Chapter 190
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 190
“As you all know, our Alchemy Club will be participating in the academy festival. But to do that, we need a solid academic achievement to present.”
The Alchemy Club was, after all, an academic organization.
While Trish’s and my immediate goal was to make a fortune, we still needed a legitimate research milestone to maintain the club’s official status. In other words, we needed something worthy of being showcased at the festival.
Our carbonated drink was delicious and its production method was efficient enough to qualify as a research breakthrough, but we couldn't present it for business reasons. The detailed principles behind the carbonated water maker had to remain a trade secret.
Therefore, we needed a different item to prove our academic merit.
“It doesn't have to be anything grand. Creating a new dye or paint will suffice.”
The academy didn't expect groundbreaking inventions or world-altering discoveries from undergraduate students; something that simply made us look good was enough. This would allow us to save face at the festival and give us something substantial to report during club inspections.
I handed out the books and papers I had prepared, which detailed the specific formulas, to the club members.
“I've prepared everything, so it won't be too difficult. All you have to do is master these formulas—just well enough that you can perform a demonstration without getting confused.”
What I had brought this time was a formula for a synthetic blue dye.
Blue was originally a precious color that was notoriously difficult to obtain in nature. A truly vivid blue could only be derived from expensive lapis lazuli, making it a luxury dye reserved for the clothing of high nobility or priceless paintings.
However, if we created it by synthesizing chemical components, the cost would plummet. We planned to unveil this revolutionary formula at the academy festival.
Unlike the carbonated water maker, I’ll just patent this and collect the royalties.
I didn't have the bandwidth to dive into the textile industry as well.
Then, one of the male students raised his hand. “What about the carbonated water production, then?”
“That will proceed regardless of the festival presentation. We'll start as soon as the Triplet Dwarves finish modifying the carbonated water maker. I'll assign roles to each member on the day of the festival.”
The members of the Alchemy Club gathered here were the labor force we would use to produce and package the carbonated water. Last time, I heard that Trish and the five or six others had nearly worked themselves to death trying to sell tens of millions of krone worth of product.
But this time, our numbers had grown to about twenty members. With a proper division of labor, things should go smoothly.
“Trish, what's the status of the raw materials?”
“I-It's going smoothly. We have a contract with a merchant guild, so they'll arrive right on schedule.”
“Got it. Make sure you get a receipt this time.”
I thought I heard Trish click her tongue briefly.
Glaring at me, Trish asked, “By the way, what are we going to do about our booth location for the festival? We need a prime spot for business to be good.”
“You don't need to worry about that.”
I could easily secure a spot from Kiriel in exchange for helping her with the financial difficulties stemming from the stadium construction. We should be able to land a spacious location in the area with the highest foot traffic. It was the perfect opportunity to imprint our Alchemist's carbonated water onto the minds of everyone visiting the Union for the festival.
“You said you're going to use the festival as a chance to sell across the continent. Have you secured a distribution network yet?”
“For now, I'm thinking of contracting with the Golden Elephant Guild through Garfield, but if a better offer comes along, I'll take it.”
During the festival, many merchant guilds would likely approach us, seeking exclusive distribution rights for our product. All I had to do was choose the most trustworthy guild with the best terms.
After laying out a few more announcements in preparation for the festival, I concluded the meeting.
“Alright, that's enough for today. You're all dismissed. Go grab a meal together on your way out.”
After handing out meal tickets to the members, I called Trish and Yuliana aside.
“Trish, Yuliana, you two come with me. Let's go check on the progress of the carbonated water maker's modifications.”
After the short club meeting, we visited Meister Academy.
Before stopping by the Triplet Dwarves' workshop, we paid a quick visit to my personal one.
“This is your workshop?” Yuliana asked, tilting her head back to look up at the massive, factory-like building.
“Yeah. It's nice and spacious, isn't it?”
While I was away at my family home for the break, the interior finishing of the workshop—which had previously looked like an empty, abandoned factory—had been completed.
The interior, once nothing but steel pillars and red bricks, was now finished with clean marble tiles and mana-coated materials.
“But it's completely empty.”
“It'll be filled soon enough—with the latest equipment.”
The installation of the various equipment I ordered had been delayed because of the underworld civil war, but it should all be in place before long. My heart raced just thinking about crafting magic armor and transmuting homunculi here in the future.
We briefly looked around the empty first floor before taking the stairs up to the second.
The second floor was a spacious living area. The quarters, intended for staying overnight during intensive research, were decorated quite luxuriously. It featured several bedrooms, a large living room, a personal study, and an office.
The layout was similar to a high-end apartment back in my world. This design was purely for my own convenience; it was a structure I was familiar with as a Korean, after all.
I smiled as I looked around the luxurious living space.
I've spent the last six months living in that cramped sleeping room attached to the student council office. From now on, I'll live in comfort.
Moving my residence wouldn't cause any problems for my student council duties. After all, Eredor and Meister were only about ten minutes apart, and the transportation was excellent. I would likely live here until the basic construction of the new Valerian Academy was finished and I could move in there.
Trish's eyes sparkled as she scanned the workshop.
“Renting an S-grade workshop like this would cost well over ten million krone a month…”
Trish's gaze was a mixture of envy and greed. I added one more comment.
“It's free for me. I have a deal with Meyer.”
In exchange for handing over the blueprints for the next-generation core in stages, I was promised this S-grade workshop, the right to use Meister Academy's resources, and the transfer of magic armor technology.
“Really? Let me use it for free, too!”
“Earn your own money and pay for it. You're about to be rich, so why are you being so stingy?”
If we succeeded with the carbonated water franchise, she'd be rolling in money. She was so impatient.
Then, Yuliana slyly asked, “So, will I get a cut? From the sales profits.”
“You'll get as much as the other members. But aren't you rich already? Your family is well-off.”
Yuliana's family was one of the vassal families that had served the Cassandra Imperial Family for generations. They were a prestigious family, wealthy enough to put most nobles to shame. For her to be so greedy for money, did she have some other use for it?
“No matter how much money I have, it can't compare to you, can it?”
“That's true.”
There were probably only a handful of people my age who had more money than I did.
After our short tour of the workshop, we headed to the Triplet Dwarves' workshop next door.
Creeak—
Even after we opened the workshop door and stepped inside, the triplets were nowhere to be seen, likely buried in their research.
Bang, bang—
I deliberately pounded on the steel door with my fist to make a loud noise. A bustling sound immediately echoed from deep inside.
“Looks like we have a visitor. Malgor, go get the door.”
“Heh heh. Murgan, you go.”
“N-No way. You go, big brother.”
After bickering for a while, all three of the triplets finally emerged.
“Well, look who it is. Roen, it's been a while.”
It was Melga, whose impressive, sturdy build stood out despite him only being tall enough to reach my chest. I shook his hand and then handed him the bag I was carrying.
“Melga, take this. It's the profit from your gold ingot investment. I threw in a little extra.”
It was the return on the investment for the gold ingots Melga had entrusted to me previously. Melga opened the bag slightly, confirmed the gold coins inside, and grinned.
“Thanks. I'll put it to good use for our research funds.”
After greeting Malgor and Murgan as well, I asked about their progress.
“How is it coming along?”
The mass-production model of the carbonated water maker was already developed. The critical part was recreating the next-generation core that would power it.
The next-generation core—a concentration of ancient dwarven technology from a bygone era.
No matter how talented the triplets were, restoring it wouldn't be easy. Melga sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead.
“We're still a long way off. It's not just difficult; it's too difficult. The three of us put our heads together and focused solely on recreating the core all break, but we haven't even made 30 percent progress.”
“The blueprint isn't incomplete, is it?”
“No, it's not that. But it's written in ancient dwarven, which makes it incredibly difficult to decipher. Plus, the materials and components are different from what was used back then, so it's taking time to find suitable replacements.”
“Then can you meet the deadline for the academy festival?”
“…Sorry, but I can't make any promises.”
The triplets' shoulders slumped. For even the innately talented triplets to be unable to guarantee success… this technology must really be something else.
At that, Trish spoke in a worried voice. “Th-Then what do we do! If we don't have the carbonated water makers…”
“No, it won't be a huge problem. If worst comes to worst, we can just downgrade and install the current cores. If even that's difficult, we can just sell a moderate amount like we did during the athletic festival.”
The important thing wasn't selling a massive volume right away, but promoting the carbonated water brand and signing contracts with outside companies.
However.
If we're having this much trouble implementing the next-generation core, we'll face similar difficulties with the various other blueprints I'll obtain in the future.
I stroked my chin, lost in thought. I was planning to acquire various blueprints in the future and ask the Triplet Dwarves to build them, but it seemed recreating the technology of the golden age wasn't so simple.
It seemed I really did need the Sage's Glasses to decipher the blueprints. It was time to step up my efforts to acquire the academy's 3 Great Divine Artifacts.
While I'm at it, I should go check it out this weekend.
“Alright, I understand the situation. I'll figure out a countermeasure, so don't feel tied to the deadline and just focus on your research. I know it's tough, but I'm counting on you.”
The next morning.
The Student Council President's Office.
Having finished my morning workout and showered, I enjoyed a brief moment of peace while drinking the coffee Ciel had brewed for me.
Slurp—
Savoring the fragrant aroma, I set down my cup and spoke.
“Ciel, starting tomorrow, you don't need to come to the student council office anymore.”
“…Pardon?”
I repeated myself for Ciel, who was staring at me with a blank expression.
“It's just as I said. You don't have to come here starting tomorrow. Get some rest.”
The student council office was very close to the Eredor dormitories, only about a three-minute walk. On the other hand, my new workshop at Meister Academy was quite a distance away. Even though it was relatively close, when you factored in the tram and travel time, it took a good thirty minutes.
I couldn't make Ciel commute all that way every morning. Having her come by about once a week to pick up laundry or bedding should be fine. That would be more convenient for both of us. Or I could just hire someone else to do the housework. Even if Ciel was a maid, I felt bad for constantly working her so hard.
While I was briefly considering my options, Ciel, who had been staring at the floor with her head bowed, stammered, “Does that mean… you no longer have need of me?”
“What are you talking about? Of course I need you.”
Where else would I find such a capable maid?
“Then why…”
I explained to Ciel, who tilted her head in confusion.
“Did I not mention it? I've decided to move my residence from the student council office to my workshop at Meister Academy, starting tomorrow.”
No more living in that tiny sleeping room. It was time to live in a spacious, comfortable place.
“But that's quite far from your dormitory. The absolute distance isn't that great, but commuting back and forth during the busy morning is a waste of time. That's why I told you not to come in anymore. I'm not firing you.”
“…”
Ciel's expression softened with relief. Then, she clenched her fists tightly and looked at me.
“Then I shall move my residence there as well.”