CH 12

Chapter 12: Back at the Mages Academy

Back at the Mages Academy. The Head of Magecraft Science Research was meeting with the President of the Academy.

All of the assistants were dismissed, and it was just the two of them left alone in the Research Laboratory.

“How close are we to completing the new Magecraft Tool?”

“..........unfortunately, there have been some unexpected complications.”

The Magecraft Tools that were in development inside Werner’s Research Lab.

Werner’s notebook detailing the progress of his Research. The Magecraft Tool outline, design, and diagram.

All of it was brought into the large Research Lab of the Head of Magecraft Science Research.

“.........are you not taking a little too much time?”

“I’m afraid Magecraft Research by nature takes much time to complete.”

The Head of Magecraft Science Research was irritated at the lack of understanding of what true research is by the President.

“But you see…..that Strout was able to complete it within a week.”

“...........it all depends upon the type of tool that is being developed.”

“Is it really? But I am getting pressure by our sponsors to deliver something. I don’t care what it is. Just hurry up and complete the new tool.”

The sponsor the President is mentioning is the President of the Gerald Merchant Association.

It is the same Gerald Merchant Association that Werner visited to see if he could rent out a house the day he was fired.

The President and the Head of Magecraft Science Research has been secretly meeting with the President of the Gerald Group and owe some considerable debts as well.

That’s why they both had extreme difficulty pushing back on the Gerald Group’s demands.

“........I understand the urgency. We will complete it as soon as possible.”

“I see. I’m counting on you.”

The President casually strolls out of the Research Lab.

“EEAAGGHHH!!”

Being left alone, the Head of Magecraft Science Research let out a piercing shriek and threw the metal object in his hands against the wall.

The President just didn’t understand how difficult it was to decipher Werner’s Research Notes.

What was up with these theories and logic?!

He could read the words just fine. He could understand the vocabulary being used. But the contents of how it all came together was left a mystery.

The Head of Magecraft Science Research is a renowned academic in his field.

Since Werner was a child, he was praised as one of the world’s top Magecraft Science Researchers.

That’s why he had the confidence that as long as he had the Research Notes and the Magecraft Artifacts in development, he would easily be able to complete the rest.

“What's with this gibberish written here? And what’s this tool supposed to do in the first place?!”

After spending over a week, they have not been able to properly understand the Research Lab Notes. Progress has been painfully slowed to a halt.

He has even called upon every graduate student, TA, and assistant professors he could get his hands on to assist with the efforts.

“.......that’s right!”

The Head of Magecraft Science Research reached a brilliant conclusion.

He decided to call upon Werner’s Former Pupils.

<<<<>>>>

There were 3 students that came and all looked to be in an extremely terrible mood.

“We have completed our graduate thesis, but is there something else you want?” The students are speaking pretty bluntly with the Head of Research.

The Head of Research had already forgotten.

8 years ago, when they first enrolled into the Academy. Just because he didn’t like how their faces looked, out of whim, he bullied them persistently and thoroughly.

They fell into psychological trauma and suffered mental illness, and as they repeated their grades and were about to be let go, Werner stepped in to help and guided them all to graduation.

“OH! Thank you all for coming. There was a Magecraft Artifact that was being developed, but the progress was not going so well. Would you be willing to assist us?” “..........what’s in it for us if we do help?” The Head of Research had to grit his teeth and not lash out at the rude attitude.

But he is the one that is in trouble.

He withheld his temper with all his might and smiled to reply.

“Of course! I will write you all recommendations as the Head of Research. I will also ask the President to do the same. How’s that?”

“We have all been able to land jobs. The recommendations won’t do us any good.”

“Then what about getting part-time pay?”

“........(sigh). Fine. So, which one is it?” The students’ attitudes are most definitely disrespectful.

But, they are not like this to everyone.

They will only speak politely and carefully with Werner, and they won’t dare to argue.

That is because Werner had earned their utmost respect.

And they also treat other professors in general with the same manner of respect.

But their attitude flipped as soon as they saw the source of all the bullying they suffered when they first arrived at the Academy.

The Head of Research held his tongue and outage as he smiled and spoke.

“.......it’s this right here.”

“It’s this one? This is one of Professor Strout’s Magecraft Tool in development, isn’t it?”

And with that, the student glared back at the Head of Research.

The news of Werner being fired by the President and Head of Research has spread throughout the entire Academy.

Rumors spread like wildfire as people guessed that it was mainly due to jealousy.

That’s why the students were visibly upset at the Head of Research.

But the Head of Research was oblivious to their anger.

That’s why he smiled as he replied back.

“Yes. When Mr. Strout left the Academy, he did not pass on his research to anyone or try to complete it himself. Unfortunately, this has caused us some trouble with our vendor.”

“Why can’t you, the Head of Research, complete it then?”

If he could, he wouldn’t be speaking to these insolent children.

Though words of wrath crept up the Head of Research’s throat, he choked those words down and held it back at bay.

“.......unfortunately, I’m a very busy man.” “I see…”

Werner’s former students took the Research Lab note and the tool in development.

And they immediately understood what Werner was trying to do.

For them, Werner’s Research Note was incredibly easy to understand, and the undeveloped tool was being made very precisely and carefully.

If it’s been completed this much, they should be able to finish the rest in about 3 days with just the students alone.

“...........what’s this?” “Let’s see. This goes here and……”

“Yeah, it’s incredibly efficient. Props to Professor Strout.”

And the students were whispering amongst themselves.

The Head of Research was delighted to see that they were understanding and making progress.

“How is it? Do you think you’ll be able to complete it soon?” The Head of Research asked them politely, and the students’ expression instantly vanished.

“...........it’s no use. This is way beyond our understanding.”

“.........it’s too difficult. Below average students like us wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Yeah. I would have the Head of Research and all the elite students take a stab at this first.”

And the smile across the Head of Research twisted and strained across his face.

“What?! What are you talking about?! Extraordinary students like you should be able to do this!”

“Extraordinary? Are you kidding? We all barely graduated by the skin of our necks.”

“Yeah, you’ve told us repeatedly how dumb we were, and how we were the shame of Academy. Have you forgotten?” “What are you talking about?” The Head of Research had completely forgotten such pasts and just looked blankly back at the students.

“Well, whatever. Anyways, this tool is way beyond our abilities to assist.”

“Yeah, no matter how much you pay us, we won’t be able to do it.”

The students looked at the Head of Research with mocking exaggeration.

With this, the Head of Research finally snapped.

“You……….do you want to have your graduation revoked?” “What? Do you even know what you’re saying? We’ve already had our Graduation Thesis reviewed and approved, and our grades are final.”

“How dare you speak to the Head of Research in that manner!! With the help of the President, we will be able to easily reverse those decisions and have you expelled!!”

In response though, one of the students just let out a deep, exasperated sigh.

“If you revoke our graduation papers, the next time we see each other will be in court. Is that okay?”

“ARE YOU THREATENING ME?!”

“Do you think that it’s an empty threat? I’m the son of the Supreme Court Justice. I’m also very well connected and on good terms with every official in the judicial process. Do you think a person like that would make empty threats about litigation?” “...........whーー”

The Head of Research becomes speechless.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the judicial process.

If you are a judge there, you are considered at the top of the field of law.

The other student spoke up as well.

“I’m sure as the Head of Research, you have your own rights and privileges for sure. And we have endured this much without resorting to using our family’s influence but…...if you are going to take it that far, we won’t hold back. By the way, my father is a Duke and his father is the Minister of Finance. I’m sure you didn’t know that.”

“.....................”

This was indeed fresh news to the Head of Research, and now he was really at a loss for words.

The Duke is considered the highest tier of the High Nobles. All held an immense amount of territory, and they had significant power and influence in the Palace.

And the Minister of Finance controls the Kingdom’s Budget. Undoubtedly, one word from the Government could heavily cut the Academy’s budget with one wrong step.

“We all resisted resorting to using our family’s power and endured this much. But even so…..” “Yeah, but Professor Strout says if someone stronger than you tries to do something unreasonable, it’s okay to use it then. That’s why we won’t hesitate anymore.”

Why did he have to go do something unnecessary like that?!

But the Head of Research held his tongue.

“So don’t even think about putting pressure on our future employers either.”

“Yeah, you already have your hands full trying to complete Professor Strout’s Magecraft Tool, so good luck with that.”

With the students standing proud and opposed, the Head of Research’s face ran scarlet with rage.

But now that he knew who the students’ parents were, he would not be able to punch them as he did 8 years ago.

“You……….YOU…….”

“Why not just ask Professor Strout? If it’s the Prof, he should be able to complete it within a day.”

“Yeah, just get on your hands and knees and beg at his feet. ‘We were so ignorant and incompetent that we couldn’t understand your research, so please save us.’”

“GーーGGGGGG…….”

The Head of Research now grinded his teeth so hard that he was unable to speak even if he wanted to.

But he still has some sense of self-preservation.

The guardians of these students are part of the top tier of society, so he endured and did nothing as the students left his sight.