summoning training program used in the military.”

“...Seriously?”

“Third-years usually don’t summon anything until the end of the semester. You just started. At this rate, you wouldn’t summon anything until well into your second year—which would defeat the purpose of this class.”

He radiated the same commanding presence he’d shown on the first day of his regular lectures.

Unyielding. Uncompromising.

No one dared to challenge him.

“I don’t like seeing students drop out of my lectures. Frankly, I don’t tolerate it.”

Just as their spirits were being crushed...

He offered the carrot he’d prepared.

“But I guarantee this method works. If you follow through, you will be able to summon your magical beast before this semester ends.”

The moment he said that, the mood shifted.

We’ll be able to summon one?

That’s worth a little suffering, isn’t it?

This is my chance!

If a little pain guaranteed real results, none of them were going to back down.

They were mages, after all.

Ludger saw the doubt vanish from their eyes, replaced by determination.

Good.

With their motivation high, he knew they would follow orders.

There was no backing out now.

Time to teach them properly.

They had, however, overlooked one major detail.

The class would be grueling—and the “pain” they imagined didn’t even come close to what they were about to experience.

“Looks like everyone’s fired up. Let’s get started.”

The students watched him expectantly.

“First,” Ludger said, “run.”

“...Excuse me?”

“Run. Around the training field.”

“Just run laps?”

“There’s a condition. Reinforce your body with mana until it’s all depleted. Once your mana’s gone, keep running until your stamina gives out.”

“Until we’re exhausted?”

“Yes. You must drain both mana and stamina. And if anyone stops early or slacks off...”

Ludger released a pulse of mana as he continued in a slow, deliberate voice.

“...I’ll personally give them extra lessons after class.”

Extra lessons from Ludger?

Nothing could make their hearts pound more.

Not with excitement—with fear.

“What are you all standing around for? Run.”

“...”

“Oh, and whoever drops out first? I’ll be keeping an eye on them.”

The students exchanged panicked glances and immediately broke into a run.

Only then did they begin to understand—

What it really meant to train like the military.