Ellen handed me the Lapelt, but I didn't accept it.
Just that act alone changed the future.
I had no idea how this would come back to affect me.
During the remaining winter break, the four of us who could do Magic Body Strengthening received training from Saviolin Turner.
After the training of Ludwig and Cliff was completed, Turner also taught Ellen and me intensively.
Considering that most of the things I had to worry about were out of my hands, and that getting stronger was my top priority, receiving guidance from Saviolin Turner was nothing but a good thing for me.
Even as I digested Turner's heavier-than-usual training sessions, various events took place.
Among them, two things were most important.
"It's complete?"
"Yes. The enhancement potion will enter the clinical phase, so I'll request an evaluation from the university lab, and the same goes for the magic power artifact."
Moonshine and the Power Cartridge were completed.
——
I headed to the Magic Research Club with Harriet.
At the Magic Research Club, which was established during the second semester, we managed to complete two items before the end of winter break.
However, to ensure that these two artifacts function properly, we now have to entrust them to a senior lab for safety tests. This is not something that can be done at the junior club level.
Originally, these items were created in the chaotic aftermath of the Gate Incident.
In a situation akin to war, anything that could help in battle had to be used, so Moonshine and the Power Cartridge were immediately deployed.
However, even though the Demon King is in hiding now, we are in a relatively peaceful period. Even if the functions of the body enhancement potion and the Power Cartridge are revolutionary, they won't be approved for use until they have been thoroughly tested.
Of course, it is impossible to immediately determine the effectiveness of Moonshine, but in the case of the Power Cartridge, it was quite easy.
The Power Cartridge was an artifact that looked like a peculiarly designed necklace, with a blue magic stone the size of a fingertip encased in a metal cage.
"We decided to call it the Power Cartridge."
"That's fine."
The name of the artifact, like in the original work, was named by Adelia.
Adelia stared at the completed Power Cartridge in silence.
She seemed amazed and couldn't quite understand what she had created.
"We have already confirmed its stability, but it's disposable. We might be able to make it reusable through magic power charging, but then it would become larger, and the magic power stabilization device might become unstable."
The Power Cartridge is, as its name suggests, a disposable fuel container. Once all the magic power inside is used up, it's empty.
In the original work, it was disposable, but is it possible to make it reusable?
But there seems to be a problem with that.
"…Are you saying that this thing around the magic stone is the magic power stabilization device?"
"Yes."
Adelia nodded at my words.
The principle of the Power Cartridge may be beyond my comprehension, but its structure is simple.
It consists of a magic stone and a stabilization device that prevents the explosion of the magic stone.
"The external stabilization device can bear and regulate the instability of the magic stone's magic power when it is used like the magic power in the body. Naturally, the durability of the stabilizer decreases as magic is used more frequently. So, while it's possible to construct the device with a rechargeable magic stone, if it's used for too long, it will explode. The magic power in the cartridge will inevitably be used in combat, so having a magic stone replenishment device with the potential to explode during combat… it's meaningless."
Although it's possible to create something rechargeable, the problem is that the likelihood of explosion increases as it is used for a longer period of time.
Of course, I don't expect to reuse it anyway.
This invention alone is enough to turn the magic world upside down.
"Well done. You'll be remembered as a hero in history now."
"Huh? Is that so…?"
I looked at Harriet while telling Adelia.
Power Cartridge and Moonshine.
Harriet had said that whoever created such a thing would become a hero in history, which was nonsense. But in the end, it was created.
Even Adelia herself seemed to be unable to understand how she could make such a thing, but she did.
"Wait, anyone would know you made it for real?"
Harriet muttered in disbelief at my enthusiastic gaze.
"Give me the subject, and I'll get you the money. You can't say that I didn't contribute anything."
Although I wasn't involved in the research itself, I had an absolute influence on creating the research environment. Of course, it's a bit funny that I didn't think I would get credit for making it before, but now I'm talking like this in the actual situation.
"Well, that's true, but…"
Harriet eventually had nothing to say and shut her mouth, as if sulking.
The Power Cartridge is complete.
Furthermore, it even added the possibility of reuse that was not in the original. The research paper seemed to be completed to be presented to Temple University, so Adelia will really be recorded in history as a sorceress who changed history during her high school days.
Adelia, and even Christina, who contributed more than Harriet, could also be recorded in history as even more talented sorceresses.
Of course, Adelia didn't work alone, so ultimately, all the members of the research group could become stars in the magic world.
But.
Is that really… a good thing?
As I pushed the research of the Magic Research Society forward, I became aware of other problems.
Later, I saw a demonstration of magic using the Power Cartridge's magic power.
The performer was Redina.
In the magic practice room, Redina summoned eighteen fireballs with the Power Cartridge attached to her neck and shot them off.
-Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
With her meager magical power, Redina could not even cast large-scale spells, but now she was firing off massive fireballs in an instant using no-casting.
She thought it would be exciting.
"I am a god! The god of magic! Bring it on!"
Watching the child who now claimed to be a god beyond dragons, it felt a bit dizzying.
But then again.
If that kid had a hundred power cartridges attached to her.
Wouldn't she actually be a god? She might be able to singlehandedly destroy the world, right? Of course, she couldn't possibly wear a hundred power cartridges on her body.
A million fireballs.
Just thinking about it, she was a crazy talent who could instantly summon them.
With the disadvantage of extremely low magical power gone, Redina might be the most dangerous mage in the world, right?
"You look great, senior," said Harriet, covering her mouth with a smile, as if Redina's excited hopping and launching fireballs at the dummy were adorable.
"I am a god, I tell you! Come out! Come out!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Isn't Senior Redina just too cute?"
Well, now.
It wasn't just you.
She had been firing spells to show that the cartridges wouldn't explode until all the magic power was used up.
After a while of crazily firing magic like a mad child, Redina came out of the laboratory, removing the dimmed cartridge when no more fireballs could be summoned.
"Huff… huff… I'm… I'm tired…"
"Well, of course you're tired after all that yelling."
"Right… right…"
It wasn't the magic power that was the problem, but rather her body getting tired from hopping around and firing spells. Redina dragged her exhausted body onto a chair.
Adelia was the chief researcher for power cartridges, but Redina was her assistant.
Thus, Redina also had a significant contribution to the development of power cartridges.
"So, junior, are you starting the research for my exclusive cartridge now? I'm ready whenever."
"We should be able to make a cartridge that can be used indefinitely soon."
Redina was overjoyed at the prospect of starting her exclusive cartridge research soon.
There was an impossible challenge, and they had achieved it.
That's why everyone's faces couldn't help but be happy.
——
After checking the power cartridges, they checked Moonshine.
"If my theory is correct, the expected effects should appear. Of course, there should be no side effects, but we can't commercialize it right away since clinical trials are necessary. And we don't even know if it will be commercialized."
Christina said this, looking at the pink potion in the triangular flask.
Harriet looked at the triangular flask and said, "We've decided to call this Moonshine."
Just like in the original work, it was given the name Moonshine.
A potion that increases Magic Body Strengthening sensitivity and magical power. If power cartridges were for mages, this was for combat majors.
Most of the students who struggled with Magic Body Strengthening would open their eyes to it after drinking this, while those who already knew how to do Magic Body Strengthening would quickly become accustomed to it at a rapid pace.
No matter how you phrase it, it's doping in the end.
"Reinhardt, would you like to try this…?"
Anna brought me a pink liquid in a separate container.
"Ah, Anna! Stop giving Reinhardt strange things!"
Harriet was alarmed, but Anna slowly approached me.
It's supposed to be the same Moonshine, but the one she's giving is terrifying! Could she have mixed in something else?
"Don't drink that."
"No, don't!"
As if accustomed to it, Christina snatched the triangular flask from Anna's grasp and threw it away with a swift motion.
-Crash!
The flask shattered on the floor, and the liquid inside spread across the ground.
"Ch-Christina…!"
Harriet was more startled by Christina's sudden action.
But neither Anna nor Christina seemed to mind, as if it was a familiar event. Christina casually started cleaning up the broken flask and spilled liquid.
How often did this happen? And why does Anna seem so familiar with such treatment?
Anna is scary, but Christina is also scary in a different way.
"What was… that?"
"I don't know; Anna keeps making things when she has free time."
You threw it on the floor without even knowing what it was?
It seems like her Moonshine research has affected her humanity.
"Anyway, I'm confident it's complete, but clinical trials will take a while? You'll have to wait a bit more to use it after proper verification."
Christina picked up the triangular flask and looked at me.
"How about it? Do you want to try it? I'm sure it's safe, but I can't take responsibility if there's any issue."
A completed Moonshine. Christina is confident in its completion, but there might be side effects.
If I drink this, will I be the first user of Moonshine in this world?
"I won't die, right?"
"Still, you should decide calmly…"
I took the triangular flask. Harriet couldn't tell me not to drink it, but she was uneasy as I drank.
A pink fluorescent substance.
It looked like something you should never drink. In the original world, I would have been sure it was radioactive.
Trusting Christina's abilities, I gulped down the pink fluorescent substance.
"Wow… You really don't hold back, do you?"
Christina looked astonished, as if she hadn't expected me to really drink it.
"How is it?"
Christina asked me with curious, sparkling eyes.
Naturally, I didn't feel any sort of power-up.
But.
This is strange.
"Why… is it delicious?"
This is delicious?
"Right?! It's tasty!"
Christina is insane.
——
Christina had added a new effect to Moonshine that wasn't in the original work: taste.
I'm not sure if overconsumption would cause problems, but it was delicious enough to make one suspect that someone might collapse from excessive Moonshine intake.
I didn't immediately feel the effects of Moonshine. It would have been scarier if the effects had appeared instantly.
Gradually, I would come to feel the effects of the Moonshine on my body.
The members of the Magic Research Club were all gathered in one place.
Myself, Harriet, Adelia, Christina, Anna, Louis, and Redina.
"It seems like we've all managed to achieve our goals one way or another. Good job, everyone."
Each of us had contributed to the research in our own way. In Louis Ancton's case, he participated in both the cartridge and Moonshine production process, and practically took on the role of treasurer, handling budget execution.
Somehow, we had completed tasks that we all thought were impossible.
We accomplished what no other magic research group could do, and it took us not decades, but less than half a year.
No one would believe it if they heard it.
"Did you send our research results to the Temple University?"
"Not yet, I thought it would be best to show you the finished product first, since you're the president."
Although I'm only the president in name, everyone acknowledges that I played an important role too.
I was the one who insisted on attempting the impossible, albeit with some coercion, and in doing so, we turned the impossible into possible.
"Now, let's get the bad news out of the way."
I organized my thoughts.
A decision that everyone might not accept.
But a decision that everyone must accept.
"Don't submit the report."
Upon hearing my calm words, everyone's expressions inevitably turned strange.
If only I had known about Cantus Magna and Akasha first.
I wouldn't have asked these kids to do anything.
Because the order was reversed, I had unwittingly put them all in danger.
"Let's keep the fact that we created this item a secret, and act as if our research failed publicly."
In the end, I had to admit it.
——
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
Harriet spoke for everyone, her face pale with shock. We should have been showered with endless praise, yet here I was suggesting we keep our research results a secret.
We were young wizards who turned the impossible into possible.
What Cantus Magna wanted was magic.
Not a prohibition, but magic.
And magic could be newly created.
Cantus Magna would need wizards who could create countless spells more than he would need numerous spells.
Two miracles that could change the history of magic had occurred in a high school club, even if it was a Royal Class.
Word would spread far and wide, and these kids would inevitably become stars in the world of magic.
Cantus Magna would focus their attention here, rather than on the dungeons in Darkland.
If they were desperate enough to complete Akasha, they would want a source of countless spells.
The current Magic Research Club was an irresistible target for Cantus Magna.
Our research results must not be revealed.
If Cantus Magna were to abduct these kids.
I don't have the confidence to handle that situation.
That's why I had no choice but to say it.
Let's pretend we didn't discover anything.
"Let's pretend this never happened."
Everyone had accomplished a miracle, turning the impossible into possible, so naturally, they would want recognition from the world.
However, the one who first suggested it now wants to act as if it never happened.
No one could understand this.
What kind of absurdity is this madman trying to pull off now?
Not even a hint of such expression was seen.
Why, then?
Why does it have to be like this?
They felt sorrow, resentment, and even anger.
"Say something. Why are you doing this?"
Only Harriet.
Only Harriet asks me for a reason, as if trying to hear the story.
If the research results are revealed, the entire Magic Research Society would be in danger. Just as the Black Order has infiltrated the Temple, Cantus Magna might be infiltrating the Temple as well.
Fortunately, no one outside of the Magic Research Society members knows that these two items have been completed.
A reason.
I cannot tell her about Cantus Magna.
However, coming up with something has always been my specialty.
If there is no reason, create one.
"The Demon King."
A magical word that can justify everything.
Just as Bertus attached that magical word to the extermination of the republicans.
As the Demon King, I too can attach that magical word as much as I want.
"This, objectively speaking, could elevate humanity's power by several levels beyond what we have now, essentially making it an incredibly powerful strategic asset."
"And if the Demon King, who's dreaming of revenge against humans somewhere, learns that such an item was created here, in your hands, what do you think he will do?"
"Don't you think he'd try to eliminate you before you create something even more dangerous?"
At my words, everyone's faces begin to turn pale.
When I first said that I would create Moonshine and Power Cartridge, the threat of the Demon King was not imminent.
However, the recent chain of events has made the threat of the Demon King more tangible.
"Not too long ago, there was a tragic incident."
The death of Duke Grantz.
Everyone knew the story, making their expressions even graver. Harriet's face, in particular, looked significantly worse.
"The Demon King is closer than you think."
Yes, in reality, I am right beside you, but that won't be a problem.
Let's blame it on the Demon King.