All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 176

88. What Happened at Sea – 1

The Hero Festival was over.

As expected, Class B won the Hero Festival’s advanced level.

“It’s a bit of a shame I didn’t win the individual prize,” Balla said with a smile, and Haryun, Grajin, and Blanche stared at him.

The reason he didn’t win the individual prize despite reaching Master was simple.

He was caught in illusion magic, used too much aura, and collapsed from exhaustion.

“I told you to learn magic defense!”

“Aside from that, why did you go out and fight on your own? Are you Ian?”

“Ugh. I’ll just have to become a Master quickly because I’m too good for this.”

Balla sulked at their scolding, hanging his head.

Ian chuckled at him.

“Winning as a class is enough.”

“Sigh. I shouldn’t have said anything. By the way, Ian, how was it for you?”

As he had said in advance, he did not participate in the Hero Festival.

He simply stayed in the western area of the Academy, now named the Research and Development Zone, throughout the Hero Festival.

“They’re building a new reagent manufacturing room and an alchemy lab, right? I guess they’re not going to build it?”

“It seems like building defense facilities is the priority. Anyway, I’ve set up basic defense facilities.”

“What, that Titan thing?”

“Yeah.”

In the end, the dwarves, wizards, and alchemists worked with Ian to create eleven Titans during the Hero Festival.

It usually took over a month to make one, but they had to make ten in a month.

Of course, they had done it once before, so they were faster, but it was still a forced march.

However, the workers did not complain at all.

The process of making the Titans greatly improved their skills.

“The Magic Tower is in an uproar trying to interpret the magic circle you devised. Didn’t you teach them how to interpret it?”

“I taught them, but they didn’t understand.”

Especially the magic heart, which could be called the core, was a combination of various technologies.

Even with detailed explanations, it would take at least several years to fully understand and apply it.

Or they would need a genius like Ian.

“Can I see it too?”

“Just a part of it. Here.”

Ian took out a notebook and tossed it over.

The notebook was filled with formulas, diagrams, and magic circles.

Even the direction of power transmission.

Magic, anatomy, metallurgy, alchemy, enchantment.

Without a foundation of various academic knowledge, one could not even understand it.

Even Haryun, who was confident in his abilities, couldn’t get past ten pages.

“How do you understand this?”

He couldn’t help but be amazed.

While he was marveling, Balla quickly flipped through the notebook and closed it.

“Ugh. Just looking at it makes me dizzy.”

“Anyway, I said I could teach them, but no one wants to learn.”

The foundational knowledge required to learn was too much.

It seemed that the wizards couldn’t handle it, so the Magic Tower was 고민 [agonizing] about what to do.

At that moment, Oerina entered.

“Hey. What are you guys going to do about the party partners?”

“I’ve decided to go with Rowena.”

“I’m going with a kid from Class C.”

Everyone seemed to have found a partner.

Oerina glanced at Ian.

“What about you?”

“I’m not going to the party. I didn’t even participate in the Hero Festival, why would I go there?”

“Then what about this?”

She was holding several letters in her hand.

Most of them were requests for Ian to be their partner.

“Why do you have those?”

“I received them on the way, asking me to deliver them.”

She placed them on the table, and Ian read them one by one.

From intermediate to advanced students.

Some of them were from people who were not students, probably sent by their families.

“If they get permission, they can enter the Academy.”

“Hmm…….”

“Why? Is there someone you like?”

“What’s the point of being partners with people I’ve never met? I’ll just do what I’ve been doing.”

In other words, he wasn’t going to attend the party.

Wildey smiled bitterly as he left, and Oerina was disappointed.

Shortly after, Wilbal and Park Bare entered the lobby with a bundle.

“Hey. Where’s Ian?”

“He just left?”

“Huh? I didn’t see him.”

“Really? What’s that?”

Wilbal unfolded the bundle he was holding for those who were curious.

Written on it was.

“Invitations, Academy party partner applications, invitations from various organizations……. Wow, there’s a lot.”

Ian didn’t really do anything special during the Hero Festival.

But who wouldn’t know his name?

That’s why more places than last year sent him these things, wanting to bring him in.

“I really wonder where he’ll go.”

Ian, who headed to the Academy’s main gate, checked the Titans standing there.

The Academy’s emblem was engraved on the silver armor of their chests.

They were standing like statues because there were no enemies now, but they would be fully active when enemies appeared at the Academy.

“Why did you make those things?”

Rowena approached from behind him and asked.

It was 당연히 [naturally] good to have guardians to protect the Academy.

But she wondered if it was really necessary to make them when Ian was there.

“I can’t stay here all the time. And I’m thinking of sending a few to protect Rakid.”

“Hmm. For Rakid’s protection. Are they that strong?”

“They’re stronger than the guardians of the Forgotten City.”

“Are they that strong?”

“What? Didn’t you hear the detailed specs? Anti-magic, anti-aura. I submitted the output details too?”

“Ugh. I’ve been too busy with business, student council schedules, the Hero Festival, and even organizing school rules and punishing problem students, so I didn’t properly read that report. The headmaster approved it, so I approved the deployment too.”

Ian lightly snapped his fingers.

At that moment, the Titan in front of the gate moved.

-Wee-ing. Clank, clank, wee-ing!!

Magic circles appeared on the Titan’s silver armor along with a low mechanical sound.

Rowena was startled when she saw it.

“That’s magic defense, spirit power reduction……. What’s that again?”

“Holy symbol. With that, most of the demon’s attacks shouldn’t work.”

-Woo-oong! Clank! Woo-oong!!

The Titan’s body floated into the air.

Flames shot out from the holes in its legs and back, lifting its body, and Rowena opened her mouth.

“It can fly in the sky too?”

“And it’s quite fast. Of course, flying in the sky greatly reduces the charged energy.”

Still, it was enough to protect the Academy and the Academy town.

Rowena was impressed as Ian explained the other functions.

“Even just one of these could properly protect a decent territory. If you only consider 종합 [overall] combat ability…….”

“It’s probably about the level of a decent Master.”

“Amazing. Everyone will want to make these, right?”

“Considering the production cost and effort, it’s better to just hire a mercenary group. Tell them that if they ask.”

“Is it that much?”

“Materials are important, but facilities are also important. And I’m the only one who can assemble them right now.”

“Wow…… then you’d be rich if you made and sold these, right?”

“I can make plenty of money without selling those.”

Ian said firmly and snapped his fingers.

At the same time, the Titan floating in the air came down and returned to its original position.

“It automatically recharges energy by receiving the light of the sun and moon, so it’s also eco-friendly. Anyway, so? Did you come to ask about this?”

“No. I came to give you this.”

Rowena handed over a document.

It was a request from the Salt Marquisate.

“A request?”

“They say something strange is happening at Emerald Beach.”

“Are they trying to send me there under the pretext of a request?”

Ian narrowed his eyes and asked, and Rowena shook her head.

“Who would take responsibility if it was revealed that you were being deceived?”

In other words, it was a real request.

Ian read the contents of the request and tilted his head.

“Train Valtor.”

“Train Valtor is a large sailing ship that is the pride of the Salt Marquisate. It is also a cruise ship that travels between Emerald Island and Emerald Beach, which are representative resorts in the Salt Marquisate.”

But one day, the ship suddenly disappeared.

It was difficult to think it was a shipwreck because the weather was good on the day of departure.

In addition, Emerald Beach was only half a day away from the island.

“And a few days later, Train Valtor returned to Emerald Beach.”

“There was no one on board…… is that it?”

If there were traces of battle, they could have thought it was the work of pirates or sea monsters.

But there were no such traces at all.

The ship simply arrived at Emerald Beach, carried by the wind and currents.

“The Salt Marquisate has also conducted its own investigation…… about half of them say it may be related to demons, and some say it may be related to mermaids.”

“Mermaids, huh.”

“The legend of the mermaid is famous.”

Sitting on a rock, singing a beautiful song to lure sailors.

“And then they make the sailors fall into the sea and take them to their lair.”

“Take them and do what? Use them as food?”

“Well? According to legend, some say mermaids and humans marry, some say they eat them, and some say they use them as sacrifices for the sea god.”

There were quite a few variations in the transmission itself.

“So I asked the priests of the Solar Church to confirm…… and they said there was a bit of demonic energy left on the ship.”

So, as Rowena had requested in an official document, they had requested the Academy first.

“How about it? Don’t you want to go?”

Ian thought for a moment and nodded.

“It’s better to go.”

“Okay. Then I’ll take care of it.”

As she left, Ian fiddled with his ring.

Crawley, who appeared with red smoke after waiting for a while, was startled to see the Titan.

“Wh, what?! Th, that unlucky symbol?!”

“It’s the Academy’s guardian. Don’t worry about that. Do you know what happened in the Salt Marquisate?”

When Ian briefly explained the incident, Crawley stroked her slender chin.

“Demons don’t go to the Salt Marquisate because the Solar Church is so powerful. But the sea…….”

She nodded.

“It’s a bit of an old story. The demons who served Rurin of Jealousy fought with the mermaids. And they say they stayed on a small island in the sea quite far from the territory.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, Rurin of Jealousy was destroyed, and other demons probably moved to absorb those demons to increase their power, right? And in the process, evil was imbued in that ship.”

“The demons didn’t attack the ship?”

“I don’t know about that. At least not the ones under me.”

Of course, another great demon she didn’t know about may have moved to increase her power.

“Should I find out?”

“Yeah. Find out. And the Solar Church is so powerful in the Salt Territory that demons can’t come?”

“Yeah. Especially Emerald Beach. It’s a bit severe there. It’s a resort where many high-ranking nobles come, so the security is due to holy power……. Hey, Ian?”

Crawley urgently called him as Ian turned to leave.

“Hey! Don’t call me there! Seriously!! It hurts so much if I go there!”

Ian turned to her and smiled brightly.

“It can’t hurt as much as the Geumgoa [a mythical headband that inflicts pain], right?”

“No. Hey!”

“Don’t worry. I’m calling you to give you work, so wouldn’t I have prepared for that level of response?”

Even with those words, Crawley felt a chill down her spine.

“That bastard. What is he going to make me do again?”88. What Happened at Sea – 2

Many invitations came from various places, but Ian rejected them all.

Some nobles showed dissatisfaction in the process, but he didn’t care about such things.

After the party ended and the vacation began, he headed to the dormitory.

“Where are you going to be during the vacation?”

The Academy’s dormitory is closed during vacation.

Widia, worried about where Ian, who had nowhere to go, would stay, asked, and he shrugged.

“I’m just going to stay here.”

“The room?”

“There’s a room in the research and development area.”

“Oh. That’s a relief. But wouldn’t you be bored alone?”

Park Bare asked, joining in, and Ian shook his head.

The Magic Tower, the Alchemist Guild, and the dwarves decided to visit the Academy during this vacation.

It was to tour the newly built facilities of the Academy and conduct research there.

As such, there didn’t seem to be any time to be bored.

“Hey. You’re coming to Emerald Beach, right?”

When Balla asked, Ian nodded, holding the invitation and request form from Haryun.

“I have to go. I have a request from that side.”

“A request even during vacation… You’re always suffering.”

Graegin said bitterly, and the other students were dumbfounded.

He was also planning to spend this vacation exploring ruins without rest, so what was he talking about?

Under their gazes, Graegin adjusted his glasses and picked up his bag.

“Anyway, see you at the Salt Marquisate.”

He left first, and the other students began to leave as well.

Once all the students were gone, Ian asked Aranse, who was standing next to him.

“When are you planning to leave, Instructor?”

“Aren’t you going too? Let’s go together then.”

“Understood. Then I have some work to do, so I’ll head over first.”

“Woof!”

“Meow~.”

Nuage and Mya followed Ian from behind.

Taking them, he arrived at the research and development area and headed straight to his lab.

In front of the lab, a wizard was standing with a report.

“I am Tollekin of the Trinmere School.”

The middle-aged wizard politely greeted Ian, who was much younger than him.

Ian checked the report he handed over, read the contents, and nodded.

“You can do it this way.”

“Thank you, Student Ian.”

Tollekin smiled brightly, hugged the report, and ran off.

As he walked away, Ian went inside.

Inside his lab were various parts, monster materials, and reagents.

“What are you trying to make?”

Nuage, who had followed him in, asked, and Ian plucked a hair from his fur.

He put the hair containing spirit power into the reagent, extracted the spirit power from it, and placed it in an iron tube. Then, Ian began crafting.

After quickly drawing a magic circle and imbuing it with mana, he placed the iron tube on another magic circle.

-Whooong…

With a low vibration, the iron plate placed on top floated up.

“Railroad improvement. The current method costs too much. I just need to increase cost reduction and efficiency.”

“That thing the Fredician Marquisate is pushing for?”

“Yeah. Anyway, if that’s made, it’ll be easier for me to get materials.”

After removing the iron tube with the completed magic circle, he was about to start working again when he heard a knock on the door.

“Come in. Rowena.”

“…How did you know?”

Even though it was vacation, Rowena couldn’t return to the Salt Marquisate.

She had too much work left to do.

She knew there would be a lot to do as the student council president, but she didn’t expect this much.

“Here. This. Report.”

The report she gave was about one of the projects the Academy had recently implemented.

It was a project on the supply and processing of monster materials, based on what the students obtained from the Mial Mountains.

“There was some friction with the Truffin Barony of the Evol Kingdom because of this.”

The Academy had a monster material processing contract with them.

But now it was different.

They cut off trade with them and started processing on their own at Fredon Academy.

Naturally, the Truffin Barony, which had lost its interests, had no choice but to be frustrated.

“So, what’s the problem?”

“There isn’t one, really. Just because they’re frustrated doesn’t mean they can do anything to the Academy.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. And the Salt Marquisate and the Fredician Marquisate have been chosen to handle the sales and purchase of processing materials. It’s also easier to trade with the Scarlet Kingdom, so there are no more problems.”

Without even looking at the report she gave, Ian continued his work.

Regardless, Rowena continued to report.

“And the work to send Titan to the Scarlet Kingdom is finished. You can send it right away.”

“You’re better at your job than I thought?”

“It’s not that I’m good, it’s that you’re good.”

Putting a guardian, which no one knew anything about, next to the king as a guard.

From the perspective of those guarding the king, it was quite unpleasant.

But just saying that Ian made it made it easy to deliver.

“It’s only until the Sun Church’s disciplinary action is lifted, but they’re still paying for its use, so it’s not bad.”

“If they see its performance, they might try to use it for more than that. Anyway, I’ll take it and come back.”

“Okay.”

There seemed to be nothing else to report.

As Rowena got up, Ian also stopped working.

He went out with her, finished checking the prepared Titan, and headed straight to Red City.

Perhaps because they had been informed in advance?

No one stopped him as he passed through the castle gates.

However, they couldn’t help but be amazed at the two Titans next to Ian.

As they passed through them and arrived at the palace, a knight of the Crimson Knights greeted Ian.

“His Majesty is waiting for you.”

Guided by him, Ian entered the palace and found Lakid praying at an altar in the castle’s garden.

Noticing Ian’s arrival, Lakid slowly rose from his seat.

“Welcome.”

“You must be busy, but you still pray regularly.”

“Well, I’m a priest now anyway. But you’re delivering a guardian?”

“Yes. To be exact, it’s a loan. You can’t fight right now, can you?”

“That’s true.”

Lakid had sworn to the Sun Church.

Not to fight until the disciplinary action was lifted.

Since he had no intention of breaking it, not only paladins but also knights from the Crimson Knights were present as guards.

There was no need to waste such manpower.

Ian tapped the Titan next to him.

“Use this.”

It was then.

Keith entered the garden where they were.

“Hmm? Ian. When did you arrive?”

“Just now.”

“Ah. So that’s it? The new guardian that’s causing a stir in the Magic Tower and the Alchemist Guild these days?”

Keith looked at the Titans next to Ian with interest.

And grinned, drawing his sword.

“Since you made it, its performance must be outstanding. But I still want to check it properly.”

“Sure.”

Ian readily nodded.

Arriving at the training ground in the royal palace with Keith, he ordered one of the Titans.

“Delta.”

-Cheeeeeek!!

The cloak and hood were removed, and white smoke billowed from its body.

The moment a blue light flashed in its eyes, Keith drew his aura blade.

“Subdue the enemy.”

“Mark Delta. Initiating combat maneuvers.”

With a light voice, the Titan moved.

Keith swung his aura blade at the self-propelled silver armor.

Evading it with a quick movement, Delta kicked her away.

-Kooong!!

Keith, who had confidently charged in, was hit and sent flying.

As dust rose from hitting the wall, Lakid watched Delta with fascination.

“Oh… this is amazing…!”

Keith shook off the dust and charged again.

The sparring between Delta and Keith continued, and eventually, the match ended in a draw.

But even this much clearly showed the Titan’s power.

“Amazing!! It’s amazing!!”

The paladin of the Sun Church clapped and sincerely admired it.

Even though it was a sparring match to avoid taking the opponent’s life.

Wasn’t it a close match against Keith, a renowned powerhouse?

“Saint Ian! Perhaps that… could you send it to the Sun Church as well?”

If they had that, it would be easier to protect the bishops and the Pope in the main temple of the Sun Church.

The paladin asked with anticipation, and Ian shrugged.

“It’s a bit difficult to get materials right now.”

“So, it’s just a matter of having the materials! I’ll request it from the Church, so please make sure to send it to us!!”

“Understood.”

Ian readily agreed, and the paladin rejoiced.

Meanwhile, Keith looked sullen.

“I underestimated it because it was a guardian… does that nullify aura too?”

“It doesn’t completely nullify it.”

“Really? Then you can still inflict damage. What happens if it breaks down?”

“It recharges by receiving sunlight or moonlight and self-heals.”

“It has that function too?! Amazing.”

“Of course, major breakdowns have to be repaired at the Academy, and maintenance has to be done regularly.”

“Still, it’s amazing. A master-level guardian…”

It wasn’t for nothing that the Titan was causing such a stir.

As she continued to admire, Ian called the two Titans.

“Delta, Sigma. Perform target protection mission. Designate Lakid Scarlet as the protectee and temporary commander.”

“Executing command.”

“Executing command.”

Following Ian’s command, the Titans approached Lakid.

Looking at the Titans standing next to him, he shrugged.

“I’m enjoying the luxury of having two masters as escorts.”

“It’s nothing special. Anyway, I’ve finished my business, so I’ll be going.”

“Are you leaving already? How about having a meal together?”

Now the king of a great nation called the Scarlet Kingdom, Lakid’s proposal.

“I’m busy.”

Ian flatly refused and left.

As he walked away, Lakid shrugged.

“He’s a free spirit to the end.”

Returning to the Academy, Ian focused on improving the railroad.

As he worked for the rest of the time, Kirke said to him.

“Has it already gotten this late?”

As soon as he returned from the Scarlet Kingdom, he kept working without eating.

If Kirke hadn’t called him, he might have kept working.

“Still, I’ve almost finished preparing.”

The work to lower the unit price of the railroad was done.

Ian placed the report and sample summarizing it next to him, washed up, and immediately opened the door.

In the outside garden, where warm sunlight was shining, Mya and Nuage were running around.

The wizards, who had been overworked by research, were staring at the two playing peacefully with exhausted faces.

Ian strode towards them.

“Student Ian…?”

“Railroad weight reduction and cost reduction plan. And a sample.”

“Huh?!”

“You’ve already finished this?!”

“Yes. And to mass-produce it, you’ll need a lot of new reagents. To make that, you’ll need a reagent manufacturing room and a separate crafting room. Please prepare them.”

“Ah, understood.”

The wizards of the Trinmere School ran off with the report Ian gave them.

As they walked away, Ian stretched lightly.

“Ian. Are you ready?”

It was already time to go to the Salt Territory.

Ian lifted the bag he had brought.

Seeing that, Mya jumped in and disappeared into the bag.

Nuage looked at it enviously but shook his head.

Anywhere else would be fine, but the sea was a bit much for him.

“Have a good trip. Get some rest while you’re there.”

As Nuage wagged his tail, Ian chuckled.

“I’m not going to play.”

Leaving the Academy, he took the gate and moved to the Salt Marquisate.

Aranse, who came out of the gate, looked at Ian and asked.

“Is this your first time at Emerald Beach?”

“Have you been here before, Instructor?”

“Yeah. A long time ago. It’s quite a beautiful place. If you just go over that hill, you should see the emerald sea… or should you?”

Aranse was flustered as he looked at the sea beyond the hill.

The color of the sea he was looking at was not emerald green, but shimmering with a blood-red color.

Looking at it, Ian calmly said.

“It looks like Ruby Beach instead of Emerald Beach.”