Chapter 11: Rumor (3) (1/2)

The next day, I went to the University Mage Tower early in the morning.

“「 Blackened Fire 」…”

I alternated between Allen’s syllabus and the various magical books scattered on my desk as I sat on my office chair. I was still clueless about how I should go about teaching the ‘Elemental Properties of Magic’ so I was trying to establish the direction that I should proceed in.

“This can explain the ‘Pure Elements’.”

One of the most difficult areas of magic for the wizards in the Mage’s Tower was this─ ‘Pure Elements’.

If I would compare it to modern science, then this would be similar to explaining pure mathematics. And among the various topics in mathematics, only calculus had the advanced process that could pierce through the limits of the subject.

And for ‘Pure Elemental Magic’ the「 BlackenedFire」boasted a difficulty that was bordering on heinousness. At least it was not at a level where Debutantes could understand. It was unexpected but it seemed like I could understand 「 BlackenedFire 」easily.

It was not an application but just something pure. In other words, 「 Understanding」could work optimally in a straightforward process like delving deeper in just one field. Of course, comprehending the topic did not mean that I would be able to acquire it but after I picked on 「 BlackenedFire」’s every corner, I would use it as a textbook example so that they could understand ‘Pure Elements’ easily.

“…I think that’s enough preparation for the class.”

After I finished writing the script, I covered my lecture organizer and called for Allen with the crystal ball.

“Allen, come over here.”

Five seconds later, Allen opened the door as he stood in front of me.

“Yes, yes Professor.”

Allen came quickly but he looked extremely exhausted. The dark circles under his eyes strangely resemble that of a pandas.

“Do you remember what I asked you the last time?” “Yees. It’s here.”

Allen rummaged through the pockets in his robes and pulled out a brochure. It was an auction catalogue.

“The Snowflake Obsidian is listed in ‘Routen’ auction house’s list that will go on auction this Wednesday.”

I asked Allen to look for auctions where they auction off rare ores. Skimming through the catalogue, I saw the mineral called ‘Snowflake Obsidian’ at the bottom of the list. It was one of the top ten minerals in this world. A setting that even someone like me knew.

Above this, Dragon Bones·Dragon Horns were items that were above legendary and mythical. These were items that could not be bought even if one had money. So theoretically, Snowflake Obsidian was ‘the best and strongest that you can get’.

“Good job. Tell them that I will participate in the auction.”

“Yes. Yees. I understand.”

Allen bowed in understanding before going back.

For your information, I have already checked the amount in my personal account. The account and card system was already invented in this world.

[ 205,238,039 ∃ ]

The balance on my account was at least 200 million Elnes. This was more than enough. It was a personal account so it wouldn’t matter if I used everything inside. In the first place, the Yukline family had lived in such fraudulent land so their money was definitely very high. After all, they were people who would make a lot of money in sports even if their grades were very bad since they have good connections.

“…Come to think of it, Allen is just a graduate student.”

I felt a bit sorry for him once more. Allen was just a graduate student in an ordinary university but the things that I had ordered him to do was something that was extremely personal. To make matters worse, the reason why Allen’s dark circles were getting darker by the day was because all of the mages that shared the work with him quit last year. And because Deculein’s personality was revealed, most of the wizards in the Mage’s Tower never volunteered to work under him. If I compared it to modern times, then Allen was not only doing the work of all the graduate students, he was also doing the work for the professor’s private affairs all by himself.

“If I compare it like that, then it’s already serious.”

If things kept on going on like this then I would either be stabbed to death or Allen would be overworked. I believed that I should be nicer to Allen in the future.

Let’s pick some people.

“That, Professor.”

Just as I was thinking about that, Allen came back inside as he handed an envelope to me.

“An official letter came from the Mage’s Tower just now.”

“Right. Then you should get off work now and relax.”

“Yes. Yees.”

I ripped off the envelope which looked unnecessarily antique and looked at the official letter that was kept inside.

[…A hearing will be held six months later to check and audit the progress of the research ‘The Creation of Pure Elements and the Four Affiliated Magic Based on it ’ that is conducted by Senior Professor Deculein. Please prepare the relevant data by then.]

“Ah.”

This was the quarter where I could be wrenched out of my professor position if I made a mistake. This was quite an important event but has Deculein ever worked on magic before? If that was the case, then where was the research conducted and where were his findings?

…Research Institute.

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Deculain’s private laboratory was quite dirty. Of course it might be because I wasn’t able to come here not long after I became Deculain.

“…But I don’t think there’s anything here.”

I searched the laboratory for anything at all. I even used my telekinesis from the ceiling down to the very corners of the room. I have already dug up most of the places in this room. All sorts of things including a cloud of dust flew everywhere but no matter how hard I looked nothing came out. I did not know if they burned it or if they had never done any research in the first place.

I stopped using my telekinesis as I stood up and looked at the inside of the room.

Auselesslylargespace,spiderwebsontheceiling,areagentbottlewithsomesortofliquiddecayingandrottinginside,apencilthat’s rolling around and a manaextractor…

If I could explain it in one word… Mess. Everything was a mess.

There were even golden bubbles puffed up from certain tiles on the laboratory’s floor.

That’s it.

I flipped the tile without even using my finger. The tile flipped upside down and there was a lump of feces covering the area like a lid. This was the perfect defense mechanism to prevent Deculain from finding this. Of course, I also felt dizzy for a moment since his personality affected me too but I easily got rid of the dirt with my telekinesis. At the bottom of the compartment, a briefcase filled with what I assume were old worn out papers. The briefcase was buried under a mixture of fecal matter and dust. This was definitely not Deculain’s work. Perhaps, instead of

Deculain, it was those mages’ work.

I placed the briefcase down on the floor as I opened it up. Crumbling pieces of poop splashed everywhere.

“. ”

I felt dizzy for a moment but I endured it to check the contents of the briefcase. And just as I expected, there were a bunch of documents inside the briefcase. I brought the papers to me using my telekinesis and held them in my hands. There was a subtle smell of poop wafting from the papers.

I’m glad that I’m wearing gloves.

“. A magic circle.”

Approximately 70 pages of the documents were ‘techniques’. I knew that everything was about magic but everything was encrypted.

“This won’t work.”

I interpreted the magic circle using my 「 Understanding」. As my mana got used up, every single line was revealed starting from the very first page. Just like that, the contents of the magical documents were released. I even had to close my eyes for a moment to adjust since a golden light suddenly shone brightly to the point that I almost got blinded.

The light that came from the document filled the entire laboratory and it seemed like the room was not enough to contain such blinding radiance.

“. It seemed like the contents of the research were very great.”

However, it did not look like it was completed. There were tears on the pages, empty paragraphs and completely incorrect logic. I gently held the documents, careful not to break them when I suddenly saw an accessory at the corner of the briefcase in the corner of my eyes. It was a pendant.

The pendant had a picture held within it, the picture was already faded with its corners all worn out.

“. ”

It was a picture of a father and a daughter. The father’s face was broken and shattered but the child was smiling brightly just like a normal naughty child. The child even innocently held their hand out in a V-shape. Looking at the child closely, it seemed like I knew the face of this child. The child was still too naive, too cute and too young but I was sure.

Ifrin Luna.

Perhaps this was… the mage ‘Luna’s enmity with Deculain.

“Don’t worry.”

Although my heart felt a bit bitter, I still muttered under my breath.

My understanding would be able to organize, interpret, and assemble the scattered strands of your research. It would also be able to discover and calculate more insights into the things that you have not yet thought of. In the end, I would be able to develop this research topic more completely.

If I’m able to complete the research that way then…

“I’ll put your name in as co-author.”

It was unfortunate but I couldn’t just post it under your care. I also need to keep my track record. I placed the

documents and the pendant in my own briefcase before coming out.

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