“Sigh…”
As I was fiddling with my goggles to prevent mental contamination, a sound filled with worry reached my ears. Since things weren’t going well for me either, I turned my head to look at Viola, who was engrossed in her research behind me.
“Viola. Is something wrong?”
“Uh… no. It’s just that my research isn’t going well.”
“Take it slow. Rushing can make even the simplest things difficult.”
“That’s true… Ugh, it really is hard.”
What was she researching again? I quietly approached Viola’s side and watched her mix various chemicals. Purple powder and yellow liquid. Viola was carefully spilling the purple powder into the mixture.
“What are you trying to make?”
“I’m optimizing the formula for an explosive reagent.”
“I’ve been thinking this for a while, but your research is quite unique.”
Usually, people don’t research explosives like this.
Viola paused her actions and looked at me. With a complicated expression on her face, I briefly contemplated whether I accidentally said something wrong. A moment of silence passed between us, broken by Viola’s voice.
“Explosions are cool, you know? They can be useful in various situations… like in mines or dungeons.”
Although Viola provided a reason, it felt somewhat evasive. Was there a secret she didn’t want to discuss? I thought about probing further but decided against it.
Everyone has at least one secret they might not want to share.
“Why not use gunpowder?”
“Do you know how expensive gunpowder is? Besides, it’s practically banned by the Empire. Just trying to use it is really complicated.”
That’s true; getting it was a hassle for me too… I could get it now if I wanted, but I was too busy to even think about it. It’s a bit late to be obsessing over gunpowder now.
“Isn’t your reagent the same?”
“Do you think I can get flagged for an explosive reagent made by a mere student? Its explosive power is weaker than gunpowder. But still, it should be usable in a dungeon, right?”
Viola shrugged in response.
“It should have some effect.”
Whether it would or not, it wasn’t exactly a pressing concern at the moment. At the very least, adventurers might find some value in Viola’s explosive reagent.
Witches are rare, and items that can substitute for magic are definitely worth purchasing.
“I’ll just throw it for a bit.”
Viola said this and quietly left the workshop. She must be planning to throw the flask filled with her reagent at the makeshift lab I had set up next to her.
As I thought, not long after, an explosion sound rang out. It was a subtly weaker blast than usual. When Viola returned to the workshop, she looked dejected.
“Ugh. Another failure.”
“Seems like a tricky situation.”
“It’s hard to increase the explosive power compared to the previous formula.”
“You could do it if you just worked a bit more.”
“Thanks… but could you stop petting my head?”
“Ah, sorry.”
I got so used to petting Millia’s head that if someone’s hair is at my height, I can’t help but pet it. Viola tidied her hair with one hand as she spoke.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit odd to stroke anyone’s head like that?”
With a flushed face, Viola said to me curtly. It was a mixed reaction that seemed part disgusted, part embarrassed.
“I’ll be more careful next time.”
“Uh… no, it’s not that I dislike you stroking my head or anything… Ah, I don’t know! Just! Could you please refrain? It might cause misunderstandings.”
“Got it.”
Sigh, things got a bit awkward. I sat down again at my workbench and picked up the lava crystal.
The item I was currently crafting was meant to utilize this lava crystal efficiently.
Thus, we both sat in that awkward atmosphere without exchanging a single word until dinner.
—————
“Viola, did you hear that?”
“Huh?”
“Myura is dating Leo!”
“Leo from the Liberal Arts Department?”
“Yeah!”
Viola looked at her friend Para with an unexpected expression. Who would have thought that someone so absorbed in research like her would be in a relationship?
Overwhelmed by this surprising information, Viola’s thoughts became complicated.
“Everyone around me is dating… except for me…”
“To be honest, there are good conditions and lots of handsome guys and pretty girls. It’s only natural for people to date.”
Viola nodded at her words. Just as Para said, it was an optimal environment for dating. The sheer number of attractive individuals gathered made it impossible not to engage in relationships.
Of course, there were also students like Viola, focused solely on their studies, but it was only natural that quite a few students showed interest in dating, which reminded Viola that she hadn’t paid much attention to that aspect.
She had only done the basics of makeup, it had been ages since she had talked to a guy, and her social circles weren’t that wide.
“I’ve been dating Alex for half a year now. Don’t you think it’s time for you to get a boyfriend, Viola? It brings a sense of ease to your heart.”
“Finding ease of mind is just going to make me distracted, isn’t it? How’s your first semester grades…”
“AAAH! Don’t say it! I already know!”
“If you know, then study.”
Para nodded, looking defeated at Viola’s reprimand.
“But dating relieves stress and boosts your mood, right? You’ve been struggling with your research lately, haven’t you? Why not create some kind of distraction?”
“No thanks. I’m too busy with my research to think about that…”
“What about Sir Quartz?”
“Wha…?”
Viola stared at Para, mouth agape at the sudden question. It was something she never expected to hear. Para saw Viola’s expression and poked her cheek playfully.
“Oh my, are you saying you’re secretly dating him while mentioning that to me?”
“Of course not!”
“Then again, there was that rumor about Sir Quartz dating the Saint…”
“Well, that’s true.”
In reality, I’m dating Millia, Elisa, and Sif too, you know?
Viola suddenly wondered if Johann might actually be a notorious womanizer, but she quickly brushed the thought away.
It was way too impudent to think of such things about her benefactor.
“Sir Quartz is impressive. I’ve never seen someone rise to prominence so quickly. Isn’t this a record?”
“Probably? He became a Count in less than a year after becoming a Baronet. The fastest record was… five years?”
“That was only possible during a war, right?”
“If he weren’t dating the Saint, I would’ve tried to make a move, you know?”
“Hey!”
“Why? Embarrassed? If you dressed up a bit, guys would look your way; you never know, Sir Quartz might take an interest in you.”
“No way!”
“What if you end up an old maid for the rest of your life?”
“Shut up.”
“Whoa, whoa! Such foul language again!”
“Then you should speak more appropriately to avoid it!”
Para and Viola bickered as usual. Since this was a common occurrence, the surrounding students paid little attention, busy gossiping among themselves.
The leisurely atmosphere of the early semester wouldn’t last long.
Everyone knew that soon they’d have to face assignment hell and the submission dates for research projects, so they were desperately enjoying the last of the semester’s peace.
“Ahem. Everyone, give me your attention!”
When did he come in?
Viola, sitting diagonally, adjusted her posture and fixed her gaze on the podium. It was a signal that their homeroom professor, Daniel, had entered.
“As you all know, from today, you can submit and present your research projects! You’ll be presenting at the monthly conference, so be sure to submit only when you are truly confident that your research is complete!”
“If you need help, feel free to come to me! The deadline is before graduation! If you don’t submit by then, there’s a risk of failing, so be careful! It doesn’t happen often, but one or two students fail every year, so if you don’t want to share classes with the underclassmen, you’ll have to put in the effort!”
“Yes!”
“Then let’s begin the class!”
…Can I complete it?
Thanks to Johann, my benefactor and the one who made my prosthetic arm, providing me support, I initially had a richer budget than other students. However, my research on the explosive reagent had hardly progressed for months.
Should I try changing the materials? But… since the target users are adventurers or miners, I can’t use expensive materials; I need a cheaper substitute…
“Viola.”
Tap tap. The sensation of a poke in my side brought Viola back from her thoughts to look at Para. Para, with a shy smile, informed Viola of something important.
“You’ve been mumbling to yourself…”
“…”
Only then did Viola realize that people around her were looking at her and bowed her head deeply.
“Viola, it’s good that you’re working hard on your research, but right now it’s class time.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Hearing the mocking laughter from behind, she shot a glare at Bratten, seated at the back by the window.
Naturally, her middle finger shot up.
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