Chapter 35
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 035
Chapter Title: Payday
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The Mathematics Department lab was an unusually quiet place.
Lately, with the magic fusion research underway, it had gotten a bit lively.
A typical day for the grad students involved reading books and short papers, scribbling notes on A4 paper with a ballpoint pen.
Occasionally, Park Ha-jun would toss out a problem, and they'd all gather at the blackboard to share their perspectives.
Even then, after exchanging a few words, they'd fall silent, pondering for tens of minutes.
"Today's a bust. Total blank."
Clicking their tongues as they dispersed—that was the usual scene in the math lab.
The department even handled collaborative research in a subdued manner.
That is, until the magic fusion research began.
...
Lee Soo-ji had finished her TA duties and was doing some personal study in the lab when her smartphone buzzed.
- Soo-ji, you in the lab? Are the others busy right now?
"...!"
It was 10 p.m. Lee Soo-ji reflexively fired off a reply.
- No! Not busy at all...!
- Ah, good. Then could you read the email to the others...
That message marked the start of the disaster. At least, that's how Kim A-hyun saw it, watching from the sidelines.
"Kyaaah!!!"
One of the grad students who opened Park Ha-jun's email let out a guttural scream.
But there were things Kim A-hyun didn't know.
Back when math had a decent reputation, being good at it meant good money.
However, even then, surpassing undergrad level and excelling at the graduate stage often made you useless instead...
These people had chosen grad school in this dying field.
They were either math maniacs or researchers who'd crossed that 'line' no sane person would dare.
Of course, one of them had a tragic legend of being 'chosen' purely by Park Ha-jun...
And the scream echoing through the lab came from that very researcher...
Anyway.
"Kullback-Leibler divergence? Fisher information metric? This is an information geometry approach. What kind of project did he land...?"
"Ho ho... grown some guts, huh? Questioning the prof—don't wanna go home tonight?"
"...!"
"But the content is pretty innovative."
The fledgling grad students couldn't fully grasp Park Ha-jun's email.
"Analyzing mana flow based on probability distributions, using Kullback-Leibler divergence to target the greatest information discrepancy..."
"Mana makes this possible? Wild..."
They were impressed by the sheer novelty, going off gut feeling.
As expected of Professor Park Ha-jun...
Since starting the mana fusion research, he'd been churning out related topics like crazy.
Math research rarely begins with 'This could be applicable.'
It's more like, one out of a hundred might get used somewhere, so let's tackle all hundred.
But Park Ha-jun's recent proposals had clear expected impacts. Who knows if they already exist, but they screamed usefulness.
Even though they fused pure math with tricky mana studies.
'Someday, could I pull that off too...?'
They respected him deeply, so they weren't slacking off.
"I'll flesh out this probability distribution model."
One grad student refined the idea of modeling the vast milk sea as a probability distribution.
"Then I'll derive the distance equations between information distributions, including singularities."
"Soo-ji, gather related papers..."
They assigned roles one by one and dove in aggressively.
Park Ha-jun sketched the big picture.
They filled in the details—eyes, nose, mouth, colors.
Not unfamiliar. That's how math research usually went.
Even as they tore at their hair in frustration.
Even in clear agony...
"What... this part's weird..."
Smiles played on their lips.
Seeing that bizarre sight, Kim A-hyun quietly gathered her parchment and quill to slip out.
"A-hyun... this bit doesn't click. When mana density forms a nonlinear distribution..."
Kim A-hyun had become part of the lab now.
Around that time, Park Ha-jun was reviewing his circuit design for errors.
He'd downed two canned coffees in three hours.
Thanks to that, he'd sketched the circuit quickly and emailed the lab.
Canned coffee was unbeatable value.
Anyway.
This [Detection] scroll needed to scour an Earth-sized opaque sea for the Elixir of Immortality.
Park Ha-jun made organizing that vast sea's data into probability distributions the first step.
With Vasuki's poison in the milk sea, most objects or lifeforms dissolved completely.
Only special items could remain intact.
So, the number of objects in the sea should be minimal.
And any submerged object would differ in 'density,' 'composition,' or 'mana flow' from surroundings.
Park Ha-jun defined those as singularities.
Pinpointing those 'singularities' for [Precise Scan] should find the elixir quickly.
'...The process is simple, but designing it flawlessly is more complex than the Barrier.'
Even with talented grad students, not doable in a day at their level. Not their main field either.
'At least payday's in two days...'
Park Ha-jun knew better than anyone.
Sure, it was pocket change.
No, precisely because it was pocket change, grad students cherished every won—and payday turned them superhuman.
This time, not the usual early-100k wages.
With the department chair's help, he'd arranged about 300k starting this month.
'...Circuit done in two days.'
Smirking faintly, Park Ha-jun worked through the night, fleshing out the design.
The next day.
Park Ha-jun, eyes hollow, opened the lab door and sensed a chilling aura.
"Ugh..."
"Uuuugh..."
Beast-like growls or groans leaked from inside.
Good thing the lab was at the end of the third-floor hall.
Undergrads passing by would've spawned creepy rumors.
"...Kids, you okay?"
Luckily, no one bit his neck.
His hands held thick sandwiches and coffee.
"Professor... it's too hard..."
"Waaah..."
"Why's Kang Eun-ho missing at a time like this..."
The grad students, Lee Soo-ji, and even Kim A-hyun crowded him, fake-crying.
Guilt welled up alongside laughter—unavoidable.
He handed out sandwiches and coffee, urging them to hang in there a bit longer.
Apologies had no place mid-project.
This was a national crisis-level task.
"...It's nearly finalized."
Munching sandwiches and chatting, the students focused on him.
"Remember that mana-based interception model we sketched? It wrapped up nicely."
They nodded. Kim A-hyun pouted.
Time for a talk soon.
Anyway.
"The sponsor loved it. Donated to our department."
Excitement bubbled.
"Ooh..."
"How much?"
The amount was huge, rumors spreading.
But these shut-ins hadn't heard.
"Uh... check tomorrow?"
"Eh? Starting this month?"
"Yeah. Supposed to be next month procedurally, but performance bonus kicks in now."
They buzzed, pressing for details.
"...Focus on this task first. It's crucial too. Can't disappoint."
They nodded obediently.
After breakfast sandwiches, they gathered at the blackboard.
Park Ha-jun organized their stuck points on the board.
Explained what he could slowly.
For the rest, they pored over papers together, solidifying directions.
In that simple process, dense deliberation piled up.
The sun rose east, then swiftly painted the west sky sunset.
'...Direction's solid at least.'
Math-wise, they had it locked.
Now, students concretize; he'd circuit-ify it.
Might need Kang Eun-ho or Kim A-hyun for that.
Anyway, beyond solving math, he had to integrate into circuits.
"Everyone, great work today..."
Heading home, Park Ha-jun napped two hours, then sat at his workshop chair.
The day after.
Grad students, half-asleep, finalized Park Ha-jun's assignment.
They looked wrecked.
They'd pulled all-nighters before, but never this extreme.
Not total all-nighters two days straight—they needed sleep...
But Park Ha-jun urged finishing today or tomorrow, so they'd guarded the lab nonstop.
"I'm dying..."
One joked, no replies.
No energy left.
Just a bit more—concretize, prove, review—and done...
But efficiency tanked today. Might not finish.
"..."
A vibration buzzed their ears.
Bzzz.
Lee Soo-ji checked her phone. Eyes widened.
"...Huh?!"
Bank app notification shocked her.
"Whoa, payday! Salary's in!!!"
That snapped everyone awake. Park Ha-jun's words echoed.
Research performance bonus.
No huge hopes. One project wouldn't change much.
Maybe 300k extra. Still grateful.
Modest expectations, they checked phones.
"...Insane, what?!"
Expecting ~1.5M, the first digit was a mismatched 3.
"...My account glitched? How much'd you get?"
Another, staring blankly, replied.
"Uh, um... 350..."
"!!!"
Unbelievable. Sleep vanished. Could run a marathon now.
But realizations hit.
1. One magic fusion project = 2.5x salary.
2. Magic makes money...
3. And what we're doing now...
"Magic fusion project...!"
That day, the math lab awakened in a whole new way.
That evening.
Lee Dong-gyu and the Association President visited the quarantine facility.
The president spoke worriedly.
"A day and change left... No email from asd123?"
"Per the last one, expected today. No further word yet."
Nodding, he eyed the gathered mages.
"This everyone's it?"
Backup if no scroll from asd123.
3-circle mages unlocked.
Just under 100.
Doubtful for that vast sea.
Scale based on scout estimates anyway.
"Ping asd123 at midnight. If no-go, request allied support."
"...No choice. Got it."
Huge costs. Herding them tough.
If enraged Vasuki breaks the virtual barrier?
Contacted, poison-infected mages must die there.
Kill foreign mages? Diplomatic nightmare...
"..."
President grunted. Turned—Lee Dong-gyu smiling.
"Hm? Something?"
"Ah... Email! Scroll incoming now."
Whew, crisis averted.
'...asd123. Where's the limit?'
But no complacency.
Even his scrolls—no success guarantee here.
Infer performance, adjust plans.
President boomed for distant execs.
"Everyone, conference room! Scroll's here."