My Uncle is the Strongest Dark Mage

After the entrance ceremony ended, the atmosphere in Class 1-A naturally became chaotic as children began gathering in the classroom one by one.

A student quietly sat in a corner seat, merely observing the situation.

In contrast, another student actively greeted unfamiliar faces while observing the characteristics of their classmates.

There was even a student who seemed entirely uninterested in interacting with others, engrossed solely in reading a book.

Most of the students appeared to be children around Arina’s age, but a few older students, who seemed to have returned to relearn magic, also stood out.

“Hmm, there’s still a lot of awkwardness in the air.”

Maril, sensing the unique atmosphere of the class just as Arina did, nodded calmly.

Then, weaving through the classroom, she took Arina’s hand and led her to a particular spot.

“Thankfully, there are two seats left here.”

Even better, they were window seats with a view of the outside.

Although the seats were at the very front, which could be considered a downside, neither of them found it to be a major issue.

While Maril might not have minded, Arina wasn’t the type to slack off during class, and Maril knew that the front corner seat was surprisingly a blind spot that professors often overlooked.

‘Does she not realize yet?’

Neither the seating arrangement nor the class atmosphere mattered.

What currently occupied Arina’s mind the most was the attention.

As expected.

The moment Maril entered the classroom, all eyes turned toward her.

It was only natural.

After all, the princess of the Elemental Kingdom, one of the four nations dividing the vast continent, had appeared.

Half amazement, half curiosity.

Maril’s entrance effortlessly captured everyone’s attention.

And that attention naturally extended to Arina, whom Maril had brought into the classroom.

“Kids are easier to deal with like this. Sometimes, with certain insufferable adults, even when I show clear disinterest, they still insist on approaching me to befriend me.”

“…….”

It wasn’t that she was unaware of the attention.

She was simply accustomed to it after years of living as a princess.

In fact, she even found it preferable when people only observed her from a distance.

“My brother was right. He said the Academy might be my only real chance to make genuine friends.”

“…….”

“And to think I’ve already made such a good friend. I must say, I’m quite lucky.”

By this point, it was impossible not to notice.

The fact that Maril held Arina in exceptionally high regard.

What exactly had she seen in her to make such statements?

Of course, Arina had never thought poorly of herself, but receiving such strong trust from a princess was undeniably overwhelming.

Creak.

Around five minutes had passed as Arina listened to Maril’s monologue and responded diligently.

The front door opened, and the growing noise among the students began to subside as they turned their attention toward it.

Could it be that another famous figure had been assigned to their class besides Maril?

With that curiosity in mind, Arina also turned her head, only to see a middle-aged man with a sharp impression.

Rather than eccentric, he gave off a strict aura, as if he handled everything meticulously and perfectly.

While one shouldn’t judge a person solely by their appearance, his spotless suit and neatly slicked-back hair made it hard not to form such an impression.

“…Unlucky. Of all people, that professor had to be our homeroom teacher.”

Did Maril know who this man was?

The girl, who had been boasting about her good fortune just moments ago, now wore a dark expression.

‘Spencer Mag…nus?’

Reading the name on the professor’s nameplate, Arina tilted her head slightly.

Then, as if recalling something, she let out a small exclamation.

Right, she had been wondering where she had seen the name before—it was the author of the Magnus Theory Book that Cain had recently recommended.

‘Is he famous?’

He was the author of a highly esteemed book that even Cain had suggested as a reference.

Moreover, the murmurs among the students made it clear that he was quite a renowned professor.

Confirming Arina’s speculation, Maril, reading her expression, briefly explained who Spencer Magnus was.

“Spencer Magnus. He’s a direct descendant of the Marquis Magnus family. Although he hasn’t inherited the title yet since the current Marquis is still active, he’s practically confirmed as the successor.”

“…….”

“And the retired former Marquis Magnus was a Disciple of the Demon Lord. So, you could say this professor is the grandson of the Demon Lord’s disciple.”

A Disciple of the Demon Lord, no less.

Naturally, his talent was guaranteed.

As if to prove that bloodlines don’t lie, Spencer Magnus, despite being in his late 30s, had already achieved numerous significant accomplishments in the magical community.

‘Impressive…is he?’

While his achievements were indeed remarkable.

Honestly, if someone asked whether being the grandson of the Demon Lord’s disciple was impressive, the answer felt ambiguous.

At that point, it was almost as if there were no meaningful connection to the Demon Lord.

In fact, it felt like such titles undermined Spencer Magnus’s own efforts.

“The real issue is that this professor’s personality is notoriously difficult. On top of that, he’s a high-ranking noble who doesn’t care about the opinions of other nobles.”

“…….”

“Looks like sleeping during class is out of the question.”

There was no way such a meticulous professor would have any blind spots.

Watching Maril lament the situation, Arina scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“Wait a moment.”

Then, something in Maril’s words struck her as odd.

What did she just say?

That this professor in his late 30s had a grandfather who was a Disciple of the Demon Lord?

Although the Demon Lord had canceled his appearance at the new student entrance ceremony due to sudden obligations.

Arina distinctly remembered seeing the Demon Lord Ern Benedict on TV just yesterday.

Though he had aged considerably, he still looked more like a middle-aged man than an elderly one.

If Maril’s words were true, how old could the Demon Lord possibly be?

‘So it’s true that Absolutes age more slowly.’

He must have been at least over 100 years old.

If becoming an Absolute truly removed the limits of one’s lifespan, could that also be true?

As Arina marveled at this newfound realization.

“Everyone, quiet.”

Professor Magnus, having walked to the podium, spoke in a low voice.

Though his tone was soft.

It carried effortlessly throughout the classroom, as if enhanced by Amplification Magic.

“Nice to meet you all. I am Spencer Magnus, your homeroom teacher for Class 1-A this year.”

Writing his name on the board, Professor Magnus scanned the room.

Comparing the students’ faces to the names he had memorized in advance, he confirmed that no one was absent and nodded.

“I don’t think there’s a need for me to explain who I am in detail.”

“…….”

“As your homeroom teacher and mentor, I have just one thing I want to tell you. Please keep this in your hearts as we spend the next year together.”

With that, Professor Magnus erased his name and wrote a new phrase on the board.

“Have a dream.”

Then, as he read the phrase aloud, Professor Magnus looked around at the students.

“As magicians and as humans, you all possess boundless potential.”

At this young age.

It’s a time when you can experiment with various things, experience the most, and not fear failure.

“Whatever it may be, set a concrete goal that will shape the course of your life.”

Not just something vague like wanting to become an excellent magician.

But perhaps becoming a scholar who writes groundbreaking magical theses that astonish the world.

Or reaching new heights to become an 8-star transcendent.

Or, perhaps, a dream as simple as becoming rich by developing an ingenious magical engineering product was perfectly fine.

Whether it was a small dream or an utterly absurd goal, it didn’t matter.

What mattered was setting a concrete dream of your own.

And laying the foundation to pursue it for the rest of your life.

Professor Magnus believed that this was something only possible during this period of life.

“I, too, have a dream. It’s to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and be recognized as a Demon Lord-level magician. As a stepping stone toward that goal, I am aiming to become an 8-star magician.”

All magicians and those who harnessed magic power carried stars within their bodies.

Stars, which were essentially a type of mana repository.

If there was one repository, it was 1-star; if there were two, it was 2-star.

This was how they were classified, and the 8-star level mentioned by Professor Magnus was the pinnacle of human scholarly achievement.

It was a realm commonly referred to as the domain of the superhuman.

Yet, Professor Magnus treated what could be someone’s ultimate goal as merely a stepping stone.

Some might laugh at such an outlandish dream.

However, Professor Magnus had never once wavered in his pursuit of that goal.

“I hope you all set such goals for yourselves during this year.”

The path of someone with a dream was dazzling and radiant.

After all, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the trajectories of individual humans had shaped the civilization of today.

And Professor Magnus sincerely wished for each of his students to become the cornerstone of that path.

“I have a question!”

Just as Professor Magnus was finishing his speech, someone shot their hand up into the air.

When Arina turned to look, it was the child who had energetically greeted everyone while darting around the classroom when they first entered. The child’s eyes sparkled as they looked at Professor Magnus.

“Yes, Tokun Masao. What’s your question?”

“I want to become a magician like the Demon Lord!”

At those words, a few children let out snickers.

The Demon Lord—a being who had reached a transcendent realm unattainable by anyone in the current era.

To aspire to such a figure, incomparable to any magician, seemed utterly preposterous.

Yet, Tokun was sincere.

Having grown up reading books about the Demon Lord since childhood, he had naturally developed greater respect for him than anyone else.

And that respect had solidified into a firm goal: to walk the same path the Demon Lord had.

“But no matter how many books I read, the accounts of the absolutes’ divine status are always so abstract. I can’t grasp just how strong one needs to be. Just how powerful are the absolutes?”

A child with a dream even more audacious than his own.

Yet, unlike the other children, Professor Magnus did not laugh at him.

While the other students, who had only now begun to find their dreams, were still searching, Tokun’s eyes already reflected a shining path.

“That’s a difficult question.”

And so, to encourage that dream, Professor Magnus began to seriously ponder the childlike question.

The reason the power of the absolutes was described so abstractly was clear.

No one had ever reached that level.

Thus, there was no way to accurately describe their power.

“Let me ask you a question first. How many stars do you think an absolute has?”

“Isn’t it 8 stars?”

The limit of humanity was 8 stars.

This was an absolute truth acknowledged by all.

Based on this, one could cautiously speculate that while the titles of absolute and superhuman distinguished their realms, they were ultimately separated by some difference within the 8-star level.

“Wrong.”

But Professor Magnus shook his head, denying Tokun’s assumption.

“The limit of humanity is indeed 8 stars. But absolutes are beings who transcend humanity.”

Superhumans who had surpassed the limits of mankind.

And those who had surpassed even them.

If an 8-star superhuman could destroy an entire city alone, an absolute could annihilate a nation single-handedly.

Beings that defied human comprehension and logic.

“You said you aim for a position like the Demon Lord’s? Then your intermediate goal is the same as mine. First, become an 8-star magician. Your true trials will begin from there.”

“Yes!”

Tokun replied energetically to Professor Magnus’s words.

“Another interesting one has appeared.”

Maril’s eyes sparkled as if she were a trainer collecting Pokémon while watching him.

Was he perhaps being treated as a Pokémon by her?

“It seems there are no more questions. Let’s start with introductions, one by one, beginning from the front left. Then, I’ll distribute tomorrow’s class schedule and the list of required textbooks to wrap up today.”

At Professor Magnus’s instruction, Arina, who was designated as the first, stood up from her seat.

“I’m Arina Grant. I hope we can all get along over the next year.”

With that, she bowed her head to everyone, marking the beginning of her Academy life.