Danmachi - Infinite Mana System! - Chapter 164 - Altena 04.

[Chapter Size: 2200 Words.]
Third Person POV
Orario.

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“You shouldn’t be so angry... You know it must be the teacher’s way...” A student said during the break as they had already spent 1:30 waiting for the other classes' break to end, and now those students had just started leaving their classrooms.

The students of the supposed teacher were gathered there, not quite knowing what to think about what had happened. After all, none of them had ever been treated that way by any teacher.
Teachers could be respected, the most respected class below the Athena family, but the students came right after, alongside even the noble families, as the goddess Athena always declared them the future of Altena.

“No teacher should treat us like that!” Victória Roadster declared angrily. She was furious about it, but what else could they do... that teacher was simply treating them like air.
“I think we can talk to the higher-ups...” a shy student murmured.
“Yes... I will do it, but I’ll speak directly to Athena-Sama herself tonight when I go to the family headquarters,” Victória said.
“He said he’s going to give us a practical class... I want to see that... I didn’t know the Laiac family could be like this... I didn’t know the famous Professor Van Laiac, so young, could be so arrogant. What a disappointment...” Another student said in a sad tone.
“Don’t worry, I’ll humiliate him in the next class...” Victória spoke again in a more arrogant tone. “He’s a theoretical teacher; he won’t know anything about magic. So you’ll see that I’ll surprise him... and I’ll wipe that arrogant look off his face.” She spoke firmly while the students nodded at hearing this, seeming to agree with Victória’s attitude.

She was the pride of the class, a level 2 at just 19 years old. Athena had seen potential in her since she was 12 and placed her in the family. After 7 years of training, she reached the peak of level 2. It wouldn’t take long for her to reach level 3 at this pace.
“Victória.” A voice called her at that moment as all the students turned toward the person, one of the professors and also Victória’s uncle, who taught the more advanced classes.
“Uncle, you’re here...” she said as the 35-year-old man approached, wearing the battle mage uniform, having just come from his class.

Meanwhile, in the classroom, Lucius had finished the article. At that exact moment, the paper was filled with several scribbles as he reread and tried to fix the mistakes and calculations.
“Well, I think I can say it’s heading in the right direction,” Lucius said with satisfaction after the headache of so much nonsense.
“Why are you so worried about this professor’s article?” Riveria asked, standing by his side the whole time while eating something he had brought for her.
“Because I got interested in it, and maybe I can even improve it. I’ll take this article for myself,” Lucius admitted, storing his scribbled copy in the dimensional space.

Riveria said nothing about that, but there was another issue... “And what will you do with the rest of the day with this class? Do you still plan to teach them in the afternoon?” she asked, still a little concerned. She knew Lucius was a genius student, but as a teacher, he had several flaws, and she didn’t want the mages, human or otherwise, to be harmed by him and his teaching. She loved teaching magic.
“Don’t worry. I won’t go too hard on them. I’ll just give some practical class as soon as they arrive,” Lucius said, and she nodded in the end.
“Well, let’s at least get things ready,” Lucius said, cracking his fingers as he summoned several goblins that turned into house elves. “I want you to prepare the room in this format,” Lucius said, handing a drawing to the elves, who quickly nodded, disappearing to walk through the college and steal battle dummies while organizing the classroom.

“Great, now you can go,” he said, canceling the summoning magic. “Sit yourself down in the chair. Now it’s just a matter of waiting,” he told Riveria with a yawn, while she had no comment, hoping that Lucius would at least teach those children properly.

At that moment, the first students began to return, peeking their heads through the door, wondering if the teacher would let them in. Finding him there sitting, Lucius said:
“Come in, don’t just stand there!” Lucius’ voice echoed, and quickly, the students began entering.

He observed the crowd that was waiting, being the first to do so, as they moved to their seats. They glanced at Lucius, surprised not only by one battle mannequin but by several, even ones meant for more advanced classes. They wondered when the professor had brought those in.

Lucius looked at each of them. He could see the distrust, hesitation, and fear in their eyes, while that red-haired girl looked at him with disdain and a malicious smile. Lucius shrugged, waited for everyone to settle, and then stood up.

“Well, as you know, we’re starting a practical magic class. I know I’m a theoretical professor, but I’ve picked up a trick or two. So, I’d like to call you to the front of the classroom. Hey, you!” Lucius pointed at a blonde girl, who looked surprised and a little nervous. “Can you come here?” he said, and she nodded timidly, stepping forward.

Lucius looked at her and then at the mannequin. “Do you know lightning magic?” he asked, as it was one of the subjects covered that day.
“No, professor. I only know a fire spell,” she murmured with a shy demeanor.
“I see, no problem. I want you to show me what you can do,” he asked, and as he spoke, he gestured toward the mannequin. She, still a bit nervous, nodded.

Then, she began chanting, and after 30 seconds, she completed the chant. Flames appeared in her hands, moving toward the mannequin and exploding into a small fireball that only covered part of it. It was a level one spell, but Lucius nodded.
“Well, I’d like to see someone else now,” he said as he gestured for the girl to step aside. She left, looking a bit lost, while another student, whom Lucius had called forward, stepped up. “You don’t know lightning magic either, do you?” Lucius asked, and the student shook his head.
“Then do whatever you can,” he instructed, and the student nodded. He seemed a little proud as he began chanting. After 30 seconds of chanting, he cast wind magic, which struck the mannequin in a slicing form, cutting off its arm.
“Next,” Lucius requested as the student left, looking a bit confused but following the instructions.

Another student, more confident than the others, stepped forward.
“Do you know lightning magic?” Lucius asked, and the student grinned.
“Of course I do, professor,” the student said.
“Then go ahead,” Lucius instructed, and the student quickly began chanting, completing it in 25 seconds. When finished, he launched a bolt of lightning that hit the mannequin, leaving a hole in its chest. He closed his eyes and smiled, clearly waiting for praise.

“You can sit down now,” Lucius said, while the student stood there a bit stunned, looking speechless as he had expected some sort of compliment. Lucius looked at him and said, “Go on, there are others waiting for their turn.” That display didn’t impress Lucius, and the student left, slightly frustrated.

Lucius then turned his gaze to the rest of the class, some of whom seemed eager to avoid his gaze, until he looked directly at Victória, sitting at the back of the room with a smug smile, clearly plotting something. Lucius pointed at her.
“Come here,” he requested, and the girl quickly stood from her desk and walked to the front.

“I imagine you know lightning magic, don’t you?” he asked, and she lifted her chin proudly at his question.
“Of course I do,” she said. Then Lucius gestured for her to proceed. She quickly pointed at the mannequin with both hands and began chanting, finishing in just 18 seconds. It was faster than anyone else’s, as thunderbolts formed in both her hands and launched directly at the mannequin, obliterating its entire torso. The sound echoed through the room.

“She’s certainly talented,” Riveria said beside him, while Lucius nodded. Victória was looking at the destroyed mannequin with satisfaction, smiling as she turned to see the professor’s reaction. But all she saw was a look of boredom.

“Why are you so proud of that?” Lucius asked. He hadn’t said anything to the other students, but this one deserved to hear a few things.

"What do you mean by that? I cast the element you asked for quickly, and my magic was very destructive,” she said, seeming offended by his remark.

"Yes, 18 seconds. 18 seconds give anyone with a sword enough time to close in on you and strike before you even launch your magic,” Lucius mocked.

"What do you mean by that? Mages stay in the rear. Altena’s soldiers fight on the frontlines, and the mages support them with their magic from behind,” she retorted, frustrated by his words.

"There’s nothing wrong with that kind of combat system, but you’re just admitting that you depend on others. 18 seconds is too much time. You should aim for at least 10,” Lucius said.

"10 seconds? Are you crazy? No one in Altena can do that. The best anyone can manage is 12, and that’s among the highest-ranking members of the family! Not to mention we’re talking about simple spells!” she complained.

"Riveria, cast your magic and show her how it should be done,” Lucius said, as Victória glanced at the green-haired assistant with her hat pressed low on her head, unable to see her ears.

Riveria sighed and stepped forward. She picked up a staff and pointed it.

"Not yet...” Lucius interrupted. “I want you to cast two spells simultaneously, and you have a maximum of 5 seconds,” Lucius declared, making all the students widen their eyes in disbelief, unable to fathom that anyone could do such a thing.

Riveria raised an eyebrow but nodded, quickly beginning to chant at a surreal speed for everyone present. In 4 seconds, she launched two different spells at the mannequin, which exploded a moment later. All the students’ eyes and mouths were wide open in shock.

"4 seconds? Very good. That’s what not depending on someone looks like,” Lucius said, turning to Victória with a sarcastic tone, while she stood there paralyzed.

"That’s impossible,” she murmured, unable to believe it, but then turned back to Lucius. Even with Riveria’s shocking demonstration, she could no longer tolerate this professor.

"If you’re complaining so much, why don’t you give a demonstration for all of us? Show what a battle mage does when they don’t depend on anyone,” she exclaimed, silencing all questions about who Riveria was and why no one had heard of her, as everyone turned to hear Lucius, awaiting his response.

"Sure, let me see,” Lucius said without denying her challenge, as he raised his hand. The next moment, all the mannequins began moving into magical time circles, rearranging themselves into a line, side by side. Lucius looked satisfied, canceling all the time and teleportation magic.

He didn’t care about the astonished looks everyone was giving him. Some students had seen him do strange things at the start of class, but they dismissed it as some kind of delusion, thinking no one could do such things. But here he was, simply moving things with his hands without any chanting.

"Well, let me show you how it’s done,” Lucius said, aligning himself with the four mannequins as he raised his hands. Victória was speechless at what she had just seen, while lightning emerged from one hand and flames from the other.

Without any chanting, Lucius charged his magic in a matter of milliseconds before unleashing it. The lightning struck the two mannequins on the right, and the flames exploded on the other two, annihilating all four, with the resulting sound far louder than anything else.

"I suppose we might have some trouble with all this noise,” Lucius murmured, putting his hands back in his pockets as he turned to Victória, who was frozen in place. “Well, I don’t expect you to be as fast as me, but in my opinion, 18 seconds is still far too long,” Lucius mocked.

Before Victória could say anything, the classroom door opened at that moment. Her uncle entered, having come at her request after hearing reports about a rather arrogant substitute professor due to his age. He planned to humiliate the professor in front of the class to put him in his place, especially since he belonged to the Laiac family, rivals of his own.