One Last Chance
I still had one chance left. Meanwhile, in Rodis's laboratory that I'd swept through like a whirlwind…
"Captain."
"Heh heh… Jania, President. How long do you intend to keep calling me that?"
Rodis and Jania were left alone, chatting.
"Once a captain, always a captain."
"Good grief—. Nilpia would throw a fit if she heard."
"What could that fool possibly do by rampaging? Compared to that, Captain, you…"
Rodis raised a hand to silence Jania.
"Enough. I'm already long gone from those days… And if you, the president, keep acting like this, what will the others think?"
Jania fell silent at Rodis's pointed words. But only for a moment.
"Then! I'll only call you Captain when it's just the two of us!"
"Tsk tsk tsk… Who was it that raised you with such stubbornness…"
Jania proudly puffed out her chest.
"You did, Captain!"
Bam—
Rodis's staff clashed against Jania's blue barrier.
"Heh. I'm not Professor Miriel, you know? Tricks like that won't work on…"
But Rodis's staff moved in a way that defied Jania's expectations. Thwack—
"Huh?"
Caught off guard by the surprise attack, Jania looked dumbfounded. And Rodis wasn't one to miss such an opening.
Thwack—
"Wha?"
Thwack—
Crack—
A ominous sound came from the floor where Jania stood, and it soon crumbled away.
"Caaaaptaaaiiin!!!"
"G-Go cool your head in the basement!"
"I'll bill you for the broken floor repair…"
As expected of an archmage, Jania had climbed back up in no time. Though she seemed pretty shocked, rubbing her head.
"Do as you must."
Rodis didn't seem particularly bothered either.
"So, am I your first choice?!"
In an instant, light burst from Rodis's staff. Boom— But Jania blocked it effortlessly. Seeing that, the light from Rodis's staff dimmed.
"You're overdoing the jokes."
"Hahaha. Fair enough? I was asking the obvious."
As Rodis's mana faded, Jania swung her staff, and the crumbled floor restored itself. But Rodis's next words pierced deep into Jania's heart.
"I have only one disciple: Miriel."
"Pardon?"
Jania's eyes wavered. But it didn't last long.
"I see. Of course. I was just the one tagging along and learning. Right."
"Yes."
Rodis, who had said it, looked apologetic and stared into space for a moment.
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. You tried to shake me off, Captain, but I followed anyway, didn't I?"
But Jania didn't let it go.
"Instead… I'll keep a special eye on Professor Miriel. Don't try to stop me."
Jania glanced at Rodis, worried he might object. But he didn't seem to mind.
"Who could stop you? Though it won't be easy."
Hearing Rodis's reply, Jania flopped into a chair.
"Hahaha. Tell me about it. Just looking at this [Research Plan] shows she's no pushover."
Her gaze fixed on the research plan I'd just written and left behind. But her expression wasn't bright at all.
"Automata fabrication… plan."
Jania knew exactly what that meant…
"More importantly, President Jania. Did you look into what I mentioned?"
Rodis's face grew more serious than ever. And Jania's response showed her utmost respect.
"Yes. It was exactly as you predicted. How did you know?"
"That's… a secret."
"I see. Understood."
"Ughhh—"
I dragged myself back to my room, utterly exhausted.
I was too drained to walk, so I floated on mana. If I hadn't had any left, I'd have crawled in.
"Master, really…"
You knew it was a joke!
Thinking back made me mad! He knows I love pranks!
"Anyway, when's he sending the materials?"
Hmm~
A tune escaped my lips naturally.
Because my perfect plan was sailing smoothly?
It was a crucial plan. I was in danger of running into the protagonist's party. So, how to avoid the risk? Let me list what I know: eliminate the danger, endure it, pass it on, or dodge it. Eliminating isn't an option. Kill the protagonist? The academy falls. Endure it? Get tangled with her and solve every event? Make me the side character here too?! I already feel like one… Pass it on? There's a perfect candidate: Master, who clears every incident effortlessly. But… Master would totally say, "Can't you handle it? You do it, you lazy disciple!" So, last resort: dodge it. How, when it's inevitable? Simple—if I don't face them. Use a stand-in. And I have the perfect ones: automata.
These automata are basically magical dolls. In this world, they're used for chores. But that's only early game. Late-game ones surpass even advanced mages as combat machines.
You can see it with the protagonist's party. Only Belinda the swordmaster and genius mage Perdita are combat-fit. Side characters hit 3-attribute advanced mage status. Ironically, the protagonists don't. Merchant Belviti, Princess Ersa who borrows imperial power, Imir the magitech expert, Metone who joins to guide when paths are blocked, Rupelsia who uses both magic and sword but ends up a one-trick automata operator… All far from fighters. Yet they win because of Rupelsia and Imir's combat automata. But only one is player-controlled: Rupelsia's. That's why she's the protagonist.
Anyway, not important. Point is, automata are customizable.
Important, so I'll say it again.
Customizable!!
Not random comms—endless autonomy!
Thus!
"Make an automata that looks exactly like me and send it to class?"
Then it tangles with the protagonist's party, and I skip class. Genius idea!
That's why this smooth progress had me thrilled…
Tap tap—
"Ow!!"
My arm hurts like hell—what's poking it?!
Bianca was there.
Ugh, seriously. I'm definitely reprogramming your brain someday!
Just you wait…
A few days later, the materials arrived.
◈ Mithril - Adamantium Alloy 20kg
◈ Orichalcum 10kg
◈ Mana Crystal - 1.5kg
◈ High-Grade Magic Stones 100g - 30 pcs
◈ Blue Drake Heart - 1 pc
"Whoa… They really brought a blue drake heart."
It was crucial, but hard to get—I thought it'd take forever, but it came quick. Medeia Academy perks? Fine by me. Faster is better.
"Let's do this."
I levitated the materials with magic and moved to my spot.
By the way, the key to automata is the power source. No one could make it at this point in the story. Or shouldn't have…
Pop—
A puff of pale light rose from the magic stone with a bang.
"Tch. Failed again."
Useless with my future sight.
The biggest feature of the original game Medeia was free combinations. Recipes exist, but endless varieties.
Like max-mana potions from dragon hearts… Or bows from weeds…
Unexpected materials galore. Eventually, a player succeeded in making the mana core essential for automata.
Boosted the protagonist's stock. Allowed two automata instead of one due to material limits.
That key ingredient is the blue drake heart, but first process magic stones and mana crystals. And these attempts…
"No way… Why all failures?!"
29 failures total.
One shot left.
"Urgh… Not yet… Not yet!! I still have one chance!"
Azaaah!!
I gathered mana into Plutoid. The blue gem glowed.
The mana flowed to the crystal, melting it around the stone.
Like threading a needle—delicate control of dispersed mana. One slip and fail. Focused for minutes… White light from the stone. Left with a stone swimming in molten crystal.
"Done… Success…"
Haa— Exhausted.
Not from mana drain, but concentration. Didn't expect this much focus.
In game, just click!
What now?
If this drained me, how for the next…
"No choice. Better rip the band-aid off."
I started the next step.
"Whoa…"
Before me shimmered a mana core emitting iridescent blue energy. Easier than expected.
Do I have talent?
"Let's see… Next up."
Gathered remaining materials. Problem.
"What shape?"
Yeah.
In game, click automata for customization. Reality? No. Confirmed making Bianca—a round blob failure.
Haa… Plan perfect, forgot this.
"I… have zero art skills…"
Big trouble. Materials are lumpy. Shaping this?
"Yeah… Impossible."
Need another way.