Chapter 1002 – #214_학회 창립식(3)
#996
1.
A stir arose.
It was only natural.
Like humans, witches also became boisterous when something unexpected happened before their eyes.
No one really thought that Shin Siwoo would present a well-structured vision for the academy.
The purpose of most of those gathered here was, at best, curiosity, and more bluntly, to watch the person involved in the rumors being driven into a corner.
Even if she had achieved many brilliant feats, wasn’t she still a young witch who hadn’t even reached her tenth year?
At that stage, they were usually busy optimizing the inherent magic inherited from their predecessors.
I know, I understand.
Preconceptions are products of unconscious learning, regardless of intelligence or reason.
“……”
I paused, taking a breath, and surveyed the crowd.
However, the atmosphere was quite different from when I first spoke.
“Hmm, is that even possible?”
“I also wonder if it’s really necessary.”
It was like they were initially surprised by the sudden announcement, then rationally reviewed the content and expressed skepticism.
Now, let’s think about this.
It might not make sense at first glance.
In Gehenna, where academies exist and the exchange of common magic, as well as inherent magic, is relatively active, why were there no higher education institutions like universities, and why were there no witches giving lectures?
If you look closely at seemingly absurd things in the world, there is usually a reason.
The first reason is that witches are very selfish beings.
This doesn’t mean being selfish is bad.
Everyone lives with a proper amount of altruism mixed on top of a firm selfishness.
However, it must be understood that the highest priority for a witch is to rise in rank.
The fervent wish to lead the legacy passed down from their predecessor’s predecessor to a higher level.
Achieving that wish is solely their responsibility, and no one can do it for them.
The selfishness built upon this mission does not easily waver.
Even if someone is at a level to teach others, they would naturally decline a teaching position that requires a considerable amount of time.
“Some might say, ‘Magic lectures already exist.’”
The second reason, though it might sound strange, is that magic lectures already exist.
“I’ve heard that there are lectures hosted by academies on specific topics, examples of home visits for a fee, and cases where senior members within an academy teach junior members.”
Of course, each of these three methods has clear drawbacks.
“However, lectures hosted by academies are irregular and the topics are limited. Home visits are very expensive per session, and even if you bring gifts hoping to be taught, you are not guaranteed to be accepted.
Lastly, classes conducted among academy members within the academy are small in scale and ultimately only shared among members of the same academy.”
Also, though not explicitly mentioned, there is the disadvantage of forming a vertical relationship due to differences in mutual positions.
Of course, there are witches who see that as an advantage.
Thus, because these imperfect substitutes exist, the emergence of full-fledged lectures has not occurred.
It is a phenomenon created by the combination of a system that works well enough even without innovation and the conservative nature unique to witches.
“Therefore, the Hesed Academy aims to present and uphold three things: a systematized curriculum, a stable and sustainable lecture system, and a comprehensive approach to magic. First, I will show you an example of the curriculum.”
It’s better to show once than to explain a hundred times.
Siwoo connected the prepared PPT to the beam projector and projected it onto the stage screen.
“The Hesed Academy’s curriculum is largely divided into basic, intermediate, and advanced courses.
The goal is to complete the basic course in one year, the intermediate course in two years, and the advanced course in four years, for a total of seven years, and it will be conducted in a way that does not interfere with personal research.
In the basic course, we will revisit the basic academic subjects necessary to complete the higher courses. It is a process of re-establishing the foundation for more specialized classes such as magic power theory, rune and magic circuit theory, applied alchemy, elemental theory, and concept theory.”
To put it simply, it’s similar to an upgraded version of the curriculum during the apprentice witch days.
Magic is a comprehensive discipline.
Odile and Odette, despite inheriting the inherent magic of the Gemini, ‘Singing Magic,’ also studied alchemy and magic circuit theory separately.
Magic is a comprehensive, complex discipline, and this input can contribute to the development of inherent magic in the long term.
Therefore, the basic course is too difficult to handle during the apprentice witch days, and it is like a warm-up to complete the courses necessary to smoothly attend intermediate or higher-level classes.
“After completing the basic course for one year, you will move on to the intermediate course.
From this point, you will choose a department and can intensively take the lectures you need. If you want to delve into the elemental field, you can enter the elemental department, and if you want to delve into alchemy, you can enter the alchemy department.”
However, rote learning is not acceptable.
In the first place, magic is not a discipline that can be improved in that way.
“From the intermediate course, classes will not be conducted simply by professors lecturing and students taking notes.
Classes will be conducted through mutual knowledge verification and discussions or debates, and in order to move on to the next year, you must submit a report at the end of each semester and complete a project at the end of each year to be verified.
Of course, you don’t have to stay in one department. You can choose the necessary subjects from various departments. This is in line with the Hesed Academy’s philosophy of a comprehensive approach.”
And finally, the advanced course.
“And after completing the two-year intermediate course, you will finally enter the advanced course.
This stage is considered the most important at the Hesed Academy, where a deeper understanding of magic theory and independent research on inherent magic are conducted.
In this course, individual research is emphasized, and the world of academia is explored deeply through in-depth discussions and research.”
It means the process of preparing a doctoral dissertation after a bachelor’s degree.
In fact, from here on, it is not much different from other academies.
However, it breaks away from the existing fixed academy system and ensures maximum scalability.
“From the advanced course, you can conduct leading research by belonging to various academic societies within the academy.
We plan to freely allow exchanges with other academies, and since our academy plans to encompass a wide range of magic academic societies, each member will be able to freely research any topic of interest and share the results.
At the same time, fresh ideas and methodologies from various fields will inspire each other, contributing to the expansion of knowledge throughout the academy.”
This is certainly something that would perk up their ears.
Witches are more obsessed with magic than middle-aged men in menopause are with stamina supplements.
Until now, these guys really had to do it ‘on their own.’
They would go to the back mountains looking for wild ginseng, go on expeditions to China to visit herbal medicine shops, share rumors among members of their group chat, visit older brothers who were said to have good stamina and ask for their secrets, catch black goats, and sometimes show off their honorable stamina with chili pepper feats.
But the Hesed General Store provides all of this in one place.
“I have a question.”
“Please, go ahead.”
Then, one of the witches in the seats raised her hand.
Yesterday, today, and probably tomorrow as well.
Metis Gremory, the countess with an impeccable, dry expression, was the head librarian of the secretary’s office.
However, Lisenne, the senior librarian sitting next to her, could tell.
The fact that she, who rarely moved first, had bothered to ask a question meant that she had a great interest in this matter.
“Is this a feasible plan? According to what you said, it seems like you would need at least 20 or more archmages as faculty members.”
Her question pierced through the doubts of the witches gathered here at once.
It’s easy to talk about.
But where would they recruit the talent to handle that curriculum?
It would require an astronomical budget, and even if they had the money, it would be difficult to move archmages.
From Siwoo’s point of view, it was a welcome point that she would want to buy a meal for later.
The founding ceremony doesn’t mean that they have to start normal operations right away.
Rather, it also serves as a kind of briefing session to prove its value and attract human and material investment, so this kind of answer is possible.
“We have already recruited several department heads. We plan to have a more complete lineup by the second half of this year at the latest.”
Siwoo came down from the center of the stage, leaving the space empty.
This was why Albireo had tidied up Siwoo’s outfit in the waiting room.
Everyone was busy getting dolled up.
“No way….”
“Seriously?”
“No way. Don’t get your hopes up.”
By this point, everyone had a vague idea of what was coming.
The green-haired witch, who appeared gracefully as if walking on a runway, bowed politely.
“Department of Elements. Sharon Evergreen.”
A traditional elemental witch who had leaped to the 21st rank, overcoming incomplete succession.
She shows versatile talents in all elements, making her very suitable for a ‘curriculum for everyone.’
The next person to appear was a witch of the 20th rank in the alchemy field, who was once an exile but returned to Gehenna after escaping Hexennacht with Siwoo. She was said to be comparable to the Emerald Tablet in fluid alchemy.
She willingly volunteered for the professorship, saying she would repay Siwoo’s kindness.
“Department of Fluid Alchemy. Alice Ibn Hayyan.”
Next was a navy-blue witch who appeared with a confident smile, carrying a handbag.
“Department of Concepts. It’s Kybele Periwinkle.”
Then, she winked at Siwoo.
It wasn’t a free invitation; she signed a seven-year contract in exchange for a joint research condition on the ‘lotus’ and a huge annual salary.
Considering that there are hardly any archmages in the concept magic field, which is usually rated one or two ranks higher, it was truly a successful recruitment of top talent.
She wasn’t the only one who decided to help Siwoo.
There was also a witch who had quit her position as a chief professor at Trinity Academy.
“Department of Summoning. It’s Sophia Avenuga.”
On the surface, she was saying she was taking a new opportunity, but it was undeniable that it was an expression of her subtle sense of indebtedness.
“Department of Magic Power Circuit. It’s Amelia Marigold.”
Amelia, a 23rd-rank witch who handles particle magic and boasts perhaps the most study among witches.
In her calm gaze at the crowd, one could see the aura of an assistant professor in a place other than her bed for the first time in a long time.
“Department of Waves. Queen of the Great Nukelavi Dynasty. Llyue Nukelavini.”
Llyue, who had put aside her usual playful demeanor and reigned as a queen.
By now, the commotion was reaching its peak.
There were already prominent archmages in front of them, and not just one, but two 23rd-rank witches.
Moreover, one of the two was a descendant of an ancient witch, just like Duke Erelim.
And wasn’t it obvious who would come next?
“Department of Magic Combat. It’s Eloa Tiferet.”
Of course, it was the pink duchess with numerous merits and subjugation achievements.
More than half of them were in a romantic relationship with Siwoo.
That was a fact known through all the gossip magazines.
“Wow……”
“Amazing….”
However, in a situation where they didn’t expect them all to be appointed as professors, only pure admiration flowed out rather than immediate mockery.
