One year later.
The anti-star weapon was successfully launched.
That missile successfully shot into the core of an experimental star in the late stage of its life cycle, prematurely ending its life cycle and causing its collapse and self-destruction.
It is said that the explosion at the scene was extremely magnificent.
When Bai Luan learned this news, his first reaction was not happiness, but burnout.
What is burnout?
Burnout refers to—
Developing an anti-star weapon in one year, plus completing all fifty-two courses with Professor Ratio.
Either of these two things, taken alone, holds enough weight; together, they are pure gold.
Ever since he became Professor Ratio's assistant, the frequency of his classes no longer followed the school's pace.
Whenever Bai Luan learned something and confirmed his mastery, Professor Ratio would immediately start the next course.
Originally, as long as Bai Luan spoke up, Professor Ratio would give him a break.
But Bai Luan, wearing a mask, was Bai Luan with the enhancement of rationality; in this state, he was incredibly harsh on himself.
He compressed his rest time to the limit, continuing to work as long as it wasn't a situation where he was completely unable to continue studying and researching.
Bai Luan seemed to be insane, sanely and completely insane, pushing himself to the limit, just to take another step closer to being a genius.
Tired?
Numb with exhaustion!
Every time he took off the mask briefly during meals, Bai Luan had the impulse to never put it on again, but in the end, he would only sigh and put the mask back on.
Of course, this wasn't because Bai Luan was controlled by the mask, but because torturing himself like this indeed yielded gratifying results.
He had initially struggled to keep up with Professor Ratio, but later truly became like a genius assistant.
Even without the Little Black Room, he could probably be considered a genius now, couldn't he?
Bai Luan sat on the bed and took off his mask.
He no longer had to engage in a fierce internal struggle over whether to put the mask back on.
Burnt out.
Only pale ash remained.
Looking back at the past year, Bai Luan could only sum it up with these three words.
He could confidently say that, aside from necessary rest, he hadn't slacked off for even a second this year.
So he was truly burnt out; at least for a short time, he couldn't push himself that hard again.
The courses were completed, the anti-star weapon was developed, and all his missions at First University of Truth had come to an end.
Bai Luan put away the mask; next, he planned to relax for a while.
This feat even made Bai Luan a legend of First University of Truth.
Almost all students at First University of Truth publicly acknowledged Bai Luan as the strongest student of this cohort.
As for whether he was the strongest in history… since Doctor Truth and Bai Luan were both still alive, no one could say for sure.
However, Bai Luan didn't care about these things anymore; he just wanted to go out for a walk and find a quiet place to lie down for a day.
After much thought, Bai Luan still went to the track and field first.
Exercise had become a habit; he felt itchy all over if he didn't do it for a day.
After spending a little time completing his self-discipline tasks for the day, Bai Luan quietly lay down on the lawn of the track and field.
He looked at the sky for a while, lying on his back.
He watched a few clouds drift slowly, and in the blink of an eye, they seemed to have retreated, as if they had never moved.
Hmm,
It's all over.
Bai Luan closed his eyes in the middle of the track and field, completely unconcerned about others' gazes.
Around him, people flowed, stars shifted in the sky, but only he slept peacefully.
In a flash, the day slowly passed, and Bai Luan, who had slept for a day, opened his eyes.
He hadn't had such a deeply peaceful sleep in a very long time.
Bai Luan sat up contentedly, stretching lazily.
"If you didn't wake up, I would have thought you died here."
"Rare, Professor didn't criticize me for wasting time?"
"…"
Facing Bai Luan's teasing, Professor Ratio was silent for a moment, then said:
"What right do I have to criticize you? My purpose in coming here is the same as yours."
"You're here to relax too?"
Bai Luan turned around to face Professor Ratio, noticing that his expression was different from usual.
A faint sense of loss surrounded him.
Since the day Bai Luan met Professor Ratio, he had never seen such an expression on him.
The only thing that could make him show such emotion…
It was probably the failure to enter the Genius Society, wasn't it?
"Feeling down, Professor? The anti-star weapon has just been successfully launched; you've added another great achievement worth discussing in your life. What could be making you feel bad?"
"No matter how many achievements I attain, I am merely a mediocre person, just like that girl who voluntarily dropped out of class. Perhaps to outsiders, I am much smarter than her."
At this point, Professor Ratio's mouth curved into a self-mocking smile, and he said:
"Heh… Is it worth being happy that one mediocre person is smarter than another mediocre person?"
Bai Luan looked at Professor Ratio and said:
"Professor Ratio, Ms. Herta also received an invitation from the Interstellar Peace Company; at least in this matter, you two are the same."
"So what?"
Facing Bai Luan's attempt to console him, Professor Ratio immediately retorted sharply:
"Mediocre people and geniuses breathe in this world together, both have two legs, two hands, and two eyes. Does that mean mediocre people can stand shoulder to shoulder with geniuses?"
"I'm not comforting you, Professor; I'm just stating facts to you."
Bai Luan looked at Professor Ratio, unhurriedly, and explained with a smile:
"Geniuses also do things that mediocre people do; this is the privilege of willfulness that geniuses possess but mediocre people do not.
Geniuses have their way of life, and mediocre people have theirs. Geniuses can live as they please, but mediocre people have to be much more serious.
I am also a mediocre person. As a mediocre person, I don't have time to think about why I'm not a genius, or why Nous doesn't glance at me.
Because in this world, as a mediocre person, I need to live seriously."
Bai Luan looked up at the starry sky and said with a smile:
"Besides, the Genius Society only has over eighty seats in the entire universe. If these eighty-odd people were gone from the world, would it be destroyed?
As long as the world exists, it will slowly move forward. Perhaps mediocre people walk very slowly, but the position that a genius reaches, a mediocre person will definitely be able to reach, although it's unknown how much more time it will take than a genius.
I, this mediocre person, am very clumsy; my mind only thinks about slowly moving forward. Perhaps by the time a mediocre person catches up to a genius, the genius is no longer there, having gone to a farther place, and the person who reaches that position is no longer me…"
Bai Luan shifted his gaze from the starry sky to Professor Ratio and said with a smile:
"But what does that matter… I am honored to be a part of the countless footsteps along the way."
"Can mediocre people truly keep up with the pace of geniuses?"
"Professor Ratio, as long as it's not an event with zero probability, if you stretch time infinitely, it will definitely happen.
We… are always moving forward."
Bai Luan's tone was casual, yet it carried a convincing power.
But then, Bai Luan's next sentence greatly diminished that convincing feeling:
"I don't care if this statement is correct or not! If anyone refutes it! What others think simply doesn't matter; what matters is that I believe it!"
Professor Ratio looked at Bai Luan and suddenly laughed, first a chuckle, then it turned into a relieved burst of laughter:
"I didn't expect… I taught you fifty-two courses, but in the end, you taught me a lesson.
Hahaha, you are indeed the best student I have ever had."
Hearing the faint sense of loss disappear amidst the laughter, Bai Luan shrugged and said:
"You flatter me, Professor Ratio."
"I'm going to take back what I said before, Bai Luan."
"What did you say?"
"I once said you weren't like a genius, but now, I've changed my mind."
"Professor, it's fine if others are fooled by me, but don't you know me well enough?"
Professor Ratio slowly shook his head, his tone resolute, as if proclaiming an undeniable truth:
"Regardless of whether Nous ever cast His glance—
You are the… genius recognized by me, Veritas Ratio."
Bai Luan was stunned for a moment.
His purpose in coming here was to become a genius.
Had he, already, graduated?
He slowly, deeply, took a breath.
Then, his lips curved into a smile that was almost unrestrained, yet incredibly genuine:
"In that case—
Then this title of 'genius'… I, Bai Luan, accept it!"