The Board of Directors' Proposal
Before Onhwa Guild sent their commission request to asd123.
A special guest had arrived at the office of Hwayeong Guild's master, Seo Ji-ah. It was Onhwa Guild's master, Kim Chae-won.
Seo Ji-ah, who had been poring over documents, rubbed her eyes and greeted her with a weary smile.
"...You're here."
Her voice lacked its usual strength. She'd poured every last drop of her mana into using asd123's scrolls.
"Why don't you take a break?"
"Yeah. Just this last bit."
This was the approval document for distributing profits among the hunters who participated in this S-rank gate—Mirror Labyrinth—and asd123.
True to her principle that gold had to be sent swiftly and accurately, she'd been buried in work the moment they returned home.
Just then, sponsorship funds arrived from Hwayeong Guild for Kim Chae-won as well.
Sponsor: (Official) Hwayeong Guild
Sponsorship Amount: 6,300,000,000 G
The contract fee of 2 billion gold plus a 6.3 billion gold share—totaling 8.3 billion gold. That was Kim Chae-won's cut from this S-rank gate.
The highest among the mercenaries, by far.
As both a top healer and the head of a major guild, her services naturally commanded a premium price.
Kim Chae-won flashed a satisfied smile for a moment before sinking into the sofa.
"So, how's it feel conquering with scrolls? Different vibe?"
She was asking about the profits.
"...No real difference. Honestly, we bought them expensive."
Each scroll took 15% of the profits.
Not cheap by any stretch.
Seo Ji-ah had taken a gamble from the start, driven by her desire to connect with asd123.
If she'd truly planned to rely on the scrolls, she never would've agreed to 15%.
But Kim Chae-won, who had watched the whole process unfold, saw it differently.
"You can't look at it that way."
"...What do you mean?"
"Nah, on my way over, I saw all the hunters who joined the subjugation. They looked totally fine. Fresh as ever."
That wasn't normal.
What if they'd cleared all 999 mirrors on their own, from start to finish?
No deaths would already be a miracle.
Even a standard clear would've left the hunters physically and mentally drained to the bone.
...No aftercare costs this time.
As a healer, Kim Chae-won knew that better than anyone.
It wasn't just treatment fees.
While recovering, hunters couldn't tackle other gates. That alone was a massive sunk cost.
And even scarier were the mental traumas.
After an S-rank gate, hunters usually avoided gates for at least six months.
Some never overcame it and retired...
But this time?
The hunters from this S-rank gate could probably schedule their next subjugation for next week.
From a broader perspective, using asd123's scrolls offered serious advantages.
Sure, they're pricey...
But if that one scroll delivered clear profits, it was worth every gold.
Of course, this applied mainly to gates with special gimmicks, like Mirror Labyrinth.
Having sorted her thoughts, Kim Chae-won asked with a sly smile.
"You haven't given asd123 any more commissions, right?"
"...Not yet?"
"Then it's my turn next?"
"Ah! I called dibs first."
"What does that matter? It's not like we have a contract."
"Ah...!"
Kim Chae-won gazed at Seo Ji-ah fondly, as if she were adorable, then rose from the sofa.
"Don't push yourself. Rest up. I'm just putting out feelers for a commission. Just a commission."
She wasn't expecting a formal contract.
asd123 had stayed hidden this long, after all.
Probably has no interest in contracts.
From a guild master's view, she just needed to secure deals and boost guild revenue.
The Association covered their first commission as sponsorship, right?
There'd been rumors of eccentricity once, but apparently he was far from prickly.
If she made sincere requests, steady business was possible.
Back at Onhwa Guild, Kim Chae-won sent sponsorship to asd123.
A bold investment: 100 million gold sponsorship and 25% of profits.
But leaving a good first impression was basic, wasn't it?
"..."
Kim Chae-won held her breath, waiting for a reply.
[Please send the gate details.]
After replying to Onhwa Guild, Park Ha-jun headed to the department head's office. Hwang Ji-on had summoned him urgently.
"...Professor Ha-jun!"
Hwang Ji-on was staring at her monitor, leg jittering. She seemed like this every time he saw her lately.
"What is it?"
Park Ha-jun approached. She swiveled the monitor toward him and spoke.
"...Two pieces of news. First."
One was displayed on the screen.
- Reference: Yeonhee University Faculty Personnel Regulations, Article 28 (Promotion Review)
- Pursuant to the above, we request the associate professor promotion review for the assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics.
It was an official document Hwang Ji-on had sent to the college dean.
A while back, she'd been called to the registrar's office.
There, she'd had a close talk with the registrar, who suggested promoting Park Ha-jun to associate professor.
...Fast.
This wasn't standard.
Usually, assistant professors were on contract... After three years, they'd renew and then undergo promotion review.
But Park Ha-jun was only in his second year.
He'd expected promotion talk, but not actual proceedings so soon...
As Park Ha-jun eyed the monitor in surprise, Hwang Ji-on explained.
"...We decided we need to lock you in now."
It was because of his paper. In the lucrative 'magic' academia, it was hailed as the most influential lately.
"They're worried you'll jump ship to another university during reappointment if we drag our feet... so early review."
Big names like Jeong Hyun-seok on his sponsor list probably factored in too.
In other words, the folks who'd been nitpicking about turning math into computational magic or cutting funds had flipped their stance.
Park Ha-jun, human as he was, felt a twisted satisfaction... but it didn't sit entirely right.
"You okay with this?"
Hwang Ji-on, reading his expression, asked.
"Mm... It's fine."
"...I've heard other universities and private labs are offering killer deals."
True. Offers had poured in since the paper.
But.
"Not interested."
No reason to move.
His goal was elevating the math department's status. Fixing this messed-up situation.
Leaving after the school ignored math for so long? That'd mean abandoning his goal for personal gain.
And better terms? Just facilities and money.
Would that university value math more? No.
But he'd lose steadfast allies like Hwang Ji-on. The few topology students. His researchers, now like family...
So.
...I'll change it.
Stay here. Change this university.
Even become president if needed.
Sensing his resolve, Hwang Ji-on smiled warmly.
"...Good. I was worried you'd leave."
"Haha... After all your support? No way."
......
They wrapped up in a light atmosphere.
Then Hwang Ji-on brought up the next item.
"And this is from the board of directors..."
She opened a window. The document read...
[...How about opening a special lecture on 'Magic Scroll Circuits' for Professor Park Ha-jun? ...]
[...In case of success, increase Mathematics Department operating budget by 200% for the next 3 years...]
[...To ensure successful launch, add new professor position (TO) to the department...]
It proposed Park Ha-jun offer a 'Magic Scroll Circuits Special Lecture.'
Note: The board didn't know he was awakened.
He was registered as Suhak Sarang with the Association, but that was private info.
Hwang Ji-on sighed.
"Haa... They're just cashing in on your popularity. A paper's a paper—how's a non-awakened teaching circuits...?"
No need to accept. But reading it...
The board was dangling a huge carrot.
Probably figuring non-awakened Park Ha-jun might refuse, so overkill terms.
Of course, he could earn more elsewhere riding the hype.
"...I don't recommend it. Big expectations everywhere—backlash could hit hard."
"True."
"Magic academia's vicious. Cashing in could hurt bad. Better decline..."
But Park Ha-jun smiled oddly.
"Mm... Department head. The notice only lists benefits if it succeeds? No conditions for success?"
"...Huh?"
To blinking Hwang Ji-on, he repeated.
"If they're proposing, add benefits for success too. If the board reviews that, tell them I'll seriously consider."
"Really...?"
"Yes. I'm fine—please."
...No reason not to, right?
[Expresses and conveys geometric concepts in intent as sensory info others can understand.]
With this skill, it was easy.
Plus, a prime chance to promote math.
"Then, leave it to me."
Park Ha-jun bowed, moved by her mix of worry and care.
The next evening.
In his personal workshop, Park Ha-jun sorted priorities.
Mounting tasks demanded it.
Floating monster wave prep.
Onhwa Guild commission.
Researcher and staff interviews.
Board's scroll circuit special lecture.
Other magic fusion research.
Topology class.
......
...One by one, steadily.
Top priority: Onhwa Guild commission.
Not just for gold.
To minimize their fatigue ahead of the monster wave.
Conveniently, their 25% share motivated him.
I can pour in effort happily.
Might even spark wave ideas.
Smiling faintly, he analyzed the [Mail].
...Pit gimmick in the desert: distinguish hidden treasures and traps.
But finishing the mail, he groaned inwardly.
The deadline: three days.
Rush job? Super tight...
No choice. He and the team faced another all-nighter.
Having sketched the circuit frame, Park Ha-jun texted researcher Lee Soo-ji.
...Along with "Expect a nice paycheck this month."