Sponsorship Review (8)
"Phew."
The sponsorship review that had dragged on all day had finally come to an end.
Even though we'd started early in the morning, the sun was already tinged with sunset hues, meaning we'd spent over six hours just on the reviews.
As if to prove it, the reviewers—exhausted and worn out—were slumped in their seats around the review hall.
"Ugh, it's finally over."
"Uuuugh..."
Meanwhile, Centonio rubbed his back while Aria had practically fused with her desk, both of them groaning as they pored over the review sheets.
"Looking at it like this, you can really see the standouts."
"Yeah. The real contenders catch your eye no matter what they do."
The two of them were each holding sheets for major clubs.
"This club's quality was on another level. From the planning to the process and results—flawless participants."
"These guys stood out too. It's just an idea in the planning stage without results yet, but the concept itself was incredibly intriguing."
"Ah, that one. I found it fascinating too."
As Aria flipped through the sheets and reached the bottom one, her expression darkened sharply.
"This one..."
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"Director, why did you pass the Magic Engineering Club?"
"Hmm..."
Fortunately, Centonio seemed to remember who they were.
After a moment's thought at Aria's question, he pulled out a pen and pointed to the sheet.
"The reason I passed the Magic Engineering Club is simple."
Centonio indicated a specific item on the sheet as he spoke.
Aria followed his gaze and unwittingly voiced what was written there.
"Creativity and originality... full marks?"
The content was shocking enough to stun Aria.
After all, in countless reviews, clubs getting perfect scores in specific categories were rare enough to count on one hand.
And among the reviewers—including herself—Centonio was the strictest grader, so her shock was all the greater.
"Full marks in two categories..."
"Heh, is it that strange for me to give perfect scores?"
"No, it's not that, but... this is the first time you've given full marks in two categories, right?"
"Correct. First time in this review."
Surprisingly, Centonio admitted it lightly, then fluttered the sheet in his hand and asked,
"Do you think it's hard for them to deserve full marks?"
"...Honestly, yes."
"Mm, fair enough."
He nodded once, then manipulated the ceiling-mounted screen to pull up their materials.
After a brief loading time, the blueprint reappeared.
At the same time, the reviewers—including me—let out exclamations of admiration.
"Ooh!"
"The more I look, the cooler it gets!"
"Big and beautiful!"
The experts' eyes were practically sparkling; if no one else was watching, they might've lunged forward to lick the screen.
"I just can't understand it. Sure, the idea's good, but the chances of actually developing that are basically zero. Why pass it...?"
While everyone else marveled, Aria alone wore a baffled expression and vented her frustration at the blueprint.
Centonio, who had been quietly observing her, drew a thin strand of mana thread and pointed to a section of the blueprint.
"The reasons for passing it boil down to two main points."
"...Two points?"
"Yes. First is the mana core that goes into the aerial battleship Jis."
"The mana core—the one they said would serve as the battleship's heart?"
"Exactly. As you know, the mana core was the first invention the Magic Engineering Club successfully developed. Its value is naturally immense."
You could tell just from the experts' reactions.
When the mana core first appeared, the experts had nearly popped their eyes out in shock.
Aria still vividly remembered how they'd discarded their composed facades and excitedly swarmed it.
"You probably have some idea, but the mana core has endless potential applications. Construction, civil engineering, barriers, magic, machinery, and more. It could revolutionize entire industries."
"So, you passed them based on the mana core's potential?"
"Mm, that's part of it, but more precisely, I saw potential in the Magic Engineering Club's idea itself."
"Their idea?"
"Yes. The aerial battleship Jis. It has tremendous potential."
"I know aerial battleships have huge potential. If developed, they'd revolutionize logistics."
Right now, logistics relied on land and sea transport, but completing Jis would open up air transport.
'And since military uses prioritize logistics anyway.'
Whether personnel or materials, enabling mass transport was a massive advantage in itself.
"But that's potential if it succeeds."
"Then let me ask in turn: why do you think it'll fail?"
"Obviously, because they lack the manpower. Plus, they'll need enormous capital for development. Ideas without people or money aren't realistic."
Large-scale projects typically secured funding first before starting development.
'But the Magic Engineering Club did the opposite.'
They started development first and were now seeking investors.
However, given it was a long-term project with high school students as the core developers, attracting investors wasn't easy.
Anyone who thought about it could see their project was doomed to fail.
—Or so Aria judged, lacking deep commercial or professional knowledge.
"Of course, by your logic, it would fail."
But Centonio had held a high position in the Lukidus Kingdom even before Academy City.
He naturally possessed advanced economic and commercial knowledge.
The same went for me and the experts watching them.
"However, you're overlooking the influence the Magic Engineering Club has already demonstrated."
Thus, only Aria looked puzzled at Centonio's words.
"Developing the aerial battleship Jis isn't the key point. What's truly important is that they've already created the heart—the mana core."
"You mentioned that earlier."
"Yes, but in a different sense this time."
"...?"
"They produced a core component—called the 'heart'—without any investors or research facilities. Do you really think that means nothing?"
Aria's expression soured slightly at Centonio's words.
"Of course I know that. Looking at the money flowing around her, it's clear she's a genius inventor."
That's why Aria couldn't understand.
In her eyes, Reisha Kaenhoff was undoubtedly exceptional, but the project she'd presented wasn't as appealing as it seemed.
"A club with such outstanding skills will get collaboration offers from countless labs even without us. I know that."
But—
"No matter how many labs attach themselves, the real key is the capital to build the foundation. What they truly need is corporate investment. And that project has zero commercial appeal."
Right, Executive Director Damian?
Aria shot a sharp glance at the Flugel representative.
"Uh, um. Indeed, as the Planning Department Deputy Director says, it's not the kind of project corporations favor. Long-term projects require extensive internal debate before investment decisions. Corporations prefer projects with big returns for small investments. Well, that's true for any organization. That's why Flugel invests more in short-term, efficient projects. However..."
"See? Even commercially, it's a half-baked project. There might be some returns on sponsorship, but it won't exceed our targets."
With eyes full of conviction, Aria turned to me.
"What do you think, President?"
"Your point has merit."
"Then..."
"However, you don't understand people well."
Or should I say men, in this context.
At the same time, the battleship blueprint model shifted into a sleek robot.
"Sometimes, you judge with your heart, not your head."
Commercial viability?
Development potential?
Feasibility?
I wasn't considering any of that right now.
"Wh-what do you...?!"
"Long-term project? No investors?"
What nonsense.
She doesn't get people.
She doesn't understand the drive of those who prioritize emotion over reason.
"All pointless."
What mattered was whether I saw it or not.
"I guarantee investments will pour in from across the continent."
"Wh-why...?"
How could any man not be drawn in?
"Transforming robots are just cheat-tier by default."