Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins

“Sally. Don’t doze off at the table.”

“Mmm…”

“Louise, what are you wearing with a guest here?”

“Haha.”

Ordinary commotion.

That was the phrase Julia, sitting at the table observing the scene, came up with, but in fact, it was hard to see it as an appropriate expression.

Because Julia had never experienced such a boisterous breakfast time in her life.

But for everyone except Julia, it was the most appropriate expression.

Therefore, no one among Susan, Louise, and the twins sitting around the table realized that the reason Julia was holding her toast silently was not to wake up from morning drowsiness, but because she was frozen, not knowing what to do.

Only Lena noticed this and spoke to her.

“I’m sorry it’s so noisy from the morning. The marmalade is here.”

“…Thank you.”

Julia expressed her gratitude with her eyes as she received the glass jar.

As she spread the tangy marmalade on her toast and took a small bite.

The postponed conversation began.

Susan looked intently at Julia and started the preface.

“Julia. How’s your ankle?”

“The pain has subsided a lot. Last night was hectic, so, um. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Anyway, I’m not sure where to start. I’ll talk slowly, so please listen while eating.”

She did as told.

When she took another bite of toast after that, Julia didn’t know whether to prioritize the shock of learning that Benjamin Oslo was hospitalized due to pneumonia or the sweetness of the marmalade touching her tongue.

Susan seemed to hope Julia would focus on the latter. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

The conversation continued slowly and gently as if looking back on past days.

Benjamin’s trip to the Empire and Eugene’s journey.

The tense situation.

Benjamin’s hospitalization.

The choices given to Eugene – house arrest or going to the Research Institute, and the one he chose.

“It was around summer when Benjamin started his battle with illness. Julia. Do you remember how Eugene was at that time?”

“…He was like a wooden doll. As if he would fall over if pushed lightly.”

“So he wasn’t much different in front of you either. Benjamin must be more than just an adoptive father to Eugene. That’s probably why he made this choice. Following their demands might help cure him.”

Even if it means being separated from family and lover for five years.

Julia, finishing her meal, slowly lowered her head.

The content wasn’t much different from what she had expected by combining what she overheard through the window and the contents of the letter.

Joy doesn’t always come when expectations are met.

She was sad.

The table full of traces of time. The faint outline of thin legs visible over pajamas and the tightly wrapped bandage on the ankle. Even the wooden floor.

Julia, finding sadness in unrelated objects, was simultaneously surprised that she wasn’t depressed.

While the reasons people become depressed vary, the process of its deepening is usually similar.

Loneliness.

Imagining herself lying alone on the bed in a vast room with the lights out, reading Eugene’s letter, made her heart chill just from the thought.

However, surrounded by warmth now, Julia had no room to feel depressed.

She was just sad.

Feeling the purest sadness, she raised her head.

Susan asked with worried eyes.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. If it’s not rude, may I stay a little longer?”

“Of course. Stay as long as you like.”

Julia smiled faintly.

Soon after, she slowly walked from the table to the sofa in front of the fireplace.

Although not as much as yesterday, that ankle was still quite swollen. Instead of limping, Julia’s steps were very slow.

Lena, watching her from behind, quickly ran over to support her.

As she put her arm around her shoulder and matched her pace, Lena realized that Julia’s gait was sufficiently rigid apart from the injury. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

It had to be the [Walk Assistance] magic she had only heard about vaguely.

Feeling both a sense of discomfort and wonder, she carefully seated Julia on the sofa.

The amber eyes drew a gentle eye smile.

“Thank you.”

“Just wait a moment.”

Lena, heading back to the kitchen to prepare warm honey milk, tilted her head.

Why was she awake so early in the morning?

Because she still didn’t know the reason.

Had she stayed up all night?

It would be plausible to cry all night over a long separation from a lover.

But her eyes weren’t swollen.

Rather, if she had utilized that melancholic gaze well, she might have been able to enchant Eugene twice as quickly.

If that’s the case, it means she stayed up all night with her eyes open, but Lena couldn’t tell which was more serious between spending the night in tears and staying up with her eyes open. Because she couldn’t even guess the circumstances of the latter.

In the end, the milk was warmed with only increased confusion.

As she handed over the steaming cup, Lena gently sat down next to Julia.

As Lena was agonizing over how to comfort her, or whether it was right to offer comfort at all, while sipping the milk…

Swoosh.

Julia narrowed the gap of about two spans between them to half a span, then stuck close and opened her lips.

“Lena.”

“Uh, yes?”

“Lena. I read the letter Eugene sent last night. He’s asking me to wait.”

“…”

“It seems he’s determined to make me miss my prime marriageable age. I don’t really like the idea of being a 28-year-old new bride.”

Lena felt ambivalent emotions.

Feeling relief that Julia still seemed to love her brother and anxiety that the ‘don’t really like’ she mentioned wasn’t just lip service but sounded genuinely displeased, Lena hurriedly said:

“What was in the letter? Um, can you show me?”

“The details are a secret.”

“Huh.”

“Oh. That dry laugh, it’s similar to Eugene’s.”

Lena reflexively covered her mouth.

Julia, smiling slightly, continued.

“But you know what? I don’t want to wait anymore. You feel the same, right Lena?”

“That’s, true.”

“Yes. I want to make Eugene come back to this house and to my side. By any means necessary. Actually, I quite enjoy abusing power.”

Lena didn’t honestly say that she doesn’t particularly like abusing power, and that she was, in vulgar terms, a bit scared seeing her brother’s lover and her friend’s mouth draw such a dangerous-looking smile. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Instead, she made a realistic point.

“How can you make him come back?”

Julia lowered her gaze.

It was right on point.

“After thinking all night, I came up with one plan. But.”

If Eugene’s origin was the issue, he would have been expelled from the academe or arrested under criminal law. He wouldn’t have to leave.

Yet the Federation side offered choices.

This implies that regardless of the inside story, Eugene is currently an important resource or something to be protected for the Federation, or at least treated as a thorn in their side. That inside story must be due to the tense situation with the former Empire given the timing.

Because he’s an Imperial, Eugene became a special management target.

But before being an Imperial, Eugene is Eugene.

A new magic scholar who stirred up the academic world in just one year.

That Eugene Oslo is actually an Imperial.

If this is utilized well, it might be possible to bring the Federation to the negotiating table.

But.

“…I don’t know how it will change the Oslo family’s life. It might lead to worse results than quietly accepting house arrest.”

Feeling her mouth go dry, she looked at Lena.

“It’s a plan I can’t start without the family’s permission, but it’s also a plan too difficult to start with just my power alone. Lena.”

“…”

“Can you, help me?”

“Yes.”

Julia opened her eyes wide.

The Lena that Julia had seen was, sorry to say this, a character who was shy and clumsy compared to her abilities.

But Lena readily agreed while sipping her milk. Why?

Lena smiled.

“Because family should stick together.”

A moment later, Julia could hear the same answer four more times.

And she left through the front door to hear the last one.

“―This is the plan. I’m sorry to say this when we’ve met after so long. If it’s impossible, I’ll stop immediately.”

“I think it’s good.”

“…!”

“I’ve lived long enough to see this. I never dreamed I’d become in-laws with that dullard Klaus. Kehe, I’m joking. Don’t make that face.”

“…”

“Anyway, the execution of the plan seems quite difficult. What will you do?”

“Well. My father is on a business trip near Oslovya. I’ve also prepared a way to contact him.”

“Oh.”

“The problem is delivering the content. In the end, Eugene himself needs to negotiate, but we can’t deliver the detailed plan. At most, we can only convey about ten words or so. I wonder what to do…”

“The content isn’t important.”

“Pardon?”

“Whether he has the will to think of it is more important. Anyway, is everyone hoping for that guy to return?”

“…Yes.”

“Then convey that will. Eugene will figure out the plan on his own. After all, he’s the genius I collected.” [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

The taste of smoke that a heavy smoker feels is proportional to the hardships of life.

Therefore, Lily Lovelace, the Director of the Eastern Telegraph Bureau, couldn’t help but have a gloomy expression even while taking in a thrilling puff of smoke.

“I don’t want to go to work.”

The director exhaled a sweet sigh.

The management of the telegraph bureau is going smoothly.

But if it were just smooth, the smoke wouldn’t taste this sweet.

The Eastern Telegraph Bureau was one of the places that got busier as the political situation became urgent. But being busy didn’t simply mean prosperity.

Urgent messages flew in from all directions of the Federation, and their contents were not very pleasant.

Even the nostalgic scene of the telegraph bureau where Lena, still a student a few years ago, used to busily run around had become strangely gloomy.

It’s been a long time since Lena declared her temporary retirement, and the telegraph operators’ faces, as well as her own, are strangely dark.

“I miss Lena.”

Director Lovelace took another deep puff of her pipe, opened the telegraph bureau door, and…

…she experienced the miracle of her wish coming true in three seconds.

Director Lovelace, discovering Lena moving efficiently around the telegraph bureau, gripped her pipe. Because bitterness was rising.

“Oh. Lena?”

“Director. You’re late. Hurry up. It’s an order as a consultant.”

“Did I learn business administration standing on my head? Since when did consultants have the authority to order directors around…”

“Director. We need to hurry.”

“What’s going on?”

Lena, moving documents, hesitated a bit before answering.

“It’s something a bit criminal. But if you help, I’ll increase the investment in the telegraph bureau.”

“What should I do first?”

The wind blows.

Although it could certainly be called an indoor space, Lieutenant Hans Zeller felt the wind was harsher indoors than outdoors. It was cold enough to feel chilly even in early autumn.

“This damn coat is just tough but doesn’t provide any warmth.”

That’s why the warmth of the teacup in his hand was desperate.

At the railway station…

Lieutenant Zeller, heading towards a bench near the tracks, opened his mouth as he handed the teacup to the man sitting there.

“Please drink, Doctor.”

The man silently received the teacup but didn’t drink it, instead starting to look back towards the tracks. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

He doesn’t seem to feel the cold. Typical of someone from the Empire. But his mouth seems frozen shut. Why doesn’t he open his mouth after drinking some freshly brewed tea?

As Lieutenant Zeller was muttering to himself internally and tilting his teacup…

He spoke.

For the first time since departure.

“Has something gone wrong?”

The lieutenant smiled slightly and replied.

“It seems the train has been delayed. It looks like it will take more time to reach the Research Institute.”