Chapter 1126 – #267_A Casual Magic Academy Slice Of Life (5)
#1120
1.
The Hessed Academy’s project presentation concluded without a hitch.
In the ensuing ball, countless witches engaged in fierce silent battles to ask Siwoo for a dance, and Siwoo played the role of the perfect dancer.
It wasn’t something he’d just picked up in a day or two.
Getting back to the business talk, it was fortunate that he was recognized for the hunting rights business, if not for the maintenance of the ‘Gate’.
Smart witches would have noticed the cunning aspect of this innovative system.
‘What is this! From the start, homunculi weren’t something anyone could monopolize, right? And now you’re selling the rights to hunt them for money?’
‘Isn’t it enough to just release the gates? Why maintain the existing system!’
‘It’s so obvious you’re just looking out for your own interests. It’s outrageous.’
There could have been any number of complaints like these.
The final destination of these complaints would be, ‘Does the Hessed Academy really have the right to do this?’
But at least there wasn’t an atmosphere of intense animosity.
While there might be a few who took it a bit sourly, there wasn’t much talk about the monopoly on hunting rights.
“Having a title is good for this.”
This was entirely because Shin Siwoo was a ‘Count’.
The nobles of Gehenna aren’t just about hereditary status.
Whether it’s them or their predecessors, it’s a position that has been recognized as ‘worthy of respect’.
‘If Siwoo-kun, who had nothing back then, had monopolized this business, he would have been criticized by everyone, but on the contrary, now he’s supported by the tacit agreement that ‘he’s entitled to that much privilege.’ It’s also one of Gehenna’s principles that those who are qualified enjoy the rights.’
‘Of course, if he just looks like he’s gone crazy for money at this time, he’ll be frowned upon. The important thing is responsibility. Well, I’m sure Siwoo-kun will handle it well.’
‘You were really amazing today, Siwoo-kun.’
That was the explanation from his little mother-in-law a little while ago.
The way the witch world works is this difficult.
Still, there are parts that can be understood without explanation.
“Today, it’s my treat. Let’s go to Rose Glass!”
“Kyaaaaah!!!”
“After-party! After-party! A wild after-party with the head of the academy!”
He had to make sure the researchers who had worked hard on the project were properly rewarded.
Siwoo asked Takasho to rent out the entire Rose Glass for the night and prepared small gifts before joining the after-party.
Actually, he had so much work piled up that he didn’t have time for this.
First of all, he had to start preparing for the regular semester soon.
The basic course curriculum was mostly done, but besides that, he planned to personally review the entire curriculum of 15 departments.
He also had to revise the hunting rights BM, which was still close to the initial concept.
Personally, he thought it would be even better if there was a season pass or a complete gacha system.
He was furious when he was on the receiving end, but after looking at the drafts and proposals, he understood why so many game companies were obsessed with gacha.
He also had to recruit mystics who were needed to interpret the gates.
They were needed to measure the exact coordinates and difficulty to create hunting rights.
The ‘May Tea Party’ academy, which he had initially recruited, had agreed to take on the task, but they would probably be short on manpower, so he would have to bring in people from somewhere else.
He also had to discuss the mass production system of the hunting rights themselves with his mothers-in-law.
Hunting rights weren’t mass-produced goods that came out with a simple stamp like plastic bottles.
They were a type of artifact filled with know-how about ‘dimensional magic formulas’.
There would be a lot of trial and error until a proper process line was established.
He hadn’t even properly started the joint research on Mistilteinn with Sister Periwinkle.
Periwinkle’s letters, summarized as ‘Master, I’m so lonely… You said we’d do joint research? Wanna die?’, were also piling up.
But he had worked hard, and it wouldn’t look good if he skipped out on the after-party, saying he had work to do.
He intended to participate to boost the morale of his team members and to express his gratitude.
“This is my way of showing my appreciation for your hard work.”
“What is this? The label doesn’t look familiar?”
“It looks like it’s a very old vintage… What is it?”
The researchers tilted their heads, looking at the old, worn-out bottles that seemed to have been completely neglected.
Most of the researchers in the basic department research lab were originally members of the ‘Wine Pub’ academy.
He heard that it was more like a club made by witches who loved alcohol than the original function of the academy.
In other words, he thought that the best gift would be the deep-sea aged champagne and the ultra-luxury wine collection he had received from L’Riel (paid for).
When he told them the detailed list and history, everyone was shocked.
“Wow… so this is that legendary thing?”
“They say only 233 bottles were made, and there are 5 here…?”
“This is something you really can’t buy even with money… Thank you, Head of the Academy. Thank you…”
The researchers, whose mouths were agape at the head of the academy’s after-party gift, drank the wine with trembling hands and were immersed in bliss.
“Hmm.”
Siwoo, who had studied etiquette and learned about drinking manners, honestly couldn’t say that the taste itself was that outstanding.
It felt like it was slightly better than the lineup that could be easily purchased at smuggler rendezvous points, or even slightly worse in some aspects.
If it were the old days, he might have been dumbfounded, thinking, ‘This is worth a high-end foreign car per glass?’
“Ah, this deep taste…”
“Sob, sob, I’m so glad I joined the basic department…”
However, he had already understood the consumption patterns of the rich and the unique aristocratic culture of Gehenna.
Witches, who all belonged to the upper class, didn’t just consume alcohol as a cost-effective beverage.
They drank the story and history contained within it.
It might seem no different from the nouveau riche who flaunt their wealth with luxury goods, but it felt different.
Rather than simple material extravagance, they recognized and enjoyed the deep meaning and value of the object, pursuing a deeper and richer quality of life and spiritual abundance.
For witches who had to walk the path of a solitary ascetic for a long time, luxury might be as important as human entertainment.
“Expensive alcohol is the best!!! I love money!!!”
“I’m the one drinking the most special alcohol in Gehenna today!!!”
“Sob… Is this one glass worth my research budget for a month?”
…It probably was.
Anyway, today was a day of victory for everyone in the basic department.
Siwoo didn’t do anything sneaky like taking all the credit while leaving out the efforts of the researchers.
At the end of the interim presentation, he mentioned each and every researcher’s name and shared the credit.
What did that mean?
It meant that each researcher had gained an unprecedented portfolio.
It was truly a case of hard work being rewarded.
The researchers, saying it was the day to take a bite out of the head of the academy, puffed out their chests and swaggered, having taken over the wide bar without even calling a host.
From their past experiences, they knew that the head of the academy, contrary to the scary rumors, had a rather gentle personality, so they were playfully teasing him.
“Haa, I was so out of it at the ball earlier, you know?”
“Head of the Academy, Head of the Academy, there was someone who used to give me grief for joining a research lab with no history or tradition. They’re asking how to become a researcher in the basic department. Isn’t that so obvious?”
“Ah, now all sorts of research institutes under various academies will be sending love calls, and if the head of the academy begs, we might stay in the basic department…”
“Head of the Academy! The runaway witch Daphne is going to run away again!”
“What?! When did I! I didn’t do that! It’s true! Head of the Academy! Please believe me!”
When Daphne made a crying face and shook her head, they poured a large glass of strong whiskey as a penalty.
“A shot of faith! One shot!”
“What are you doing! This is an insult to alcohol!”
“The insult is that you ran away, Daphne, which is blasphemy against the head of the academy!”
“Sob… Sob… Glug, glug, glug!”
“As expected of Daphne, the witch of alcohol! She drinks well!”
It was truly a terrifying sight.
Siwoo chuckled and watched the scene with a satisfied smile.
After all, in any organization, the relationships between people are the most important.
Wasn’t the biggest part of workplace stress originally from interpersonal relationships?
“Ah, there’s something I forgot.”
As the atmosphere warmed up, Siwoo took out several white envelopes from his pocket and handed them out.
“What is this?”
“It’s the bonus I promised.”
“Wow! Can we check it here?”
“Of course.”
The researchers who quickly checked the contents showed the same reaction.
Their intoxication vanished in an instant, and a blank silence filled the air.
“One, ten, hundred, thousand…”
“Huh? Uh? What is this?”
“It’s not payday today…”
The contents of the bonus in the envelope were checks issued in Siwoo’s name from the vault bank.
In terms of amount, it was about 5 times the average annual salary that the Wine Pub researchers had received in the past.
This after-party was a demonstration.
A demonstration to clearly show what happens when you pledge allegiance to Head of the Academy Shin Siwoo.
He generously gave out performance bonuses and luxurious after-parties that suited their tastes, so much so that they wouldn’t even dare to think of running away.
When love calls came from other academies or research institutes, they would say, ‘I can’t be satisfied with such small performance bonuses and meager after-parties…’
If Siwoo’s influence gradually expanded throughout the academy based on the loyalty of the basic department’s researchers, it would soon become an invisible ‘power’.
Wasn’t it said that power was originally a belief in something that didn’t exist?
“I am deeply, deeply grateful…”
“Ah… Head of the Academy Shin Siwoo, the only god of Gehenna. May you be praised…”
Siwoo didn’t stop at providing incentives, he also promised to personally review their papers and help with their individual research when he had time.
After that, it went without saying.
The after-party became a religious gathering accompanied by a kind of cult leader.
“From now on, there will be a testimony about the miracles performed by the head of the academy. Everyone, please kneel reverently and pay your respects to the head of the academy.”
“Amen.”
“I truly believe that Count Shin Siwoo, who will write a new history of Gehenna, is the head of the academy.”
“Amen.”
In the solemn atmosphere, poor Daphne was relentlessly made fun of.
“Head of the Academy! Daphne has declared that she will strip enthusiastically with faith! Here’s a slightly naughty adult quiz! What color are Daphne’s underwear today?”
“When did I!!!!”
“You traitor who betrayed the head of the academy! On this auspicious day, you can’t even take off a single piece of clothing!”
“Sob… Sob… I, I’ll take it off. I, Daphne, will take it off!”
“No, don’t take it off.”
Rose Glass was in a state of delirium, with everyone in high spirits and even more intoxicated.
Siwoo slipped out onto the terrace, using the excuse of getting some fresh air.
“Haa.”
He wished that days like today would continue, but there was something that kept bothering him.
He thought of the ‘Round Table Conference’ that was sleeping in the vault.
It was an artifact that could contact the capos of Las Werfanas, Lydia’s legacy.
More than a month had passed since the inheritance was completed, but the summons had not yet been completed.
Even though the gates of Hexennacht were closed, wasn’t it too delayed?
Moreover, the contact person, ‘Nairi Derbana’, who had been in contact regularly, had also stopped answering.
It seemed like a more detailed investigation was needed.
