Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: End of Free Chapters
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Dolloren had returned.
Those who had protected the worthless Magic Survey School were about to start dreaming the most cinematic dreams.
...Or so one might think, but that was a mistake.
Dolloren's first action after returning to the Magic Tower was to register as an "attacker."
And not just any attacker—it was for her own disciple, Isaac Uphills' master's thesis.
A master's researcher eating in the Magic Tower cafeteria overheard the news.
"Professor Dolloren is attacking Uphills' thesis?"
"Yeah. It's true."
"..."
The researcher blankly mulled over what he'd just heard.
A former archmage attacking a master's thesis?
It was like pitting an ant against an elephant in the ring.
Their weight classes were different on a logarithmic scale.
The researcher tilted his head.
"Hmm... Maybe she's stepping in personally because Uphills is up for master's?"
"Nah, no way. That's not her style."
It was true Dolloren rarely showed her face at the Tower, but her character wasn't the issue.
On the contrary, she was well-respected among the graduate students. She had a kind heart, deep knowledge, and never mistreated her students.
"Then is there some personal grudge between them? Did he do something to offend her?"
"I don't recall any bad rumors about Uphills."
"Yeah. No idea what this is about..."
"Maybe the professors know? Probably some political infighting."
"Uphills is tied to the Imperial Court too... Yeah, that makes sense."
And so, the consensus among the master's-level researchers was...
"There must be some political reason behind it."
But the atmosphere in the salon where doctoral-level and above gathered was entirely different.
"What's going on?"
"No idea. What is this?"
"..."
The professors, caught in the storm of political intrigue, knew nothing about the full story.
"Does no one really know?"
"..."
"..."
The salon fell silent.
This meant there was truly nothing to it.
"What a thing."
"Tell me about it."
Dolloren returning right at the start of the semester was surprising in itself.
Usually, she only popped in briefly at the end of the term after paperwork was done.
The senior professor, who led the meeting, let out a sigh of relief.
"Well, at least it's good news for the Wind Element Magic School Head."
"Pardon? Why?"
"Why? With School Head Dolloren stepping in personally, Uphills' thesis won't pass, right?"
"...The Wind School Head has dropped her opposition to the split."
"What? Why?"
The senior professor's gaze turned to the professors from the "pure Wind Element" faction.
They just exchanged awkward glances.
"Nothing to say?"
"...Well."
Unable to withstand the senior professor's pressure, a new instructor spoke up.
"Ever since meeting Uphills on the 49th floor... she's been different."
"What...?"
"She's not opposing it as strongly now."
Ha.
The senior professor let out a hollow laugh.
"Seems whenever someone gets connected to Uphills... their attitude changes."
The princess, Valerius, the Sound Magic School Head...
Now the Wind Element Magic School Head was added to the list.
'Is he using mind control magic or something?'
...No way.
If he were, the Dean would have killed him on the spot.
The senior professor said,
"No matter the outcome... Uphills' achievements with Calculus were no fluke."
Nods all around.
The other professors murmured in agreement.
...However, not everyone viewed Isaac favorably.
In the Bloodline Inheritance Magic School conference room, the School Head spoke.
"What do you all think of this defense?"
"Nothing to see. He'll reap what he sowed."
Just as Isaac had crushed Kaien, he'd get crushed by Dolloren.
"You're certain Dolloren won't go easy on Uphills."
"We know our enemies better than our friends."
Dolloren and the Bloodline Inheritance School had been at odds for over a decade.
Because of that, they knew her better than anyone.
She was gentle normally, but ruthless when it came to academia—no mercy, no tears.
Emergency.
In a week, I'd be stripping my rank insignia and facing off against a School Head.
It was already publicized, so no backing out.
...First, I asked the person around me who'd most recently done a thesis defense.
"Floor Manager Ellara... Even looking at it, it doesn't seem like the School Head will go easy. What do I do?"
Ellara muttered at my words.
"Hmm... Tricky problem."
"How do people usually prepare for empirical defenses like this?"
"If you're not confident in magic combat, you spar with Field Mages to build real battle sense."
"Oh."
So there was no "just die" rule.
Was that the answer?
But Ellara's expression darkened.
"Of course... against School Head Dolloren, even top Field Mages won't be enough practice."
"Still better than nothing. Thanks for the help."
"Sure."
With that, I went via Hans' introduction to a Field Mage unit stationed on the capital's outskirts.
A middle-aged Field Mage said to me,
"Welcome. I handle a lot of defense prep."
Scars all over his body—he looked like a veteran of countless battles.
I trusted him instantly.
He said,
"So, what's the attacker's level? Bachelor's, master's, doctoral, senior professor... whatever works."
"Can you gauge strength from degrees?"
Being good at magic research doesn't mean you're good at fighting.
Just like research whizzes can suck at teaching.
The Field Mage chuckled.
"Kinda. But nothing's clearer than degrees. We Field Mages and underworld types use 'levels' as a rough gauge."
I had no feel for it.
"...So, what level was that Malakai I caught before?"
"Blood Mage Malakai? Doctoral level."
Malakai was doctoral?
That guy was stronger than I thought.
"Anyway, above senior professor, there's School Head level."
"And above that? Is an archmage School Head level?"
"Archmage? Hmm..."
The Field Mage pondered before continuing.
"Archmages are beyond ranking. Different league altogether."
"..."
"So, what's your attacker's level?"
Dolloren was a former archmage.
According to him, "unrankable."
Telling the truth would mean no help—I felt it.
I swallowed dryly and answered.
"School Head level."
Instantly, the smile vanished from the Field Mage's face.
"...Pardon? That's... tough."
"..."
"You'd need a legion commander for that. Sorry."
Even lying wouldn't work...
Why was this trial dumped on me?
Why!
I left the Field Mage unit without much gain.
But not entirely empty-handed.
"School Head level means a legion commander..."
The person who came to mind was Gwendolyn's father, Count Ludwig Everglow.
I didn't know the gap between School Head and archmage, but private lessons from him would help.
Should contact him first.
But before that, one last hope remained.
The strategic weapon princess.
If I was in this much trouble, wouldn't she make a move?
Meanwhile, Princess Isolde had one paper she read every break lately.
The Relationship Between a Gas's Volume, Pressure, and Temperature - On Defining Absolute Temperature
"Exquisite."
Beautiful no matter how many times she read it.
Imposing standards on fickle wind magic was stunning.
And deriving an absolute scale for "temperature" from it was ecstatic.
The day she first read it, she barely slept.
"But the verifier is Dolloren..."
Given School Head Dolloren's character, she wouldn't bully Isaac unfairly.
The thesis would pass for sure.
'...Still, Isaac will take a beating.'
"Troublesome."
The defense site turning into a wasteland was guaranteed.
A whole mountain might vanish.
What to do?
The princess pondered briefly, then smiled.
"There's that method."
She summoned her chief secretary.
"Isaac's defense location isn't set yet, right?"
"Yes."
"Then send a letter to the Dean suggesting the 'Wasteland Mountain' east of the capital."
The secretary asked, puzzled.
"Any special reason for that spot?"
"Perfect place to build an orphanage on the ruins."
"...Pardon? Uh, yes. Understood."
'Wasteland Mountain' was a headache east of the capital.
Roads had to curve around it.
What if that mountain got demolished?
By imperial law, newly cleared land belonged to the clearer.
Meaning Isaac and Dolloren would own it.
Even half would suffice for Uphills Foundation buildings.
Scalability boost, lower material transport costs, near-free acquisition.
Best option any way you sliced it.
The princess thought habitually,
'No way Isaac foresaw me thinking this far...?'
"Ridiculous."
Even adoring Isaac, she wouldn't overrate him that much.
"But he'd surely rejoice at this decision."
Verification not ending in destruction, but creation.
A new home for orphans.
For truth-loving, just Isaac, no greater honor.
Heh heh heh.
The princess laughed.
Meanwhile, in the imperial west.
Archmage Valerius checked the message from the Dean.
[Isaac Uphills' master's thesis defense soon. Attacker: Dolloren.]
"What...?"
If true, no time to play with underworld mages.
His gaze turned to the underworld mage before him.
"Heh heh... Underestimate me and regret it. Unlike the others, I'm doctoral-level Ivan—"
Slash.
Thud.
With a gesture, the mage's head rolled.
He grabbed the head, muttering,
"No time to waste."
Hunting underworld mages was fun, but his disciple's master's defense mattered more.
"Heading to the capital now."
Valerius wanted to witness Isaac earning his master's.
Planning to bring a top crystal orb to record the empirical defense.
Keep it cherished, show it when Isaac soared later.
Valerius' lips twitched.
