Sumeru, the Akademiya.
As Acting Great Sage, Alhaitham had long since moved into the Great Sage's office. Although it was larger and more luxurious than his office as Scribe, he was already beginning to miss his little office.
Sitting here meant officials would come to him every so often with piles of troublesome matters for his approval, eating into his leisure time.
Just as he had expected, the position of Great Sage of the Akademiya was a thankless job that required coordinating the Six Great Darshans. Allocating each Darshan's annual research funding, personnel changes, policymaking, and so on-often, the most trivial matters warranted a special meeting, sometimes even two.
No wonder scholars throughout the ages had produced virtually no research results after becoming Sages. With all their energy spent on petty maneuvering every day, how could they have any left to settle down and conduct research?
Just now, for instance, Alhaitham had been staring blankly at the invitation on his desk. The Inazuma Regent had sent it, inviting him to attend his wedding in Inazuma and, while there, exchange views with the leaders of the other three nations.
Alhaitham had originally thought those were merely pleasantries he had offered to Lesser Lord Kusanali. He had not expected them to become reality.
Alhaitham was unimpressed by Yucheng's invitation. How was traveling across the ocean to Inazuma on business any different from working overtime on the weekend?
But Lesser Lord Kusanali had already settled the matter, and he would soon accompany her to Inazuma for the occasion. Alhaitham glanced at the list of those accompanying them and noticed an unfamiliar name.
Alhaitham muttered, "Scaramouche... who's that? A Vahumana scholar specializing in Inazuman history? Why don't I remember him at all?"
Inazuma.
Ever since the official announcement that their Regent would be