While searching for Professor Aira’s location with [Contemplation] fully activated.

Turrr——

The communication port connected to ＜Tenebris＞ started flashing with a sound.

“what.”

Is there any important information? Or are you trying to negotiate some sort of deal with me?

It would be nice to receive it once.

“What is going on?”

– Prince of Oz?

It was a call from Lucia.

Was Lucia alone in charge of this crystal ball?

Maybe they are assigning one to each person.

“Oh yeah. I’m glad that Lucia is safe.”

-It’s safe… … I don’t know if I did.

Then, Lucia grumbled in a tired voice.

did anything else happen?

-By the way, the Prince of Oz? What kind of excuse did you make for the long-awaited explanation?

“… … I never thought Noah would have dug such a high-altitude trap.”

-But isn’t it unusual for you to take care of things too roughly to use a birthday present as an excuse?

Do you think I’m going to be a perfect superhuman? I am also a person.

At that time, that was the limit.

“Did you hear that already?”

-Baekyang called in an urgent voice… … .

Baekyang is also a very light-mouthed guy.

Well, the guy seemed lighthearted just by looking at his usual behavior.

“Then what, are you trying to kiss me beforehand?”

-Well, there’s that too… … . Rather, the Prince of Oz. You probably know when Noah’s birthday is… … ?

“June 12.”

-It’s fortunate. Have you decided what gift to prepare?

“Um… … .”

That too. It would be better to prepare in advance rather than rushing to prepare later.

Then, what gift would Eleanor like?

Eleanor is an image of a bad boy rather than a girl.

then… … .

“… … A luminous dinosaur?”

-Crazy?!

“No, honestly, don’t you think you’ll like luminous dinosaurs?”

-That, that’s… … .

Seeing that she can’t deny it, it seems that Lucia thinks so too.

Honestly, the image is like that, right?

-Ah, no way. If you do, Noah will kill you.

“Okay, then I’ll think about it for a bit.”

-… … Surely you’re not thinking it’s a joke, are you?

“Okay, hang up.”

-sleep… … .

It was the timing to find Professor Aira’s location with [Contemplation], which had been activated to the limit.

I still have a headache, but I’m glad I was able to find it quickly.

“Um… … .”

It was neither the teachers’ office nor the faculty quarters. She was busy doing research even on this weekend.

I grabbed my throbbing head and headed towards Professor Aira.

You can take a break for a while, but it would be better to take care of this matter as soon as possible.

* * *

Arriving at Professor Aira’s lab, there was a strange aura somewhere.

Something dark and gloomy seems to flow out… … . Yes, it was an atmosphere as if graduate students were being ‘taken’ on a large-scale project.

“Is your contemplation broken?”

Why do you see something like that?

-no… … . this is not it! Just not enough! You won’t be able to satisfy!

I can hear Professor Aira’s screams from inside.

The girl I knew was a mysterious beauty who smiled while speaking meaningful lines… … .

What on earth is pushing her so far?

– At this rate, I will be dragged by the spell… … . I need results that can convince Oz… … .

In fact, I vaguely guessed.

But I don’t know where the twist started.

Could it be that I unintentionally harassed her during the interview? Or is it the problem that I looked at her with [Contemplation] activated during every lecture?

Or maybe it was because Tia, who had been sighing over the exam paper she had put so much effort into, called her.

In fact, it could be everything.

“Um… … .”

To be honest, I don’t want to open the door to the lab, but I can’t help it.

Apart from the chimney-like desire to visit another professor, there was no interaction with them.

There will be no difference in the time it takes to convince other professors and the time it takes to convince outside researchers.

“Hmm, hmm… … .”

– Who, who ?!

“This is Oz Quo Vadis.”

-Hee… … !

After mentally preparing, I knocked and pretended to be human, and Professor Aira reacted like a seizure.

“Professor Ira? Would it be all right if I went in for a while?”

After a while, a tired-looking beauty appeared through the crack in the door, wearing a witch hat with light blue hair.

Professor Aira was watching me warily through a small crack in the door.

“Oz ni… … No, Oz students?”

“Just call me comfortably.”

“His Highness Oz… … .”

What else are you telling me?

You never called me like that.

“What, what is going on? I understand that there is still a little time left before repayment of the loan… … .”

It felt like I had been hit in the head with a hammer.

I finally understood why she was so strangely wary and afraid of me.

The kingdom of sorcery ＜Spellage＞.

The country, centered on wizards, lives up to its name and focuses on nurturing wizards.

Among them, the Senate is the institution at the center of the country.

It could be said that the institution, which consisted of only elder mages who could handle the highest level of magic, was the core of ＜Spellage＞.

Apart from being [the successor of the King of Sorcery], Oz also belongs to the Senate because he is a senior wizard who uses the highest level of magic.

And one of the many things the Senate does… … .

“You seem to be doing poorly.”

“Joe, just a little bit! If you give me a little more time… … !”

It is a research fund for talented wizards.

Support is good as it sounds, but in reality it is no different from private loans. If you don’t get results, you will pay the price.

“May I take a look at some of the research materials… … .”

“Yeah… … ?”

Oh, what a troublesome person.

Even though the words weren’t finished, Tears welled up in Professor Aira’s eyes and her complexion rapidly turned pale.

If you don’t pay attention to every word, you can see the symptoms of anxiety accelerate.

“Now, calm down. Let’s get rid of the mana that was blown into the staff first.”

“oh… … .”

Did he intend to shoot magic at me if he was mistaken?

What, maybe there are only psychopaths around me, my daily life is tiring.

“What I said was that I would help Professor Aira with her research, not that I would be grateful.”

“You’re going to pay me another debt with that flattery!”

“… … .”

“Look at me as a talented person! You don’t think I know that you’re trying to deceive me by saying that if you spend a little more money on research, there will definitely be results?!”

“I’ll be thrilled… … .”

At this point, it is a delusion of damage.

“… … I am not talking about financial support.”

For now, we have to deal with Professor Aira’s anxiety.

Shouldn’t that be a conversation?

Fortunately, Professor Aira seems simple and stupid, so a moderate flattery would suffice.

“Are you planning on selling expensive magic tools again like that?”

“no.”

“Then are you going to ask for money in the name of lending the related books?”

“no.”

“then… … .”

“Let’s get away from the money.”

The Senate These bastards are pure evil.

did you do that?

The victim is also the victim, but what the hell are bastards who have done it all to one person do?

What the hell is he doing by coaxing an innocent mage into it?

Is this how the slaves of the senate are created?

“Well, then… … Are you really going to help me?”

“… … .”

Isn’t the atmosphere strange?

Why do you look like you’ve met God?

I have a feeling that if I get tangled up in the wrong way, I’ll be annoyed.

“Of course, I’m not just trying to help.”

“… … How much is it?”

“I’m asking you to stop bringing financial problems… … .”

Why are you so obsessed with money? I get short of breath while talking.

I don’t want to see the image of a fallen member of society in front of reality anymore.

“Would it be okay if I go in and talk for a while?”

“ah… … Yep.”

Professor Aira opens the door and gestures inside.

He told me to be comfortable, but I wonder how it would be to treat him like that.

Professor Aira’s private laboratory, which I entered like that, was beyond my imagination.

Just looking at all the magical catalysts and magic tools, and the papers scattered all over the place, made me dizzy.

“Still, I think it’s better to organize it little by little.”

“Ha, I did… … .”

lie.

If you really think you did it, there’s no reason to lower your head like that.

Rather, he would have confidently and shamelessly claimed that his original way of organizing himself was like that, and that he knew where all his stuff was.

“then… … .”

I lifted one of the papers scattered around as if I was trying to get it out.

My goal is to coax her into going to the laboratory where the ‘outside being’ is located, but to do so, I must first gain her trust.

Even though I still can’t use advanced magic, my knowledge of Oz has not disappeared.

“This… … .”

As I was going through the papers, Professor Aira looked up at me with a tense expression from an oblique angle.

The image in the game has already been smashed. Now I even feel like I’m just looking at a hamster.

“It’s an extension of what was said during the midterm exam.”

A method of invoking high-level power by linking elementary and intermediate level magic.

Come to think of it, didn’t [Sorcerer’s Gear], which can be said to be my special move right now, also get a hint from her knowledge?

Originally, I was going to give advice lightly and move on, but I changed my mind.

“I think it is a good topic.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Aside from Prof. Aira’s reaction, who had a strong sense of discipline, the actual research content was not bad.

“It may not have been an empty word to say that he was a talented person… … .”

“Yes?”

“No, nothing.”

Was it really just a delusion?

If you think about it, her ability has been proven at the point of working for ＜Skientia＞.

Right away, Professor Aira’s research was worth it.

“I think it is a research topic that I am personally interested in.”

“I-How can I be honored to be so highly regarded for my research… … .”

There is a big difference between intermediate and advanced magic. If you ask a person who was learning painting right away to sculpt, it is natural that it would be difficult.

Isn’t that why I’m blocked by intermediate magic and can’t use advanced magic?

Her research topic will bridge that gap.

“The cost performance is bad, but if you think about it educationally, not only the senate but also the head of the academy will be interested.”

Of course, linking numerous compositional spells in this way required a considerable amount of mana.

It is said that there is a problem in writing in practice. But if it’s just for educational purposes, it’ll be fine.

“… … Even the headmaster?”

“I will.”

Tia is the most perfect being in the world, but not perfect.

That’s why she can’t devise the method necessary for the criminal.

That’s why she doesn’t give lectures herself, even though ＜Skientia＞ was originally established to teach the knowledge of dragons.

She can’t be understood by anyone other than a genius of the century.

What is as natural as breathing for her is not for us.

“My research is worth that much… … .”

“You have confidence.”

“After all, I am not wrong! I was a genius!”

“I wonder if it’s okay to have too much, but… … . It seems like you like it, so that’s okay.”

Professor Aira began to regain her energy to the extent that she could see it on the outside.

Seeing such severe ups and downs of emotions, wouldn’t it be necessary to seek psychological counseling?

* * *

Ira Merlin, a professor with a lot of emotional ups and downs, started talking nonstop about her research to Oz, who recognized her.

“In fact, the purpose of this research is not so much!”

“Ah, yes.”

Oz had a puzzled look on his face as if he couldn’t adapt to that attitude.

There is no end to this going on.

Oz decided to stop the conversation at least for his own purposes.

“Calm down for now, Professor Aira? Shouldn’t there be something to do first?”

flinch!

Aira, who had been talking lively until just a moment ago, started to look nervous again.

“You mean money… … ?”

“… … How many times have I not told you that I am not money?”

this world is money At least Ira felt that fact.

But what if it’s not money?

“Doesn’t that sound like we need to build more trust?”

“Well, then… … Stand, can’t you?!”

Professor Aira thought of the meaning of Oz’s words and was shocked.

No matter how much I thought about it, there was only one relationship that was more reliable than money.

‘That, yes. Even during my school days, I couldn’t date because I was so absorbed in my studies and research… … No, I just didn’t… … .’

She was confident in her appearance.

It was really popular.

She was young and capable, and because of her unique atmosphere, she was admired by many.

Aira closed her eyes tightly as she watched Oz slowly reach out towards her.

‘Ah, I’m a professor and Mr. Oz is a student… … .’

What to do with this immoral relationship?

Aira, who struggled with a strange sense of immorality and anticipation, opened her eyes at the sound she heard.

-Ah, ah, can you hear me? This communication is collectively transmitted to the magic professors Aira Merlin, Prudence Loa, and Crossel Varian.

Reason was returning.

Her world, which had been narrowed down to the limit, widened again, and voices that had not been heard began to be heard.

-If anyone wants to attend my sponsored study, go to the next place… … .

Unfortunately, what she hoped for did not happen.

Aira let out a drool as she watched Oz’s arm, which had been reaching towards her, pass her by and manipulate the crystal ball that was flickering behind her.

“First, let’s see how to solve the matter of Director Tia.”

“… … .”

Her innocence was torn.

However, Oz didn’t even notice that feeling and continued talking in a very businesslike manner.

“Can you?”

“Ah, yes. I can, but I’m a little… … .”

Because you want to die?

Ira couldn’t bear to say it and evaded it.

She cursed herself for harboring an ugly desire, even for a moment.

“It probably won’t be a matter of taking that long.”

“No, it’s not like that… … .”

“Have yourself. I believe in Professor Aira’s ability.”

“Yes… … . I will try.”

She wept secretly.

When Oz first said that she had come to help with her research, she wondered if a savior had finally come to her, but the reality was still harsh.