Volume 7 Chapter 12 Moving Away from the Election Campaign, Please Look After It
After lunch, Randy and others decided to visit the magic tool research club during the afternoon break.
They left the clubhouse with occult research clubs and headed to the second clubhouse, which looked suspicious but fun.
The scene was the school's backyard, full of nature and trees. Beyond the trees, there was a small staircase leading to a building.
It was a 2-story brick building. The walls were mossy, the door old, and the stained glass cloudy. It looked very aged.
The building had been enlarged illegally and magically modified with pipes. The odd appearance made Randy sigh.
"Is this it?"
"Yes. This is the magic tool research club,"
Liz nodded and swallowed.
"It's a place where something might appear."
"Actually, it seems like something appears here."
Ellie smiled slyly. Liz quickly turned around and said, "How do you know that?"
"Because I shared memories with someone here, until recently."
Liz pouted, annoyed, at Ellie's laugh. As Ellie said, this place is one of the rumored "ghost spots" since school days, not quite a 'Seven Wonders' but close.
"It's okay. The ghost's true form is this stagnant air and everyone's fear──"
'Pohee'
"Kyaa!"
Liz jumped and clung to Randy at the sudden sound.
The mysterious noise and Liz's scream echoed in the quiet forest.
"That's it, that's it!"
Randy, smiling wryly, pointed at the steam-emitting pipe.
"Y-Yes, I knew about it."
Randy and Ellie exchanged glances and smiled at Liz, who acted as if nothing had happened, with her voice trembling.
"Really, I'm telling the truth!"
"I know, I know."
"Let's just say that's it."
The two people smiled and grinned, and Liz puffed out her cheeks and approached the door.
The heavy-looking wooden door had an old sign on top that read "Magic Tool Research Club."
"May I come in?"
Like the door, an old-fashioned door knocker sounded as Liz knocked several times.
It was still afternoon, and most members of the club seemed to be called "odd," so someone was likely inside.
As expected, a lively voice responded from behind the door saying, "Yes," and the heavy door slowly opened.
"Do you need something?"
A girl student with braided hair and glasses peeked out from the open door.
"Huh?"
That familiar face was definitely one of the girls in the Ruins Exploration Team with Catherine.
"Ah, Randolph, Lady Elizabeth. Long time no see."
The girl waved casually with friendly words, and Randy also raised his hand and responded, "Same to you."
"And nice to meet you, Eleonora... Is that okay to call you?"
The name Ellie was recorded at the academy as Randy's retainer.
Ellie, not knowing the girl was the first Saint and an ancient great magician, replied with a relaxed, "Yes, no problem," smiling happily.
"You're an interesting kid."
"Yeah, I suppose."
Randy shrugged his shoulders, and Emma smiled and said, "You're very welcome."
"By the way, Ms. Arcanum... You were part of the Magic Tool Research Club?"
Emma, who smiled at Randy's puzzled look, told him that she had belonged to the club since the first year.
"That's impressive. I have something I want to show you then."
"Sure. Let's talk inside."
Emma opened the heavy door fully and invited the 3 inside.
Inside a mysterious building called a laboratory, the 3 saw an indescribable otherworldly space.
First they noticed furniture, like sofas and a coffee table, placed where a hall probably once was.
The atmosphere felt like a lounge, and several students were chatting there even now.
Even if anyone recognized Randy and the others, they only welcomed "Hello" and showed no hostility.
The students see the stairs to go up to the second floor beyond them.
Unfortunately, the right side is blocked by a pile of rubble.
But students are climbing over it to reach the second floor.
"This doesn't feel like a workshop at all."
Emma told Randy that this is called a lounge room when Randy looked around.
"We need a place to relax, or everything will get crowded."
Emma gazed into the distance while staring at the stairs, and Randy and others nodded in understanding.
It's probably not just rubble filling the stairs, but a mountain of materials and prototypes.
Randy and others might do the same if they get carried away.
"Still, they seem pretty welcoming, huh?"
"Yeah, I thought so too," Emma replied.
The two nodded, but when they saw the students chatting, they probably stiffened up.
"Ah, Randolph is having a hard time right now."
Emma's wry smile shows that the members of the magic tool research club are only interested in their own work, for good or bad.
"Some students are barely passing or have no life skills."
"I can kind of imagine that."
Emma pointed to the right of the gathering hall and said, "This way."
"For now, we'll talk in the design room."
Emma nodded and followed Randy and others as they walked toward the room on the hall's right.
"If I don't keep it in check, things will keep piling up.
Designs, prototypes, experiments──they all must be in specific rooms."
Emma opened the design room door, adding that experiments are sometimes done outside.
The room Emma was shown into was dim and smelled faintly of mold and dust.
There was a blackboard on the wall and shelves filled with books.
In the center were scattered tables and chairs, crowded with notes and memos spilling from the shelves.
Heavy curtains blocking even the small amount of external light made only the magic lamps shine.
This cast an eerie glow over the room.
"There are so many books."
"That blackboard has disassembled magic circuits."
The shelves hold design drawings left by seniors, handwritten notes, and even old texts.
"The decomposed magic circuit is──"
"Transmission, and... resonance, secrecy, and transfer."
Emma was surprised and turned around at Ellie's words.
"Do you understand...?"
"Who do you think I am?"
Ellie chuckled, but Randy pointed out with a serious look, "No, you are my servant."
"Recently, in the magic tool research group, there's a hot idea for a magic tool though..."
The idea has completely hit a dead end now.
"The magic tool research group also had links to [Celestian Pinnacle], right?"
As Liz tilted her head, many graduates from the magic tool research group work at [Celestian Pinnacle].
"Most senior members were pulled into the Empire."
Due to the kingdom becoming a district, talented mages and magic tool experts who were in [Celestian Pinnacle] were drafted into the Empire's labs under the pretext of business trips.
Because of that, [Celestian Pinnacle] is short-staffed and cannot keep up with the magic tool research group's work.
"The Empire is a huge nuisance."
The kingdom was not perfect, but students and citizens who lived normally cannot welcome all these changes.
"Well, it can't be helped."
Randy clapped the desk and said, "Alright! "seeing Emma looking sadly at the blackboard.
"Let's swap. If you help us with our prototype, we'll help with the magic tool prototypes."
Emma, worried, showed a troubled expression while Randy tapped her chest and said, "But..."
"Is that okay? Because──"
"It's fine. Give and take, and having fun is justice."
Emma looked at Liz from Randy's loud laugh, and her face clearly asked, "What about the student council election?"
Liz could only shake her head with a wry smile at Emma. Randy's mind was now completely filled with interest in how "fun" it seemed, more than the student council.
And it wasn't just Randy—Ellie and Liz felt the same.
"Then let's quickly get our business done."
Prompted by Liz, Randy pulled out a copier blueprint from his chest.
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