Became the Villainess’s Guardian

A palace.
According to the dictionary, it refers to a business entity formed by a certain number of magicians banding together to pursue profitable activities.

Some may have the image of researchers exploring the uncharted realms of magic.

But unless they are engaged in volunteer work, a palace, like any company in this world, inevitably becomes a group chasing profits.
Research requires money, does it not?

They manufacture magic tools, sell patents on newly developed magic or lease out the rights to earn royalties.
Or they dispatch magicians to earn rental fees.

If a palace grew decently large, it would be listed on the Londinium stock exchange, hold regular shareholder meetings, and if operations failed, angry investors would come wielding molotov cocktails – just like any other company.
The only difference was the fantasy element of magic sprinkled in.

In a brief Q&A session with Professor Magni beforehand:

“Is Ceres Palace publicly listed?”

“Yes, although their stock price has been sluggish lately. They were once highly anticipated, symbolizing the prosperity of electromancy…”

The mere fact of being listed on the stock exchange meant they were at least not some baseless small-time operation.

There was no profound reason behind having ‘palace’ in the name.

In the past, one of the methods magicians chose to show off their architecture and magic skills was to build the tallest towers possible, the taller the better, to capture visual aggro. There was also the superstition that the closer one reached the heavens, the more divine knowledge could be shared.

Nowadays, whether palaces were built in cube shapes or underground didn’t matter, but the name remained as a customary legacy of the past.

And Freyja was someone who understood the romanticism of towering skyscrapers, unusual for these modern times.
There was certainly something stirring about grand, majestic structures. Honestly, it was difficult to resist erecting a palace like a truly tall tower.

“Then is there a reason you’re recommending Ceres Palace to me?”

“I’ve had a few assistants under you before, did you know?”

“Yes, unfortunately…”

“The palace master Freyja is your senior from school and the lab. And recently, she said to send over any capable personnel. Apparently their sales haven’t been like the old days.”

If they had gone bankrupt due to corruption, he would have shaken his head and said there was no point.
If they had engaged in illegal activities and faced the iron fist of authority, he would have avoided any association entirely.

But according to what Professor Magni had heard, it wasn’t that kind of situation – they simply struggled with palace operations.

“Then I suppose I’ll go take a look.”

It didn’t seem problematic as my first place of employment.

Solution Edan, deploying.

Inside the palace gates was the busyness befitting a weekday afternoon.
I made my way through the milling people to arrive at the counter.

“I’ve come to see the palace master.”

“Yes, did you have an appointment?”

“I didn’t make a separate arrangement, but I believe you’re expecting me.”

The professor did say he would send someone over after meeting on the weekend.
Doesn’t that count as an arrangement of sorts?

Rather than outright stating I had come to see the palace master, which would likely get me kicked out, I handed over Professor Magni’s letter of recommendation instead.
Someone then scurried up the stairs, whispering something at the counter after a moment before a staff member led me to a room upstairs.

After the staff departed, I picked up a palace brochure sitting in the corner.

Skipping over the palace’s brief history and accomplishments, likely intended for potential investors, it was padded with products under development and investment pitches.

[Ceres Palace 4-Year Development Goals]

[Automated barbershops using machinery]
[Electric-powered mechanical calculators capable of advanced computations]
[Swift, maneuverable airborne vessels for passenger and cargo transport instead of slow, difficult to control apparatuses like hot air balloons]

Ceres Palace was a palace supplying industrial machinery. While it seemed to harbor ambitious goals now, its original identity appeared to be along those lines.

Each goal sounded like a dream at this point, somewhat ahead of its time. Investing in them now would likely yield no results for quite a while.

And yet.
Given a bit more time, some may not have been impossible.

How much time had passed as I examined them one by one?

-Creak

“Hello there. I heard you came on Professor Magni’s recommendation…”

“Yes, I’m Edan, the professor’s former assistant until recently.”

A person with disheveled auburn hair opened the door somewhat hesitantly.

Not long ago,
Freyja had heard these words from Professor Magni:

“I cannot help you directly myself.”

Up to that point was within expectations. To some degree, she had visited her mentor to vent, so she didn’t anticipate any significant measures.
At most, she would have been satisfied if he plugged in a few graduates to work the assembly lines.

“But it just so happens that one of my students is looking for work. He’s quite capable, so make good use of him.”

“What kind of person is he, Master?”

After tapping the table in contemplation for a moment, he opened his mouth to answer.

“He’s… always offered me burgers.”

“Pardon?”

“A fellow named Edan, who has just resigned as my assistant.”

Freyja’s eyes widened slightly.

Just as the professor had boasted endlessly about the childless Edan to her, he had bragged about his student to fellow professors without student robes at the club.
How obedient the boy was, how diligently he researched, what he had accomplished, and so on – he had hidden this treasure trove, insisting on monopolizing it for himself.

While Freyja, having lived in the East End slums all her life, didn’t recognize Edan when she first saw him,
In Freyja’s case, Edan was something of a celebrity who had appeared in newspaper corners a few times, so she could easily identify him.

Frequently appearing at the professor’s demonstrations and lectures, leading performances as he shuttled between the patent office, it would have been harder not to recognize him playing the idol role.

But that was about it – Freyja had likely dismissed him as just a junior assistant.
However, Edan was different from the other assistants overshadowed by the professor’s brilliance.

‘Ah, this is an improved magic stone battery. Using it allows higher efficiency and greater output.’

‘I made an awesome motor! I can control the RPM!’

The reason the first electric car had failed miserably and faded into obscurity was because the battery sucked.
The reason the first airplane still couldn’t take to the skies was because the motor sucked.

Under the professor’s supporting fire, unable to tolerate his magic being eclipsed by other schools, Edan began appearing at patent offices and demonstrations even without the professor.

At this rate, if he showed a bit more tangible results,

Rumors would start circulating that he could obtain Royal Academy membership like the pioneering Michael and Professor Magni.

“He’ll be visiting soon, so you’ll see for yourself then.”

While her mentor had a knack for roping people in, he was not the type to outright lie.
Indeed, after the weekend passed, her secretary informed her that a visitor had arrived around lunchtime.

Professor Magni cared quite a bit.
But he was not so gullible as to keep fussing over someone who squandered the opportunity he provided.

The dining table was set, so it was up to the guest to bring their own fork and knife.

Having properly organized the reasons she needed him at the palace by the previous night, all that remained was to explain it coherently.
After taking a deep breath, Freyja entered the guest room where Edan was waiting.

“The benefits at our palace are, um, well the food is decent and the employees are nice…”

“Ah, you must have heard about the palace’s recent situation from the professor. As for sales… we have plenty of dreams and passion!”

How should one put this?

“The standard weekly pay we offer newly hired magicians is 100 libras, and we can add up to 50% more based on other experience, registered patents, and relevant regulations.”

“Technically, the principles don’t really allow more than that… but I’ll make it up by selling my own palace shares if needed…!”

Ah, right.
Setting aside the lofty title of ‘palace master’… Freyja was rather pitiable.

Since I had made up my mind before coming, I gave my acceptance to Freyja, who was gradually becoming more flustered in the face of my silence.

Upon hearing my answer, her expression brightened considerably.

“Really? You’ll really join?”

“Yes, as long as I’m given discretion to choose my own development field.”

“Ah, and we should discuss things like equity shares too… but the shareholders might object if I try to give too much…”

“Palace Master.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Please watch your words. We have a senior-junior university relationship privately, and a palace master-employee relationship officially.”

“Yes, ah, right…!”

Setting aside complex matters like weekly pay or palace shares for the moment.

“You said I can decide my own development field.”

“Yes.”

“Then do you have any good ideas…?”

Freyja attempted to appear composed as she broached the more serious topic, but her slightly trembling tone betrayed a hint of unease.

“Why is that?”

“There’s a shareholder meeting next quarter. I need to have something to show the investors…”

“Well, I’ve always wanted to work on a particular project.”

Since being born into this modern world,
The greatest torment for me was not the lack of hygiene or smartphones.

No, the fact that Londinium’s sewage system was integrated with the Thames River handling the city’s maritime transport was admittedly troubling, but I had adapted after over 20 years.
While cutting-edge technology was absent, magic served as a decent substitute to some extent. There was a certain romance to it.

But there was one thing that even time and romance could not compensate for.

“I will make air conditioning.”

“That is… what exactly?”

“Ah, the precise term would be a refrigerated air conditioning unit.”

Broadly speaking, for the people of this fantasy modern world. Narrowly speaking, for my own salvation.

I shall become a god.