Chapter 178: Chapter 178

The Soltia Conference is a continent-wide academic congress on magicology, curse theory, and illusion studies, hosted by the Soltia Imperial Association of Magic.

It is held only one day every fifteen years—when the stars that chart their own separate paths in the sky align in a single line.

It is the only occasion where hostile nations call a temporary truce, and scholars lower the walls between them.

A gathering of high-ranking mages, curse scholars, experimental alchemists, illusionists, and metaphysicians who grip their beliefs like weapons.

In this place, a thesis becomes a sword, formulas become shields, and a single line of hypothesis can overturn the magical lawbooks of entire kingdoms.

“Only those capable of changing the world on their own are invited to the conference.”

So spoke Tirangstein, the High Sage and Chief Commentator of the Soltia Conference.

“As you all know, the Soltia Conference is not merely a stage for academic discussion. It is the heart of continental magic. A congregation of elite explorers who defy the gods and push into the unknown.”

He looked over this year’s list of invitees. Most of the names were familiar to the elders, but one stood out—a peculiar professor.

“In that sense, with Agion now dead, we must extend an invitation to this individual.”

“But, Chief Commentator...”

Another elder cautiously began.

“Even so, isn’t it rather hasty to invite someone whose entire reputation is based on one grand illusion—without a single proper thesis or academic contribution to their name?”

The elder’s eyes, too, fell on the candidate list. A name listed without even a photo, presumed to be a child.

[ Hiaka Academy, Chief Professor Cain ]

“With the very foundation of continental illusion magic shaking, a practitioner of this level is more than qualified.”

“Hmm... Certainly, that tree illusion of his was impressive—but ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) wasn’t it merely a [Shaping Illusion]? The expectations seem rather underwhelming.”

“Yes. Illusion magic is gaining importance, but with only 33 slots available, wouldn’t it be better to invite someone of greater consequence...?”

Another elder nodded in agreement.

“There’s also external backlash. Kreutz might act provocatively, seeing Agion’s death as an opportunity. I hear Cain is young—what if we end up losing a precious talent for no good reason...?”

The High Sage nodded solemnly.

It was the one blind spot of the Soltia Conference: from the moment one steps into the conference, mutual assault becomes impossible. It is under the dominion of the Stigma of Peace☮.

But attacks on the way there—those cannot be prevented. No one protects the route.

Tirangstein—Chief Commentator, High Sage, Imperial Noble of the Empire, and the Constellation of Peace☮ himself—

At 135 years old, slowly opened his wrinkled lips and said:

“If one cannot avoid even such a pointless, dog-like death—how can they ever hope to change the world alone?”

The invitation was sent.

Ran visited Dante in his laboratory.

“Professor. This came from the department.”

It was an invitation to the Soltia Conference. Just as Dante had predicted several times, it had been addressed to Chief Professor Cain.

Professor Dante confirmed the invitation without replying. Olvik Ermerdinger, Tallison Bentrogen, Wolfgang Yosef, Shavka Luisenberg, Lux Horn, and so on... Invitations had been sent to the most prestigious scholars and professors on the continent. Nearly half of them were Obel Prize winners.

“Will you be alright?”

It was a rare moment for Ran to ask a question expressing concern. She understood the flow of this world.

The moment Professor Dante participated in the Soltia Conference—and the moment he revealed his new thesis—there would be no turning back.

The entire world, across all continents, would be aboard a mad, runaway locomotive heading straight toward the Demon King War.

“...I suppose I must.”

At that, Professor Dante looked visibly burdened.

Ran knew well how painfully he struggled to prepare his research and thesis.

“If you delay, you can still postpone it. The fifteen-year cycle doesn’t mean much.”

“If the political tides accelerate, the Sixth Soltia Conference may even be held next year or the year after. If you prepare by then—”

Ran trailed off. Dante was already shaking his head.

“Today marks how many days since Hiaka III has been absent from public view?”

“The seventeenth day.”

“The longest absence in recent memory.”

“Yes. The intervals are growing shorter, and rumors of illness are spreading among the citizens.”

Indeed, Hiaka III was not in good health. Likely because of that two-horned demon in the royal palace.

“That doesn’t apply only to Hiaka III. Even now, the entire world is slowly, inevitably heading toward ruin.”

The Demon King War had already begun. In truth, it had started long ago. From the moment Rebecca’s magic failed. From the moment Eve and Glory were discovered.

“It’s a race against time. Go and inform them I will attend.”

Ran quickly turned and left, and from then on, Dante began seeking out many people.

Head Professor of Magical Theory, Galois, snorted through his nose.

Because Dante Hiakapo had come to see him.

That bastard had, in the past, spread rumors accusing him of plagiarism—and last time, he even stole his [Legendary]-grade potion in a bet. A devil among devils.

Talented and young—yet someone Galois could never outdo!

‘...And the bastard wouldn’t even help with my research!’

If that guy had lent a hand, his timeline could’ve been moved up by several months! But instead, with that bastard running away, only his poor lab assistants were dying of exhaustion. Not to mention the mounting resentment he felt.

Recently, Dante had begun shamelessly showing up, asking about academia and theses.

Truly the very definition of "Hmph, tch, whatever."

“I’m here, Professor.”

As usual, Dante Hiakapo had arranged to meet at a café.

Pointless small talk.

Galois sat arms crossed, head turned, pretending not to notice him for a good while.

But Dante just wouldn’t leave.

“I have something important to ask.”

Finally, he got to the point. Thıs text ıs hosted at novel⟡fire.net

“How do you attract attention in academia?”

That... that insolent little...

Word is he’d been invited to the Fifth Soltia Conference.

Which only made Galois more infuriated.

...Because he hadn’t been invited!

“I don’t know, you bastard.”

“I said I don’t know, you bastard! If your work is good, the attention just comes! What, you think you can ask me for tricks after calling me out here?”

“I know that’s not the whole story.”

“What the hell do you know!”

“I reviewed the records of the Third and Fourth Soltia Conferences. Among the professors from Hiaka, you received the most attention.”

When he wants to flatter, he really knows how to stroke the ego.

“No. Absolutely not. I’m telling you, it doesn’t exist. There’s no such thing!?”

“Actually, I knew it. That you had never plagiarized, Professor.”

“It was nothing but a slanderous attack from those wretched imperial dogs. I know how Land Reclamation was produced as a result of your research, and I know how deeply you were disappointed by the moral decay of the academic world. To be exact, I learned it while tracing your footsteps this time. They were just jealous. Of your greatness, Professor.”

“Come on, what are you talking about... Even if you say that, no. I’m not telling you. I don’t know in the first place, I’m telling you?”

“Ah, I’m just saying what I came to say.”

“Thinking about that time weighs on my heart. I can only imagine how hard it must have been. The academic world pretends to be about pure scholarship, but it’s always swayed by national power and individual professors’ reputations. And even in the midst of that, you succeeded in making Land Reclamation known and raised Hiaka’s name high... I was truly moved.”

Ohh? This little punk...??

“Even if you say that... Hmph. Anyway, I...”

“You might not know, but I’ve been invited to the Soltia Conference. But Hiaka’s national power hasn’t changed since then, and Cain’s reputation isn’t all that different from yours back in the day. So I’m worried—what kind of attacks I’ll face there, how to overcome them... If only someone like you could teach me...”

Dante lowered his eyes with a subdued expression and let out a sigh.

“...I want to be like you, Professor.”

Miiiiiiiing!! In the end, Head Professor Galois was overwhelmed by the satisfying praise and flipped completely!

“Damn it, this goddamn little sewer rat!”

His arms were crossed tight, but his heart was wide open. This guy. This sweet guy! This adorable brat! I’d make him my assistant... no, my son-in-law...!

Dante looked up at him.

“Do you really want to know? How to get the academic world’s attention?”

Galois had wanted to talk about it too!

As a head professor, he had to maintain appearances and had no one to with. But with this brat—he could be honest!

“You want to know how to gain attention and support from the academic world?”

“If you tell me, I’ll take it all to heart.”

“Alright. Then I’ll teach you my ultimate secret.”

Galois’s monocle gleamed in the light. Shiiing—

“What’s important is...”

“How much you piss people off. That’s all.”

“I mean, the way to gain attention in academia is by pissing people off as much as possible. Agitating and irritating as many scholars as you can. You’re quite good at that, aren’t you?”

Dante looked at him with blank eyes and replied.

“...I don’t know how to piss people off, Professor.”

That’s exactly what pisses people off!

—but Galois swallowed his anger.

“Could you explain in more detail?”

“It’s not difficult. The research paper itself is already determined. It can be excellent on its own, but many who’ve conducted great research still fail to gain notoriety. What they have in common is being stupidly honest.”

“So don’t do that. Wrap your thesis in a fancy package! Make it look like you plagiarized! Or outright deny the theories of every professor at the conference! Do whatever it takes to rile everyone up!”

“Then the plagiarism controversy was...”

Galois grinned inwardly. Outwardly he tried to keep a stern face.

(Though from Dante’s perspective, he was already smiling.)

“I baited my rival professors! I took bits of their theses, twisted them just a little, and buried them somewhere useless!”

As he spoke, Galois was filled with deep satisfaction.

Everyone called him a genius mage, a great scholar—but really, where could he talk about this kind of stuff?

“I see. So by stirring up a plagiarism controversy, you concentrated attention on your thesis.”

“That’s right...! ...Uh...”

But suddenly, a wave of reality struck. The two were talking at a café, and from outside, voices of students and professors noticing them began to rise.

— Wow, look over there. It’s Professor Galois and Professor Dante.

— I can’t believe those two are having such a heated discussion. Looks like they’ve got papers in front of them too—must be about a thesis, right?

— What could they be discussing? I’m dying to know.

— Isn’t it obvious? Probably a high-level academic debate among the best minds of humanity...

...In reality, it was a lesson on how to bait academic drama...

— L-look, Professor Galois is angry!

— Professor Dante must’ve rebutted him!

— That fiery temper—what kind of theory is he defending?

— Obviously, it’s a clash of old school vs. new age!

...In reality, they were getting heated talking about staging a plagiarism scandal...

“By the way, Dante. I knew you’d been holed up in your lab for months... so the thesis must be complete by now?”

“You plan to reveal it at the Soltia Conference?”

“If you don’t mind, should I help you review it?”

The usually expressionless Dante widened his eyes.

“That would be an honor.”

Galois bowed his head and chuckled.

Sigh, this brat, seriously.

Look at those puppy eyes...

But he didn’t hate it.

Having a talented young professor who dared to challenge him—it made him feel young again.

“Now, let’s see what kind of paper you’ve written...”

But as he infused his monocle with mana and began to read, Galois’s expression quickly stiffened. The smile vanished from his lips. His curved eyes grew sharp.

As the old professor closed his mouth, his emotion spread like ripples through the café. The chattering students went silent.

“Why is it suddenly so quiet?”

Everyone fell silent, not knowing why. And Galois’s eyes slowly bloodshot.

His hands moved busily. Next page. And the next...

Though it was only a short 7-page thesis, those in the know already understood: Dante had once shocked the world with a final exam consisting of a single formula.

At the end of it, the old professor raised his gaze to Dante. All the joy and excitement from before had completely disappeared.

He spoke with frightening seriousness.

“Are you out of your mind?”