The Magic Academy’s Physicist Chapter 2

༺ Do You Want To Be Enrolled? ༻

 

 

  I didn’t expect those words from Professor Heerlein.

    

  “Academy… enrollment?”

 

  “I guess you’re interested?”

    

  Of course I was. Since there really wasn’t any other way to get out of slavery.

    

  The Empire’s caste system had been crumbling since a while back. This was due to the drawn out war against the Magic Beasts of the north. 

    

  With the nation’s survival at stake, the lives of the Emperor and slaves gradually became equal. Those who couldn’t accept it all died.

    

  At some point the Empire started to diligently train and develop combat mages. It meant that regardless of status or rank, anyone who could take on the beasts was highly favored. It was the right decision given the circumstances.

    

  And Tilette Magic Academy cultivated the best combat mages in the Empire.

    

  An accepted student’s status would be voided the day of their acceptance and they simultaneously received the title of a Mage Trainee as an Academy student. In fact, everyone except the Imperials was equal here at this Academy.

    

  Professor Heerlein, too, had been released from the chains of her status after graduating from the Academy. Currently, she was a Countess assisting the Imperial Family. 

    

  It was a tempting offer, to be honest. How could it not be?

    

  Even if Heerlein hadn’t brought it up, I would have eventually applied. I had only been searching for the right time to do so.

    

  So, I became curious about something.

    

  “Why are you telling me this…?”

    

  One always needed to recognize the true intention behind the words of a noble. What was Professor Heerlein’s reason for telling me this, at this specific time? Even showing up randomly like this for it.

    

  To my question, Heerlein responded vaguely.

    

  “Well, aren’t you Klais’ exclusive assistant?”

  

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  

  “Klais had always chased away all the graduate students she brought in within three months. But ever since she brought you from the slave market, she hasn’t accepted any students. Despite having used to whine about not having students to help her all the time.”

    

  What’s this? ‘That’ Hasfeldt whining?

    

  “So I asked the last time we went drinking. She said that she didn’t need anymore graduate students. Having any more than this would be a waste of money, according to her.”

 

  “She said that as you were drinking?”

 

  “She certainly did.”

    

  I finally understood. Professor Heerlein was testing me. Attempting to keep a poker face, I continued to listen to her.

    

  “That’s a compliment as any coming from her. She’s probably secretly grateful for you; she’s just poor at expressing it.”

 

  “… Was that last drink from a year ago?”

 

  “Yeah, it was! How did you know?”

    

  Because that was about when you started to approach me.

    

  I had thought our meeting was unnatural in some ways. To think that such a conversation had occurred.

    

  “Anyway, I had been thinking since then. Our little Aether is too good to remain a slave forever.”

 

  “Ah….”

 

  “I won’t force you. But if you do have the thought, come find me whenever. Hm, within a month if possible. The application period is in three months!”

    

  Heerlein grabbed one of my hands with a friendly smile. Something soft was squished between our hands.

    

  “Uh.”

 

  “Ta-da! It’s a gift. You haven’t eaten today, right? You can snack on this.”

    

  It was chocolate.

    

  Something that was hella difficult to find in this world. It was a luxury food especially for slaves.

    

  In order for a commoner to obtain sugar, they either needed to eat fruit or get nectar from a watered flower. Sugar canes also existed but they were exclusive to elves and even harder to obtain than chocolate.

    

  Hm. It would be polite to refuse at least once. But with my shriveled stomach, I was controlled by instincts.

    

  That wasn’t the only reason for not refusing the chocolate, though. Usually, a noble giving a valuable item after presenting an offer was a metaphor. Like a corrupt politician pulling out a white envelope from their inner pocket.

    

  Refusing the chocolate would mean I wasn’t interested in enrolling in the Academy. And it wasn’t just me; any noble like Heerlein speaking in a roundabout manner would think the same. I’ve spent my time here learning to read the atmosphere and in between the lines, so of course I could figure out this much.

    

  I received the chocolate. And I didn’t forget to thank her, of course.

    

  “I’ll be off, then. Bye!”

    

  Watching Heerlein ride away on her golem, the corner of my lips slowly lifted.

    

  Right. 

    

  It’s been three years; it was time to start stretching. 

    

**

    

  That was one thing, but my current reality was another that I needed to focus on.

    

  I didn’t need to worry immediately about enrolling as a student. People had prematurely counted their chickens before and been devastated. Traditionally speaking, one needed to think about worst-case scenarios when preparing for a revolt.

    

  Tilette Academy especially was as competitive as it was reputable. If I didn’t beat the formidable competition and make it in one shot, who knows what trouble I would get into with Professor Hasfeldt?

    

  Everything needed to proceed greatness and precision.

    

    

  A bit more and I would soon learn Fire Magic completely. Ironically, it was thanks to laboring under Professor Hasfeldt. It might be arrogant to say, but one more year of research could possibly get me to her level.

    

  “Alright.”

    

  I packed the book away and headed for the back mountains for my current mission of finding mana stones.

    

  The back mountains of Tilette Academy. 

    

  Though that was what they were referred as, they were quite a distance from the school’s main building. This was where low-level Magic Beasts that weren’t harmful on their own resided.

    

  Not all Magic Beasts were dangerous to society. The weak ones were perfect for practical combat for the Academy students. The school being aware of such convenience controlled their numbers like some kind of wildlife protection.

    

  The weaker beasts weren’t just used for practicals. They also played a big part in the supply of low-grade mana stones.

    

  “Found one.”

    

  As soon as I was halfway up the mountain, a Magnet Turtle appeared, a common low-level Magic Beast. 

    

  I crouched down and moved slowly through the grass.

    

  Opening the hip sack, I went through the items I had brought. Two Light Arrow scrolls and several sticks of mana grass for spare use. And one slightly complicated-looking scroll. 

    

  Of these, I took out the last one.

    

    

  Humans should use tools. Hunting was no exception. How would you catch that hard thing with bare hands?

    

  With the scroll opened, I held a roll of mana grass in my mouth. Once the pungent smell of burnt grass made its way through my system, the scroll lit up. The magic paper glowed silver.

    

  Then a long staff burst forth from the paper, almost 2 m in length.

    

  It wasn’t a plain wooden staff used by Mage Trainees. Rather it was a special edition made completely of steel.

    

  With the right tricks, that tin can of a beast could be defeated using this staff alone without magic. Since I needed to take extra steps to use a single spell, I took to hunting its kind by incorporating such tricks.

    

  What was the trick, you say?

    

  Just beat the shit out of it. I mean, what else could it be?

    

  I gripped the staff with both hands. There were four sharp needles at the tip of the staff, and two of them were pointed outwards. The distance between those two needles could be adjusted.

    

  The lower of the two needles was moved according to the approximate size of the target. Then after finding the appropriate length, it was fixed with a pin.

    

  And now…

    

  Ta-ta-tap!

    

  After waiting for the right moment, I immediately shot forward when the Magnet Turtle showed its back. I swung down the staff on its neck. 

    

  Slam! Its neck was caught between the pincers that were fixed at the right length on the steel staff.

    

  “Kiiiiieeek!”

    

  The Magnet Turtle screeched. It was a useless struggle.

    

  Crack, crick, crunch.

    

  “Kiiiieeek….”

    

  With its shell removed, a ton of enameled wire was exposed. A few pieces of oiled magnetite fell out from the inside of its disconnected neck. 

    

  It was the Magnet Turtle’s mana stone.

    

  The surprise attack was a success. The Magnet Turtle collapsed without being able to retaliate. I confirmed its power shutting down and put the stones in my pouch. 

    

  I only needed the mana stones. The rest could be sold for money at the market but I didn’t want to lug this heavy thing all the way down the mountain. Someone else could find it and dismantle it.

    

  I caught a few more after that. Each one yielded fifty stones so it was enough to hunt about five or six. 

    

  Groooowl.

    

  Physical exercise burned a lot of calories indeed. Thinking that it was time for chocolate, I searched my pocket.

    

  “Mmm….”

    

  It was sugar that I hadn’t tasted in a long time. I wanted to enjoy it the best I could. 

    

  I thought of a great idea.

    

  There was something called ‘marginal utility’ in economics. To put it simply, it was that the continuous consumption of a product, no matter how good it was, led to a decrease in satisfaction. 

    

  No need for long explanations. Everyone knew that the first drink always tasted the sweetest.

    

  Yeah. It was unscientific to divide this small chocolate into pieces to try and prolong the taste of sugar. Not only would it not sate the hunger but also leave me hollow afterwards.

    

  So ironically, the best way to enjoy the chocolate was…….

    

  To eat all of it at peak hunger!

    

  It wasn’t just the flavor that was important. To be satiated, other things needed to be consumed while the sweetness lingered.

    

  Was there nothing to eat around here? No. Mother Nature always gave her blessings in any universe. I discovered a few ripe fruits when I searched the area.

    

  It was all according to my calculations. I searched through nearby bushes and gathered edible plants and fruit. Some plants even smelled freshly of mint. This one should be nice.

    

  Great. Now I only needed to gobble it all at once. Then I could enjoy some texture and fill my stomach.

    

  “Gulp.”

    

  …….

    

  …Uhhh.

    

  Wait.

    

  Wait a minute.

    

  I’m fucked.