Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Became the Greatest Genius in History
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The Blue Tower was the stronghold and a place like home for the mages of the School of Life.
The School of Life was a group of mages who primarily researched topics related to living beings, such as chimeras, animals and plants, demons, fairies, and the like.
Although their influence in the kingdom's magical world ranked fourth, just behind the School of Flame.
The number of talents they possessed and their countless contributions to the kingdom's development were in no way inferior to the School of Flame.
It was the mages of the School of Life who had predicted this Insein's Curse and sent official warnings to the lords to be on guard.
"Well, even if you say you want to speak directly to the higher-ups, there are procedures to follow, you know? You'll have to wait at least a fortnight."
The Blue Tower was located in the western part of the kingdom.
It was completely opposite from the east, where the Tristy Autonomous Region lay.
Dalpi had ridden tirelessly for a full day to deliver Ester's letter.
"This is information related to Insein's Curse. The Tower Master needs to read this letter as soon as possible."
"That's what I just told you isn't possible. Our tower has processes in place too. Even if you insist like this, what can't be done just can't be done...."
All she got in response was this kind of nonsense, drawing out a sigh.
The mage guarding the lobby was utterly inflexible.
The epitome of by-the-book rigidity, with no exceptions no matter what.
Dalpi had a duty to deliver this letter as quickly as possible.
'The young master said a disaster will strike the eastern kingdom in a month.'
But no matter how urgently and gravely she explained the situation, the mage just wouldn't get it.
It was because Dalpi hadn't revealed she was a servant of Ester Tristy, so she had no credibility.
"Isn't there any way at all?"
"If you keep this up, it'll be a problem. I'll call the guards."
Dalpi blinked.
Ester had earnestly instructed her not to reveal that she was the one who wrote the letter.
'Compared to a disaster killing many people, disobeying the young master's order might be the better choice....'
There was no other way.
Believing firmly that Ester would understand, Dalpi opened her mouth with a solemn expression.
"I am the attendant to Sir Ester Tristy."
For a moment, the mage's expression changed.
"What do you...?"
"It means exactly what I said. I am the attendant to Sir Ester Tristy. I apologize for having to bypass the tower's procedures, but I would be grateful for your understanding. The matter is urgent and pressing, so could you please let me meet the Blue Tower Master?"
Ester Tristy.
The name of a young genius known to any mage.
But.
"Can you prove it?"
"Pardon?"
"Can you prove right here that you are Ester Tristy's attendant?"
The mage eyed Dalpi suspiciously.
'Why is she so distrustful....'
Dalpi placed her hand on the table.
Her sharp gaze glared at the mage.
The mage flinched at the unexpected intensity.
When Dalpi lifted her palm from the table, atop it lay a star-shaped earring, the symbol of the Tristy family.
The star earring was a precious item traditionally bestowed by the family head upon children born into the Tristy line.
It was also the most treasured possession Dalpi had in this world.
"Is this proof enough?"
"......"
Once the mage confirmed it, Dalpi tucked the star earring back into her bosom.
A moment later.
"You can enter through the portal."
A rift opened.
It was similar to the one she had seen in the Red Tower.
"Thank you for your trouble."
Dalpi stepped into the rift.
Her vision flickered.
In an instant, the scenery shifted from the lobby to the Tower Master's room.
Before her stood a petite woman staring at her with a highly tense expression.
"I heard you're the attendant to Sir Ester Tristy!!"
Dalpi knew the identity of the woman speaking before her.
She was one of the mages frequently featured in Monthly Justina.
The Blue Tower Master, Noctias.
She had a small, cute appearance that could be mistaken for a growing girl.
But astonishingly, Noctias was 158 years old, the eldest among all the Tower Masters.
"I just heard from Derek that you've come to relay a message from Sir Ester Tristy—could it be a reply to the letter I sent him last time! Oh, don't worry about the delay; I fully understand that Sir Ester is busy! Or is it something tremendous for our Blue Tower...!!"
Noctias spoke quickly and at length.
Even Dalpi had trouble following clearly.
If Ester had heard those words just now, he might have remarked something like, 'She could be a rapper.'
"Oh! Come to think of it, I didn't introduce myself. I got so excited hearing the name I'd been looking forward to that I forgot—seung-ha-hat! My name is Noctias!"
"I am Dalpi, the attendant to Young Master Ester."
She had heard from Ester before that the Red Tower Master laughed with a "Hwahaha!"
Dalpi had thought it was just childish teasing from the young master until now, but seeing Noctias burst into a loud "Seung-ha-ha!", it seemed Ester's words were true.
'Do all Tower Masters have unique laughs?'
Dalpi suddenly imagined Ester becoming a Tower Master.
-Nop-ha-ha-ha!!
Honestly, it felt a bit off-putting.
Personally, she hoped Ester wouldn't become a Tower Master.
The maid thought so.
Anyway.
"I've come to deliver the young master's letter."
Dalpi held out Ester's letter.
"Thank you. Now, let's see...."
Noctias began reading the letter with a beaming, delighted smile.
And as her eyes traveled down the page, her expression gradually hardened.
She spoke up.
"I'm so sorry to ask this of you, Miss Dalpi, but could you wait just a moment...? Something urgent for review just came to mind."
Dalpi nodded.
"I'm really sorry! Please wait here just a bit!"
Noctias opened a rift and hurriedly vanished.
"Hmm."
Dalpi had no magical knowledge whatsoever.
She couldn't fully grasp the contents even after reading Ester's letter.
However, judging from Ester's achievements so far and the Blue Tower Master's extremely flustered reaction.
'The young master has done something big again this time.'
Ester's standing would rise even higher.
***
The amazing thing about Nob AI wasn't just that it had learned all the knowledge used in this world, but that it had also absorbed everything from my previous life.
The fact that I, who was outmatched in rank by Kenneth, a kingdom martial artist, could smack him around was thanks to techniques commonly used by pro fighters from my past life.
Just as I retained memories from my previous life, Nob AI might remember its past life too.
Anyway.
Nob AI had also learned data on demons from Daebo Village.
When I asked it what weapons would effectively deal with demons.
『1. Atomic bomb.』
『2. Trichothecene & Tabun gas.』
『3. Influenza virus.』
『4. Anthrax bacillus.』
『...』
『...』
It was full of things that absolutely shouldn't see the light of day in this world.
When I asked if there was anything besides those vicious weapons.
『I recommend a tank.』
A tank.
A combat vehicle with thick armor plating and a direct-fire tank gun.
Apparently, this world had something called a steam tank, but the one Nob AI suggested to me felt entirely different.
Like slapping a cannon onto the front of a steam locomotive—cool design for sure, but it had a reputation for mediocre performance relative to the cost.
I planned to create a superior version of the steam tank.
With Nob AI's help, of course.
That's why I headed to the academy.
Since Dalpi was busy, another servant was driving the carriage.
Before departing, Haniell came to the mansion and asked for the full story of why I'd fought Kenneth; she seemed to have pieced together most of the truth from the other servants.
I had to break a bit of a sweat holding her back when she started raging about going to confront Kenneth midway.
-I handled it myself. Don't worry about it, sis.
-Cough, really...?
I explained it well enough to ease my sick sister's worries.
-Anyway, the task I entrusted you with before is proceeding without issues, right?
-Yeah.
The previous task seemed to be going smoothly.
Dalpi would surely handle delivering the Insein's Curse information perfectly, so that was good.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
Once I safely passed this heir exam, I should look for a suitable place to move.
Somewhere with lots of clues for Haniell's treatment would be ideal.
I understood that healing and medicine weren't the domain of mages.
Of course, there were occasional mages like Erps with medical knowledge, but usually, it was the work of nuns and priests at cathedrals, or doctors.
I figured that staying in a place like the capital, where they were concentrated, would make the path clearer than the current dead end.
Soon it would be time to receive the medical books and papers from Erps anyway, so whatever.
I'd think more about that when the time came.
As the carriage neared the academy, I asked the servant to stop.
"Let me off here. You take care of the carriage and head back to the mansion first."
"Erm, young master, we haven't arrived yet... It's still about ten minutes by carriage to the academy gates. It'll take even longer on foot."
I told him it was fine.
I'd drawn attention at the academy's main gate recently, so this time I wanted to enter quietly.
And for the return trip from the academy, I'd need a cart instead of a carriage.
"Go back and rest a bit. Then around evening, bring a cart."
"A cart?"
"Yeah. I'll need quite a few. About three-quarters of the wagons the mercenary band brought last time. If you need more hands, say it's on Ester Tristy's orders and round up whoever's free."
The servant scratched his cheek.
"Understood. Um, young master, may I ask one thing...?"
"Yeah?"
"I've seen you around the mansion all this time, so honestly, you've always endured unfair treatment up until now, so, um, everyone's wondering why you've changed...."
I gave a wry smile to the hesitant servant.
"Opportunities always come to people. I just seized mine. That's all."
"I see...."
Leaving the puzzled servant behind, I slowly walked toward the academy.