Academy’s Undercover Professor-Chapter 226: Arcane Chamber (2)

The chamber had fallen silent.

The mages who had previously questioned Ludger’s research now acted as if they had never spoken a word, sealing their lips tightly.

The atmosphere of the hall returned to its original, composed state.

‘Tch. Spineless, the lot of them.’

Watching it unfold, Casey clicked her tongue internally at how easily the mages flipped their attitudes.

The same ones who had doubted Ludger just moments ago were now loudly proclaiming how they believed in him all along, claiming they saw it coming.

‘How could anyone even suggest he stole such detailed research results?’

She had experienced firsthand just how brilliant Ludger—formerly known to her as James Moriarty—was in the past.

Casey had seen through Ludger’s memories how, even before he earned the title of Professor Moriarty in the Kingdom of Delica, he had been immersed in extensive research across mathematics and science.

Naturally, she had no doubt the current translation of the ancient language was his own accomplishment.

If nothing else, that man would never commit fraud in the realm of academic knowledge.

That difference in understanding created a vast gap between Casey and the other mages in the room.

‘But seriously—when did that guy learn ancient languages?’

Casey felt her pride take a hit.

She’d considered him a kind of rival, and yet here he was, constantly surprising her with new achievements.

She had no intention of siding with Altego Dantes, but she couldn’t entirely blame him either.

‘Normally, when someone is extraordinary in one field, they’re bound to have weaknesses in another.’

Otherwise, why would people even specialize? Magic and academia both offered diverse paths, and for most, climbing to the top of even one was a struggle.

‘But that guy... he just made it all look easy.’

The mages gathered here had no idea.

Even though Ludger had just created [Source Code] and now deciphered ancient language...

He was someone who had already left behind far more impressive footprints.

It was because Casey knew that much that she could accept Ludger’s current presentation without hesitation.

‘Ugh, I really shouldn’t be okay with this.’

After all, Ludger was a criminal hiding his true identity—someone who had stirred up chaos under multiple aliases.

Even the name “Ludger Cherish” that everyone recognized was a pseudonym.

A fake identity. A fake name.

Everything about him was wrapped in layers of deception—everything except, perhaps, that astonishingly beautiful face.

‘But seriously. With skills like that, couldn’t he live openly and proudly anywhere?’

She didn’t want to admit it, but Ludger was closer to being a genius than she was.

Casey might have been born with a gift for deduction and analysis, but Ludger had mastered so many fields she couldn’t even count them on one hand.

Someone that exceptional would be recognized no matter where he went. There’d be no need to hide his identity so dangerously.

If she were being honest, he looked like he could live off his face alone.

And yet, he hid himself.

Why?

‘There must be a reason he can’t be discovered. So what is it?’

If Ludger were just some mediocre figure, it’d be harder to guess. There would be too many possibilities.

But for a man like that to hide his identity—those vague possibilities could be ruled out.

‘He hides his identity, but not his talent. Like an awl in a pocket, his brilliance inevitably draws attention.’

And Ludger made no particular effort to hide his power either.

‘Someone like that wouldn’t hide without reason. It’s not voluntary. He’s being forced to hide. Which usually means... it would be dangerous if he were discovered.’

Casey’s unconscious mind expanded and began piecing the puzzle together.

Ludger possessed innate charisma, stunning appearance, and even noble bearing.

If someone like that was hiding his identity, only one conclusion came to mind.

‘At minimum, he’s some sort of noble. But not a welcomed one. An illegitimate child, perhaps? Maybe he fled after a threat on his life.’

But if he fled, that should have been the end of it. Yet Ludger had consistently gone to great lengths to cover his identity.

‘He’s hiding because, if discovered, someone will try to kill or capture him. That’s the only reason he’d keep changing names.’

That meant Ludger likely wasn’t from some ordinary noble house.

If he were, once he escaped to another nation, his pursuers would have no means of tracking him.

‘If he has to hide even while traveling the world, then his origin must be from a house powerful enough to reach across the continent.’

Casey tapped her folded arms with a single finger.

‘Which means... not just a noble house. Royalty, at least.’

And that kingdom...

Would have to be influential enough to extend its reach even into foreign lands across the continent.

No way.

Casey shook her head to dismiss her own deduction.

That was taking things too far.

‘Besides, there’s something strange. Even though he’s hiding his identity, he’s not hiding his abilities. Why? There must be something more important than concealing who he is.’

A goal so critical he was willing to take that risk.

All the research notes she had read from his memories...

‘I don’t know.’

With so many unknowns, she couldn’t jump to conclusions based on mere conjecture.

‘Still... I suppose we’re reaching the end now.’

From increasing mana output, to the discussion of mana suppressants, to the complete translation of the Larsil language—

By the time Ludger finished explaining it all, the gathered mages were practically foaming at the mouth.

“Mr. Ludger! I have a question!”

“Will you be publishing a revised version of the full Larsil translation?!”

“How exactly do you make the mana suppressant?!”

They knew they probably shouldn’t ask, but their curiosity overflowed past all reason.

Even though none of those questions needed an answer, Ludger responded calmly.

“If there’s something you’re curious about, feel free to ask—one at a time.”

“Mr. Ludger. I’m Edwin from the New Mage Tower.”

“Yes, Mr. Edwin. Please speak.”

“Would you be willing to share the recipe for the mana suppressant?”

“No.”

Ludger refused without hesitation.

There was a quiet ripple of murmuring across the room, but no one had the nerve to challenge him directly.

After all, the recipe was Ludger’s invention—and the intellectual property belonged to him.

Even if everyone understood that logically, some simply couldn’t accept it.

“Hold on. Isn’t that a bit unfair?”

This time, the voice didn’t come from the audience, but from the high seat reserved for special individuals.

Sitting in a chair sized for an adult was a girl no bigger than half its height.

A petite, doll-like child with reddish-brown pigtails. But the moment Ludger saw her, he thought of someone similar.

‘If we’re going by appearance alone, she could rival my master.’

Of course, the thought stopped there.

Sitting in the high seat meant she was someone extraordinary.

He couldn’t judge by appearances alone.

“Your name?”

“Caroline Monarch.”

The girl said it with full confidence, her eyes silently asking, You mean you don’t know who I am?

But many of the mages present did recognize her, whispering among themselves.

“Caroline Monarch? The mercenary mage?”

“The one who takes jobs from all over, unaffiliated with any group?”

A 6th-Circle mage—Caroline Monarch.

Her name was well-known even among mages.

“She was born a commoner, right? Earned her title and the Monarch surname through sheer merit?”

“She’s even smaller than I imagined... Is she really an adult?”

“She’s adorable...”

“...Wait, that’s your taste?”

Ludger gathered a few basic facts and addressed her.

“Yes, Ms. Caroline. What exactly are you objecting to?”

“That whole thing about hiding the recipe. That.”

Even in front of thousands of mages, Caroline didn’t bother with decorum.

That was just how she was.

She looked cute, sounded young—but her personality was pure tyrant.

She bowed to no one. Noble, royal, it didn’t matter—if you crossed her, she’d fight.

She’d had her life threatened more than once because of it, but never changed her ways.

That’s why she was known as the Tyrant.

Some called her the Little Tyrant, but most avoided that for their own safety.

Because no one could predict what she might do if she heard it.

“By the way, I’m older than you, so I’ll just speak casually, cool?”

“I don’t mind.”

Despite her appearance, Caroline was over thirty, and her skill was near the top even among 6th-Circle mages.

In both age and career, she was clearly Ludger’s senior.

‘That name, Caroline Monarch... I thought I’d heard it before. It was back in the Yuta Kingdom.’

The mercenary group she led: <Monarch>.

Composed entirely of mages, most with war-mage-level combat capabilities.

They were living legends in the mercenary world.

Their reputation had taken a slight dip recently due to a certain figure called {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Machiavelli who had led a victory in Yuta’s civil war.

But that only dulled their brilliance slightly.

Caroline and her group were still regarded as one of the most powerful armed forces on the continent.

‘And I did have some dealings with the Monarch mercenaries back then...’

Of course, Ludger had never met the leader of the Monarch Mercenaries herself, so he hadn’t given it much thought at the time.

He never imagined the woman confronting him now would be their commander.

“To reveal all your research findings in front of everyone, yet keep the recipe locked away—that sounds like you’re openly planning to exploit your informational advantage, doesn’t it?”

“You might see it that way, but I stood here today solely to present the successful results of my research on increasing mana output.”

In other words, he had no obligation to disclose the process or the method.

“So you’re saying you want to monopolize the information?”

“I don’t believe it’s a monopoly just because I choose not to reveal something I discovered myself.”

“Maybe so. But if you’re the only one who knows how to make the mana suppressant, that alone could cause serious problems. What about the ingredients? Even if you just monopolize one key ingredient, it’ll be a mess.”

Caroline’s criticism pointed directly at the danger of market monopolization.

“You didn’t come here to share valuable knowledge. You came here to use the Arcane Chamber for your own advancement.”

At the end of the day, only Ludger knew the recipe for the mana suppressant. If he wanted, he could hoard the core ingredient and control the entire supply.

An individual would be holding the most important blade at everyone’s throat.

Such power concentrated in one person’s hands deeply irritated Caroline, who despised authority itself.

Even though she was a 6th-Circle mage, she wandered unaffiliated precisely because she rejected hierarchical power.

That’s why Caroline loathed power-wielders.

She despised rulers.

“Hmph. I must say, I agree with that sentiment.”

The one voicing support for her was Auguste.

Though he hadn’t helped Altego earlier, even Auguste had felt a growing sense of alarm as he watched Ludger’s research unfold.

Because of Altego’s disgrace, the Old Mage Tower had fallen out of favor with Ludger—and it was now highly unlikely they’d receive any information about the suppressant.

At the very least, he had to prevent that information from falling into the hands of other factions.

“You’re all being too harsh. Isn’t it a long-standing rule of the Arcane Chamber that the disclosure of research materials is left to the individual mage?”

Elisa Willow spoke up to defend Ludger.

“Headmaster Elisa. This situation is different. When research causes this much upheaval, it can’t be hidden so easily.”

If this were just another mediocre study, no one would have cared. But increasing mana output was something else entirely.

“Elisa Willow. Don’t think I don’t know you’re backing your academy instructor.”

“Oh, Ms. Caroline, I didn’t see you there. You’re just so small.”

“...You little—! Are you picking a fight right now?!”

Elisa’s jab at Caroline’s size struck her nerve dead-on, and her twin pigtails bristled in rage.

The calm and refined Elisa and the small, fiery Caroline stood at complete opposites—both in appearance and temperament.

“Even so, I don’t believe it’s right for the majority to pressure an individual into giving up their research results.”

Then another voice rose from the high seat.

A mage wearing a mask over his face.

“Look—it’s Iron Mask Lonteron. One of the pillars of the New Mage Tower.”

“Why’s he even wearing a helmet indoors?”

His attire was practical and comfortable, though the distinct helm on his head gave him a remarkable presence.

He paid no attention to the stares and spoke his thoughts with confidence.

“Since when has the Arcane Chamber been a place to coerce people into sharing their research?”

“Lonteron, this case is different.”

“So we’re making exceptions now? That’s awfully convenient. And who gets to decide the standard for exceptions? The Old Mage Tower?”

Others seated at the high table chimed in as well.

“Um...”

A female mage with long bangs covering her eyes spoke up timidly.

Her voice was quiet and her demeanor hesitant, matching her delicate appearance.

“B-But... doesn’t letting one person monopolize this kind of information carry too much risk? Ah! I-I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have said anything!”

She quickly bowed her head.

But no one looked down on her for speaking out.

That was Loina Pavlini, a 6th-Circle mage from the School Alliance.

Though she sat at the far end of the high seat, her achievements couldn’t be dismissed.

“That’s wrong!”

This time, a loud, booming shout exploded like a battle cry.

A mage nearly two meters tall, with a muscular physique.

If he weren’t wearing a robe, one might mistake him for a knight. Even the robe bulged, stretched tight over his frame.

“That’s Hyron from the School Alliance, right?”

“The muscle freak who builds his body like a warrior, despite being a mage?”

Garone, who insisted on cultivating physical strength as a mage, was well-known as an oddball in academic circles.

But who could mock him?

The fact that he sat among the high seats proved his power beyond question.

“To try and seize the research of an individual by pressuring them—that is a violation of justice!”

“Eek! T-Too intense...”

The situation was quickly escalating into a full-blown confrontation.

Old Mage Tower versus New Mage Tower.

Factional divides within the School Alliance.

And...

“Is this turning into a fight between adults and kids?”

“I’m rooting for Caroline.”

“...You. Sit farther away from me.”

The words of those seated on the high platform held tremendous weight in the Arcane Chamber.

Naturally, the regular audience of mages began splitting along similar lines.

—The information must be made public.

—No. The presenter has the right to withhold it. That must be respected.

—This kind of data is too dangerous to keep hidden. What if he abuses it?

—Then we can prepare countermeasures when the time comes.

—By then, it might be too late.

All eyes slowly turned toward a single point.

When opinions were so evenly divided, what was needed was a ruling from the most authoritative mage in the room.

And right now, that was only one person:

The Imperial Court Archmage, holder of the <Impera> title—Clinton Rothschild.

“Hoho. So you all want the old man’s judgment, do you?”

Clinton chuckled, though he clearly understood that he couldn’t sidestep the matter.

Everyone waited to hear what he would say.