#26. A New Material

I decided to write a letter.

It seemed my return home would be considerably delayed, and I needed to inform my family of this fact.

So they wouldn’t worry, of course.

I sat down at my desk and began to write.

Father.

Please save me.

“That won’t do…”

I pulled out another sheet of paper.

And began writing the letter again.

Father. Before I knew it, the weather started to get warmer. I am sure the days are not that far off where a chilly wind will blow through the manor again. The reason only a letter and not myself has arrived is because I have more work to do at the Academy. It seems I will return home a little later than expected, so please do not worry and wait for me.

Sincerely, Rain.

“That should suffice.”

My gaze, once fixed on the paper, drifted elsewhere.

Outside the window, a downpour. The first rain in a while, and welcome for it.

The end of term was nearly upon us. Such a situation, coupled with the rain, brought a wave of sentiment.

If the Knight Studies department had a lecture today, would it be moved indoors?

Knowing Professor Cecil, probably not. She’d likely make them train regardless of the weather.

Even Professor Meriel, who was often seen flying, would be forced to walk today.

She was so fond of magic, she probably had a magically conjured umbrella, I mused.

I wondered what Professor Felliana was doing.

She seemed so busy lately with that antibiotic business; I hoped she wasn’t pushing herself too hard.

Ah, yes, she’d successfully proven its efficacy, I heard. All that remained was mass production. The Imperial Family would see to that.

And finally, Professor Rachel…

“I’ll be seeing her soon.”

Our research was scheduled to begin tomorrow. I didn’t have any particular ideas prepared, so it might be a rather awkward time.

Whatever happens, I only need to endure it for a month. Just one month, and I can return home.

Even though I’ll have to come back quickly, the comfort of home has a way of settling the soul.

Click.

I set down my pen. With an umbrella in hand, I walked to the academy’s main building and asked for the letter to be mailed.

That concludes my tasks for the day. I should rest for the remaining time.

A yawn escaped me. I haven’t been sleeping well lately, no wonder my body is fatigued.

Perhaps I’ll close my eyes for a bit. I quietly sought sleep.

And I dreamed.

In a hazy sensation, I was walking.

It felt like a corridor. Yes, a corridor in the academy.

Where am I going?

I walked.

Just kept walking.

I doubted there was a destination.

Again, I walked.

Walked until I stopped.

I opened a door. A laboratory door.

Inside was a person, but their face was difficult to make out.

It looked like Professor Rachel.

Or maybe Professor Meriel…

Perhaps Professor Felliana or Professor Cecil.

The person spoke.

─Welcome, Assistant Rein.

“Shit!”

I awoke with a start. My back was drenched in cold sweat. My breath came in ragged gasps, and my hands trembled.

“Haa, haa…”

It was undeniably…

The dream of becoming a graduate student.

*

The next day dawned.

Even after the nightmare, sleep came easily. A stroke of luck, that.

Though the morning’s freshness was wanting, it was a decent enough start.

“Time to get ready, I suppose.”

Research was to begin early, so preparations were in order from the morning’s first light.

Brushing my teeth.

Washing my body.

Donning my clothes.

In the blink of an eye, preparations were complete, and I left the dorm.

Outside, students were visible, preparing to move out. Today was the day their leases expired.

Nowhere to stay… I’ll have to ask Professor Rachel about extending my dorm stay.

The sky is clear, perhaps because of yesterday’s rain.

Goodness me.

The perfect weather for research.

“Welcome, student Rain.”

A single sentence, which for some reason lodged itself firmly in my ear.

A chill ran down my spine, though I quickly shook it off.

“Good morning, Professor Rachel.”

What was that?

It felt so incredibly familiar.

…Just my imagination, perhaps.

“There’s something I want to create.”

“And what might that be?”

“You know spatial displacement magic? I want to apply it, with a slight variation.”

Hmm? Something feels off.

Professor Rachel should be able to create circuits of this complexity with ease.

“There seems to be a problem.”

“Indeed.”

“Do you happen to have a circuit diagram?”

Professor Rachel dashed off, returning with a sheet of paper. It was a magical engineering circuit diagram.

Even to my eye, the circuit appeared flawless.

‘System, is there a problem with the circuit?’

[No issues detected in the circuit.]

Then, what could the problem be?

While I examined the circuit, Rachel brought over a machine. It seemed to be a teleportation device of her own creation.

I took the machine, examining it here and there.

“…I’m at a loss, I’m afraid.”

There’s no way I could know the defect of this fist-sized machine just by glancing at it.

It’s small, though. Were they thinking of making it portable?

Turning it on, I could confirm there really was something wrong.

Well, because it failed to turn on.

*Pshhh…*

The machine let out a weak sound and promptly died.

“Right.”

“Yes?”

“About the research schedule…”

“Ah, yes.”

“Even so, setting aside a whole month feels a bit much, doesn’t it? So…”

Honestly, I wasn’t particularly motivated.

Not completely devoid of motivation, but not exactly brimming with it either.

I was just planning to pass the time doing whatever I was told and then leave.

“I’ll let you go as soon as this research is finished.”

Now things are different.

Theoretically, if I finish it today, I could go back right away, right?

‘System.’

[No circuit problems have been identified.]

The system’s response was the same, but thanks to it, I was sure.

If it’s not a circuit problem, then another factor must be the issue.

“I know what the problem is.”

“Huh? Already?!”

No need to drag things out, just ask in a different way and it’ll be solved.

Pose a slightly broader question, and I should get an answer.

‘Why isn’t the machine working?’

[The malfunction of the device appears to be a power source issue.]

The more difficult the magic, the more mana needed.

This is an immutable truth, recognized by all scholars.

The same goes for circuits. The higher the grade of magic you try to implement, the more complex the circuit becomes, and the more mana is required.

However.

“It seems that it needs more mana than the original space leap magic.”

One difference is that the mana consumption of the two technologies is not quite the same.

[The ‘Teleporter’ requires six times more mana compared to ‘Space Leap Magic’.]

Magic is instantaneous.

The circuit follows a path.

This circuit, which would be unrecognizable to the average person, was unimaginably complex, so the magic stone’s power couldn’t pass through every circuit.

Professor Rachel didn’t notice that and meaninglessly pressed the ‘Activate’ button.

Well, given the small number of specimens, how could she?

And the circuit itself has a structure that makes magic stone replacement impossible.

“Let’s try another mana stone.”

“That’s….”

Professor Rachel said, seemingly troubled.

“That’s what.”

“Pardon?”

“That’s what I used. A top-tier mana stone.”

“….”

Even a top-tier mana stone didn’t work?

Even if it’s amplified sixfold, this doesn’t make sense. Spatial teleportation is practically Professor Rachel’s bread and butter, isn’t it?

Just how much mana does spatial teleportation even require…?

[Based on the average mana capacity, twenty-two mages are needed for a single use of spatial teleportation.]

Huh?

What did you say?

My eyes dart in bewildered panic.

No, this person…

It was *that* significant?

“…That’s astounding.”

“Hm? What is?”

I already vaguely knew she far surpassed the average, even in practical application.

But I never imagined it was to *this* extent.

After all, geniuses truly are a breed apart.

“Anyway, is there no other way?”

“There *is* one.”

Anyway, back to the matter at hand.

There’s only one solution.

“If we can find a substance, small as it may be, that contains far more mana than even a top-tier mana stone.”

“…But Rain, such a substance doesn’t exist yet.”

“Then we’ll have to create one.”

“Eh?”

It’s a simple matter.

If such a substance doesn’t exist, then we’ll just have to make it exist from now on.

“I think I can do it.”

Of course.

[Initiating search.]

Well, not *me*. *It*.

*

The weather, growing slightly warmer. Here, at the Ortiz family estate, dark storm clouds are visible in the distance.

“Let’s set off now, shall we?”

Baron Ortiz, ‘Snow Ortiz’, spoke as he sat within the carriage.

As the carriage lurched forward, others followed. Those were the Ortiz family’s guards, riding in their own carriages.

Their destination was none other than the Lunia Academy.

Indeed. They were going to see their son.

A few days prior, a letter had arrived. Written by Laine himself, it announced that he would be delayed in returning home due to circumstances.

The first feeling upon reading the letter was disappointment.

Not only at the prospect of not seeing their son, but also because there was news they dearly wanted to share.

The second feeling was joy.

His dedication to his studies was a most pleasing sight.

And so, the decision was made.

To go and see their son in person.

Of course, there were other matters to attend to near the Academy, but merely being able to see him was a blessing.

*Clunk.*

He glanced at his wife’s face as the carriage swayed slightly.

“My dear.”

Snow’s hand rested on his wife’s belly. Slowly, carefully, he caressed it.

“Are you truly certain it is alright for you to come?”

“I’m fine. The babe hasn’t made itself known just yet.”

His wife smiled gently, taking Snow’s hand as if to reassure him.

Snow returned the smile, then gazed down at her abdomen.

“…Laine always seemed to have something he longed to do. But because of the reality that he must inherit the family business, I fear he hid his true dreams.”

It weighed on his heart.

The worry that he had arbitrarily decided his son’s future.

But now.

“It will be alright now, yes?”

A joyous occasion had arrived.

A most momentous one.

“Once our second child is born, that burden will ease somewhat.”

A father closed his eyes, thinking of his children.

He will surely be pleased.