Doloren had returned. Those who had protected the worthless School of Magical Surveying would begin to dream their most glorious dream. ... It would be easy to think so, but that would be a miscalculation.
The very first thing Doloren did upon her return to the Magic Tower was to 'register as an opponent.' And it was a request to be the opponent for the master's thesis of her own disciple, Isaac Upperhills. A master's researcher, eating in the Magic Tower's dining hall, heard the news.
"Lady Doloren is going to be the opponent for Mr. Upperhills's thesis?"
"Yes. It's true."
The researcher blankly mulled over the words he had just heard. A former Great Mage... was going to be the opponent for a master's thesis? This was like an ant and an elephant stepping into the same ring.
The weight class itself was on a different logarithmic scale. The researcher tilted his head.
"Hmm... Perhaps she's stepping up personally to make sure Mr. Upperhills gets his master's degree?"
"No way. She's not that kind of person."
It was true that Doloren didn't show her face often in the Magic Tower, but there was nothing wrong with her character. On the contrary, Doloren was well-liked among the graduate students. She had a good personality, profound knowledge, and never treated students poorly.
"Then is there some kind of personal issue between them? Maybe he did something to get on her bad side."
"Weren't there not many bad rumors about Mr. Upperhills?"
"You're right. I can't figure out what's going on..."
"Do you think the professors know anything? Maybe there's some political intrigue involved."
"Mr. Upperhills is connected to the imperial family too... That makes sense."
And so, the general consensus among the master's-level researchers regarding this rumor... ...was concluded to be 'there must be some political reason for it.' However, the atmosphere in the salon where the doctoral-level researchers and above gathered was quite different.
"What's going on?"
"I know. What is this?"
The professors, caught in the storm of political intrigue, knew nothing about the full story of this incident.
"Does really no one know anything?"
The salon was just quiet. This truly meant that nothing was going on.
"This is quite strange."
"Indeed."
It was strange enough that Doloren had returned right at the start of the semester. Usually, she would only show her face briefly at the end of the semester, after all the paperwork was done. The chief professor, who was chairing the meeting, let out a sigh of relief and said.
"Still, it must be a good thing for the Head of the School of Wind Element Magic."
"Pardon? Why is that?"
"Why, you ask? With School Head Doloren stepping up personally, do you think Mr. Upperhills's thesis will pass?"
"... The Head of the Wind School has stopped opposing the separation."
"What? Why?"
The chief professor's gaze turned towards the professors of the wind element-affiliated schools. They were just looking at each other, avoiding his eyes.
"Is there anything you can tell me?"
"... Well."
Unable to withstand the chief professor's pressure, a new professor opened his mouth.
"After he met with Mr. Upperhills on the 49th floor... something about him did change."
"What...?"
"He doesn't oppose it as strongly now."
Well, well.
The chief professor let out a hollow laugh.
"Somehow, whenever someone gets involved with Mr. Upperhills... their attitude changes."
The princess, Valerius, the Head of the School of Sound Magic... And now, the Head of the School of Wind Element Magic was added to the list. 'Does he use some kind of mind control magic?' ...
That couldn't be. If so, the Dean would have had him killed on the spot. The chief professor said.
"Whatever the outcome of this... the achievements Mr. Upperhills showed with his Calculus will prove not to have been a fluke."
Nod, nod.
The other professors in the salon nodded in agreement. ... However, not everyone had a favorable opinion of Isaac. In the meeting room of the School of Bloodline Magic, the school head spoke.
"What do you all make of this upcoming defense?"
"There's nothing to see, is there? He will reap what he has sown."
Just as Isaac had crushed Cayenne, he would be crushed by Doloren.
"You're confident Doloren won't go easy on Upperhills."
"We know our enemies better than our friends."
Doloren and the School of Bloodline Magic had been at odds for over a decade. Thanks to that, they knew Doloren better than anyone. Though she was usually gentle, when it came to academics, she was a person of no blood or tears.
A state of emergency. In one week, I would have to take off my rank insignia and face off against my school head. It was already a confirmed matter, so it couldn't be taken back.
First, I asked the person around me who had most recently gone through a thesis defense.
"Master's graduate Elara... no matter how I look at it, I don't think the school head will go easy on me. What should I do?"
At my words, Elara muttered.
"Hmm... that's a difficult problem."
"How does one usually prepare for a Demonstration Defense like this?"
"If you're not confident in magical combat, you usually spar with a combat mage to get a feel for real battle."
"Oh."
So there was a way to not just die. Was this the answer? However, Elara's expression was dark.
"Of course... since your opponent is School Head Doloren, a run-of-the-mill combat mage won't even be good for practice."
"Still, it's better than doing nothing. Thank you for your help."
"Sure."
And so, through Hans's introduction, I went to visit a combat mages unit stationed on the outskirts of the capital. A middle-aged combat mage said to me.
"Welcome. I happen to be an expert when it comes to defenses."
Seeing the scars all over his body, he looked like someone who had been through thick and thin. He seemed trustworthy.
He said.
"So, what's the rank of your opponent? Bachelor's, master's, doctoral level, chief professor level... anything is fine."
"Can you tell how strong an opponent is by their degree?"
Being good at magic research didn't necessarily mean being good at fighting. Just like how professors who were good at research could be terrible at nurturing the next generation. The combat mage let out a small laugh.
"That's true. But there's no clearer standard than a degree. So we add the word 'level' to it, and it's used as a makeshift system by combat mages and in the underworld."
I couldn't get a feel for it at all.
"... Then what level would Malakai, whom I caught before, be?"
"The Blood Mage Malakai would be doctoral level."
Malakai was doctoral level. That guy was stronger than I thought.
"Anyway, above the chief professor level, there is the school head level."
"What's above that? Is a Great Mage at the school head level?"
"A Great Mage? Hmm..."
The combat mage thought for a moment before continuing.
"From Great Mage onwards, discussing ranks is meaningless. They are on a different plane altogether."
"So, what is the rank of your opponent?"
Doloren was a former Great Mage. According to the combat mage, she was in a 'realm beyond discussion.' I had a feeling that if I told him this honestly, he definitely wouldn't help me.
I swallowed dryly and answered.
"School head level."
Instantly, the smile vanished from the combat mage's face.
"... Excuse me? That might be... a bit difficult."
"For that level, you'd need at least a corps commander. I'm sorry."
Even lying was no good... Why was I facing such a trial...
Why!
And so, I left the combat mages unit without any particular achievement. Still, it wasn't a complete waste.
"If it's school head level, a corps commander has to come..."
The person who came to mind was Gwendolyn's father. Count Ludwig Everglow. I didn't know how big the gap was between a school head and a Great Mage, but it seemed like meeting him for some tutoring would be helpful.
I should at least try to contact him. But before that, there was still hope. The strategic weapon princess.
If I was in such a big crisis, wouldn't the princess's side make a move somehow?
Princess Isolde had a thesis she had been reading during her break times recently.
[The Relationship Between the Volume, Pressure, and Temperature of a Gas – Regarding the Definition of Absolute Temperature] "Exquisite."
No matter how many times she read it, it was beautiful. It was incredibly beautiful how it had given a standard to the ever-changing Wind Magic. And to have established an absolute standard for 'temperature' through it was nothing short of exquisite.
The day she first read this thesis, she had been up all night.
"But to think the one verifying this thesis is Doloren..."
Given School Head Doloren's personality, she wouldn't bully Isaac by being unreasonable. The thesis would probably pass for sure. '... Still, Isaac will have a rough time.'
"This is a bit problematic."
It was certain that the area where the thesis defense would take place would become a mess. Perhaps a whole mountain could be blown away. What should be done about this?
The princess pondered for a moment, then smiled.
"There is that method."
The princess summoned her Chief Secretary.
"The location for Isaac's defense hasn't been decided yet, has it?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Then send a letter to the Dean suggesting the 'Barren Mountain' east of the capital as the location for this defense."
The Chief Secretary asked with a puzzled expression.
"Is there a particular reason you have designated that specific place?"
"Because it would be perfect to build an orphanage on the spot where the 'Barren Mountain' disappears."
"... Pardon? No, yes, I understand."
The 'Barren Mountain' was a nuisance on the east side of the capital. Because of that one mountain, the roads had to circle all the way around it. What would happen if such a mountain was destroyed?
According to Imperial law, newly cleared land belongs to the person who cleared it. In other words, it would become the property of Isaac and Doloren. Mathematically, even getting just half of it would be more than enough to build a building for the 'Upperhills Foundation.'
Increased expandability, reduced material transport costs, and an acquisition cost close to zero. From any perspective, this was the best option. The princess thought out of habit.
'Could it be that Isaac foresaw me thinking this far...?'
"There's no way."
No matter how much the princess favored Isaac, she didn't overestimate him that much.
"But he will surely be pleased with this decision."
The thesis verification wouldn't end as a simple act of destruction but would lead to creation. Orphans with nowhere to go would have a new home. For Isaac, who was just and revered truth, there could be no greater honor.
Hehehe.
The princess laughed.
Meanwhile, in the western part of the Empire. The Great Mage Valerius was checking the news from the Dean.
[The master's thesis defense for 'Isaac Upperhills' will be held soon. The opponent is Doloren.]
"What...?"
If this news was true, this was not the time to be playing around with underworld mages. His gaze turned to the underworld mage before him.
"Hehehe... you'll regret underestimating me. Unlike the other members, I, Ivanchen, have reached the doctoral level..."
Slice. Thud.
At Valerius's gesture, the mage's head was severed. He picked up the mage's head and muttered.
"This was no time to be wasting."
Hunting underworld mages was fine, but his disciple's master's defense was more important.
"I must go to the capital at once."
Valerius desperately wanted to see Isaac receive his master's degree. He even planned to bring a top-quality crystal orb to record the Demonstration Defense. He would cherish it for a long time, and then show it to him in the distant future when he had become a great success.
The corners of Valerius's mouth twitched.