I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 845 – Side Story 118: The Scent of Water (1)

In this world, countless scattered possibilities overflow. Possibilities are not organized, their positions are haphazard, and their forms differ. Like looking at a messy room. Or like looking at a dirty floor with countless grains of sand scattered about. Irregular chaos where it's impossible to even distinguish what is what.

The Mirror World makes it possible to observe that.

Countless possibilities. Those innumerable things are divided and classified into fragments of mirrors.

It enables direct or indirect experience of the world successfully observed in this way.

The experience of the Mirror World that he went through together with Rene was impressive enough for Rudger to not easily forget.

But that too would end now. It would be a lie to say there were no regrets.

The world of possibilities shown by the Mirror World stimulated his curiosity as a mage and granted him certain inspiration.

Experiences that provide intellectual satisfaction are not common. If his teacher had been alive, he probably would have shown considerable interest.

'But just because something is interesting doesn't mean you can use it as you please.'

The Mirror World is a hyper-dimensional leap device made by the Imperial Research Institute. Although Rene played a crucial role in making it, giving her a large stake, the ownership still belongs to the Imperial Family.

If he tried to use it recklessly, he would end up with his nose pierced by the Imperial Family.

'The fact that I could use it last time was probably the exception.'

As he thought this, suppressing his regret and calming his emotions, it happened.

An urgent call came from Rene.

[Brother! Permission to use the Mirror World has been granted!] 

"......?"

Meeting Rene was easy. After all, spatial constraints were virtually nonexistent for the two of them.

If they matched the time and designated a place, they could meet there.

Meeting Rene like this, Rudger asked about the full story of what had happened.

"Well, you see. After that day, we tried using the Mirror World officially, but we couldn't get any notable results."

According to Rene's explanation, it was like this. In the case of people without awareness of spatial magic, even if they used the Mirror World, they couldn't obtain proper information or data.

What they saw was superficial information of other parallel worlds. For example, only that such a world exists, and that was all.

Compared to when Rudger and Rene directly experienced the corresponding world and lived as members of it, there was a marked difference.

Ordinary researchers couldn't even attempt it. They rather couldn't properly see the world they wanted and only felt thirst.

Rene thought carefully about why this was and came to a conclusion.

To properly operate the Mirror World, it had to be someone compatible with spatial magic.

It was still just a hypothesis. But should it be called a kind of intuition, Rene was almost certain.

"To conduct research, I need brother's help." 

"Hmm. Finding someone compatible with spatial magic." 

"There's no one besides you and me, brother. But I'm the subject of the research, so I have to collect data from outside, which means I can't keep using the Mirror World. For that, we ultimately need another person." 

"Is there no other spatial magic user besides me?" 

"If we teach them, there will be eventually. But even if we start now, we don't know how many years it will take." 

"Making this request is, in a way, the only solution, isn't it."

Rudger crossed his arms and fell into thought for a moment. The Mirror World was certainly attractive. He could find himself still immersed in its lingering impression.

"However, is it okay for me to use this alone? As you know, the Mirror World is a very precise artifact that digs through various possibilities and sends you to the corresponding world. To properly utilize it, I alone won't be enough."

When he went with Rene, they fell into a world connected to both of them. What would happen if Rudger used it alone?

With two people, the possibilities are limited and narrowed down to two, but if one person uses it, the number of branches of possibility becomes too many. He couldn't know what threats might be there, or alternatively, if excessive exploration of possibilities might overload the artifact itself.

"Ah. You don't need to worry about that. Brother won't be using it alone." 

"Hmm? What do you mean?" 

"Rather, brother is closer to playing the role of a guide."

Rudger quickly realized with his excellent intuition what Rene was trying to say.

"I see. You want me, who has compatibility with space, to help when other people use it."

The role of a guide. Or rather, playing the role of a kind of signpost or anchor so that after the Mirror World finishes its effect, they can return to the original world.

"I really desperately need brother's help. Without brother, we can't even start the project. Later, I'll include brother's name in the research paper too."

Having your name listed in a paper about an invention of the century. This was a very honorable thing for a mage.

But more than such fame, seeing Rene begging so earnestly made it difficult for Rudger to ignore.

In fact, he also wanted to use the Mirror World more.

'Others are interested in the new Eastern Continent, but I'm not really moved by it.'

He'll hear about that later directly from Aidan's experiences after he returns from his adventure.

For now, the Mirror World takes priority.

"Then what should I do first?"

Rudger sat quietly in the waiting room prepared in the laboratory.

Outside, researchers would be conducting inspections before using the Mirror World.

-We're looking for people. People with excellent aptitude for magic and who have a connection to you, teacher, are top priority.

Rene's words came to mind.

'Connected to me. Well, it can't be helped. If you bring someone I've never met before and use the Mirror World together with me, there's no way a parallel world related to the two people would appear.'

No, perhaps such a world exists among the countless possibilities. But the worlds observed that way would be far too few compared to what they want.

'If there are too many, that's problematic to handle, but if there are too few, data can't be accumulated.'

Leaning too far in either direction wasn't good. From that perspective, Rene's argument was valid. Rudger deeply agreed.

'But who are they bringing as someone connected to me with compatibility for magic?'

Before that question could even fade. Clunk.

The door opened and someone came in. At first he thought it was a researcher, but it wasn't.

"......Casey Selmore?"

Meeting her in an unexpected place, his reaction was delayed.

"What. That expression of surprise." 

"Why are you here?" 

"Why? What else? I heard something interesting was happening at the Empire's research lab, so I came. I have quite a few sources of information too."

Casey Selmore is a famous detective. The network she built up living as a detective is not to be taken lightly.

And she is currently a famous novelist as well. Rather, if you only look at public fame, she was far more famous now than when she was active as a detective.

Being such a person, she knew many people here and there in various countries including the Empire.

Obtaining information like this was part of that.

"I heard the full story. You made something interesting with your former student. A multi-dimensional space transfer device, was it?" 

"We're calling it the Mirror World for convenience. And I didn't make it. I just provided inspiration." 

"You know how much influence providing inspiration for creation has for a mage. Anyway, I'm also interested in that aspect. If it goes well, I might be able to get ideas for novels I'll write in the future."

Apparently Casey had her own motives. She didn't even try to hide them.

"But I didn't hear detailed explanations about what happens when you use that thing." 

"Well, it hasn't been long since we started. You should see it as a process for accumulating data. If you think it's dangerous, you can back out even now." 

"Dangerous? You say interesting things. I'm also a mage. My craving for new worlds and knowledge is second to none. If I were afraid of such things, I wouldn't have come this far."

Casey spoke confidently. Rudger didn't say it thinking she would actually back down either. This confidence wasn't simple arrogance, but the result of rational judgment about the power she possessed.

"You two. We're ready."

Just then, a researcher approached and informed them that preparations for operating the Mirror World were complete. Rudger and Casey headed to where the Mirror World was, following the researcher's guidance.

"Oh."

Casey parted her lips and let out a small exclamation seeing the magnificence of the Mirror World. Beyond its simply splendid appearance, she seemed to have analyzed, roughly at least, the principles of how the Mirror World operated with her excellent magical intuition.

"Amazing. It's mixed with all sorts of complex magical structures that even I find difficult to understand." 

"Well, it's magic related to space." 

"Hmm. If I fiddle with and dismantle that a bit, could I use spatial transfer too? Like you." 

"Me?" 

"Yeah. You move using shadows as a medium. I, on the other hand, would move through puddles of water. Hmm. Now that I think about it, that's not bad. It's not even other elemental magic, but spatial transfer through water." 

"I don't know that far either. If you're going to do it, I'll cheer you on." 

"At times like this, you're supposed to encourage me by saying I can do it." 

"Was I the type to say such things?"

While the two exchanged casual conversation, Rene was diligently giving instructions to the researchers, trying this and that.

"We'll begin."

Soon, with someone's announcement, the entire laboratory was dyed with light. Light was energy. And these energies dug through the large circuit connected to the floor and permeated the Mirror World.

The core of the Mirror World glowed and floated up.

"Let's go." 

"Oh. So this is it."

Rudger and Casey stood before the core of the Mirror World. When the two stood inside, the circular rings that had been lying on the floor rose up.

Golden rings engraved with magic circuits rotated in different directions. The rotation of the rings accelerated until their form could no longer be seen. With an ominous humming sound, mana formed a thin membrane around them.

The shimmering membranes of mana created the illusion of being inside a small universe.

"Place your hand."

Casey, who had been spacing out for a moment, placed her hand on the core as Rudger instructed. As she placed her hand, Rudger covered it with his own hand.

"Ah." 

"......?" 

"N-no. Nothing."

Casey answered with a slightly flushed face. Rudger couldn't ask about it. More than that, the Mirror World had activated.

The moment intense light flashed and the view was dyed white Rudger felt a strong gravitational force pulling at him and lost consciousness.

Rudger opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was his journal that he had been organizing until last evening.

As he raised his bowed body, his back was stiff.

"Did I fall asleep at the desk while writing my journal without realizing it?"

He thought he was fine, but the accumulated fatigue seemed to have rushed in all at once. His body was tired, but his head was clear since he had slept well.

Looking out the window, the sun hadn't risen yet. But it would be soon.

Rudger got up from his seat and lightly stretched to loosen his body.

Then suddenly, she came to mind, so he carefully stepped on the stairs and went up to the second floor.

From the hallway, the second floor was messy with all kinds of books piled up.

"I told you to organize."

She said she would clean up but kept putting it off until this happened. With a sigh, he crossed the hallway full of books and arrived at his destination room.

Rudger quietly opened the door without knocking.

The scene inside was worse than the hallway. Papers scattered everywhere and piled-up books. In addition, all sorts of souvenirs of unknown use that seemed to have been bought from around the world.

It was too messy to be seen as a mage's research room, and had a strangely mystical atmosphere to be just an unorganized room.

Among them, Rudger approached her, sleeping soundly under the covers.

From the edge of the covers piled all over, clear blue hair like water stuck out.