HTACS 22

Chapter 22

Before entering D/Z SAGA, Lee Yeongjin confidently claimed he’d tried every energy drink out there. Hot Seven, Blue Bull, Creature—he’d drunk them all without discrimination, so this taste was inevitably familiar.

It’s an excellently crafted energy drink.

“Compared to Hot Seven, it’s slightly stronger—and compared to Creature, slightly weaker.”

This is the modern person’s essential item—trading the future for the present.

“I never thought I’d taste this here.”

It’s not good for your health.

But it is exactly what we need right now.

I poured two cups and brought them to the counter—where Aila had already pulled out a grimoire, finished preparing to study, and was waiting.

“Is that today’s drink?”

“Yes. It’s still a prototype, so I won’t charge you.”

“Oh, is that okay?”

She took a sip—her eyes went wide, and she nodded.

“Hmm. It’s sweet and fizzy—it has charm.”

“Is that so. But don’t drink too much.”

“Why?”

“It has a stimulating effect. If you drink too much, you might crash.”

“You can make magic potions too? Do you have a Pharmacy aptitude?”

Aila’s eyes went wide.

Pharmacy—a support class that alchemists typically pick as their main. It’s quite lucrative, and the career prospects are solid. It’s also a profession that gets troublesome if you fake it—unlicensed pharmacists are cracked down on by the Student Council.

“No. I don’t have that kind of ability.”

“…Hoo. I see. Understood.”

Good—she understands.

“For now, you need to keep it secret. For the day you’ll eventually take flight.”

Aila nodded as if she knew everything.

She does know, right?

Really?

—

Among the hundred thousand of Zeppelin, the Magic Department gathers only a handful of geniuses. Even within that, the position of 3rd-year vice-president is not one you can reach without effort—even with overwhelming talent.

Naturally, the study session progressed fiercely—and Aila, while studying herself, also took the time to review my work. When she finished testing my basic knowledge, her eyes went wide.

“Wolfram—is this also one of your abilities?”

“…What ability are you talking about?”

“No—how did you manage to stay in the Magic Department with this level of knowledge? Is this also the result of your schemes?”

Thank you for that bone-deep attack.

“Hmm. That won’t do. First, I’ll need to go over Wolfram’s basics from the ground up.”

“…Don’t we not have time?”

“Even if you bomb the mini-test, you can make up for it in the midterm. It’s better to study for the long haul. First, Wolfram—read this.”

“Basic Magic Theory.”

“Yes. And I’ll make problems based on it, so you can solve them.”

With that, Aila started making the most basic problem sheets.

Watching her study, I was astonished.

Aila studied with one hand—while simultaneously conjuring Black Crystals to write problems on blank paper.

Studying, using magic, and making test questions all at once.

Is that even humanly possible? Is innate Magic 19 something like this?

I couldn’t ignore Aila’s consideration—so I picked up the book and began reading slowly.

A basic elemental magic book—based on mana color, red means fire, blue means water, and so on. Since one’s own mana color can never be changed, it’s determined by birth.

Before long, Aila finished the test questions—and after I’d solved them all, she nodded.

“About 70 points. Your memorization isn’t bad. Since your magic power is low, practicals are unavoidable—but you can definitely get good grades in theory.”

After showing off that monstrous ability, her praise didn’t really hit home. Aila smiled at me, then—like a teacher giving trivial knowledge after an exam—threw out a nonsense magic quiz.

“Oh, right—Wolfram. They say mana color represents the attribute of magic, right? Brown is earth magic, red is fire magic. But you know they don’t always match perfectly?”

Hm? That?

“Of course I know.”

“Aha—you do? Then can you give me one example?”

“Your Black Crystal magic is one.”

“……”

At my immediate answer, Aila’s eyes went wide and her mouth fell open.

Oh—you didn’t think I’d know that?

Good—I’ll unload all the game knowledge I have, so Aila can’t mock my understanding.

“The Trista family’s Black Crystal color is distinctively black, reminiscent of dark magic—but its essence is ore magic, completely unrelated to dark magic.”

“Y-you know that in detail?”

“Black Crystal magic, if you look closely, is closer to a luminous violet hue—it’s quite captivating. Anyone who’s not blind would notice.”

“…A-aha? Ca-captivating? R-really?”

Aila visibly flustered—so I recalled the game’s graphics and nodded.

When you fight her in Act 3, if you assume her black magic power is dark magic and stack dark magic resistance, you’ll get a spear through the gut. It’s much better to bring earth resistance and physical resistance—that’s the key to beating Aila.

“Black Crystal’s magic power is on a completely different level from murky dark magic.”

“…Th-ugh. W-Wolfram?”

As I unloaded knowledge from the game’s setting book, Aila grew noticeably flustered.

She must have realized how wise I am.

Behold—haha. I’m not stupid.

I just happen to have some free-floating knowledge. Setting-nerd Wolfram has arrived!

“Look—how much discrimination has the Trista family suffered just because of a color? You can’t grasp the essence through prejudice.”

“…U-ugh… Stop. Stop… stop it, Wolfram. I mean—”

I shrugged. How many times had I wailed while staring at the Black Crystal Spear stuck in my gut during the Aila boss fight? That damage is straight-up cheating.

“Black Crystal is deeper, more vivid, and more destructive.”

“Th-thank you… I mean—s-study!”

“Hm?”

“Yes—yes! Let’s study! This isn’t the time for idle chatter!”

“Weren’t we already studying?”

“No idle talk! Study. Yes—let’s study! Hurry!”

“……”

What’s up with her?

—

The study session continued late into the night.

We roughly filled our stomachs with doughnuts and drinks—and Aila, who had been acting strange, became calm and focused when it was time to study, reading the grimoire with composed eyes.

That look reminded me of the cool, intellectual lady of rebellion from Act 3—the one who shattered everything.

“So this is the vice-president.”

I respected her a little.

A little past 10 PM, we finished studying and packed up our supplies.

“I’ll head back now. Just solve the homework I gave you and review it.”

“It’s pretty late. Be careful on your way back. I appreciate your help.”

“Oh my—Wolfram saying thank you. Hehe. Yes—don’t worry.”

“Go quickly—wasn’t it past 10 PM? You have to sleep.”

“That’s true—but the drink seems to be working quite well. Hehe—as expected of Wolfram.”

With that, Aila said her goodbyes and left.

Over the next few days, our study sessions continued.

Meals were, naturally, doughnuts and Wolfram’s special energy drink.

“By the way—about this drink. Are you planning to sell it at the convenience store?”

“I’m considering it. Why?”

“So far, I’ve been very impressed with the items at your store. You know that, right?”

“Of course—except for the Red Pepper Herb pasta. I didn’t eat that.”

“That’s not food for humans. Only people with broken nerves would eat that.”

Don’t say that about Rudika—even if it’s true. She still pays 20,000 rin per bowl every time she comes.

“Anyway—this drink is really dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

“If this drink gets into the hands of graduate students, there’ll be turf wars over it. In serious cases, even looting.”

“…Is it really that serious?”

“They’re people who stake their lives to pass their graduation thesis and get their degrees—they’re ready to die. What do you think happens when a drink like this gets released among them?”

“Graduate students die from overwork?”

“That’s not the point.”

What?

Really?

Then what is the point?

“If released fairly, professors who want to squeeze their students more will get angry. If released unfairly? One lab will outperform and crush their rivals.”

“……”

“This is a drink that could cause a tectonic shift in Zeppelin’s graduate school. It’s rebellious.”

It’s that terrifying?

This?

“Now all the pieces are in place. So—let’s take flight. You’ll hold the graduate students in both hands and soar into the sky.”

Isn’t that a bit too trashy?

“I don’t plan to. It’s impossible from the start.”

“What? Why?”

“Due to ingredient limitations, I can only make five cups a day.”

“Ugh—the limits of small-scale production…!”

“You know it well.”

“Then what if I support the production route?”

No.

Don’t do that. If you do, Eve’s light spear will tear my gut open. My karma will build up and Rudika will come to slit my throat.

Let’s see—to convince her in this situation…

“Rebellion must be covert. The only thing that should be splendid is the wings unfurled at the very end.”

Would that work?

“…Ah, ah—I see. I understand completely! As expected of Wolfram…!”

Aila grinned and spoke confidently, as if she’d grasped my intentions.

“Small-scale production limited to five cups a day. A secret route—that means only the five people Wolfram chooses can receive it, right?”

“Th—hmm.”

“Hehe—as expected of the villain I’ve had my eye on.”

Sure—let’s just go with that.

“Good—then I, Aila Trista, will take the first cup of Wolfram’s pentagram! I’ll reserve one cup a day!”

What pentagram?

Just as I reached out to stop Aila’s runaway train—

Her next words made my hand freeze.

“Of course—I won’t ask for it for free. I’ll pay. But one cup a day is mine.”

“Fine—what will you pay with?”

“Hmm. Hmmm—so…”

Saying that, she tapped the table with her index finger, deep in thought, before continuing.

“Paying with money means submitting records, lots of paperwork, and taxes—which increases the chance of this drink being exposed. So giving something as a donation would be better… Is there anything you want?”

Something?

There is one thing I need.

“I’d like a magistone freezer. Do you have any spare?”

“A freezer… It would be incredibly convenient for a grocery store, I suppose.”

“Maestro quoted me at least 20 million at the lowest price—it’s absurd.”

“It is a difficult item to make—so that price isn’t entirely unreasonable.”

I know. Since Trista is a merchant family, Aila’s assessment is likely accurate.

“Can you do it?”

“Oh my—did you just ask ‘can you do it’? Right now?”

Aila smiled brightly.

“Who do you think I am?”

Right.

Who else would she be?