Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Four Seasons Association's Mage (5)
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No sooner had I finished speaking than the atmosphere in the meeting room grew heavy.
"Desertification of the empire... That certainly could have been a serious problem."
Senior Gaius rubbed his chin and muttered.
"More than that, isn't the biggest issue the fact that there's an external force with malice toward Elterion Academy and the Belhart Empire?"
The laughter had vanished from Senior Miriel's voice.
"It's been a while since we've had an agenda to propose in the name of the Four Seasons Association."
The president muttered while pressing his forehead.
...Ah.
I felt like I'd stirred up trouble unnecessarily.
Regret started to creep in. A meeting that could have ended quickly was about to drag on forever.
And sure enough, the seniors began pouring out countermeasures all at once.
"We need to strengthen verification procedures for items brought in from outside the academy. The current system of passing them with just a simple report is too risky. To that end, we should establish a system..."
"No, institutionalizing it alone isn't enough. By then it'd be too late, Miriel. We need to check with our own eyes."
"What, are you suggesting we form a patrol unit, Sir Gaius?"
"If necessary, yes. During times when outsiders frequently come and go from the academy, students should step up themselves..."
"It's not something you can just solve by making students suffer indiscriminately. To address the root cause, we need to trace back to the sponsor."
"Hmm, do you think that's feasible? Even the president would have trouble with that."
"Conveniently, I've heard the Imperial Mage Corps is conducting a full-scale investigation. So on the student council level, we should cooperate..."
Fatiguing, boring words came flooding out.
Wow, just listening to them makes my head throb.
Moreover, if even one of these ideas they're throwing around gets implemented, I'll be dragged all over the place again.
As a magic consultant or magitech consultant or whatever.
Absolutely not.
I must protect my small, precious sloth life.
"Excuse me."
No sooner had I slyly raised my hand than the eyes of the seniors, locked in heated debate, all turned to me at once.
"Isn't everything you're talking about right now just way too inefficient?"
To begin with, it's not even your job.
Well, patrols might happen occasionally in the city.
"It might be somewhat inefficient. But safety is ultimately the most important thing."
The president said to me in a soothing tone.
Though his eyes were sparkling with interest.
"Or Lunaris, do you perhaps have a more efficient method?"
He spoke as if expecting me to have come up with some idea.
"Preventing incidents is important, of course."
I continued, stifling a yawn.
"But if the opponent is determined, we can't stop incidents from happening, right?"
Moreover, this is the world of Academy's Tenacious Mage.
Starting next year when Kyle enrolls, this academy will be plagued nonstop by all sorts of incidents, accidents, and unfair treatment.
So it's easier on the mind to assume incidents have already happened and act accordingly.
This is a world where you get hit by scenarios like this by default.
"This time it was a magitech golem, but who knows what method they'll use next... I don't think throwing more people at it blindly will cut it."
"Keep going? That's an interesting thought."
The president said, propping his chin on his hand and staring straight at me.
"In short, we need a way to minimize the damage."
"Hmm, got a method for that?"
Senior Gaius asked, unfolding his arms.
"Well, there's no way to stop them if they come charging in with swords drawn..."
I shrugged and continued.
"But for magical terrorism, if the professors from the Magic and Magitech Departments put in a little effort, it should be manageable, right?"
The key here is that the professors are the ones putting in the effort. Not me rolling around.
No, think about it—the academy should be protected by the professors anyway.
Why should a mere student like me be the academy's guardian deity, clicking cheat keys while suffering?
"For example, erect a mana barrier over the entire academy."
"Mana barrier?"
Senior Miriel blinked and asked.
"Exactly how would it operate on principle?"
"Well, the principle itself is simple."
Nothing special—just biometric recognition.
Like using iris, face, or fingerprints as passwords.
Of course, this world doesn't have that level of biotech.
But this is a world with 'magic'.
Where magitech replaces science.
"It's based on the fact that each person's mana properties are slightly different."
Going beyond mere aptitude for certain attributes or lineages of magic.
Defining each individual's unique properties—that's the 'Mana Uniqueness Theory'.
Conveniently, the mana-based communication I'm developing uses this principle instead of phone numbers.
Long-term, I need to research converting natural mana into codes so even non-mages can use magitech devices, but that's not for now.
"So, collect the mana codes of all academy members and..."
"W-Wait. Hold on, Lunaris."
Senior Miriel interrupted me with a flustered expression.
"What you just said... I've never heard it before? You're not just making stuff up, right?"
"Uh, well, if you're asking if the obvious is obvious... I don't know what to say..."
More importantly, isn't this basic of basics that everyone learns first in magic class?
"Looks like you dozed off a bit during the general magic lecture, Senior Miriel."
Suddenly, I felt an inner closeness to this haughty, prickly villainess senior.
She suddenly seemed so human.
"W-Who do you think I am, like you?!"
Dozing off with little nods isn't really embarrassing, though.
"Lunaris, what you're talking about—is that the Mana Uniqueness Theory?"
"Yes, exactly."
The president must not have dozed off and actually paid attention in class.
"That's not basic of basics—it's one of the advanced research topics that even fourth-years might tackle in their graduation theses."
...Ah?
"Isn't this taught in academy theory classes?"
I definitely remember hearing it...
"Looks like you learned it in a dream instead of the classroom. Very much like you, Lunaris."
The president chuckled and shook his head.
"Anyway, go on?"
"Well—anyway, erect the mana barrier and register everyone's mana."
"So we can immediately detect any unregistered, foreign mana that manifests."
"If we set it strict, we could even block magic use outright, or at least identify when, where, and who used it."
The seniors mulled over my words and nodded.
"I'm just a sword-swinging guy, so I don't know much, but it seems like a solid idea."
"What if someone inside the academy whose mana is registered causes trouble? We couldn't stop that."
"That's why I said at the start, President. We can't prevent incidents, but we can stop them from escalating."
Mana is basically personal info, after all.
"In other words, we can identify the culprit who caused the incident."
"Hmm, not bad..."
"Sounds good."
The seniors nodded in unison at my words.
"Covering the entire academy with a barrier sounds like a big job too. Any ideas on that?"
"No clue on that."
Aren't you expecting too much from a freshman who's only been here three months?
But I can at least introduce them to the experts.
"Wouldn't the great Archmage Department Head Raymond figure something out? Plus, there are quite a few Mage Tower alumni among the new part-time lecturers."
Imagining the department head and other professors and lecturers hustling in my place made my lips curl up involuntarily.
Come to think of it, the Four Seasons Association isn't half bad.
If I play it right, I might legally exploit the academy staff for the novel's key episodes?
*
Back to peaceful daily life.
A cozy bed and fluffy attachment pillow awaiting me.
Mornings, lightly twisting the maids' wrists.
Occasionally attending lectures if I felt like it.
Once in a blue moon, spending time with Claire, Senior Estelle, or Her Highness the Princess.
Days like that continued.
Even better, Department Head Raymond took charge of the mana barrier project and declared indefinite suspension of Thursday lectures, giving me pure bliss days.
Dumping tedious work on others is the best.
*Knock, knock.*
...Ah, here we go again.
Monday arrived after the weekend.
As always, the day started with Odette knocking on the door.
Half-asleep, I rubbed my eyes with a groan.
Ugh, I had such a weird dream last night that I don't even feel like I slept.
Do these maids never get tired?
How many days in a row is this now...
10? 20?
Anyway, after it got to where I couldn't count even with fingers and toes, I stopped bothering.
Still in bed, I flicked my finger toward the door.
Hmmnya... Abracadabra...
...Huh?
"What's wrong with this?"
The magic wouldn't activate properly.
Whenever I tried to gather mana at my fingertips, it scattered like grains of sand.
While I panicked, the door (forcefully) opened, and Odette led a fully armed maid legion to me.
"Good morning, Miss Lunaris."
Odette, usually expressionless, had noticeably upturned lips today.
"We have new developments today. About five hours ago, the magic barrier construction was completed."
"...Oh, really? Finished faster than expected."
"When setting up the barrier, we made one request to the professors."
"...?"
"Whether they could restrict your magic use between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. daily."
"...!"
I let out an incredulous laugh.
No way, they actually exploited it like this...?
"Too bad. Doesn't work on me."
I subtly lifted the nearby sofa with telekinesis magic as a veiled threat.
"We didn't expect to completely seal your magic."
But the intimidation fell flat on Odette.
"Weakening it even a little is enough."
"..."
"You seem quite inconvenienced."
Using magic was definitely no small inconvenience.
Like my body was damp cotton soaked with water.
But anyway.
As long as I can still use magic, this is no issue.
"Odette, forgotten who suggested the magic barrier?"
"Of course not. It was the Four Seasons Association's proposal."
Odette's smile deepened.
"You've dug your own grave, Miss Lunaris."
I slowly rose from bed and rolled my shoulders.
"But did you think I'd suggest it without anticipating this?"
"...!"
I twisted space with telekinesis, squeezing out mana.
As expected, it couldn't block natural mana use.
Of course—controlling natural mana is tantamount to controlling all mana.
No sooner had I sketched a magic circle like drawing a picture than Odette's face stiffened.
"Formation D! Everyone, go all out to subdue Miss Lunaris!"
"If you thought this puny thing could ruin my morning sleep, you've got it all wrong."
Soon, explosion sounds and maids' screams intertwined.
"What? What's going on?"
"It'd been quiet lately, but she's at it again?"
"Knights, help Lu—no, support the maids. Make sure Luna wakes up for class."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
It had been a while since we had such a lively, noisy morning.