“Tired… so tired.”
Professor Number dragged her feet as she headed toward the lecture hall.
As always, dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her body felt as heavy as a waterlogged sponge.
Just looking at her gave off a damp, sagging feeling—Professor Number radiated gloom wherever she went.
“For this semester… I will be… your instructor… Number.”
At the sound of her name, several students snickered.
A math professor named Number.
It was almost too fitting.
Professor Number had long, wavy, messy hair that covered her face entirely—like strands of seaweed plastered over her features.
“There is something… you must never… forget.”
Her speech was painfully slow—half the speed of a normal person’s.
“The world… will try to deceive you… everything… professor… friends… academies… countries. Lies fill… all things.”
Tch, this filthy world.
Professor Number muttered under her breath, then continued:
“But… numbers never lie.”
Seila, listening to her, recalled what she knew about this professor:
[Math Fanatic.]
[The Black Flame Dragon in My Right Hand.]
Like most professors, she had the “madness” trait. But in addition, she had the very special trait of “Black Flame Dragon in My Right Hand.” She was a severe pessimist who trusted nothing in the world but numbers themselves.
Because of her distrust, she didn’t even have a teaching assistant—the most basic of helpers.
“Now… let’s begin… class.”
Professor Number started writing on the blackboard.
Oh, fascinating, fascinating.
So Fubini’s theorem comes up here, huh?
Math truly was a universal language, it seemed.
“For this equation to hold… what assumptions… must be made first?”
I thought about raising my hand but held back.
This was a magic academy, and there were too many students watching. Standing out too early would only make things harder.
Even if I was itching to answer, I had to play it smart.
Hmm… the others are hesitating too.
They were probably waiting for Pnelde, the student representative.
Sure enough, Pnelde slowly raised his hand.
“We need to assume the function of two variables is continuous over a rectangular region.”
“Good… then… choose your dueling opponent.”
Through her seaweed-like hair, a flash of red glinted.
Those eyes, filled with strange energy, were surely where her “Black Flame Dragon” writhed.
“A duel fought with the sword of truth called mathematics… is more sacred than anything.”
Professor Number spread her arms dramatically.
“Choose your opponent, young mathematician!”
Everyone avoided Pnelde’s gaze, afraid of being chosen.
He’s going to pick me, isn’t he?
I braced myself.
Honestly, I wanted him to.
In Professor Number’s class, students solved problems in competition—whoever solved them faster and more accurately won.
She called it “the only war permitted to mathematicians.”
“I choose Seila.”
“Good… then Seila… step forward. Let the sacred duel begin.”
The problem was on double integrals.
“Now… solve.”
Tap tap tap.
Oh, this feels like being in college for real.
There was a strange satisfaction in scribbling equations in front of the professor—like I was intoxicated with the image of myself.
Honestly, I didn’t regret pouring myself into developing That Other Game, but I did regret never experiencing campus life.
This—this was the romance of campus life!
“…And thus, the answer is.”
= π/2 (1 – Cos9)
Tap! Tap!
We put down our chalk almost simultaneously.
“Seila was faster… by 0.08 seconds. A fleeting instant… decided fate. Seila will receive extra credit.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
“The victor… chooses the next opponent.”
Without hesitation, I pointed at Pnelde. He bit his lip and accepted my challenge.
We were evenly matched.
Honestly, our duel was exciting—and fun.
Maybe the most fun I’d had since coming here.
“…This time Pnelde was faster by 0.09 seconds. Ahh… the battle reaches its climax… numbers play a mournful dirge.”
The overall score: 6 to 5.
I’d won six times, Pnelde five.
Since he’d just won, it was his turn to choose.
He’ll pick me again, right?
My heart pounded—but he betrayed me.
“I choose Hamyun.”
What? Hamyun?! He doesn’t know anything about this…
A miracle occurred in the classroom.
Answer: sin 24
Even I, Seila, was shocked.
Checking the work, Hamyun’s answer was correct.
Huh? What?
Everyone looked baffled—except Professor Number, who grinned like she was entertained.
Meanwhile, Pnelde, focused, finished his work.
Answer: sin 24
The same result.
But he had labored over the solution, while Hamyun had written his answer instantly—and without any work shown.
Professor Number turned to him.
“Hamyun… how did you… derive this?”
“I just did.”
“…I see.”
She nodded without pressing further.
Pnelde, furious, raised his hand.
“Professor, this is unacceptable!”
“What… is?”
“Hamyun’s board has no steps. How can an answer without a solution be considered correct?”
Professor Number crossed her arms, humming.
“Isn’t this simple enough… to solve mentally?”
Professors were always like that—they measured the world by their standards, not normal human ones.
And strangely, there were always one or two students who met those standards.
Like Hamyun.
Professor Number spoke faster than before, clearly excited.
“Then… Hamyun, as the victor… who will you challenge?”
“Hmm, I’ll choose Seila!”
The red gleam through her hair flared. Professor Number seemed thrilled.
“Ooh…! Who is the true king of this place…?!”
I was still bewildered.
Not only how Hamyun solved that problem, but also why he chose me.
It was confusing, but outwardly I stayed graceful, composed.
I picked up the chalk and faced the board.
“Next problem…”
Professor Number presented it.
I focused hard. Even if my opponent was unexpected, I had no intention of losing.
My competitive fire blazed.
Answer: 2/3
I wrote it down and glanced to the side.
Already finished?
Once again, Hamyun had already answered.
Annoyance flickered in me. Losing in swordsmanship was one thing—but math?
But then I noticed something strange.
Huh?
On Hamyun’s board:
“I don’t know.”
And he was smiling brightly at me.
Then mouthed silently:
—Seila’s bonus points, never let them take it.
“Seila… deserves extra credit.”
Professor Number’s gaze fixed on me.
I hadn’t wanted to draw attention in this class, but since things had already gone this far, I might as well secure the bonus.
“Thank you, Professor.”
“I give you… two choices.”
She pinned two cards to the board and wrote under them:
Divergence × 1.2
Convergence × 1.01
“Choose, Seila. This choice will determine… your path in life. You have time equal to the second perfect number. Units… in seconds.”
Not long at all.
The first perfect number was 6, the second 28.
So I had 28 seconds.
It would’ve been simpler to just say 28 seconds, but this eccentric phrasing was typical of her.
Divergence × 1.2 card, huh.
This was the overpowered item meant for the story’s heroine.
It multiplied all test and assignment scores by 1.2.
Score 100 points, get 120.
An item that could push someone dozens of ranks higher.
But—anyone could use it.
It wasn’t bound to me.
And in this academy, ruled by survival of the fittest, everyone would want to steal it.
Class representatives, rivals… all would covet it.
It was a card that brought war.
The only one who could truly wield it safely was the heroine—protected by Leon, Hamyun, and Jeremiel—the true protagonist of this world.
Unfortunately, I was not her.
Still… the card is tempting.
But getting involved would only cause chaos—and possibly my own death.
Still, the effect was absurdly powerful…
Professor Number pressed me.
“Time is up. Choose, young mathematician!”
At last, I made my decision and opened my mouth—
