Magic Academy’s Genius Blinker

Chapter 50

Academic Presentation (1)

Unlike the magic academic presentation, the scale of the alchemy and magitech presentations is slightly smaller.

Considering that most of the scientific technologies that advanced the civilization of this world are alchemy and magitech, it’s quite ironic, but combat magic presentations receive more attention than such scientific technologies.
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The world is always in a confrontational relationship with the evil force known as the Dark Mages.

Moreover, ‘combat magic’ is much more difficult than alchemy or magitech.

To explain the complexity of magic simply, you can think of it as a combination of Chinese characters and mathematics. Imagining adding mathematics to the already complex Chinese characters is beyond dreadful.

To give an example, there’s a magic formula that is interpreted and activated by drawing (4+5×7).

A mage would write the magic words as (四加五倍七) according to the arrangement of mana, engrave a round bracket formula to integrate and connect it with mana lines, and then draw an interpretive formula with the added attributes in the correct stroke order to complete a sort of equation.

And that’s not the end. Depending on the amount of mana injected, the power, trajectory, coordinates, and range must be calculated and manifested on the spot.

What does this mean?

To put it simply and quickly, magic is a pain. A huge pain.

Even doing it normally is hard, let alone during combat. This is why not everyone can become a magic warrior.

For this reason, while the magic academic presentation is quite popular among students, the alchemy or magitech presentations are attended by significantly fewer students.

I don’t particularly want to go to academic presentations either, but this time I’m going.

I’ve worked so hard training Alterisha as my assistant, haven’t I? I have to see the results for myself, don’t I?

“We’re almost there.”

“Yeah, right. Whew, I’m nervous.”

The location of the academic presentation changes every year. Last year, it was held at the newly established lab of the Alchemy Castle, and the year before that, at the Institute of All-Metals run by the dwarves.

This year, it’s being held at the ‘Geumhakgwang Academy,’ the top alchemy school in the Dwarf Kingdom.

Given that the dwarves are the originators of material magic, it’s expected that this year’s presentation will be on a different scale than usual. It’s understandable that Alterisha is nervous.

[Next stop is Geumhakgwang Academy Entrance, Geumhakgwang Academy Entrance Station. Exit doors are to the right.]

As the train penetrated the center of a towering volcano, a massive cave-like space appeared.

The capital of the Dwarf Kingdom, ‘Black Iron Empire.’

Geumgwangmanyeol Province.

It’s broad, high, and desolate.
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The ceiling is so high that it doesn’t feel like a cave, extending beyond the field of vision. Only faint lights, like starlight, pierce through the thick mist.

The buildings rise tall, reminiscent of a forest of cyberpunk skyscrapers. Though the dark and somber atmosphere feels ominous, the dwarves living here are full of life.

Countless steel tracks crisscross the air, with numerous trains coming and going, giving the appearance of a spider’s web, earning it the nickname ‘City of Spiders.’

“Wow…”

From the Twelve Divine Moons, ‘Geumgang July,’ the ancient civilization began, leading to the pinnacle of mechanical culture today.

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Despite having the fewest number of magic warriors, it’s clear why this place experiences the least invasion from Dark Mages in the world.

My heart was pounding with excitement.

In the center of Geumgwangmanyeol Province stands a towering castle where the dwarf king resides, with ‘Geumgang July’ resting beneath it.

The power to possess an indomitable body like steel is a blessing that a physical fighter like me must attain.

‘Not yet. I must wait for the right time.’

The event to meet Geumgang July will happen automatically if I wait. There’s no need to rush.

As the train door opened with a buzz, Alterisha stepped off cautiously. Despite the name ‘Geumhakgwang Academy Entrance Station,’ it took another 10 minutes to reach the academy.

When we arrived at Geumhakgwang Academy, Alterisha and I couldn’t help but feel daunted.

At the front gate of the academy, there were marble stairs covered with a red carpet, lined with ultra-luxurious foreign carriages. Researchers and professors in dazzling formal attire climbed the stairs under the flashes of cameras, making us even more intimidated.

Professor Maizen Tiren would probably have climbed those stairs as well.

“Um… Yu-seol…”

Alterisha looked at me with eyes pleading for help. Fortunately, I had a good idea. For the poor alchemists who found the main stairs for the upper class daunting, there was a small back door.

“Let’s use the back door…”

“Yes! That’s a good idea.”

* * *

In the fantasy genre, dwarves are as essential as elves.

The dwarves in this world differ slightly from the typical mold. Rather than a race of brute strength, forging steel with hammers and wielding axes or war hammers, many dwarves here wore glasses and delved into the origins of matter as alchemists.
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And, they have a very unique sense of aesthetics.

“What’s this? Ugly human folks again!”

The short, brown-skinned dwarves, who only reached the height of a human’s waist, always said ‘ugly’ when they saw humans.

Half the alchemists gathered in the grand hall were dwarves. Despite their dislike for traveling far, they seemed to have flocked here since the presentation was held in their homeland.

“Mr. Hwarseok Koden! Saying ‘ugly’ is not polite in human society when you first meet someone! Please use different language!”

“Oh, is that so? Humans are peculiar.”

In dwarf society, ‘ugly’ is actually one of the highest compliments. Hwarseok Koden, a dwarf, tried befriending humans, but the cultural differences between races made it challenging.

“Humans are indeed fussy.”

Nodding in agreement with his assistant’s words, Hwarseok Koden turned to a nearby human and said.

“Your features are quite a mess.”

…It seemed like he was trying hard to ‘tone it down.’

“Thank you for evaluating my features!”

“Hmm! Though your face may be mashed, it’s admirable that you accept your ugliness. Many humans these days complain despite their looks!”

“Mr. Hwarseok Koden! That’s racial discrimination!”

“Who cares!”

Despite Hwarseok Koden’s blunt remarks, people accepted them, nodding fervently.

This is because he was the only one in this room with the title of ‘Golden Alchemist,’ the highest rank among renowned alchemists.

In the past, holding the title of ‘Golden’ was every alchemist’s dream, making him the best in the industry. Even though he wouldn’t remember faces, it was still beneficial to make a good impression.

Continuing his rounds, Hwarseok Koden approached me, glanced briefly, and murmured as he passed.

“Is this human a man or a woman?”

When I made a baffled expression, his assistant shook her head. Being a human herself, she seemed used to hearing such remarks from Hwarseok Koden.

“Mr. Hwarseok Koden. Generally, men have short hair, and women have long hair.”

“Is that so? Nelly, didn’t you say you’re a human woman? But you have short hair.”

“Nowadays, women have short hair, and men have long hair. Get rid of that narrow-minded, stereotypical view.”

“…Do you want to be fired?”
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“I’ll report it as wrongful dismissal to the labor office.”

Tsk, tsk, humans… Hwarseok Koden clicked his tongue, looked at me, and shook his head.

“Anyway, this one is incredibly confusing.”

I felt deeply hurt.

A lot.

When Hwarseok Koden passed Alterisha, he surprisingly didn’t call her ugly.

“You… Hmm. Well, you look decent enough.”

“Really?! Th-thank you!”

As one renowned for his ‘aesthetic sense,’ Hwarseok Koden’s ‘decent enough’ was the highest praise.

Despite Alterisha’s unkempt appearance and thick-rimmed glasses, many couldn’t see her true beauty. Hwarseok Koden’s eyes saw through all those conditions to her essence.

In any case, she was considered one of the few beauties in dwarf society.

…Of course, ‘decent enough’ in dwarf society is quite harsh.

“Oh, I apologize for my rudeness.”
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So Hwarseok Koden, uncharacteristically, apologized. He didn’t realize his remark was the highest compliment in human society.

“Mr. Hwarseok Koden, could you please take your seat?”

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While Hwarseok Koden was enthusiastically sharing ‘dwarven greetings,’ the emcee, sweating profusely, approached him.

“Is it already time? Alright.”

Alchemists slowly took their seats. Maizen Tiren sat with other professors far away, chatting, ignoring us entirely.
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It didn’t matter. She had done her part by getting Alterisha into the presentation.

When everything was ready, a man who seemed to be the host went up to the podium. Surprisingly, he was an elf.

“Greetings to all the doctors, professors, and researchers of the alchemy society. I am Iptaren, the head researcher of the Alchemy Castle, and I will be hosting the 87th Golden Section Academic Presentation.”

Clap, clap, clap! Light applause followed.

“In the first session, we will discuss the impact of potionology on health and recovery, presenting and analyzing new potions developed by potion scholars. First, we have Professor Maizen Tiren from Stella Academy, presenting on the alpha type of ‘Red Potion.'”

“Whew…”

It was about to start.

Alterisha’s hands trembled with nervousness. Unfortunately, as a spectator, I couldn’t stay by her side to comfort her. All I could do was give her a thumbs-up from afar.

“Hello. I am Maizen Tiren from Stella Academy, presenting on the alpha type of ‘Red Potion.'”

“Wow…!”

Red Potions are recovery potions with many types and derivatives.

Recovery potions are popular, but improving them further and enhancing their performance is challenging. The reaction from the start was quite good.

And, it was all Alterisha’s research result.

“Now, if you look this way…”
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Despite that, Maizen Tiren acted as if the thesis was entirely her own, proceeding smoothly with the presentation.

“Impressive, Professor Maizen Tiren!”

“Improving the Red Potion? That’s a great idea.”

This praise, according to the original ‘episode,’ would have been for Alterisha.

There were many ways to expose her. By asking detailed questions that only Alterisha knew, about how and why she used specific formulas and substances in her unique blend.

Just a few detailed questions would fluster her into nonsensical babbling.

But I held back.

Alterisha also held back and waited.

Like a predator waiting for the right moment.

Today’s presentation would be different from any other.

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

Maizen Tiren’s presentation concluded successfully, followed by professors, researchers, and alchemists presenting.

Today’s presentations were of much higher quality than average, prompting some merchants and business people in attendance to act quickly.

“…Next, we have the assistant of Professor Maizen Tiren from Stella Academy presenting.”

During Alterisha’s turn, her name wasn’t even mentioned.

“So, about the potion this time, that pharmaceutical company from before…”

“Great presentation. About that natural regeneration cell extraction you explained…”

“Haha, that protective stick coating solution you’re developing? I’ll put in a word for you on that.”

No one paid attention to the assistant’s presentation.

In the midst of everyone’s indifference.

“…Huff!”

Alterisha stood up slowly and walked to the podium. With a slightly trembling voice, she greeted everyone.

“Nice to meet you. I am Alterisha, an alchemist from Stella Academy. Today’s presentation topic is…”

Still ignored.

But it was expected.

Thus, she uttered a spell more magical than magic itself to capture everyone’s attention.

“…The perfect summary and understanding of the ‘Random Aeration Cross Formula.'”

At that moment.

All noise in the hall ceased.

End of Chapter