Translator: Yang_Wenli
“The Sage Parliament actually had a direct evaluation of the magic network? That’s a surprise to me.”
After listening to the matter about the Sage Parliament from Gray Mage, Joshua discovered that what he was worried about the most, the magic network, seemed to have been approved by the Seven Sages.
“This is nothing to be surprised by,” Gray Mage opened his magic network. Multiple magic network interfaces appeared around the Gray Mage, completely surrounding the old man.
It was possible to open multiple magic network interfaces simultaneously. However, that was a function Joshua did not teach anyone. Nevertheless, this Sage had managed to discover that function on his own.
All hundred-plus interfaces surrounding Gray Mage Lursk were showing different posts from the Mage Forum. He moved his aged finger and rapidly trapped on the interfaces.
A large quantity of writings appeared beneath the posts. When Gray Mage waved his hand again, the magic network interface that was emitting a light blue radiance transformed into specks of lights and disappeared.
At this moment, Joshua realized how ‘Ash-colored Owl’ was capable of becoming the user with the greatest number of replies on the Mage Forum.
Ordinary mages were only able to use a single ‘monitor’ while accessing the Mage Forum. But, this old man was using over a hundred monitors to access the Mage Forum simultaneously. It was simply incomparable.
“Ever since the magic network and the Mage Forum appeared, I would skim the ‘letters’ posted by others on the forum every so often. It has pretty much become a habit of mine now,” said Gray Mage.
“Ah... I can tell.”
An ordinary person wouldn’t possibly open over a hundred windows just to skim the forum...
“Although I’m a bit ashamed when speaking of it,” Gray Mage extended his hand and rubbed the owl standing on his shoulder, “If the magic network is to disappear now, if I must return to the period of time of the Owl Penpal Society and use written letters to engage in discussions, it would drive me insane.”
Joshua was practically certain that this Sage has been inflicted with the legendary illness, ‘forum poisoning.’ Furthermore, it seems that he has been poisoned beyond cure. The other users of the Mage Forum have also, to a greater or lesser extent, been inflicted with the ‘forum poisoning’ too. Waking up in the morning to immediately check the forum for any new messages or posts on the major ‘camps’ has become a habit for many citizens of Norland already.
“I believe this must also be the reason why the Sages were unwilling to abolish the Mage Forum,” said Joshua.
It was no different from how it was impossible for anyone to prohibit people from drinking and eating. Of course, there existed tyrants that would take drastic measures. Fortunately, the people in charge of Norland were not tyrants. Instead, they were a bunch of wise Sages.
“But, Croshere wanted to put a ban to the arcanotech device called ‘television.’”
Gray Mage Lursk finally revealed his purpose in visiting. He shook his head in a helpless manner.
“The ‘television’ in the magic arena has indeed affected the young mages. Whether it be my magic academy or the other three magic academies, a large quantity of our students has started skipping classes.”
“All to watch the television programs?”
Joshua was surprised after listening to what Gray Mage said. He never anticipated for the appearance of televisions to create such a great disturbance.
Joshua was expecting for ‘mass class-skipping’ from students to only appear after ‘internet cafes’ appeared. But, the students of this world were too susceptible to temptations. After all, television was a form of entertainment that exceeded this era.
“The situation this afternoon was the most severe. Many students even ran out of their classes in the middle of their professors’ lectures. This is something that has never occurred in the Advanced Magic Academies.”
“About that...” Joshua was certain that it was caused by the announcement of the ‘Beauty and the Demon’ short film.
“But, Gray Mage, students skipping classes shouldn’t be the responsibility of the educational institute, no?” Joshua was not planning to take the blame.
“Yesterday, Croshere, the person known as Yellow Mage, discovered a new rune inscription. It was a huge discovery. But, when he was planning to announce his discovery, no one bothered to go to his lecture hall.”
“They all ran to watch television?” Joshua was able to guess where all Croshere’s students went.
“Correct.”
Gray Mage sighed with a sense of loss. This Sage was wholeheartedly feeling sympathy for his friend.
“I can understand Croshere’s anger. If the result of my lifetime’s research was ignored by everyone, if my students ran away to listen to a bunch of opera singers’ sung performances, I will feel extremely frustrated too.”
As a Sage, Gray Mage should be standing alongside his friend. But, the magic network had transformed his outdated viewpoints. Programming had opened a whole new door to him. And, all of those were brought upon by the person before him.
“Croshere is extremely stubborn and cared a whole lot about his reputation. Worse yet, he was once in charge of Norland’s Law Enforcers. Although he had retired from that position for many years now, he remains as the greatly respected teacher of the mages of the Law Enforcement Department,” Gray Mage Lursk’s tone became serious again when he mentioned these things.
“Joshua, I will not be able to shield you again like last time... Croshere has joined hands with two other Sages. Their authority far surpassed my own. Even though Croshere knew this would ruin his reputation, he’s serious this time around.”
“It does sound very problematic...”
If Ciri was present, she might say something like ‘Congratulations on provoking three of Norland’s field bosses at once.’
“But, it’s a problem that’s easy to solve.”
Joshua found a piece of paper and a pen in the Noiseless Room. He started writing on them.
“Easy to solve?”
Gray Mage wanted to warn the young man before him that Norland’s Law Enforcers were not that easy to handle. But, once he saw the words Joshua wrote on the paper, ‘Sage Thought Forum,’ he suddenly realized what Joshua was thinking.
“As you can see, even though ‘televisions’ are now spread all over Norland, I do not have enough television programs to do full-day broadcasts.”
Beneath the ‘Sage Thought Forum,’ Joshua wrote ‘Mage Assembly.’
“Because of that, I need to prepare more programs for the audiences. Gray Mage, you couldn’t possibly be thinking that only the sung performances from opera singers or the acting performances from actors could be broadcasted on television, right?”
“That was what I once thought. I believe Croshere and the others must be thinking that way too...”
“The usage of television is not limited to only providing entertainment. It is also capable of being used to spread knowledge... The Sages of Norland aren’t stingy enough to refuse to share their knowledge with the citizens of Norland, right?”
Joshua felt that it was feasible to create a program similar to the ‘Lecture Room’ television program from Earth. Elders sharing their knowledge and experience on television. He was certain that it would be well-received in the Capital of Magic, Norland, a place that reveres knowledge.
“Only a portion of the Sages will be that liberal. But, I believe that Croshere will be delighted to share his findings with the citizens of Norland,” Gray Mage accepted the program outline Joshua handed toward him. Only a couple simple program names were written on them.
But, the program outline was equivalent to an invitation. It was inviting the old conversative mages of Norland to step into the media of the new era.
“Do you need me to pass this to Croshere?” asked Gray Mage.
“It’s better that I inform him myself,” Joshua was not planning to let this opportunity slip away. Norland was his reliable ally. Joshua felt that there was a need for him to get to know all the Sages.