Mathematical Circuitry
Park Ha-jun's magic fusion research that he had revealed to the world—Mathematical Circuitry, a geometric understanding of attributes.
By highlighting the limitations of conventional methods and systematically listing every possible case, it had been more than enough to captivate the world of magic studies.
Mages and even magic scroll makers had shelled out hefty subscription fees to pore over it repeatedly.
But if asked whether that paper had created a new trend in the magic academia, the prevailing opinion would be no.
The paper was merely a novel 'perspective'. A viewpoint that understood attributes based on knots.
The magic academia hadn't embraced Park Ha-jun's paper as anything beyond a conceptual guide to improving attribute comprehension.
It was perhaps inevitable. Park Ha-jun hadn't mapped the entirety of magic to topology; he'd only corresponded attributes to knots—a very narrow scope.
In other words, while the paper was impressive, its range was too limited and lacked scalability to be recognized as a new 'school of thought'.
Thus, Park Ha-jun's paper had only brought massive funding and fame to his lab.
It hadn't changed society's perception of pure mathematics.
As things stood, Park Ha-jun's paper would end up as just an innovative conceptual guide for basic attribute magic.
Especially with the intense storm of the Wave crashing down.
The magic academia's interest fading was a foregone conclusion.
And so, on a day when the magic world's attention to MathLove had dimmed...
A submission reviewer at the Mages' Association was skimming papers slated for the fourth quarter with a bored expression.
It was the same staffer who had approved Park Ha-jun's previous paper.
...This quarter's lineup is all trash.
A bit crude, but not entirely unfounded.
Every magic studies paper was just a rehash of the guidelines set by the Association President.
Like physicists winning Nobel Prizes in Physics by proving Einstein's hypotheses...
Papers praised in magic academia were mostly just well-organized versions of the Association President's guidelines, or slight deepenings thereof.
But lately, even those "well-organized or slightly deepened" papers had stopped appearing.
It meant every possible dish from the "Association President's guidelines" ingredient had already been served.
Click-clack.
...This year's fourth quarter is gonna be rated the worst academic journal ever.
With a blank expression, he read through the submissions. But he never skimped.
He loved this job.
The traces of endless deliberation on a single topic. The process of those traces changing academia...
Wasn't he witnessing that grand flow from the front lines?
There had been a time when he'd devoured even emails from unknown mages like mad.
Even if the quality was low, you could glimpse the effort.
Of course, not anymore.
Today's papers showed no such traces of deliberation. None at all.
No way such papers could shake academia.
Still, the reviewer gritted his teeth and read every one meticulously.
A new star researcher like MathLove—one to set magic academia ablaze again—might appear in the third quarter's crop.
But.
...None.
That hope shattered.
Sure, the submission window wasn't closed yet. Another paper had just come in.
But this dry atmosphere couldn't be overturned unless MathLove themselves showed up.
...And no one can churn out monster papers every quarter, right?
"Phew..."
The reviewer sighed deeply and moved his mouse to the new submission.
Then.
A title jumped out, one he could guess the sender of.
...It's only been a month since the last journal?
Some researcher imitating MathLove?
Maybe. But that alone sparked anticipation. A new attempt.
He straightened up and opened the paper.
Lead Researcher: Park Ha-jun
"...!"
Park Ha-jun. The math professor.
Confirming that, the reviewer slowly scrolled down. Line by line, deliberately.
Fusion means combining two or more elements into one. However, conventional fusion attributes merely achieve 'coexistence' of two attributes, resulting in severe limitations in stability and completion...
A gripping introduction. It pointed out flaws in existing methods while building anticipation for 'perfect attribute fusion'.
Scroll... scroll...
Main Section 1: The Principle of 'Connected Sum' – How It Connects Circuit-Wise?
Main Section 2: Proof – Reinterpreting 'Frost Wind'
...Thus, Frost Wind designed via connected sum produces the phenomenon where the wind blows and the moisture in the touched space instantly freezes.
...The author proposes naming this new academic field 'Mathematical Circuitry' and emphasizes the need for follow-up research.
Having finished the paper, the staffer exhaled the breath he'd been holding.
"Ha..."
A sound between a hollow laugh and a gasp escaped.
He moistened his dry lips and scrolled back to the top to process the thrill.
Confirming the lead researcher's name again.
"Insane."
He couldn't help but conclude.
The content is beyond words, but...
...emphasizes the need for follow-up research.
Park Ha-jun had hinted this research wasn't the end.
No different from a declaration of intent to upheave magic academia.
...This quarter might not be the worst—it could be the highest-grossing journal ever.
In that case, it deserved a proper welcome.
Pushing aside his awe, the reviewer headed to the top echelons of the Mages' Association.
Around that time, Park Ha-jun was toasting with his researchers.
The second magic fusion research paper had been completed just four days after seriously planning it.
Kim Ah-hyun had detailed the attribute connection processes.
The math lab researchers had aptly provided the corresponding mathematical concepts.
Kang Eun-ho had converted circuit concepts into incantations and added footnotes.
And Park Ha-jun had framed the overall structure and written everything else...
There were two weeks left in the fourth-quarter submission window.
But with so much else on the lab's plate, they'd rushed to finish the journal paper first.
Hence their haggard appearances. Kang Eun-ho and Kim Ah-hyun had suffered as much as—no, more than—the researchers this time.
"...Everyone, great job."
"You too, Professor—really worked hard."
The math researchers replied brightly despite the ordeal.
The reason was simple.
"...This project's results are gonna be huge! You said this paper would have even more impact than the last one, right, Professor?"
"That's right."
"We got nearly ten million won in performance bonuses from the last paper announcement... I wonder how much this one'll bring."
"Haha..."
A big deal for the grad students.
Some lived off-campus, paying steep rent. They'd cleared debts with the last bonus...
For researchers unsure how long this success would last, immediate bonuses were top priority.
So Park Ha-jun grinned and said,
"Feel free to imagine even more than what you're imagining now."
"Ooh..."
"Professor, you're awesome."
"Heh heh. If we get another bonus, I'm buying a big ol' SUV for great monsters..."
"Professor, he's gonna blow the bonus on something weird!"
...
A warm, cheerful atmosphere.
The dopamine from bonuses erased the fatigue.
As Park Ha-jun smiled contentedly,
"But Professor, do you really think this research can establish a new school in magic academia?"
Kang Eun-ho suddenly asked.
His thinking was: Ultimately, this was still limited to attributes and knots, right?
Then magic academia might not recognize it as a new school, just like last time.
Park Ha-jun nodded at the question.
"Yes. Unless we're extremely lucky... it's hard to achieve the goal I mentioned with this research alone."
"Then the conclusion you wrote..."
"Just a hint for the next research."
"Ah... I got ahead of myself. Sorry."
Park Ha-jun smiled softly.
"No. Good question."
True. If sharp-minded Kang Eun-ho killed his ego and followed like a puppet...
...That would've been pretty sad.
Park Ha-jun aimed to be an excellent educator.
He hoped Kang Eun-ho would become a better mage, even if they parted ways.
"Anyway... results come next month, so until then, let's focus on our tasks."
Park Ha-jun raised his glass. The researchers followed.
"Cheers!"
The math lab now carved out leisure amid busy days.
Sip.
Tilting his glass, Park Ha-jun checked his [Mail].
Relaying info Lee Jong-hwa had seen in Fragment of the Story.
Finding and neutralizing the Mines was one of Park Ha-jun's goals too.
Intermediate dimension, huh...
The Association had provided timely info.
However.
Space: -
Even after spending 30 billion gold to unlock, the blank meant it would take more time than they hoped.
That task would likely pair with Lab 2.
Of course, as time passed, they'd steadily grow to counter threats beyond Waves.
...Just a bit more hard work.
Organizing his thoughts, Park Ha-jun enjoyed time with his researchers.
Utterly unaware of the ripples his paper would cause in a few weeks...
Time flew relentlessly.
He wanted to analyze space circuits quickly to find the Mines, but.
That transcendent realm wasn't for a day or two.
So Park Ha-jun focused on his duties during that long stretch.
Professor work.
Lab 1 and major guild commissions.
Lab 2 and solving Seo Ji-ah's root issue.
Finally...
...Growth as a scroll maker.
As Park Ha-jun reminisced briefly, a Mages' Association staffer said,
"...Professor Park Ha-jun, this way."
"Yes."
The Mages' Association heavily promoted this fourth-quarter journal.
Those dignified mages had floated magic letters over Seoul like MathLove Sequel Coming Soon.
A week before the journal's release, Park Ha-jun's invitation to magic academia was natural.
At a gathering of advanced mages (3rd circle mastery+), he previewed the paper.
Then, standing at the podium, Park Ha-jun fielded questions from the mages.
High caliber, as expected from elite mages.
But Park Ha-jun answered all with ease.
"You must find the 'cut vertex' that doesn't damage the essence of the two knots..."
"Of course applicable to fusions beyond Frost Wind, but this paper doesn't cover them..."
While answering paper-related queries.
Sin Ye-ji, a female mage, shot her hand up excitedly.
"Loved the paper! Planning another special lecture like last time?!"
Park Ha-jun nodded calmly.
"Yes. But this time, 'regular course' fits better than special lecture. Planning to open 'Mathematical Circuitry' at Yeonhee University, capacity around 20..."
Afterward, he was bombarded with enrollment eligibility questions.
No sooner had the presentation ended than inquiries flooded Yeonhee University's president's office.
"..."
Facing the onslaught of calls, the president broke into a cold sweat but couldn't stop grinning ear-to-ear.
Just two months ago, they'd discussed abolishing or restructuring the math department.
And he was just a promising assistant professor then...
Those subtle pressures from back then? Deep regrets. No idea how to apologize.
...Full professorship won't cut it.
The president gnawed his nails, pondering solutions.