Published: September 6, 2025
It had been decided that the dedication ceremony would be held in front of the altar at the noble academy, but it couldn't be done immediately. First, the lecture at Restiraut and the dedication ceremony at Ehrenfest had to be completed. In the meantime, Dunkelfelger, who had invited other territories, would hold a ditter to select participants.
“Muliera, if there’s too much difference in mana when performing the same rite, the one with less mana will bear a heavy burden. So please limit participants to high-ranking nobles or lord candidates. Also, first-year students who have just learned mana compression cannot participate. Please relay this to Dunkelfelger via Ordnance.”
Wilfried and Charlotte, who had been performing the ceremony with mana stones infused with my mana, had a tough time getting used to it. Apparently, in other territories, they often supply foundation magic only after learning mana compression at the noble academy. Since it's impossible to assign adult assistance to all beginners, those who have never supplied mana at all are at risk.
“Lady Rosemine, Ordnance has returned. They have agreed to the participation criteria. Dunkelfelger seems ready for the ditter. They are currently waiting for the small and medium territories to form joint teams.”
...My condolences to the small and medium territories.
I silently clasped my hands in prayer in my heart and reached for the book I had borrowed.
“Our preparations will begin after the temple’s dedication ceremony is over. Let's wait leisurely while reading some books.”
I spent my time leisurely reading books borrowed from other territories and visiting Hirschur’s laboratory. Although I attended the tea party, most of the discussion revolved around complaints about the ditter participation requirements.
Apparently, they were quite vexed that I had fled to the speed competition ditter, so they told me to do the treasure hunting ditter. Although they'd studied it in lectures, they hadn’t practiced the treasure hunting ditter, and even when forming joint teams, they were soundly beaten. Complaints about using up countless healing potions made me chuckle softly.
“It seems ditter is essential for joint research with Dunkelfelger. Ehrenfest also held one previously.”
...I did the treasure hunting ditter as a first-year, though. Not lying. Yeah.
The tea party focused on joint research and Dunkelfelger's ditter rather than rumors about my foster father, so it was less mentally taxing. For the first time, I appreciated Dunkelfelger’s fondness for ditter.
There were also progress reports from civil official apprentices engaged in joint research with Drevannel. Gundolf was quite enthusiastic, mixing various papers as materials to better emphasize the characteristics of each demon tree.
Apparently, the Nanceve paper used as matching tally paper had changed slightly—it now moves faster and can show movement even at greater distances than before.
“The performance has improved, but I’d like you to raise it enough to withstand the weight of books, as I want to use it for moving library books. Eventually, I plan to incorporate magic circles, but I want the material quality as high as possible.”
Although Aiphon paper could produce music like a music box when sliding mana stones over it, there was still room for research.
“If it can produce sound by sliding mana stones, it would be great if it could be attached to instruments for automatic performance.”
I recalled the sound of a pipe organ set with roll paper for automatic performance that I heard during the reno era. It was truly wonderful.
Though I only murmured this, Marianne seemed to have listened intently.
“Please let me propose this to Professor Gundolf. Ehrenfest was just reprimanded for having insufficiently interesting perspectives.”
“...If it’s not Marianne’s own perspective but mine, that’s fine.”
The civil official apprentices at Ehrenfest seemed not quite skilled enough to research together with those from Drevannel, who were deeply invested in the work. The joint research participants seemed somewhat discouraged.