The Magic Academy's Physicist
Chapter 256: Déjà Vu (7)

Chapter 256: Déjà Vu (7)

0% He finally got it.

Why His Majesty had picked up that useless child and made her a top officer of the Demon Army.

His lord had seen the girl’s intellect. Although she was physically weak, was low in status, and didn’t have any particular talent at combat....

─ Now who’s the weakest of the Heavens?

She was someone who could produce a devastating weapon if given time.

“Huhu.”

Gilach smirked as he remembered what happened a little while ago.

The pillar of fire that rose like a rage and a mushroom cloud that soared into the sky like a dragon.

Even he who looked down on Aether could only freeze at the burning of the World Tree replica.

That had been a power like the Goddess.

“If our lord consumes Winter who has such a power.......”

“Then not just the Elemental Realm but also the Goddess’ own domain will turn to ash.”

Spring and Summer Heaven looked at each other and nodded.

“Spring. I’ve been in the Demon Army for a long time but I’ve never seen such a savage and elegant betrayal!”

“What betrayal? Is raising and eating livestock considered betrayal?”

“Those are great words! Uhahaha!”

There was nothing more to be angry about.

Winter Heaven wasn’t going to be given credit. His lord wasn’t going to neglect him, either.

Because everything had been part of the Demon King’s plans this whole time.

“Anyway, Winter has nowhere to go.”

“Then she only has two options to choose from.”

Either be found that as a Beast and meet a tragic end at the hands of the Elementals.

Or return after completing the mission and be used as a foundation for the Demon King’s great cause.

“Exactly, so don’t be so upset.”

“This was quite the cheer-up. Huhahaha!”

Gilach nodded and left to see to business.

The top floor of the Demon Castle was empty. Besides the Spring Heaven Pasmo, there was no one left.

“.......”

Silence hung like clouds.

Spring slithered his quadrijointed arms, readjusting his hat and tightening the bandages around his body.

“...Kuhl kuhl.”

The corners of the dwarf’s mouth formed a curve.

It was spring.

[This was quite the cheer-up. Huhahaha!]

“Hmm.”

Gulping, she ended the observation. Her mana also just ran out so her body was drained of energy.

“What do you see?”

Two beds of yellow hair were pressing in on her from the front and back.

Damn it, this was suffocating.

“Why are you acting friendly?”

“We’re allies now.”

“Ugh, how cheesy.”

Rosemary pushed away Klara Hasfeldt who came to help out for once.

Living alongside humans wasn’t so bad, but she was worried for the safety of her sisters.

“Human, thanks for lending me your Elemental, first of all.”

Rosemary stuck her hands into her sleeves and bowed her head slightly. It was an etiquette that used to be from back in her days.

Elemental Magic was more incredible than she thought.

The Elementals–which Rosemary obtained by using her ‘gimme gimme1’ skill against Klara–lended her their power even while grumbling.

Although it was less effective due to the mana from the Fire Elemental not being compatible with her, there was no problem spying on the Demon Castle.

Anyway.

“That’s a shame.”

“What is?”

Rosemary covered her mouth and chuckled.

“Looks like we’re going to have to extend our alliance.”

**Morning class was cancelled.

Some students were happy, and others weren’t. Aether wasn’t going to scold either party.

Either way, there was loss. Three hours worth of progress had been pushed back.

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault.”

“No, it isn’t.”

Leninya woke up close to 1 p.m. As soon as she checked the clock, she kicked the covers then bowed her head.

“I inconvenienced you and my classmates so how can I....”

“There’s no need to be so upset. There were many others besides you who didn’t get to sleep last night because of the flood.”

When Aether went to the morning meeting, a few students were absent. And while some did make it, their faces were exhausted.

Of course they’d be. The entire academy had nearly been submerged.

It seemed too cruel to take attendance the next day and have class.

[You’ve finally learned to be flexible.]

“.......”

Let’s ignore the inner voice.

This was just laying the groundwork to get Leninya’s help.

[Weren’t you only concerned with Yufiel before.]

“...Hmm.”

She figured Leninya would also be quite helpful now that she thought about it.

She was a student who had a good eye and impressive ideas, and might play a significant role in the Dark Day research. Even if she didn’t, she was thinking that she could have her do the odd jobs required for research prep.

‘I’ was right. ‘I’ knew what ‘I’ was doing.

“I will tutor you for the time being. You don’t have to work for the first month so just focus on your studies.”

Aether acted generous on purpose.

At the unexpected words, Leninya blinked and perked up her ears. An elf raising their ears like that meant they were surprised.

“Can I... really do that?”

“Of course.”

Aether handed her the new textbooks, followed by the writing utensils and necessities.

“Um, Miss.”

“What is it?”

Leninya asked as she flapped her ears. Her face was still without expression, but she wasn’t able to hide the delighted mood, it seemed.

“Why are you doing so much for me? I haven’t done anything yet.......”

“Do you think this is going to come out of your pay?”

“That would be the right act and procedure if you think about give-and-take.”

At Leninya’s last sentence, Aether let out a short hum.

“Hmm.”

Give-and-take, was it.

That sounded very familiar.

Aether raised her hand with a smirk.

Then she took it straight to Leninya’s forehead.

A snap followed. Leninya let out a short cry and rubbed her forehead.

“Students don’t worry about money.”

“But there’s a price for everything....”

“Uh uh.”

Smack!

She didn’t seem to get it so she flicked her forehead once more, and there came an ‘ughh’.

The Golden-Eyed were all alike somehow, she thought.

“If you’re grateful, then repay me by studying hard.”

Study hard and contribute to the country and the world.

This, too, sounded familiar.

She kept getting a sense of déjà vu.

“...I-I understand.”

Leninya nodded reluctantly, a dampness about her eyes.

Sad, but happy at the same time, yet also sorry.

Right now, she was witnessing a most rare expression of emotion.

It was highly rare for Golden-Eyed to have such a mix of emotions. Normally, they’d only smile when happy and sigh when sad. Unless the Demon King’s curse was lifted, a face smiling while tearing up would be difficult to see even once in a lifetime.

“I’m going to repay this favor later for sure.”

Aether flinched, but soon regained composure and calmed her quickened breathing.

Sorry, but there isn’t a next time. Won’t be.

“...Do as you will.”

After answering however, she hastily got up from her seat because if she continued talking to Leninya like this, it might be discovered that they were the same race.

If she was caught? Then she would strike out immediately if it was Leninya’s personality.

So she had to avoid getting closer than necessary.

Knock knock.

Just then, the sound of knocking came from outside.

“It’s me, Miss.”

She was wondering who and it was Yufiel. Aether let Yufiel inside.

She came over with a book.

“There was something I didn’t understand while studying....”

Studying on her own even when class was cancelled. Considering the number of college students who’d go drinking, it was commendable. With a grin, Aether provided a seat for Yufiel as well.

“Ah....”

“.......”

Yufiel and Leninya’s eyes met.

“Why are you here....”

Yufiel stiffened up like a rock when she saw Leninya. Leninya hurriedly made the bed and got up.

Yufiel was a High Elf. Leninya was a Golden-Eyed elf.

They were both elves, but the difference in status between them was enormous. Although it might be a liberal democratic country, Leninya had to be conscious of Yufiel.

One never knew. If the two were put together, there might be an awkward air around them.... No, there already was.

“There’s a reason.”

Before Yufiel could say anything, Aether beat her to it.

Leninya would lose face if it was said that her house was overturned by the flood, so she’d have to give a roundabout explanation.

“Leninya is starting her undergrad internship from today, so she’ll be staying in my lab for the time being.”

“Ah, undergrad internship....”

“I hope you can understand.”

“Of course, it’s your lab to begin with.”

Yufiel bit down slightly on her lower lip.

It was a similar reaction to last time. She appeared to have something to say.

“Do you have any questions?”

“Ah, this underlined section here....”

“Bring it here.”

Aether naturally received the notebook.

It was a notebook that was written in all natural colors. Yufiel asked about the parts underlined in pink in order.

All the while, she threw glances at her periphery.

It was in Leninya’s direction. Leninya kept fidgeting consciously, then pretended to read the textbook.

“...Ah, I get it.”

“Are there any more?”

“No.”

By the time Aether came to, it was already almost time for the afternoon class. Blinking, she went ‘ah’.

[Good explanation.]

‘Aether’, not her other self, had helped Yufiel with her questions.

She even slowly went through the parts that she would’ve questioned ‘Why doesn’t she know this?’ while explaining. It was different from her old self.

For a moment, a strange thought crossed her mind.

At this rate, wouldn’t she be the one able to teach the students?

“.......”

No, that wasn’t it.

She couldn’t think like this. Why would she teach students? She snuck in to burn the World Tree, not to teach them.

Of course, it reduced the risk of getting caught if she gained the students’ favor. But if she got too close to them....

─ Ditch the Demon Army and come to us!

─ She might be an enemy but I respect her.

...She had to be careful to not be consumed in reverse.

With everything that had taken for her to get this far, she couldn’t disappear without seeing the World Tree blow up.

─ You’re living with me when it’s all over. It’s a promise, okay?

“Ugh....”

Ah, damn it.

Again.

Her head was throbbing again.

“Are you not feeling well, Miss?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Aether waved her hand.

When she held her forehead, it was on fire. She didn’t know if it was due to being in the rain last night, but it seemed she was coming down with a cold.

It was a strange body. It was made of steel, so why was it catching a cold?

“You’re going to be late for afternoon class. If you have something, then be off, both of you.”

Yufiel and Leninya bowed. Leninya picked up her new textbook and thanked her once again.

“Aren’t you heading out, Yufiel?”

“Um....”

Yufiel was pursing her lips again.

Squeeze.

Brilliant ocean-colored eyes turned intense. Yufiel strode right up to Aether.

“I have a request, Miss.”

“Go ahead.”

Gulp.

There was the sound of swallowing.

A moment later, Yufiel opened her mouth.

“Can I be your intern as well?”

Footnotes

1. Raw is a parody of the title "I Wail Bitterly Today" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I\_Wail\_Bitterly\_Today) to mean that she whined.