The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 376 The Seedlings of "Science" Are Growing Strong

Regardless of what outrageous dreams the Zeta people, who were reincarnated as flesh-and-blood lizards, had, players from another world continued to critique their wildly imaginative creations.

Initially, they participated in the official event with the intention of having fun, hoping to see what new tricks the AI-powered "Catastrophe Online" could come up with.

When they picked up the NPCs' "homework" and took a look, they discovered, wow, there are quite a few talented people among these NPCs!

Could it be that the game has been secretly updated again?
One shot shattered the server: "Holy crap! Look at the assignment of Apprentice No. 1753! Using wind magic to create a pressure difference at the front end of the stone projectile, thereby reducing the energy loss during the stone projectile's flight! Has our Demon King taught aerodynamics to the magicians of the Academy?!"

A veteran player with terrible luck in the game exclaimed: "Wow! That's a pretty clever idea! It feels like the game secretly updated; how come the NPCs are suddenly so intelligent?"

Orthopedic expert: "And this apprentice number 2578, this guy actually came up with the idea of ​​using the principle of 'echolocation' to improve 'detection spells,' saying that it's even more useful than a mage's Eagle Eye spell in dimly lit environments like mazes!"

Hu Wan: "6666!"

Brick-Moving Knight: "This assignment is amazing! It uses the lever principle to improve the 'Rock Hammer,' and it's said that it can generate destructive power comparable to that of a steel-level weapon with bronze-level spells! Is that true? Has anyone tried it in the game?"

I charged ahead: "I'm going to try it out in the maze right now! Wait for my brothers!"

King of Arguments: "This 'Rock Hammer' idea doesn't seem as good as that 'Rock and Earth Arrow Monroe Effect Focused Armor-Piercing Bullet' on the forum. That thing can make a steel-level golem be directly pierced by a bronze-level spell. Is this what the magicians of Xuebang are like? It still feels a bit lacking."

Rational Guest: "Hey, you can't compare the imaginations of NPCs to those of us players. Speaking of which, I think Apprentice 0005's 'Summon Coal Ball' earth magic is pretty awesome. It's the first time I've seen an NPC outside the Great Tomb use magic like that. It's like using magic to pioneer advanced productivity."

The thread kept getting longer and longer.

Seeing the increasingly outrageous homework assignments, the players on the forum were amazed and delighted, as if they had discovered a treasure.

Due to the game's incredibly high spellcasting skill ceiling, most players are not good at spellcasting and often have to rely on Night Elf NPCs to put their ideas into practice.

However, Night Elves aren't always a good choice.

These pointed ears are often more stubborn than humans, and the key is that their imaginations are often incomprehensible.

These magicians from the Academy are different. They are not only proficient in magic, but also have surprisingly flexible thinking, and are even just as good at courting death as the players!
Unfortunately, the Academy, as a faction in the background of "Cataclysm Online," could not be the initial faction for players during the closed beta. In fact, let alone faction selection, even the opening date of the teleportation array in the Northern Wasteland was a mystery.

Passerby A: "Wow, the quality of this year's NPCs is amazing! Are the developers finally willing to spend money on AI?"

Gou Shi: "The logic is reversed. I feel like the game designers are using players to train AI. Actually, Yi Kou has probably tried many of these things... although his magic isn't great, he mostly just made mistakes through trial and error. (laughs)"

He downed a mouthful of the chemical pool: "Holy crap! Now that you mention it, it's true! I actually tried using the Earth Summoning spell to summon coal lumps! (horrified)"

Let me form the head: "Stop with the fluff, let's get to the new 'Xuebang' map!!"

I'll form the legs: "I strongly suggest that His Majesty the Demon King open a branch of the Labyrinth in the Northern Wasteland! These young men are so promising, how can we not corrupt them a bit? (laughs)"

I'll form the crotch area: "I want to be a mentor too! Give me ten elven magic apprentices! I want to train them myself! (lustful) (lustful)"

"..."

……

One day after the thesis controversy, at noon, in the apprentice canteen of the Great Sage's Tower, the apprentices sitting at the long table were all chattering and discussing the matter.

"Have you heard? This assignment is no easy task!"

"What's so complicated about it? You get credits just by handing it in, right? I even doubt that Prince Colin will ever actually look at it..."

"Who told you that? You'd be making a huge mistake if you actually believed it!"

"What's the meaning……"

"The apprentices who got 90 points on the last assignment were all recruited into his Magic Science Lab, the one listed as a Collin Tower thesis collaborator! Compared to this reward, those credits are nothing!"

"Holy crap—really?!"

"How could this be fake?! His lab assistant said it himself!"

"Damn it! I should have written it more carefully!"

The noisy discussions filled every corner of the cafeteria; some people were excitedly shouting, while others were sighing with regret.

Barrett continued to devour his bread like a whirlwind, not wasting a single second on his plate, eager to finish quickly so he could reserve a seat in the classroom.

Sitting at another table, Kurs stared at the empty bowl with a deathly pale face, looking utterly lost, as if he had lost his soul.

Ilana completely ignored him; science had lost its meaning for him, and even the entire snowfield had turned gray.

Finn sat hesitantly beside him, unsure whether he should comfort him or not, and even less about how to do so.

He really couldn't understand what was wrong with this senior. He was clearly very skilled in magic, but he became an idiot when it came to matters of the heart.

"Senior Kuers, are you still going to science class later?" Finn asked tentatively in a low voice, while secretly glancing at the wall clock, realizing he should hurry to the classroom to grab a seat.

Kuls looked up and sighed sadly.

"No, Finn, you go... that means nothing to me anymore."

Finn: “…”

Not far from the dejected Kurs, two senior bronze-level apprentices were also sighing listlessly, feeling uneasy about the assignments they had handed in a few days ago.

They regretted their assignment shortly after submitting it, which was about "using a fireball spell with a secondary explosion to create a suffocating effect to kill the target".

Especially now, the more they think about it, the more absurd that "outlandish" idea seems, and it has probably already been circulated as a joke among the teaching assistants in private.

Thinking about it this way, even the bread covered in icing tasted bitter.

"Thinking about it carefully, we were too careless with our homework," Bain said dejectedly, poking at his bread. "We even made a assumption about a 'monster that isn't good at jumping'... How could I have come up with such a stupid assumption?"

“Ha, indeed,” Hader sighed, looking down on it now, “It was pretty stupid. It’s my fault for not stopping you. After knowing you for so long, I should have known you were an idiot.”

"What do you mean?!" Bain suddenly looked up.

“Alright, Bain, don’t worry about such trivial matters,” Harder waved his hand and said in a resigned tone, “More than what I mean, I hope His Highness will never see our homework.”

"No, I think you need to explain what you meant just now!"

Just as the two were about to start arguing, a melodious voice suddenly rang out beside their table.

"Ahem! Excuse me, are you Mr. Bain and Mr. Harder?"

The two of them looked up at the same time, and when they saw the teaching assistant badge on the collar, they immediately stood up with a "whoosh".

"It's me...we are."

Bain stammered a reply, while Harder, standing next to him, was clearly much more emotionally intelligent and quickly and enthusiastically answered.

"Teaching Assistant! May I ask what brings you here?"

"Just call me Mr. Corgi, relax, this is good news!" Corgi smiled broadly, patted the two of them on the shoulder enthusiastically, and then solemnly handed them an envelope bearing the exclusive seal of the "Magic Science Laboratory." "This is a letter from Instructor Colin to you, the details are all inside! I wish you a pleasant life, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now!"

The corgi offered a few casual congratulatory words, then darted away like a gust of wind to find the next "lucky one."

The task His Highness Colin assigned him was no easy task.

There were more than eighty letters in total, and he had to deliver them before class started so as not to disrupt Prince Colin's "science class".

Watching the teaching assistant's departing figure, Bain and Harder stared dumbfounded at the letter on the table, unable to come to their senses for a moment.

"For...for us?" Had pointed to the envelope in disbelief.

"It seems...right?"

The two looked at each other and saw the same shock and disbelief in each other's eyes, as if they were in a dream.

Hader reached out first and tremblingly opened the envelope.

When he saw those few clear lines of text in the letter, inviting them to join the "Magic Science Laboratory," he felt as if his heart had stopped beating.

Then a violent commotion broke out!

"By Saint Sith..."

"We...we've been hired by His Highness Colin?! In the laboratory?!"

"Hard, give me a punch—damn, you're really going to hit me?!" Instead of being angry after being punched, Bane excitedly hugged his good brother.

Seeing the commotion, the surrounding apprentices all cast curious glances their way.

But when they found out what had happened, their eyes immediately turned into those of jealousy.

A familiar scene played out repeatedly in every corner of the cafeteria, pushing the students' enthusiasm for "science" to its peak.

Although many magic apprentices and even teaching assistants have different understandings of "science," at least in terms of results, this unfamiliar term has indeed been popularized.

And at an incredible speed...

……

Bain and Harder spent the entire day in a state of high anxiety.

On the one hand, they were pleasantly surprised that Prince Colin had recognized their unremarkable talents; on the other hand, they were worried that their bronze-level abilities would disappoint the prince's expectations.

They weren't powerful mages after all; they were just insignificant apprentices. Until this morning, no one had given them a second glance...

As dusk fell, the tower's bells rang, interrupting their chaotic thoughts.

After having dinner in the cafeteria, Bain and Harder did not follow the crowd to the crowded dormitory tower. Instead, they carried the precious invitation and, with a sense of pilgrimage, went to the legendary "Magical Science" laboratory.

Compared to the other laboratories in the Tower of the Great Sage, this place seems rather shabby in terms of both personnel and facilities.

However, at some point, this unremarkable laboratory became an academic mecca in the eyes of countless magic apprentices and even teaching assistants.

To be honest, it's more lively here than they imagined.

The spacious hall was filled with apprentices as young as them.

Some were recording data in front of sophisticated brass instruments, while others were discussing intensely around a huge blueprint. Everyone was in a hurry, but their faces radiated a light called "hope" that was rarely seen elsewhere in the academic community.

That's actually a bit of an exaggeration.

After all, those newbies who have just entered the school are full of hope, but most of them have their rough edges smoothed out after the preparatory period.

Once you become a mage, you're basically a qualified apprentice.

Just as the two were looking around, a young teaching assistant on duty noticed them and immediately walked over.

Seeing the teaching assistant walking towards them, the two were afraid of being misunderstood as having gone to the wrong place, so they hurriedly took out the invitation letter they had just received that morning.

"Sir, it was His Highness Colin who summoned us."

"This is our letter of recommendation!"

“Bane and Harder, is that right? Welcome.” The teaching assistant said with a gentle yet professional smile, “I’ve already heard about you from Mr. Corgi.”

"Yes...yes!" Bain answered nervously, and Had nodded in agreement. Although they weren't blood brothers, they sometimes acted as if they were twins.

The teaching assistant couldn't help but smile and repeat Prince Colin's original words to them.

"The esteemed Instructor Colin is very interested in your idea of ​​'using flames to exhaust the air, thereby causing a suffocation effect to kill the target.' He considers it a brilliant concept. As you know, the Empire's main enemy is Hell, and the demons of Hell are located underground... Although it is uncertain whether this weapon will be effective against demons, it will certainly be effective against goblins."

This simple word of agreement made the two young people blush with excitement and become so nervous that they became incoherent.

"We will try our best!"

"That's right! We will never let our mentor down!"

Seeing the nervous young men, the teaching assistant smiled and gave them an encouraging look.
"I'm so glad to see you all so energetic, and of course, I'm sure our respected mentor, Colin, would be even happier!"

After a pause, he continued, uttering the words that made the two young men so happy that their minds went blank.

"Furthermore, our respected mentor Colin not only approved of your idea, but also personally gave it a fitting name: 'Thermobaric Explosive Bomb'."

"In addition, he also approved a research grant for your independent research project, five Os Empire gold coins per month. Of course, this is not the total funding, but rather a 'no application required' amount."

"As long as it doesn't exceed this amount, you can decide how to use the funds without having to make an additional declaration. If it's not enough, just submit an application to the team leader according to the amount... As long as it's for a reasonable purpose, no one will make things difficult for you. His Highness's laboratory currently has ample funds."

Five gold coins are quite a lot.

A regular magic scroll only costs 10 silver coins, and most common magic materials can be bought from adventurers as a bounty using silver coins.

Hearing that their "wild thoughts" not only received recognition and personal naming from their idol mentors, but also received independent project funding, the two were so excited that they couldn't speak!
In Xuebang, this is an honor that two unknown bronze-level apprentices could never even dream of!

Bain and Harder were deeply moved. They looked at each other and saw a burning flame in each other's eyes.

They all knew what that burning flame was—it meant that, no matter what, they must not let Prince Colin down!
"Sir! Please convey to His Highness that we will use this money wisely and will not waste a single copper coin!" Hader took a deep breath and said solemnly to the teaching assistant.

Bain nodded quickly and added a comment from behind.

“That’s right! We can swear an oath to Saint Sith!”

Looking at the two energetic young men, the teaching assistant said with a smile.

“Okay, I will pass on the message. But I think that gentleman probably doesn’t care about the money; he’d probably prefer to see your results.”

After a pause, he added.

"In addition, he prefers you to call him mentor or teacher rather than Your Highness."

After leaving those last words, the teaching assistant led them to the empty oak table and then hurried to the door.

There were quite a few new apprentices reporting for duty today; Bain and Harder weren't the first, nor would they be the last. They noticed several young, unfamiliar faces peeking in at the door, one or two of whom seemed to be prospective students who had just enrolled.

It seems that His Highness truly doesn't care about their rank; as long as they have talent that he approves of, he will gladly invite them into his laboratory.

After seeing the teaching assistant off, the two apprentices immediately threw themselves into the 'Thermobaric Explosion Bomb' project with boundless enthusiasm.

Actually, they were discussing it last night, and they kept talking until the dormitory lights went out and the other roommates were asleep.

“Hard, I have a new idea, and I’d like to hear your opinion,” Bain said, picking up a blank parchment and writing the name of their project on it with a quill. “Before designing the spell, we need to clarify one thing first… how much magic would it take to burn the air in a standard-sized room? And how long would the suffocation effect last!”

“Indeed,” Hader said, calming down and getting into thought. “And I think the term ‘standard-sized room’ is too general. We should consider more… quantitatively the room size and magic consumption ratio, and further extend this ratio to mazes, castles, and open areas, and take into account factors such as weather and wind speed.”

These words almost instantly jolted Bain awake; he suddenly remembered something his mentor, Colin, had mentioned in class earlier—

Not everything important can be calculated, but measurable data follows patterns on a certain scale.

Although he couldn't fully understand the meaning of the sentence in class at the time, he felt enlightened at this moment!

This feeling was just like when he had glimpsed the flickering light of the magical flames on the training field yesterday; it opened a window in his mind!

He expanded upon His Highness Colin's point of view—

"There must be a formula involved, just like the function formula that His Highness Colin taught us!"

Bain looked intently at Harder, into those equally bright eyes, and continued in an unwavering tone.

"We just need to conduct a lot of experiments and record the data each time, and we will definitely be able to find this formula!"

"Then, it's about how to fill it with magic!"

……

Just as Bain and Harder were getting ready for their new project, the lab veterans who had joined Colin's team two months earlier were also curiously observing their new colleagues.

“Ram, look over there,” Jamie said, gesturing towards the door as he carefully assembled the parts in his hands. “A few more new faces… I feel like we’re almost not even familiar with half the people in the lab anymore.”

Ram looked up from the pile of intricate brass parts, following his gaze, a satisfied smile on her rosy face.

"Yes, our lab is getting more and more lively."

Her words were filled with joy for this thriving family, and it was a joy that came from the bottom of her heart.

While some apprentices might think that new apprentices would take away their opportunities, Ram doesn't think so.

First of all, His Highness Colin did not specify what they had to study, or assign tasks to his apprentices like other professors do. Instead, he encouraged them to study what they were interested in or good at, so there was no question of them being assigned tasks.

The more people there are, the more ideas there will be. As the "Magic Science" laboratory grows, it will actually give them more opportunities than before.

Rather than competing with each other, fighting for food in the same trough, or vying for favor in front of their mentors, Colin clearly prefers them to cooperate with each other, and will even take the initiative to bring them together.

Secondly, the Magic Science Laboratory has ample funding. Instructor Colin has repeatedly assured them that they need not worry about money. Even if Xuebang were unwilling to pay for it one day, he would use his own money to satisfy everyone's thirst for knowledge and exploration.

Ram had no doubt that His Highness was a truly noble person, far superior to those professors and sages who treated their apprentices like slaves.

He should be the true sage!
Incidentally, ever since Colinta's paper was published, Colin's reputation has indeed lived up to her expectations, rising to the level he deserved.

As a result, the status of the "Magic Science Laboratory" in the Great Sage's Tower has risen, and many magicians have even come from the distant Mage Tower to visit it.

Over the past month, Colin has recruited many promising apprentices and teaching assistants.

In order to manage this growing team, the man recently announced a new organizational structure for the laboratory.

He divided the entire laboratory into two major departments: the "Basic Department," which focuses on theoretical research, and the "Application Department," which focuses on applied technology development.

Under the two major departments, eight core research groups are further subdivided according to the four basic categories of "mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology".

All apprentices were assigned to groups of their own specialties, where they were responsible for specific project management and independent budget approval.

Although Ram didn't understand the special features of this management model, according to Mr. Corgi, it seemed to be a novel approach at Xuebang.

Few professors would adopt this management model, since most laboratories specialize in a single research project, rather than being "spread out" like the Magic Science Laboratory.

Corgi, the teaching assistant, once hinted that this didn't seem like something a lab should be doing, but rather like setting up a new school of thought.

However, Ram didn't think that much about it.

Rather than viewing the prince through worldly eyes, she preferred to see him as a "true sage."

Looking at the apprentices who were in a state of disorder yet organized in the distance, Jamie couldn't help but sigh, "Now I finally understand why the mentor designed that new management model. It turns out he had planned to recruit so many people all along."

He paused for a moment, then couldn't help but offer another compliment.

"But then again, thanks to the model he designed, there was no chaos among so many of us, and everyone had their own things to do."

He truly believed that.

After all, Prince Colin wasn't here, so there was no benefit for him to praise the prince.

Looking at Jamie's face, which was full of admiration, Ram smiled and said softly.

"Don't you think this is actually quite similar to that prince's style? Perhaps... this is also the 'science' he advocates."

Jamie nodded in deep agreement.

“I totally agree with you, Ram.”

Even so, a sense of urgency quietly arose in his heart.

It wasn't out of jealousy towards colleagues, or arrogance to trample others underfoot.

Instead, he suddenly realized that being selected by his mentor to enter this laboratory was just the beginning. It did not mean that he had reached the pinnacle of his life and could live each day without worry.

The future "Magic Science" laboratory will grow even larger, and just as Assistant Corgi envisioned, one day they will become a brand new school of thought on this snowfield.

If that day ever comes, there will surely be far more talented young people following in their footsteps and joining them.

Even if it's just to avoid being left behind by future students, he has to show some real talent.

He needs to work even harder than before!
Just as Jamie was full of ambition and ready to throw himself into his new work, Ilana suddenly walked over from the other end of the laboratory, carrying a thick notebook.

She seemed to have encountered some problem; her delicate eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and she was still immersed in her previous thoughts and unable to break free.

She glanced around but didn't find the person she was looking for. However, she happened to notice Jamie and Ram, so she asked them a question.

"Jamie, Ram, have you seen Professor Colin? I happen to have a question about math that I'd like to ask him."

Jamie shook his head blankly.

"I...didn't see it."

Ram tilted his head, looked around, and his expression became somewhat puzzled.

"I don't know, my mentor was just here... Oh right, Mr. Corgi came by earlier, could my mentor have gone to see Professor Hector?"

Everyone in this lab knows that Mr. Corgi is Professor Hector's teaching assistant.

Although in these three months, that gentleman may have served His Highness Colin for longer than he had served Professor Hector.

"What's wrong, Ilana?" Jamie immediately perked up when he heard that Ilana had a problem, and said enthusiastically, "Tell us, we'll help you think of something."

Ram nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, yes, the wisdom of the three of us is definitely greater than that of one person!"

Not only the two enthusiastic individuals, but also the apprentices at the nearby table curiously perked up their ears.

It's rare to find a math problem that can stump Ilana, after all, she's supposedly an apprentice who has received the "true teachings" of her mentor.

Seeing the eager looks in her companions' eyes, Ilana shared her confusion somewhat shyly. Pointing to a complex equation in her notebook, she said softly:
"I'm thinking, the 'calculus' my tutor taught us studies the extrema of a function at a certain point. But if... if I want to find the extrema of a 'function of a function,' is there a more convenient way?"

The air became very quiet.

Those ears that had perked up from eavesdropping quietly retracted.

Jamie and Ram's enthusiastic smiles gradually froze, eventually turning into a blank stare, just like the snowfield outside the tower.

A function of...?

What it is?
The two stared at each other, feeling that they might not be learning the same "calculus" as Ilana, but something from another dimension.

However, in fact, this was not originally "calculus," but rather another branch of mathematics that His Highness Colin had not yet explained to them.

In the end, Jamie sighed dejectedly, waved his hand, and completely gave up on his plan to show off in front of the goddess.

"...You should ask His Highness Colin."

Ram asked in a low voice.

"What's the use of studying functions of functions...?"

Ilana nodded gently.

"A little... though that might just be my feeling."

She paused, then continued in a firm tone.

"The problem that Mr. James Wallie cannot solve may be found in functions."

……

While Ilana was racking her brains over the puzzle of functions, Luo Yan, far away in Professor Hector's office, was also struggling with an unexpected problem.

The fireplace flames roared, illuminating a delicate and beautiful face, with long golden hair flowing over her fair neck like a noble and elegant tulip.

However, Luo Yan had no time to appreciate her beauty; instead, he looked at the dignified and elegant young woman sitting on the sofa with a headache.

At this moment, she was gently blowing on the steaming hot air in the cup with her small lips, and then carefully taking a small sip. Her movements were dignified and elegant, yet still retained the cuteness that a girl her age should have.

Perhaps she had caught a chill on the way here, or perhaps the gaze from the other side was too "intense," but her cheeks were slightly flushed. After rinsing her throat, she did not put down her teacup, but instead hid her long, drooping eyelashes behind the rising steam.

Ophelia Castellón, the most beloved youngest daughter of the Duke of Castellón in the Empire.

Luo Yan certainly recognized her, but to be honest, he didn't have a very deep impression of her either. They only had a brief encounter at the ball, danced together, and he politely accepted the seahorse amulet she gave him when they parted.

Luo Yan remembered clearly that back in the outskirts of the Holy City, he had already politely rejected her advances in front of her father.

However, he never expected that this duchess would be so resourceful, chasing him all the way from the bustling holy city to this harsh northern wilderness.

What surprised him even more was that it was one thing for Miss Castellion to go mad, but did Duke Castellion also go mad along with her?

If you want to learn magic, why not just hire a tutor? What powerful imperial noble would send their offspring to this godforsaken place?

On the tea table right in front of Luo Yan lay a letter of recommendation sealed with wax.

The sealing wax stamp clearly couldn't have been stolen.

Professor Hector, sitting behind his desk, was watching the scene with a mischievous grin, seemingly ready to see a good show.

This old man has clearly misunderstood something.

But since this guy didn't ask, and it would seem abrupt and presumptuous for Luo Yan to offer an explanation without asking, Luo Yan could only keep his mouth shut.

However, at that moment, the dignified young woman suddenly put down her teacup and looked up at him.

"Greetings, Your Highness Colin," her voice was clear and melodious, "we meet again."

(End of this chapter)