When the plot-skips players into the game world

"Oh? Ah, that's true... You arrived late and haven't been assigned a mentor yet."

Hearing this, the short, bald professor hesitated for a moment and touched his chin: "Aren't you with Professor Moriarty?"

In the instant Aiwass heard these words, he knew the other must be facing some sort of difficulty.

Because Aiwass was very confident.

He had made a favorable impression and could see the evident fondness in Professor Bard's eyes. He had surely maxed out his goodwill and even being invited to be a teaching assistant wasn't out of the question.

He was just taking on a student, which was much simpler than finding a teaching assistant.

——If Aiwass had been a bit more emotionally intelligent, he should have smoothly changed the topic at this point.

But when Aiwass set his sights on something, he wouldn't easily let go.

He was very greedy. When something was delivered to his lips, within reach of a little effort, there was no rationale in spitting it back out—

"...Because I think it's not good. It doesn't sound good to say it out loud... the other students always seem to maintain some distance from me."

Aiwass pulled the blanket meant for warmth over his knees.

He placed his hands on his legs, leaning slightly forward with politeness and earnestness: "Just like my older brother Edward. He didn't even attend the Royal Law University back then for the same reason.

"I believe that in an educational environment like this, being too close to family and relatives isn't beneficial for one's growth and training and can easily lead to conflicts with acquaintances."

"...That's true indeed."

Professor Bard nodded slightly in agreement: "And James, he's taken a long leave of absence, and there's no telling when he will return. Besides…"

the old man's gaze involuntarily glanced at Aiwass's legs.

If Aiwass hadn't abruptly pulled the blanket, Bard had almost forgotten about his poor health and mobility issues.

He indeed needed adult care—having only Miss Lily with him certainly wasn't enough. She could only be considered a peer to Aiwass, not an elder.

Although these students were all of age, in old Bard's eyes, they were still children.

Professor Bard glanced only subconsciously and quickly shifted his gaze away politely.

Because he wasn't entirely sure why Aiwass needed to use a wheelchair, nor did he know if there was any hope of recovery.

If even the priests that Professor Moriarty could find were unable to heal Aiwass with Illumination Art... perhaps his condition was indeed severe. In that case, paying attention to this would be disrespectful and might even bring sadness to someone.

Aiwass noticed this and immediately guessed what Professor Bard was thinking.

This meant that the old man in front of him was indeed a person of delicate and tender thoughts.

Then I definitely can't let go!

Aiwass thought.

"Is there some difficulty you face?"

Encouraged by this thought, Aiwass sincerely said: "I often enjoy studying imperial history, and you are the most professional scholar in this field!"

Truthfully, Aiwass hadn't known Professor Bard before this.

But after all, he was a "professor" hired by the Royal Law University. This indicated that he must be at the pinnacle of the academic field. And because Aiwass spoke vaguely and didn't get into the specifics of the sub-fields, unless Professor Bard had absolutely no research on imperial history, he couldn't be wrong in what he said.

If by some minute chance that was the case, it would just be Aiwass's bad luck.

However, Aiwass's luck was indeed good.

Professor Bard rubbed his hands together joyfully, proudly saying: "Ah, indeed. When it comes to the history of the Heracel Empire, nobody knows it better than I do."

"Yes," Aiwass smoothly changed the topic, "I also think we need to research the Star Antimony Kingdom more. They may be the most formidable foes—far stronger than the Irisflower People."

"Indeed so."

Professor Bard nodded earnestly: "Many Avalonians consider the people of Star Antimony dangerous and wicked. That's because their Demonology is an openly taught science. But in my opinion, the 'practical alchemy' that is gradually losing its status in Star Antimony is actually what deserves the most attention."

Hearing this, Aiwass understood that Professor Bard indeed possessed true scholarship.

He happily continued along the topic presented by Professor Bard: "Yes, the essence of their alchemy is no longer to decipher everything but to create things that 'can make money'. Precisely because of this shift in focus, alchemy has become more widely popular.

"The users of alchemy are no longer the royally appointed alchemists in yellow robes of high standing, squandering the emperor's generous funding on research that seems momentarily useless and unintelligible to common people, occasionally producing one or two items whose principles are completely unfathomable yet powerful.

"Instead, it may be a literate person from a rural village or small town... who, through self-taught alchemy, has set up an alchemy shop, selling various practical alchemy products. And they might accidentally invent something particularly useful without realizing it. Stay connected with mvl

"Besides using alchemy, such persons are no longer of the same class as orthodox alchemists. They have no intention of progressing far on the Path of Balance, and stepping into the world of Transcendence is solely for earning money."

"You're speaking brilliantly!"

Professor Bard nodded in admiration, clapping his hands in delight.

His eyebrows dancing with excitement, he added, "I think this is another understanding of the 'Path of Balance' by Valentine I—money is the chip of all things, which is also a way to parse and comprehend the world. Not from the perspective of alchemy, but from economics, technology, and the needs of the people..."

He spoke endlessly, while Aiwass nodded and smiled, occasionally interjecting with a quip.

In the eyes of Aiwass, it would be completely reasonable for the Star Antimony Kingdom to flatten the continent.

Because the vision of Valentine I had utterly transcended the eras of Avalon and the Iris Kingdom. The most probable threat to Star Antimony was the Narcissus Duchy, made up of a large number of spellcasters.

But now, Star Antimony had preemptively extinguished it.

...Rather, it's that Star Antimony hadn't been able to annex the Iris Kingdom thus far purely because internal strife over Paths had drained its energy.

This was all maintained by those Demon Scholars, seen as horrifying by people from other nations, as they fought for the voice of these pragmatic alchemists; while the struggles within the aristocratic class, in turn, entangled the career paths of the civilian alchemists.

Hayna hesitated on one side.

If Aiwass couldn't find a mentor, that would be troublesome. But her mentor was her own swordsmanship instructor, definitely someone she couldn't introduce to Aiwass.

If Professor Bard still disagreed... Maybe she should ask her mentor to help introduce another mentor later?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"...That's true. In my view, the peace and stability within Avalon are precisely because the Transcendent community is in a stable situation. Her Majesty's 47th Royal Pardon welcomed Transcendents from other Paths, so we don't lack the skills of a specific Path, preventing us from falling behind as a whole; and by always maintaining the Path of Authority as the mainstream and giving special treatment to a few special Paths, they can ensure that others cannot vie for power..."

"Fortunately, Her Majesty has realized this," Aiwass sighed, "If Avalon were to reform ten years later, I think it might be too late."

In fact, it was already too late.

Aiwass added in his mind but dared not say it out loud.

Although Avalon and Star Antimony were enemy nations with obviously escalating tensions, in reality, all of Avalon hadn't truly seen Star Antimony as the source of the crisis.

Because the relationship between Star Antimony and the Irisflower People was clearly worse.

Now that Star Antimony had reclaimed the Black Hawk Duchy and the Narcissus Duchy, swallowing the Iris Kingdom would restore the empire to its original territory.

The improvements in relations between Avalon and Iris Kingdom were largely due to pressure from Star Antimony—a mutual concern. Even though Avalon and the Iris Kingdom were in a situation where if one fell, the other would be endangered, there were still many overly optimistic voices within Avalon. The most hopeful perspective was that they could even resume cooperation with Star Antimony and import a large amount of alchemical products from there.

Because Avalon had a market and a substantial gold reserve. And the products from Star Antimony were clearly abundant... As long as they continued to trade, Star Antimony shouldn't invade.

As for the royal family—

In fact, many knights in present-day Avalon wished that there wasn't a monarch ruling over them.

"...Actually, I think it might already be too late."

But to Aiwass's surprise, Professor Bard murmured in a low voice, "We've fallen too far behind..."

—Hmm?

Aiwass was startled and looked incredulously at the elderly professor.

Was the old man's insight so sharp?

"Haha, don't look at me like that. I was just saying it offhand..."

Professor Bard realized he'd spoken out of turn.

He hastily waved his hands and shifted the topic with a smile, "Actually, I don't usually take undergraduates as students. Because I'm not very good at taking care of people... I've been a professor for over thirty years, and it was only during my time at Milton that I tutored some students. I haven't taken on any new students since coming to Glass Island.

"Of course, I still need graduate students. But you... you're not quite suitable."

Well, that's strange.

You praise me so highly only to hit me with an 'unsuitable'?

Aiwass was genuinely interested and inquired, "Why am I unsuitable?"

"Because you might only know me as a historian," Professor Bard answered sincerely, "but actually, I am an archaeologist.

"You and the students of the Individual Tactics Department only have to take 'Modern History.' I teach this course only during the first term of the first year in the third to sixth departments for three months, and you're about to finish it. Next year's second term, I have to teach 'World History,' 'Modern History of Avalon,' 'Genealogy of the Heracel Empire,' as well as 'History of the Horus Empire' to the second-year students of the Humanities Department, and 'Ancient Horus Language' as an elective course.

"And in the third term, I'm not even at the university. I'll be abroad on archaeological digs with my graduate students... You still have classes and obviously can't follow me. But if you stay at the university, it's as if you have no mentor. Who then would take care of you?"

Professor Bard sighed, "I really like you as a student... but I can't take you. That would be irresponsible."

Upon hearing this, Aiwass was momentarily stunned, then ecstatic.

Is this a stroke of good fortune?

Not being in the university for a whole term each year?

—Doesn't that mean I can kick up my heels?

And also having the chance to go on international archaeological digs?

—Doesn't that mean I could get early access to the prehistoric relics of other countries? Is it really this amazing?