Chapter 281: Theory of Relativity (1)
The morning sun rose outside the window; cozy daylight leaked in to illuminate the dark bedroom. As I sat on my bed and studied the divine language, I suddenly looked up and out over the world.
“…”
It was the most beautiful and ancient place on this continent, the Imperial Palace. The heart of the empire didn’t have even a single blade of gra.s.s out of place. I thought about myself as I watched that neat scenery. As Kim Woojin modeled and designed this game and its characters, I lived on Earth and came to this world with a lightning bolt.
Did this story have a purpose? Did it have any reason? When everything was over, what would happen to me? Those questions had long since been erased from my mind. Now, I only live in the present.
“…Your Majesty.”
I called out to Sophien. Her answer, however, did not return as she lay on the bed. The Emperor was sleeping, holding my left hand tight. Despite this, I still studied, took notes, and researched with one hand. Psychokinesis wasn’t allowed unless it was really necessary. This was the holiest sanctuary of the emperor, after all.
“…”
I watched Sophien in silence.
[Main Quest: G.o.d and Emperor]
◆ The body always seeks the soul of its master.
The quest window overlapped with her face. There was no clearing reward, but the continent would probably be destroyed by Quay’s will if I failed.
“Your Majesty.”
I tried to call Sophien again. The expedition to Annihilation and the slaughter of the Demon Blood would soon follow. Countless people would die in the process, and the continent’s fate would hang in the balance. However, the easiest way existed here. There was no need for so many people to die, no need to gamble on the continent.
Now Sophien didn’t have the power to regress. So if I a.s.sa.s.sinated her, Quay’s manifestation would become impossible. With that, his plans would naturally come to a halt.
“…Why are you calling me?”
Then, Sophien awoke. Her blank eyes met mine.
“Professor?”
“Now it’s time for me to go to work too.”
I responded calmly, and Sophien smiled a little.
“…I just saw Rohakan. I think I had a dream.”
She wriggled her body like an earthworm; she squirmed over to put her head on my lap.
“Rohakan said…”
Her hand slowly rose and grabbed my tie.
“That in the future… I would love you.”
Then, she slowly pulled me closer and looked into my eyes.
“He said that love would kill you. I would kill everyone I cherish. He said that I was the emperor born with that cursed fate.”
Sophien’s voice was small but deep as she groped for her past.
“…But it’s strange. I loved my mother. Rohakan, that old man, was also precious to me. But both are dead. I killed Rohakan, but my mother…”
“Do you feel better now?”
“…”
Sophien’s brow furrowed. She raised her torso and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Huhn.”
She let out a small moan and put her lips to my ear.
—Professor, I will ask. Was my mother indeed a.s.sa.s.sinated by Rohakan?
“…”
The Empress Killer Rohakan. However, the real criminal who a.s.sa.s.sinated the Empress…
“Yes. It was Rohakan.”
I lied. Sophien’s eyes trembled.
“Also, it was I, not Your Majesty, who killed Rohakan.”
She couldn’t distinguish the truth of my words, so she smiled. She let out a sigh of relief and dug into my arms.
“…If so, I’m fine. Now go to work.”
“Let me go.”
“…Okay.”
She finished charging her battery. Sophien groaned and fell back into the wide bed. I bid her farewell and then left the bedroom.
Creek…
I sped up down the hallway past that door. One step to two steps, two steps to three steps, three steps to four steps. In the end, reaching the speed at which a knight ran.
“It was a safety device from Quay.”
Safety device. Keiron answered from my medal.
─Safety device?
“Yes. I am now sure.”
─…No way.
Keiron’s voice was low.
“Quay has put a safety device on Her Majesty’s body. In the future, there may be unexpected resistance, so it must be an instinct to kill those she loves.”
It had been a long time since the spirit of Quay descended to this continent. So the less motivated Sophien was, the lonelier and indolent she became, the more her body would seek its better master. Whether it was love or friendship, positive emotions like those kept her safe. But Quay knew it, so he planted a safety device in her from the start.
If we interpret the tragedy in which Sophien killed her mother that way, everything will make sense.
—Then, Rohakan’s prophecy…
Sophien got herself back when she was with me. It was because she loved me. However, the more she loved me, the more…
“Yes. Her Majesty will always try to kill me. It’s the instinct instilled in Her Majesty.”
─…
Keiron didn’t answer. It wasn’t that he was speechless; it was just because of the knight approaching from the other side of the hallway.
“Professor Deculein.”
The deputy commander of the Imperial Knights, Isaac. Standing as if to block my path, he cleared his throat.
“Can we talk for a minute?”
“…”
He was the knight who persuaded Julie to partic.i.p.ate in the Emperor’s hearing. He was calm, but he looked serious.
“His Highness Kreto has been kidnapped by the Altar.”
“…”
It was understandable why he looked like that, then. I clenched my teeth, and Isaac shook his head.
“First, we must tell Her Majesty-“
“Don’t tell her. Isaac, who knows about this?”
“…For now, it’s just you and me.”
“How did you find out, Isaac?”
“…”
Isaac pulled out a letter from his pocket.
“It’s a letter from the Altar. The man who introduced himself as Quay sent this to the Imperial Knights. I am the only one who has read it so far.”
I read the letter. The outline was, ‘I’m holding onto Kreto’s life, so don’t worry if there is no news from him.’
“Also… take this.”
Isaac held out another envelope.
“This is the evidence we were going to present at the emperor’s hearings.”
“…Why are you giving this to me?”
“…Because it’s already too late. There will be a battle between Annihilation and the Demon Blood. Whether it will be a war or a ma.s.sacre remains to be seen.”
That was everything he had to say. Isaac pa.s.sed by me, and when he left my sight, Keiron asked.
—Isaac is still the same.
“Is that so?”
Isaac was one of the Empire’s Named, but there was nothing special about him other than that he was the deputy commander of the Imperial Knights.
-Don’t hate him too much. In his way, he’s just doing his best to prevent war.
Having suffered through a war in the past, Isaac opposed war more than anyone else.
“…He’s weak.”
I clicked my tongue and put the doc.u.ments away.
* * *
…The university tower was very busy these days. Day or night, dusk or dawn, it always twinkled with lights and the occasional thumping explosions. Magic experimentation and research on theses were in full swing.
“I’m fine.”
However, Epherene was a little more relaxed thanks to the fact that her stocks were on the road to success these days, and her topic and direction for her thesis had been set.
“I have already submitted my thesis. Now, I just need to supplement it with empirical research.”
She was on the 10th floor, exactly 67 floors lower than the head professor’s office on the 77th floor. AKA, it was Epherene’s Office. Epherene, a.s.signed a one-room private laboratory by the magic tower, was preparing to write her thesis.
“Have you already submitted it?”
And, she also had one a.s.sistant. Lia, an adventurer, was a bit weird to have on as an a.s.sistant, but she wanted to write the thesis together with her.
“Yeah.”
“Then, will Professor Deculein correct it?”
“No.”
Epherene shook her head, looking slightly sullen.
“If the Professor made corrections with a sincere heart, I would be happy too. But, if I show it to him, he will give it back for sure. Telling me not to even think about this subject.”
“Oh… indeed. I guess everyone will hate it. Wizards underestimated science for a long time.”
“Right? I am also prepared for that. But, I have to overcome it as I progress. If I show the results of my research, they will have no other choice but to believe.”
It was a thesis that would change the paradigm of the magic world. The resistance and backlash of the old paradigm would, of course, be fierce. Lia was also concerned; Epherene had no support as a wizard.
“Are you going to give cla.s.ses later?”
“Well. I could even start a lecture. But, maybe, I will.”
If this thesis were somehow acknowledged, she would leave Deculein’s shadow and be appointed as a full professor.
“There’s not much time left until the full professor’s exam.”
“Wow?”
“Yes. As soon as the Professor becomes chairman.”
Deculein would be appointed chairman as soon as this semester ended, and the full professor review for the a.s.sistant Professor Epherene would begin. She felt it strangely bittersweet.
“Let’s stop chatting! Now, shall we begin~?”
Epherene warmed up her mana. Gray mana fluttered around her body and stuck to her skin like armor. It was an incomplete reproduction of the nanosuit that Lia helped her with.
“But you know…”
“Yes?”
Epherene dismantled the armor and waited for Lia to continue.
“…Professor Deculein asked me if I wanted to learn.”
Epherene’s eyes widened.
“Really? I think he saw a sprout in you.”
“Sprout?”
“Yes. The Professor is interested in talented people. I think you should do it if you’re okay with it. Of course, it will be very tough, but you’ll grow in equal measure.”
“…”
Lia nodded along. Deculein’s words bothered her a bit, though. She couldn’t tell if the allegation of using her mana and talent so wrongly was genuine or out of jealousy. And actually… Lia was afraid that Deculein would end up falling for her. Just in case he was programmed like that.
Knock, knock—
“Are you the a.s.sistant Professor Epherene?”
A deliveryman called out.
“Yes~, this is Epherene.”
“These are the new books you ordered.”
As soon as she opened the door, many books were carried in. Epherene smiled brightly.
“Oh! It seems to be new.”
“New?”
“Yes! That Casey author is publishing quite a few new science books these days. I immediately applied for a subscription, and whenever a new book comes out, I get it delivered.”
“…Let me see!”
Lia quickly opened the package and scanned the book covers. The next moment, her eyes widened. She was once more astonished.
“This guy… what the h.e.l.l is he doing?”
[Theory of Relativity]
The book held the ideas of Einstein that completely changed the modern era. It was a great theory that redefined humanity’s concept of time and followed the universe’s rules from the small planet called Earth. Not knowing how Lia felt, Epherene smiled softly.
“The theory of relativity… I wonder what this is. And this guy is getting famous. Even among our university scientists, there is a lot of talk.”
“…Find them.”
“Who? What?”
Lia’s expression suddenly became heavy. Epherene tilted her head as Lia grabbed her hand and clenched her teeth.
“Who is this person… we must find out!”
Whoosh-
Lia was burning with enthusiasm. Epherene was puzzled by it but decided to nod for now.
“Okay. I’m also a fan of this guy-“
“I have a network of adventurers too! We must find him—!”
She would find him. No, maybe this in itself was a signal. If you know this information as a modern person, please come and find me. He was asking Lia to find him. As modern intellectuals, let’s join forces.
“We must-!”
Epherene pretended not to know her and took a step back as Lia shouted.
* * *
The 77th floor, the Head Professor’s Office. Epherene was busy with her work, and I was looking over the evidence that Isaac had given me. I shook my head while combing over the eyewitness accounts, testimonies, and books containing corruption.
“It was rigged.”
All the evidence here was manipulated. Someone cleverly changed the figures. It was clear who. Not Julie, and there was no way that Isaac himself would manipulate it and hand it over to me.
“Maybe…”
──Professor!
Bang-!
At that moment, a loud voice, joined by a horrible knocking sound, filled the office.
──Professor! This is terrible!
I frowned and looked up.
“Who is it?”
—It’s Relin! This is terrible!
Fat Relin. As soon as I opened the door with Psychokinesis, he strode in and placed a thesis on the desk.
“Professor! Look at this!”
Relin shouted, banging the paper on the desk. If even this coward acted bravely like this, he was probably very angry.
“Your a.s.sistant professor, Epherene or Leaf or whatever, submitted a thesis to our academia! Look!”
I looked at the thesis.
[The Correct Connection of Magic and Science: The Development of Coexistence (Epherene Luna)]
“Does t-this make any sense!”
“…You’re spitting.”
“Oh, yes. I’m sorry.”
Relin quickly wiped his mouth.
“Look at this. Look at this t.i.tle.”
“I am.”
“I mean! This dissertation harms your reputation and further insults our tower. No, how dare she? A connection between science and magic? This is crazy…”
Relin grabbed the back of his neck and sat down, taking deep breaths to calm down before he spoke again.
“Anyway, this nonsense thesis is floating around.”
Epherene caused a scene as expected. She was making it through the hardships necessary for her growth on her own.
“It was lucky I was the first to find it, but other professors will come soon. The more you read, the more you will find it absurd. I was so angry after reading only a dozen chapters… I came running right away.”
However, true genius and innovation had always been like that. One achieved the most miraculous of things by suffering and accepting hardship.
“Oh, but maybe….”
Relin, who had been chattering, abruptly stopped and glanced at me. I eased his worries.
“I am not involved in this paper. She submitted her thesis without saying a word to me.”
“As expected! Somehow, there was no checker!”
There was no reviewer for the thesis. As expected, the meticulous opportunist Relin came to check on that detail when he came to argue with me…