Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Confrontation
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“Konrad let even Yongke go just like that. You often get misunderstood because the way you talk is so weird, right?”
“Not really.”
“Then it must just be that you have zero awareness. From my perspective, it feels like that’s happened plenty of times already.”
“...”
“Watch your mouth. From what I see, that’s gonna drag you into all sorts of disasters.”
She sure doesn’t hold back.
I scratched my cheek, thinking that, when Persy Syston Levantyn let out a sigh and rummaged through the production blueprint I’d drafted.
Persy Syston Levantyn, the Magic Faculty Dean, was a highly capable researcher even acknowledged by the Mage Tower.
Considering that most of humanity’s technological progress in the Sera world was achieved through magitech, being recognized by the Mage Tower—the epicenter of that technology—was no small feat.
Maybe it was thanks to her accomplishments in magitech, but despite being nearly fifty, she looked no older than a human in her late twenties.
Anyway.
“Aren’t you totally insane?”
“...”
“How do you even come in here asking me to make something like this?”
It felt a bit off for someone like her to say something so blunt.
“This isn’t a bomb—it’s a cannon. From the start, you asked for enough power to blow up the entire academy, and I thought that was crazy enough, but now you want me to make it so all that concentrates on a single point?”
She had a point.
It definitely felt closer to a portable cannon than a bomb.
Since the goal wasn’t wide-area damage but hitting a precise spot at the exact right moment.
“The actual production will go to Elpante’s internal workshop in the crafting department anyway, so the Dean just needs to design the explosive core and the casing to control it?”
“That’s the hardest part. Preparing that much firepower is one thing, but a casing strong enough not to shatter when it goes off inside? Do you think I’m some god of magitech?”
“You’ve made something similar before.”
At my words, Persy grimaced and shut her mouth.
Among the “weapons” she’d produced back at the Mage Tower, one with similar performance had actually been built.
Though mass production plans were scrapped due to some... “accident.”
After a moment of silence, Persy spoke up with a troubled look.
“I have no idea how you know about that. It was ages ago.”
“You called yourself the god of magitech earlier, but you used to have that kind of reputation before.”
In fact, if not for that accident, she might’ve even become the Mage Tower’s “successor.”
If Persy said she couldn’t do it, no one else would take the commission.
That’s why she held the Magic Faculty Dean position at Elpante.
“And honestly—though I hesitate to say it.”
“...What?”
“It’s not like you’re the one who suffers the most from this.”
“...”
Hitting her with the blunt fact like that made Persy cough awkwardly.
Instead, the graduate students nearby, who’d been diligently researching, went pale.
In any lab, when a project gets dumped on them, it’s always the frontline staff who suffer the most. Not the head honcho.
“But putting production aside. What on earth do you plan to use a weapon like this for?”
Persy asked with a serious expression.
A fair question. Even with a wish ticket, if a student suddenly asks for a weapon, suspicion is natural.
The purpose itself was simple, though.
In the Sera world, chapter-end bosses tended to come loaded with all sorts of dirty gimmicks, and the Purifier—the one kicking off that trend—had the worst of it crammed into the final phase.
It was infamous for screwing over players with patterns right when they thought they had it beaten.
So what was my solution?
“There’s something I need to blow up in one shot.”
“...”
“You know, something I have to take out before it gets annoying.”
“...Student, you’re really terrible at explaining things.”
“...”
Even I thought it came out a bit garbled.
“But there are circumstances...”
“I get it. I’ll make it for you.”
“...”
Persy suddenly accepted so coolly that I was at a loss for words.
As I blinked awkwardly, she sighed and brushed back her hair.
“Well, the Headmaster did tell me to cooperate with you as much as possible, so I figured I should hear you out... and it doesn’t seem like you’ll use it for anything shady.”
What’s with this high praise?
As I blinked again, Persy smirked and continued.
“Regular students might not know, but quite a few faculty members are aware of what you pulled off during that beast incident last time. That’s not something you do with just guts and skill.”
“...Is that so?”
“Yeah. So the Headmaster’s probably fine entrusting you with what’s basically a teen romance plot to save the world...”
Persy trailed off mid-sentence, her casual tone cutting short.
Her face had gone completely ashen, as if she’d said something she absolutely shouldn’t have.
What?
“...A teen romance plot? To save the world, you say?”
“N-no, I-I didn’t say anything! Nothing at all! Forget I said that!”
Why’s she so flustered?
Her character had a bit of an airhead vibe, but this level of panic meant it was really something she shouldn’t have spilled.
“Anyway, materials are key for this!”
Persy hurriedly changed the subject.
“The internal explosive for the gunpowder role, and the casing needs strength, adhesion, elasticity, mana conductivity—all top-notch stuff! Th-that’ll be hard to procure!”
“...Calm down first. Pretend I didn’t hear it.”
I let out a deep sigh and said that.
It was a rushed pivot, but her point was valid.
The explosive materials and the wrapping ones—both crucial.
‘The key is this.’
I fiddled with the black card I’d received from Atalante in my pocket. The key to the otherworld.
If I could get inside, gathering the materials Persy mentioned wouldn’t be too hard.
Surviving in there would be hell, though.
‘For that...’
I just needed two items.
And one person to handle them with me.
“Dean, you gave me something along with the wish ticket before.”
“Y-yes?!”
“...You said you’d give one item each from the secret vault to me and the hero candidate.”
It was the privilege I’d earned by breaking the record in the mock battle.
“Could I request the list of items to take out now?”
I wrote down the names of two items on a piece of paper.
Items that were meh on their own but produced extreme effects when used together.
It looked like I was requesting Eliya’s share too, but hey, I’d carried her ass in the mock battle. If she had complaints, so did I.
“...”
Persy finally regained her composure upon seeing the items.
It was sheer disbelief.
She’d probably figured out right away why I wanted these two specifically.
“...You really are insane.”
“...”
Lady.
Why you gotta do me like that?
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Elpante’s curriculum wasn’t actually that grueling. Especially for freshmen.
Since only the motivated ones study hard anyway, it was more about granting students autonomy than forcing them.
‘...It’s huge.’
That’s why I could skip like this.
I moved my aching legs down the hallway.
The one I was looking for was Eliya Chrisanax. The ‘key’ from Atalante was set for tomorrow, and her cooperation was essential for my plan inside.
‘Probably...’
Holed up in the beast research club room. In the original story, she’d minored in beast studies.
It was ridiculously spacious. My legs hurt, but the destination was still far off.
As I grumbled,
“Ah, are you Dawood Campbell by any chance?”
A chilling voice stopped me from behind.
Turning around, a man in a impeccably tailored tailcoat approached.
Polite smile, kind features, courteous demeanor.
He looked like a successful young entrepreneur.
“...”
But I knew who he really was.
Sinister intent masked as politeness, malice wrapped in kindness, hostility cloaked in courtesy.
“I was looking for you, and to run into you here—what a coincidence.”
Bullshit.
He’d definitely been monitoring my every move. It was far more plausible than bumping into me randomly in this deserted hallway with no eyes around.
“...Do you know me?”
“Oh, forgive my late introduction. I’m Galdia Riverback. I run the charitable foundation ‘House of Purification.’”
I took the business card he offered.
Yeah. I knew exactly who he was.
Galdia Riverback Marquis.
The chapter 1 final boss, the ‘Purifier,’ and leader of the demon-worshipping cult ‘Purifiers.’
That foundation was just money laundering for the group.
“...”
Whatever. That wasn’t the point.
What mattered was why this guy had popped up out of nowhere.
What did he want with me?
“I’ve had a strong interest in Dawood Campbell for a while now. I’ve wanted to reach out, but the opportunity never came.”
I stared silently at Riverback Marquis as he said that, but he smoothly steered the conversation anyway.
“I have something important to discuss. How about a meal sometime?”
“...You could just say it here.”
“No, it’s purely charitable. The House of Purification supports talented students who face barriers.”
Riverback Marquis smiled and leaned forward slightly. Still polite, despite my surly attitude.
“...I hear I have a lot of bad public opinion.”
At least, that’s how it was being spun at Elpante. Unless it was certain faculty, it hadn’t leaked out yet.
But Riverback Marquis smiled again, unperturbed.
“Gathering that much attention itself is a talent.”
“...”
“Our foundation can definitely offer you a great opportunity. Please reconsider?”
I spun the business card in my hand without answering.
It was absurd. Attracting bad opinion is a talent? There was no way to spin that positively.
This proposal only made sense if he was interested in ‘me’ specifically.
‘This.’
It was an event from the original story.
The one Riverback Marquis throws to ‘recruit’ someone. In the original, Eliya got tangled in it, leading to a major chapter branch.
Now it was aimed at me.
For whatever reason.
“...I’ll think about it.”
Riverback Marquis beamed and bowed his head at my reply.
“A fine answer. I look forward to it.”
He walked off with that ever-courteous tone, and I flipped over the card.
Three days from now. Twilight’s Pupil. A high-end restaurant in the city just outside the academy grounds.
He’d rented out the whole place, apparently. Fitting for the wealth-famous Riverback Marquis.
“...”
I quietly sorted my thoughts.
Like the previous event, dodging a main scenario-linked one came with massive penalties. Avoiding it wasn’t really an option.
“...”
Why is it always like this?
Is the whole world gunning for me with malice?
I clutched my head again as the migraines I’d been getting lately flared up.
‘...I need to prepare everything I can.’
No use dwelling now. Like always, it was do or die.
Three days until then. I recalled what I could do.
Compiled the info I knew, applied it to the current situation.
Calculated risks. Projected returns.
‘...It’s not impossible.’
The plan itself wouldn’t change much. First up: head to the otherworld with Eliya tomorrow and gather materials inside.
Then production and upgrades lined up neatly.
But after that.
“...”
One more thing was needed.
I silently changed course. There was someone to see before Eliya.
I arrived at the infirmary and knocked.
“Elnor. You there?”
“...Dawood?”
Elnor’s surprised voice came from inside.
I’d heard she’d fought the Dean, passed out, and been laid up here all day.
“...What brings you? Wait. I’ll come out right now.”
“No. You’re probably exhausted, so stay put. It’s quick.”
“Business? What’s up?”
“You free three days from now?”
“...Huh?”
“Could you come with me somewhere? ‘Twilight’s Pupil.’”
Elnor went quiet inside.
I heard her catch her breath, then long silence.
Finally, a slightly trembling voice leaked out.
“...Isn’t that place a famous da— no, an extremely expensive restaurant? Why there...”
“No idea. But it has to be with you.”
A huge crash and clatter erupted from inside.
“...”
What’s with her?
“...You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“...”
Good.
“Then see you in three days...?”
“...Got it.”
I backed away, hearing her voice—far less dignified than usual, almost mumbling.
‘...At least I’ve secured the most important person.’
Now it was just gathering the means for the plan.
Yeah.
From here on, these three days would be pretty busy.
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