Health Checkup (1)
Health Checkup (1)
A dark, murky world mixed with ashen gray.
The dream that visited every night had become not just unsettling but tedious by now.
I didn't know if it was a nightmare foretelling an ominous future or nothing more than a random dream concocted by my brain. Probably closer to the latter.
My consciousness was hazy, as if I were floating on the Dead Sea. In the dream, I could do nothing. I was allowed only to observe, like a spectator who had come to a cinema to watch a film.
When I focused on my hearing, screams and shouts came one after another.
Trees burned, iron melted.
The sky was black, the earth reddish.
Today too I saw the future where the world was severed.
I awoke from sleep in a feverish heat, as if drunk on high-proof liquor. As usual, my pajamas were damp afterward. I grumbled inwardly and straightened my bedding.
"Rote, would you go ahead?"
"Don't be late?"
After sending Rote off first, I took a shower and came out. Only after shocking myself with cold water did the unpleasant feeling disappear.
I put on my school uniform and wrapped myself in a robe. The tennis skirt I couldn't get used to at first became a reasonably wearable garment once I hypnotized myself into thinking I was a Scot. Mindset is important for a person.
Well, what could I do? It had already been four years living in this body. It was about time for the original owner to appear and act territorial.
But not yet. Even if I couldn't pay the rent, not until I was certain I could return to Earth.
I drained the water by my bedside and belatedly left the dormitory. After walking a short while, I encountered a familiar face in front of the fountain.
A middle-aged gentleman with red eyes impeccably dressed in formal attire. His appearance recalled a modern French nobleman. From his monocled right eye emanated both refinement and an air of menace. He swept back his slicked hair and approached me.
"Good morning, student."
"And I trust the Chairman has been well?"
The Chairman of Tillet Academy, Robespierre.
The power-holder of the Empire's foremost academy, leader of the Parliamentary Faction, and simultaneously one of my guardians.
"Well? It hasn't been many days since we last saw each other. Anyway, are you on your way to class?"
"Yes. Is the Chairman heading to work as well?"
The Chairman smiled sheepishly.
"I've already been at work. I came out because I had something to tell you."
"You came in person?"
"Because I thought I wouldn't have time later."
Still, it was remarkable that the Chairman went out of his way to see a mere student barefoot. Or else it was proof of how urgent the matter was.
The Chairman and I had a series of dealings. In return for his material and moral support to smooth my school life, I had to produce a Flare the size of a chicken leg for him.
Given our contract, that had to be the reason he came to see me. My prediction wasn't wrong.
"I've already sent supplies like iron, tungsten, and nickel to the Alchemy Club room."
"Already? When?"
"The goods arrived early this morning. Take a look and see if they'll help your research."
"...Understood."
I expected them to arrive later, but his work proved faster than I thought.
This would make preparing for the cultural festival much easier.
"With this kind of support, the miniaturization research should be sufficiently feasible, yes?"
"Yes, it will be possible without a doubt. Thank you."
"And, um... on another note, the measure taken a few days ago really bothers me."
Measure. Ah, right. He must have been talking about the Flare restriction measure that Rosemary had implemented.
"There's no need to worry. I'll produce it flexibly to match your intentions."
"Since you say so, I'll breathe easier."
The Chairman exhaled deeply as he had said. Ugh, cigar smell.
"Then I'll return to my duties. If there is any problem, come to me immediately. Understood?"
"Understood. Take care!"
I saw the Chairman off with a smile as bright as the sun beating down on a field.
If this worked, I could quickly wrap up one project and focus on the Teller-Ulam Design. Plans began stitching together in my head. Grinning, I checked the progress written in the Hardcover Book.
[The current progress of the 'Teller-Ulam Design' is Stage 2 out of a total of 4 stages.]
Stage 1 was gathering materials that serve as the trigger for nuclear fusion, like uranium and plutonium.
Stage 2 was building the bomb itself.
Stage 3 and Stage 4 were producing the detonation mechanism and the delivery method, respectively. Except for Stage 4, I could finish Stage 2 and 3 all at once. Stage 2 with Frey's help, and Stage 3 through the analysis of White Night.
Of course, Stage 3 wouldn't be so simple. It would require repackaging the nuclear fusion mechanism nicely under the name of magic and reinterpreting it.
[Wait, what is this.]
While I was heading to class with a bland smile, the Hardcover Book asked. Its tone was suggestive.
[When did you get sponsored by the Chairman?]
"Who knows. I forgot."
[No wonder you went to school without worrying about money. So what was that talk just now? You didn't make a strange deal behind my back, did you?]
"No, nothing like that."
It was a perfect give-and-take. I didn't know about the Chairman, but I was satisfied.
Still, the Hardcover Book didn't seem to believe me. I briefly explained what had been going on with the Chairman, adding a bit of whitewashing.
I didn't tell all the facts. I only said that I had received a research contract from the Chairman for whether I could make a small scroll. However, even this made the Hardcover Book click its tongue and protest.
[Miniaturizing Flare? You know nano-structures are important in miniaturization. It's meaningless work without a microscope or ultra-fine etching equipment. But iron, nickel...? Why did you order those?]
I answered the Hardcover Book's question with a smirk.
[Wait, no way.]
That was right.
[Y-you embezzled the research funds...?]
Now, now, calling it embezzlement was harsh.
It was merely a 'supplement.' A little something extra for both me and the Chairman.
[What nonsense! This is undeniably embezzlement! If you were given a scroll miniaturization task, you should just do that and get paid, so why are you using it to build a nuclear bomb! Aaah! I give up!]
"It's loud. Could you shut up for a bit?"
[Master, you've changed. Did you become like this after seeing that mirror? No, that's not it. Seeing your behavior, you're also like your usual self... Anyway, you have nothing else in your head but hydrogen bombs! Am I wrong?]
This was why I had rarely carried the Hardcover Book around lately. Before it awakened to 'Intermediate,' it had felt like a computer that efficiently handled only the tasks at hand, but now it seemed nothing more than a stupid AI written with spaghetti code.
[Wow, you've said your piece now? The Goddess stayed up three nights and days creating me...!]
I walked into the classroom whistling. It was the class as usual.
Rote was sitting in the front row studying, and Frey was slumped over asleep again. The class president Meyril was helping the cleaning duty by sweeping with a broom at the back of the classroom. It was an ordinary sight I had seen for months.
The prince was making advances at random classmates and getting completely shut down. Looking closely, Rosemary was stuck next to Clion. Clion's expression was very poor.
I wasn't fond of developments like 'That guy was actually a pitiful fellow,' but it couldn't be helped. Staying uninvolved as much as possible was best for both of us.
As always, I pulled a chair and sat next to Rote. Naturally, the seat behind me belonged to Rosemary. How great it would be if there was assigned seating like in high school here too. No, that would have been asking too much from a lottery.
-Tap, tap
"What."
"I placed the order you mentioned yesterday."
"What did you order."
"Did you forget already? Twenty whole kilograms of sweet sugar are arriving."
Rosemary giggled, lifting the corners of her mouth. Seeing that smile, I found it hard to endure.
"Got it for now."
Anyway, with this I had simply secured a neutron moderator as well.
[Wow, this is a bit harsh.]
I deliberately turned my head to face forward. Right then, Teacher Herlein was entering through the front right door.
"What's up?"
"She doesn't look well."
Herlein, who always wore a bright expression, appeared with a gloomy face today. As if on cue, the students tilted their heads slightly. And so did I.
According to Vermel, Herlein was a key character who must survive to the end. If any unusual sign appeared, I'd been told I had to pay attention immediately. So in Vermel's absence, I had to ask.
"Teacher, did something bad happen?"
"Huh...? Ah, it's nothing."
Herlein wiped her face. As if nothing had happened, her expression immediately returned.
After Frey and Rote, was it now Teacher Herlein?
No, Vermel had stopped Herlein from going to the northern front. Then in his words, hadn't we just cleared one event safely?
I hadn't played the game, so I wasn't sure. I had to find a way to talk with Vermel about this.
It was OK that Vermel was running around avoiding Rosemary's eyes. That was no problem.
But I had to know where he was to do anything or not. Because of this, I couldn't see Rosemary in a particularly pleasant light.
Even if Rosemary treated me well, in the long term she remained an existence that brought about such interference. I had to sort out my thoughts and make a move. I was racking my brain, wetting my dry lips, when—
"Everyone, there's an announcement today."
At Teacher Herlein's words, eyes naturally turned toward the lectern.
"This week, all enrolled students will undergo a health checkup."
It was nothing special. There shouldn't have been any problem with that....
"It won't take that long. Just drawing blood and checking blood pressure, and it'll be over."
...Wait.
"Huh...?"
"Huh...?"