……Meanwhile, Epherene of the “Hall” was competing with pebbles.
The atmosphere in the area was nothing but silence and concentration.
Drent and Rogerio, Creto and Luina, and even the red-furred munchkin all held their breath as they stared at Epherene’s finger.
Gulp—
The sound of someone swallowing rang out loudly.
Had the insides of her body turned into thin ice? It felt so unstable that it might crack apart at any moment.
Ominous.
But nothing would change by wasting time in this state of anxiety.
Before the sweat beading at her temples could run down, Epherene, wearing the most nervous expression in the world, pulled back her finger.
“Whew…….”
The name of this competition was “Pebble Flicking.” It was a game of flicking pebbles across the research table.
Magic or mana could not be involved; only skill mattered, and the person whose pebble traveled the farthest took first place.
“……Hup!”
With a shout, Epherene fired off her index finger. The pebble shot far into the distance in an instant.
“Please!”
However, simply going in a straight line was not necessarily good. If it fell off the table, that was called a fall, and everything was for nothing.
It meant going straight to last place.
“Please, please……!”
Epherene clasped her hands together and prayed for her pebble’s success. She had even given it the affectionate nickname “Leaf,” carrying all that love and hope.
In fact, on the surface of the pebble was a name tag that read “Leaf”…….
“Ah! Ah! Ah!”
“No! Stop! Stop, you bastard!”
Had it understood her feelings?
“Leaf,” which had been rolling along, overtook Rogerio, the previous first-place holder, and settled splendidly almost at the very edge of the table.
“I did iiiiiit!”
Epherene threw both arms into the air.
“First place! I’m first! First, first!”
As she hopped up and down, cheering, Rogerio roughly ruffled his own hair.
“Ah, shit. Hey. Take it.”
Then he handed his research materials to Epherene.
“Here. Congratulations on first place.”
“Mine probably won’t help much, but I’ll give it to you anyway.”
“Ahem. Here. Take it.”
Luina, Drent, and Creto did the same.
“Thaaanks~”
Epherene chuckled as she received copies of all the research they had done so far.
That was the wager: “winner takes all the research materials.”
“But it’d be kind of unfair if I were the only one to receive anything. I’ll share what I studied with all of you too~”
Epherene handed out her own study materials to the four of them. None of them refused. That was how difficult Deculein’s test was.
“Right. Well, I don’t know whether it’ll be any help.”
“Thank you~”
Luina smiled brightly and put on her coat. Epherene tilted her head.
“Where are you going?”
“Mm. We’re allowed to go outside, aren’t we? It’s about time to start preparing for the project.”
At Luina’s words, a thought belatedly occurred to Epherene.
“……Aha~ The Chief Planning Officer’s project inspection?”
“Mm. That. Professors have been really busy because of it lately. Huhut. I’ll finish quickly and be right back.”
* * *
The top floor of the Magic Tower. The Chairwoman’s office.
Just before beginning my work as Chief Planning Officer, I was summoned by the Chairwoman.
“Oh, right! The Chief Planning Officer’s project inspection starts today, doesn’t it!”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“I’m expecting a lot! Ever since Professor Deculein became Chief Planning Officer, the Magic Tower’s net profits have increased quite a bit!”
“Not yet. The real beginning will probably be next year.”
“I see! I’ll be watching from afar too! ……Ah, right! That test this time was very fun! You set another good test!”
Adrienne said. Her face was beaming.
“I wanted to try it too! But the mages wouldn’t lend me a pebble! I guess they thought I’d break it! I really almost did, though!”
“I see.”
Since my talent was “Manipulation,” it seemed the pebbles had been designed to resist manipulation-type interference.
Therefore, refusing to lend one to her was the correct choice. They would not be able to withstand Adrienne’s destructive magic.
“Oh! Speaking of tests—”
“It is not an official test.”
“Oh, is that so. Anyway, ah, seriously! Don’t interrupt me!”
Adrienne struck the table and glared. I gave a faint nod.
Fairies hated the feeling of being “ignored” most of all, and it seemed I had treated her a little carelessly. With Adrienne, one only had to avoid crossing that particular line.
“I shall simply listen.”
“……Good! Anyway! Speaking of tests! Are you ready for the final test to become Chairperson?!”
Adrienne held out a paper. It was an official document stamped with the Chairwoman’s seal.
[Final Mission: Defense of the Far North]
“Defense of the far north.”
“Yes! Not just the north, but the far north! The extremely difficult far north! You’ll be there for two to three months!”
At the same time as Adrienne said that, a quest notification appeared.
[Job Quest: Ascension to Chairperson]
◆ Acquire the title “Chairperson.”
◆ Rare Trait Catalog
“…….”
Rare Trait Catalog.
I calmly settled my mind. In a way, it was an obvious reward.
Taking office as Chairperson could be considered a second-grade achievement in the magical world, so of course it was only right to give at least a rare trait.
“What is it~? Are you afraid~? Well, I suppose! You might even meet a ti~ger! A ti~ger, I said, a tiiiiiiger~”
A tiger.
“Have you ever seen one yourself?”
“Huh? No! I haven’t! I heard rumors that Zeit fought a tiger and won, though!”
The humans of this continent had transcended humanity, but the tigers of this continent had transcended those transcendent humans.
It was no exaggeration; those creatures learned inner cultivation methods from birth.
Living in the mountains, they harbored mana purer than humans, and even acquired sharp intelligence and cunning schemes.
Therefore, among tigers, the especially gifted individuals—Great Tigers.
Or in the case of a Mountain Lord, one that occupied and ruled an entire mountain.
They were called heroes among the mountains, and even Adrienne could not dare guarantee victory against one.
“If it picked a fight, I’d fight! Even if it were a Great Tiger!”
“……A Great Tiger does not pick fights with humans first. In human terms, it is an immortal sage who has transcended far beyond and merely observes.”
“Oho~! How would you know that?!”
The Chairwoman wriggled her eyebrows with a pleased look. I shrugged and said,
“……In any case, I will accept this mission.”
With this, the trait was decided.
The far north.
There, I truly might encounter a tiger calamity, and it was certain that clearing the quest would grant me another 「Rare Trait Catalog」. Thus the conclusion was 「Duct Tape」, which would immediately be of help in the north.
“Good! Bang, bang! Confirmed! No take-backs!!”
“Yes. Then I shall be on my way to carry out my duties as Chief Planning Officer.”
“Yes!”
Adrienne smiled brightly. I turned around and got into the elevator.
“Take care~!”
Bowing my head to the grinning Adrienne, I took out the 「Rare Trait Catalog」.
Riiiip—! By tearing it, I selected the trait.
[Acquired Rare Trait: 「Duct Tape」]
A satisfying acquisition notification.
I felt the trait filling my body…… that is, the energy of “tape.”
* * *
Winter in the Imperial Magic Tower was slowly heating up. Especially from the top down.
For the students, it was enough to prepare for finals, but the faculty had to write, inspect, and prepare presentations for the “project reports” they would submit to Deculein.
“……We do not know what questions he will ask, so make it as flawless as possible.”
Professor Relin’s office. Relin repeatedly emphasized this to his assistants and assistant professors.
One of Relin’s direct assistant professors asked,
“Yes. However, there are already many teams waiting from now on. When should we apply?”
Chief Planning Officer Deculein would probably review around a hundred teams.
Every project currently in progress or newly beginning—whether it concerned the birth of life or the extension of one’s remaining years—depended on Deculein’s hand.
“I will speak with the Head Professor separately and arrange it. You need not worry. I will secure as good a date as possible.”
Relin spoke as if subtly implying, “I am in Deculein’s line.”
““Yes.””
His subordinates nodded in satisfaction as well. In the society of the Magic Tower, what connections one’s supervising professor held was also important.
Of course, being “directly” under Deculein was honestly far too burdensome, and the feeling that it was like a pit of evil still remained, but an “indirect line” secured by their supervising professor could certainly be called a golden rope.
Relin swept his gaze over each of them with a deliberately concerned look.
“……Work hard. I would like to help, but I must go take the Head Professor’s test.”
As Relin said that, he wore the sternest expression in the world. The assistant professors and assistants felt proud of that aspect of their supervising professor.
“Yes. We wish you luck, Professor.”
Deculein’s test. Recently, it had become the greatest event in the Magic Tower.
Of course, compiling the white paper for a magic project was also important, but the status of this test was far beyond that.
After all, numerous talents were racking their brains over it, including Aether Rogerio, Astal the addict of the Floating Island, Grand Prince Creto, Imperial Palace–exclusive mages, and more.
“Good. I will be going.”
“Yes.”
Relin set out with the solemn resolve of a general heading to the battlefield.
…….
Today, there was a long line outside the [Chief Planning Officer’s Office].
They were all teams of professors who had come to submit their achievements for the year and receive approval for new projects.
—Let’s practice one more time! The topic of our project, “Compression and Liquefaction of Mana Stones,” is…….
—No, the expected questions. Give me the expected question sheet.
—You all memorized it, right? Today is really important. If you fumble, all of your careers will get tangled up.
Since each professor was accompanied by at least five or six team members, there was a great deal of murmuring.
“Whew…… Professorrr! Are you, are you readyyy?!”
Allen, who had cracked the door open to check the scene, straightened his back and asked.
“……It seems you are the one who needs to be ready.”
“Ah, I’m fine! And how is the test progressing?!”
“I do not know either.”
It was not a test in the first place. Since I had another test prepared, and I had never called this a test, the “real test” four weeks later would proceed as scheduled.
From the students’ perspective, it would mean taking tests twice in a row, but well.
What of it?
“There are thirteen teams today, correct?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Allen held out the roster and reports. They were all documents submitted by the teams waiting outside.
“Hmm.”
I examined each one with 「Comprehension」 and 「Great Tycoon」.
If there were gaps, I would point them all out; if there was no utility, I would indicate that. But if I saw potential, I intended to give them sufficient time.
“Good. Tell them to come in one team at a time.”
“Yes.”
Allen opened the office door. The corridor was still filled with murmuring.
“The first team, please come in!”
At that shout, all the noise stopped abruptly.
Soon, the first team entered.
“Good day, sir……!”
The mage bowing her head was a face I was seeing for the first time today.
A cute-looking female mage. Her team members numbered five: three men and two women.
I asked calmly,
“Name.”
“I am Marone of Lumiere rank! I am currently serving as a new professor!”
“…….”
Marone.
A name that belonged among the somewhat named characters. If Epherene and Sylvia were five-star, this one was around three to four stars.
“Pleased to meet you. Let us get straight to the point. The topic of the paper you submitted is…….”
“「Compression and Liquefaction of Mana Stones」!”
Marone shouted loudly.
She looked full of confidence, but there were many holes in the actual report and paper.
“Good. I will begin with questions.”
“Yes, sir!”
“The idea itself is novel.”
The idea of “liquefying mana stones” was naturally novel. One of the major reasons petroleum replaced coal on Earth was also the difference between liquid and solid.
“Ah! Thank you, overwhelm—”
“However, no matter how liquid a resource may be, if it cannot produce the minimum output, it is instead inefficient.”
I drew a formula in the air with mana.
“Look. This is the formula section on page nine of your paper. If mana stones are liquefied according to this calculation and formula, the maximum output will only reach 73% of existing mana stones.”
“Yes? We haven’t reached a concrete conclusion yet. And we believe it will be at least 90% or higher.”
Marone looked puzzled.
“No. Look. The calculation continues like this.”
I unfolded the operations and calculations of the formula with mana. Marone and her team members stared blankly as they followed the process.
“73%. Even including margin of error, it does not exceed 75%.”
“Umm…… Still, if we adjust the formula, at minimum, 90%—”
“Even 90% is a problem. How do you plan to make up for a 10% loss?”
“……That much is certain. Reduced transportation costs! Rather than transporting ten tons of mana stones, if we transport this liquefied mana stone—”
“Think. Use your head.”
I tapped my temple with my finger.
“Completing this research alone will require at least 500 million Elne in support. It is research that literally devours mana stones. Also, in order to liquefy and transport the mana stones, a mage would have to be stationed separately at the mana stone mine. They would consume those same mana stones as a medium in order to liquefy them. While being paid for it, of course.”
“U-Um……”
Sweat beaded on Marone’s forehead. Her complexion darkened. The expressions of the other team members were not much different.
“To cover all those costs…… the output would have to be guaranteed at a minimum of over 120%.”
“O-One hundred and twenty—”
“That is the minimum. Do you have a plan?”
“Pardon?”
“You don’t.”
“Ah.”
“If you don’t, what do you intend to do?”
“Pardon?”
“Have you not even thought about it?”
“Ah.”
“Is there nothing you can say besides ‘pardon’ and ‘ah’?”
Marone and her team members looked as if they had run into an enormous reef. It seemed this was the first time in their lives they had faced such pressure.
Gulp— gulp—
For some reason, Allen nearby was swallowing along with them.
“……I’m sorry.”
In the end, Marone lowered her head. She seemed disheartened, thinking this briefing had ended in ruin.
“It’s our project, yet you understand it even better than we do, Professor. Our abilities are still—”
“That isn’t the kind of answer you want.”
I placed my palm on the thesis.
“Do you have confidence?”
“……Pardooon?”
Marone’s eyes widened.
“The confidence to complete this research. The confidence to handle an output of over 120%.”
“……”
“If you do, I will support you myself. This idea is novel.”
At that, Marone clenched both fists. I added one more thing.
“Furthermore, if you come under me, I can also revise—”
“Yeees! I’m confideeeent!”
Marone shouted loudly. It was a cry worthy of a great man.
“I absolutely! Want to do it! I am Lumiere Marone! I swear it on my name!”
“……”
However, since I had yet to receive the most important answer, I silently twisted my lips.
“Good.”
I asked again, pretending to have no interest whatsoever.
“Furthermore, if you come under me, I can personally revise your work.”
“Ahhh! Is that so! Then we’ll definitely do that!”
As if they knew my infamy, Marone’s team members’ eyes bulged as though they would pop out, but Marone herself shouted again in the most resolute tone in the world.
“The only fellow professor who recognized our research is Chief Professor and Head of Planning Deculein! Even if we are mantises before a chariot, we will grind our bones to dust! With the resolve that to seek life is death——!”
Research that no one recognized……
Well, that is what it means to be “first.”
The order in which small fry, nothing more or less than discard cards, are pushed forward.
As soon as they leave this room, they will probably have the information about how the interview went sucked out of them first.
“Good. You pass.”
Thud—!
I stamped the report.
“Leave.”
“Thank you! Thank you!”
Marone bowed over and over as she left.
* * *
“Wow, I…… this is driving me crazy.”
Epherene was still absorbed in the pebble.
Her nose had bled several times, and she had even fainted once, but she was still blocked by a wall.
A wall sealed tight on every side.
If she could break through it, she would ram her head into it as many times as it took, but it would not break.
“……I’m dying.”
“Looks like it isn’t going well?”
A voice sounded then. Epherene turned around, loosening her stiff back.
It was Luina.
“No…… It looks simple, but it’s way too hard. Sob, sob.”
Epherene put the pebble down.
How Deculein had made something like this, and how he had moved it with 「Psychokinesis」.
For now, all of it remained a mystery.
“There’s no answer. No answer.”
She murmured like a sigh and fiddled with her woodsteel. This steel, which Deculein had given her as a gift, had now become a cherished item that helped Epherene concentrate.
One could say it came right after her father’s bracelet.
Luina, who had glanced at the sight, spoke.
“Miss Epherene. That, isn’t that Professor Deculein’s steel?”
“……Ah. Yes. That’s right.”
A faint smile settled on Epherene’s lips. Luina looked at her with a somewhat meaningful expression.
“How does Miss Epherene have that? Deculein doesn’t give his things to others.”
“Oh? Wow~ Everyone says that, huh? That’s the second time I’ve heard it!”
“Deculein’s personality is famous, after all.”
Luina chuckled and sat down beside Epherene. Then she subtly leaned in.
“I won’t ask why you received it.”
“Mm~ It’s nothing special. It’s just, I also made up my mind to become the professor’s disciple……”
“……Disciple?”
“Yes.”
“Did he say he would accept you?”
“Yep. If I work hard.”
“My…… How strange. A disciple under Deculein. I thought he’d never take one in his entire life.”
Luina murmured that and glanced at Epherene.
For some reason, a small shadow fell over Epherene’s face.
“That’s true. I also…… never thought I’d become Professor Deculein’s disciple. Really, not even once in my life……”
Luina observed Epherene’s expression and actions.
The expression she wore while fiddling with the woodsteel. The way she somehow seemed sad. The emotions wavering in complicated ripples.
……No way.
Did this child know, too?
Luina cautiously probed.
“I’m only asking just in case. Do you know?”
“……Eh?”
Epherene did not answer. She merely looked at Luina with eyes far more tense than necessary.
From that subtle reaction, Luina gained a small certainty.
“It seems you do know.”
“Um…… know what?”
“That Deculein doesn’t have much time left.”
“……!”
At that moment, Epherene’s eyes opened wide. Luina was reflected in her expanded pupils.
She wore a rather sorrowful smile.
“I was probably the first to know?”
Clang—!
The woodsteel struck the desk, letting out a sharp metallic sound.
The item Deculein had given her was now resonating with Epherene’s shaken heart…….