Episode 95. first meeting (1)

Time passed like crazy, and the opening date of the Kiruna achievement presentation was right around the corner.

Early in the morning, the stars are still bright. The indigo blue night sky of the silent train station was refreshing, but it was moist.

‘The author is Professor Ian.’

‘According to rumors, he’s an idiot who can’t be inferior to Professor Dana… .’

The sparsely lit gas lamps were not enough to illuminate everyone gathered here, but even in this veil-like darkness, everyone recognized me as I insisted on wearing a military uniform instead of a robe.

Even though I was recognized for my achievements by the Imperial Academy and the principal, was my evaluation still at the bottom among professors?

The sight of them slowly opening their distance from me after discovering me is so… . I was impressed.

‘Anyway, is Dana late?’

A little more than 10 professors didn’t say anything as if they hadn’t woken up, and the servants seeing them off were busily organizing the last things they needed to bring.

Rien was also checking my luggage, but it seemed like she was having a hard time seeing things because it was dark everywhere.

While waiting for the train, with nothing else to do, I approached her and lit the fairy lights.

“… !”

As the surroundings suddenly brightened, the maids, who were busy working their hands even in the darkness everywhere, looked up at the sky.

The fairy lights, floating slowly through the air like fireflies, stopped above Lien’s head.

“You’ve been through a lot since dawn.”

“… thank you professor.”

While the professors looked in my direction and whispered something, I was the only one standing in the middle of the maids.

The guide from the Imperial Society, who was observing this awkward atmosphere while waiting for the train, cleared his throat and spoke for the first time.

“Thank you to the professors who gathered at such an early hour. My name is Mel, a magician linguist belonging to the Bible Study Class of the Imperial Society’s ‘Albedo’ class.”

Imperial Academy scholars are divided into ranks of Nigredo, Albedo, and Rubedo.

They each wear black, white, and red robes to reveal their teeth.

“The train is due to arrive in 20 minutes. As our destination, the first tower, is a controlled area located inside the nest of the dragon ‘Caldera’, only those with permission from the imperial family can enter. Please understand that you cannot accompany an assistant professor or a dedicated employee who has not received an invitation.”

With his white robe fluttering in the night breeze, he continued guiding.

“At the previous station, servants and guards to accompany the professors boarded. We will attend this week-long presentation without any inconvenience.”

“… .”

“In addition, as the general manager of this journey, a scholar of the Rubedo class will accompany you to the next station. I hope you can have a comfortable conversation with him and spend a day full of academic inspiration even on the train for more than 6 hours.”

“Rubedo!?”

“Did I hear it wrong? The Rubedo class are on this train?”

While taking the train to the first tower, it was said that there would be an opportunity to sit with a Rubedo-class scholar representing the Imperial Academy.

Where else could there be a connection like this for Professor Kiruna, who was frantic to join the Imperial Academy?

The professors, who exclaimed as soon as they heard the word Rubedo, forgot to lower their voices in the early morning and were overcome with happiness.

“To be able to meet the pillars of the Imperial Academy in private!”

“As expected, it wasn’t for nothing that the presentation held at the first tower was different.”

“Considering the recent interest in academia… . How about discussing the theory of mana reduction?”

After staring pathetically at the professors who were already thinking of flattering, I met Mel’s eyes.

Maybe I look like a weirdo who doesn’t show interest in entering the Imperial Academy, he kept looking at me strangely and calmed the professors down.

“Finally, I will inform you about the schedule. Caldera’s nest will open in two days, so you can rest before the nest opens and finish preparing for the presentation. Professors and observers will be staying at a hotel near the nest for a week… . Oh, the train arrived a little earlier than scheduled.”

rattle-

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Just as he said, the sound of the train running through the darkness of dawn began to grow louder and louder.

“The rest of the information will be continued on the train. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me.”

Taking in the glare from the train’s headlights, Mel lowered his head.

As soon as the door of the stopped train opened, 10 servants belonging to the imperial family got off and guided the professors while handing over their belongings.

“As expected, this is a room worthy of the Imperial Academy!”

“Our Kiruna wouldn’t have been a facility where we could go anywhere, hehehe. After all, the imperial family is the imperial family.”

They said that they rented an entire train for this presentation, and it was luxurious, starting with the seats seen through the windows.

Behind the professors who get on the train with their shoulders high.

“Professor Ian.”

Rien called me.

Her purple bobbed hair swayed in the wind that blew along the tracks.

“Please take care of yourself. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“thanks. See you again in a week.”

“And… . professor. The Imperial Academy is a magical research institution, but also a place where various political forces gather. As long as this time-”

“… Okay, I’ll stay quiet and come back, so you don’t have to worry so much.”

As she said, the Imperial Academy is a place where the interests of various forces are intertwined, but there was no plan to intervene in the mud fight right now.

‘This time, I just have to figure out the atmosphere… . In order to expand my position in the Imperial Academy, I must first know what is going on at this time.’

I’m not sure if that will turn out the way I want… .

* * *

The first express train to the top was an elegant thorn cushion.

The other professors who had already sat among themselves were all glaring at me, who hadn’t even sat down yet.

‘Am I saying don’t even think about joining here?’

I had no business with them, and Rube was not interested in scholars, so I chose the seat furthest away from them.

Employees on the train offered tea or newspapers while watching each other with me.

While I was reviewing the presentation materials with the exception of coffee, Meriel, my current only companion, grumbled.

“Aren’t those professors too childish? Do you want to be like that when you get older?”

“You don’t have to worry.”

It was clear that he would not like my actions and attitude to break down the existing academic traditions and hierarchy, and that my position was only getting higher and higher as time passed, rather than lowering.

However, even if I hadn’t received attention from the Imperial Academy, they would have rejected me because I was from the military, so the relationship between me and them will never improve.

I just have to ignore it and do what I have to do.

“They are pitiful old men.”

“By the way, you won’t hear Elma squeak for a while now, will you? Should I get some help from you this week?”

“Why can’t we go all the way to the first tower when we move around so freely inside the school?”

“They say you can only roam freely in holy places like cathedrals and schools. They say they can’t stay long where there aren’t many of their followers.”

“There are quite a few things a goddess can’t do… ”

Paang-!

As I was having a silly conversation with Meriel, the horn sounded announcing the departure of the train. At about the same time, Dana jumped on the train.

“phew! If I was just 5 seconds late, I would have fallen out!”

Dana, who had also packed a lot of things, looked at me and the other professors, who were far from each other, and then waved at me.

“Junior, did you fight with those people?”

“No, I didn’t say a word.”

“Oh wow, I knew it would be this kind of atmosphere. … But, junior, in fact, I am nothing special. Are they going to hate me more than juniors?”

While ordering lemonade from the attendants, Dana casually sat down in front of me.

“Did you intentionally come in time for the departure of the train?”

“It’s not like that, but I was thinking about how to pass the 6 hours on the way and I was almost late. First of all, how about chess?”

As the train started running, she took out a chessboard, cards, and playing slimes and all sorts of useless things out of her oversized bag.

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Just looking at them makes me feel tired, I hinted at her.

“Before the train arrived, I heard from the guide at the Society, that a Rubedo-level scholar will be riding at the next station.”

“Junior, are you interested in that?”

“Nope.”

“Neither do I. That’s it. Don’t worry, let’s play together. black? hundred? Who wants to put it first?”

“… I will do it first.”

* * *

Even if his behavior was not trustworthy, a dragon is a dragon anyway, so it was not easy to face Dana in chess.

In the first round, I couldn’t even use my hands and was completely defeated. From the second edition, I tried my best to test the performance of the drowning body’s invention, the magic engineering calculator, but it was still at a dead end.

Dana seemed to be admiring the performance of the arithmetic machine that allowed her to compete with herself as a dragon without any handicap, but I was not satisfied with this result.

‘As expected, isn’t it easy to defeat a dragon?’

When I stole the drowning body’s invention, I wanted the power to protect me and the people around me.

Since I decided to directly intervene in future events at school, I needed to become stronger than I am now.

Until now, he had somehow managed to survive with the magic he had learned through the calculator and the high concentration of mana spewing out of his mana respirator, but he could not continue to rely on them.

Even now, it was ambiguous to see that the specs were far above the average of Professor Kiruna’s standard, and I had to keep in mind that one day I was destined to collide with an organization of seven dragons.

‘I must prepare in advance. It’s impossible to know when the crazy dragons will stand up.’

“Junior, do you want to play the next game?”

“No, I need to get some rest. Ah, Professor. I’m going to start my personal research from summer vacation, so can you recommend one research topic that suits me?”

“Are you going to stop reading the Bible? Well, that’s not very funny. Still, junior, didn’t you register two words this time? That’s how talented you are. Even at the current Imperial Academy, word registration research has been futile for over three years.”

It’s only natural that I look like a genius at deciphering the Bible, since I’m listening to the commentary from the person who wrote the Bible myself.

I can’t say such a thing lightly, so I evaded that I wanted to do a little more practical research.

“okay? Then why don’t you study pure light science with me? There are very few people who research this, but from what I saw, it is perfect for juniors.”

“This is the first field I have heard of. What exactly are you dealing with?”

“that-“

“I will give you instructions.”

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Just as Dana opened her mouth and was about to speak, she opened the door to the front compartment and Mel entered the professor-only compartment.

At first glance under the robe, the expression was quite stiff.

“Two minutes later… . Kegar, who is a Rubedo-level scholar and is currently researching current science and mana reduction theory, will be on board.”

“As expected, the mana reduction theory was the correct answer!”

“It’s the hottest topic of discussion lately, so it has to be.”

‘… What is the Mana Reduction Theory?’

Dana, who often goes through the research papers of the Imperial Society, also tilted her head, saying that this was the first time she had heard the name Kegar.

“Kegar? Mana Reduction Theory? I’m hearing both for the first time. Perhaps the person who pushed one of the original Rubedo scholars out because of his research performance?”

“It means you’re new.”

“I will. It’s been a while since I haven’t been in touch with the Imperial Academy, but it seems that someone came in during that time.”

Chi-Ik-! Key profit!

The train, which had been running for about an hour, made a scratching sound on the tracks and gradually slowed down.

The professors were already getting up from their seats with smiles on their faces, clearing the tables, and preparing to greet the scholar named Kegar.

Dana, not paying much attention to him, opened the cards on a table full of junk. I wonder if this is enough to believe that it is a middle school student’s desk.

“… I don’t know if that Kegar would think of us as professors. You don’t think you’re an immature tourist, do you?”

“Isn’t that better? There’s nothing to come in the middle and get in the way. Now, pick one of these.”

‘yes… . There’s no reason to get involved with such a big man already.’

I heard the train stop and the doors open, but she and I really focused on our card game without giving him a second glance.

It was only after the sound of professors making a fuss died down and the train became silent that we put our cards down for a while and started to catch up on the atmosphere.

‘… What?’

Kegar was a large man with impressive blue eyes.

The body that was hard and full of strength, like electricity flowing through steel, caught my eye first. The well-trained muscles were not covered even if they were covered.

In contrast to that, a cold impression. From the pure white hair and blue eyes, I could feel the coolness that couldn’t be dimmed by the bright red robe.

That made it all the more difficult to understand the bewilderment and anger in his eyes staring at me.

Receiving that sharp gaze, I asked Dana.

“Perhaps… . Professor Dana? Do you know someone?”

“Nope… ? Wait, then, are you meeting your junior for the first time?”

“That’s right. It’s a little embarrassing.”

“Shall I ask what are you looking at?”

“Does it need to be stimulated?”

As I did not avert my gaze, he made his way slowly through the professors who had met him to our seats.

He stood right in front of me, but I still didn’t get up.

In a frozen atmosphere, he slowly opened his mouth.

“good morning. Professor Ian.”

“Nice to meet you. It’s an honor that someone who is like a pillar of the Imperial Academy recognizes me.”

“I was able to recognize you by looking at the clothes you were wearing. Because the professor is still the only one who came directly from the military to Kiruna.”

Kegar stared blankly between the card-strewn table and Dana, then spoke in a tone that did not tremble.

“If it’s not rude, would it be all right if we sit together?”