Chapter 72
The Perfect Mentor Candidate (Third Update)
“Oh? Ah, right… You arrived late and haven’t been assigned a mentor yet.”
The short, balding old professor stroked his chin hesitantly. “Aren’t you going with Professor Moriarty?”
The moment Eivass heard this, he knew the professor likely had some difficulty.
This was because Eivass was very confident.
He had performed exceptionally well, and Professor Bard’s fondness for him was evident. He was sure he had maximized his favorability, and even being invited as a teaching assistant wasn’t out of the question.
Simply taking on a student was far easier than finding a teaching assistant.
— If he had been more tactful, Eivass would have changed the subject at this point.
But Eivass wouldn’t let go of something he had set his sights on so easily.
He was quite greedy. If something was within reach and only required a little effort, why would he let it go—
“…Because I think it’s not good. It doesn’t sound good to say… and other students always keep some distance from me.”
Eivass pulled the blanket covering his legs closer.
With his hands resting on his lap, he leaned forward slightly, speaking politely and earnestly. “It’s like my older brother, Edward. He didn’t even get into the Royal Law University back then, for the same reason.
“I believe that in an environment like a school, being too close to family and relatives isn’t a good thing. It hinders personal growth and training, and it’s easy to create conflict with acquaintances.”
“…That’s also true.”
Professor Bard nodded slightly in agreement. “Besides, James is on extended leave and we don’t know when he’ll return. And…”
As the old man spoke, his gaze unconsciously flickered towards Eivass’s legs.
If Eivass hadn’t suddenly pulled the blanket, he would have almost forgotten that Eivass wasn’t in good health and had mobility issues.
He indeed needed an adult to look after him—just having Miss Lily follow him around certainly wasn’t enough. She was merely Eivass’s age, not an elder.
Although these students were all adults, in old Bard’s eyes, they were still children.
Professor Bard only glanced briefly before politely shifting his gaze away.
He was unsure why Eivass used a wheelchair or if he would recover.
If even the priests Professor Moriarty could find couldn’t heal Eivass with an Illuminate Spell… perhaps his condition was quite serious. In that case, focusing on it would be disrespectful, even hurtful.
Eivass noticed this and immediately guessed Professor Bard’s thoughts.
This showed that the elder before him was a thoughtful and gentle person.
Then I must not let go!
Eivass thought.
“Do you have some difficulties?”
With this thought, Eivass earnestly said, “I particularly enjoy researching Imperial History, and you are the most professional scholar in this field!”
In fact, Eivass didn’t know Professor Bard before.
But he was a “Professor” and hired by the Royal Law University. This indicated that he had reached the top level in academia. Eivass’s statement was vague and didn’t mention specific sub-fields, so unless Professor Bard had absolutely no research in Imperial History, he wouldn’t be wrong.
If that minuscule probability occurred, then it would be his bad luck.
However, Eivass’s luck was quite good.
Professor Bard rubbed his hands together with delight and stated proudly, “Ah, indeed. When it comes to the history of the Hrasal Empire, no one knows it better than I do.”
“Yes,” Eivass smoothly changed the topic. “I also believe we need to research the Star Antimony Kingdom more. They might be the most formidable enemy—far more powerful than the Iris Kingdom.”
“That’s absolutely true.”
Professor Bard nodded solemnly. “Many Avalonians believe the Star Antimony people are dangerous and wicked. That’s because their Demonology is a legitimate and prominent study. But in my view, it’s the ‘practical Alchemy’ that is gradually losing its status in Star Antimony today that is the most worthy of attention.”
Hearing this, Eivass understood that Professor Bard truly possessed real substance.
He happily continued along Professor Bard’s train of thought. “Yes, the essence of their Alchemy is no longer to analyze all things, but to create ‘profitable’ goods. And because this purpose has changed, Alchemy has gained spontaneous popularity.
“Those who use Alchemy are no longer the highly respected Royal Alchemists in yellow robes, eating huge funds from the emperor to research things that are temporarily useless, whose meaning is completely incomprehensible to ordinary people, and then occasionally producing one or two things whose principles are unclear but are still powerful.
“But it could be a scholar in a rural village or town… who has self-taught Alchemy, opened an Alchemy shop, and sells various practical Alchemical Products. And they might have unintentionally invented something particularly useful.
“Apart from using Alchemy themselves, they are no longer the same kind of people as orthodox Alchemists. They don’t intend to go far on the Path of Balance, and entering the extraordinary world is merely for making money.”
“You’ve described it perfectly!”
Professor Bard nodded appreciatively, so overjoyed that he couldn’t help but clap his hands.
He added enthusiastically, “I believe this is another interpretation of Valentin I’s understanding of the Path of ‘Balance’—money is the bargaining chip of all things, which is also a way of analyzing and perceiving the world. Not from the perspective of Alchemy, but from economics, technology, and the needs of the people…”
He spoke incessantly, while Eivass smiled and nodded repeatedly, occasionally chiming in.
From Eivass’s perspective, it would be completely reasonable for the Star Antimony Kingdom to flatten this continent.
Because Valentin I’s vision had completely surpassed Avalon and the Iris Kingdom in terms of its era. The force most likely to threaten Star Antimony would be the Daffodil Duchy, composed of a large number of Casters.
But that had already been wiped out by Star Antimony.
…Rather, the reason Star Antimony hadn’t annexed the Iris Kingdom for so long was purely because internal struggles over the Path had consumed their energy.
It was all thanks to those Demon Scholars, who seemed terrifying to people in other countries, fighting for influence over these practical alchemists; and the internal struggles within the noble class, in turn, hindered the advancement path of civilian alchemists.
Haina, standing beside them, looked somewhat hesitant.
If Eivass couldn’t find a mentor, it would be troublesome. However, her mentor was her Swordsmanship instructor, so she definitely couldn’t introduce him to Eivass.
If Professor Bard still disagreed… perhaps she could ask her mentor later to see if she could help introduce another mentor?
“…You’re right. In my opinion, the peace and stability within Avalon are precisely because its extraordinary population is in a stable state. Her Majesty the Queen’s forty-seventh special pardon accepted extraordinary individuals from other Paths, preventing us from lacking certain specific Path techniques and thus lagging overall; while simultaneously maintaining the Path of Authority as the mainstream and showing favor to a small number of special Paths, it ensures they cannot contend for power…
“Fortunately, Her Majesty has realized this,” Eivass sighed. “If Avalon had reformed ten years later, I don’t think it would have been in time.”
It was already too late, in fact.
Eivass added internally, but he dared not say it aloud.
Although Avalon and Star Antimony were enemy nations, and their conflicts were clearly escalating, no one in Avalon truly regarded Star Antimony as a source of crisis.
Because the Star Antimony Kingdom clearly had a worse relationship with the Iris people.
Star Antimony had now reclaimed the Black Hawk Duchy and the Daffodil Duchy, and annexing the Iris Kingdom would bring them back to the empire’s initial territory.
The improvement in relations between Avalon and the Iris Kingdom before was largely due to the pressure from Star Antimony—for both sides. Even though Avalon and the Iris Kingdom were in a “lips and teeth” predicament, there were still many overly optimistic voices within Avalon. The most optimistic view was that they could even restore cooperation with Star Antimony and import a large number of Alchemical Products from Star Antimony.
Because Avalon had a market and substantial gold reserves. And Star Antimony products were clearly in surplus… As long as they were trading, Star Antimony shouldn’t invade.
As for the royal family—
In fact, as Avalon had developed to this point, many Knights wished they no longer had a royal family above them.
“…Actually, I think it might already be too late.”
But to Eivass’s surprise, Professor Bard muttered softly, “We’ve fallen too far behind…”
— Huh?
Eivass froze for a moment, looking at the old professor in disbelief.
Was the old man’s eyesight this sharp?
“Haha, don’t look at me like that. I was just speaking casually…”
Professor Bard also realized he had said something wrong.
He quickly waved his hand, laughing and changing the subject. “Actually, I generally don’t take students at the undergraduate level. Because I’m really not good at taking care of people… I’ve been a professor for over thirty years, and I only mentored a few students back when I was at Milton. I haven’t taken any students since coming to Glass Island.
“Of course, I still accept graduate students. But you… you’re not quite suitable either.”
That was rather peculiar.
He praised me so highly, and then gave me a “not suitable”?
Eivass was genuinely interested, and he pressed, “Why not suitable?”
“Because you may only know me as a Historian,” Professor Bard replied sincerely, “but I am actually an Archaeologist.
“You and the students from the Individual Tactics Department only study ‘Modern History.’ I teach this course for three months in the third to sixth departments, during the first semester of the first year. You’re almost done with it. By the second semester next year, I’ll be teaching ‘World History,’ ‘Modern History of Avalon,’ and ‘Genealogy of the Hrasal Empire’ to second-year students in the Humanities Department, as well as ‘History of the Horus Empire’ and the elective ‘Ancient Horus Language’ to third-year students.
“And in the third semester, I’m never at school. I go abroad for archaeological excavations with my graduate students… You still have classes, so you obviously can’t come with me. But if you stay at the school, it’s like you don’t have a mentor. But then, who would look after you?”
Professor Bard sighed. “I really like you as a student… but I cannot accept you. It would be irresponsible of me.”
Eivass was stunned for a moment, and then overjoyed.
There’s such a good thing?
Not at school for one semester every year?
— Then wouldn’t I be free to do whatever I want?
And there’s even a chance to go abroad for archaeology?
— Doesn’t that mean I’ll have a way to access prehistoric ruins in other countries early? Is this awesome?
