Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins

Last night’s events were truly like a dream. There were so many embarrassing memories that she wanted to forget quickly, perhaps making it more like a nightmare.

But the kiss with him, regardless of whether it was a kiss or not, left Julia in a dreamy mood.

In the end, she couldn’t sleep well.

In this situation, Julia doubted her ears.

“You say Eugene went back home?”

“Yes. That’s right, young lady.”

The head maid, standing by the bed, politely informed her.

Although a drowsy mind hinders understanding, Julia’s reason was sharp enough now.

Therefore, the reason Julia was flustered now was not because of the sudden news, but because the words didn’t add up.

Yesterday, he clearly said, let’s talk in the morning.

“Why?”

“I don’t know the detailed reason. He was originally planning to return home in the afternoon, but he wanted to leave early in the morning.”

“When did he depart?”

Julia looked at the head maid. One of the few people she truly trusted in the mansion.

The head maid didn’t betray that expectation.

“He just left. I kept him as long as possible, using meals and changing clothes as excuses, so you should be able to catch up soon.”

“Thank you.”

At the same time, Julia threw off her blanket and got up.

The semi-permanent paralysis of her lower body. 

Although mild, it’s clearly a type of disability, and because human muscles are interdependent, its effects are not limited to making walking difficult.

It’s evident even now. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

She raised her upper body and sat on the bed to pick up the brooch at the bedside. 

Even for actions that seemingly wouldn’t be affected, involvement of the lower body muscles is necessary.

Normally, she would have done these movements slowly to avoid straining her body.

But Julia put on the brooch as quickly as possible.

As soon as the brooch sparkled, Julia stood up and hurriedly prepared to go out.

“You should at least say goodbye, Eugene……”

The past five days started with a trip.

Shouldn’t there be a warm ending to a dream-like journey?

She finished her preparation by putting on a beige shawl over light outdoor clothes.

“Take care, young lady.”

Receiving the head maid’s farewell, she walked faster.

By now, her proficiency with the unique magic [Walk Assistance] had improved to a level that even Eugene couldn’t underestimate.

Therefore, Julia could even half-run.

“Huff……”

Although it was strenuous…

From the second floor to the first floor.

From the first floor to the main hall.

From the main hall to the mansion’s front door, Julia came down without rest and briefly held her knees to catch her breath. Becoming skilled at walking wasn’t synonymous with improved stamina.

As she raised her head again and was about to step outside the mansion…

“!”

Julia stopped in her tracks.

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide.

She wasn’t seeing things wrong.

Right in front of the main gate, a man’s back was standing tall.

It couldn’t be Eugene. Although he was also well-built, he wasn’t that tall, and his hair wasn’t a mixture of black and gray. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“Ah……”

Julia recognized him.

But she didn’t know this side of him.

That waist, which she used to tease as giant when she was young, was slightly bent. The neatly arranged hair of the scholar in her memory was gone, replaced by traces of graying years.

A forlorn back view under the cloudy sky.

It was her father.

“……”

And now as before, Julia’s action upon discovering him was similar. Turning back.

Just as she was about to turn around and head for the side door of the mansion.

Suddenly, she felt something strange.

Why was Klaus Müller standing there?

He shouldn’t have a hobby of standing at the main gate staring at the sky.

There was something else strange. The head maid said Eugene had just left, but when she glanced out the window, he was nowhere to be seen in the garden.

Moreover, there wasn’t even a carriage prepared.

Could it be?

“Eugene?”

Did he pull some trick?

Julia closed her eyes and opened them again. To recall last night’s events.

“Haha……”

Soon, an awkward laugh escaped.

Was this Eugene’s doing?

Reasonable doubt soon turned into conviction.

If he had entered that room on the third floor, it makes sense that he didn’t have time to worry about her. Maybe even the head maid who led her to look down was in on it.

Julia murmured quietly.

“Meddler.”

The room at the end of the third-floor corridor. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

What’s inside is neither a disgrace nor a taboo. Just a past she wants to hide.

But as always, he was helping her with unconditional kindness, without any pretense.

She should rightfully follow along…

Julia turned her steps back towards the main gate and thought. ‘But.’

One step.

This was just responding to Eugene’s kindness; Julia still didn’t want to face her father.

Three steps.

So, she would just stand beside him and say meaningless words.

Ten steps.

Then, her father would also respond with meaningless words, and it would end up being a meaningless conversation, as always.

It was inevitable, though she felt sorry for Eugene.

At the mansion’s main gate…

Father and daughter stood side by side, two steps apart.

More than ten years had passed. Klaus Müller’s back was arched, and Julia Müller had risen from her wheelchair.

Now, with the height difference between them much reduced compared to ten years ago, they truly met each other’s gaze.

Coldly.

“……”

Klaus Müller adjusted his monocle as if on purpose.

The reason he was standing here was simple.

It was because Benjamin’s adopted son, who had been urging him to go for a walk for the past few days, had urged him one last time before leaving, saying he had something to discuss about Benjamin.

And now, it had come to this.

He looked at his daughter, who had suddenly appeared beside him.

Her brown hair, which was certainly close to a bob cut, had now grown down to her chest. He wasn’t sure if she had grown taller. It was still awkward to see his daughter standing.

Klaus felt awkward with his daughter, and so he overlapped her with someone else.

Christine Müller.

A figure that brought guilt just by looking at it, resembling her mother from her build to her hair color. The only thing he had passed down was one thing.

Eye color. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Those eyes that resembled him were now glaring at him.

Her lips parted.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes.”

“Has Eugene already gone back?”

“Well. He called me out here and then disappeared.”

“I see. How unusually thorough of him……”

Silence again.

If only it had rained, the gentle noise would have filled the void, but the rain that had been falling for the past three days had mysteriously stopped.

It was as if they were having a competition to see who could endure longer in this suffocating situation.

And Julia’s patience ran out first.

She tried to hold back, but in the end, her voice trembled like an aspen leaf.

“Are you going to just stand there like that…? Even after ten years have passed?”

“……”

“I, I did my best. I’ll be going now.”

“―Wait, daughter.”

At this moment, both father and daughter had a premonition.

If they ended the conversation like this, they would never have the chance to open up to each other. Neither of them wanted that.

That’s why Julia stopped her feet as she was about to turn around, almost as if it were the last chance.

However, the two had cut off all truly meaningful conversations since more than ten years ago and, therefore, had no common interests or topics, nothing at all.

Klaus clenched his fist with terrifying force.

What could there be?

And.

A single thought flashed through Klaus Müller’s mind.

Because it was the only one, there was no time to hesitate. He immediately put it into words.

“Daughter.”

“…Why are you calling me?”

“Could you tell me what kind of relationship you have with Eugene Oslo? I’d like to hear your explanation.”

It wasn’t out of curiosity. It was an expression of desperation, merely a pretext to continue the conversation.

Please answer.

Klaus counted silently, finding it difficult to endure the silence. One, two…

And when it reached seven, his daughter slowly looked his way.

She smiled pitifully. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“Yes, alright.”

The garden of the Müller mansion had many benches befitting its size. In fact, it was neatly arranged so that one could have a friendly conversation no matter where they sat.

The two sat on a bench after making one promise.

“―After struggling for over a month, I was able to master this magic, [Walk Assistance]. Eugene is, how should I put it, a benefactor.”

“I see. I should express my gratitude again when I get the chance.”

“You must. He might even become family…”

“Hmm?”

“Ah, did you forget the rule?”

The rule was to end the conversation simply. In other words, don’t nitpick.

Although they had no common topics, both had many stories they had kept to themselves. 

They had way too many stories. So many that it would take several nights to go through each reason one by one.

So, they promised to unburden the words weighing on their hearts regardless of the importance of the topic.

“I thought you couldn’t possibly still love me.”

“…Why?”

“Well, because Christine―”

“Did you think I would resent you for letting Mother die?”

“Didn’t we agree not to nitpick?” [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“Shut up, Father. I can’t believe this. That’s what I was going to say. Because you locked yourself in your room and didn’t come out, I naturally thought you didn’t love me―”

“What father could not love his child? Especially his only daughter.”

“…Ugh.”

Of course, as emotions surged, reason ceased to function, so the rule was quickly broken.

It didn’t matter. The most important thing was that the conversation continued.

“I thought that making excuses would only deepen the sin. I thought that being faithful to my duties as a scholar and simply supporting silently was the best atonement.”

“Don’t tell me, you even took credit for Benjamin’s achievements for that?”

“…Julia. You don’t know the kind of person he was.”

“What?”

Fifteen minutes later… 

Julia was shocked to learn the hidden truth that the optimistic scholar who used to play with her well was optimistic even in the laboratory, and was a terrible scholar who dumped all the ‘bothersome’ tasks, like paper proofreading, publishing, and conference presentations, onto his friend.

This, too, didn’t matter. Nothing is better for invigorating a conversation than gossiping about others.

When they finally unburdened all their grievances to each other, another awkward silence didn’t come.

Klaus Müller slowly stood up from the bench.

“Father?”

“Julia. Have you ever heard of magic duels?”

“Ah, no.”

It was natural not to know. Hundreds of years ago, when magic scholars were still called magicians, it was a custom that only existed among high-level magicians―

―or rather, it was just a rumor that had become widespread.

Since it was just a rumor anyway, it was fine to make up the rules appropriately.

Klaus Müller explained with a faint smile.

“The method to determine the winner of the duel is simple. Each shows their magic to the other, and the one who casts the more difficult magic is determined as the winner.”

In other words…

“Daughter, since you’ve shown me your unique magic, I should respond in kind.”

The daughter’s turn had passed; now it was the father’s turn.

Klaus took a step forward and stretched his right arm toward the sky.

The ring on his finger flashed golden.

Even though the sky was dark, which might diminish the grandeur of the magic, Klaus didn’t mind. He was skilled in Type II Magic related to light.

He calmly moved his lips… [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Meanwhile, Julia watched from her seat on the bench.

Father’s unique magic? She had never seen it.

Even recalling her childhood memories, she had only seen him cast magic a few times. Let alone his unique magic.

As she was looking at Klaus’s back with such curiosity…

Sparkle―

Far away, at the end of the garden, a small light source was born.

The precision of casting far from the caster follows the inverse square law *1. Considering this, it was quite remarkable.

“But to call it unique magic to this extent…”

That’s when it happened.

Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle.

Gradually, the number of light sources increased, and eventually, they appeared even in the bushes next to her.

Julia looked at one of them. A small light source about the size of a thumbnail.

And.

“Unique magic, [Firefly].”

Hundreds, thousands of light sources began to decorate the mansion garden and flickered.

“Ah……”

The garden was covered in light. As Julia took in this sight, she finally recalled that this scenery was familiar.

A landscape the three of them had seen once before.

The two were silent for a while.

Memories are triggered by the five senses. The two people in the gloomy sky, in the rain-soaked garden, could now float through the past of more than ten years ago.

They did just that.

I looked at the side profile of the head maid.

“Ahhh……”

Sighing like that, she was gazing at the light show spread out in the garden with a face longing for the distant past.

When we sat face to face on the terrace, we were in the mindset of the instigator and accomplice.

Now, after nearly an hour had passed, it was different.

The head maid, having watched their misalignment most closely, was genuinely moved by this scene. And me?

I’m an outsider.

“……”

Smiling gently, I stood up first while looking down at the garden.

This time is for them.

“I’ve written my farewell in this letter, please give it to Julia later.”

I didn’t engage in any more conversation. Just as the father and daughter needed their time, the head maid needed her time, and I was willing to provide a space for her to be alone.

The head maid expressed her agreement with her eyes, and I left the terrace right away.

I thought about jumping over the wall to go home but decided against it.

The characteristic of the mansion is, of course, that it’s very large. There were not one, but eight terraces.

I headed to an isolated terrace, put my hands in my pockets, and leaned slightly against the railing.

The pocket was not empty.

I felt something round and elongated.

I took it out.

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

Something that had been buried in a drawer for years and had been recently added to my list of possessions as an excuse to meet Julia.

Following its original purpose, I put the pipe in my mouth.

I chanted inwardly.

Type II Magic, [Ignite].

Sizzle―

The tobacco leaves were already filled, and matches weren’t necessary. Unlike at the Nocturne Club, I was now proficient in Type II Magic as well.

[Ignite] is not a spell that creates flames, but one that raises the temperature of the material to be combusted.

Thus, the tobacco leaves, completely rid of damp moisture, slowly began to emit smoke.

“Inhale―”

I took in the smoke in sync.

More than three years ago, I would have immediately coughed it out the moment I inhaled. Now?

“―Exhale.”

Although tears welled up slightly, I could somehow exhale the smoke.

Some might think that smoking a pipe looks cool, but it’s hard to agree. If someone had seen me now, they would probably have laughed at my awkward posture…

Still, since I had the pipe in hand anyway, I tried to evaluate the taste.

“……”

I remembered that laughter is sweet and smoke is bitter.

It was the opposite.

The laughter was bitter, and the smoke was sweet.

I knew well that this couldn’t be proof that I had become an adult.

But because I quite liked it right now, I put the pipe in my mouth again.

“As short as three months, as long as a year.”

In other words, the two would return by next year at the latest.

Yes.

It was a time worth waiting for.

#October 12th. Slightly cloudy.

A month passed, and it was October.

Finally, my new paper was completed.

As Professor Müller mentioned, its publication didn’t seem to be as simple as last time.

An academic conference was held.

T/N

The inverse square law states that a specified physical quantity or strength (in this case, precision) is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.