Chapter 769: -758- Machinart Engineering's school building
The next day.
Early in the morning, the main street of the academy was bustling with students, creating a lively atmosphere throughout the morning.
Students gathered in groups, chatting and purposefully heading towards the academy's main gate. None of them had their automatons with them, indicating their intention to go out and explore the streets.
"I'm really looking forward to it. I wonder what kind of automatons we'll see."
"After all, it's an expo showcasing the machinart technologies from various European countries. There must be many high-quality pieces."
"A senior I know managed to find excellent parts at the last expo and upgraded his automaton significantly. He's now among the top hundred in terms of strength."
"Another senior I know was even luckier. At the auction, they got funding from a sponsor and bought a powerful French automaton. Now they're ranked 38th. Before obtaining that automaton, they were outside the top few hundred."
"My goal is to buy a powerful automaton at this expo."
"Many glove holders who haven't appeared in Night Party yet are also keeping an eye on this expo. Either to find good parts for improving their automatons or to buy a completely new one at the auction."
"Otherwise, it's challenging to stand out in Night Party, especially with the presence of formidable competitors like 'Fimbulvetr's Winter,' 'Tyrant Rex,' 'Sacred Blaze,' and 'Last One.'"
"I think it's going to be intense."
Students discussed similar topics as they made their way to the academy gate and entered the main street.
Their destination was the Automaton Expo.
For puppet craftsmen, this expo was a stage to compete with various peers. Similarly, for automaton users, it was a rare feast.
You could find parts for improving automatons, buy powerful automatons, or even purchase magic circuits. It was evident that automaton users couldn't resist such a feast.
In addition, the expo showcased the latest machinart technologies. For the students of the academy, it was an excellent opportunity to learn and broaden their horizons.
Therefore, the academy endorsed such activities and strongly supported students attending the Automaton Expo.
Thanks to this, several departments in the academy announced a suspension of classes. Even many professors received a holiday. During this time, the academy would undoubtedly see a surge of people hitting the streets.
Kimberly was one of them. As a professor in the Department of Machinart Physics, her courses were entirely suspended, granting Rozen a rare holiday.
However, when the students of the academy were heading to the streets, Rozen went against the flow. He didn't leave the academy; instead, he walked deeper into the campus.
"Is this the school building for Machinart Engineering?"
Rozen arrived in front of a particular building.
It was a Gothic-style structure with a solid exterior, exuding a cathedral-like majesty. A magnificent school building indeed.
As Rozen had mentioned, this was the school building for Machinart Engineering.
It was a department primarily focused on researching the bodies of automatons, a study that truly lived up to the name "machinart."
Alongside Machinart Physics, which dealt with the fundamental aspects of machinart magic, it formed the two most crucial departments at the academy—one researching the external structure or "hardware" of automatons, and the other delving into the magic circuits or "software." Both were mandatory subjects.
Students at the Machinart Academy had to choose one of these subjects as a compulsory major, while the other could be selected as an elective. Combined with other subjects, they engaged in comprehensive learning and research.
When Rozen enrolled, he chose Machinart Physics as his compulsory subject, thus becoming Kimberly's student.
After all, Rozen had a higher proficiency in aspects related to magic and software. His mind was filled with extensive knowledge of magic and jutsuryoku. It would be odd for him not to enter the Department of Machinart Physics.
However, Rozen wasn't entirely ignorant of Machinart Engineering.
Regardless of anything else, Rozen's academic performance was top-notch. He and Magnus were the only ones in the entire academy who scored a perfect grade. He even emptied Karyusai Shouko's collection, the top figure in the field of bioautomatons, storing all that knowledge in his mind. So, he had a thorough understanding of the hardware aspect of automatons, rivalling even the professors in the Engineering Department.
Now, Rozen had arrived at the school building of the Machinart Engineering Department.
Not to attend class but to take action.
Yaya, Irori, and Komurasaki followed behind Rozen.
"Is the criminal who used tampering magic really here?" Komurasaki asked curiously while gazing at the Machinart Engineering Department's building.
Yes, the reason Rozen and his group came here was to find the criminal who used tampering magic.
"Whether the criminal is here or not is still unclear," Rozen said as he looked at the building. "But according to Hinowa's divination, coming here should give us some clues."
Yesterday, Rozen received a divination message from Hinowa.
"————Hall of Sorcery, Study of Sorcery, Body of Sorcery, Person of Sorcery————" Irori slowly recited the contents of the divination.
"What does that mean?" Yaya asked, puzzled.
In fact, the divination wasn't difficult to understand.
"If I'm not mistaken, the 'Hall of Sorcery' refers to the sanctuary of the magical world, the highest academy in the world of magic, Walpurgis Royal Academy of Machinart."
Rozen finally explained, "According to this understanding, the 'Study of Sorcery' naturally refers to the various disciplines within the academy, with the 'Body of Sorcery' implying a connection between this discipline and magical bodies. In this way, we can interpret the divination as 'In the sanctuary of the magical world, within the disciplines related to magical bodies, there is the person of sorcery you seek.'"
These details pointed towards the Machinart Engineering Department of Walpurgis Royal Academy.
"The person we're looking for is possibly in the Engineering Department of the academy. This might be the result of the divination."
Rozen explained this to his sisters behind him.
"So, what should we do next?" Yaya asked cautiously, making Irori and Komurasaki listen attentively.
Rozen pondered for a moment before speaking.
"In any case, let's go inside and ask if anything unusual happened here yesterday when the tampering magic was used. If there's anything different from other places, that might be the clue we've been looking for."
At Rozen's words, the three sisters nodded simultaneously.
"Then let's go inside quickly! I also want to explore!" Komurasaki eagerly said and dashed towards the building.
"Komurasaki! Slow down!" Irori immediately expressed concern and chased after her without hesitation.
"Onee-sama and Komurasaki, they never give a moment of peace," Yaya scolded her sisters but also joined the pursuit.
Observing this, Rozen couldn't help but smile. He felt that since Irori and Komurasaki arrived, Yaya, despite complaining, seemed to enjoy the lively atmosphere and became more spirited than usual.
"It's just that sometimes there's an inexplicable sense of crisis, and she wants to dive into the blankets even more at night. That part is a bit of a headache."
Rozen's smile turned into a sigh of resignation, and he followed them.
At that moment...
"Ah!"
From the Engineering Department, Komurasaki's cry of surprise and a painful sound echoed simultaneously.
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