'Is this... Magic Engineering...?'
Professor Meriel Gardner was utterly bewildered.
The Magic Engineering she knew was essentially akin to spell tomes that took on the form of machinery.
As the discipline was named Magic Engineering, it had to remain firmly within the framework of magic, no matter what.
'But that...'
It was a technique that utterly shattered the very framework.
It couldn't even be called magic. Magic wasn't that crude.
It was rough-hewn, with not a trace of softness to be found, even if you scoured it with your eyes.
It just looked like a machine powered by mana.
'Wasn't it concluded that mana couldn't be controlled outside of magic?'
What did it feel like to witness the impossible become reality?
She couldn't put it into words, but Meriel now knew that feeling firsthand.
Meriel thought to herself.
If this prodigy had devoted his efforts to magic instead of Magic Engineering, the magical world would have seen tremendous advancement.
As astonishment set in, a sense of possessiveness soon began to rear its head.
I want him.
She'd been half-resigned to letting him go before, but not anymore.
That student of Professor Rachel Arte's... I want to steal him for myself.
Meriel smirked with a hint of slyness.
Wait for it, Rain Ortiz.
I'll come to you with an offer you can't refuse.
"Whoa, incredible...!"
"..."
Sure enough, this was a talent far too precious to be left in the hands of that half-baked genius.
"Professor Rachel, no matter how excited you are, you must maintain your dignity──"
It was then that something transmitted directly into her mind.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Emergency situation occurred.] [Demons have infiltrated the academy premises. All professors, prepare for combat.]◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Lien Flint.
28 years old. Former knight.
She was a Demon.
What was a Demon? A traitor to humanity who followed the Demon King despite being human.
Traitors who had forsaken their humanity had no right to live, so the empire even offered bounties for reports or hunts on Demons.
Now that the Hero had slain the Demon King, people expected the Demons to gradually fade away...
But reality was the exact opposite.
"How many times has it been now?"
The hulking man beside her, Herild, asked.
"Fifth time. But isn't the academy too dangerous?"
"It's fine. This time, the target's just one person."
There was a rumor circulating lately in the empire.
'Demons are destroying imperial facilities.'
It was true in a sense, and false in another.
The Demons' goal wasn't destruction. It was plunder. They'd succeeded five times already, and this rumor—now spread far and wide—was the empire's attempt to cover up the lootings.
Pathetic.
Were appearances that important?
Well, for a key facility like the academy, they probably knew the truth anyway.
"Shall we get started?"
"No, not yet. We wait for the tournament to begin."
"Boring. It'd be more fun if we went now."
This musclehead didn't have a brain for strategy.
Securing the target would be the hardest part of the mission, yet all he thought about was fighting.
"Ah, there she is. Rachel Arte."
The target of their plunder wasn't limited to objects.
The Demons' goal was Rachel.
There was a spell they wanted her to research for them.
Resurrection magic.
For their Demon King, who'd met an untimely end, they'd borrow a genius's mind.
She might've wasted her talents on something like Magic Engineering, but her magical prowess remained as sharp as ever, so no issue there.
Lien suddenly recalled the past.
It was during midterms at Pellit Academy, which used a similar format to Runia Academy, pitting students against each other in duels as exams.
Lien had faced Rachel that day.
She remembered it vividly. The haughty gaze. The head looking down. Herself, collapsed on the ground.
"This time'll be different, Rachel."
Lien grinned and started walking.
"Time to get ready."
The plan's kickoff time. The 'first match' had begun.
"Hm?"
But Lien soon halted her steps.
"What the hell is that?"
An ominous machine. That guy was from the Magic Engineering department, right?
...That was Magic Engineering?
"..."
What the hell did you raise, Rachel Arte?
Lien stared blankly at the arena.
It was common knowledge that Magic Engineering had clear limitations.
And now, that common knowledge lay shattered.
"That guy looks useful,"
Herild said.
"Let's take him too."
Normally, she'd refuse. Actions outside the plan created variables. But not this time.
"Let's do it."
She'd heard the tournament rules allowed only 'self-invented equipment.' Which meant that freakish contraption was all that guy's handiwork.
Whether Rachel raised him or not didn't matter.
His personal fabrication skills might be exactly what they needed.
And above all...
"Hahahahahaha!!"
That madness was perfect for a Demon.
"Go on, Herild. Cause a commotion."
Lien gave the excited Herild his orders. Soon, he charged toward the academy, followed by dozens of Demons.
"Looks like a lot'll die today too."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Hm?"
My gaze happened to drift to the professors' seats. I saw Professor Rachel Arte standing up in a hurry, along with Professor Meriel Gardner. Even Professor Peter looked anxious...
What was going on?
"Hm."
Best to just stay put.
I was just a student. Nothing I could do.
I'd head back to the waiting room and rest quietly.
I quickened my pace through the corridor.
"..."
But then, people blocked my path.
A woman with golden hair and emerald eyes. She smiled in a way that felt somehow terrifying, radiating an unsettling aura.
The two men behind her didn't look ordinary either.
"Ah..."
I suddenly knew the source of the commotion. Not that I was curious or anything.
"Your name's... Rain Ortiz, right?"
"Yeah."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lien Flint. Former knight. And..."
She stepped closer as she spoke.
"Currently a Demon. Traitor to humanity."
"Got it. Nice meeting you."
I bowed my head politely and immediately turned the corner.
My steps quickened, soon breaking into a jog.
Then a full sprint.
"Shit...!"
A Demon.
A freaking Demon!
The professors were bad enough, but a Demon?!
The best strategy in any fight was to run. Getting hurt sucked. And that woman looked batshit crazy at first glance.
Crazy was scary enough, but a Demon too?
It'd be weirder not to bolt.
"What's the rush?"
And then I saw her.
Lien Flint, running right alongside me.
Whoa.
It was that Demon from before.
I slammed to a halt and caught my breath.
"What... do... you... want... with me."
My words came out choppy from the panting. I looked pathetic, but whatever.
"I was impressed by your match."
"Oh. Thanks."
"So I'm taking you with me."
"Where to?"
"Our base."
"Ah."
I rummaged in my pocket.
What I pulled out wasn't an item, but my upright middle finger.
"Fuck off."
I caught my breath and unzipped my bag. I yanked out the shotgun and aimed it at Lien Flint.
Click.
But what reached my ears wasn't the satisfying boom of discharge.
A lame misfire.
I realized I hadn't reloaded.
"Hm, so that's a no?"
"Uh, well..."
"Got it."
She drew her sword.
I hadn't noticed it before, but she had one at her waist. Ominous mana enveloped the blade. Sword aura.
I knew it deep down. Pathetic, weak as I was, if that sword touched me, I'd be bisected without resistance.
She probably wouldn't kill me, though. The point was the sheer gap in power.
I hurriedly reloaded.
Somehow, before she closed in...
"That weapon of yours."
Clack.
"You're too slow."
Slash.
Her single strike cleaved my precious shotgun in two.
This took me two whole days to make...
"I've decided."
I declared solemnly.
"I'll surrender."
"Really?"
"Of course it's bullshit."
I kicked Lien with all my might. Naturally, she didn't budge an inch.
But the recoil sent my body flying back. Probably about two meters.
My bag was still in hand. Inside was the magic sword.
A new weapon.
"System, combat assist please."
I drew the sword and tossed the bag.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Combat Assist initiated.]
Hearing the system's voice eased my nerves a bit.
I never thought this formless AI could be so reliable.
That said, no matter how I thought about it, this wasn't ChatGPT...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Focus.]
"..."
I began to focus, following the system's instruction.
"Hm..."
Lien watched me for a moment, then simply turned and walked away.
What? Giving up?
"I'd love to play more, but I've got something more urgent than you right now."
At her gesture, the two men who'd been standing idly charged at me.
"These two should be enough to subdue you. Take him back to base."
With that, Lien vanished.
"..."
She was clearly underestimating me.
I wasn't mad. I was still weak, after all, and the biggest threat disappearing was just good news.
So the thought that crossed my mind was...
"Lucky me."
I could escape.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Frontal punch incoming. Followed by a dagger slash.]
I pulled back.
The punch whiffed, followed by the slash missing too. The system's reliability proven once more.
I gave a small smile and said,
"Honestly..."
Actually, it wasn't that small a smile.
"I kinda wanted to test it out."
Dopamine surging, I couldn't hold back the grin.
"Safety mode off."
This was true Magic Engineering.