Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Magic Tower Genius Hides Physics
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Even after taking down the monster under the sewers, my daily life didn't change much.
Well.
...
The princess had generously stuffed the school's sponsorship funds with a hefty sum.
It's not just art that gets dominated by the wealthy.
Scholarship needs the patronage of the rich, too.
And from the Imperial Court? Perfect.
What should I research with this money?
"They said digging deeper into plasma magic would spell big trouble..."
I needed to look into something else.
As I headed to the lab without much thought, Liam called out to me.
"Isaac, a letter came for you this morning."
"A letter?"
I took it from him.
The sender was Hans.
I immediately checked the contents.
[My lord, congrats on becoming a hero! But even heroes gotta drink, right? I'll be waiting at that place from last time. Got something more urgent than 'laundering.']
"Come to think of it, it's already been a month."
To collect the theory usage fee for [Calculus] without getting caught, I'd asked Hans for a favor.
He'd said he'd let me know the results in a month...
And a month had already passed.
Time flies.
I asked Giuseppe if I could take the day off from the lab.
Senior Giuseppe happily agreed.
"...Aren't you curious what it's about?"
"It's your business, junior. I'm sure you'll handle it fine. I trust you."
"..."
My conscience stung.
Sorry, senior.
Your junior is ditching lab duty to hit the tavern.
When I entered the tavern Hans mentioned, he was already downing his first mug of honey mead.
Hans spotted me and grinned ear to ear.
"Hey! Over here, my lord!"
"..."
"...What? Why the funeral face? Want a drink?"
"No thanks. Got some business today, so I can't drink."
"Aw, what a shame."
Hans gulped it down.
Gulp gulp.
Aah.
He pointed at me and said,
"The hero who earned the princess's praise and freed the capital's citizens from the orcs' terror."
"..."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Heh heh. Look at you blushing. What'd I tell ya? Knew it'd turn out like this once you hit the capital."
I had nothing to say.
I hadn't expected this either.
I sat across from him and cut to the chase.
"So, how'd the money laundering go?"
"Hm... Normally I'd ask how you've been first... but not this time."
"...It failed?"
"Nah. I pulled some strings in the free cities and set up a laundering route... but turns out we don't need it anymore."
"Why not?"
"Why? 'Cause my lord took out a dark mage."
"Oh. Yeah, when you put it that way."
The whole reason for laundering in the first place?
To avoid drawing aggro from the 'dark mages.'
"But since I went and smashed one myself..."
My name's probably already out there with those guys.
This is kinda scary.
Hans said to me,
"You get the situation, right?"
"Yeah."
"So. Still wanna dodge taxes? Can't avoid the dark side's eyes anymore, but you'd save a bundle."
"Hm..."
Money matters a lot, sure, but tax evasion?
Nah, not necessary.
"Let's drop it."
Hans nodded at my answer.
"Knew you'd say that."
I'm making plenty anyway. Paying extra taxes is fine.
They say orphanages get imperial tax funds too, so my taxes might buy some kid a meal.
"Classic my lord. Figured you'd say that, so I looked into something else. Seemed like you're worried about safety."
Hans lowered his voice.
"My boys dug into dark side rumors, and they caught something weird. Capital guards are poking around the underworld just like us. Know anything?"
"Oh, that."
Probably 'cause of me that the guard captain's moving.
Grateful for it.
I explained our side to Hans.
"...That guy's on your side? No way."
"Why? Weird?"
"Just... the princess, now the guard captain. You sure charm the big shots."
"Good luck, I guess."
"You didn't use mind control magic or something?"
"..."
"Kidding. Anyway, guards are allies, got it."
"Any clashes between your guys and the guards?"
"Nah. We steered clear. Clashing head-on with the law's suicide."
Good they didn't fight.
"Oh yeah. Got some Magic Investigation Bureau intel too. Wanna hear?"
"Of course."
"Through my Knupul contacts. Malachi's backers are an outfit called the 'Chimera Workshop.'"
Hans handed me a bundle of parchment.
It listed the suspected organization's name and detailed info.
One archmage duty is purging the dark side, so I should ask Valerius to 'slice 'em up' later.
I tucked the parchment away and asked,
"What about Malachi himself?"
"Went nuts in custody."
"Huh? Suddenly?"
"Happens to 'em all when the Magic Investigation Bureau nabs 'em red-handed."
"Whoa..."
No criminal rights here, huh.
I like that.
"Anyway, we'll keep eyes on the dark side. Hit you up if trouble brews."
"Sounds good. Thanks, Hans."
"No sweat."
I stood to leave. Hans smacked his lips regretfully.
"Already? Not even one drink?"
"..."
"Hanging with the princess turned your tastes fancy too?"
"Had some Empire's Tear the other day."
"What?! You drank that? The crazy expensive stuff? How?!"
Not telling.
I bolted from the tavern.
I told Valerius that the Chimera Workshop might come after me.
Valerius replied,
"...Gonna have to cancel lectures for a few weeks."
"Huh? Why?"
"Why? Gotta go hunt these bastards."
"...You can just decide that on a whim?"
"If I say so. Strip my archmage title?"
"..."
What a legend.
Makes me admire him.
Someday, I wanna be like that.
He continued,
"Dolloren's disciple. You don't seem to get it, but you're a bigger deal than you think."
"..."
"Keep doing what you do. I'll bring good news."
"You'll at least finish today's special lecture, right?"
"Nope."
"..."
That was it with Valerius.
He geared up and left the Magic Tower right away.
"Oh. Spread the word about the cancellations."
"...Sure."
Can't say no when he's off to shred the bad guys.
In the end, I had to go to the special lecture hall and announce Valerius was out on dispatch.
"What? Suddenly?"
"Is this even allowed?!"
The students threw a fit.
But they just raged.
Nothing else they could do.
No posters, no admin complaints.
Archmage energy.
That evening, I crossed the lobby to leave the Magic Tower.
The stares were even more intense than last time.
Whispers reached me.
-"Heard he took down a dark mage this time."
-"Crazy... He's good at magic combat too?"
After the princess's speech, things had gone dead quiet... but this felt more natural, and I liked it.
I left the stares behind and exited the tower.
Destination: Capital Central Orphanage.
Upon arrival, an elderly nun who seemed to be the director rushed out.
Her eyes brimmed with anticipation. She asked,
"A-Are you... Isaac Uphills?"
"Yes."
"Oh God. Thank you so much!"
She grabbed my hand, nearly in tears with gratitude.
"The donation you sent... We're using it so preciously for the children."
"Aw. I just did what I had to."
The kids rescued from Malachi's hideout had all been sent here.
Like any orphanage, funds were tight.
Suddenly dozens more kids? Must be tough.
So I'd donated part of the princess's sponsorship money.
They get tax aid, but direct from me is better.
I got to the point.
"Could I see Anna?"
"Anna... You mean Anna Uphills?"
"Yeah. Oh, there she is."
In the yard corner, a girl sat alone on a worn bench.
Anna Uphills.
As the director and I approached, Anna looked up warily.
"How's it here? Livable?"
"...You're late."
"..."
Whoops.
Got busy with the incident.
She asked seriously,
"So, what do I have to do? Draw blood like last time?"
"...No."
"Then what?"
"You're gonna study. A lot."
"Huh...?"
As I started explaining the plan, a kid shouted,
"Whoa! The hero!"
"What? Where?!"
"No way! It's him!"
Stampede.
Dozens of kids swarmed Anna and me in seconds.
"Hero hero!"
"Hero! Show us magic!"
"Bro, I wanna be like you when I grow up!"
"Shoot fire!"
"Make it snow!"
The nun freaked and hurried over, probably to hold them back.
No need.
I met her eyes.
"..."
"..."
We nodded.
'Thank you.'
The nun mouthed.
I said to the kids,
"Wanna see magic?"
"Yes!"
"Yeah!!"
Alright. Pretty one it is.
Fireworks should do.
R = (v₀² * sin(2θ))/g
E = hf = hc/λ
Magic construct complete.
Launch.
Whiiiir—!
Mana crystals streaked thin tails skyward through the sunset.
At the promised altitude and time...
Boom! Pop pop pop!
The sky turned into a vast flower garden.
"Wow!!"
"Fire! Burn it all!"
"This is awesome!"
...Burn it all? Kinda dangerous?
Anyway, the kids whooped and played under the fireworks.
I slipped away while they were mesmerized.
Anna stood a step back, staring blankly at the sky.
Her lips parted.
"Hey..."
"Yeah?"
Boom boom!
Mana crystals burst again overhead.
Fireworks danced in the sky and in Anna's upturned eyes.
"Magic can do stuff like this?"
"Of course."
"So... pointlessly pretty."
"Wanna try it yourself?"
"...Yeah."
Perfect.
Not planned, but she likes it.
I told her,
"You've got magic talent. Shame to waste it. How about Magic University?"
"No parents, no money."
"I'll cover the money. We're siblings, right?"
"..."
Grip. Tremble.
Anna clenched her fists.
"...Why go this far?"
"Told you. Can't let your talent rot."
"I could really go to Magic University? A kid like me?"
"Obviously."
No age limit for Magic University enrollment.
Talent and tuition? Anyone goes.
Anna's mana? She'd ace it.
I added,
"But there's a condition."
"What?"
"After graduation, join my lab. Be my junior."
A smile crept on Anna's face.
"Was gonna anyway."
Wait, what?