CICN 130

Chapter 130

An incredible event?

“W-What’s going on?”

With fireworks going off and continuous cheers and applause, it was already overwhelming.

Luska looked around anxiously and asked, but no one answered.

Neither Luska, Evi, Irin, nor Arsel had heard anything about it.

“Give it here. I’ll announce it myself.”

Professor Malres set Evi down and received a megaphone from Lucy.

“Ahem, ahem.”

As he cleared his throat, the noisy banquet hall grew quiet.

The members of the Divine Numbers society, like Evi’s group, had not been told anything.

“An incredible event?”

“If Lucy is saying this here, isn’t it probably related to the professor?”

“What on earth could it be…?”

As the murmurs continued, someone appeared from behind the podium, pulling a handcart.

On the handcart was something covered in a white cloth.

‘What is that?’

Evi leaned closer to peek. Professor Malres looked at her fondly, then spoke loudly again.

“That is… the fact that I have finished writing a new advanced mathematics book!”

At the same moment, Lucy removed the white cloth covering the handcart.

The cart was filled with stacks of books.

“……?”

The children standing next to the cart looked at the books with bewildered expressions.

Then, suddenly:

“Wooooooaaahhhhh!”

A tremendous cheer filled the banquet hall.

“A new math book by the master!”

“Oh my! Is this real? You really wrote a new math book?”

Shouts of astonishment and excitement erupted everywhere.

Seeing the reaction, Professor Malres and Lucy looked at the crowd with pride.

The children didn’t fully understand, but this was truly extraordinary.

It had been 30 years since Professor Malres last wrote a mathematics book.

The advanced math he had written back then was still used as the standard text in schools across the continent.

Naturally, requests for him to write a new mathematics book had continued over the years.

But Professor Malres had always refused decisively.

‘Even though his disciples begged him, he remained firm.’

Lucy recalled the reason why.

As his reputation grew, more people began to envy Professor Malres.

Moreover, some disciples began to exploit his name for their own gain.

Eventually, Malres found himself embroiled in endless disputes.

Those who approached him under the guise of goodwill would either steal the results or blame him for their own mistakes.

Some even claimed that they had actually written the advanced math themselves and that Professor Malres had stolen it.

At that moment, many people seized the chance to criticize and point fingers at him.

Eventually, Malres grew weary of academia and people.

“So you claim you did the research? That I stole from you? Fine, then continue your ‘brilliant research’ and publish a book yourselves!”

He said this and halted the writing of all new math books he was working on.

Not only that, he burned all of his research materials.

Naturally, the academic world went into chaos.

People insulted him, but whenever he published a new theory, he would attract attention and even investments when applied to economics.

And he threw it all away.

Even if he had apologized later, those who had spread rumors remained silent, and those who tried to frame him acted as if nothing had happened.

Those who had exploited his name had nothing more to take and cut off contact.

To outsiders, it might have seemed like a noisy academic dispute, but in reality, it was a huge loss not just for mathematics but for the entire empire.

Thanks to the advanced math he had organized, the quality of mathematics education across the empire had improved significantly.

And yet, he abandoned everything just as he was ready to continue.

His disciples begged him to reconsider, but he remained stubborn.

Afterward, he cut off contact with everyone and lived as a recluse in a corner of the academy.

At first, his disciples thought he would eventually change his mind, but as his coldness continued, they gradually gave up.

That lasted 26 years.

They had long given up hope of seeing a new book from their master…

Professor Malres continued speaking.

“The book I’ve organized this time is advanced math that is easy to understand! Previously, the gap between intermediate and advanced math was so large that many students struggled to grasp the intermediate steps. So this time, I wrote a book for the intermediate stage with more materials and problems.”

The crowd stirred again. Indeed, there had been no proper book covering the intermediate level.

Several mathematicians had tried, but compared to Malres’ previous works, their efforts were considered inadequate.

So everyone had struggled at that stage, and now finally a book for the middle level was coming out!

“And next year or the year after, I plan to release a book on higher-level math—beyond advanced math.”

He looked at the children staring at the books on the cart and smiled.

“That way, I can properly teach these kids.”

“Master…”

Hearing this, the disciples at the podium had tears in their eyes.

They had long given up on ever seeing their master’s new books, and now one was being released!

And he said he’d release another next year!

Moreover, their once-hurt master, who had cut ties with everyone, was now smiling at his new disciples, filling them with emotion.

Unable to contain their joy, someone shouted:

“Our youngest members are the best!”

“Yes! Thanks to you all!”

The applause and cheers filled the hall even louder than when Evi’s group had first entered.

Some people wiped away tears as they sniffled.

Irin looked on, bewildered.

‘Thanks to us? Well, more like thanks to Evi… But… is a new book really that exciting?’

Looking back, Arsel and Luska also seemed dazed. And Evi…

“This is amazing…”

Evi looked at the piled books with hands clenched in excitement.

Seeing that Evi shared the same excitement as Professor Malres and the other members, Irin shook her head.

Professor Malres picked up the megaphone again.

“These are still proof copies. Everyone, take one and look it over! If you find any mistakes in numbers, symbols, or equations, contact me immediately!”

“Are you using us to proofread for free, Master?”

“Too much!”

“Unfair master! Reflect on your ways!”

Despite shouting like this, the Divine Numbers members quickly lined up in front of the podium.

“Now, you all take one each.”

Before handing them out to others, Lucy gave the books to the children first.

Even though these were not official editions, the leather-bound books looked ready to be sold in stores.

Advanced Math Made Easy.

Evi read the title and flipped through the cover.

Her eyes widened.

“Our names are here!”

“What? Where?”

Irin leaned over to look at the page Evi opened.

There, the four of their names were written:

“Luska Ragselv, Irin Terins, Evi Alden, Arsel Kellen…”

Wondering why their names were there, Evi looked above the list and saw Professor Malres’ short preface:

[If it weren’t for these children, this book would not have been written.
May this book help all those beginning advanced mathematics.]

“Professor…”

Luska was already tearing up at the short preface.

Even Irin’s eyes grew red with emotion.

They had thought they were just extras accompanying Evi…

“My name is first… I really was the favorite!”

As Luska cried in joy, Professor Malres quickly shook his head.

“No, putting the names in reverse alphabetical order is standard in our field, you brat!”

“Even so, I knew your intentions, Professor! I’ll work even harder!”

“Hey, don’t wipe your nose on my coat!”

Ignoring the playful bickering between Luska and Professor Malres, Evi touched her name repeatedly in disbelief.

‘My name is in a book.’

She had always thought such recognition was reserved for truly remarkable people.

Lucy winked and said,

“This book will soon be used as a textbook in all advanced schools and academies. Every student in the empire will know your names.”

From the inn to Elam City with its poorhouse, and from Elam to the capital with its gifted school, Evi had already seen a vast world.

Now, it was the entire empire.

She felt as if she were floating in the sky, overwhelmed by the realization of her importance.

‘I’m really glad I came to the academy!’

While Evi cherished her emotions, everyone had received a copy of the new book.

Even as proof copies, everyone looked proud as if they had received treasure.

“Now, we will have the Divine Numbers brooch ceremony for our youngest members!”

When Lucy announced this, another member brought out new brooches.

They were for the other three besides Evi.

Arsel received his with a composed air, Irin with a sense of honor, and Luska jumped for joy as she pinned hers to her chest.

“Now then…”

Just as Luska’s eyes sparkled, thinking they might start eating and playing, Lucy shouted energetically:

“Let’s shower our youngest members with affection!”

And so, the children were thrown into the arms of the seniors, who had been starved for juniors.