43화 달라진 생활 # 5
After the lecture, Milaze had called Lucian personally a few times.
Most of the time, it was to discuss the parts covered in class.
But today, there was no particular topic for discussion, and more importantly, she had just finished grading the note exam.
So there was no obvious reason for her to summon him.
Perhaps she had noticed him dozing off during the lecture and wanted to warn him about it?
If that was the case, he would have no choice but to apologize without making any excuses.
Thinking along those lines, Lucian approached Milaze’s desk.
She had already prepared his exam paper and pointed to one of the answers written in it.
“Lucian student? The answer to the last question in the note exam.”
“Yes, professor.”
“Can I ask why you submitted that answer?”
The last question had been: “What do you think was the most important battle from the perspective of each individual in the second Lebechia-Pirot war?”
Lucian recalled what he had written and let out a soft sigh.
The commander of the Lebechia side in that battle had been the old man.
And the professor standing before him was a massive fan of that old man, the former Prime Minister Dragonschultz.
It was clearly his mistake.
“…I remember writing the Enche and Igche battle.”
“That’s right. It was the battle where Lebechia defeated Pirot and successfully retreated.
But the scale was smaller than other battles, so it’s not well known to ordinary citizens of the kingdom.”
“…”
“Historians skip over it as well. Pirot didn’t suffer critical damage from it, and Lebechia didn’t gain a decisive victory either.”
“Professor is correct.”
“Right? Yet you chose that battle. You, who possess the highest enthusiasm and scholarly insight in my class. That’s why I had to be curious.”
Milaze looked at him expectantly, as if wanting an immediate answer.
Others might have given a vague reply and moved on, but she was an elf who could easily detect lies.
There was even a saying that one should not lie in front of elves, as they were skilled not only in hearing and sight but also in reading the listener’s mental state.
While considering this, Lucian decided to offer a plausible explanation.
“The Enche and Igche battle, as Milaze professor knows, was a fierce exchange of blows between two thousand Lebechia soldiers and six thousand Pirot troops around two peaks.
Lebechia was defending the peaks, while Pirot was trying to seize them.”
“That’s correct. It wasn’t particularly important. Just one of the wide battle lines, and most evaluations say it was an area where visibility was somewhat easy to secure.”
“If we only consider the meaning or impact of the battle, it might have been unnecessary fighting.
But I viewed it differently and interpreted it differently.”
“Viewed and interpreted it differently?”
Milaze’s eyes began to sparkle with growing curiosity.
From here onward, it was not her words, but those spoken to him by the old man.
The words Prime Minister Dragonschultz had shared before stepping down from his post.
“Winning the battle is important, but preserving one’s strength afterward and safely retreating is equally important.
In that sense, even after victory, over two thousand soldiers were able to return safely without losing a single man or prisoner.”
“After winning the battle, safe retreat is only natural, isn’t it, Lucian student?”
“Some people might think that way.
But as the professor knows, the side closer to reinforcements was Pirot, and both armies were exhausted.
In that situation, bringing back every soldier, every weapon, and every supply without losing even one is something no one can do easily.”
Those were the words Prime Minister Cloud had spoken to him.
Others praised the many things he had accomplished, but one of his greatest achievements, in his own view, was that.
Bringing Lebechia’s people and supplies back from the enemy without losing a single one.
Though his war experience was limited, he considered that battle his most brilliant victory.
Milaze, after listening to all of this, stroked her chin in silence.
Her gaze toward him was not ordinary, so he had to be careful not to let his relationship with Prime Minister Cloud slip.
“You’re amazing, Lucian.”
Finally, Milaze spoke.
He wondered if she might suddenly shout something like “You’re related to former Prime Minister Cloud Low Dragonschultz!”
“Not only did you memorize the textbook, but you understood it deeply and confidently asserted your own thoughts.
It’s truly impressive. Your seniors would be envious of such a side of you.”
Haha, thank you for the compliment.
But since the mouth that teases is the root of malice, he simply gave an awkward smile instead.
Meanwhile, Milaze was sorting her lecture materials with a satisfied smile.
Just as he was about to say he was leaving, she suddenly turned to him and said something he had not expected.
“Lucian student. Could you help me with something?”
“Me? What kind of help…”
“I’m preparing a paper, but there are too many stuck points.
I was wondering if Lucian student could help a little.”
“Eh?”
Did he mishear? What did she just say, professor? A paper?
She wasn’t asking for help with some children’s newspaper or something a student could manage.
“I know Lucian student has written papers many times before.
Looking at the papers, there are several authored by Lucian, right?”
“…That’s true.”
Actually, besides the papers on monster behavior, there was one on philosophy and another on magic and administration.
There were others he had helped with as well.
But since he was listed as a co-author, most people simply thought he had just lent a hand.
“I’m not asking for excessive help or ghostwriting.
I want to discuss academically and incorporate various opinions to add new claims.
But everyone keeps repeating the same things, so my head gets stuck too.”
“Professor preparing a paper and saying that…”
“The paper I’m preparing is about the human side of Ju Cloud Low Dragonschultz.
I say he acted as a prime minister stronger than steel for Lebechia, but I don’t think that’s all.
Why am I telling you this? The Enche and Igche battle.
Who commanded the Lebechia army in that battle?”
“…Before becoming prime minister, the young Dragonschultz prime minister.”
“Yes. He commanded the battle and achieved a successful retreat.
Other scholars try to ask about the battle to avoid being called defeated for the retreat, but I don’t.
Such a successful retreat is hard to find in history.
And I swear Dragonschultz prime minister considers that battle one of his greatest achievements.
He loved the kingdom so much.”
“I see.”
“What I want to ask from you is opinions like that.
Not fixated on big results or decisive contributions, but not missing even the smallest details.
I think your attitude can capture the very human side of that great prime minister that was overlooked.
And you’re the only person who can discuss those with me!”
…This professor was a piece of work.
She was definitely an expert on the Cloud old man.
When he heard she was writing a paper about him, he thought she might include some dramatic, goosebump-inducing content.
But she wanted to focus on the other sides of the great prime minister—the human aspects hidden behind his achievements.
That made him nod a little.
But…
‘Even so, asking a student to help with a paper is too much, professor.’
Even if he had time, he wasn’t sure he could help.
Now his body was two, which was not enough.
Thinking of how Rie would roll her eyes if he called her his rival, he felt the situation was grave.
Helping the professor was, in other words, digging his own grave…
“Obviously, this will be recognized academically, so you can submit your assignments elsewhere.”
…This professor knows how to negotiate.