Grade Assessment (4)
TL/ED: Lolz
“… So it happened.”
A somewhat musty-smelling laboratory.
Ian finished explaining the matter to Christina.
“You bet on a technology that isn’t even complete yet?”
“I believe in it.”
“And the deadline is tomorrow, too?”
“Master’s student… It’s normal for a scientist to stay up all night.”
Ian’s nonchalant response reached its peak as Christina’s voice grew louder like a gradient.
“Moreover, you risked the research funds we painstakingly earned, not to mention the material cost we have to pay for buying our raw materials and the glowing show of ‘I’ll show you something!’ you pulled.”
“… Well, you could put it that way.”
Christina’s expression almost seemed like the world was ending.
‘Indeed, it feels like I used the research we worked hard to obtain too freely.’
Ian had a similar experience in the past.
He began to feel a bit sorry for betting the research funds without any prior notice.
Certainly, he had enough confidence in his findings, and there was also Ian’s share in the research funds. However, putting money on his actions was somewhat emotional.
If the goal was to improve Ian’s reputation, showing something significant in the final assessment would have been enough.
While Christina stared at Ian in silence, she finally spoke.
“Hey, are you crazy?”
“What?”
To Ian’s bewildered question, Christina covered her mouth somewhat playfully with her fingertips.
“Oh my, my true feelings slipped out.”
She looked at him with a mischievous smile.
“… No! Quickly go and retrieve it! How can I buy materials after putting everything on the line? We need materials to conduct research!”
“Was all that just for material costs?”
“Of course! Do you know how expensive rare metals are? Just because you said you have a way to procure them doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed!”
Christina expressed her anger with her hand on her hip.
But Ian nodded contentedly.
If it was all about material costs, there was no problem.
“I’ve already procured the materials.”
Ian took out glass bottles from his bag.
On his way back from meeting with mid-level executives handling raw materials, courtesy of Silvia. He assisted in the extraction tasks related to the scarce metals needed for research, and the by-products were more than enough.
‘The satisfaction from the executives was higher than I expected.’
Ironically, it was more of a win-win situation for them than for Ian.
— Clatter, clatter.
Ian quietly raised a glass bottle.
“Isn’t this enough?”
Rows of glass bottles lined up on the table.
Christina’s eyes, which should have been tired due to fatigue, widened at the sight.
“Did… did you buy all of this with the money?”
Yeah. I practically didn’t spend any money, just used my body.”
“… Huh?”
Christina’s eyes shook violently from side to side.
Should she at least calm down?
While Ian was contemplating, Christina knelt down to the floor.
And like praying, she closed her eyes and clasped her hands together.
“I apologize for doubting. I’m just a researcher hidden away in a dark corner of the lab, spinning wheels. Ian, you’re the light and hope, simply the Greatest of All Time Scientist. I won’t doubt you again. Amen.”
“….”
Ian looked at her with a somewhat dumbfounded expression.
Her earnest eyes, closed in what seemed like genuine prayer, were even more bewildering.
It seems the saying that all scientists have a loose screw somewhere might be true.
— Tap, tap.
After dusting off her knees and standing up, Christina grinned and tilted her head.
“Is there anything you’re curious about, Ian?”
Her expression, so compassionate now, was unbelievable compared to her earlier anger. It was somewhat awkward to see her looking up at him with that face.
“… Are you really serious and not joking?”
“No, I’m serious. I won’t doubt you again. I will be the first disciple of Ian Church.”
“Please, can we drop that concept? It’s getting uncomfortable.”
Christina nodded quietly.
However, her eyes seemed strangely uneasy.
“… But, Ian.”
“Yeah?”
“What are you going to do with the research funds?”
“Of course, I’ll use them for research again.”
Christina held her hands together with her endlessly moved expression.
“I’ll stay up tonight.”
That was a good attitude.
“But figuring out how you, Ian, can apply levitation stones, that’s something that needs to be tested multiple times. Even if you apply it as a thin film on your body, there’s no guarantee that the current properties of the substance will be maintained.”
Christina, along with the briefing, immediately put on a gown and protective gear.
The sight of her donning tightly fitting white gloves looked truly professional.
“It seems challenging to create a thin film that fits Ian’s body like that. Let’s start with that.”
She quickly grasped the essence of the work and skillfully dove into it.
It was not just idle talk that she would be an alchemist who would make a name for herself on the continent.
“Ian, I’ll leave the preparation for making the thin film to you. We need to start quickly.”
Certainly, Ian’s talent in these applied areas is no less than hers.
[Copper], [Lead], [Lunar], [Steel]…
Ian touched the metals without saying a word.
And in an instant, the materials covered Ian’s body.
“Is this enough?”
Christina’s mouth dropped open in surprise.
◆
The next day, at the measurement site gathered for the second Grade Assessment.
“…Ian?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Are you okay? Your eyes look incredibly tired, and your hair seems a bit messy.”
Ian absentmindedly touched his own head.
“Ah.”
He forgot to wash up after staying up all night. He was busy thinking about how to apply the levitation stones and conducting experiments.
‘Well. After the assessment, I’ll wash up and get some sleep.’
Danya choked at that disgusting sight.
“Don’t overwork yourself because of me…”
Danya was under the misconception that Ian was arguing to take care of her.
Ian was just angry at the attitude of Sharon’s fan club members.
But he didn’t bother correcting Danya’s misunderstanding.
It was too tiring after staying up all night.
“Judging by your face, did you not sleep properly thinking about losing money all night?”
Ian turned towards the voice of the whining.
Lukasic, the president of Sharon’s fan club, was standing there with a smile on his face.
Ian raised his eyebrow in response.
The tired look disappeared instantly, and his eyes, posture, everything became remarkably sharp and confident.
“Well, I was planning to visit you anyway. It’s a bet between us.”
Lukasic’s face stiffened at Ian’s sudden change.
What was he trying to say?
Ian spoke up.
“But isn’t it a bit strange?”
“What?”
“I’m taking on a fight with lower odds, so it’s not fair to stick to a one-to-one ratio. I was thinking of taking care of my side’s odds a bit. How about 1:4?”
Lukasic had already put one gold coin on the line.
One gold coin was equivalent to a year’s worth of food for a middle-class family.
No matter how noble Lukasic was, the amount was burdensome.
Ian confidently pushed forward.
“Scared?”
“I-I’ll add one more! That’s it, then?”
“No, add three more. Go with four.”
“… Four?”
“Yeah, four.”
“That’s unreasonable!”
“If you think levitation is unreasonable, then that’s your problem. If you’re so confident, you should increase the payout for me.”
Lukasic’s face turned pale.
The image of Ian in his mind was generally lacking in confidence.
He was suddenly taken aback by Ian’s bold demand.
However, he couldn’t just back down with dignity.
“Let’s settle for three.”
“Four.”
Lukasic grabbed Ian’s shoulders, then whispered quietly.
“I don’t have the money right now… If I put all this in, I won’t have any living expenses.”
“Four.”
“Profit!”
Ian’s eyes, endlessly clear and somewhat crazy.
Lukasic felt a bit overwhelmed by Ian’s sudden change in demeanor.
‘It’s probably definitely not going to happen anyway.’
Leave four gold coins for a moment, and you’ll get five back after a few minutes.
Lukasic added three more gold coins into the money pouch.
“Let’s make sure of this. Levitation, or more precisely, maintaining the levitated posture exactly. It means keeping the levitation fixed in the air.”
“Of course.”
Ian smiled at Lukasic’s words and tied the opening of the money pouch.
He was about to hand the pouch to the witness for the bet.
A white hand blocked his way.
◆
“What’s this nonsense during the grade assessment?”
“…Sh-Sharon?”
In fact, yesterday, Ian and Lukasic’s bet was canceled due to Sharon Pierce’s intervention.
Ian quickly tied the money pouch with the bet to hand it over to the appointed witness.
Sharon frowned.
“I think I asked what you’re doing right now.”
“A bet. Why, do you want to join too?”
A moment of silence.
Sharon spoke with a voice as cold as a sword forged from ice.
“I find you quite unpleasant, Ian Blackangers.”
“What exactly do you find unpleasant?”
“Everything you do.”
“…”
Ian stared at Sharon for a moment. He knew that she disliked him, or more precisely, Pongpong.
He speculated that if she was the one who pushed Pongpong away, it was probably because Pongpong disturbed her training by chasing her.
Therefore, he had vowed not to get involved with her. Leaving her alone to train might make her interest fade.
However, Sharon seemed to have different thoughts about Pongpong.
“Ian Blackangers, you act as if you’re helping others, but secretly plotting sinister schemes. Even in the current situation, it’s obvious. It’s as if you’re looking at my brothers and sisters with disdain.”
“Comparing me to the children of the Pierce family seems like an overestimation.”
Sharon frowned at Ian’s words.
“Your sins will be revealed by the Disciplinary Committee.”
“That seems a bit unfair.”
“Unfair? Look at what you’re doing right now. Making nonsensical fabrications, wasting money on gambling based on that, you’re a troublemaker who confuses everything with all kinds of tricks and schemes. That’s why the Disciplinary Committee is needed for you even more.”
In other words, the apostle of justice was upset.
Would that motivation push someone to push someone else off a roof?
It shouldn’t be thought about considering the environment she grew up in.
Ian, however, instead of pondering about this, decided to provoke Sharon.
“Go ahead with the bet then.”
“What?”
“If you can’t trust my words, how about you make a bet too?”
“…”
“Whether it’s money or goods. In short, all you need to do is see me levitating in the air quietly, right?”
Ian glanced around.
It was in the middle of the second Grade Assessment.
Many students were watching this dispute.
“In front of them.”
An endlessly confident posture.
Even Sharon was momentarily taken aback by Ian’s confidence.
But only for a moment, then her eyes regained sharpness.
“Fine.”
Sharon untied the sword she had hanging from her waist.
“I’ll bet this sword that Ian can’t maintain his posture in the air.”
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