Ch.101Historical Discovery (1)

# The Keyword of Immortality

The keyword “immortality” was an extremely central theme in this novel.

After all, the goal of the Black Mages, who could be considered the common “enemy” of this world, was “immortality.”

For thousands of years, the Black Mages had only one answer in their pursuit of “immortality.”

It is impossible for a living human to not die.

So, let’s make them move in a “dead state.”

Even in a world with magic and mysteries, humanity had been unable to prevent aging.

And now a girl with no foundation had accomplished it?

‘No matter how much of a genius she is, this doesn’t make sense.’

Ruide simply couldn’t believe it.

“The left is my blood. The right is the Saintess’s blood.”

“Saintess…?”

“Yes! The Saintess asked me to tell you, ‘You’re the second person I’ve shared my blood with.’ She immediately understood your intention. Setting aside the rumors that the Saintess’s blood can revive the dead, you came right after instructing me to research ‘immortality.'”

Ella looked at Ruide with an expression of ecstasy.

“It’s amazing that you’re acquainted with the Saintess. Without this blood, I wouldn’t have even found a clue.”

‘…So that’s what happened.’

He had no idea that his joke about wanting to stop aging at a child’s state would lead to this result.

But even with the Saintess’s blood, discovering the secret of immortality didn’t make sense. This was the medieval era. Nothing existed for scientific research.

Ella spread her fingers toward the blood floating in the air.

Then—

Woong—

The equations and magic circles written elaborately on the wall began to glow.

Light divided into multiple spectrums passed through the blood.

Finally, when the grand magic circle on the ceiling activated, a transparent membrane appeared right in front of them.

“…!”

Only then did Ruide realize what all these magical equations were harmonizing for.

What Ella had created was a microscope.

Through the transparent membrane, cell tissues were visible.

It showed a much larger and wider range than modern microscopes.

“I thought if there was any secret in the Saintess’s blood, I would need to magnify it tremendously. It was harder than I expected, and I spent most of my time on this. But I was able to discover the secret quickly.”

Ella adjusted the angle of light. Then, H-shaped cells became visible.

As Ella chanted a spell, a very thin laser shot from her finger. It hit the exact cell they were observing.

Sizzle—

With a burning sound, the cell turned black and died.

“This is my blood. And like this—”

The blackened dead cell slowly moved, then split into two.

“When blood dies, it divides. This must be the principle behind how our wounds naturally heal.”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

Gulp, Ruide swallowed.

He felt like he was gradually learning something he shouldn’t know.

“But the divided blood is different from before. Can you see? The shoes are gone. And the length is shorter than before.”

There was something covering the ends of the H-shape, but the divided cells didn’t have that.

“As it continues to divide, the length gets shorter, and after about 70 divisions, it disappears completely. Now let’s look at the Saintess’s blood.”

Ella performed the same action.

She spoke with a curious smile.

“The damaged tissue is regenerating.”

This time too, the cell divided.

But it was different from before.

“But the Saintess’s blood doesn’t get shorter, and most importantly, it still has its socks on.”

‘Telomere.’

That was the name of what Ella described as socks.

He remembered it from a science YouTube video he used to watch every night before bed.

The memory came back vaguely.

The three professors who discovered telomeres all received Nobel Prizes.

The discovery was probably in the late 2000s.

A time when science had developed considerably.

But here, it was the medieval era.

The way they counted years was different, but roughly calculated, it was around the 1500s.

In a world where even “cells” hadn’t been discovered yet, she had discovered cells that directly affected aging.

“These socks are the key. Because the socks protect the ends, they can regenerate no matter how injured they get. So, if we put these socks on everything… theoretically, it would not only prevent aging but could even reverse an aged body back to its youth.”

Genius.

That was the only word that came to Ruide’s mind.

“…Of course, putting socks on so many tiny things is practically impossible. But this much research can be considered successful. Someday, I’ll definitely figure it out.”

Ella, looking at him with eyes like a big puppy wanting praise, was truly the genius of the century.

The girl he had picked up by chance wasn’t just a promising rough stone but already a brilliantly shining jewel.

**

“Are you really going to put my name on the academic paper?”

“…How do you see me?”

Ella was fidgeting nervously.

She was the only one who didn’t realize her tremendous achievement.

Someone as remarkable as Ella deserved much better treatment than she was currently receiving.

Fortunately, he was someone who could make that happen.

“I’m not a bad professor who steals research from my assistant.”

“But it’s just a theory…”

Ruide was quite frustrated with Ella’s shriveled attitude despite having discovered the ‘secret of immortality.’

“It’s a verified theory.”

“Y-yes, but it’s practically impossible. No magic can achieve immortality.”

Ella was right.

Even in the modern world, they had only found cells that affected aging, not achieved immortality.

But there was one crucial difference between the modern world and this place.

Magic.

There existed a mystery that could achieve what was impossible with any technology.

‘…It’s entirely feasible.’

In the final chapter of the novel.

The Black Mages succeed in obtaining ‘immortality’ in their own way.

They develop a magic called ‘mind uploading’ that transfers human memories and consciousness to a new body.

To achieve that grand magic, they need to use three holy relics as mediums.

The same applied to realizing Ella’s method.

Using holy relics as mediums, they could activate ‘regeneration magic’ on all cells that cause aging.

“You need to know your worth. You’re a truly amazing magician.”

They say that extremely advanced science is like magic.

Ruide agreed with that statement. Ella was a magician who could use ‘real magic.’

Knock knock.

Ruide knocked on the door in front of him.

To publish in an academic journal, permission from a formally registered Grand Magician was needed.

Normally, it would require a complicated procedure, but since there was a Grand Magician at the academy, it could be simplified.

-Come in.

Creak—

The door to the principal’s office opened.

Clifford, looking even older than before, was sitting in his chair wearing a monocle.

He frowned as if he couldn’t see well even with glasses.

“An expelled student and a professor who doesn’t teach but just wastes salary.”

Ella flinched and asked.

“Do you… remember me?”

“Of course, you fool. Don’t you know? As the academy principal, I should memorize the faces of all students at the very least. Come in.”

Ugh, Clifford stood up.

With his hands behind his back, he brewed tea.

The fragrant smell of herbs filled the room.

After serving appropriate snacks and tea, Clifford gave them a needless scolding.

“When an old man brews tea, you should at least pretend to help, tsk tsk.”

“You’re still quite healthy.”

“Ah, just empty flattery.”

Ruide held the cup with both hands and took a sip.

“So, why have you come to see me?”

“I’ve been researching.”

Clifford was quite displeased when professors occasionally came to say they had ‘been researching.’

It meant they had been neglecting their academy duties. So he would always bark, ‘If you want to brag about research, get out to the magic tower!’

But— if it was Ruide’s research, that was different. Ruide was the genius of the century. Just by existing, he brought enormous benefits to the academy, so his research was very welcome news.

Above all, research by the youngest son of the Windsor Duchy meant money!

“Ho ho, I apologize. I heard you’ve only taught once since becoming a professor, so I thought you were just slacking off, but you’ve been doing such commendable work.”

‘It was twice.’

Ruide felt uncomfortable. His achievements had been cut in half.

“I welcome your research with open arms. I don’t even expect a paper. Just tell me verbally. I’ll organize it and publish it under your name. But you must give the presentation yourself.”

“It’s not me.”

“Huh?”

“It’s my assistant’s research.”

Surprised, Ella waved both hands.

“N-no. I just helped a little.”

“What nonsense is this?”

“W-without the Saintess’s blood, the research couldn’t have been established in the first place. This is something anyone could do, very simple…”

‘Wow, how much gaslighting has she endured?’

Ruide felt like crying out of pity for Ella.

It was like Einstein being exploited under an immature rich young master.

“Ho ho. A student expelled for cheating claims to have done research?”

Ella’s body stiffened at Clifford’s words.

“That’s…”

Ruide immediately spoke up.

“That’s a lie.”

“A lie?”

“If you want, test her right here. Ella is a genius.”

“G-genius.”

Ella’s face turned bright red.

She opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish.

“Ho ho.”

Clifford chuckled.

“I’m joking. The fact that a lazy bum like you bothered to come here means the research must be real. So, what is the content of this genius’s research?”

Ruide spoke without hesitation.

“‘A magic that can magnify any object up to 1000 times.'”

“…!”

‘Immortality shouldn’t be revealed to the public yet.’

In this world, Black Mages were still wide awake and vigilant.

It would be problematic if they learned that the clue to immortality had been found.

No, to begin with, ‘immortality’ was a subject that could turn even a sage into a villain.

Although the academy had strong barriers preventing approach—

Ella wouldn’t stay at the academy forever.

Even just the microscope was a discovery worthy of being called a ‘revolution.’

This was enough to demonstrate Ella’s value.

“A th-thousand times, you say?”

The act of magnifying something might not be very useful for ordinary people, but it was different for magicians.

Observing and analyzing in detail is the foundation of research. Currently, magic could magnify things up to 20 times at most.

Clifford immediately recognized its value. No, any magician who had done research even once couldn’t fail to see this value.

“Not you, but your assistant discovered this—”

“Yes. I didn’t help at all.”

“R-Ruide.”

Ella didn’t know what to do.

“…If this is true, it’s an incredible discovery.”

‘Of course.’

Ruide felt as if his own child had been praised.

If he hadn’t taken Ella away from Klein Minerva’s workshop, none of this would have happened.

“Therefore, it cannot be published under your assistant’s name.”

“…Why not?”

“Do you think she can handle it? Magnifying an object 1000 times is unprecedented. Even the great Dellin stopped at 20 times. Breaking Dellin’s achievement. It should be a blessed event. But if it’s a commoner, that’s different.”

Clifford spoke coldly.

“Who would acknowledge it? Even if they did, would the nobles quietly watch a commoner surpass Dellin? Human jealousy is frightening, Ruide. More than you think—”

Ruide made a blank expression.

“You could protect her, Principal.”

“Ho ho, my boy. What power does this old man have? Don’t be stubborn and make it a joint publication. If it’s under the name of the youngest son of the Windsor Duchy, no one would dare to question it. That would be more beneficial for your assistant too.”

Ruide had no choice but to nod. Clifford’s words were reasonable.

“Yes. I’ll do that.”

‘It’s not bad to gradually gain fame. Ella will make many more achievements in the future.’

Ella would discover many more things in the future.

What Ruide anticipated was in the field of disease.

If she could figure out how to prevent aging in just a month, what about other diseases?

In this world, they could fix a hole in the stomach but couldn’t cure diseases like the Black Death.

With Ella’s abilities, she could prevent various diseases.

But he wouldn’t tell her.

That aging was also a curable disease.