Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Became the Greatest Genius in History
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I never imagined I'd be this popular at Trisity Academy.
At first, the students just stood there watching quietly, but once a crowd started forming, they began boldly firing off questions.
"You're Ester Trisity, right!?"
"We heard you solved the Millennium Problem! Mind sharing your secret!?"
"Until now, the Trisity Family Head has always said his youngest son was hopeless—what changed!?"
"You're so handsome!! Handsomer than anyone I've ever seen!! How about a date with me...?"
For an introvert, even talking to a stranger takes a ton of mental energy.
But with dozens of people swarming me like this, it was a total disaster—my body just froze up.
'Why are you all doing this to me?'
As my face stiffened, the students looked flustered.
"Um..."
I was about to ask them to back off when Dalpi suddenly pushed through the crowd.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Young Master."
Had there ever been a moment when I was this glad to see Dalpi?
Perfect timing.
"I'm afraid the Young Master is quite busy with urgent business at the moment. If you would all kindly step aside."
At Dalpi's sharp tone, the students parted.
"Ah, sure."
"I wanted to talk more, though... what a shame..."
Dalpi let out a small sigh.
"Shall we go now?"
I nodded.
Thanks to Dalpi, I managed to escape unscathed amid all that attention.
"You could've come a little faster..."
I whined at him.
I almost suffocated from the pressure of the crowd.
"This was as fast as I could manage. Entrusting a carriage and horses to someone else isn't a simple task."
"Fair enough."
"And if all that attention was overwhelming, you could've just told them boldly not to talk to you."
"Ugh..."
Refusing people is hard for an introvert.
Even with folks who don't seem malicious, it takes some resolve.
"You're such a hopeless case the more I look at you, Young Master."
"Dalpi doesn't understand the heart of a total loser. What a tragedy."
"What's a 'total loser'?"
Dalpi tilted his head.
"Synonym for hopeless."
"So you're a hopeless total loser, Young Master."
"I'm not in the mood to tickle your side today—knock it off."
Looks like that side-tickling torture from last time left a lasting impression.
"Eek, got it..."
Every time I wiggled my fingers threateningly, Dalpi backed down.
"Dalpi."
"Yes."
"I'm already worried."
"About what, sir?"
Things have improved since I regained my past-life memories.
"But talking to important people scares me..."
"Pardon?"
I struggled with etiquette.
The reason was simple.
-You have no talent, so there's no need for you to show up at formal events! Idiot!
My siblings, led by Felix, had sabotaged my etiquette lessons whenever they could.
Once, during a dinner with Porto, I'd made a verbal slip-up with an important guest, and the Family Head's glare had been terrifying.
Academy professors were big shots in the kingdom.
And the Magic Tower Master I had to meet next was even higher up.
What if I messed up in conversation?
"This isn't something I can help with..."
"Tsk, there has to be some way..."
Ah!!
"Dalpi. From now on, you're the Magic Tower Master."
"What nonsense is that?"
"Help me run a practice session."
I had Nob AI.
『What can I help with?』
I could just ask Nob AI about etiquette.
As the youngest son of the Trisity family, I'd met plenty of nobles.
Even my own family, the ones I saw most often, were nobles.
I'd had ample etiquette training.
'From now on, make all my actions and words fit a mage who solved the Millennium Problem!!'
『Understood.』
Nob AI began controlling my actions and speech.
It was an odd sensation.
Like when the auto-guard program kicked in, the AI seamlessly took over my body.
If I simply thought, 'I want dinner,' it refined my words into something elegant.
My movements and speech started exuding dignity.
"Not bad, huh??"
Dalpi was impressed.
Just one worrisome thing.
"Don't I seem a bit arrogant...?"
"No, not at all. It's the most impressive you've ever looked to me."
Dalpi gave glowing praise.
Good. Let's roll with this.
That was when we were about to enter the main building with Dalpi.
"Hah, ugh, you there!!"
Someone called out to us fiercely from behind.
Dalpi and I stopped.
We turned around.
"Ugh, huff, huff... so tiring..."
Panting heavily, a girl bent over with hands on her knees, catching her breath.
Long red hair cascading down to her waist.
Round eyes sparkling like amethysts were her standout feature.
She seemed to have business with me.
Judging by her uniform, she was a student.
She looked even younger than the ones at the front gate earlier.
"She looks about your age, Young Master."
Dalpi whispered in my ear.
Yeah, definitely.
Biologically, girls hit puberty earlier than boys, but she looked exactly my age.
"Do you know her?"
"I've never seen her before..."
Her accessories looked expensive, and she had that air of someone raised in luxury.
A face I'd never seen.
Other than family events where everyone had to attend, I'd never left the estate—I was a total shut-in.
My social circle was tiny.
The only people I considered close were Dalpi and a childhood friend I couldn't see anymore.
No way I'd know a girl like that.
I had a good memory, too.
A girl that pretty? Even someone with a bad memory would remember her.
"You're Ester Trisity!?"
I was about to reply to the girl when a thought flashed.
'Perfect timing. Let's test the AI's performance!!'
She looked noble enough to make a good practice partner.
***
Ester Trisity's demeanor was ice-cold.
"Indeed. Do you have some business with me?"
"B-business..."
"Apologies, but I have an urgent appointment. If it's not pressing, perhaps we can talk another time."
Etilla found herself speechless now that she was face-to-face with Ester.
And for good reason—the girl wanted to meet him because...
He was the one who'd solved the Millennium Problem she'd been wrestling with, sparking her curiosity.
She'd never met anyone with talent equal to hers, stirring her competitive spirit.
But...
She'd always had people approaching her, never once taking the initiative herself. Starting a conversation with Ester was incredibly tough.
'What do I even say? No, wait—what did I want to say to Ester in the first place!?'
Her mouth froze from this unfamiliar emotion.
"Ugh, uh, well..."
What should she do?
"My name is Etilla Badford, and..."
She couldn't just let Ester leave like this.
She didn't know why herself. She just didn't want to.
As a genius girl, she had to vent these feelings about the boy somehow.
'I have to keep the conversation going somehow...'
The boy didn't wait for Etilla.
He turned away with the maid.
'No, don't!!'
Desperate to stop Ester, Etilla blurted out.
"When casting the highest Flame School spell Megiddo!! In an environment with a mana density of 0.3!! You can set an upper limit on output, right!! So what do you think is the most efficient minimum and maximum value... uh, like...?"
It was a random magic quiz.
'Ugh, so embarrassing. He must think I'm totally weird...'
Etilla wanted to run back to her dorm and hide under the covers.
It felt like a total long shot, but...
"......"
Ester walked toward her, step by step.
Etilla.
He could've ignored her and left despite his urgent business, but he humored her request.
Unexpected.
"Do you have writing tools and a notebook?"
"Ah..."
Etilla blinked.
"Miss!! Why did you... hah..."
Only then did Rangrang arrive, out of breath.
"S-sorry."
Etilla quickly apologized to Rangrang.
Then she handed Ester her notebook and pen.
Ester leaned the notebook against the wall and began jotting down the solution.
'Up close, he's even handsomer... snap out of it!!'
This wasn't the time to admire Ester's face.
Even though it was a sudden quiz...
'Let's see what you've got.'
She was curious what answer the Millennium Problem genius would give.
Megiddo was one of the top spells in the Flame School.
Its theory was notoriously complex.
The mana cost varied wildly depending on density.
The process of consuming mana and assembling elements repeated endlessly, with huge variances and no room for error—it was a finicky spell.
Its power rivaled Meteor Impact for top-tier spells, but the sheer number of formulas to memorize made it infamous for difficulty.
Since it asked for maximum efficiency, even legendary mages would need dozens of hours, she figured.
"Here you go."
Ester finished in just ten minutes.
"A-already...?"
"Is there a problem?"
"This is super complicated..."
Ester gave Etilla a puzzled look.
"Ah, well, 'average students' might think so."
Etilla's blood boiled at Ester's arrogant remark.
It had to be wrong.
Even a Millennium Problem-solving genius couldn't solve it this fast, she thought.
And honestly, she hoped it was wrong.
She wanted to flatten that smug nose.
The super-genius beauty who would lead the next generation of mages wanted to show Ester she was a cut above.
But...
"Ugh, grrr..."
She couldn't find a single error in the solution.
It was unmistakably correct.
Aria's claim that "the devil of magic has appeared in this world!" wasn't exaggeration.
As the one who'd posed this devilish problem, Etilla had no choice but to acknowledge Ester's skill.
Etilla squeezed her eyes shut.
In contrast, Ester was nearly expressionless.
He looked like it was just what he was supposed to do—utterly natural.
"Ugh..."
Etilla had to admit it.
In magic theory and formula calculations, Ester was a step above her.
Etilla made a pouty face....