The Demon King is unfathomable

Is Chapter 366 going to be updated with a new map again?

Early in the morning, at the faculty and staff dormitory tower, the dedicated teaching assistants had collected all the assignments and brought them over with two apprentices pushing a cart.

Actually, he didn't have to deliver it in person. The Tower of Great Sages has teaching assistants like Corgi who are in charge of administrative work and are best at running errands and delivering messages.

However, it is unclear who spread the news, but it is said that His Highness Colin is an incredibly generous gentleman, and the tips he gives are worthless magic crystals. Therefore, serving him has become a highly sought-after job among the teaching assistants.

Sarah took the assignments from the teaching assistant and carried them into the study, placing them next to her desk.

Luo Yan, who had gotten up early, sat at his desk and stretched. Looking at the pile of homework that stood to the side like a small mountain, he roughly counted over a thousand sheets.

Some people, to show their seriousness, wrote on parchment meant for making scrolls. Others, though using wood pulp paper, wrote thousands of words, binding them together on multiple sheets.

All the assignments were labeled with numbers and arranged in order.

Tafel chuckled beside her, her gloating expression seeming to say, "You think you can pull this off? See how you get out of this!"

That smirking expression was really infuriating, but Luo Yan naturally wouldn't stoop to the level of a brat.

Besides, he didn't intend to grade these assignments himself. If she thought that such a small matter could stump the respected Demon King, then she was underestimating the power of the masses.

"Youyou, scan and upload, start an event thread," Luo Yan leaned back in his chair and instructed the white mist floating beside him, taking a sip of coffee. "Just say it's to warm up for the new map... ten ghost coins for each paper you edit, limited spots available, first come first served."

"Okay~"

Youyou responded cheerfully, and a cloud of white mist enveloped all the thousands of assignments. It was then packaged and uploaded to the official forum of *Natural Disaster Online*, accompanied by a striking title—

[Quiz Activity: "The Demon King Who's a Tutor on Xuebang": How many points should I give these assignments?]

The reward of ten ghost coins isn't high, but it's undoubtedly a rare treat for players who keep a close eye on the game's developments.

In particular, Xuebang, which only existed in the background, actually appeared in this event!

"Holy crap! Another new plot twist? Wait, how come our Demon King is a professor at the Academy?!"

"Why is the sky green? I know the answer to that! Because I moved the grassland to the sky! (doge)"

Why don't you just say it was moved to your dog's head? (funny)

"Get out of here!"

"The person upstairs is an idiot. This is a serious discussion thread! I think the guy who wrote a 6,000-word paper arguing that steel is soft is a genius and deserves full marks!"

"Is this a setup for the new map? Tell me it is!"

"Stop arguing! I scored over 90 points on all my attempts! Tell me, when will the Xuebang map be available? I can't wait to become a magician!"

Amidst the lively discussions among the players, there weren't enough submissions to go around, and the scoring and feedback were completed almost instantly.

Luo Yan looked at the statistical results displayed in his mind and nodded in satisfaction.

In this barren land of ideas, a few unique "flowers" did eventually bloom. The probability was not high, about one percent, but it was enough.

By the way, it doesn't matter how many points the players give, he can guess with his bare hands that they definitely won't give the scores in a serious manner, so he won't take it into consideration at all.

He mainly looks at the feedback, which is equivalent to the players summarizing for him, and then Youyou compiles it.

This would greatly save him time in reviewing long papers.

It's possible that some people write nonsense, but out of a hundred people, there will always be one or two who read it carefully.

This is enough.

Luo Yan waved his magic wand, signaling the dozen or so quills floating beside him to start working, and then pulled out a few special assignments.

Among these special assignments, he was particularly pleased with the answers written by a student named Ilana.

However, her answer wasn't sharp enough.

She should just write—the sky is the sky, water is water, steel is steel; before discussing "why," we must first clarify the concept of "whether it is."

Many people don't actually have this concept, which is what's known as the "leek fate"—they start making logical deductions without even understanding what logic is.

Of course, Luo Yan was also aware that most of these assignments were written by deliberately trying to guess the question setter's thought process.

Xuebang has no shortage of smart people. Only those who are stupid but unaware of their own stupidity will think that one in a million is truly foolish, rather than pretending to be ignorant when they know the truth.

They were simply using the safest and most pragmatic method to obtain that "reward" worth one academic credit.

This is understandable, but it's not what he wanted.

“My lab happens to be short of an apprentice, so she can come and assist me.” Luo Yan smiled and placed the relatively satisfactory answer sheet aside.

Just as Luo Yan was selecting the core members of the future "Scientific School," Taff, who was lying by the fireplace, stared wide-eyed at the quills writing furiously.

"You're not even going to look?!"

She couldn't see Youyou, nor did she know about the existence of "Natural Disaster Online," and of course, she didn't know that the papers had already been corrected.

Seeing her ignorant attitude, Luo Yan chuckled and teased her.

"Someone has already read it for me without you noticing."

Taff replied without hesitation.

"I don't believe it! You can't stop time, can you?"

Luo Yan smiled faintly.

"Maybe?"

Taff: "???"

Luo Yan noticed that her tail was tucked between her legs.

……

Luo Yan had no classes all day and spent the rest of the morning meditating.

He didn't know if it was because he was close to the Void Realm, but he could clearly feel that the speed of cultivation near the mage tower of the Academy was much faster than in other places in the Northern Territory.

Of course, it could also be because of Taffeta.

As its body gradually develops, the magic contained in the dragon eggs it lays now is much purer than before.

With the two buffs stacked together, Luo Yan felt that his meditation efficiency had skyrocketed, and his experience bar was approaching the edge of leveling up.

Just as he was wondering whether he should continue meditating in the afternoon, the young man who had brought him to the dormitory earlier came to his door again.

"Your Highness! The Council has arranged a laboratory for you! It's on the 40th floor of the Great Sage's Tower!" Standing in the entrance hall outside the elevator, Corgi's face was beaming with excitement as he looked at Prince Colin and continued, "When would be a convenient time for you? I can take you there to have a look!"

"There's no time like the present, let's do it today." Luo Yan smiled and gestured for him to lead the way.

Led by the enthusiastic guidance of Corgi, the two crossed the spacious Scholars' Square, boarded the floating stone-driven elevator, and soon arrived at a huge, newly renovated laboratory.

"...This used to belong to a master craftsman who was skilled in making magical puppets. Later, that gentleman moved away, and this laboratory became empty. We cleaned it for you, but there are still some puppet parts left that we haven't had time to deal with. Professor Hector said you might be interested, so he asked me to keep them for you. If you don't need them, you can let me know, and I can help you get rid of them!"

"Please thank Professor Hector for his kindness. I really like this gift. There's no need to get rid of it. I can think about it when I have some free time," Luo Yan said with a smile, then glanced around the exceptionally spacious laboratory.

The laboratory's decor had an antique feel, exuding a strong academic atmosphere. Rows of heavy oak workbenches stretched across the spacious area, neatly arranged with precision brass instruments, gleaming glassware, and doll parts stored in wooden crates.

The towering bookshelves reached the ceiling, and although most of them were empty, their sheer size was enough to accommodate hundreds of professional researchers conducting routine magical research simultaneously.

"As long as you like it!"

Corgi smiled shyly and led Luo Yan on a tour of the laboratory. At the end, a hint of apology appeared in his eyes, and he spoke softly.

“However, Your Highness… there is something I must convey to you on behalf of Professor Hector. The application process for research permissions regarding the ‘Virtual Realm’ is rather cumbersome, and the council will need some more time…”

Then he changed the subject and quickly added a sentence.

"But don't worry, Professor Arist has made progress! In particular, Professor Arist recently petitioned the council, believing that this is an opportunity to showcase the Academy's latest research results to the Empire. It might attract the attention of the Holy City and secure more resources for the Academy."

Luo Yan raised his eyebrows slightly and said with interest.

"Who is Professor Alistair?"

It was a completely unfamiliar name to him.

“Arist Thorne! He’s also a wonderful gentleman!” Corgi exclaimed excitedly, his cheeks flushed. “He has an excellent reputation in the Tower of Great Sages and is a leading figure in the exploration of the Void Realm and the research of Source Force! If you would like to learn about his theories, I recommend the book ‘The Isomorphism Conjecture of the Power of the Stars and the Conduction of Magic,’ which contains many of his academic achievements!”

Luo Yan smiled and nodded.

"I will."

It seems that Professor Alistair is quite popular in the Great Sage's Tower.

As for why he would take the initiative to be so attentive, Luo Yan could roughly guess three possibilities, the most likely of which was that he was certain that Professor Hector would not be able to keep the leftover Void Realm.

This is obvious.

As for whether Professor Alistair had other motives, he was neither too lazy to speculate nor particularly concerned.

As an imperial prince with real power, all he needed to do was gently shake the bell in his hand when he was hungry.

It's just strange.

Professor Hector and Professor Alistair, these shrewd individuals who have been through so much, why do they all like to pick up what others have left over?
"Also, Your Highness, I have a suggestion."

Corgi hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly.

"You can actually apply for any research project first and get the 100,000 gold coins research funding allocated to you by the council. This money will be directly allocated to you for your use. You can adjust the use of the funds later when you have a project you really want to research. This is completely compliant with the procedures, and other professors do the same."

Although he thought His Highness probably didn't care about the money, considering the previous tip, he felt it would be better to remind His Highness.

Luo Yan smiled upon hearing this and readily agreed.

"Then I'll trouble you to apply for it for me." He certainly didn't lack the money, but why not take advantage of funding that was offered to him?

Moreover, this can be considered Xuebang's compensation for the previous "minor unpleasantness".

"It's my pleasure to serve you!" Corgi nodded earnestly and immediately took out his notebook and quill pen. "May I ask what your research topic is?"

Luo Yan pondered for a moment, then smiled and uttered a word he had made up on the spot.

"—Magical Science"

Corgi paused for a moment, his hand holding the pen still.

He understood the word "magic," but what was "science"?
Is it some lost ancient school of magic?

A look of bewilderment crossed his face, but his professional demeanor prevented him from asking too many questions. He simply nodded hastily and memorized this novel concept.

Whether or not it is approved is a matter for the council; he, as a teaching assistant, doesn't need to worry about so much.

"I understand, Your Highness! I will take care of it for you immediately!"

"Well, hard work."

Luo Yan smiled and took out a magic crystal as a tip for providing information and showing him around, placing it in the hands of the overjoyed Corgi.

It's truly remarkable that a mere magic crystal could excite him so much; these little magicians who serve as lackeys for the sages must be so proud.

……

A few days later, Prince Colin's second "science lesson" arrived as scheduled.

There were fewer people in the large lecture hall than last time. Although it was still packed, at least the exaggerated scene of the corridors being crowded was no longer there.

Clearly, some students who were simply there for the fun or who weren't interested in "Prince Colin's magic trick" had already left.

Those who remain are either truly curious and eager to learn students, or they are the "paper kings" who are determined to obtain credits or Prince Colin himself.

Before the class started, the teaching assistant returned the graded assignments to everyone, with their scores written on the scrolls.

Looking at the homework in his hand, Skyein was slightly taken aback.

Sixty points.

Although he had anticipated that Prince Colin's assignment would not be so simple, he still did not expect that Professor Arist's answer would only barely pass.

It seems even the esteemed "President" can make mistakes...

You can only rely on yourself.

Skye smiled and shook his head, setting the failed test paper aside.

He decided to listen attentively in the following lessons and carefully consider what His Highness the Prince meant by "science".

On the other side, Barrett looked at the test paper in his hand with a worried expression and sighed at the score of only 60.

He always seems to miss out on a hot meal.

Fortunately, His Highness Colin still granted him the credits, perhaps because of his name.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the classroom.

When Ilana received her test paper, she was completely stunned.

At the beginning of the page, in elegant handwriting, was written a bright red number – “99”. Next to the score was a clear mark indicating that one credit had been recorded.

She subconsciously looked around and found that everyone who had handed in their assignments was beaming with joy; without exception, they had all earned that precious credit.

When she glanced at Finn's answer sheet, she found that his score was "80", while Coulson on the other side only had a passing score of "60".

Ilana's expression was somewhat incredulous. This Kurs was, after all, a senior who had spent more than three years in the Great Sage's Tower and had already obtained the title of mage.

How could it only be 60 points?!
Clearly, it wasn't just Ilana who found it strange; Kurs himself looked frustrated, muttering that the teaching assistant might have made a mistake when grading the papers.

It's obvious that this exam paper couldn't have been graded by the tutor himself, otherwise he would never have ignored his flawless answers.

However, considering that he had ultimately earned the credits, he simply pursed his lips and consoled himself with a thought.

"Sixty points is not bad... Anyway, there's no extra reward for a high score."

This is true.

Anyone who submits their assignment will receive at least a 60, meaning everyone gets this almost free credit.

As the bell rang, the class began, and the apprentices stopped talking, their eyes fixed on the podium.

Luo Yan walked up to the podium with a smile, said nothing, but wrote two intriguing lines on the blackboard behind him—

Science is not about conclusions.

Science is about seeking truth from facts.

He then stopped explaining and instead led the apprentices sitting in the classroom from the world of optics into a completely new world of "acoustics."

"We often think of sound as a form of matter, like the table in front of me. But in fact, it is a form of energy—"

"Or rather, a wave that relies on a medium for transmission."

These were all basic physics theories. Even without the help of players to prepare lessons, Luo Yan could easily explain them to the magic apprentices sitting in the classroom through one small experiment after another that combined magic with props. He explained the relationship between sound and medium, the concept of mechanical waves, and so on.

Ilana listened with rapt attention.

She never imagined that those phenomena she took for granted actually held such profound mysteries!
As His Highness Colin said, figuring these things out doesn't require profound magic or superhuman power; all you need is a keen eye for observation!

They all actually possessed these eyes, but the dazzling holy light made them close them, as they were preoccupied with frantically searching for the treasure buried in the snowfield.

She felt as if a window had been opened in front of her, and the scenery outside was more dazzling and colorful than any magical light.

Unfortunately, happy times are always short-lived.

She felt that time flew by, and His Highness Colin was finished in no time, leaving amidst a round of applause that left her wanting more.

With a hint of lingering regret on her face, Ilana buried her head in packing her things, preparing to leave the classroom.

However, just as she was leaving the classroom with the crowd, Prince Colin's teaching assistant suddenly squeezed through the crowd and jogged towards her.

"Miss Ilana! Please wait a moment!"

The teaching assistant spoke with an unusually high level of respect, a stark contrast to how he treated other students.

Ilana looked at him hesitantly and asked.

"What's matter?"

"It's like this, Mr. Colin was very impressed with your work. He recently received approval from the council to have an independent laboratory and is short-staffed, so he would like to formally invite you to be the first assistant in his laboratory."

Seemingly worried that the prospective student might be incompetent, the teaching assistant quickly added another sentence.

"I suggest you think this over carefully. The line of apprentices who want to become that gentleman's assistant stretches all the way to the Great Sage's Tower. And no matter which school of mage tower you were previously recruited by, that gentleman can help you change your mind and allow you to stay at the Great Sage's Tower for three years. Of course, I'm not saying that other mage towers are bad, but the conditions are definitely not as good as here."

Other mage towers are just individual towers, but the Great Sage's Tower is a cluster of towers, so it goes without saying which one is stronger or weaker.

For professors, it doesn't matter which school of thought they choose, since they have access to top-tier resources. But for ordinary apprentices, naturally, the higher the tower, the better.

These words struck Ilana like a bolt of lightning, leaving her completely stunned, her mind blank, unable to believe her ears.

Becoming a mentor's assistant means that she will not only receive personal guidance from her mentor, but also have access to rare resources that are only available in the laboratory!
Let alone prospective students, even teaching assistants who have already secured a position dream of such an opportunity!

"Oh my god! Ilana!" Finn, who was standing nearby, immediately exclaimed, his face filled with genuine envy and joy for his friend. His face turned bright red with excitement. "You're amazing!"

“I…” Ilana was a little embarrassed, and bathed in countless envious eyes, she was speechless for a moment.

of course.

Not all those who looked at her were envious; some were jealous, or even filled with hatred and vigilance.

For example, Kurs, who was standing to the side.

When he heard the news, his heart sank, as if the sky had fallen.

No matter how he thought about it, he, as a mage, was the better choice. He couldn't understand why Prince Colin would take a liking to Ilana.

In his view, after eliminating all the impossibilities, the only remaining explanation is...

He glanced subconsciously at Ilana's delicate and beautiful face, then thought of Prince Colin's young and handsome face, and a malicious bitterness welled up in his heart.

It seems that this young prince wasn't really interested in her academic abilities; he probably had his eye on something else.

It is human nature to judge others by one's own standards.

Despite his jealousy, he knew he couldn't compete with that prince.

Fortunately, His Highness cannot stay in the Academy forever, and this foolish woman will one day realize that she is just His Highness's toy, and every toy will eventually be played with until it gets tired of.

"Congratulations, Ilana..." Looking at Ilana, who was so excited that she forgot herself, and Finn, who was genuinely happy for her, Kurs also forced a fake smile on his face, while inwardly comforting himself with a sour feeling.

From another perspective, this is actually a good thing.

When his goddess is heartbroken, he can offer her a warm shoulder to lean on, and winning her over will be a piece of cake.

But even so—

My stomach still hurts so much!

(End of this chapter)