The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 16
Of course, I wasn’t mad.
Hei Yan Long’s snout had exaggerated the expression, but the sentiment was genuine.
‘…How am I supposed to explain this? It just works?’
Fractal Structure.
It wasn’t my first encounter with it.
I recalled the time I’d studied magic theory under Hans.
-Master, the Fractal Structure can be said to be the ultimate perfected star.
It refers to a form where a simple structure repeats endlessly to compose the whole.
When you magnify part of the structure, the entire shape continues repeating.
-Self-Similarity and recursion form a powerful bond, creating perfect defensive properties. In theory, no magic can break a star with Fractal Structure.
The key word here is ‘in theory.’
In actual practice, there’s no magic employing a Fractal Structure star.
You can’t draw the star necessary for magic manifestation by simply repeating identical structures.
It exists only in theory.
Of course, that didn’t mean Fractal Structure research was meaningless to magic study.
‘The more a star resembles Fractal Structure in form, the stronger the magic’s resilience becomes.’
In contests between those of 6-Star Rank and above—the level where one draws their own star—victory or defeat often hinges on how precisely one mimics the properties of Fractal Structure.
Which brings us to the puzzle at hand.
-Is there a way to break a perfect Fractal Structure using pure magical technique?
The answer provided so far had been ‘no.’
Unless you collapse the star under massive energy it cannot withstand, pure magic alone had never provided a way to break a perfect Fractal Structure.
Until now.
“I think showing you directly would be better than explaining. Balik, would you manifest a Fractal Structure model for us?”
Flash!
A Fractal Magic Circle materialized before us all.
Though it contained no magical effect, because it embodied Fractal Structure itself, its star’s bonds were more resilient than any other magic circle in existence.
But then.
“Watch carefully, everyone.”
I decided to demonstrate what I considered the most effective lecture method.
Shock therapy, precisely.
With a tone as if I were about to teach a lesson.
I placed my hand on the magic circle.
A miracle occurred.
-Shatter!
The Fractal Magic Circle crumbled to pieces!
!!
The hall fell silent.
For a moment, no one seemed to grasp what had just happened.
Then, shock rippled through the assembly.
“What—what was that?!”
Those with deep magical knowledge especially lurched to their feet.
“There must have been a flaw in the Fractal Magic Circle!”
“How could a Fractal Structure possibly be destroyed?!”
A natural reaction.
“I’m not sure why you’re all so shocked. It’s hardly difficult at all.”
!!
“Ah, by your standards it might be. Let me show you again.”
I gestured with my chin.
“Please prepare another Fractal Structure magic circle, Balik.”
Balik ground his teeth, then brought forth a new model.
Flash!
An even larger Fractal Magic Circle manifested.
Large enough to fill the lecture platform.
Its resilience would be proportionally formidable.
But.
-Shatter!!
The moment I touched it, it crumbled like glass.
!!
Every eye in the hall widened to their limit.
Everyone’s expression screamed disbelief at what their own eyes had just witnessed.
“W-what kind of sorcery is—?!”
“It’s not sorcery.”
“That’s impossible! There’s no way you can dismantle a Fractal Structure through normal methods! And you, of all people, Balik—!!”
The entire hall thrummed with the same stunned energy.
Now came the crucial part.
‘I need to get through this cleanly.’
I drew a breath.
The truth was simple.
What I’d just demonstrated wasn’t some elaborate countermeasure hidden in my arsenal.
‘I just did it.’
—That was all.
Not false modesty, but the genuine substance of my approach: I saw the gaps in the Fractal Structure as plainly as if they were marked in red.
‘The fractures are simply visible to my eyes.’
Most speak of the Fractal Structure as flawless.
But does true perfection exist anywhere in this world?
The Fractal Structure approached perfection—yet fell short of it entirely.
Even within the repetition of identical patterns, some connections bore greater weight than others, and the strength of their bonds held relative variance.
The moment you sever the weakest link, the Fractal Structure crumbles like dominoes.
‘The problem is making others understand it rationally.’
I couldn’t simply say “I just did it”—I had to dress it in something magnificent.
Something no one could refute.
“A pity, really. None of you grasped the method I employed?”
The hall fell silent.
I tilted my chin up deliberately.
The Hei Yan Long’s charisma lent me an air of undeniable arrogance.
“The reversal of the structure’s cyclical nature.”
“??”
“You’re all aware that the Fractal Structure derives its rigidity from the cyclical nature of its identical patterns. But since this is a magical process, quantum-level fluctuations in the cyclical strength occur at every instant, and those fluctuations create vulnerabilities.”
It sounded complicated, but it was simple enough.
Even in identical structures, the magical interplay between connections cannot occur with perfect uniformity—find the gaps born from that imbalance, and the structure falls.
Of course, explaining it was one thing.
“You’re telling us you reversed the millisecond-by-millisecond variations in real time to pinpoint vulnerabilities?!”
“That’s impossible!”
The audience pushed back.
But then—
“I don’t see why you believe it’s impossible. It is. As you’ve just witnessed firsthand. I’d hope you’d stop assuming that because you can’t manage something, no one else can either.”
Those who’d objected fell silent, swallowing their words.
That’s when an unexpected voice cut through.
“Can a countermeasure that can’t be deployed in actual combat truly be considered valid?”
The tone was sharp as a blade.
I felt a flicker of genuine surprise cross my face.
‘The Liberal Arts Department’s “Magical Theory” department head—Bernstein.’
He was the professor overseeing “Magical Theory,” the very subject I aimed to study.
‘What’s he doing here? He’s not part of Lapalte’s faction.’
Bernstein was a notorious ideologue within the Academy, indifferent to its internal politics and consumed entirely by theoretical magical research.
A true master of his craft, as they say.
‘This is troublesome. Bernstein isn’t an opponent I can handle lightly.’
A knot of tension tightened in my chest.
Balik’s face flushed with fervor as he shouted.
“Y-yes, Professor Bernstein! There’s no way such a thing could work in actual combat—!”
But then—
“Shut your mouth.”
“!!”
“You don’t even know the first letter of Fractal theory—you have no business in this conversation.”
Balik’s face turned crimson.
That’s when I understood Bernstein’s true intent.
‘He’s not here to oppose me. He’s asking as a scholar, purely and simply.’
It aligned with his nature.
A man who’d devoted his entire life to the pursuit of magical theory.
Professor Bernstein was simply curious.
Whether my method of breaking down the magic could actually work in real combat.
‘…This isn’t a bad situation at all. It’s a chance to impress everyone even more.’
To pass, I had to show such overwhelming skill that no one could question my qualification.
Bernstein would be the perfect opponent for that.
“Then I’ll prove it directly. Would you perform the Ring of Fire spell for me, Professor?”
“!!”
A classic attack spell built on Fractal Structure.
Flames advancing in the shape of a circular ring.
“Against you? You’ll die.”
Bernstein’s brow furrowed.
But I shook my head.
“No, I can do it.”
The reason for my confidence was always the same.
<Probability of countering the Tsundere Stubborn Professor’s magic>
– 100%
‘I can do this!’
“Professor, you’re about to witness a new frontier in magical theory.”
In the end, Bernstein scowled sharply and stepped onto the lecture platform.
“…I only hope your actual skill is at least half your confidence.”
Whoooosh.
Flames burst forth, tracing the shape of a ring.
A fearsome momentum.
‘…Wait, are you going full power, Professor?’
I flinched for a moment and checked my odds again.
Still 100%.
‘…Is it really 100%?’
The majesty of the flames before me was no joke.
But to pull off a successful demonstration, one had to be willing to take risks.
I gathered my nerve.
An arrogant voice emerged, courtesy of the Hei Yan Long’s charisma.
“Come.”
Crack-crack!!
The flames surged forward, forming a circular ring before me.
One saving grace was that the speed was slower than I’d feared.
‘He’s being considerate. Making sure I don’t get hurt if I fail.’
I looked at Bernstein.
His brow was furrowed fiercely, but I could see a faint glimmer of concern in his eyes.
‘Good! I’m going to solve the problem you’ve been seeking all this time, Professor!’
Breaking down the Fractal Structure had been Bernstein’s obsession for years.
He probably attended this conference precisely because the topic was Fractal Structure countermeasures.
‘The Fractal Structure of Ring of Fire is fan-shaped.’
I could see how countless small fans repeated and formed the larger fan pattern.
But the structure wasn’t simply that alone.
There were auxiliary devices to reinforce the structure, interference mechanisms to avoid magical tampering—and more besides.
‘The bond strength is weaker than pure Fractal Structure, but that makes it far more difficult to approach magically.’
To use an analogy: before, I’d needed to shatter a sturdy rock standing motionless. Now, I needed to hit a sparrow flitting about wildly.
‘But it’s possible.’
If he’d unleashed it at full force, I’d be finished. But he’d deliberately slowed the magic’s speed out of consideration for me.
I stepped forward toward the flames.
Bernstein’s eyes widened in alarm.
“What?! It’s dangerous!”
Just as I thought—the tsundere, stubborn professor.
He was clearly terrified I’d get hurt.
His mouth opened as if to withdraw the magic.
“It’s alright. Just watch carefully, Professor. Your long-held wish will be granted.”
“!!”
I stretched my hand toward the flames.
Toward the empty center of the circular ring.
Crackle!
The Security Spell activated, beginning to repel my hand.
“Stop this at once! What do you think you’re doing with a Mana Dullness Condition?!”
Professor Bernstein’s voice erupted across the hall.
He was right.
No matter how precisely I identified the gap, it was impossible to dismantle this magic with the mana of a speck of dust like me.
But.
“Did I not say it could be done?”
Shadow bloomed from my hand.
Invisible to any eye—and sharper than anything else.
My hidden blade.
The Shadow Sword, the secret art I’d obtained after clearing the Cave of Lamentation.
Crack.
I heard something cleave.
And once more, a miracle unfolded.
—Crash.
The Ring of Fire shattered into fragments and fell.
Exactly as the Fractal Magic Circle had collapsed before.
The hall fell silent.
Professor Bernstein stared at me in shock.
Not just Bernstein. Every person in the hall fixed their eyes upon me in astonishment.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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