Chapter 24: CHP 24

5 o'clock.

The fact finding meeting that I requested from Dean Bert was going to be held in the Auditorium of the Academy's Department of Magic.

It was originally scheduled to be held in the building where the Formula Theory class was held, but it was moved to the Auditorium of the Department of Magic, a place that William Lemont personally chose.

William chosed a large, open space to prevent me from cheating.

'I am sure that it was because he wants to humiliate me, he is convinced that Professor Kyle is getting a bribe from me and secretly giving me the answers.

But the situation got a lot bigger than I thought.'

Dean Bert and the Vice Dean came in, as well as four professors from the Department of Magic, including Professor Kyle, and many, many students who heard the rumors that Lemont spread around.

In addition, those people...

'What is going on?!'

Sweat formed on the palm of my hand at the unexpected situation and the commotion that started with their appearance.

"That is Sir. Isidor!"

"It's the first time I have actually seen him, he is much more handsome than the rumors say."

"He has an incredibly unrealistic appearance."

"But why did Sir Isidor, who is a Knight, came here to the Department of Magic?"

"Oh my God! Sir Thierry is next to him!"

"Even the Orgo family came?!"

"Hey! Look at the very end it's the 5th Princess!"

"I can't believe it! The Imperial family..."

"Aren't all of them Epsilon executives?"

"Why are all the important people coming here together?"

'Exactly! That is what I want to know to!! Why on earth are they here?!

Did this incident gather that much attention?'

I deliberately provoked Lemont and his allies to worsen the situation, but I can't believe it blew up so much.

'I am actually a scaredy cat...What should I do?'

It felt like my heart was in my throat at the sudden tension that aroused in the Auditorium.

But on the other end, unlike me, who was stiff and sweaty, William Lemont was extremely excited.

If the Epsilon executives say something about this issue, the impact in the social world would be much greater, especially if it was in his favor and against the Seymour's.

He was so high-spirited, that he behaved like he was someone who embodied all the justice in the world and came to fight on behalf of all those who suffered.

"Today, I will uncover Seymour's corruption and clear up this deep-rooted evil!"

I was left dumbfounded when I saw William Lemont's face, puffing his nose like blowing out steam.

It was after that that I came to my senses.

'If I lose to this pathetic guy, I won't be able to sleep comfortably all my life and if that happens my white-jade like skin will be damaged.

Σ(＞Д＜)

But if I think about it, compared to the tension I felt on the day I had my University entrance exam, this isn't as bad.'

I bit my red lips while I gathered my thoughts.

The test method they chose was simple for me.

William Lemont will write on the board some problems that he himself chosed and I have to solve them under the supervision of the Academy's Dean and Professors.

A clear and sure way to ensure that I won't be able to cheat.

"We will start then."

After receving permission from the Vice Dean, William Lemont started to write down the problems, and I immediately started solving them on a sheet of paper.

'This are to simple for me. William Lemont must have picked out some time consuming problems, but I can solve most of them in a few seconds, through the formulas developed by the mathematicians from my previous life.

Haaaa, like this one for example.

I can find the sum by simply adding one by one, using the formula for the sum of a geometric sequences.'

It is faster and easier to use a specific formula for finding the sum of a sequence, but there is another reason that I can solve the formulas exceptionally faster than the Academy's students.

"Can't you write faster?

Aren't I solving the problems faster than you are writing them?"

William's Lemont face turned white, because I wrote down the answers on my sheet after only scribbling a few numbers.

"Vice Dean, is Lady Deborah's answer correct?"

The Vice Dean, looked at the answer sheet and nodded with a serious expression.

"Everything is correct."

"Impossible! How did she get everything right? She must have guessed it!"

"If I had the ability to correctly guess five questions in a row and not multiple choice questions, but short answer questions, I would have made a fortune at the horsetrack.

Don't you think so?"

I mocked him outright.

"But it is impossible!"

William's Lemont writing on the blackboard became more and more crooked, his confusion could be seen.

All three remaining formulas were answered correctly, and the Auditorium became quiet as a dead mouse.

No one said anything for a long time.

Dean Bert, the Professors and everyone who came to observe me started to wisper among themself with confused expressions at the unexpected turn of event.

I turned towards William Lemont, who was out of his mind.

"Now that my innocence has been proven, it is time for you to pay for tarnishing my honor."

I looked at him fiercely, as if I were about to kill him.

"...!"

'I didn't come here today with heavy eye makeup for nothing.'

William Lemont swallowed hard with a terrified expression, and then suddenly began to talk gibberish.

"It is obvious that you used some weird method, right?

This speed doesn't make sense! Seeing that you look like a witch, you must have used black magic."

That is when he destroyed himself.

'How can he say that I used black magic that is forbidden in this Empire, and above all Deborah doesn't have mana sensitivity, idiot.'

The Vice Dean came forward with a firm expression at his disgraceful behavior.

"Sir William! Watch what you say!

I would have noticed right away if she had cheated, but there was no sign of any magic especially black magic!

Are you saying that even I and the Academy professors gathered here today are all blind?!"

When the atmosphere began to shift in my favor, Professor Kyle, who was nervous the whole time, suddenly, stood up.

"William Lemont, you framed me and tarnished my honor as a professor by saying that I received a bribe from the Seymour in order to help Princess Deborah.

I will prohibit you from taking my classes from now on!"

'Why is that bastard butting in all of a sudden?'

I looked at Professor Kyle with a fierce expression.

"But isn't it weird Professor?

Such a speed would be impossible even for an ancient Archmage!

She must have used some kind of cowardly trick..."

"You chose the location and brought the problems directly from the Lemont family, so how dare you say that with your own mouth?"

When Professor Kyle and William Lemont started arguing Dean Bert intervened.

"Kyle, you are innocent right? Then be quiet!

And you, William Lemont, because of your excessive remarks you will be subjected to severe disciplinary actions."

Dean Bert made their mouths shut right away and then he called me out.

"Princess Deborah."

"Yes, Dean Bert."

"Can you explain how this is possible? Are you a genius in solving formulas? Because you solved them too fast and to accurately to just let it go."

"Hmm..."

I tilted my head slightly.

"But, why should I be kind enough to explain?"

Looking at the confused crowd, I slyly raised the corners of my mouth.

"What?"

"Well, William Lemont filed a petition against me, without any proof.

Simply because I quickly solved the formulas...isn't that correct?"

Everyone around me was quiet at my question.

"And in the process, no one pointed out that William Lemont was behaving to hasty, on the contrary, it seems that there were many people that worked together with him..."

The students who blindly followed William Lemont avoided my gaze.

"And let's not forget about Professor Kyle, you should listen to what he said to me."

I pulled out my artifact with the recording function.

"I didn't know that the artifact that my brother Belreck gave me, would be used like this... It's absolutely deplorable."

I didn't forget to say that loud enough for some people to hear, and I didn't feel any guilt while betraying Belreck.

"What, what are you trying to do?"

I lightly tapped on the artifact three times, while looking wikedly at Professor Kyle.

'Since you are a woman, you are only interested in dressing up. To be honest you are not a child...

Princess Deborah. Do you really need to be attached to the Department of Magic like a leech?'

Professor Kyle's voice, was heard from a 3 million won recording artifact loaded with an evil editing function, and it resonated in the whole Auditorium.

'I was recording you! You bastard.'　 (　｀ー')

While I was rubbing my artifact, I looked at Professor Kyle, who had gone pale from shock.

"Professor Kyle! A leech? Is that something you should say to your students?"

One of the professors scolded Professor Kyle.

"It's really disappointing.

I always admired you, but I can't believe you are making such nonsensical remarks."

And regarding the passage about dressing up, several female students poured out harsh reprimands towards Professor Kyle.

When his rotten and twisted personality was revealed to the public, Professor Kyle collapsed in his seat with a soulless face.

"As you all can see, I was under a sharp attack from both Professor Kyle and the students, yet, I stand here alone, to get to the bottom of this matter.

Which is that that I have been intensely studying formulas."

I glanced around.

"In this situation, why do I have to disclose the ground-breaking formula that I improved after a lot of hard work?"

"Did she just say that she improved the formula?"

"Oh my God!"

"But it's impossible!"

This time was like wave swept through the Auditorium like a tsunami.

"How can you improve the supreme mana regularity discovered by the Archmage and the Dragon?

How is it reasonable for us to believe that you came up with a new way?"

Dean's Bert voice trembled softly, with shock, while he spoked.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I worked on the formula because I saw a way to give an answer faster and more accurately than before.

So why does it matter whether it was written by an Archmage or his grandfather? Everyone is too biased on customs."

At my haughty remark, everyone's mind was blown away, it was something that only a wicked woman like me could do, to question the method of the Archmage.

I smiled wickedly and kept playing with my fan.

'Continue please, talk more and more and spread the news as fast as the wind.'

"The Ancient formulas are perfect! What do you mean by improvement? It's nonsense!"

Someone, outraged, from the public said.

"But the truth is, that Princess Deborah came up with an answer faster than anyone else.

If she really improved the formula, it would be a major advantage to our Empire, because it could dramatically reduce the casting speed."

"I cannot believe it! Princess Deborah is deceiving everyone right now."

"I see there are still many people that still doubt me even though I have proven my innocence.

Maybe it is because I don't have mana sensitivity but I am still a direct descendant of Seymour."

I pretended to be humiliated, and lowered my head while my shoulders were shaking.

"If it's that hard to belive me, I will reveal the formula that I improved after much frustration and pain."

"Are you really going to reveal it?"

"Princess Deborah, are you sure?"

"Yes."

I started writing on the board the work of the great mathematicians of my previous life.

"Princess Deborah, for what do x and y stand for?"

"The answer we are trying to deduct through the formula."

People around that male student, with glasses, who asked the question were shocked.

There is no concept of an unknown in this world, so an unknown number is literally an unknown number.

They calculate it one by one in order to solve the formulas.(^_^;)

'It is not difficult to find an answer if the values and variables to be found are x and y.

It is not a matter of knowledge but a matter of wisdom, and I am an former engineering student who has acquired the wisdom of my predecessors.

But I still can't believe that the mathematical principles that I memorized while I was wondering why I should memorize such things are being useful here...I didn't know what was going to happen to me then...'

All the Professors that were present only exclaimed in amazement.

"I can't believe you can organize and calculate a complex formula in such a easy way.

I am speechless at the clarity that just hit me."

"If you substitute a number with the formula that Princess Deborah has improved, you can get the answer right away even if you skip the calculation process!

It's really eye-opening!"

"It is a earth-shattering achievement. If the silver Dragon could see this formula, he would be so shocked that he would wake up from his eternal sleep."

"As expected from one of Seymour's descendant!

You are such a genius in resolving formulas, when you don't even have mana sensitivity."

'Oooo, that commentary was sweet.'

"It would be really useful for battle mages where casting speed is the most important."

'It is probably because they are the Academy Scholars, that they seem to understand the concept of the unknown very quickly.'

Everyone was busy memorizing the formula written on the blackboard.

After I demonstrated how my formula works, I looked around at everyone with my most ferocious look, that I often practiced in the mirror.

"Are your suspicions cleared up now? Because I can't get over my anger."

I gently gestured to a lady that had already agreed with me, and was on my side.

It was Arin Oslot, the one I happened to rescue when I passed behind the school building a few days ago.

Lady Arin, who became my vassal, bravely came to the front of the Auditorium and approached Dean Bert and the Vice Dean.

"Arin Oslot?"

"What are you doing here all of a sudden?"

It turned out that Arin is an extremely talented woman and has the affection and trust of the Professors.

That is why that nobleman had an inferiority complex and harassed her.

'I am so happy right now.'

"Professors, the truth is that I have something important to tell you.

Not long ago I happened to pass by the campus behind the Department of Magic and heard something of great importance... "

Arin accused William Lemont and that nobleman of spreading rumors about me and Professor Kyle in order to make the incident even bigger than what it was, and that they were even talking about Duke Seymour's qualifications as an mage.

'Arin is a naive and innocent girl that doesn't seem to know about the ways of the world, so she is good at secretly listening to what happens around her.

Arin brought me news from all the sides that were involved in this plot so that I could understand how the atmosphere in the Academy was.

How shoul I describe her, she was like a squirrel fiercely picking up acorns.

(=^▪︎^=)'

To everyone it seemed like Arin's news, was like adding fuel to the fire that was already burning hot inside me.

So I made good use of this opportunity.

"William Lemont! How dare you use me as an excuse to insult my Father!"

As soon as Arin finished speaking, I screamed.

When he saw that I got angry, William Lemont, who was already half out of his mind, trembled with a terrified expression.

Technically speaking, a direct descendant of Seymour's was attacked by both the faculty and the Academy before revealing his great academic achievement. Even his family almost had to suffer.

Because of that even the current stubborn Vice Dean was wary of me.

"My Father is a good and generous man, so he may let this go, but...I am different."

"What do you mean Princess Deborah?"

When he heard my resolute declaration, Dean Bert's eyes flashed with suspicion.

"What I mean is that Sir Lemont, the evil mastermind behind this whole scandal and everyone who insulted me will be held responsible for everything that will happen from now on."

After I said my declaration of war, I left the Auditorium.

..........

The fact-finding meeting, became a hot topic among mages, because Deborah Seymour improved the formula of the ancient Archmage Simeon, which was regarded as an unchangeable truth and considered to be flawless, so easily without thinking.

In addition, because of the numerous observers that were there that day, the improved formula was spreading, like fire, from the Department of Magic to the Wizard Association.

"Wow...it wasn't a joke!"

A mage was in awe after casting the complex and the wide-area magic at once, without an intermediate process.

"I can't believe that Seymour's black sheep, improved formula solving in such an innovative way.

I'm glad the I lived long enough to see that."

"Maybe, since she doesn't have mana sensitivity, she had to have an ability like this."

Suddenly, a colleague entered the training ground in a hurry with an appalled face.

"You there! The formula improved by Princess Deborah must never be used thoughtlessly!"

"Why?'

"You don't know anything, Don't worry you'll find out soon enough."

After ignoring the advice of their colleague, they used the improved formula outside the training ground and the mages quickly received a warning letter with the seal of the Imperial Court.

'Notification of Patent Infringement and Request to Stop Infringement.

Regrettably, we are informing you that it was determined that the recipient was infringing on the patent rights of the sender, Deborah Seymour, so we request that the infringement action be stopped immediately and that you comply with the request of the patentee.'

Seeing the request of the patent holder, the mage narrowed his eyes.

'Penalty: 30 gold coins,

Monthly Fee: 7 Silver 99 Cooper coins.'

"What on earth is a monthly payment?"

"Isn't it written inside? It's the amount you have to pay to Princess Deborah every month if you want to continue using her improved formula.

If you use it without paying the monthly fee, you will have to pay a fine to the court like now.

It is called 'Use Your Money'."

"It is all because of William Lemont, Professor Kyle, and the idiots who provoked Princess Deborah, who already had a bad temper."

"Why won't they stop? Aren't they afraid to harass a Seymour's direct descendant?"

"Even the Wizard Association considerers William Lemont actions to be foolish."

"But...'Use Your Money'?"

The mage who was suddenly charged with a huge fine asked with a puzzled face.

"Well, Princess Deborah got angry and patented her improved formula, so if we want to use it we have to pay money, 'Use Your Money'."

"But..."

"All those who protested against it, were coldly reproached."

"We are lucky that we can still use the improved formula for only 7 silver coins a month, that's not so bad."

"What do you mean?"

"Including all the Lemont family and some families that Princess Deborah doesn't like, all, were blacklisted and are forbidden from even paying the monthly fee."

"Oh my God."

............

'Money and justice are raining from the sky!

The number of monthly subscription members for my improved formula has increased by seven people today.

I smiled happily and proudly.

'Thank you, Professor Kyle and William Lemont, you guys helped me in many ways.'

Patenting a magic formula was unprecedented, so I didn't expect it to turn out so well...

........

3 weeks ago...

What I learned from Duke Seymour, is that the speed of solving formulas is closely related to the speed of casting magic.

So even though I have a ground-breaking discovery, I was still in an uncomfortable situation because I can't use it practically because my mana sensitivity is zero.

'I will never reveal it. Who would benefit from it? Not me!(　｀Å')

The pathetic gazes towards me would surley lessen, but the ones that would truly benefit from it are battle mages like Rosad.

Aaaaa...my stomach would hurt if that is going to happen, only thinking about it makes my intestines twist.

They will praise my discovery in the beginning, but humans are cunning and they will quickly forget their gratitude, eventually they will try to rip off my formula as if it was theirs in the first place.

Damn it, what a waste of time.'( '_ゝ')

I fell asleep very discouraged that night and in my dream I was being chased by 100 newspapers.

I screamed for someone to come and save me, and in that moment I suddenly saw in front of me, a golden rope with the word 'patent' written on it.

I run quickly towards the golden rope and suddenly jumped...out of bed.

"That is it, a patent!"(o'・∀・)o

'It would be of great help if the formula can be patented, but does the Empire have a patent related law?'

Just in case it did, I went to Maisond right after my classes were over.

"You're coming here often these days. Princess."

Cookie purred and laid his face on my thighs whole I stroked his head he even tried to lick the palm of my hand.

"Cookie is very happy to see you, but since the previous request is still in progress, could delay the deadline by just one week..."

The Blancia Master who always had an expressionless face, looked tired from overwork today.

'Well, I am a client who wasn't originally in his plans.

Even ten people would be insufficient to handle both the Crown Prince's request and mine at the same time.'

"Master, I didn't come here to press you, but because I have a question."

I handed him some jewelry.

"What is your question?"

As soon as he saw the jewels the Blancia Master recovered his energy a little.

"Is there a law that gives me exclusive rights in exchange for revealing a new invention?"

As a Munchkin, he immediately understood what I wanted.

"I think you are talking about the patent law.

If you get a Letters Patent from the supreme court you can exercise the patent right.

It was enacted by the Visconti family about 300 years ago, even Blancia often patents artifacts and alchemy."

"How?"

I tooked out more jewels and to my surprise, he gave them back, resolutely.

"I am curious about what you intend to patent. If you satisfy my curiosity I will help you with the patent process."

I was delighted to hear that he would act as my lawyer.

'The Blancia Master has been handling patents in various fields.

He must know very well how to use the patent law in his favor.'

I solemnly curled up my lips, which were twitching from joy, and bit them from preventing a smile to appear.

"Alright, but in return, let's write a contract that says you will not reveal my discovery to anyone."

"Very well, but if I succeed in patenting it, please give me 20% of the income you will earn from the patent."

"Are you sure that you need that much?"

I clenched my teeth and glared at him.

The Blancia Master let out a groan...

"Then, 10%?"

I snapped my neck left and right, enough to make a cracking sound.

"Of course, in addition, you will receive a 30% discount on all artifacts that you purchase from Blancia.

How about that?"

'That doesn't sound so bad.'(*^-^*)

The Blancia Master was planing to sell me more artifacts, because I am a VIP, using the discount scheme.

But it was a good offer, one that I couldn't refuse because I really was planning to buy a lot of artifacts with recording functions and they are expensive.

"Alright, good enough."

"Very well. Now let me hear what it is."

He grinned because he liked how the negotiations went.

"It is not a big deal.

I have improved Simeon's magic formula, and I am curious to see if the improved formula can be patented."

His smile quickly disappeared from his lips and he made a serious expression.

"Not a big deal? Princess you said that you improved the formula of the great Archmage Simeon? Are you serious?"

"Yes."

His mineral-like face seemed to crack slowly.

"Really? Really?"

"If you don't believe me, give me a quill and paper."

As I quickly solved many long formulas in front of him, the Blancia Master frowned and then let out a dispirited chuckle.

"Princess, you surprise me every time! Honestly, you're amazing."

"What do you mean by amazing?

I don't know how to handle mana, so for me, it is like a pie in the sky."

"Aha, so that is why you want to patent it!

I understand now, you're similar to me in that way, I also seek profit rather than honor."

"Is it possible to proceed with the patent?"

"This is the first time that the formula has been improved...but I am certain that if we put it in Paragraph 3 of the Patent Act, nobody can do anything about it.

The reason was because many mages try to give various attributes to mana.

A good example is Duke Seymour, who is a mage with a unique talent for changing mana into water and ice attributes.

So some mages often patent unusual attribute transformations.

Mana attribute transformation is classified in the law as a technological patent, and improving the formula to increase the casting speed is also likely to be included in the technological patent.

"However, in your case, the biggest problem is how to obtain a patent income.

In the cases of mana transformation patents, if there is a transaction on the related artifacts or mana stones, the patent income is returned to the wizard."

"I see it is not as easy as I thought."

I murmured to myself.

'The main point of the improved formula is the casting speed, and because there is no separate invention that can be used as a medium between the formula and the patent, the income generating part is difficult to achieve.

"For mages to pay for each use of my improvement formula is... haaa, no matter how I look at it, it is a difficult problem."

"It's impossible to check every time the formula is used, and if you ask them to pay every time they use it, the backlash from the mages would be great.

Duke Seymour would probably be the first to object, right?"

"Then...How about a monthly subscription?"

"What is that?"

Curiosity could be seen in the Blancia's Master eyes.

"Well, in exchange for providing a convenient service called "Improved Formula", every month I receive a usage fee from mages and instead, I will charge only a small fee to reduce the backlash."

'I stole this ideea from a site that quietly stole 4,900 won from me every month, because I was to busy and forgot about it and before I terminated the service, the amount of money that was taken from my acount was 110,000 won.

"How on earth did you come up with such an idea?"

While I recalled my expensive experience with the monthly subscription, the Blancia Master suddenly started laughing.

I ignored him and continued.

"Wouldn't be 4 silver 99 copper coins per month be cheaper and more reasonable than the fine for patent infringement?

Like that, I can make some nice pocket money every month."

"You are right my Princess.

The fines are very high because they are taken by the court."

'Nice!'(^^)d

"So if we make an example with a few people, they will all sign up for the monthly payment."

'It is cheaper than a fine, and above all, I will be at ease.

If all the magic-related people will use my improved formula, a solid profit will come from the patent, every month.

A little makes a lot!( ＾ω＾ )

Ahhh... but I have to give this thug 10%...'( 'Д')ノ

The Blancia Master looked at me with a big smile.

"Princess you are a genius devil.

You figured out a way to legitimize money extortion."

'I am not a devil, but a monster created by capitalism.'

I buried the bitterness I felt deep inside me.

"But, Princess, even if you increase the service fee to 7 Silver and 99 copper coins per month, the mages will still think that is cheap.

Since most of them are highly paid people.

And, instead of revealing all the formulas you have written here at the same time, how about revealing them gradually and patent them as well, in that way you can raise the service fee?"

'How...who created this capitalist monster in front of me?'

I was secretly astonished by his cunning mind.

...............

'Well, everything has been a breeze since then.

Because of William Lemont and Professor Kyle, I have a pretext to extort money from everyone.(*^-゜)vThanks!'

The patent documents were gradually coming to shape.

Because the concepts of brackets and unknown, who help to organize complex numbers by grouping them together, are the key of my improved formula, and because I defined them as a core technology, I succedet in preventing everyone from patenting it in advance.

I brought up the ideea of patening my improved formulas to Duke Seymour, after William's Lemont petition was submitted.

And because God is on my side, Duke Seymour quarreled over this matter with Marquis Lemont, one of the elders of the Wizardry Association, the same day, and was already in a very bad mood.

"How dare these insignificant people disregard my daughter?!

I can't let these good for nothings use the formulas you developed with blood and sweat!"

Thanks to that, it was easy for me to persuade Duke Seymour to let me patent the magic formula.

"To patent it! Hmm...it seems like a very good idea."

'He is even pleased.(^3^)/'

I was only interested in the fixed monthly profit, but Duke Seymour was very interested in using the patent law to screw over Marquis Lemont.

Because in order to use a technology registered as a patent, the permission of the patent holder was basically required.

"Forbid the Lemont family to use the improved formula, so that they will constantly be remindet of their rash words and actions."

'It seems that Duke Seymour can be wickedas well.'

"I will give them a lesson."

So to please him I pretended to be angry too.

'Showing retaliation for being insulted is much better than staying quiet.

And I was able to hide my intentions of extorting money from everyone, every month much more plausibly that way.

.......................