– We are pleased to announce the specific schedule for this year’s academic presentation conference…
A letter arrived from the Magic Association.
It was an announcement about the academic presentation schedule.
The specific date that has finally been decided is at the end of this year.
It was November.
‘This is a disaster.’
November is less than five months away.
I had secured the first spot for the conference.
But I had made no progress at all on the research I was supposed to present.
This was a presentation for which I had meticulously gathered data over several years, even decades.
To prepare for a presentation that wouldn’t fall behind the other teams in just five months?
Impossible.
Even if I had ten, no, a hundred bodies, it wouldn’t be possible.
‘Traditional research would yield results that are utterly inadequate.’
Thus, the conclusion I reached was that I absolutely must not conduct ordinary research.
With the time given so tight, there was no way to set research goals and derive results through repeated experimentation.
Whether it was a lack of experiments or a haphazard process, a subpar presentation was inevitable.
Therefore, the only way to prevent the reputation of Vermont from falling was to present research in a completely different manner.
Given that the topic itself was black magic, it wouldn’t be strange to not adopt traditional research methods.
‘There are five months left. Let’s start drafting a roadmap.’
Of course, in the worst-case scenario, I would have to declare my absence.
But at least I should do what I can.
I rolled up my sleeves and began writing my research plan.
The goal is to academicize black magic.
To unveil the system encompassing its principles and mechanisms.
Coincidentally, I had both Neomium, the fuel for black magic, and the evil gods resulting from it readily available.
There would be no one in the Empire better equipped than me to research black magic.
‘Then, let’s start with the first step of the roadmap: understanding the properties of Neomium.’
What I needed to do now was to analyze the properties of Neomium.
There are various experimental data available, but I couldn’t take them at face value.
Not all of them are peer-reviewed papers.
Before starting formal experiments.
“Sylvia, go get Julia.”
I decided to find a loyal, discreet, and intelligent assistant.
***
“Did you hear that?”
“What?”
“There are rumors that the head of the family is building a laboratory in the annex.”
“Oh. That strange magic circle with altars and things?”
“No, that’s all been cleared away. Apparently, he has already ordered a ton of weird magic tools and experimental equipment. It seems he’s planning to build a proper laboratory.”
A rumor began circulating among the maids of the Vermont mansion.
It was said that the head of the family had decided to continue his black magic research, which had been paused for several months.
Moreover, this time it was serious research, not the haphazard, near-spiritual research that had been done before.
Consequently, the mansion was thrown into turmoil.
“It seems he’s going to seriously research black magic! What should we do…?”
“What do you mean, what should we do? We should support him.”
“…What?”
“With ghost-seeing necromancers and dark knights wielding hideously shaped demon swords already out there, is black magic research really such a big deal? It’d be more suspicious if he didn’t research it.”
“Oh, you’re right.”
Is black magic really that bad?
We have a necromancer commanding undead legions and a dark knight wielding a grotesque demon sword among us!
The momentary unrest quickly settled down.
For the hired help, Aslan’s eccentricities were nothing new.
It wasn’t surprising if one or two more were added to the mix.
Of course, black magic was not an ordinary eccentricity among the others.
But could the head of the family, who had revived the household, really be committing acts that would lead to its destruction?
A strong trust in Aslan Vermont had already formed among the hired help.
“Phew…”
Finally, the laboratory was completed in the annex.
Julia, summoned there, took a breath at the door and opened the creaky, rusted iron door with excitement.
A dark and ominous interior.
For some reason, an eerie atmosphere hung in the air.
Inside, as always, a sinister man turned his back, revealing himself.
Aslan reacted with a start to the sound of the door opening.
Sniff Sniff. What is this smell…?
Before he could turn around, he recognized the identity.
“Is that you, Julia?”
“Uh-huh. It’s me….”
“You must have heard why I called you, right?”
“Uh-huh. Because you’re going to… do research… so you need my help….”
“This isn’t an ordinary experiment. So there’s an important warning, so listen carefully. Anything that happens in here must never be disclosed to the outside. No matter what happens, even if something contrary to ethical experimentation occurs.”
“Contrary to ethics? Uh, how…?”
“I plan to conduct human experiments.”
“…!”
Aslan’s calm voice made Julia’s eyes widen.
Human experiments.
At that moment, the rumors she had heard before entering the Vermont mansion resurfaced.
It was said that various inhumane human experiments were secretly being conducted in the mansion…!
After coming into the mansion, Julia had stopped believing such rumors.
There was no space in the mansion for such secret experiments.
And she had realized that Aslan wasn’t the type of person to be so cruel.
But what on earth was this conversation about?
There was something off about it.
Julia, trembling in confusion, asked in a voice that barely held back disbelief.
“Ah, Aslan. You can’t be….”
“I found out that Neomium is inside me. There isn’t much time left before the academic presentation. If I strictly follow safety protocols and experimental ethics, I won’t make the deadline, so I have no choice but to take some risks and use my body.”
“Ahhh! I knew it, really!”
At the answer she had expected, Julia rolled on the ground, shouting.
This man really mistreats his own body.
During the Monster Rampage, he charged at monsters with his bare body.
He had gone into a tunnel and even asked it to collapse.
Last time, he had ventured into a bizarre place called the Shadow World.
He was a weakling who flinched at sunlight and got tired quickly with just a bit of movement.
How could he be so oblivious to his own safety? It was completely incomprehensible.
“I don’t want anything dangerous. If Aslan gets hurt or something goes wrong… I… what am I supposed to do…?”
“…”
“What I mean is, it’s troubling that the one who would set me free is gone! Don’t misunderstand me! …Please!”
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
“Sob…”
Wiping her tears away, Julia swallowed hard.
Why was she suddenly tearing up?
She didn’t know.
She was just annoyed and angry…
“I won’t do it! I’m not going to be a lab assistant for this kind of reckless experiment!”
“…”
Did I seem that free?
She had to check on the old skeletons to see if they were doing well or if there were any inconveniences.
She had studies to attend to during her free time.
And she had to listen to the stories of the spirits that kept coming—she was so busy.
This kind of research should be left to someone who has a safety deficiency.
Julia, visibly upset, turned around immediately.
Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she stepped forward.
At that moment, a large hand suddenly grasped both of Julia’s shoulders.
Ah. I thought he wouldn’t hold on…
Julia secretly let out a sigh of relief.
“I understand that you have significant concerns about my well-being. Of course, it’s not because you worry about me, but because you’re afraid of complications with being a slave owner. The tears that seemed to worry about me are all fake. It seems your acting skills have improved a lot.”
“Ah! I don’t know!!! …!”
“I’ll stop teasing for now. The reason I called you is precisely this.”
“Huh? What does that mean…?”
“I need to assign an assistant to someone who values my safety even more than I do, so my chances of staying safe will also increase. Charlotte would worry about me too, but she’s even more oblivious and clumsy than I am, so she’s out. Among the people I trust, you’re the only one who is smart, persistent, and cautious enough to be suitable as a research assistant. Please, lend me your hands.”
“Ugh, if you’re going to say that much… then I have no choice but to help…!”
Am I really the only one who can help Aslan?
He’s so desperate; I can’t just ignore that.
Besides, it would be a shame to let my excellent abilities go to waste.
Julia spun around, smiling leisurely.
‘This is definitely easy.’
Just a little bit of praise and he’s easily swayed, as always.
Aslan barely managed to keep a straight face, fighting against the urge to smile.
‘I saved a lot of money too.’
Hiring an official assistant would incur substantial costs in salary.
But since this was merely a ‘request’ for ‘help,’ there would be no need to pay a salary.
That was a win.
While Kali noticed Aslan’s intentions and began to sob, Aslan smiled bitterly.
