第１６６３堀：休み時間の学生たち (Part2)
"Exactly. The sun burns a brilliant white, illuminating the earth. I simply mimicked that. Though, I suppose 'simply' is a bit of an understatement; it’s not exactly easy to replicate."
As I said this, I reached for the base of the lamp, swapping it out with the magic lamp hanging from the ceiling and flicking it on.
Has that improved things at all?
No, perhaps a single lamp isn't enough to make a dramatic difference.
"Narjia, turn off the white one and switch on the standard one so we can compare."
"Ah, good point."
Without a direct comparison, it’s hard to tell. Or rather, while one might notice the difference, a side-by-side demonstration is the most intuitive way to grasp it.
With that in mind...
"Pardon me, I’ll just close the curtains."
I remotely triggered the curtains, and they slid shut with a soft *whoosh*, plunging the room into dimness.
Oh, these are surprisingly high-quality blackout curtains; it’s properly dark in here now. This should make the contrast clear.
"First, the standard magic lamp."
It’s not a bad lamp by any means. The range of the light and its gentle flicker are well within acceptable limits. That said, it doesn't quite bathe the entire room in light, which is why having several of them is the standard practice. Personally, I find this flame-like warmth quite pleasant, but I suppose that’s a matter of individual taste.
"And now, the white lamp."
I switched it on, and as the name implies, a stark, white light flooded the room.
Of course, it’s not quite the same as a modern classroom or a laboratory. Since the light source is fixed to a single point on the ceiling, it’s a world apart from a room equipped with evenly spaced fluorescent lights. It’s brighter than the previous lamp, certainly, but it casts sharper shadows, making the areas just outside the light’s reach seem even darker.
"Whoa, that’s bright."
"Incredible."
"So, this is the kind of technology we deal with. For general use, that is."
"When you say 'general,' do you mean for commoners?"
"Exactly. For instance, if lamps this bright become widespread, people can remain active even in the dead of night. Shops could stay open later, and other trades could continue after dark, provided there’s enough light to work by."
"I see. But wouldn't the cost be prohibitive?"
"We’ll adjust the pricing so it’s well within reach. And with light like this, studying becomes much easier, doesn't it?"
"It is certainly convenient, but..."
They still didn't seem entirely convinced by that explanation alone. Well, it is a reproducible technology, after all.
"Of course, it’s not just this. There’s plenty more. Think of this as just the foundation."
"That’s right. In the next class, Comet-san will be covering the tools she’s been developing. There’s quite a variety."
"I see. So many tools... That person must be a Weed technician. Given that you have teleportation technology, I suppose it’s no surprise."
"For the record, I’m the one who’s better at crafting these kinds of tools, while Wazfi specializes in monster research."
"If it’s about monsters, just ask me. I’m not without knowledge; I know my way around tools, too."
"Oh? So you’re a specialist in magic tool crafting and monster ecology, then?"
They looked genuinely impressed as they listened to our areas of expertise. There was no hint of condescension—only a growing curiosity in their eyes.
"So, Wazfi, what kind of monsters are you researching right now?"
"Let’s see... I’m working on a few things, but here in Weed, we’ve been focusing heavily on aquatic monsters—monsters of the sea."
"The sea?"
"Exactly. You heard the talk about the harbor during class, right? That wasn't just idle chatter. The consensus is that we can’t move forward without understanding the monsters of the deep."
"I see. It’s true, I’ve often heard that sea monsters are a major nuisance."
"You can’t hope to cross the ocean without dealing with them, that’s for sure. But don't you have the Gates?"
"Gates can be sabotaged, and besides, there’s a belief in Weed that venturing out onto the open sea might lead to new discoveries."
Indeed, while Gates are an incredibly convenient means of reaching a destination, they offer no room for discovery. The kind of discovery found only through adventure. That is what leads to something new.
"New discoveries, huh..."
"That sounds like an amazing story."
They were hooked by Wazfi’s talk of the sea, and we spent the rest of the break chatting away like typical students.
Come to think of it, isn't this a familiar experience? When a transfer student arrives, everyone gathers around. And that’s when the transfer student’s social skills are truly put to the test!