Research Life of a New Professor at Magic University - Chapter 24

“Arien?”

“Yes….”

Arien still seemed lost in thought.
Although her gaze shifted away from Prudence, she responded somewhat hesitantly.
Finally, with a light clap, she turned to me.

“Oh, sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

“It’s okay.”

“Earlier, you mentioned that person was an inquisitor?”

“Yes. Doesn’t seem like it?”

“Inquisitor….”

Arien’s expression was not good.
It wasn’t just subtle; it clearly revealed discomfort.
Feeling like we might return to the previous situation, I couldn’t help but ask.

“What’s wrong?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re not going to tell me?”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“What don’t you understand?”

I wish she would at least say it’s difficult to talk about personal matters.
I might lose it with the sudden awkwardness.

“Earlier, your gaze towards Prudence was odd. Did she make you uncomfortable? I don’t think she meant any harm.”

“No. Her attitude wasn’t rude. It was just a bit strange.”

“Is there any problem?”

“Inquisitors suggesting elves come to the church… It’s a strange situation, isn’t it?”

It’s just a usual suggestion, but was it so uncomfortable?
I often hear these things, so I usually brush them off, but Arien might be much more uncomfortable.
Elves have their own beliefs, which could make it even worse.

“Do elves worship tree-bound gods so fervently?”

“That’s one aspect, but it would be difficult for elves to believe in that religion.”

“Why?”

“Don’t you know what inquisitors claimed in the past?”

“I don’t know. Do I look like I’m interested in religion?”

“Not at all. That’s why I didn’t believe you earlier.”

Even though the words were said like that, her attitude softened considerably.

What happened?
Did the church carry out a massacre against non-believers?
But the followers of Apis wouldn’t go that far.

They may interfere with my research, accuse me falsely, or pretend to support me while causing trouble. Still, I’ve never heard of them committing massacres.

“As you know, the pentagon is considered an ominous shape in the Church.”

“Of course, I know that.”

When discovering magic for the first time, you learn about the symbols of elements.
Everyone knows that the equilateral triangle symbolizes the fire element, and the square represents the earth element.
However, not all elemental symbols are polygons, and not all polygons are elemental symbols.

According to the church, the hexagon represents holiness, completeness, integrity, eternity, and so on.
Just as the circle is not a symbol of an element but a device to circulate magic, the hexagon only assists in sustaining spells in magical rituals.

Skipping one shape here was not a mistake.

The heptagon is rarely drawn in magical circles.

While not all polygons have magical significance, the pentagon is a peculiar shape with clear relevance, yet is rarely used.

This is because it’s considered impure and sinister. The pentagon symbolizes various negative concepts, such as demons, negativity, sin, and contradiction.

“Why suddenly bring that up? What does it have to do with elves and pentagons?”

“We thought the same.”

What could be the reason for demonizing a mere shape like this?

Some say it’s because the hexagon, representing divinity, is undermined by the absence of one side in the pentagon.
Some claim the pentagon doesn’t fill the plane completely, signifying the beginning of all evil and deficiency.

“But humans managed to find a connection, albeit indirectly. Specifically, not with elves themselves, but with what elves cherish and love.”

A more practical and direct reason would require knowledge of magical practices.
Dark magic spells are distinctive because they clearly contain a pentagon in their rituals.
Rituals involving blood sacrifices, summoning entities from other realms, spreading plagues with curses, or desecrating corpses incorporating pentagons.

Not only pentagons but also spells containing shapes reminiscent of pentagons, like pentacles, require serious consideration due to their severe consequences.
Hence, most magic researchers tend to exclude them, considering the necessity of writing extensive explanations, sometimes spanning dozens of pages.

And in my experience, even submitting meticulous explanations doesn’t always prevent scrutiny from the church.

“So they suggested to kill the elven faith?”

“What? When was the pentagon a symbol of elven faith?”

Arien’s response surprised me.
At first, I thought she was lying or joking.
Not because it was a shocking tragedy but because it was such a bizarre story.

“I wasn’t talking about that. I mean plants that bloom with five petals. All of them, without exception.”

*

It’s something I’ve never heard before.
Did such a thing really happen?
There’s fanaticism, and then there’s this.

“I had no idea. They actually did such crazy things?”

“It’s a story from before you were born, Professor. And they didn’t go through with it. Not everyone in the church was insane back then.”

“Of course not.”

I realize now that Arien isn’t talking as if she’s heard or learned about it but as if she’s experienced it firsthand.
If it’s something Arien personally experienced, it means it hasn’t been more than two hundred years since then.

It’s such a recent event, so why haven’t I heard of it before? It’s memorable enough to stick, even if it’s just for amusement or to make jabs with the priests.

“One of the prelates of the Apis Church restrained the rampaging fanatics.”

“It’s almost comical to ask, but how did they react?”

“The bees, messengers of the gods, filled the hexagonal honeycombs by sucking the honey. Even if they have malicious tendencies, they can become servants of the gods, and it’s a reason not to reject sinners but to reform them.”

“Hmm…”

“That person later became a pope.”

I don’t know the records of past popes. I don’t even know their names. But even with a brief mention, I could roughly understand what kind of person that pope was.

Someone who deals with criminals with leniency rather than strict punishment.
Also, they would be practical, quick-witted, and adept at compromise.
They must have had the courage and boldness to oppose the madness of those consumed by fanaticism.

Anyway, completely eradicating such flowers is not only impractical but also serves no purpose for the church.
Anyone could have stepped forward quickly to stop such madness.

“So now there isn’t much animosity towards the Apis Church itself. But…”

However, I could also discern the dark side of that pope.

Just by the words spoken earlier, they managed the situation well.
Still, they referred to the flowers as evidence of the devil.
There’s no semblance of an apology.

It’s more like, ‘You’re indeed impure and sinister beings, but we’ll stop the immediate oppression, so be satisfied.’

“It was an unimaginable event—an inquisitor being friendly to elves and even suggesting religion. It’s funny.”

Arien didn’t seem amused at all.

‘Did Prudence know about it?’

It could almost be considered malicious if she knew about such background and casually suggested it.
But did she know?

It’s unlikely that the events erased from church records would be taught to priests. However, considering it’s related to the Inquisition, wouldn’t she know?

Feeling overwhelmed with thoughts, I eventually made two decisions after ending the conversation and cleared my mind.

First, I decided to try visiting the monastery later and see how it goes.
Second, I resolved not to press Arien too much today.

***

At a mansion in the Honlake Domain.
Its size was neither grand nor humble, reflecting the financial situation of the owner, Earl Lacton.
It wasn’t extravagant, but it wasn’t living on crumbs either, a noble family that didn’t hesitate to indulge but didn’t squander.

Earl Lacton was conversing with his daughter.

“You’ve heard of Professor Atwell too, I suppose.”

It wasn’t a question born out of genuine curiosity.
Nobles of the kingdom couldn’t possibly be unaware of Atwell’s name.

“Atwell proposed a research collaboration with the church. I don’t know the details, but the church’s attitude changed significantly favorably afterward. And your sister says, contrary to the rumors, he’s a much kinder and decent person.”

She wasn’t interested in such matters. Neither religion nor magic was her concern. But one can’t always focus only on what they enjoy.

“So you should meet him too.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Regardless of the rumors, Atwell is currently the most promising magician on the continent. It wouldn’t hurt to establish a connection.”

“Why me? Wouldn’t it be easier for sister to do such things?”

“You know as well. Your sister isn’t in a position to do that right now. And you, can’t you delegate the family matters to someone else? Or ask your younger sibling who’s still attending the academy?”

She felt a sense of unease.

Gentlemen of noble birth usually maintain courtesy toward ladies regardless of their emotions.
Knights strive to uphold a lady’s honor. Even if not, sensible people don’t rudely reject someone approaching with kindness.
At least, they try to appear that way outwardly.

However, Roger Atwell lacks the manners of nobles, the spirit of knights, the sophistication of gentlemen, or common sense.
Noble ladies who approached Atwell personally were often met with indifference, disdain, and ridicule.

She didn’t want to become one of them.

“If you can gain his favor, it might resolve the succession issue. With Atwell’s support, even the duke won’t dare to meddle.”

“Atwell won’t meet with me if there’s no business to discuss.”

“True. We’ll have to create a pretext. So…”

She was taken aback by her father’s following words.
This is not only because of the content but also because it would entail a considerable sum that would burden a small noble family in the provinces.

“…Is it worth it?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about probabilities. Atwell graduated from the Royal University. Then, he went to study in the capital of the Empire. Among the nobles of the Kingdom and the Empire, many must have offered much better conditions than ours.”

“True. But he might have approached even the royal family. Even if we emptied our entire fortune, we probably couldn’t match the conditions he was offered.”

“But then…”

“However.”

At this point, Earl Lacton wore a briefly bitter expression.

“People change. You know that well, don’t you?”

“Yes…”

The daughter wanted to block her ears because it was an uncomfortable topic.
Fortunately, the conversation didn’t continue any further.

“Admittedly, Atwell doesn’t get along well with the nobles, but what worsened the relationship even more was the church. Yet he joined hands with those with them. What could that mean?”

The daughter couldn’t understand her father’s words.

“I’m sorry. It’s because I’m lacking…”

“It’s just hitting a wall in reality. He knows he can’t solve everything with his abilities alone. That’s why he’s compromising, not hiding the fact, and even exposing it.”

The Earl spoke with confidence.

“This is Atwell’s signal. Approach quickly. There’s no good in being at odds with everyone in the world; now that he’s acknowledged it, we need to act faster than anyone else.”

“Is that so? Did my sister say the same?”

“Would your sister talk about that?”

Her sister did mention Atwell to her, albeit only about his classes.

“And personally, it seems she’s building some rapport. He remembers no student except herself. He’s not discriminating only in the religious world but also among the nobility.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s said he’s very fond of Stella. If so, won’t he treat her sister well?”

“But I doubt that.”

“While you’re at it, ask about the magic you were curious about. It’s better to inquire properly from an authority figure than to cling to your distant sister.”

Though she followed her father’s words, she couldn’t shake off the deep-seated doubts in her heart.

‘Did he really make such calculations before acting?’

If the consensus was correct, Atwell was ignorant of politics.
He lived while avoiding involvement with the world, not simply disliking it but adopting an attitude of not wanting to be entangled.

But could such a person become so deeply entrenched in reality in less than a month?

Even though she was born into a noble family and lived a life unrelated to politics, she couldn’t get used to such things even after several years.

Could it be her father’s oversensitive reaction?

And can she trust her sister’s words?