Ch.113Chapter 113 – Preparing for the Autumn Festival

Today, the weather is very good.

Sitting at a table outside the shop, drinking warm tea, a cool autumn breeze blows in.

The tea leaves used to brew this tea I’m drinking now were a gift from a student at the Academy.

The student who gave me these tea leaves was someone who would be graduating this semester.

He was the son of a commoner family that operated a fairly large merchant guild, and I heard he reached the level of Sword Expert just before graduation.

Originally, he had a sword he used during training, but suddenly he thought that training with his family’s heirloom sword might help him advance to the next level.

So he trained with the heirloom sword and reached the level of Sword Expert, but that’s precisely where the problem arose.

Someone at the Sword Expert level can infuse their weapon with aura.

From what I’ve heard, when one reaches Sword Expert level, they need to use weapons made of different materials?

When crafting such a sword, one must incorporate materials with high aura resonance into the steel ingots and temper them in a solution containing special chemicals…

Honestly, I don’t quite understand the principles behind it, but one thing is certain: the family heirloom sword that graduate had couldn’t withstand his aura.

So what happened, you ask? In the end, he brought it to me and asked me to repair it.

At that time, I had nothing particular to do and was feeling bored, so I gladly accepted the repair request and fixed the family heirloom sword right in front of him.

Afterward, I heard that he purchased a separate sword suitable for a Sword Expert, passed his graduation exam, and would be joining the Imperial Knights upon graduating next spring.

Well, I was relieved that everything seemed to have worked out, but then that student came to visit and suddenly handed me a box.

‘These tea leaves are exclusively distributed by my family. They have received high praise from many noble families who prefer sweet desserts because of their smooth taste and clean aftertaste. This is a gift of gratitude because I was able to graduate safely thanks to you, Count.’

That’s when I learned that this student was from a family that ran a large merchant guild.

I found out through the Chancellor, who visited my shop, that the tea leaves he gave me were a variety highly praised even among the nobility.

“The tea is delicious. Indeed, this has the aroma and taste that can only be found in the finest premium grade of Red Bless, one of the highest quality tea leaves.”

“Is this tea really that remarkable?”

For reference, the Chancellor is currently sitting beside me, drinking tea.

Shannon informed me that the tea leaves I have perfectly match the Chancellor’s taste.

Perhaps that’s why the Chancellor occasionally visits my shop when she has free time to enjoy tea like this.

“Oh, by the way, is today November 1st?”

“Time has already passed that much. Autumn already… time really flies.”

I only just realized it myself, but this country also has four seasons.

Don’t ask me why.

Looking at this country’s position on the continent, it seems strange that the four seasons exist throughout the entire continent rather than having fixed climates by region.

“Our Glesius Academy has an autumn festival. Well, this semester it’s been delayed quite a bit due to various circumstances.”

“An autumn festival? This is the first I’m hearing of it…”

The Chancellor mentioned an autumn festival. It was the first time I’d heard about it.

“It should normally take place about a month after the new semester begins…”

“Ah.”

Seeing the Chancellor’s words trail off, I realized what she was referring to.

Jesse Elister.

The student who, forgetting that the Chancellor was watching, adorably attempted to communicate with an outside entity through secret communication and boldly tried to steal the premium magic stone I had provided as a service to make money.

It was probably due to various meetings held to determine the level of her punishment.

From what the Chancellor told me, she was sentenced to a “lifetime graduate school” punishment…

I wonder if that’s even scarier than a death sentence.

The reason Jesse Elister’s punishment turned out this way was because it would be a waste to let her talent rot away.

I agreed with the Chancellor’s opinion.

Jesse Elister was skilled enough to penetrate magical barriers and communicate with outside entities through secret communication.

Moreover, I heard her alchemy research was focused on eliminating the side effects of elixirs, which the Chancellor said was a remarkable study worthy of being recorded in future history books.

‘Couldn’t I just make side-effect-free elixirs by hitting them three times with my hammer?’

Of course, I kept this thought to myself.

If that actually worked too, Jesse Elister would probably look at me with truly sad eyes.

Not that I’d ever meet her anyway.

“You’ve been working hard.”

“It’s not really hard work. I’m the Chancellor, so I’m just fulfilling my role. Speaking of which, I’m planning to make this semester’s autumn festival more abundant and splendid.”

“More abundant and… splendid?”

Holding an abundant and splendid festival?

How exactly does one make a festival abundant and splendid?

“What kind of festival are you planning?”

“The autumn festival is originally held to soothe the tired minds and bodies of students. There’s no competition; students just spend time eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves at various facilities prepared by the Academy. However, this year I’m planning to add different experiences and other elements.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Rather than just eating, drinking, and having fun, it would be better if there were some experiences people could try.”

But honestly, in my memories, festivals were just about eating and drinking.

The only festivals I had ever participated in were just local ones…

Thinking about it now makes me a bit sad.

I don’t even have memories of enjoying festivals with a romantic partner during my school days.

‘Why do tears keep welling up in my eyes…’

“Are you thinking of something unpleasant?”

“Something like that.”

But now it’s different. I’m different from who I was before.

‘Yes, I can enjoy a festival for a little while.’

“So, I was wondering if you could take charge of one event during this festival?”

“Pardon?”

Did I hear that correctly?

“Count Severio’s ability is on a completely different level from the abilities of other users we’ve seen so far. So, how about holding an event at this festival to experiment with your ability?”

So what the Chancellor wanted from me was to publicly demonstrate my ability at the festival to attract some attention.

“It sounds like a kind of experiment, which seems interesting.”

I’ve been curious about how my ability would work on different objects, so this works out well.

“Thank you for your positive response. Don’t worry about the costs, procedures, or time needed to prepare the booth. All you need to think about is what you want to experiment with.”

“I understand.”

With those words, the Chancellor rose from her seat.

After the Chancellor left the shop, I fell into thought.

‘What should I prepare?’

I recalled all the items I had fixed so far.

First, Serin Ekatos’s heirloom sword comes to mind.

Then there’s Mina’s crystal ball, His Majesty the Emperor’s baldness, the Heart of Extreme Flame, and so on.

Ah, I also remember the Prezzmerin Disease. I used the teleport gate for the first time to go to Beventus Border Command.

And recently, I succeeded in transforming a fire magic stone into a premium magic stone.

“I should prepare various materials and test them one by one.”

Unlike the modern world with internet video platforms and well-established live streaming systems, this world has none of that.

So it wouldn’t be a bad idea to test my ability on objects in advance and decide which items to use for the demonstration.

After all, this is a kind of event, not a serious test of my ability.

‘I’ve been wanting to try this anyway, so I’m grateful they’re setting up the opportunity.’

I mentally thanked the Chancellor as I stood up.

“Ah.”

But when does the festival start?

“Well, I’m sure they’ll notify me through the student management window.”

Come to think of it, important events are individually announced through the student management window anyway.

So there’s no need to go and ask.

“I should prepare for the event.”

I stretched and went into the shop.

What results would come from using my ability on different objects?

I was going to test them one by one starting now.