Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins

Dorothy is leaving.

After returning seven years later, she’s leaving again in just two days.

The most shocked by this earth-shattering event were undoubtedly the twins, especially Ellie.

Early morning.

Perhaps due to the commotion downstairs, Ellie woke up early and rubbed her eyes.

“Yaaaawn. Oh. Black-haired sister, why are you dressed in military uniform so early in the morning?”

“I have to go now.”

“……Huh?”

Right after, Ellie’s mouth gaped open as if all traces of sleepiness had vanished.

As if that wasn’t enough, her eyes couldn’t stay still.

After all, it was just two days ago that they had pinky-promised ‘Don’t go anywhere.’

It was a hasty breach of contract.

“Where are you going? Don’t go!”

Ellie was very shocked, so shocked that she jumped around, snatched Dorothy’s luggage, and after barricading herself in her room, she was finally dragged out forcibly by Susan.

Dorothy, who hadn’t expected such fierce resistance, crouched down in front of Ellie and began to calmly persuade her.

“Ellie, I’m not leaving for good.”

“Then?”

“It’s like going on a long work trip. Listen.”

Dorothy’s subsequent explanation, that is, if she, a field-grade officer of the Frauvian Federal Army, didn’t return to the military camp promptly, many people would literally be in trouble, seemed unconvincing to Ellie.

Was she too young to comprehend the organizational hierarchy of the military?

But Ellie wasn’t so young that she would stubbornly throw a tantrum while knowing someone else would be in trouble. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

So, the final method Ellie employed was quite mature.

“Ellie?”

“……”

Ellie walked briskly towards Dorothy, who was standing at the entrance, and then buried herself in her embrace.

And then she didn’t move.

It could be called a silent protest, if you will.

Two days were enough for even Benjamin and Dorothy to vaguely realize what kind of stubborn person that little troublemaker had grown into.

Therefore, they could sense that it wouldn’t be easy to remove that biological restraint.

While everyone else laughed helplessly, only one person…

Only Dorothy affectionately hugged Ellie back.

The soldier-like strictness and weight of the epaulets were quite inappropriate means to persuade a fourteen-year-old girl.

Knowing this better than anyone, Dorothy patted that small head of hers and began to speak gently.

“Ellie. I’ll say it again: I’m not leaving. I’m just going away for a while.”

“……That’s the same thing.”

“It’s different. Ellie, have you ever sent a letter?”

“No.”

She shook her head with her face buried in the military uniform.

Dorothy briefly separated from Ellie, opened a notebook, wrote down an address, tore out the page, and handed it to Ellie.

“If you send a letter to this address, I’ll reply right away.”

“Really?”

“Really. I have a favor to ask: will you send letters often so that your sister, who’s going on a long journey, won’t feel lonely?”

“……Okay. If that’s the case.”

Having defeated Ellie in the gentlest way possible, Dorothy hugged her back and was finally able to satisfy the young, silent protester.

Only then did the opportunity for goodbyes reach the others.

After exchanging hugs with Sally, who was still in the clutches of morning drowsiness, the hesitant Lena, and Susan – she didn’t even glance at Benjamin – it was my turn.

I said:

“Did you say goodbye to Louise?”

“I don’t even want to see that person.”

At that moment, I discovered that Dorothy could make a disgusted expression.

But I remembered that on that night, the soft sound of conversation from upstairs had continued intermittently.

As I was about to smirk, Dorothy silently approached me. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Then, she suddenly reached out and began to rub around my eyes with both hands.

“W-wait. What are you doing?”

“It’s dark under your eyes. It was a problem that you worked too hard in Leman… Did you do the same here?”

“……”

“Don’t do that.”

The hands that were touching my eyes naturally moved downwards, taking on the appearance of embracing me.

It’s warm.

A gentle hug, as if treating me like I was sixteen again.

Dorothy whispered in my ear in that state.

“Take care of yourself. Take good care of Benjamin, too.”

Those were her last words.

Dorothy left, and with that, our reunion came to an end. Harmoniously.

Ellie developed a suspicious gaze, wondering if Benjamin might leave too, but anyway…

A few days later…

The《Magic Studies Yearbook》 journal was published.

At the same time, I came to understand why Werner had postponed the experiment schedule.

#January 25th. Slightly cloudy.

I woke up to a sound like a cat walking stealthily.

As I sat up in bed, the sound stopped immediately.

I soon found out why. A human shadow, tinged with the color of winter dawn, was standing stiffly.

I said, shaking off my drowsiness:

“Who is it?”

“—Eep.”

“It’s Lena, isn’t it.”

It seems my guess was correct. The shadow hunched its shoulders.

“……How did you know?”

I didn’t answer that there were only a few people who would wander around the house wrapped in a blanket at this dawn and that I had long known that you, Lena, occasionally sneak into my room. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Instead, I asked a question suitable for an uninvited guest.

“What’s the matter at this dawn?”

“Several more letters came, so I wanted to deliver them.”

“Is there any reason to be sitting at my desk?”

“I’ll be going now. Sorry for disturbing your sleep!”

In the blink of an eye, Lena’s figure disappeared from my sight.

Perhaps because drowsiness doesn’t favor dynamic things…

My tired brain, instead of paying attention to Lena, who had come secretly and disappeared quickly, focused more on the letters Lena had left behind.

I could tell even without deliberately checking the envelopes.

Congratulatory letters.

Those who had been exchanging letters, continuing questions and answers about the thesis, had begun to send their congratulations one by one after checking the《Magic Studies Yearbook》.

It was quite encouraging, but naturally, when the same thing is repeated for several days, the excitement fades.

Since I was already awake anyway, I washed my face lightly and then sat at the desk to start writing replies.

“Thank you for your kind words……”

I write down the customary phrases in a row.

It’s closer to a simple task than letter writing.

Therefore, I naturally began to recall the events of the past few days.

Werner had said that this week would be busy with parties celebrating the publication of the thesis in the《Magic Studies Yearbook》.

This was half right and half wrong.

First of all, it was true that it was busy, and it was also correct that congratulations were included among the reasons.

It wasn’t just the congratulatory letters piled up in front of me now.

I dare not guess how many times I’ve heard that word in the past few days.

Not only from Professor Müller and research lab colleagues but also from people I don’t usually talk to and even passing undergraduate students.

I was even invited once to a party of the Research Institute people that I didn’t even know was being held until now.

I didn’t know whether to be happy about being invited or perplexed by the fact that I didn’t know such gatherings existed for a year. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Among such congratulations, Julia’s was undoubtedly the best.

The day after the《Magic Studies Yearbook》was published…

The contents of the letter sent as if it had been waiting shocked me.

[ Congratulations ٩(˙ᵕ˙⑅๑) ]

[ I heard the news. I wonder if Mr. Benjamin still remembers me. ]

[ In that sense, would it be alright if I visit your house soon to pay my respects? ]

[ Julia Müller ]

Although it was written as if it were nothing, its weight was considerable.

Benjamin had just returned, on top of that. I didn’t expect to feel like I had to formally introduce my lover to my parents and four sisters after just a month.

Anyway…

That’s as far as Werner’s correct guess goes.

Since Werner is not a precognitive, he naturally couldn’t predict the newspaper article two days later, nor could he know the aftermath that would appear because of it.

I realized this fact when I went to the Research Institute after Dorothy left.

People’s reactions were clearly divided.

Congratulations and suspicion.

Even those who usually avoid taking risks in the form of indifference were somewhat more active in expressing their opinions in their gazes this time.

I instinctively realized.

Among those who had suspicion in their eyes…

It wouldn’t be easy to change their gaze positively.

The illusion that if you are diligent, sincere, and good, everyone will like you is one of the hardest illusions to break among the many illusions in life.

Fortunately, there was no room for such illusions in my life, and I could smile gently at those who were throwing suspicious glances.

If I want to remain in the academe in the future, I’ll have to get used to smiling…

With that thought, I put a period on the last reply.

I looked up at the rising sun.

A full morning.

As time passed and the sun was setting in the west, I, too, headed towards the bar street in western Frauzen.

“……I can’t get used to this.”

Inevitably, wearing mismatched shoes.

“He’s here!”

“You came?”

“Werner! The star of the party has arrived!”

Pop!

Commotion and cheers erupted from all around, and a beer bottle was opened with a refreshing sound.

The scene of the Nocturne Club unfolding before my eyes was truly chaotic.

Of course, it wasn’t always a decorous gathering, but seeing the confusion of 2 AM at just 9 PM was enough to perplex me.

Moreover, it was even more crowded than usual.

This was an especially unfamiliar sight given that the Nocturne Club operates on a strict membership system.

Fortunately, my confusion was resolved relatively quickly.

A man with a shameless face suddenly appeared from behind and put his arm around my shoulder. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“Werner.”

“You’re late. The party has already started.”

“Didn’t you say I was the star of the party or something?”

“Don’t expect clowns to follow the stale etiquette of parties. There are some outsiders too because this party is also to celebrate other guys’ graduations besides your doctoral degree.”

Werner handed me a glass of alcohol and grinned.

“So enjoy.”

“Alright……”

Usually, I would have just sat in a corner wondering what kind of party this was, but I had no intention of doing so now.

Hadn’t I already realized it sufficiently?

The academe is also a proper society, and society is not kind to outsiders.

This logic applies equally to new scholars who have suddenly risen in the academe.

Converting groundless jealousy into slight favor is something that can only be done at this time.

While I was exchanging light greetings with those who had come to the Nocturne Club, just like others…

I suddenly stopped walking.

“That’s.”

Because I saw a familiar face.

A young man with blonde hair and a friendly impression.

It might be inappropriate to call it a familiar face. After all, I had only seen him once. And I’m not very talented at remembering people.

So, there was only one reason why I remembered this young man.

His voice.

“Oh! Dr. Oslo. It’s been a while!”

“Yes.”

“We met at the last ball, didn’t we? Do you remember what I said? That the《Magic Studies Yearbook》should rightfully publish your paper.”

“Of course.”

“We should make a toast of congratulations. Both for my prediction coming true and for your paper being published.”

“Before that.”

I interrupted his excited chatter and opened my mouth.

Surely, he was the cheerful blonde young man I had seen at the New Year’s Eve ball last time.

Wasn’t he a scholar?

“May I know your name?” [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“Ah, HAHAHAHA! Oh my. I forgot to introduce myself!”

The man’s attire, bursting into laughter, was different from last time, not a tailcoat.

“Zeller. Lieutenant Hans Zeller.”

“Eugene Oslo.”

Lieutenant Zeller, dressed in a dark green military uniform, raised his glass.

“To the development of the Federation.”