Volume 7 Chapter 14 There Is One Person In School, Not Noticeable But Actually Amazing
Emma looked at the blueprint Randy had taken out with interest. The completed design was just a box, and the contents were not very complex.
"Is this for light...? You spread the wave with this lens, and then──"
Several boards, arranged neatly, were sandwiched between large and small holder-like objects. The straight-line arrangement resembled the popular light convergence and diffusion experiments using lenses in this world.
It was exactly that. The device was meant to magnify light by converging light scattered by a concave lens using a convex lens, referencing a camera's zoom function.
"A magnification reproduction device, maybe?"
Randy nodded in agreement with Emma's confused tilt of the head. Since even Randy knew the mechanism of each lens, Emma immediately figured out the purpose upon seeing the blueprint.
"I have a few things I'd like to discuss..."
Randy scratched his head and said, "Well, take a look first," while turning to Ellie. Ellie nodded and pulled a square box out of thin air. It was a simple, square-shaped casing for the copier shown in the blueprint.
"This is──"
"Stop. Let's head to the lab first."
Emma pointed outside, and Randy nodded, remembering that was the rule. He didn't exactly find it convenient, but since they were here, they had to follow the rules. Deciding that, Randy picked up the casing from the floor and followed Emma through the door leading to the hall.
When Randy and the others came out of the design room, they didn't truly understand that this place was the "magic tool research club." They only realized what kind of place it was when they were about to climb the stairs leading to the lab.
"Why is everyone following us?"
When Randy turned around, he saw students watching with great curiosity.
"It's the magic tool research club. If you come out with something strange from the design room, people will get curious."
Randy, who didn't even turn around, smiled wryly and said, "I see. They're just onlookers."
"You can't underestimate onlookers."
Emma turned around and gave a meaningful smile, and Randy nodded, saying, "Yeah." It's more convenient to have more people when giving opinions. Moreover, all of them are interested in this field. There's no chance that any foolish opinions will be voiced.
Randy also has a good impression of their actions. To him, they are comrades in a way, facing what they are interested in.
With several students in tow, the group gained more companions as they progressed and finally reached the door labeled "Laboratory."
"This is the laboratory──"
Just as Emma tried to open the door, it opened from the inside, and a male student in a lab coat emerged, mumbling to himself. His fluffy brown hair still had bedhead, and his dull, unfocused black eyes wandered over the floor.
He probably did not notice Randy and the others, as he kept mumbling, "Hmm. What's the problem?" while walking past them.
"President!"
The male student turned his face up when called "President" by Emma and looked back at her.
"Oh. Ms. Emma. Your braids today are particularly shiny."
The male student smiled, but Randy and the others were puzzled by his strange greeting, saying, "Huh?"
"Come on. I told you to call me 'Vice President' in the research club."
Randy and the others looked at Emma, wondering if they should comment on that, but the students in the research club didn't seem to care.
"It's fine. Ms. Emma is still Ms. Emma."
The male student, grinning, seemed to notice Randy and shifted his gaze toward him.
"You're... Mr. Randolph, right? And Miss Elizabeth, Lady Eleonora, correct?"
The three of them nodded almost simultaneously at the male student who tilted his head.
"Welcome to the Magic Tool Research Club. I'm the president, Noah Arcline."
The male student, who introduced himself as Noah, reached out his hand but pulled it back when he noticed the luggage Randy was holding. However, Randy, who had been watching, smiled and lifted the device with one hand while extending his right hand.
"Randolph Victor. I just wanted to get some opinions on a prototype."
"That's interesting. Can I join as well?"
Randy nodded at Noah, who was holding his hand, saying, "Of course."
The laboratory, guided by Noah and Emma, indeed looked like what one would expect from a laboratory.
In the space expanded by breaking through the wall, numerous prototypes were stacked tightly.
On the floor, there were burn marks and a mysterious magic circle drawn in chalk.
Shelves contained bottles filled with strange liquids, and the shelves and window frames were covered with strong iron mesh.
The meaning of that iron mesh was quickly understood without asking. After all, a large slogan-like text was written on the wall right in front of the door when it was opened.
'Warning: Explosion' 'Do not forget yesterday's failure'
However, the iron mesh on several window frames was torn, and the window glass had been replaced with plywood.
"I can't believe this is the same academy, it's a crazy place."
Noah tilted his head and asked Randy, who gave a wry smile, "Is that so?"
"Considering the academy's predecessor, I think our place and the Occult Research Club and the Beast Research Club are closer to the right form."
Indeed, as Noah said, the original academic research facility is the predecessor of the current academy. It was like a collection of research labs in a university where everyone researched what they were interested in and took classes to acquire the necessary foundational knowledge.
Over time, the research became an accessory, and the purpose shifted to just attending the academy, which is what the current academy is now.
"There are still many people who study and aim for specialized paths, so it's not like the purpose has completely changed, right?"
Noah shrugged, and Liz and Emma nodded. That's why, apart from mandatory subjects, the curriculum is flexible, and students can focus on what they like.
"Still, people like you, who are 'strays,' are rare."
Noah smiled, and Randy returned the smile, saying, "I didn't know that."
(If there had been a fun place like this, I would have joined since the first year...)
Randy thought so, but immediately shook his head. The reason he could find this place enjoyable was that he had met Liz and Ellie, obtained Craft, and could now make his "wants" a reality with his own power.
If he thought about it that way, the winding path that led him here meant this moment was exactly when he should have arrived.
"Well then. Let's stop chatting for now──"
Noah's gaze was directed at the prototype copier that Randy was carrying.
"Yeah. I wanted you to look at it right away."
Randy set down the prototype and slowly removed the top cover. Inside was exactly as he had shown Emma earlier: a photo holder, two types of lenses, and a holder for the final magnified item.
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