Bumpkin.
Wild creature.
Mad dog.
Troublemaker.
Destroyer.
Character disaster…
Contrary to the now modest and quiet(?) image of Elric, those who knew Elric during his early days of admission, especially his peers and seniors, avoided provoking him recklessly.
Because if they did, they would have to endure unimaginable hardships.
“I first approached him because seeing him create all that chaos seemed so fun.”
Sean vividly recalled those days.
In his early days of enrollment, there were some who mocked him for not being able to concentrate his mana, questioning if he was really the grandson of the first dean or just some adopted child.
However, Elric didn’t reply to them. Instead, during a break, he hit one of the mockers in the back of the head with a big rock he found somewhere.
That mocker was hospitalized with a cracked head for six months, and Elric was suspended for a month.
When he saw his attitude back then, it was not just impressive but also entertaining.
Even when summoned by the disciplinary committee, he confidently defended his actions.
“He first insulted our family. A mere commoner dared to insult a Duke. I was just punishing the disgrace he caused on a Duke of the Empire. Is there a problem?”
Since there wasn’t a single flaw in his argument, not only the professors on the committee but even the parents of the opposing side were left speechless.
Hence, the academy merely suspended him based on the rule, “Disregard status and class within the academy,” without any additional punishment.
After that incident, Elric always retaliated against anyone who mocked him, regardless of their seniority.
By the end of the semester, no one dared to cross him.
Hence, the nicknames “bumpkin” and “character disaster” started around that time.
Thanks to this, although students gossiped about Elric, they all avoided him in person.
“I thought he’d have mellowed out with age, but… Sigh!”
Sean had thought Elric had matured upon hearing he let the two girls go.
But it seemed Professor Brooks had triggered his old self.
Sean wanted to warn him against causing unnecessary trouble, but he quickly bit his tongue.
“Hehe.”
Seeing Elric’s ominous smile, Sean felt that if he said anything wrong, he might get caught up in it as well.
Elric and Sean then began preparations for the exploration team.
“But how will we assemble the exploration team? It’s really tight to recruit in line with the schedule…”
Sean squinted.
Professor Brooks’s exploration team is scheduled for February 1st.
It’s after the year-end and New Year’s events to draw attention.
He aimed to win the upcoming election for deans.
Thus, Elric and Sean had to plan for an earlier date.
‘If it turns out that there is no nest at the location he pointed out, he will immediately target us.’
They had to avoid any risks.
‘Also, the tuition announcement is at the end of January. We have to find the nest before that.’
For these complex reasons, Elric set the exploration date for January 2nd.
Considering today’s date is December 4th, they had less than a month.
Compared to Professor Brooks’s half-year preparation, it was a last-minute plan.
So it was natural for Sean to be frustrated.
However…
“Eh? Why are you recruiting people?”
“What are you talking about? Of course, we need to start hiring now.”
“No, I mean, we already hired everyone.”
“What the…?!”
Sean was about to question what Elric meant, but he suddenly realized what he was saying and couldn’t help but shout.
“Hey, you crazy bastard!”
“Don’t shout so loud.”
“How could you decide on your own like that…?!”
“Why share such a good opportunity with others?”
Elric spoke with a smirk.
Sean was momentarily at a loss for words.
He did have a point.
The fewer people involved in such matters, the better.
“But we need a lot of preparation for the exploration!”
“That’s why we should make the most of this opportunity given by the Dean.”
“…?”
“We should take everything we can.”
Watching Elric speak was like watching a swindler discover a sucker at a gambling table.
And then…
Clatter, clatter.
Soon enough, they were able to board the eight-wheeled carriage headed South.
“…I really didn’t expect it to be approved.”
All the while, Sean looked dumbfounded.
“See? I told you it would work.”
On the other hand, while Elric sat opposite him, looking smug, Sean wanted to know what kind of magic Elric was working on.
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Actually, he had an idea.
He was just shocked beyond belief.
‘I had mentioned that quite a few artifacts would be needed… But the approval was too easy without any restrictions.’
Professor Brooks really kept his promise to help in every way.
From funding to lending key artifacts from the academy for free.
Among them were even 4-star artifacts, which would typically take over a month for approval and would usually be denied unless requested by a full-time professor.
Considering that it was a research team made up only of an assistant professor and a student, this permission itself indicated that they had some serious backing from the higher-ups.
‘They might be blinded by the thought of acquiring the magical formula, but still… Sigh!’
Especially, the eight-wheeled carriage they were riding had a gold emblem stamped on it, which was usually given only to the leader of the academy’s projects.
‘From the outside, it would look like the Dean was supporting the project of an assistant professor and student, which would be good for his image. If it fails, he could pin the entire blame on us.’
If they succeeded, it would have significance. Whether the exploration was a success or failure, it was a no-loss deal for Professor Brooks.
‘Sigh.’
Sean felt a bit uneasy, like he was dancing in Professor Brooks’s palm.
Yet Elric seemed not to care at all.
He rather recognized these maneuvers early on, shamelessly took all he could, and smoothly proceeded with the exploration plan.
The Finance Department also had a hard time because of him.
‘What on earth is he thinking?’
Sean remembered Elric’s words, confidently declaring that Professor Brooks might even stake his career as a Dean, and wanted to directly ask him about his intentions.
But he decided not to ask.
Knowing might just make him unnecessarily anxious.
“Anyway…”
Unaware of or possibly ignoring Sean’s gaze, Elric was engrossed in a book, even amidst the swaying carriage.
‘What on earth is he reading now?’
A book so thick, it almost seemed like a weapon.
「A Study on Physical Strengthening According to Causation Theory」
Why did it have such a complex and difficult title?
Sean knew that Elric usually enjoyed reading papers that even professors and researchers found challenging. However, this particular book was even more baffling.
“Hey, are you sure you should be reading that? If I remember correctly, even the Magic Department has classified it as a shunned book recently, hasn’t it?”
“Oh, this? It’s not a shunned book.”
“Then?”
“It’s just a forbidden book.”
“…!”
“If you’re seen with it, you might be accused of researching dark magic and burned as a witch’s offspring.”
“You’re undoubtedly insane.”
How could he speak of such dangers so nonchalantly?
Sean felt a twitch in his temple as he watched Elric, who was chuckling mischievously.
“Why are you even trying to learn the ‘Tiger King’s Body Strengthening Technique?”
Tiger King.
The ruler of the beast-men who resided at the ‘Snowfield of Black’ located in the northwest.
Once, he was a formidable enemy that threatened the Empire.
But now, due to the Empire’s perseverance and careful strategies, his bloodline has been entirely cut off.
The Body Strengthening Technique was a legendary skill passed down through the Tiger King’s lineage, and it vanished in secrecy with the last Tiger King.
However, the mysterious technique, which was said to turn bones into steel and amplify muscle strength multiple times, remained a subject of intrigue for both beast-men and humans alike.
For a while, there was a craze in the magic community to decipher the mechanics of this technique.
But the craze quickly subsided.
The reason was unclear, but it was banned as a hazardous item by the upper echelons of the Magic Tower.
Currently, mere possession of it could lead to severe punishment…
“I thought maybe there was a way to heal my body.”
Sean pressed his temple with his index finger.
“So? Did you get any hints?”
“Not yet. I’ve completed the restoration, but I’m not sure how to apply it to my body.”
“What? Say that again.”
“Applying it to my body…”
“No, before that!”
“I said, I’ve completed the restoration.”
“…!”
He had already completed what other researchers had failed at despite racking their brains?
If he could only announce it, his academic suspension would have been lifted long ago.
‘…This is why they say geniuses are…’
Sean himself possessed qualities and abilities that would be deemed prodigious by many. But in front of Elric, he felt utterly insignificant.
True divine talent.
However, it seemed that the heavens, jealous of his overflowing talent, also bestowed upon him that ailment.
And if he could overcome this…
‘Is he a monster?’
Lost in such thoughts,
Screech!
The carriage stopped.
They had arrived at their destination.
“What? You took both ‘Gehenna’s Breath’ and ‘Sky Armor’?”
Professor Brooks looked in disbelief, wondering if he had heard wrong, as he stared at the assistant professor who reported this.
‘Gehenna’s Breath’ referred to a flask containing the sulfur fire from the hellish abyss where demons were said to reside. ‘Sky Armor’ symbolized a replica that mimicked the holy relic given to the former Apostle, ‘Riteubille’, by the God of the sky.
All were classified as 4-star magical artifacts.
Once released into the world, they were as dangerous as bombs that could potentially wipe out entire villages.
It was absurd to think that a mere student and an assistant professor took them on an “exploration” mission.
But it was the assistant professor who was truly taken aback.
“The Dean said to assist them fully, regardless of what they want…!”
“You insane fool! Knowing what ‘Gehenna’s Breath’ and ‘Sky Armor’ are, you just handed them over? If there’s an accident, all the responsibility will fall on you. Understand?”
Under the professor’s roaring anger, the assistant professor felt as if he were being choked.
He did have a retort ready, ‘You told me not to bother you with every single detail and to just do it!’
That was on the tip of his tongue.
“Your face annoys me. Get out!”
But, of course, Professor Brooks wasn’t the type to listen to anyone’s excuses.
Throwing an ashtray in a fit of hysteria, he made the assistant professor scuttle out of the room.
Then Brooks leaned back in his chair with a sigh of frustration.
“All these fools, not one does their job properly. Tsk!”
He clicked his tongue, then furrowed his brow.
“They should at least handle matters properly…”
In truth, deep down, Professor Brooks couldn’t completely dismiss Elric’s theory.
Of course, he didn’t believe he was wrong.
But who could predict the outcomes of human actions?
If that were the case, there was only one solution.
“Make them fail from the very beginning.”
