Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins

Werner Ross Diemann.

Once known as the rascal of School 4, and then just called a rascal due to his unique rudeness and rejecting numerous female students’ expressions of interest for trivial reasons during his undergraduate days, he is now a person who lives holed up in the laboratory.

This guy, who is a weirdo even in my eyes, has been called eccentric several times.

“Watching you has been frustrating. You… Are you really going to let that noble family’s young lady miss her marriageable age like this?”

What on earth is he saying suddenly?

A noble family’s young lady? [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

In my narrow circle of friends, there’s only one person who could be called that.

I straightened my posture and asked back.

“Did I understand correctly? It sounds like you’re telling me to marry Julia.”

“You understood correctly.”

“Huh. No, wait. More importantly, how did you―”

“―Don’t bother asking how I knew. I’m willing to take revenge right here for having my neck squeezed last time.”

I closed my mouth that was about to open.

Has Werner ever spoken this bluntly before?

It didn’t take long to realize how stupid that thought was. Looking back, that mouth had always been direct.

Soon, Werner continued more comfortably.

“Well. I said it that way, but the point is that I’m willing to help. It’s in return for you agreeing to help with my experiment.”

“Help?”

“Yes. Originally, I had no intention of interfering with your love life, so I’ll just say a couple of words.”

“……”

Even I wouldn’t tilt my head in this situation.

I quietly closed my eyes and recalled my situation.

So, it was about half a year ago that I became aware of my feelings for Julia.

Although I tried not to show my emotional changes outwardly, it seems I couldn’t deceive the eyes of a friend I’ve known for nearly four years.

To notice just half a year of anguish so quickly…

I let out a shallow sigh.

“You have unnecessarily good intuition.”

“……”

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No. Let’s get back to the main point.”

“The main point being…”

I slowly recalled the beginning of the conversation and answered.

“…the talk about missing marriageable age?”

“Mm.”

“Is it to the extent of talking about marriageable age? I’m only 23 now, and Julia is still only 22.”

“It’s not ‘still’. She’s already 22.”

“What?”

“Don’t think by your standards, theorist. You need to consider the social status of the cane woman.”

From wheelchair woman to cane woman?

It was a ridiculous change in title, but given the previous topic of conversation, I didn’t feel like pointing out the new title. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Instead, I asked for an additional explanation.

“What do you mean by social status?”

“Until just a hundred years ago, marriage was an excellent political tool.”

“……”

“It’s unlikely that Professor Müller would be actively in favor of old-fashioned political marriages, but there will be public eyes. Customs are surprisingly persistent, you know.”

I felt like I’d been hit on the back of the head.

It’s a perspective I hadn’t thought of.

I’m someone who lived as an orphan and even moved to a foreign land.

I only knew about the lifestyle of the Federation’s upper class as knowledge; I hadn’t thought at all that it was something I should consider.

I froze still with my eyes wide open.

That look must have been quite amusing.

Werner burst into laughter and roughly patted my shoulder.

“Relax your shoulders, Eugene.”

“Uh……”

“The conclusion is simple. If you’re serious, hurry up. At least give her assurance so as not to make her anxious.”

“Assurance.”

“Yes. There will probably be a year-end ball at the University of Magic soon, it wouldn’t be bad to use that opportunity.”

Werner calmly advised while tilting his wine glass again.

Watching him, my mouth opened unconsciously.

“…You’re unnecessarily skilled. It’s unpleasant.”

“Tch, enough. I’ll contact you again when it’s time to start preparing for the experiment in earnest.”

Muttering, ‘I shouldn’t have interfered,’ Werner headed to the first floor first.

I didn’t follow him immediately. Instead, I quietly looked at the scenery outside the window while fiddling with the pipe in my pocket.

The snow had stopped.

#December 21st. Clear.

“Big brother! Where are you going?”

“I’m just going out for a bit.”

“Hmm. Can I come along?”

To Ellie’s energetic proposal after waking up, I smiled gently and answered:

“Let’s go together next time.”

The weekend.

Unlike its nature, defined as a holiday, for me, it was just like a day to hole up in my room reading books and papers or going to the lab to handle overtime work.

But today was different.

Because the purpose wasn’t something like a leisurely market stroll, I rejected Ellie’s proposal and set out alone to the street. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

I recalled once again the voice deeply etched in my mind.

It’s Werner’s advice that I had just heard yesterday.

I set out to implement it immediately.

No matter how much I mulled it over, it was quite a pointed remark.

I’ve already been told by the head maid and Professor Müller to ‘tell her yourself.’

Once might be a coincidence, but twice is a necessity.

Even necessity would have been enough, but I ended up hearing it a third time, so shouldn’t I move even if I don’t like it?

For that, I had to confess.

“Damn it.”

Just thinking of that word made my insides burn unnecessarily.

It’s not something to brag about, but there probably weren’t many people as inept at human relationships as me.

In the first place, I’m someone who only learned what family was at 16, and even that was greatly influenced by Benjamin’s kindness.

Now that I, who had always just grasped the outstretched hand, was trying to reach out my hand for the first time…

I hesitated.

I wanted to get advice from my family, too. But Lena is the same age as Julia and her friend, so it’s awkward to ask for her opinion, and the twins are only 14.

Louise, who’s pushing 30 and still single, and the kind mother, Susan, were out of the question from the start.

All of the circumstances were shouting at me as if to tell me:

This is an issue you have to decide and act on yourself.

I agree with that. That’s why I’m heading to the shopping district alone now.

“Phew……”

I let out a hot sigh, then gathered my resolve and put strength into my steps.

I had to find the most suitable way to confess.

Despite that determination, my plans were completely shattered.

When I actually thought about implementing the three options I had in mind before setting out, they all turned out to be terrible.

The first option, delivering a letter.

As a result of visiting a store that handles stationery and pondering for a long time…

I realized that delivering a letter is not only too passive but also that while I have the ability to write a 20-page thesis, I don’t have the literary capacity to convey elegant love in a single letter.

After discarding the first option, I moved on to a flower shop.

The second option, confessing with a bouquet.

In some ways, this was the most orthodox method.

It was quite an embarrassing method, but isn’t confession itself an embarrassing thing in the first place? [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Although I had set up three options, I thought I would probably choose this method anyway.

So, as a result of spending time in the flower shop to look at the types and forms of bouquets, I discovered an unexpected problem.

None of the bouquets in the flower shop were better than the flowers adorning the garden of the Müller mansion.

It was a problem stemming from Julia’s status.

Although I knew well that her character was very far from extravagance, I was inwardly anxious. I worried that her receiving a bouquet might not evoke any emotion from her at all.

Thus, I had to postpone the second option as well.

I stood in front of the last option.

That is, I stood in front of the display case of an accessory store.

“You can take your time looking around.”

Unfortunately, the kind employee’s guidance was of no help at all.

[ Engagement Rings ]

The moment I saw the actual engagement rings shining in brilliant silver, I lost the courage to choose the third option.

This was going too far.

In the end, I left the store empty-handed after discarding the third option as well.

Walking dejectedly through the streets, full of warm vitality despite the cold winter, I reflected.

How difficult it is to reach out one’s hand…

…And how many times Julia had reached out her hand to me until now.

“Haaa….”

Breathing out a puff of air towards the sky, I closed my eyes…

…And imagined a possible future.

If.

In the unlikely event.

If Julia rejects the hand, I’ve reached out…

“……”

…That would surely be a very sad thing.

A bitter smile crept onto my lips. But now was the time to turn even this bitterness into will.

I did so.

I changed my thinking. Letters or bouquets… Such cliché things are not familiar to me.

Even if I try hard to prepare, it would only be awkward.

At important times, one should naturally play to their strengths.

The field I’m confident in hasn’t changed from before until now.

How about this?

My lips moved.

“[Flowering].”

As I chanted that, water droplets gathered at my fingertips and rose into the sky, and that disc-like spread curved most elegantly into a single rose.

Unique magic. My refined soul.

It really was.

“…Haha.”

Needless to say, it was much more shabby than commercially available bouquets.

It seemed I needed more practice.

Yes. Just like back then, under the bridge.

#December 22nd. Clear.

Meanwhile…

“―Can you?”

“Eh?”

Grace Brown thought.

‘My ears must be failing me.’

Late December.

In the Student Council Room, which was rather empty as it was just before the end of the current student council’s term, Grace looked at the female student in front of her.

Julia Müller.

Perhaps she should be called the former student council president now, but what was certain was that the dignity she emitted seemed unconcerned with titles.

She still looked admirably elegant.

But was she too elegant? [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

In a situation where she had to decide whether her hearing or the other’s sanity was normal, she naturally chose the latter.

But it’s also strange that her hearing, which was fine until just ten seconds ago, suddenly acted up.

“…Um. What did you say?”

So, she carefully asked again.

Soon, those scarlet lips parted again.

“So, I want to knock him down and make him definitely mine before this year ends. Can you help me come up with a plan?”

Grace closed her eyes tightly.