[EN] Episode 11 - Asemble! Magitech Club 1

The school trip ended safely, and the year changed.
The academy plunged into preparations for its annual festival.
A wooden dragon statue commemorating the festival was being erected at the school gate.


“The festival...”


Though held every year, it was a meaningless event for students like Wingester who weren't well-regarded within the school.


Participation required involvement in school club activities, essentially a rehearsal for the academic factions they would join after graduation. For Wingesters, there was simply no room to participate.


“Hey, Wingester!”


Wingester waved back at the berett-wearing girl running towards him.


“How was your field trip?”


Wingester's expression twisted into the one he wore when feeling exhausted, recalling events from the trip.


“Not great.”
“Eh... It should've been a once-in-a-lifetime memory from your school days...”


Seeing her disappointment, he forced a smile.


“Still, I saw what I wanted to see, so that's enough.”
“Well, I'm glad to hear that.”


Just as he was about to head to the library to resume his unfinished research,


“Oh, right! The Professor of Magitech called for you.”
“...?”


The Professor of Magitech, whom he hadn't seen much lately, had summoned Wingester for some reason.
He ended up following berett to the professor's office.


“Welcome. Wingester. Miss Berett.”
“What brings you here today?”
“I have a proposal I'd like to make to both of you.”
“……?”


To the two who tilted their heads in confusion, the professor voiced an idea he'd been vaguely considering for some time.


“...I'd like you to form a Magitech Club and submit something impressive for this school festival.”
“Huh?”
“Starting now?”


Even so, it was far too sudden.
Registering a club was a matter of procedure, but submitting something for the school festival starting in two weeks?


“Yes. I'm not asking for anything impossible. Even something ordinary is fine.”
“But still...”
“Ugh...”


The professor wore a relaxed smile.


“Having a club will be a big help for the two of you in many activities later on, so it's good to set it up. Submitting something would be nice, but if it's really too hard, you can skip this year.”


After hearing the professor's suggestion, the two fell deep in thought.
Why was the professor so insistent on tying them together through club activities?
Wingester, a small question mark forming, looked down at berett beside him, fidgeting with his fingers.


“Berett. What do you think?”
“...What about you, senior?”
“......”


Come to think of it, there wasn't really a reason to refuse.
If the club got registered, they could receive an activity budget from the student council, which would also help Wingester's research.
Finally, shrugging his shoulders,


“If it's okay with berett, then it's okay with me too.”
“Hehe. Then let's go register!”


They submitted the registration documents to the student council, but were told they were short on members.


“At least five people….”
“Ugh….”


As Wingester began scheming about how to fill the remaining three spots, a familiar face appeared before him.


“Hey there. Wingester. First time seeing you since you got back from your trip?”
“Romulus…?”
“Heh. I hear…you're starting a club?”


Wingester, who had been glaring at him as if annoyed by his mischievous smile, tried to move on with berett.
Berett's expression also darkened upon seeing him.


“Hold on. We're not done talking yet.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“Maybe not you. But what about that junior over there... berett? Isn't she different?”
“......!”


Seeing the murderous intent flare in Wingester's eyes again, Romulus flinched, but unlike before, he didn't shrink back.
Instead, he met the gaze with defiant eyes.


“You... still!”


Suddenly, Romulus bowed sharply at a 90-degree angle toward berett.


“I apologize for what happened then. I still regret the deep wound I inflicted on you through my rash judgment.”
“...What?!”
“......!”
“As for that atonement... well, it's not really atonement, but... could I join your club?”


Watching the two of them frozen in shock at this utterly unexpected statement, he straightened his back and pointed a finger at Wingester.


“After losing to you, I thought about a lot of things. And I came to a conclusion.”
“…….”
“That ‘talent’ alone… can never overcome ‘effort’.”
“You've finally realized that obvious fact? Good for you.”
“Yeah. And for the first time in my life, truly the first time, something didn't go my way. At first, I was angry… but now it's different.”


Romulus's overconfident smile was incredibly irritating, but Wingester faced him, seemingly intent on hearing him out.


“Wingester Mustang! From the day of that duel, you've been my life's goal!”
“……!”
“If I can surpass you, I'll learn anything—Magitech or whatever! I'll surpass your immense ‘effort’ by adding my ‘effort’ to the ‘talent’ I possess!”


Romulus declared his challenge openly, chest puffed out.
Finally, something tangled within him seemed to unravel, leaving him with a refreshing feeling, and his smile deepened.


“Well? Scared?!”
“...Hmph. Pfff....”
“Wh-what?! Why are you laughing?!”
“...What do you expect by targeting a nobody like me?”
“No. You're not just a nobody. You're Wingester Mustang! The incredible guy who, on the day you bore the name of the prestigious Seiz family, overwhelmingly defeated me in a fair and square magic duel.”
“......”


Wingester's expression turned serious at Romulus's praise.


“If you see me that highly... I'll face you with my full strength.”
“That's more like it. That's the kind of guy worthy of my target...”


The two boys, who had been glaring at each other, shook hands firmly, acknowledging each other.


*


“Even with Romulus joining us... we're still two short.”
“This is troublesome...”
“Romulus. Couldn't we at least fill the numbers with your former subordinates?”
“No way! I disbanded the gang before the school trip. Anyway, after you crushed us in that magic duel...”


Seeing him grit his teeth, unable to say more, he vaguely realized that, being the descendant of a prestigious family himself, he too carried many burdens.


“Then, if we're going to make it a Magitech Club anyway, it should be students who are properly focused on Magitech.”
“Ah. Just so you know, no underclassmen. Club activities start in third year, right?”
“I know.”


As they talked, the three arrived at the library.
After all, the so-called ‘nerds’ researching Magitech typically lived in the library, buried in their own studies.
Since wandering outside would only invite scorn from other students, it was, in a way, a natural progression.


“Didn't you ever interact with others, Senior?”


Wingester merely gave a small shake of his head to Berett, who seemed suddenly curious and asked the question.


“Everyone tends to be engrossed in reading for their own research. There wasn't much chance to talk.”


As the group wandered around the library interior, searching for a suitable person, a student caught their eye.


CRASH-


“Ugh…! Dammit…!”


It was a small, bespectacled male student, his large glasses striking, writhing beneath a towering pile of books that had nearly become a pillar of the building before finally collapsing.


“Are you okay?”


Wingester helped him up by clearing away the pile of books. After briefly checking his feet, the boy seemed unaware of Wingester's presence. He pulled the book he'd been reading from the pile and tried to immerse himself in it again.


“Hey, do you mind if I ask you something?”
“What is it? If it's quick, sure.”


As he adjusted his glasses, Wingester explained the situation.


“Why should I join that? Do you even know how you could help my research?”
“Um...”


His point was valid, and Wingester couldn't bring himself to argue, sinking into thought.
For most students immersed in Magitech, their own research was paramount.


Even if you pushed a club on them, if it wasn't related to their own research, it would just be a waste of precious time.


“In this club, we share some of our research content with each other. Through mutual exchange, we can develop our research to new heights.”
“...Hmm...”


Seemingly slightly swayed by Wingester's persuasion, he began to ponder, fingering his glasses.


“...If you're prepared for them not to mock my research, then I'll join.”
“...Is it that unusual?”
“......”


Scratching the back of his head at the silent, insistent stare that seemed to demand mental preparation,


“If that's what you mean by preparation, I'm ready.”
“Alright. My research concerns the design and development of a super-large magical airship.”
“…….”


As if daring them to laugh, he gritted his teeth, but none of the others laughed.
Instead, curiosity seemed to stir, and Berett raised his hand to signal he had a question.


“Why a super-large magical airship?”
“...Because it seems like it could safely transport cargo and people through the air, bypassing regions with unstable security.”
“...That's good?”


Wingester nodded in apparent understanding, showing interest, and his glasses glinted.


“Right? If we can mass-produce super-large magic airships at a relatively low cost, we could definitely sell many to the chaotic northern regions. For the kingdom's finances and diplomatic standing too…!”


After explaining the usefulness of his research at length, he barely managed to stop his rant thanks to Wingester's cough and reached out his hand.


“I'll be counting on you. My name is Jesler. Jesler Nicolt.”
“Wingester Mustang. I'll be counting on you too.”


Shortly after, following Jesler's suggestion, the group headed to the laboratory to find a student practically living there. Just as they were about to step through the door, the black smoke pouring out gave them an ominous feeling.


“This is...!”


Wingester immediately flung the door open. The black smoke that billowed out in a rush signaled a fire inside.


“It's on fire?!”
“Eeeeh?!”
“What the hell happened?!”


Wingester, covering his mouth with a cloth, crouched low to survey the lab interior. There, sprawled on one side of a lab bench engulfed in flames, was a female student, her hands and face covered in soot.


“...Romulus!”
“I know!”


Romulus, the most skilled in magic, immediately cast a spell to create a temporary vacuum around the fire, extinguishing it. He then used telekinesis to fling open the windows and stirred up a wind to blow the smoke outside.


Wingester, still crouched low, approached the girl, grabbed her shoulder, and pulled her outside.


“Hey! Are you okay!?”
“Ugh...”
“Thank goodness. She still seems vaguely conscious!”


When water was splashed on her face, she coughed and came to. She glanced around briefly, then sighed as if understanding the situation.


“Failed again...”
“......”


To think about the failed experiment first in this situation... in a way, that's impressive resolve.


“Sorry for the suddenness, but could we talk for a moment?”
“Ah, sure. The experiment was a spectacular failure anyway, and you guys saved me. Though there is one... unwelcome person here...”


Her gaze fell on Romulus.
Romulus flinched and looked away. Wingester shot him a pitying glance before reassuring her.


“I'm the one who subdued him in a magic duel. Don't worry.”
“Huh? So you're the Wingester from the rumors?”
“Yes.”


Knowing Wingester's identity, she nodded without hesitation upon hearing his proposal.


“Alright! Seems like I've got nothing to lose. But, I'm more of an alchemist than a mage—is that okay?”
“Alchemist…?”
“Yeah. My family has been alchemists for generations. I'm supposed to be one too.”
“That's fine. Actually, having different fields might create synergy through exchange. If it's alchemy, I think I could learn something too.”
“That works out well. Count me in. I'm Haixian.”


*


Once we finally gathered five members and submitted the roster, the student council approved the club activity without much fuss.
It was a bit unsettling that they assigned us the very lab where the fire had just happened as our club room.


“Of all places, the one where I started the fire...”
“What's the big deal? We'll just clean it up.”
“She must be talking about luck.”


Sitting together in the newly cleaned club room, Wingester finally began discussing the club's first activity.


“I'm really sorry to say this right after we just started, but with this lineup, we're participating in the Magic Academy Festival in two weeks.”


-To be continued-