Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Episode 58
Aira Merlin was dreaming, retracing hazy memories.
–Aira, look at this. Don't you think this is a beautiful magic formula?
When she was still young.
When she could barely cast low-level magic.
–Don't you want to use this magic?
Memories of her time with her old master.
She began learning magic because she was fascinated by the incomplete formulas her master created, like blooming flowers.
–Master, it’s too difficult for me to understand!
–There’s plenty of time, so you can learn slowly.
–But I want to complete this magic as soon as possible!
Aira felt her vision blurring as she watched the dream unfold. Was she waking up?
‘No.’
She realized she was crying.
Even though it was just a dream, it couldn't be helped.
–Then shall I help you, my apprentice? Let’s do this together.
–Yes!
The dream remained just a dream.
In the end, the promise with her master was never fulfilled.
Aira still couldn’t use the magic her master had shown her.
–You and I. Let’s learn this magic together.
She couldn't complete the research she’d started with her master.
‘I’ll definitely complete it, Master.’
Aira closed her eyes tightly, letting the tears flow along with her feelings of inadequacy.
The tears streamed down her cheeks, and…
‘Our magic.’
…the world shifted.
When Aira woke up, she rubbed her wet eyes and looked around.
Someone was sitting at her desk, reviewing her documents and scribbling with a pen.
“Master…?”
“Hmm? You’re awake?”
Aira blinked, disoriented.
“O-Oz? What are you doing here?”
After about five seconds of silence, Aira shuddered.
“Gasp?!”
And as she shuddered, the robe that had been covering her slipped off, and she gasped.
It was the [Starry Sky Robe].
Naturally, Oz, who was considered to have talent rivaling Salem, wouldn't use an ordinary robe.
Even all the “funding” she’d received from Spellerge wouldn't be enough to match its value.
“Uh, oh, uh…”
What if she had damaged the robe while she was asleep?
Of course, Aira knew that the [Starry Sky Robe] was impervious to most damage.
But the more she thought about its value, the more her head spun.
“You seemed tired.”
“N-No! I can still work! Please don’t abandon me!”
“It’s not like I was going to abandon you… Never mind. Just forget I said anything.”
Oz corrected himself, seeing Aira’s increasingly pale complexion.
“Here, take this.”
“This is…?”
Aira carefully folded the [Starry Sky Robe] and accepted the documents Oz offered.
“I don’t know what direction your research will take, but…”
“Ah…!”
Aira let out a small gasp as she looked at the documents.
[Pinaka] was composed of numerous basic, low, and intermediate level magic spells, along with formulas designed solely as components for its completion.
Aira had created these components through countless experiments, haphazardly inserting the magic equations she knew.
“This will be easier than your current method.”
What Oz had given her was a compilation of the phenomena that occurred when these equations were combined.
He had already formalized what Aira had painstakingly compiled.
The difference in talent. Aira felt it keenly.
But an even stronger emotion swirled within her.
“…Thank you.”
She had found a way to break through the bottleneck in her research.
The experiments, which had been progressing slowly through repeated failures, would now advance rapidly.
“Thank…”
Aira felt choked up. Tears welled up in her eyes, preventing her from expressing her gratitude fully.
The completion of the magic she’d dreamed of since childhood seemed within reach.
Although she felt a pang of jealousy towards the talent that surpassed her own efforts, her gratitude was far greater.
“I didn’t expect you to be so happy… If you’re that grateful, please show me the completed magic later.”
“Yes!”
Aira clutched the few pages Oz had given her as if they were precious.
“When this magic is complete…I’ll show it to you first, Oz!”
Aira nodded vigorously and opened her research journal.
It was time to resume her stalled experiments.
“…But first, let’s go to Headmaster Tia’s lab.”
“Ah, yes…”
Unfortunately, her enthusiasm was short-lived.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Several days passed since the incident with Professor Aira.
There hadn’t been any significant progress in Tia’s research.
It couldn't be helped since the “Outer Being” wasn’t from this world.
Perhaps because the laws governing it were different, even something as basic as drawing blood was impossible.
If it were a creature without blood, it would have been one thing, but the “Outer Being”’s very concept of blood was different, so they couldn’t be certain of anything.
“Perhaps we lack samples?”
“…That sounds like you’re suggesting we capture more.”
Tia muttered, looking at the professors and researchers.
Without anything to compare it to, it was natural that they couldn’t determine whether its abilities were unique to this individual or common to its species.
“Shouldn't we stop this research?” I asked.
“Why?”
“Because it’s dangerous.”
“…?”
Tia looked up at me as if I’d said something she’d never heard before.
As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized my mistake.
She was the furthest thing from danger in this world.
No one could threaten her, at least not yet.
“…Right, it’s dangerous. I wasn’t planning on going myself anyway.”
“Dangerous?”
“Me. I am the danger.”
“Ah, I understand.”
Considering how a single movement from her could put entire nations on high alert, it made sense.
Even when Tia tore through the dorm ceiling earlier, the Empire went on high alert.
If even the relatively isolated Scientia was in an uproar, there was no need to imagine what it was like outside.
“But like you said, it seems to be taking the form of a dog more often now.”
“How do you know, since its perception changes in real-time?”
I had [Contemplation], but Tia shouldn't be able to see the changes unless she had some other means. Or did dragon eyes have some special ability? Her eyes were certainly intense, but I didn't sense anything special about them.
“I’m dividing and isolating my consciousness.”
“Like multiple personalities?”
“Something like that. To be precise, it’s like taking snapshots of each moment.”
“Well, lizards can detach their tails, so it’s not that unusual.”
“Did you just call me a reptile?”
“…It was a metaphor.”
She was so easily provoked.
She acted so mature earlier, but it seemed the mind couldn’t escape the influence of the body.
“Hmm…”
After a brief silence, Tia checked her watch and sighed softly.
“Going out again?”
Like in the original story, Tia’s outings had become more frequent recently.
“Why? Are you worried I’ll cause trouble while you’re gone?”
“…You seem a bit on edge lately.”
Wasn't she overreacting to a simple question?
It was a little hurtful…
“Oz.”
“I won’t cause any trouble.”
“I wasn’t expecting much anyway… And it's best not to get too close to Prudence.”
“What?”
That was unexpected. I was already suspicious of Prudence, so it didn't matter to me, but I hadn’t expected that reaction from Tia.
If she felt that way, she should have hired better people.
The criteria for becoming a professor at Scientia, the world’s premier educational institution, was simply whether or not Tia liked them.
First Gerard, and now Prudence Loa. Perhaps there was something wrong with her judgment of character.
“Does Professor Prudence not have your trust, Headmaster?”
“Well…as a professor, he does his job.”
“Aren’t there many like that?”
If someone wanted to infiltrate Scientia, even superficially, they would naturally do their job as a professor diligently.
It would be stranger if they didn’t do their job.
Who would dare slack off with a fire-breathing lizard watching them with those intense eyes?
“He’s a bit…twisted.”
“Aren’t there plenty of twisted people?”
“…Well, you’re one of them.”
I was no longer hurt by her looking at me like I was an insect. I wasn't hurt, I said.
So stop looking at me like that.
“Hmm…to be precise, his ideology is dangerous.”
Tia tapped her head with her finger as if choosing her words carefully, then spoke with a sigh.
“Why did you accept him in the first place?”
“Because he couldn’t help it.”
Tia frowned, looking at Prudence Loa, who was enthusiastically observing the “Outer Being.”
“He was always honest about his feelings.”
A hint of sympathy flickered in her eyes.
“But still…”
Her gaze then shifted towards me.
It was a look of pity, of understanding but unavoidable sympathy.
“I hope you don’t become like Prudence.”
“…”
With those words, Tia walked out of the lab.
I had originally planned to approach Prudence Loa and gather information, but Tia’s words bothered me.
So, I decided to postpone contacting him for now and ask Tenebris for information instead.
–Are you really asking about Prudence Loa?
Lucia’s voice, coming from the communication device, sounded puzzled.
–Wouldn’t you know more about him than us?
The original Oz might have, but I didn’t.
Most of my information came from the game.
“Did I seem that interested in other people?”
–…I thought you were quite interested in others.
“There’s no need to be interested unless they’re special.”
–Well, if you say so.
The now-familiar bluff and lies.
It was necessary to maintain my current persona, but living like this was exhausting.
–Hmm, Prudence Loa…the ‘Slum Mage,’ right…?
What was with that nickname? Why did it sound so…benevolent? It was unexpected.
As if sensing my thoughts, I could hear Lucia’s sigh and the sound of flipping papers from the communication device.
Was she looking through documents related to Prudence? Where even was she right now…?
“Tell me the most important thing first.”
Since this seemed like it would take a while, I decided to hear the gist of it first.
A person’s true nature was often revealed through their outward appearance.
–Well…the most important information would be that he was a revolutionary.
“A revolutionary?”
Hearing that word, I recalled Prudence's mention of "struggle."
I thought it was just a figure of speech, but it seemed like there was more to it.
–About 50 years ago, he was one of the revolutionaries who tried to change Spellerge, which was practically a lawless city.
“What kind of change did he want?”
–Prince Oz, perhaps you should familiarize yourself with your own nation’s history.
I ignored Lucia’s jibe and waited for her next words.
Even in my original world, I wasn't good with history.
–He wanted it to be similar to how it is now.
Contacting Tenebris instead of approaching him directly was the right decision.
My assumptions were wrong.
If he didn't want Spellerge to revert to its previous state, then what was he thinking?
“So, Professor Prudence Loa ultimately failed in his revolution?”
–Well…it’s more accurate to say it was incomplete. Spellerge’s system changed midway through the revolution.
“…I see.”
Incomplete.
Perhaps that was the word that best described Prudence Loa.
He didn’t hate the current Spellerge. The current state of Spellerge was irrelevant.
What he hated was the deus ex machina that rendered all his efforts and history meaningless in an instant.
The [Mage King],
Salem Sudra.
The greatest mage in history.
Prudence Loa must have resented the individual who made decades of his hard work worthless overnight.