Overpowered Archmage Doesn’t Hide His Talent

Chapter 4 - Why So Slow?



Chapter 4: Why So Slow?

After underlining a single line in yellow, the boy took no further action.

‘Was he just showing off after all?’

As soon as that thought crossed her mind, the boy smiled faintly, almost as if he had read her thoughts.

It was close to a sneer directed at something insignificant. It was as if he was silently saying to the formula on the Agora Board, ‘How dare something like you…’

‘Huh?’

Becky involuntarily widened her eyes.

The chalk tapping on the blackboard, the busy movement of his pupils—it all lacked any trace of discomfort.

Rather, he seemed to be enjoying the task at hand.

Soon, his wrist moved broadly, underlining another line. Despite not using any tools to assist him, the trajectory he drew was a perfectly straight line, without a single error.

Now, there were two underlines. Flan muttered.

“The value of the first formula, still not there.”

The girl felt as if she had been struck in the back of the head.

Come to think of it, she had already forgotten the boy’s earlier claim that he would only find the vertices, captivated as she was by the spectacle.

Simultaneously, a question arose. Even if he could accurately pinpoint the vertices, calculating each one required immense concentration and mana.

What if this is a mistake?

However, as soon as she touched the formula, Becky felt her doubts melting away.

‘This… it’s definitely the vertex.’

A magician is a being who adds intuition to the pursuit of truth.

She had just started the calculations, but she could already feel her intuition reacting.

Like finding a long-sought vein of water, amidst the malicious and disgusting formulas, this one stood out, almost kind.

Every part of it seemed to assert itself as the core structure.

Becky immediately unfolded a piece of paper in the air and began writing.

This was definitely the vertex. Her heart raced at the thought that they might actually arrive at the correct answer.

“The countless formulas seem overwhelming, but when you narrow them down, there are only 64.”

“64…”

Isn’t 64 still an absurd number? Becky quietly swallowed her words.

Anyway, the derived value of the first formula was A1.

She quickly moved on to the next formula.

But it wasn’t easy. Since the calculations were so long, even one mistake in the middle meant starting from scratch, and her concentration was quickly drained.

Still, somehow, she managed to calculate three more after that: A8, H1, H8.

“Ah!”

Becky exclaimed. A1, A8, H1, H8—these were all too familiar.

“This is a square! Eight spaces across, eight spaces down! Like a chessboard!”

So, that’s why there are a total of 64 formulas. If it’s eight across and eight down, there are 64 coordinates.

Becky was filled with pride, but Flan shook his head as if he found her pitiful.

“You did well to understand that much, but of course, it doesn’t end there.”

“What? Then what?”

“You’ve just gauged the size of the canvas. The real task of deciphering the picture starts now.”

“Oh… I see…”

Although Becky had confidently accepted the challenge, after calculating just four, she was already exhausted.

‘Is he not tired?’

Becky wiped the beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead at some point, while Flan casually rested his chin on his hand.

He didn’t show the slightest sign of being tired. He remained calm and composed.

Once again, he drew another line.

Well, I have to do it. Becky swallowed a silent scream and began the next calculation.

So engrossed were they in their respective tasks that they forgot the passage of time.

D4, D6, C3, E3, B4, F4…

Finally, Becky put down the chalk.

“Done!”

Flan glanced towards the girl. She shouted with confidence.

“This is a spade shape. It’s definitely easier to calculate when you just pick out the vertices.”

She stretched victoriously, but the unexpected reaction was cold.

The boy tapped the chalk on the blackboard.

“You just realized that now? Continue with the calculations.”

“But we already know the answer is a spade, why keep going?”

“Just do it.”

Becky grumbled in dissatisfaction but reluctantly started calculating the new formula.

Then, predictably, she hit a snag.

“Hey. You.”

“What?”

His response was so confident that it cut off her train of thought.

‘What’s going on? No matter how I think about it, something’s off.’

However, Becky felt a strong sense of unease.

Until now, every coordinate they had calculated had triggered her intuition, confirming they were crucial.

But the coordinates she received this time lacked that feeling entirely.

It felt like a trap, a completely random location. Touching it made her feel that way.

She hesitated, wondering whether to continue, and eventually asked with some hesitation.

“Are you sure this one’s correct?”

“It’s not the answer, but you’ve identified it brilliantly according to my intentions.”

So, it’s wrong, isn’t it?

Even so, Flan confidently underlined one more line.

Following his gaze, she saw that this one, too, felt like a trap.

“According to your intentions? What do you mean by that…?”

Isn’t the point to solve it according to the intention of the one who set the problem?

But the boy didn’t seem to have any sense of obligation to solve the problem.

“Just returning the correct spade shape isn’t satisfying enough. We’re not mere lackeys.”

“Then what are you trying to give back besides the answer?”

Flan chuckled.

“We’re going to give back a problem for the setter to solve.”

“What happens if they solve what we return?”

“They’ll find an inverted image. A heart.”

“Inverted… You mean you’re going to flip the picture?”

“That’s right.”

While others were worrying about the answer, the boy was already considering the next level. The ‘answer’ itself had been too obvious from the beginning.

“Why do that? It’s still technically wrong. No one else would even know we solved it.”

“That’s what makes it fun.”

A short reply. The boy continued.

“Everyone else will be oblivious, but the setter will know. Only they’ll know that someone completely saw through their problem.”

Becky was certain. This guy was no ordinary person.

At the same time, she thought, he’s not entirely sane.

‘But… it sounds fun.’

Yet, a rebellious and daring feeling slowly rose within her.

Had she ever thought like Flan before?

Whenever she was given a problem, she had only thought about solving it and being praised. She had never considered turning it back on the setter.

Was he really a fellow freshman? The first impression she had of him as a sickly junior had completely disappeared from her mind.

He tapped the new underlines he had drawn with his chalk.

“The derived value is.”

“W-wait. I’m working on it.”

Formulas poured out towards Becky.

The new formulas were of much higher difficulty.

It was only natural. To flip the picture, they had to solve the formulas for coordinates that would normally be traps.

‘…What kind of guy is this?’

As she calculated, Becky found herself involuntarily sticking out her tongue.

They were the same age. Which meant his talent could only be described as extraordinary.

Who could make Becky feel this pressured?

Becky had always prided herself on relentlessly pursuing the path of a magician throughout her life.

That’s why she had applied to Merhen Academy without a second thought and had, of course, been accepted.

Moreover, during the freshman welcome ceremony, there were even a few students who recognized her.

‘But… I don’t even remember seeing him at the welcome ceremony.’

Becky glanced at him with dazed eyes.

But this time, the boy wasn’t looking at the blackboard. Instead, he was staring at the girl with a slightly dissatisfied expression.

“Why so slow?”

“Haaaah…”

It was only when the moon hung in the sky that Becky, having finally finished the calculations, collapsed flat on the floor.

As expected, the correct answer was the spade shape, but Flan had cleverly inverted it, separating the handle to turn it into a heart.

The answer was written in the form of a note and stuck in a corner. The setter would find it.

If everything went according to plan, it would be almost like a taunt. Honestly, was it bad to admit it was a little fun?

“Hahaha…”

Despite everything, laughter was the first thing to come out. It had been fun. That much was certain.

“Did you enjoy it?”

The boy asked.

Was that even a question? Becky nodded while lying down.

Though she hadn’t approached the problem purely on her own, the sense of accomplishment she felt was immense.

“Hey. You…”

Only then did Becky examine the boy’s shirt. Under the moonlight, the name ‘Flan’ was written on his shiny name tag.

“Flan. Can I just call you by your name?”

“Do as you please. We won’t be seeing each other again anyway.”

“Why wouldn’t we? Aren’t you going to keep attending the academy?”

“Well. I’m no longer interested.”

The girl quickly sat up from the floor. She started thinking quickly.

‘Has he already been scouted?’

Well, considering what she had just seen, it wouldn’t be surprising if he was already receiving scouting offers.

If that were the case, there was nothing she could do.

She had been planning to befriend him since they’d likely attend the academy together, but it seemed that wouldn’t happen.

She grabbed her bag lying on the floor and handed it to the boy.

“So

, are you going home now?”

“Home…”

The boy thought for a moment.

Even if he had fallen into another world, he needed a place to stay. It was already nighttime. This body desperately needed rest. If there was a place to sleep, he would go there and sleep.

Then suddenly.

“Come to think of it, why aren’t you going home?”

If he remembered correctly, girls this age usually had curfews.

“Me? I… I’m fine. I don’t have to go home yet.”

Becky mumbled her response.

He nodded towards her.

“Then take me home.”

Becky shook her head.

“Why can’t you find your way home when your address is written right there on your student ID…? I can’t understand it.”

“Because I don’t know.”

“I mean, how does someone who knows such complicated formulas not know how to get home?”

Despite her grumbling, Becky complied with his request.

If there had been any ulterior motives in his request for her to walk him home, she would have coldly refused, but he genuinely seemed not to know.

Actually, it wasn’t just that he didn’t know his home; it seemed like he wasn’t familiar with this area at all. He kept looking around as if everything was new to him.

“How much further?”

“We’re almost there, so just… No, but am I really hearing this from the homeowner? Shouldn’t you know better?”

“I don’t.”

“This is unbelievable… Whoa.”

As she walked, alternately glancing at the address and the surroundings, Becky involuntarily dropped her arm.

And her small mouth gaped open.

“Flan, do you… live here?”

In front of them stood a massive mansion.

 


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