#8. True Arcane Engineering

‘This is arcane engineering…?’

Professor Meriel was bewildered.

The arcane engineering she knew was merely like enchanted tomes with a mechanical bent.

As the name of the discipline implied, it should remain bound within the framework of magic.

‘But that thing…’

It was technology that shattered the ‘framework’ itself.

One couldn’t even call it magic. Magic wasn’t that rough.

A crudeness where smoothness was nowhere to be found.

It looked merely like a machine that utilized mana.

‘Wasn’t it concluded that mana couldn’t be controlled outside of magic?’

What did it feel like to witness the impossible becoming reality?

Words couldn’t describe it, but Meriel came to understand that feeling.

Meriel thought.

If that talent were to pour his efforts into magic instead of arcane engineering, there would be tremendous advancements in the magic world as well.

As the surprise waned, a possessive desire began to rear its head.

I want him.

She had been half resigned, but no longer.

I want to steal Professor Rachel’s student away.

Meriel smiled, a touch maliciously.

Just you wait, Rain Ortiz.

I’ll come to you with an offer you can’t refuse.

“Jackpot, jackpot…!”

“······.”

Far too valuable a mind to be wasted in the grasp of that lacking genius.

“Professor Rachel, no matter how thrilled you are, maintain decorum──”

It was then that something flickered through her mind.

[ Emergency situation detected. ]

[ Demonic influence has infiltrated the Academy grounds. All Professors, prepare for engagement. ]

*

Rien Flint.

Age 28. Former knight.

She is a Demonic Follower.

What is a Demonic Follower? A traitor to humanity who pledges allegiance to the Demon King, even while human.

Those who forsake their humanity have no right to live, thus bounties are offered by the Empire for the reporting or slaying of Demonic Followers.

Now, with the Demon King vanquished by the Hero, people anticipated that the Demonic Followers would gradually fade away······.

The reality, however, was the opposite.

“How many times is this now?”

Her giant of a companion, ‘Herrild,’ inquired.

“Five. But isn’t the Academy a bit too risky?”

“It’s fine. Our only target this time is a single person.”

There’s a rumor circulating through the Empire these days.

‘Demonic Followers are destroying Imperial facilities.’

It’s both true and false.

The Demonic Followers’ goal isn’t destruction. It’s plunder. They’ve already succeeded in five plunders, thus this rumor that’s already spreading is the Empire trying to hide what’s been stolen.

Pathetic.

Is face really that important?

Well, a major facility like the Academy probably knows the truth.

“Shall we get started soon?”

“No, not yet. We’ll target the opening of the tournament.”

“Boring. It’d be more fun to go now.”

That musclehead has no capacity for thought.

Securing the target alone will be the most difficult part of the mission, and all he can think about is fighting.

“Ah, there she is. Rachel Arta.”

The target of plunder isn’t necessarily limited to objects.

The Demonic Followers’ objective was Rachel.

There was a certain magic they wanted her to research.

Resurrection magic.

For the sake of their unfairly defeated Demon King, they will borrow the mind of a genius.

It seems she’s gotten caught up with some sort of magical engineering, but her magical prowess should still be sufficient, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

Rien suddenly reminisced about the past.

It was the midterm exams at the Felit Academy. Adopting a method not unlike the Lunia Academy, the Felit Academy included duels between students as part of the test.

On that day, Rien faced off against Rachel.

I remember it clearly. That haughty gaze. The head tilted down in condescension. Me, fallen.

“This time will be different, Rachel.”

Rienne gave a slight smile and shifted her weight.

“Let’s start preparing, shall we?”

The plan’s initiation time. The ‘first match’ was beginning.

“Hm?”

But Rienne couldn’t take more than a few steps before stopping.

“What is that?”

An unsettling contraption. That man, wasn’t he from the Arcane Engineering department?

…Is *that* his Arcane Engineering?

“……”

What have you cultivated, Rachel Arte?

Rienne stared, dumbfounded, at the arena.

It’s common knowledge that Arcane Engineering has distinct limitations.

And right now, that common knowledge was being shattered.

“That one, he could be useful.”

Herrild said.

“Let’s take that too.”

Normally, she would have refused. Any action outside the plan created variables. But this time was different.

“Let’s.”

She distinctly heard that the test only allowed ‘personally invented equipment.’ Which meant that this bizarre creation was all made by that man.

Whether Rachel cultivated him or not, that didn’t matter.

This man’s crafting capabilities themselves might be necessary for us.

More than anything…

“Hahahahahaha!!”

That madness is perfectly suited for a Mein.

“Go on, Herrild. Cause a commotion.”

Rienne gave the order to an excited Herrild. Soon, Herrild charged toward the academy, dozens of Mein following close behind.

“Many will die today, I suppose.”

*

“Hm?”

My gaze drifted to the professors’ seats by chance. I saw Professor Rachel and Professor Meriel standing up in a hurry. Even Professor Peter looked anxious….

Did something happen?

“Well…”

Best to just stay put.

I’m just a student. There’s nothing I can do.

I should just head back to the waiting room and rest quietly.

I walked down the corridor at a slightly quickened pace.

“……”

But there were people blocking my path.

A woman with hair like spun gold and eyes the color of emeralds. She wore a smile that felt vaguely menacing, radiating an unsettling aura.

The two men standing behind her didn’t exactly scream ‘ordinary’ either.

“Ah…”

I felt like I understood the nature of the commotion now. Though I hadn’t asked for it.

“Your name is… Rein Ortiz, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Rien Flint. Former knight. And…”

She approached as she spoke.

“Current Mind. A traitor, really.”

“I see. It was a pleasure.”

I gave a quick bow of the head and promptly turned the corner.

My pace quickened, shifting into a jog.

Then, a full-blown sprint.

“Shit…”

A Mind?

A Mind!

Professors were bad enough, but now a Mind?

The best strategy in any fight is to run. Because getting hurt sucks. And that one looked certifiably insane.

Just a regular crazy lady is scary enough, but a Mind on top of that?

Staying put would be the abnormal thing.

“What’s the rush?”

And there I saw her.

Rien Flint, running alongside me.

Wow.

It’s that Mind from earlier.

I slammed on the brakes and caught my breath.

“Do you, have, some, business, with me?”

My breath came in ragged gasps, making me sound pathetic, but I decided not to care at the moment.

“I was quite impressed by your match.”

“Oh, were you?”

“That’s why I’m taking you.”

“To where?”

“Our headquarters.”

“Aha.”

I fumbled in my pocket.

What I pulled out wasn’t an object, but my own perfectly extended middle finger.

“Kiss my ass.”

While catching my breath, I opened my bag. Immediately, I drew a shotgun and pointed it at Rien Flint.

*Click.*

But the sound that reached my ears wasn’t a satisfying blast.

A pathetic misfire.

I realized. It wasn’t loaded.

“Hmm, refusing, are we?”

“Uh, it’s just that…”

“Understood perfectly.”

She drew her sword.

Didn’t even notice she had one strapped to her waist. Ominous mana swirled around its blade. Sword aura.

I know. If that insignificant, pathetic excuse for myself gets touched by that sword, I’ll be cleaved in two without resistance.

Of course, she wouldn’t kill me. The point is, that’s the extent of the gap between us.

I hastily reload.

Before she gets here, somehow…

“That weapon of yours.”

Click.

“Your preparation is slow.”

Snick.

With a single strike, my precious shotgun was severed.

It took me two whole days to make that…

“I have decided.”

I said with grim resolve.

“I’ll surrender.”

“Really?”

“Of course, it’s a lie.”

I kicked Lien with all my might. Naturally, she didn’t budge an inch.

But the reaction force sends my body flying backwards. Probably about two meters.

My bag is still clutched in my hand. Inside the bag is a demonic sword.

I have a weapon again.

“System, combat assistance requested.”

I drew the sword and tossed the bag.

[ Combat assistance commencing. ]

Hearing the System’s voice brought a measure of relief.

I never thought this formless artificial intelligence would be so reliable.

But no matter how I think about it, this definitely isn’t ChatGPT…

[ Focus. ]

“…”

I began to focus, as the System instructed.

“Hmm…”

Lien watched me quietly, then turned her back.

What? Giving up?

“I’d love to play around more, but right now, I have more pressing matters than you.”

At her gesture, the two men, who had stood quietly all along, lunged forward.

“You two should be able to handle him. Take him to headquarters.”

With those words, Rien vanished.

“…”

Looks like she underestimated me.

I wasn’t angry. It’s true I’m still weak, and the disappearance of such a huge enemy is nothing but good news.

So, the thought running through my head now is.

“Good.”

I can escape.

[ Frontal punch. Followed by a planned slash with a dagger. ]

I recoiled.

The punch missed, and then the slash missed too. The system’s reliability was proven once again.

I chuckled softly and said.

“Honestly.”

Actually, it wasn’t a soft chuckle.

“I kinda wanted to test it out.”

Dopamine surged, making it hard to hold back the laughter, so it came out that way.

“Safety mode disengaged.”

Now, this is the real Magitech.