The Magic Academy's Physicist-Chapter 102: In Wine, There Is Truth

Chapter 102: In Wine, There Is Truth

Younger sister?

Ah, I didn’t know. I was shocked, too, that her name just came out as soon as I saw her. Yeah, that was all I knew. I’ve never seen her before, really. Please trust me.

Huh.... really, for real? You trust me?

Thanks. This was reeeeally hard to explain.

As I said before, I gave her the tokamak but I got an awesome scroll in exchange.

Yeah, I don’t regret it. Rather, I got more out of this deal so dun feel bad aboudit..

Ah, I see.

To be honest, I couldn’t tell you what my life was like. It’s been hard, but.

Okay, let’s start with this.

I was born in a small, weak village on the outskirts. Hmm, it wasn’t that weak, but... It was a country surrounded by stronger nations, getting pushed around by them.

Hm? You wouldn’t know even if I told you; it’s not a place on this continent. It’s probably not even documented.

Anyway, that’s it for the background. There isn’t much to say about my hometown, actually, not even an episode that you could relate to. The only thing that matters is probably what my childhood was like.

This is exactly how I remember my family: my father, mother, and my older sister1.

I don’t even know what I did growing up. I don’t even remember my parents’ faces. After they passed, I didn’t go visit their graves, saying I was too busy with work.... no,  it might be more accurate to say that I couldn’t.

It’s not a good memory. The only one I think of as alive now is my sister.

My sister? What kind of Golden-Eyed was she?

That, how should I put it. My sister isn’t a Golden-Eyed. Actually, I’m–no, nevermind. If you don’t get it, just think of her as my step-sister.

Ah, another glass? Thank yoooou. ‘Preciate it.

Here, you, too.

... Oh man. This is awesome.

Yeah, but it’s good.

Wait. Where was I?

Ah, yeah. That.

Anyway, I was living on this non-island-ish island and then came to the Elankayas. I heard that many of my kind were there so I took the risk and crossed the ocean by myself. Becoooz, there was no more food on the island.

My family? I don’t know. That was about when we all got separated, I think.

Anyhow, I traveled alone. I crossed the mountains and went aaall around the southern parts.

But I couldn’t find a single Golden-Eyed. I scoured the southern Elankayas but no one with bright yellow eyes appeared.

I had no choice but to head north. What do you mean why did I go north and not the Empire? Because back then, this country.... oh, it wasn’t. I got confused. My bad.

Ugh, my head. Thiiis is why I shudent drink too much. Hehe, but it’s really tasty. It’s perfect for a snack.

What do you mean what happened? I’m still alive so I didn’t die in a ditch out there, at least.

Anyway, let’s keep going. While I was going up the ridge, I met someone–some person covered in a dark robe. I couldn’t see the color of their eyes because they had their face covered with a mask. So I don’t know if they were a Golden-Eyed or not.

There was something unusual about them since the first time we met. They randomly offered me something to eat and invited me to their hou... Ack. Wh-why are you hitting me?

No, they didn’t seem that bad.

There wasn’t, really. Nothing happened.

They fed me and gave me a place to sleep. It was kind of out of the blue but I accepted it just fine. I was seriously about to die of starvation then.... Why, what. Why are you looking at me like that.

I unexpectedly learned to study, too. Something about needing to study first in order to do anything significant later on.

So I worked hard at it, because it felt like I’d just waste my life away otherwise. I learned everything I could. Thaumaturgy, mathematics, a bit of history and military science, too. Didn’t even use the book for firewood until I memorized it.

And as I was studying like crazy, I heard this in front of the bonfire one snowy winter day.

─ You have quite the extraordinary talent; it would be a shame to let it go to waste here. I can prepare a place for you so how would you like to come and work with me? It’ll be your foundation for when we accomplish something great in the future.

When I asked what that great thing was, this was what my mentor said.

─ To be at the pinnacle of magic in this world, which certainly isn’t something ordinary. Yes, it is the dark and difficult path of the demonic.

The words were too abstract for me to understand at the time. Still is, actually. Will there ever come a day when I fully know what my mentor is trying to do? I mean, they’re the one who provided me with food, a place to sleep, even educated me, so I thought I’d be able to help them a little.

I ended up parting with them. I helped where I could to repay them and then moved out when it was time. When did I last see them again? Ugh, I don’t remember.

After that, I followed the mountains back to the south. Thought I’d become smarter.

It was a mistake. I was captured by a slave trader of the Empire while dwelling in the southern Elankayas and got sold to the capital. Was I just unlucky?

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

Ah, I didn’t tell you. I was Professor Hasfeldt’s personal slave until right before we met.

Huh? Yeah, that’s right. I didn’t know that person was a slaver at the time. I thought they were going to help me out a bit like my mentor did but it didn’t happen a second time.

What do you mean that’s obvious? At least all the people I met until now were nice. Like you.

Ah, I don’t know about that slave trader but Professor Hasfeldt isn’t. That person never complimented me even when I did a good job. If I did well, then she would tell me to do better. She was like some kind of evil spirit obsessed with accomplishments.

Exactly. You get it, right? It’s also why the Prince and the professor were arguing. She was going to sell me off to the Imperials, as a bed slave at that. Hence, why I escaped to the Academy. It wasn’t hard to do because of what I’d learned over her shoulders.

You don’t have to give me those eyes; it’s all in the past.

Haaa. Nothing’s more fun than talking shit about the teacher while drinking with a friend. I shudent drink more than this.

Ehh whateverrr. One more. Heee.

Flaaare? Yeah, exactlyyy.

Hasfeldt ordered me to research it. Funny how she did that while secretly preparing to sell me off. So I just went ‘fuck yooooou’, like this. Aww yeshhh.

But it’s true, no? It was a betrayal of trust. She told me to finish it within a deadline and was going to toss me out like a used up rag when I was done so she could have her money. I hate those kinds of people.

I ain’t gonna fall for that again. I’ll blow up eeeverythiiing.

Uuugghh, I don’t feel goood.

Huh? What. What is it?

Similar to Flare? What?

No way, don’t lie.

.......

Oh, I see.

So to get this straight–the Count was researching a way to refine the pitchblende stone and is at the point where he knows that it’s a powerful source of energy.

So you got nervous when I went up the mountain in the middle of the night. Because I might become like that prof.

It’s fine, I didn’t know, either. Like I said, I just came here to see a friend.

Yeah. I think she was lying. I’ll have to give her a smack if I see her later.

Wait a minute. But if your family was working on it in secret, then you shouldn’t tell me... geez, you got permission? So that’s why you went to see the Count before the bath.

I don’t get why he’s okay with me. Yeah, I don’t understand. There’s nothing good in telling someone about the magic you’ve been privately working on. And if it’s something he’s been researching for over ten years....

Lotte, you’re way too naive. What if I’m just saying things....

.......

Eh, whatever. It’s over since we’ve already come this far. No reason to hide it anymore, I s’pose.

Alright. Since you’ve shown me your heart, I’ll tell you something in return.

No, it’s nothing that big at this point so no need to refuse. I have to give back what I get, whether it’s a favor or a wrong.

Yeah, that’s right. What you asked me before.

The Teller-Ulam design.

I’ll tell you how to erase the Demon Army from this world.

**The conversation went deep into the night. As soon as Aether finished talking, she plopped over the desk.

Lotte stumbled as she finished off her glass. She was also disoriented herself, but did her best to stay conscious because they would definitely get sick if they both passed out at the desk as is.

“Huuu.”

It was a quiet night. The moonlight couldn’t be any brighter and the puffing sounds could be heard over the desk. Lotte hoisted Aether up and laid her on the bed.

Her face was flushed from how much she drank and she breathed heavily. Lotte unbuttoned a few shirt buttons so that her friend could breathe more comfortably and pulled the covers over her.

Aether’s face as she slept soundly was literally beautiful enough to ruin nations.

Black hair in a ruffled mess. Clearly defined double lids above long lashes. Her lips were cherry-red, and her skin appeared as white and soft as the snow sprinkled over pine trees.

If she had been the opposite sex, she might have had inappropriate thoug.......

“I must be out of my mind.”

She really must be drunk to be having such improper thoughts like this.

Her eyes were already spinning so she wanted to get into bed right now, but it was some distance away.

It was only actually a few steps, but the task of getting there felt like a pain and hassle.

“Sowry, Aether. Jus’ gonna lie down for a bi-hit.”

The breaths coming from the snoozing girl smelled sweet. Gazing at Aether’s face, Lotte recalled the conversations they just had.

The relationship between her and the girl named Akasha.

The reason why Aether was here.

Her time as a slave and the history with Professor Hasfeldt.

They had all been things she’d never heard before, some of them even heartbreaking.

She’d started doubting Aether after coming here. At first it was because the friend who’d been telling her everything wouldn’t teach her about the ‘Teller-Ulam design’. At the time, she’d only been a little miffed.

Then everything changed after meeting this Akasha. They looked the same but she sensed malice and murderous intent coming from her.

─ Keep this one thing in mind. If you want to trust your friend, then trust them without being swayed by others because that will be what’s best for both of you.

However, she was able to resolve this struggle thanks to the advice of her father who was an Elemental Mage.

Elementals–the race carrying out the will of the Goddess.

They came to virtuous people who were without a single blemish, such as Lotte’s father or the considerable number of elves in Kaurelia who cultivated themselves. Or like ‘Klara Hasfeldt’ who had multiple contracts with different Elementals.

Those chosen by the Elementals were given a humble ability to distinguish between good and bad persons. She came to realize today that as one of the chosen, her father had been wary of Akasha but not Aether.

She’d gone to her father in light of that assessment, to inform him that Akasha had accidentally discovered the pitchblende stone refiner.

─ That’s alright. You didn’t do it on purpose.

Her father had responded gently to Lotte as she apologized over and over again. And then he said this in addition.

─ Lotte, results aren’t what matters to me. Come to think of it, I’m not sure if you remember.

─ Pardon?

─ Do you recall why I wanted to keep this research a secret?

“Because pitchblende can become a dangerous substance when processed....”

He never said anything like ‘do not let the glorious work of our family be taken from us’.

Right, that was the kind of person her father was.

All of her father’s research was about the people. If the Hasfeldts, who were a Fire Mage family like theirs, presented magic specializing in ‘combat’, then the Saliere family had always focused on ‘practicality’ and ‘welfare’.

─ As you said, if that friend knows about the use of pitchblende, then we could even ask her about it. If this is truly safe or not, and how it can be used. That’s what your dad thinks.

Was it because she drank too much? Her eyes were getting wet for some reason.

─ First, grind the mana stone with that refiner you mentioned, then soak it well in fluorine and make uranium hexafluoride2. Concentrate it the best you can and collect eighty... no, ninety percent or more of the stone’s main ingredients. Then once you gather enough, you can make a first-stage bomb.

─ It’s just a small bomb up to here. The Teller-Ulam design isn’t as measly as that. You make a second and third stage on top of it. It’ll work if you use Air Magic properly. Ah, you’d also need Earth Magic to build the shell. Hm, and.... if you somehow manage to complete it, then install the detonator. And if you light that with a Fire scroll, boooom. Okay?

The outcome was simple. Aether knew the usage of pitchblende.

She had such a deep understanding of it that she could talk about it for over two hours.

Although she wasn’t sure how she knew that..... this made one thing certain.

Everything that Akasha had told her was slander, to drive a wedge between them.

Of course it would be, because if Aether had truly been after the Saliere family’s research, she wouldn’t have shared that kind of knowledge nor would she have known it in the first place.

“Heeeu.”

Once she finished ruminating, drowsiness came over her like a tidal wave.

What should she do... she had only intended to lie here for a bit before going over to the other bed.

But her eyes were too heavy to translate that thought into action.

Footnotes

1. All mentions of the older sister by MC is noona, used by younger brothers to refer to said sibling2. "UF6 is used in the process of enriching uranium, which produces fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium\_hexafluoride