Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins

A bird chirps.

An unknown bird announces the break of dawn with its clear voice.

When I lived under the bridge, the cold woke me up. In the duplex house, it was the sound of roosters crowing and breakfast preparation. In the Federation, it was the sound of ship horns or trains that signaled the morning.

Recently, it’s been none other than that clear birdsong I’ve been indebted to.

Once, I became curious about the bird’s name and asked Susan or Lena, but they said they didn’t know.

So I jokingly asked Ellie, too.

I remember receiving an answer that somehow felt like it should be written in italics. Feeling like I’d seen the dark side of an energetic and innocent child, I hastily ended the conversation.

Anyway, I got up, roughly tidying my hair.

My body clock rang an alarm. It told me that my sleep was insufficient, that it was still early morning, and that I should sleep more.

I couldn’t do that.

Today is April 12th.

It was the first day of the summer semester at the Frauzen Federal University of Magic.

Moreover, as I’m the top entrant, I have to go up on the stage at the entrance ceremony for the scholarship award ceremony.

Of course, I needed to dress neatly and maintain a proper demeanor.

Driving away the drowsiness, I sat at the desk and only then realized…

There’s no mirror in my room.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t really done any hair grooming until now. I’d always solved it by wearing a hat.

I vividly recalled being informed by a staff member when I visited the university in March to register for the entrance exam that wearing hats was not allowed.

I need help.

One person’s face immediately came to mind.

“…Should I call Lena?”

The problem is that it’s too early, and Lena is currently on the ‘forbidden second floor.’ It’s a place I’m implicitly not allowed to enter.

Quickly giving up on that idea, I roughly combed my hair with my hands.

“Well… It should be fine.”

Leaving my messy hair as it was, I neatly put on my formal wear and started preparing breakfast.

“…It’s the entrance ceremony, you say. What’s with that hair?”

There was an incident where I heard such words from Lena, but in the end, with her help, I was able to perfectly finish my preparations for the entrance exam, so it doesn’t matter, right?

It’s been half a year since I arrived in Frauzen. The temperature is cool, and the weather is clear.

Today, I begin my life as an undergraduate student at the university.

#April 12th. Clear.

The Frauzen Federal University of Magic.

Unlike the scenery in November, filled with silence and solemnity, now before my eyes spread a lively university landscape full of vitality.

Lush green grass and deep green trees. The Gate of Knowledge stands tall.

Although the scenery itself wasn’t different, the life that filled it changed the character of the landscape.

How should I put it? It finally felt like a school.

Of course, I, with no academic background, have no right to say what feels like a school, but still. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Anyway, I moved my steps while appreciating the surrounding scenery.

I lightly passed through the Gate of Knowledge.

I also looked at Jean-Pierre Auchelimé’s statue, which I had passed by on the day of the entrance exam, and the stone pedestal of unknown use next to it.

Then, a familiar back caught my eye.

I raised my voice and called out to him.

“Werner!”

“Oh, well, isn’t it Eugene.”

Werner, like me, had to arrive earlier than other students to rehearse for the Scholarship Award Ceremony.

He looked rather sleepy, with no energy, and his eyes were fighting to stay open.

“Did you perhaps wait?”

“No.”

“Then what were you doing standing still?”

Werner quietly pointed his finger at the Main Field.

The vast square where preparations for the entrance ceremony were in full swing. Werner’s expression slowly began to change dangerously.

“Don’t you think it would be fun to do an explosive experiment there?”

“…It would be better not to.”

“Tch. Such a theorist.”

Having dissuaded the ruffian of School 4 from trying to raise his notoriety again, I headed towards the Main Field along the main road between the grassy areas.

Although it’s called the Main Field, it seems it’s not just a facility for sports, as an antique-looking platform was already set up in one corner of the field.

With neat decorations added, it exuded an atmosphere befitting an entrance ceremony even though people hadn’t filled it yet.

By the time we arrived at the field, the staff seemed busy welcoming distinguished guests.

Figures that at a glance seemed to be professors or high-ranking officials started appearing one by one, riding in carriages.

Every time a carriage stopped, the staff rushed to bow.

Looking at that scene, Werner let out a groan.

“They’re crazy.”

“The staff do look quite pitiful.”

“Not that, look at the professors’ faces. Those people are the leading magic scholars leading the current academe of magic.”

I learned magic from across the sea. While I might somehow know the professors’ names, I didn’t really know their faces.

But for Werner, who had lived in Frauzen all along, the impression seemed different.

As expected of the headquarters of magic.

There was nothing to do until just before the ceremony anyway. My interest piqued, and I, too, began to observe the faces of the people getting off the carriages.

Then…

Screech—

Among the generally luxurious carriages, an exceptionally large and intricately crafted high-class carriage entered the field.

I opened my eyes wide.

“Is it the chancellor of the university?”

“Probably not. The chancellor’s carriage would come from the campus side, not the main gate.”

There was no need to press further.

Click. 

The coachman opened the carriage door.

A human figure slowly emerged from behind the door.

“…?”

“Oh.”

A freshman around my age.

Moreover, she was exceptionally beautiful.

The delicate features gathered under her chestnut hair were enough to catch everyone’s eye, and the graceful movements characteristic of a child from a wealthy family supported that beauty.

To summarize in one line, it was an impression that even Werner let out a light exclamation.

However, the reason my gaze was fixed on her wasn’t just that.

She was leaning on a cane.

She wasn’t leaning on a decorative cane like Benjamin’s. It was a cane truly for someone having difficulty walking.

As if to prove this, the coachman who had opened the carriage door quickly prepared something like a chair with wheels.

“Ugh, agh.”

When she, trembling like an aspen tree, sat in the wheelchair as if collapsing, it happened.

Our eyes met.

“……”

“Oh. Hello there.”

While I remained silent, Werner grinned shamelessly and waved his hand.

She stayed still for a while, then soon smiled gently towards us. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

As a side note, I’ve unexpectedly often been involved with beautiful women. There was Dorothy, and even though she’s still young, Lena was like that too, and recently, Director Lovelace also fell into that category.

Therefore, rather than her beauty, her expression was more clearly visible to my eyes.

I held my breath.

Wow.

It’s a perfect, fake smile worthy of admiration.

A chill ran down my spine, causing me to turn away. Of course, who would want to reveal that they’re not feeling well?

With that, all of the distinguished guests had arrived.

The entrance ceremony had finally begun.

“—So, this land and this building were meticulously constructed by the Father of Magic decades ago to provide the best education for you all today! And you all—”

The chancellor spoke with a warm impression.

The speech that neither students nor distinguished guests nor anyone was listening to came to an end after about 20 minutes.

Finally, the scholarship award ceremony began.

“Top scorer of the entrance exam. Werner Ross Diemann. Please come up to the stage.”

If each of the nearly 700 new students were to say just one word, it would total 700 words.

As soon as Werner’s name was called, numerous “jeers” poured out.

“Hey, ruffian! Don’t burn down the university’s laboratory!”

“It’s my first time seeing him. Who is he? From School 4?”

For Werner, these were all words he had heard so many times his ears had grown calluses.

With a relaxed smile, Werner went up on the stage, comfortably received the scholarship certificate, and exchanged greetings with the chancellor.

Afterward…

“Likewise, top scorer of the entrance exam. Eugene Oslo. Please come up to the stage.”

It was my turn.

I stepped onto the stairs prepared at the side of the platform.

With each step I climbed, I could feel the audience gradually falling silent.

If Werner received jeers, I received silence. A silence containing hundreds of meanings dominated the entire field.

Regardless…

I stood in front of the chancellor and greeted him with utmost respect.

The chancellor handed me the scholarship certificate with a warm smile.

“Student Eugene Oslo. I entrust the future of magic studies to you.”

“…Thank you.”

I wanted to leave the stage right away, but I couldn’t.

Because there were several reporters with cameras around, the chancellor and I had to stand still for about ten seconds while I held the scholarship certificate.

“Smile for the camera—!”

Thus, unintentionally, I made eye contact with 700 new students.

It’s fierce.

But the one on the stage is me. I focused on fulfilling the duty of a subject without feeling intimidated.

Grin.

An excellent smile spread across my face.