Chapter 93: Second Semester (3) (1/2)
“What are you looking for?” Deculein asked in the dark lab.
Quietly letting go of his shoe, she floundered the floor with her robe sleeves as if swimming.
“I was cleaning the floor like this…”
“Do you think I’ll believe that?”
“…It works, though— I’m sorry.”
Epherene got up, making excuses while stuttering.
“I t-thought the door was open, and… y-you had turned off the lights…”
“Every now and then, I find myself in need of darkness.”
Snap—!
Deculein flicked his fingers, turning on the lights in the lab. As the darkness inside went away, Epherene’s jaw dropped in astonishment.
“Huh…”
Magic papers filled with formulas and magic circles floated around them.
It numbered well over several thousand. Epherene, still lacking in skills, couldn’t even predict what the result of such an enormous set of operations could be.
Snap—!
With another snap of his fingers, all the documents flowed into his briefcase.
‘Is that briefcase itself also a magical item?’
She looked at Deculein in awe.
“Was that your personal research?”
“No. I’m preparing a course.”
“What? A course?”
“Go.” Deculein left as well, allowing her to walk away without reprimanding, criticizing, or giving her a penalty point.
‘Shouldn’t he scold me?’
Epherene, looking at his back, squatted down.
She quickly turned over a couple of tiles before leaving the lab.
“… Huh.”
“Get in.”
With him waiting for her in the elevator, she scratched the back of her neck.
“S-sorry for making you wait.”
He didn’t say anything. Even after she got in, he just pressed the close button silently.
Zeeeing—
The elevator went down.
“…”
“…”
She felt like it lasted for an eternity.
She glanced at him, recalling Gindalf’s words about him valuing her, which she thought to be nonsensical back then.
But since she heard those remarks, she began to see this professor’s each and every action in a strangely different light.
He was still her father’s enemy and a very mean, vicious person who gave her impossible research assignments, but…
“Professor Deculein.”
Ding—
The elevator door opened. When he exited and looked back at her, she shook her head hurriedly.
“… It’s nothing.”
“…”
After a brief pause, he took a ticket out of his inner pocket.
“Take it.”
Epherene looked at it.
[Invitation to Locralen Society]
Locralen. It was a word even Epherene had never heard of.
“You’ll go with me.”
After uttering those words, he left, his strides seemingly wide, perhaps because of his long legs. Epherene could only stare at his back with the ticket in her hand as the distance between them widened.
“… I have no idea why he keeps acting like that.”
She sighed.
*****
The next day, early morning at the top floor of the tower.
“Hmm!”
The chairman accepted my lecture plan and the first-class material.
──[Pure Use of Earth and Fire: Manipulation series]──
◆ Overview: This course will provide an in-depth understanding of attributes using the deep utilization of earth and fire elements.
◆ Rating: Advanced
◆ Description…
───────────
“Its purpose is great, but only the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth can approve of ‘Advanced’ rating or higher! They might even decide to lower it to the intermediate level!”
“It’s fine.”
I nodded at the chairman’s words. Classes of “Advanced” level were rare even in the Imperial University Tower.
“What about the related materials?!”
“Here.”
I submitted the documents that would serve as the core of the class, which I had prepared with [Understanding]. Concentrating on earth and fire attributes and the manipulation series, it would be almost like a thesis.
“I hope it gets rated the advanced level too! Our tower’s status would rise!”
Bang—!
The chairman stamped on the syllabus.
“Yes.”
“Then, you can go now! I’m sleepy!”
She moved her hand like bracken and spread out a futon on top of her desk.
“Adrienne II! Come!”
“Woof! Woof!”
Adrienne II jumped over the desk. As I left, the chairman fell asleep with the little puppy.
******
… Six hours later.
Rumors often spread rapidly on the floating island. However, they were limited only to magical and scientific subjects.
They had no interest in common gossip like what happened to the Empire, who was cheating with whom, and the like. That being said, half a day was enough for intel regarding a new magical discovery or a thesis to spread throughout the island.
“Advanced lecture?”
Likewise, news of Deculein’s advanced lecture reached Rose Rio swiftly. These were the words of Prince Kreto, whom she met by chance.
“That’s what I heard.”
“I wonder what verdict it’ll get. It’s going to be held in a magic tower, not in this place.”
Magic towers’ lectures usually stopped at the beginner or intermediate level. Of course, their difficulty levels differed since not all of them were the same despite being in the same rating. However, advanced lectures were slightly different.
According to the definition of advanced in the magic world, those rated with it could cause a generation to achieve qualitative development or create new values.
In that respect, the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth was extremely strict with its implementation. In fact, for nearly 20 years now, all advanced-level classes and above had been only available on the floating island.
The stereotype that academic studies were only done on that island while worldly studies were conducted at magic towers wasn’t created out of pure coincidence.
In the first place, even on the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth, there were only a handful of advanced classes.
Very few high-ranking wizards had both enough knowledge to teach someone and the skills to actually impart such intricate information in an understandable way. Moreover, they only opened classes when they felt like it.
“I don’t know. Since it’s sir Deculein, he might just get it.”
“Huh? Why do you refer to him as sir? The Imperial Family shouldn’t respect anyone.”
“I’m his fan. Hahaha.” Kreto laughed. Looking at him now, she realized his clothes were also quite strange.
“I just realized you’re dressed like Deculein.”
“There is no one in the system these days who doesn’t follow Deculein’s fashion.”
“That aside, it would be amazing if it was judged as advanced. I’m skeptical about that, though.”
As Rose Rio ate her spaghetti, she overheard the conversation from the table next to them. They talked about Deculein preparing for an advanced class as well.
“Can’t you go and take the class? It’s been a while since I graduated, but you’re nominally on a leave of absence.”
“That’s true, but… If it’s judged as advanced, everyone here will grow anxious anyway. Then we’ll be able to get holographic lectures, lecture transcripts, or whatever. That’s always been the case, hasn’t it?”
The Isle of Wizard’s Wealth was the richest in the world, and there were only people crazy about academics up here. Hence, its population’s general stance had always been, ‘If you don’t sell it to us, we’ll take it through other means.’
Sellers could name their price when transacting with this place, but if they refused to negotiate in the first place, they’d be considered the floating island’s enemy.
“That’s true.”
“Oh, right. There’s also a conference going on in Locralen. Aren’t you going?”
“I didn’t even get an invitation. I’ve been a little neglectful of my research these days.”
“… Hmm. Is that so?”
Rose Rio narrowed her eyes and pulled out a ticket.
“Do you want one?”
*****
Two weeks before the start of class.
Solda Epherene was looking into her Ouija board in their club room.
─From Solda, establishing your series becomes the most important aspect of magic since differences occur in that regard unless the properties involved are very specific. Therefore, the class unconditionally focuses on that aspect…
It was the advice of a senior wizard.
“… Establishing a series is important.”
Epherene crossed her arms and thought about it.
There were eight basic series categories in total:
[Summoning] and [Spiritual].
[Destruction] and [Auxiliary].
[Manipulation] and [Ductility].
[Hunting] and [Harmony].
The distinctions between them seemed to be made more clearly from Solda.
─Half of the magic tower wizards choose only one series, which we refer to as series deepening. The other half is divided into those who have plural series, in which they equally learn two or more of them, and those that have a main series and a sub-series, which means they focus on one series more and use the other as support.
Epherene nodded.
Most wizards chose no more than two categories.
Of course, one could pretend to be crazy and try three or more series simultaneously, but in that case, it would be obvious how many classes they’d have to take.
“… What’s Professor Deculein’s series?”
“Deculein? I heard he has four: Manipulation, Ductility, Destruction, and Auxiliary.” Julia answered, sitting next to her.
Glancing at her, Epherene noticed a new expensive-looking artifact necklace around her neck.
She heard that the [Pig’s Flower] was doing great these days, and her buying such a valuable item evidenced that.
She felt envious.
“Doesn’t that mean he’s a four-series wizard?”
“Yeah.”
“… Then me too.”
Epherene decided.
Destruction, Auxiliary, Manipulation, and Ductility.
If Deculein could do it, she could too!
“What? Have you gone crazy, Ifi? You’ll have to take tons of classes.”
“Humpf. It’s okay. Do you know what I’m studying these days?”
Professor Deculein gave her thirteen high-difficulty books to research.
If Epherene couldn’t understand a thesis, she’d have to study its research paper first. If that also proved incomprehensible, she’d have to visit new professors, including Kellogg, for advice.
“Well… You’re even sleeping in the club room these days, Ifi.”
“Yeah.”
Pillows, blankets, duvets, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and more. The room was filled with her belongings.
“Then how will you apply to the classes? If you want to go to four series, you’ll have to take 12 classes about them per semester.”
“… Ahem.”
Epherene coughed and looked at the registration list through the Ouija board.
“… Huh? He’s not teaching Debutantes anymore.”