After that, I continued my work with Laura. She said, "The foundation's establishment is surprisingly simple once we resolve the issue with the noble guarantor."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes. The official forms are already in my head, so if you give me half a day..."
"Wait a moment."
I cut her off. At that, the corners of Laura's mouth twitched.
"Have you finally found something you'd like to advise me on? Please, tell me anything. I was just thinking things were progressing too smoothly."
"... No, it's not that. Since you're working now, I have something to give you."
I left Laura and went to fetch 'that thing' I had hidden in a corner of the lab. Laura said, "If it's tea, you really don't have to."
"No, it's not that."
Thud.
"I was hoping you'd try this."
Laura tilted her head.
"... What is this?"
"It's Excel."
Laura gazed at the strange magical device Isaac had handed her. It was a prosthetic arm with a steel frame, mounted on a stand. A quill pen was attached to its fingertips.
'He said he made it himself, didn't he...?' Isaac said, "Channel your mana into it and clearly picture the document's contents, and it will write it for you."
"I... understand for now."
Half wary, half curious, Laura channeled her mana into the Excel. She placed a piece of parchment in front of the prosthetic arm and began to visualize.
And then... Creeak, creak. Scratch, scratch.
As if responding to her will, the steel arm began to move. Without a single typo, perfectly formatted.
"..."
"..."
Laura felt not joy, but terror at the sight. 'If this is possible... what becomes of the document-writing skills I've polished all this time?' For a moment, Laura was reminded of her past.
Of learning cursive at five years old, holding a quill as her parents struck her with a switch. Of memorizing the Empire's legal documents at age ten, pinching her own thigh to stay awake...
Click.
Laura withdrew her mana. Isaac tilted his head.
"Why did you stop? Is there a problem?"
"Sir Upperhills. I would like to dare offer a piece of advice."
"Yes?"
"With convenience comes increased risk. How about we write the documents by hand, instead of using 'Excel'?"
"... What?"
"..."
Even Laura knew it was an absurd suggestion. She, too, regretted her words the moment they left her mouth. It was a slip of the tongue, born from the shock that her skills had been rendered useless.
Laura collected herself.
"My apologies. For a moment... I recalled something unpleasant."
"Oh dear, are you alright?"
"Yes..."
Laura bowed her head briefly and resumed her work.
Creeak, creak. Scratch, scratch.
The documents, which she had expected to take several days, were printed out in perfect form in just one hour. Laura stared blankly at the completed paperwork.
"How... there's not a single typo."
Should I start looking for a new line of work? 'Does this mean a field position is the only answer?' Just as Laura's resolve began to form, Isaac spoke.
"The lack of typos is thanks to you, Laura."
"... Pardon?"
"'Excel' is a magical device that writes down a person's thoughts."
"Does that... mean this happened because I made no mistakes, even at the thought stage?"
"Yes."
"That is... a relief."
If that was the case, she would not be replaced by this magical device called 'Excel'. Ultimately, the one well-versed in the Empire's language, laws, history, and the affairs of each region was she herself. Not this Excel.
Laura's lips parted.
"You have created a truly remarkable magical device."
"Oh... not at all."
"No. It is truly remarkable, Sir Upperhills."
Once she regained her composure, she began to appreciate the greatness of 'Excel'. It was as if she could feel the philosophy contained within this small mechanical arm. This was an item that would liberate every administrative official from tendonitis and writer's cramp.
Laura pointed at the Excel and asked, "Do you have any plans to sell this 'Excel' like you did with the suspension?" If so, the Empire's administrative capacity would multiply in an instant. Laura looked forward to that day.
"Do you have any plans to sell this 'Excel' like you did with the suspension?"
"..."
I was lost in thought for a moment at Laura's suggestion. 'Selling it seems impossible...' If I were to release this to the public, 'reverse engineering' would undoubtedly occur.
The mages of this world were no fools. If that happened, the principles of the 'Mana-differential device' would be laid bare.
After that...
Honestly, I couldn't even guess what would happen. If it fell into the hands of a mad mage like Malakai, something truly terrible would occur. In fact, I had already agonized over this same problem before.
That was why, when I upgraded 'Excel' from wood to steel, I also installed a self-destruct switch. The moment someone I haven't authorized touches Excel, it destroys itself. Of course, I kept this a secret from Giuseppe.
I was afraid he would think I was crazy. After some thought, I answered Laura.
"I don't know about releasing the original, but it might be possible to create a commercial version later."
In that case, I would have to remove its automatic calculation capabilities and make it feel more like a 'willpower typewriter'. Laura let out a small laugh.
"I hope that day comes quickly. I can't be the only one to feel this terror."
"... Pardon?"
Several days passed after Laura joined us. With Excel at her disposal, Laura demonstrated a monstrous ability to handle work. The paperwork required for the foundation's establishment was nearly complete, and tutors for each of Anna's subjects had all been found.
She even arranged a route to transfer the money flowing in from the Winterheart territory to the foundation 'without attracting others' attention'.
"Do not worry. The intermediaries will not know each other's identities."
"Oh..."
It wasn't some drug cartel, but it seemed the funds were being transferred through a cell-like network. Everything was going far too smoothly. 'Is it really supposed to be this easy?'
The power of an expert was truly something else. Now, the only thing I needed to worry about was Anna's magic education. When it was time for her tutoring session, Anna entered the lab.
Tap, tap.
Anna's footsteps were lighter than usual.
"Did something good happen?"
"No, not at all."
"You're lying."
"... How did you know?"
"Your footsteps."
Abruptly, Anna stopped walking.
"You pay attention to things like that? That's creepy."
"..."
"..."
It couldn't be that creepy... Is she going through puberty? Well, at thirteen, she is at that age.
Thump.
Anna sat down next to me.
"This is my first time learning magic. So I was a little excited."
"Heh heh. Still just a kid."
Looks like puberty hasn't hit yet. What a relief.
Glare.
Anna's gaze shot daggers at me. ... Or has it? And so, my first magic lesson with Anna began.
For this day, I had painstakingly memorized magic textbooks that didn't even suit me. I showed Anna the magic circle and incantation for the most basic '1st-circle ignition spell'.
"Alright. Just follow the steps. First, draw this magic circle with your mana, and while maintaining its shape, chant this incantation to the end."
They say that as one becomes more familiar with spell construction, they can eventually omit the magic circle and shorten the incantation... But I've rarely used magic that way, so I wasn't really sure.
"Think you can do it?"
"I'll try."
With incredible concentration, Anna drew the magic circle almost perfectly. The textbook said that hardly anyone could reach this stage in one go. She really is a smart kid.
Anna then began the incantation with a serious expression.
"O great flame. Let the light..."
It was at that very moment.
Fwoosh.
Before the incantation could even properly begin, a flame erupted from Anna's fingertip. At this rate, Anna could get hurt. I reflexively cast a fire-extinguishing spell.
PV = nRT F = PA I created a vacuum in a specific area and withstood a force equivalent to atmospheric pressure. The flame, trapped within the vacuum, was extinguished without making a sound.
However...
I couldn't do anything about the shockwave created by the air rushing back into the vacuum.
BOOM—!
A noise similar to a firecracker rang in my eardrums. ... I should have calculated and blocked that too, but I was in too much of a hurry. I shouted to Anna, who was covering her ears from the blast.
"Are you okay? What about the rebound?!"
Anna shook her head from side to side. Does that mean there's no rebound?
That's impossible.
A flame did appear, but that wasn't an 'ignition' spell. Magic is the study of prediction. The more the result deviates from the prediction, the more rebound a mage experiences.
For a simple ignition spell to become fireball-level, the rebound should have been quite large.
Anna spoke.
"Did I... do something wrong?"
"It's not that, so calm down."
I examined Anna. But there was nothing wrong with her body. How could this be?
"When you were casting the spell... what happened? Tell me in as much detail as you can what process you went through."
"It's just... as I was chanting, I thought, 'Oh, the fire is about to come out now.' So I stopped the spell construction, but..."
"The spell activated on its own, is that it?"
"Yes."
I used a detection spell to analyze the flow of Anna's mana.
'Ah...' I knew.
I knew what had happened. Something Giuseppe had once said came to mind. —'A transcendent amount of mana that can withstand countless rebounds.' Is this what he meant?
It wasn't that there was no rebound. Anna had taken the full force of the mana backlash. And even after taking it, she had so much mana left over that her body was completely unaffected.
This is insane. If this is possible, why would anyone break their heads over spell construction? You could just cast whatever you wanted and pay for it with mana.
Anna asked me.
"Something did happen, didn't it? I'm sorry..."
"No. Not at all. Just... promise me you'll come to our lab later."
"?"
Just then.
Knock, knock, knock. A knock came from the door. A steady rhythm, as if a metronome had been turned on.
It was Laura.
"..."
"..."
Anna, whose lesson had been interrupted, glared at Laura. But Laura's expression remained unchanged. She said, "My apologies, you two.
I have something urgent to discuss."
"What is it?"
"It will be faster for you to see for yourselves."
Laura handed me a single sheet of paper.
[Letter of Appointment as an Advisor for the Entrance Examination of the Imperial Academy of Magic in the Capital] 'Advisor for the entrance exam?'
The document bore the clear seal of the Imperial family. The last paragraph was written with the following phrase.
[... This position cannot be refused without a special reason.]
What is this sudden catastrophe?
"Why did this come to me?"
"Originally, it was a position for the Head of the School of Sound Magic, but... he is currently recuperating from overwork."
"So I have to go as a substitute?"
"... Yes. The role of entrance exam advisor rotates through the names of textbook reviewers, and your name, Sir Upperhills, was next after the school head."
"Damn it."
I shouldn't have helped with the textbook. I only helped because I felt sorry for the Dean getting chewed out, and now I've just been saddled with more work.
Peek.
Anna leaned her head in to look at the letter. She said, "... Isn't this the academy I applied to?"
"Hm?"
I looked at the document one more time.
"... You're right."