Chapter 36 - Not Bad
Translator: Kakarott
Editor: imsara
The main body has left. In other words, I, Hart C., was left behind. Before I knew it, Schneider had gone home, and the welcome party had started. Professor Tia is having some fun with Iris. I’m sure they’re having a great time discussing ancient magic.
Speaking of me.
It’s a very good idea to know what to expect. ‘The Doctor’s when I was a little girl.’ I was accompanied by Mr. Polkos’ old stories. He was still sneering at me, who is a student, as usual.
“She was truly a genius. Like her talent for magic. Her mind was the supreme treasure of the country. If I taught her one, she would understand ten, then she would expand her guesses to a hundred and hit me with them. Somewhere along the line, I have reduced myself to simply listening to her reasoning.”
Mr. Polkos was speaking in whispers with wine glass in hand.
“I was the third son of a fallen baronial family. I worked very hard to get to the point of teaching here at the Academy. However, she skipped a grade and graduated at the top of her class in less than five years, and two years later, she had her own laboratory. It didn’t take long.”
This information could be used to estimate Professor Tia’s age, but it was rather unimportant.
”But, I wonder why it’s ancient magic? If you’re doing cutting-edge magic research, you’re fully capable of developing a number of new magic. How can she, who was reputed to be the closest to the title of ‘Sage’, be…”
Hmm. This dish is surprisingly good looking. It looks good and it’s true that you’re good at cooking.
”Well, it’s just that kind of personality. I guess it can’t be helped. I don’t know what a genius thinks.”
Drinking……..should I stop? I’ve never had in my past life, and I’m underage now by modern Japanese standards. I don’t know if I’ll get drunk as a copy.
“Speaking of character, Professor is not very good with people. There was a problem with her parents, and now she’s as good as disowned. Still, her parents must be worried about her. They asked me to be the guardian. I was an assistant, you know. However, the academy is making me work super hard and I can’t say no to them.”
Oh, Iris, you’re blushing. She’s drunk. So, in this country if you’re 15 years old you are old enough to drink?
“Um, are you listening to me?”
“Yes, I’m here, okay?”
Though, I’m also flushing it down the drain.
”Regardless, you can rest assured that I’m definitely a leading expert on ancient magic, both at home and abroad, so you can rest easy there.”
In other words, your advice is that you can’t feel safe at all except for ancient magic.
”Please, please don’t abandon me. Your personality is a bit of a thing, but … ugh …”
Mr. Polkos fell asleep with his wine glass in his hand. Didn’t he say something about being happy when the lab is gone? Oh well.
I took the wine glass from his hand (being careful not to get sweat on it) and placed it on the table. Then, I munched on it. It doesn’t nourish me, though. What goes into my belly gets sent to the mysterious space-time. But, I can taste it. Thank you, my body.
“Oi, hart…”
Who? Me?
Iris waddled up to me. She’s very drunk.
“here?”
She staggered. I couldn’t avoid it in time and was forced to hold her. Something soft and smells like alcohol. Iris rests her chin on my shoulder and exhaled,
“Huh~”
And then,
“This is a very humble laboratory. In this place, I can become………strong….. Soooo………”
This one has fallen asleep too.
I held Iris and put her down on the couch. Then, a voice called out from behind me,
“Do you know why she’s so obsessed with ancient magic?
I turned around and saw Professor Tia. With a bottle of liquor in hand, and slightly red cheeks.
‘No, I have no idea.’
“No, I have no idea.”
“You guys don’t actually get along?”
In a dumbfounded voice, Professor Tia spoke up, even though she didn’t ask.
”Her maximum magic level is [35]. She’s not as good as Prince Rias, but her qualities are sufficient. To top it off, she has ‘extra-standard attribute’ that can possess the four basic elements, [Light], [Darkness] and even [Chaos]. It’s just like the protagonist of a classic tale of a commoner’s rise to power.”
I knew that. I knew that because I used a measurement ward to test Iris’s strength on my first attempt.
However…
“She’s a level 5 magician now, isn’t she?”
“Yes! Those who enter this academy are stopping at a single-digit age range to reach…….. Hence, they have no idea of the practical skills.”
“Well, I was able to enter.”
“It’s hard for a teenager to determine if the magic level is completely ‘closed’ or not. You’ve got top grades in writing. And it was a last minute admission with expected value included.”
The phenomenon where the magic level stops going up before it reaches its maximum value is described as ‘level closing’. The king of this country seems to be like that.
”But, what does that have to do with ancient magic?”
“It was a gamble. At the very least, modern magic hasn’t found a way to open up what’s ‘closed’. Not even a clue. However, when ancient magic was at its peak, it was a mythical time where there were hundreds of level 100’s around. It’s no wonder that we’re hoping that there’s a way to force open the door.”
“Is there one?”
“I can’t say for sure. I hadn’t even started working on it until now.”
“He did mumble something about being strong in this place, though, didn’t he?”
“I tried not to give Iris any strange expectations, but I think she has grown in her own way. However, if I can find a way to ‘open’ the door, I will be awarded a medal. I’ll owe the King a medal. Yes, yes. My research funding will be through the roof.”
“But, there are times when you don’t make it to the next level and you get expelled, right?”
“Well, it’s more likely than not.”
Professor Tia gulped down a bottle of liquor in a breath. ”Phew~,” she breathed, and then
“There are those who would laugh at the idea of clinging to the smallest possibility as an escape. But, to me, it’s beautiful to see people trying desperately to grab onto something as long as it’s possible.”
She looked lovingly at Iris lying on the couch.
“Hmm. I guess I’m starting to sober up. I’ve said some uncharacteristic things. I’m going to bed too. Good night!”
Whether she was embarrassed or not, Professor Tia rolled into a large figure on the floor and began to scoot around in her sleep. Turning to the direction that she had come from, I saw countless bottles of liquor lying on the floor where they had been talking.
If they were all asleep, I could go home, right? I wanted to sleep in bed. But, my feet went to the window instead of the door. When I opened the window, it was dark outside. The moon was beautiful.
“It’s a strange bunch, aren’t they?”
For unknown reasons, she struggled to rise through the ranks, but her level of performance soon came to a grinding halt. The little doctor is a genius who has a reputation for being a genius, but is neglected due to friction with the people around her. However, she is on her own path.
The other is an uncle who follows a genius, who is self-conscious about his mediocrity but is bound by a rotten connection. They are all different kinds of people, but also clumsy.
Well, I guess I’m pretty much the same way. Perhaps, that’s why.
“Not bad, I guess. What’s your take on it?”
I looked over to the side as I asked and saw a black man floating with his back to the wall.
“You’re me, and I feel the same way.”
The main body was able to get away from the wall.
“The dormitory curfew is long gone. If I go back now, I’m going to get lectured by the dormitory manager’s aunt. Maybe Professor Tia will follow up with me tomorrow.”
What do we do? You know what I’m asking, right? He responded.
“Well, I guess I’ll take the bed then. I’ll come back in the morning to change you. Don’t go wandering out of this building, okay?”
The main body snapped his fingers and flew away.
“Just like me, huh?”
I feel like my personality is just a little bit different from the copy me and main body. I haven’t experienced a previous life. It’s just a record, so in a way it’s someone else’s life. I spoon the ridiculously large pudding on the table.
When I brought it to my mouth, the rich sweetness spread in my mouth. I don’t like sweets, but this–.
”Yeah, it’s not bad.”
I wish the main body had eaten it as well. It’s much better to experience it than to know about it as a mere record. Anyway, this lab will be our daytime base until the mission is completed. A bunch of clumsy bastards like them.
“Not bad, huh?”
I was looking forward to it —