"Although that stuff you gave this great one yesterday was effective, the side effects were too strong. It's completely unacceptable..." Demon King Ship said to Agnes Tachyon.
Demon King Ship had originally thought Agnes Tachyon was scamming her, but she hadn't expected that the weirdly colored functional drink would actually have miraculous effects. It not only relieved fatigue but also had a powerful boosting effect on one's mental state. However, such a powerful drink came with two side effects. First, the taste was horrendous—so bad that just a small sip made one see their life flash before their eyes. The second side effect was that it filled one with so much energy that sleep was impossible for the entire night. Compared to the positive effects, the side effects were simply too potent.
"So the effect was still too strong? Many thanks for your assistance, Lord Demon King. I have a rough idea for the next improvement plan. I'll have to ask you to help test it again when the time comes." Agnes Tachyon's eyes shone. Hearing Demon King Ship mention being unable to sleep at night, her smile became very pleasant.
"There's... a next time?"
Demon King Ship was shocked.
Seeing Demon King Ship wanted to refuse, Agnes Tachyon quickly explained, "Lord Demon King, this is a necessary sacrifice! Think about it: if even you almost couldn't handle the side effects, any other guinea pig would certainly fail. You also think the drink's effect is strong, right? If we can improve it to a version without side effects, the effectiveness of everyone's training will increase drastically. The world you wish to see, Lord Demon King, will arrive that much sooner."
"No. This great one thinks this thing is a complete failure. Not sleeping for a day doesn't matter to me, but it would have a huge impact on normal people, right? Plus that indescribable, ultimate taste... leaving aside the effects, I can't imagine anyone other than this great one being able to swallow it. They'd probably lose consciousness before they even got it down. So, it's completely unacceptable!"
"Lord Demon King, please trust in my, Tachyon's, abilities! I can easily change the flavor to sweet water; that's not difficult. As for the insomnia, I just need to weaken the effects a bit more..." As she spoke, Agnes Tachyon ran to her lab bench and started operating, seemingly intending to create the new improved version right then and there.
Demon King Ship watched Agnes Tachyon enter her "mad scientist" mode and secretly slipped out of the activity room. She silently decided that for a while, she wouldn't go near this place or Agnes Tachyon. Although she was very gratified by Tachyon's hard work for the plan, she really didn't want to be Tachyon's guinea pig again.
And that functional drink was just too disgusting. If it tasted even marginally better, she wouldn't have fled in such a panic. The level of that taste had probably touched the supreme realm of "Dark Cuisine." The taste alone was enough to kill.
After a while, Agnes Tachyon brought out a tube of new liquid. Compared to the previous cloudy color, this one was a uniform deep purple. Up close, it smelled like sweet soda. She said excitedly, "It's complete! Mental Stimulant Improved Version 2! Lord Demon King..."
Turning around, Agnes Tachyon realized Demon King Ship had long since fled. She sighed helplessly, then turned to look at Manhattan Cafe, who was brewing coffee nearby.
Manhattan Cafe noticed her gaze. She asked cautiously, "Do you... want to drink... together?"
"Cafe, instead of coffee, let me treat you to something tastier." Agnes Tachyon narrowed her eyes and approached.
Manhattan Cafe: "..."
Faced with Tachyon's request, Cafe didn't refuse. She just glanced regretfully at the freshly brewed coffee, then drank Tachyon's experimental product. The taste had indeed improved; at least Cafe felt it wasn't unpalatable. It was just a bit too cloyingly sweet, like flat cola. Just as she thought this, Manhattan Cafe felt as if she were floating. The next moment, her eyes closed, and she collapsed.
Agnes Tachyon looked at the sleeping Manhattan Cafe and fell into thought.
'Hmm... Although the excitement effect was reduced, did it turn into a sedative effect instead? I'll have to continue observing after Cafe wakes up...'
Manhattan Cafe slept very soundly.
She slept all the way until the next morning, a full twenty-four hours. And the next day, Cafe seemed to be glowing all over. The energy in her body was so powerful it was overflowing, giving the impression that she had sunk deep into the "Zone." She displayed extraordinary strength during training. This state didn't disappear until nightfall, at which point Manhattan Cafe collapsed on the floor, motionless, like a pile of burnt-out ash.
Demon King Ship was very surprised when she heard about this later. She hadn't expected Agnes Tachyon to accidentally stumble upon something so amazing—a drink that could put someone into a state similar to the Zone without causing much damage to the body, resulting only in fatigue.
This experiment even alerted the Student Council. After hearing about the drink's effects, Symboli Rudolf decisively categorized it as a forbidden item. Although further research might indeed produce a functional drink that allowed horse girls to enter the Zone instantly, leaving aside the dangers of the Zone itself, the drink had powerful side effects and certainly couldn't be left unregulated.
So, Agnes Tachyon could only watch stiffly as the Student Council sealed her research data. Although this couldn't completely stop her from researching, Symboli Rudolf had made her stance clear: this thing could not be researched further. If you have the skill, research it in private where I can't find it. But once I find it, I'm coming to arrest you.
"Honestly, the President's thinking is too archaic. Innovation always requires a certain amount of courage and sacrifice. My Mental Stimulant clearly had a great future..."
Agnes Tachyon only showed her dissatisfaction after the Student Council left. She looked at the others, but found that neither Demon King Ship nor Cafe cared about her complaints, and Trainer Okino was obviously on Symboli Rudolf's side. She could only sigh to herself.
Luckily, she had anticipated this and prepared a backup plan.
"Lord Demon King, please taste this."
"?"
Demon King Ship looked at Agnes Tachyon in surprise. The Student Council people had just left.
"Please don't worry. What was sealed was only Version 2. This is Version 3. It's a product that is already guaranteed. I tried it myself beforehand; both the taste and the effect meet expectations. As long as you try it and there are no problems, Lord Demon King, this is a product that can go directly to market."
Agnes Tachyon explained.
In fact, she had two research directions from the start. She already had the idea for the drink that would achieve the expected results. However, during the conception process, she thought of other things, which led her to develop Version 2 first and use Demon King Ship and Cafe for experiments.
"...Fine."
Demon King Ship didn't know about these things Tachyon did, but since Tachyon spoke with such certainty, she didn't mind helping her one more time. But if Tachyon was lying this time, there really wouldn't be a next time.
...
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