Chapter Forty-Seven:
I left the headmistress's office, heading toward the academy's technical wing, officially known as the "Special Equipment Division."
It was a place rarely visited, and most students didn't even know it existed. Tucked away at the far end of the academy grounds, behind the towering administrative buildings, it was surrounded by a thick iron fence—like a massive cage hiding something dangerous.
In my pocket, I carried the blue mana chip and the folded letter the headmistress had given me, bearing her personal magical seal. I glanced at them for a moment before continuing my way with quiet confidence.
When I reached the front gate, there was no guard, not even a welcome sign. Just a huge metallic door covered in strange mechanical engravings that glowed with slow-circling mana lines, as if they had been running non-stop for years.
I stood in front of it, then raised the chip.
[Identity verified… Access granted]
A low humming sound echoed, and the door began to open slowly, releasing a faint smoke from the ground as though I were stepping into a secret underground lab.
I stepped in.
The atmosphere inside was unlike anywhere else in the academy. The scent was a mixture of burnt machine oil and raw mana solution, and the air was heavy with magical pulsations. The walls were polished in dark gray, lined with copper mana pipes branching like a nervous system, emitting a soft blue glow that never faded.
I walked a few steps until I reached a long metal table, behind which stood a completely bald man wearing a long gray coat, stained with black patches and burn marks. In his hand was a magical screwdriver radiating heat.
He looked up at me and spoke in a raspy voice:
"Student? Who sent you?"
I silently pulled out the letter and handed it to him.
He took it, read it for a moment, then raised one eyebrow before smirking sarcastically.
"The headmistress herself?... That's rare. Don't tell me you came to ask for a beauty mask or a sword dipped in golden water?"
I replied calmly, "An incubator."
His smile faded instantly. He looked at me more seriously.
"Incubator? For what purpose?"
"For a magic egg."
His eyes widened slightly, then he let out a faint whistle.
"That's an unusual request... but interesting."
He turned and went into a side room from which strange noises came—hammering, whistling, and a sound like something boiling under pressure.
Three minutes later, he returned, carrying a sleek black-metallic case the size of a suitcase. In the top right corner, it bore an inscription of a stabilization enchantment.
He placed it on the table in front of me and said:
"Exactly to spec. Magical thermal balance, shock protection, automatic mana feed system, and an internal layer specialized for magical eggs. This kind of incubator is usually used in royal labs… I don't know how you got permission to make one as a student."
I opened the lid carefully.
Inside was padded with a soft material that emitted gentle warmth, and the air within was filled with a comforting magical aura—like a mother's embrace.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
"Perfect."
I shut the lid and held the box gently, nodding my thanks.
Finally, with the incubator in hand, I returned to my dormitory on campus.
I pushed open the door quietly and took a deep breath as I was greeted by the familiar scent of the room: a mix of aged wood and open books.
I tossed my coat over a chair and walked toward a small corner I had prepared in advance. It was a space lined with raw mana plates, which I had placed days ago in anticipation of this moment.
Carefully, I took the gray egg out from the pocket of my enchanted coat.
It was warm.
Its pulse now was stronger than before.
I opened the newly obtained incubator. Its design was elegant: a silver-black box with a semi-transparent lid revealing the contents inside. It was lined with thermal mana cushions and small tubes that emitted a soft blue light, maintaining constant temperature.
I placed the egg inside as if I were laying down something sacred, then closed the lid slowly.
[Ding!]
A notification appeared, pulsing with a soft blue glow.
[Item identified: Magical Egg – Type Unknown]
[Environmental conditions stable… Initiating biological activation]
[Expected hatching time: 13 days, 17 hours]
I stared at the screen for a long moment, then sat on the floor and closed my eyes.
I felt something strange... a sense of responsibility.
"Two weeks, then..."
I whispered the words to myself before crawling into bed, lost in thought.
I woke up early.
The sun had just begun to rise, its golden light slipping through the window and touching my face.
I got up, washed my face with cold water, and wore my dark blue academy uniform. I adjusted the collar and fastened the leather belt that held my ID badge.
I left the dorm.
The path to the academy building was unbelievably beautiful. Its pavement was made of pink stones, lined with rare flowers that bloomed every morning.
White flowers, violet ones, and tiny multi-colored blossoms scattered their fragrance into the air, dancing with the breeze.
But what made the scene truly absurd… were the students.
In this world, makeup wasn't reserved for girls.
A boy walked past me with bright blue eyes, wearing pink eyeshadow and a glittering bag over his shoulder. His eyelashes were unnaturally long, and he wore bright lip gloss as if heading to a masquerade ball.
With him was another boy… I couldn't help but be surprised.
They were proudly flaunting their lipsticks and even discussing magical makeup products aloud.
"It's from Luna 7, curse-resistant!"
I stifled a laugh and quickened my pace.
I ignored them.
No time for weirdness now.
I reached the academy building. It looked quiet from the outside, but I knew that behind those walls, chaos awaited me.
I climbed the stairs steadily until I reached the classroom door.
I grasped the handle.
And opened it.
End of Chapter