My Uncle is the Strongest Dark Mage

Chapter 38

My hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.

Tokun sat stiffly, his posture rigid, staring straight ahead with wide-open eyes.

His appearance was akin to someone preparing for the final interview to join a major corporation.

'Wh-Why on earth did he call me?!'

Unlike other professors, Professor Magnus was famously known for never summoning students for personal reasons.

Of course, Tokun, who had only been at the Academy for just over a month, did not fully know all the details.

Still, the fact that Professor Magnus, who always maintained a stern demeanor, had called him separately was more than enough to instill fear in him.

'Did I do something wrong?'

That’s why, as soon as he saw the message, he came running immediately.

Tokun arrived at Professor Magnus’s office, panting heavily, having set a new personal record for sprinting.

And upon knocking and entering, he found not only Professor Magnus but also Professor Carlson present, which only heightened his tension.

"That’s why I’d like to ask this of you. Would it be possible?"

Tokun, drenched in sweat, couldn’t even drink the juice Professor Magnus casually handed him and remained frozen while listening intently.

Only after Professor Magnus finished explaining did Tokun finally relax slightly, as if relieved.

"Uh, so you're talking about the 'Magic Boost App'?"

"Not 'Magic Boost App,' but 'Magic Boost.' If you use the full name, it would be 'Magic Boost App.'"

Perhaps the term 'Magic Boost' itself, beyond its literal meaning of enhancing magic, was humorously turned into 'Magic Boost App,' as Tokun had suggested.

After all, the name had been coined by the students themselves, and the naming sense of younger generations often included creative and unconventional ideas that adults wouldn’t think of.

"If it feels like too much pressure, feel free to decline."

Following Professor Carlson’s playful explanation, Professor Magnus’s characteristic serious tone contrasted sharply.

"Ah, it’s fine. I’ll do it."

It wasn’t particularly difficult.

All he had to do was report to the professors if he discovered any uninstalled apps.

"But for something like this, wouldn’t it be better to ask other students instead of me?"

Waiting for an app to be installed on him didn’t seem like a rational judgment at all.

It seemed far more reasonable, in terms of probability, to involve a larger number of students.

"Asking too many students would be unreasonable."

It was Professor Carlson who answered, looking somewhat troubled.

"The opponent is a Black Mage. And if they’ve hidden themselves this thoroughly, they’re likely to be extremely cautious."

Unlike Professor Carlson, who was an openly practicing Black Mage, those who operated in the shadows were often classified as public enemies across the continent.

These individuals were accustomed to evading public authorities for their entire lives.

Moreover, if the Black Mage was active in the Elemental Kingdom, where the arrest rate for criminals was high, their wariness and caution would undoubtedly be exceptional.

The fact that even the professors had failed to properly discern their existence until it spread among the students proved this point.

Such a person might flee immediately if they sensed even the slightest change in the atmosphere on campus.

Since it was impossible to expect students to act, this time, a small, elite group was the correct choice.

"Of course, I agree with Tokun’s suggestion as well. If possible, I would have liked to select a few more first-year students to help."

But Professor Magnus would absolutely never allow that.

According to his teaching philosophy, this was clearly a matter for professors to handle.

He couldn’t bring students into such a matter, for that reason.

"Even suggesting asking Tokun for help took a lot of courage. Professor Magnus was glaring so intensely—I almost wet myself, you know?"

"This is in front of a student. Please refrain from using such crude language."

"Ah, my apologies."

Tokun finally understood why Professor Vivaldi always sighed whenever Professor Carlson was mentioned.

Professor Magnus glanced at Professor Carlson briefly, suppressing the sigh that threatened to escape.

Then, turning back to Tokun, he spoke again.

"As Professor Carlson said, I personally would prefer if students were not involved in this matter."

He didn’t want them to have to think about adult concerns.

He wanted them to focus solely on their studies and personal growth, like Maril or Arina.

That was what Professor Magnus envisioned the Academy to be.

A place where you only needed to learn magic.

A place that fostered an environment for students to learn magic and spread knowledge.

That was the very purpose of the teaching profession.

"Then why me, of all people?"

He understood the situation.

Professor Carlson wanted to resolve the issue quickly and prevent additional victims by enlisting the help of students.

Professor Magnus believed that students should only focus on their studies and not be burdened with adult matters.

And the compromise between these two professors with conflicting values was to ask for help from only one student—him.

But why did it have to be him?

The answer to that question came from Professor Carlson before Professor Magnus could speak.

"It’s impossible to determine who among the second-years and above has received or used the app."

If they had received or used it, they were unlikely to carry out the task properly, even if a professor asked.

Instead, their unusual behavior might alert the culprit.

Without knowing the rules of the Reverse World invoked by the opponent, reckless action was strictly prohibited.

"That leaves the first-years, and among them, you seem to be the one most in need of magic power."

Tokun Masao.

Or rather, formally, Masao Tokun.

A direct descendant of the Masao Family, who had fled from the islands on the outskirts of the Hwan Empire to the Elemental Kingdom long ago.

The reason the Masao Family sought asylum in the Elemental Kingdom was simple.

A Posthumous Curse left behind by a Black Mage who died in the past.

The imperial court of the Hwan Empire, feeling alienated and fearful of their family heirloom created to overcome the hereditary curse passed down through their bloodline, ostracized them.

If the Elemental Kingdom hadn’t accepted their asylum, the Masao Family might have been completely erased from existence by now.

"Magic Rejector. It might be a sensitive subject for you, but it makes you an ideal target for the perpetrator."

A constitution that inherently rejected the accumulation of magic power in the body.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t accumulate magic power at all, but they required nearly twice the effort of others to store even a minuscule amount.

A curse akin to calamity in a modern era where scholarship was mainstream.

The reason magicians in the past accepted their asylum was heavily influenced by intellectual curiosity about their unique constitution. The curse that seemed to erase innate Magic Affinity led to the invention of the Magic Restraint now used to capture criminals.

Of course, no method to break their curse had yet been found.

"......."

A bitter smile appeared on Tokun's lips at Professor Carlson’s words.

Information about the Masao Family was not widely known in the Elemental Kingdom.

This was partly because the Hwan Empire had erased their existence from records and partly because the Masao Family themselves were extremely wary of their name spreading within the kingdom, fearing further ostracism.

That’s why students hadn’t found anything particularly odd about his surname, but the professors apparently already knew everything.

'Then Professor Magnus also.......'

Tokun subtly shifted his gaze to observe Professor Magnus’s reaction.

As expected, his face remained expressionless, as if he already knew.

Even knowing his circumstances, had he never ridiculed his dream of becoming a magician like the Demon Lord?

"Before me, all students are equal."

Professor Magnus answered nonchalantly, meeting Tokun’s gaze, which was filled with emotion.

"Whether or not they have talent, if they have a dream, it should always be acknowledged and supported."

A professor’s role was to give wings to a student’s future, not to clip their potential in advance.

A professor merely assisted and guided students on their desired path.

Judging a dream to be impossible was beyond the scope of what a professor should do.

"......Thank you."

Tokun’s fists trembled for a different reason than when he first entered the office.

The sob he suppressed turned into a quivering tone in his voice.

Memories of the hardships he faced when entering the Academy flashed through his mind.

The family’s hereditary curse of being a Magic Rejector.

From a young age, he had dreamed of becoming a great magician like the Demon Lord after hearing tales of him. But all he received in return were scorn and ridicule.

They said he could never become a high-level magician.

Masking their pity with sympathy, they poured out words meant to crush his dreams.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t give up on his dream.

That’s why he enrolled in Benedict Academy.

And now, after leaving his family, he met someone who, for the first time, affirmed his dream—aside from his supportive mother.

"I’ll do it. No, please let me do it!"

He wanted to be of even the slightest help to this person.

Watching Tokun, who had been moved to the point of becoming proactive, Professor Carlson turned to Professor Magnus with a curious expression and said.

"You’re more popular than I expected, Professor Magnus."

Ignoring his remark completely, Professor Magnus stared straight into Tokun’s fiery eyes and responded.

"There won’t be much to worry about. Just let me know if a suspicious app suddenly appears one day."

"And in addition, if you could also keep an eye on the atmosphere and rumors among the first-years, I’d appreciate it. If there’s talk about other students getting the app—that would be ideal."

"......."

What now, are you assigning extra tasks to a student?

Though Professor Magnus looked at Professor Carlson with disapproval, Professor Carlson responded confidently, as if there was no issue at all.

"Isn’t the reason we’re asking Student Tokun for help because he’s the first-year most desperate for magic power?"

He’d overheard some rumors while passing by.

That’s why he’d gone around asking questions, hoping to confirm whether the app was real and whether he could obtain it.

Among the first-years, he was the one who could investigate the app most actively without drawing suspicion, which is why the request was made to him.

If you can use something, you should use it to its fullest.

"Other students might be restricted, but Student Tokun can freely investigate without limitations."

"But it’s already a busy time with assignments and all. Asking him to take on something like this during such a period is......."

"It’s fine! Please let me do it!"

"......."

With Tokun showing such enthusiasm, Professor Magnus couldn’t bring himself to object further.

If he was so eager to do it, there was no way to stop him.

"Sigh."

After Tokun left, Professor Magnus let out a deep sigh while watching Professor Carlson smile brightly, satisfied that things were proceeding as planned.

To think he was dumping the professors’ work onto a student.

'I’ll have to find a way to repay him somehow.'

Offering small conveniences during class wasn’t possible due to fairness with other students.

But Professor Magnus resolved to find some way to repay him personally.

"Hmm."

Meanwhile, Professor Carlson stopped smiling and fell into thought for a moment.

Perhaps it was due to his eerie expression.

That look gave off an unsettling sense of foreboding.

"It seems I’ll have to move up the schedule for the upcoming lessons."

Assuming the culprit truly was a Black Mage.

Since he couldn’t predict how things would unfold, he thought it wouldn’t hurt to give the students an earlier experience of what Black Magic entailed.

"Well then, I suddenly have some business with Professor Clara! I’ll be off now! Take care, Professor Magnus!"

Watching Professor Carlson disappear with his characteristic slinking gait, Professor Magnus let out another deep sigh.

Seeking help from Professor Carlson.

He couldn’t help but feel doubtful about whether that had truly been the best choice.