Beep–!The girls’ division of the triathlon began with the sound of a whistle.Splash–One after another, the students cut through the water, moving forward. Their streamlined forms looked like dolphins gliding through the open sea.Vrooom–Beside them, a mana boat and an outer-line tram kept pace, recording their progress.And with water spirits guarding the competitors for safety, there was no chance of any danger arising.“Let’s go.”I watched Ciel’s back for a moment as she sliced through the spray, then turned away.After seeing her off, I headed toward a nearby rest point along the triathlon route with Yulina.Safety staff stood waiting near tables set up along the path.On the tables lay towels for the competitors and ice boxes enchanted with Cold Magic.While checking the tables, Yulina frowned at a blue-colored drink inside one of the boxes.“Blue… Why’s the drink that color? Totally kills my appetite.”“Appetite, my ass. You have no idea how good this stuff is.”I stepped up to the ice box and picked up a clear bottle filled with bright blue liquid.This drink was the ion beverage sponsored by the Alchemy Club for the Sports Festival.'I asked Freya to make sure it was distributed to each representative team before the opening ceremony.'Since the Sports Festival had successfully launched thanks to me, Freya couldn’t very well refuse my request.Of course, she did try to at first, using the drink’s safety as an excuse.The risk of food poisoning, or the possibility of some harmful ingredient—she had a reasonable point.'But as if I wouldn’t have thought of that already.'Anticipating this, I’d had professors from various fields analyze and verify it in advance.Once I handed over their certificates of safety, she had no choice but to accept.Her aides tried to stop her, but after tasting the drink, they changed their minds right away.When would anyone in the Mir Elin Saga world have ever tasted tropical fruit flavor? It had to be a revelation.As a result, this drink—resembling PowerXeed—became the festival’s official sponsored beverage.The label wrapped around the bottle read [Alchemist], soon to become the Alchemy Club’s brand name.It was a fitting one, too—broad enough to expand later into a whole line of alchemically crafted drinks with different flavors and effects.Curiosity gleamed in Yulina’s eyes as she eyed the shimmering blue beverage and looked at me.“Um, can I try this?”“It’s meant for the athletes, but there should be some extras. Hey, it’s fine if she drinks one, right?”“Y-yes, sir!”The safety staffer standing by the table nodded violently, as if to say she could take the whole box if she wanted.“Here, try it.”I handed her the bottle in my hand.Yulina unscrewed the cap, still skeptical, and took a gulp.Closing her eyes for a second to savor the taste, she suddenly blinked wide, surprised.“Huh? It’s actually really good?”“Of course it is. Now give me a more detailed review.”“What, a review too…?”“Go on.”When I urged her to speak, Yulina recalled the lingering taste on ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) her tongue and said,“Hmm… kind of a fresh berry flavor? Like tropical fruit, maybe. Surprisingly not too sweet, though. Instead it’s got a bit of a bite to the throat. Is there carbonation in this?”“Your palate’s sharper than I thought. You’re right—there’s a little carbonation.”“Seriously? You must’ve spent a fortune making and distributing thousands of these for the athletes.”“I kept the costs down. There’s a trick to it. Anyway, the drinks are all distributed where they should be, so let’s move on.”With a small smile, I started walking again, Yulina scurrying after me.“Where to now?”“I’m heading to the booth area. They’re selling a slightly different flavor of carbonated drink there.”Yulina gave a little laugh.“No wonder. During your speech earlier you made a big deal about the new products at the booth area. So there was a hidden motive.”“There’s no such thing as an unintentional statement.”“First you sponsor the festival drinks, now you’re running a booth too. You’re really going all in. Planning to start a business or something?”“Yeah. Target market: the whole continent.”“Big ambitions. But your family’s filthy rich already, right? Everyone knows that. Fertile land, magic-stone mines, monster-drop by-products… a literal gold mine.”“Is that my money? It’s the family’s.”“And who was it throwing that money around like it was his own?”“Which is exactly why I’m trying to make it on my own now.”“Ah, I see.”Yulina nodded as if convinced. I glanced at her and asked,“By the way, why are you following me around? You’re kind of a bother.”She hadn’t even watched the opening ceremony—just stuck with me checking on Ciel and the sponsored drinks.At my question, Yulina fiddled with her fingers and answered,“Um… His Highness went to rest, and the aides are handling everything else. So… I got bored.”“You followed me because you were bored? Don’t tell me you’re interested in me?”“What are you talking about? Are you insane?!”She yelled loud enough to make my eardrums ring.I rubbed my ears with a grimace.“If not, then just say no without yelling.”“Try saying something that actually makes sense. That was gross.”“…Guess I can’t even joke around without getting jumped on.”I shrugged and said slyly,“Anyway, I already know the real reason you’re following me.”“And what would that be?”Walking a little ahead of her, I said in a calm voice,“The projected location chart for the Dark Magic Stone I gave to Beatrice. You’re here to dig up the source of that information.”“…!”Yulina froze mid-step, her shoulders twitching. Bullseye.I glanced back at her and gave a word of advice.“If you ever plan to enter politics, start by learning to control your face. You’re an open book.”“W-whatever. Mind your own business. So, are you going to tell me where it came from or not?”“Hmm. What should I do.”After a moment’s thought, I offered a half-teasing proposal.“If you can fill even a tenth of the gap Ciel left while she’s gone, I’ll consider it.”A daunting mission—filling the shoes of my all-purpose maid.“…Fine.”She sighed in resignation and followed me again.***Leaving the triathlon route, Yulina and I headed toward the Sports Festival’s booth area.The streets of Ishtal were bright with fluttering flags of every nation.Colorful club tents lined both sides of the road, and members called out to passing students.“Try your luck at the roulette wheel!”“Just for participating you get a free meal ticket! We’ll stamp your pamphlet too!”“Win the challenge and you’ll get scholarship money! Don’t miss your chance!”The street bustled with club members shouting for attention and students enjoying the festival.Though it couldn’t compare to the grand Academy Union Festival, plenty of clubs had joined this year’s Sports Festival booths.Given the event’s nature, most booths were about food or simple amusements, but the crowd made the area lively nonetheless.Pop!“Gah!”At the Self-Discipline Club booth, a member was strapped into a frame while participants threw water balloons at them.Bang–!“Whoa!”“Is that a new record?”At the Combat Club’s booth, visitors tested their strength on a punching machine to win prizes.The Fitness Club’s arm-wrestling contest and the Archery Club’s dart game both looked fun too.On another side were booths for couples—tarot readings and caricatures.I smiled in satisfaction at the bustling scene.'Everyone’s working hard.'It was nice to see them putting effort into recruiting new members so early in the term.“Come to think of it, are you in a club?”Yulina shook her head.“Me? No, I’m too busy with Student Council work. And as you know, I’m also handling special missions on your orders.”“Why not join one now? How about my Alchemy Club?”“I heard that one went bankrupt after you promised to invest and backed out?”Guess the rumors spread further than I thought.“…It’s being rebuilt. With my sponsorship, it’ll soon be the top club in Eredor. You should join. Beatrice too.”If I wanted to use the Dayaron Magic Tower invitation I’d gotten from the chairman, I’d better have them both in the club.It’d also give the club a powerful backing.“You too, President? Doesn’t seem like your style.”“I don’t care if my name’s just on the roster. I wouldn’t dream of tying down Beatrice with attendance checks. Just tell her to think it over.”“Well, that much I can do.”After walking with her for a while, we exited the activity booths and entered the food area, where delicious smells wafted through the air.Sniff–The smoky scent of grilled chicken skewers made my mouth water a little.Booths sold buttered potatoes, roasted squid, fruit juice, tteokbokki, and more.The food didn’t exactly match the academic purpose of most clubs, but… festivals like this helped them raise funds and strengthen their bonds.“…I’m getting hungry.”“We’ll buy something after we finish business.”As we walked between the food stalls, I noticed customers carrying drinks.Bubbles rising through yellow liquid—carbonated drinks, unmistakably.And I overheard snippets of conversation.“They’re selling lemon soda at that booth.”“Soda? That’s expensive stuff. You could buy a restaurant drink for that price.”“It’s only five thousand krone a cup.”“Five thousand? For soda?”Following the crowd’s chatter, I soon spotted a shabby tent ahead.A crude sign with a potion-bottle sketch hung over it.The Alchemy Club—Alchemist.“Thank you, come again~!”At the booth entrance, Trishi beamed as she waved goodbye to a customer.Despite the humble setup, there was already a decent line—sales were going well.I glanced at the signboard posted out front. The red highlighter emphasized one line:[Special Sale! Lemon Carbonated Drink — Only 5,000 Krone per cup! Limited Daily Quantity!]“…”The wording oozed experience and a fiery desire to succeed.'Five thousand krone, huh. That’s a fair price.'A half-filled wine glass of soda went for nearly fifty thousand krone. Selling this for ten times less would make anyone curious enough to try.It’s like offering a 30,000-won chicken for 3,000—too good not to check out.The festival had only been open a few hours, and already business was booming. Once the athletes’ sponsored drinks started spreading the buzz, this whole area would be packed.“Oh! You’re here!”Trishi, in her paper party hat, spotted me and greeted me with a bright smile.“How’s it going?”“Can’t you tell? It’s a hit!”She pointed at the line of customers and the transparent box on the table.The box was stuffed with cash—easily several hundred thousand krone.“At this rate, we’ll make at least thirty million by the last day!”Trishi raised both arms high in delight.Not an astronomical sum in itself, but for a start, that response was impressive.Good thing I’d let her set up this booth.“Then we’ll have to stay up all night making more syrup.”“Yeah, and we’ll need more bottles too. Thankfully, Ishtal’s giving souvenir cups to students, so we’re using those for now, but some customers want take-out. Also, it’d help to have a student good with Ice Magic. Some people want their drinks ice-cold.”“Ice, huh.”“Yes.”Then she leaned closer and whispered so only I could hear.“…And if we put a lot of ice in, it also reduces how much soda and syrup we use. Good for cutting costs.”“…”She’d really become a merchant through and through.Still, what she said about Ice Magic caught my attention.“Ice magic…”I quietly turned my gaze to Yulina standing beside me.Now that I thought about it, her origin lineage was Cryomancy, wasn’t it?“What… what are you looking at?”When I stared at her, Yulina realized what I was thinking and tried to feign ignorance—but too late.Resting my hand on her shoulder, I said,“Found it. Our ice maker.”

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