◆

This is outrageous! I’m really going to do the club activity by myself!?

[Don’t be so afraid. It’s just a club. Also, you’re eighteen, right?]

E-even if you say that…

…Hello, this is Cecily Travasta.

Unlike usual, both the inside and outside were Cecily Travasta.

The next day, Nora, who had been possessing me for a long time, really acted upon her words.

I was asked to go to the Magic Analysis Club. Usually, we only gathered three times a week, but the frequency had increased in preparation for the school festival.

So, I had the study session with Anita end a little early, and we were walking down the hallway to the club room… My mind was in a state of disarray.

Is it true that Nora wants to take a nap? Is it because I’ve been staying up late a lot lately!? Is it my fault!?

[Even I have things I want to do alone.]

Why don’t we go together? I’ll go along with you. Let’s do just that! Let’s sleep together a lot at night! Okay, I’ll just tell Mark that I can’t go and—

[—Cecily?]

Nora’s emotionless smile was both intimidating and terrifying.

Even though I was currently in control of my own body, I inadvertently halted. Nora sighed and began to admonish me.

[Cecily also agreed to join the Magic Analysis Club, right?]

Yes…

[Weren’t you fascinated by the talk of the fireworks? You were eagerly leaning forward.]

Yes…

[Good luck?]

Don’t just suddenly leave everything to me—!

However, my appeal was in vain as Nora yawned loudly.

[Anyway, good night~]

By the time she fell asleep, I had already reached the club room.

“Seriously…?”

I expressed my negative feelings out loud.

Honestly, as Nora said, I liked the Magic Analysis Club, and I thought making fireworks would be fun.

But still…

But still—!

Nora usually did as she pleased while possessing me, so I just had to carry on… But isn’t this too much?

If I were to complain about such a thing, Hana would probably scoff at me and tell me not to rely on others, so I couldn’t anything.

I took a deep breath in front of the door, then looked up.

Then, with determination, I pulled the door open.

“H-hello…”

“Hello. You took quite a bit of pondering in front of the door. What’s the matter?”

“Uh, I… I was thinking about what kind of material would best complement the formula for the color-changing light…”

When I tried to give Mark a reason, he pulled out a document different from the book he was currently reading.

“In that case, I came across something that might work. Would you like to take a look at it?”

“S-sure!”

In order to make the fireworks, we students divided into different groups for each task.

Naturally, the level of mastery of magic varied depending on the grade, so as a third year student, I was with Mark. The most difficult task was determining the internal structure of the firework ball. In simple terms, we were creating a system for the color-changing mechanism.

There were three challenges to this task.

First, sending light of the desired color to a predetermined location.

Second, the need to instantly convert the color and shape.

Third, a sense of scale in order to convey its impact.

A sense of scale… In other words, the size would only be determined once the groundwork was established. First of all, we had to decide what material we’d be imbuing with magical power.

Mark had apparently already made a list of potential materials.

Roughly ten types were listed.

Hmm… To be honest, I want to discuss this with Nora.

Of course, as this was a club activiy, there was also a budget. On top of that, I also had to determine which one best balanced among various factors such as durability, the required magical power, and flexibility.

I thought to myself while staring at the list.

I was familiar with about half of the materials from class, but to be honest, I didn’t know their prices.

But even I was aware of one thing.

“I recommend this one the most.”
Mark pointed at the extremely rare and expensive material.

“…Honestly, I don’t think that’s the best option. It doesn’t fit the budget.”

“Is that so?”

‘Is that so,’ he asks…

I don’t know much about Mark since he’s from a different class, but I guess he’s a fairly wealthy noble. Although his bangs are very long, he’s always well-dressed.

“Then why don’t we go and consult an expert?”

“An expert?”

When I looked up at him as he suddenly stood up, I caught a glimpse of his eyes for the first time. They were amber.

“Let’s go to my supposed friend’s place.”

***

“How unusual of you to look for me!”

“It doesn’t just involve me. I simply want to spare myself from trouble.”

“Is that how it is? So, is this the list you want me to take a look at?”

With a document in hand, Eivind Dahl, an elite whom I didn’t dare address by name, began to pace around the laboratory. Nora had been to that cramped secret laboratory before.

Still, doesn’t it have a special structure to prevent outsiders from entering?

I recalled how Mark placed his hand on the doorless wall, chanted a short spell, and stepped inside…

I guess it’s his friend’s place after all… Did Eivind teach him how to get in?

“Is there something on my face?”

“S-sorry…”

Mark seemed to be offended by the fact that I was inadvertently staring at him.

When I hurriedly apologized and took a step back, Mark started scratching the back of his head for some reason.

“No need to apologize. It’s not that I’m angry, it’s just… Lady Travasta, are you feeling unwell? I feel like you’re being less brazen than usual.”

That’s because we switched places!

The back of Eivind’s white coat, whose back was facing me, twitched slightly. If Nora were awake, I’m sure that she would’ve burst out laughing, but… She’s so quiet. It seemed that Nora was really slumbering inside me.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t like I had the guts to mention her. Sorry, Mark… In the end, I had no choice but to lie.

“T-that’s not true at all. I-it’s because Mark’s magic is so beautiful today, I can’t help but fall in love with you!”

W-what am I saying!? This is so embarrassing!

For the time being, I tried to imitate what Nora usually said, but I wondered how Nora could say such a thing so calmly? I wondered if one’s confidence was correlated to their achievements? Or was it due to age? Apparently, she was over 800 years old. Although, if I were to say that, she’d get mad!?

I was panicking on my own, but Mark suddenly distanced himself from me and said, “It’s the usual Lady Travasta,” making me feel even more remorseful.

“Alright, thank you for waiting. I gathered the materials you wrote.”

At that time, with the help of The Wise Man from Heaven, Eivind Dahl handed me a tray with a frivolous look on his face. When I looked up at him, I saw that he was winking in a familiar manner.

---

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***T/N: Eivind is upping his game.

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