The Magic Academy's Physicist
Chapter 241: Unification (5)

Chapter 241: Unification (5)

0% It took Vermel half a day to calm Freyr down.

She was crying so much that he even had to call Lotte to comfort her because he couldn’t do it alone.

At least she was able to smile again after they bought her some Shine Muscat and green grape-flavored candy as snacks.

“...This won’t be easy.”

Vermel checked over the plan he and Rosemary came up with.

He fortified the defenses of the World Tree with the support of Duke Hasfeldt, trained quite a bit, and even went around collecting hidden pieces in between.

There were two goals left.

Convince Aether and defeat the Demon King.

Convincing Aether wasn’t going to be accomplished in one attempt; it was going to take at least three, four times of appealing to her. After all, she was going to need time to change her mind.

“It’s okay, Freyr. Aether will definitely come back.”

“Sob, r-really......?”

“Really.”

“O-okay....”

After comforting Freyr who was sniffling, Vermel renewed his resolve.

Since they’d strengthened the World Tree’s defenses, Aether was now going to try to get inside and take the Lodestone.

Therefore, her next target would likely be the Vierbein family that watched over the World Tree directly.

Just in case, he needed to keep an eye on one of his classmates.

**Aether and Akasha usually ate together because they could naturally discuss operations as they ate.

Today, however, they didn’t memorize the passphrase nor bring scrap paper to communicate.

The twin sisters sat far away from each other and ate. It was uncomfortable to look at her younger sister because of the big argument they had over Freyr.

As such, she had to eat next to a complete stranger. The spaghetti she ate rolled up with her fork didn’t taste very good, to the point that she wanted to complain to the cook.

When she stepped out after that lonely meal, it was midday. She’d heard that it was the rainy season, but it was rather sunny today.

For digestion purposes, Aether slowly walked around the campus.

─How, how can you do this to me...!

She heard this with each step she took–it was the cry of the Youko brat she had heard early this morning.

Her head hurt. A thicker, more brutal headache than the one she had when she looked at Gilach’s face for an hour swept over her like a tidal wave.

Aether sped up.

[You said you’re going to process Freyr’s sick leave. Aren’t you going to go find her?]

–said a voice from within.

“I’ll... take care of that later.”

[Cut the bullshit and go do it now.]

“...No.”

After a brief pause, ‘Aether’ continued.

“And that Youko is your friend, not mine.”

[Didn’t you once say that you and I were the same being.]

“.......”

[Shut up and finish taking your walk. If someone sees, they might think you’re some crazy bitch who talks to herself.]

She let out a sigh.

Afterwards, she heard all sorts of complaints in her head. How frustrating it was, how they wanted to bash her over the head with the caliper, that this was why she was always stabbed in the back... every one of them were things she didn’t want to hear.

She couldn’t take it anymore and snapped.

“If that’s how you’re going to be, then just take the body now.”

[No.]

“How much are you planning to demean me?”

[Until we beat the Demon King.]

With everything she said, she got a sly response.

She no longer wanted to talk with the other self in her head, deciding to think about something else rather than argue alone.

Yes, research. She’d think about research instead. Think of ideas on how to develop Dark Day faster.

It was as she was coming down the trail while conducting a bunch of thought experiments.

“Hey, go talk to your parents. Eight billion ellans, really?”

“Exactly! Sure, it’s to protect the World Tree, but isn’t that spending too much money?”

She heard the sound of arguing coming from the gazebo beneath the old pine tree.

Normally, she would’ve just brushed it off thinking how kids were saying a bunch of crap in broad daylight, but a word just had to come rolling into her ear.

“World Tree?”

Aether calmed her breathing and focused on her hearing. She tiptoed over like a hyena going for its prey and eavesdropped on the students’ conversation from behind a bush.

“Do you think the budget can be just found in the ground? It’s all tax money, I tell you.”

“Go away.”

“Oho, look at her. Why can’t we have a conversation between us noble High Elves?”

“Can’t you see I’m studying here? I said to go away!”

It was several students surrounding and harassing one female student.

Her eyes naturally went to the girl who was being bullied.

A girl with green hair in pigtail braids, and blue eyes clear like sapphires carved by a master craftsman.

[Oh, she’s our student.]

Yufiel Vierbein.

The female High Elf student who imprinted in her head because she asked questions of Aether all the time.

“What studying? Getting ready for law school, perhaps?”

“No, it’s thaumaturgy.”

Ha, how ridiculous, the other students giggled. In the end, there was even one who stroked Yufiel’s head like they wanted to mess it up.

“Your body can’t even hold much mana.”

“Let’s be honest. You’ll have difficulty becoming a theoretical mage, let alone fight with that body.”

Yufiel fought back at the continued bullying. But the more she did, the worse the students picked on her like a salty storm.

The Vierbein were a High Elf family. As much as it was a democratic country, there wouldn’t be many peers who could treat a High Elf child like that.

Which meant that it would be someone also a High Elf that was harassing her.

Even as she wondered if it was an internal conflict, she took a step forward. At the sound of grass being stepped on, the students’ gazes also gathered to one side.

“What is it?”

“A human?”

The female student leading the bullying approached in puzzlement.

“Who are you?”

“You first.”

Aether casually threw back.

“Rike Rothschild. You’ve heard of me before, right?”

“No.”

The girl who introduced herself as Rike frowned slightly.

“I’m telling you now–this isn’t bullying.”

So be on her way, apparently.

Of course, she didn’t have any intention of leaving easily.

Aether’s gaze turned towards Yufiel, and Yufiel clearly looked taken aback. Her face was saying, ‘why are you here, Professor?’

Ignoring it, she turned her head back.

“About that World Tree from earlier.”

“Ah, the World Tree?”

The students came swarming over like bees at that question.

“Her family is the one that oversees the World Tree, you see? But this time they’re spending eight billion on the facility expansion alone. Eight billion!”

“Doesn’t something seem fishy?”

There were mocking smiles on the faces of Rike’s posse as they said that.

Aether quirked her head, wondering why they’d ask that.

Soon, she found an appropriate answer.

“......Like embezzling some of the budget?”

“Exactly!”

“You’re someone who gets it, aren’t you?”

Yufiel shut her book and bristled.

“You’re accusing!”

Her expression was that of one who was unjustly accused.

“What do you mean accusing? We were only telling the truth.”

“Isn’t that right, human?”

Rike giggled, nudging at Aether’s shoulder. It seemed to be a sign of friendliness on her part, but her actions were no different from a ruffian.

Part of her wanted to just leave here right away.

However.

This was an opportunity.

The perfect opportunity to access the World Tree without being suspected.

“She’s right. You guys are being accusatory.”

“What?”

Rike scowled, then humming ‘hmm’, she crossed her arms. Her attitude was saying ‘let’s hear what you’ve got’.

“If you’re unhappy with the decision made by the state, go over and complain to the parliament instead of harassing some poor person and making them miserable.”

“What?”

Now Rike wasn’t even bothering to hide that she was ruffled. Fuming, she snapped back.

“Don’t you know how important this is?”

“I don’t.”

“Then just go on your way.”

“No.”

Aether locked eyes with Yufiel once more, and at the same time moved forward. Mosh, mosh–there was the sound of grass being stepped on. Before long, Aether was close to where Rike was.

Rike asked irritably.

“Do you know who I am?”

“I don’t.”

“I’m a legitimate child of the Rothschild.”

“So?”

“You seriously don’t know?”

Exchange students. Rike clicked her tongue and smirked.

“Our father is the Chief of Police.”

“Good for you.”

“It takes only one phone call for them to immediately start investigating what corrupt activity her family is committing.”

“So.”

So what.

“What does your parents being important have to do with you harassing a friend?”

“I didn’t harass her; I was only warning her not to waste their budget.”

“Well aren’t you shameless.”

“And aren’t you a funny one.”

The group surrounded Aether, and after trapping her so she couldn’t get away, Rike stepped forward and began stepping on her foot.

“You, what family are you from?”

“Hasfeldt? Saliere? Robespierre? Or Celesturne?”

“If not those, don’t even talk.”

The pressure on her foot increased a little.

She was also starting to get angry.

“W-what.”

Aether glared at Rike.

That was all, but Rike withdrew the heel with which she was leaning her whole weight on.

Slowly backing off, she spoke.

“What’s that look for?”

There was a bit of killing intent in her eyes that were burning red. As much as she was in disguise, it wasn’t easy to hide the inherent difference in level.

Intimidate.

The passive skill common to all Cataclysms.

“I-I said why are you staring at me like that...!”

Her brazen attitude from a moment ago was nowhere to be found, now trembling like a frog who had been bitten by a viper.

“You’ve got some nerve, stepping on a professor’s foot.”

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