C219: Research results (1)
Chapter sponsored by Nidin. Thank you for your support.
Flora thought that Rudger's research was not as difficult as she believed by her standards but the other students were sweating profusely. Even the noble Freuden had a little crease on his forehead.
'There's nothing more to see here. My only competitor.….'
Flora glanced at Julia, whose face showed no emotion.
Was she the top student among freshmen?
Just looking at her made Flora instinctively feel that she was the same as her. However, she didn't feel like a competitor.
Flora wasn't interested in a student like Julia in the first place. Her eyes were on Rudger.
Rudger also glanced at her results and nodded, as if he had felt her gaze but that was all.
'What is this?'
Flora was unhappy about it.
'Can't you at least compliment me?'
Flora was a genius, so she didn't have to spend much time trying to do something because everything was easy.
She only reduced her break time and managed to expand the mana path and was thoroughly prepared for the next stage.
Flora made an effort that she wouldn't usually do to look good because she wanted to be praised by Rudger.
But was it because Rudger's expectations for her were too high that he took Flora's achievements for granted?
'Is it because I'm too good? I can't do this.'
Flora had mixed feelings whether to be pleased with this or not.
She understood with her head that it was an evaluation she received because she was good, but her heart didn't do that at all and she was annoyed for no reason.
Then, after seeing that Rudger was seen being kind to Rene and calmly answering her questions.
'What? You don't treat me like that.'
Rudger was pretending not to be, but Flora could tell that compared to others, Rudger was only being nice to the kid named Rene and her pride was hurt.
Appearance……Flora was confident but put it on hold because Rene was also pretty.
Family……Her family is better but considering the treatment she receives, it was not something to brag about, so she put it on hold.
'Yeah. Magic skills. If you're a strong student, you have to win with your magic skills.'
Flora was better at magic and although Rene was trying hard she was not comparable to her.
She was the winner when it comes to magic but she got less attention.
'It's…it's not fair.'
Flora looked at the mana line she had created. It was so precise and clean that she could admire it even if she made it herself but she boldly erased it then she raised her hand.
"Teacher, I have a question."
At that, Rudger turned around.
Was it surprising that she had a question? There is a hint of doubt in his gaze.
Flora was stabbed inwardly, but since this happened, she decided to shamelessly go all out.
"Can you tell me what to do sir?"
"………I see."
Rudger said so and came close to her.
Flora shouted in her mind that she had done it, but her face began to heat up as Rudger got closer.
"So, what exactly doesn't work?"
"Uh, you know……."
"Your face is red. Are you not feeling well?"
"Yes, yes? Me? Oh, no, I'm not sick.…."
"Do you have a fever?"
Rudger raised his hand and placed it on her forehead as Flora's heart jumped and her rational thinking stopped.
"Hmm. I don't think you have a fever. First, show me the mana line."
"……Yes."
As a result, Flora naturally created a mana line as Rudger instructed and at the same time as her instincts told her.
"Perfect. I don't think there's a problem."
"What?"
Flora realized her mistake.
'Oh, I should have made a mistake on purpose.'
She regretted it, but it was too late.
"I think it's good, I'll go now."
Rudger left her as Flora screamed inside.
* * *
A week has passed since the study began and the research has come to an end.
The students who had been drinking mana inhibitors and wearing sandbags for a week finally became free.
"I feel very light. It's only been a week, but I feel something has changed."
Rene looked at her physical condition and was in awe. It hasn't been that long since her mana was suppressed, but she felt new.
Above all, the pressure that suppressed her body disappeared, so she felt like she was flying.
"Everyone come over here and measure the amount of mana emitted."
Under Rudger's instructions, the students began measuring their mana emissions.
A large disk was laid on the floor, and an artifact that looked like a crystal ball was placed in the center of the disk.
The measuring method was simple. They just had to put their hands on the crystal ball and let your mana flow inside as much as possible.
The mana, which flowed into a large disk through the crystal ball, circulates inside and the amount is measured.
The testing time is 3 seconds because they had to measure the instantaneous amount of emission.
In this way, six people took turns and finished all the measurements.
"The results are out."
Rudger's words made all the students swallow their saliva. Even Julia, who was always relaxed, could not hide her nervousness.
"The average value of your mana emissions measured a week ago is about 12 percent. I've already told you that, so you remember it."
And now it was time to see the results after a week of training.
"The average mana emission of the six of you is 36 percent, 24 percent more than before. There might be an error depending on the individual, but it is roughly three times more."
"Three times more?"
The students were surprised and the staff in the measurement room opened their eyes wide at the figures. It was the same with the reaction of the spectators since they had never imagined that the results would be so good.
"What do you mean 36 percent? How can such figures come out?"
"It's not like there was an error in the measurement, right?"
Because they had suspicions the measures were repeated but the results were the same, 12 percent before training and 36 percent after training.
"Oh, my God. I can't believe it's tripled."
"I feel like I'm energized, but was it that much?"
Aidan, Rene and Erendir were purely happy while Flora, Julia, and Freuden didn't show it, but they were also inwardly admiring their changes.
'He really did it.'
Flora stared at Rudger with awe.
His face was the same after seeing the result unlike everyone else who was shocked. He didn't feel any joy like he was about to achieve his goal. Rather, it was surprising because he was calm.
'Was he sure it would be like this?'
She knew that Rudger himself had become stronger through this method. But there was no guarantee that it would work for anyone else.
Nevertheless, Rudger gathered people, did the research and showed results.
'How can he do that?'
How can a person be so strong? How can he not have any doubts about his way?
'I thought it wouldn't work.'
Rudger was relieved to see a successful outcome. He was worried that some variables might produce bad results, fortunately the results were more than he expected.
As he was thinking, the wizard from the Old Tower among the observers stood in front of the mana measuring tool himself.
"I can't believe it's changed this much in a week. It's weird no matter how I look at it. The meter may be wrong!"
The observer from the School Association also nodded at his words. He was not speaking, but his innermost thoughts were no different from the wizard of the Old Tower.
The wizard of the Old Tower tested the measuring instrument himself.
[The maximum amount of mana released is 15%]
It was less than half of the student's numbers but it was not low.
"There's nothing wrong with the meter?"
He rather hoped the meter was wrong but looking at the result, there was nothing wrong.
"Oh, you didn't believe me?"
As soon as the president's voice crossed his ears, the observer of the Old Tower trembled.
"Cough, hmm. No. It's not that I didn't believe it, I checked just in case. Don't you want us to be clear as observers?"
As he spoke the notion of not believing was erased from his mind.
"It's just…a minor misunderstanding."
"Really? I'm glad to hear that the misunderstanding has been resolved."
"Ha ha ha hahaha."
The wizard of the Old Tower laughed awkwardly, and the observer dispatched by the School Association also sweated. He was glad the Old Tower became the arrowhead.
"We'll go now."
The observers left but only the observer of the New Tower, Luchek, bowed his head politely.
The president also lightly saluted and turned to Rudger.
"Good job. Mr. Rudger. You've shown us a good result."
"It's too early. In order to completely wash away the distrust, the students' mana emissions need to be measured periodically over the next three days. We have to prove that this is not a short-term result."
One could say that the power of the drug increased the amount of mana emission and to prevent that, he was going to add additional measurements in three days.
Most of the mana drugs don't last more than a day, so that was enough.
Mana drugs that increase mana emissions are expensive, have a short duration of effect, and even have aftereffects. Therefore, more detailed measurements were needed to completely clear away the doubts in that part.
"That would really make the academic world buzz."
"President, I believe you have not forgotten your promise."
"Of course, Mr. Rudger has shown so much sincerity, how can I not keep my end of the deal?"
From the time she read the data Rudger gave her in advance, she did everything to create this place.
"Congratulations. Many people will soon find out about Mr. Rudger's great discovery."
"Is that so?"
"That's not a very pleasant reaction. What's the problem?"
"No, nothing."
Rudger glossed over.
'Now, there's really no turning back.'
In the next few days after the news spreads, it will really be irreversible.
'Now that I have spread the method you have taught me, I can't really hide anywhere.'
He will not disclose how to make the mana inhibitors, but will that be enough?
The process was necessary, but the aftermath was frightening to imagine.
It doesn't matter if people bother him.
'But teacher is different.'
They must have woken up when Rudger used their blood and noticed what he did while sneaking off.
'When we meet, should I apologize first?'
Maybe he'll really die.
Rudger might not be killed because it's their students but one can grasp his teacher's personality.
The president's eyes shone when Rudger had such an idea with an expressionless face.
'He doesn't care even after producing these results. He's more fun than I expected.'
She knew the name and status of Rudger Chelici were fake but seeing how capable he was she wondered what his real identity was and what was his purpose for visiting Theon.
He didn't appear to be trying to take anything from Theon.
Rather, looking at what he is showing now, he seems impatient because he can't show everyone what he has.
A more teacher-like person than a teacher, that's how Rudger appeared in the eyes of President Elisa.
'I wonder who this man really is.'
As time passes, will the day come when he tells her who he really is?