{15}“Professor Lorentar”

  ***

  "El Talmia. The name means 'the place that precedes light.' Located in the center of the Empire, it is the most developed area for manufacturing and commerce, home to numerous prestigious academies of the south, and also the location of Sian's largest armory, which is said to be capable of producing ten thousand swords in a single day..."

  Professor Sven's voice during the lecture was no different than usual. To Rin, everything that happened over the weekend still felt like a dream. She could barely remember how she had escaped from there, it had all been so chaotic.

  "And so, El Talmia rightfully earned its nickname as the Second Capital of the Sian Empire..."

  Rin couldn't focus at all on the professor's writing on the blackboard. Looking at Calia in the seat next to her, she seemed to be recalling yesterday's events as well.

  ***

  Many professors came forward to oppose giving Root Library reading rights to the Free Research Club members.

  "That's out of the question, Professor Sven!"

  "Even if the headmaster knows about this, it's a different matter entirely!"

  The once-quiet Root Library became noisy with the professors' strong objections. The opposing views were reasonable. Or rather, they seemed more normal.

  Sharing the long-kept secret of the Root Library with mere students, especially with young children including many freshmen, seemed inappropriate even to the club members themselves. They couldn't understand what Professor Sven was thinking.

  Moreover, they were a newly established, unofficial club without even an advisor professor yet—there were too many flaws from the school's perspective. The professors were having a loud discussion a bit away from the members. Leo, glancing nervously at the cloaked man blocking the passage, said:

  "Hey. Calia."

  "Yes?"

  Here it comes. Calia broke into a cold sweat. As expected, Leo remembered exactly what he had heard earlier.

  "You're the daughter of the Holy Knights' Commander?"

  "Yes..."

  Next to Calia, who wore an anxious expression, Ned was nervously fidgeting his leg. Of course, Leo addressed him too.

  "And you're affiliated with the Laurenta Thieves' Guild?"

  "Yeah... but I really had no choice but to hide it, you know?"

  "Right, right. Complicated for both of you."

  Shortly after, the professors' voices quieted down and it became silent again. A decision had been reached. The professors approached just as the club members had sensed.

  Professor Sven handed the members a paper he was holding. It was a kind of document with the title 'Confidentiality Agreement' at the top.

  "I've discussed with the other professors."

  The professor took out pens and distributed them to the members.

  "Read it carefully and sign. Once you all sign, access to this place will be granted."

  The document's content was simple: Do not disclose the existence of the Root Library to outsiders; violation would result in a penalty fee "one hundred times the enrollment fee paid upon admission"; and Root Library access is only permitted after midnight. After reading all the clauses, Ned clicked his tongue.

  "One hundred times the tuition? That means absolutely no disclosure, right?"

  Surprisingly, all members signed without much deliberation. Since things had come to this, they thought they might as well fully explore this fascinating library. After carefully checking all the signatures, Professor Sven raised his index finger.

  "And there's one more condition."

  At that moment, an elderly man whom they had never seen before walked out from behind the professor. He was quite tall, and his hair and bushy beard were completely white, suggesting his advanced age. Perhaps due to the dim light, his pupils seemed sometimes blue, sometimes red.

  "Let me introduce you. This is Professor Lorentar, who has newly arrived."

  "Nice to meet you, students. I am Lorentar."

  Though clearly an old man's voice, it had tremendous resonance and strength. Professor Sven's explanation followed immediately.

  "He may not be well-known to the public, but among scholars, he is a distinguished figure. He came to the academy at the beginning of this month with the purpose of accessing the Root Library."

  "Hello?"

  "Nice to meet you."

  The club members awkwardly greeted Professor Lorentar. But why had he been introduced so suddenly?

  "That one additional condition is that you accept Professor Lorentar here as your faculty advisor."

  "?!"

  Reading the surprised faces of the club members, Professor Lorentar smiled reassuringly.

  "Ho ho. Don't be tense, everyone. I'm just here as a supervisor."

  Stolen story; please report.

  "..."

  ***

  "Miss Rin."

  "..."

  "Rin?"

  "Yes?"

  Rin snapped out of her reverie at Professor Sven's voice. Looking at the blackboard filled with writing, she realized that the class was almost over.

  "Is something wrong? You haven't been able to concentrate at all."

  "I'm sorry."

  Rin's face reddened as she hurriedly began copying the notes from the board. This was in stark contrast to Professor Sven, who was behaving no differently than during any other class.

  "Rin. Are you alright?"

  As soon as the class ended, Calia asked.

  "You barely took any notes, right?"

  "You too? What should we do now?"

  Hearing their concerns, Elrunt approached and offered his notebook.

  "You can look at mine."

  Seeing the meticulously written notes, Rin exclaimed in admiration.

  "Wow! You're so composed even after everything that happened?"

  "That's that, and this is this."

  The three headed together toward the Engineering Department building. Their official Free Research Club meeting "supervised by the faculty advisor" was scheduled to be held in the conference room there.

  Though still confused by last night's events, as Elrunt had said, that was that and this was this. For now, their immediate task was to diligently fulfill the contract and additional conditions.

  Leo and Shulmaier were already in the conference room as usual. Ned arrived shortly after Rin's group. After everyone had gathered, about 30 minutes passed.

  With one minute left until the appointed time, Ned, growing impatient, nervously fidgeted his leg.

  "Did he forget?"

  Rin shook her head.

  "He was introduced as a distinguished scholar. He must be punctual."

  In response, Leo made an X shape by crossing his hands.

  "Distinguished? Gernshvatz is also supposedly 'distinguished' in the engineering field. But I've never seen that man keep an appointment on time."

  *CLICK*

  At that moment, the door opened and Professor Lorentar, whom they had met last night, entered.

  "I prefer neither arriving too early nor too late."

  In the bright light, unlike last night's dimness, they could see that his eyes were peculiarly purple. He wore a very spacious gray robe and, oddly, a monocle. With his long, full hair, bushy beard, and tall stature, when he entered, the conference room felt completely filled.

  The club members stood up as if performing a "stand at attention," though no one had instructed them to do so.

  "Please, sit comfortably. I'm merely supervising... excuse me, observing. Pretend I'm not here and freely discuss whatever you wish."

  "..."

  At this statement, worthy of an award for most intimidating reassurance if such a thing existed, everyone began the meeting with utmost tension. First, Rin came forward and cleared the blackboard. She erased the '1' from 'Project 1' and also erased the words 'Professor Temel Mystery' below it.

  "The question regarding Professor Temel that I proposed last week has been completely resolved as of last night, so I'm terminating it."

  The members had no reason to object, so they all agreed.

  "Interesting."

  Professor Lorentar interjected.

  "What kind of group are you all, exactly?"

  Shulmaier immediately answered.

  "Historical research."

  "Historical research? The name didn't give me that impression."

  As the professor tilted his head in confusion, Ned raised his hand this time.

  "It's about traveling for historical research."

  "Traveling?"

  Calia also spoke up.

  "While helping people who are in trouble."

  "People in trouble?"

  Then Leo picked up a gauntlet that was haphazardly placed on the conference table.

  "Also to test inventions like this."

  "Quite confusing, but that's a remarkably intricate piece."

  When Professor Lorentar showed interest, Leo and Shulmaier's expressions brightened. And a conversation just between them began.

  Though they hadn't heard about Professor Lorentar's field of specialization, seeing him discuss machinery continuously with the two top students from the Engineering Department, it must surely be engineering-related. After a full hour of explanation about the "Justice Enforcement Machine No. 13," Professor Lorentar's questions finally stopped.

  Judging from Leo and Shulmaier's expressions, these two had already opened their hearts completely.

  "And chess can't be left out."

  At this sudden mention of chess, Professor Lorentar adjusted his monocle.

  "...And you are?"

  "I'm Elrunt, a freshman."

  "Hmm. Elrunt, you say?"

  "Yes."

  "You're certain your name is Elrunt?"

  "Yes. I am Elrunt."

  "Hmm..."

  "..."

  For a moment, there was an inexplicable staring contest between the two.

  "Well, fine. But chess is too limited, so how about broadening the scope to 'tactical studies'?"

  "Ah! That's great!"

  Rin clapped her hands in delight.

  "If we do that..."

  She drew arrows from the scattered words written on the blackboard to bring them together, and then wrote a new sentence:

  [Travel to ruins for historical research, while tactically helping people in trouble, simultaneously testing inventions.]

  "How is it? Everything's combined now!"

  Though still a confusing sentence, Rin seemed quite satisfied that they could now incorporate the element of "chess" that had been floating around all of last week.

  ***

  After the faculty advisor's first observation ended, everyone went their separate ways. As usual, only Leo and Shulmaier remained in the Engineering Department building. Under the lamplight, Leo was busily wiping Baron's saliva off the Justice Enforcement Machine No. 13 when he suddenly looked up.

  "Shulmaier."

  "..."

  "It's just the two of us, so talk."

  "What."

  "What do you think of Professor Lorentar?"

  "Pass."

  "I thought so too."

  The two fell silent again. Leo began tightening the loose parts of the gauntlet, and Shulmaier started to unfold the blueprints for modifications.

  ***

  Instead of returning to his dormitory, Ned walked in the direction where Professor Lorentar had disappeared. After running along the path, he spotted Professor Lorentar in the distance. Ned slowed his pace and began to walk carefully. Suddenly, the professor disappeared between the trees. Startled, Ned immediately turned around and started running.

  'How strange? There's no way he could have spotted me from this distance?'

  He ran for a while before ducking into the forest. Then he leaned against a nearby tree trunk, gasping for breath.

  "Why did you follow me?"

  "Ah!"

  As Professor Lorentar appeared right next to him, Ned slumped to the ground. The professor extended a hand.

  "When you follow so obviously, it makes me want to play tricks."

  Ned took the professor's hand and stood up.

  "I'm sorry. There was something I wanted to confirm."

  "I thought as much. Indeed, one can't deceive someone from that guild."

  ***

  Calia decided to stay in Rin's room that night. She had come fully prepared with pajamas and a pillow, and now lay down on the bedding Rin had laid out on the floor.

  "Rin."

  "Yes."

  "What do you think Professor Lorentar's field is?"

  "I don't know? Engineering, maybe?"

  "There's something unusual about him."

  "Unusual? In what way?"

  Calia plucked a feather sticking out from her pillow and twirled it.

  "I grew up in the Holy Knights, you know? I've seen all kinds of people there..."

  "Yes."

  "That professor doesn't feel like an engineer, but more like... a magician."

  "A magician?"

  "Yes."

  Rin tilted her head.

  "What does it mean to feel like a magician?"

  "Similar to an engineer, but somehow... more transcendent?"

  "Ah! I think I know what you mean!"

  "Really?"

  Rin hugged the teddy bear that had been leaning against the wall and said:

  "Now that you mention it, he does feel similar to our headmaster. Our headmaster is a magician too."

  "...The headmaster is a magician?"

  "You didn't know?"

  "..."

  ***

  On top of the high roof of the academy's main building, an elderly man in a robe climbed up. With white hair that shone brightly even in the darkness, it was Professor Lorentar.

  "I've arrived."

  Where Lorentar's gaze stopped, there sat an old man dressed in a lavish purple robe, wearing a hat shaped like a basket. He was quietly looking down at the campus grounds at night.

  "Has it been 10 years, or 20 years? What name are you using now?"

  To the old man's question, the professor quietly answered:

  "Lorentar."

  "I see. A name befitting you."

  Professor Lorentar approached and sat down next to the old man.

  "Have you been well, Elvlin?"

  -To be continued-