[EN] Episode 12 - Asemble! Magitech Club 2

The group, momentarily lost in the story, listened blankly before abruptly jumping to their feet one after another.


“Whoa, whoa, wait a minute! What? The school festival? This year?”
“We're a club that just got started?! What kind of sudden talk is this?!”
“I know it's impossible. But I still want to give it a shot.”
“No, but still…!”


Wingester gazed at them with a serious expression as they looked at each other, thinking it was still impossible.


“We have five members with this level of talent gathered together. If it's not too grandiose, wouldn't it be entirely possible?”


Romulus, his competitive spirit stirred by Wingester's words, snorted derisively and sat back down.


“Alright. That's more like my rival. Let's give it a shot.”
“Eh?! Are you serious?!”


Zessler looked at Berett in shock, but Berett was only staring at Wingester.


“Hmm... You say it's unrealistic? What exactly can we possibly do in two weeks...?”
“First, let's confirm each other's specialties.”
“As you know, I'm a top-tier mage from the Academy. Mid-5th Circle, specializing in Wind-Thunder combat magic.”


Romulus finished his boastful declaration, chest puffed out proudly. Berett then raised her hand.


“My family runs a specialized crafting business... so, precision machining and crafting of Magitech items like magic stones is my specialty.”
“Precision machining...”


Zessler's eyes lit up with interest in her skill.


“Ahem. As I mentioned earlier, I primarily research levitation devices and propulsion systems, including airships.”
“Alchemy in general...”


After confirming each other's specialties, Wingester fell into deep thought.
Gathering people with this level of talent was good, but the key was what they could accomplish together.


“We need a particularly compelling idea... something not too grandiose, but something we can prepare within two weeks and present at the academy festival...”
“It doesn't seem like we'll come up with anything just by racking our brains here, does it? Since we're already in this situation, how about we go observe other clubs' preparations for reference?”


Romulus's indifferent remark struck Wingester's mind like a bolt.


“...That might actually work.”
“Right? We might just get some ideas.”


Wingester immediately sprang up and began dragging his group around the academy grounds.


Most seemed to be preparing exhibits or performances suited to their respective schools.


The Destruction Magic Club, which focused on combat magic research, was constructing a giant scarecrow-shaped target.


“What are they planning to do with that?”


Wingester shrugged at Romulus as if to say he didn't know.


“From what I heard, they're supposed to shoot Destruction Magic at that scarecrow, and it'll explode spectacularly with fireworks or something?”
“Huh.”


The White Witches' Society was one of the academy's minority factions, known for its peculiarity.
Originally, some witches persecuted in the north had fled to the Magic Kingdom and settled here. These witches were famous for forming their own community, passed down through generations.


“...This is... ordinary in a way...”
“Yeah... But why does it stand out?”


Wingester felt a bit unsettled upon seeing the peculiar combination of a witch's distinctive pointed hat paired with a maid outfit, along with a sign reading “Witches' Maid Cafe” placed in front of the club room.


“But it seems like it might actually catch on?”


Berett, watching from behind, lit up.


“Well, the male students would probably like it.”


The male students collectively flinched at Haixian's cold tone.


*


The club, which primarily researched illusion magic, was unusually preparing an orchestra concert infused with illusion magic.


Seeing this, Wingester's eyes shone slightly, as if he had sensed something.


“Hmm... Maybe we could try running a shop or something?”


When Wingester tilted his head at the idea Romulus had briefly considered and proposed,


“A Magitech Club is ultimately about researching items made with Magitech, right? So why not just make simple magical tools and open a stall...”
“Not bad. But a bit too ordinary, I suppose...”


Wingester shook his head regretfully, and Romulus's mood soured.


“True. We'll save that for when we absolutely can't come up with any other ideas.”
“Jesler. Do you happen to have any airships or such you've built?”


Wingester, who thought using an airship might work, turned to look at Jesler.


“Um... I have one for personal use. The rest are just a few blueprints....”
“Hmm....”


Building an airship wouldn't be easy. Just as he was thinking it might be too much to ask,


“Well, I do have parts lying around at home that were made for research purposes...”
“Parts?”
“Six large airship engines...”
“......!”


Wingester's eyes lit up.


“What's up, Wingester?”
“...Let's build an airship.”
“Huh?!”
"Hey! There's no way we can build something that grand in just two weeks...!“


Wingester immediately pulls Jesler close and wraps his arm around his shoulder.


”We can do it! We can use the most important propulsion system I already built! We just need to adapt Jesler's existing blueprints and figure out how to source the materials and assemble everything within two weeks."
“Ugh... This is a mess.”


Haixian shook his head in disbelief, while Romulus chuckled, finding it amusing.


“That sounds fun. Let's do it. I'll help with all my might. But what are you planning to do with the airship?”
“Hmm... Just flying around feels a bit pointless... Maybe we could open a shop or a restaurant?”
“Whoa, you can just come up with ideas like that?”
“The important thing is, we'll take this airship up to its absolute limit. We'll let customers enjoy shopping while taking in the high-altitude sky views.”


An experience hard to find anywhere else.
Shopping in the blindingly blue sky at high altitude...
It was definitely an event with plenty of appeal.


“But... with just five of us, isn't there a limit to what we can do? Even if we run a shop...”


Berett looked at Wingester with concern,


“It's fine. We'll keep the shop small anyway, like a hole-in-the-wall. Even if we get customers, we won't exceed ten people.”
“Is that really okay?”
“That's the important part.”


Romulus stared at Wingester's mischievous grin, then suddenly realized something and chuckled, returning the smile.


“Indeed, something that doesn't exist anywhere else, and that not just anyone can have...”
“......!”


Only then did berett seem to understand, her eyes widening.


“Since it's small anyway, five people are plenty to run it. The problem is...”


Wingester surveyed the five faces before voicing the crucial fact.


“...Who here knows how to cook?”
“......”
“......”
“......”
“Oh, damn it...”


Romulus, who had been facing him, sighed, placing a hand on his forehead.
As things stood, the plan to open a restaurant was impossible.
They wouldn't be able to leisurely enjoy meals while admiring the sky.


“...I figured as much. I guess I'll have to be the chef.”


Wingester shrugged with a resigned expression, and everyone's eyes widened.


“What?”
“Senior…?”
“Why? Is it that strange that I know how to cook?”
“Uh… no, it's just… surprising?”


Wingester chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.


“Both my parents are the type who skip meals and focus entirely on the business when the shop gets busy, so I often had to prepare my own meals.”
“Huh.”
“There were a lot of trial and errors at first. Eventually, I pestered my father into buying me a cookbook, and I taught myself somehow.”
“A cookbook...!”


Romulus staggered back, looking stunned, as if he hadn't expected Wingjester to have taken it so seriously.
Berett's eyes sparkled so brightly they seemed almost impossible to outshine,


“Hee, he'd make a good husband. I hate doing housework. Might be worth considering.”


Haixian's previously sparkling eyes suddenly blazed with fire at berett's unexpected remark.


“D-Dating with such impure intentions?! That's sinister?!”
“Why? What's wrong with that? If you're compatible, you date. Right?”


Wingester watched Haixian, who was smiling faintly at him, while Berett stared at Wingester with a strangely anxious look.


“Well, I suppose. Though, I've never really thought seriously about dating or anything like that...”


Haixian chuckled at Wingzester's awkward expression as he scratched the back of his head. She probably wanted to tease him a little.


“Anyway, if that's how things go, does that mean berett and I will be in charge of the hospitality?”
“That would probably be best? No, that alone might be a bit...”


Wingester, who had been thinking for a moment, turned his gaze toward Romulus.


“...What? Why are you looking at me?”
“...Romulus. You have a butler uniform or something at home, right?”
“......?!”


Realizing something from Wingester's smile, a smile also appeared on Haixian's lips.


“Hee. That's good. It'll definitely work. His personality aside, his face... he's top-tier at the academy.”
“Right? It's not like the guests are all men anyway.”
“Exactly, we have to meet the guests' expectations....”
“You, you guys aren't seriously...! I won't do that! I mean, I'm from the prestigious Seiz family...!”


Realizing they intended to make him a waiter, Romulus broke out in a cold sweat and tried to refuse. Wingester recited his ultimate spell.


“Then you'll be working as a kitchen assistant with me. That clearly makes you my subordinate.”
“What?!”
“Dishwashing duties, please. Romulus.”
“……!!”


Even if he was the scapegoat youngest son, he was from a proud noble house. Becoming a kitchen scrub? That was absolutely unacceptable.


And to be under Wingester, of all people—someone he absolutely refused to be subordinate to!


“G-gasp…!! T-that, at least…!!”
“Then waiter duties are settled. Haixian. Please train him well.”
“Oh my. Is it okay to leave it to me?”
“Female customers' whims are better understood by a schoolgirl like Haixian. I'll leave it to you.”
“Guhhh...!!”


Finally gritting his teeth and accepting the waiter role, Romulus suddenly looks at Jesler as if to say he couldn't die alone.


“Jesler! What about that Jesler guy?!”
“...I've been keeping my hands off the airship operation from the start.”
“Whaaat?! It's just flying! Why?!”
“It's a propulsion system powered by magic, and if it goes to high altitudes, improper handling could cause the hull to flip or something?”


Faced with Zessler's logical argument, even the finger Romulus had been pointing finally went limp in defeat.


“No need to be so down about it. Waiters are like the shop's signboard, so you could say Romulus is the shop's image maker.”


Wingester began to lift Romulus's spirits, knowing that if he became too despondent, it would negatively impact his future responsibilities at the shop.


Then, even Haixian approached and whispered sweet nothings into his ear, suggesting that doing a good job as a waiter would boost his popularity. Finally, Romulus began to show enthusiasm.


“Well... if that's the case, I have no choice. I'll just have to provide service that makes the female academy students' hearts flutter!”
“That's right. That's the spirit. A true attitude befitting the descendant of a prestigious family.”
“Exactly. You seem much softer-hearted than before, so if you sprinkle that nice smile around as a waiter, you'll definitely get a girlfriend too-.”


The two of them, having thoroughly stirred up Romulus with insincere flattery, grinned at each other out of his sight.


With his positioning now solidified, it was time to seriously prepare for the airship's construction.


-To be continued-