Chapter 37
Somehow, I managed to get Senior Estelle back to her room.
For keeping the spell going this long, I deserve serious praise.
The moment I practically dumped Senior Estelle onto the bed, a nasal voice came drifting back.
“...Thanks for... bringing me... all the way to my room, Luna...”
I caught my breath instead of answering and looked around the room.
And for a moment, I was at a loss for words.
The walls were plastered with all kinds of blueprints, schematics, and formulas used in experiments.
The floor was covered so densely with crumpled bundles of parchment there was hardly room to step.
On the large desk, piles of unidentified components and the remains of magic tools were stacked like a mountain.
What stood out most of all were the pledges posted in the most prominent spot in front of the desk.
-Don't just focus on arcane engineering! Study pure magic theory for at least three hours a day!
-Let's keep the top spot this semester too!
-Let's live up to everyone's expectations!
This room itself was proof of how fiercely Estelle Belmaire had lived.
I have no intention of belittling anyone's efforts. Nor should I.
But sometimes you need to straighten your back and catch your breath.
People aren't magic tools that can run 24 hours a day just because they have mana.
If they don't get enough rest, they'll break down in the end.
Of course, just lying in bed with your eyes closed isn't rest.
You have to open the window wide, clear everything off the desk, tear every one of these damn papers off the walls and floor, and burn them.
...Right, before that, I should grab what matters.
“Senior Estelle.”
“Mm?”
“About that blueprint for the ancient arcane golem—where did you get it?”
At my question, Senior Estelle blinked blankly at the air for a moment, then muttered listlessly.
“Last year... so not long after I had just entered the academy, I got it from some patron.”
“Do you know who they were?”
“I don't know. They didn't tell me their name, and they were even wearing a mask.”
Senior Estelle swayed as she got to her feet and started rummaging through the stack of documents piled in one corner of the room.
“Where did I put it... Ah, here it is.”
A worn parchment scroll ended up in Senior Estelle's hand as she dug through the papers.
“Take this.”
Senior Estelle abruptly handed me the scroll.
Her eyes were full of complex emotions.
Resignation, lingering attachment, and... a touch of relief.
“In any case, it'll have to be submitted as evidence... but it might be good to look it over first.”
“What a pain... well, I'll take it for now.”
Without thinking, I unfolded the blueprint and scanned it.
A magic circle composed of complicated ancient characters and metaphysical geometric shapes came into view.
Honestly, the part that defined the golem's properties didn't interest me much.
What are you even making something like that for? World domination? That's the most troublesome thing in the world, isn't it.
But my eyes stopped at the part explaining the golem's core power source, its 'core.'
“Draw in the natural mana of space and regulate it... convert it into power... and after the initial mana infusion, operate semi-permanently without any additional mana consumption...”
Wait, this...
If I applied this properly, couldn't I make a 'charger'?
The fresh excitement snapped me wide awake.
In my drowsy head, inspiration came surging in.
“Huh? Luna, why, is there some problem with the blueprint?”
“Senior Estelle, do you realize just how amazing this is?”
At my intense reaction, Senior Estelle, who was sitting on the bed, tilted her head with a puzzled look.
“Huh? W-well, of course? This is, after all, an ancient weapon...”
I lightly shook my head and waved the blueprint.
“This isn't just any weapon.”
“...Huh?”
“This is a charger. No, should I call it a power bank? Anyway.”
Infinite possibilities spread out before my eyes.
If I could use this principle to create a device that absorbed and stored mana...
This opens the way for ordinary people who can't use magic to use magitech devices cheaply and almost permanently.
As they say, technological progress begins with weapons and sex toys.
In the end, technology is just a matter of how people use it.
I memorized the contents of the blueprint in one go.
The problem I'd been worrying over was solved, and the corners of my mouth unconsciously lifted into a smile.
*
An epilogue, perhaps.
As soon as the people who had gone out during midterm period returned to the academy, a disciplinary committee was immediately convened.
...Wasn't calling them in right away on the day they got back a little too much? They must be tired too.
Come to think of it, the matter really was unusually serious.
There were almost no casualties, but it was an incident that could have spiraled into a major catastrophe. In the original story, it actually caused quite a big uproar.
In any case, it's true that the basement and first-floor lobby of Linea Hall were reduced to a wreck. Rumor had it that restoration work wouldn't be finished until around the start of second semester.
A variety of people gathered at the disciplinary committee.
The main faculty, student council executives, and even the top students from each department.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't have come to such a troublesome place, but this time I had no choice.
After all, I was a key witness before being a student representative.
On the podium where everyone's gaze was focused, Senior Estelle lowered her head and spoke in a calm voice.
“This incident was caused entirely by my greed and immaturity.”
She said there was no excuse, and that she'd gladly accept any punishment.
Her honest admission of guilt and apology made the mood in the conference room solemn for a moment.
Of course, it was the kind of incident that wouldn't have been strange even if she were expelled.
But most of the people who knew the details of the incident were hoping for leniency.
In particular, the petition submitted by the arcane engineering students on Estelle's behalf was packed with all sorts of heartfelt pleas.
-Estelle has always been devoted to department activities and is a model for everyone...
-This was merely a failed research case...
-Unauthorized research is certainly wrong, but as an arcane engineering student...
Even the Linea Hall students who had nearly been harmed spoke up in Estelle's defense.
The final verdict was delivered almost disappointingly quickly.
“I hereby sentence second-year Arcane Engineering student Estelle Belmaire to one month of suspension.”
Not expulsion, but one month of suspension.
After that came various minor punishments, such as stripping her of top-student privileges and excluding her from scholarship selection.
Compared to Senior Estelle's fate in the original story, it was nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
...Wait. More importantly, is this even a punishment to begin with?
A one-month suspension means... she doesn't have to attend class for a month, right?
This is... basically legal truancy, isn't it?!
“I object.”
I shot up from the witness seat and walked up to the podium.
Under everyone's shocked gazes, I gave a small bow and slowly began to speak.
“I think some of the responsibility for this incident lies with me as well.”
“Lunaris, what do you mean? You'd be getting an award for helping clean up this mess, not punishment.”
I gave a slight shake of my head.
“No. Actually, the one who wrecked Linea Hall while I was dealing with the golem... was me.”
The conference room began to stir.
I deliberately put on a somber expression and went on.
“Honestly, that golem wasn't really that big of a deal. If I'd left it alone, the other on-duty professors would have dealt with it appropriately, but I went a bit too far.”
“From the blueprint you got, it doesn't seem like it was anything trivial...”
“Anyway, because of me the damage got worse. So I think I should also be punished as an accomplice together with Senior Estelle.”
It was half fabricated, but maybe my acting(?) was believable enough, because the professors' expressions became complicated.
As for the students, needless to say.
“That's ridiculous!”
“If it hadn't been for Lunaris, we'd all have died!”
“Lunaris saved everyone!”
More than anything, Senior Estelle seemed the most shocked.
“No! Luna... no, Lunaris isn't at fault! I, I was the one who did everything wrong!”
Senior Estelle even shed tears as she desperately tried to shield me.
Her voice, begging me not to get involved and to hurry back inside, was heartbreaking.
“No. Since it was my fault the situation got worse, I should share the punishment too.”
“Luuunaaa... don't dooo this...!”
A bizarre scene unfolded, with me and Senior Estelle arguing over whose fault it was.
Before long, sniffling sounds began to leak out among the students, and the professors wore troubled smiles.
“Ahem! I understand the students' friendship well. In other words, you want to share the burden, is that right?”
In the end, Chief Professor Howard, the chairman of the disciplinary committee, stepped in to mediate.
“Then let's do it like this. I hereby suspend Student Estelle Belmaire and Student Lunaris Evermoon for two weeks each. Is that acceptable?”
“...Yes.”
I lowered my head deeply.
I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from rising.
It's a shame it's not a month, but still, two weeks is two weeks. This is it. Legal vacation!
“...Excuse me, Chief Professor Howard.”
Just then, a familiar voice rang out from the witness seats.
“May I make one suggestion regarding Lunaris's punishment?”
It was none other than Odette, the iron-blooded head maid of Linea Hall.
At some point she'd stood up, bowed neatly, and then continued speaking with a businesslike smile.
“Even if the punishment is being shared, I think it would actually be unfair for the innocent Lady Lunaris to receive the same sentence as Lady Estelle.”
...Huh?
“Suspension is a punishment that remains on one's academic record, so isn't it too harsh for Lady Lunaris?”
“Hmm—indeed, that does make sense.”
Hold on... wait a second, Ms. Odette.
“Therefore, I propose two weeks of service work within the academy.”
A stunned groan escaped my mouth.
If I'd known this would happen... I should've just stayed quiet...!
“Please have her perform Linea Hall maid duties for that service work. It will be a good opportunity to teach the young lady the sanctity of labor and the importance of discipline.”
“Hahaha... you're awfully eager. Very well, then. We'll do it that way.”
“Thank you for trusting me. I will personally take responsibility and supervise her strictly.”
As she said that, Ms. Odette's sweet smile was downright demonic.