New chapter of Control Engineer is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

Drinking at Home (2)

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

“This white wine here is delicious as well.” (Leon)

“That is most gratifying.” (Bell)

She opened the second bottle of wine.

“By the way…” (Bell)

Bell’s gaze darted around nervously.

“What is it?” (Leon)

“Being invited to your room like this, it signifies that we are, shall I say, intimate friends.” (Bell)

“Yes, that is correct.” (Leon)

There was a brief pause after “intimate”.

“That is true.” (Bell)

“In that case, I have a proposal for Leon!” (Dia)

“A proposal? What is it, Bell-san?” (Leon)

She was surely not drunk yet.

“Well, Bell-san…” (Dia)

“Hm?” (Bell)

“Although we are indeed older than you, the use of ‘-san’ imparts a sense of, how shall I put it, distance, a lack of familiarity.” (Dia)

“Distance.” (Bell)

“Yes, precisely, it feels distant.” (Dia)

Well, it is not just age, but also the difference between nobility and commoners.

“From now on, address us as Bell and Dia!” (Dia)

“Eh!?” (Leon)

“Bell, that was wise of you to suggest!” (Dia)

There is an odd sense of déjà vu about it.

“If you are concerned about the eyes of others, it may suffice to use this form only when the three of us are together. Agreed?” (Bell)

Dia-san also nodded vigorously several times.

“Then, Dia, Bell, let us make a toast.” (Leon)

“Yes, that is splendid.” (Dia)

“Very well.” (Bell)

“Cheers!” (All)

 

—

 

More than an hour had passed since the first toast.

The second bottle of wine was empty.

The popular notion that magicians are resistant to poison now seemed entirely plausible. Alcohol is, in a sense, a form of poison.

“Yet, I thought Leon had a lover.” (Bell)

Even those resistant to poison are not immune to intoxication. This is the type prone to entanglement when drunk.

“I do not.” (Leon)

For Adele-san’s dream to come true, rumors of a lover would be undesirable. True, self-restraint was necessary.

“Is that so?” (Bell)

“Bell is always so suspicious.” (Dia)

“Then…” (Bell)

Hm?

“What is the mark of redness around your neck?” (Bell)

“Ah, this?” (Leon)

“I noticed it when I arrived. It was not like this last month.” (Bell)

Dia nodded in agreement.

“Could someone have bitten you!?” (Bell)

Sharp, but there is no need to raise your pinky.

“I was indeed bitten.” (Leon)

“What!!” (Both)

“Your voice is too loud.” (Bell)

“Forgive me.” (Leon)

“But, who bit you?” (Bell)

“No, no. At the beginning of the year, I went to the southeastern forest.” (Leon)

“The forest?” (Bell)

“Yes. For magic beast hunting. Several leeches descended from the trees, and I could not avoid all of them, so I was bitten. I do not know whether it was male or female, however.” (Leon)

Hm, are leeches hermaphroditic?

“Leeches!?” (Bell)

“Oh, just leeches, then.” (Dia)

“Not very romantic. But you are fortunate, Dia.” (Bell)

“Indeed.” (Dia)

“It was not fortunate. It itched terribly.” (Leon)

“Hahaha…” (Both)

“Nevertheless, it could have been far worse.” (Bell)

“I immediately cast a recovery magic art spell.” (Leon)

Good thing I have prepared an excuse. The charm truly has effect.

“Well, the price for relieving the itch is the wine we are all drinking.” (Leon)

Both gazed intently at their glasses.

“I must drink it with care.” (Bell)

“Leon joined the Adventurer Guild, correct?” (Dia)

“Yes.” (Leon)

“How admirable.” (Bell)

“Hm? You speak as though one cannot join the guild?” (Dia)

“Oh, the Art Skills Department is prohibited.” (Leon)

“I see…” (Bell)

This contradicted the reception clerk who admitted me.

“To be precise, not only the Adventurer Guild but also mercenaries and guards, any occupation that involves combat, is prohibited from participation. This restriction lasts for one year from admission.” (Leon)

“Ah, so it is temporary.” (Bell)

Participation does not permit even temporary involvement.

“The rationale is that magic art practitioners have a high initial accident rate, and this prevents them from adopting improper combat methods.” (Leon)

“Ha. Then, students of the Science and Technology Department need not worry about death, I suppose.” (Bell)

She exchanged glances with Dia.

“Leaving Leon aside, I think most Science and Technology students have no inclination for combat.” (Dia)

“Indeed.” (Bell)

Hmm. Certainly, it seems so among my classmates. I, myself, am motivated by testing magic art control and earning money, the latter applies to anyone.

“The assistant professor Gerald mentioned that the top ten examinees with the greatest total mana usually belonged to the Art Skills Department.” (Leon)

“Then, there is no need to prohibit the Science and Technology Department, is there?” (Dia)

Hmm. I would inquire further.

“Indeed. I recently purchased a magic art wand.” (Leon)

“You, Leon?” (Dia)

“Did you not say you would not use it?” (Bell)

“Well, I do not intend to use it myself much, but for research purposes.” (Leon)

“Research, I see…” (Dia)

“Yes, as a Science and Technology student.” (Leon)

I retrieved three wands from the desk drawer and displayed them on the dining table. Each measured approximately 300 millimeters.

“Rod type, rotating type, and irregular type. Seeing them like this, one can tell you have no intention of actually using them.” (Bell)

Wands for magic art are mostly composed of magic stone and wood. Being called a wand, they are generally elongated.

The rod type has a thickness of less than ten millimeters excluding the magic stone. The rotating type is thicker, with protrusions, roughly rotationally symmetric along the longitudinal axis. The irregular type includes others, often with grips shaped to fit fingers.

The general characteristics are as follows. Rod type offers excellent directionality and ease of aiming but consumes somewhat more mana. Rotating type is versatile, though unremarkable. Irregular type is selective, suiting certain users.

“A wand for beginners, then.” (Bell)

“Indeed, it was inexpensive. In any case, I cannot discern quality beyond the magic stone.” (Leon)

“Have you used them?” (Dia)

“Yes, to some extent.” (Leon)

I had purchased them at the guild branch and tested them recently.

“Frankly, casting was slower, and aiming worsened.” (Leon)

“Huh?” (Dia)

“No, which one did you use?” (Bell)

“I tried all of them. Each seemed to increase interference rather than reduce it.” (Leon)

“This is why he is called a genius.” (Bell)

“Bell, initial discomfort is normal. I experienced the same. Even now, changing wands brings it back.” (Dia)

It is a matter of acclimation. Magic art has a resonant frequency. However, the demon world intensity generated by humans contains noise. Unless it is kept within an acceptable margin, magic art will not activate. This is the purpose of the wand. A wand primarily shortens casting time and improves accuracy, narrowing error margins and enhancing directionality.

The human body, having high magic flux impedance, produces high-frequency noise when generating demon world intensity. Conducting it through a wand with magic flux capacitance suppresses this. Slight frequency drift exists per wand, causing the sense of discomfort Dia mentioned. Acclimation involves compensating for this drift to activate demon world intensity accurately.

Reducing noise allows for faster casting.

Directionality depends on wand shape. Generally, the thinner and longer, the better the directionality and accuracy. However, mana loss increases, requiring greater demon world intensity. If magic fails to hit, more attempts are necessary, so the optimal wand shape varies by individual.

“May I ask which type of wand you normally use?” (Leon)

I had glimpsed it during joint magic art training but had paid little attention then.

“Eh, I have it with me. Shall I show it?” (Dia)

“No.” (Leon)

Close inspection would reveal the engraved magic art on the magic stone, which might be intrusive.

“Then, mine is this. The grip is thicker and has more protrusions.” (Dia)

Dia’s wand is the versatile type.

“From childhood?” (Leon)

“It was rod type initially, but I thought versatility would be better, so I changed it.” (Dia)

“I see.” (Leon)

A rather interesting account.

“I am rod type. Thinner, made of ash wood for better conductivity.” (Bell)

Indeed, that is correct.

“To cast quickly and aim sharply.” (Bell)

“Bell, you should aim more carefully.” (Dia)

“Yes, Marlow-sensei said the same.” (Bell)

“Well, Bell’s decisiveness is her strength.” (Leon)

“Oh, Leon said something wise!” (Dia)

“Do not spoil her.” (Bell)

Considering Dia-san’s growth as a magic art practitioner, perhaps the wand should further support her.

 

—

 

“Oh!” (Leon)

Upon leaving the room and entering the hallway, they encountered Leah-san.

“I shall escort them.” (Leah)

“That would be preferable.” (Leon)

They appeared to watch the two descending the stairs.

“Thank you for your hospitality.” (Dia)

“Excuse us.” (Bell)

They were cheerful.

Stepping outside the boarding house, the sunlight had significantly declined. It was already four o’clock.

“It is cold.” (Leon)

“University classes resume soon.” (Bell)

“Indeed.” (Leon)

Heading west, avoiding the crowded Beyter Street Market, we detoured slightly and arrived at the dormitory in less than 15 minutes.

I saw them to the entrance and waved farewell.

 

—

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)