Chapter 168 (1/2)

Territory Pioneering 1

[Sophia-chan’s point of view]

There is an event that just started at the academy recently called the Academic Conference.

This event consists of many presentations concerning new discoveries related to magic. The people doing these presentations are actually teachers rather than the students. The nobles that work within the school as teachers present their yearslong research at this conference.

I’ve heard stories that teachers that receive poor evaluations during the conference are fired from the academy. While the teachers may be the ones at ease during exams for the students, they’re the ones feeling desperate when it comes to this event.

It’s like their own exam.

“….”

The real question here is how a simple town girl working as a maid is allowed to attend such an important event. And I was allowed to enter the box seats reserved for nobles and other VIP guests.

The room was luxurious with only a few seats reserved for its privileged guests. There was a large opening at the front for those in attendance to view the presentations without being bothered by the other guests.

There was a member of the staff currently giving their presentation on stage.

Honestly, I can’t understand a single thing they’re saying.

“….”

I’m scared.

Anyway, this situation is too much for me to comprehend.

This all started this morning. Fahren-sama arrived at the dormitory looking for Tanaka-san, but my master had not returned after leaving yesterday.

After I told him this, Fahren-sama looked at a loss as to what he should do, but he ended up telling me to accompany him. I didn’t have the courage to ask him why, so I was forced into this situation.

It’s the usual pattern.

I become a victim due to my association with Tanaka-san.

“A negative reaction formula…? Is that a joke? Something like that would have no effect on me. Hou? Is it meant to cause a chain reaction…? That might warm my scales but I don’t see that doing anything more. As expected of the simple-minded humans.”

The Dragon-san was sitting next to me. I can also see the Elf-san that came to the dorm before and beside me, opposite the Dragon-san, for some reason the Princess of this country is sitting.

Everyone except me is paying attention to the presentation.

“….”

My stomach hurts.

Ah, it hurts so bad.

Every time someone around me moved or cleared their throat, a new wave of pain would shoot through my stomach. I can feel moisture accumulating down there. Why do I feel a sense of impending doom?

“…hou? Using temperature difference, eh? Again, what should I expect from the insignificant humans? It would just be a waste of effort against something like me. Pitiful! Pathetic! Insignificant humans!”

There’s a pain in my butt too.

Ah, it hurts so much.

I’ve already run to the bathroom several times. My butt is actually sore from it. The facilities here are built for the nobility, so the toilet paper is soft and fluffy, but it still hurts after using it so many times.

“Fu~, it’s so pointless. But what can he expect to do with such limited magical power? He might even be weaker than the last one. What a foolish human.”

The Dragon-san never stops one-sidedly belittling the presenters.

“…Tanaka-san, please come back soon.”

My mind and body are already at their limits.

I didn’t say this to anyone. I was just muttering a quiet prayer to myself when I heard the door slam open behind me.

I turned around expecting a miracle but was met with the sight of Fahren-sama standing in the doorway.

“Maid! Has that man returned yet!?”

He’s still doing this?

Every time the presenter changes, Fahren-sama comes bursting into the VIP box and asks if Tanaka-san has returned.

“N-No! He’s not here yet!”

I leapt out of my chair and gave him an answer. I felt like I could hear a wet squelching sound coming from my armpits. I’m drenched in sweat. Luckily, my maid clothes are white. If they were grey my maiden heart would be crushed.

“…I see.”

Fahren-sama looked disappointed after hearing my answer.

He must really like Tanaka-san.

But I don’t care about that. I just want to return to the safety of the dorm.

“The first days of the conference mostly consists of minor presenters. I can’t give up hope yet.”

“….”

“It’s just frustrating. If one of the VIP seats goes unused it’s removed almost immediately and put to use in a different box. They didn’t even hesitate to take it after I assured them he’d be returning….”

“…u-umm.”

I’ve never seen Fahren-sama so flustered.

Two days ago Tanaka-san was attending this conference as I am now. His seat had been removed after his lack of attendance yesterday and this has caused Fahren-sama’s strange behaviour. While we were in the carriage heading to the conference, he told me about the conference but wouldn’t stop complaining about how Tanaka-san’s seat was taken away.

I’ve never seen him so concerned with another person before.

“I told you this earlier, but, please, tell me the moment that man arrives.”

Y-Yes, I’ll tell you right away!”

I bowed deeply to Fahren-sama.

Then, Fahren-sama left. He left as quickly as he came. Like a storm that blew in suddenly, causing me unnecessary stress and shortening my lifespan by 1.2 years. I could hear his footsteps fading away down the hall until there was no sound left at all.

Haa~. I let out a sigh of relief and took my seat once more.

Then, the next presenter took the stage as if they were waiting for Fahren-sama to leave.

“It’s now my, Lydia Nannuzzi, turn to give my presentation.”

I heard a voice and name that I recognized.

I remember reading her name after my visit with Sabrina-san.

“The announcement I will be making at this year’s conference has the potential to increase the magical strength of this country by tenfold! Everyone, I hope you will give me your undivided attention.”

She was talking about some amazing advancement she had made. I still don’t fully understand what she’s talking about, but a ten times increase in strength I can understand.

This piqued my interest and my attention was drawn to the stage. A woman in her mid-thirties was standing in the centre of the stage. Like most teachers, she was a noble.

“What I have to show you here today is a new mana solvent. It is much cheaper than compared to conventional means and can be mass-produced with relative ease. The effectiveness of this solvent is on par with intermediate level mana potions.”

As the noblewoman spoke, a quiet murmur swept through the crowd.

This really does appear to be a major announcement.

“Hou….”

Those in the VIP box also seemed impressed.

I glanced over at the Elf-san seated next to the Dragon-san.

Her eyes narrowed as she focused on the woman on stage. Her lips curled up into something that resembled a smile, but the expression on her face was filled with malice rather than admiration. At the same time, her dignified profile looked quite cool.

She looks younger than Ester-sama, but she’s an elf so she’s most likely older than me and even the presenter on stage. I’ve heard that elves live for much longer than humans and they age at a much slower rate. As a woman, I’m envious of her.

“Please, bring your attention to this diagram.”

A huge diagram on a board was wheeled out onto the stage.

The figure drawn on the board was a vertical line that ran perpendicular to a horizontal line. There was a third line that started on the left that gradually increased in height until it reached the top of the board on the right side.

“This line here represents the upper limits of what the base ingredients in the solvent are capable of on their own. However, when subjected to certain procedures developed by me, the effectiveness of these ingredients increases exponentially. As I said before, these materials would become as effective as an intermediate level potion.”

Nannuzzi-sama spoke casually as she seemed to be revealing something amazing.

“Now, if I could please direct your attention to the next figure.”

Another large board was brought out on the stage.

It was another diagram that resembled the first.

“This graph here represents the permeability of the ingredients used. As you can see, after being subjected to my procedure, you can see a marked increase in this trait. Again, to a level resembling that of an intermediate level potion.”

She pointed to areas of the diagram as she spoke.

The entire crowd was discussing her presentation.