Niedern

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Niedern (尼德恩)
Alias(es)	“Big Chair”; “Little Bad Water” 101 109
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Plato Academy
Occupation/Role	Golden Mage; language teacher; Class Three, Second Year’s homeroom teacher; meditation instructor; Suye’s mentor 3 27 223
Status	Unknown; he participated in the Battle of Plato and was not seen afterward 984
First Appearance	Ch. 3 (named); Ch. 17 (introduced in person) 3 17

Background & Story Role

Niedern teaches language and manages Suye’s class at Plato Academy. He is also responsible for Second Year meditation instruction, explaining the Divine Realm’s lights, their benefits, and their dangers to new students 3 27.

After Suye becomes a Magic Apprentice, Niedern personally takes charge of his magical training. He teaches Suye to construct magic arrays, inscribe them onto Magic Tree Leaves, pronounce incantations correctly, and cast Magic Rope. Rather than protecting Suye from failure, he deliberately uses combat exercises against summoned leopards and an Ice Wolf to cultivate composure and practical judgment 35 36 38 51 52.

He quickly recognizes that Suye is unusual: not conventionally gifted in every subject, but able to become extraordinary in fields that interest him and at decisive moments. Niedern reports this assessment to Thucydides and repeatedly advocates for Suye’s opportunities, including entry into academy competitions and advanced training 40 74.

During the Black Iron Trial, Niedern publicly bets on Suye despite ridicule from other Golden-ranked teachers. He and Gregory ultimately profit from Suye’s first-place result, though their success leads to accusations that they manipulated the trial 168 169 193 203.

Niedern’s support extends beyond lessons. He helps Suye appraise and exchange spoils of war, acquire equipment for dangerous trials, locate a noble protector for the Chamber of Commerce, and develop projects such as Dragon’s Fine Things, horse harnesses, paper, and movable-type printing 113 149 223 496 506.

His protection can be ruthless. After Blackbeard witnesses Suye’s unusual drawing method, Niedern immobilizes his old classmate and uses Memory Elimination and Intelligence Reduction to prevent the secret from spreading. He later warns Suye not to use the method until reaching the Golden rank 108 109.

Following Lake’s murder, Niedern visibly struggles to announce the death to the class. He orders every student not to investigate independently, while promising that Plato Academy will pursue the killer through magic and wisdom 250 251.

When Suye is exiled from Athens, Niedern helps him prepare with money, magic items, and information despite the danger of being associated with him 276. Much later, a recorded message from Niedern and Thucydides provides Suye with demigod spells and urges him to consider what kind of mage—and person—he wishes to become 868.

Appearance

Niedern is a tall, red-haired old man with sharply defined Greek features, a prominent hawk nose, and a neat gray Greek robe. His left eye is artificial, creating a subtle asymmetry in his face 17.

• Tall stature and long red hair. 17
• Usually wears plain, clean gray robes without ornamentation. 17
• Has a false left eye, later identified by Niedern as a Saint Realm magic artifact. 17 428
• Commonly carries a large backpack and a multi-section staff. 168 223

Personality

Niedern is patient, attentive, and fundamentally devoted to teaching. His reputation among students comes from answering questions tirelessly and repeating Socrates’ belief that no question or answer is foolish 17. He can be stern when enforcing discipline, but he accepts Suye’s self-imposed punishment and supports students who take responsibility for their mistakes 26 29.

He is intensely competitive, particularly where Suye’s accomplishments are concerned. He provokes colleagues, stages bets, and openly flaunts Suye’s advancement to Gold Mage, treating his student’s success as proof of his own teaching ability 430 433 554.

Niedern is also financially shrewd. He bargains with Suye over artifacts, uses teacher betting circles to obtain favors, and treats valuable magical resources as necessities for continued advancement rather than luxuries 150 428 433.

Despite his pride, Niedern is capable of self-doubt. Suye’s learning methods and theories overwhelm him to the point that he questions whether he is suited to be a teacher, yet he continues recording Suye’s ideas and assisting with their submission to the Magic Council 533.

Abilities & Skills

Golden Mage

Niedern is a Golden Mage with broad practical knowledge of magic, magic artifacts, magical theory, and higher-rank advancement 223 428.

• Advises Suye on the cost of Gold-rank arrays, materials, and Saint Realm advancement. 428
• Explains Divine Power Planes, Plane Masters, and the risks of publishing magical research. 110
• Evaluates rare spoils, including soul-bound book pages and high-rank magic artifacts. 223

Ice Magic

Niedern specializes in ice magic and possesses an Ice Wolf servant whose strength exceeds its nominal Black Iron rank 51 53.

• The Ice Wolf can rival a weaker Bronze magic beast. 51
• Niedern uses it for controlled combat training, allowing it to mark but not seriously injure Suye. 52
• His affinity for ice magic is sufficiently well known for Lake to identify the creature from Suye’s injuries. 53

Summoning Magic

Niedern can summon magical servants for instruction and combat simulation.

• Summons three leopards through magic arrays to pressure-test Suye’s reactions. 38
• Uses summoned beasts to teach awareness, positioning, and calmness under threat. 38 52
• Introduces Suye to servant summoning and the value of magical-beast remains for future summons. 38 223

Memory Manipulation

Niedern can use dangerous mind-affecting magic when he considers secrecy necessary.

• Casts Immobilization and Sleep spells to restrain Blackbeard. 109
• Uses Memory Elimination, enhanced with Forget Worry Powder, to erase sensitive knowledge. 109
• Employs Intelligence Reduction alongside Memory Elimination because an improperly cast memory spell can cause idiocy. 109

Magical Education and Creation Theory

Niedern teaches both foundational practice and advanced magic creation.

• Teaches array inscription, casting, combat applications, and deliberate practice. 36 38 51
• Explains the three creation paths: enhancement, shaping, and combination creation. 429
• Frames magic creation around four principles: Connection, Distinction, Principle, and System. 532
• Helps Suye identify combination creation and material enhancement as suitable directions for his numerous bloodlines and talents. 429

Equipment

• False Left Eye — A Saint Realm magic artifact; Niedern refers to it as one of his Saint Realm artifacts. 428
• Five-Section Staff — His prominently displayed Golden-ranked staff. 168 223
• Magic Ox Rope — A brown-gray rope made from a Black Iron Demon Bull tendon, strengthened by years of Niedern’s magic infusion; he gives it to Suye. 35
• Gold Magic Array Diagram Paper — A reusable paper for instantly imprinting and copying magic arrays; originally given to Niedern by Thucydides, then passed to Suye. 428
• Magic Cottage — A portable magic shelter given to Suye as a first-place reward. 223

Relationships

• Suye — Student and principal protégé. Niedern trains, protects, challenges, finances, and sometimes exploits Suye’s achievements through bets; their relationship eventually becomes closer to a candid partnership. 35 109 223 433
• Thucydides — Niedern’s teacher. Niedern reports Suye’s progress to him, seeks his guidance, and later joins him in leaving Suye a recorded message. 40 74 868
• Gregory — Former classmate, friend, rival, and frequent betting partner. They publicly argue and cooperate with equal ease. 169 433 554
• Blackbeard — Old classmate and friend. Niedern repeatedly suppresses his memories when Blackbeard’s loose tongue threatens sensitive secrets. 108 109
• Laurence — Dean and colleague at Plato Academy. Niedern works with him to organize trials, encourage students, and respond to crises. 155 250
• Lake — Student. Niedern is deeply affected by Lake’s murder and forbids the class from conducting an independent investigation. 250 251
• Hote — Student. Niedern assigns Suye to tutor Hote when conventional methods fail to address Hote’s inability to ignite magic. 513 514
• Climela — Student in Niedern’s advanced magic-creation lessons; she regards him as one of the few educators comparable to Suye. 532 533
• Neder — Collaborator in Suye’s commercial and technological projects, including horse harnesses, paper, printing, and porcelain. 505 506

Notable Quotes

“There are no foolish questions, nor foolish answers.” — a saying of Socrates frequently quoted by Niedern 17

“You bear the costs, shoulder the doubts, and will surely reap the glory.” 506

Trivia

• Students say Niedern is so kind that “even his false eye was filled with warmth.” 17
• He is called “Little Bad Water” for his habit of turning academy wagers and rivalries to his advantage. 109 193
• Niedern’s artificial eye is one reason Suye can reliably needle him during arguments. 433
• Although he often calls Suye a genius, Niedern ultimately accepts that Suye’s methods and way of thinking exceed his own ability to teach directly. 39 533