Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: The Researching Mage (2)
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"The idea is really solid. But implementing everything from the start is impossible."
Estelle senior spun her fountain pen between her fingers and continued.
"So, our goal for this semester is to start with creating a communication crystal powered by an embedded mana engine."
"Yeah. Sounds good."
For today's first session, we began by perfectly replicating an existing communication crystal.
"It'd be great if we had some reference materials..."
At Estelle senior's words, I pulled out the prepared item as if I'd been waiting.
"Just in case, I brought this."
It was none other than the communication crystal issued to me by the vice-captain.
"Huh? Where'd you get this?"
"Don't ask about the source."
"You're not using it... right? Can we disassemble this?"
"Yeah. You can even smash it."
I nodded without the slightest hesitation.
Truth be told, I had an ulterior motive for bringing this communication crystal.
I figured I could skip one report to Vice-Captain Albert by claiming it for a lecture experiment.
Of course, Estelle senior had no clue about my scheming.
"Luna, you're really serious...!"
Senior gasped, seemingly moved by my experimental spirit(?).
After wiping away tears that weren't there, she grabbed the disassembly tools.
"I won't forget your sacrifice! Sniff!!"
Even as she said it, the corners of her mouth curved up in a grin.
Senior, be honest. You're thrilled at the free shot at smashing a high-end magic tool, aren't you? No?
The priceless (I honestly have no idea) crystal split in half, exposing its internals.
"Look closely. This crystal acts as the core, these are thin wires transmitting mana. This little crystal handles sound transmission, and the magic circle engraved on this plate..."
Estelle senior explained each component to me.
...Yeah, honestly, I haven't a clue what any of it is.
But the brain mounted in my skull is needlessly top-tier.
Even without grasping it properly, I crammed it all into my head anyway.
Basically, I memorized everything Estelle senior said wholesale.
In other words... I totally get it! (I get none of it.)
"By the way, I'm not sure if we can pull this off with just these standard materials. Honestly, I want to reuse the disassembled parts."
"Then why disassemble it in the first place? We could've just submitted the communication crystal as is."
"Pfft! Good point~"
Estelle senior tidied up the disassembled parts briskly, then started sketching the circuit diagram on paper.
"Alright, apprentice? Mind grabbing these materials listed here? They're heavy, so in batches..."
"Why bother trekking back and forth? Just get 'em all at once."
With a casual flick of my finger, the parts floated up one by one.
"Looks super convenient. Maybe I should get serious about magic."
"It's nothing special. Lie in bed meditating and flick your finger for five years or so, and you can manage this."
"...How do you survive five years just breathing, doing nothing?"
"I could handle fifty, no problem."
At my half-joking remark, Estelle senior's face drained of color.
"Luna, you're not a polymorphed dragon or anything, right?"
"...Huh?"
"I read somewhere dragons have hibernation cycles—they can sleep for decades or centuries. You're not one of those?"
"If I were a dragon, I wouldn't step foot outside my lair."
"...Yeah, that tracks for you, Luna."
The materials piled up on the table.
Estelle senior alternated between the internals and the circuit diagram as she began assembly.
I sat quietly beside her, yawning.
"Luna, draw a magic circle there. For signal amplification."
"Here?"
"Yeah, right there. And infuse some mana into this crystal."
Whenever senior gave an order, I flicked my finger just enough.
Ah~ This smooth ride-along vibe.
Being carried like this? Pure bliss. Electric.
Suddenly, Estelle senior looks like a whole new person.
She's the one bringing the fourth industrial revolution to my bed life.
...Way too valuable to let get expelled from the academy... Mmm.
"Luna! How can you doze off the second I look away?"
"Ack?! No, I wasn't sleeping..."
"Sure you weren't~ Tempo napping like the professor!"
The pace was noticeably brisk.
Estelle senior's skills combined with my telekinesis magic created insane synergy.
No, we were the only team actually building anything.
Glancing around, the other first-years were just examining materials one by one. Second-years were still scribbling notes.
Just like I was eyeing other teams, they were all staring at ours.
"What are they building already?"
"Whoa, they're flying through it."
"Top seats live up to the hype."
Amid the awed murmurs, the communication crystal neared completion.
At least it looked decent...
"Alright, let's test it."
Estelle senior carefully channeled mana into the crystal.
"...?"
"..."
But nothing happened.
"Th-this is odd?"
Estelle senior muttered, wiping sweat from her brow.
"What's wrong with it?"
Panicked, she disassembled it and rechecked the internals.
She verified every circuit connection and scrutinized the magic circles.
Unable to pinpoint the issue, her brows furrowed.
"Not sure, but should we add another magic circle?"
"Huh? Oh, sure."
A magic circle suddenly surfaced in my mind, so I overlaid it on the core.
Still no change.
"Standard materials mean low mana efficiency, probably?"
After a moment's thought, senior declared.
"I'll pump in more mana."
"Want me to slam some in? Yawwwn..."
"I'll fine-tune it first—if it's not enough, you're up."
Estelle senior pressed both hands to the crystal and poured mana in earnest.
Soon, it emitted a dazzling blue glow.
-Crackle. Crrackle.
Static-laced noise accompanied aurora lights sweeping the surface.
A relieved smile bloomed on senior's face.
"Phew~ Mana shortage, as expected. Efficiency's the culprit, but standard stuff can't be helped—"
Before she finished.
Flames abruptly sparked over the steady glow.
"Huh? This... something's off?!"
The instant Estelle senior yanked her hands back in alarm.
The crystal flickered wildly, spewing sparks.
-Boom! BANG!!
An ominous roar echoed.
Wait... is it gonna blow?
"What the—?!"
"What's that sound?!"
To avoid academy serial bomber rumors, I bolted up.
First, left hand out—I clenched the air hard.
Mana obeyed, compressing space around the crystal.
Right index finger slashed a magic circle in the air.
Icy light trails etched it, chilling the crystal.
Confirming sparks and flames subside, I yelled to senior.
"Senior, paper on the desk—tons of it."
"Huh? Oh, right."
"Pen too, borrowing it."
Seeing paper blanket the desk, I swung my right hand again.
Senior's fountain pen twirled midair, then raced across the sheets.
-Scribble scribble.
As the pen stained paper black.
Magic theories swirled in my head, blending with senior's explanations.
Mana efficiency, circuit interference, material limits, excess mana...
Thoughts poured straight from mind to pen onto paper.
"She's calculating all that? Magic too?"
"Incredible..."
Hushed voices buzzed unheard.
Too locked on inner monologue for distractions.
How long?
When I snapped to, papers before me brimmed with theory.
"Tweaked the circuits for standard materials."
Using the calcs, I repositioned parts.
Twisted silver lines, layered circles double- and triple-fold.
Telekinesis still pinned the space. One slip, boom.
"Guzzles way more mana than original, but it'll function."
Estelle senior gawked between me and crystal.
Onlookers gulped as one.
I released telekinesis, cradling it in both hands.
"Let's fire it up again."
I infused mana this time.
No one else here had mana to spare for it.
Translucent light from palms vortexed inside.
Air crackled tense.
Classroom hushed.
All held breath, eyes on us.
The crystal flared pure white.
Waves rippled surface.
A familiar voice emerged.
"Huh? Wait, this mana signature... Miss Lunaris? Calling at this hour—what's up?"
None other than Vice-Captain Albert.
"Wh-what?! It worked?!"
"With junk standard parts?!"
Gags and gasps erupted at the flawless operation.
What's the fuss? Total overkill.
Just crushed it with raw mana overload.