Chapter 523: Magic Engineering Expo (1)

Lennok already knew Antares was there from the start.

The significant reactions from Felix and Stella, the faint sense of unease he felt right after entering the bar.

He thought Antares had just left a trace, planning to observe the sponsorship contract from afar without directly interfering, but now he was speaking to him.

Furthermore, the mention of the expo just now was something Lennok couldn’t easily ignore.

Lennok sighed and rose from his seat.

“How did you get my medical records?”

“I’m an old regular. And we have a personal friendship.”

Antares replied quietly.

“While I was meeting that friend after a long time, I just rummaged through the database and took them. It wasn’t difficult.”

“…….”

Lennok knew that Antares’s body was in a very poor state as a consequence of glimpsing the future.

It wouldn’t be strange for him to be receiving treatment from Murphy regarding that issue.

Should Lennok find comfort in the fact that Murphy hadn’t handed over the records willingly?

If a monster of Antares’s caliber set his mind to extracting information and got cooperation, there was no way Murphy could have stopped him in the first place.

And what did it mean that Antares had gone to such lengths just to create an excuse to meet Lennok?

“I’ll be waiting outside. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear our conversation, so don’t worry.”

“As if you would.”

Antares’s form vanished from the spot without responding to Lennok’s sarcasm.

“Van, let’s stop here for today.”

Jenny, running a hand through her hair with a troubled expression, gripped Lennok’s sleeve.

“I’ll investigate Deadrise’s movements first, so you do your part. Got it?”

“But if we don’t reach a conclusion about this matter…”

“Van, listen.”

Her lips parted as if to say something, then she sighed deeply and turned her back.

“To be honest, I don’t want to care about what happened in the Black Consumer Project.”

“…….”

“What happened between my grandfather and your confidant, what kind of catastrophe led to this present situation… what exactly can we gain by digging into such a past?”

Jenny spoke quietly.

“To hold onto uncomprehended delusion, you eventually have to let go of what you hold now. And I… absolutely, I will never make such a foolish choice….”

Jenny glanced at Lennok, scratched her head vigorously, and shook her head quickly.

“No, just go now! Go home quietly and rest, even though you won’t tell me your address anyway!”

Thud!!

Even as she said that, she very carefully took Lennok’s shoulder and pushed him out of the office.

Lennok leaned silently against the strongly closed office door and chuckled.

A faint smile emerged on Jordan’s lips, who was silently mixing drinks below the bar.

“…….”

Lennok knew what Jenny wanted to say.

They had to avoid Lennok’s condition deteriorating or his injuries worsening due to tracking Deadrise’s whereabouts.

She was probably trying to tell him, in her own way, not to worry even if it meant getting entangled with her own past in the process.

He had originally intended to explain that his injuries weren’t that serious, but given the notice Murphy had sent, such words wouldn’t get through to Jenny.

And how could he explain that his condition had been even worse before, without mentioning Lennok’s penalty?

Lennok eventually stood leaning against the hallway, holding an unlit cigarette, deep in thought, then finally stood up.

“…I don’t know.”

“It’s always hard to tell secrets to those close to you.”

Antares, who had been waiting for Lennok at the end of the hallway, said.

Lennok irritably averted his gaze at Antares’s words, who was looking down at him with an almost amused expression.

“If you’re just going to spout useless nonsense, then stop.”

“I’m just sharing a personal experience.”

Antares said that, smiling wryly.

“Whether you speak or not, only regret remains in the end.”

“…….”

Just now, he felt as if he had heard something similar somewhere.

As Lennok frowned, thinking that, Antares lightly twisted his wrist and stood up.

“We don’t have much time, so let’s get straight to the point. You’re going to participate in the expo, aren’t you?”

Was Antares, after all, somewhat aware of the multiple identities Lennok was operating under?

Otherwise, such a confident question would be impossible.

But Antares’s next words were enough to erase Lennok’s thoughts.

“Originally, there would be no winners at this expo, and all nine judges would die.”

“…What?”

“No, ‘originally’ isn’t even the right word, is it? I’m just talking about something that hasn’t happened yet.”

Antares, resting his chin on his hand, said.

“The City Government will conclude it was a terrorist act, but later, rumors of it being a conspiracy due to internal political strife will spread.”

“…….”

“So, be careful of the judges and senators who approach you.”

Antares said, walking past Lennok, who stood still.

“I don’t know what kind of results you’re planning to announce at this expo, but causality has twisted because of it.”

“Evan, Evan!!”

Bang!!!

Lennok turned his gaze at the energetic voice from behind him.

The research lab door burst open, and a researcher he knew strode inside.

“There’s not much time left! We have to leave soon!”

“I’m reviewing the final demonstration process, so please wait a moment.”

Lennok said that, unable to resist a small yawn.

There were dark circles under his eyes as if he had pulled an all-nighter.

The poor condition due to staying up all night was not easily hidden even with disguise magic.

Right beside Lennok, the little fox spirit, Davi, excitedly leaped through the air, touching all sorts of mechanical equipment.

“It probably won’t take long… phew.”

“How long have you been cooped up in the lab to be this tired?”

Cassia approached with an incredulous expression, looking down at Lennok as she asked.

“You hadn’t shown your face at the university for so long, I thought you’d given up on submitting the thesis.”

Lennok rubbed his eyes, then chuckled inadvertently at her words.

“If I had, would the Dean have left me alone? He would have badgered me so much I wouldn’t dare set foot in this lab.”

“Is this the result related to that rumored second thesis?”

Cassia tilted her head, looking at the mechanical device Davi was constantly touching while running around.

“On the surface, it just looks like an ordinary magic engineering engine.”

“…Ordinary? This is an engine created by adopting the principle of magic-electricity conversion from my first thesis.”

“Exactly.”

Cassia nodded, her expression unchanged.

“Most of the top-grade hybrid engines currently used in Vulcan are like this, aren’t they?”

“…….”

Only then did Cassia understand Lennok’s reaction and clicked her tongue.

“Wait, you’re not seriously saying you don’t even know how actively your thesis is being commercialized right now?”

“Hmm.”

“Ha, I don’t know whether to call this amazing or absurd… Are all geniuses like you?”

“No, I knew it was being commercialized, but…”

Lennok said that, looking at the engine Davi was excitedly playing with.

“I didn’t expect something of this caliber to already be actively applied in the commercialization stage.”

Although it was an engine quickly made for the demonstration of his second thesis, it meant that products of similar quality to what Lennok, the thesis author, had created were already circulating on the market.

It was difficult only to set a theme and prove it with clear theory; the infrastructure to create usable products from a thesis’s theory was, indeed, overflowing within the city.

Perhaps he should say he hadn’t expected other engineers in the city to have already created similar engines.

Cassia, in response to Lennok’s words, rolled her eyes with an even more bewildered expression.

“No, given how you’re speaking, it seems you haven’t even checked the account where royalties are deposited. The Dean specifically warned me that he handled everything meticulously—”

“Cassia, who warned you so specifically?”

Cassia jumped in place at the old man’s hand on her shoulder from behind her.

“Kyaah!! Dean!”

“You’re not a field agent, so your mana perception is still clumsy. Cultivate your senses more diligently. On the other hand, this one…”

The Dean, Saiolus Garteanon, stroked his chin and turned his gaze, then grinned at Lennok.

“He doesn’t even turn his head towards me, let alone be surprised.”

“It’s been a while, Dean.”

Lennok swallowed a stimulant placed on his desk and stood up, saying.

The Dean chuckled, looking at Lennok.

“Still, it’s good to see you putting in effort at the end. I thought you had given up on this expo altogether.”

“I recall consistently sending you thesis proposals and progress reports, so I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lennok said calmly, rubbing under his eyes.

“Didn’t you refrain from interfering because you knew there were actual results?”

“Hmm-hmm.”

“It’s natural to keep secrets, but I didn’t know you were even hiding it from Researcher Cassia.”

If Cassia had truly known about Lennok’s second thesis, she wouldn’t have reacted so mildly to the engine Lennok was just touching.

Conversely, it was proof that the Dean had thoroughly kept silent about Lennok’s thesis content until today.

The Dean nodded leisurely, as if he had expected Lennok’s words.

“It’s only recently that Ms. Cassia came to know about your thesis. Until your participation in the expo was confirmed, I was also careful with my words.”

“Is that so?”

“I hope you don’t forget how important your role is in this expo.”

Saiolus’s aged eyes gleamed distinctly.

“We skipped the Rebatenon university internal competition and selected you as the representative. No matter how we handle it, there will be backlash. Do you know how many City Council members are displeased with this?”

“…….”

“Even the university’s internal administration is reporting daily appeals from those submitting petitions to me.”

The Magic Engineering Expo, where all researchers and certified mages active in Vulcan gathered.

A place where vast capital and manpower converged, attended not only by research institutes directly under the City Council but also by key figures from magic towers and sorcerers from the Order Alliance.

There, Lennok would announce his second thesis, following his thesis on magic-electricity conversion, and bring all that glory under the name of Rebatenon university.

From the Dean’s perspective, it was proof of raising the university’s name and producing excellent talent, as well as a golden opportunity to strengthen his own position.

As renowned research institutes, magic towers, and universities participated, it was natural for each organization to carefully select the talent who would present their achievements at the expo.

Originally, Rebatenon university should have held an internal competition to select a representative for the expo, and Lennok too would have had to participate and go through the process of being selected as a representative.

But the Dean had, by his own authority, completely skipped all the necessary procedures and deliberately decided to make Lennok the representative for this expo.

It was natural for discontent to arise from such an action, which could be seen as unfair.

It was obvious who would bear the full responsibility.

“If you can’t show definite results, you and I might not be able to remain at this university for long.”

The Dean added, as if gauging Lennok’s reaction.

“You might also tarnish the name of Richellen Chair Professor.”

“You keep saying things you don’t mean.”

Lennok chuckled, stood up, and gestured to Davi.

He watched as the cerebral spirit immediately stopped and turned off the engine, then turned his gaze towards the Dean.

Lennok, looking directly into the aged mage’s eyes, said.

“If you hadn’t been certain… you wouldn’t have pushed me so recklessly in the first place.”

“…….”

The Dean of Rebatenon university, Saiolus Garteanon, was an exceptionally talented mage, but he was also a shrewd individual whose political actions were as noteworthy as his personal achievements.

Saiolus, active not only as Dean but also concurrently in the City Council’s Technical Advisory Committee and various academic societies, would never have pushed matters forward simply by trusting Lennok’s word alone.

It was because he had meticulously reviewed not only the thesis proposal Lennok provided but also the progress reports, closely observing whether it was actually feasible, and gained confidence.

It was because he judged that it was acceptable to skip other complex or troublesome procedures that he could support Lennok like this.

The results of the second thesis Lennok showed him.

It was because he was half-certain that the content of that thesis, to be presented at this expo, held such value.

“Isn’t that right?”

“…That’s right.”

As the Dean let out a subtle smile, a goat-like spirit rolled into the laboratory from at his feet.

[Moo.]

Making a strange cry and looking around, the spirit spotted Davi perched on the desk and excitedly rolled its body around.

[Mooooo, Moo~]

[Ugh…!]

Davi, momentarily tensing and recoiling from the innocent spirit’s vigor, then seemed to make a decision and leaped down.

Like two spirits facing off on behalf of their owners, they stood opposite each other at their feet.

Davi puffed out its chest, tail held high, and let out an energetic cry with a triumphant expression.

[Moooo!]

[…Moo?]

[…….]

“…….”

Lennok desperately avoided Davi’s pleading gaze.

[…This isn’t right.]

[Moooooo~ Moooo~]

The goat-like spirit rubbed itself against Davi, who was tilting its head, as if it felt good.

Cassia stared blankly at the two spirits and muttered.

“Shouldn’t the Vulcan City Government focus on supplying one spirit per household instead of focusing on the expo?”

“I understand your sentiment, but…”

“I’m the only one without a spirit… This is unfair.”

Cassia, instead of looking at the engine Lennok made, was crouched down, watching the two spirits bickering for a long time.

The Dean gave a wry smile, looked at her, and then shrugged.

“If you’re ready, shall we go?”

The Central City Hall Plaza, located in Vulcan’s District 5.

Under the vast, hemispherical dome, thousands of people were gathered, packed so tightly there was no room to set foot.

Citizens observed curious inventions and equipment, moving between hundreds of booths set up for the Magic Engineering Expo.

Researchers and mages at the booths were also busy, attending to the onlookers.

“This is the most innovative amplification device from Machina, the Machine City.”

“Our lab has newly developed a mana-charging artifact that…”

“Batteries adopting the principles of magic engineering engines will be the source of new technology in the future…”

“Check the prospects of the power generation business and invest. The coexistence of mana and electricity is expanding the possibilities of the energy business dozens of times over.”

“Come and see our rechargeable toilet paper and wirelessly operated showerheads!”

Mechanical devices emitting steam operated everywhere, and ring-shaped vehicles rolled around the booths.

There were sprayers that scattered water from thin air, and rechargeable toilet paper that operated when plugged in.

Animal-shaped robots roamed the plaza, carrying children and playing.

Balloons floating above their heads rotated in an orderly fashion, drawing various patterns without flying away into the sky.

“Our university’s allocated booth is further inside.”

Following the Dean’s guidance, they walked further into the plaza.

After struggling through the crowd and finally entering the City Hall building itself, the noisy sounds from outside were completely cut off, replaced by a calm silence.

A spacious lobby hall where sunlight streamed through the hemispherical glass ceiling.

Several dozen booths were neatly lined up in the space, which had been cleared of all furniture and facilities that would originally have been in the City Hall lobby.

The booths of major research institutes, which were the true purpose of this expo, were located directly inside the City Hall building.

“Dean, it’s been a while.”

“Garteanon, are you sure it’s okay for you to show your face in a place like this?”

“Old man, stop wandering around so much and take care of your health!”

As they walked between the booths, many people recognized Saiolus and greeted him one by one.

The Dean, with a friendly expression, accepted each greeting while quickly guiding Lennok to the booth.

There were many onlookers inside the City Hall too, but the attitude of the researchers at the booths was distinctly different.

They seemed to be focused on their preparations and groundwork rather than acknowledging the onlookers.

They hardly paid any attention to whether people came or went.

They knew that the researchers at the booths in this building weren’t dealing with ordinary citizens, but with City Council members.

“Well, I’ll be going now. If there’s time, I’ll probably call you directly to ask about your thesis and its results.”

The Dean said, whispering with a stern expression.

“As your recommender, I cannot participate in the judging, but I’ve made my efforts. The rest is up to you. You understand, don’t you?”

“If you’ve reviewed the contents of the thesis, you’d know.”

Lennok replied, skillfully assembling an engine part he had taken out.

“It’ll either be getting kicked out without even being able to properly explain, or sweeping all the expo awards. It’ll be one of the two.”

Lennok tilted his head, loosely unscrewing a protruding bolt.

“You’ll have to hope for the latter.”

“Yes, good…”

The Dean laughed with difficulty, unable to hide his nervous expression.

“In this situation, I rather like that arrogance.”

“…Was that an arrogant remark?”

At Lennok’s words, the Dean couldn’t help but exhale with a soft puff.

“Completely, given you’re not even aware of it.”