A middle-aged man with gray hair tied back and round glasses is on the phone.
On a quiet morning, it would normally be a time to enjoy the holiday listening to classical music, but that was not possible now.
“Mr. James Tyner, did you receive the letter I sent? It was sent via teleport special delivery.”
“Yes, I’m looking at it right now….”
An anonymous letter sent to the publisher left him with many thoughts.
“Huh.”
The content of the letter was astonishing.
It included a detailed analysis of the skeletal structure, muscles, behavior, and characteristics of magical beasts.
‘It has excellently captured parts of the fossils that have yet to be discovered.’
The skeletal sketches were surprisingly impressive.
Little is known about magical beasts so far.
From the very beginning, they are beings that have lived in vastly different environments, fundamentally different from life in the Middle World.
However, the materials he was currently viewing included very neat and clear explanations that filled in the missing links.
The ecology of the Demon Realm and how the behaviors of magical beasts interact was explained with perfect clarity.
Moreover, the antique handwriting and neat, detailed sketches added to the credibility of the materials.
It could easily be believed that it was an academic paper sent by a hidden magical beast scholar.
No, it surely was.
This was likely the content of the journal entries of a veteran well-versed in magical beasts.
“This is… a very compelling hypothesis. The name of the sender is….”
“The sender’s name is said to be ‘Luke Irushi’. There is no address provided.”
“…Luke Irushi?”
If it’s Luke Irushi, it is the name of a mage who could almost uniquely come and go through the Demon Realm as if it were his home.
Therefore, among scholars of magical beasts, the name ‘Luke Irushi’ is commonly used as a pseudonym when one presents hypotheses to academia without revealing their identity.
“What do you think, sir?”
The editor of the publishing company asks.
James Tyner, letting out a hum, lowered his head.
“The idea is very persuasive, but… there is a lack of supporting evidence. For now… it seems to be a very interesting hypothesis.”
“Is that so?”
That is the truth.
While there are no gaps in the reasoning, it cannot be accepted into academia without evidence.
Especially, the explanations regarding Zephyr were so alien that there were many incredulous points.
Moreover, he had his own experience in excavating Zephyr fossils.
So, he was well aware of the results analyzed from behavioral reenactments.
‘But…’
James’s gaze fixes on an illustration of a hairless Zephyr covered in moss.
He is a scholar of magical beasts.
If he wasn’t at all excited upon seeing such an interesting hypothesis, he wouldn’t be worthy of being called a scholar.
‘I need to check this again.’
James Tyner picked up his outdoor clothing.
——–
Yes, it was a coincidence.
The fact that he thought he needed to go to the museum after receiving the letter and got up immediately.
However, the fact that he ended up in the same museum at the same time was indeed a coincidence.
Yet, considering this place is the largest magical beast museum in the country and it alone is the museum that preserves the original form of the Zephyr fossil, the probability was slightly increased.
And James could not help but be astonished.
How could such a small child clarify areas of the magical beast field that had remained undiscovered?
The information lost during the ‘Forgotten Battle’ 3000 years ago… was being reconstructed in this small child’s mind.
It was an unbelievable fact, but the intellectual level he grasped through conversation was not at all that of a mere 10-year-old.
However, just having the intellectual level does not prove that one directly prepared the material.
Thus, Luke was currently rewriting a few sentences from the material on a notepad to compare handwriting.
Scritch, scritch. The sound of the pen scratching on the paper stopped, and Luke put the pen down on the table before handing the notepad to James.
“Now, will you believe me?”
Receiving the notepad handed by Luke, James nodded with a very surprised expression.
The antique handwriting completely matched that of the materials.
Such neat and tidy handwriting coming from a child…
“Isn’t this copied from somewhere?”
“How much are you trying to insult me?”
As Luke’s expression turned icy, James cleared his throat and looked away.
“It seems you’re really that ‘Luke Irushi.'”
He had expected to see a more elderly academic figure, but the reality was drastically different.
While he appeared sharp, he was only 10 years old.
The moment James first saw the child, he had hypothesized that behind this child was a renowned academic known as ‘Luke Irushi’ who taught him.
Yet this child claimed that the materials were written by himself, and James had asked him to prove it.
But having just demonstrated it with his handwriting right before his eyes, it was difficult to refute any further.
Especially, what Luke had just argued about Zephyr perfectly aligned with the materials he had received.
Since it was a hypothesis he had never seen before, it could be said that there was no possibility of copying from somewhere.
In that case, could it really be true that this girl wrote the materials…?
“You were indeed that ‘Luke Irushi…'”
Now it became clear why he had used a pseudonym.
In the form of a 10-year-old girl, it was evident that making a public presentation in academia would only lead to ridicule.
The depth and credibility of the material would be completely forgotten.
Thus, sending the materials anonymously would have made it seem far more credible.
Indeed, when the author of the materials is unknown, the persuasive power is tremendous.
James decided not to deceive himself.
This child is 10 years old and has persuaded him with the materials.
That fact cannot change.
“How did you investigate those materials?”
“Through observation and analysis.”
“Well… observation and analysis?”
If that is true, it must have been an exceptionally excellent observation.
Being able to make such deductions based solely on fossils and currently known materials is a magnificent talent, not just as a scholar of magical beasts but also as an archaeologist.
Whether this will remain a conjecture or be accepted into academia as canon is still too early to say, but if this claim turns out to be true, the field of magical beasts may enter a new phase.
Why did magical beasts behave in ways that were completely inconsistent with the forms and designs of their bodies?
Why were traces of fur found on magical beasts that were designed to have no fur?
Why did the internal organs of magical beasts with carnivorous characteristics resemble those of herbivores…?
If Luke’s speculation about the Zephyr case turns out to be correct, it could be worthy of a ‘Drac Award.’
“So, what happened to Luke?”
Yerna asked, still bewildered, caught between Luke and James.
She understood that some conversation regarding magical beasts was going on, but…
What could a magical beast scholar possibly want to talk about with Luke?
‘I heard from the side but still don’t quite understand. Has Luke done something amazing again?’
What sort of document did he send, anyway?
A sketch of a magical beast?
‘He does draw magical beasts really well…’
Was he at that point where he could have a private talk with a magical beast scholar?
“So what is all of this about?”
“So, what happened?”
Yerna and Dayton were still perplexed.
James decided to pay a bit more attention to the two who felt left out.
“Were you the guardian of this child? Is she your daughter? Are you perhaps a couple?”
Seeing the elf, human, and Hyun together, James thought it was a rather peculiar family situation, and when he asked, Yerna appeared visibly flustered and waved her hands.
“N-No, she’s not my daughter! She’s my guardian, my guardian!”
Dayton shouted, equally flustered.
“Y-Yes, that’s true. It’s not that we are a couple! Yerna’s the guardian! I’m just a colleague!”
“Just a colleague?”
“I misspoke!”
——–
“Is that really true? Was it that significant?”
It seems that what Luke sent was not just some ordinary fan letter.
Yerna, who couldn’t see the contents, was astonished.
The image of Luke diligently scratching letters onto the paper was incredibly cute. She had been curious about the content and felt regretful when he told her that he had already sent it off alone without showing it to her.
‘I thought it would be some childish content, like which magical beast is nice or something…’
It seems her expectations were far off.
“Yes. That’s correct. This represents a completely new perspective. The materials on the ecology of the Demon Realm must rely entirely on imagination. There’s very little remaining information.”
“I see….”
“And in the aspects of the ecology of the Demon Realm and the principles of the behavior of magical beasts, the opinions expressed by this child are very persuasive.”
“Ah….”
“And if this turns out to be true later on, academia may be turned upside down. It might even be worthy of a ‘Drac Award.'”
“Eh?!”
“Because it’s such an astonishing discovery. Considering the numerous ripple effects that could arise from this hypothesis, it’s inevitable.”
James’s eyes shone brightly like a child.
The expression of a scholar whose heart is ignited with passion.
Restoring the countless materials and histories lost after that ‘Forgotten Battle’ 3000 years ago is a desire shared by many scholars. Yerna was not unaware of that.
But it being at such a level?
“Luke, what on earth did you do?”
“I just stated the facts.”
With a shrug, Luke wore an incredibly nonchalant expression without a hint of worry.
As if what he was claiming was undeniably the truth.
“So, Luke Irushi, was that really your real name? Not a pseudonym?”
“That’s right, didn’t I tell you from the very beginning?”
James glanced at Yerna.
Yerna nodded in a somewhat troubled manner, affirming that it was true.
Whether the name recalled by the child was real or fake, the identity has indeed been established as such.
“I understand. Luke Irushi. Here’s what I want to propose.”
James said.
“I want to invite you to my research lab. What do you say?”
“Oh? To your research lab?”
An archaeologist’s research lab? That does sound quite appealing.
Perhaps he might find clues regarding his own body there.
“Let’s exchange contact information for now.”
Luke took out his cellphone from his pocket in less than a second.
“Haha! You have quite a refreshing personality, don’t you?”
After exchanging contact information, Luke checked his phone and suddenly looked up.
“Oh, I have two questions I want to ask. James, do you know anything about magical beasts in the form of cats?”
“A cat? Well, I don’t think any magical beast like that has been discovered yet… Is it based on some kind of evidence?”
Luke shook his head.
There was no proof apart from memories regarding it.
There’s no method other than bringing back the memories.
“Hmm, if there’s none, that’s fine. The second question is this.”
“What is it?”
“Does the Drac Award count as a recognized achievement by the Academy?”
“…?”
What kind of question is this child asking?
In place of James, who was left speechless, Dayton replied in a dazed voice.
“The Drac Award is a global award. Anyone who receives it makes their name known worldwide.”
It is a prestigious global award given by the Drac Foundation, which is supported by sponsors from around the world, to those who have achieved significant academic accomplishments.
It would hold no meaning to be recognized as an achievement by a mere academy.
“Hmm, I see?”
Then it would mean that receiving just one award would grant recognition.
They say the more outside accolades, the better… so perhaps I should start with one for now.
Seeing Luke with a refreshing expression, James broke out in a cold sweat.
To consider receiving the Drac Award as an achievement by an academy is the craziest thing he has ever heard.
‘What on earth has happened to the entrance examination system in this country?’
James lamented the child’s impressions.
———
Serena, with a sulky face, asked Shirud, who was trailing back alone, if something had happened.
“Oh dear, why are you coming back alone? Did something go wrong?”
“Luke just left on his own.”
“What? Why?”
“He said he has something to discuss with the magical beast scholar. He left with his guardian. I thought it would be boring to tag along, so I came back.”
“Is… that so?”
Serena sighed.
Could it be that the expected failure truly occurred?
The meeting had been set up to bring them closer, but Luke dashed off to talk to a magical beast scholar instead…
It seems he liked magical beasts far more than she had expected.
