Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Magic Tower Genius Hides Physics
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Waaaaah!
Hero! Hero!
The cheers of tens of thousands shook the Capital Central Square.
No sooner had the princess's speech ended than the ecstatic subjects surged forward like waves.
The city guards desperately formed a defensive line, but it wasn't enough.
"Junior... where did you disappear to?"
Giuseppe pushed through the crowd, searching for Isaac.
He worried that maybe some random noble had grabbed him and was putting him through hell.
That's when Valerius grabbed Giuseppe's shoulder and murmured quietly.
"There he is. Completely surrounded."
At the end of Valerius's gaze, Isaac came into view.
He was surrounded by countless nobles, wearing an awkward smile.
The nobles weren't about to miss this chance. They planned to make their mark with the empire's new hero, Isaac Uphills, no matter what.
"So... that rainbow you saw earlier wasn't the will of the gods, but light passing through water droplets..."
As always, Isaac was rambling on about the principles of magic.
Giuseppe knew this routine well. No one would understand even if he explained it for a hundred days.
"Pardon? You're saying you want to buy that magic just now?"
But when money came up, their expressions hardened.
"...Please, one at a time."
When it started feeling like an auction for magic, his words abruptly shortened.
Giuseppe, watching the scene, said to Valerius.
"He doesn't look too happy about it, does he?"
"Of course not."
"Guess I should go help."
"What can you even do if you go?"
"Pull junior out, placate the nobles, schedule meetings by priority."
It wasn't a big deal. Thanks to Dolloren, he was pretty used to situations like this.
"I've been feeling bad about getting a medal without doing anything, so this works out."
Giuseppe strode toward Isaac.
He bowed politely to Count Perez, who had a hand on Isaac's shoulder.
"Count Perez, if you'll excuse us for a moment."
"Wah! ...It's you. Long time no see. How's Lady Dolloren?"
"...She's well. Thanks to you."
Giuseppe brushed off the count's words appropriately and tugged Isaac's arm.
"Junior, this way. The dean urgently wants to see you."
"Huh? The dean?"
Giuseppe whispered so only Isaac could hear.
"Obviously a lie. But escaping comes first."
Giuseppe weaved through the nobles, clearing a path. Isaac stuck close behind him and slipped out of the crowd.
After breaking through the nobles' onslaught, I said to Giuseppe.
"Thanks, senior."
"No problem. You held up surprisingly well against those vultures."
"Haha..."
Giuseppe patted my shoulder.
"Get some good rest today. I'll handle the rest."
"Thank you, senior."
"Nah. Everyone has their strengths."
With that, Giuseppe turned and walked back into the nobles.
Like a moth flying into flames.
The greatest senior in human history.
Giuseppe Garneri, I'll remember that.
After parting with Giuseppe, I headed not to the 10th-floor lab, but to an old one in the annex.
No new school had moved in yet, so it was empty. I closed the creaky door, and silence fell around me.
"Once the crowd thins out, I should head back out."
Leaving it all to Giuseppe felt bad. I should help out too.
That's when it happened.
"Hiding in a place like this, eh, Isaac Uphills."
No knock, no presence.
The darkest shadow in the lab rippled, and Dean Magarta Magica stepped out from within it.
I asked the dean.
"...What the hell was that magic?"
Stepping out of a shadow? Was that even physically possible?
The dean smiled and replied.
"A secret."
"Then how did you know I was here?"
"That's a secret too."
Chilling answers.
The world was still wide, full of the strong. No getting arrogant.
She asked.
"So, how does it feel to be a hero?"
"A bit burdensome, but..."
The dean's brow furrowed slightly at my response.
I hurriedly added.
"Still... it felt good."
Not a lie. I'm human too—those hot cheers lift my spirits.
Just too many nobles today.
"When else in life do you get cheers like that?"
The dean smiled at my words.
"The princess will be a great ally for you. Though after today, she seems a bit dangerous a combo..."
I agreed. The princess had a natural talent for political agitation.
"Still, better to keep her close. Geniuses don't fall because they're dumb—they fall because they don't build their side."
"..."
"Or was it heroes, not geniuses?"
Heat rose to my face.
"Anyway, remember this. If the scabbard is too flashy, thieves swarm for the sword."
The dean unclasped a small pendant from her neck and tossed it to me.
"A gift for the hero."
Thud. No guidance magic, yet it stuck perfectly to my hand.
"An artifact from ancient ruins. They call it the 'Memorizer'."
Inside the pendant, I sensed a complex geometric mana structure. This was... completely different from modern magic.
Just analyzing it felt like it'd earn dozens of PhDs.
I pointed at the pendant.
"Should I analyze this and turn it into a thesis?"
"..."
The dean fell silent for a moment. Her face was stiff, but it looked like she was holding back a laugh.
"Ahem. No need. It's just a gift for self-defense. It stores pre-made magic and activates it instantly with a thought."
"...Thank you."
"Perfect for blocking assassinations."
I was dumbfounded.
Why was she suddenly giving me this? She was so straightforward at the assembly...
"Use it well."
Before I could ask, the dean slipped out of the annex.
Almost like she was fleeing.
What the...?
I was left alone in the empty lab.
That evening, in the dean's office on the 49th floor, the Magic Tower's summit.
Princess Isolde slumped onto the plush sofa, utterly drained.
"A speech that exhausting is a first for me."
Her ornate dress felt unusually heavy, but her voice brimmed with deep satisfaction.
"I see why you didn't skimp on praise, Dean. Uphills is a genius."
After the speech, she asked around—the square's crowd all saw a circular rainbow hovering around the princess.
To the subjects, it looked like a miracle.
The top contributor to the princess's speech triumph was, naturally, Isaac's magic.
"Felt electric after so long."
"..."
Dean Magarta, seated opposite, silently poured tea.
But something was off.
Her shoulders trembled faintly.
She was desperately holding back laughter.
"Something good happen, Dean?"
At Isolde's question, the dean finally composed herself and set down her teacup.
"Pardon me. Actually... I met an amusing researcher earlier."
The dean recounted her chat with Isaac.
"Gave him an artifact as a gift, and he asks if he should analyze it for a thesis."
"Oh, someone like that exists?"
Isolde's eyes sparkled with interest.
"Someone you know well, Princess."
"No way."
"Afraid so."
Suddenly, a bright laugh burst from Isolde. Her fatigue vanished.
"Uphills must truly love his work. The capital's top hero, and he's thinking theses."
"..."
The dean didn't explain the full context. Instead, she secretly enjoyed the growing misunderstanding about Isaac.
This was fun in its own way.
The dean said.
"So don't monopolize Uphills too much, Princess. Let him help with Tower business sometimes."
"Naturally. As you wish."
In Princess Isolde's hand was a commission for Isaac.
[Top Secret: Investigate Orc Anomaly Near the Capital]
The next morning, I took a deep breath right after waking.
'Alright, let's go.'
Going to the cafeteria now was obvious chaos waiting.
But I couldn't hide forever. I steeled myself and headed there.
The moment I entered, the boisterous space fell silent like water had been poured on it.
"..."
"..."
Hundreds of gazes stabbed like blades.
Step. Step.
A path split like the Red Sea wherever I walked.
Normally they'd whisper among themselves, but not anymore.
It was a quiet meal.
'This every day from now on...?'
I need to get used to it quick.
Or it'll never feel normal.
After eating, I left the Tower. Weekend, no lab needed.
Grabbing some chicken skewers at the square by the bell tower sounded perfect.
But things never go my way.
"That hero from yesterday? Turns out he's the dean's illegitimate son."
"Nah, I heard he's the princess's secret weapon."
The square's chatter was all about the princess and me.
"Hey, young man! You catch that speech yesterday?"
The skewer vendor called out to me.
Worried he'd recognize me, I pulled my robe lower.
"No, just arrived yesterday."
"Too bad. You missed the princess amid the rainbows. Wherever you looked, the princess and her trailing rainbow..."
Another customer cut in.
"Trailing you? That rainbow was right in front of me."
"What? You calling me a liar?"
Couldn't stay out of this. I told them.
"No one's lying. You're both telling the truth."
Their eyes snapped to me.
"What do you mean?"
"A rainbow is an optical phenomenon based on the observer, light source, and water droplets' relative positions. Change the observer's spot, and the rainbow's position changes. Everyone in the square yesterday saw their own personal rainbow."
Silence hung for a moment.
Then the vendor's eyes widened. His trembling finger pointed at me.
"Wait, that face... looks familiar... no way...?"
Any longer and I'd be busted.
I bolted.
Next time I want quiet rest, borrow a disguise magic tool from the princess.
I headed straight to the city outskirts.
Leaving the noisy city for quiet farmlands reminded me of half a year ago in that rural village.
Liar if I said I didn't miss it... but this bustle wasn't bad.
Honestly? I like it.
Right then.
"Kyaaah!"
"Orcs! Run!"
A bloodcurdling scream came from the fields beyond.
A green-skinned orc was charging at a farmer.
'Orcs this close to the capital?'
No time to think.
I activated the Memorizer pendant.
The pre-stored 'Steel Ball Launch' magic responded to my will.
Whoosh-!
Before I registered it, the steel ball in my pocket vanished.
'Pretty good performance.'
And the next instant.
Kwachud-!
The orc's head exploded like a watermelon and collapsed.
"Urp..."
Nausea surged, but I held it down.
Clutching my dizzy head, the surviving farmers rushed over and knelt before me.
"Thank you, mage sir! How can we repay this grace..."
"Get up. More importantly, was this common?"
"No! Never seen an orc near the village in my life..."
He continued.
"Heard it's happening more around the capital lately. No orc habitats nearby, though."
"Weird."
Come to think of it, Count Ludwig and I saw orcs on the way to the capital too.
'Something's up.'
Didn't seem like coincidence.
The farmer muttered.
"Not falling from the sky or popping from the ground, surely..."
Sky, ground?
That clicked the pieces in my head.
"One or the other, probably."
Replying to the farmer, I gazed at the massive capital sewer entrance in the distance.
"Popping from the ground."
Looks like I'd have to give up my day off.