The Magic Academy's Physicist-Chapter 125: What Are You Doing Here, Sis? (5)

“What are you murmuring about?”

“It’s nothing, sir. I apologize for the noise.”

I quickly bowed my head so that things wouldn’t escalate.

So what if I didn’t like it. He said it wasn’t the right time so I had to wait.

At my humble stance, the man cleared his throat a few times and lost interest. Glad that worked out.

That distorted zucchini of man’s name was apparently called Mössbayer1, a professor who mostly taught second years.

He really did look like a professor. Not that I trusted physiognomy, but yeah.

“First of all, I’d like to thank everyone for being here.”

Robespierre began his long speech.

“There are many who have joined us here. Duke Argana, Marquis Shukayla, Countess Heerlein, Count Hudson, Viscount Uale, Viscount Ilgana....”

He proceeded to speak in a calm voice. Starting off softly like this and putting emphasis at the end was a style of speech frequently used by orators.

“All of us have gathered to vanquish the Beasts and their lot that have infiltrated the Empire.”

The enemies he was referring to were Duke Blanton and his daughter.

And the nobles of this country knew that as well, the fact that those two were ruining the country.

“The traitorous Duke Blanton has commanded the Emperor like a servant for years. He implemented irrational policies that have endangered the country inside and out. Not only does he throw banquets on a daily basis while the treasury is running out, he has no regard for the plight of the people. Can we call this man a human being?”

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Robespierre waved his hands in the air like the conductor of an orchestra and added to his persuasion, veins popping in his neck. It was a sign that the speech was starting to gain traction.

“The other day, we made an appeal to His Majesty to restore the rights of the First Prince and make changes to the monetary policy. And yesterday, both proposals were rejected by Duke Blanton.”

“It was incomprehensible. Our request had been to the Emperor but it was answered by the Duke....”

“Because His Majesty’s seal was stamped on it. If we had protested on the spot, then we may have been beheaded for treason.”

The internal situation was much worse than I had thought. If things continued like this, the country was going to fall.

It wasn’t my business. I just needed to learn what Element Magic I could and defect to elf country.

“... Hence, we were convinced that Duke Blanton is a traitor or a Beast that has snuck into the Empire.”

If this was a trial for the Empire, then it certainly was–what was commonly called turbulent times.

The Empire had always been in turmoil. It had been invaded by Beasts for over a thousand years and its government had never been clean. It was a problem that came with being a large country.

“We solemnly vow at this time to overthrow Blanton the traitor and to lay down our lives for the sake of reviving the Imperial court.”

Clap clap clap. As he was applauded, Robespierre took out a plain, empty scroll from his pocket.

“We are writing a blood pact so that this pledge does not remain solely as words. We ask those dedicating themselves for the glory of the Philut Empire to please prick your finger and leave your name here.”

The attendees took out the needles that they must have prepared beforehand and poked their own fingers, including Miss Heerlein.

Things were boring for the next little while, and I had to stuff the yawn trying to sneak out back into my mouth. I should grab a coffee on the way back to my room.

“Hm? Are those kids not writing their names?”

What the hell. Why was he picking on us suddenly?

“Vermel and Aether are only students. We cannot involve them directly in a dangerous task such as this.”

“What does it matter if they’re students? There is no distinction between children or adults in carrying out a great deed.”

Rosemary’s minion intended to bury me here. This meant two things.

One. They would ruin me using the fact that my hand couldn’t be pierced with a needle as an excuse.

Two. They would ruin me later using the blood pact as proof that I supported the rebellion.

The best thing to do was to not write the blood pact. I responded immediately.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we aren’t qualified.”

“What do you mean?”

“Vermel is someone unrelated since he’s from another country and I am still a commoner. I cannot possibly have my name listed alongside the great work of the nobles.”

In other words, I don’t want to be involved in your government issues.

“You’ll at least be granted the title of Baron when you graduate from Tilette. Enough with the excuses and write your name.”

“Is this not the year that it’s happening? I won’t be of noble status even then.”

“Why do you keep arguing? You should just do as you’re told, tsk.”

Even on Earth, I’d seen a few obstinate people like him. Whenever that had happened, I would just think of it as having stepped on a mine2 and left. But here, I couldn’t do that right now.

“It’s because I might not be able to graduate from Tilette.”

“Are you planning to stop attending?”

They must not have been expecting that because a few of them stared holes into me. Did I say something wrong? I was thinking to drop out as early as sophomore year and go to Kaurelia

“What did you just....”

Vermel looked at me with eyes wide like a crow-tit’s. His pupils shook hard as if an earthquake was happening.

─ Please stay here.

Ah, right. I hadn’t told him yet that I was going to run off to elf country once I’d studied enough.

“Now, now, I can vouch for these two so please don’t be too harsh on them, Professor.”

Unable to stand it anymore, Heerlein interrupted us. Thanks, Miss!

“Countess Heerlein, are you some kind of guardian to these children?”

“They’re both in my class, so that would make me their guardian, no?”

“Hmm.......”

It was true, so Mössbayer stopped talking.

Around fifteen nobles wet the scroll with blood using their fingers as brushes. Crimson blood embroideries bled into the soft microfiber-like paper.

“So when is the big day?”

“As soon as Aether here successfully miniaturizes Flare.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to me in unison. Now it all made sense. The reason why the chairman called me here was to come up with a specific timeline for the treason.

“Now look here, do you think that this thieving cat who stole from Duchess Hasfeldt can possibly miniaturize Flare?”

Arms crossed like a twisted donut, Mössbayer looked down on me.

“Of course.”

“Don’t make assertions when you haven’t even tried. You aren’t capable of it, no?”

Huh, look at this guy.

“I can finish it as early as before the winter break.”

“In two, three months?”

“Yes, under two conditions.”

I put out my fingers together in a ‘V’ towards Mössbayer. The chairman gestured for me to go ahead.

“The first is for this conspiracy to not put my safety at risk. I ask that you help me finish my studies for this semester, at least.”

“That isn’t a problem. I swear on the name of the Argana family to protect you and your friend. And what is the second condition?”

“... The second is much simpler.”

I folded the remaining middle finger and continued.

“It’s money.”

“Money.”

“Yes, by that I mean research funding.”

In order to research something, you needed to have the money for it.

“But courtesy of everyone here, I was able to easily obtain the actual funds. It is thanks to that that I’m able to live like a human being this semester despite the unstable economy. And so, what I’m asking for is materials more than money.”

“Materials?”

“What materials do you need? Tell us.”

“As it’s a delicate process, I need the relevant materials. Pure silicon and gallium, arsenic, sulfur, copper, iron, nickel, potassium titanate, uraninite, radon gas, high-quality mana grass, mana stones that can be obtained from Calamities including the transistor, gold, silver, white gold, beryllium crystals, boric acid.......”

The chairman waved his hands, flustered by the words spilling out like Niagara Falls.

Yeah, he would be shocked. I called it simple but was actually asking for everything that could be an ingredient.

“Alright, understood! B-but do you plan to use all that...?”

“I will eventually send you the research proposal so you can see the specific amounts.”

With those words, the meeting that ran for half an hour came to an end. Noticing the cold sweat clinging to Mössbayer’s neck as he was leaving the basement was a bonus.

“Horde will continue to stay here. If something happens, contact me right away. I’ll be leaving first so.... Don’t do anything strange, you two, alright?”

And Miss Heerlein, the last one, left.

The room was empty. The only ones left were me and Vermel.

“... So you’re going to leave here? Why?”

Vermel looked back and forth between me and the air with desperate eyes. His voice trembled like someone possessed by a ghost.

“By next year at the earliest, I won’t have anything more to learn here. I’m planning to transfer to Iliad to study the rest and go back.... But you don’t have to worry. I’ll take care of the Demon King and then disappear without a trace.”

I was going to miss people like Lotte and Freyr, but I had a family member who was alone back on Earth. I had a job, status, and a paper that I didn’t finish (important as fuck). There was also a goal that I didn’t achieve.

That place was better than a world where Beasts ran rampant. And this thought wasn’t going to change.

“.......”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“No, I mean, you’re similar to me yet different.”

“...... Like what?”

“I do miss where I used to live, but I don’t want to go back for some reason.”

“Huh, really.”

I took out two cigarettes from my shirt pocket. I stuck one in my mouth and the other in the mouth of my ally from Earth. Vermel gathered oxygen with Air Magic. When I flicked my finger in that spot and sent currents through it, it caught fire. Cloud-like white smoke rose to the ceiling. We continued the conversation as we blew smoke towards the ground.

“Pal, I have no power in this world. The only thing I have is game knowledge. I came here because I couldn’t even form a contract with an Elemental that came to all the other elves.”

“But you must’ve worked pretty hard if you were able to get into Tilette.”

“I learned it all from the game.”

“Aha.”

“But I was able to make a living here. If I just defeat the Demon King, I’d get the minimum treatment and I’ll be set for the rest of my life. There, pretty materialistic, right? I’m not as nice as you might think.”

“I never thought of you as a nice person.”

I’d been suckered by like Koreans dozens of times, whether it was emotional battles or betrayals. The ones who turned me into this kind of person were those in the other world.

I said one more thing to Vermel who looked stunned like he got hit with a rock.

“I told you, no? We formed a contract, not a covenant. The deadline is until we kill the Demon King and I go back. If you return to Earth, too, then I buy you a beer. And if you stay here, I don’t care.”

“... That’s a pity. The way you’re talking makes you sound like a machine.”

“I am one.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“I was living like a part over there before coming here. This place isn’t all that different.”

Vermel gave me a puzzled look. Then not too long after, he took it in his own way and nodded.

“I think I know why the Goddess put you in the body of a Golden-Eyed girl.”

“It’s obvious, no? She wanted to screw me over.”

“It’s not that, you’ll know when the time comes.”

That piqued my curiosity so I asked immediately, but Vermel didn’t answer. Something about it being important that I realize this on my own.

Before I knew it, the mana grass had burned down to the cigarette butt. Vermel brushed off the ashes with cleansing magic, then plopped down onto a chair and opened a can of tuna.

“Anyway, I have to avoid Rosemary’s eyes. I’ll be living here until the finals so if something happens, come in through our homeroom. I’ll help you any time.”

... He might not be nice but he could be a good person.

I waved and left. Leaving the elf to his own post-apocalypse, I headed for the dorms.

“Sis.... What are you doing here?”

Or I had been about to.

1. Not to be confused with Mössbauer2. An expression to describe as having encountered someone/something unpleasant