Chapter 53

Chapter 53

As Sirone turned the cover of the magazine, he was greeted by an illustration of a female student from the graduating class, accompanied by an article. The content was mostly trivial gossip, yet the sheer volume of work suggested it was more than just a casual hobby.

“Wow,” Sirone uttered in astonishment.

The quality of the artwork was exceptional, almost lifelike.

Was this all drawn by one person? he wondered, his admiration growing with each page despite the risqué nature of the content. With such talent, why would someone focus on creating a gossip magazine? They could be a professional artist.

Then a familiar face caught his eye. “Huh?”

It was Amy Karmis. The illustration was as meticulously crafted as the rest, but what drew Sirone’s attention was the detailed depiction of her daily routine, capturing everything from her break-time activities to her dining companions. As silence settled in, Sirone noticed that his name wasn’t mentioned anywhere.

“People really have nothing better to do,” he mumbled, feeling odd reading about Amy’s life through someone else’s lens.

Sensing Sirone’s discomfort, Nade remarked, “Why get so worked up? It’s normal for students in the graduating class to have lunch with boys.”

Iruki chuckled. “You know Sirone’s personality. Can’t you tell by now? It doesn’t even look like they’re actually dating. Be honest, Sirone. You haven’t even held hands, have you?”

Annoyed, Sirone tossed the book aside. “Worry about yourselves. Anyway, let’s do something productive. We are supposed to be a club. Are we just going to sit here all day?”

Realizing that studying in the club’s current environment was futile, Sirone decided to engage in something more meaningful with his friends.

“How about we check out Nade’s inventions? Nade, also known as Doctor Know-it-all, boasts quite an impressive list of patents, you know.”

Nade sprang up. “Oh, right! I almost completely forgot! Sirone, get ready to be amazed.”

He dived under the table again, rummaging through a heap of garbage. Sirone, curious, peered down and noticed a concealed safe.

“Ta-da!” Nade exclaimed, pulling out something that Sirone couldn’t quite see.

“What is that?”

As Nade waved his arm, the surrounding landscape seemed to shimmer at a certain boundary.

“Is that what I think it is...?”

Nade beamed with pride. “Yup! It’s an invisibility cloak!”

The device he held was a marvel of electrical magic, designed to refract light in a way that created the illusion of transparency.

“Did you really make it yourself?”

Electric magic, often associated with lightning, encompassed various specialized fields, including virtual vision, a subset of Illusion magic. Nade had managed to create a magic device that mimicked the effects of invisibility magic, a feat that required expertise usually found in professional circles.

Though not an original invention, the fact that he had managed to craft an invisibility cloak using this advanced magic was truly impressive.

“As you know, I dream of being a magic engineer. But this cloak is nothing compared to the high-end models in the market. It’s made with lower-grade materials, and the charging technology isn’t perfect, allowing only an hour of effectiveness. Nevertheless, for what it’s worth, it’s still quite decent, don’t you think?” Nade remarked, his voice tinged with pride as he wrapped the cloak around himself and vanished from sight.

The quality of an invisibility cloak depended on the refraction rate of light. Anything below 95 percent couldn’t truly be called invisible, as even a 1 percent difference marked a significant disparity in technical prowess. Nade’s cloak might not have reached the industry peak of ninety-nine percent, but it certainly had a high enough refraction rate to be considered truly invisible.

As Nade moved, a faint outline was perceptible, but when he stood still, it was nearly impossible to detect his presence without close observation.

“If you put this much effort into your studies, your grades would be so much better,” Sirone mused aloud.

Nade, unfazed by the remark, chuckled. “I might, but I find more joy in creating magic devices than studying. And I have more inventions to show.”

He then proceeded to reveal other creations from his safe. Sirone spotted a miniature electric-powered carriage and a hologram projector capable of transforming two-dimensional images into three-dimensional displays. His flashbangs and smoke bombs, while impressive, hadn’t made it to his list of patented inventions.

“Just watch when I press this button.”

Nade’s display of ingenuity and enthusiasm was a rare sight for Sirone, who couldn’t help but admire his friend’s passion for his creations.

The realization struck him that, despite their reputations as problematic students, both Iruki and Nade possessed a level of expertise that set them apart from their peers.

“The power source of this carriage has a rotation speed per second of—Huh?”

The room suddenly shook, which interrupted Nade and caused him to pause and look up at the ceiling. The vibration grew stronger, toppling the chess pieces.

Iruki, sensing trouble, quickly dashed into the hallway. “Damn it! A professor’s coming! Hide everything! Fast!”

“What’s happening?” Sirone asked, confused by the sudden urgency.

There was no time for lengthy explanations. With practiced efficiency, Nade swiftly concealed the controversial magazine. He also stashed away the club’s unofficial funding items, like the smoke bombs, into the safe. Once the contraband was secured, he quickly pulled Sirone down onto the couch.

“Sit here! It’s a surprise inspection!” he explained just as the machinery in Istas’ hallway whirred into action.

The flashing red lights in the corridor indicated that the club would soon be summoned to the first floor.

“A professor is coming? Then why sit here? Shouldn’t we greet them?” Sirone questioned, trying to stand.

“No! Just act as if nothing’s wrong. If we get caught with the magazine or smoke bombs, we’ll face more than disciplinary action,” Nade warned, pushing him back down.

“Huh? O-okay.”

Nervous about the potential consequences, Sirone nodded, quickly regaining composure in his expression.

Nade was reassured by his adaptability, easing one of his concerns. I’m sure he won’t make any mistakes. Now, the question is, which professor will walk through that door...

After a final check, Nade relaxed on the couch, crossing his legs. Let them come. His determined eyes stared at the door as he waited alongside his friends.

***

“What a nuisance...” Sienna massaged her throbbing head, feeling irritated.

The complexity of navigating Istas, the magic warehouse, was a testament to the cunning of the Paranormal Science Club members. The fact that it took at least three minutes to shift the warehouse to the first floor provided the club with ample time to either escape or conceal any evidence.

In the past, some teachers had attempted to infiltrate without activating the machinery, only to end up wandering the building for over an hour without locating the clubroom.

In stark contrast, the club members moved in and out of the lab with ease, a source of natural frustration for the professors.

Those cunning kids, she thought, reflecting on their likely methods. She speculated that they must have analyzed the movement patterns of Istas’ cube around the clubroom to deduce its path. There must be an equation for it.

Istas was an enigma. Its origins, design blueprints, and the manufacturer were all shrouded in mystery. The fact that a student had deciphered its secret two decades ago and used it for the club’s clandestine activities was both astonishing and frustrating for Sienna.

As she impatiently waited for Istas to complete its transformation, Sienna’s mind was clouded with exasperation and curiosity. What kind of club are they running? And what should I do about those kids?

If they were merely a run-of-the-mill delinquent circle like the Dark Magicians, they could be easily managed within the professors’ jurisdiction. However, the intellectual prowess of those involved in the underground clubs generally exceeded the school’s ability to control them.

In Sienna’s eyes, the current members of the club dwarfed the Dark Magicians in comparison. They’re like unexploded bombs. With their talents, they could wreak havoc if they chose to.

The Paranormal Science Club was undeniably a gathering of exceptionally unique individuals. Nade, who appeared unassuming at school, displayed an agility that befitted students in underground clubs. Iruki, despite being Class Five’s resident problem student with savant syndrome, frequently skipped classes out of sheer boredom. And now, Sirone, the school’s top model student, had become their latest addition.

It was puzzling how these three individuals, who appeared to be so different and incompatible, had formed such a close-knit group. Is it that talent attracts talent? It’s understandable that Nade and Iruki are close, but... Her primary concern, however, was Sirone.

The recent awakening of his Immortal Function and the potential risk of an overflow were pressing issues. Etala had expressed confidence in his ability to handle this on his own, but the possibility of a worst-case scenario loomed large, one that could irrevocably change Sirone’s life.

Snapped out of her thoughts by Istas coming to a halt, Sienna briskly entered the warehouse. Her gaze fixed on the Paranormal Science Club’s sign before she burst through the door. Amid the cloud of suspended dust particles in the air, she found the scene she had expected as she coughed.

Each member of the Paranormal Science Club sat with an air of calm indifference, their smiles betraying no hint of surprise or concern at her sudden appearance. This was a familiar sight for her.

The only notable difference this time was that the troublesome students she had encountered before had graduated, and now Sirone was a part of this unique mix.

Sienna observed the subtle transformation in every student who joined the club, pondering the reason behind this change. Even Sirone, normally affable and approachable, now maintained an impeccable poker face. Sienna found this change somewhat disheartening, though she recognized its necessity given the current situation.

Nade sat with an air of arrogance while Iruki leaned back in his chair, exuding a rebellious attitude. Their attitudes alone were enough to discourage professors, causing Sienna to scoff as she approached them.

“Not even a greeting for your professor?” she asked.

“Sorry, we were deeply engrossed in our discussion. Welcome, Professor Sienna,” Nade replied smoothly.

His ability to maintain composure as the club president was a stark contrast to his reserved demeanor in class. The club, a student-led organization, had earned a significant place within the magic school community by fiercely guarding its autonomy and resisting any form of professorial interference. However, their long-standing tradition was now openly disregarded with this unexpected inspection, which naturally stirred discontent among the club members.

Adorable. They still want to cling to the idea of being a club, don’t they? But today will mark the end of that.

The faculty had already reached their decision, and an agreement had been made with Etala.

Nade asked, “So, what brings you here? We’ve been maintaining a low profile and steering clear of trouble recently.”

“A memo regarding the club has been issued, and I’ve come to deliver it personally. It’s part of a professor’s duty, isn’t it?”

“Why don’t you have a seat then? It may not be much, but it’s what we’ve got.” Nade dusted off a seat for her, maintaining a nonchalant demeanor as if nothing was amiss.

“Thank you. How about a cup of tea while we’re at it?”

“I’d love to offer you some, but can you really trust a cup of tea from us?”

Sienna couldn’t help but let out a wry smile. She knew all too well that a decrepit warehouse like this wouldn’t even have cold water, let alone tea. However, it was precisely their cleverness and resourcefulness that made it challenging to entirely dislike them.

“You’re right. I don’t know if I would trust you kids. Let’s not waste any more time, then. The faculty has reached a decision. We would like you to return the clubroom within a month.”

“What?”

All three of them widened their eyes in shock.