Chapter 24

023. How to Avoid Graduate School

After successfully completing the mini test.

My academic life was gradually changing.

First, my schedule. During the few days when Nephthys took over the cart, I was honestly very comfortable.

However, it wouldn’t be right to entrust everything to Nephthys just to take care of myself, as having connections with graduate students is quite important for my future, even if it’s not for plotting rebellion like Ayla.

Though I’m treated as a villain in the undergraduate program, I’m a considerate merchant who brings delicious food in the morning in the academy.

The stronger my connections with them, the more of a protective barrier I have.

Next, the convenience store.

The number of customers didn’t increase, but the variety of items was better than expected.

First, acquiring the Madongseok freezer expanded the range of beverages.

I didn’t put out energy drinks because I was afraid Ayla would cause a ruckus, shouting, “It’s time for rebellion!” But the variety of shakes and sherbets increased. With Aqua Beans and Bubble Beans, I can make carbonated drinks. I’m researching the best ratios. They should sell well in the summer.

Next, the jelly and candy series with edible slimes, black bread, berry manju, and donuts. Since they can be refrigerated, it’s fun to arrange various items on the shelves.

The food made with red algae is a special delicacy that only Rudyka seeks, but I enjoy it occasionally. I’m debating whether to name the red algae paste as “Red Paste” or just “Algae Paste.”

Now that I’ve described a bit about the changes in my schedule and daily life, let’s talk about the equally important, if not more important, academic life.

First, classes.

Surprisingly, surprisingly, I’m somehow keeping up with my major.

My grades might not be great, but I seem to have enough knowledge to survive this hellish Jefrin.

Actually, this is thanks to the excellent private tutoring from Teacher Ayla, but Wolfram knows how to praise himself. Good job, Wolfram.

Especially, Professor Lantica Grace, who teaches the magic and battlefield subjects, looks at me with a serious expression.

Professor Lantica Grace, who is in her sixties, is an authority on battlefield mages, according to Ayla.

One day.

“Let’s end today’s lecture here. Wolfram von Loewen格林, can I have a word with you?”

“Yes, Professor.”

The professor came to find me personally.

Why is he calling me?

Why is he being so polite?

It’s really scary.

***

When we headed to the conversation room, the professor even made tea for me and smiled kindly.

“Wolfram von Loewen... Can I call you student? You’re no longer the student council president.”

“Yes, that’s fine, Professor. I’m no longer the student council president.”

The title of student council president in Jefrin is this heavy.

As a royal descendant and the only noble, even such old professors don’t want to deal with me casually.

“I appreciate your understanding. Do you remember the answer you wrote in the last test?”

“I wrote that large-scale protection for mages on the battlefield is a terrible waste of manpower.”

“That’s correct. But then there would be gaps in defense. High mages are a significant force. So, you wrote two methods to address this.”

[One is to use golems with the enchantment [Guard Fortress: VIP Protection: Steel] as a barrier. However, if the enemy’s attack exceeds the golem’s defense, it can endanger the mages.]

“This is a common answer. It’s actually used. But the second answer was very interesting.”

[Another is to prepare an artifact containing two spells.

3rd Tier [High Magic: Protect: Mana Shield]

2nd Tier [High Magic: Teleportation: Escape]

The mana required for activation is provided by recruiting ordinary mages.]

“I thought it might just be a fantasy. Mages have unique mana colors, so if multiple mages’ mana is combined in an artifact, it would just explode.”

“That’s correct.”

“Of course, Wolfram didn’t stop there.”

“You wrote that a spell to turn all mana colors transparent must be developed.”

“Yes, but that theory has been concluded as impossible among mages. Turning colored mana back to transparent is like erasing already painted colors.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“But, as a good example, there was one person in history who used multicolored magic.”

“Yes.”

The first emperor.

The greatest loser who created this academy island.

“Since you are his descendant, it seems there might be such a possibility.”

“I wrote it as a hypothesis. The test question was just asking for logical reasoning.”

“...Hmm. That’s true.”

Ah, I see.

The professor seems curious if I have any clues.

If all colored mana can be turned colorless, it would create an absolute magic barrier that no magic can penetrate.

All concepts would be overturned. It’s so tempting that I might want to leave my mark in history, but did the prince plant this seed? I can’t stand it.

“I just wrote the theory because I thought I got the multiple-choice questions right.”

“Ah, I see. I understand.”

The professor looked disappointed.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Yes, be careful.”

As I turned around, I thought about that magic.

An absolute cheat skill that nullifies all mana and can absorb it with one’s own mana.

So, does such a thing actually exist?

Haha.

Of course.

It’s one of the most powerful spells in the game, granted only to two people.

It’s the greatest miracle I barely learned in the late 12th chapter after completing all hidden quests.

The Light Hero Kelthers, who dedicated everything to magic.

And,

Eve von Loewen, with a base mana of 22.

It’s the rebirth of a myth when she transcended humanity.

***

The next morning.

Nephthys greeted me.

“What is it?”

“Can I sell in front of the magic department today?”

“Nephthys, where are you spending all your wages?”

“I broke three wooden swords while practicing skills yesterday.”

Ah, that could happen.

From my memory, a wooden sword in Jefrin costs around 10,000 rin.

“In that case, there’s no special pay. You know, it’s 8,720 rin per hour.”

“...Of course!”

What’s with that hesitation?

Anyway, the wage negotiation was over, and Nephthys drove the cart away.

“I’ll go back to sleep.”

Since there were no lectures today, I took a leisurely nap. When I woke up, Nephthys was there again.

“What is it?”

“No, no. I finished selling and came to collect my pay.”

“...Ah.”

I should give it to her.

Let’s see.

Three hours, so 26,160 rin.

I gave her three 10,000 rin bills, and Nephthys’s eyes sparkled.

“Thank you. As expected, you are truly a descendant of the royal family! I was so worried when you said you’d only give the minimum wage... I even doubted you for a moment!”

“...I see. Continue to serve loyally.”

“Yes! ...By the way, something strange happened while selling.”

“Strange? Did a graduate student cry, wail, or scream, or dance naked?”

That would be within the normal range, right?

“No. I was only surprised by the graduate students’ behavior at first, but now I’m used to it. It’s not that, but I heard a rumor about a professor.”

“A rumor about a professor?”

“Yes. They started research with top-secret information from the royal family. I think the name was Lantica? Lantis?”

“...Lantica Grace.”

“Yes, that’s the name. They’re squeezing the graduate students for research, adding more work to their already heavy workload. One graduate student did a headspin while crying and said they wanted to regress to their freshman year and leave the lab. Yesterday, one person actually regressed to infancy and fled the lab.”

That’s not regression but a mental disorder.

Thinking about it, it would be terrifying if I witnessed that.

I’m glad Nephthys went to work instead of me.

“And there’s a plan to kidnap an undergraduate student to the graduate school.”

“What?”

“It’s just a rumor, but the headspin and crying were real.”

“...I see. That’s real.”

“Yes.”

...

Anyway, good information.

“I’ll give you 20,000 rin more.”

“I will serve with all my loyalty. My belief is yours alone.”

“Good.”

After receiving 30,000 rin and giving her a 50,000 rin bill, Nephthys grinned.

With that foolish expression, I fell into thought.

The opponent is a professor obsessed with achievements and honor, squeezing the graduate students for research.

And that professor seems to be eyeing me to kidnap me to the graduate school.

“There’s only one way. Ha!”

Daring to look down on me? That’s how you want to play it?

***

“Hello, senior.”

“Hello.”

“Hmm. What would you like to order?”

“Two strawberry donuts and what about you?”

“I gain weight, so... two sugar donuts without cream!”

“Strawberry and sugar, two each. Got it. Eating here?”

“To go.”

“I’ll take mine to go too.”

“Understood.”

The next day.

I moved the cart to the first-year undergraduate building.

***

No, this is not running away