Imperial Palace (1)
The Imperial Palace.
The chief professor's office was deathly silent.
Deculein focused intently on the scroll without a word. It was covered in all manner of incantations—lines, circles, and more.
"……."
Ifrin swallowed hard and clenched her fists. She watched him tensely.
Her heart pounded. Cold sweat beaded on her temples. Her breathing grew ragged.
"The knots connecting the magic circle are loose."
A fountain pen rose humming behind Deculein as he examined the incantations.
"These parts."
The pen marked eight spots in total.
"Feel the difference between a solid joint and a loose one for yourself."
Sylvia compared the marked spots to the unmarked ones with her eyes.
There was a subtle but definite difference. Even Ifrin took his advice seriously this time.
"The rest of the work is acceptable."
Deculein nodded as he spoke. At that moment, Ifrin felt a surge of exhilaration rising from the depths of her chest.
The rest of the work is acceptable.
That meant he hadn't spotted her trap.
"……Hmph."
In truth, it was only natural. Catalyst magic was, after all, a spell designed to engrave 'that incantation' onto a catalyst.
A burden-relief technique where 70% of the incantation was offloaded to the catalyst, leaving only 30% for the caster. In other words, a spell with 70% of its incantation hidden.
"You can proceed as is."
Deculein never detected the trap. Ifrin burst into laughter without realizing it.
"Ahaha."
Deculein turned to her at the sound. Ifrin beamed back.
"Thank you, Professor. It feels like a weight's been lifted off my chest."
"If that's all, leave."
"Yes!"
Ifrin shot to her feet. Her face was wreathed in an almost eye-closed grin. Sylvia shot her a narrow glare, and soon the five of them filed out.
"Insolent Ifrin."
"Sorry, sorry."
Ifrin just laughed it off despite Sylvia's words.
The team took the elevator down to a study room in the tower's lower levels. Thanks to Sylvia's name, the room was spacious and pristine.
Ifrin unrolled the scroll on the large table.
"But man, the professor's seriously impressive. How'd he spot it when it's not even half done?"
"Right? Once he pointed out that joint, it clicked."
Eurojan and Dain's remarks.
"Hey, it's kinda fun, actually. Thought it'd just be hard at first, but it feels like seeing the world through magic."
Sylvia scoffed inwardly at their words.
Seeing the world through magic?
The skill gap was so vast it was almost endearing. Like an eagle watching beetles boast about their antennae.
"No."
But suddenly, Ifrin shook her head confidently.
"Deculein got it wrong this time."
"Insolent Ifrin."
Sylvia's brow furrowed. Her eyebrows twitched with hostility.
"Sylvia, remember our bet?"
Ifrin smiled faintly. She pulled a mana stone from her pocket.
Eurojan asked.
"Bet? What bet?"
"We made one."
Last week, amid an argument at the estate, Ifrin and Sylvia had made a wager related to Deculein's prowess.
"Look."
Ifrin took out one of the mana stones she'd received as a reward from Deculein in a previous class. She'd quartered it for convenience, and now she placed it on the scroll after engraving a circuit into one piece.
"Like I said before."
Ifrin infused the mana stone with mana. It reacted with the scroll's cunning incantation.
"He didn't spot my trap—"
That was the moment.
Some liquid erupted, splattering across Ifrin's face.
"—spot the trap……."
Her words trailed off slowly. Ifrin staggered back. Her teammates blinked at her.
Sticky ink clung to her teeth, gums, and entire face.
"……Ah!"
A spicy burn followed. Ifrin flailed, gasping roughly, as her teammates burst into laughter.
"Aaaah…… Aaaah…… Aaaack!"
"Kuhuhu. Wh-what's wrong, Ifrin? Kuhuhuhu……."
"Haha, haha, ha……."
Only Sylvia turned away. She didn't want to laugh or look, but her nostrils and lips kept twitching.
"Gaaah, it burns— it burns—!"
Ifrin slammed a random container on the floor, conjured water, and dunked her face in.
Bubble bubble—
She stayed like that for a while until the spiciness faded, then lifted her head.
"Aaaah…… I'm dying……."
Sylvia smirked at her swollen lips and reddened eyelids.
"Insolent Ifrin. Look over here."
Ifrin barely opened her eyes and glanced where Sylvia pointed. Above the scroll, a sentence hovered in blue.
That ingenuity is praiseworthy, if only by a fingernail's worth.
"Argh, damn it— Ah, it's burning again……."
Ifrin grimaced and plunged her face back into the water. Sylvia resumed her revisions.
But this time, even Sylvia felt a twinge of caution.
'Catalyst magic' was a secretive spell that revealed only part of itself. To counter it, one had to predict what circuit the opponent had engraved.
It required not just magical talent, but a genius-level mathematical mind.
In that regard, Professor Deculein was a bit more brilliant than Sylvia had anticipated…….
* * *
Three days later.
I received the auction results from my butler Roy.
82,145,005 Elne
After taxes and labor costs, pure profit exceeded 80 million. No fees since it was held after acquiring the appraisal shop.
I transferred 20 million elne to the family account in Hadekan, hoping Yeriel would put it to good use.
"Around 1 billion at most."
Plenty more to sell, so at least another billion. The Great Tycoon trait's performance was reliably potent.
Satisfied, I sat in my study chair and turned back to the magic tome.
It was massive and thick, like three or four books combined. Its title—Metal Reinforcement.
One of my efforts to upgrade Telekinesis.
Previously, I lacked the knowledge and mana to comprehend Metal Reinforcement. Understanding consumption depended on my magical knowledge base.
For instance, solving calculus with elementary school knowledge drained immense mana, but high school level got a 'discount.'
In that vein, Metal Reinforcement was a mid-scale spell requiring vast mana and complex incantations. As an Enchant-type, it was already heavy and intricate, typically used on massive city walls.
Far from its simple name, it was a 'grand fortress ultimate weapon.'
Thus, even pouring all my mana, I couldn't Understand its core circuit—and felt no need to.
But steady reading and study had elevated my knowledge, letting me partially interpret the 'reinforcement' section.
A supplementary spell of pure curves, no straight lines: Metal Reinforcement.
Now, I'd transplant this circuit into my body's Telekinesis.
Of course, I couldn't replicate its full scale and power.
I'd drastically reduce output, apply it only the instant Telekinesis gripped an object to minimize risk, and engrave part of the incantation into the neck steel.
"……In a way, thanks to Ifrin."
The inspiration from her challenge three days ago: catalyst magic to ease my mana burden.
Scratch scratch—
I engraved circuits into the neck steel daggers. Thirty minutes sufficed for all twenty.
After Metal Reinforcement, I planned Basic Restoration.
Imbuing Telekinesis itself with restorative power, so objects it handled healed themselves.
Probably no such versatile Telekinesis existed in this world.
Well, it was a patchwork without foundations. With Reinforcement and Basic Restoration added, it barely qualified as psychokinesis anymore.
"……Restoration magic?"
A sudden thought struck me.
I retrieved the pendant from my drawer.
A photo of Ifrin and her father—but his face was erased.
A restoration expert could easily fix a tear like this.
Not that it changed much…….
"Better than nothing."
* * *
……The Imperial University Tower stood 101 stories tall, the continent's pinnacle.
Floors 80 and above were the 'upper levels,' handling the tower's confidential matters. Even among professors, access varied by rank.
> Imperial University Tower Executive Meeting commencing!
The 91st floor—arguably the tower's absolute apex—was a full-floor conference room. Today, numerous professors gathered for the semiannual regular meeting.
> But first, congratulations! Professor Deculein's selection as Imperial Palace tutor mage! Applause!
The chairwoman clapped at me. The room's tiered seating placed her at the top, me just below.
Clap clap clap—
The other professors joined in. I responded with a nod.
> Starting tomorrow, right?! This is an honor for our tower! Sure, someone named Ruina from some kingdom got picked too, but whatever! First agenda: final exams!
Midterms were theoretical; finals practical.
Thus, non-general lectures focused on 'overcoming scenarios' or 'proving magical prowess.'
> As you know, the late emperor's passing delayed everything sadly…… So time's tight! Apply ASAP for venues or rentals!
Prepare exams now.
> Next, the Verhert resolution—you know it?! The tower must support 'demon purification'…… We got a request too! Urgently, the cathedral specifically asked for Chief Professor Deculein!
"……."
I silently regarded the chairwoman. She beamed.
> Demon Purification Support
> ◆ Shop Currency +2
"Yes."
I agreed without fuss.
Refusing would look bad, and demons were far easier for me than mana beasts. Most mages would disagree.
> Also, 'Darkness Mountain' reopens—the decree came! Oh, 'Marik' too, next week!
The professors murmured lowly.
The conservatives seemed uneasy with the situation, but it couldn't be helped.
The emperor was radical, with a lion's bold heart and a veiled, secretive soul.
Contradictory, she could be villain or hero depending on the player's alignment.
> I reviewed professors' research projects, papers, etc., by expenses vs. income financially!
The meeting—no, the chairwoman's monologue—continued, charts materializing in the air.
Rellin, Retran, Siare, Firenz, Rocan…… Their finances, with dozens of subordinates each, were dismal.
(New professors ranked too low to attend.)
> Excluding Professor Deculein—stagnant for 3 years—performances are poor. 'Half stays put, half goes' fits here!
Deculein had only lectured for three years.
Half the fees to him, half donated to the tower—outpacing all others by miles.
> Chairwoman, if I may—our research is pure academics, so judging by finances alone is…….
Retran's cautious defense was valid. Rellin, Retran, Siare, etc.—I ignored them often, but their academic achievements were substantial and ongoing.
Just their mana stone consumption and subordinate wages were exorbitant.
> Whatever! Pure academics don't make money?! Professor Deculein's midterm was pure academics and raked it in!
The chairwoman countered.
I nodded quietly.
> So! To overcome this! We're reopening the 'Planning and Adjustment Office' after 5 years! Need to appoint a director—any recommendations…….
I raised my hand immediately.
"I'll take it."
> Professor Deculein?
"Yes."
Planning and Adjustment Office. Simply put, managing plans and budgets—but I aimed higher.
> You said recommendations—recommending yourself?
"I recommend Deculein von Grahan Yukline."
> Shameless!
"The charts agree I'm suitable."
The director—chief planning officer—held immense authority.
But my ultimate goal was tower chairwoman.
Timeline-wise, Adrienne ascends to archmage within a year max. Keeping such a being in the tower would be awkward.
After she left, claiming the seat granted 'job bonuses'—stats totaling 1,000, including mana.
> ……Any other opinions?
I glared at the professors. As menacingly as possible. Murderously.
None stepped up.
> ……But with no research for 3 years, how can you judge others' plans?
"I know any pragmatic research. And this may not count as research, but……."
I surveyed the room and continued.
"Embarrassingly, I've been engrossed in solutions over research—fixated on the 'symposium' problem."
> Huh? Symposium?
"Yes."