Chapter 726: The Wizard and the Magic Tower (3)
Rebatenon Magic University.
Aris Richellen’s laboratory.
In the lab, which had now half become Lennok’s own room, Lennok was watching the news via a secret line.
Crackle, static…!!
Without an anchor to deliver the news, strange, monstrous characters flowed rhythmically across the static-filled screen.
A bizarre cipher, entirely different from the common continental language Lennok knew and used.
This screen, resembling an indecipherable urban legend, was one of the very few secret lines that shared publicly disclosed information from the Central Front.
An antenna made with a special catalyst produced only in the central regions.
By tuning to irregularly shifting frequencies through it, one could at least superficially hear information from the Central Front.
Truly important news occurring deep within the veil was unheard, but when major figures moved, their aftermath could still be heard, albeit belatedly.
Static…!!
[Gap in the First Gateway.]
[Blaiver Magic Tower Lord’s retirement or assassination.]
[Massive movement of the Cult Apostles.]
[Superhuman Awakening Vanguard’s ‘Strategic Weapon’ ceremony one month away.]
[Headro Warlords resuming activity.]
“…”
Although information from near the Central Front was being indiscriminately scattered, not all of it was true.
As Lennok, who knew the full story, he understood that the transmitted information was heavily mixed with speculation and personal opinions, but it would be difficult for those who hadn’t stepped foot on the front lines to distinguish.
Originally, this line wasn’t something Lennok connected to obtain himself.
He was merely using the line that Dean Saiolus Garteanon personally possessed, having taken it without permission.
It was one of the small gains Lennok had acquired since gaining free access to the dean’s office after publishing his second thesis.
[Boo~]
A furball spirit squirmed and crawled onto Lennok’s head as he stared blankly at the static-filled screen.
The furball, looking down at Lennok upside down from his head, covered its eyes with both paws and shook its head.
[Boo-boo~ Boooo~]
“…”
Davi, claws sharpened in his arms, retorted curtly.
[Master, you won’t hurt your eyes just by watching TV for a bit.]
[Boo-boo~]
[That’s farsightedness, though.]
He wondered what it was trying to say, but it seemed to mean he shouldn’t watch the screen for too long.
No, there was something else more interesting.
“…You understood what I said?”
[Well, basic communication is possible, of course.]
Davi tapped his tail, replying.
[As a long-lived spirit, I have quite a bit of independence in terms of self-formation and memory.]
“I see…”
[Of course, not as much as me!]
Davi’s tail fanned out as he boasted proudly.
Lennok stroked the spirit, which had been asserting itself much more lately, and picked up the remote control.
To maintain the line, he had to regularly change the frequency.
Just as he was about to operate the remote control to check for any remaining information or news about the Tower Lord, a knock sounded at the lab door.
“Professor?”
Lennok quickly turned off the screen and replied.
“Come in.”
Creak!!
The one who opened the door and entered was a female student with striking blue hair.
It was a face Lennok knew well.
Priscilla, the younger sister of the mercenary Mila, whom he knew through his Van alias.
An undergraduate student with exceptional talent in Waterflow Magic, but who, conversely, wanted to work in the mercenary industry, following her sister.
Priscilla carefully closed the door and entered the lab, then looked at Lennok, who was holding the remote, and asked in surprise.
“Did I perhaps interrupt you?”
“…No. It wasn’t something that needed to be done right away.”
Lennok said, pointing to the single-seater sofa opposite him.
“Coffee is fine, right?”
“Ah, thank you…”
Priscilla, sipping from a mug held in both hands, cast a glance at Lennok.
Lennok looked at her and nodded.
“Feel free to ask any questions you have. Is it about lectures or a thesis?”
“Ah, of course there’s that, but…”
Priscilla smiled awkwardly.
“It’s my first time seeing the professor watch TV, so I was curious what program you were watching.”
“…There’s nothing difficult about it.”
If he switched the input, a normal channel would appear on the screen again.
He didn’t know what channel was currently on, as he had connected the secret line for information as soon as he arrived at the lab, but it wasn’t something to be embarrassed about.
As long as Davi, who could freely manipulate electronic devices, was there, he would immediately switch the channel to one that wouldn’t raise suspicion.
As Lennok replied casually and turned on the screen, a cheerful voice and boisterous music burst forth.
[A luxurious cruise trip exclusively for spirits! Apply now!!]
An advertisement showed dozens of spirits dancing cutely on a giant ship.
[Does your lifelong companion seem down lately? Or perhaps they’re not eating their snacks well?]
A man who looked like a celebrity on the ship winked.
[For you, a special discount sale on the spirit cruise package!! 5 million cells for 14 days. An unbelievably low price!!]
“…”
“…”
Priscilla’s eyes were wide, and Lennok, holding the remote, froze like a stone.
Davi proudly puffed out his chest, and the furball spirit rolled around on the floor, excited by the screen, crying out.
[Boo! Boo! Boo!]
Priscilla, who had been subtly watching Lennok, cleared her throat.
“Ahem, if you were planning a trip, did I perhaps interrupt….”
“…No, it’s fine.”
Lennok turned off the screen with the remote again, and with his other hand, he grabbed Davi’s tail and smiled.
Priscilla nodded, as if she understood.
“As expected, Professor, you’re very interested in the welfare and relaxation of spirits.”
“If your curiosity has been satisfied, shall we get to the main point?”
“Ah, yes.”
Priscilla said, nodding, but couldn’t resist asking.
“To become a spirit user, is it only possible for someone who pays such meticulous attention to spirits, like the professor?”
“Pardon?”
“To be with a wonderful spirit like Davi, one must have innate talent or devote great care, right….”
Seeing Priscilla looking somewhat dejected, Lennok rested his chin in his hand and tilted his gaze.
Her reaction itself seemed related to the purpose of her visit to the lab.
“Priscilla. Do you want to become a spirit user?”
“Ah, no. Rather than wanting to become one… I’m just now realizing how amazing it is to handle spirits.”
Priscilla gave a wry smile.
“I’ve been looking for work, and almost all companies have ‘spirit user’ listed as a preferred qualification. There’s an atmosphere where they hire them regardless of their spirit’s lineage.”
“…”
“Even in the field, spirit users are much more preferred than ordinary wizards.”
“That’s because spirits often have combat abilities separate from their users.”
Lennok replied.
“They can assist in operations independently of the user’s combat abilities, and often perform tasks that a wizard would normally do.”
In high-tier combat, such things become rare as their specialties are strictly divided.
However, in the field Priscilla wished to work, such versatility was naturally preferred.
“Haa… I really want to work in the field if possible, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.”
“Didn’t you receive several offers from city government-affiliated research institutes?”
Quite some time had passed since Lennok began working as an assistant professor at Rebatenon.
Priscilla, who had been a freshman just entering university when they first met, was now at the stage of deciding her career path.
He had heard that Priscilla’s aptitude for Waterflow Magic and her excellent grades had attracted the attention of various research institutions.
Since Waterflow Magic was relatively helpful for delicate tasks, she, too, could receive good treatment.
However, Priscilla didn’t seem interested in research institutions from the start.
“You still want to go into the field.”
“Because my sister is there. My mind hasn’t changed.”
Priscilla said.
“It’s thanks to my sister that I could become a wizard. Now I want to help her.”
“I see…”
Of course, Lennok had no intention of advising on Mila and Priscilla’s family relationship, so he merely gave a suitable affirmative response.
From the outset, there was no way Lennok could help with her decision.
If she had aspired to a research institute, he might have been able to offer advice or help in his Evan identity, but his position as an assistant professor at this university strictly kept its distance from such underworld connections.
Perhaps if Priscilla had come to Adamant Thunder instead of Evan, he might have been able to provide meaningful help.
In fact, wouldn’t Aris have found a proper solution if she had been in this position instead of Lennok?
As Lennok fell silent, thinking this, Priscilla began to glance at him.
“Um, so about that…”
She looked as if she was preparing to say something difficult.
Lennok nodded.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
He had known Priscilla for quite some time at the university, and her sister, Mila, was someone he had befriended through various identities.
While it would be difficult to put in a direct request or place her directly in the field, lending Evan’s name would certainly give him some credit.
As Lennok thought this, waiting for her to speak, Priscilla seemed to make up her mind and said.
“Actually, I… I’ve decided where I’m going to go.”
“Where?”
“You must know already, Professor, but I heard a new Magic Tower is going to be built in Vulcan soon.”
“…What?”
Lennok momentarily failed to understand her words and questioned her, as Priscilla explained.
“It’s a Magic Tower scheduled to be established in the outer district, and it’s virtually the first of its kind in Vulcan. All my classmates are talking about it.”
“…”
“It’s a formally approved Magic Tower that’s relatively close to the field, and rumors are circulating that they’ll soon be accepting applicants.”
“That’s…”
“I, so, I’m going to apply there.”
“…”
Lennok couldn’t reply immediately and fell silent.
He had expected rumors to spread since he had installed an engine in the tower and hadn’t hidden the construction site.
However, he hadn’t anticipated that even the undergraduates at Rebatenon would already be talking about it.
Moreover, were rumors even circulating that since a new tower was built, they would be recruiting personnel?
Of course, after the tower’s construction was complete, personnel would be needed to assist Tatiana Chiglet and Jenny… but he hadn’t even thought that far ahead.
As Lennok managed his expression while thinking this, Priscilla spoke.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but the owner of the newly built tower is a wizard named Adamant Thunder.”
“…Have you heard any rumors about him?”
“Yes. The rumors say he’s a very cruel and ruthless person…”
“…”
Priscilla’s complexion paled slightly as she said this, and Lennok remained silent.
Priscilla forced herself to sound cheerful.
“Th-that’s okay, though. I heard he hasn’t caused any major incidents lately, and he’s too sick to even bother with anything.”
“Hmm…”
He had caused a series of incidents recently, though. And he wasn’t that sick.
From Lennok’s perspective, the rumor itself was a strange, unpleasant piece of nonsense to begin with.
“…Judging everything solely by rumors is a bad habit.”
Lennok coughed and replied, and Priscilla’s face brightened slightly.
“Right?”
“Well… when you actually meet him, he might turn out to be a surprisingly kind and polite person, don’t you think?”
[….]
[Boo-boo-boo?]
Davi’s incredulous gaze, and the furball spirit rolling around beside them, whimpering.
Lennok ignored their reactions completely and said.
“Of course, I believe Priscilla will judge well, but someone who can establish a Magic Tower must certainly possess excellent intellect and character.”
“Ah, that’s actually one of the reasons I decided I should apply to the tower.”
“What is it?”
“My sister used to absolutely oppose me joining any field-related organization. But when I told her I was applying to the Magic Tower…”
Priscilla smiled.
“She thought about it for a long time, then said she’d try to use her influence.”
“…”
“I wonder what kind of connections my sister has to a Magic Tower that she’d say she’d use her influence. Isn’t she really full of bluff?”
“…Indeed.”
Lennok replied with a smile.
“I’m really curious what she was thinking when she said that.”