Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Hide and Seek
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10. Hide and Seek
Manipulation Specialization.
This was one of the branches of magic for handling golems.
The golems and avatars that Broker mainly dealt with were products of manipulation magic.
'Was it a woman?'
Honestly, I had no idea if Broker was a man or a woman.
I'd never really cared before, and whenever we talked on the phone, I only heard a distorted voice.
'No. Can't assume Broker is definitely a woman.'
I skimmed through the book and found a few more professors in the Manipulation Specialization.
Man, man, woman, man. A fairly balanced gender ratio.
'Is one of them it?'
Of course, Broker might not even be a professor in the Manipulation Specialization at all.
I was curious, but this wasn't what I wanted to find right now. It'd ruin the fun if I tracked them down ahead of time.
It'd be better if, after I hijacked a body, Broker was the one who came looking for me.
My personal goal was to give Broker psychological stress.
'The anxiety of not knowing who, where, or when might have been replaced by me.'
I wanted Broker to feel that.
For now, I looked for a professor's body suitable for body hijacking.
There were roughly three conditions.
One, no complicated relationships.
Two, I needed to know their personality, tendencies, and tastes.
'Wait, that's only two.'
Anyway, these conditions would all make it easier for me to impersonate this identity.
Relationships. Especially if they had a messy history with women, it could get tricky.
I only got one shot, so getting found out too quickly would be bad.
After scouting suitable candidates, three emerged.
First, an elderly history professor. High reputation, but in seriously poor health.
The kind of guy who could drop dead naturally at any moment.
Second, a middle-aged Magic Experimentation professor.
Holed up in his lab, just doing research.
He occasionally gave lectures, but mostly skimped through them.
Third, a young professor in the Manipulation Specialization.
He had a relatively isolated private lab.
Limited contact with the outside, and recently fallen out of the spotlight due to stalled research.
'If we're just talking potential, the third one's the best.'
Why? Simple.
He had that isolated private lab, and no one was paying attention to him because of his research slump.
Plus, he was a young professor in the Manipulation Specialization, where Broker was most likely to be.
What kind of face would Broker make if a professor they knew had been replaced by me?
'That'd be fun.'
The plan was solid, but one problem remained.
'He's on vacation.'
The third professor had gone on leave. Psychological stress from his research slump was the reason.
He'd left a month ago.
'A month ago... before Broker vanished.'
This made it highly unlikely that the third candidate was Broker.
I didn't agonize long.
'Actually, this works out better. Lingering around the academy to observe professors and gather info would've raised the risk of Broker catching on.'
If he was off relaxing at a vacation spot, that was even better.
I could observe him freely there, without prying eyes.
'Time to perfect the act.'
A village nestled in the foothills far from the imperial capital.
I'd switched to a civilian body and arrived in the village.
The scenery was decent enough.
After admiring it for about a minute, I got bored.
'Time to track down the candidate.'
The third candidate's name was Edward Retver.
One of the youngest full professors in the Manipulation Specialization.
Single. Solid research record, but his standing in academia had narrowed after sparse publications in the last two years.
I recalled his basic profile and organized the info I needed.
'Basic speech patterns, behaviors, daily routine, allergies, that sort of thing.'
Normally, I'd wing it with intuition and gut feel, but this was a game worth getting serious about.
Better to be extra cautious, just in case.
Edward was staying in a quiet villa on the village outskirts.
I began observing his daily life from the hill opposite.
7 a.m.
He got up right on time, stood by the window, and drank coffee. His hand movements were stiff.
His pinky trembled slightly when he held the cup.
'Stress-induced tremor. Anxiety over his research slump manifesting physically.'
I'd have to let my pinky shake a bit when holding a coffee cup from now on.
He stayed cooped up in his room all morning.
From the silhouette through the window, he seemed to be writing something.
But he crumpled and tossed paper a lot.
Balls of paper piled up in the trash bin under the window.
I snuck over and grabbed a few to check.
I decided to examine his trash.
Most were scraps from research notes, scribbled with theories and formulas.
'Sloppy. How the hell did a hack like this become a full professor?'
I had fundamental doubts, but decided to ignore it.
I already knew modern wizards' standards were abysmal.
Over the botched formulas were notes in his own handwriting.
[Why isn't it working? I'm letting everyone down. No face to show my senior...]
[Senior's already producing results...]
[Am I incompetent? Or is my direction wrong?]
Self-deprecating phrases repeated over and over.
Inferiority complex. Especially toward his senior.
'Who's this senior?'
Lunch was delivered by someone who visited.
Right at 1 p.m. Eating took about 20 minutes. Edward had a habit of scarfing down his food.
The pattern stayed similar afterward.
He rarely met anyone, just lived inside the villa.
'Now to analyze his speech patterns.'
In the afternoon, Edward headed to the nearby hot springs.
I booked a slot at the same time.
I approached Edward, who was sitting on the edge with his eyes closed.
"Research not going well, huh?"
He startled and opened his eyes at my words.
"Oh, uh, yeah. But how'd you know?"
"Edward Retver! The famous prodigy. I really enjoyed your paper on optimizing mana circuits for multi-entity manipulation."
I praised Edward's intellect.
"Especially the adaptive distribution system based on mana priority. Super original. I was impressed the whole time I read it!"
In truth, I'd skimmed maybe one line.
But he didn't need to know that, right?
As proof, Edward's eyes lit up.
"Really? That's a huge honor. But... things haven't been going well lately."
Edward gave a wry smile.
"Aw, come on. Don't be so hard on yourself. Research is more efficient when you take breaks."
"Thanks, even if it's just words. But what's your name?"
"David. Just an unknown researcher for now..."
To dismantle his psychological defenses, I emphasized commonality.
I'd set my social status to zero so his inferiority complex wouldn't see me as a threat.
"Haha... Someday you'll get recognition at a conference with solid research too, David."
I chatted with Edward, mapping his speech patterns.
Tone, emotional responses, even breathing rhythm.
As a bonus, I learned who his senior was.
'Kiel Mueller, woman. Full professor in the academy's Manipulation Specialization.'
I'd learned everything I needed.
That very night, I got Edward blackout drunk.
I used mana to sober up while playing chicken with shots, then knocked him out.
"Whoa, whoa. What's wrong, Edward? Snap out of it. We're at your villa."
I supported him and carried him piggyback to the villa.
Edward collapsed onto the bed as soon as we entered the room.
Sleeps like a log, clueless.
"Sleep tight."
I hijacked Edward's body.
I returned to the academy in Edward's body.
Professors I didn't recognize greeted me.
"Edward. Finally back. Any progress on your research?"
"Professor Retver! Good vacation?"
"Ah, yes. Got some rest, thanks to you all."
"Back to the grind, huh. Fighting!"
"Yeah. Fighting."
He flashed an awkward smile at my uncertain reply and moved on.
"Edward! You're back."
Kiel Mueller, full professor.
The very senior Edward felt inferior to.
"Ah, Senior! Hi. Feels like forever."
"Refreshed after your break? You seemed so tense lately, I was worried."
Kiel looked jittery somehow.
Like she was being chased by something. Desperately hiding it, but...
'Her demeanor feels familiar.'
"A bit... helpful, I think. Not sure yet."
I kept Edward's signature hesitant tone.
"Good, don't push too hard. Don't shut yourself away—come to me anytime if you need."
She patted my shoulder as she passed.
I stared hard at Kiel's back as she walked away.
Sensing my gaze, she tilted her head.
"Hm? Something to say?"
"No, nothing."
I kept staring at Kiel's retreating mint-green hair.
Until she was out of sight.