Chapter 773: The Third Thesis (7)
The mega-city of Vulcan. The bustling central district’s plaza.
Beyond dozens of billboards hung in every direction, only one person’s face has been illuminated for quite some time.
He stands with his back to a dark void, countless clusters of light floating around him, calmly gazing at the camera.
Everyone standing in the street stared silently, as if mesmerized, at the man’s face.
A faint warmth, not yet even proper excitement.
A momentary pause, as they hadn’t yet grasped the true value of the magic system Evan had unveiled.
“He ended up making the announcement after all.”
An old man, leaning against a nearby table, watched the expressions of the people slowly change as they understood the announcement’s content.
He propped his chin with a bored look, sipping from a small water bottle.
His face, whose age could only be guessed by the passage of time, was remarkably ordinary and clean, as if artificially created.
“The Common Magic system is, no matter how I think about it, an excessively troublesome power. He must know it’s difficult to handle.”
A new magic system unconstrained by lineage, attribute, origin, or birth.
Among those countless people, could there be anyone who truly understood its real meaning, even slightly?
“They say the choice is his, but I wonder… will others truly accept it in the same way?”
“Didn’t you go meet him in person to confirm that?”
As if sensing The Doctor’s indifferent reaction, the nun sitting opposite him quietly replied.
“It’s unlike you to say something like that, after bothering to take human form and come all the way to Vulcan.”
“Indeed. He didn’t seem consumed by talent, but perhaps that would have been better.”
The Doctor, stroking his chin, responded.
“If he were arrogant and lacking in empathy, I would have just enjoyed the show. But it seems he has something more up his sleeve…”
“…”
Even as he spoke, The Doctor kept sucking on the water bottle in his hand.
The bottle itself was made of sturdy metal, hiding its contents, but Hylaea knew it wasn’t ordinary liquid.
“This discussion about the thesis. Is it really alright to continue it here? If you’re comfortable, we could move somewhere else—”
She subtly glanced around, her arms crossed.
At first glance, everyone seemed focused on the billboards, paying no attention to the two of them.
But Hylaea also knew how many eyes watched and ears listened in this city.
Being with The Doctor meant no worries about their conversation leaking, but it was still natural to be cautious with their words.
However, The Doctor nodded lazily at Hylaea.
“Let them listen. If someone can break through the Seven-Colored Joint Elastic Barrier to eavesdrop, I’d almost want them to hear our conversation.”
“…What kind of technology is that?”
Understanding that, somehow, unknown technology was blocking eavesdropping, Hylaea set down her tumbler and asked.
“If what Evan Vylun announced is ancient world magic, then why didn’t you, Doctor, touch it?”
The Doctor of Pandemonium, Artemeyer, had researched ancient world civilization more deeply than anyone she knew.
Even before joining Pandemonium, he was a genius researcher who designed the Ascension Gate connected to ancient world relics.
Naturally, he must have known that the Common Magic system Evan announced was magic that already existed in the ancient world.
If so, why did The Doctor know about Common Magic but not reveal it?
“Even without the Director’s orders, you could have accessed Common Magic through the Ascension Gate left in Machina. Wouldn’t it be nothing but beneficial?”
Even to Hylaea, who wasn’t deeply knowledgeable about magic, the potential of Common Magic was indescribable.
Unlike existing unique magic, its single overwhelming strength was that it wasn’t greatly constrained by lineage, hierarchy, origin, or talent.
Its immense versatility would appeal not only to wizards but also to practitioners of other magical systems.
Even if it was only used through terminal-like learning devices, once it began to be widely distributed, the story would change.
Currently, attention was focused only on the three Common Magic spells Evan had unveiled, but what if the number steadily increased and the uses of Common Magic expanded?
Evan Vylun alone controlled all that information, which seemed considerably valuable even now, unilaterally adjusting the extent of its release.
By all accounts, Evan Vylun was on the verge of gaining a reputation as a pioneer unlike any before.
What could be the reason why none of the powerful figures, including The Doctor, who knew the world’s secrets, had dared to attempt that method?
But The Doctor scoffed as soon as he heard Hylaea’s words.
“You’re making a big mistake. It wasn’t that I didn’t do it; I couldn’t.”
“…You couldn’t do it?”
“Because I’m not a wizard. If anything, I’m closer to an engineer.”
The Doctor replied.
“Researching ancient world magic is far from my work. It’s inefficient, and it’s not even the method we pursue. Besides—”
“Besides?”
The Doctor, who had been silent for a moment at Hylaea’s question, turned his gaze and said.
“Originally, the Common Magic system was a spell that couldn’t be used in this world. Unless it’s a method embedded in an artifact, it’s a power that, on its own, has no reproducibility.”
“…Why?”
“Well. I don’t know either. Could it be because someone secretly wished for it?”
The Doctor laughed, casually brushing off Hylaea’s question.
“When the world’s causality ended once again, who knows what kind of deal was made…”
“…”
Did Hylaea understand the meaning of The Doctor’s words?
But without explaining further, both of them, as if by agreement, looked at the billboard.
Now, the camera showed not Evan, but the observers manipulating learning devices inside the Magic Tower.
“But Evan Vylun succeeded in processing the Common Magic system so it could be used in this world.”
The Doctor said, subtly lifting his gaze.
“I think… that might be the true value of the third thesis.”
His emotionless eyes turned towards the top of the super-tall building far in the distance.
WHOOSH!!!
Balitz Corp. Headquarters, top floor executive office rooftop.
Someone called out to a man standing on the spacious balcony outside the executive office window.
“Vice President Ykavon.”
Someone, bowing so deeply their face wasn’t visible, quietly reported the situation.
“Professor Vylun’s seminar schedule has officially concluded.”
“Results?”
“The planning department’s assessment that a reproducibility review of ancient world technology would occur was correct.”
Dante replied quietly.
“However, the reproduced technology itself is deemed too absurd…”
“Report.”
Ykavon silently skimmed the report handed to him by his secretary, then pulled the trigger of the pistol he held.
BANG!!
With that gesture, the person trembling before him rolled their eyes back and collapsed.
“Find out in detail how Evan Vylun’s safety is being ensured.”
Ykavon irritably brushed his hand, watching the attendants disappear, recovering the body. He muttered.
“If a fool who’s only needlessly clever falls into the hands of another faction, it will come back as a disgustingly huge loss.”
As someone from the secretarial staff scurried away, Ykavon turned his gaze back.
“Also, inform all subordinate business units. They are absolutely not to approach Common Magic system-related projects unilaterally.”
Behind the quiet executive office, dozens of aged executives, with stern faces, were looking at the same screen as Ykavon.
These were the senior executives leading Balitz Corp.’s business units.
All of them had independent authority within the company to lead projects.
Ykavon ignored the executives and gave a slight nod.
“This is related to very ancient causality. Until we confirm Professor Vylun’s tendency to update Common Magic, we will focus on caution. Understand?”
“Understood.”
“Good. I have a discussion with the old men of the Central Council now, so you may leave.”
As soon as the stern words sent the executives hastily clearing the office, Ykavon wasted no time grabbing his phone.
“Yes, Councilman.”
Ykavon immediately connected a call somewhere, twisting his lips as he looked down at the window.
“I told you to clear your schedule for a while, didn’t I?”
“…”
Ykavon took the phone away from his ear, letting someone’s agitated voice shout.
Only after the shouting subsided did Ykavon speak again, nonchalantly.
“That’s not my concern. I don’t care if it gets dangerous or not.”
“…”
“However, call Councilwoman Amanda separately and have her clarify her position. Understood?”
Ykavon muttered, looking at the brightly lit streetscape.
“If you want to prevent further talk about this seminar, you’ll need to manage the mouths of the friends you’ve put in place.”
After Lennok presented his third thesis, only one thing was being talked about in public.
[Evan Vylun. Founder of a New Magic System.]
[The Common Magic System, unconstrained by attributes and rules, is born.]
It wasn’t just that it occupied the front page; the entire newspaper published today was solely about the thesis.
“How can they focus so differently?”
Lennok muttered, sitting in the Magic Tower’s top-floor meeting room, looking at the headline on the front page of the newspaper.
Davi, licking her paws on the table, replied as if it were no big deal.
[It’s to increase attention by slightly distorting information. It happens all the time, doesn’t it?]
“…”
[Actually, I often use that trick to boost views on the deep web… Mmmph!]
Lennok pulled Davi’s cheeks, then flipped the newspaper page.
[Rebatenon Administrative Office announced the completion of Evan Vylun’s integrated Master’s and Ph.D. program review…]
[A degree conferment ceremony is expected with the results… Will a new endowed professor emerge?]
[The Life of Evan Vylun, who became a Grand Master of New Magic. How an unnamed researcher became Vulcan’s representative scholar.]
The articles were full of absurd exaggerations of Lennok’s life story and sensational rumors about Evan’s identity.
It was only after flipping through many pages that expert opinions and discussions about the thesis began to appear.
[On the existence of the Common Magic system ‘Dexter’. Experts refute it, claiming it’s an ancient legacy that existed long ago.]
[Evan Vylun’s true achievement is proving the practical existence of versatile magic, which only existed in theory.]
“Hmm…”
Only then did Lennok, rummaging through the articles with interest, nod his head.
“It wasn’t all nonsense. So others knew about the theory, after all?”
Why had no one used the Common Magic system in the Third World?
It was a question Lennok had held since he first opened his eyes in this world.
At first, he thought Common Magic had been forgotten, but many other ancient world relics and technologies had already been excavated.
Among the countless geniuses and monsters Lennok knew, there must have been someone who knew of Common Magic’s existence.
Yet, if Common Magic had never been used, what was the fundamental reason?
Lennok only realized there was a problem with the magic itself after attempting to teach Common Magic to others.
‘For some reason, the mana fluctuations become excessively strong when Common Magic is cast.’
The moment Common Magic was chanted, the surrounding mana became incredibly unstable, and the chanting itself would be disrupted.
It was beyond merely unusable; it was to the extent that one might suspect it didn’t exist as a magic system in the first place.
This was a fact Lennok didn’t know because he could suppress and wield those fluctuations with his transcendent mana manipulation ability.
It wasn’t so much because Lennok remembered Common Magic, but rather because he was a being who had pushed a wizard’s talent to its limit.
Only after realizing this did Lennok understand that Common Magic required special ‘processing’ for others to use it.
‘By using the Magic Flow Recreation Module to stabilize the fluctuations and amplify reproducibility, it can be used while maintaining its versatility.’
Lennok realized this while writing the thesis and found that if there was a recreation module operating through circulation, he could immediately achieve the desired results.
The ‘update’ mentioned during the seminar presentation was precisely the process of processing the Common Magic Lennok used so it could be reproduced through the module.
Therefore, strictly speaking, the Common Magic Lennok used and the Common Magic that would be embedded in learning devices were practically different magics.
It was a process of significantly reducing performance to enhance versatility, integrating it into this world in a way that aligned with Common Magic’s original purpose.
Even if it seemed like a half-baked achievement, Lennok was convinced that this update itself would be unequivocally beneficial.
[It is currently known that Professor Vylun has entered an indefinite seclusion to update the fourth Common Magic…]
[Despite protests over his refusal of all interviews and coverage and his absence, Rebatenon and the Magic Tower maintain a firm stance…]
‘With the update as a pretext, I can directly control the speed and extent of the Common Magic system’s release.’
Lennok thought this as he flipped the newspaper.
‘If I cooperate with the Magic Tower to handle related tasks, I won’t have to individually create alibis every time Evan and Van are away.’
Once learning devices begin to be mass-produced and distributed throughout Vulcan, Davi’s scope of activity through the terminals will also greatly expand.
If the Common Magic created by Lennok begins to spread throughout Vulcan in this way, he can secure insurance even in unintended directions.
Praise and criticism, suspicion and elation.
As he rummaged through the newspaper, admiring the dedication that managed to capture such diverse reactions overnight and publish them as articles.
Someone knocked on the door from outside the room.
“Come in.”
Lennok answered, hiding Davi in his arms, and the door burst open as if on cue.
Jenny, her eyes hollow and her hair not even properly styled, walked in silently and sat across from Lennok.
Felix and Tatiana, who followed, also simply found their seats with blank expressions.
“…”
The four of them remained silent, not saying a word.
Only the awkward atmosphere in the office indirectly proved the outcome of the seminar.
Jenny sighed softly and spoke weakly.
“All the observers who participated in the seminar have been sent back.”
“You worked hard. Would you like some water?”
Her voice was so dry it was cracking, as if she hadn’t had anything to drink all day.
It was such an intense workload that Jenny’s vocal cords, which were fine even after shouting at freelancers all day, were now parched.
But Jenny shook her head at Evan’s consideration and spoke.
“They all kept insisting they wanted to touch the learning devices more. If the devices hadn’t all broken down midway, they absolutely wouldn’t have left.”
“I see…”
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Jenny’s eyes glinted sharply as she looked at Lennok.
“You deliberately made the learning devices shoddy, so they wouldn’t last long.”
“…”
“Did you know what people’s reactions would be after the announcement?”
Did she believe that even the shoddy design of the device was a calculated move?
Lennok subtly avoided Jenny’s sharp gaze.
“There was just a lack of time and budget. It wasn’t intentional. However…”
“However?”
“I did expect the reaction to be intense, either way.”
“…”
As Jenny fell silent, looking incredulous, Tatiana nodded.
“That’s not wrong. Vulcan is indeed in great chaos right now, just as Professor said.”
“The Central Council is even discussing a proposal to temporarily close District 49. This is a problem we can’t handle.”
Felix muttered, as Lennok remained silent.
“But it truly is astonishing. A practitioner who hasn’t even transcended hierarchy, creating a new magic system through his own research…”
“…”
“Thanks to that, any suspicion that you borrowed Van’s help has completely vanished. It’s obvious since Van couldn’t have created another magic system. Though that’s probably the only good news…”
“I should correct that misunderstanding.”
Lennok adjusted his posture and said.
“It seems to be covered in the articles, but I didn’t create the Common Magic system alone. I merely discovered theoretical regularities and refined them so anyone could use them.”
Lennok said this, turning his gaze.
“Wizard Chiglet. Isn’t that right?”
“It’s true that there were various academic speculations about the existence of Common Magic, but…”
Tatiana replied with a hesitant expression.
“Processing it to a usable level and distributing it in the form of learning devices is an entirely different matter.”
Tatiana shook her head and said.
“Proving a theoretical hypothesis and releasing it to the world. We call that founding a new magic. You are overly modest.”
“…”
“What Professor has accomplished is an unprecedented feat that no practitioner on the continent has ever challenged. It would be good for you to fully recognize its value.”
Tatiana sighed softly and said.
“It’s fortunate that this announcement was made at the Magic Tower. Perhaps because of the notoriety associated with Van’s name, there seem to be no ominous signs yet.”
Felix turned his gaze.
“Professor Vylun. The controversial part of your thesis is not just the existence of the learning devices.”
“…”
“The fact that you have proven a new magic system that previously didn’t exist. The Professor might have intended this as a secondary achievement of the thesis… but how would this announcement appear to others?”
Felix subtly glanced out the window and said.
“Even discovering rules that didn’t previously exist would be a feat of the century, so there’s no one who would easily accept that you refined it into a form usable by everyone.”
“That’s…”
“This should have been announced much more slowly, and the achievements divided into stages. At least, from my limited understanding, that’s how it seems.”
That wasn’t wrong.
After all, Lennok had significantly moved up the schedule to announce the thesis’s results within a week, so it was true that he had somewhat condensed the linked achievements in his presentation.
“Alright, both of you, could you step out for a moment?”
Jenny, deep in thought, nodded to Felix.
“I need to speak with the Professor alone for a bit.”
The office fell silent the moment Tatiana and Felix left.
Jenny stared intently at Lennok without a word and then spoke.
“Immediately after the seminar, I received calls from both the Order Alliance and the Cult.”
“…”
“Because the Alliance and the Cult recently started warring again on the central front, neither of them participated in this seminar.”
Jenny said this, rummaging through the bag she had brought.
She pulled out an antique-looking letter and said.
“It seems they considered this matter important enough to want to intervene, even late…”
“I see.”
“Especially the Alliance’s attitude is blatant. Their proposal is equally extraordinary.”
“What was their proposal?”
“The leader of the Order Alliance wants to meet you in person, Professor.”
“…”
The leader of the Order Alliance.
The being who usually didn’t move directly, but was occasionally mentioned by subordinate practitioners, wanted to see Lennok in person?
As Lennok hesitated for a moment, lost in thought, Jenny spoke again, as if finding it hard to comprehend.
“And… if you grant the meeting, they offered to forcibly complete your hierarchy.”