"We all decided on it."
Professor Gedrick looked proud. At least, that's how it looked to me. The other professors around him were the same.
'He'll be hurt if I refuse...' But to be honest, I didn't really want to be the Head of the School of Ideal Gas Magic. It's not that I disliked ideal gases.
Including phase transitions, that field has a lot to research, and I think it's a fascinating area if you delve into it. However, it's not my main interest. My interest lies in something more fundamental.
Watching the people of this world utilize calculus and the ideal gas equation of state made me realize something. If I do this right, I might be able to create a standard model of particles that includes mana before I die. I want to be the head of that new school.
Of course, there will be a mountain of challenges to overcome. And in that process, there will be much for me to learn as well.
"Is there a problem, young Mr. Upperhills?"
Gedrick grew anxious as I remained silent.
Huu.
I let out a small sigh and spoke.
"I'm truly sorry to say this, Professor Gedrick... but there is another field I wish to research separately."
"Is that so..."
Strangely, Gedrick's voice held a mix of disappointment and relief. He glanced at Professor Granell beside him and chuckled.
"What did I tell you! I said he'd refuse, didn't I?"
Professor Granell rolled his eyes and then burst into a loud laugh.
"I really didn't think he'd refuse. There goes my ten gold..."
"Hurry up and give it here. We made a promise."
Professor Granell grumbled as he handed a few gold coins to Gedrick. With their bet, the stiff atmosphere instantly loosened.
"As expected of the Hero of the Capital, his spirit is on another level!"
"Right. That's how it should be!"
I stood alone in a daze amidst the boisterous noise. Then, Gedrick placed a heavy hand on my shoulder again. All traces of playfulness gone, he said.
"It doesn't matter that you refused. Of course, your research is the most important thing, young Mr. Upperhills. We failed to consider that."
He continued.
"Still, we will keep the position of school head vacant. Someday, when you reach the position of chief professor, please take the seat for just a short while, even if it's only for a month."
"We will wait until then."
With those final words, the professors of the School of Ideal Gas Magic gathered together and moved to a corner of the conference hall. It seemed they had much to discuss, having just established a new school. But honestly, with all those burly figures moving in a pack, they looked more like hired thugs than professors.
'Should I slip away now?' Just as I was about to turn, other professors stopped me.
"Now, come talk with us too."
"There's so much we wanted to hear... can you spare us a moment?"
"Young Mr. Upperhills. Do you believe the essence of heat lies in motion, or in Caloric?"
Caloric, of all things. That last topic lit a fire. After that, we talked about all sorts of messy research topics.
The professors of the School of Ideal Gas Magic were quite flustered. Although Gedrick and Granell had laughed it off, they had never imagined Isaac would refuse the position of school head. It was a position everyone wanted, so why?
In a corner of the conference hall, they whispered among themselves, quietly enough for Isaac not to hear.
"I really didn't think he'd turn it down. I never imagined this."
"I know. What do we do now? We can't stop the kid from doing what he wants to do..."
They grumbled in voices full of disappointment. Gedrick stared blankly into space, listening to his colleagues chatter. Just then, one of the professors spoke to the silent Gedrick.
"Acting school head, what are your thoughts?"
"Hm? Me?"
Gedrick had been thinking about Isaac.
The J-tube.
Twice the pressure. The moment Gedrick's speculation had turned into conviction. The moment the built-up wind was released.
The thrill he felt in the exam committee was, frankly, greater than when he was first appointed as a professor. A premonition that with the appearance of a young genius, the history of Wind Magic would be rewritten.
But at the same time... it was also true that he'd had a feeling Isaac would eventually leave them behind. -'It's about the relationship between the volume and temperature of a gas... you know of it, don't you?' -'...
Yes.'
At that time, Isaac had clearly known about the concept of Absolute Temperature. But he had been reluctant to step forward. It was fortunate that they managed to persuade him to write a paper; if left alone, the study of ideal gases would have progressed without Isaac. ...
And that was probably Isaac's original plan. From the very beginning, Isaac was looking at a place much farther away than Gedrick. So far that the position of Head of the School of Ideal Gas Magic wouldn't be enough to satisfy him.
Gedrick's mouth opened.
"When you think about it, it's only natural. This is our wish, so we must be the ones to see it through."
"Acting school head..."
His colleagues' eyes wavered. Gedrick met their eyes one by one and said.
"Are you perhaps lacking confidence? Are you half-baked researchers who can't do anything without the help of a young genius?"
"What? Hey, you old coot. Are you picking a fight for the acting school head position?"
Starting with Granell's reaction, the gloomy atmosphere lifted slightly. Gedrick spoke again.
"Ahem. That was a bit harsh."
"It was. Take it back."
"Then you should have acted properly. If you're going to get all droopy just because you failed to recruit one junior, you should hand in your professor's badge."
"This guy, really."
Chuckles erupted here and there.
"Thanks to you, I've come to my senses a bit. That's right. If we were going to depend entirely on our juniors, we would have quit being professors."
"Yeah, what the hell, let's just do it. When has the path ever been clearly laid out for us?"
"Right. Let's just go for a drink after the conference."
"... What does that have to do with this?"
"You don't want to?"
"That's not it."
In the end, they decided to solve everything with a drink. Of course, Isaac Upperhills had to be at the center of that drinking party. This was a non-negotiable matter.
The next morning, I woke up suffering from a throbbing headache.
"Ugh... my head."
The cause of the headache was a hangover. After the conference ended yesterday, I was dragged to a drinking party with the professors of the School of Ideal Gas Magic. My memory of what followed was spotty.
I staggered towards the dining hall. Liam was already seated, waiting for me.
"Are you alright, Mr. Isaac? You were quite something yesterday."
"What did I do?"
"You came in holding a liquor I've never seen before in both hands and immediately offered me a drink."
"... Really?"
Ah.
I remember now. While drinking with the Ideal Gas mages... I suddenly craved soju.
I don't know why I missed that tasteless stuff, but I guess I wanted to drink a strong distilled liquor after a long time. So I made some distilled liquor on the spot. Using a vacuum distillation method, right in front of the Ideal Gas mages.
'Is... liquor supposed to be this clean?' 'It's a distilled spirit, but there's not a hint of a burnt smell!' 'Lowering the pressure to extract only the desired components... how interesting.
Give me another glass.' 'Young Mr. Upperhills, me too!' They were ecstatic. ...
Was it because they could apply it to their own research? I don't remember anything after that. Only the feeling that I'd done something incredible remained.
'To black out in front of professors...' It was something my past self would never have done. Perhaps my constitution changed after I entered the Magic Tower.
I slurped down some hangover stew with Liam. With plenty of red pepper powder, of course. Pouring the crimson broth into my stomach had a strangely calming effect.
I finished my hangover soup at twice Liam's speed and stood up from my seat.
"... You've finished already?"
"Yes. I had my fun yesterday, so now it's time to work."
"Wow."
Liam forgot about the stew he was eating and stared up at me blankly.
"What is it?"
"It's nothing. Good luck with your research."
"Yep. Thanks for the support."
And with that, I returned to the lab. The moment I opened the lab door, I announced.
"Isaac Upperhills, returning after the conference..."
But I couldn't finish the sentence. The atmosphere in the lab was somehow awkward. The people inside were Doloren, Giuseppe, the princess, and Laura.
The four of them were just standing there, not saying a word to each other. I know Laura is a quiet person by nature, but why the others? Doloren spoke to the princess.
"Your Highness... I'll give all of that land to Isaac, so please calm your anger."
"Ahem... very well."
"I never had any intention of taking it from the start. Do you truly not understand my heart?"
Doloren looked a little dejected, while the princess seemed to be suppressing her anger. ... The princess's side of it looks a bit like an act, though? First things first, seeing the princess, I hurriedly showed my respects.
"I greet Your Highness."
"That will do. Be at ease."
A smile graced the princess's lips.
"Is your body feeling better?"
"Thanks to your concern, I have recovered well."
"That is a relief."
At my words, the stiff expression on Doloren's face, who was standing far off, relaxed. Doloren said to the princess.
"I told you, Your Highness! I controlled my power properly."
"... So it seems. I am glad."
The princess got straight to the point.
"Isaac Upperhills."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"This was just decided. The land where Barren Mountain disappeared, from now on, it is yours."
"Pardon?"
The princess's eyes gleamed.
She said.
"Every last grain of it."
I was surprised by the princess's plan. To think that as soon as my thesis demonstration was decided, she designated the defense area, anticipating that Doloren could easily wipe out a mountain. Wouldn't one normally think of ways to lessen my trouble...?
And so, the Upperhills Foundation was to be established in the reclaimed area where Barren Mountain had vanished. It's true that this place is better for establishing a foundation. A few days later, I came to see the land bestowed upon me by the princess in person.
Laura accompanied me. The place where Barren Mountain used to be was completely empty. I didn't realize since I was unconscious.
So this is what happened here. It would be one thing if it were just a plain. In the center of the vast plain sat the dome I had created.
I asked Laura.
"Did they say it wasn't dangerous?"
If the inside is a vacuum, it would be structurally vulnerable. At my words, Laura shook her head.
"The Dean has already visited. She said the pressure has been equalized inside and out."
"That's a relief."
Then, Laura opened her mouth.
"Her Highness the Princess made a proposal. She asked what you thought of maintaining the current shape of this dome, and building a permanent dome structure over it with brick and mortar."
"Build a structure on top of the dome?"
"Yes. And once the building is complete, the earthen dome inside can be dismantled with magic to secure the space. That would solve any stability issues."
Oh.
I immediately began to calculate in my head. The dome's curvature and load distribution, the minimum strength of the required materials...
"... That could work."
It was theoretically quite possible. Since the earthen dome would act as a support structure during construction, it would be much easier than building a conventional dome.
Laura continued.
"Her Highness the Princess will provide the funds for construction. The completed dome stadium could be used as a banquet hall for the nobles, or as a grand auditorium for the foundation..."
"No. That's not enough."
At my words, Laura tilted her head. Since we're getting such a massive 'dome stadium' anyway. It couldn't be wasted as a mere banquet hall.
An idea I had vaguely thought of while watching the last chariot race began to take concrete shape. What about creating a sports league? The demand should be sufficient.
Nobles with nothing to do. Merchant lords with too much money. The public, stressed from constant war.
'Should I introduce ball sports? Like soccer or baseball...' No. That's too much of an Earthling's idea.
This is a world with magic. In that case...
"Let's make this a dueling arena for mages."
"... Pardon?"
Laura's eyes trembled.
"If it's a dueling arena, what exactly do you have in mind?"
"A training ground where mercenary mages and combat mages can test their skills."
Inside this dome, the effects of turbulence would be almost non-existent. Then everyone would be able to use sophisticated magic in their best condition.
"We can sell the good seats for a high price, and open the cheaper seats to the public to provide a spectacle."
"... Next to a foundation that raises children, you want to build something like that?"
The kids will grow up strong on their own, won't they? If we just maintain public order well, they might even grow up in a healthy way. 'It might even help foster creative talent...'
Of course, this was the speculation of a non-major who knew nothing about developmental psychology. Still, it should turn out fine, right? I watched a lot of WWE when I was young, so it should be fine.
Huu.
Laura let out a small sigh and said.
"Alright. Well, let's give it a try."