Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 37

***

Cheshire’s class proceeded immediately with my observation.

Unlike Vivian’s class, Cheshire’s class didn’t require textbooks or numerous papers for drawing intricate magic circles.

He simply pulled up a chair to face Leo and began the lesson in a relaxed manner.

“Your name is Ratchet?”

“Yes, sir.”

After hearing Leo’s name, everyone struggled with what to call the child for a while. It took a few days for each person to come up with their own nickname.

Vivian, for one, had finally settled on a nickname for Leo, after daily switching between some bizarre gemstone names that she couldn’t even pronounce.

“Then, Ratchet, I will call you sprout/seedling from now on. You can call me teacher,” he said sweetly.

It was a dazzling display of sociability.

“Today, instead of a lesson, we’ll examine the qualities of a magician. To become a good magician, there are two essential qualities. Do you know what they are?”

This is something he had learnt in Vivian’s class.

Leo, being sharp, responded promptly.

“I know. It’s the Magic Vessel and the Magic Circuit.”

The Magic Vessel is a container, literally holding magic, and its size varies for each person.

The size of the magic vessel is determined at birth and cannot be changed, making it a kind of innate talent.

On the other hand, the magic circuit, known to be in the heart, plays a role in producing magic within the body. Unlike the magic vessel, the magic circuit can be trained through practice.

Thus, even if the magic vessel is small, it could be compensated to some extent by training the magic circuit to increase the amount of produced magic and its purity.

This was the entirety of what could be understood from Vivian’s class.

“You got it right. Shall we check those two qualities?”

As Cheshire extended his hand, Leo cautiously took it.

Cheshire, who was holding Leo’s hand and checking something, let out a strange exclamation.

“You’ve got an enormous vessel. Just looking at the vessel, you’re at the 9th level. It’s truly outstanding talent.”

Leo’s cheeks flushed at Cheshire ‘s casual praise.

“Your magic circuit is small, but very sturdy. If you diligently train it, you’ll be able to produce enough magic to fill the vessel.”

Hoho, indeed.

My head involuntarily nodded as I listened.

It was the moment when the reason why the protagonist of >Hirome< could become the master of the tower was revealed.

He was born with a giant vessel, and he was able to train his magic circuits to fill it to the brim, becoming a ninth-ranked Archmage/grand magician.

“Today, let’s move on to practical training to feel the magic, rather than theoretical lessons. From now on, I’m going to let magic flow into your forehead. Close your eyes and feel my magic circulating around your body.”

Soon, a faint light appeared at the tip of Cheshire’s thumb.

Like stamping with his thumb, Cheshire gently pressed his thumb on Leo’s forehead.

It was an ordinary scene, but I found myself tense, watching it.

“Magic is said to be in the blood. It circulates throughout the body, returns to the heart, and spreads again from the heart to the whole body. Try to feel the flow of blood.”

His voice was fine and soft, like that of a boy who hadn’t gone through puberty, and it sounded almost languid, like he was reading a bedtime story.

Leo closed his eyes and breathed in and out slowly.

In Vivian’s class, magic had seemed so far away that I’d never dared to try it, but in Cheshire’s class, it seemed so easy and close that I wondered if I should give it a try.

‘If only I had magic powers…….’

It was a moment that rekindled the fantasy of magic in me.

Cheshire, who had been calmly observing Leo, turned to me.

His hair flowed down gracefully following the tilt of his head, resembling cherry blossom petals fluttering down.

Although it’s not my place to say, he truly has a mesmerizing appearance.

“If you’re interested, would you like to try it, Master?”

Was it that obvious?

“I won’t charge an additional fee. How about it, Master?”

Cheshire extended his hand as if inviting me to dance.

His hand was elegant, resembling that of a pianist—large but slender, with elongated fingers.

I couldn’t resist, so I lightly laid my fingertips on the hand he held out.

Despite my poker face, my mind was buzzing with various expectations.

If I had magic, what would I learn first?

For the first time in a long while, my heart was pounding like a child’s.

How long had it been since I thought about the fantastic magic I had seen in >Hirome<?

Suddenly, a strange feeling came over me, and I looked down at my hand.

“……?”

Isn’t …… it taking a long time?

It ended quickly when it was Leo’s turn.

I glanced at Cheshire with a suspicious look.

He still had that smiling face, playfully suggesting, ‘Just a bit more,’ with a touch of charm.

‘What is this expression?’

He looks like he’s up to something.

I watched him with a sense of curiosity, wondering how far he would go.

However, the hand that had barely touched mine a moment ago now came a bit deeper into my hand.

Like a snake climbing a wall, his hand moved smoothly and brazenly until it finally burrowed deep enough to touch my wrist.

Thunk.

Unable to endure it any longer, I swatted Cheshire’s hand with a fan.

“Ouch. That’s not nice, Master. A magician’s hands are their lifeline.”

Cheshire pouted and rubbed his hand, but I was the one who felt bewildered.

“What did you just do?”

“I was checking your magic vessel and circuit.”

“You didn’t take this long when you checked Leo’s.”

“I just…”

Waiting for an excuse, I narrowed my eyes and listened to what he had to say.

Cheshire tilted his head slightly, chuckled mischievously, and whispered as if revealing a secret.

“It was a personal interest.”

“……?”

“Master, did it upset you?”

Then, like an abandoned cat, he shrugged his shoulders with a pitiful expression, making me feel extremely conflicted.

“Right now the magic vessel is empty, but just in case I’m wrong, may I hold your hand one more time? Mmh?”

At those words, I took a step back.

I was getting the feeling, for some reason, that Cheshire was going to be really bad for Leo’s emotional education.

I was about to shout that he was being fired from class.

“Oh.”

A short exclamation came from Leo.

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A system window appeared in front of me.

‘Wait, why did he already learn the magic detection skill.’

In the game, it usually took three days of expensive magic lessons to acquire the skill, but he had learned it in a short period.

***

In the end, Cheshire was officially accepted as Leo’s magic teacher.

Just as a genius alchemist did not make a good teacher, a low amount of magic did not make one incompetent.

Instead, I made sure to attend the lessons that took place three times a week.

I couldn’t clearly explain the reason, but for some reason, I felt that I needed to monitor Cheshire, as if he might inadvertently lead Leo astray.

‘If Cheshire says or does anything that might negatively influence Leo, I need to intervene immediately.’

With my eyes wide open, I closely observed Cheshire’s every move and every word.

“Master.”

“Don’t mind me, just pay attention to the lesson.”

“Master, with such passionate eyes staring at me, how can I…”

Bang!

I panicked, slamming my hand against the wall to interrupt Cheshire’s words.

He’s not supposed to say that in front of Leo!

Luckily, Leo hadn’t heard Cheshire, as he was busy drawing a magic circle on a piece of paper.

I seized the opportunity to sternly warn him.

“Enough nonsense, continue with the lesson.”

Cheshire’s choice of vocabulary was always deliberately ambiguous, suitable for being misunderstood, but remarkably, he was indeed an excellent teacher.

The study of magic was inherently abstract, relying heavily on the practitioner’s intuition, making the theoretical aspects quite challenging to grasp.

Yet Cheshire’s lessons were clear and to the point, making it easy for both me and Leo to understand.

To be honest, the quality of his teaching was so excellent that at times, I was confused as to whether I was spying on him, or whether he was lecturing me.

“Teacher, can you cast magic even if you don’t have magic power?”

Leo, who had ink all over his hands from drawing magic runes, wiped his hands with a dry cloth and asked the question.

“You finally asked this question.”

As if he had been waiting for this question, Cheshire responded, holding some weight in his words.