Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Magic Stone Engine (1)
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Hearing that the Magic Society was gunning for me, all sorts of thoughts flooded my mind.
Could they be pissed because I'm trying to merge magic and engineering?
No way—this is the Empire, after all. They wouldn't lose their shit over that.
Then maybe it's because I bailed right before earning my doctorate, after only getting my master's?
That one actually seemed pretty plausible.
The mana engine and magic stone engine hadn't made it into any papers, by agreement with my professor.
Well, technically they'd only gotten a surface-level mention.
Because the moment those core technologies went public, vultures would swarm like flies to shit.
If nothing major had happened, we were probably still monopolizing the market.
Anyway, my status at the academy was officially withdrawn.
The Magic Society had been shocked every time I published a paper, so they might've demanded a public hearing just to reel me in.
But even so, something still didn't add up.
"How did you guys even find out?"
"Oh, that—"
"I'll tell you."
Pretina cut Esili off mid-sentence.
Esili whipped her head around with a glare, but Pretina didn't bat an eye.
"Father—ahem. The Duke has ears everywhere. That's how he found out. And he sent me to warn you."
"Ah, got it."
Yeah, House Apontuna's intelligence network wasn't something to scoff at.
So that explained why Pretina was here.
I wasn't sure why she'd come in person instead of sending a letter, though.
Was it urgent?
Or was it that weird interest in me she'd mentioned hearing from the Duke before?
Either way, her showing up made sense.
Even if I couldn't quite wrap my head around it.
But what about Esili?
I shot her a puzzled look, and she started twirling her hair around her finger.
That was usually a sign of embarrassment.
"...I just heard about it by chance."
"That wasn't by chance."
"It was a chance. Lady Apontuna."
Here they go again.
I was used to the routine by now, so I brushed it off lightly.
"So, what am I supposed to do about it?"
I wedged myself between them, and they both turned to me at once.
Esili spoke first.
"You've got two options. One: wait here until the Magic Society sends someone."
Pretina jumped in seamlessly, like she'd been waiting for her cue.
"The other: come with us now. Walk in under your own steam."
Damn, talk about polar opposites.
Both had clear pros and cons, but objectively and subjectively, the second one won out.
At least I wouldn't get dragged away in chains.
After a moment's thought, I decided to go with them.
"I'll come with you."
"Smart choice. I've got a carriage ready. Let's go."
And just like that, I climbed into the carriage with Pretina and Esili.
The carriage, naturally, ran on the magic stone engine I'd invented.
A driver took the coachman's place and smoothly guided it forward.
Heading straight to the place that would judge me—on my own two feet.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ When we arrived at the Magic Society, I saw crowds of people everywhere.
Pretina must've timed it perfectly.
Thanks to her, I didn't have to wait—they hauled me straight inside.
Soon enough, I was shoved into the waiting room as the defendant.
The two of them followed me in, and the guards didn't stop them.
Professor Herman was pacing anxiously inside.
"Ah, Edn!"
He spotted me and hurried over, his face etched with worry.
Then he spoke in a voice so apologetic it made eavesdroppers feel bad.
"I'm sorry. I tried my best to block it, but I basically have no say."
"Haha, it's fine. But no say at all?"
Someone like the professor should have some pull, right?
I was puzzled, but he let out a deep sigh.
"Remember how I told you the department couldn't convert me to tenure?"
"Yeah."
"There's a reason for that."
He hesitated for a second, then dropped a bombshell.
His story was long, but the short version went like this.
When I first invented the mana crystal, he tried his hand at business.
Investors were scarce, so he promised double the principal whether it succeeded or failed.
That drew investors, but building infrastructure and paying them out burned through a ton of cash.
The same issues cropped up with the mana engine and magic stone engine.
For mana crystal recharging via mana engines, losses piled up from carts hauling them to power plants.
For magic stone engines, they required mages from the Magic Tower as a minimum, and even then, each factory only produced about five per month.
He hadn't made the same dumb mistakes again, but there were massive mid-process losses or debts from loans.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"I-I'm sorry. But know that I tried my best to give you everything you needed. That's the truth."
Whoa, this was rough.
I'd figured it was just high infrastructure costs.
Not that he was flat-out terrible at business and had blown the money.
Sure, it was expensive, but I never imagined the professor lacked any talent for it.
It hit me hard, and I stared blankly before sighing.
Still, he hadn't failed me entirely.
He'd approved every research funding request like clockwork and slipped me living expenses on the side.
Lots of quiet support I hadn't even noticed.
Even if it was still shocking.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I... I had nothing to say. Bad judgment on my part."
God, what a mess.
Water under the bridge now.
I was annoyed he'd tried to handle it alone, but he wasn't a bad guy at heart.
Time to squeeze him a little.
I looked at the still-apologetic professor.
"Then, Professor, if we get a deferral at this hearing, help me out."
"How?"
His face lit up like he'd grasped at straws, hopeful.
A bit uncomfortable, I took half a step back.
"Lab space, research funds. You know, whatever. Just prep what I ask for."
"Got it. I'll make it happen."
Solid commitment secured.
Now for the others.
I turned to the two women watching us.
"Can you two help too?"
"Of course, I'll help."
Esili nodded without hesitation.
It caught me off guard, like we'd rehearsed it.
Pretina, on the other hand, shook her head.
Regret plain on her face.
"I can't. You'll see why once we're in there."
I'll see?
Was House Apontuna tangled up in this?
I probed, but she clammed up.
In the end, my curiosity went unsatisfied as the hearing began.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Magic Society's public hearing.
Attendees weren't just mages—plenty of political heavyweights too.
As the professor had explained beforehand, it stemmed from nobles who hated my guts.
My achievements at the academy threatened them.
They thought I'd steal their spots.
Me staying out of the spotlight had let things slide until now.
But my fountain pen release reignited the dying embers.
'Yeah, checks out.'
The circular debate hall was packed with nobles and Magic Tower mages.
Nominally, they were judging me as a mage.
Otherwise, dragging in Tower mages would've been tough.
As I scanned the faces, a familiar one caught my eye at the high seat.
Duke Ropel Apontuna—and Pretina's words from earlier clicked.
"So that's what you meant by can't help."
He was probably presiding over the inquiry.
A duke could run a fair, orderly hearing.
But that meant House Apontuna couldn't back me.
Any bias would draw fire from the nobles.
Even the Apontunas couldn't shrug that off.
Hence the cold reception.
"Hah, finally here."
"We've only ever seen Professor Herman. Now we get the man himself."
"Heh. Harder to glimpse than His Majesty the Emperor."
Mocking voices echoed from all sides.
It didn't faze me much, but maybe I should've shown my face more.
As I'd said before, I was basically just a name.
That non-regular capital party? Nobles didn't approach because they didn't know what I looked like.
Contrary to the professor's expectations.
Plus Pretina and Esili were there, making it even harder.
Sure, there were portraits, but they're not foolproof.
Photos maybe, but paintings? Nah.
Anyway, now they'd seen me. Satisfied, I hoped.
Fat chance.
As I took center stage, the Duke announced the start in an icy tone.
"We now commence the hearing on Edn von Rlangbur. I, Ropel, declare it so."
His quiet voice dominated the room.
The nobles looked cowed.
"First, I want to hear why this hearing was called. Step forward, representative."
"Yes!"
A sleazy-looking noble stood and strode forward.
Positioned opposite me, he bellowed.
"Edn von Rlangbur has dared to mock magic itself!"
So they were treating me as a mage.
Fine, got that—but specifics?
I stared silently, and he ranted like he owned the place.
"He developed and sold the magic stone engine! But recently, a carriage fitted with one crashed!"
"...Pardon?"
They were hanging this on that?
Seeing my shock, he crowed like he'd anticipated it.
"Look! Not a shred of remorse! The engine went haywire temporarily, the carriage couldn't stop, smashed into a wall, and wrecked. Someone died!"
Damn, that's some dedicated bullshit.
What he described was impossible.
After designing the engine, I'd run endless tests.
I'd even built safety features for overloads and runaways!
Sure, freak accidents happen, but this reeked.
I opened my mouth to protest the injustice, but couldn't get a word in.
"See? Scum!"
"Selling that death trap?"
"Arrogant con man!"
Insults and jeers poured from every direction.
I flinched instinctively.
I steeled myself and faced them boldly, but the hall was in frenzy.
Without intervention, they'd probably drag me out by force.
'Wait. Something's off.'
Why wasn't the Duke stopping this?
I looked up—he watched me calmly, like testing my response.
Huh. Trialing me here?
What was the Duke thinking?
Absurd, but his silence meant I could speak.
I shouted to calm the raging nobles, stomping my foot for emphasis.
"Quiet down! Let me talk!"
The roar-filled chamber fell silent in an instant.
Seizing the moment before they recovered, I thought fast.
I couldn't prove the magic stone engine's safety here.
Well, I could, but it'd be pointless.
They'd counter:
'Even if it's safe, accidents happen!'
'Safety my ass—it's dangerous!'
Besides, safety wasn't key for these nobles.
So what should I do?
Simple: change the audience.
Decision made, I swept my gaze over everyone.
"Whew, I've heard you all out. But give me a chance to speak."
"Very well, Edn von Rlangbur. You have time for your defense."
The Duke Apontuna looked down at me.
Still cold, but now with a flicker of odd concern in his eyes.
Wait, since when are we that close?
A bit thrown, but I chalked it up to Pretina.
Anyway, I had one thing to say.
"Magic stone engine. I'll unveil an improved version soon."
"...What?"
Nobles murmured in confusion.
Riding the wave:
"This new magic stone engine will be different. Designed for ore mining, no less."
Can't prove safety?
Prove utility instead.
I declared it here: heavy machinery incoming.
The hall went dead silent, like a bomb had dropped.
Seeing that, I dropped another.
"And mass-production golems. After the improved magic stone engine."