The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 75

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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 75
“Let’s practice Mana Operation based on what you learned yesterday.”
The Magic Tower Master set down a Magic Stone the size of a fist before them all. Every eye in the room turned toward it.
“Simply fill the Magic Stone with as much mana as it can hold.”
A Magic Stone aids in Mana Operation, but it can also serve as a vessel to store mana itself. Naturally, the amount of mana one could channel into it depended on one’s own ability.
Rachel stared intently at the Magic Stone placed before her. The pale silver stone seemed to pull at her gaze the longer she looked at it.
“Keep your breathing steady and try channeling your mana in. You may begin whenever you’re ready.”
The Magic Tower Master spoke to them all. Rachel immediately grasped the Magic Stone.
‘Just do it the way he explained yesterday.’
Rachel closed her eyes. Then she focused all her concentration on her fingertips.
A heat unlike anything before gathered at her fingertips. She felt the Magic Stone trembling faintly in response.
‘One, two, three….’
She counted slowly, pouring in all her strength until she reached ten, then opened her eyes.
‘Seven, eight….’
The numbers grew larger, and the vibration of the Magic Stone intensified. Rachel bit her lower lip hard, trying to push even more mana into the stone.
‘…ten.’
Finally, having counted to the end, it was time to open her eyes.
“What, what is this!”
“What on earth…!”
“What in the world is happening….”
Voices of confusion erupted from all around. Rachel quickly opened her eyes and looked about her.
‘…good heavens.’
She was speechless.
She’d only meant to fill the stone with mana. Yet the Magic Stone blazed with such brilliant light that it was almost impossible to look at directly.
“Miss Swan, don’t move.”
The Magic Tower Master hurried toward Rachel. His expression was grave beyond measure.
“What’s wrong?”
“The Magic Stone cannot handle the quantity of mana Miss Rachel possesses.”
It was just as the Magic Tower Master reached out to touch her stone.
“No, wait—”
The Magic Stone, which had glowed so brilliantly moments before, suddenly lost its light and blackened. Like ash.
“This is dangerous!”
The Magic Tower Master’s face went pale. What could possibly be dangerous now? The stone had stopped glowing entirely.
Rachel, unable to fathom what was happening, looked back and forth between the stone and the Master.
It was in that moment that a section of the Practice Room wall split completely open.
Startled out of her wits, Rachel stared blankly at the fractured wall. Not just Rachel—every mage in the room turned their gaze toward the damage.
“What’s going on?”
Rachel’s voice came out in a rush.
“On the positive side, it means Miss Rachel’s mana capacity is so vast that the stone couldn’t contain it.”
The Magic Tower Master then collected the charred remains of the Magic Stone and continued.
“On the other hand, it reveals that your Control Ability is insufficient.”
The Magic Tower Master let out a faint sigh. Rachel understood his meaning at once. In short, she had raw power but no finesse.
She’ll cause an accident at this rate.
What’s the point of wielding mana without control?
Shouldn’t she be expelled immediately?
Several of them whispered their disapproval, their words like barbs. She didn’t need to respond to every comment. Yet “cause an accident” kept echoing in her mind.
Already on her first day she’d destroyed a chandelier. It was certainly due to insufficient Mana Operation and control.
Of course she’d come here to learn precisely because her fundamentals were lacking, but she was terrified of causing damage before she’d even begun to learn properly.
‘If this keeps up, things will get worse.’
She couldn’t afford to give the mages any more ammunition. Yet here she was, handing them reasons to criticize her one after another. This wouldn’t do. She had to turn the situation around.
Rachel quickly looked toward the Magic Tower Master and spoke.
“Master, could I use Mana Operation to repair the cracked wall?”
“It’s not impossible in theory, but it would be too much for Miss Swan at this stage.”
The Magic Tower Master’s expression seemed troubled. At this, the mages around them smirked, as if to say, ‘Well, that figures.’
“I’d still like to try.”
Rachel asked as politely as she could. The Magic Tower Master then flipped through a book on the desk and opened it to a particular page.
“Theoretically, here’s how it works. If you think it might be feasible, give it a try.”
Rachel quickly read from the book. At the same moment, someone let out a derisive laugh.
Rather than finding the mockery offensive, Rachel felt a surge of urgency. She hurried through the text.
‘I think I understand what it’s saying.’
She felt as though she finally grasped the fundamental principle behind Mana Operation. And yet attempting something she’d never tried before was far more daunting than she’d expected.
‘Stop overthinking. Just do it.’
Rachel picked up the book and approached the fractured wall. Every eye in the room converged on her.
“I’ll give it a try, then.”
It was a reckless gamble. But Rachel had no intention of backing down. She raised her hand quietly and pressed her palm against the wall.
Closing her eyes, she focused every fiber of her being on gathering mana to that single point. The energy began to coalesce at her fingertips. In the same instant, a low hum filled the air—accompanied by a sharp crackling sound.
“What on earth is this?”
A voice thick with wonder reached her ears. Rachel paid it no mind, concentrating solely on channeling the mana.
She lost track of time as she held her breath, gathering energy. At last, Rachel opened her eyes slowly.
“…What?”
She ran her palm gently over the wall, bewildered.
“Did it… work?”
Rachel asked quietly. The Magic Tower Master nodded in affirmation.
“I confess I didn’t expect you to succeed on your first attempt. Your skill exceeds my expectations, Miss Swan.”
The Magic Tower Master broke into a broad grin. With the tension finally released, Rachel ran her hand over the wall once more.
She’d spoken on impulse, wanting to demonstrate her competence. In truth, she hadn’t dared hope for actual success—but now that the wall stood repaired, astonishment overtook her more than joy.
“Your learning curve is faster than I anticipated, Miss Swan.”
The Magic Tower Master patted her shoulder. Rachel found herself nodding automatically, unaware that the gazes of several mages had shifted markedly.
* * *
She barely registered how the rest of the lesson unfolded. Today Rachel left the Magic Tower with her writing implement unbroken.
“Rachel.”
Lucas was waiting for her again. Rachel’s face brightened at once as she approached him.
“Your Highness.”
He was an extraordinarily busy man, and she couldn’t help worrying whether he should really be taking time like this for her. Rachel offered him an awkward smile.
“You truly needn’t come all this way. I’m quite all right on my own.”
“And let you slip out of my sight? How else would I see you?”
Lucas took her bag from her hands. Before she could protest, he reached for hers. Rachel placed her hand in his without a word.
“His Majesty’s arrival has been moved up.”
This was news she hadn’t heard before. If that were true, the welcome ball would be moved up as well.
“Have you ever learned the Waltz?”
The moment the Crown Prince spoke that word, Rachel finally understood the situation.
‘Is he asking me to dance with him?’
It was hardly unusual for a man and woman to dance together at a ball. But if the man was Lucas, things were different entirely.
“I’d like to share our first Waltz together.”
The opening Waltz of a ball was traditionally claimed by one’s betrothed, or the person closest to one’s heart. Rachel blinked, her large eyes wide with surprise.
‘More importantly—’
She didn’t know what the real Rachel might have done, but Ji-hyun had never learned the Waltz.
‘It would be better to be honest.’
She didn’t want to fumble through her first dance with Lucas. With so many eyes upon them, public humiliation was something she genuinely wished to avoid.
“I did learn it as a child, but I’ve forgotten everything—I haven’t had occasion to use it.”
Rachel offered the excuse as casually as she could manage. Lucas leaned in closer.
“Then we’ll have to practice together starting today.”
“With you, Your Highness?”
“Surely you weren’t thinking of practicing with another man?”

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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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