Chapter 256 – 256. Academic Festival (2)
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Turn back time a little.
The morning of the school performance. It is the day of the decisive battle.
[By the way, what exactly is the Elfante Arts Festival?]
“…You also studied at El Fante. “Don’t you know that?”
[You don’t know because I went around for a while and was immediately drafted into the imperial army. I didn’t even complete a year.]
“ah.”
[And after that, he was immediately posted to the Guardian and his personal information was all confidential. What do I know about the school arts festival?]
Ah, I see.
Was there also a setting that Elijah came to Elfante to find the last traces of this person?
So here’s a general explanation for Caliban who doesn’t know what this is.
“Well, as I said before, it’s roughly like a fair.”
Saying that, I pull back the curtains on the windows of my dorm.
However, a fair is a fair.
The scale is a little different.
When I glanced up, there were huge letters engraved in the air with magic sparks.
It even looked like a huge calligraphy phrase had been carved into the sky. Or it reminds me of the sky shows I sometimes see around the world.
[Welcome all distinguished guests to the 1022nd Elfante Academic Festival. ]
The number of events held in proportion to the incredible length of El Fante’s history is noteworthy, but what is even more noteworthy is the fact that such a ‘crazy amount of money’ was made.
It is impossible to carve magic sparks of that size into the air unless you pour magic stones like water. I don’t know, but I would have spent about a month’s operating expenses in a big city.
The fact that it was only used as a written welcome greeting means that it was a performance aimed at meeting the ‘level’ of the people visiting this event.
“…People come from all over the empire, no, almost all over the continent. “It is one of the biggest events not only in El Fante but in the entire empire.”
In fact, the Great Temple of the Holy Empire and the Furnace of the Tribal Alliance’s Struggle also hold similar events, but they are overwhelmingly inferior in terms of scale and the ‘quality’ of each booth here.
Although it is held once every few years, all kinds of inventions and research results that are difficult to see elsewhere come out.
[…is an event of this scale usually called a school art festival?]
Caliban exclaimed in bewilderment, but this time I have no choice but to agree.
Honestly, it wouldn’t be strange for an event of this scale to be held in the imperial palace.
“It wasn’t to this extent originally… In fact, from the empire’s perspective, there isn’t much to ‘brag’ about to other countries.”
In terms of technology, it is inferior to the tribal alliance, and in terms of academic/cultural achievements and historical symbolism, it is inferior to the Seongwangguk, which produced the first warrior.
Even though the modern hero is Elijah, a citizen of the empire, it still doesn’t feel like he has a significant cultural advantage.
In that case, the greatest strength an empire can present to other countries is the quantity and quality of its ‘human resources.’
“They show it off like this every few years. “If nothing else, we are best at this.”
In other words, it’s like suppressing the momentum.
The ‘quantity’ of various resources is on a different level from that of the imperial kingdom and tribal alliance. Anything big, massive, flashy.
And if you invest that much human resources, of course, very creative and innovative things are bound to pop up every now and then. So, other countries have no choice but to come, even though they clearly know the intention.
“…but those characteristics make it perfect for revealing what I’m trying to do.”
It’s called the Dowd Campbell Showcase.
It would be difficult to have a ripple effect across the ‘entire continent’ through what I have prepared, unless it is an event of this level.
Saying that, he leaves the room to go to the booth assigned to the exorcist.
And, as soon as I left the dormitory room.
“Oh, see you again.”
I met the gentle cyborg again.
“…”
Considering Caliban’s reaction, I heard that he is a high-level talent whose mere appearance would shock the entire empire.
Aren’t you moving too lightly?
“Why are you reacting so indifferently? “It’s not the first time I’ve seen you.”
“…No, whatever.”
I scratch my head and answer like that.
Did you say its name was Alpha 11?
As I was awkwardly blurting out words, the Magic Tower’s executioner came up next to me with a friendly gesture.
As I walk with a steady pace, I can feel the eyes of those around me focusing in this direction.
“…What’s going on here?”
I was asking this question with the confidence that I wouldn’t have come here just to see a real school art show, and seeing Alpha-11 shrug my shoulders, it didn’t seem like my prediction was that wrong.
“I came here for escort. “He is so determined to see you.”
“…”
As soon as I heard those words, I thought about the ominous feeling.
Not long ago, this person came to me and said something, and there was also this burdensome person who kept trying to appear.
And as soon as I arrived at the exorcism department’s booth, shivering at that fact.
The anxiety was spot on.
[Aaduuuu-!]
“…Professor Astrid. “Are you planning on committing murder of your own child?”
Even thinking about it now, the sight of the 5m tall giant robot being stopped by Alpha-11 while trying to hug me violently was definitely a scene that gave me metaphysical fear.
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[Oh my, my, look at their faces. Are they all beautiful women?]
“…”
“…”
“…”
Seras, Victoria, Feinol, and even Elijah had frozen expressions, not knowing what to say.
In fact, even if everyone were to change their position and sit in their seat, they would probably look like they don’t know what to say.
The biggest reason would be the presence of the steel giant speaking in a booming voice at the entrance, as he could not enter the booth.
And secondly.
[son. Where did you date so many beautiful women?]
“…”
[son?]
“…”
[son… ?]
“…”
There was Dowd Campbell, who gritted his teeth and ignored the sight of such a steel giant.
The sight of him completely ignoring the existence of the steel giant who is trying to talk to him is so pitiful that even an iron wall cannot be as strong as this…
“…”
However, even Daoud, who kept his mouth shut, still had a lot to say.
‘It’s full of strange things.’
If ‘communication’ was possible in this way, there is no reason not to come by now.
It is also true that it is not easy for a person who has not seen her face since birth to sympathize with her mother even now.
Regardless of the other person’s awkward attitude, there are plenty of reasons to not be happy about it.
And, above all.
‘…My father?’
Aside from the fact that he doesn’t necessarily talk about his mother, from a family member’s perspective, he knows very well how much of a stake this person’s existence holds in Armin Campbell’s soul.
My father’s room was still full of my mother’s things.
From when you were a child until you became an adult.
It has been meticulously managed over the past several decades.
To what extent would you miss this person?
To what extent does this person mean so much?
however.
I wish I could come here like this.
Not once.
Not once, not to that person.
“…”
Dowd Campbell’s expression became even more frowning.
He looked like he didn’t want to deal with me at all, and stood up with a sigh.
“…I’m coming with an announcement.”
[uh…]
Before the steel giant called Professor Astrid could say anything, Dowd stood up from his seat and walked out of the booth without even looking back.
An awkward silence soon filled the place.
Not only the members of the exorcism team present, but even Alpha-11 who was present had no choice but to keep an eye on Astrid.
“…Are you okay?”
Professor Astrid let out a chuckle at the electronic sound of worry.
[well…]
The steel giant sighed deeply and crossed his arms.
[Well, it looks like it wasn’t received as well as expected.]
“…”
maybe.
Those who sensed the subtle ‘change’ on the spot must have been a bit quick-witted.
As soon as Dowd Campbell left his seat, the ’emotion’ mixed in the voice coming from the steel giant became very subtle.
[Still, I grew up well. I heard that it was a good idea to go outside even though it was difficult.]
like.
As if there was no longer anyone to ‘pay attention to’.
[…Other than that, it’s annoying enough as I remember.]
Because the ‘warmth’ contained in that voice disappeared all at once.
non-human. Impersonal. Furthermore, non-organic organisms.
It was as if the ‘humanity’ that remained, even if only in fragmentary form, was turned off as soon as Dowd Campbell disappeared.
All that comes out is a horribly inorganic voice.
[so.]
Perhaps, the number of people who sensed such changes in the following sentences would have increased even more.
On the surface, there doesn’t seem to be much difference. But, what lies at the bottom of that sentence is.
It is a deep ‘contempt’ toward the other person.
[Are you guys thieves who don’t even know how to use fractions?]
-spurt.
The air began to cool rapidly.
●
Selim Bronx, a member of the Imperial Security Council, was feeling extremely bored.
Speaking of the Elfante Arts Festival, it is a hotbed of accidents and incidents as people from all over the world flock to it. Of course, her empire did not want to ruin such a large-scale event, so elite agents like her were often deployed.
‘…I think it was much worse than the last school performance.’
But despite taking on such an important mission, all she felt was terrible boredom.
They are all strange discoveries with no apparent use, superficial research with no practical use, or at least not flashy enough to catch the eye.
Of course, since the school arts festival is not usually a big event, there are still a lot of players left, but this is the beginning so it is difficult to have high expectations for the future.
I had high expectations that even the Magic Tower’s personnel would come, but it feels like just being here would be a waste of time.
Such sentiments were further maximized in the club’s presentation that followed.
‘…Exorcist?’
Even the name is strange.
Even if it were a presentation, it would probably be as useless as the ones that came out in the previous turn.
What kind of presentation can be expected from this man who seems insignificant even by student standards?
“everyone.”
While Selim was thinking this and yawning.
“What do you think is the best way to rid the world of war?”
-Suddenly, like that.
An extremely suspicious topic was dropped.
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fantasy,
