Cardboard Houses Do Not Tear

116 – Research Ethics (readability fix!)

Silence fell over the treehouse.

It was because of a rather unexpected proposal brought about by Professor Jackson’s occupational disease.

But it was rather good.

Because the binding magic was still entangling my body, and the blue light was still shimmering in the wand in front of me.

It is unknown whether Prianian has settled there.

There was no need to refuse, so I opened my mouth.

“I will.”

“Good choice. It’s a good opportunity to hear knowledge that can’t be heard anywhere else.”

Professor Jackson took a step closer with a satisfied smile.

Jerbug.

His steps were rather slow.

In that relaxed atmosphere, confidence in one’s own skills could be seen.

“I’ll keep it short. I can’t afford to spend too much time on someone who’s about to die.”

With that said, Professor Jackson went straight to the point.

“People tend to seek convenience, and I think magic is the best way to satisfy that desire. Life magic is a study that focuses on the convenience of daily life.”

“I see.”

It was information I really didn’t want to know, but it had to be the information I wanted to know the most in order to live.

He seemed satisfied when he got lucky like that.

“Existing magic can use mana or use magic tools. That’s why life magic is for everyone, but it has a paradox that not everyone can use it.”

The professor, who continued to talk about life magic, soon stated the goal of the experiment he wanted to do.

“To solve such difficulties, I am researching to create life magic that uses life force instead of mana. It is the way to a better future, and I can be said to be a pioneer on that path.”

The voice was calm. There was no madness or laughter to follow.

That calm face seemed to just say the obvious.

“Think of it. Everyone gets a little more tired and more convenient in life. A pioneer who embodies a new way of magic. A future where a statue of Terwin Jackson is erected in the plaza of British University.”

He closed his eyes and spread his arms wide. And chattered

“This isn’t just for myself. I’m doing this for everyday convenience, for the future of magic.”

The feeble joy in that voice led me to guess that he was being welcomed in his imaginary visions.

“A little tired?”

Then he opened his eyes and answered me.

“To be precise, it will be a bit tiring. If you use it frequently, there may be minor problems that may shorten its lifespan. But instead, your life will be comfortable.”

I felt dizzy.

“Any other questions?”

A lot.

But, at least for now, instead of asking those questions, I had to take my time.

“Why did you go to graduate school?”

“Because they’re always tired. If they’re a little more tired, no one will know.”

“How successful have you been?”

Professor Jackson could not answer.

It’s just ‘a bit of trial and error’. It was just more or less candid bullsh*t and less candid bullsh*t.

“But I believe it will be possible if I cast a gathering spell on the Breeze House again to gather more vitality.”

What is the difference between a black magician and a black magician who extracts a person’s vitality without permission and consumes it in an impossible experiment?

In response to that unethical action, I put forward a heartfelt question.

“Professor, since I am about to die, I will ask you one question.”

“As much as you like.”

“Why didn’t you go crazy?”

Hearing that, he was not angry.

I just came up with the dog poop philosophy that I take for granted as an answer.

“Some pioneers used to be called lunatics. And it was always those who called them lunatics who benefited from it.”

After answering, he said with a smile on his face.

“It has always been, but unfortunately you will not be included.”

Looking at that maddening smile, the arm holding Taji trembled slightly.

The magic of restraint had begun to break.

My words came out rather harshly, as if the restraints on my tongue had also been released.

“Is that why you put a curse on Breeze House? You use black magic to gather people’s vitality so that they become toys for your mischief.”

“Be careful with your words. It’s not black magic, it’s a spell based on experimentation to create a better way of life magic.”

The completely insane professor started to justify himself like that.

“For the sake of a better magic future, shouldn’t we take this much damage to create magic that can be useful in life with a little fatigue?”

“This much damage?”

I don’t know if the better future he’s talking about is the future of magic or his own.

At least now, looking at the blurred face in front of me and the sophistry, the latter was definitely not the case.

“Progress always comes with sacrifice. The knife you are wearing also evolved as you killed someone.”

“What did you sacrifice when you created the magic to repair the plumbing? A graduate student? Or your time talking bullsh*t?”

Now, the sense of resistance that entangled my whole body was slowly loosening. But it was still far off.

I asked him, trying not to show it as much as possible.

“Is that why you dabbled in dark magic? For that uncertain method?”

“Curse is the only spell that can extract the vitality as intact as possible. I did my best.”

A rebuttal immediately came from the slightly blurred face.

“And I don’t know about you, but scholars are tired people anyway. When they get a little more tired, magic is just a step forward. Effective.”

It was sophistry.

There was no trace of fatigue on his face when he said that.

Although the face of Gordon next to me is still tired.

Seeing my gaze on him, Professor Jackson turned to Gordon.

“Come to think of it, this guy did a pretty big job.”

Tuk, tok.

He tapped Gordon on the shoulder, who was sitting next to him.

“I went all the way to the Forbidden Book section, retrieved the curse, did all the other trivial things, and even arranged the repair magic to reinforce it, so it’s really like I’ve made a good disciple.”

“Why the hell?”

What he asked me to do was nothing but bullsh*t.

To the point where I can’t understand why Gordon did it that way.

“There is a saying that knowledge is power. But that’s only half true.”

Professor Jackson shook his head.

“First knowledge is power. That’s the way to live long. Whether it’s this friend or his family resting in bed.”

Only then did I understand, to some extent, why Gordon had to go so far.

The shackles that were put on the baby elephant’s ankles were moved to the ankles of the family members instead of being undone.

“Anyway, unfortunately, I couldn’t put that friend’s name in, so I went in with the producer’s name…”

Shortly speaking, Professor Jackson looked at Gordon.

“What can I do? We’re on the same boat, aren’t we?”

Looking more tired than before, he nodded slowly.

It was an act that made me feel insecure for some reason.

“What the hell did you do to Gordon?”

“Ah. There’s no need to worry. It’s just that they made me place a curse around here. That seems a bit burdensome.”

As if it were a trivial matter, Professor Jackson said calmly.

With that, he briefly took something out of his pocket, held it, and put it back.

“I’m sorry, but I have a reputation, so it would be very embarrassing if it was known that I had been in contact with dark magic or something. So I decided to have Gordon do this as well.”

After saying that, Professor Jackson touched the collar around his neck as if he was stuffy, then looked behind him for a moment.

It was clear to see a strange contraption in the corner.

“I think I’ve been filled with vitality to some extent, and now I have to say goodbye.”

He looked at me again and said.

“Anyway, the research goes like this, and as usual, people receive the benefits and praise me, and that’s it. Of course, you can’t do that anymore.”

Professor Jackson slowly raised his wand and pointed it at me.

“Goodbye. Shoot.”

From noble mtl dot com

An ice pick flew along with the starter fish.

The renegade’s sharp lump was fired at my belly.

Since the restraints were not completely released yet, the only thing I could do was to shake my stiffened arms as much as I could to resist.

-Tung!

A crossbow was fired from behind the door.

Bolt didn’t block the ice pick.

It was just that, as if it were supposed to, it was shooting past me and in front of me.

I felt something grabbing my collar from behind me.

I felt the impact on the shield at the same time as my body leaned.

With the sound of tuong, an ice awl was seen obliquely embedded in the tarp.

The sound of grasshoppers chirping and crossbows being loaded came from behind.

When I slightly turned my head, the young lady who had followed me and pulled me back with her hand muttered quietly.

“Ummm.”

Dalgrak.

From inside the house, I heard a dull sound of bolts rolling across the floor.

The young lady pushed me forward again and hid in the darkness again, and I looked forward again.

I saw Gordon, who was bleeding from his nose and lowered his head, and Professor Jackson, who blocked Prianian’s sniping with a shield.

As if I had managed to block it, the professor exhaled slightly and looked at me and said.

“Oops, wasn’t it just one person?”

“It’s an ice pick. It’s already hot, but they gave you something like this. It’s a magic that’s really helpful in life.”

I was completely free from my restraints, and I pointed at the block of ice that slanted through my shield and said,

I didn’t have to show him any more respect.

“By the way. Have you ever heard of research ethics? Professor Terwin Jackson?”

5 Years ago, when I was in graduate school, I had to listen to it at least once.

“What?”

The professor, whose face was now almost hidden, asked me back.

“No, maybe not.”

Inwardly I counted what he had done.

For human experimentation without voluntary consent, for plagiarism, and so on.

But all I can do is forget his face and all that bullsh*t.

That was the only solution a stranger could come up with.

“I have no intention of surrendering myself.”

“You have a knack for saying the obvious at length. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to use it any longer.”

The worthless discussion is over.

Sereung.

I drew my sword.

I blocked the door and said.

“One thing is for sure, you can’t get out of here alive.”

“Ah. I must have looked down on you for teaching life magic. To hear such a thing.”

He laughed incredulously and raised the wand.

“My dueling skills also played a part in my becoming an authority in the academic world.”

His wand started to emit a blue light again, and he felt an unusual chill.

“I am Terwin Jackson.”

Professor Jackson, or rather Jackson, said with a sneering mouth.

“I think it’s your turn to tell me your name now.”

“Who am I?”

I took my position slowly.

I answered the completely blurred face, holding on to the means of communication that I had become accustomed to.

“It’s a copy killer. You’re not even a dog.”