After a thoroughly exhausting measurement session that nearly killed me, I found myself standing in front of an imposing elevator located in a corner of the Magic Academy. With Eliza, who had apparently fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion on my back, I managed to keep her steady while deciding to use the elevator.
There was no mistaking it—it was indeed an elevator. A gondola, hoisted by wires and pulleys, facilitated an efficient up-and-down movement, an ingenious mechanism whose very existence inside a magical castle still amazed me despite my no longer being entirely naïve about this world.
Ah, well, an elevator’s fine. If it’s decked in blue, it’s probably the lair of an evil sorcerer, and if you look out the window at sunset, it resembles the imposing silhouette of a demon king’s castle. This one, called “The Raven’s Nest,” seemed quite fitting.
Using my weight to my advantage, I clutched Eliza securely with one hand to prevent her from slipping. I pressed the button labeled for mid to low-floor workshops, one of seven elevators in sight. It was a bit of trouble, but it was far better than accepting Lord Raizenitz’s invitation to stay near his estate, despite his offer to drop us off somewhere closer.
Though… I did briefly hesitate at the allure of a bath expansive enough to swim in.
A clear bell resonated through the air, and the shutter of a gondola – which had evidently not been in use – slid open with grace, offering an impressively large opening meant for transporting supplies, welcoming me aboard.
This strangely mysterious elevator had no control panel but instead featured a hole where one could speak one’s destination.
“Mid-level workshop district, Lady Staal’s workshop.”
By speaking my destination into the hole, the elevator would carry me there. I might have been utterly confused about its use if I hadn’t been informed beforehand.
“Ah! Excuse me! Please wait a moment!”
Just as the doors began to close, I was suddenly stopped. Echoing through the extensive hallways of the Magic Academy was the voice of what seemed to be a child of the same age. It was hard to determine at first whether the voice belonged to a boy or girl, but a figure approached, likely prepubescent, running towards me.
Without any particular desire to cause trouble, I relayed my intent to cancel the trip through the designated hole, causing the closing shutter to reopen smoothly, allowing the young one to slide aboard the gondola.
“Ah, pardon me, your help is appreciated!”
Was it a boy or a girl? Honestly, it wasn’t clear!
This apparently peer-aged person, for convenience assumed to be male hereon, was dressed in a black robe as though they were an auditor, with a simple wooden staff in hand. Bundles of parchment in their free hand hinted that they had just retrieved something, or perhaps were delivering an assignment.
Closer observation did little to clarify their gender. Their glossy black hair and charming yet sternly handsome features gave no hints as to their sex. Although they seemed to be an ordinary member of the Human Race, my encounters with such androgynous individuals, even accounting for my past life, were non-existent.
Surely, genderless angels must look like this.
“Do I not recognize you? Are you an auditor?”
Amber eyes, soft with a smile, gave off an impression of boyish exuberance. Yet, their full lips suggested the freshness of a girl.
“No, I serve as an apprentice to Lady Staal. My younger sister is her disciple.”
“Staal? That name also sounds unfamiliar… Ah, sorry for the hold up.”
“No worries, I’m not in a rush. Please, go ahead,” I encouraged, and they smiled, declaring me to be a good person as they revealed their destination. The mention of a professor’s workshop suggested that the parchment was not a received item but rather a submission piece.
“By the way, I haven’t introduced myself, have I? My name’s Mika.”
While shaking their offered hand, I marveled at how even the name was gender-neutral. Mika, a name common enough to apply to both males and females in the Threefold Empire.
The strange sensation of being flung in multiple directions continued for some time in the elevator. We exchanged short conversations while Mika explained that they were from the northern regions, an auditor recommended by a deputy to be where they were now. They were studying under a professor from the “Dawn School,” a faction that sought the proper use and concealment of magic, aspiring to be a mage.
“I aim to become a construction mage. The northern parts of the empire are heavily snowed under. I want to create robust infrastructure to withstand it.”
Seeing the proud smile on their face filled me with a sense of hope, and my spirit, worn thin by today’s commotion, started to recover. Indeed, this was the kind of uplifting encounter—a young person full of dreams speaking about their goals as an aspiring mage.
No one has called for zealots who worship life or for the incomprehensible, long-lived species.
“Phew, finally arrived. Then, until another occasion, perhaps?”
The pleasant conversation had passed by far too quickly. With the sound of the bell, the shutter door opened, revealing instead of a corridor, a door. Mika slipped through and vanished as swiftly as they had appeared.
What a pleasant companion… I felt wonderfully refreshed. Recently, I had been surrounded by bizarre individuals, so this straightforward and agreeable meeting lifted my mood.
Which made encountering the Master all the more disheartening.
“Ah, good work.”
The lab of Lady Agrippina, connected by a magical elevator, bore no resemblance to its supposed subterranean location. It was more like a greenhouse, where a cage-like structure was bathed with the warm light of spring on a grassy floor—something unimaginable for such a place.
The Magic Academy, while beautifully designed, unfortunately did not have the vast volume expected of a castle. In such confines, how could the workshops of potentially explosive mages be crammed in?
If one explosion led to a chain reaction like a puzzle-solving game, surely that would present a delightful spectacle. Imagine an entire country physically exploding—it’d be a show worth witnessing from any corner of the world.
As a precaution, the Magic Academy’s brightest minds settled for siting their labs deep underground. With the help of quasi-lost technology, a space-transference magic-powered elevator was installed, ensuring the Imperial Capital’s safety if anything went awry.
Of course, if the elevator somehow blew up, the question arises: who’s going to recover it? Such thoughts of terrorism-like scenarios never cease—perhaps an inevitable curse of tabletop RPG enthusiasts.
At any rate, prompted by Lady Agrippina, swaying gently on a hammock at the center of the space, I laid Eliza down on a couch nearby. Despite the completely glass-encased exterior projecting a tranquil garden, it’s truly wasteful how they spend their resources.
“So, what’s the tailor order for?”
“…You’re better off not knowing.”
Back where I came from, none of the outfits that weren’t a proper fit could compare to the unrelenting parade of absurd costumes displayed. To me, it just felt like misguided cosplaying, but those involved were ecstatic.
A rush fee was applied, with the completion due in about seven days… The most stomach-churning seven days in the world, it seemed.
“Well, it’s not a bad deal, strive on. I’ll enjoy the return of my workshop after twenty-one years… oh… so comfortable… even luxurious beds have nothing on a good hammock?”
The room might as well have been a premium nap space rather than a workshop. Amidst various thoughts, the Master lounged with a carefree smile.
Certainly not a bad deal. Simply cost-heavy, that’s all.
The Master did, however, have one condition for keeping me docile. This was what made accepting even the grueling sessions worthwhile.
After all, when given access to the most restricted depth shelves in the name of my master, how could I resist?
Through Lord Raizenitz, I now had free reign to gather basic magical knowledge, and from Lady Agrippina, I received the most advanced magical instruction.
In essence, the equivalent of completing all magical elements in a tabletop RPG.
Is there no institutional issue? One might wonder, but this country is monarchic, and she is a powerful researcher. Her confidence in wielding power is precisely why she makes such extraordinary offers.
Surely, she has plans for me, like today, but the doubts I have are minor and ultimately acceptable. Sacred tomes have always been exceedingly expensive throughout history.
With this, I have completed all preparations for power play. The awaited time for demonstration has arrived.
Having waited for the Magic Academy where magical knowledge was accessible, and with unprecedented skill levels gained through near-death experiences, I’ve been carefully planning and saving since then. As a data-focused player, my serious efforts require gathering appropriate supplements.
It’s enjoyable to create strong characters with minimal rules. However, if the supplements were printed considering intended use, they are within the rules, and the goal is to maximize their use. Data-focused players should aim to push their limits using such resources.
Experience points are finite, and so is my skill level. It makes sense to look at available supplements before committing wholeheartedly. While criticism for being overindulgent is deserved, these are necessary expenses.
To summarize, I have reached an important milestone—finalizing a powerful configuration as an adventurer and as a data-focused player.
All that’s left is to meticulously read through the vast amounts of data, achieving maximum efficiency with minimal cost, discovering safe combinations.
Indeed, I am quite looking forward to it.
“Ugh… You’re grinning creepily, it’s quite unsettling…”
A hurtful insult arrived as I reveled in my excitement, but my mood was far too buoyant to let that dim it. For a player enthusiastic about enhancing their character, minor snark hardly mattered.
Accepting the thrown key alongside the insult, I asked, “What’s this?”
“Managed to secure a place for you in the lower town.”
“Eh? A house? Why?”
“Because this space favors researchers. It includes my personal area, the workshop, and storage… Plus, there’s only one vacant room for an apprentice. Living space for apprentices and servants isn’t allowed until one becomes a professor… And it’s cramped anyway.”
After all the rules were bent, this sudden mention of the house surprised me. Ignoring my confusion, she concluded, “So, you’ll handle your sleeping arrangements there,” tossing the key along with her casual words. A white paper butterfly rested atop it.
Not just a butterfly—it was a beautifully intricate origami folded into a white butterfly. Indeed, this was quite remarkable, how was it even made?
The butterfly took flight, guiding me toward the elevator as if inviting me along. This must be a “map,” clever and visually complex, likely quite expensive to make. What a wonderful invention, this.
Leaving Eliza behind with a slight pang of worry, I followed the butterfly toward my future lodgings.
In this era, nighttime typically relied on moonlight and the dim glow of stars. Even at the esteemed Königsstuhl Manor, one would need a lantern or lamp to safely traverse the grounds during the night.
However, the Imperial Capital glowed brilliantly even after sunset. Thanks to the glowing lanterns strung along the main streets and the light-emitting street lamps powered by magic, it exuded an atmosphere reminiscent of my former world.
Inside these glowing street lamps lay devices that manipulated magic crystals, and daily job postings were pinned on the Magic Academy’s boards. Judging by the cost—a mere five coins per lamp lighting up a street—it was quite lucrative, and students, dressed humbly, were often spotted gathered around these notice boards before visiting clothing stores.
Even at night, the bustling streets catered to various needs. While many humans of the Threefold Empire preferred light meals like bread, cheese, and sausage for breakfast and dinner, saving their hearty feasts for lunch, there were stands available for long-lived species who preferred elaborate meals, species with high fuel consumption, and nocturnal creatures.
I observed a couple of rodent folk, barely reaching my stomach, purchasing large amounts of boiled sausage, likely made and boiled by a pig demon. It seemed peculiar, but safe enough, I supposed.
“Hey there, kid! You don’t want to go to bed hungry! Grab these while they’re cheap!”
The imposing yet healthy-looking pig demon, his size resembling a human disease-free stature, displayed an ample amount of spices, enticing me with his sales pitch. People just making food seem tastier, right?
“How much are they?”
“One sausage is ten coins, three for twenty-five with a deal!”
Wow, city pricing indeed—back at the manor, it would be half. Still, the price tag was visibly displayed, and it was clear I wasn’t being overcharged, so I succumbed to the allure of the sausages.
“Three, please. Add a lot of mustard.”
“Oh, do you have a plate, kid? Plates cost extra at five coins.”
As the sausages emerged, fragrant steam curling up, I hesitated for a moment, but realized I didn’t actually need a plate. An invisible plate was mine to command!
“No, it’s alright.”
“Ah, you’re a sorcerer!”
With a soft incantation, “<Invisible Hand>” levitated the sausages securely, one by one, as if my second hand was holding the lid. It was a wasteful indulgence after only three months, but honestly, two hands were better than one! Especially since six hands could carry the same cost…
Yeah, foolishly bulk buying because it’s “cheap” only to panic as the bill mounts at the register…
Guided by the floating sausage and the paper butterfly, I reached the magical district, which housed cheap lodgings for auditors and boarding houses, areas where those without residence rights within the academy gathered, aptly named the “lower town.”
The butterfly stopped at a small house situated in the narrow gap between two buildings, impressive even from a distance.
Completing its job, it fluttered away as if heading homeward. Flying toward the increasingly full black moon, its contrasting white form was breathtakingly beautiful.
Ah, another new moon. It seems every significant event, even from my previous life, aligns with its gaze.
So, no matter how demanding tomorrow might be, let’s soldier on.
For now, with a warm sausage within reach, I’ll persevere…
【TIP】The Imperial Capital is, for better or worse, a “political and diplomatic” city. Politics remain a necessary element among mages as well.
The readings for ‘Rodent Folk’ are simply due to my love for that particular movie.
As an aside, it appears that all the supplements are finally in place. With some systems boasting over twenty volumes, gathering these fun yet nightmarish books is truly thrilling. We were accustomed to playing power games with all the supplements, which made playing with just the rulebooks somewhat unsatisfying…
Next time, I’m set for 12:00 on February 17, 2019.
