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Chapter 19: The Arithmetician is Cold and Ruthless
🕑 Added 2025-09-23 00:56:18 +0000 UTCAfter finalizing the future cooperation plan between Schale and Millennium with Noa and having lunch with Koyuki in the cafeteria, I went to the Engineering Department to visit by myself.
When I walked through the open doors of the Engineering Department, three girls were busy working on a machine in the center of the room. It wasn't until I spoke up that they, engrossed in their work, noticed my arrival.
One of them, a tall girl with light purple hair, whispered something to the other two, then put down her work and came forward to greet me:
"Hello, I am the president of the Engineering Department, Shirashi Utaha. You must be the Sensei from Schale, right?"
Utaha had a somewhat handsome face, with black grease stains on her clothes and skin. Her attitude was enthusiastic and friendly.
After confirming my identity, she had the others pause their work as well, and they all crowded around me, leading me to a nearby testing ground filled with many strange-looking machines.
And during the short walk, I also learned the names of the other two members of the Engineering Department:
Toyomi Kotori, who wore glasses, had short orange hair, was short but well-endowed, and loved to talk.
Nekozuka Hibiki, who had faint dark circles under her eyes, slightly curly black hair, dog ears and a tail, wore fishnet stockings, and gave off the impression of not being good at socializing.
"Sensei, these are the new engineering machines invented by our Engineering Department."
Utaha first walked to a machine that was yellow overall, with a huge steel wheel at the front, resembling a road roller, and solemnly introduced its function.
"This machine can use its own gravity to compact loose ground, making it dense."
Isn't that just a normal road roller?
Just as I was about to ask, Utaha continued:
"And it also buries explosives under the compacted ground."
...Huh?
Hibiki smiled proudly. "I've named it the Potato Mine Planter Road Roller MK1!"
Then, the members of the Engineering Department boarded the machine and started it. Accompanied by some inexplicably rousing BGM from the vehicle's sound system, they rolled forward.
And then, unsurprisingly, they were flipped over by the bomb they had just buried.
Escaping to the safe location where I was just before a chain reaction of explosions occurred, the members of the Engineering Department looked at the fireworks rising in the distance and only expressed slight regret:
"Oh dear, the experiment was successful last time. It seems the stability of the bombs still needs adjustment."
Hearing this, I was having a hard time keeping a straight face.
But I didn't expect that even more ridiculous things were to come—
Next, the Engineering Department showed me an excavator that could perform directional blasting, a bulldozer that used explosions as propulsion, a crane that used gunpowder for pulling force, a cement mixer that self-destructed to speed up its operation...
Without exception, every machine came with its own mysterious BGM when it started.
Without exception, every test ended in a splendid display of fireworks.
"Not very lucky today," Kotori said regretfully, pushing up her glasses. "The theoretical success rate was twenty percent. If they had all succeeded, we wanted to combine them into the Ultimate Engineering Demolition King for testing."
Hibiki shook her head. "It's okay. Failure is the mother of success. We've recorded all the data from this failure. Next time, we'll definitely be able to create a more perfect work."
"That's right! As masters of Millennium, this is the kind of passion we need!"
Utaha shifted her gaze to me, who had been silent since the beginning, and asked for my opinion.
All I can say is, I didn't understand, but I was greatly shocked.
Utaha blinked and remarked, "Isn't it fine? It's quite interesting. Even though we were just testing useless inventions, and they all failed spectacularly in the end."
"But, so-called inventions don't always yield satisfactory results. No matter what you invent, as long as you enjoy the process, you will naturally achieve great results one day."
Kotori chimed in enthusiastically, "That's right! During this experiment, I accumulated experience in combining bombs with various engineering machines. I have a premonition that this technology will be widely used in the future and will definitely be applicable next time!"
It won't be widely used! No... this is Kivotos... maybe it's actually possible...
In any case, I understood the principle, but was the point of specially inviting me to visit just to witness failure?
However, just then, Utaha changed the subject:
"But, to promote technological progress and conduct more experiments, a large amount of experimental funding is needed."
Kotori and Hibiki nodded repeatedly. "That's right, that's right!"
"If we had more funds, perhaps we wouldn't have failed today. After all, the Engineering Department has gathered the best engineers in all of Millennium. We're an excellent club with top-tier technical skills!"
"That's right, that's right!"
"Unfortunately, that cold-hearted arithmetician from the Seminar, just because of some small accidents that occurred during our experiments, mercilessly cut our funding, to the point that we could only use the scraps left in the department to make these inventions that were doomed to fail..."
I suddenly realized.
Their goal was to play the victim to gain sympathy and financial aid?
Uh, perhaps tech geeks are really like this.
Based on my understanding of the Engineering Department, they are artisans obsessed with invention and research. And backed by the financially powerful Millennium Science School, they probably have never been short of money.
Of course, that means they wouldn't have any experience in swindling investors.
So, what were these "small accidents" that Utaha mentioned, which could make that "cold-hearted arithmetician" angry enough to cut the Engineering Department's funding?
I was very curious about this.
And Utaha was still sighing, saying pointedly, "Ah... if only there was a club directly under the GSC with more funds than they can use, willing to sponsor us."
I couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "And what's in it for Schale? What can the Engineering Department provide?"
Utaha was stunned for a moment, then answered honestly, "The Engineering Department is willing to provide Schale with advanced technological equipment, as well as free maintenance and iteration services... of the same specifications that the GSC has a long-term order for from us... As far as I know, many of Schale's current facilities are already outdated..."
"How much money do you need now?"
After Yukino's intrusion, I had indeed thought about replacing Schale's security system and even doing a major upgrade of all of Schale's electronic equipment. I had already applied for a batch of funds from the chief of the General Student Council, Oki Aoi, but I hadn't found a suitable construction team yet.
This was a win-win situation, as it would achieve my original goal and also build a good relationship with the Engineering Department.
And Utaha's quote was also very conservative, far exceeding my psychological expectations, so I decided to proactively increase the price.
In just a few words, Utaha and I successfully finalized our cooperation.
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