Chapter 204: The Missing Thesis |
Morale Support: Scherzo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/ScherzoTranslations
—————–
After being delayed for a while, Reiner returned to the hotel half an hour later than usual.
After having lunch in the hotel restaurant, Reiner continued to study the problem of new magic in his room.
Although he had given his address to the old man last night, Reiner wasn’t sure if the old man would come. After all, he hadn’t identified himself at the time, and the note could have been regarded as a prank.
The night passed without any trouble, and Reiner gradually completed his spell, leaving only the final practical step. However, the old lady was nowhere to be seen.
He didn’t take it to heart. Reiner woke up early the next day, feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep, and took a carriage to the estate.
Many mages hoping for recognition of their theses still gathered here. Reiner paid special attention but did not see the old lady. Suppressing his slight doubt, he entered the hall of the Thesis Review Committee.
“These should be Roger’s students.”
Reiner muttered to himself and went upstairs to the office.
He arrived early today, and there was only Savros in the office.
“Good morning, Mr. Savros.”
After yesterday’s exchange, Reiner had a better understanding of the mage who was focused on compiling the Seraphino dictionary. He found it difficult to judge Savros’s choices between work and his own career.
But at least Reiner understood one thing: what he saw was not necessarily true. He needed to delve deeper to get answers.
As soon as he sat down, Lord Percival entered the office in a hurry, looked around, and finally fixed his gaze on Reiner.
“Reiner, today you will go to the Astar Advanced Magic Academy for me.”
Percival commanded.
“Of course, but what do I need to do?”
Reiner was puzzled. Percival lived in the school’s faculty residential area. What could there be that required him to go instead?
“Come with me.”
Immediately, Percival took Reiner to the reference room on the third floor, where several boxes of categorized theses were neatly arranged.
“These are the theses and their evaluation opinions that need to be registered with the Magic Association. We have cooperation with Astar Advanced Magic Academy, and the registration work is to be done at the school, requiring at least one committee member to be present to supervise.”
Percival explained briefly, like it was a menial task with no special requirements.
“Please take these theses over. The registration process may take some time, so you don’t need to come back here today.”
“I understand.”
This seemed like an easy job
Reiner nodded. He happened to have some things to do at the Astar Advanced Magic Academy. Originally, he had planned to visit after finishing his work here. Now, it seemed he might be able to do it in one trip.
Percival nodded slightly, then called a few people to load the theses into the goods carriage, while Reiner sat in the front compartment.
The manor’s gate opened, and the carriage slowly drove out. The scattered crowd gathered again, but the wheels kept rolling forward, ignoring their protests and arguments.
Following the same road as last time, Reiner headed west along the Tristan River to the Astar Advanced Magic Academy.
Previously, he had come from the residential area, but this time, Reiner entered through the main gate.
The school was much larger than Luna Nova Magic Academy, and it wasn’t built like a castle but more like a modern university. The wide square and roads, neatly arranged teaching buildings, and young mages walking in groups all made Reiner feel the breath of youth.
He quickly arrived at the archive, a four-story building with a certain age to it, leaning more towards classical architecture. The mottled walls exuded an old-fashioned atmosphere.
Reiner entered the archive, where the unique smell of ink and paper permeated the space.
“Hmm, why isn’t the committee member here?”
The person in charge of the archive saw Reiner’s symbol on his robe and frowned.
He subconsciously thought Reiner was one of Roger’s students.
“I am the committee member.”
Reiner showed his badge representing the committee member. He usually kept it low-key, not wearing it on his collar. Otherwise, if he were recognized on the street, the mages would be like zombies rushing up trying to get him to judge their theses.
“Oh, sorry, I, I didn’t expect you to be, to be so young. Please forgive my rudeness.”
The person in charge, embarrassed, apologized.
“It’s alright, let’s get down to business.”
Reiner pointed to the several boxes of theses unloaded from the carriage, not dwelling on the other’s rudeness.
“Alright, committee member, I’m Cedric, the one in charge of this archive. During the registration process, you can stay in my office.”
With a mustache and with slightly lacking hair, Cedric pointed to the room upstairs. However, Reiner shook his head and continued.
“No need, I want to know, does this archive include theses from the school?”
Reiner paused, then added to make it clear.
“I mean graduation theses and the like.”
“Oh, of course, sir. As long as they’re graduation theses from this school, this archive has them all!”
Proudly, Cedric assured him.
“I need help to find a few theses from this list.”
Reiner handed over a list. The first one on the list was Miss Sue Heinrich’s graduation thesis.
Except for this one, the remaining theses in the catalog were all referenced by Sue at the end of her thesis. Some were found by Reiner through the Magic Association, while the rest seemed to be only included in her alma mater.
“Okay, okay, please wait a moment.”
Cedric immediately called a few people to carry the boxes of theses upstairs, then went into the archive to find the theses for Reiner.
Reiner sat on the sofa in the hall and waited for a while. Cedric came out of the archive with some thesis copies in his hand, but he kept looking at the list Reiner had given him, seeming pensive.
“Committee member, here are the theses you asked for, but… ”
Cedric hesitated, then continued.
“There’s one thesis we can’t find, and I don’t know why…”