Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Nerd Professor and Nerd(?) Student
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"...and so, according to Professor Rotten's Dimensional Rift Equation Theorem..."
"No, you can't apply that formula here. From what I can see..."
"Oh, that's an approach I hadn't considered! What a fascinating idea."
"And that's not all. Here's some material I compiled recently..."
"Wow! That's a perspective I never even thought of!"
Kuina, who moments ago couldn't even make eye contact or speak without stammering, now sparkled with enthusiasm as she launched into a passionate debate with Elric.
Maria watched from the side, her face a mask of utter disbelief.
'...A match made in heaven? What the hell is this guy's deal?'
There was a rumor that circulated among the academy staff about Kuina Rosly.
Looks? Stunning. Figure? Hands down, no one had a better one. Achievements? Youngest professor in history. What more was there to say?
But she had one glaring flaw.
She was awkward in conversations, as if she suffered from some phobia of people.
'Professor Rosly, I managed to get some Etia Mountain coffee this time...'
'I see...'
'...'
'Professor Rosly, how's teaching the students going? Haha, it can't be easy, right?'
'W-well, if I just talk about my research... they all listen pretty well...'
'I, uh, right, haha.'
'Professor Rosly! We're having a faculty dinner this time—come join us! It'd be better than holing up in your lab all the time. Get some fresh air!'
'I-I actually prefer staying cooped up in my lab...'
'Ah...'
With her exceptional beauty and accomplishments, plenty of people had wanted to befriend her or pursue her romantically.
But they all fell away in the face of her blunt manner of speaking and her conversational skills, which were effectively zero.
Of course, there were those who tried talking about her field of expertise.
'Professor Rosly, I'm a bit interested in dimensional studies...'
'Really? Which part? Oh, the latest paper that's stirring things up in dimensional academia is...'
The others were far too ordinary to keep up with Professor Rosly's expertise. She wasn't a genius for nothing.
And yet.
"...Oh my, linking the Dimensional Particle Capture Equation with the Space Severing Equation could produce this kind of reaction! How intriguing!"
"Exactly. Generally, one captures and the other severs, so you wouldn't think to combine them easily, but if you leverage this aspect properly, you can harness dimensional energy..."
This lunatic freshman named Elric Raishion was holding a seamless, fluid conversation with Professor Kuina Rosly—of all people, and as a mere freshman, no less.
'Is he even human?'
Maria Sian had attended the academy for four years as Kuina Rosly's junior and had been her teaching assistant for two more, but she'd never seen the professor this excited outside of her personal research.
'A freshman can't be older than his early twenties at most. How does he know so much about such diverse subjects?'
And not only that—even Maria, who was pretty handsome herself (honestly, top five in their grade) couldn't follow the discussion unfolding before her.
"Miss Maria! What do you think, Miss Maria? About the hypothesis young Elric just mentioned..."
"Pardon? Haha, I'm afraid I don't really get it..."
No, just keep chatting excitedly between yourselves! Leave ordinary folks like me out of it!
"Professor, not only that, but this part here..."
"Oh! Now that you mention it..."
Maybe today was the day Kuina Rosly had spoken the most words since joining the academy.
Maria thought to herself, deliberately avoiding eye contact with them.
And Kuina Rosly.
'This is... destiny...?'
She felt her heart pounding at the arrival of her academic soulmate.
Not some rational or human attraction or anything like that.
Just... this boy seemed born to conduct research with her.
'I want to research together...!'
Exploring outer dimensions hand in hand, unraveling and organizing their secrets in perfect harmony.
Of course, outer dimensions were far more dangerous than inner ones, but that was no threat at all to a genius of this caliber.
To think she could meet someone like this. Coming down to the inner dimension despite the hassle had been the right call.
Her usually simplistic thinking when dealing with people ignited into a furious whirlwind of hopeful fantasies.
"...W-well then, young Elric... next time, about the Dimensional Transformation Equation and its applications..."
"Yes. I'll look up materials on that as well."
"G-good..."
Kuina Rosly sent Elric off, her head bowed once more, avoiding eye contact and stammering just as before.
Not even a simple farewell.
Click. The door closed.
"Haaah..."
Elric let out a deep sigh.
'Is she nuts?'
How could someone be that obsessed with research?
And during their research discussion, she didn't hold back at all. Her shy demeanor—whether from being reserved or unable to meet eyes—flipped in an instant into that of a fervent debater.
Matching her pace had left Elric utterly drained.
Even more astonishing was.
'I remember all of it.'
No headache, either. The entire conversation with her lingered perfectly in his mind.
'What the hell is this Elric guy's deal?'
Topics that even a university professor from his past life might struggle with, and here he was at 18, not just keeping up but presenting ideas and debating with an academic genius.
'...Gotta do this again?'
Ah, it had been boring as hell.
Not just boring, though—he'd gained plenty. Namely.
'The dimensional interference she detected is highly likely related to my possession, if not directly about it.'
And she was still pursuing research on it.
Unfortunately, he couldn't reveal his possession without risking death, so there were gaping holes in the discussion and plenty of blocked paths.
Even so, it was a major breakthrough.
'Just confirming that dimensional interference probably occurs during possessions is a huge win.'
Tracing it step by step from there, he'd eventually find clues to return home—or at least the reason this happened.
Elric walked down the corridor, lost in such thoughts.
"Um, Young Lord Raishion!"
Then a familiar voice called out. He heard quick footsteps pattering toward him.
He turned with an impassive expression.
"...Who are you?"
As if he didn't know. Chloe Fabian, a classmate and arguably the protagonist of this world.
But Elric had never officially spoken to her, and given "Elric's" disinterest in others, he had no reason to know her—so he said it deliberately.
"Ah! I-I'm Chloe Fabian, the only daughter of the Fabian Count family from the Sisly Empire, newly assigned to the same class as you, Young Lord!"
Panting from her rush over, Chloe grabbed her skirt, lifted it slightly in a noble curtsy, and introduced herself.
"Lady Fabian. Elric Raishion, second son of the Raishion Ducal House of the Sisly Empire."
Elric introduced himself with a slight nod. Chloe beamed in response.
"Nice to meet you! Hehe, we finally get to introduce ourselves properly! I've wanted to talk to you for so long!"
Her affability was on another level. Anyway, the moment Elric heard her voice, he voiced his question.
"So, why is a lady like you here?"
I only come here for magic class—how would she know? She was in spirit studies at the time, so she couldn't have followed me.
"Oh, I heard from a friend in our class who's taking the same magic elective as you! She said you talked with the professor afterward and went to Professor Kuina Rosly's lab!"
"...I see."
What? That was first period, and she got buddy-buddy in the tiny bit of homeroom left? This girl's social skills were unreal. Even Yeo Si-un would bow down.
"So, what's your business?"
No high-fives or chit-chat—that wasn't "Elric." He kept his face cold, sticking to "Elric's" style of speech.
"Oh! Well, I saw your fight at the entrance ceremony myself, and I heard about what happened in magic class the other day, and I thought it was so cool, so I want to be friends!"
Straightforward. Fair enough—with him clashing against the principal and casting magic that flustered a professor, who wouldn't want to befriend him? Right at that age where you idolize such things.
"...I see. Pleased to meet you."
Elric used "Elric's" tone but softened it slightly to avoid hurting her feelings. In the original story, "Elric" got along with Chloe anyway, so no big issue.
"Next is history class, and we're in the same class anyway, so let's go together!"
"Understood."
Elric nodded and positioned himself beside her like an escort. Chloe grinned brightly and struck up a conversation.
"Young Lord, I heard you're a role model among mages—is that true? My friend Anna told me. She said you're an amazing mage. I'm a spirit user, so I don't know much about magic, hehe."
"Role model might be a stretch. I simply do what needs doing."
"Wow! They say the talented do what they can, but geniuses do what they must—looks like it's true! You're a genius, Young Lord!"
"Is that so."
"Yes! Hehe, oh, spirits and magic clash, but I think studying their underlying mechanisms is worthwhile. If you're okay with it..."
Surprisingly, Chloe had a knack for picking topics the other person might like. In other words, something "Elric" would find interesting.
Of course.
'...Boring...'
To Elric, it was the opposite effect.
Still, he kept talking with her. He had to be "Elric."
Acting, brainpower, debates—he returned to class utterly exhausted in that short time.
And the moment he stepped inside.
Three intense, piercing gazes stabbed at him.