Chapter 200: Journal
"...That’s how it is, Professor."
Auric had finished his explanation regarding his theory. He even demonstrated that such a thing was possible.
Of course, Professor Schad didn’t expect Auric to actually succeed. He had asked so many students, and despite so many years trying to make it a success, he never found a clue that led to a breakthrough.
Yet, Auric didn’t just present him with a clue but a solution.
"However, the problem is that this is only possible for the fusion part. The division part is not."
"It doesn’t matter. I will just have to separate my research." Professor Schad waved his hand. "It’s not important for them to be together. There might be another method for the division, or there might be another theory that could combine both of them, but I’m happy enough with just the fusion."
"So, what are we going to do, Professor?"
Professor Schad grinned. "We’ll separate them. I’m going to rewrite the research just for the fusion part. I’ll include your theory. Once I’m done, you should check whether everything is correct. Also, there is one more thing."
"Hmm?" Auric and Katarina looked at each other. They couldn’t think of the ’one more thing’ in his words.
"You should write your own research, Student Auric. I’m talking about the method to turn active energy into passive energy. The Fusion Theory will cite your research to complete it."
Auric widened his eyes. It sounded like a hassle.
Lindwurm contemplated and somehow agreed. "Actually, this might be a good idea. If you have some research in your name, by the time you reveal you are the owner of the Sun Store and the Moon Store, it will make your name even more credible."
Auric couldn’t exactly argue with that theory, but he had never written a paper before. "But Professor... How am I going to write one in the first place?"
"It’s simple. I will guide you step by step. It shouldn’t take long. Just make me the second author, and it will be much easier. We’re going to publish it in STEM!"
"STEM?! Do you mean one of the top three journals?" Katarina was astounded. To think that a student would be able to publish it at that level. "But is it really that useful, Professor? It is just an accessory for your research, right?"
"Not exactly. Just from hearing about it, I can think of a few ideas. For example, by using this power, you can actually use the magic item again and again since you’re the one fueling that item.
"Now, think about it. A plane can travel in the sky by using the material. The size is big, but what if a human could power their own car by using this method?
"It might sound cruel when I say a human battery, but people might no longer need to buy fuel anymore when they’re driving somewhere... As long as they’re strong enough, though. I don’t know about the conversion rate right now.
"But if we think about it, can’t you make a floating board that will allow you to fly into the sky by yourself? You don’t have to worry about falling anymore because you can fuel that board yourself."
"Ah!" Katarina covered her mouth. Now that Professor Schad mentioned it, it sounded like Auric’s research surpassed Professor Schad’s research.
"But Professor, the amount of time to process it will be quite a lot."
"It may not be usable yet, but this is the start. Besides, we may be able to create a tool to help the conversion. Maybe the gun people love to use will become a magic gun and the power will be amplified thanks to this concept.
"Trust me, this research might make you famous overnight." Schad smiled.
Auric felt that writing this paper would take so much of his time, but if there was someone who was willing to help him publish it, he should probably take it.
"Don’t worry. Since the theory is solid, I will help you and finish it in a week. Also, I’m invited to a conference next week. We should be able to produce both of our papers before then. I guarantee you." Schad gave a thumbs-up.
"You should take it. A chance like this is hard to come by." Katarina supported the idea.
Auric nodded. "I understand. I will do it."
There was actually another reason why Auric chose to do it. In the future, he might want to publish the theory about the particles. Unfortunately, this time, he was the only one who could see it.
But in the future, people might be able to see it with a machine or something. In the past, humans found a new path after discovering that light behaved as particles, leading to Quantum Theory.
If he publishes this research in the future, people might find a path that he had never considered before.
That was why having a reputation in this path as well as gaining experience was necessary. It would serve as his foundation.
Of course, there was no telling whether Auric might come up with a few more papers, but that was for another time.
He didn’t want to get ahead of himself.
"Since you’re in my class, you don’t have to attend it anymore. The class is probably easy for you. While they’re doing their own things, you can focus on writing your paper."
"I... understand." Auric nodded.
"Very good. Rest well tonight, because tomorrow, we’re going to get busy."
Auric smiled wryly. He had plans for what he intended to do at Kallarnos University, but it looked like he had to adjust his plan.
Auric and Katarina politely bid their goodbyes to Professor Schad.
"Congratulations!" Katarina truly didn’t expect that Auric would achieve so much here. She wondered what would happen if Auric were truly a student at this university.
"Thanks."
"Are you sure you don’t want to have a full transfer to Kallarnos University? I feel like you could achieve a lot more."
"No, thank you." Auric might be able to achieve more, but his path was focused on becoming an evolution master. Even if he were going to do a little research in the future, that would only be his side job.
There was no way he planned to stay here.
"Well, if you want to transfer, you can message me. I’ll ask the principal to allow it, which I think he’ll be happy to do."
Auric smiled wryly. "Good night."
He really didn’t want to be a researcher or transfer to this place, so he just cut the conversation.
"Good night." Katarina understood the gesture and didn’t speak further.
"It looks like we’ve got an unexpected haul. To think that you will be writing a research paper in one of the most prestigious journals to boot." Lindwurm nodded. "I’m sure your parents are proud of you."
"Well, will that be enough for them to tell what they’re hiding?"
Lindwurm didn’t say anything else. He knew Auric was going to trick him again, so he just said one thing and refused to answer further.
Auric just rolled his eyes. "Anyway, it looks like I’m able to perfect my ’Edict’ quickly. That’s a good thing."
"It looks like you are already convinced that this will be the power that defines you." Lindwurm looked at him curiously.
"Yes. As I mentioned before, the ’Edict’ will be the battle technique that allows me to utilize the full power of all elements. For example, I can write five words in five different colors. Then, I will trigger them by combining it with the elemental fusion. Wouldn’t the power contained in that ability be extremely powerful?"
"That’s true..." Lindwurm could imagine the power.
"Well, that’s how it is. For the time being, I have to reschedule everything, including my training time. I have the paper, the training for passive energy, normal training, and the store. Besides, I have to open the store for the next two weeks. If I don’t open my store, I bet I’m going to keep putting it off again and again." Auric sighed. "There are so many things going on."
"Your schedule is indeed full... maybe overloaded. You also need to learn a new language."
"That too, but for now, I can take my time to learn that. After all, I can still use the ’Edict’ with my current languages. It won’t just be as effective as the one in my mind, but it’s still usable."
"Also, you need to get more energy. Have you copied elements?"
"I have copied three elements for now, four if we include Katarina’s element. Besides, I need to evolve my unique element, fire element, and wind element soon. Why do I feel like my schedule is a mess..."
"Because it is."
Auric took a look at the note on his phone regarding his schedule. Everything had been precisely timed, so Auric rarely had time for anything else.
Since he had spent three hours explaining the theory to Katarina and discussing it with Professor Schad, he had to take three hours from his sleep to compensate for it.
People would probably look at Auric and see that he never really took everything seriously. He didn’t look like he studied before an exam.
However, what they didn’t realize was that Auric had always maximized his time or even gone beyond that.
They just never saw him working that hard.
"Anyway, I guess we just have to work extra hard for the next two weeks. Fortunately, the Relesha family spoils me a lot. I can focus on everything else." Auric smiled wryly.
"That’s true." Lindwurm nodded in agreement. Suddenly, he raised his head as though he had noticed something. "Auric, watch out!"
Auric was startled. He was on the way to the exit because the car from the Relesha family was supposed to wait there.
Lindwurm wouldn’t panic if there was nothing going on.
Auric soon felt an incoming presence, but it was already too late for Auric to react.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man appeared in front of Auric. He was wearing a butler outfit, but this wasn’t the butler that the Relesha family had sent to drive him.
Auric jumped back, but the mysterious butler grabbed him by the neck.
"Khhh!" Auric gritted his teeth, struggling to break free. Auric was planning to use Void Step, but while he still had the chance, he decided to try to figure out the enemy’s identity.
Acting like he was weak and couldn’t escape was the best way to lower the other party’s guard after all.
"Who... are... you?" Auric glared at the mysterious butler.
"You don’t need to know who I am. You only need to know that you should keep your distance from the young lady! You are not worthy of her."
"Who..." Auric couldn’t finish his words before the butler tossed him to the ground. "Gah."
He coughed a few times, but the mysterious butler had already disappeared.
"Auric! Auric! Are you okay?" Lindwurm panicked.
"Y-Yeah." Auric gritted his teeth. He never relied on the magic item left behind by his father. Besides, he doubted that magic items could still work after being used once. "I don’t even know who the hell he’s talking about."
"Well, you are just too popular. It can be Ellia, Katarina, or maybe Ruka or Vera. Remember when Katarina told you to be careful? Those guys might be related to the butler."
Auric regained his composure before saying, "It looks like I need to add one more thing to the list."
"Shouldn’t you rely on the Relesha family for this?"
"I don’t want to owe them a favor like this. I want to find out for myself, but if it’s not possible, I will ask them at that time." Auric took a deep breath. "Is that guy still around?"
"No? I don’t sense anything."
Auric let out a long sigh. The trip to the capital city had already become a mess.
Still, Auric acted as if nothing had happened when he reached the car. "Sorry for the wait."
The butler just nodded and drove him home. Auric was focusing on thinking about everything, so he didn’t notice that the butler had been looking at him.
When they arrived at the mansion, Auric went to his room immediately. There was no bruise on his neck, so it looked as if nothing had happened to him. He didn’t want to alarm the Relesha family yet.
But the Relesha family wasn’t idle either.
Mathias’s face darkened. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, sir. The mark is gone, but I certainly saw a handprint on his neck. Most likely, someone choked him."
"All right. You’re dismissed." Mathias waved his hand. Once the butler left, Mathias suddenly called Maya.
"Hello?"
"As much as I would like to tease you, there is something important I want to ask. Does Auric have an element with a healing attribute?"
Maya was startled by the question, but after knowing a lot of things about Auric, Maya could say, "Possibly. I don’t know all his elements, but he may have one."
It didn’t look like Mathias was joking around, so Maya didn’t hide that information.
"Is there something wrong?" Maya asked, her voice filled with worry.
"Oh, he’s fine. No need to worry. Good night." Mathias hung up right away. His expression had already turned cold. "It looks like someone doesn’t get the memo. Or are they just dumb enough to not understand why I brought Auric to this mansion?"
