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Three days later.

Ed, having met with all the dukes and earls on the academy board, told Elena that it would be fine to propose the establishment of the Department of Magical Engineering.

He had received unanimous consent from all professors and board members, so if he proposed it now, it would easily pass.

“Then, I hereby propose the establishment of the Department of Magical Engineering by unanimous consent.”

– Bang! Bang! Bang!

And just as expected, a week later.

The Department of Magical Engineering, led by Ed, was established.

Edgar, who was merely a student at the academy, and a commoner at that, had created a massive academic faction.

“Do any of you have plans to become professors?”

However, running a faction alone was difficult.

Thus, Ed decided to recruit six members from the club as professors and the remaining eleven as associate professors and teaching assistants.

Since they were merely focusing on physics and were useless in magic, he would hire them as specialized mechanical engineering personnel.

“U-Us? Professors…?”

However, the club members were originally low-ranking students who had been jealous of Ed.

The thought of these losers like themselves becoming professors and shouldering such heavy responsibilities made them gulp in fear.

“Of course, you won’t be official professors. You’ll start as instructors. If you claim to be professors, there will definitely be a backlash.”

“………”

“So, you all need to prove your abilities. Since it’s September this year, create individual projects and submit them by December. Whether it’s a weapon, industrial facility, precise machinery, or whatever, just have it ready by the end of December. We’ll hold an expo to showcase your technical skills.”

Hearing Ed’s words, the club members started sweating.

There were only three months left, and they were supposed to create individual projects by the end of December?

And it had to be of a quality sufficient to earn them the qualification of adjunct professors?

“Why? Is it impossible?”

“Ah, no…”

But there was something Ed always said during such times.

“If it doesn’t work, keep grinding until it does.”

“If time is short, cut back on sleep until it works.”

“If you keep at it diligently, you’ll make it.”

“I-I can do it…”

In the end, the club members replied with half a tearful expression that they would try.

Ed smiled and patted their shoulders.

“Then you’re all expelled? You need to focus on your projects.”

“E-Expelled?”

“Yep. After all, you can’t be instructors while being students. Just get expelled.”

“Uh… Well…”

“Why? Don’t want to?”

“A-Of course not!”

Thus, all 17 club members decided to get expelled.

At the same time, the dreaded club was also disbanded.

It was only natural, as there were no longer enough members to maintain the club.

“Then feel free to develop here. If you need anything, just say so.”

Instead, Ed brought all the club members to his territory.

He provided them with personal accommodations and research facilities so they could work hard.

“Charlotte. If you’re uncomfortable, just let me know. I can help you set up a separate lab.”

In the large laboratory in Ed’s territory, there was none other than Charlotte.

Recently, as Charlotte showed interest in various herbs and poisons, Ed let her borrow his lab so she could research freely.

“No, it’s fine. I was getting bored researching alone… this works out.”

However, Charlotte actually welcomed having more people in the lab.

The reason she came here in the first place was to see Ed more often, and these were friends who knew a lot about Ed.

Charlotte smiled, thinking that getting close to them would allow her to learn more about Ed.

“Right. While researching together, we can help each other. Take care.”

With that, Ed left the room.

Charlotte felt a bit disappointed when Ed, who had only briefly shown his face, disappeared, but she didn’t let it bother her.

She could always take the initiative to spend more time with him.

‘Edgar said it. “Chemistry” is truly a frightening science.’

Recently, Ed had encouraged Charlotte to learn chemistry.

Indeed, Charlotte, born with the unique ability of the “Nature Creation Spell,” had a significant talent for chemistry.

She instinctively understood the composition and properties of substances and their interactions.

‘If I develop my talent… Ed will need me.’

And Charlotte was well aware that Ed needed “chemistry.”

He showed great interest, having visited this lab several times to check on her progress.

Thus, to catch Ed’s attention, she needed to discover a chemical reaction that was either very dangerous or extraordinarily beneficial.

And that was something only the Verdian family, who could wield the Nature Creation Spell, could accomplish.

Charlotte felt a sense of mission and focused on her research.

***

“Hmm…”

In the newly established professor’s office of the Department of Magical Engineering, I sat in a chair, lost in thought.

I had established the department, but there were still numerous deficiencies in its operation.

After all, to run a department, a clear objective was required.

It was necessary to determine how to guide the students towards becoming talented individuals beneficial to society and to design a curriculum.

“Indeed, we should postpone accepting students until next year.”

Thus, I decided to delay the announcement until the curriculum was organized.

Now that the department was established, I needed to solidify its philosophy and goals to properly guide the students.

In that sense, I decided to establish the direction of this department.

If the existing “Enhanced Mage Department” and “Magical Spellcaster Department” at the academy focused on training strong soldiers, then what was the significance of my department?

“The survival of mankind.”

It was indeed the survival of mankind.

Developing science and technology to fend off the demon invasion.

That was the goal of my Department of Magical Engineering.

“Hmm… That means ultimately achieving technological innovation across all fields.”

However, to effectively respond to the demon invasion, technological innovation across all fields had to be achieved.

Simply training strong soldiers was insufficient.

This was especially true since preparation for prolonged wars required a reliable supply line.

Fundamentally, soldiers needed to have sufficient food to fight properly.

And for supply lines to function well, food production needed to be increased, along with the infrastructure to deliver large quantities of food.

Wagons simply couldn’t transport large amounts of food.

“In addition…”

Temperature control devices to maintain soldiers’ body temperatures in the scorching summer or bitter cold.

Ironclad fortifications capable of effectively defending important strongholds.

Various weapons that could maximize soldiers’ combat effectiveness.

There wasn’t a single aspect that did not involve technology.

“Equipping commoners to fight… Is that overreaching?”

However, there was something more effective than developing military technology and building infrastructure.

That was training “regular soldiers.”

What that meant was equipping the surplus commoners to fight.

After all, there were far too many demons for the nobles who could manipulate mana to fight alone.

The reason this world had collapsed despite countless regressions was due to overwhelming numerical differences.

Entering the conflict with a numerical disadvantage, which could be considered the basis of military strength, offered no viable options.

“But I won’t accept it.”

Yet this world is a clearly stratified society where nobles and commoners are divided.

The authoritarianism of the nobles and their belief in their superiority seemed almost impenetrable to enforce my argument.

The founding myth of the Empire itself is based on “the humanity that descended from the heavens ruling over the foolish human world.”

In comparison to the Dangun myth, the Emperor’s lineage becomes Hwanin, and the various noble families, including the four major dukes, become the heavenly humans who serve Hwanin.

“It’s not easy. I have to dismantle the authority of the vested interests first.”

The nobles believe themselves to be the chosen people of the heavens while viewing the rest of the “earthly humans” as an unenlightened, foolish race.

How can I break that fairy tale that constitutes their elitism?

“Astronomy.”

The answer is simple.

By accurately measuring the heavens and proving that it is a place inhospitable to humans.

Then their illusion of being “heavenly beings descended from above” will also shatter.

“Or… I could just show it directly.”

Well, even that isn’t necessary—simply reaching the “Kármán line,” where one can experience microgravity and the curvature of the Earth, would be enough to break their misconceptions.

All it would take is to show them what the universe is like.

“I can expect significant resistance.”

However, if that happens, the nobles will revolt.

It would be an immense event that jeopardizes their identity.

Above all, what I’m attempting to do directly confronts the authority of the Emperor.

The moment I show the universe, it’s the same as saying “You’re not Hwanin at all.”

“Still, the Earth is rotating.”

But I couldn’t deny that it was indeed rotating.

Clouds are merely steam, and there are no humans living above them.

Most importantly, to effectively fend off the demons’ invasion, commoners must also wield various weapons and participate in battle by getting into carriages.

If I leave it to become mere meat shields as in previous rounds, it will only lead to the same results repeating.

“Alright. Let’s become the villain.”

Thus, I decided to become an enemy of the royal family and the nobles.

I will become the villain of this era, armed with science and reason, leading the charge against the nobles’ elitism and authoritarianism.

“But Edgar Fix won’t do.”

However, Edgar Fix will remain a coward.

Knowing everything but turning a blind eye to the truth just to curry favor with the royal family and nobles.

A depraved power holder and intellectual doing it solely for his own interests.

“On the other hand, Oliver Cromwell…”

On the contrary, the new persona I will embody, “Oliver Cromwell,” will appear as a scientist opposing Edgar Fix.

He will join the anti-government faction “Crayble Revolutionaries,” shouting for enlightenment and equality for all.

What if I wear a good Rider-like suit and provide the Crayble Revolutionaries with vehicles and machinery that overthrew the “Franche” kingdom?

Wouldn’t the Empire command Edgar Fix to arm his machines in response to the Crayble Revolutionaries’ mounting threat?

“Cromwell, from now on, you are my archenemy.”

With that thought in mind, I began to outline the curriculum.

I devised a curriculum that discovers the universal laws and principles of the world through accurate measurement using only reason and mathematics.

Following this curriculum, my students would naturally arrive at “Enlightenment.”

They would realize that the existing order is a product of irrational imagination and would begin to act against it.

“However, Edgar Fix…”

He will pretend not to know until the end.

I will stand firmly by the royal family and nobles to protect my dear noble friends, including the children of the four major dukes.

Edgar Fix’s role is to help the noble progeny grow while maintaining the empire’s stability by raising technological prowess.

It would be more than sufficient for Cromwell to instigate a revolution to restore the rights of the commoners and equip them.

Of course, managing the situation to prevent conflicts with the Empire will also fall on him.

“Alright. Then…”

It’s time to gradually make contact with the Crayble Revolutionaries.

They are likely gathering resources through the black market and planning for actions in the near future.

Perhaps I should check to see if there are any spies from the Demon Church within.

Cromwell must take charge before they become compromised.

“Eve.”

Thus, I called for Eve, who was disguised as my secretary.

Eve looked up from the paperwork and answered me.

“Woo-oo-oo-oo~!”

“Chuckles. Stop joking around.”

“Sure. Big Brother.”

“We need to make something. I’m planning to create a new suit.”

“A new suit?”

“Yeah. It’s called a Kamen Rider. Have you heard of it?”

Kamen Rider?

Eve tilted her head in confusion and searched her data briefly.

Then she smiled and replied.

“It doesn’t suit you at all. You look like a villain.”

“Chuckles. That’s exactly right. It’s a suit for villains.”

I said that as I got up.

And I turned to Eve, who was looking at me with round eyes.

“Let’s go to the lab. We have a lot to do.”

 

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