"···So, psychokinesis! It can be implemented by substituting the solutions of the Verter-Cancel equation in the multidimensional structure of space-time into a specific vector direction···."
Magic is mathematics.
This was the conclusion I reached after much thought upon reincarnating into this world.
The words spilling out of the magic professor standing in front of the class, and the students diligently jotting them down and memorizing formulas—
To me, it all looked strikingly similar to a math class.
And in my previous life, I was pretty good at math. Especially mental arithmetic.
---
"Dear Mr. Cha. Thank you for something something··· Okay, got it. Next··· uh, final decision. Reject your research···. Oh, for fuck's sake."
My name is Cha Noa.
And I've just had my master's thesis rejected.
Though I excelled in math, my other grades were average, which led me—half willingly, half reluctantly—to enter a mediocre engineering program at a provincial national university.
Earning mediocre grades there, I eventually became a mediocre graduate student in a mediocre research lab.
I sighed, finally tearing my eyes away from the rejection email on the monitor.
"Phew···. With this job market being so bleak, I wonder if I'll even find a job with a master's from a provincial university."
Math was my only strong subject, so I chose engineering thinking it'd help me find a stable job. But as graduation approached, the situation changed. Even engineering degrees, once highly sought after, weren't as advantageous anymore.
And it's not like my school years were smooth sailing.
Half my time was spent wrestling with coding, the other half struggling with English. My once-prized mental arithmetic had long been replaced by calculators.
"I came to engineering because I was good at mental math···."
Feeling wronged, I opened my laptop to revise my thesis.
One monitor displayed Google Translate, as I struggled with English while working through the night.
And then, I dozed off.
When I woke up, I was no longer Cha Noa, but Noah Ashborn.
---
The Ashborn family was once a renowned magical lineage.
Once, being the key word.
Which means, now, it wasn't.
"Even here, I'm just mediocre."
In this world, too, I—Noah Ashborn—was living an unremarkable life.
A family that once flourished with exceptional magic had lost much of its prestige.
And I was the second son.
My mana affinity score, as determined by a mana concentration test, was a B+.
Truly, the median of mediocrity.
The only redeeming feature was my face, which suited my ash-gray hair rather well. But since there were no celebrities in this world, good looks didn't help with survival.
Lying on the bed, I sighed deeply, frustration welling up.
"How am I supposed to make a living like this?"
Even after fifteen years in this world, my ingrained Korean instincts hadn't changed. Worrying about how to survive was second nature.
But what could I do? This was my reality.
A family with diminished status meant there wasn't much inheritance to go around. What little there was would go to my elder brother.
I'd have to survive in this world on my own abilities.
Worried about my future, I had kept up with light exercise and basic math practice.
And I had an idea.
"Maybe I should try getting a job at a merchant guild?"
As an accountant, perhaps.
I had confidence in mental arithmetic. In a world where calculations were still done with abacuses, it could be a competitive edge. Sure, it wasn't exactly a role fit for a noble-born mage, but···.
Apparently, though, I wasn't the only one pondering my future.
"Noah."
"Yes, Father?"
My father, Pierce Ashborn, suddenly opened the door and entered my room.
I quickly got up from the bed to greet him.
"No, sit down."
"Yes, Father."
We sat side by side on the bed. Placing a hand on my shoulder, my father looked me in the eye.
With his ash-gray hair and deep-set eyes, he looked strikingly similar to me. Well, I was his son, after all.
This father of mine, though a noble, was unusually warm and affectionate.
"You're already fifteen. You've grown so much."
"Have I?"
Fifteen years old is barely a middle schooler, though.
"It's time you started thinking about your future. As you know, I have little to pass down to you. The estate and servants will go to your brother. So···."
"I'm aware, but I'm still only fifteen."
"Good, I'm glad you understand. If I divide the estate any further, we wouldn't even be able to maintain the title of nobility. This was the only choice I could make. I hope you understand, Noah. I knew you would. Which makes your future all the more important."
"Well, I thought maybe I could take my time···"
"Have you thought about what you want to do?"
"Maybe work in accounting for a merchant guild or···"
"Hmm. So nothing concrete. That's why I've made preparations."
No, could you please listen to me?
Father's one flaw was that he talked a lot. So much so that he didn't listen to others.
"Father, I'd rather wait until I'm ready to discuss this···."
"I've secured you a recommendation to Astran Magic Academy."
"Pardon?"
Which academy now?
"I may not have wealth to pass down, but I can still use our family name. Though I'm merely a mid-level mage at the 4th Circle, our ancestors' prestige hasn't completely vanished. I asked several contacts for recommendations, and the Marquis of Deville wrote one for you."
"······."
My mind went blank for a moment.
Astran Magic Academy was the most prestigious magic school in the empire, located near the imperial capital. It was so renowned that when people said "magic academy," they usually meant Astran.
It was the equivalent of not just Seoul National University but Harvard or MIT in my previous life.
Graduating from there practically guaranteed employment.
And now I had a recommendation?
"They're recommending me? Why?"
"Perhaps the Marquis of Deville saw your potential."
"The Marquis of Deville?"
Father's devotion was touching, but I had never even met anyone from the Marquis of Deville's household. When did they ever notice my "potential"?
Not to mention my mana affinity was only a B+. What talent for magic could I possibly have?
Father's explanation soon followed.
"Your great-great-grandfather, during the 4th Continental War, aided the Marquis of Deville. The Marquis' family is indebted to ours."
Ah, I see.
But isn't that over a century ago? Bringing up something from over 100 years ago as a favor···.
I pressed my forehead with my palm.
This was probably the last shred of influence our family had. Father must've used it for my sake, regardless of the shame involved. I felt a mix of gratitude and embarrassment.
After all, he did this to secure my future.
Though sudden and burdensome, it was a good opportunity. With a diploma from Astran Magic Academy, I wouldn't need to worry about finding a job.
All I had to do was graduate. Somehow.
Rather than questioning it, I owed him my thanks.
"Father. Thank you. I'll work hard to graduate as a great mage···."
"So you'll need to take the entrance exam soon."
"Pardon?"
Wait, wasn't this a recommendation?
If there's an entrance exam, then I'm no different from everyone else! How am I supposed to pass with a B+ mana affinity?
"Well··· it's a recommendation for the regional balance admission program."
Ah, the infamous "regional quota."
---
Astran Magic Academy had various admission tracks.
The first was the general track, open to anyone regardless of status, as long as they met the age requirement.
Next was the elite recommendation track, where influential figures could vouch for talented individuals, allowing them to enter without exams.
Then came the regional and social equity tracks, designed to admit students from marginalized regions or classes.
For these tracks, competition was limited to applicants within the same category—regional students competing against each other, and commoners or serfs in the social equity track.
A recommendation was still required to prevent overcrowding at the exam sites.
The recommendation I had received was for the regional quota track.
"Wow··· so many people."
After two days on a donkey, I finally arrived at Astran Magic Academy.
The entrance was packed with people preparing to take the exam.
As soon as I arrived, I sold the donkey I had ridden.
The cost of sending a carriage to the imperial capital would've been too much for our family to bear, so I traveled on the cheap.
The money from selling the donkey would be my living expenses.
'How economical.'
I stood at the entrance for a moment, watching the crowd.
Not everyone here was an examinee. More than half were servants escorting noble children.
Some nobles had brought over ten servants.
And the luxurious carriages—they were lined up in droves.
"Wow. From the roof to the wheels, everything about those carriages screams luxury. If only I were born into a family like that···."
"You've got an eye for quality. The decorations are top-notch, huh?"
A voice interrupted my mumbling. I turned to see a plump boy stepping down from a carriage.
I asked him, "Who are you?"
"Hi, I'm Rudy. Rudy Brightstone. My dad owns Brightstone Merchant Guild."
"Ah, I see."
"Most of the goods we deal in are loaded onto that carriage. See that white one over there? The orb on top is also supplied by our guild."
A merchant guild, huh? I briefly considered working for one of those. Looking him up and down, he seemed like a well-off kid from a wealthy background.
Rudy pointed to the orb atop the carriage, proudly explaining, "Isn't it cool? It's super high-end."
"Yeah. Anyone can see it's top-tier, all shiny like that."
"But who are you?"
Well, that didn't take long.
I introduced myself. "Noah Ashborn."
"Ashborn? Oh··· ah! That old prestigious family?"
"Yeah."
"I heard things are tough for you now."
"Yeah, that's right."
Wow, way to hit me with the truth.
He said it with a smile and no malice, so I couldn't even get mad. It left me feeling oddly conflicted.
Rudy kept asking questions.
"So, are you in the general admission track?"
"No, regional quota."
"Whoa. Me too! I'm in the regional quota track."
Oh? I thought he'd be in the social equity track as a merchant's son, but he's in regional quota.
Rudy quickly explained why he chose the regional quota.
"The social equity track is mostly for servants. Noble families often push talented servants into that track. So it's actually harder to pass."
Ah, I see.
They educate talented individuals in exchange for their loyalty. Makes sense. Even commoners might promise to work for a noble family in return for a recommendation.
"But you can buy a regional quota recommendation. For merchant families like mine, the regional quota is the best option!"
From what he said, the regional quota track seemed to be the easiest.
In other words, the cutoff was low!
'Maybe··· I actually have a chance?'
Thank you, Father, for securing such a golden opportunity for me!
"The entrance exam for Astran Magic Academy will begin in 10 minutes. Examinees who have not yet entered the testing area, please take your seats promptly."
A voice boomed from inside the academy gates.
'Alright. Time to scoop honey from this honey pot.'
I headed toward the exam hall.