The Magic Academy's Physicist -
Chapter 239: Unification (3)
Chapter 239: Unification (3)
0% A long, long time ago, the Goddess L’Quinneth gifted a seed to her beloved elves.
[There is an island on the rivers that connect to Bruglium Falls. Plant this seed there and endure two seasons. Then you and your offspring will live in abundance under the protection of Elementals for generations.]
With utter gratitude, the Chief of the elves at the time listened to what the Goddess said.
The elves planted the seed and watched it sprout. They watered it everyday, gave it light, and focused on providing nutrients since the days of no fertilizers.
Because of their hard work, the World Tree grew into the size of an elm tree not even half a year later.
And for hundreds of years afterwards, it grew and grew, until today when one could see its trunk from anywhere in the capital city of Märcherm.
It was large. Grand. Visible from anywhere.
The majesty of the national tree reassured many elves that the Goddess was watching over them from everywhere.
That was how well the elves were taking care of the World Tree. It may have been attacked once by the Demon Army, but it never withered.
“But at this rate, we’ll be in great danger.”
“What do you mean?”
Renawill set down his teacup with a chuckle.
This was the Kaurelia embassy located in the Philut Empire where many diplomatic meetings took place.
Currently, the Empire and elf country were working closely together.
Both countries had just been severely damaged by Cataclysms; there was no room for any diplomatic wars.
As such, the two nations were getting along like family, like they had been one country all along. Because if they didn’t, the Demon King might rise again.
So that was how they were able to talk openly with each other like this.
“I mean exactly that–the World Tree of Verdure will eventually be attacked by the Demon Army.”
“You say that with certainty, Duke.”
“Because it’s very likely.”
The diplomat gave a light cough.
“The whole world knows that the final Lodestone is in the knothole of the national tree, so we are always on high alert.”
“The forces you currently have stationed won’t be enough.”
“Then might I ask how much we need to reinforce our security?”
Renawill nodded at the diplomat’s question, his mind recalling the letter he received a little while ago.
Vermel Horde–the letter had been sent by him.
He was thinking how one student was being bothersome in many ways.
Still, they had been able to prevent Tilette from being completely destroyed thanks to that exchange student. And he also seemed to have contact with Aether, so...
─Please vouch for me.
Renawill cleared his throat with a ‘hm, hm’.
“If they can withstand a powerful attack by the Fire Elemental King, it should be fine.”
“That’s how much it needs to be?”
“Yes.”
The diplomat’s mouth twisted uncomfortably.
“If there had been a being that powerful, the world would have already ended.”
Historically, the only one who had killed an Elemental King and usurped its position was the Demon King.
Yet even that Demon King had been attacked by many great Elementals and became sealed in the Sacred Stone given by the Goddess. The world was still in consensus that the Beasts under him were weaker.
However.
“What would you do if there existed a being who could wield magic even more powerful than the Demon King?”
“Is that even possible?”
“It has been a thousand years since then. No one knows how the Demon Army would have changed.”
So they could not let their guard down even for a moment.
“I’m sure you know that the Empire currently has a Cataclysm who lost its powers under watch.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you know what we found out while interrogating that Beast?”
At the following words from Renawill, the diplomat appeared greatly shocked.
“...Huh, my goodness.”
“It may be false information, but it cannot hurt to be prepared. We’ll ask for the Empire to lend a hand as well if necessary, as it isn’t the time to think about national interest when it comes to the Demon King’s resurrection.”
“U-understood.”
Then Renawill told them a few strategies to protect the World Tree, to which the diplomat, impressed, replied that they would pass this on to their country.
It didn’t even take half a day for this secret meeting to take effect.
[The Empire has dispatched a team of engineers and has begun constructing large-scale magic circles. The families of Duke Hasfeldt and Duchess Totzfel will also be involved in this construction. Both families are known for the inception of scrollogy in the past.]
[There will also be additional security personnel deployed, increasing the numbers from 3000 to 20 000. Along with this, existing outdated equipment will be replaced with the latest ones.]
[Also, as of today, there will be strict regulation of non-official personnel for access to the World Tree, says the Kaurelian administration.]
“...Fucking bastards.”
Aether threw down the paper she was reading and stomped on it. Akasha, who had been sipping on her morning coffee nearby, asked.
“What is it?”
“It seems that the Youko brat told on us after all.”
Elves were a people who dealt with things after they happened.
Yet they were preparing this much?
The Youko brat must have reported them, because otherwise they had no reason to reinforce their security all of a sudden.
“Those humans weren’t lying when they said that the Youko repay favors with enmity.”
“But isn’t it too peaceful for that?”
“The prosecution will probably come barging sooner or later. What did I tell you? Get packing.”
They had to make a run for it.
She hadn’t been happy with being a professor, anyway.
Her so-called colleagues would bash her at every opportunity, and the president would just say that she was sorry while assigning her all sorts of menial tasks. And the students who had no motivation to study would sit there asking about each other’s love lives now that they had settled a bit. Really, she wanted to kill them all.
Most of all, she had no time to research. If she had known this would happen, she would have just joined as a student.
Aether glanced at the uniform Akasha was wearing.
“.......”
No. She’d rather die than wear that.
“But where are we going to pack up and hide?”
“We’re retreating to the first island chain where our kind is.”
“You’re going to cross the ocean?”
“Other than that, there is no other way to avoid the Elementals’ eyes.”
Aether tossed the student attendance list and gathered the rest of the papers. Even while packing all her research data, she racked her brain for how to escape via the shortest route possible without being detected.
“What are you doing? Hurry up.”
“Hmm.”
Even then, Akasha hummed and took her time. For some reason, her sister seemed to be getting more relaxed by the day.
Knock knock.
Just then, the door sounded.
“...They’re here.”
The prosecution and police must have come already.
Aether put a cigarette in her mouth and lit it stealthily. Gripping her staff tight, she slowly turned the door handle.
Creeeak, thunk.
“W-wait......!”
A high-pitched, urgent voice.
Aether frowned at the unexpected high-pitched sound.
It was neither the prosecution nor the police.
It was Freyr.
“Calm down for a sec and listen to me...!”
Freyr threw out her hands while flapping her ears and tail. It was a pitiful plea not to strike her.
Aether reluctantly lowered her staff.
“Hurry up, I don’t have time.”
“Um, you see....”
After hesitating a bit, a few words spilled from Freyr’s mouth.
“Can we ever go back to how things used to be?”
“Excuse me?”
Aether went ‘hah’ in an incredulous laugh.
“You show up all of a sudden and what, are you threatening us in reverse?”
“What do you mean threaten...?”
“I saw today’s paper. ‘I’ve reported you so give up and turn yourself in’ is what this is, isn’t it.”
“.......”
Right, because that’s the kind of people you are.
Humans, elves, and even beastkin. It had been long since she understood the behavioral patterns of all races. It was obvious what would come next.
It was as she was estimating when she’d show her true colors.
“...You, how can you say that.”
The eyes of the girl she was looking down at began to grow wet.
“I didn’t report you. I didn’t.”
“You’re lying.”
“Hey─!!”
Freyr yelled.
“How could I lie to you! Sniff, how could I lie!!”
An expression of sorrow and despair, anger and regret.
Freyr was the type to show on her face when she lied; it was a piece of knowledge that her other self had embedded in her mind.
And so Aether shut her mouth at the burst of Freyr’s frustration like a dam.
The hand gripping the caliper loosened gradually. Freyr huffed and puffed as she wiped at her tears and runny nose. Why she was here like this all of a sudden, the machine didn’t know.
“I came to apologize! That I’m sorry for not saying anything to you at the time! So please just come back to us!!”
“It’s too late.”
“It isn’t!”
“Who do you think you’re saying that to?”
“You’re my friend!!”
Her ears were going to burst at the yelling. Aether retorted with a frown.
“...I’m a Beast.”
“So what!”
“The Demon Army and other races cannot be together.”
“Then hurry up and get out of there!”
Unbelievable.
“Mm, okay. So that’s how it is.”
The one who responded next wasn’t Aether but Akasha.
“Hey brat, stop crying and get back to class. If you didn’t spill it, then fine. The Demon King isn’t thinking to kill all of you, anyway.”
Akasha somehow managed to calm and soothe Freyr with words that sounded terrifying and sent her back. She then shut the door and turned around.
Aether had sunken onto a chair and was sighing.
“Wow, you were kind of awesome, sis.”
“...Now what.”
“Did you know that the things you said to that kid was the same way that Professor Hasfeldt used to talk?”
At that, Aether jumped to her feet with glaring eyes.
“You, watch what you’re saying.”
“Watch what. Unwilling to communicate, being aggressive, not understanding the other person, this is totally.......”
“Shut up, Akasha.”
“Why don’t you.”
Aether glared at Akasha.
Akasha glared at her back.
“You’ve changed lately.”
“That would be you.”
“You think you can call yourself the Great Mecha Secundus?”
“Not all Corruption is the same.”
The more Aether raised her voice, the stronger Akasha spoke as well. Aether just couldn’t understand why Akasha was being like this. This made it seem as if she was hiding something from her.
“Anyway, I’ll be going to class first. I don’t think she reported us, so think about it carefully before you come.”
“.......”
So Akasha left as well, leaving only Aether in the lab.
As she was feeling that something was off, there was a buzz in her head.
Her other self was talking to her about the ‘contract’ they made before.
[If there comes a day that there is someone who accepts you as who you are even after learning that you’re a Beast, and so you realize that true trust exists, then hand back control over the body.]
It had been an offer that she could readily accept.
That was how bad a perception the world had of Beasts. They were an existence that had to be eradicated, nothing more, nothing less.
She had conducted this experiment thinking that the Youko brat wouldn’t be any different. It had been a gamble or sorts only for the sake of strengthening her resolve.
But now, that resolve had cracked.
“Haaah.”
Aether let out a deeper groan than ever. Her head was mushy like the ground on a rainy day.
“Do I, need to be gone from this world?”
–was what just came out.
To give control over to her other self, and for her to disappear from this body without anyone knowing–that was the terms of the contract.
She couldn’t go back on the promise she made to herself, because there was nothing uglier than betraying her own self.
But she was afraid.
The fact that she just had to leave like this after a life of abandonment and betrayal frightened her.
And as she was struggling with this, a voice came to her.
[Alright, let’s add a rule.]
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