For the first time in his life, he felt defeated, and he had never expected it to come from one of his own students.
"That won't do! Even relatives have to settle accounts clearly. Since I made a bet with you, Professor Kayneth, I have to see it through responsibly! Not taking it seriously would be an insult to you!"
"Ha... I hope you won't take it so seriously!"
"No! Wouldn't that mean I was disrespecting my teacher?!
I have to record this moment and make hundreds of millions of copies for all Magi to enjoy!"
Moran's face was full of excitement and earnestness.
On the other side, Kayneth's clenched fist cracked.
He had not realized it before because he had never paid attention, but now that he was interacting with him, he understood just how punchable his student was.
He should never have accepted that bet.
"Moran, there's no need to go this far... Professor Kayneth protected us just now too... Besides, we'll still be attending class together in the future."
Waver tried to mediate.
His behavior earned Kayneth's appreciation.
For a moment, Kayneth felt that perhaps he had been too harsh in the past. It seemed he needed to revise his teaching approach soon.
However, would Moran let up so easily?
Of course not.
"It's precisely because we need to attend class seriously in the future that we can't leave any regrets behind! Professor Kayneth, my camera is ready. I'm just waiting for your order to start filming!"
Moran had already aimed the camera at Kayneth.
He was simply waiting for him to deliver his utterly humiliating declaration of defeat.
The sight made everyone's scalps tingle.
The surrounding students felt that Moran was not only formidable in battle, but was also exceptionally skilled at poking people where it hurt.
This guy was definitely not someone they could provoke in the future.
"Enough. Put down the camera, and we can discuss everything.
The honor of House El-Melloi cannot be ruined in a single day. Tell me, what will it take for you to let this go?"
Kayneth sighed.
Those words were practically a surrender.
With the pride of a Lord, he had no way to deal with Moran.
Faced with such rogue behavior, he could only concede.
"Hehe, it's nothing much. If you could lend me the complete Three-Prism Magic Core for research, I might get so happy that I accidentally lose those recordings."
Moran considered the most valuable thing House El-Melloi possessed.
The Magic Core was the only thing that came to mind.
He remembered that it had been forged from the remains of the Albion Dragon, an inexhaustible magic furnace constructed using the Primordial Dragon as its material.
Although it was useless to the current Moran.
That did not stop him from taking it to play with.
If Kayneth knew Moran merely wanted it to play with, he would probably be so angry that he spat blood three feet high.
Others treated such Mysteries like treasures and guarded them closely.
And he wanted it just to play with it?
"Fine. I shall exercise my authority as head of the family and grant Moran Edelfelt special permission to come into contact with the treasure of our El-Melloi family in the name of academic research. Are you satisfied now?"
"Fine, then let's record it first."
"Huh? Haven't I already agreed to your terms?"
"What if you go back on your word?"
"I am the Lord of El-Melloi. A gentleman's word cannot be recalled, so how could I possibly go back on it?!"
"No, without a guarantee, I'm worried!"
"You... you wretched disciple...!"
Moran's relentless combination left Kayneth's face covered in dark lines.
In the end, the two sides finally reached an agreement.
Kayneth agreed to film a video of himself admitting defeat before the camera, while Moran agreed to delete the recording once he received the Magic Core.
The entire process left the Magi watching in embarrassment.
That lofty Lord was actually swallowing his pride and haggling with a student as though bargaining over groceries at the street market.
And this was merely one amusing anecdote from Moran's future.
There would be many more stories spread throughout the Clock Tower later on.
It had to be said that Kayneth was a man who dared to act and take responsibility.
He did not stubbornly cling to his own pride.
After witnessing a miracle beyond ordinary circumstances, he accepted and acknowledged it with tolerance.
As a teacher, he was undoubtedly outstanding.
His expression remained arrogant, but his eyes could not hide his approval of his student.
The teacher who taught his student had instead been taught a lesson by that student.
Things one could not accomplish were not impossible to achieve; he had merely believed so because he was constrained by his understanding.
Standing still would only result in being left behind by the times.
As agreed, Kayneth admitted his mistake before everyone and acknowledged Moran's acquired theory.
"Professor Kayneth... actually admitted he was wrong..."
"Did I hear that right? The arrogant Professor Kayneth actually withdrew his words before a student of low bloodline...!"
"Are the times changing?"
Quite a few students were extremely agitated.
An invisible current was swirling through the Clock Tower.
Moran's name spread along with it.
Everyone learned that a student of low bloodline had made the Lord of El-Melloi admit his mistake.
"However, this was merely an error in my calculations.
Student Waver, examples like Moran are rare after all. Although this path may be viable, it will be very difficult to put into practice in the current world of Magecraft."
Kayneth ignored the noisy students.
Instead, he fixed his gaze on Moran and Waver.
That profound gaze carried immense pressure, as though he were confirming something with the two students.
"I believe I can keep going!"
Waver slapped his chest, his face full of confidence.
However, that reaction only made Kayneth sigh.
He was far too green in every respect.
Waver had not understood what he was saying at all.
"What the world of Magecraft thinks isn't important to me. When I first argued with you, I simply wanted to argue. Well, if the world of Magecraft gets in the way of how I live, then I'll have no choice but to change it."
Moran understood the deeper meaning behind Kayneth's words.
If the bloodline theory that had been entrenched until now were shaken, it would affect the interests of the collective Magi.
It might even shake the uniqueness of Mystery itself.
Magi would stop at nothing to protect their own interests.
That was why Kayneth said this path would not be easy.
He belonged to the traditional aristocratic faction.
As a teacher, he naturally did not want his student to tread a thorny path, so he could only offer a subtle reminder like this.
Though his outward personality was arrogant and overbearing.
He cared for his students in his own awkward way.
Moran understood that some people were raised as nobles from birth, and such people's arrogance contained neither good nor evil.
They simply believed that nobles ought to be this way.
They naturally maintained elegance and pride.
To the point that even the way they expressed goodwill came with arrogance. It was difficult to call such people wicked villains.
Kayneth was a typical example.
He was arrogant, but that did not prevent him from being a good teacher.
"Ha, change the world of Magecraft? What a wild fantasy! But if it's you, Moran, perhaps you really could do it. As for Waver... you're far too green."
Kayneth spread his hands and chuckled.
Having just witnessed Moran prove the impossible.
He had confidence in the student before him.
It had nothing to do with his arrogant stance as an aristocrat; it was simply a teacher's recognition of his student.
"Professor Kayneth! Why am I being treated differently?! I've already begun drafting a reform paper for the Magi of the new era! When the time comes, I'll definitely make your eyes widen!"
"Heh, Student Waver, stop indulging in empty fantasies. If you are a Magus, then produce a practical example that can convince people. Otherwise, I will not give you any recognition... Mm, you had better achieve something like Moran has."
With his hands behind his back, Kayneth walked out of the training grounds.
His departure signified the end of class.
Waver's expression turned awkward after hearing those words. He truly did not have any practical example he could present.
Meanwhile, Camus lowered her head timidly.
Her little face was red as she wondered whether she should continue speaking to Moran.
Then, another soft and beautiful voice rang out.
Turning around, they saw a young girl with smooth golden hair, dressed in a magnificent sapphire-blue gown.
She looked like a princess who had stepped out of a fairy tale.
"Nice! What a beautiful duel! This kind of collision between strength and flesh is the dashing bearing a Magus of the new era should possess! I simply couldn't take my eyes off it!"
Luvia stepped into the training grounds.
Crowne, her attendant, followed closely beside her.
"A powerful left hook like that, and that suplex you pulled off at the very last second! You are completely a master!"
As soon as Luvia approached, she pressed herself close to Moran.
Like a fish climbing a tree, she tightly hugged his right arm.
Moran did not react in time.
He only felt that the girl hugging his arm looked very familiar, as though he had seen her somewhere before.
"Moran... do you know her...?"
"Um..."
Moran did not know how to explain it to Waver.
Before you continue