Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Isolde - (4)
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Sabbath, Erebos Royal Academy's Great Library.
This was the place where Isolde and Otilie had agreed to hold their first regular meeting for the group project.
"First, we need to decide on a topic. Here, I prepared a list of promising topics before coming."
Isolde handed over the list she had carefully selected overnight. These were topics optimized for high scores based on the Magic Department's evaluation criteria.
"Hmm..."
However, Otilie skimmed through the list Isolde offered and shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't like these."
"...You don't like them?"
"Yeah. All of them."
"A-all of them?"
"They're boring. They seem difficult and obscure. Not my taste."
"N-no... But... they won't be that hard. I'll handle the research, and I'll write the first draft of the report too. So Otilie just needs to review it and put her name on it..."
Isolde realized anew that Otilie wasn't really listening to her. She was already intently examining a book.
And that book wasn't even a magic tome—it was just an entertainment script for a puppet show.
"I want to do this."
Otilie pulled out a page from the book and held it up.
The page featured an illustration of a puppet in a dancer's costume gracefully performing.
"Dancing Doll."
"...Dancing... Doll?"
"Yeah. Not some report—we'll make the actual thing and submit it. Wouldn't that be more impressive?"
"..."
An idea Isolde had never considered.
Skip the report altogether and submit the real thing for evaluation.
It wasn't entirely impossible.
But would this topic be recognized for its academic value and score high?
More importantly...
'Dancer puppet...'
It sounded simple, but the difficulty would be insanely high. Even Isolde, the top student in the Magic Department, had no idea how to implement it.
"Otilie, do you know the evaluation conditions for this joint research?"
"Yeah. It has to use only common magic."
"Yes. That means you can't manipulate the puppet with your secret arts."
Joint magic research only allows the use of common magic.
Otilie's specialty, material manipulation magic, originated from the Ihen Dorp family.
In other words, they had to create a dancing doll using only common magic, without incorporating secret arts.
"It'll be an incredibly tricky project. The chances of success are slim. If we fail, the entire semester's investment will get the worst score..."
"We can do it."
Otilie cut her off. She was already smiling faintly at the puppet in the illustration.
"Besides, it sounds fun."
"..."
Fun.
The way Otilie said it with a joyful smile made her look like a pure explorer who enjoyed magic itself.
It was a realm utterly incomprehensible to Isolde.
"...All right."
Isolde forced a smile.
She wanted to choose a different topic. But with her only group member's will so firm, she had no choice but to yield.
"Then let's try that topic. Yes. First, we need to procure materials for the puppet. We have to use materials that accept mana well... Hmm. That'll be quite expensive."
Isolde had some funding left, but that was money to send to her family.
"I hate to impose, but... does your workshop have any materials?"
"It does, but that's for Leo."
"Leo?"
Otilie shrugged.
"Instead, I know a good place to find materials."
"Where is it?"
"The dump."
"..."
Isolde's expression hardened. Otilie laughed, as if she liked that face.
Helena was a true master of stalking.
We had agreed on one regular report per day, and her skill was truly artistic.
"Reporting. Isolde and Otilie are currently heading to the academy's outer dump."
"The dump? Suddenly?"
"Yes. From eavesdropping on their conversation, it seems they're looking for parts for their project."
Hearing Helena's report, I smirked.
It had to be Otilie's decision.
I was wondering where she'd get enough materials for so many puppets—from the dump, scavenging usable scraps.
Well, Erebos was attended by heirs of prestigious families. Even their trash would have valuable items.
"Interesting."
I could picture it.
The top Magic Department student wandering a dusty dump in her shoes, looking miserable.
"But... will this really work?"
Helena sat on the chapel fence and asked.
"You deployed me, the stalker, to fix that Isolde girl."
"Aren't you the stalker, Helena?"
"You might actually get stalked that way."
Helena glared. I slyly averted my gaze.
"Well, I've developed some knack for it."
"A knack?"
"Yes. A knack for handling people like Isolde."
Helena's expression turned subtle.
"How?"
"She's that kind of girl."
For Elise's honor, I decided not to mention how she had cried in my arms at the cathedral.
Helena's lips twisted, displeased that I knew a side of Elise she didn't. Then she said lowly,
"Thug priest."
"Coincidentally, I didn't become a priest by choice."
"It's lamentable how the young lady ended up stuck with a thug like you."
I shrugged.
Listening to talk about Elise, I realized the chapel had been quiet lately.
Sophia had returned to the dorms now that classes had started after break, but Elise skipping classes daily yet not visiting the chapel was unusual.
"Come to think of it, where is Lady Elise?"
"The young lady is... busy cleaning up after the last inspector priest incident. Sending letters to the Church, reorganizing the Erebos branch budget—she's having very busy days. All for your sake."
"...Hmm."
In short, extorting money from the Church.
Whatever it was, she was working tirelessly for this chapel.
I should thank her later.
"Anyway."
There was a little over a month until Act 4 began. I had to resolve Isolde's issue and ease concerns about the Void before then.
Nothing I could do here. I just had to hope Otilie would shake Isolde up as much as possible.
"Anyway, let's just watch for now. Keep tailing them."
"Yes. Since it's the young lady's request, well..."
Helena nodded. Then she sighed, looking at the gray furball dangling from her chest and mewling nonstop.
"Agh, why does this spirit like me so much?"
"Maybe it's a goat, not a dog."
"What does that mean?"
"Must like rock climbing."
Savage.
The next moment, her hairpin grazed my temple.
Not a big deal.
Academy north side, the dump.
This place, piled like hills with all sorts of refuse from Erebos, exuded a gloomy atmosphere.
"Ugh..."
Isolde pinched her nose and looked around.
Dust, metal smells, and an unidentified fishy stench permeated the air.
A place the usual Isolde would never set foot in. But Otilie was different. She rummaged through scrap heaps excitedly, like it was her own bedroom.
"Ah, found it."
Otilie pulled a rusted grandfather clock from the scrap pile. Covered in grease, but it looked like a jewel to her.
"This is it. Perfect for the drive system."
"Otilie... you're really going to use that?"
"Yeah. Clean it up, and it's like new. Brass like this has good mana conductivity—not bad at all."
Otilie wiped the grease with her sleeve without hesitation. A black smear stained her white cheek, but she didn't care.
"...Can't you just use Cleans?"
"How do you use that?"
"It's in Basic Magic Studies."
"So how do you use it?"
Isolde blankly stared at Otilie's face.
"...N-never mind. Nothing."
Any Magic Department freshman would know Cleans, but Otilie looked genuinely clueless.
"Oh, this is good too. A bit worn, but oil it up and install it—should last half a year easy."
"..."
Otilie happily dug through the trash.
She was from the Ivory Tower, a prestigious noble family—didn't she have any pride?
On the other hand, Everett had praised her as one of the few great mage talents of the century.
'...I can see why.'
Observing Otilie, Isolde intuitively felt it.
"You pick this up too. Don't pull away because it's dirty. Clean it, and it's new."
"Otilie."
"Yeah?"
"Are you having fun?"
Otilie tilted her head, as if wondering why the sudden question.
"Aren't you?"
"I..."
No, not really.
For Isolde, magic was merely a means of survival and proof. A shell to show off to others.
Clean, perfect, something to be acknowledged by others.
But for the twin-tailed girl before her, magic—and puppets—were just play.
Pure amusement, regardless of others' opinions or dirtiness, as long as she liked it.
"Otilie..."
Without realizing, Isolde spoke.
"How can you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Just... don't you care about others' gazes? Scavenging materials from a dump like this. It's dirty, hard, and probably won't score well... Why are you so happy?"
Otilie stopped what she was doing and stared straight at Isolde.
"It's fun."
"...That's it?"
Otilie grinned mischievously and continued.
"Just between us, the secret puppet I'm making is so good even Magic Department professors can't break it. Don't make that face. Not lying."
"..."
"Anyway, puppets are magic too. I do magic because I want to. What others say isn't my business."
A simple, clear answer.
That one line stabbed Isolde's heart. Had she ever done anything just because she wanted to?
Even when she first manifested magic, it was to light a fire or freeze to death.
Maintaining her top spot desperately, because without funding, her family was in danger.
Being friendly with everyone, because she didn't know when her talent would fade.
"Then why do you work so hard?"
"I... have to. It's my role. That's how... I have to live."
"You live tired."
Otilie, uninterested in Isolde's backstory, turned back to the scrap pile.
"...Aren't you curious?"
"Not really. I don't like people stories much."
Each gesture was a fresh shock.
Isolde realized she had never shown such weakness to other students.
She couldn't. If the department top had troubles, everyone would swarm with interest. Not what she wanted.
"...Otilie."
"Yeah."
"Is there a secret to enjoying magic?"
"Do what you like."
Otilie paused, then smiled faintly.
"Actually, last semester I almost gave up on puppets. The professor threatened to fail me if I used them."
"You... with puppets?"
Isolde asked incredulously, and Otilie nodded.
"But I ignored him and took the F. All thanks to my teacher."
"Teacher? That priest?"
"Told you. He's my muse. Inspires me."
Otilie said that, then thrust her hand into the trash and pulled out a small stuffed doll.
"He accepted me as I am."
Looking at the doll, Otilie beamed.