Relin sat in front of Deculein like a student called to the Principal's office. His fat body was crouched and curled up like a bug. Epherene felt she had seen this situation in her dreams.
"Yes… those sections have been referred to in the thesis paper by wizard Zora."
"But there's no citation."
"Oh, that's… I was going to add it, but there wasn't enough time…."
"Aside from that, I also noticed that other parts referred to other wizard's papers."
Then, Relin laughed as he wiped away his sweat. But, he seemed a little angry because his pride as a professor had been insulted.
"Haha… what parts are you talking about…."
Epherene watched in a daze. The door to the study on the right side of the office suddenly opened, and some documents and books rushed out under an invisible hand.
"The theme of your thesis is to imprint specific supportive magic into a mana stone so that it would always operate as a security system. But your technique, the circuit of Engraving on Objects, is borrowed."
Deculein pointed it out, giving Relin physical proof. Relin's mouth fell open.
[Circuit of Engraving on Objects]. It was published five years ago by an unknown wizard in the university, but it had been discarded due to its poor performance and a lack of research support.
"Ah… uhm…"
"Is this also a part of the citation? If it's not cited, it would be a problem."
"Oh, of course… it's cited. Haha… I developed the idea further… yes. My assistants seem to have made a mistake. Hahaha."
"If it's your thesis, then you're the one who wrote it. Not your assistants."
Epherene had to cover her mouth to hold back her laughter. That hippo-pig professor was being torn to shreds. Ahh, this was too good.
"…Yes."
"In addition, I see a lot of references from Modification Theory and the Compilation of Dukan, but there are a few citations from Ihelm or other famous wizards.
"…"
Relin lowered his head. Deculein continued to reject his thesis like that.
"Clean it up and submit it again."
"…Yes."
He shuffled out like a pig whose breakfast was taken away.
Clack—
As soon as the door was closed, Epherene stood and laughed.
"Kuhahahaha. That was so good."
"Epherene."
Then, Deculein called her. Epherene shouted.
"Yes!"
Whiiiiiiing—!
At that moment, a pile of papers came flying from Deculein's desk and landed on top of her head.
"…?"
She blinked, and Deculein explained.
"Yours is discarded as well. Write it again from the start. No, learn to write first when the semester begins. I can feel your trivial origin in your writing…."
*****
The Principality of Yuren, a country established in a highland above the other countries on the continent. Its area was about the size of the Yukline family's territory, but it was a geopolitical position between the highlands and the empire. In short, it was a small but strong nation.
"Prepare this and that, too."
Maho, a Princess and the successor who had fled from Reok, was busily moving around the Royal Palace.
"Charle, Charle! I have to prepare clothes for the ball, right? Of course, I should, right?"
She was the woman who had established internal stability in the Principality of Yuren, but her personality remained as always. Charlotte felt uncomfortable watching her acting so cheery and flippant.
"…The empire is dangerous."
"Eey~, it's not dangerous anymore~. Even if it's Reok, the empire won't go crazy and attack me~. And also, Reok's line of succession has already been sorted out~. It's over now~."
The line of succession of the country that threatened Maho's life had been sorted out. The result was the Second Prince's victory, and now that his succession to the throne was secured, there was no need to kill Maho.
"Entrance ceremony, entrance ceremony~. I'm a college student now~. Oh, right, I have to send
the file."
Maho ran towards the door of the secret passage secretly reconstructed right next to her bed.
Draaaaaag—
It led out into a secret library. This place, filled with unidentified files, was a magical space made by Maho's skill.
"Hoohoo~."
Maho liked to collect. Not out of a desire for money or treasure, but greed for humans. Human trade was the only way for a confined country to survive. It didn't mean that humans were being sold, but they were recruiting outstanding individuals and increasing their value. In that regard, Maho's talent, File, was quite an asset for state affairs. It was a talent for magically understanding an individual's rhythm.
"…Hmm."
Maho took out the thickest file, titled Deculein.
"Princess, be careful not to get caught by Deculein. He definitely won't like it because your character is dirty by nature."
"I know, I know~."
Maho didn't know much about Deculein yet. Yet he saved her once, and they met in other places, so she held high expectations.
"I'm so excited~; I'm so excited~. What kind of person is the Professor? He also won against Rohakan~."
Maho secretly participated in the exam on the Floating Island the last time it was held and was assigned the rank of Kendall. Still, this time, she was heading to the empire as a special international student of the tower. But, it wasn't a simple study abroad program. Nor was it just about meeting Deculein.
"Then, let's go now~. To the entrance ceremonyyyyy!"
A heavier, more significant purpose. The problem of the Kingdom's fate, as well as the continent's. It was to discuss the Altar and the Demon Blood.
*****
I handled numerous thesis papers in my office. After receiving the thoughts and opinions of a lot of wizards, I came to know how many books I had read and what knowledge I had acquired.
Understanding worked in conjunction with my original knowledge, and now that it had become wide as an ocean, there was nothing that I didn't know in the standards of the tower. No, even if I didn't know, I would learn soon.
"Master, we've arrived."
Ren caught my attention. I put down the thesis that I was reading.
"Haaaaaa…"
Epherene let out a loud sigh. Then, the car door suddenly opened.
"I have something to say, so why did you come so late?"
Yeriel had opened the door for us. She was with Ihelm for some reason.
"Oh~, aren't you the genius of interpreting techniques, the wizard Deculein? I enjoyed your books in the North."
Ihelm smiled and tapped the top of Epherene's head.
"It's been a while, Leaf."
"…Oh, ugh, why did you come here?"
"That's what I want to ask; why are you here?"
"I'm staying here now. Oh, Lady Yeriel!"
Epherene, belatedly noticing Yeriel, quickly clung to her. Yeriel accepted her embrace lightly.
"Yeah, yeah. But, you go inside. I have something to say."
"What? Oh… okay. I also have to write my thesis… I'll see you later!"
Epherene left with a quick step. Yeriel took out a document while she watched her leave.
"A Demon Blood village was discovered around the southern borders, but the resistance looks to be grave. There are religious members and combat priests. They're asking for support."
The name of the place was Barahal. The Imperial Family gave the order to eradicate all the Demon Blood there. Yeriel continued to explain calmly.
"I think the real oppression will begin now."
Barahal. I searched inside my head for a moment to see if the name popped up.
"Brother… no, you, what are you going to do?"
The Demon Blood were divided into two categories: those cooperating with the Altar and those not cooperating. Barahal was the former, leaving no room for persuasion. They were already a brainwashed tribe.
"They have to be killed."
There was no need to waste time considering humane methods. They were a gloomy bunch, with no room for reformation. Yeriel trembled, and Ihelm smiled deeply.
"Haha. That's right; I have the same opinion. Isn't that why you were chosen as my partner?"
"…What?"
Yeriel's eyes went narrow at Ihelm's words.
"You must have been selected as my assistant."
"What? You're as presumptuous as ever."
"Always."
"…Tsk. You two have similar personalities."
"Yeriel."
I called Yeriel. Her expression held anxiety.
"Go back to Hadekain."
"…"
"Leave the institution to me and do what you have to do."
Tap—
I placed my hand on Yeriel's shoulder. Looking at her faintly trembling eyes, I spoke quietly.
"Nothing will happen."
The glowing sunset alit Yeriel. Her face crumpled like she was about to cry.
"…"
She bowed her head without saying anything. Soon, a smile appeared on her lips.
"Yup, I believe you."
She placed her forehead against my chest as she answered, then climbed into the idle car with a clear expression.
"Then, I'll get going!"
"Oh, right, my lady."
Ren called out to Yeriel.
"What?"
Yeriel popped her head out the window. Ren produced a receipt.
"This is the bill."
"What bill?"
"Master ordered it, but the account balance was insufficient, so it was covered by the family cheque. Please sign this."
"…What are you talking about?"
She took the receipt.
"…"
She stared at the long piece of paper without saying anything, then her already big eyes grew even wider.
"This, this, what is this—!"
Her scream shook the world. I gave a glance at the driver of Yeriel's car.
"300… 300 million Elnes?! Mana stone, highest-grade mana stone, highest-grade crystal… what did you buy these for?!"
She roared and glared at me.
"No, the tower can give you mana stones! In addition, it's worth 300 million, oh, I'm going crazy, seriously—! We're running out of cash—!"
Vroom.
The engine of the car started, and the startled Yeriel turned to the driver.
"Hey, what are you doing! Stop! Turn the engine off right now! Open the door. Open the door and…"
I spoke.
"Just sign it when you get back."
"What?! Hey, open the door!"
Yeriel could not open the door blocked with Psychokinesis; then, I sent a deadly gaze to the driver.
"Eh, ehem. Let's get going."
He pressed on the accelerator. Yeriel's shout could still be heard over the engine's roar.
"No, stop! I have to listen to his explanation! Why did he spend 300 million Elnes! Why! I have to find out why! Is this a relapse of your extravagance? Hey! Hey…!"
The sound was soon buried in the wind as it gradually grew farther away. I cleared my throat with a dry cough.
"Hey, you used 300 million Elnes for what? You're something. There won't be much cash to recover after the war."
Ihelm muttered with admiration. I turned to face him.
"You should also go back now."
"Oh, yeah. Well, let's get along better now that we're partners."
Ihelm gave me a greasy smile and reached his hand out.
"Let's kill the Demon Blood together. Also, do you know? The synergy between the manipulation and support series is-"
I ignored him and turned away.
*****
I built a cave in the site with the most mana concentration in the mansion. I quickly dug out the
fairly deep passage using Psychokinesis and the wood steel.
"Hmm."
It was a deep blue cave covered with the finest mana stone and crystal. Because of my Aesthetic Sense, it was neat, like a shrine rather than a cave.
"Don't you need any food?"
"I don't."
"Then, I'll get going."
Ren left. I sat in the chair in the middle of the training room and looked into the empty air.
[Purchase Available: 3333 Enhance the Quality of Mana (Level 3)]
[Do you want to proceed?]
In other words, to go to the 3rd level or higher, the required store currency increased dramatically to needing at least 160 won, so this was the last bit of progress that could be achieved using the store currency. I pressed accept without hesitation.
[Enhancing the Quality of Mana (Level 3) will be applied.]
A system message appeared.
Badum—!
My heart was pounding. My face distorted as pain flooded the blood vessels throughout my body. It was the sensation of all my bones, flesh, and muscles being torn and rebuilt. If I had lower mental strength, I would have fainted by now from this agony. It was like my internal organs were being sliced into small pieces like my heart was being ground with a chainsaw.
"…"
There was blood filling my mouth. I spat it out because it was blocking my airway, but my body wouldn't bend. I didn't lose my dignity. I sat in the chair and endured it…
*****
…Time passed by until the full moon ascended the night sky.
"…"
Epherene looked around the underground cavern, having unintentionally found the place while she was looking for Deculein.
"…What is this?"
At the corner of the mansion laid a blue underground cavern. With a hand to her mouth, Epherene tilted her head and stepped forward.
"Wow. Are these all mana stones? And crystals?"
It was a wizard's intuition. There was an enormous source of mana welling up down there. Was this Professor Deculein's training room? Epherene called out for him.
"Professor~, are you here? Wow. Is this real mana stone?"
Epherene admired the walls as she called out to Deculein again.
"Professor~. Professor~? Can I write my thesis down here~?"
She went down the passage, heading deeper underground.