Where is the specimen?
We still haven't identified the ideal environment for growth, so we haven't been able to conduct any reproduction experiments. As a result, there are currently no Hydra specimens available for distribution.
Of course, even with attempts like this, since our goal is immortality, the chances of failure are still far greater than the chances of success.
Shi.
In one corner of the cavern, the green magician seated at the lowest end of the table raised his main right tentacle to speak. Most of the scholars gathered at this assembly were people of considerable refinement, after all. As an added bonus, he had already begun selecting a suitable environment for the breeding tank.
I've frequently used area-based elemental control magic ever since the war. I'm confident I can design it on the scale of an entire body of water—so leave the construction of the breeding tank to me.
At that, all the scholars gathered in the cavern responded with gestures of approval.
***
And around the time the Alphaurin-style clock had vibrated some 7,000 times.
I'm stiff.
Something soft and muscular emerged from the cave, its body pulsing as it gripped the corridor wall.
Swish.
Then it stretched itself out long, like a piece of melted rice cake.
It was the same green deep-sea creature. After a lengthy debate with his fellow scholars, he had finally emerged to catch his breath, having taken on several tasks along the way.
Phew, now that feels better.
A moment later.
Swish.
Someone quietly approached the mage, who was using the hard cavern wall like a massager to loosen his body.
Hmm?
Excuse me, War Hero.
The heir to the ruling class that controlled the entire eastern lower waters and possessed tremendous wealth had casually approached and spoken to the deep-sea being—this was no small matter.
Why? Do you have something to say?
Anyway, it's always surprising. In formal settings with important people around, you somehow manage to speak politely, but with me, you're right back to casual speech.
An orange body. A dignified headpiece that might have been called a "hat" on some alien planet. And within it, bubbles rose continuously like carbonation.
That's right. The one who had raised the subject was none other than the powerful ruler of the Eastern Sea, the enormous Alphaurin who had once visited the orphanage in search of the veteran of the Great War. ʀᴀΝO͍𐌱ЁŜ
Well, that's because even when I drop the honorifics, you never really get angry.
Hoo...
There's no harm in it. If it bothers you that much, you can speak casually to me too.
You really can't help letting your lowly nature seep into every word you say... It's almost fascinating. When I was young, every time I spoke that way, my parents subjected me to harsh discipline.
Is that so? Having parents around seems to create quite a few inefficient situations.
You little punk.
As one could see, he had now reached the point where he could not even receive the bare minimum of respect due to an elder, not even from a war hero.
In any case, after the war ended, these two marine beings who had once crossed paths met again at the reestablished Academic Hall. Since then, they had maintained a fairly good relationship. In truth, an overwhelming proportion of the deep-sea population lived within the palace, making it difficult for genuine intellectuals to emerge from that region. And so, among the many members of the Academic Hall, these two were the only ones who hailed from the same homeland.
Hmm.
It was time to dispense with the pointless chatter. The orange Alphaurin soon brought up the real reason he had come.
Anyway, I enjoyed your presentation earlier. Developing 「Mana Burn」 alone would have been impressive enough—but it seems you still managed to pursue some fascinating research even in the middle of a war.
Of course.
But I'm not saying this to flatter you. Do you truly not understand your own problem?
Bubbles.
Tiny bubbles formed whenever the other person moved, a result of their skin absorbing oxygen.
You're crossing the line.
The large-bodied figure, whose physique had been honed by years of swimming through rough seas despite possessing almost none of the traits associated with deep-sea bloodlines, stepped forward.
You are too exceptional.
A solemn echo flowed through the water.
This is something you'll only hear from me, but before the Great War, there was a certain trend of petty thievery among our noble class.
Theft?
Theft of magic.
Oh.
Whenever a lesser noble family devised a useful spell, there were scoundrels who would quietly steal the original work and eliminate the researchers behind it. Such things truly happened in this world.
I thought the ruling class was supposed to be noble, but apparently the lords who died on the front lines planted some unnecessary prejudices in me.
But you—you are a deep-sea being with no family, no guardians, and no supporters. You have no backing whatsoever.
Deep-sea being. Ordinarily, it was a term used as an insult.
There are no Beta beings anymore...
Yet the other person addressed the hero of the deep sea in an extraordinarily gentle tone.
The world's pathetic sense of cooperation will soon crumble apart like cracks spreading across a turtle's shell.
...
I'm worried. The currents around here haven't felt normal lately.
What's your point?
I'm telling you to be careful.
Hmm.
Our Academic Hall is no exception.
Hmm.
Every scholar in the Academic Hall is ultimately a magician. If you let your guard down, someone may try to steal your knowledge the moment they find an opening.
Swish.
The powerful figure raised one thick arm and pointed somewhere in the distance.
I'll say it again. This sea is full of people who covet the talents of young soldiers. Wherever you go, stay alert and never grow complacent.
Wait, I'm not a soldier anymore.
No. Someone who must answer the nation's summons and return to the front lines at any moment is generally called a soldier.
Oh my.
You and I, aren't we both still soldiers?
As the conversation continued, only one strong question came to mind.
Yeah. Well, anyway, I understand what you're trying to say, at least...
The war hero lightly cut the other man off in a brisk tone, then offered his own thoughts.
But there's one thing I don't understand. Why do you go out of your way to spend time warning other people?
Hmm.
It's a waste of effort. Honestly, I'm not exactly the sort of person who repays kindness with gratitude or money, am I? I already learned back at the training center that benefactors are completely useless.
The answer that came back was surprisingly weak.
Haha, commoners like you tend to equate money with happiness far too easily. But as someone born into a wealthy noble family with nothing lacking, I know the truth.
The truth?
There is joy to be found in willingly taking a loss.
Your speech really reeks of nobility.
The reason I'm not out checking assassination rates despite being treated like this... must be because I happened to win as your first examiner, right?
Swoosh.
The bulky Alphaurin folded his two main tentacles behind his back.
War Hero. You were quite adorable as a child.
Someone's green childhood, shaped not like an oval or some irregular form, but as a perfect sphere.
That tiny round cell grew into something this remarkable. How could an adult who watched the entire process not become lost in admiration?
I was pretty cute, wasn't I?
I simply think I'd be happy if you, my fellow compatriot, lived well. Honestly, there's no deeper reason than that.
You're kind.
The young mage, whose personality stood out even in an era where almost no one seemed to suffer from any particular mental flaws, cast an assessing glance at the elder. The orange creature, however, maintained its gracious demeanor, displaying the very noble composure and social acumen for which it was known.
Anyway, I'll say it again. Be more careful from now on. I'm warning you because I've heard a few things myself.
You've heard something?
There are many nobles who hold a grudge against you because of the treasure vault incident. And.
...
...
Why did you stop talking?
...This may genuinely be nothing more than excessive concern on my part, but try not to meet [black box] from our research group in private.
[black box] - You mean that smooth one who was sitting to the west?
In the future, the alien who would eventually take over Kim Oryeon's body would likely prove to be an accomplished scholar of magic, considering that their name had been remembered. However, the name mentioned here was different. This two-syllable designation was used among the people in a way that carried the implication of something strange or eccentric.
Why on earth would that weirdo suddenly be someone I should avoid meeting?
Honestly, this probably isn't something I should say when I've been cutting corners myself just to make more time for studying. But objectively speaking, [black box] is truly peculiar.
One day, their skin was red. Another day, yellow. Sometimes completely opaque, and at other times soft and glossy. They were the sort of compatriot whose skin seemed to transform into something entirely different every time you saw them.
The mage in question possessed an abnormally intense interest in modifying their own body. On one occasion, they had even shown up with glowing metal embedded in their forearms simply because they thought it looked cooler. Incidentally, those metals were toxic to Alphaurins.
It's just the two of us here, so I'll say it plainly. I think that mage definitely suffered some damage to their frontal lobe during the Great War. I don't think there's any rational judgment left in their mind...
For a short while, gossip flowed freely through the cavern. But before long, the green one changed his attitude and asked a question, as though the harsh assessment he had just given had never happened.
But the more we talk about it, the stranger this becomes. [black box], aside from that habit of showing off, is actually a pretty decent scholar, isn't he?
In an era when biotechnology had not yet fully developed, completely changing one's skin would have been no simple task.
Personally, I was quite interested in that researcher's achievements. If necessary, I was even willing to set aside some time and visit his room.
The mage who had appeared today in an opal-colored form specialized in bioengineering. Recently, his research into sex and transformation had reached its final stages, and rumors were circulating that he could turn a female into a male and vice versa while casually reading a book. Given his profound understanding of Alphaurin biology, this eccentric was considered the one most likely to achieve immortality among the seven members of the society.
I don't recommend it.
The ruler of the deep sea showed an extremely negative attitude toward the eccentric.
Honestly, right now I'm speaking purely on instinct, without any real evidence, so it's awkward to say much more. But my instincts have been fairly accurate ever since the Great War, so I have to tell you—that person isn't someone you should get too close to.
Yeah.
And don't go around telling people that I gave you this warning.
Are you worried you'll be arrested for insulting the ruler?
Hmm.
That stylish fellow is also a close ally of the most powerful person in this country. It definitely wouldn't be good if rumors spread. Unlike me, you're weak, after all.
Still, he seemed to think this would suffice as advice.
I'm deeply grateful that you've listened to the opinion of a weakling for this long. Alright, that's enough. I've said everything I wanted to say.
Whoosh.
After uttering those final words, the hulking Alphaurin glided smoothly out of the cavern. By the time the currents stirred by his tentacles had faded like a lingering afterimage, the war hero, left alone, had sunk briefly into thought before resuming his stretches with one hand braced against the wall.
.
.
.
< A few years later >
Murmur murmur.
A voice echoed from somewhere.
So that's the hero of the Great War...
The one who defeated Beta Star?
So it's true that if you join the Academy, you can actually see that compatriot. I'm glad I came all the way here to study abroad.
Judging by all these unfamiliar vibrations, I guess it's already spring.
Around the time the flowers in the Academic Hall's garden began changing in response to the surrounding water temperature, the nearsighted deep-sea dweller who had spent years there finally rose to his feet. An alien lifeform whose mature form would one day be known as Kim Oryeon.
Whoa! I think they just acknowledged us! Did you hear that sound wave just now?
What? I didn't hear anything?
Argh, damn it. This is all your fault for being so loud!
This was during his youth—roughly equivalent to his twenties in Earth years.
He had been freed from the tedious life of a soldier. His long career as a scholar of magic had begun. And since he was in the prime of his life, he could remain at his desk for hours on end without ever tiring of it.
At a time like this, what possible dissatisfaction could he have had with the world?
Oh, there are a few people around my age in this group. Looks like that one over there is quite the genius. Should I try talking to them later?
The scholars of the Academy were born with a healthy competitive spirit. Those with excessively dark personalities were filtered out by the Sejba faction, which had its own methods for selecting suitable individuals. Rather than burning with inferiority when confronted with the genius of the century, they always tried to glean even the smallest useful insight from him. The war hero, despite his outwardly cold demeanor, possessed a surprisingly generous side. He did not become angry or frustrated even when dealing with less capable colleagues. If he had the time, he would gladly offer anyone a helping hand.
Now, this is pitiful. Your intelligence is lacking... But you have a kind heart, and you've always treated me well. I suppose I can help you write your thesis after all.
Having never been anything less than a genius in his entire life, harsh words sometimes slipped from his mouth without him even realizing it.
Anyway,
The war hero lived quite well, interacting with the magicians of the Academy in his own way.
[Golem Control], [Barrier], [Telekinesis].
Even after his reincarnation, he continued studying the magical formulas he would frequently use and never neglected to sharpen his abilities. After all, since that large-bodied compatriot had warned him so insistently, there was no harm in keeping a few weapons ready to protect himself.
Phew- No matter how much I sleep, I'm still tired- Forget extending my lifespan or anything like that. I just want to make a name for myself somewhere where sleeplessness doesn't exist as soon as possible.
At the way.
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