“…I will conclude my presentation here. Thank you.”
Clap clap clap clap—
As Sion bowed his head to greet, applause erupted.
‘…Huh?’
This wasn’t the usual obligatory clapping for making a presentation.
The sound of genuine applause, filled with fervor, caught Sion by surprise.
…Why is this happening all of a sudden?
‘Even though I did make another presentation in the middle…’
Sion shot a glance at Professor Bariyes.
Today’s presentation was not just a report on the Skeleton Dungeon.
The report he wrote earlier this week… that is, the report on his experiences in the Skeleton Dungeon, was also part of the presentation.
Naturally, since he never imagined he would be presenting that report, he hadn’t prepared properly.
“Thank you for the big applause. Now, I will take questions. Are there any professors with questions?”
Pababak!
As soon as the host finished speaking, hands shot up.
All the professors were looking at Sion with gleaming eyes.
…Wasn’t it just a moment ago that they looked as if they were dead?
Receiving the signal from the host, a professor took the microphone.
“Ah, I am Professor Marcus Hermington from the Department of Magical Engineering. The source of the explanation regarding Apostolos was a bit unclear. May I ask about the source of the information?”
It was something that was glossed over in the report and presentation, but being a professor, he keenly found the gap.
Sion maintained his smile and replied immediately.
“Apostolos is a newly emerged organization, so the methods to obtain information are limited.”
“So you have no sources?”
“No, there are sources. However, I didn’t reference books, newspapers, theses, or reports.”
At Sion’s response, Professor Marcus furrowed his brows.
“What you’re saying effectively means you have no sources.”
“There are various methods for researching materials, such as case studies or experimental methods that you mentioned, Professor. Those are the most common methods used when writing a thesis.”
“So—”
As the professor’s voice was about to rise.
“I used the interview method…”
“…What did you say?”
Interview method.
That refers to a method of data collection…
Where the researcher meets the interviewee directly to gather information.
“The contents regarding Apostolos that appear in my report are all information obtained directly from a high-ranking official of Apostolos.”
“Nonsense! Very few have even grasped the essence of Apostolos until now, how could you gather information on them through an interview method?!”
“Because I met them directly.”
“Are you perhaps an undercover agent for Apostolos?!”
Buzz buzz—
With Professor Marcus’s loud outburst, the presentation room plunged into chaos.
To say he spoke directly to someone from Apostolos.
That statement could very well be an admission of being a reactionary, damaging peace and scheming war.
Despite the audience’s murmur, Sion remained calm.
“Do you recall the unfortunate incident that occurred recently at the Academy?”
“Unfortunate… incident?”
“Yes, a being named ‘Greed’ from Apostolos attacked students from the Magic Department. And… I was there.”
“…Wait a moment.”
Professor Marcus’s eyebrows twitched.
“I’m sorry, but what was your name again?”
“Sion. I don’t have a family name.”
“Whoa…!”
Only then did a look of embarrassment appear on Professor Marcus’s face.
He hadn’t properly heard the name because he wasn’t focused during the initial presentation.
That was Professor Marcus’s mistake.
Sion’s strategy was aimed at that part.
‘You say you obtained information by meeting someone directly, but how would you prove it?’
Sion remembered an interesting anecdote from his previous life.
The novelist Hwang Soon-won’s work, ‘Shower’.
The debate over whether the purple flower mentioned in the story hinted at death or not.
‘Even if many people say that purple is a hint, if it’s not from the author, then it’s not.’
Of course, that debate eventually fizzled out…
But Sion had actually met and even conversed with Apostolos’s ‘Greed.’
At least among the people sitting here, no one had met and conversed with Apostolos.
So Sion’s report was practically the latest information on Apostolos.
“…Ahem. Thank you for your answers.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for the question. If anyone else has questions, feel free to ask.”
Sion looked at the professors with a bright smile.
Seeing the clarity in Sion’s eyes, the professors gradually lowered their hands.
Yet some professors stubbornly kept their hands up.
Of course, all of them were sinking into Sion’s seasoned composure.
“That part is explained on page 5 of my report. Yes, here it is. If you look at the eighth sentence—”
“Thank you for the good question. Regarding the ecology of the Skeleton, I referenced the book ‘Understanding the Undead,’ but for that section, I referenced another book by the same author. I thought that if it was written by the same author, we should prioritize the later-written book, and so—”
“I referred to Professor Kastolran’s book ‘Research on Dungeon Ecology’ for information about the core of the dungeon. It states that the core of the dungeon is like an unmoving heart. The explanation that follows—”
Sion answered within five seconds whenever a question was asked.
It felt as if he had scripted the questions and answers beforehand.
Sion’s handling was nearly perfect.
“…If there are no more questions, I will conclude here. I would like to thank the professors who participated in the review, and I will give you about five minutes. During that time, please proceed with grading.”
Sion stepped down from the podium and sat next to Professor Bariyes.
Professor Bariyes grinned broadly, showing his gums.
Honestly, Sion wanted to slap him lightly on the forehead.
“Professor, I’ve made my presentation, but… is this really okay?”
“Huh? It’s fine, it’s fine. You gave them a proper hit.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean by hit…?”
Sion recalled what Professor Bariyes said when he took him there.
That moment flashed through Sion’s mind like a light bulb.
– The professors’ reactions were good.
– …Good, you say?
– Yeah, it’s so good they want you to present again. Those old folks are quite something, haha!
– Oh…
– So, Sion-kun.
– You wouldn’t want to go give those old folks another hit?
In the current situation where he had received permission to use Sion’s presentation as teaching material.
Professor Bariyes asked Sion if he wouldn’t want to go give the old folks another hit.
‘…Was that what you meant?’
He thought he was just going to present in front of the professors.
He never expected it would be a preliminary selection for the Magic Academic Conference.
…He didn’t say anything wrong, so he couldn’t complain even if it was annoying.
“Now, the aggregation is complete.”
The host took the microphone again.
That meant the evaluation was done.
The once noisy presentation room grew quiet, and the spotlight shone on the host.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the professors who took the time to participate in the evaluation and to our students who presented passionately, and I will announce the third place winner first. For your information, the first, second, and third place winners must present again on the day of the sports competition.”
They have to present again?
‘That’s a bit…’
For Sion, the presentation was tedious.
Moreover, it wasn’t just a simple group project presentation, but in front of guests and professors from other academies?
Just the thought of it made him want to vomit.
“Third place! Congratulations, Dino Jellyod!”
Clap clap clap—
‘Who is he?’
A man with a rather cringe-inducing impression made his way to the podium.
As if he naturally knew he was going to win an award.
This was the first time Sion had thought someone’s first impression was so unpleasant.
After receiving the award and going back down,
“Next, for second place!… Congratulations! Michelle Fontatz!”
“…Huh?”
Clap clap clap—
The face of the person going up to the podium was familiar.
With dark purple hair and a somewhat troublesome-looking face.
Still, given the occasion, she acted more demure than usual.
As she descended after receiving the award,Michelle Fontatz made eye contact with Sion.
Then she winked at him.
…Startled by the sudden wink, Sion was at a loss for words.
‘Now that I think about it, Senior Michelle is also in the Magic Department.’
Although she was part of the judo club, Michelle Fontatz was a third year in the Magic Department.
She was two years ahead of Sion.
Thus, it wasn’t strange for her to be present at the academic conference for undergraduates… the Magic Academic Conference.
“Now, I will announce the coveted first place.”
Drumroll—
An unknown music played in the background.
…Could this also be magic?
As the host built suspense a bit longer.
In a moment, that little nervousness that he hadn’t wished for crept in.
“Congratulations! Sion! Please come up to the podium!”
“…Huh?”
Clap clap clap clap clap clap—
Amidst applause that was incomparable to before, Sion was called.
…Is it really me?
With a bewildered expression, he walked up to the podium and received the award.
The host’s words did not stop there.
“Wow, it’s the first time a first-year has received an award at the Magic Academic Conference. And to win first place! Sion, you seem destined to make a mark in the magic world! Hahaha!”
“……”
With the host’s words, Sion felt the weight of the moment on his shoulders.
Certainly, who would think a first-year student would come to participate in an academic conference?
…Yet, having won first, it was now a reality.
“Wait a moment!”
Just as Sion was about to receive the award, someone interrupted him.
It was Dino Jellyod, who had just won third place.
“Dino, what’s wrong?”
“That student was clearly late. I heard he would receive a penalty. But first place? I would like to raise a question.”
Dino glared at Sion like a sworn enemy.
Sion merely blinked at the stare.
‘…It’s not that I don’t understand.’
Having been late wasn’t enough, but now a brand-new first-year had suddenly snagged the first place.
He might question the evaluation results as well.
Just when the host was about to respond to him.
“Haha, I will explain that.”
Professor Noyas, who had been quietly sitting, stepped forward.
“Since this will eventually be disclosed, let me say that your total score was 87 out of 100.”
“Th-thank you.”
“And Michelle Fontatz scored 89 points.”
“Then why does this first-year—”
Thud.
As he struck the floor with the staff he was holding.
In an instant, the surroundings grew quiet.
Dino’s lips, which were about to say something, closed tightly.
“Sion’s score is 90 points.”
“…If you receive a penalty, you don’t earn first place.”
“No, it means he scored 90 points even after the penalty.”
“I understood that the tardiness penalty is -10 points from the total score…?!”
Only then did Dino’s eyes start to tremble.
The tardiness penalty is -10 points from the total score.
Yet, a score of 90 means…
“For the first time ever, a score of 100 has been achieved at the Byzantium Academy’s Magic Academic Conference. It was unanimous among the professors. Hahaha!”
“……”
“So go back, Dino. If you don’t want to be remembered as a blemish on this historic moment.”
In the rather blunt warning from the professor, Dino returned to his seat.
Even on the way back, he didn’t forget to send a fierce glare toward Sion.
…Presented with the weight of interest, Sion returned to his place holding the certificate.
…The weight of the certificate he held still felt unbelievable.
‘…What should I do now?’
While it would be nice if it ended here, he had to present again at the sports competition.
Because the first, second, and third place winners of the Magic Academic Conference have to present as representatives.
That fact heavily weighed down on Sion’s shoulders.
After all, it wasn’t like they were giving him anything, so why was he…
‘…No, wait, they did say they would give something.’
Squeak.
When Sion carefully opened the case for the certificate.
There, along with a splendid certificate, something that looked like a bill was tucked inside.
– 300 Gold Coins (Byzantium Academy Issued Check)
A whopping 300 gold coins.
Just for a brief presentation, he had earned more money than he had from the gold coins up to now.
…Is this the level of awards from the Empire’s greatest academy?
“Congratulations! Sion-kun!”
“…Thank you, Professor.”
“Huh? No, it’s because you did well! Congratulations! Bahaha!”
Professor Bariyes, whose face had given him the urge to slap him at first, now wore a genuine smile.
Looking at that face, Sion finally smiled sincerely.
…It was then that Sion realized Professor Bariyes’s grand plan.
