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Chapter 50: Academy Conference (2)
Alterisha patiently waited.She waited until every alchemist in the room understood and accepted her words.
Finally, the silence was broken by a renowned university professor.
"... Are you joking even after knowing the significance of this occasion? Yes, I apologize for the disregard, and I suppose you said that to attract attention. However, there is a limit to that kind of behavior!"
His passionate words lacked any distortion. If Alterisha had simply intended to gain attention, his words would have been true.
As people began to sympathize, Alterisha revealed a smile.
"I also know the significance of this occasion very well. It is an esteemed and extraordinary chance for someone like me to stand here. Therefore, I have no intention of joking around. I don't want to miss this precious opportunity."
"Well then, how should we interpret what you said?"
"Please interpret it the way an alchemist would."
Those who believed that every phenomenon in this world could be scientifically proven. They analyzed, uncovered, and interpreted the existence of everything, always seeking to unveil the truth in order to sate their curiosity. Those were alchemists.
"But the Alchemical Engineering Cross Technique doesn't make sense. Principle-wise, the disciplines of magic and alchemy are structured in such a way that they cannot intersect!"
"Yes. Countless genius alchemists who lived centuries before you failed precisely because of that!"
"It’s been over a hundred years since it was proven that the formula is impossible to solve. What's all this commotion about now?"
Amidst all the negative reactions, Alterisha didn't feel discouraged. On the contrary, she felt exhilarated.
Even these renowned alchemists had declared it impossible. The thought of proving it herself in that very moment sent a thrilling shiver through her entire body.
And then, she recognized an excited face in the audience.
Sir Halsecoden raised the corner of his mouth and spoke.
"Everyone, silence!"
With his words, the entire room fell quiet in an instant.
"Just because we've had quite a few failures doesn’t mean that we should deem certain things impossible. How can you even confidently call yourselves alchemists if you do that?"
His words struck at the weakness of the current alchemist academic community. While they believed that there was truth in everything, they only tinkered with what was already known and never attempted to explore things that were deemed impossible.
"Nowadays, there’s no progress. At best, all we do is make minor modifications to what we presented last time."
Upon hearing his words, some alchemists blushed and lowered their heads.
"I'm actually looking forward to this. The little alchemist who dared to seek truth even in the laws deemed impossible by everyone."
"Go ahead and present the truth you have discovered."
In response to Halsecoden’s words, Alterisha nodded vigorously and opened her mouth to speak.
Bang!
Someone slammed their palm on the desk and stood up from their seat.
All the alchemists' gazes immediately focused on the person. It was none other than Professor Maizen from Stella Academy.
Halsecoden frowned uncomfortably and asked, "Professor Maizen, what are you doing?"
"Before Alterisha presents her thesis, I’d like to clear my suspicions regarding that thesis."
"Suspicions, you say?"
Halsecoden laughed dryly as if it was absurd, but Maizen bit her lip and did not back down.
"So what are these suspicions?"
In response to Halsecoden's question, Maizen answered angrily as if chewing on her words. "Plagiarism... Suspicion of plagiarism."
"What? What did you say?"
"Plagiarism."
Upon hearing her words, some alchemists turned their heads uncomfortably and coughed.
In fact, besides Maizen, there had been quite a few cases of people using others' papers.
Alterisha couldn't help but smile at the absurd scene. The darkening atmosphere was clearly not good in anyone's eyes.
"Suspicion of plagiarism... Haha! How amusing. Yes, it's been a long time since we’ve had plagiarism accusations at a presentation."
The moderator, clearly taken aback by the situation, looked to Halsecoden for guidance.
"Well, first of all, after raising suspicion of plagiarism, I'm sure you're well aware of what consequences await you if you fail to prove otherwise, right?"
Halsecoden, who had been shouting vehemently previously, adopted a calm tone at that moment. His gaze, looking sharp enough to cut through anything, sank sharply.
Despite her tension, Maizen nodded confidently with an air of self-assurance as if she had enough evidence.
"I’ll call four witnesses who are conducting research on the Alchemical Engineering Cross Technique together with me."
"That's right."
She stood up along with the researchers sitting beside her. They were skilled researchers assigned to Stella Academy and affiliated with the Moon Shadow Church.
With their knowledge and her alchemy skills, there should be no problem.
With that in mind, Maizen walked to the podium alongside the researchers and took hold of another microphone to continue the discussion.
"Let me reintroduce the alchemist who is currently presenting. Her name is Alterisha, and she works as my alchemy assistant and assistant instructor at Stella Academy."
Assistant.
As soon as those words were uttered, everyone let out a sigh.
‘It's game over.’
'That’s the end.'
Engaging in a plagiarism battle over a paper that hadn’t even been presented in the first place entailed a complicated process.
But if it was a plagiarism battle between a professor and their assistant, the current alchemy academia would unquestionably side with the professor.
Why?
Because it was an obvious fact that the professor was superior to the assistant. Moreover, even if everyone knew about the professor stealing the assistant’s paper, it was an uncomfortable truth that they had to turn a blind eye to.
No matter what excuses the assistant might make, they would only be seen as mere justifications.
Maizen cast a chilling smile toward the sweating Alterisha and spoke. "As everyone knows, in the intersection of alchemy and magic engineering, there are five enigmatic challenges. Only by solving these five challenges can alchemy and magic engineering truly achieve harmony."
So far, academia had only managed to solve two of those challenges, and even then, the solutions were incomplete and only half-baked.
That was why Maizen could confidently make such a statement.
"I have solved four of those challenges. The research that was being conducted secretly has reached its final stages."
"Huh."
"If what you're saying is true, then indeed this paper...!"
"Of course, my paper is correct. Alterisha, my assistant, is undoubtedly exceptional, but isn't it unbelievable for someone who entered the field of alchemy academia less than five years ago to have solved the enigmatic challenges of intersectional alchemy? It doesn't make sense, does it?"
"That's right."
"You're absolutely right."
Professor Maizen was cunning. She had prepared for this scenario just in case.
Every day, she was tormented by jealousy and the anxiety that Alterisha, a newbie, might actually be a more exceptional alchemist than herself and had decided to confront that fear today.
"Indeed! I could only solve four of the challenges. However, she clearly stated that she has completed the paper. It means she has solved all five enigmatic challenges... But can we really say that she solved the remaining four problems solely by her own abilities? Just because she solved the last one, the one I haven't solved yet? Does it mean that her paper, which borrowed my four solutions, is entirely her own?"
Everyone nodded their heads. It was undoubtedly an impressive achievement to solve the final problem and receive praise for it.
However, it was nothing more than theft for Alterisha to pass off Maizen’s paper as her own as if she had solved all five problems by herself.
It was like a thief adding their own brushstrokes to a stolen painting that was just about to be completed. It could never truly become the thief's painting.
Maizen had prepared for all possibilities.
Assuming that Alterisha had truly solved the final problem, Maizen had made sure she couldn't escape.
And she was confident in her conviction.
‘How dare she steal my paper?’
Unless Alterisha truly stole her paper, there's no way she could have solved all five enigmatic challenges at the young age of twenty-seven.
‘It wasn't part of the plan, but at the very least, I can't let her steal my paper!’
Maizen chuckled.
Yes, it wasn't part of the plan, but this wasn’t bad either.
She had always dreamed of achieving the unreachable realm described as “genius” in the Aether World.
Today, she would grab that title here and claim it as her own.
"Well, what do you think, Assistant Alterisha?"
Maizen casually threw the question, and the senior alchemists in the room began to glare at Alterisha.
They had all reached the unanimous conclusion that she had stolen the paper.
‘Ah…’
Alterisha bit her lip tightly.
Yes, she had considered the possibility that Professor Maizen would go this far.
But now that the situation was unfolding, she had no idea what to do or how to handle it. Her mind went blank and her hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.
Meeting Maizen’s gaze was incredibly difficult. All the torment and violence she had endured from her had become a traumatic experience that clung to Alterisha like a perfume.
‘Wh-What should I do…?’
At that moment, her instinct led her to look at Baek Yu-Seol like a child searching for its mother.
“When you feel overwhelmed and can't handle it alone, call out to me,” he said, convincing her to believe in him. But even with Baek Yu-Seol, could there really be a way to salvage this situation?
She didn't know.
She didn't know, but right now, she wanted to rely on someone. Anyone.
So she closed her eyes tightly and raised her hand.
The moderator sensed the urgency in Halsecoden’s eyes and nodded in response.
Hurriedly, the moderator asked, "Yes, what would you like to say?"
"I also... I want to call upon someone to assist me."
"Assist? May I ask who it is?"
"He is... the 'co-author' of this paper."
"Huh."
"Oh my."
To claim to be a co-author on a paper she had plagiarized…
Laughter erupted.
Baek Yu-Seol was also taken aback.
‘Wait, I'm a co-author...?’
They had never discussed that.
Halsecoden coolly granted her request.
"Alright! Call him."
Eventually, Baek Yu-Seol stood up from his seat and stepped onto the platform, causing the alchemists to frown.
"A student?"
"No matter how talented he is..."
"We didn't come here to witness a child's play. What is this about?"
Alterisha trembled under the alchemists' complaints and discontent. Her appearance was pitiable, but Baek Yu-Seol didn't immediately approach her.
Deliberately taking a roundabout path, he subtly retrieved something hidden inside his sleeve and casually brushed it against Maizen’s forearm as he passed by.
"... No hard feelings."
Maizen grunted in displeasure, and a message simultaneously appeared in his mind.
[The special ability 'Resentment' of the artifact ‘Vengeance Branch' has been activated.]
[Target of Resentment: Maizen Tyren]
"Good. Very good."
He had eagerly sought opportunities to inflict resentment, and finally he achieved his goal.
Then Baek Yu-Seol approached Alterisha.
"Are you alright?"
"Uh, yeah..."
The gazes of the alchemists still felt sharp. However, when Baek Yu-Seol patted her shoulder, her heart quickly settled down.
Slowly lifting her head, she looked at his face. He remained calm and composed as if he had anticipated this situation.
Baek Yu-Seol received the microphone.
"Professor Maizen, long time no see."
Maizen’s face twisted with anger, but soon a sneer spread across her lips. She realized that she could bring down the two people she despised the most in one fell swoop.
"First, Professor, your arguments seem quite plausible."
"... Plausible?"
"Yes. But don't you think there is no decisive evidence?"
"Well, that will be revealed as soon as I publicly present my esteemed paper. And I too always carry the paper on the Alchemical Engineering Cross Technique with me."
"Is that so? Well, that works out nicely then,” Baek Yu-Seol said with a smirk, revealing his white teeth.
Maizen unintentionally took a step back.
"What's going on…?"
It was a smile she had seen many times before. Whenever that smile appeared, the situation always ended in her complete defeat.
‘No, no. Not this time!’
After glancing briefly at Halsecoden, Baek Yu-Seol turned to Maizen and spoke, "Alright. How about we solve it right here, each on our own? The five puzzles that remained unsolved for 300 years."
"We’ll find out whether our solution matches yours, Professor, or not. It’s quite simple, isn't it?"
To solve the problem was the easiest, most straightforward, and most clear-cut method.
"Well... then we can determine whose answer is correct, right?"
Maizen tightly bit her lips, slightly startled by Baek Yu-Seol’s self-assured attitude.
‘What's this? Could it be that there's a catch...?’
This was troublesome.
Maizen tried her best to make excuses and defuse this confrontation.
"Wasting time with unnecessary tricks—"
"Wait a moment."
However, before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by Halsecoden.
"A showdown between the professor and the teaching assistant over the interpretation of the paper..."
He pretended to contemplate for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh, typical of a dwarf.
"It sounds very interesting!"
A clear sign of approval.
Baek Yu-Seol, who had orchestrated this situation, turned to Alterisha.
"I-I..."
"Assistant Alterisha. You can do it. I trust you more than anyone else."
‘The boy... He’s still smiling.’
‘Why’s that?’
With such a trivial act, confidence sprouted in Alterisha’s heart.
Baek Yu-Seol.
Among the students, he was jokingly referred to as the archenemy of Professor Maizen.
It was because of his outstanding talent that he was always persecuted, yet he always came out on top and embarrassed Maizen.
It was satisfying.
It felt refreshing.
Being so much younger than her, Alterisha admired how he boldly confronted Professor Maizen, whom she couldn't dare to treat lightly.
‘Can I do it too?’
Taking a deep breath, she filled her lungs with oxygen as if attempting to gather confidence in her fearful heart.
‘The professor and I have undoubtedly conducted different research.’
In the world, there were numerous solutions to a single formula. It was the beauty of alchemy.
‘In that case, the professor's solution and my solution must be completely different.’
She held her head high, unwilling to show the slightest weakness in front of Maizen. Then, she took off her glasses and untied the messy hair band she had always kept.
"Oh..."
Just by removing two accessories, her aura changed in an instant, and Halsecoden couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Ha!"
Exhaling deeply, Alterisha revealed a pristine smile, displaying her pearly white teeth.
That was the smile of a true genius, full of confidence. A smile Professor Maizen had never seen even though she was her assistant.
"Professor Maizen, shall we begin?"