“How is it? The cutting-edge magic engineering equipment that can only be seen in the Alchemy Magic Department with abundant research funding!”
Professor Huain tripped into the laboratory with light steps like a cheerful child.
Indeed, as she said, there were more facilities than any laboratory I had seen so far. The claim that the Alchemy Magic Department made good money was true.
‘…But I keep getting distracted by other things.’
The dazzling state-of-the-art equipment dazzled the eyes. Sion turned his gaze towards the tools… no, the graduate students handling the advanced equipment.
“Kill me…”
“Are those… the new students?”
“I’m so envious… If only I could go back to the past…”
The graduate students walked around like zombies, glancing this way and that.
Each of them wore laboratory coats emblazoned with the Alchemy Magic Department’s logo, but…
How long had they been worn that the sleeves were stained with all colors, and overall they looked like a shabby gray?
Their faces were gray like zombies, and their hair was matted as if they hadn’t washed it for days.
‘They are indeed graduate students.’
I could tell that without dressing up, both men and women looked somewhat alike. All the graduate students had a similar disheveled appearance.
…It was a landscape too familiar to Sion.
‘In fact, it’s more like the Engineering Department that has that atmosphere than our department.’
The graduate school in the Natural Sciences that Sion attended was still decent.
The Engineering Department had many people and an excess of students wanting to become graduate students.
Naturally, the reason was to pursue higher degrees for better job opportunities in corporations.
The problem was the ‘overabundance of applicants.’
The law of supply and demand.
The demand is limited, but the supply of graduate students is too large.
As a result, the cutoff line for ‘graduate students’ naturally rises, lowering their value.
In other words, a form of enslavement occurs.
– Quit being a graduate student? Oh, then quit. There are many people who want to do it besides you.
Those were actual words Sion had heard from a professor.
If a professor of an unpopular department could say such things, how much worse would it be for popular departments?
No matter how high the labor intensity, no matter how poor the treatment…
Graduate students can only endure it, crying and swallowing their pride for their master’s and doctoral degrees.
“Sion, are you okay?”
“Uh, uh-oh?”
“Your body is trembling. Are you in pain?”
Serenne was looking up at Sion with concern.
Since she was still holding onto the cuff of her sleeve, she noticed Sion’s shivering.
Sion managed to force a smile.
“Uh… I’m okay, just some unpleasant memories are coming back.”
“…Don’t push yourself. You must tell me immediately if it’s hard for you?”
Tightly.
Serenne let go of the sleeve and held Sion’s hand.
Thanks to that, his trembling felt a little reduced.
When they finally reached the innermost part of the laboratory—
A larger magic engineering device than anything seen so far was waiting for them.
‘…Isn’t this almost factory-grade?’
Of course, there were magic circles scattered here and there, and a steam engine was also glimpsed.
A gigantic magic engineering device that modern sensibilities could never understand.
A proud expression emerged on Professor Huain’s face as she checked the students’ expressions.
“This device is one of our department’s long-term projects! Its name is ‘The Great Magic Stone Polishing Automatic Steam HexTech Machine!!!’”
“…What is that?”
“Simply put, it’s like this.”
Wooong!
She pressed a button, and light began to emerge from the machine.
When she tossed a magic stone into the hole of the device, strange magical energy began to flow from the machine.
‘…There’s no response for identification. Is magic engineering an exception?’
No matter how much Sion opened his eyes wide, there was no translucent window showing outputs.
Was it because it was a machine and not magic?
About a minute later, a magic stone popped out of another hole in the machine.
Unlike when it entered, that magic stone was polished smoothly.
“Simply put, this device can automatically process the 1st Circle magic ‘Polishing.’”
“…It can process it automatically?”
“There’s no need for an alchemist. Furthermore, if there is enough magic power and magic stones, it can continuously use ‘Polishing’!”
“Oooh…”
Sion stroked his chin as he looked at the machine.
It was indeed an incredible method.
‘If we compare polishing to cooking… it’s like a machine that automatically makes meals.’
Considering it’s a medieval fantasy world, it’s a tremendous invention.
Although its large size would make commercialization difficult, what if it were directly supplied to the empire or kingdom?
It was an invention that might take the position of a court alchemist.
“Of course, there are still many shortcomings. It consumes a lot of magic power and is too large! Most importantly, automatically processing only 1st Circle magic lacks merit.”
“……That’s certainly true.”
“But we can improve over time! It’s a long-term project of the Alchemy Magic Department! Time is on our side!”
Chak!
Professor Huain crossed her arms, lifting her chin.
It felt like a dog wanting praise, and before Sion knew it, he was clapping his hands.
…She was a professor whose childlike appearance suited her well.
“Professor, but I have a question.”
“Hmm, what is it?”
“If this device develops as you say, there will be opposition from existing alchemists.”
Sion cautiously asked Professor Huain.
There was something similar that had happened on the Earth where he lived.
It was social movements represented by the ‘Luddite Movement.’
‘As machines began to replace workers, workers who lost their jobs started to destroy the machines….’
Let’s substitute the word worker with ‘alchemist.’
If the machine were to replace the tasks that alchemists do as she desires….
Countless alchemists would end up sitting on the street.
It wouldn’t be strange if a second Luddite movement occurred.
“…I hadn’t thought about that.”
Professor Huain stroked her cheeks as she fell into thought.
She absentmindedly rubbed her chubby cheeks.
But soon, she smiled brightly.
“I’ll think about that when the time comes! But that was a good point. No one has ever looked at this machine and said that.”
“…It was just a remark out of concern.”
“No! Indeed, Sion, you have insight.”
“Ah.”
Professor Huain looked at Sion, grinning.
Thinking of the Luddite movement made him blurt out a word, and…
Instead, it only increased his favorability.
If he had known this would happen, he should have just kept quiet.
“Well, it’s good! I believe you’ve had enough of a tour, so it’s time to go. I’m sure you’re all busy too!”
“Thank you for the opportunity.”
“…Yeah, it was fun.”
Professor Huain led the students out of the laboratory.
“Well then, everyone, take care! If you become interested in alchemy magic, feel free to contact me. I hope to teach you kids during your second year.”
“…Haha, thank you for your hard work.”
“Especially Sion! You must come. If you do, I will personally take care of you!”
“……I appreciate your kind intentions.”
“It’s not just empty words! Hmm, anyway, I must be off now. Do well!”
Creak!
After casting a strong gaze at Sion, Professor Huain went back into the lab.
…Since Professor Shabrina’s class changes every week, there will probably be no opportunity to see her again.
There’s no way I could choose a department that treats graduate students like that.
Of course, that would be different if I were in a situation where I needed money desperately.
“Sion, you!”
“…?”
“Don’t get cocky! Just a commoner… I’ll get back at you later!”
As Sion was organizing his thoughts that he definitely shouldn’t enter the Alchemy Magic Department, Hegen Brental suddenly pointed at him and ran away.
…Didn’t say a word as soon as he entered the laboratory, only to suddenly…?
Geivolg tilted his head as he watched Hegen Brental escape.
“Hmm? What was that? Sion-kun, did you have some kind of argument?”
“Well, I don’t really know.”
“Hahaha! It’s the hot friendship of men!”
“No, that’s a bit….”
Geivolg laughed heartily.
He too hadn’t said much after entering the lab.
Perhaps he was overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the laboratory.
‘Well, I’m used to graduate schools and laboratories; first-years would indeed be intimidated.’
Sion also felt quite cautious when he toured a professor’s laboratory during his first and second years.
Worrying about whether he might touch something and cause a problem or behave in a way that would get him marked by the professor.
Of course, now he was just moving around the lab without any thoughts.
“Geivolg, what do you think? About the Alchemy Magic Department?”
“Hmm, it’s a decent department. It’s one of the very promising ones.”
“…Really? But you don’t seem very interested.”
“Of course!”
Chak!
Geivolg raised his index finger and spoke.
“There’s nothing hot that makes a man cry!”
“…Huh?”
“The Alchemy Magic Department is dull. It’s not a department that moves the body more and resonates with a man’s heart!”
Sion could only blink at Geivolg’s words.
‘Then why did you pick the Combat Department over the Magic Department…?’
He had no idea what he meant by ‘departments that resonate with men.’If he entered Professor Ronda Magret’s class, it seemed men would be likely to resonate easily….
At least he understood that he was not interested in the Alchemy Magic Department.
“Serenne, what about you?”
“I… don’t know.”
“Is that so?”
“Sion, what about you?”
“I… don’t really feel drawn to it, just like Geivolg.”
“…Is that so?”
Serenne replied with sleepy eyes.
“Then I’m not really drawn to it either.”
“…? What do you mean—”
“Oooh! Sion-kun, I knew you would understand my feelings!”
“Ah!”
Before Sion could ask what Serenne meant, Geivolg patted Sion on the back joyfully.
…No, I’m not a man in that sense.
“Alright, since we’ve crossed paths, shall we go eat together?”
“Hmm? Food sounds good. Serenne, how about you?”
“…I like it too.”
“I’ll pay this time!”
“Oooh!”
Geivolg grinned.
If he said he’d treat them to a meal, the conversation would change.
“Since I owe Sion from the group project, it’s only natural to pay! Serenne gets a bonus just for coming along!”
“That’s a true man.”
“Of course! Hahaha! Let’s go, I will treat you to the best dinner!”
“Serenne, let’s hurry.”
“…Okay.”
Feeling greatly better, Sion and Serenne followed Geivolg.
*
“…Wait, isn’t this place too upscale?”
Sion whispered in a low voice.
Just looking at the table they were seated at, various forks and knives were set up.
Without a doubt, the upscale atmosphere of the interior, the panoramic view of the academy’s shopping district visible through the large windows, and the chandelier.
In addition, there was a pianist performing live in the shop.
“Hahaha! It’s alright. No need to decline.”
“…It seems like it would be very expensive.”
“It’s actually right to buy the most expensive meal when treating someone! That’s only proper!”
“…Geivolg.”
Sion resolved in his heart.Let’s treat Geivolg as an older brother from now on.A person who treats well and has a lot of money is indeed an older brother, indeed.
“You’ve worked hard on the report and presentation, Sion.”
“No, it’s not that much.”
“By the way, our group member Estroja was absent today due to a cold.”
At Geivolg’s words, Sion answered with a casual expression.
“She said she caught a cold. I went to visit her at the mansion.”
“Hoho! To personally visit her when she’s sick, you’re quite the romantic, aren’t you?”
Squeak!
As Sion was talking with Geivolg, the sound of metal scraping surprised him, and he turned.
Serenne, with her usual sleepy eyes, was fidgeting with her fork and knife.
…What was that? Did I hear wrong?
“Romantic? I’m not like that… I just went because the professor asked me to convey the class content.”
“I see! I misunderstood. So, how was the mansion?”
“The mansion was huge. I was worried whether I could go in… I just went inside anyway.”
Sion spoke with a smile, sharing an interesting story.
“Those attendants mistook me for Estroja’s boyfriend.”
“Hahaha! That’s quite an amusing misunderstanding—”
Clang!
At the sharp sound, Sion turned his head.
This time, Serenne’s fork and knife had fallen to the floor.
Perhaps because the floor was marble, the sound was quite loud.
“Serenne…?”
“Yeah, what?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
Serenne nodded with her usual sleepy expression.
Fortunately, she wasn’t hurt or anything, but…
Why is this happening all of a sudden?
