The Star Map's Summons

In the end, Benjamin left the rune research group deeply shaken.

To be honest, human experimentation was permissible in this era, when ethics were not so stringent. But conducting experiments on one's own body was not something an ordinary person could bring themselves to do.

"Even if we don't do this, our lives are nearly at an end. Since that's the case, why not try something new? Perhaps only this way can we see the true form of magic before we die."

That was the old mage's explanation.

Benjamin could understand it as well. The mages gathered here to study runes were mostly in their seventies or eighties, trapped at a bottleneck with no path forward, able only to count down their days and wait for death. And when a possible way out appeared before them, they would certainly be willing to sacrifice everything for it.

This approach was indeed rather extreme. People had already died before, and more might continue to die in the future, but Benjamin found it difficult to stop them. These people were not his subordinates to begin with, nor had they truly joined the academy. At most, they were borrowing a place to conduct research. Even if their research ideals diverged from Benjamin's, he had no right to force them to do anything.

Therefore, after unsuccessfully trying to persuade them a few times, he could only wish the old mages good luck before turning and leaving the laboratory.

Returning to his private residence as dean, Benjamin thought for a moment, then entered the Consciousness Space once more.

He had yet to personally try the rune formation they had developed earlier. Now that everything had settled down, he had finally found the time to test its effects!

Thus, in the pitch-black Consciousness Space, Benjamin closed his