Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins

“Eugene.”

“Congratulations on your graduation.”

Her amber eyes widened.

Those eyes, already large compared to her petite frame, grew even bigger. It seemed beyond simple surprise, almost as if she was seeing someone who shouldn’t be there.

Was that sentiment somewhat correct?

After fumbling with her lips for a while, Julia quietly looked at the rose bloomed by [Flowering] and said:

“What brings you here?”

“To congratulate you.”

“Congratulate……”

Julia trailed off.

Even though the event itself is a degree conferment ceremony celebrating graduation, and I even said congratulations, it still doesn’t feel real to her.

It wasn’t that strange. In fact, I hadn’t heard any mention of the graduation ceremony.

When our eyes met again, there was clear concern in hers.

I quickly put an end to that concern.

“Won’t you take the flower?”

“Ah, no, I will.”

“If I were really busy, I wouldn’t have come. I came because I’m less busy. Currently, we’re doing some reorganization of the experiment.”

I was still standing behind Julia, who remained seated. She would have to take an awkward posture to receive the flower.

So, when I was about to move to the front of the chair…

Chestnut-colored hair fluttered, coloring the bottom of my vision.

It seems she’s been growing her hair out. Julia, who had stood up abruptly, brushed back the hair that was tickling her lower back and turned towards me.

Then, she accepted the rose. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“Thank you. For congratulating me.”

“Sure.”

“By the way. You know, Eugene.”

Julia smiled slightly.

The chair standing prominently between us was too full of gaps to be called an obstacle. At least, it couldn’t stop a slender woman.

Julia, who had passed through the gap in the chair and approached within two spans of me, parted her lips.

“Did you see the Outstanding Graduate Awards part?”

“No. I came late, so I missed it.”

“Then you probably don’t know who this year’s valedictorian is.”

“I don’t. Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

“You?”

“Yes. It’s me. But it turns out that the honor of being the valedictorian and the privilege of receiving the degree on stage are all the benefits.”

I can understand her dissatisfied expression.

For Julia, who doesn’t plan to remain in the academe, the former is unnecessary, and the latter is unnecessary for most students.

I felt similar emotions last year. So, I was about to nod in sympathy when…

Suddenly, Julia spread her arms wide.

“So Eugene, will you give me a reward?”

“What?”

“Mm-hmm.”

She even closed her eyes and stood still with her arms wide open.

It’s a signal for a hug.

It was such a simple and clear signal that even a passing child could recognize it, so I also received the signal without misunderstanding.

It wasn’t the time to hesitate about hugging anew either.

…But this is the venue of the graduation ceremony.

It’s full of students all around. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

And the affectionate hugs with parents and the intense hugs between peers of opposite genders are distinguishable at a glance. Far from blending into the crowd, it would be the quickest way to draw the crowd’s attention.

As cold sweat ran down, Julia half-opened one eye.

“……Hurry.”

“……”

The urging had the opposite effect. My brain, spinning wildly, soon found an appropriate excuse.

Something a junior, whose name I can barely remember, mentioned just before I arrived at the graduation ceremony.

“Not now.”

“Eh, why?”

“I’ve been cooped up in the lab for days touching parts, so the smell has permeated. I don’t want to dirty your graduation gown with the smell of metal and oil.”

“I don’t mind.”

“……”

“I like any of your scents, Eugene. Come on.”

And the excuse was quickly blocked.

She closes her eyes again and spreads her arms. Defenseless.

At that moment, I made a decision.

“Alright.”

After answering, I quickly closed the two-span distance. Julia flinched her shoulders but still kept her eyes closed. Confirming her innocent face, I reached out my hand and then…

Poke.

“—Pfft.”

“That’s enough joking around.”

“Hee. Ahahahaha. I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

I lightly tickled her defenseless side.

Perhaps for her, tickling might be a more effective means of inducing a confession than any torture, judging by how quickly she confessed.

“S-stop. Stop……”

“Refrain from joking in crowded places. I don’t know how to respond amusingly.”

“Yes……”

With a deflated response, Julia wiped away the small tear that had leaked with her pinky finger.

Only then could we finally face each other properly.

Swallowing the rational doubt that it seems most difficult to establish a normal conversation setting every time we meet, I glanced around.

The person who would be the most noticeable in a physical sense if they were here is nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Professor Müller?”

“Ahh…… Father had an urgent schedule, so he couldn’t come. But he said he’d come as soon as he finishes, so we’ll probably go home together.”

“Schedule, is it…”

“Hehe, he congratulated me in advance the night before. So don’t think there was no point in achieving the reconciliation.”

Julia read my intentions just by my lowered gaze for a moment.

Just then, I became curious about how far those amber eyes could see into me.

“In other words, there’s still some time before Father arrives.”

The flower made by [Flowering] lost its shape and disappeared.

At the same time, Julia took a step closer to me to hug me without any hesitation.

The sensation of her swaying hair touches my cheek, and the small, warm fragrance of roses seeps into the dreary laboratory atmosphere surrounding me.

Moreover, even the childish cold of late February vanished in an instant. It was because the external body heat directly warmed my chest. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

All five senses used to perceive the world were filled with Julia.

Sensation creates realization. Realizing the situation, I had to perform the art of being quietly astonished because our bodies were in contact.

“Julia.”

Sometimes, calling a name carries more meaning than just addressing it.

Even I found it difficult to know how many meanings were contained in this single word right now.

The smell of experimental equipment must have permeated, the graduation gown is more fluttery than expected so various sensations are being transmitted too immediately and intensely; more importantly, people’s gazes are gathering, so please separate quickly.

Julia raised her head.

She must have understood my silent plea, but ignoring it all, she whispered.

“Shh. You hug me too, Eugene.”

“……?”

“Quickly.”

I did as she said.

To hug, one must extend their arms and upper body forward.

So, I quickly checked the surroundings over Julia’s shoulder and…

Immediately after, I put more strength into my arms to hide my agitation.

It was objectively a definite hug. A hug was shared between Julia Müller, the only daughter of the famous Klaus Müller and the former Student Council President, and some gray-haired young man.

Students who had heard rumors about the two watched the scene were squealing.

Even students unfamiliar with the rumors looked on with interest, though not making a fuss.

People from all walks of life attending the degree conferment ceremony learned that some gray-haired young man was deeply trusted by a child of the upper class.

(T/N: In the following dialogue, the author decided not to distinguish who says what, so I’ll do it myself. In this specific case, just because dialogue quotations are used as separators doesn’t mean an alternating conversation, which creates room for confusion.)

(E) “‘You did it on purpose,’ you say?”

(J) “……Yes.”

(J) “Affection has been one of the main political means since time immemorial. I think it’s because it’s that effective that I did it.”

(J) “Eugene. I hear all sorts of rumors even when I’m just standing still.”

(J) “My position as Julia Müller within the Frauvian Federal University of Magic is special. I’m the only daughter of one of the university’s power holders, who once couldn’t even walk but eventually became the Student Council President and even graduated as valedictorian. People who will advance to key positions in the academe and society in the future have that level of recognition. I wanted to transfer that trust to you, Eugene.”

(J) “Even if the commotion led by the newspaper subsided quickly, it might have a negative impact on you someday, big or small. I wanted you to inherit these trusts that would all disappear after graduation, anyway. Now, when people in the academe think of Eugene Oslo, they’ll recall ‘that person who is friends with Professor Müller’s daughter’ instead of ‘that gray-haired man’. It means they would have to insult me too if they want to show baseless contempt. People who open their mouths without thinking won’t have that capacity.”

(J) “……Are you angry?”

(J) “I’m sorry. For being forceful.”

(J) “It was supposed to be a gift for you, Eugene, to commemorate my graduation. Yes, even I think it seems too materialistic now.”

(J) “I’m sorry.” [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

(E) “Why are you apologizing when I told you not to?”

(J) “‘Rather than devising such a complicated scheme, your smile would be more helpful,’ you say? Eugene, stop with the flattery. I worked hard on this plan, you know.”

(E) “It’s not flattery…… Can I prove it to you?”

(J) “Eugene?”

(J) “W-why, Eugene… Why are you coming closer? Why are you holding my chin?”

(J) “I’ll believe you. I’ll believe it’s not flattery!”

(J) “D-do I dislike it? That’s not it, but Father will be here soon.”

(J) “Not now. Please……”

(J) “Eugene… Mmph—”

#March 2nd. Clear.

Lena was puzzled. It was an emotion rarely felt in her personal paradise of sitting at the dining table wrapped in a blanket, sipping warmed milk.

What caused this emotion was a letter from a friend of the same age.

[ Give Eugene a hard time ]

[ Julia Müller ]

“……?”

Content without purpose, method, or the strange drawing she usually attached.

It’s a letter from a friend who seems to like pranks sometimes to an unusual degree despite being mature. After much contemplation, Lena decided to consider this also as part of a prank.

As she was folding the letter back, washing down the confusion with a sip of milk…

Susan, letting out a light laugh, quietly sat down next to Lena.

“What was it?”

“A letter.”

“From that ‘friend’ you mentioned? Introduce her to me sometime.”

“……More importantly, why are you laughing?”

Susan finished laughing and answered while glancing at the living room.

“Thanks to Eugene.”

“Pardon?”

“He’s been coming home early these days.”

“Hmm.”

Lena recalled the memories of the past few days before answering.

“Indeed, it seems so.”

“He always came home diligently, but these days we can see his face for longer, so it’s less worrying and nice. I wish Louise would follow Eugene’s example.”

Looking at Susan’s smile, Lena thought quietly. Why?

Eugene was having an insignificant conversation with Benjamin in the living room. It didn’t seem like something he needed to do by coming home earlier.

Perhaps that time is serving as Eugene’s support. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

It was hard to know. Anyway, it’s a good thing since everyone is smiling.

Thinking so, Lena smiled along and tilted her cup.

#May 13th. Slightly cloudy.

About two months after the day had won its battle against the night…

In the early morning, Lena’s eyes widened as she picked up a letter that had arrived in the Oslo family’s mailbox.

[ Lecturer Appointment Offer ]

[ University of Vals ]

Lena knew well how important these words were. 

With a clatter, not hiding her footsteps, she ran to the storage room and knocked on the door.