Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins

There are special sights that can only be seen when pulling an all-nighter.

In the night, when everyone is asleep, it’s usually the birds that wake up first. Even without the rooster’s crow, small birds show off their own songs.

Today was no different.

The chirping tickling my ears announces the arrival of dawn.

I lifted my head and looked out the window.

My vision is quite awkward from staring at the desk all night, but it’s a different story once my eyes focus. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Leaves wake up one by one, and the sunlight emerging from the mountain’s waist erases the darkness until it becomes a pale blue.

The world awakens.

But whether the sun rises or not, I rubbed my sleepy eyes.

“…I guess I’ll stop here.”

As I stretch, my joints scream.

I take off the glove on my right hand, fold it neatly, and limp to the bed to lie down.

Going to sleep when the sun rises might seem quite strange, but its effect is substantial. There’s no better medicine than sleep for the drowsiness mixed with ingrained fatigue and a sense of accomplishment.

I lift my right leg with my hand to position it and half-cover myself with the blanket.

With that, I fell into a light sleep.

It’s the beginning of midsummer.

Now, approaching three months since returning to daily life, I was engrossed in work to become a professor.

#August 4th. Clear.

Not just anyone can become a professor.

At first glance, this sounds like an obvious statement.

Everyone knows that being a professor is an honorable profession, and its honor comes from the fact that there are only a few people who achieve the position and the difficulty of being appointed as one.

But not many people know that the category of “not just anyone” includes not only the general public but also students of the Federal University of Magic.

Graduating from undergraduate studies and obtaining a doctoral degree is just the starting line toward becoming a professor.

If one wants to become a professor of magic studies, a habilitation process is required after obtaining a degree.

Of course, a comprehensive understanding of magic studies is necessary, but one only earns the title of educator after producing higher research achievements and putting in enormous effort to write a habilitation thesis *1.

Then, one can work as a Privatdozent (private lecturer) *1.

Afterward, if one stands out while teaching students at the university as a part-time or full-time lecturer, they will receive calls from universities all over the Federation.

Only then does one become qualified to be a Full Professor.

To emphasize again, not just anyone can become a professor.

It’s clear that this isn’t a position that can be obtained by relying on Professor Müller’s single statement of “I’ll put in a recommendation letter.”

—Benjamin, brother is lost in thought again, holding his fork!

—Hehe. Leave him be. Let’s see when he comes to his senses.

Of course, not every educator standing at the podium goes through this crazy process.

Even the Federal University of Magic doesn’t only appoint Full Professors. As with the offer letter from the University of Vals last spring, if things go well, I might be able to take on a lecturer position.

But strictly speaking, I don’t even have the qualifications for a lecturer yet, let alone a Full Professor.

That’s a significant problem.

—…He’s still spacing out.

—It’s about time to wake him up. The bacon will get cold.

At least, it’s more significant than letting the bacon get cold.

At 25 years old. To hold a wedding ceremony in a situation where I’m still earning a meager income despite confidently calling myself a magic scholar, well. How should I put it?

My fiancée’s background is too illustrious.

I know best that it’s a petty thought. If I postpone the marriage for this reason, I’ll surely get slapped this time. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

The wedding ceremony will be held at the end of this year.

Of course, this was decided after discussion with the other party.

Therefore, half of my determination stemmed from the clumsy wish of “Somehow, can’t I at least get a lecturer position before then?”

The outlook is about half favorable and half unfavorable.

The recommendation letter that Professor Müller said he would write was the favorable part.

The unfavorable part was that despite my experience of early graduation and completing my doctorate in just one year, it’s impossible to reduce the acquisition of Full Professor qualifications, which typically takes nearly ten years, to just a few months.

Full Professorship is unrealistic.

But coincidentally, I have a paper that can be further developed, and if I prepare properly, it might be possible to challenge for a part-time lecturer qualification within this year…

Poke—

“—Ugh?!”

“Focus on eating, brother.”

Suddenly, there’s a pain in my right side.

I barely managed to prevent myself from rolling off the chair.

Looking to my right, I found Ellie resting her chin on her hand; her green eyes narrowed disapprovingly.

“Brother. What were you thinking about?”

“Well, that…”

“No distractions! You always end up doing something strange after getting lost in thought.”

She complains like that but then grins.

Ellie, pointing her fork towards my brow, declared triumphantly.

“I’m going to summon Big Brother Eugene to today’s family meeting. We need to uncover exactly what you’ve been plotting…!”

“She’s sleeping.”

“Yes, she is.”

“Should we wake her up?”

Susan answered instead of me.

“Let’s leave her be. Ellie likes to nap, and above all, it’s summer.”

Tea time.

The ‘family meeting’ must have meant this moment, but Ellie, who had brought it up, was curled up in the corner of the sofa, fast asleep.

The midsummer heat, which had been raging since the holiday morning, seemed to be poison for the twins. Even Sally, who had been nodding off, eventually returned to her room.

Susan smiled slightly as she picked up the teapot.

“Eugene. Do you need more tea?”

“No, I’m fine.”

I looked down at the teacup in my hand.

The tea is steaming hot.

On a winter’s day, it might be different, but even on a day fully colored by summer, this warmth wasn’t particularly welcome. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“Well, summer tea can be overwhelming at times. This child always stops halfway through, which is troublesome.”

Just as Benjamin was scratching his chin after being unexpectedly criticized for his attitude…

Clank.

“…Could I have a little more tea, please?”

“Of course.”

Lena, who had refilled her teacup alone, glanced at me subtly.

It was quite an odd look, but not unusual as it was the kind Lena often showed.

A gaze that was mixed with half dissatisfaction and half worry.

“Eugene. It’s not that I’m speaking on behalf of the sleeping Ellie, but I still have to say this.”

Lena said, tilting her head.

“Why don’t you take it easy?”

“Take it easy.”

“Yes.”

It was a keen observation typical of Lena, who had experienced days as busy as mine while maintaining a regular lifestyle.

She must have immediately noticed that I had been staying up all night.

“The Federation and the Empire have entered negotiations, right? You’re no longer accompanied by a supervising officer, and many of the restrictions on your research have disappeared. Why are you overworking yourself when there’s no reason to hurry?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m preparing for a professorship.”

“Isn’t that precisely something you shouldn’t rush?”

I pressed my lips tightly shut.

Lena glared at me resentfully as I avoided answering, but that wouldn’t make me open my mouth.

It was then.

Benjamin spoke from the opposite side of the sofa.

“Lena. This time, you should forgive this fellow for keeping his mouth shut.”

“…Pardon?”

“Eugene. I heard you proposed?”

Pfft.

Lena and I both choked at the same time.

The sight of siblings choking simultaneously must have been quite amusing, as Benjamin continued with a slight smile.

“It’s obvious what an untrustworthy man thinks before marriage. He’s anxious.”

“…”

“Eu-Eugene, p-proposed? This is the first I’m hearing of this…”

It seems Julia had kept the secret thoroughly.

It took a few seconds for Lena’s darting eyes to settle.

“But, is there a reason to be anxious?”

“Of course, there is. For example, a house.”

Benjamin’s answer was accurate.

A house. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Unlike fairy tales that end with marriage, real weddings are half about people and half about administration and capital.

This is mostly due to the impact of securing a house.

Of course, there’s the option of renting.

But it’s nearly impossible to rent with the Oslo family, which regularly has six people and occasionally eight people packed tightly.

And as for the Müller mansion, I had seriously considered it, but…

My fiancée had rejected it.

<…It would be troublesome if sounds leaked out.>

<……?>

It’s regrettable that I still don’t know the reason for the rejection, but in any case, I also agreed with the idea of securing a space for just the two of us.

Benjamin grinned.

“This fellow wants to save face. Lena. If it’s a matter of funds, we could ask Klaus, but that’s quite uncomfortable for him. You can see it as a man’s petty pride.”

“It’s hard for me to understand…”

Unlike Susan, who smiled as if to say it was hopeless, Lena’s expression genuinely seemed to find it difficult to understand.

“Well. If you’re saying it’s not a big deal, then that’s fine.”

Lena relaxed her modest posture and took another sip of tea.

I couldn’t help but give a dejected laugh.

“Benjamin.”

“Yes.”

“You’re being too harsh.”

“Hehehe. So, am I wrong?”

“You’re right, but only half right.”

“Oh? It seems it’s not a lie.”

A refreshing smile spread across Benjamin’s face.

Ironically, it seemed even more boisterous than before he caught pneumonia.

Benjamin looked at me and asked:

“What’s the other half?”

I tilted my teacup to hide my twitching lips.

The reason for wanting to become a professor…

Isn’t it obvious?

For him to ask that. For someone who said it was a prejudice that fathers don’t understand their children’s hearts well, he seemed to lack insight in this aspect.

I smiled slightly and answered.

“It’s cool, isn’t it? Being a professor.”

“Well, I don’t find it that cool in my eyes.”

“That’s because you got fired, Benjamin.”

“…Hehehe. Now I can’t take it anymore.”

#August 11th. Clear.

“Eugene. A letter came from Professor Klaus Müller—”

Early morning.

At Lena’s words, as she peeked her head through my open door, I stood up abruptly even with one leg.

“Professor Müller?”

“Y-yes. Please don’t jump up like that! If your wound reopens…”

“L-Lena.”

“Yes?”

“Could you read the contents for me?”

After making that request, I focused on taking deep breaths.

A letter from Professor Müller. The meaning of this could only be one thing.

It must mean that the recommendation letter was accepted.

Sure enough…

“It says you can take on one lecture from the winter semester. Oh, there’s an offer letter for a lecturer position attached.”

“…Great.”

I clenched my left fist tightly.

It wasn’t a reward for the days of grueling effort to obtain professor qualifications, but it would be helpful soon enough. For now, I focused on being grateful for Professor Müller’s kindness.

“C-congratulations. This is the fruition of your efforts, right?”

Lena, who had roughly grasped the situation, also smiled faintly.

Of course, there’s still something I’m curious about.

It’s also important to know which university I’ll be lecturing at.

Although Professor Müller didn’t give any particular hint, it’s likely to be the University of Vals, which had given me a lecturer offer once before. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

It’s more than good enough, as it’s a school with an excellent university of magic.

“Is it the University of Vals?”

I asked that, and…

“No. It says the Federal University of Magic.”

Lena answered calmly.

“…Huh?”

“Eh?”

We tilted our heads, looking at each other for a while.

T/N

The habilitation thesis system is a traditional academic qualification process, especially common in some European countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, for those seeking to achieve a higher academic rank and independence. Habilitation is an advanced academic qualification that goes beyond a doctoral degree (PhD). It is often required for those who wish to become university professors or attain the title of Privatdozent (PD), a position that grants the right to teach independently at a university (known as the “venia legendi”).