Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Bell Tolls Clearly
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Same time, Giuseppe was experiencing a new world in his lab.
"This is incredible..."
He signed the last page of the stack of documents he'd just received yesterday, marveling in awe.
Thanks to the 'Excel' magic tool Isaac had made him, the paperwork was done in just ten minutes.
"Now I can spend the rest of my time on research..."
A pleased smile crossed his face as he thought of Isaac.
'He's only been here a short while—he could've taken it easy, but instead he went out of his way to work under my name...'
Giuseppe could only feel proud of his new junior colleague.
But before that sentiment could fully settle...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A furious pounding rattled the lab door as if it might break.
Giuseppe flinched in surprise and reflexively covered the 'Excel' magic tool on his desk with an old cloth.
To him, that device was the future and hope of their school.
No way was he exposing a strategic weapon like that carelessly.
He cautiously opened the door, and an angry man shoved his face in.
"Giuseppe, you bastard!"
It was Rufus, a doctoral candidate in the Magic Tool Material Processing School and Giuseppe's classmate.
"Back from your trip already, Rufus?"
"Yeah! I heard you pocketed the project transfer fee while our school head was away, so I came running!"
'He noticed faster than I thought.'
Giuseppe clicked his tongue and continued.
"I just followed the Magic Tower's official procedures."
"What...?"
Rufus was at a loss for words.
Giuseppe was right.
Full reward payout, plus half the penalty fee.
That was the official procedure for transferring a nearing-deadline commission.
...But it was also a rule that had long fallen into disuse.
The current Magic Tower hegemony held that there was no need to be so generous when subcontracting to minor schools.
Two people on the cusp of their doctorates wouldn't be ignorant of that reality.
"You know how things work around here... So why pull something like this?"
"Who knows."
"Is it because of that new rookie who just joined?"
Giuseppe's eyes instantly turned ice-cold.
"Rufus. If you're thinking of laying a hand on that kid..."
"I won't touch him. I'm scared of Professor Dolloren too."
"..."
"But no matter how talented the rookie is, he can't solve this one. I know—I tried and failed. It's impossible."
"..."
Giuseppe had no rebuttal.
He'd reviewed the documents himself while processing them, and even to his eyes, no solution was apparent.
'Still, if it's my junior, maybe...'
Giuseppe decided to trust Isaac.
Right then.
A small note fluttered down by the window.
A Magic Tower messenger raven had left it.
Giuseppe unfolded it and muttered.
"As expected of you... Thrilling..."
"What?"
"Nothing. Just talking to myself. Cool your head with this."
Whoosh.
He tossed the note to Rufus.
[Isaac's report. Estimated 3 days to resolve issue. Process paperwork promptly. - Ellara]
Rufus's hand trembled as he held the note.
"Th-three days?! No way! What does that rookie even know?!"
Crumple.
Rufus crushed the note in his fist.
Three days.
To Rufus, it was an insult.
The 'Bell Tower issue' had stumped countless Magic Tower elites, including Rufus, for months.
Yet a newbie declares he'll fix it in three days?
Impossible.
"I'll confirm it with my own eyes."
Rufus stormed out of the lab, fuming.
His destination was clear.
The Capital Central Bell Tower.
Giuseppe clicked his tongue at his friend's temper...
Then had a hunch.
'No way that guy...'
Giuseppe's eyes gleamed.
'Planning to interfere with Junior Isaac?'
He hurriedly grabbed his coat and chased after him.
"Wait up, Rufus! I wasn't done talking!"
The two doctoral candidates dashed across the Magic Tower Annex.
The fastest route to the bell tower cut through the noble district boulevard.
Rufus raced past the grand mansions toward the problematic tower.
He was almost there when...
Doooong-!
The bell rang out, signaling evening.
"Huh...?"
He stopped dead.
'Does the bell sound this clear from here?'
Doooong-!
It rang again.
"No way."
Rufus had obsessed over the 'bell tower issue' for months.
He knew exactly how the sound carried in 'this district.'
Normally, on the noble boulevard, it grated harshly on the ears.
Doooong-!
But now, it wasn't grating at all.
The volume was lower, and the tone rang out clear and pure without obstruction.
Pedestrians in the affluent street halted to listen.
Then, with a bang!, a window flew open from a mansion armored for soundproofing.
The noble owner pointed at the bell tower.
"That crazy old bell keeper ringing again! I'll go wring his neck ri—... Huh...?"
The noble rubbed his ears in disbelief, over and over.
But the sound didn't change.
It was a perfectly tuned bell toll.
Doooong-!
Rufus thought the same as the noble.
"Three days, he said..."
Isaac really wasn't a liar.
"Why only one day if it was three...?"
If finishing faster than expected was a lie too.
Stunned, Rufus shuffled forward blankly.
Merchants on the commercial street beamed at the sound.
"Finally fixed it."
"Damn, I believed in him!"
"But... doesn't it sound clearer than before?"
"Quit yapping and close up shop! Sun's setting!"
The merchants moved in perfect sync to the bell.
Doooong-!
Kids raced home for dinner at the evening toll; artisans paused work and packed tools.
The city's heart began beating again.
Rufus stared blankly up at the tower.
"It was impossible."
Months of efforts flashed through his mind.
The bell itself had no issues.
No magic on it.
No illusion magic on the people.
Sound amplifiers wouldn't fit—the tower was too cramped.
No sound magic worked properly.
"This was impossible...!"
That rookie had done what Magic Tower seniors deemed impossible.
"Then what was all my effort...?"
From taking the commission to now, not a moment wasted.
But if a newbie fixed it in a day...
What had Rufus been doing?
Thud.
He collapsed to the ground. Giuseppe appeared behind him.
"Get it now?"
"..."
"Geniuses always leave the rest of us in the dust."
"What does that."
"If it bugs you, join the same school next time."
"Ah."
The tolling finally ceased.
Doooong-!
Barnabas and I had come down from the tower to listen to the bell.
Overwhelmed with emotion, he wiped tears with his rough hand.
"Yes... This was the sound. Damn..."
I grinned and said to him.
"Great day like this, why cry?"
"...You made me ring it."
"I prepared a little surprise. Check your quarters, old timer."
"My quarters?"
"Under the bell tower, right?"
"...How'd you know? I never told you."
Sound wave scouting caught it.
Barnabas headed to his quarters, puzzled.
Doooong-!
The majestic toll still filled the world outside.
He creaked open the door to his quarters and stepped in.
I told him.
"Old timer, the bell sounded super loud inside your room."
"True."
"So I prepared something."
Click. I shut the door.
The ongoing toll suddenly went quiet.
"Huh...?"
Not just the bell—the market noise, cheers, all sounds ceased.
You could still hear if you strained, but the difference was night and day.
Barnabas gawked at me and the room alternately.
"So quiet... My room's never been this silent. Magic?"
"Science."
"Science?"
I pointed to the board on his wall.
"This board absorbs sound. Its porous structure converts sound waves to heat energy. It'll cancel echoes and noise heading to your room."
"I... don't get a word."
"...Then just remember: leave it for quiet, remove for sound."
"Got it. Thanks so much."
He didn't understand my explanation, but liked it—good enough.
Bell keeping wrecks your hearing; hoped this helped even a bit.
Barnabas grabbed my hand, face full of gratitude.
"Don't know how to repay this. Name anything you want."
I puffed up proudly.
"I don't work for free."
His face stiffened. He fumbled awkwardly in his pockets.
"Honestly... I'm broke right now. Give me time, I'll scrape something together."
"Nah, not asking for money."
I grinned and linked arms again.
"Gotta eat to work. How about a bowl of stew?"
"...Heh."
So I ended up eating Barnabas's stew.
Slurp. Downed it.
Taste was... not bad.
Evening meal for a bell keeper with no cooking skills—fair enough.
Warmed me up nicely, at least.
Clink clink.
Soundproofing made the spoon clinks echo loud.
Next day.
Slept in for once.
That stew last night?
Slept too soundly.
Late! Late!
Entered the school lab, and kind-faced Giuseppe welcomed me.
"Good you're here, Isaac."
Enlightened by my tardiness?
"S-sorry for being late. Won't happen again..."
"Nonsense. Work's done—come whenever."
What a warm guy.
Of course, his good mood had a clear reason.
The school account now sported a whopping 150,000 gold.
100,000 reward, plus 50,000—half the penalty Ellara's school nearly ate.
Enough for a house in the capital's rich district!
Huge for one night's work.
Not my money, though...
School finances would improve.
At least replace broken chairs.
Giuseppe said.
"Ever heard of 'Autonomous Research Funds'?"
"What's that?"
"Funding for top performers—no usage report needed."
"Oh."
He handed me a document.
"This morning, I 'appropriately' tallied one in your name."
"...50,000 gold?"
"Too little? Regs cap it there."
"No no, it's too much."
"You're the hero here. Deserve it."
"..."
A bit dazed.
50,000 gold research funds.
Where to even spend this fortune?
'Nothing specific in mind...'
Still, grateful is grateful.
Screw up thanks now, lose all goodwill.
"Thanks. Needed magic theory books anyway."
"Whoa!"
Giuseppe cut me off, shaking his head.
"That comes from school funds."
"...Then what for this?"
"My classmate Rufus bought a violin with his."
"Sound research with violin?"
"Nah. Just a hobby."
"..."
Speechless.
Where to even start critiquing?
"Isn't that basically embezzlement?"
"Hey! Harsh words. It's an advanced system based on 'autonomy' and 'trust.'"
"Everyone uses it like that?"
"Yep."
"..."
Really this haphazard?
Magic Tower. This okay?
"Uh... Confirm once more?"
"Sure."
"So this is basically my salary?"
"Exactly."
"...50,000 gold? Enough for a capital house?"
"You earned it."
My hand shook holding the paper.
First time gripping this much cash, any life.
Where to spend it?
Gambling?
Horse racing?
Vintage wines?
Real estate?
...No hobbies like that.
Sudden wealth, nowhere to blow it.
Needed to think on this monster sum.