Chapter 1012 – #242_Magic Academy Tycoon (7)
#1006
1.
It feels like such a long time ago, and it’s embarrassing to even think about it, so I don’t dwell on it, but Shin Siwoo has been called a genius since he was young.
If he learned one thing, he could devise applications derived from it without anyone teaching him.
Without putting in any special effort, he was naturally ahead of his peers.
Even among the most talented prodigies from all over the country.
Rather than chasing after someone, he was always far ahead of others, and if he decided to do something, he achieved hundreds of times the efficiency with half the effort of others.
Siwoo’s genius was even more evident after he became a witch.
His magical achievements were sluggish during his slave days due to lack of sleep and poor conditions, but after receiving the mark, his growth was explosive.
With Sharon’s help, he mastered the basics that a novice witch would have to go through with strict training for over ten years in just one year.
In just a few years, he reached the 21st rank through a series of hardships and struggles that seemed like fate.
Some might say that it was just a shortcut achieved through the copying of magic, but that is only half true.
Self-magic is not a simple tool that anyone can wield just by obtaining a fragment.
Let’s take Dorothy’s self-magic ‘Descent,’ which allows her to wield absolute power, as an example.
For Descent, you need a chapel and the symbolic system of a nun’s habit, an amplifying magic called the Angel’s Ring, and the separate self-magic of materializing the mind.
Of course, you need an optimized magic circuit, the color of magic power, and a unique calculation formula that has been passed down through generations.
The symbolic system, the Angel’s Ring, and the materialization of the mind, which are examples of preparations, also require other magical aids, just like ‘Descent.’
In other words, self-magic is ultimately a huge organism that is not very effective on its own.
However, Siwoo fused and internalized these incomplete self-magics, creating results that were more than perfect.
Sharon said that even if she had been in the same situation as Siwoo, she would have been wandering around the 15th rank, so half of Siwoo’s strength is due to his genius.
Another small example of this application ability and thinking is the location board.
Except for ‘Rosie Alu,’ the location board maniac who combined the location board with self-magic, no one could match Siwoo.
Even without taking off his blindfold.
Except for one person.
“Already?”
Latio’s expression, which had been filled with shock, was now full of doubt.
Amelia, who was expressionless, quietly nodded.
There was no arrogance, but after a little time, Latio frowned as if displeased.
As explained earlier, the complexity and expertise of this refinery are comparable to that of a single self-magic.
To look at it briefly and point out the problem seemed not only arrogant but also an impossible feat.
Even if she didn’t say it, the pride of a witch must have been scratched.
“Look at it properly again. I don’t want to play games. Miss Marigold.”
Is it because Gehenna is a place where rank is everything?
Or is it because of the unique charisma of Associate Professor Amelia?
Latio, whose face said, ‘I’ll let it slide this once,’ spoke reluctantly.
“I looked at it properly. I can write it down right now.”
Even though she has become more flexible through many experiences together, Amelia is still Amelia.
Amelia, who met her gaze without batting an eye, exuded the force of an associate professor for the first time in a while.
Latio did not answer Amelia.
Instead, she looks at Siwoo.
It was as if she was saying, ‘You’re the one who brought up this contract, and if you’re playing tricks, it won’t be fun.’
“She’s a capable department head.”
He was just as surprised by the speed, but he shrugged his shoulders and joked.
“Follow me.”
Following Latio’s rough steps, they sat down again in the reception room after 10 minutes.
In front of Latio, who showed an unpleasant expression, Amelia wrote something down in one stroke.
-Scribble, scribble
The story has digressed a bit.
As mentioned earlier, the only person who the super genius Shin Siwoo cannot guarantee a victory against with the location board while wearing a blindfold.
Currently, it’s only Amelia.
It’s a fact that he acknowledges, and Siwoo, who has seen her past, knows it too.
In her novice witch days, Amelia was a slow learner.
I repeat, she ‘was’ a slow learner.
Genius and talent are innate.
But can everyone freely handle that talent from birth?
Siwoo doesn’t think so.
Knowing her shortcomings, Amelia pondered and agonized over a problem a hundred or a thousand times, while other witches would look at it ten times and move on.
When everyone else was satisfied with achieving 100, she struggled to achieve 101 and 102.
The trial and error that Amelia, who was called a slow learner, had accumulated through her arduous efforts, the vast amount of knowledge that was incomparable to others, and her learned concentration and experience.
All of these factors blossomed Amelia.
“I’m done.”
You could say that this is the result.
Latio took the paper that Amelia handed her with a reluctant expression.
“The most prioritized improvement is double continuous extraction. Instead of the existing simple heating process, the raw material passes through two stages of fields simultaneously, separating the magic components. This will allow us to use the raw material much more efficiently and remove unnecessary substances in the early stages.”
“…….”
“Next is the improvement of thermal efficiency. From what I’ve seen, I’ve found parts where unnecessary waste occurs mechanically.”
Latio’s eyes, who had been listening to the explanation with her chin propped up, gradually widened, and her posture changed to upright.
The refinery’s facilities are a distillation device that embodies Latio’s self-magic.
Her understanding of it is bound to be exceptional.
She intuitively realized that Amelia’s remarks, which casually threw out improvement plans, were not empty words but a methodology with a basis.
“Finally, when all the above improvements are made, the production ratio of finished products to raw materials is expected to increase by 12%, the production rate per unit time by 14%, and the magic power required for the process itself, such as heating and cooling, is expected to decrease by 5%.”
“…….”
Of course, factors such as production ratio, production rate per unit time, and magic power consumption during production are not independent.
An improvement in one process step can have a negative impact on another.
Nevertheless, Latio quickly did some calculations in her head.
With a rough calculation method, the productivity improvement when all three of Amelia’s improvement plans are applied is about 33%.
Even considering the variability by taking into account the interaction between each adjustment operation, it is at least over 25%.
“So, how do we go through the adjustment process?”
“That’s…”
Latio asked with a glint in her eyes, and Siwoo subtly stopped Amelia from answering.
That’s the secret sauce recipe that even the daughter-in-law doesn’t know, so how can you tell her for free?
“From here, let’s talk. Amelia, thank you for your hard work.”
“I’ll be waiting in the garden.”
“Thank you.”
After exchanging polite greetings, Amelia left, and Siwoo, who had gained an advantage in the negotiations thanks to her.
Latio, who had been drooling over the sweet offer, smiled bitterly.
“Aren’t you being too picky? You have such a beautiful and capable girlfriend.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust the chairman’s words. But I wanted to check one more time.”
The minimum achievement that the Forget-Me-Not Garden set as a condition for partnering with the Hessed Academy was 5%, and the maximum was 15%.
However, Amelia’s proposal has the potential to easily exceed the maximum that was assumed.
It’s an amendment that might help her self-magic, not just the economics.
Since she hasn’t heard the details of the method yet, Latio is the one who is in a more disadvantageous position.
“Even if you exceed the target, I won’t accept any additional requests other than the contract. Strictly speaking, our refinery is fine as it is.”
Siwoo didn’t think that was a bluff.
If he makes unreasonable demands, thinking that he has gained an advantage at this point, Latio will refuse outright.
If they used consulting, they could earn much more money, but is the witch society’s physiology only about money?
It would have been much easier if it had been.
Amelia did a great job, but even if they don’t improve any further, the position of the Forget-Me-Not Garden is solid.
For her to crave Siwoo’s consulting, at least a competitor of a similar size would have to emerge.
“The partnership agreement recorded in the contract is up to this point. I will be the head of the Refinery Alchemy Department for 7 years. We will establish a branch within the Hessed Academy and station researchers there. We will share research cooperation and some research equipment and facilities. We will participate in mandatory academic activities every quarter. Right?”
“Of course. I have no intention of making unreasonable demands.”
“I’ll make it clear. I have no intention of getting involved in the conflict with Count Cagliostro.”
In a similar vein, the option of pressuring the Emerald Tablet through the Forget-Me-Not Garden is also out of the question.
The two academies are in a mutually beneficial relationship, and they are not just bound by money.
If he were to say to Latio, ‘Instead, let’s screw over the Emerald Tablet together?’ he would only be laughed at and turned away.
So, what can he get?
“But can’t you show me a little bit of favor?”
“Tell me.”
“As you already know, our academy is having trouble recruiting minor academies.”
“So?”
“Do you have any other department heads among your acquaintances, Latio?”
“Department heads have some exchanges with each other.”
“Then, could you arrange a meeting to discuss partnerships between academies? It would be even more appreciated if they have an open mind about the Hessed Academy.”
There’s no point in Siwoo inviting them directly anyway.
The Castle’s checks will still be effective, and no one will come, so there’s only one way, right?
It’s a visit recommendation in the style of ‘I’ve come to deliver good news.’
“Is that all?”
Latio’s brow furrowed, as if the proposal was much easier than she had vaguely worried about.
“Of course.”
Siwoo also responded with a flexible smile.
…It must be just a feeling that it feels like he’s doing multi-level marketing instead of running an academy.
