It’s an Academic Fact That Rankers Are Model Students – Chapter 180

Chapter 180: The Thesis That Ignites (Fire/Chaos) (1)

Flash!

Light emanated from the letter.

Kyung-joon instinctively knew it was magic.

[Unique skill 『P.S.』 ]

Wooong!

The light from the letter began to form letters in the air.

A postscript left by Larev for Kyung-joon.

『P.S. We hope the wings you received weren’t too inconvenient to use?

We’re adding this postscript just in case they were.』

Seeing that, Kyung-joon smirked.

“Haha. Trying to tease me, huh?”

The Improved Wings of the Sylph that the Fairy-Elven Alliance had sent along with their message suggesting they become close.

If they knew Kyung-joon couldn’t use them properly, their internal evaluation of him would surely drop.

But there was no need to worry about that.

Although he couldn’t control the wings as freely as fairies or other skilled elves, he had developed a very scientific method of flight called Shadow Step and was utilizing it well.

Sha-la-lang.

The letters of light floating in the air changed into other letters as if they had a will of their own.

『P.S. Actually, the main point of this letter concerns the Fairy-Elven Magic Academy, which Kyung-joon-nim has already visited once.

You’ve already read the official introduction, so you know what I’m going to say.

That’s right.

We would like to further research the ‘Scroll Programming’ mentioned in the heat pump thesis you co-authored with Ezeri Caprice.』

“As expected. I knew this was coming.”

Kyung-joon was well aware of how amazing his scroll magic was compared to the conventional methods.

Just by checking the skill window, he could see that the efficiency had improved fivefold and the power had doubled.

(※Scroll efficiency: How much mana can be stored in one scroll.)

(※Scroll power: How much more work can be done with the same amount of mana.)

With this alone, it was impossible for things to stay calm.

The moment they confirmed how much the efficiency and power had increased, they couldn’t help but want to bring him in immediately.

“I don’t know for sure, but I bet the Scroll Department is clamoring to bring me in right now, right?”

<ꉂꉂ (ᵔᗜᵔ*)>

At Larev’s postscript, Kyung-joon and Teemo chuckled with the leisure of those who knew.

<As you said, they most certainly are. They’re probably running around like headless chickens looking for Master right now.>

But Larev’s postscript didn’t end there.

『P.S. Perhaps this won’t resonate with you much.』

“Huh?”

<ಠಒ್ದಠ?>

A phrase that hinted at a twist.

It was like the word ‘however’ in an English passage.

It felt like it needed to be underlined.

As Kyung-joon and Teemo’s eyes focused,

Sha-la-lang~

The golden letters rearranged themselves once again, forming a new sentence.

『P.S. In fact, at our Fairy-Elven Magic Academy, scroll magic had already reached its developmental limits and was perceived as a field with no future.

However, just a few months ago, a different wind began to blow.

Thanks to Kyung-joon-nim’s heat pump thesis, that is.

And whether by coincidence or fate……

The title of your heat pump thesis is proving to be quite apt at the moment.』

“Huh…? Apt? My thesis?”

What was it trying to say?

He didn’t have to wait long to find out, as the next postscript revealed all.

『P.S. Explosion and fire at the Hall of Wisdom: 37 incidents.

Explosion and fire at the Scroll Department student laboratory: 45 incidents.

Scroll explosion and classroom fire during class: 51 incidents.

All justified as ‘unavoidable for scroll programming research’.

Establishment of the radical scroll programming group ‘Scrollpia’ within the academy.

In response, the anti-scroll programming coalition ‘Those Who Tear Apart Tradition’, also known as “TTT,” was also formed.

Duels between Scrollpia and TTT within the academy: 83 incidents.

.

.

.

The situation is escalating further due to the absence of the Battle Magic Department on emergency dispatch training.』

That’s right.

Kyung-joon’s heat pump thesis.

True to its name, the thesis was now acting as a pump that ignited (fire/chaos), setting fires all over the magic academy.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

A few weeks before Larev’s letter arrived.

Ezeri Caprice.

She was deep in thought.

“……So you’re saying you’re the Chief Magic Officer from the Magic Tower 『Arc-en-Ciel』, and you’ve come to take me there?”

“That’s right. To put it more elegantly, I’m Merde, the CMO of Arc-en-Ciel, here to scout you, Ezeri Caprice.”

Her expression seemed to say, ‘You’ve obviously heard of me, right?’

The way she spoke as if stating a universally known fact, without a hint of boasting, was strangely infuriating.

“……”

Her confidence bordered on arrogance.

Ezeri, speechless and bewildered, continued to fidget with her master’s degree certificate.

Of course, she had heard of her.

Merde Adivite.

The founder and master of modern scroll magic, from the great magic tower 『Arc-en-Ciel』.

And the Chief Magic Officer (CMO) responsible for all magic research there was none other than Merde Adivite.

“Hmm? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

The esteemed CMO tilted her head, puzzled by Ezeri’s continued silence.

“Is it too shocking? I understand. It’s not every day that a newly graduated master’s student, not even a doctorate, gets scouted by a great magic tower like ours. It’s understandable to be shocked.”

Merde nodded to herself, seemingly convinced by her own reasoning.

Then, she offered some advice.

“Well, in this job market, being scouted by a great magic tower is no small feat! Go on, laugh. Jump for joy and express your happiness. Don’t mind me. Young people these days try to suppress their emotions to appear mature, but it’s good to laugh and cry freely while you’re young. We can’t do that once we’re four or five hundred years old, you know.”

“……”

“Ezeri, you’re lucky. This is one of those moments. A moment so joyful it makes you want to cry. I’ll allow it. Young people these days are so self-conscious, aren’t they? Don’t worry about any of that and just let it all out. You must have accumulated a lot during your master’s program, right? I mean, you managed to produce research worthy of this offer, so you must have something. Go on, cry, rejoice, laugh.”

As Ezeri remained silent, Merde continued to ramble on her own.

Finally, Ezeri, with a look of utter exasperation, spoke.

“No…… I’m not going to laugh or cry, because I’m not going to your company……”

“Hmm? What was that? I think I misheard you.”

“I’m saying I’m declining your offer.”

Merde’s eyes widened at Ezeri’s firm refusal.

And then……

Bang!

Merde suddenly slammed her hand on the desk.

Ezeri flinched at the unexpected outburst.

“So…… So, you’re rejecting me?”

Merde pressed her slightly reddened palm to her forehead, her voice trembling.

Her gaze not meeting Ezeri’s, she continued,

“Yes. It makes sense. Scroll programming, was it? Applying knowledge from another world to create a new scroll writing method. It’s understandable that you’d reject us, considering you dabbled in something from another world that most wizards would avoid.”

Merde pulled out a stack of papers as thick as a wallet from her inventory.

It was her notebook filled with scribbles.

Ezeri wondered why she was showing it to her, but upon closer inspection, she recognized the content.

“This is…… coding……?”

One of the scroll programming methods that Ezeri had learned from Kyung-joon.

Merde nodded at her question.

“I’ve been teaching myself based on your thesis. I still don’t fully understand the thought process of an otherworlder, but I recognize the potential of this scroll programming. That’s why I, a busy and important figure, came here personally. With the CMO herself making an effort, do you still think Arc-en-Ciel is outdated?”

“No, I never said it was outdated……”

“Anyway. We at Arc-en-Ciel are seeking change. We are no longer the Arc-en-Ciel of the past. We, I…… am willing to utilize even the knowledge of otherworlders for the sake of progress.”

“Um, I see?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Ezeri glanced at Merde’s ears.

They were just clean ears.

Usually, there would be an engagement earring or at least a mark left behind even after a divorce.

But for someone her age to have nothing……

Ezeri had a feeling she knew why.

As the silence stretched on, Merde finally had to accept the truth.

“So you’re saying you don’t want to come.”

“Yes, like I said.”

“But why? Did another great magic tower make you a better offer? I was probably the first to learn about your thesis outside of the academy, hmm.”

As Merde began to speculate on her own, Ezeri decided to be upfront with her reasons.

“No, I haven’t received any other offers. As you said, I’m just a master’s graduate. I was planning on pursuing a doctorate. In fact, I was about to apply for the doctoral program right after today’s graduation ceremony, so this is…… a bit sudden and difficult.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Merde nodded at Ezeri’s explanation.

“Phew.”

Ezeri felt a sense of relief, thinking the conversation had finally reached a conclusion.

But then, just as she let her guard down, a piercing remark struck her core.

“So you’re saying you’ll come after you get your doctorate?”

“That……”

“You won’t.”

“……Yes.”

Ezeri nodded, confirming Merde’s assertion.

She already had a destination in mind after graduation.

It wasn’t a formal promise, but a vow she had made to herself countless times.

With a serious expression, Ezeri straightened her posture and bowed respectfully.

“I’ve already decided where I want to go. After I finish my doctorate, I plan to go there. I’m truly honored and grateful for your scouting offer, but I’m afraid I must decline.”

“Hmm, hmm.”

Merde, with her arms crossed, bobbed her head up and down like a nodding doll in response to Ezeri’s formal rejection.

“I see. So you’re going to win over a man, to pursue love.”

“Pfft?!”

Thud!

Startled, Ezeri instinctively pushed back from the desk, her knees colliding painfully with the underside.

“A m, man…? L, love…? What are you talking about?”

Ezeri clutched her throbbing knees, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

“What else could it be? It’s obvious, just from reading that heat pump thesis of yours.”

The heat pump thesis that Ezeri and Kyung-joon had co-authored.

She might not have realized it, but the thesis contained subtle hints that highlighted Kyung-joon’s contributions.

While others might simply interpret it as 『This otherworlder named Kyung-joon came up with scroll programming, and it’s amazing』, Merde had read between the lines and correctly deciphered the deeper emotions woven into the text.

“Was it that obvious?”

“I may not be proud of this, but I’ve lived alone for 400 years. It’s given me a certain insight into these matters.”

They say that humans become wizards after being single for over 25 years.

And elves, after 400 years of solitude, develop a sixth sense.

And that sixth sense was on full display at this very moment.

“Yes, well. I wanted to bring both of you in, you and that otherworlder. But it seems I’m too late. Very well. Very well indeed.”

Thump!

Merde pulled out a large bundle from her inventory and placed it on the desk.

“Gasp! This is……!”

Ezeri’s eyes widened like saucers at the sight of the bundle’s contents.

Translator’s Blog

Blog

• Is Your Cat Plotting Your Demise (While You’re Face Down, Drunk)?
• Lacus Clyne: The Ultimate Waifu? A Gundam SEED Freedom Deep Dive
• My Two Classmates Just Went Full Anime Fight Club Over… WAIFUS?!
• Unlocking Your Inner Naruto Fox: Finding Your Sasuke and Mastering the Sharingan
• Aqua Hoshino: The Ultimate Husbando?