Chapter 92
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 92
A few days later.
With the Sports Festival less than a week away, a buzzing, festive energy swept through the Union.
In keeping with the mood, the professors had wrapped up their performance evaluations and significantly dialed back the homework. Each academy began preparing in earnest, selecting representatives for the various events while the remaining students gathered by class to practice their cheering chants.
On top of that, the clubs that had secured stalls in the festival's vendor area were a whirlwind of activity. The Alchemy Club, which I was a part of, was no exception.
Inside the Alchemy Club room, I tapped the machine sitting in the center of the floor.
Clang—.
"I-Is this it...?"
"That’s right. It’s a carbonated water maker."
The device, forged from a metal alloy, was roughly the size of a compact refrigerator. This was the fruit of my labor.
[Carbonated Water Maker (Provisional Name)]
• Classification: Manufacturing Item
• Grade: Rare
• A prototype based on the blueprint for a Carbonated Water Maker. Crafted by the hands of three exceptionally talented dwarf brothers, its performance is guaranteed.
Trish stared blankly at the machine before suddenly pointing to the metal canisters stacked beside it.
"Then what are those canisters next to it? Gas tanks?"
"They’re mana cylinders. They’re consumables, so they’ll need to be replaced periodically."
In terms of maintenance, it was similar to a household soda maker from my world, though the underlying principles were entirely different.
This machine is a product of magic engineering, not science.
I didn't know the exact mechanics of how it worked, nor did I need to. It was better to think of it as an "OOPArt" created with ancient technology. The only thing that mattered was that it worked exceptionally well.
"How do you use it?"
"It’s simple. You just supply it with water through the hose."
I connected a rubber hose from the faucet to the machine. With a low hum, the carbonated water maker whirred to life.
"That’s it?"
"Yes. Bring me a cup."
I took the cup Trish handed me, held it under the dispenser, and pressed a button.
Beep—.
Cool, fizzy water poured into the cup.
Fssshhh—.
"!!"
Bubbles danced all the way to the surface. It was unmistakably carbonated water. Trish and the other Alchemy Club members stared, their jaws agape.
Normally, a mage would have to struggle with air-infusion magic to manually dissolve carbon dioxide into water. It was only natural for them to be shocked that such a difficult manufacturing process had been reduced to a single button press.
Gulp—.
I took a refreshing sip and spoke.
"For your information, it also has a cooling function. Carbon dioxide dissolves better at low temperatures, so the fact that you can enjoy it chilled is a bonus."
Now that we had the base, all we had to do was create a syrup and mix it in to produce soft drinks. It was nothing short of a revolution in manufacturing.
Trish, the first to regain her senses, asked, "S-So what do we do with this now? Are we going to sell it at our stall during the Sports Festival?"
"Hmm." After a moment of thought, I proposed a different strategy. "For now, it would be better to raise awareness by distributing it for free to the athletes competing in the events. Think of it as a sponsorship."
Like PowerXade or Gatorade.
"A sponsorship?"
"Yes. We give it away for free to dramatically increase its recognition."
"You’re going to give away this expensive carbonated water for free?!"
I shrugged at Trish’s overreaction. "It’s not expensive anymore, is it?"
The cost of water was practically zero, so the only real expense was replacing the mana cylinders. Even factoring in labor, a single cup would cost less than 500 Krone. Of course, if we were to distribute it externally, the cost of manufacturing bottles would be a separate issue.
"No, that’s not it... If we just give away something that originally costs tens of thousands of Krone per cup, won’t the value plummet? Wouldn’t it be more profitable to keep the price high for now, make a killing, and then gradually lower it? How about we do the sponsorship and sell it at the booth?"
"Hmm."
Trish’s words had merit. She likely just wanted to squeeze out more profit, but I saw a better business opportunity in her suggestion.
Raising awareness through sponsorship is good, but we also need to establish a price point so consumers know this is a premium product.
A two-pronged strategy was best.
"Alright. We’ll sell it at the booth as well. I’ll set a reasonable price. However, we need to differentiate the sponsored version from the retail version, either by the ingredients or the flavor."
Who would buy a drink if it tasted exactly like the free stuff given to the athletes? We needed a distinction in taste or carbonation levels.
For the athlete-sponsored version, we could lower the carbonation and add electrolytes, making it a functional sports drink. For the retail version, we’d load it with carbonation and sugar to make it as addictive as possible.
"It’ll take more effort since we’re increasing the product line, but I trust you’ll do a good job. You can keep all the profits from the booth."
"Leave it to me!"
Trish practically jumped for joy. For a split second, it looked as if her pupils had literally turned into gold coins. Seeing her enthusiasm, I knew she’d work herself to the bone without me saying another word.
"By the way, have you registered a patent for this? The technology could be leaked," Trish asked, her eyes still gleaming as she looked at the machine.
I shook my head. "It’s better not to register a patent."
The technology used in this maker was an OOPArt salvaged from the ancient Golden Age. It was better to keep it a trade secret than to register a patent and reveal its inner workings to the world. A patent is only valid for a set time before it becomes public knowledge.
The formula for cola was the prime example. Even in my world’s history, the exact mixing ratio was a closely guarded secret.
"I see. But are you sure those triplet dwarves who made this can keep a secret?"
"Yes. They aren't the type to blab, and I warned them that if the technology leaked, they wouldn't receive any more 'marvels' from me in the future."
An ordinary person might sell the blueprints for a quick profit, but those three were single-minded fanatics obsessed with invention. To them, the Golden Age blueprints I could provide were worth far more than any sum of money. The fact that they built this machine without asking for much in return was proof enough.
"Then let’s start making the syrup. Are the supplies ready?"
"O-Of course they are."
Trish pointed to the dyes, sugar, and flavorings on one side of the room. Beside them were containers and a mountain of glass bottles. Everything was exactly as I had requested—the item list and the quantities were spot on.
Of course, I had given her more than enough money to cover the ingredients, shipping, and labor.
"Is there any money left over? By my calculations, there should be about four million Krone remaining."
"Hah." Trish flinched, her body tensing as she answered in a trembling voice. "L-Left over? There’s nothing left. I spent it all on the ingredients. And there were shipping and labor costs, too..."
"..."
Her behavior was incredibly suspicious. I tapped the ingredient containers with the back of my hand, then finally nodded.
"Alright."
I’d suffered enough financial headaches thanks to the original Roen’s messes; I could let this slide as a minor offense. As long as she did the job, I wouldn't begrudge her pocketing the change. It just meant she had worked that much harder to find the supplies at a discount.
"Fine. But from now on, make sure to bring a receipt."
"Ack."
A finder's fee is one thing, but I still needed to verify the transactions. Trish continued to grumble under her breath, but I ignored her and began the syrup-making process. With the help of my [Alchemy] trait, the syrup I produced would likely have some beneficial additional effects.
"Trish. Stop muttering and bring me the mixing drum."
"...Yes."
*
On a bright spring day.
Time flowed ceaselessly, and before we knew it, the Sports Festival was upon us. Today, the day before the grand opening, most classes were shortened to morning lectures only.
Taking advantage of the free time, I went with Ciel to the Ishtal Territory to do some preliminary reconnaissance. Ishtal was already bustling with more people than usual.
The once-bleak, barracks-lined streets were now draped in colorful international flags, and the roadsides were decorated with vibrant flowers and lush greenery. Students gathered in small groups at the open-air cafes and restaurants, chatting excitedly.
I looked around and nodded slowly. "The atmosphere isn't bad."
"Yes, it seems Lady Freya has prepared diligently. A few days ago, an official notice was sent to all shops in the Ishtal Territory requesting their cooperation. They’ve reportedly taken measures to prevent price gouging during the festival."
"Well done. And this idea is quite good, too."
I held up the informational pamphlet I’d picked up at the tram stop. It featured a map of Ishtal, clearly marking points of interest, popular food streets, and famous landmarks. At the very back, there was a section for collecting stamps.
"Yes, they are distributing those at each stop. If you collect stamps by visiting the stores, you can enter a lottery for a prize."
It was a clever way to revitalize the local economy and increase foot traffic. It boosted student participation by offering rewards while building a positive image for the territory.
"This must have cost a pretty penny. Are there any shops worth visiting?"
"Ishtal’s culinary scene isn't exactly refined, so personally, I don't see any standout places," Ciel replied.
"I suppose so."
No matter how much you dress it up, military food is still military food.
"However, they are famous for unique preserved foods and high-calorie combat rations passed down through various families."
"..."
"Also, health foods are currently in vogue here. Dietary methods for muscle enhancement are very well-developed."
"Aha."
Sounds like a paradise for people on a diet or those obsessed with bulking up.
"As for more conventional fare... their smoked meats and beer are quite famous."
"Hoh, now that sounds tempting."
So there was at least something worth eating.
"We’ll stop by there later. For now, we’re heading to the main stadium. Which way?"
"Over there. If you head toward the hot-air balloon, you’ll find it."
Ciel pointed to the sky, where a hot-air balloon floated against the blue expanse. Below it, a fluttering banner and signs for each area were attached. They had been placed in advance to help visitors navigate.
After scouting the streets, I followed the balloon and soon arrived at the grand stadium. It was a massive basin located in the heart of Ishtal. I saw a vast arena surrounded by tiered concrete seating. Red tracks circled the well-manicured green lawn. Aside from the lack of modern awnings, it looked remarkably like a professional stadium.
"Here, move it over here!"
"On three! One, two, three!"
Tents, canopies, sound equipment, and stages were being erected all over the grounds. The stadium was in the middle of a full-scale rehearsal. In the distance, I could see Freya and the other members of the organizing committee, along with the student prefects, moving with practiced urgency.
I took in the progress and the layout of the tents, murmuring to myself, "They look busy."
"Since you’re here, would you like to show your face to Lady Freya?"
"No need. I just came to scout things out for a moment."
I needed to understand the seating arrangement to determine the best spots to drop off the supplies I’d procured through Sheika. It was essentially a reconnaissance mission before I "slipped" them the goods.
I was about to turn back when I heard it.
Rustle—.
The sound of light footsteps came from behind me, followed by the familiar, faint scent of lilies.
"...Roen? What brings you here?"
Freya had approached me without me noticing.