The Difference Between Wizards and Mages

Josh had become famous—so famous that practically everyone in the entire wizarding world knew his name. Even Josh himself had no idea what was going on.

The wizarding world had a very famous newspaper with considerable influence over the magical world, The Daily Prophet, which even conducted an in-depth investigation and report on the matter:

"Josh Augustus, the new professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the new head of Ravenclaw, used a terrifying spell to simultaneously take down You-Know-Who and Professor Quirrell, who had been possessed by You-Know-Who!"

"At only sixteen years old, he accomplished something that nearly the entire magical world had been unable to achieve."

"Dumbledore trusted him. He broke the record for the youngest graduate of a magical academy, as well as every age record for becoming a professor and Head of House!"

"'He is practically a legend!'—A Hogwarts professor who wished to remain anonymous."

"'He was incredible. He recited You-Know-Who's mistakes while casting with his wand. Yes, he cast the spell without chanting at all. But that spell was simply too brutal!'—A Hogwarts student who wished to remain anonymous."

"'Merlin's beard, he is the Merlin of a new generation! I especially admire what he said: the greater one's ability, the greater the responsibility one must bear. He is a great and noble man! There can be no doubt whatsoever about him becoming Ravenclaw's new Head of House!'—A Ministry of Magic official who wished to remain anonymous."

"'Josh is incredibly powerful, yet also remarkably calm. He does not reject communication with others, either. He is a born mage, a great mage! Sorry, he does not like being described as a wizard, so I prefer to respect his wishes. I also very much like his philosophical statement—great ability comes with great responsibility. I will have it carved onto the walls of Hogwarts, where every student can see it.'—Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts."

"."

Josh had read those reports too. Honestly, they made him blush a little. Hadn't he merely dealt easily with a weakened Voldemort who might not even have been First Tier? Then he casually copied a classic line from a movie he had watched in his previous life, and it turned into this?

And hadn't The Daily Prophet never even interviewed him? What Josh did not know was that they actually had tried. The reporter who came was Rita Skeeter. Unfortunately, before she could meet Josh, Garen had driven her away. She had transformed into a bug and been spotted by Garen, who had nearly deliberately stepped on her and crushed her to death.

So she no longer dared to seek out Josh, nor did she dare smear him—he had killed the Dark Lord in front of more than fourteen hundred teachers and students from the entire school. Though he might return someday, only Harry Potter's family had ever accomplished something like that eleven or twelve years ago.

And in the end, Harry Potter had been the only one left alive!

That did not mean Rita Skeeter would let them go, though. So reports such as:

"Crude Guard!"

"Brute!"

All flew toward Garen. Josh laughed over it for quite a while. Garen was somewhat annoyed. He had no idea what was happening that had made all those reports portray him as some sort of bad person. Still, he did not care much. Josh had teased him as a brute often enough that he was already used to it.

Now, every time Josh went out, it felt a little like being a celebrity, with people watching him everywhere—though he thought it was more like being a monkey in a zoo. Students also pointed at him and whispered among themselves everywhere. If Josh had not known they were not saying anything bad, he would have found an excuse to teach them a lesson long ago.

This afternoon, Josh had a Combat class. After Professor Quirrell had been taken out by Josh, Dumbledore had temporarily failed to find a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, so he simply combined Defense Against the Dark Arts with Josh's Combat class. Of course, this was only for the current school year. He would still have to find someone by the next year.

After packing his things and greeting Garen—who barely responded as he cultivated his Battle Qi—Josh headed out.

The weather was sunny today, which was good news for Josh, since he had intended to teach the students outdoors. He had seven classes a week, teaching all seven years at once. This was his first class, and his students were the first-year Young Wizards.

There were nearly two hundred and sixty first-years altogether, so Josh simply asked Dumbledore to lend him the Quidditch pitch for his classes. Dumbledore naturally agreed at once. It was not as though Josh had not considered holding class indoors, but considering that he might end up fighting Snape and tearing down the classroom—

After meditating, Snape's strength had gradually reached Second Tier as well. Of course, the quality of his magic power was still not very high. But at the very least, the spells he cast with Magic elements would not be weak. Besides, there probably would not be enough room for the students to practice, so it was better to hold it outside.

Professor Snape was the assistant Josh had deliberately sought out. Josh had originally worried whether he could persuade the man, but unexpectedly, it had taken almost no effort. He merely told Snape that he needed an assistant, and the man volunteered himself, saying that he could do it.

Well, that saved him even having to invite him. In truth, Josh only needed to think about it a little to know that Professor Snape would never refuse the proposal. Not only had Josh effectively avenged him—even if he had intended to do it himself—but Snape also hoped Josh would give him some guidance. After all, he had improved greatly recently.

"By the way, Professor Snape."

"Just call me Severus, Lord Augustus."

"All right, Severus. You can call me Josh as well. I told you, this isn't the Muya Continent. There's no need to be so formal."

"Of course, Josh. What is it?"

"Hmm, I was thinking about whether I should talk to Dumbledore about the difference between wizards and mages. It would make it easier to distinguish the students."

Josh truly had been considering this. He roughly understood why spellcasters in this world were generally called wizards. The main reason was that, since there had been no meditation in this world before, they simply could not use elemental magic. But things were different now. Including Snape, many professors trusted by Dumbledore had already mastered Magic elements to varying degrees.

If Josh gave them a few techniques for using elemental magic, they would likely soon become the first elemental mages in this world. At that point, calling them wizards would no longer be quite appropriate—wizards cast pure magical tricks without Magic elements, while mages could already be considered weapons of war.

Josh briefly explained the matter to Snape. He actually could have gone directly to Dumbledore, but he had forgotten about it himself. Now that he remembered, he simply told this professor who was also a master spy.

"It is indeed a question worth considering. I think Professor Dumbledore will certainly accept it. By the way, if I may ask, what is your Magic element?"

Snape had no intention of objecting at all. He found it perfectly reasonable. They had only just mastered Magic elements and possessed no real techniques, so they could only forcibly merge those elements with their old spells. Even so, the results were excellent. Naturally, what he was most curious about was Josh's Magic element.

"Uh, space. The Space element. It's a very marvelous Magic element."

Josh froze for a moment, but recovered quickly. He had prepared for this question long ago. Though he was not sure how this world viewed the term Void, Josh could not be bothered to reveal his greatest secret. In any case, many manifestations of the Void resembled space, so there was nothing wrong with saying that.

"No wonder you were able to come here from another world. That is an extraordinary Magic element. Of course, all Magic elements are great and extraordinary."

Snape sighed as though it were only natural. On the first day that he, Dumbledore, and the others had gained Magic elements, they had discussed what Josh's Magic element might be. They did not dare investigate because Josh could make the Magic elements within them feel fear. But considering that he had come here from another world, they had wondered whether it might be the Space element.

Now, it seemed that was indeed the case.

After chatting nonsense all the way, the two quickly arrived at the Quidditch pitch. By then, it was already packed with Young Wizards. They were all excited, because this was the first official lesson of that legendary professor, and they were deeply curious about what he would teach.

"Harry, Harry, look! He's here! But why is Professor Snape here too?"

Ron and Harry stood in the front row of the Gryffindor formation. Ron immediately spotted Josh arriving with Professor Snape and excitedly shouted to Harry. Of course, since they had already attended Snape's Potions class, they had a very poor impression of him. Well, perhaps "terrible" would describe it more accurately.

Just as before, perhaps because he felt there was no longer any need to protect Harry, Snape intended to keep out of sight and out of mind. But he discovered that he still seemed to have a peculiar prejudice against Harry—if he ignored those eyes, Snape even felt as though he were seeing James Potter from back then.

The outcome went without saying. He had not deliberately done anything to Harry. But whenever Harry did something that displeased him, Gryffindor's points would plummet. There was only one thing to say: the father's debts were paid by the son.

"Yes! I see him! Merlin's beard, he's so young, yet so great. But why is he with that Slytherin dark wizard? Damn it, Professor Augustus must not be fooled!"

Harry said excitedly. Ever since he had seen the memory of his parents being murdered, his hatred for Voldemort had soared. Thus, he deeply admired someone like Josh, who had faced Voldemort head-on and killed him outright. But he could not understand it—wasn't Snape the head of Slytherin?

In his mind, Voldemort had come from Slytherin, so every Slytherin was a dark wizard who inherited Voldemort's will.