Lately, my quality of life has skyrocketed.

The biggest reason? I’ve gained complete dominance in the morning wars with the maids.

Being forced awake ruins my whole day, but now I’m sleeping in properly.

Naturally, morning classes are long erased from my mind.

Out of conscience, I do attend afternoon classes.

I’m a student, after all—I should fulfill my duties.

But come to think of it, Monday classes ended early thanks to “solo early dismissal,” and Thursday classes are on hiatus for a while due to negotiations with Department Head Raymond.

In the end, the only classes worth attending are magical engineering practicals.

Honestly, I’ve been getting pretty into these practicals lately.

Tinkering and building things suits me more than I thought.

I’m full of motivation, sleeping plenty, and in top condition.

My brain’s spinning at full speed. Humans are happiest when doing something fun, right?

At times like this, I have to create something.

“This semester, I’m making a prototype no matter what.”

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with perfecting the Apple Phone.

Of course, there’s still a long way to go.

Three key points:

Miniaturization, mana efficiency, and video.

First, size.

Compared to current results, it’s more tablet than phone.

To fit perfectly in one hand, I need to cut the size by at least half—no, half of half.

Mana efficiency is still an issue.

Even if mass adoption by non-mages is impossible, I want it usable with just lower-tier mage-level mana.

For my ultimate goal, I need to slash the required mana far below current levels.

The trickiest problem—and my final goal—is implementing video calls.

Right now, it’s still just a voice-only phone.

How to display video? I haven’t the faintest clue.

If I could cleverly apply illusion magic with projection methods…

But trying it reveals tons of issues. Image clarity, real-time processing speed, etc. All sorts of problems.

Scratching my head in frustration, sighing deeply—such are my days.

Still, this headache-inducing project is somehow moving forward, purely thanks to Senior Estelle.

Whenever I hit a wall, she always suggests creative ideas.

- Hmm~ Luna, what if we twist this circuit like this?

- Theoretically sketchy… Wait, why does this work?

- It’s kinda a hack not in the textbooks… Haha~ Don’t tell the professor I taught you this, okay?

- Hold on, if I layer a magic circle over the circuit you suggested, efficiency jumps another 30%?

- …

Come to think of it, Senior Estelle is the real deal in magical engineering.

The mana circuits I forcibly pieced together with rigid magic theory and telekinesis become cleaner under her touch.

I’m so glad.

Later, I’ll sweet-talk her, reform her (?), and keep her at the academy.

Then lock her up somewhere to make magical artifacts based on modern civilization all day.

Lost in such silly thoughts, I was absorbed in work when I suddenly looked up.

“…Huh?”

It was strangely quiet—only I remained in the lab.

The sunset glowed outside the window.

The other students must’ve left long ago.

If you’re going, take me with you…

…Or did I just not hear them because I was too focused?

I yawned lazily while packing up.

Come to think of it, academy life lately has been surprisingly smooth.

No, smooth to the point of boredom.

The magic-obsessed stalkers stopped bothering me after my refreshing public duel with Department Head Raymond.

Senior Miriel hasn’t sought me out once since our first meeting. Did she fully believe my lie that the princess said she’d “do nothing”?

Honestly, it’s gotten a bit dull.

“…What am I saying? This is how it should be.”

I slapped my cheeks with both palms.

Thinking about it, there’s still over half a year until the main story of the original novel begins.

Daily dramatic events would be the weird part.

A rare stretch of peaceful, leisurely days.

Too precious to waste on needless worry.

*

Midterm season arrived at Elterion Academy.

For most students, a time of despair—but for me, a festival.

No classes…!!

Of course, I have to show up at set times to take exams.

- Students, liberal arts theory exams are ultimately a battle of stamina. Staying focused for three days is tough…

- Um, TA.

- Yes? Need a break to eat?

- No, I’m done.

- ??!?!

- Can I submit and leave? Yawn…

As long as I finish the set problems, I can head straight back to the dorm—effectively lounging all day.

Staying cooped up too long makes the maids suspicious, so I occasionally change locations.

“Mmm… Is this right…?”

In the old library used as the Ghost Story Research Club room.

I yawned lazily, watching Claire groan at her desk, clutching her head.

Her furrowed brows and pouting lips were pretty cute.

“Claire, the last line and the equation above it—calculation’s wrong.”

“Huh? Really? I thought it was right…”

“Anyway, it’s wrong. Oh, now I see—the hypothesis two lines up is off too. Redo it.”

I waved my hand lazily, chin propped on my arm.

Claire eyed the paper skeptically, then froze with a gasp.

“…Ack. It’s all wrong. Lunaris, how do you just glance and know?”

“It just looks off.”

I wouldn’t know how to explain the principles. I just guessed.

“By the way, the club room’s quiet.”

“Yeah. Kinda boring without President Sylvia, right?”

“Boring? I love it.”

Unlike lower-years staying on campus for written and duel-based exams, third- and fourth-years take theirs off-campus.

Naturally, key faculty like department heads go with them.

Outside the academy is more dangerous, so caution is necessary.

Thus, the academy during midterms is exceptionally quiet.

This atmosphere? My absolute favorite.

“Why’d you come here if you’re not studying, Lunaris?”

To Claire’s innocent question, I answered with a serious face.

“Today’s an ominously unlucky Friday the 13th, and this place is a sanctuary.”

“U-Um…? What does that mean?”

“If I stayed in Linea Hall on a day like this, I’d get ‘Maid Corruption.’”

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Anyway, that’s how it is.”

Claire let out a long, envious sigh.

“Haa, Maid Corruption or whatever—I just wanna live in Linea Hall…”

“Work hard. You could totally take magic department top.”

“T-Thanks for the cheer… but something more realistic, please. Top spot’s a bit…”

I shrugged at Claire’s incredulous laugh.

“Why? The current top doesn’t seem like much. They’re all the same.”

“To you, maybe.”

Claire grumbled, then abruptly changed the subject.

“Oh! Speaking of Linea Hall—people say it’s been shaking like there’s an earthquake lately. Did you feel it?”

“So it wasn’t just me.”

I straightened up immediately.

“Yeah. It shakes a bit at dawn.”

“Isn’t it because you fight the maids every morning and weaken the foundation?”

Claire stared at me meaningfully.

I waved my hands in denial.

“No way. That wouldn’t shake a building that big.”

…Wait.

With my magic… could it?

“Anyway, I’m going easy.”

“Don’t go too hard. They work hard too.”

Thinking about it again, something felt off.

Since I started using natural mana, my magic hasn’t gone haywire.

The Linea Hall shaking seems like a separate issue…

*

As the sun set, Claire and I left the club room before it got too late.

In front of Linea Hall, Claire clenched her fist, burning with resolve.

“Alright, motivation recharged for today. Back at Sepia Hall, I’ll study a bit more then sleep.”

“Mhm. Good luck.”

The moment I gave my sleepy encouragement—

—*RUUUUMBLE!!*

The ground suddenly shook violently.

A tremor strong enough to rattle the entire building.

“…”

“…”

Claire and I froze, staring at each other.

This… doesn’t feel like a normal earthquake.

“L-Lunaris… something exploded?!”

“Ugh, seriously…”

I thought things had been quiet lately…!

Grumbling under my breath, my feet were already sprinting full speed toward Linea Hall with Claire.

*

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