Chapter 3: 2.1

Chapter 2-1: Getting Scolded (1)

In that case, what were the differences?

"Now that I think about it, magic and martial techniques share a similarity when it comes to using the body to sense the elemental matter in the space around oneself," Erwin mused with a contemplative expression.

"That is indeed true. So what are the differences?" Professor Hawk asked as an intense look surfaced in his eyes.

Erwin then thought about how it felt to use the agility technique. Aside from using the body to sense matter that aided movement, the technique reduced the hindrances to movement within a certain space.

"Aside from absorbing matter that is beneficial to movement, the agility technique also removes obstructive matter within a certain space," Erwin deduced.

"Good. You aren't the sharpest tool in the box, but you managed to get there in the end," Professor Hawk sighed.

Erwin was feeling a little offended.

"So tell me this: what are the most important things when it comes to a battle between a magician and a martial artist?" Professor Hawk asked.

"Er... Is it that magicians should prevent martial artists from absorbing beneficial matter as much as possible while also increasing the amount of obstructive matter within space?" Erwin was feeling quite out of his depth here.

"What can be classified as obstructive matter? Can you tell me that?" Professor Hawk was unrelenting in his line of questioning.

"Er... I would say things like gravity and negative status effects such as sluggishness and paralysis?" Erwin's voice spiked up slightly at the end in an unconfident manner, turning his answer into a question.

"Is that something that you're capable of as an intermediate magician who only goes around using instant-release spells all the time? Can you use advanced spells like gravitational field arrays? Your instant-release spells can't even inflict basic negative status effects onto the target, can they?" Professor Hawk asked in a critical voice.

After that string of insults from Professor Hawk, Erwin fell silent. No matter how thick-skinned he normally was, he was unable to say anything here.

Professor Hawk didn't insult Erwin any further. This was the student that he had chosen, after all, and he couldn't go too far with his criticism. He simply couldn't help but feel angry whenever he caught a whiff of the perfume of hostesses wafting from Erwin's clothes and body.

"If you encounter martial artists who are more powerful than you, you can forget about trying to alter the matter in space to defeat them. You'll most likely be dead before you have a chance to use any of those spells!" Professor Hawk said in a scathing voice.

Well, it's not like I chose to go to the Pillow Sword Tournament! Not only do I have to take all of these supplementary lessons, I have to sit through your insults as well! 

Erwin was growing rather disgruntled, but he still put on a fawning smile as he pointed at his copy of "Laws of Time and Space". "That's why I mastered the space split technique in the first chapter, right?"

 Through the use of instant-release spells, he could exhaust the matter in space, thereby creating matterless paths. The lack of matter in those paths meant that time would stand still, which allowed one to instantly move from one side of the path to another without expending any time. That was the fundamental concept of how the space split technique worked.

"If you don't improve in your ability to modify matter, you're never going to be able to progress past the first chapter," Professor Hawk said with a disapproving expression.

Erwin didn't dare to rebuke him.

"I honestly don't understand you young people nowadays. If you have the time to be seeing hostesses, why aren't you dedicating that time to studying magic? Life is but a fleeting affair, while the pursuit of knowledge is an endless journey, do you understand?" Professor Hawk sighed.

Erwin nodded in response with an ashamed expression.

"Professor Hawk, what do I do if my opponent uses martial techniques to exhaust all of the elemental matter in space?"

Surely magicians weren't the only ones who could use the matterless paths to their advantage.

"Don't ask me! When the time comes, you'll just have to take whatever attack is being thrown at you head-on! I think that's the only time that you'll actually remember my teachings," Professor Hawk replied in a cold voice.

Erwin couldn't help but shudder as he envisioned such a scenario.

"I'm constantly telling you to work harder and use your brain more. As a magician, you aren't even sensitive to the changes in the matter around you! It's all well and good discussing these things in theory, but it's another matter entirely to have to learn these lessons the hard way!" A hint of mockery had returned to Professor Hawk's voice again.

"Having said that, you don't have to worry too much for now," Professor Hawk continued. "Just as you said earlier, martial techniques most likely rely on removing the obstructive matter within space or on absorbing beneficial matter within space to enhance one's speed and power. In terms of the quantity of elemental matter, far less is required to unleash martial techniques than it is for magicians to unleash spells. At the very least, that has been the case in all of the powerful martial artists that I've seen."

There was only less than a month left until the Pillow Sword Tournament. At Erwin's current level, even if he were to constantly train without sleep or rest, there was no way that his magic would be able to catch up to that of advanced magicians. In addition to that, he would also have to face advanced martial artists, and that was also going to be an extremely steep challenge.

"Don't get too stressed. Just do your best and try not to make too much of a fool of yourself. After all, most of the contestants in the tournament have been preparing for three years, while you've had far less time," Professor Hawk consoled.

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"If I'm going to be embarrassed at the tournament anyway, why did you call me here just to scold me?" Erwin protested in a disgruntled voice.

"Well, at least this keeps you away from those hostesses you love so much!" Professor Hawk snapped.

"Are there any shortcuts that I can use to prepare for the tournament?" Erwin asked, and his opportunistic nature was on full display.

"Shortcut my arse! There are no shortcuts in magic! It takes consistent hard work over the course of years and decades!" Professor Hawk's blood pressure was beginning to spike through the roof, and he had to fight back the urge to give Erwin a vicious beating.

"Then what about in this book? Is there anything in here that can help me?" Erwin asked.

"That's for you to find out," Professor Hawk harrumphed. When it came to "Laws of Time and Space", his understanding of the book didn't seem to be much more in-depth than that of Erwin, even though he was clearly far more experienced and accomplished a magician than Erwin was.

The book was extremely difficult to understand, and even someone who often thought outside of the box like Erwin was yet to make any progress on the second chapter.

What Professor Hawk had refrained from telling Erwin was that many magicians had spent several years on the first chapter of the book without being able to fully master it, so it was already quite remarkable that Erwin had been able to master the space split technique in just several months.

"The speed of time in space isn't constant..." Erwin took a glance at the copy of "Laws of Time and Space", then raised his head and asked, "What are your thoughts on that statement, Professor Hawk?"

"Is this what you've concluded to be the essence of the second chapter?" Professor Hawk asked as he looked at Erwin through narrowed eyes, and even through those narrow slits, Erwin could see Professor's Hawk's bright and piercing gaze.

Professor Hawk thought about this for a moment, and his brows began to furrow slightly. He looked closely at this lackadaisical student of his, and he couldn't help but heave an internal sigh. Magic was indeed something that could only be improved upon with extended periods of consistent hard work, but when it came to the study of matter, space, and time, some people were simply naturally endowed. Even a grand magic mentor like himself, one of the best in the entire Effer Kingdom, had studied "Laws of Time and Space" for quite some time but had failed to make much progress.

However, this lackadaisical student of his, who was constantly enamored by hostesses, had already grasped the essence of the second chapter in just a few months. Perhaps mastering the first chapter could've been attributed to only natural talent, but it required more than just natural talent to derive the essence of the second chapter. In addition to natural gifts, one required a clear understanding of basic magical concepts, and what was even more important was an understanding of the relationship between magic and time and space.

"Most magicians only have an insatiable urge to improve their magic, but their understanding of more advanced concepts such as matter, time, and space, are often far too superficial."

This sentiment was something that had always remained in Professor Hawk's mind, and it was something that he had heard from a certain exceptionally talented student during his time studying at Teedus Academy. For some reason, he remembered that statement his entire life. However, what was quite embarrassing for him was that even though he had made extensive efforts to study the concepts of time and space, he was unable to make any breakthroughs. Thus, the fact that he had stumbled upon this hidden gem was no small consolation to him.

"You always look so lazy and complacent, but you really do surprise me sometimes..." A faint smile appeared on Professor Hawk's face as he spoke, but there was also a hint of bitterness in his smile.

Erwin was a little perplexed as he looked at Professor Hawk. He had thought that Professor Hawk would provide him with some guidance based on his earlier statement, and this response was rather inexplicable to him.

"Back when I first gave you that copy of 'Laws of Time and Space', I already told you that I wouldn't answer any of your questions related to the book. That's because my understanding of the book... isn't necessarily any clearer than yours," Professor Hawk said as a serious look appeared on his face.

Thus, Erwin could only set his question aside for now.

"However, the fact that you've managed to learn something from the second chapter shows that you've been paying a lot of attention in your regular magic lessons." This was the first time that Professor Hawk had paid him a compliment so far. "However, that's still nowhere near enough. Theory and practice go hand in hand, do you understand? You tend to overthink things without doing enough practice."

Indeed, this had always been a bad habit for Erwin, so he was a little embarrassed for it to be pointed out by Professor Hawk. Erwin never paid much heed to the advice and criticism directed toward him from his other clueless teachers, but he took the advice of a mentor as wise and astute as Professor Hawk very seriously.

"The Pillow Sword Tournament is beginning in less than a month. Have you prepared anything?" Professor Hawk suddenly asked.

"I'm just going there to make a fool out of myself anyway, so what is there to prepare?" Erwin asked with a shrug.

In other words: "You're the one who forced me into this, so you'll be the one embarrassed at the end of the day."

"Nonsense! Have you prepared any equipment?" Professor Hawk asked.

"No. I don't even know what to prepare," Erwin replied in a calm manner.

"You... You don't even know that you have to prepare things like a staff and rings? What is going on in that head of yours every day?" Professor Hawk roared, and his blood pressure began to climb once again.

"I normally only use instant-release spells, so I never use things like staves," Erwin countered in a feeble voice.

"I can't believe you're not ashamed to admit that! I must've been blind to have chosen a student like you!" Professor Hawk grumbled.

Erwin wanted to stand up for himself and rebuke Professor Hawk but didn't dare to do so in the end.

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