The Magic Academy's Physicist-Chapter 116: The Transfer Student (4)

A new semester tended to bring new encounters.

“Nice to meet you, everyone. I’m Professor Cai-Lussac1 in charge of Elementalism this semester.”

It was time for Elementalism, the first class of semester two. A wrinkly old man greeted us as he came onto the podium.

“Why is this a core course?”

Sure enough, Rosemary grumbled quietly from her seat behind me. It was an expected response given the relationship between Beasts and Elementals.

Moreover, Professor Cai-Lussac was someone who was in a contract with an Elemental. The Elemental within his body would be an eyesore to her.

“I research nanometer-scale materials using a lesser Earth Elemental. Students who are interested in seeing the lab, please feel free to let me know.”

Fortunately, the level of the Elemental that Professor Cai-Lussac carried was low so it didn’t seem to be able to detect Rosemary’s identity.

On the other hand, Rosemary’s gaze was burning holes into my back. Just because a lesser Elemental couldn’t detect a high-level Beast, it didn’t mean the opposite was true.

Crunch, crunch.

There was the sound of candy being chewed coming from behind me. How pissed was she to be grinding her teeth like that?

“Did you all bring your textbooks?”

The students all nodded together at the professor’s question.

“As you already know from the syllabus, we’ll be studying from the material written by this person.”

Cai-Lussac picked up the chalk from the lectern and wrote a name on the chalkboard.

[Klara Hasfeldt]

“Klara Hasfeldt is the older sister of Klais Hasfeldt who was your homeroom teacher during the first semester. That’s why the name may seem familiar.”

Hasfeldt, eh. A not-so-pleasant name came up.

With my chin in hand, I listened to the prof’s next words.

“Klara Hasfeldt was a student that I had taught. Then one day, she became a great scholar and formed a contract with two greater Elementals.”

The students let out small exclamations. Forming a contract was impressive enough, but for it to be with two ‘greaters’?

In order to form a contract with a higher Elemental, that person needed to possess a good character and exceptional knowledge of magic. It was because Elementals served as the Goddess’ avatars so they only allowed those who were virtuous and pure or something. The source was Vermel, of course.

Anyway, with the Hasfeldt family reputation being what it was, I didn’t expect that there would be a member of this household who had formed a contract. Not that there weren’t cases of someone being the only virtuous one amongst shitty siblings, of course.

I guess I would find out after meeting them in person.

“Where is this Klara Hasfeldt?”

“... She died on the battlefield.”

But apparently something bad happened to her before I came here.

Clap, clap.

To break the gloomy class atmosphere, Professor Cai-Lussac clapped his hands and drew our attention.

“So, since today is the first day, I will briefly introduce what Elemental Magic2 is and be done.”

The professor wrote ‘Unit 1 : Understanding Elemental Magic’ in Elvish on the board. It seemed like the class was going to be in Elvish since elves were the ones strong in Elemental Magic.

“Although Elemental Magic means magic that utilizes Elementals, it technically cannot be seen as a type of magic.”

Yeah, I thought so. If a separate category called Elemental Magic had existed, there should’ve been something about it written in the grimoire that the Goddess gave me. But there was no Elemental Magic in the list of magics that I needed to go back to my world.

“Elementals who have formed contracts with humans fundamentally increase the efficiency and output of the magic that the person can use. The technical term for this is ‘magic sensitivity’. Those with great sensitivity may have been told that they were quick learners as they were growing up.”

Sensitivity was in the realm of talent.

Some people were born with higher sensitivity to magic elements, and others had to live their lives with little of it. The extreme example of species who were insensitive to it were the Golden-Eyed.

However, you could increase your magic sensitivity through bonding with an Elemental. In other words, you could acquire it.

As such, a lot of students wanted to form contracts with Elementals.

“Sir, I have a question. How do you form a contract with an Elemental?”

“A good question. First of all, Elementals do not try to form contracts with just anyone. They only come to the virtuous who are prepared. It isn’t only about being a good person nor is it only about being intelligent.”

“Then is it related to how there used to be a lot of Elemental Mages back in the Middle Ages?”

“That’s right, because when belief in the Goddess had been strong across the entire continent, there would have been many people who were that trustworthy.”

Simply put, it meant that those who used magic with reverence were qualified to be proposed to by the Elemental.

Did that mean Golden-Eyeds could form contracts, too?

Crack.

I guess not.

As I focused on the lecture, I could constantly hear the sound of teeth grinding from behind me.

After dropping my eraser on purpose, I looked back while pretending to pick it up. Rosemary was glaring at the professor like she wanted to kill him. She was calmly maintaining a poker face but couldn’t help her killing intent.

Because Elementals and Beasts opposed each other, so.

Grind, grind.

... But I didn’t think this class was irritating enough to be grinding your teeth.

“This doesn’t taste bad.”

Grape-flavor was indeed the best for covering up the smell of cigarettes.

Rosemary was on the path home from school, on her way to the palace. She wanted to stick with big sis the whole day, but because of her status as a ‘Lady’, she had lots to do.

“Huuu, today was a tough day as well.”

When she returned to her room after finishing her tiring duties as a noble, Blanton followed her inside.

“Lady Rosemary, the dungeon is ready to be formed.”

“Okay, then shall we start?”

It was her last task before bed.

Rosemary took out her violin from the case and her staff from subspace. Then she sat by the window and started playing a soft tune.

And that night, a small dungeon suddenly appeared in the northern part of Tilette Academy.

It didn’t take long for the Academy to discover this. Partly because of its location, and partly due to hundreds of Iron Drakes attacking at the last entrance ceremony.

After that incident at the entrance ceremony especially, there had been continuous investigation of the back mountain to find the cause and facts. And the cave appeared in that area as this was happening.

“What should we do about this, Chairman?”

Of course, the board was in an uproar.

“What do you mean ‘what should we do’? We should investigate thoroughly if it’s dangerous or not!”

At dawn that same day, the chairman who’d urgently received a report through the hotline requested that all investigative personnel be mobilized to search the newly-appeared dungeon in the back mountain.

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“We can’t leave something like that near the school.”

The investigation results came out quickly.

“According to the size and types of Beasts that are appearing, it seems to be a low-level dungeon.”

“That’s one good news, at least.”

A low-level dungeon referred to a dungeon where mainly low-level Beasts showed.

Low-level Beasts could easily be defeated even by the lower years. Hence, dungeons like these tended to be used as a training ground for students instead of something to be targeted.

“How is it, is it safe?”

“It shouldn’t be a problem if we mobilize the staff.”

At the dean’s report, the chairman ran a hand down his chest as if relieved.

“But why did it suddenly appear in the capital?”

“That I cannot say.”

Even Professor Heerlein, who’d been organizing papers next to the chairman, could only shake her head.

It wasn’t that they didn’t consider the possibility that it was made by one of the Beasts infiltrating the Imperial court. But if that was true, they didn’t understand why they would have made a ‘low-level’ dungeon.

Are they planning to do something when guards are down?

There had been cases before when the Beasts used dungeons like mimics to lure a bunch of humans.

But it was a widely known method, too sloppy for a Beast of the palace to use.

If there is a purpose, what could it be....

Knock knock.

“Who is it at this hour?”

[Sir, it’s Vermel Horde from first year. May I come in for a moment, please?]

Vermel Horde, is it.

It was the international elf student whose admissions rank had been first place. Although he’d dropped to second this semester because of the Golden-Eyed girl, he was still a promising student.

Elves had high chances of being chosen by the Elementals so wouldn’t he do well if he graduated from here.

Papers all organized, Professor Heerlein opened the door to the office and asked.

“Horde, why didn’t you come to school yesterday? I asked the dorm prefect and they said you didn’t come back even after curfew....”

“I’m sorry, I was feeling a bit sick.”

But he looked rather lively for that. To Heerlein who’d seen a lot of kids pretending, it was an obvious lie.

Yet if a model student like Vermel was feigning sick, then there had to be a good reason for it. Heerlein didn’t question further and asked something else.

“What brought you to the chairman’s office? Do you need to ask something?”

“Um, you see.”

Vermel pulled out an envelope from his inner pocket.

“I’d like to withdraw.”

The chairman’s eyes grew wide.

What brought this on all of a sudden?

The chairman opened the letter Vermel handed him and started to read. His eyes slowly narrowed, then they returned to normal.

“Hm, this is a fair reason.”

Robespierre snapped his fingers and sparked a small flame. The fire scarfed down the letter Vermel gave him.

Having burned all the contents of the envelope, the chairman stood up and spoke to Vermel.

“Follow me.”

1. Not to be confused with Gay-Lussac2. This is different from earlier mentions of Elemental Magic which was simply magic with the elemental properties of fire, water, earth, and air. This is related to the actual spirits. Please note that there is now both Element Magic and Elemental Magic