Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Stars and the Mage (6)
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Somehow, I managed to drag Senior Estelle all the way back to her room.
Me, for keeping up the magic until here—major props to myself.
No sooner had I dumped her onto the bed like a sack of potatoes than a sniffling voice piped up.
"...For bringing... me back to my room... thank you, Luna..."
Instead of answering, I caught my breath and scanned the room.
And for a moment, I was at a loss for words.
The walls were plastered floor-to-ceiling with all sorts of blueprints, circuit diagrams, and equations from experiments.
The floor was littered with wadded-up clumps of parchment, barely leaving room to step.
And on the massive desk sat unidentifiable parts and the wreckage of magitech devices piled up like a mountain.
But what really caught my eye were the pledges stuck front and center on the desk, impossible to miss.
-Don't just bury myself in magitech! Dedicate at least three hours a day to pure magic theory!
-Keep that top spot this semester too—fight on!
-Live up to everyone's expectations!
This room's chaos was proof of just how fiercely Estelle Myers had been living her life.
I had no intention of belittling anyone's hard work. Nor should I.
But sometimes, you need to straighten your back and take a breather.
Humans aren't magitech gadgets that run full throttle 24/7 on mana alone.
If you don't rest properly, you break down eventually.
Of course, just lying in bed with your eyes closed doesn't count as rest.
You've got to fling open the windows, clear off that desk, rip down all this damn paper from the walls and floor, and burn it.
...Right after securing what needs securing, though.
"Estelle-senpai."
"Mmm?"
"That ancient magitech golem blueprint—where'd you get it?"
At my question, Senior Estelle blinked blankly at the ceiling before mumbling weakly.
"Last year... right after I started at the academy, some sponsor gave it to me."
"Do you know who it was?"
"No idea. Didn't give a name, even wore a mask."
Estelle-senpai staggered to her feet and started rummaging through a pile of documents in the corner.
"Where'd I put it... Ah, here it is."
As she sifted through the papers, a weathered parchment scroll ended up in her hand.
"Here, take it."
Senior Estelle thrust the scroll straight at me.
Her eyes swirled with complicated emotions.
Resignation mixed with lingering attachment... and a hint of relief.
"It's going to get submitted as evidence anyway... but you should take a look first."
"What a hassle... Fine, I'll hold onto it for now."
I casually unrolled the blueprint and skimmed the contents.
A magic circle composed of complex ancient script and metaphysical diagrams jumped out at me.
The sections defining the golem's form didn't really interest me.
What would you even do with something like that? World conquest? Sounds like the biggest chore ever.
But then my eyes stopped at the part explaining the golem's core power source—the 'nucleus.'
"It draws in ambient spatial mana, harmonizes it... and converts it to power, allowing semi-permanent operation after the initial mana injection without further consumption..."
Hold on—this...
If I apply this right, couldn't I make a 'charger'?
The fresh spark jolted me wide awake.
Inspiration swirled through my sleepy head.
"Huh? Luna, what's wrong? Something off with the blueprint?"
"Estelle-senpai, this... this is huge, you know that?"
At my excited reaction, Senior Estelle, who was perched on the bed, tilted her head in confusion.
"Huh? Well, yeah, obviously? It's an ancient weapon, after all..."
I shook my head lightly and waved the blueprint.
"This is way more than some puny weapon."
"...Huh?"
"It's a charger. Or maybe an auxiliary battery? Whatever."
Infinite possibilities unfolded before my eyes.
If I could build a device using this principle to absorb and store mana...
"This opens the door for even non-mages to use magitech products cheaply and semi-permanently."
They say technological progress always starts with weapons and adult toys.
In the end, it's all about how people use it.
I committed the entire blueprint to memory.
The problem I'd been agonizing over was solved, and without realizing it, the corners of my mouth curled up.
*
Call it an epilogue, I guess.
As soon as people returned to the academy from off-campus after midterms, the disciplinary committee convened.
...Calling it the evening of their return day is a bit much, isn't it? They must be exhausted too.
Well, the incident wasn't exactly minor.
There were hardly any casualties, but it could've turned into a massive disaster.
In the original story, it blew up into quite the scandal.
Either way, Linea Hall's basement and first-floor lobby were trashed. Word was repairs wouldn't finish until the second semester started.
The disciplinary hearing drew a huge crowd.
Key professors, student council officers, even the top students from each department.
I wouldn't normally show up to something this tedious, but this time I had no choice.
After all, I was a key witness before being a student rep.
Under everyone's focused gazes, on the podium, Senior Estelle bowed her head and spoke calmly.
"This incident was entirely due to my own greed and immaturity."
No excuses—she'd accept any punishment.
Her honest admission and apology hushed the room momentarily.
Of course, it was serious enough for expulsion without question.
But those in the know about the circumstances mostly hoped for leniency.
Especially the petition from the magitech department students on Estelle's behalf—it was packed with heartfelt pleas.
-Estelle has always been devoted to department activities and a model for us all...
-This was just a failed experiment, nothing more...
-Unauthorized research is wrong, but as a magitech student, it was more about...
Even the Linea Hall students who'd nearly been hit defended her.
The final verdict came down surprisingly fast.
"Estelle Myers, second-year magitech student, is hereby sentenced to one month of suspension."
Not expulsion, just a one-month suspension.
Followed by minor penalties like losing top-student perks and exclusion from scholarships.
Compared to her fate in the original story, it was a slap on the wrist.
...Wait. Is this even a punishment?
A one-month suspension means... no classes for a month.
Isn't this basically legal truancy?!
"Objection."
I shot up from the witness seat and strode to the podium.
Amid everyone's stunned stares, I bowed deeply and spoke slowly.
"I believe some responsibility for this incident lies with me too."
"Miss Lunaris, what do you mean? If anything, you deserve an award for cleaning it up."
I shook my head slightly.
"No. Truth is, during the golem fight... I was the one who wrecked Linea Hall."
The conference room buzzed.
I put on a deliberately gloomy face and continued.
"That golem wasn't a big deal. If I'd left it, the on-duty professors could've handled it fine, but I went overboard."
"From the blueprints we recovered, it didn't seem that simple..."
"Anyway, the damage got worse because of me. So I think I should be punished as an accomplice alongside senpai."
It was half-fabricated, but my acting(?) must've sold it—the professors' faces twisted in complication.
The students were beside themselves.
"No way!"
"Without Lunaris, we'd all be dead!"
"She saved everyone!"
Senior Estelle seemed the most shocked of all.
"No! Luna... I mean, Lunaris is innocent! It was all me, all my fault!"
Tears streaming, she desperately defended me.
Her voice pushing me to back off, pleading why I'd step up—it was heartbreaking.
"No. I made things worse, so I deserve shared discipline."
"Luna... don't do thiiiis...!"
The bizarre scene unfolded: me and Senior Estelle blaming ourselves back and forth.
Before long, sniffles rose from the students, and the professors wore awkward smiles.
"Ahem! We appreciate the students' friendship. In short, you want to share the burden, right?"
Finally, Chief Professor Howard, chairing the committee, stepped in to mediate.
"How about this: Estelle Myers and Lunaris Evermoon, two weeks' suspension each. Satisfied?"
"...Yes."
I bowed my head low.
I could barely keep my grinning lips in check.
A month would've been ideal, but two weeks ain't bad. Legal vacation time!
"...Excuse me, Chief Professor Howard."
Right then, a familiar voice rang from the witness seat.
"Regarding Miss Lunaris's punishment, may I make a suggestion?"
It was none other than Linea Hall's iron-blooded head maid, Odette.
She'd stood, bowed primly, and continued with a businesslike smile.
"Even sharing the blame, punishing the innocent Miss Lunaris the same as Miss Estelle goes against fairness."
...Huh?
"Suspension goes on your record—far too harsh for Miss Lunaris, no?"
"Hmm—valid point."
W-wait... hold on, Odette.
"Thus, I propose two weeks of on-campus community service instead."
A dumb groan escaped my lips.
Should've just stayed quiet...!
"The service will be maid duties at Linea Hall. A fine chance to teach her the sanctity of labor and the importance of discipline."
"Heh... full of zeal, eh? Very well, so be it."
"Thank you for trusting me. I'll oversee her strictly myself."
With that, Odette flashed me a beaming smile that was pure devil.