*****
NOVELASIUS
- TL: the guild
- Discord: https://discord.gg/GBKEa55867
- Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/topasius
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ENJOY~ PYUUN~
*****
The Fall Harvest Festival (5)
Thursday. The fourth day of the Autumn Harvest Festival dawned.
While many events were still left, the most anticipated event following the conclusion of the tournament was undoubtedly the Magic Expo.
Although Guardian Academy primarily focuses on training guardians to oppose the forces of 魔 (evil), many students are also dedicated to academic pursuits.
In fact, many of the professors from the Magic Department chose to work at Mercabah Academy because of its overwhelming collection of books, its access to forbidden tomes, its excellent experimental facilities, and the free exchange of knowledge.
Although it is not as leisurely as the Magic Tower, the Magic Expo held every two years is a prime example of the freedom offered at Mercabah Academy.
Anyone with a passion for magic—be they from a trade guild, a guardian group, or simply individuals—could freely apply to showcase their achievements at the Magic Expo.
This year, the number of participants was overwhelming, with so many entries that there was a limit to how many could be displayed. The reason for this was the collapse of the Magic Tower.
With the Magic Tower, one of the two major academic institutions, falling due to the Saint’s kidnapping incident, the attention of mages naturally shifted toward the academy’s expo.
“Whew… Start dismantling from over there!”
This year, Marie Dunarev also participated, showcasing her achievements in semi-permanent water quality improvement spells and purification filter magical tools, which are essential for hydroponics.
Although she leads many auxiliary industries, the core business of Dunareff lies in its vast agricultural estates, spanning millions of hectares.
Recently, there has been an active push into magical plants, and there was a reason for this.
“Dae-sik, start organizing.”
“Yes, Ma’am! Understood!”
With the dissolution of the Magic Tower, its core mages had all fallen under the management of Korin Lork and Marie Dunarev, utilizing the expertise of the Green Faction in magical plant cultivation.
Marie had been researching for the southern agricultural estates, and with the free labor of dozens of high-level mages from the Green Faction, they had made remarkable progress.
As a result, the new water quality improvement spells and purification filters received high praise. However, this does not mean that Marie was seeking sponsors.
“Haha… Marie! Truly splendid! Your father is moved to tears!”
“Hehe, it wasn’t just me who worked on this.”
“We can’t let such a brilliant idea go to waste! I will invest!”
“Hmm… If we’re going to start mass-producing Mandragora and creating replicas of the Millennium Ginseng, we’ll need quite a lot.”
“How much do you need?”
“About five million a year should be enough! We should see results within three years!”
“Of course! If my Marie is involved, it’s bound to succeed! I’ll add an extra million—use it as pocket money.”
The former head of the Green Faction, Elder Drerian… no, Dae-sik felt like he was losing his mind watching this extravagant display of wealth.
When he presented his brilliant idea for a business investment, Duke Marde Dunareff had been indifferent. But now, his daughter was asking for an investment, and he was casually throwing away almost 20 million gold?
“But Marie, your father is concerned. Won’t you wear yourself out with all this research?”
“It’s okay. Our head and assistant researchers can handle it.”
Dae-sik was filled with anxiety. Recently, his master had been recruiting mages to establish a research institute to replace the Magic Tower.
The conditions were atrocious—unpaid, no time off—but given the choice between slave labor and research, the competition was a staggering 40 to 1.
The Elder Mages of the Magic Tower were still too proud to abandon their authority and share their knowledge for free, but…
Dae-sik had prepared for an intense interview, only to be confronted by the sight of the former Red Faction leader, Chun-sik, who had betrayed him, leading to a bitter fight.
“Sob…”
How did things end up like this? Dae-sik swallowed tears that refused to come.
“Now, my daughter, shall we go have something delicious to eat?”
“Hmm… let’s wait just a little longer.”
Today was the day the expo participants changed their booths. Marie was waiting for someone who would be opening a booth from today until Saturday.
“Korin said he would participate.”
“…That boy?”
Marde knew that Korin was not a mage. But the expo wasn’t limited to just mages.
Many participants were from trade guilds or supported mages and served as sponsors.
“If it’s Korin, he’ll definitely bring something amazing, right? I can’t wait!”
“Hmph! What can a layman in magic come up with—”
—Screeeeeeeeeeeech—!
Let the roar be heard!
Let the drums be beaten!
Let the V8 engine roar—!!
“Drums?”
—Doom-doo-doo-doom! Doom-doom!
—Doom-doo-doo-doom! Doom-doom!
Screeeeeeeeeeeech—!
“What, what is this sound?”
“It’s the sound of drums… and a harp?”
A dark and grandiose BGM. Marie was familiar with this BGM.
“Oh no…”
Those who witnessed ‘that event’ last year, including Marie, sighed, rubbing their foreheads. Meanwhile, Marde and others who were seeing this for the first time looked on in shock.
“What… is that?”
—Doom-doo-doo-doom! Doom-doom!
—Doom-doo-doo-doom! Doom-doom!
—Bam-ba-da-bam-bam! Bam-bam!
Screeeeeeeeeeeech—!
Screeeeeeeeeeeech—!
From beyond the expo, a massive chariot (魔車) rolled in.
Unit 1: Cavilac Devil X2 The Gigahorse.
Unit 2: Chevrolet Fleetmaster War Rig.
Unit 3: Carmageddon Doof Wagon.
Behind the bizarrely armored Immortan Lork, Jaeger, in red underwear, strummed a flame-spewing guitar, while Lork Buhgman and other part-time workers frantically pounded on drums.
“Cry out, V8! Reach for Valhalla! You will be reborn with gleaming chrome teeth in a world turned to ashes!”
“Immortan! Immortan! Immortan!”
Immortan Lork and his day-worker War Boys, who had returned from the otherworld.
Korin Lork’s—no, Immortan Lork’s booth submission for the Magic Expo.
A fusion of mechanical engineering and magical technology, recreating Earth’s post-apocalyptic over-technology designs.
Nicknamed Mad Max.
“Marie… did it have to be him?”
“He’s usually a quiet guy.”
Screeeeeeeeeeeech—!
The Magic Expo primarily evaluates the potential of the technologies presented.
The future potential, practical applicability… how beneficial and outstanding is the idea?
In general, non-student participants are there to present technologies and seek sponsorship, and student projects, while impressive, rarely offer groundbreaking innovations.
Marie’s purification filter was a surprising innovation, to be sure.
But in front of this groundbreaking invention, Marie’s booth couldn’t compare.
Though I was cosplaying as a movie character while recalling last year’s events, the main theme of my submission was ‘engines.’
A muscle engine designed to run on roads, surpassing the old-fashioned, slow transportation of horse-drawn carriages.
I compensated for the lack of metallurgical technology with magic stones, and the precision needed for fine-tuning was handled by grinding mages. Surprisingly, it was a feasible invention—a car.
After all, there were already carriages powered by magic stones, so it wasn’t entirely a new concept for this world.
‘Well, I did win a prize with this in the previous timeline.’
Even though I managed to recreate it, it’s not something that will last long. The mages said the frame would sink and the engine would explode before even reaching 100 km. Still—
“Baron Korin Lork, is it? What on earth is this contraption… I’d like to invest. Can we discuss it in detail?”
“Wow… What is that? It’s such a strange-looking carriage.”
Well, it’ll be more than enough for the three days of the expo.
“Jolin!”
“Yes, sir! Master Korin!”
“I have to attend another event, so make sure to manage the booth well. Be courteous to visitors.”
“Understood, sir!”
Someday, I’ll make an automobile company with these guys. Free PhD-level labor is too valuable to waste, isn’t it?
Let’s start by copying Ferrari and Lamborghini. Intellectual property rights? That’s something you eat, right?
Leaving the Magic Expo to the slaves, I went to watch the Cooking Contest, where Hua Ran was participating.
While the Cooking Contest doesn’t receive as much attention as other events, there are surprisingly many skilled participants. In the game, winning was notoriously difficult.
“Brother!”
Ignoring the stares around her, Hua Ran rushed over and hugged me tightly, holding her championship trophy.
“Congratulations on winning.”
“Hehe~ Have you eaten?”
“I grabbed some things from the street vendors on the way.”
After looking around, it was clear that I was a shoo-in for the Cooking Sale award. Now all that’s left is the mock trial and… whew.
“I’m a bit tired from cooking since morning. Should we go back to the dorm together?”
“Sure, let’s do that.”
I’ve been busy for the past few days as well. Marie plans to spend tonight with her family…
“Ren and Ron are performing in the talent show this evening, so let’s rest at the dorm until then.”
“Okay, let’s do that.”
We returned to the dorm.
Most of the students were still busy participating in the Autumn Harvest Festival, so the dorm was quiet. We headed to the sunroom, where the sunlight streamed in warmly.
“Brother.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to take a nap?”
“Are you tired?”
Hua Ran smiled as she nestled into my arms.
“I just feel good when I’m with you, Brother.”
We lay down together on the sofa in the sunroom. It was a bit cramped for two people, so we lay facing each other on separate sofas, gazing at each other.
“It’s already been a year.”
Hua Ran reminisced about this time last year. Yes, it had already been a year.
So much had happened. After thwarting Kang Ryun’s plan to turn Hua Ran into 후로 (fusion), I had watched over Hua Ran and Hua as they grew closer, respecting each other.
“Are you two getting along well?”
“Of course. We’re different in many ways, but we understand each other better than anyone else.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re getting along.”
Honestly, I hadn’t expected them to get along this well. From Hua Ran’s perspective, Hua was an unwelcome guest who had taken over her body at one point.
“It’s because we both like the same person.”
“Ahem…”
The sudden flirtation made my nose itch. Lately, everyone’s been doing this, but Hua Ran is especially good at playing with my emotions.
“I’d love to have a son who looks like you and a daughter who looks like me. Hmm~ I think the more children, the better, right?”
“It’s a bit frightening to think you’re already planning our children…”
“Hehe… Even if it’s overwhelming, please look at me fondly. That’s how much I like you, how much I love you.”
“…Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For liking me. For waiting for me.”
“What for?”
Someday, I’ll have to answer. Sometimes, I entertain a foolish fantasy.
Like Alicia said. What if we could all live together? Wouldn’t that be nice?
Sigh… That’s not possible.
What kind of harem would that be for someone like me?
It would be an insult to those who care about me.
The moment of decision will come. When that time comes…
In the fading consciousness, I postponed my answer.
***
***
***
***
How long had I been asleep? When I opened my bleary eyes, Hua Ran was nowhere to be seen. Instead, I saw a red-eyed cat staring down at me and meowing.
“Nabi, huh.”
A familiar cat. This little one has been visiting me frequently over the past few months. Every time I tried to keep it as a pet, it would disappear before I knew it, a free spirit of a stray cat.
“Come here, want a scratch?”
Meow…
It seemed to understand human speech quite well, with a clear preference for what it liked. As I watched it roll over and expose its belly, I carefully began to pet it.
Meow…
It rubbed its face against my hand, purring contentedly. It had been aloof at first, but lately, it had been especially affectionate.
Have I been chosen as a prospective caretaker? But whenever I wake up, it’s gone. Then, when night falls, it sneaks into bed and lies next to me.
“You remind me of Hua.”
Meow?!
“That kid, she’s been avoiding sleeping with me lately. I suppose she’s becoming aware of what it means to be shy.”
Back in her first year, Hua used to sneak into my bed whenever she had the chance, saying she liked being close because it was warm.
“She says I have bad sleeping habits.”
She would complain that I touched her in weird places while asleep. But how can she blame me for something I did in my sleep? It makes this brother sad.
For someone with an absolute defense and indestructible body, Hua is surprisingly soft in some places, making it nice to cuddle with her while sleeping.
“Well, I guess she’s growing up.”
She’s a lovely child. Like Ran, when Hua confessed her love to me, I was so shocked and grateful…
Meow…
It felt like Hua was listening quietly to everything I said. Maybe this cat was just naturally gentle.
“Hmm…”
While petting Nabi’s belly, my gaze fell on Ge Derg, the Spear of the Red Star, leaning against the side of the sofa.
It’s a spear designed for hunting beasts and breaking through evil magic. It’s not the kind of thing you should leave lying around next to a cat.
Just in case, I reached out to move the spear. But as I touched it, Ge Derg suddenly lost its balance and fell toward Nabi.
“Watch out…!”
Instinctively, I reached out, but the spear passed right by Nabi.
If the spearhead hadn’t been wrapped in a seal, it would have sliced through its skin. I quickly turned to Nabi to comfort it, thinking it must have been startled.
“Nabi, are you alright—”
Poof!
With a puff of smoke, something began to form where Nabi had been.
I felt an increasing weight on my lap—far too heavy and large to be a cat. A human form began to take shape.
“What…”
When the smoke cleared, the cat that had been sprawled out on my lap, purring contentedly, was gone. In its place was Hua Ran, dressed in a nun’s habit, looking up at me with a startled expression.
*****
NOVELASIUS
- TL: the guild
- Discord: https://discord.gg/GBKEa55867
- Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/topasius
*****
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