Three days passed quickly.
“For the gods’ sake, what the hell are you doing to end each day with your body in this state?”
The mage from the healing center scolded him every day Aint showed up, throwing insults nonstop. This repeated for all three days.
Aint trusted in his swordsmanship and the level he had achieved fighting demons, but against Grad he couldn’t manage a single win.
However, those defeats weren’t useless.
“Don’t look at the sword, look at the person. Observe everything about your opponent, feel them. Even if it’s the same technique, the same downward slash, it always changes depending on the person.”
Just by responding to his attacks, Aint’s senses sharpened.
“A lethal force against demons? Even without it, if you can hunt them, then they’ll truly fear you.”
Not all of his advice was useful, but many were — and to a great degree.
“The next one you should go to is Professor Ladina Brancheff.”
“Professor Ladina Brancheff…?”
“She handles Attribute Imbuing, Enchantments, and Basic Alchemy.”
Ladina Brancheff was a professor in the magic faculty, an alchemist so prominent she was known throughout the Empire.
“Magic department? Why would someone like that be interested in me?”
“That I don’t know. But you’ll be under her charge for the next four days, so go see her tomorrow.”
“That’s a shame. I wanted to keep learning from you…”
“You’re not the only one. There’s a line of students waiting for me to teach them.”
The next day, Aint knocked on Professor Ladina’s office door.
“Ah, welcome, Aint Armian. It’s the first time I see you in person.”
She was a professor with long pink hair down to her waist and blue eyes.
“I asked for you because I want to research a bit into the power of Armian — that power which stands against demons.”
“You mean my power?”
“Yes. I think it might be possible to inscribe that power into a magic circle and use it in an enchantment.”
She adjusted the large round glasses that had slipped halfway down her nose.
“Well, for now it’s just an idea, and I need your help. Sorry for not explaining beforehand and just calling you over.”
“No problem. I’d never thought of it, but I’d like it to work.”
He was sincere. Aint aspired to be a hero, but he didn’t believe he could defeat all demons alone. If this could even slightly increase humanity’s chances of survival, it was worth it.
‘If this could become real, wouldn’t the situation change a lot?’
— It’s possible. But mass production wouldn’t be feasible.
‘…Did this exist a thousand years ago?’
— Yes. My own weapon had that power engraved in it. In fact, you could say all Royal Knights’ weapons had a bit of that force.
That’s why not only the Emperor, but all Royal Knights were nightmares to demons.
— A thousand years ago, the first Pontiff of the Dragon God’s Cult engraved it herself. Only she could do it, and it took a long time.
— So except for the Royal Knights, no one else had those weapons.
— And if a once-in-a-lifetime genius like her took that long, imagine how long it’ll take an average mage to study it and produce results.
However, Ladina Brancheff was far from average — she was a genius.
Even so, compared to the Pontiff, it was like the difference between a firefly and a full moon.
‘Regardless, it’s worth cooperating.’
— Better to try than not. You’re right.
Even if Gardner was skeptical, Aint saw hope. If there was already a precedent, it meant it wasn’t impossible. And even if only the Royal Knights had those weapons, that was already enough. If successful, it would be like giving them wings.
“I’ll actively cooperate.”
“Thank you. Now, let’s go to the lab. Follow me.”
Ladina picked up several bundles of papers piled up to the floor and led the way.
“So this is the research building. It’s my first time inside, it’s interesting.”
“It’s not that different from the training fields in the knight department. In the end, both labs and training grounds are personal spaces for professors.”
The structure wasn’t that different. Only that instead of combat grounds, there were labs and magical equipment.
The difference was elsewhere.
Where the knight department was filled with the smell of sweat and clashing weapons, here there were strange smells and explosions.
“Fire! The reagent’s on fire!”
“Put it out now! Don’t open the window, idiot! If the toxic smoke gets out, it’ll be a disaster! Use purification magic immediately!”
Shouts and screams were part of the background.
“A bit noisy, right? Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious.”
“…Alright.”
They walked down a long corridor. The floor vibrated from the explosions, but Ladina didn’t even blink.
‘So this is daily life in the magic faculty…?’
— It’s always been like this. Magical research involves risks, and mages risk everything for their discoveries.
Gardner also clicked his tongue. Then, Aint spotted someone up ahead carrying a pile of papers.
From behind, but the orange hair and pointed ears were familiar.
“Aria?”
No response.
He stepped forward to see her face — it was Aria.
But her expression was blank, her eyes like a dead fish’s — lifeless.
“Aria.”
Nothing.
“Aria!”
“Huh? Aint? What are you doing here?”
He raised his voice and waved a hand in front of her eyes to snap her out of it.
“I’m fulfilling disciplinary service. This time they assigned me to Professor Ladina.”
“Discipline? Why?”
Aria opened her eyes wide, as if she had never heard about it.
“Because he destroyed the wall of the Ravidus Hall, Aria. You seem really busy lately.”
“Ah, professor. Sorry, I was so distracted I forgot to greet you.”
“It’s fine. I know Professor Dominique and Professor Nania are very busy lately. You’re also working hard, Aria.”
“Yeah, I haven’t slept well in days, I’m exhausted. But we’re almost done, so…”
Aria smiled awkwardly.
“The Ravidus Hall wall? Aint, what did you do? Are you crazy?”
“It’s a long story, I can’t explain it now. Just check the newspaper, it’s all there.”
“Alright. Ah, I’m late — I have to go.”
Aria ran off.
“She looks really exhausted.”
“Professor Dominique is in charge of the final festival show. He wants it to be as dazzling as possible, mixing illusions, sorcery, and even spirits. It won’t be easy. The lab lights haven’t gone off in days.”
“Tough work.”
“You can expect something great. You’ll end up the same.”
“…What?”
Aint widened his eyes at the sudden discomfort he felt.
“Just kidding. I only need you to inject aura when I ask. You won’t have to do anything more, so you won’t be exhausted like them.”
“…Thank goodness.”
“Of course, my assistants and I will end up like that.”
Here it is. She smiled as she opened the laboratory door.
“…She’s here, Professor.”
Two assistants with deep dark circles under their eyes greeted her.
‘…I’ve gotten myself into something bad. No, definitely.’
Aint felt he had made a mistake.
Creak— The door closed.
***
The sun was barely peeking over the horizon.
Aint sat on the terrace meant for assistants to rest, reading the newspaper.
【Surprise at the Magic Tournament! Carlo Deneb makes it to the final! Decisive final match: Carlo Deneb VS Ludger Schwaben!】
【No surprises in the jousting tournament. Final confirmed: Almon Donertz VS Valoshi Vienderk!】
【Unlike last year, the semifinals were held after a three-day break, offering an even more spectacular show!】
The magic and jousting tournaments continued as planned.
“Now that I think of it, I didn’t even congratulate Valoshi on making it to the final.”
— Better take care of yourself. Do you know what your eyes look like right now?
— Like a dead fish’s.
“…I’m tired.”
What Professor Ladina had said—that he’d only need to inject aura when necessary, without participating directly in the research—wasn’t a lie.
The problem was the amount of aura requested was enormous, and they asked for it constantly.
Even so, Aint couldn’t complain, because what he did was nothing compared to what the two assistants and the professor herself were going through.
— Why don’t you smoke a wake-up cigarette? Fernan gave you some just in case, didn’t he?
“I know they help, but if I start smoking, I won’t be able to stop.”
He hadn’t interacted much with Professor Rosalia, but he always saw her with a cigarette in her mouth. And he didn’t want to end up the same.
“Tired, right?”
One of the assistants, who had been working with him for two days, sat next to him.
“I’m fine.”
“Come on. We’re used to it, but this is your first time, right?”
“Yes… It’s different. I’ve stayed up whole nights training with a sword, but this—just injecting aura and waiting—feels tiring in a completely different way.”
“I get that. I can spend the night researching, but I couldn’t handle an all-nighter of physical labor.”
The assistant drank some coffee and smiled bitterly.
“I don’t mean to be pushy, but try to understand the professor. She thinks that after your disciplinary service ends, it’ll be hard to get your help again.”
“I’m not saying I wouldn’t help again, but I wouldn’t have as much free time as now.”
“Exactly. And I’m sure she’ll give you some sort of reward.”
Aint tilted his head.
“Reward? But this is punishment—a service for the sanction.”
“Still, this borders on exploitation. In fact, assistants in the magic faculty get treated well. The work is brutal, but the pay’s good; otherwise, we’d all have quit long ago.”
And besides, Professor Ladina wasn’t the cruel type.
“That’s why I stayed with her.”
The assistant chuckled.
“By the way, look at that guy. He’s been sitting there since noon yesterday. Could he be dead?”
Following his gaze, Aint saw someone unmoving in a chair. With a hat covering their face and completely still, anyone would think they were a corpse.
“Since noon?”
“Yeah. I saw him there during lunch. Then again at dinner—still there.”
“Maybe just catching up on sleep.”
“Could be. Let’s go, the professor will be calling us.”
“Alright.”
After a short break, he went back to injecting aura at the designated points, and soon it was lunchtime.
After eating, he returned to the terrace with the assistant for coffee.
“Phew, I can’t live without this coffee. They say Professor Rosalia’s cigarettes have amazing revitalizing effects, without any side effects.”
“I heard they’re custom-made and super expensive.”
“Ah, that’s why they’re not sold? If they’re custom, no way a simple assistant like me—wait, is that person still there? Again since noon?”
Aint didn’t need to ask who he meant—he saw it too.
At that moment, the wind blew the hat off, revealing reddish hair and pointed ears.
“Aria?”
“Isn’t she your friend? Look how pale she is. Could she actually be dead?”
“Come on, of course not.”
Aint walked over to wake her.
“Aria.”
No response. First he called her softly, then shook her a bit harder—finally, she opened her eyes heavily.
“Uhm… Aint?”
“What are you doing here?”
“I was just tired and closed my eyes for a moment…”
Yaaaawn— she let out a long yawn.
“These days I’m sleepy all the time. It’s so hard to wake up.”
“That happens to everyone who starts a serious project.”
The assistant chimed in.
“I think so too. Huh? But I feel like I slept a lot, and it’s still noon… I closed my eyes after lunch, and it’s still the same time.”
“You’ve been asleep since yesterday.”
“…Huh?”
Aria looked at them with a “what a bad joke” face, but seeing the seriousness in their expressions, she froze.
“…Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“No way…! I have to go!”
She spun around quickly and nearly tripped over the chair—something she would never normally do.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes, see you.”
Aria vanished running.
“So she really sat there, unmoving, for a whole day? I get that the work for the fireworks show is intense, but for even an elf to end up like that… We’re lucky to have Professor Ladina.”
The assistant let out a bitter laugh.
“Let’s head back in.”
“Yeah.”
— An elf, famous for sharp senses and barely needing sleep, losing track of time and falling unconscious for a whole day?
— Is the project really that hard?
Aint returned to the lab with that concern on his mind.
____
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