The Magic Academy's Physicist-Chapter 158: Tailing

When he first saw Aether at the palace, Renawill Hasfeldt had wanted to test her capabilities.

She wasn’t someone who had that good of a first impression. Although she was beautiful as a Golden-Eyed should be, that didn’t count for much to Renawill.

He believed that skills were more important than being pretty.

Like his daughter, Renawill had lingering attachments to Flare, and so he had asked Aether for a swordplay

And botched it completely. The Golden-Eyed girl’s rumored knowledge of magic had been beyond his imagination.

“Did you not know? That child got a perfect score for the written test when she entered Tilette.”

That was what Robespierre said as he sipped from his glass. This man with red eyes like his own was the chairman of the Academy.

Renawill could only be astonished then. Hadn’t there never been a perfect scorer for the written in the history of Tilette?

It seems she’s no ordinary one. I’ll have to talk to her somehow....

Immediately after his defeat in the swordplay, Renawill stopped looking disapprovingly at Aether.

Then afterwards, the noble assembly began. Renawill finished reporting about the northern front before the Crown Prince. As expected, there were talks about Flare.

It isn’t easy getting it off my mind.

Even while Robespierre was being picked on by Duke Blanton, Renawill was occupied with going over Flare and the Golden-Eyed girl’s words and behaviors.

Then suddenly, Duke Blanton raised his voice. Renawill snapped out of it and returned to reality at the sound.

...What is going on?

The Duke was hounding Count Saliere this time. He was attacking him with continuous criticism about why he had lent grain to lowly beastkin.

Renawill and Count Saliere. The two were in positions of defending the north and west respectively. As such, the two had talked about national defense on multiple occasions over a long time.

How unfortunate. Why is giving a loan to the beastkin such a big deal?

There were times when it was better to give food to the beastkin. That was diplomacy and defense. All nobles on the frontier should know that one needed to be flexible when it came to dealing with other people groups or Beasts.

Whether or not the beastkin break the contract, he would’ve been taking care of the most urgent matter.... Blanton is taking things too far with this.

As a fellow Duke, that was how it appeared to Renawill. No matter how he saw it, all it looked like was Blanton trying to keep another noble in check.

As he clicked his tongue, a vote took place. Renawill carefully raised his hand after taking a look around.

“Please raise your hand if you think that Count Saliere’s decision was reasonable.”

There weren’t many who raised their hand, yet the reason why Renawill put up his was simple. It was because the Crown Prince had said not to take a vote.

Renawill was an orthodox noble. A loyal subject of the Imperial family. He wanted to present himself as a ‘trustworthy vassal who managed the north’. Above all, he had no reason to be careful of Blanton as a fellow Duke.

Still, it was an unfavorable decision in aristocracy. As Renawill was tsking–

“You haven’t counted someone.”

The people’s eyes all turned to the back at what the noble said. There stood a Golden-Eyed girl with her hand up.

It was Aether.

Why is that child here?

Renawill held back the thought, flustered.

After that, the situation proceeded quickly. While most of the nobles including Renawill were going ‘Huh? Huh?’, they were given a break.

“We’re taking a break earlier than expected.”

“Indeed.”

“Did you see Duke Blanton break out into a cold sweat? I wondered if it was the same man of iron.”

Break time. As he was talking with the nobles he was usually close with, Renawill suddenly sensed something strange.

“Indeed.”

It was strange no matter how much he thought about it.

Let’s say that it was understandable when the Golden-Eyed girl barged in, and as expected Duke Blanton tried to remove her from the meeting room.

Just then, a few nobles stood up and defended the girl. Here, Renawill could only wonder.

“I can understand Marquis Robespierre and Count Heerlein, as those two work at the Academy she attends.”

“As does Cai-Lussac.”

“But what happened with Duke Argana and Viscount Eliyev? Neither of them have anything to do with the Academy.”

Especially Duke Argana.

The sight of one of the Grand Dukes suddenly getting up and taking the girl’s side had been quite shocking.

“It even seemed like Blanton was being cautious of that girl.”

“Do you hear what you’re saying?”

“You must be imagining things.”

Renawill couldn’t understand this and neither could the other orthodox nobles.

Does it have something to do with the opposition?

The girl’s social skills hadn’t seemed good enough for her to approach other nobles first. The stiff way she had talked during the swordplay. Her personality wasn’t a friendly one, at least.

“Where are you off to? The meeting will resume soon.”

“Tell the others that I had a quick matter to attend to.”

Using the break time, Renawill left his seat.

It should be fine to deviate briefly. After all, the general assembly would be held for another two days.

There she is.

Renawill’s footsteps followed a girl–Aether.

Aether was hopping like a rabbit and running back to the Academy. Renawill went after her using stealth magic.

This doesn’t look very good.

He was aware that what he was currently doing was stalking. Someone could call for the guards if they saw him right now.

But there wasn’t even a speck of spite left in his mind. All there was was curiosity. What kind of student was she that even Duke Argana came to her defense? That was what he wanted to know.

He couldn’t stand being curious, and had to find out the answer no matter what in order to be satisfied. Inquisitiveness. This was an attribute passed down generation to generation within the Hasfeldt family.

That’s....

Aether headed towards the Earth Magic research wing. She opened the lab door and took a seat inside.

After setting up the microscope, she began working on something, rotating a scroll this way and that.

Aether picked up an etching pen, and scratched onto the scroll with its sharp tip.

The speed at which she was digging a circuit into the magic paper was extraordinary. Renawill’s jaw dropped as he was watching.

Even I can’t do that much.

Not even Klais, who was a master of scrolls, could work that quickly.

Machine-like movements. The girl kept her eyes on the microscope even as she yawned. A subtle mysteriousness flickered in her eyes.

How long had it been since then?

“Ah.”

As if she realized something, the girl let out a soft exclamation and got up. Renawill swiftly moved away from the door.

I should get going.

He couldn’t stay long. Renawill quickly left the scene. He felt like he had done something wrong, but shook it off with a shake of his head.

Renawill made his way to the palace.

Talking to Aether at the moment wasn’t the best thing to do. Renawill knew that his daughter had kept that girl as a slave, so how uncomfortable would she be if the father of her former master showed avid interest?

Still.

“I want her.”

He wanted to bring her into his home somehow.

Whether as a servant or a visiting researcher, he wanted to invite her to the main house of Hasfeldt.

At the least, he wanted to have her as a foster daughter. It wouldn’t be realistically possible, of course, but if that happened, then the family would be able to bask in glory like never before.

It was an impulsive thought, but it was a fairly decent idea.

Why? Because in the eyes of Renawill who had seen all sorts of people over the years, that girl was worthy.

“I’ll have to gradually persuade her.”

He wasn’t expecting it to happen right away. Contemplating his thoughts, Renawill returned to the palace.

“What is it?”

As I was being scolded by Lotte for coming back late, I suddenly got the shivers.

“I don’t know. I feel cold all of a sudden.”

R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at free𝑤ebnovel.com Only.

It felt as if someone was talking about me. Of course, it was literally just a ‘feeling’.

“Anyway, if you’re going to be late next time, then come and let me know first. Understand?”

“Yeees.”

Lotte sat on the bed with a worn face. She must have been unable to sleep. Seeing her face like that made me feel even sorrier.

“You sulking?”

“No.”

“You are, though.”

How could I make her feel better? As I was thinking, a good idea suddenly popped up and I clapped.

“Lotte.”

“What?”

“You can use me however you want this weekend.”

Thinking about it, I’d been pushing her too hard lately. That just made me an evil professor, didn’t it?

“I pretty much finished my research tonight. I should have a bit of time before you leave for the exchange program.”

“...Really?”

Lotte’s face, which had been grumpy for a while, brightened.

She had to be exhausted from all the research and midterm prep she’d been doing lately. But even amidst all that, she came alive with a single smile.

With a smile like a delicate blossom, Lotte asked.

“Then do you want to go on a date later?”