Chapter 297: Crown of the Mundane and Divine: Mundane Troubles 『 Part One 』
「 The man approached Stelle with a slow, deliberate gait, bearing down upon her with an air of unhurried, imposing authority.
"The last person to see Herta's puppet before it was attacked… was her."
He leaned in slightly, his face dangerously close to hers. Stelle could even discern the faint, shifting light within his pupils—they did not resemble human eyes, but rather some precise instrument, silently dissecting her every reaction.
With a faint smile, he straightened up and walked to the side. Stelle stared at him blankly, finding him familiar yet unable to place him: "You are…?"
Asta cleared her throat and introduced him to Stelle: "This is the IPC's academic representative, Mr. Ratio of the Intelligentsia Guild."
"After all, she has only just regained consciousness; her mind isn't clear yet, she needs…"
The man turned around slowly. Without warning, a smooth plaster bust appeared over his head, that handsome face instantly replaced by cold, hard material.
"...a few pointers." 」
「 ..... 」
〜KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World〜
WAAAH—! He's way too cool!"
Megumin's crimson eyes sparkled with an intense, fiery passion. If she knew flight magic, her expression suggested she would have already plastered her face directly against the Sky Curtain.
"That imperious stance, that devastatingly sharp gaze! He clearly possesses the commanding soul of a tyrant! If only he were willing to become my disciple and channel that overwhelming presence into Explosion Magic… we would be the ultimate masters of this world!"
"Sigh…"
Kazuma looked at his party with utter disdain, dragging a hand tiredly down his face. He glanced back at the scholar on the Sky Curtain, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he muttered under his breath:
"What's so great about a stuck-up, chalk-throwing snob anyway…"
"Kazuma, you just don't understand… It's exactly that attitude that makes it so wonderful!"
Darkness was already hopelessly lost in her own delusions. Her face flushed a deep crimson as she began to squirm in place, her breathing growing heavy as if enduring some unbearable itch.
"That condescending, freezing, utterly scornful gaze… Looking down on us like we're nothing but foolish insects! Ahhh… If he would just hurl that piece of chalk at my forehead, call me a hopeless idiot with that cold voice, and force me to endure his rigorous, punishing lectures… I-I would willingly submit to absolutely anything!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Kazuma smiled, a genuinely wicked, almost demonic smirk forming on his face.
Darkness clasped her hands over her chest, her body trembling with anticipation as she spoke shyly:
"Mmh, mmh… of course. Any punishment…"
"Then what if he ordered you to pass the Intelligentsia Guild entrance exam, relying strictly on your own academic intellect?"
Darkness: "…?"
—
「 "You understand the gist of the situation. Several system hours ago, one of Herta's puppets was attacked by an unknown origin. Its whereabouts are unknown, and we have been unable to locate its signal," Asta explained simply.
"Was there no surveillance?" Stelle asked in confusion.
Asta lowered her gaze: "No. The attack occurred at an external platform base, which is outside the surveillance range. Madam Herta didn't pay the matter much mind and went out on a patrol."
Screwllum added: "Before the incident occurred, she received an invitation from the IPC."
Ratio walked over slowly: "It was the Technology Department. Madam Yubuli is a capable individual, but her subordinates are nothing but laymen—ambitious and full of passion, yet utterly devoid of brains—their cranial capacity could rival that of primitive man."
"They wished to initiate a series of collaborations with Herta and invited me along to serve as a technical consultant. I accepted with pleasure, if only to observe at close range how these members of the Super Smart Club would squander the IPC's assets."
"However… the timing was too seamless. Perhaps someone leaked information, allowing the attacker to exploit the situation. And since Herta seems accustomed to such provocations, I find myself rather curious about the intricacies involved."
"I have long heard that Mr. Ratio is a leading figure within the Guild. It is our honor to have your assistance."
"Save your flattery." Ratio glanced at Screwllum standing behind Asta and let out a cold laugh: "Both your time and mine are precious. To debate the merits of mere mortals in the company of an actual genius? Quite the paradox, if you ask me." 」
「 ..... 」
〜Marvel Cinematic Universe〜
Tony Stark leaned against the bar, swirling a glass of amber whiskey in his hand. Seeing the barbs in Ratio's words, he immediately smelled the scent of gunpowder.
"Since they both belong to the 『 Erudition 』 Path, I assumed the Genius Society and the Intelligentsia Guild were on good terms."
Tony took a sip, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"It seems the reality is quite the opposite—Mr. Ratio has quite an opinion on the members of the Genius Society."
"But shouldn't knowledge be shared?"
Strange frowned slightly.
"They are all people at the forefront of cosmic wisdom; surely cooperation would better catalyze new knowledge?"
"Perhaps we have overestimated the Intelligentsia Guild and underestimated the Genius Society. The difference between them is likely not just a matter of one or two levels."
Tony shook his head with a smile and set down his glass.
"In the eyes of Geniuses like Screwllum and Herta, who were personally anointed by Nous, the people of the Intelligentsia Guild are probably no different from wild monkeys—just as you wouldn't ask a monkey for the solution to a calculus problem, there is no need for discussion between the two factions."
He pointed at the plaster head on the Light Screen.
"People like Ratio—smart, but nowhere near qualified for the Genius Society. But leaving academic issues aside, this lot should be easier to get along with. Compared to the unattainable, hermetic Geniuses, the Intelligentsia Guild is likely the primary driver of technology in the universe—otherwise, the IPC wouldn't have sought out Ratio first."
"From the sound of it, Tony… you don't approve of the Genius Society's methods?"
"No, why would I think that?"
Tony shrugged.
"I can understand it. True geniuses are always lonely because they move too fast; when they turn back, they find that no one can even catch up to their shadow."
Strange was silent for a moment.
"But if knowledge is confined only to the hands of the few…"
"Then let it be confined,"
Tony interrupted him.
"By the time people catch up, who knows? Herta, Screwllum, Ruan Mei, and the rest might have already cracked the mysteries of the Star Gods and be waiting for them in the next universe."
—