Chapter 100
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: The Archmage of the Magical Engineering Department (1)
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The Administrative Hall, frequented mainly by students from the Political Science Department, had a salon that students could use freely.
...Or so the saying went, but in reality, it was little more than a study room and exam venue for Political Science students.
Almost every activity in the salon was recorded and factored into grades for major subjects.
The one who ruled over the Administrative Hall's salon wasn't a fourth-year or third-year, but Miriel Adrian, the top student across all second-years.
Today as well, she was gracefully enjoying tea time amid a crowd of her numerous followers.
"This season's Darjeeling has a different aroma from the start. As expected of Lady Miriel's discerning taste."
"Did you specially order these teacups? Goodness, they're so luxurious!"
Miriel tilted her teacup elegantly with her pinky raised, flashing a faint smile at the students surrounding her.
"Discerning taste? Hardly. It's just the beginning of the semester, so I used the leftover tea leaves since I was short on time."
At her every word and gesture, the young ladies fawned and chimed in enthusiastically.
No one suited the title of the academy's lady of the house better.
Of course, her inner turmoil was festering more with each passing day.
'...Hah.'
Miriel covered her lips with her teacup and let out a long, heavy sigh.
Inhaling the cloyingly sweet tea aroma deep into her lungs finally loosened the corset tightening her chest a little.
It was ironic.
This boring academy, where others were desperate to graduate as soon as possible, was the only place she could breathe freely.
'I want to... stay here forever...'
A murmur she habitually whispered when alone.
Lately, it had become a thought she repeated even with other students around.
She worried a bit that she might one day slip up badly because of it.
But if she didn't vent her emotions little by little like this, they'd rot away inside her.
Of course, she knew full well how futile such a wish was.
The moment she graduated, she'd be discarded as the unwanted card of the Adrian Ducal House.
'Still, for the time being.'
Two years and one semester left.
She could indulge in this sweet dream for that long...
"Oh, Lady Miriel! Speaking of which, I heard from my father!"
At that moment, a female student exclaimed, changing the subject.
"During the last break, you handled the imperial palace schedule on behalf of Duke Adrian, right?"
At those words, Miriel nearly choked.
It was the moment she was yanked back from her dream to harsh reality.
"I heard you had a deep, lengthy conversation with Second Prince Valerius!"
"As expected...! Already meeting privately with royalty as the family head's proxy!"
"Have you become the prince's closest confidante? Right?"
"The imperial palace suits you perfectly, Miriel. The academy feels too small."
"I heard you've been exchanging messages lately too!"
Amid her followers' admiring gazes, Miriel forced a relaxed, nonchalant smile.
"We didn't talk about anything special. I just passed on Father's regards and chatted a bit about academy life. Our recent exchanges are just simple greetings."
Her followers burst into giggles, praising her humility.
But Miriel couldn't laugh along.
-Have you spoken to Miss Lunaris?
-When are you arranging that promised meeting?
-Don't test my patience, Lady Miriel.
What conversation with the prince? She'd only been unilaterally scolded by that sword-obsessed psycho.
She'd managed to dodge with various excuses so far, but she was reaching her limit.
She'd probably have to arrange a meeting somehow.
'But... how?'
In the first semester, she could at least strike up a conversation, but now Lunaris seemed like a completely different person.
'Crossing that wall in just one semester? Is that even possible?!'
An archmage was practically nobility that even an imperial count couldn't treat lightly.
She, a mere lady of a ducal house, now had to use honorifics with her.
Of course, in the academy, teacher-student and senior-junior relationships took precedence over noble titles by unwritten rule, but it was still someone she couldn't approach casually.
'No, the archmage title isn't even the real issue.'
Miriel recalled the rumor heating up the academy lately.
The incident on the first day of the second semester's second week.
The rumor that Raymond Cloud, the academy's top mage and head of the Magic Department, had lost to Lunaris was known to every faculty member and student.
And it wasn't even a one-on-one fight.
The fact that he lost even with Linea Hall maids and the Third Princess's guards on his side was even more shocking.
'How am I supposed to persuade a monster like that?'
Being high-handed wouldn't work, and coaxing her didn't seem likely either.
Above all, even arranging a private meeting was proving impossible.
"I hear the Third Princess has been hanging around Miss Lunaris lately?"
"It looks like she's staying in the princess's room... Is she her personal guard or something?"
As the other students said, since the second semester started, Third Princess Celestina had been glued to Lunaris's side.
In this situation, approaching Lunaris to ask her to meet the Second Prince?
...She couldn't even imagine what the Third Princess would say.
'And she said she wouldn't do anything...'
Miriel bit her lip, thinking the sly junior princess had finally reeled in Lunaris.
Of course, Miriel—who was at odds with the Third Princess—had no way of knowing this was only a temporary cohabitation until a new bed arrived in Lunaris's room.
In her eyes, Lunaris had simply become the core of the Third Princess's faction.
'How did things end up like this?'
Feeling properly entangled in the imperial power struggle, Miriel let out a quiet sigh.
At any rate, she had to make contact with Lunaris.
Otherwise, she'd incur the Second Prince's wrath.
As naturally as possible, like she was there for another purpose and happened to meet Lunaris as a bonus.
Conveniently, Friday afternoons were for club activities.
That damned Ghost Story Research Club.
She'd shown interest in the first semester, so using that as an excuse now wouldn't be too forced.
It bruised her pride a little, but it was better than being hounded by the Second Prince.
"Milady? Lady Miriel, are you feeling unwell?"
"...Mm. It's nothing."
Miriel snapped back to attention and flashed her elegant smile again.
"Just had something on my mind."
She poured the now-cold black tea into her mouth.
The tea, which had been sweet moments ago, now tasted bitterly.
*
The Magic Hall annex, where Magical Engineering Department students attended major classes, carried a peculiar smell.
It was a mix of metallic scent and the sour tang of alchemical reagents.
Not unpleasant. Inhaling it for long made one feel nostalgic and fuzzy somehow.
"Oh? Luna!"
I was sitting by a sunlit window, yawning hugely with a stretch, when someone tapped my shoulder.
Turning at the familiar voice, I saw Senior Estelle beaming at me.
"Long time no see, Senior."
"Hey, you. Isn't that a bit much?"
Senior Estelle put on a stern face and placed her hands on her hips.
"How could you not send a single letter all break? I messaged you several times saying I was heading to the capital to sell magitech supplies and to meet up if you had time."
"Ah, that..."
I scratched my cheek with an awkward expression.
"A lot happened during break."
"You were probably just busy sleeping."
"For real... I went to the Mage Tower, the imperial palace..."
"You weren't there the whole break, right? And I heard everything. You slept all day every day for the last two weeks of break!"
"Sleeping is the most important schedule item."
"You're hopeless."
Senior Estelle shook her head as if she couldn't do anything with me.
She could have sulked and grumbled, but instead, she sat in the seat next to me like it was natural.
"More importantly, why didn't you come last week?"
"I keep telling you. Skipping the first week is the rule."
"True, last class we did nothing. It was just 'get to know your master-apprentice again after the break made things awkward.'"
"We're close enough without that, Senior."
"Ugh, if you could just watch your mouth."
I couldn't help laughing at her grumbling.
Whether first semester or now, how Senior treated me hadn't changed.
Upper mage or archmage, to her I was just the troublemaking junior Luna.
As Senior and I were bantering idly, the front door of the classroom opened and someone entered.
I thought it would be that lazy professor from last semester who basically left us to our own devices.
"G-Good to s-see y-youuu..."
But it was Lilliana Gearheart, head of the Magical Engineering Department, in person.
"...Senior, our Magical Engineering major class prof is the department head?"
"Yeah. Last week she suddenly showed up in the classroom, and I was like, what? Surprised, Luna?"
"Not really..."
Having done one-on-one lessons with Department Head Raymond in the first semester, the weight of a department head felt light to me.
Besides, Department Head Lilliana was... well, compared to others, she seemed lacking in some way.
"I m-made it on t-time... Kyaaak?!"
Even now, look—she tripped on the podium step as she entered and face-planted.
"Ugh..."
Department Head Lilliana rubbed her reddened nose and shakily stood up.
She glanced around nervously, then spotted me and lit up with a bright smile like nothing happened.
"Student Lunaris! You're here this week!"
"Hello, Department Head."
"I was worried when you skipped last week... You'll attend properly from now on, right...?"
"I'll come to afternoon classes."
"Theory is important too, Student Lunaris...! Come to mornings like today. Got it?"
"Got it. I'll come if I'm not sleepy."
Department Head Lilliana grinned goofily and stood at the blackboard.
"Everyone's present, so... shall we start proper classes this week?"
At some point, her eyes began to gleam sharply.
It wasn't for nothing she became Elterion Academy's youngest department head.
Normally she slouched around looking utterly unmotivated, but when it came to magitech topics, her mind whirred like a genius.