My Uncle is the Strongest Dark Mage

Chapter 46

The moment the Magic Boost App, which had only been rumored about, actually appeared, it had already grown to an uncontrollable size.

The bold crime committed by the perpetrator who thought no one could catch him.

Naturally, the professors who were chasing him had no choice but to discover his tracks, and this included Professor Magnus.

"......."

Early morning.

Professor Magnus stared at the Magic Boost App brought by Tokun and Heming, his expression hardening.

Beside him, Professor Carlson looked at the app with curiosity and opened his mouth.

"Is this the rumored Magic Boost?"

Then, he started examining the smartphone that was half taken from his hand, turning it this way and that.

"It's fascinating. To think that an app like this can actually boost magic power."

Its effect had already been proven.

The rapid spread.

Now, it was hard to find a student above the second year who didn't have the Magic Boost App installed, and even among the first years, it could be found here and there.

All this happened in just one night.

"He has no intention of hiding anymore."

Does this mean the Academy is no longer needed?

It was clear that he intended to pull off one last big heist and then flee.

To the perpetrator, this Academy was probably just an experimental ground.

To test how well his Magic Boost worked.

'How much he must have underestimated us.'

And such actions would be difficult to carry out without an underlying psychology of ignoring the professors.

He is confident that he can commit the crime and escape without getting caught.

Because the perpetrator's actions were a provocation directed at the professors.

"What do you think, Professor Carlson? Have you found out anything......."

Professor Magnus turned to Professor Carlson, leaving behind the restless Heming and Tokun who were sitting anxiously due to the serious demeanor of the professors.

And at the same time, the words that were coming out of his mouth abruptly stopped.

Because Professor Carlson was calmly pressing the suspicious Magic Boost App.

"We'll have to find out from now on. That's for sure."

From ancient times, the best way to understand whether something is a curse or poison has been to experience it firsthand.

So, Professor Carlson pressed the app and examined the changes happening to his body.

"Nothing much has changed."

It was said that in the case of students, there was a drastic change noticeable to the eye.

Could it be that the effect varies depending on the level of mastery?

Well, there was that reason, but Professor Carlson saw another reason.

"It's completely useless for a Black Mage. This."

Black Mages, like other ability users, do store magic power in their stars.

However, the way they manifest their scholarship is not by directly using that magic power like other ability users, but by using the wasted magic power filtered through their stars.

"It's synchronization. Like how the internet connects different websites into one, this app uses itself as a filter to connect the students' magic power into one network."

It made sense why it felt like the magic power had increased.

So-called shared magic power.

Because it allowed one to use not only their own but also a part of others' magic power.

It was different from magic transfusion, which transforms one's magic power to match the characteristics of others.

The concept of turning the opponent's magic power into one's own magic power attributes.

This was something that went beyond the common sense of this world, and it was probably one of the established rules of the perpetrator's Reverse World.

"It makes sense why Student Tokun wasn't chosen. With this method, a Magic Rejector would be of no help. We were wrong in our thinking."

A Magic Rejector cannot accept magic power due to their constitution.

In such a sharing method, a Magic Rejector is a kind of virus.

With the opponent's skills, it would have been entirely possible to obtain the students' data through the digital world.

It was not unreasonable for the opponent to reject Tokun.

"Is that possible? Honestly, I don't quite understand."

"It's probably possible. Black Mages have such distinct characteristics and uniqueness that even I don't fully understand the detailed principles."

Roughly guessing, he might have added his Reverse World to the digital world network to create a kind of storage.

Magic power shared among students.

A storage that collects the wasted magic power like a fee from the transactions between them.

In other words, he is chaining the students' minds under his own and siphoning off their magic power.

"Of course, it can't be that simple. There must be restrictions. Like requiring the other party's consent."

"So, pressing the app is considered consent."

"As expected of Professor Magnus. You're moving too fast for me to finish my explanation. Now I understand why your classes are so notorious among students."

"Enough with the chatter."

Cutting off Professor Carlson's idle talk, Professor Magnus fell into thought.

Forced sharing of magic power.

On the surface, it seemed like a very good method.

But one must understand this.

There are reasons why magicians have not adopted such seemingly efficient methods.

Usually, to handle a network, there needs to be one entity in control.

Commonly known as an administrator, akin to the central Magic Tower that connects the internet and communication networks in modern terms.

In other words, to create such a shared magic power network, there must be a central mind, which inherently brings great risks and side effects.

For example, if something happens to the Magic Tower, the entire kingdom's digital network could be paralyzed, and if the central figure wills it, they could manipulate those connected to them at will.

'That child is also a problem.'

Tokun Masao, being a Magic Rejector, was not chosen by the perpetrator.

But why hasn't there been any contact from Jeon Reidel?

In a situation like this, he should have discovered the Magic Boost App long ago.

The reason was all too clear.

Frankly, it wasn't surprising.

Professor Carlson had already anticipated this ominous assumption.

'Well, there's nothing we can do about it.'

No matter how problematic a student might be, it's a teacher's role and responsibility to rescue them first.

'It seems like it's about to start soon.'

The opponent was causing trouble almost at a terror level.

Judging by the radical pace, the timing of the incident wouldn't be far off.

Counting roughly fifteen seconds in his mind, Professor Carlson flashed a sinister smile typical of him, as a headache rang in his head like the sound of quickly eating cold shaved ice.

"Then, I'll be back for a while."

He could resist if he wanted to.

But Professor Carlson deliberately did not resist and entered the perpetrator's domain as intended.

His consciousness breaking as someone forcibly pulled his mind.

If Professor Magnus hadn't instinctively caught him as he fell, it could have escalated into a major disaster with him hitting his head on the edge of the table.

"......."

Professor Magnus frowned as he quietly watched Professor Carlson collapse unconsciously.

His consciousness had completely vanished.

It looked as if his soul had been pulled out.

Laying him on the sofa, Professor Magnus quickly pulled out his smartphone.

And swiftly dialed a number, calling somewhere.

"Mr. President."

-Yes, Professor Magnus. What's the matter?

As soon as the call connected, Professor Magnus immediately stated the main point, addressing the person on the other end by name.

"The perpetrator of the Magic Boost has started his activities."

While saying this, Professor Magnus quickly explained the principle of the Magic Boost App as interpreted by Professor Carlson.

"Currently, Professor Carlson has entered the enemy's Reverse World."

-Since he's gone in, the perpetrator will be caught soon.

His personality might be strange, but his skills are certainly real.

If he hadn't, he wouldn't have been able to overcome the prejudices of people and become a professor at Benedict Academy, despite being labeled a Black Mage.

"But that's not the issue."

Professor Magnus also agreed with the President on that point, so he didn't deny it.

However, there was another problem.

"Students who used the Magic Boost App will start collapsing."

It's unlikely that anyone in the Academy would just lie down quietly on the floor and lose consciousness.

Most likely, they'll collapse on the spot like Professor Carlson just did.

It would be fortunate if they were sitting in a chair and fell forward onto the desk.

Or they might collapse while walking down a hallway or hit their head against a wall.

Or they could roll down stairs or get crushed under heavy objects, resulting in serious injuries.

-Understood. I'll inform the other professors, so please check on the students' safety immediately, Professor Magnus. We can't afford to miss a single student.

"Yes, understood."

-We'll also seek help from the Student Council. Right now, we need all the help we can get.

Those who rely on the Magic Boost to increase their magic power are generally lower to mid-tier students who need to achieve high scores by any means.

Top-tier students, on the other hand, are generally not interested in such things.

If they step up, it would make it much easier for the professors to check on the whereabouts of the students.

While it went against Professor Magnus's principles, given the situation, it was unavoidable.

As soon as the President finished speaking, Professor Magnus hung up the phone and addressed Tokun and Heming, who were bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

"I'm sorry about this situation. The Student Council will likely contact all students soon. It will be a request for help in checking on students who haven't collapsed yet."

Please help if you can.

Seeing the determination in Professor Magnus's eyes, Tokun stood up without hesitation.

"I'll help!"

"Thank you."

I'm sorry.

I'll have to make it up to you properly.

'I'll pay extra attention and teach you my knowledge.'

That was the only reward he could offer him.

Tokun Masao, unaware of the barrage of questions he would face in each of Professor Magnus's future lectures, showed strong enthusiasm.

"Of course, I'll help too......."

Although his response was slower than Tokun's passionate one, Heming also stood up without hesitation.

Children around the age of his son are collapsing.

It's only natural for an adult to feel anger towards the perpetrator of such an act and the need to protect the children.

Ringing.

But the sound of a ringing phone cut off Heming's words.

It was the default ringtone of Heming's smartphone, which he had left on because he didn't know how to change it, and it was the phone he had been holding until Professor Carlson collapsed.

The caller was his wife, Anna.

What could be the matter?

There's no way his wife would call at this time.

-Honey!

As soon as he answered the call, Anna's voice burst out so loudly it filled the entire faculty office.

-Andy has collapsed!

"What?"

His eyes widened at her words.

At the same time, Tokun seemed to realize something and his eyes also widened.

Come to think of it, who was it that told him about this app?

It was Andy.

He had shown Tokun the app's wonders and even pressed it right in front of him.

'Damn it!'

He should have realized it right away.

He should have realized it as soon as Professor Carlson collapsed.

If everyone who used the app collapsed, then Andy would naturally be in danger too.

-I got a call from the kindergarten! He suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed, and they're taking him to the hospital!

"Calm down. Which hospital? I'll be right there!"

Heming, with trembling eyes, hurriedly grabbed the doorknob of the faculty office.

Then, he turned around with an apologetic look and answered.

"I'm sorry."

Nothing is more important to a parent than their child.

Even if they know they can't help, a parent must be by their child's side; that's what being a parent means.

Understanding that feeling, Professor Magnus nodded and said.

"It's okay. Go quickly."

"Yes."

"Don't worry. We'll resolve this as quickly as possible. Your son will be safe, certainly."

"Thank you!"

Heming rushed out of the faculty office in a flurry.

Staring blankly at his urgent departure, Tokun clenched his fists tightly.

'Andy.'

Andy, who always waved at him and greeted him every time they went to the cafeteria.

As Andy's face came to mind, Tokun's eyes sank low for a moment.