Academy’s Genius Mage

As soon as classes ended that day, Ian busily moved about.

It was now time for him to negotiate with the trading companies entrusted with the production and sale of the potion.

All the associated rights had been delegated to him by Professor Frost, the patent holder, so there were no issues proceeding with the task.

He was in a situation where he could seek assistance from the relevant sector whenever he needed.

‘The sector that manages the research of students and faculty is the Academic Support Bureau… but to involve the company, it will probably fall under the jurisdiction of the Academy-Industry Collaboration Bureau.’

Ian deliberated.

The Academy-Industry Collaboration Bureau is a sector that literally connected producers, or companies, with the academy to forge agreements that were mutually beneficial.

Since it was an administrative unit of the academy, it primarily considered the academy’s benefits, but it maintained quite a good relationship with the companies.

From the perspective of the companies, being able to supply goods or attract business to the academy was helpful, so both sides closely cooperated.

‘The easiest way to proceed with the matter is to obtain the cooperation of the Academy-Industry Collaboration Bureau.’

In this scenario, the academy would send an official letter to the sector, thereby ensuring a courteous response from them.

Ian was only a first-year student in the Department of Magic.

He was neither in an advanced course nor a teaching assistant or professor, so there weren’t many who would pay heed to his words.

Even though a potion manufacturing patent had been issued, trading companies were inherently suspicious.

If a decision-maker wasn’t sent, merely someone at the bottom rung, both parties would become weary. The procedures wouldn’t progress, and they’d have to meet several times over.

From Ian’s perspective, needing to complete tasks swiftly, he should avoid such partners.

‘But is there really a need to rely on the academy’s help?’

Ian wanted to affirm his own value, even if it meant expending some effort.

Simultaneously, he pondered if there was a way to exclude companies that valued vanity over practicality.

During this opportunity, he wished to evaluate the capabilities of the Bahamut Trading Company, which he had been eyeing in his heart.

‘Yes. That’s the best way.’

With a good idea emerging in his mind, Ian headed to the post office.

“May I have ten sheets of the academy’s official stationery, please?”

“Ten sheets? That will be 100,000 shillings in total.”

Ian took out the bills and handed them to the employee.

Thanks to winning a bet, his initial 1 million shillings had doubled. Although it would soon decrease as he planned to drink with his roommates, he still had some leeway.

The stationery, priced at 10,000 shillings each, was well worth its value.

The simplistic color of the official stationery was quite impressive, crafted from an exceedingly smooth material. Additionally, the surface was treated with a corrosion-resistant magic.

Having received the stationery from the clerk, Ian began to write the contents on the sheets.

― I wish prosperity for your esteemed company. I am Ian Oracle, a first-year student at Sonokin Royal Academy. I recently obtained a patent on potion manufacturing, co-developed with Professor Frost. If you are interested in a discussion concerning commercialization, please kindly respond.

He prepared a total of ten letters with the identical content.

Ian sent these letters to ten companies, including the Bahamut Trading Company.

Of course, there was also a letter addressed to the Hamel Trading Company among them.

* * *

Upon returning to the dormitory, an unexpected guest awaited him.

It was Gaus, a third-year student from the Department of Magic, whom Ian had coincidentally met in the library not long ago.

He still appeared unkempt and scruffy. His dark circles seemed even more pronounced this time, as though they were about to stain his cheeks.

Ian worried he might collapse sooner or later.

“Hello, senior.”

“Oh, you’re here?”

Gaus was snooping around the distillation apparatus Milo was refining. Occasionally, he’d touched it with his hand.

Though Milo didn’t appear too pleased, he didn’t dare say anything to such a senior.

Moreover, since Gaus had come looking for Ian, Milo couldn’t act rashly.

“Have you had anything to eat? You look tired.”

“Oh, well. I just dined on whatever was rolling around.”

“If you continue like that, you’ll fall ill.”

Gaus quickly turned his head, flashing a wide grin.

“Are you worrying about me?”

“I just thought that if you collapse in our dormitory, people might get the wrong idea.”

“You heartless rascal!”

Gaus dragged a chair over to the table and slouched in it.

Ian engaged with him.

“But what’s brought you here?”

“Do you still have the magic stone?”

Gaus bared his teeth and smirked.

It was a short yet profound remark.

Ian nodded.

“I still have it.”

“Did you use it?”

“I haven’t used it yet. I’ve been preparing to make potions these days.”

“That’s good. You said you were curious about my name, right? So, has your opinion changed a bit?”

His demeanor was reminiscent of a typical thug extorting shillings in a back alley, while fiddling with the elegant wand that symbolized a third-year student.

However, Ian responded leisurely.

“I’m not curious.”

“Come on, think about it. Back then, you looked curious.”

“I already know.”

“What?”

Gaus looked at Ian with a surprised expression, which quickly turned into laughter.

“Hahaha! I guess my name is quite famous. It’s tiring being a celebrity. But you managed to find out?”

“Actually, senior Isera told me.”

“Isera?”

Gaus’s expression suddenly became serious, and he tilted his head.

“What’s this? Are you close with Isera? Oh, now that I think about it, you co-authored a paper and presented it, right?”

“I’m not sure if we’re close, but we have occasional conversations.”

“You’re quite a peculiar guy….”

Gaus tilted his head again, still looking puzzled.

“Isera isn’t someone easy to talk to.”

“Does she become easy to talk to when she’s talking to me?”

“No, it’s not like that. People say it’s hard to strike up a conversation with her.”

“Is she difficult for you too?”

“Not at all! Even if I spout nonsense, she responds. Not to everything, though.”

Geniuses have a way of recognizing each other.

Even though their interests differed completely, Isera seemed to acknowledge him as a junior.

“Did Isera say anything else?”

“Yes, she did.”

“Spill it.”

“When I mentioned the magic stone, she said it might have been better if I just gave it to you.”

“Hahahahaha! As expected from the top student of the second-year. She has a keen insight into the essence of things. Right, indeed she does!”

Gaus laughed while crossing his arms.

Ian glanced at Milo. Milo, understanding the signal, opened a drawer and took out the magic stone.

Ian had already discussed his plan to approach Gaus with his roommates.

His friends agreed.

They didn’t particularly need the magic stone yet, anyway.

Moreover, having the rights to use the magic stone was practically like Ian possessing it.

Milo and Edel hadn’t thought of extracting the magic stone from the fallen golem.

Thud.

Ian placed the magic stone in front of Gaus.

The magic stone still emitted a mystical light, glowing brightly.

“Take it. You seem to need it, so go ahead.”

“Really?”

“Senior Isera mentioned something else.”

Gaus’s hand, which had been reaching for the magic stone, hesitated.

“What?”

“She said that’s what investing is all about, bearing risks while reaping benefits.”

In other words, it wasn’t simply being handed over for nothing.

Ian continued.

“I heard you are very interested in magical engineering.”

“So?”

“I’m not sure when, but would it be possible to ask for your assistance in the future? I think it’s a mutually beneficial proposition.”

“Hmmm….”

Gaus’s deliberation didn’t last long.

The magic stone before him was not something to ponder over its quality.

He was eager to return to his laboratory and insert it into his devices immediately.

The royal mages and academy professors had personally imbued the magic stone.

There was no way it could be of poor quality. In fact, it was likely to be of higher quality than it appeared.

Meanwhile, Ian was contemplating the surveillance device he had seen during a previous dungeon exploration.

‘I need that device.’

He had grasped the principle but actually creating it was a different challenge.

The problem was that the technology was so advanced that even Milo couldn’t manage it.

‘But what if Senior Gaus could?’

Seeing him waiting in the dormitory sparked that thought in Ian’s mind.

It might be impossible for now.

But if they combined their efforts, couldn’t they create it someday?

Ian came to that conclusion.

“Alright! I’ll accept that challenge.”

“Why is it considered a challenge?”

“Borrowing my hands carries that meaning. A first-year who still hasn’t dried the mana in their circle dares to talk big? Are you trying to negotiate?”

Gaus flashed a cryptic smile and left one last remark before exiting.

“Drop by the lab sometime. Bring Muscle Idiot with you. It’s Room 444 in Building B.”

“That’s a cool number, isn’t it?”

“That’s why it’s good. People rarely come by.”

“I’ll visit soon.”

As soon as the door closed, Milo, or rather Muscle Idiot, flew into a rage.

“Argh! This is infuriating! Who’s he calling a Muscle Idiot?”

Milo had been particularly sensitive these past few days.

He had been dreaming of a dazzling campus life with female students, but the recent criticism from female peers had left him traumatized.

“Who is that old geezer?”

“Third-year senior Gaus. I’ve heard he’s an eccentric mage with a keen interest in magic engineering.”

“If he wasn’t a senior, I’d have slammed him.”

“Isn’t this something to not get so worked up about?”

Ian lay down on his bed.

Milo followed, protesting harshly.

“Whose side are you on, exactly? Supporting that undead-like geezer!”

“He was carefully observing your distillation apparatus just now.”

“And?”

“And? Did you not feel anything? Inviting you to the lab without even talking to you means there was something impressive about your distillation apparatus.”

“Really?”

“Exactly.”

Edel nodded in agreement as well.

Milo’s face lit up, previously filled with annoyance.

“As expected of a third-year in the Department of Magic! To recognize the greatness of the apparatus constructed by the one and only Milo!”

“What are you going on about?”

“He’s remarkable! Senior Gaus is!”

The thought crossed Ian’s mind that Milo seemed to have an easy time with academy life.

Being this emotionally volatile made Ian wonder how he’d manage as an assistant under Professor Maxim of the Department of Natural Sciences.

Knock! Knock!

Just then, a knock came from the outside.

Milo opened the door.

“Ian, a letter arrived for you?”

“Really?”

Ian hadn’t sent any news to the family lately, so Wilson seemed worried. He took the letter.

‘Huh? It’s not from Wilson?’

An unfamiliar name adorned the envelope’s surface. Ian flipped the letter over.

It was sealed with a familiar emblem.

The image of a grand dragon soaring into the sky.

That magnificent emblem also symbolized immense wealth.

‘Bahamut Trading Company?’

Ian’s thoughts momentarily paused.

He had just sent out a letter and returned to the dormitory, but the reply had already arrived?

‘Could they have sent it before me?’

Ian hurriedly tore open the envelope.