SWNOVELXO Chapter 259. α (8)
– Where’s the specimen?
– I couldn’t conduct the breeding experiment because I haven’t figured out the perfect breeding environment, so there are no Hydra specimens to sprinkle here.
Of course, even with such attempts, the goal of immortality makes the chances of success lower than that of failure.
– Once you’ve figured out their breeding conditions, contact me immediately.
Swish.
In the corner of the cave.
The green mage, sitting on a stone, raises his main right tentacle to speak.
The scholars gathered at this meeting are mostly dignified individuals.
It was a given that he began to speak with selective honorifics to avoid any unnecessary criticism.
– I have frequently used elemental control magic within the range since the war. I’m confident I can design it at a water body level, so let me handle the breeding array.
All the scholars in the space responded with nods of approval.
*
…And when the Alphauri clock vibrated about 7,000 times.
– Ugh!
Something with soft muscles emerges from the cave and clings to the corridor wall.
Slurp.
And it stretches its body long like melted rice cake.
It was the aforementioned green deep sea person.
After a long discussion with fellow scholars, he was finally catching his breath with a few tasks in hand.
– Phew, feels refreshing now.
A moment later.
Slide.
Someone quietly approached the mage, who was using the hard cave wall as a pressure point.
– Hmm?
– Excuse me. War hero.
The descendent of the ruling class managing the entire eastern sea area had the audacity to casually speak to the deep sea person.
– Why? Do you have something to say?
– …It’s always amazing. You manage to use honorifics when standing in the presence of other distinguished figures, yet you switch to informal speech with me.
With an orange body.
A respectable headpiece that would seem lacking on some alien planet.
And an interior bubbling like carbonation.
That’s right.
The one opening the conversation was none other than the Ruler of the Eastern Sea, who witnessed the birth of a great individual.
It was that large Alphauri who had come to the orphanage looking for the child of a beggar.
– Well, you don’t really get genuinely angry when I switch to informal speech, do you?
– Oh…
– There’s no loss in this. If you don’t like it, feel free to speak informally back.
– You really spew something low-class with every single sentence… It’s rather interesting, though. Back when I was little, I would receive harsh discipline every time I spoke like that to my parents.
– Oh really? Having living parents creates quite a few inefficient situations, huh?
– You little brat.
As you can see, he now finds himself in a position where he receives even the bare minimum of elder respect from the war hero.
Anyway.
Since the end of the war, these two marine beings, who had a past connection, met again at the rebuilt academic hall.
And they had been getting along well ever since.
Due to the overwhelmingly high ratio of guests in the deep sea, to be honest, it was tough for elite intellectuals to emerge.
Because of that, among many in the academic hall, they were the only ones who shared the same hometown.
– Hmm.
Now, let’s skip the unnecessary chatter.
The orange Alphauri soon began to bring up the main point he had prepared.
– Anyway, I listened well to your presentation earlier. Developing “Mana Burst” is impressive enough. You conducted some interesting research during the war.
– Of course.
– However, this isn’t a compliment for the sake of it. Do you truly not understand your own issues?
Bubble bubble.
Bubbles lightly form as the deep sea person makes gestures due to the oxygen-filled skin.
– You’re going too far.
Although lacking deep sea genetics,
Someone, who has developed a stout build from long surfing in the rough seas, raises their head.
– You’re excessively superior.
A deep and resonant voice echoed.
– I’ll tell you this privately, but in fact, even among our nobles before the Great War, ugly theft was quite prevalent.
– Theft?
– Magic theft.
– Oh.
– When a minor family created a good spell, they’d slyly steal the original and eliminate the researchers—filthy practices like that were rampant in this world.
– I thought the ruling class was all holy. It seems the gentlemen who fell behind on the front lines instilled some unfounded prejudice in me.
– Yet you, having no family, guardians, or patrons, are merely a deep sea person, aren’t you?
Deep sea person.
It’s a term often used as an insult.
– Now, Beta Species no longer exists…
But the others spoke to the deep sea hero with a remarkably gentle demeanor.
– The pathetic cooperation of the world will soon scatter like several branches on a turtle’s shell.
– …
– It’s concerning. The recent currents around us seem quite unusual.
– What’s the conclusion?
– I’m saying be careful.
– Hmm.
– There’s no exception for the academic hall we belong to.
– Hmm.
– The academy members who flatter every time are ultimately still a mage, so if you let your guard down, they might sneak in to steal knowledge from you, right?
Swish.
The ruler raises a thick arm to point somewhere.
– Again, I’m saying that this sea is full of people who covet the talents of young soldiers. Always be on guard and don’t get complacent, no matter where you go.
– Wait a minute, I’m not a soldier anymore.
– No. Anyone who must go guard the front lines at the call of the nation is generally regarded as a soldier.
– Wow!
– Whether you or I, we’re still just military figures at the moment.
As the conversation flowed, strong questions loomed inside someone’s head.
– Yeah, well, anyway, I get what you’re saying…
The war hero cuts off his opponent’s words with a cheerful tone for a moment.
Then he voiced an opinion.
– But I don’t get it. Why are you taking the time to warn me?
– Hmm.
– It’s a waste. Honestly, I’m not the kind of person to be swayed by kindness and offer you money. I’ve already learned during my nurturing facility days that making benefactors is utterly pointless.
Though the answer to that was somewhat vague.
– Haha, people like you simple folk tend to easily associate money with happiness, but I, having never lacked as a wealthy person since birth, know the truth.
– The truth?
– There’s joy to be gained from suffering a loss.
– Hah, you talk like a noble.
– The reason I’m not looking into the assassin market right away, despite receiving this treatment, is simply because I saw your first swim, right?
Slide.
The pudgy Alphauri crossed its arms with two main tentacles behind its back.
– War Hero, your childhood was quite cute.
A green youth, who didn’t take an oval or irregular shape, but was perfectly round.
– That little, round cell has grown so splendidly. It’s hard for an adult who has watched all the processes not to feel emotional.
– I was indeed quite adorable.
– I just feel happy seeing you, my fellow countryman, doing well. Honestly, there’s no other reason.
How kind.
Not that he had any issues in his brain, but being an exceptionally distinctive young magic scholar at the time, he observed the elder with a peculiar gaze.
Yet the orange creature maintained a gracious demeanor.
Boasting noble information, after all.
– Anyway, I’ll reiterate: please be cautious in various respects from now on. I’m here to provide you with this warning because I’ve heard a lot.
– You heard?
– There are several nobles harboring ill will towards you over the treasure incident. On top of that…
– …
– …
– Why do you stop speaking?
– …This may honestly be a frivolous concern, but try not to meet with ■▒ in our research club privately.
[■▒]?
– ■▒? You must mean that slick one sitting to the west?
This alien who will eventually take over Kim Gi-ryeo’s body is likely a competent magic scholar, given the level of skill it has to be remembered at all.
But it was clear that the name mentioned, this two-syllable title had a strange connotation among compatriots, used with feelings of strangeness or absurdity.
– Why on earth shouldn’t we meet that weirdo?
Honestly, it didn’t seem like something someone wanting to focus on studying should be saying.
Objectively, ■▒ was rather peculiar.
Some days it wore red leather.
On other days, yellow leather.
And sometimes it completely changed to be fully transparent or smooth and shiny.
This fellow’s facade shifted skin types every time you saw them, showcasing incredible talent for self-transformation.
It’s noted that this scholar had an abnormal interest in altering their body.
On a whimsically different day, they even showed up adorned with glow-in-the-dark metal just because they thought it would be cooler.
For reference, those metals were rather toxic to Alphaurians.
– Watching us both converse, I think that scholar must’ve suffered from frontal lobe damage during the Great War. There seems to be no rational judgment left in his head…
In a short moment, backdoor gossip flowed within the cave.
But the green one quickly shifted his attitude, as if saying about the poor evaluation was a lie, and then questioned.
– However, now that you mention it, he is a decent scholar aside from that guy’s appearance streak, isn’t he?
Back in an era when biotechnology hadn’t fully developed, changing skin completely wasn’t an easy feat.
– Personally, I was quite interested in that author’s research results. There was even a thought of taking some time to check up on him.
Today, the magic scholar who manifested himself in opal hues focused on biotic modifications.
Rumor has it that related research regarding gender had reached a culmination where you could turn females to males and vice versa was easy enough to do while reading a book.
Thus, having a high level of understanding regarding Alphaurians’ physiology, it’s that weirdo who had the highest probability among the seven members to achieve immortality.
– I wouldn’t recommend it.
The deep sea ruler showed significant negativity towards the weirdo.
– Frankly, at this point, I’m just speaking based on my intuition without any evidence. But my instincts have been pretty reliable since the Great War. That guy isn’t suitable for close association.
– Yeah.
– Just a note: don’t tell anyone I warned you about this.
– Worried I’ll be caught on charges of defaming a ruler?
– Hmm.
– The stylish one is also a confidant of the head of this country. Certainly, if the rumors take flight, it wouldn’t be good. Unlike you, I’m weak, you see.
But, anyway.
I think that would suffice as advice.
– You really took the time to listen to the opinion of a weakling? I’m grateful, really. Alright, I’m done. I’ve said everything I’ve wanted.
Flap, flap.
With that last remark, the bulky Alphauri gracefully exited the cave.
And just as the currents made by his tentacles left a lingering trace,
The war hero, left alone, fell into thought before returning to leaning against the wall to stretch.
.
.
.
Buzz, buzz.
Sounds echoed from somewhere.
– That’s the hero of the Great War…
– Defeated the Beta Species?
– So it’s true that if you join the academic hall, you can see that compatriot. I’m so glad I came to study abroad in this country.
Given the unrecognized vibrations, it seems it’s already spring.
Around the time when the flowers blooming in the academic hall garden changed according to the water temperature,
The slacking near-sighted deep sea resident finally gets to his feet.
The form of the alien who will one day be called Kim Gi-ryeo.
– Wow! I think that person acknowledged us just now? Did you hear that sound wave?
– What? I didn’t hear anything!
– Ah, dang it. It’s all because you guys are being so loud!
That was his youthful days.
Approximately his twenties in terms of Earth age.
Liberation from the mundane soldier life.
And the beginning of the dream life of a magic scholar.
Plus, in the prime of life, no matter how long he stuck to his desk, he wouldn’t get tired.
So at that time, what complaints could he possibly have about the world?
– ‘Oh, it seems I do have a few peers in this cohort. Seems like that side has some geniuses as well. Maybe I’ll try talking to them later?’
The scholars of the academic hall had a positive sense of competitive spirit ingrained in their nature.
As the overly solemn ones were filtered out from Salpa’s side by themselves.
Rather than burning with inferiority when facing a century’s genius, they aimed to gain any beneficial realization, even in the smallest details.
And given the war hero’s cool yet subtly kind demeanor, even when witnessing lacking compatriots, he didn’t particularly get angry or annoyed.
If he had the leisure, he’d help everyone.
“Unfortunately, intelligence is a bit scarce…… But you’re kind-hearted and treat me well, so I suppose I can help with your thesis writing.”
Having never lived a life without being called genius, he sometimes unintentionally let harsh words slip out, but…
Well, in any case.
The war hero managed to get along fairly well with the mages in the academic hall.
[Golem Control Technique], [Barrier Magic], [Telekinesis].
He kept researching those magical formulas which would often be used after reincarnation and didn’t neglect improving his skills.
Given that a large compatriot had warned him so, it wouldn’t hurt to be equipped with protective weapons.
– Sigh~ I can sleep and sleep but I’m still tired~ All the longevity nonsense. I want to hurry and create a time with no sleep!
Stretch.
With a day of aimless strolling ahead, the green mage commenced his work.
Yet, amid this beautiful peace.
The atmosphere of the academic hall suddenly began to change with the arrival of a small shadow from afar…
– Oh no!
Swish!
It was just a weekday.
– What’s a white whale doing here?
A sleek silhouette that is described as small compared to the large adult Alphauri pass by above his head.
That whale was a jittery creature often used as livestock by the inhabitants of this planet.
With incredibly fast movement speed.
In an academic hall where active individuals were few, it was an unusual sight.
– Hey! ▒▒!
It seemed that the owner of the earlier-passed white whale was a government courier or something of the sort.
A few minutes later.
A loud voice erupted from the direction the white whale had gone towards the academic hall.
When his name was called, the green mage lifted his head immediately. He could vaguely sense the outline of Salpa glued to the window of the manager’s office.
– Hey, come here for a moment!
But what in the world could make someone call for him so urgently?
– Hmm?
In the middle room of the building he soon reached,
The green-blooded youth confronted shocking news during the monotonous morning.
– What?!
…A civil war has begun on Planet Alphauri.
To be more precise, an ‘academic tower’ acting like the research institution of a neighboring country has launched a hunt for rare magic, and a prominent individual has been murdered—specifically, a wealthy figure from the eastern lower level.