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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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When Ed removed the black cloth, the audience was bewildered.
The object revealed wasn’t quite what they had expected.
A strange, torso-shaped device?
Murmurs rippled through the hall.
-Is that it?
-The design is… rather obscene.
-Ahem. Not quite as impressive as I’d hoped.
Ed’s “Mosquito-Catching Dummy” resembled a plucked chicken.
The design was less “bad” and more “embarrassing.”
A modern person would likely associate it with certain adult novelties.
“I can see what you’re thinking.”
Ed, unfazed by their reactions, smiled.
“Surprisingly, this isn’t a chicken dish.”
He delivered the lighthearted joke, drawing chuckles from those who had indeed been reminded of cooked poultry.
The tension in the hall eased slightly.
“Believe it or not, this is a guardian.”
He introduced the device with an intriguing description, calling the odd object a “guardian.”
“Not only that, it’s a warrior, a savior, a dream spirit that will grant you sweet slumber. This object will fight valiantly to protect you.”
He continued with even more extravagant praise, bestowing honorable titles upon the embarrassing-looking object.
The nobles’ curiosity grew.
What could this device possibly do to warrant such grand descriptions?
Ed spread his arms dramatically.
“Introducing… the Chicken Guardian!”
…Chicken Guardian.
The absurd name drew laughter from some while others waited expectantly for his explanation.
His humor elicited mixed reactions.
“Mana Transformation Disease.”
The mention of the disease instantly silenced the hall.
Everyone, from those who had been laughing to those engaged in side conversations, even those showing signs of impatience with his jokes, now stared intently at Ed.
Having captured their attention, he continued with an even more shocking statement.
“Would you believe me if I said this unimpressive-looking object has conquered Mana Transformation Disease?”
“……”
Silence.
No one responded.
He seemed to be claiming he had solved the mana mosquito problem, a feat no one had accomplished.
Ed, anticipating their reaction, smiled and pressed a button.
The large screen at the front of the hall flickered to life.
“Seeing is believing. I’ll show you a demonstration video.”
He approached the image transmission magic sphere, infusing it with mana.
The linked sphere activated and displayed an image on the screen.
A man’s face filled the screen.
[Oh, is it working?]
It was David, the president of the SIBALSAEGI club, waiting for his cue to begin the demonstration.
[Ahem. Then… I’ll begin the demonstration.]
David followed Ed’s instructions, activating the Chicken Guardian and releasing a container full of mosquitoes.
-No way!
The nobles gasped.
He had released dozens of mosquitoes!
If they carried Mana Transformation Disease, the man on screen would be at risk.
-Bzzzzzz…!
But the mosquitoes’ behavior was strange.
They ignored David and focused solely on the Chicken Guardian.
-Is that thing… attracting the mana mosquitoes?
-How does it work…?
The nobles’ curiosity intensified.
Even those who had been unimpressed were now watching with rapt attention.
What was the secret behind this comical-looking object?
-Wait… isn’t something strange?
-Do you see it too? The mosquitoes aren’t moving.
The Chicken Guardian wasn’t just attracting mosquitoes; it was immobilizing them.
They clung to the device, unable to escape.
“Yes, you’re probably wondering why the mana mosquitoes are frozen in place.”
Ed explained the Chicken Guardian’s mechanism.
In short, a chemical reaction triggered when the mosquitoes attempted to pierce the skin, trapping them.
“As you can see, the Chicken Guardian boasts a near 100% mosquito attraction rate. Despite the presence of a test subject, the mosquitoes are only interested in the Chicken Guardian.”
He was right.
Even with David sitting nearby, the mosquitoes were fixated on the device.
“But you might be thinking, ‘What if one of them attacks the test subject?’ So, I’ve prepared this. The ‘Sensory Heat-Emitting Mosquito Net.’”
He directed their attention back to the screen.
Exactly three minutes had passed since David’s image transmission began.
[…Alright.]
David, checking his watch, stood up.
Their synchronized timing made the presentation seamless.
He went to the bed and pressed a button.
Carbon nanotubes shot out from a launcher on the ceiling, forming a dense, one-meter radius net around the bed.
Ed turned to the audience.
“The Sensory Heat-Emitting Mosquito Net. This isn’t an ordinary mosquito net. The moment a mana mosquito lands on it, the net detects it and emits intense heat. You’re completely safe inside.”
He looked back at the screen.
David, checking his watch again, deactivated the Chicken Guardian remotely and released more mosquitoes into the room to demonstrate the mosquito net’s effectiveness.
Sizzle!
The mosquito net worked flawlessly.
The moment a mosquito landed on it, the net emitted a burst of heat and incinerated it.
None of the newly released mosquitoes could penetrate the barrier.
-With that…
-Amazing… truly amazing.
Excitement filled the hall.
The demonstration proved that the combination of the Chicken Guardian and the Sensory Heat-Emitting Mosquito Net could offer complete protection from mana mosquitoes.
-Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.
Applause erupted from the audience.
For those who had suffered from mana mosquitoes their entire lives, this was a dream come true.
Ed raised his hand, silencing the applause.
He had more to say.
“Mana mosquitoes. I understand your frustration with these creatures. How much economic loss and mental anguish have you endured because of these tiny monsters? And the terror of Mana Transformation Disease…”
The nobles nodded, resonating with his words.
The mana mosquitoes, targeting mana-rich blood, were the nobles’ worst nightmare.
There was even a saying, “Mana mosquitoes are more terrifying than dragons.”
“That’s why I’ve prepared a small feature. Look at the mosquitoes trapped on the Chicken Guardian.”
He pointed at the screen.
The screen showed the mosquitoes stuck to the Chicken Guardian.
“As you can see, they’re trapped, but still alive. Their fate is in your hands.”
Ed smiled, and a similar expression spread across the nobles’ faces.
This was their chance for revenge.
“Boil them, burn them, fry them, cut them, stab them, crush them – it’s up to you. I hope this will alleviate some of the frustration you’ve accumulated over the centuries.”
With these chilling words, Ed concluded his presentation.
He had just turned the entire nobility of the Empire into members of a Mosquito Gallery.
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