Academy’s Undercover Professor-Chapter 37: Elemental Attribute Class (2)

Some students still wore puzzled expressions.

It wasn’t ideal to spark curiosity only to withhold the answer.

Ludger pointed to a student seated in the front row.

“You there, front row. Anthony, wasn’t it?”

“Y-Yes! That’s me, Professor!”

“Which elemental attributes are you able to use?”

“Uh, that would be... water, ice, and plant.”

“Three, hm. Not bad. Which one are you most proficient in?”

“I-It’s ice.”

“Then show me—right now, right here—how you manifest the ice attribute.”

At Ludger’s instruction, Anthony nodded and raised his right hand, summoning a sphere of mana above it.

A basic mana emission began to form, and then the mana took on its elemental nature.

A pure white sphere.

More accurately, it resembled a clump of freshly [N O V E L I G H T] packed snow.

“Ordinary,” Ludger said.

“Th-Thank you...?”

“I meant it’s unimpressive.”

“......”

Anthony’s face fell in disappointment.

“Now watch closely.”

Ludger raised his right hand and summoned a sphere of mana.

It was also a mass of ice magic—just like Anthony’s.

At a glance, it appeared identical. But something felt... different.

No, it was different—even now, it was changing.

“Do you feel it?”

At Ludger’s words, no student answered. They merely stared in a trance at the ice element hovering above his palm.

If Anthony’s creation was like soft, gentle snowfall...

Ludger’s ice was far colder, sharper—like the ancient permafrost lying dormant deep beneath the northern continent.

This wasn’t simply white and round. It had been compressed far more densely, taking on the form of sharp, crystalline snowflakes.

The pale blue crystal emitted such intense cold that it gave the illusion the entire classroom was being blanketed in frost.

“Can you see the difference?”

Ludger dispelled the ice crystal.

But the students continued to stare blankly at the spot where it had hovered.

It had been the same ice attribute—yet the difference between Anthony’s and Ludger’s was enormous.

Was it because Ludger poured in more mana?

No. The efficiency itself was completely different.

And that—that was exactly what Ludger planned to teach today.

“That’s... really something else.”

“How did he do that?”

The atmosphere in the room began to shift.

When they’d only heard him say it, they didn’t fully understand. But now, after seeing it firsthand, their curiosity was fully ignited.

There isn’t a single mage who wouldn’t want to improve their magic.

“Of the two hours we have today, thirty minutes will be spent on foundational theory. The rest will be focused on the method I’ll teach to improve the efficiency of your elemental manifestation.”

Every student now watched Ludger with gleaming eyes, attention fully fixed.

“Before we get into the principles of manifestation, let’s go over a basic summary of Elemental Attributes. That’s what the handout I gave you covers.”

The students skimmed over the printed material.

“Elemental Attributes are one of the earliest developments in manifestation-type magic. They appeared immediately after the discovery of mana emission, and have a long, storied history.”

Magic can only be used when one possesses mana.

The most primitive form of magic—magic in its earliest incarnation—was founded on that emission of mana.

The first specialization of manifestation-type magic:

Mana Emission.

Elemental attributes developed from that emission, as natural elements became embedded in the released mana.

“Though now a subdivision of manifestation-type magic, elemental magic was once considered the root of all magic in its earliest, most primitive form.”

As he spoke, Ludger floated four orbs of mana into the air.

“In the modern day, science has defined elemental manifestation as drawing upon the natural forces most compatible with your innate mana. But in its earliest form, elemental magic was tied to humanity’s relationship with nature.”

Each orb began to take on a distinct attribute:

Fire, water, earth, and wind.

“These are the original four elements. Compared to today’s system, where there are over ten attributes, they may seem simple and limited. But you mustn’t think of them as merely elements—they represent the symbolic interpretations of nature by the people of that era.”

Earth symbolized resilience and strength.

Fire, power and destruction.

Water, adaptability and gentleness.

Wind, freedom and boundlessness.

The students listened, utterly absorbed.

What should’ve been a dry, theoretical lecture on magic’s origins now felt like something else entirely.

‘Tch. I already know all of this.’

Flora couldn’t help but feel irritated.

She already knew the entire origin story of elemental attributes. Hearing it all again was painfully dull.

And yet—even knowing that—she found herself drawn in by Ludger’s voice. That irritated her even more.

‘Seriously. What’s so entertaining about this...?’

“As elemental attributes continued to evolve, they were no longer interpreted as symbols of nature, but analyzed through a rational, scientific lens. The four original elements grew to over ten.”

‘Same lecture every time. Over and over.’

“Eventually, conflict arose between the mystic traditionalists who emphasized history and symbolism, and the modern scientific school who sought progress through empirical study.”

‘He’s just got a pretty face and a nice voice, that’s all.’

“But in the end, we had no choice but to adapt to a changing world. The real question isn’t about doctrine—but how to use nature’s magic in the world we live in.”

‘...Still. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever listened to.’

Ludger dispelled the floating orbs and scanned the room.

Then he asked a question.

“Can anyone tell me why elemental magic has evolved so dramatically throughout history? I’ll award five merit points to the correct answer. Let’s use fire as an example.”

Hands shot up across the classroom.

Ludger pointed at them one by one.

“You there.”

“To light fires and drive away the darkness.”

“Incorrect. Next.”

“To burn forests for land cultivation.”

“Too formulaic. Next.”

“U-Um... to overcome humanity’s primal fear of the dark?”

“You’d do better writing poetry.”

The students chuckled.

Unable to stand it any longer, Flora Lumos lifted her hand with regal grace.

“Yes. Flora Lumos.”

“To burn people alive.”

Silence.

Flora’s answer was so blunt, so provocative, the entire room froze.

“And what exactly do you mean by ‘people’?”

“Obviously, I mean humans.”

The classroom went completely still. Every student’s eyes darted around nervously.

They all had the same thought: Ludger’s going to scold her hard.

But instead, Ludger nodded.

“Correct. Flora Lumos. Five merit points.”

...Seriously?

Flora lifted her chin proudly, as if it were nothing.

Students’ gazes bounced between her and Ludger.

Their eyes silently asked if he was being serious—when Ludger spoke again.

“Why did elemental magic develop so rapidly? For one reason: slaughter.”

As civilization advanced and took form, so too did magic.

The higher its hierarchy climbed, the more powerful its spells became—and the greater their lethality.

Yes.

Lethality.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“The original targets were monsters. But even after the monsters were driven past the Giant’s Spine and banished to the Shadow Continent, magic continued to grow stronger. Why do you think that is? Because of the cryptids? But cryptids are rare. Then why—why did magic continue to sharpen and intensify?”

The answer: Human beings.

Magic evolved to kill humans.

War. Colonialism. Violence.

Those were the fuel that strengthened and advanced magic.

We live in an age of peace, where large-scale war has disappeared.

To students learning magic, that kind of statement was practically taboo.

To reduce the proud legacy of magic to murder?

Ludger might as well have stood there and told them all they were future killers.

And yet—it was an undeniable truth.

A reality that traditionalist mages have long refused to accept.

“Fire, to burn people alive.

Water, to drown them.

Wind, to slice.

Lightning, to electrocute.

Magic that developed hand-in-hand with human history grew through war and slaughter. That’s the indisputable truth. These elemental attributes we study are a Tower of Babel, built upon the blood and corpses of countless lives.”

He paused to take a breath.

Then continued.

“And those of you learning it? You’re the ones meant to wield that power of slaughter.”

Gulp.

The sound of someone swallowing echoed in the classroom—it was that silent.

Ludger’s topic touched a nerve, not just for the students, but for all mages.

“But... we can change that.”

His voice, calm and composed, now enveloped the lecture hall like a soft current.

“Just because it was that way in the past doesn’t mean it has to be that way now—or in the future. In today’s world, fire isn’t used to destroy. Look at the back of the handout I gave you.”

Ah, right. The students had been so focused on his lecture, they’d forgotten about the papers handed out at the start.

Everyone quickly flipped to the back.

Printed there were rough, ink-stamped images of various structures.

But crude as they were, they were easy enough to recognize.

“Fire is no longer just a tool of destruction. That heat supplies energy. In the cold, fire symbolizes survival, not violence.”

Flowing water turns wheels; rivers become roads for ships.

Wind spins turbines, generating clean energy.

Electricity powers the world and brings light.

Water and ice soothe the searing heat of the desert.

“How we act from this point forward determines what these elemental attributes mean.”

Ludger’s voice filled the classroom.

Not for erasing things—but for creating.

Not to destroy the world—but to lead it toward something better.

“That is the mindset you must cultivate before learning how to use elemental magic.”

No one dared to speak.

It felt like a massive wave had crashed down and swallowed them whole.

But instead of discomfort, it was... clarity—like something oppressive in their minds had been lifted away.

Even Flora Lumos sat with her lips slightly parted, staring at Ludger in stunned silence.

It was a speech full of idealism and clichés.

But coming from him, it didn’t feel cheap.

“Strive for a better world. That is what my lessons in elemental attributes are for.”

Ludger gave a faint smile as he stepped down from the platform.

“Now. Let’s begin actual manifestation.”

The students quickly began their exercises.

Discovering one’s affinity with a specific element was part of early magical education.

Those who had studied magic before entering Seorn had little difficulty manifesting mana and embedding it with their elemental nature.

Ludger walked through the classroom, inspecting each elemental sphere in turn.

“Joseph. Focus more on mana flow. The elemental form is stable, but your emission is sloppy. And you call yourself a second-year at Seorn? Stop letting your concentration drift.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

“Irena Karoman. Is that supposed to be plant-type? Plant attributes must carry a sense of nature’s vibrance. Yours looks like a dead leaf rotting on the autumn ground. Wake up. Imagine a fresh sprout breaking through the soil.”

“Y-Yes...”

Ludger offered no kindness in his corrections. With every word he spoke, another student’s expression crumbled.

But what stung more than his tone—was that he wasn’t wrong.

In fact, his feedback was dead-on.

Rough as it sounded, Ludger pinpointed their weaknesses precisely—and even offered a clear path for improvement.

At first it bruised their egos, but once his words sank in, it became obvious: he wasn’t just criticizing to criticize.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is freewebnøvel.coɱ.

Still, his Spartan-style instruction was intimidating—especially to young students.

Each time he approached a desk, the student in question froze up, unable to focus on their manifestation.

Inevitably, Ludger’s voice would cut through again.

“What are you doing? Do you think magic is a game? If you can’t maintain focus, then you don’t deserve to be in my class.”

“S-Sorry, sir!”

“Stop talking. Focus on your spell. Shut your ears and keep your eyes forward.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

One by one, like ripples in a pond, his footsteps sent waves of tension across the room.

And now...

Aidan, the commoner boy enrolled in Ludger’s class, was sweating as the instructor slowly approached.

Because—

Aidan still hadn’t managed to properly manifest any elemental attribute.

Thud.

Ludger stopped in front of Aidan.

His piercing gaze locked onto the boy who sat frozen, doing absolutely nothing.