The Magic Academy's Physicist
Chapter 296: Letting It Out (2)

Chapter 296: Letting It Out (2)

0% The day went by in a flurry of activities.

A lot happened even just today. Not only did I get to catch up with my friends for the first time in a while, but I also coordinated with the people on site. Installing a hotline to be able to communicate with each other at any time was a bonus.

In addition, I even met with Duke Renawill Hasfeldt.

Not in a public setting, but in private.

“Thank you for vouching for me.”

“It was nothing.”

We looked at each other and smirked.

When I first saw him, I thought he was the boomer type.

Renawill waved his hand as if telling me not to worry about it.

“If nothing else, I have an excellent eye for recognizing talents.”

What would it have been like if Klais had at least been half the person he was while at Tilette?

I thought for a moment, then stopped. It was all in the past, anyway.

“To think that the Demon Army executive was a yellow-eyed human.... I was relieved to know that you’re human like us.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. How do you think I would have reacted if you had truly been a monster from another world?”

“How wise of you.”

I smiled as needed and continued the conversation naturally.

Duke Renawill hummed and paused for a moment.

“......Thank you, for also including that condition for the Empire as part of the treaty.”

“Not at all.”

“No, we cannot thank you enough for that.”

This Duke was someone who knew international politics, understanding that Kaurelia hadn’t accepted them simply out of the goodness of their hearts.

“While I am sorry for the people of this country, the future would have been bleak even after the war ended if you hadn’t taken such measures.”

Renawill gave a wry smile.

Now with the Empire having fallen and the center of the continent being empty, who would become the owner of that land after the Demon Army was destroyed?

The elves would try to stake their claim on it in order to make up for their losses, which then would leave no place for the Golden-Eyed to stand.

“And where did you learn about international affairs?”

“We just touched upon it during liberal arts class.”

“You’ve got quite the crafty mind.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate the former top executive in the Demon Army, sir.”

Huhu, I chucked, and brought an end to that conversation.

Well, that just made me seem like an evil mastermind.

“By the way, I heard you were going out for a drink with Klais tonight?”

“Word travels fast. That’s right.”

I had just said it today, but he already knew about it.

“I hope that the two of you can work things out.”

“I hope so, too.”

Stroking his beard, Renawill pursed his lips.

His face was saying should I say this or not.

“...You might already know this, but she has quite the drunk habit. Just a little bit of beer and she becomes a different person.”

What he was worried about was Klais’ limit.

I did know about it since I had heard it from Miss Heerlein when I was a slave, that Klais Hasfeldt was very weak to alcohol.

But I never found the time to clink glasses with her.

“Don’t be surprised when you see it.”

“Is it that bad?”

“It’s, well.... Haaa. Never mind. It can’t be described in the human language.”

How friggin’ weak was she, anyway.

My interest was piqued when I saw the flurry of expressions on the Duke’s face like they were being blended, my interest was piqued. I should order some strong whisky to go with tonight’s dinner.

After the conversation ended with the Duke, I took some time and returned to my housing.

It was a new place I got near the academy, a residence dedicated by the state to commemorate my becoming the Minister of Magic.

It was a vast improvement considering how I used to live in a shed when I first came here. ‘Have I become bougie now?’ was how I felt.

“Dan-da-ra-dan-dan!”

What the.

When I stepped through the door, a fox came out running with her tail wagging.

“What are you doing here, brat?”

“Brat? Braaat? We haven’t seen each other in ages and that’s what you have to say?”

Freyr, who came out of nowhere, crossed her arms and pouted.

What the hell. I came back after a hard day’s work to find my new home robbed by this fox brat.

“Who let you in here?”

“Lotte did.”

Just then, there was the sound of a click. It came from the washroom.

The door opened, and moist air wafted through the gap. The scent was a subtle lavender mixed with body wash.

“Welcome back, Aether.”

It was a beautiful voice like a work of art.

Water dripped from rose-red hair, and the bright eyes full of intellect stared directly act me.

The personification of goodness.

Lotte Saliere. The reason why I decided not to hate this world was before me.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m alright.”

“You still have bags under your eyes. Don’t overwork yourself.”

“I got it, I got it.”

The bags under my eyes weren’t because I was tired.

The terminal condition.

It was the price of saving the girl in front of me. Even now I could feel my body break down little by little.

“Is it because of that...?”

“That? What’s that.”

“The atomic bomb. Because so many elves died.”

Lotte pursed her lips.

“That wasn’t your fault.”

“.......”

“You didn’t do it, the Demon King did. So you don’t need to feel guilty about it.”

I waved my hand as if to let it be.

“Let’s not talk about depressing things. I have plans so I have to step out again.”

“What? You can’t!”

Freyr barked.

“We came here so the three of us could drink together!”

“Did I say I would?”

“No? This kind of thing is more fun as a surprise!”

Then the brat jumped up on the bed.

Diving onto the modern mattress, the brat rolled around on the cover.

“Drink, drink, driiiink!!”

She rolled around screaming that, and before I knew it, the white microfiber cover rolled up and created an inside-out fox roll.

“Drink with us!”

“Get down, brat.”

“I won’t until you have a drink!”

Her trademark fox ears and tail flapped. For a brief moment, I saw dog fur flying over the bed.

“You clean the bed.”

“I will if you drink with us!”

Shoot me.

In the end, Miss Lotte pulled out a can of beer from the fridge as a quick fix. After taking a few gulps of it, Freyr calmed down a notch.

“What’s with her all of a sudden?”

“Well.... She’s a dog, after all. She’s just excited to see a friend after so long.”

“Yeah?”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen her since holing up in Leninya’s house.

“To be honest, I’ve been quite upset, too.”

“Uh, umm....”

“And so I don’t want you to go anywhere today.”

Please? Lotte said with a glitter in her eyes.

Honestly speaking, I couldn’t say no.

Without these two, I wouldn’t have sided with the humans. That was how meaningful my friendship with Lotte and Freyr was.

But if I refuse to spend time with them for just a day.......

“Sorry, you said you had plans, right?”

The corners of Lotte’s eyes slanted sadly, looking just like a pup abandoned by her owner.

This made me feel guilty in its own right. And Lotte hadn’t even said it intentionally so I couldn’t even blame her.

But I couldn’t just cancel my plans with Klais, either, since I had been the one to make them.

Since it came to this, I’d have to find a compromise.

After quickly sorting my thoughts, I spoke up.

“Alright, I’ll stay here today.”

“Really? Thank you.”

Lotte held my hand tight and laid out snacks and bottles of liquor. One of them was the wine we had had at the Saliere mansion.

“But I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Um.... It could be a bit much depending on the situation, is it okay?”

“It doesn’t matter to me as long as ‘re here with us.”

“좋아.”

I took a deep breath, then spoke.

As she listened, Lotte’s face turned strange, then she shifted her eyes this way and that. She must be calculating.

Before long, Lotte finished thinking and the corners of her mouth lifted up in a grin.

“Okay. Then Freyr and I will be in the closet over there so we aren’t in the way.”

I just heard something dangerous.

She did it in the end.

She couldn’t believe she was going to have drinks with the girl who had been her ex-master and ex-ex-slave as equals.

One of Klais’ few weaknesses was alcohol. She would black out as soon as she drank.

Would Aether be good at drinking...?

She knew it was pointless to think about.

Klais’ drinking habit was known by her family, her colleagues including Heerlein, and even the late former Emperor.

Even if she tried to hide it now, there would be no point.

It was only that she wasn’t used to having a drinking session with none other than someone who she had such a bad history with.

I hope she isn’t.

Even if she blacked out, it’d be less embarrassing if they blacked out together.

Thinking that, Klais inhaled deeply.

“Huu.”

Taking one deep breath after another, she walked to where Aether had told her.

She suddenly wanted to change the location of their meeting so she had said yes. And the new location that she had been given some minutes ago was the building right in front of her.

“This is....”

No doubt about it.

The residential area near Iliad Academy. It was the place Aether was staying after becoming the Minister of Magic.

In other words, Aether had basically proposed drinking together at her place.

I was going to treat you....

Griiip.

Klais grasped the wallet in her pocket tight.

Like this, she was even going to lose the minimal impression of ‘mature and respectable adult who buys her former student a drink’.

With the last of her defenses having completely evaporated, Klais’ eyes flashed.

......No, this is good, actually.

It wasn’t about her having saved money or anything.

She would be drinking alone with Aether without having to be conscious of other people.

And Heerlein, who usually acted as her safety pin at these drinking sessions, wasn’t around, either.

If she and Aether both blacked out at the same time? Then she might even end up grabbing someone and kissing them.

If that was the case, it was better to get drunk in a private space.

You must be a lightweight.

At the same time, Klais demonstrated sharp reasoning.

The fact that Aether opened up her place for drinks suggested that she, too, had a low tolerance.

Imagine one’s usually cool, level face becoming a mess. Even a person who was the most indifferent to others’ gazes wouldn’t be able to stand that. It was social suicide.

Furthermore, Aether was now the Minister of Magic, someone in a very, very high position. If she acted like a drunkard in a restaurant, she could get impeached.

Okay, let’s do this.

Finishing all her thinking, Klais walked confidently inside.