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I received a request from the club members, but establishing the ‘Magic Engineering’ department was something I also wanted.

Disseminating modern science and technology would undoubtedly benefit the world.

So I asked Elena whether it was possible for me to take the position of the head professor of ‘Magic Engineering’ rather than just a visiting professor.

Elena inquired if that matter was important for protecting this world, to which I replied that it was.

“Then we must make it happen.”

Elena said that and went to speak with the princess.

Three days later, she informed me that creating a department requires unanimous agreement from the academy’s board members and professors.

Although there were conditions attached, it made the establishment of the department possible.

“Thank you, Master.”

“Thank you is unnecessary. This isn’t over yet. All the professors need to agree. Among the professors, there are some who envy you.”

“Hmm. Then I need to handle this well.”

However, there were professors who regarded me unfavorably.

The reasons they looked down on me were obvious; they were stuffy and authoritative.

So I took some gifts and visited the academy’s professors.

I gave out gifts that they might like while addressing them with the respectful title of ‘Senior Master.’

“L-Lord Fix! What have you done…”

“The reason I could come this far is all thanks to the support from my senior masters. I should have introduced myself sooner, but I apologize for my late visit.”

“…Hahaha! Nonsense, that’s not it. Let’s have some tea.”

Thus, I approached the professors who disliked me, presenting gifts and attempting conversations.

After about 20 minutes of chatting, I often heard them say, “Actually, I misunderstood you.”

What they sought from me was merely ‘respect.’

In short, they were harboring some lingering feelings like, “A junior professor has come in without even greeting us; how disappointing.”

“…Ahem. I thought you were sharp, but you came quite quickly. What’s that you’re holding?”

However, there were professors from the start who looked at me with disdain.

They didn’t seem to need a specific reason to dislike me.

So I decided to dislike those professors without any reason as well.

“Professor, do you want to get fired?”

“…W-What?!”

“Can’t you understand when I speak nicely? I asked if you want to get fired.”

“…”

The old professor immediately frowned and crossed his legs, freezing in place.

It seemed he was unable to grasp the situation, so I felt the need to make him realize the reality.

“Listen well. The tax I pay to the royal family every month amounts to billions of Orden. That’s 50% of the total taxes collected by the royal family.”

“……”

“On the other hand, your territory seems to be hiding something in the basement? Are you skimming taxes to give a lump sum all at once? Is it a surprise event for His Majesty?”

“H-How do you know that…?”

“Receiving the royal family’s favor means just that. If I want to know, I can find out. If I want to get rid of you, I can do that too.”

“……”

“So, dear senior master. When I’m speaking kindly, you best take it to heart. And accept the gifts as well.”

Saying this, I handed over the second gift instead of the first.

The first gift was for the cooperative professors.

The second gift was for the professors I was blackmailing.

“……W-What is this…?”

The professor who received the second gift looked pale.

It was a photograph of him with his illegitimate child and the mistress.

“Wow, it turned out well, right? I have many more like this, but I gave you the best one.”

“I-I made a mistake! I… I misunderstood you all this time! I sincerely apologize! Please, don’t let this continue!”

“Ah, so the misunderstanding is cleared up now? That’s a relief.”

I said this and burned the photograph I had given to the professor.

Then I casually threw the first gift at him and said,

“Now, can you understand me better?”

“Of course! Whatever you say! I will obey anything you say!”

“There’s no need to go that far. Just behave so we don’t have to meet again.”

With those words, I left the professor’s office.

Now that I had all the professors on my side, it was time to visit the board of directors.

The board was the noble family that provided the most funding for establishing the academy, primarily the four grand duke families and wealthy count families.

“Hahaha! Who do we have here! Our son-in-law, Lord Fix!”

So I began my circuit through the duke families, starting with the nearest Cruel Territory.

The Swordmaster Ireia warmly greeted me.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Hahaha! Thanks to you, I’m doing very well! Isn’t it because of your efforts that Clendor didn’t completely collapse? It feels like a decade’s worth of stagnation has cleared up!”

The Clendor Kingdom, which had recently undergone a civil war and restructured under the Bianca regime, no longer proclaimed itself an ‘Imperial Nation.’

Bianca had promised to serve the empire as per our agreement.

For Ireia, who had been an enemy of Clendor for a long time, it was nothing short of exhilarating news.

“Come on! Let’s not keep our guest outside! Come inside!”

Thus, I accepted Ireia’s escort and entered the castle.

Inside the castle, the air conditioning was running at full blast, making it very cool and pleasant.

Ireia praised me once more, saying he was having a wonderful cool summer thanks to me.

“Here! Come! Our southern region is famous for its cuisine!”

Eventually arriving at the dining hall, we began our dinner.

The dishes laid out looked quite meticulously prepared.

‘…Hmm?’

Among them, there was surprisingly kimchi stew.

There was also well-cooked Macbeth pork.

It was evident how much care Duke Ireia had put into this gathering.

“The meal fits my taste perfectly. Thank you for the hospitality.”

“Hahaha! No, I should be the one thanking you for introducing me to such wonderful dishes.”

I began chatting with Ireia, starting with the food.

In the course of our conversation, Ireia began discussing policies for commoners, asking for my opinion as a commoner.

Honestly, I told him that all his policies were excellent.

However, I was fully aware that Ireia’s question was a self-appeal.

He was deliberately showing his concern for the common people.

“Oh! Speaking of which, I’ve recently made friends with a couple of commoners. You wouldn’t believe what happened with them lately…”

From there, Ireia began sharing a story about a commoner couple.

To summarize, the wife had a late pregnancy at 38 and, upon giving birth, it turned out to be a child with a disability.

“Isn’t it terrifying… They were such a healthy couple. Age cannot be deceived. Even nobles like us, who possess mana, occasionally have disabled children due to advanced age.”

He emphasized that the risks of advanced age should not be ignored and that it’s better to marry younger women.

That remark sounded like “Don’t even dream of marrying your patron, Adela,” which made me laugh involuntarily.

‘Adela…’

However, I had to admit that Adela was my type.

Her glamorous body exuded a certain sensuality.

Sometimes she’d gaze at me with those oblivious eyes.

Though she was 36, she was still beautiful enough to attract men.

If one did not know her age, she might easily be mistaken for someone in their 20s.

That was probably why Ireia was vigilant against her.

‘Well, I don’t plan on marrying Adela.’

But I was drawn to her sexually.

I had no intention of marrying Adela.

Once I got into a relationship with someone, I would have to sever ties with the other heroines.

But that didn’t mean I wanted to keep them in a harem; I had to maintain our current relationship to raise them.

When this balance will break, I could not say for certain.

“Uh… Do you perhaps remember… that day?”

At that moment, Ireia hesitated before asking if I remembered ‘that day.’

Wondering what ‘that day’ referred to, I inquired if it had something to do with when he first met me.

That was the day I had been kidnapped during lunchtime and received a warning that wasn’t quite a warning.

Of course, I answered that I remembered, and Ireia replied with an awkward smile.

“…Could you forget? I think I said something inappropriate. Calling you a male concubine for my daughter. At that time, I didn’t recognize your value.”

In the past, Ireia had suggested I become Enya’s male concubine.

Here, a ‘male concubine’ meant a male lover.

In other words, it meant devoting my skills and talents while receiving favor from Enya, who had become the Grand Duchess.

At that time, I was just a lucky commoner who had recently enrolled in the academy.

“…As for that proposal, it’s alright. It was a perfectly reasonable suggestion back then.”

I smiled and said it was fine.

Ireia must have thought he was providing a truly groundbreaking benefit.

At that time, it was quite a shocking matter for a mere commoner to become a male concubine favored by the Grand Duchess.

“…Thank you for thinking that way. It could have been unpleasant for you.”

“Haha. That was all in the past. You don’t have to worry about it.”

Talking with Ireia now felt like a revelation of the passage of time.

Well, it hadn’t been that long, but the situation had dramatically turned around in such a short time.

Ireia, who had once taken a high-handed attitude and offered me the position of male concubine, was now apologetic and cautious around me.

Indeed, if you’re going to do something, you first need to prove your capabilities and gain strength.

In that sense, the ‘establishment of the Magic Engineering department’ would grant me new power.

Because it meant spreading the seeds of modern physics in this world.

***

“…Could you forget? I think I said something inappropriate. Calling you a male concubine for my daughter. At that time, I didn’t recognize your value.”

Meanwhile, Enya, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation between Ireia and Ed behind the wall, was frozen in place.

She learned that her idol and muse, the one she loved with all her heart, had suggested such a thing as ‘male concubine’ to Ed.

How could someone as noble as Ed be subjected to such a humiliating proposal?

A male concubine is often seen as a mere toy for wealthy, lascivious noblewomen.

“Ha… ha…”

She was hyperventilating.

The reliable father who always supported her had suggested something so filthy.

Especially to Ed, the person she respected and loved the most.

-Tur-buck… Tur-buck…

Enya moved her feet, her face a mask of shock.

If she had known, she might have preferred skipping class and just staying away.

No less than her own father had insulted Ed.

‘Ed…’

Her heart felt heavy, as if a stone had been placed upon it.

 

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