by Sato Tsutomu
The reporter attempted to inquire further from Jennifer, but she beat him to the punch.
“It’s starting.”
Maybe due to their professional instincts as journalists, all of their attention was drawn towards the experimental device fastened in the school quad by the school buildings to the side.
The experimental device known as the Stellar Furnace was composed of a simple design that had a spherical water sink on top of a pedestal. The water pump had already been removed in the radiation lab. Metallic cups 15cm across were attached to the equator of the water sink, to which four rods extending from the pedestal supported these metallic cups. The water entry point directly above was stoppered by a circular pan 30cm across the diameter and a similar pan was affixed on the other side.
The experimental device attracted the attention of many a student standing in the windows of the school dorm. Practically all the classrooms had abandoned any pretense of actually studying. Predicting that this would happen, most of the faculty had halted Technical Skills classes and switched to terminal lectures.
Students who were unsatisfied with standing by the windows also came downstairs to the quad. The entire Year 2 Class E as well as the Student Council members who were not part of the experiment were all in attendance. Likewise, previous members of last year’s Year 1 Class E as well as all the female participants from last year’s Nine Schools Competition were present as well. Beyond the students, quite a few teachers were also here.
“Commence the experiment.”
The one on the mike was Tatsuya. All the students gathered in the quad fell silent without another word. Swallowing hard, the students and faculty looked on in wonder as Tatsuya gave the signal.
“Gravity control.”
Miyuki activated Gravity Control-Type Magic. A gravitational field formed in the interior of the water sink as the mixed water that was half heavy water and half light water became hollow in the center, pushing the water outward towards the inside of the water sink.
“Ionization.”
Kasumi and Izumi activated Shift Magic – Dispersal-Type Magic. Transforming liquid into the fourth phase, which was essentially ionization magic.
On the surface of the water with a hollow center formed by Miyuki’s Gravity Control-Type Magic, Miyuki deftly manipulated the mixed water within the influence of the gravitational field to create deuterium, hydrogen, and oxygen ions.
“Neutron Barrier. Gamma Ray Filter.”
Minami added the Neutron Barrier between the magic area of the Gravity Control-Type Magic and the magic area formed by the Shift Magic. As its name implies, Neutron Barrier was a type of magic that generated a field that prevented neutrons from rebounding.
On top of that, Honoka inserted the Gamma Ray Filter between the Neutron Barrier and the Fourth Phase Shift Field. Gamma Ray Filter was a type of magic that gathered the heat energy from gamma rays and expressed it as visible light.
Both Gamma Ray Filter and Neutron Barrier were classified as Dispersal-Type Magic. Dispersal-Type Magic was defined as magic that interfered with the movement and interaction of elementary and composite particles. Magic that manipulated gamma rays was categorized as Dispersal-Type Magic because the magic interfered with light particles, but on some level this was a later classification. These two magics were originally developed to neutralize the danger of nuclear fission weapons and the two of them were researched together in most situations. For ease of research, Gamma Ray Filter and Neutron Barrier were both categorized together.
“Gravity Control.”
Miyuki began activating the second Gravity Control-Type Magic. In the center of the spherical water sink, a heavy gravitational field that was 10cm in diameter appeared. To be precise, a new gravitational field was created within the spherical area that was 10cm across and acted against the original Gravity Control-Type Magic pulling outwards by pulling towards the center, hereby amplifying matter’s mutual gravitational attraction.
As for the metallic cups attached to the equator of the water sink, they were composed of 60 Specialized CADs linked together as a sighting assistance device. The cup-shape allowed the sighting assistance device to accurately translate the physical data and distributed condition in the empty space 10cm in diameter at the center of the spherical water sink into information that aided magic casting. This information was passed along the wires inside the pillars that supported the water sink into the operating device, which happened to be the large, fixed CAD that sat in front of Miyuki for this experiment.
With processing power that dwarfed mobile CADs, the fixed CAD aggregated the data from the 60 sighting assistance devices and sent the Activation sequence to the caster. Thanks to this information, Miyuki was able to devise Gravity Control-Type Magic that was able to counteract the shifting energy within the gravitational field and implement it. Of course, this was only possible with her Magic Power as a prerequisite. Still, without the repeated gravitational field technique developed through Flying-Type Magic and the precise sighting assistance device that combined all 60 data sets, even Miyuki would not be able to continuously maintain such a stable, heavy gravitational field. This sighting assistance device was the key cog for the “Stellar Furnace” experimental device.
“Coulomb Force Control.”
Thanks to Isori exerting control over Coulomb Force, the electromagnetic repulsion within the field was lowered to 1/10000. The electromagnetic force among the particles in the nucleus of the deuterium atom was 10^36. When that electromagnetic force was lowered to 1/10000, gravity became 100 times greater than normal, hereby preventing nuclear fusion. However, there was enough thermal energy gathered to spontaneously ignite a nuclear fusion reaction, meaning that the kinetic energy of the ions had decreased. For that matter, just the rise in pressure caused by ionization was sufficient to meet reaction requirements.
A dim light appeared. A wordless shout emitted from the students observing the experiment. The brightness gradually grew stronger as the light continued for a minute, then two minutes.
The water within the spherical water sink began boiling furiously. The theory behind this experimentally gathered thermal energy was the same as magnetic confinement thermonuclear reactors. By hitting neutrons with a decelerator, the kinetic energy of the neutrons could be converted into thermal energy. In terms of the design for this sort of nuclear fusion reactor, structural weakening due to constant exposure to neutron radiation was a problem that must be overcome in order to directly bathe the thermal energy gathering device within high speed neutrons. Structural weakening due to exposure to neutron radiation became the defining threshold for creating a practical and enduring thermonuclear reactor. However, in this experiment, water was used as the decelerator for neutrons and the hollow sphere formed of water completely encompassed energy from the reaction, hereby removing the problem of having the neutron radiation pass through a vessel to hit the decelerator. This design was also a highly effective countermeasure to the structural weakening of the walls. Gravity control turned the possibility of creating an empty sphere within the water a reality.
The digital thermometer set alongside the spherical water sink showed that the mixed water boiling inside had reached 300 degrees. The air pressure within the sphere could be calculated to be 100 atmospheres. Although gravity control could prevent the device from falling apart regardless of how high the internal pressure rose, the vessel’s endurance was about to reach its limit.
“Experiment concluded.”
Three minutes after the start of the experiment, a declaration announcing the end of the experiment was issued from Tatsuya’s lips. The Coulomb Force Control-Type Magic and the second Gravity Control-Type Magic were halted and the light within the experimental device faded.
“Disabling Gamma Ray Filter.”
After verifying that the nuclear fusion reaction had halted, the Gamma Ray Filter used to capture the neutron’s gamma rays was also disabled.
“Disabling Gravity Control, m
aintain Neutron Barrier.”
The wall of water covering the inside of the vessel succumbed to Earth’s gravity and fell to the bottom of the vessel.
Operable arms from the robotics club connected a cable to the top of the spherical vessel. The front end of the cable contained a gas analyzer. After opening the lid, gas within the vessel quickly flowed towards the analyzer on account of the difference in pressure.
“Gaseous composition includes steam, deuterium, hydrogen, and oxygen. No deuterium ions or other radioactive compounds have been detected!”
Sitting in front of the analyzer, a highly excited Kento gave a simple report of the findings. Despite calling it simple, so long as there were no calculation errors, there would be no chance of missing anything. This caused an excited ruckus to ripple through those assembled here to observe the proceedings.
“Begin adding water.”
Following Tatsuya’s orders, a malleable water hose was connected to the cable and began pumping cold water into the receptacle. Thick steam began to be emitted from the inside of the spherical water sink, but the steam swiftly faded away to reveal a water sink full of transparent water.
“Disabling Neutron Barrier.”
Tatsuya directed a grateful look at Minami, who was in the process of lowering her shoulders, before directing his gaze towards Honoka, Kasumi, Izumi, and Miyuki in that order. Finally, he and Isori caught each other’s eyes and nodded before Tatsuya passed the microphone into Asuza’s hands, as she had been diligently observing the various recording devices until now.
Shaking her head repeatedly, Azusa tried multiple times to press the microphone back to his hands. However, unable to withstand Isori’s smile and Tatsuya’s wordless pressure, Azusa wore a tear stricken expression as she accepted the microphone.
After taking many deep breaths, Azusa moved the microphone to her lips. Adopting a determined expression – though it seemed more like a self-destructive expression – she made her declaration to the assembled students who had witnessed this entire process.
“The sustainable thermonuclear experiment using continuous Gravity Control-Type Magic as its core has reached the expected goal. I hereby declare the 'Stellar Furnace' experiment to be a success.”
Both the quad and the dorms were filled with cheers at the same time. The fervent cheers that could be described as a tad volatile were also the cries that heralded both the possibilities and future of “magic”.
Overcome by the students’ cheers, Congressman Kanda and his reporters stood completely frozen and it was only when the spherical water sink was being brought back into the radiation lab and the students were filtering out of the quad back to their classes that they finally recovered their wits.
“What was that just now?”
In a voice quaking with fear, one of the reporters asked of Tsuzura and Jennifer, who were deep in their own conversation.
“That experiment was about the continuous Gravity Control-Type Magic thermonuclear reactor.”
However, a literal question received a literal answer. The reporter’s voice grew rougher due to his agitation, but Kanda, as expected of someone who had survived the double-dealing world of politicians, was not so easily ruffled.
“What is that thing? Didn’t they give up on a practical thermonuclear reactor?”
That was Kanda’s question,
“Who said gave up on?”
“Gave up on what?”
And those were replies given at the same time by Tsuzura and Jennifer. The two exchanged a glance after their voices overlapped before Jennifer once again opened her mouth.
“We never gave up. We just set its priority below finishing a solar energy system first. Although research on a large-scale experimental device was halted due to budget issues, the topic itself continues on even in fields other than magic.”
Although they heard a snide “Ho, is that so” slip out of Tsuzura’s mouth, both Kanda and Jennifer ignored him.
“Using magic to conduct thermonuclear research is also a part of this. Thermonuclear reactors using electromagnetic magic were abandoned due to its complexity, but in comparison, the new thermonuclear reactors relying on Gravity Control-Type magic continue to be researched in the world of magic theory.”
“When you say research on thermonuclear reactors, is that so you can create a viable thermonuclear detonation through magic?”
“Such as the one used during the 'Scorched Halloween'?”
The questions posed by the two reporters were filled with malice, causing Jennifer to wrinkle her brow.
Nevertheless, barbed indictments did not fall from her lips.
“HA HA HA HA……”
Tsuzura’s insolent laughter removed Jennifer’s sting and slightly terrified the reporters.
“Thermonuclear detonation? Pray indulge my question, but what were you just observing?”
The unnatural usage of the two-fold niceties was an intentionally impolite jab. Even an imperceptive individual could tell that the words literally meant “are your eyes just for show?”. This man who bears the name Tsuzura not only had an arrogant attitude but also carried a sarcastic personality.
“Creating a miniature explosion doesn’t even require such a complex magical combination, nor would the giant explosion you guys are talking about use one either. Furthermore, the only successful example of a large scale thermonuclear explosion comes from the Brazilian Army’s Miguel Diaz and his Strategic-Class “Synchronized Linear Fusion” Magic. No one else has been able to recreate Diaz’s ability. Even with the countless talented students at our school, did you really think such a thing is possible?”
Heightened displeasure had contorted the reporters’ faces. They were aware that their opponent was the expert and they were only outsiders. In addition, they were completely ignorant on how difficult “Synchronized Linear Fusion” was. If there was only one successful example in the world, then there was no way they could forcibly stretch this to include high school students even at the experimental level.
Yet, they had long since grown accustomed to this level of sarcasm. The source of this expected displeasure was the dismissive attitude that treated the reporters like common rabble. Not only Tsuzura, the reporters felt that the dean, the principal, the female teacher standing over there, and even the students never bothered to treat these messengers of public opinion with any sort of respect.
“Today’s thermonuclear experiment was aimed at the energy sources that are the foundation of society. Although there are quite a few more hurdles left to circumvent, if this Stellar Furnace becomes more practical, then it will probably provide a more abundant source of energy than solar energy.”
Tsuzura kept his eyes on Kanda as he said this. Even if they were unwilling to accept this, the reporters knew from the bottom of their hearts that they were nothing in Tsuzura’s eyes.
“What do you think, Congressman Kanda? Our students have a fine spirit of peaceful, civic contribution, do they not?”
“You are…… quite right. I think that their proactive attitude towards the betterment of society should be commended.”
Maybe he had a switch somewhere, but in the face of Tsuzura’s brazen tour de force, Kanda could only nod his head unwillingly.
In response, Tsuzura revealed a fake smile and bowed towards Kanda.
“Thank you very much, Congressman Kanda. I will record the words you just spoke. I’m sure you will not object, in the name of fostering students’ motivation?”
“No, that’s……”
“Surely there’s no problem?”
“Ah, no, there would be nothing better if I could help out these children.”
Keeping his eyes averted, Kanda politely nodded and left this simple sentence before quitting the field. Not just the school quad, but First High altogether. He remembered that above all else, it would be terrible if he came out on record with statements that ran counter to his original intent, so today he would have to temporarily retreat.
&nb
sp; Without a god to worship, one could not remain at the festival. Abandoning the triumphal parade was the only choice as the reporters could only bring their coverage of First High to a grinding halt.
Jennifer watched the congressman’s party responsible for this disturbance leave and once they were out of sight, immediately spoke to Tsuzura.
“Tsuzura-sensei.”
Completely immersed in Japanese culture, Jennifer was in no way different than a Japanese person save for her appearances alone. When referring to her colleagues, she used “sensei” and not “Mr.”.
“Didn’t you go a little too far?”
Still, putting it so politely was also distinctly Japanese. Being brutally honest would surely be chalked up as an American bias.
“Eh, sorry about that display.”
Tsuzura seemed to be a little embarrassed at being pointed out.
“I couldn’t help but get a little angry when I saw our students’ good intentions being misconstrued.”
“Intention…… is it?”
It wasn’t that she was unfamiliar with the meaning behind those words. To be honest, Jennifer knew Tsuzura since Magic University. Though Jennifer was quite a few years older, their position at the Magic University was the same – they were research colleagues. Also, by the strictest terms, they were colleagues on an excellent footing. The reason why Jennifer was shocked by Tsuzura’s words was because this wasn’t like him. Though Tsuzura was acknowledged as a weirdo by everyone at First High, that was only because his personality was the type that abandoned anything unnecessary to the extreme degree. Usually, he was not someone who acknowledged the value of something emotional like “intention”. For the typical Tsuzura, “motivation” and “objectivity” were things to be dissected and not valued. It was precisely because Jennifer was aware of this that her question slipped inadvertently from her lips.
In that regard, Tsuzura himself was aware. The reason why he was embarrassed was because he felt that words like “intention” didn’t suit him.
“Well, that…… From a technical standpoint, this experiment is still a little immature. It was overly reliant on the individuals’ magical prowess. Success was only achieved due to the members selected, so there are still many problems that need to be solved prior to actualization.”