Chapter 88: A Sword Between His Teeth (5)

Louis continued peppering questions with his mouth full of sword.

“Is this new invention compatible with existing magic formulas already widely used?”

“Don’t you think it’s too inefficient? I’m not sure how practical your innovation is considering the amount of resources invested.”

“Excuse me? How does this differ from what was presented earlier by another tower?”

The questions poured out relentlessly from Louis. Despite being asked by a child, they pinpointed the issues each tower wished to keep hidden like a pro. The chairmen could only groan at their predicament.

Meanwhile, the general audience couldn’t help but wonder:

How could the towers present research with flaws even a child can spot?

It was a valid question. While ordinary people lacked the knowledge and insight to identify these issues, those well-versed in holy magic would have noticed them immediately. The problem lay in the fact that no one had dared point them out until now.

Louis had his suspicions as to why.

Tsk, they’ve been coasting for too long.

The 127th Autumn Academic Conference of the Fall Continent had initially begun with the intention of fostering collaboration among the towers, advancing the field of holy magic, and stimulating friendly competition between them.

Over time, however, its original purpose had been lost, and it had devolved into merely a platform for flaunting knowledge. With each tower preoccupied with maintaining their reputation, there was no need to provoke competition among themselves.

No wonder they’ve stagnated.

Louis initially thought the academic conference of towers would be grand and impressive. After all, Dexter himself had risked his life on this very event. However, upon closer inspection, the Fall Continent’s Tower Academic Conference turned out to be just a superficial display.

I’m not impressed.

Feeling disgruntled, Louis continued pointing out flaws in the presented research and relentlessly questioning the presenters. Consequently, everyone couldn’t help but pay close attention to him during their presentations.

Since Louis couldn’t be ignored, one by one, presenters from other towers faced his relentless grilling after presenting their research following Tower of Wishes’s demonstration.

Unable to bear it any longer, Blake quietly warned him, ”…That’s enough.”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you asking because you genuinely don’t know?”

“Yes, I’m asking because I genuinely don’t understand.”

“These individuals have dedicated years of effort for this academic conference. Show them some respect.”

“How am I being disrespectful? Is it because I’m questioning their work?”

”…”

“You’re serious? That’s truly disappointing.”

”…Disappointing?”

“Do you think the purpose of the academic conference is just to bring any random research and praise each other with ‘Wow, great job!’?”

Blake’s mouth snapped shut as Louis spoke with palpable disappointment.

“As Master Blake said, the academic conference is where we present our research results from years of hard work. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial if we could identify issues and learn from each other’s presentations? Don’t you agree?”

“…” Blake had no response—rather, he couldn’t find any words because everything Louis said was correct.

Their conversation was also audible to the nearby chairmen. A voice chimed in from one side.

“Yes, the chairman of the Wish Tower is right.”

Everyone turned toward the source of the comment: Ron, smiling brightly at Louis.

He smiled brightly at Louis. “As the chairman from Tower of Wishes said, this isn’t just about praising each other’s work. It’s about sharing ideas to help one another grow. That was always the original purpose of the academic conference hosted by the Star Tower.”

With Ron, the most powerful mage on the continent, voicing his support, Blake could only frown and hold his tongue.

The academic conference continued with Louis relentlessly questioning presenters. Finally, the moment he had been waiting for arrived.

“The next presentation is from the Tower of Exploding Brains.”

Louis’s eyes sparkled as soon as he heard the announcement.

A mage representing the Tower of Exploding Brains stepped onto the stage in the center of the room, readying their materials before beginning their presentation. However, just as they were about to open their mouth…

“Hold it.” A booming voice echoed as someone dropped down in the middle of the hall, surprising the presenter.

“M-Master Blake?” stammered the flustered mage.

The uninvited guest was none other than Blake himself, who casually waved his hand.

“Go ahead and take your seat.”

“What?”

“I’m taking over this presentation, so you may leave now.”

This unexpected order left both the presenter and the emcee at a loss.

Not again!

Ahh… Damn.

The organizers had no time to rest due to one surprise after another during the academic conference.

Meanwhile, the representative from the Tower of Exploding Brains bowed respectfully toward Blake.

“As you wish.”

Although Blake wasn’t scheduled to present, he had overseen this research from start to finish. He would undoubtedly do a better job than anyone else.

The previous presenter stepped aside as Blake scanned the audience and began speaking politely.

“I’d like to take over the presentation instead. Please bear with me.”

Despite his courteous tone directed at the crowd, Blake’s gaze was fixed solely on Louis. It was clear that the change in speakers was made with Louis in mind.

Louis grumbled at Blake’s blatant attention. “Wow…he’ll stoop pretty low just to beat a kid, won’t he?”

Of course, Louis himself didn’t exactly come across as an ordinary child.

Are all beings associated with brain attributes this simple-minded?

Louis began to suspect something was going on behind the scenes. After all, he had encountered two such beings already, despite their young age. Although he could dismiss the twins as being immature, he never expected the heads of prestigious towers to act so foolishly.

The best-case scenario is breaking even, and worst case, it’s downright humiliating.

Of course, Louis didn’t have anything to lose, since any embarrassment would fall squarely on his shoulders.

With that thought, Louis turned his attention forward just in time to see Chairman Blake begin his presentation.

“The research from our Tower of Destruction this year focuses solely on holy magic.” With those words, Blake approached a table draped with a white cloth at one side of the stage.

Ta-da!

He pulled off the cover.

As he spoke, Blake revealed arrows and daggers covered by the cloth.

“This particular holy magic was developed after our chairman wandered countless battlefields for many years, constantly teetering between life and death. During this time, he had a unique revelation that he pursued relentlessly until recently when he managed to manifest it as tangible holy magic. I call this spell ‘Blade Tomb’.”

Blake grabbed a mana wand and casually waved it through the air, creating a sphere amidst crackling lightning.

Zzzzt…

The electrical orb emitted a bright glow, attracting the arrows and daggers toward it.

“Oh?”

“They’re sticking to it?!”

People showed their interest in the displayed holy magic.

Under their watchful gazes, Blake continued his explanation.

“This holy spell developed by yours truly can be strategically used on battlefields filled with swords, spears, shields, arrows, and more,” Blake proudly proclaimed.

Most of the audience seemed to agree with him, but Louis looked utterly baffled.

What is this…?

Louis stared intently at the ball emitting electricity as it continued attracting various weapons.

No matter how I look at it…

There was one thing from his memories that resembled what he was witnessing now: It reminded him of…

A magnet, isn’t it?

Despite Blake’s claim about gaining enlightenment on the battlefield or whatever, this holy spell appeared identical to an electromagnet.

While Louis sat dumbfounded, Blake fielded some questions. After answering them lightly, no further hands went up.

“Does anyone else have any questions?”

Despite his words, Blake kept glancing at Louis as if inviting him to ask any questions he might have about it. The pride over his creation was evident on his face.

Louis couldn’t help but smirk.

Well, if that’s what he wishes for…

He raised his hand and stood up from his seat.

“I’ve seen enough.”

“And do you have any questions?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure this counts as a question per se, but…”

“…?”

“How long did it take you to develop your holy magic?”

“It took approximately four years. There were many trials and errors before figuring out why these phenomena occurred and developing them into holy magic.”

“I see. Now, regarding your holy magic…you mentioned it being like a ‘graveyard of swords,’ right? From what I could tell, it doesn’t attract all metals; only certain ones seem affected… Am I correct?”

“…That’s right.” Blake’s eyebrows twitched at Louis’s question.

Despite his best efforts to keep it hidden, some metals were affected by the holy magic he’d created while others weren’t, much like regular magnets.

Seeing Blake’s slightly stiff expression brought a grin to Louis’s face.

“So you spent four years making a magnet, then?”

“A magnet?! This is holy magic—!”

“Yes, a magnet made with holy magic.”

“…”

“It’s truly remarkable that you managed to create a magnet using holy magic, but isn’t it rather inefficient?”

“Inefficient?”

“There’s a simpler and easier way to achieve the same effect…”

“Ridiculous! If such a thing existed, would I have spent four years developing this holy magic? Ordinary magnets can’t produce this level of power!”

“It actually exists…”

Blake glared at Louis with fury and spoke icily. “…You’ll have to answer for your words.”

“Oh geez, you’re scaring me.” Despite his words, Louis appeared completely unperturbed. He casually continued, “If you don’t believe me, I can demonstrate it right here.”

“Go ahead.”

“For real? You won’t regret this later?”

“You impudent brat… Just do it already!” Blake growled menacingly, warning Louis with his eyes that there would be consequences if he lied.

“Well, if you insist.” Shrugging nonchalantly, Louis walked toward the presentation area and shouted at the audience.

“Twins!”

The crowd responded enthusiastically to Louis’s call.

“Woo!”

“Nana! Over here!”

“Come on over!”

At Louis’s call, two small shadows darted toward him from the audience seats. The twins were already curious about the presentation area and eagerly explored it with bright eyes.

Meanwhile, Louis opened up a pocket dimension and pulled out a large metal rod. Dexter’s eyes widened at the sight of it.

“That…that thing!”

It was one of his tools that had gone missing despite extensive searching…

I wondered where it went. So you stole it, huh?!

Of course, Louis had simply borrowed it but forgot to return it, not realizing how it would appear to Dexter.

As Dexter trembled with rage, the audience became intrigued by this unexpected confrontation. Everyone present had noticed the rivalry brewing between Blake and the young prodigy who’d been causing quite a stir at the academic conference. They eagerly awaited what Louis would do next.

Meanwhile, Louis reached into his pocket dimension once more.

I can use it like this.

He pulled out a thick copper wire.

This is leftover from my failed attempt to make a Dragonfly motor.

Despite successfully creating the copper wires, constructing the motor proved much harder than he anticipated.

After several failed attempts at building a motor, Louis had eventually replaced it with holy magic. The copper wire he held was all that remained of his previous failures. He began wrapping the wire around a thick metal rod.

I may not be able to make a motor, but I can certainly create an electromagnet.

Drawing on memories from when he made one as part of a school project, Louis wrapped paper around the metal rod and then carefully coiled the copper wire around it. Even dwarves acknowledged Louis’s handiness, so wiring up a metal rod posed no challenge for him. Once completed, Louis proudly held up the electromagnet and exclaimed:

“Done!” Then, turning toward Blake, he asked, “Just one last time… Are you sure you won’t regret this?” His eyes conveyed that this was their final chance to avoid public humiliation.