Professor Luyu’s lessons were the same in Greg’s opinion, only gentler and more on the intellectual side. She lectured and corrected casting stances, while patrolling the circle on the opposite half of her colleague. The rich students flexed here, many of them demonstrating the results of private training and tutoring.

Professor Luyu’s first spell was just a basic forward cast of pure magic at a target. This turned out to be easier said than done. Greg concentrated to the best of his abilities, aimed at a target, and like everyone else not rich, failed to get off a spell.

It was then the young man remembered he had a system.

System, how do I cast spells properly?

[For manual casting, focus your MP into your magic tool, hands, or wherever magic is needed at the time. Allocate the amount required, that is imagine the percentage, and then release it.]

[For automatic casting, which is not recommended, simply access the menu, select the desired skill, aim your palm or tool and the system will cast it for you.]

Automatic casting, hell yes, Greg thought. Now why the hell did it not tell him that in the first place. That would make life so much easier. The system kindly answered his thought.

[Automatic casting will not allow you to control the magic allocation into your skills, which can result in weaker attacks. You will not be able to increase your aura, emit magical pressure, nor gain bonus stats for repeatedly activating skills. You cannot evolve skills through automatic casting.]

Greg felt as if a giant arrow struck him through the center. Sure, the system offered easy, perhaps baby mode but it came at a price. Little to no progression.

Honestly, if he had no plans to rapidly advance, automatic magic would be perfect for everyday use. However, after classes, there would be training. Before he would even so much as consider the choice of going home and returning to the mundane life or stay, Greg first needed to standout. Takeover the school’s rankings. Become known as the greatest magician ever.

Hell, he wanted to beat a senior too. Maybe all of them, along with the mystery year-five guys.

Following the system’s instructions for manual casting, Greg imagined pulling five percent of his MP from an invisible pool, pointed the staff at the furthest target and fired. His aim was not only true, but it outright destroyed the target, something not even the rich kids pulled off.

“Well well, look at Greg. Somehow the rookie managed to implement quite impressive piercing into your magic,” Professor Luya deduced, her voice only slightly excited.

“Nah, he just got really lucky,” Goodman blabbed, though Greg didn’t take his words personally. He probably did. “Those targets are made to withstand even our magic. The barriers on that one probably malfunctioned.”

“Except they never do,” Luya said. “If such a thing happen—”

“Anyway, we should get back to teaching the little meats, not focusing on one guy’s luck,” the wolfman interrupted. “I want to beat up—get the mock battles started.”

“We will get to that if you’d stop interrupting my portion of the class,” Luya barked. She seemed to readjust her composure almost back to an emotionless state. The bored voice returned when she addressed the class as a whole. “Some of you will be randomly selected to test out what I taught today, so be ready. The use of Ale’s combat techniques are permitted, but remember, this is a magic battle. Do not underestimate the risks and dangers. At the end of this, one of you will be selected to take on Goodman. Land a hit on him, and you will earn my thanks.”

“Hey,” Goodman said playfully. “And they call me the mean one.” His eyes scanned the students as he grinned. They stayed on Greg slightly longer. “If you can make me acknowledge your potential, perhaps even land a hit, I’ll give you a few credits. Or maybe a rank, who knows.”

Professor Luya went on to lecture the class.

“I swear she’s dragging this on purpose,” Ena muttered.

“I know right,” a green-haired girl next to her said. “This is supposed to be the practical session.”

“Why does this feel like the first day?” Greg asked.

“That’s because it is,” the green-haired girl answered. “Before, this was just a second Basics with Magic class.”

“Oh,” Greg said. “Well, at least I enrolled in time. Everyone’s unfair advantage aside.”

The green-haired girl shrugged. “I think you’re overestimating the first years here. That or you’re talented. Or are you a noble in disguise? Magic isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world to cast, you know.”

“How far are we in on the semester?” Greg asked.

“Two and a half weeks,” Ena answered. “They’re…still this bad.”

Greg suddenly was very thankful the mysterious system interface basically sped-run his initial training.

“Chattering, good. One of you will be our first volunteer for the magic battles,” Professor Luya said. “Ah, yes.”

Greg gulped. Here it comes, he thought.

“Gr—Gretta, you’re up,” Luya announced. The short girl slumped in defeat. Short green hair, small frame, freckles, and jade eyes defined the student’s appearance.

“I knew it’d be me,” she said. Ena gave her an apologetic smile. Gretta slowly marched into the circle.

“She will face off against Hiroshi,” Luya said. “A match-up is an honor, so show respect to your opponent before the battle. It will stop when I call it.” She fixed Goodman with a glare. “Because if I don’t, knuckle brain here will allow you to injure each other.”

“Ah come on, lighten up,” Goodman said. “Little meats must build character. A great way to do that of course is to beat the shit out of each other.”

The room silenced. “What? Am I wrong?” The wolfman shrugged. “Anyway, good luck, little meats. I look forward to hospitalizing the lucky one who gets to challenge me. I mean, push you forward to greater heights. But don’t worry, awfully annoying school rules and regulations force me to hold back.”

“Raging bones, I’d like to put that guy in his place,” a lanky young man two students away from Greg said. He had a long nose, medium build, and pale blue hair.

“Don’t we all,” Ena agreed.

“Combatants, take your places,” Goodman announced. Hiroshi, armed with a wand, strolled to a spot roughly ten to fifteen feet from Gretta.

Short black hair, a calculating glare behind the glasses, and a somewhat thin build made up the honor student’s appearance.

Goodman and Luya walked a good distance out of the way of the two students. They gave each other a short bow. Gretta seemed nervous and fidgety, while Hiroshi displayed the exact opposite. In fact, he seemed a little bored.

“Readddddy! Kill each oth—I mean, battle!” Goodman shouted. Luya smacked him on the back of the head.

[Would you like to enable your combat log?]

Seeing that something like this could only benefit him, Greg selected YES on the prompt. He observed the battle carefully as a learning experience like this would help in a journey to takeover the school.

Hiroshi made no move as Gretta pointed her staff at him. Nothing seemed to be happening at first, but then her staff shimmered.

[Gretta activated Meh Air Ball.]

Hiroshi didn’t bother dodging, as the attack only rustled his hair a bit before fizzling out.

“I knew I wasn’t cut out for this,” Gretta said.

“Channel more magic into your wand,” Hiroshi said. “Remember what we were just taught. Also, use your affinity. Connect your magic to the air around us.”

Gretta only looked surprised for a bit before taking his advice. Something changed. Even the magic charging was significantly faster.

[Gretta activated Air Ball.]

Hiroshi sidestepped, allowing the invisible attack to borrow toward a student.

“Don’t worry, you little meats are protected by a barrier,” Goodman said. The boy in the path of the attack seemed relieved. “Now come on, make this less boring. Punch, kick, bite, choke.”

“I do not need to resort to being a barbarian to win,” Hiroshi said, wand aimed at Gretta. The girl tried to run and dodge. However, a blink later and a flash from his wand, the black-haired boy released his spell.

[Hiroshi activated Tier 3 skill: Energy Spear.]

A golden spear-shaped burst of magic struck the girl nearly instantly, knocking her over. She groaned but didn’t immediately return to her feet.

[Greta status: dazed.]

“Match over,” Luya declared. “Hiroshi takes the first win.”

Goodman chuckled. “Not bad. Teach her a little something and then with your might, crush her in one attack. You may not like being brute force, but you’re damn close to it.”

Hiroshi rolled his eyes before heading back into the student circle, his parting words being, “simple tasks do not deserve praise.”

“What the hell did I just see,” Greg said to Ena.

“A supposed prodigy not taking his opponent seriously,” Ena replied.

There were tiered skills. Greg mentally glared at the system. This felt like something that should’ve been revealed the moment he acquired a skill.

“Next up from the talking group. Greggory and Finn,” Luya said. Greg shot the professor an annoyed, guilty grin. She shrugged.

Finn turned out to be the long-nosed boy from earlier.

“Good luck to you, John,” Finn said.

“It’s Greg. And same to you.”

After Gretta was back into the student circle, Luya motioned at the two young men to begin. They gave each other short bows.