The Magic Academy's Physicist-Chapter 80: The Dragon Who Drinks Uranium (2)

Chapter 80: The Dragon Who Drinks Uranium (2)

The Teller-Ulam design.

It was the simplest model for making a hydrogen bomb.

A design that created an explosion by triggering a nuclear fusion reaction using the atomic bomb as a catalyst. It was standard yet the simplest method.

The hydrogen bomb I’d originally planned to make was via the method utilizing laser-plasma energy. There was no way it could be done with modern scientific technology alone so I had wanted to use Flare’s magic to develop it, which was also why I’d brought the tokamak.

“So? What is it?”

I couldn’t tell this to Lotte; it was difficult to explain, even. There simply wasn’t the time to explain the concept of nuclear physics in detail to this girl who asked persistently until she completely understood everything.

“I’ll tell you later.”

But I was going to have to do it someday. Just then, the carriage that had been smoothly running stopped.

It wasn’t a problem with the carriage. Freyr and I stuck our heads out the window to see what happened.

The road was cut off; it was a walk from this point.

“Huup.”

I grabbed my luggage and got off the carriage. Maybe it was because I hadn’t stepped on land for some time, but my legs were wobbling.

We walked in the direction of the Saliere mansion. Lotte’s home wasn’t too far from here.

We arrived at the front door within minutes. Around ten servants and a formally dressed couple walked this way.

A couple with red hair and eyes in their forties. It wasn’t hard to guess who they were.

“Mom! Dad!”

“Lotte, Lorewell! You’re safe!”

Forgetting about taking her luggage, Lotte ran straight towards Count and Countess Saliere.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“We’re sorry for not coming to see you in time!”

The way the Count and Countess were worrying over their daughter was completely different from the noble families I’d seen in mass media. They seemed like a normal, happy household.

“Wow, I’m jealous.”

That came from someone’s mouth. Freyr glanced my way.

Soon, Count Saliere greeted me as well.

“You must be that Golden-Eyed. We’re very grateful to you for helping our Lotte.”

Imperial etiquette. Originally, it was a hand gesture that people made towards someone superior. I got flustered by the Count suddenly taking this humble stance.

“N-no... you don’t need to....”

“It’s fine. My dad greets everyone like this.”

“Ah....”

An exclamation fell from my lips.

I want to be their daughter, too.

**Count Saliere warmly welcomed both me and Freyr.

The first thing to do once we were inside the mansion was to eat. Before we could even unpack, a feast large enough to make the table groan was laid before us.

“I should be lavish with my spending today.”

It seemed that Count Saliere was usually frugal. Then again, he didn’t have a single piece of art inside the house for someone of his class. He only kept the necessary number of servants as well.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Freyr left as soon as the meal was over. I still couldn’t get over the Imperial etiquette she displayed at the end.

Was she the same Freyr I knew?

[For that moment, she was like the princess of a country.]

I’d thought of her as some smart tomboy since she’d sleep freely in front of the teachers.

Had it just been an act after all?

We waved as we watched Freyr cross the drawbridge. Below it, there was water rushing down a river that was hundreds of meters wide.

“I wonder why she’s going there?”

Beyond the west was the land of the beastkin, or the barbarians.

Many of the beastkin tribes lived the nomadic life like the Golden-Eyed, but their personality wasn’t the docile, herb-collecting kind.

Herbs?

“Ugh.”

That reminded me of that time when I ate chocolate and mint leaves together.

“The beastkin who live in the west are known for their ferociousness. I’m not certain if Freyr will be safe over there.”

“She’s capable of instant transmutation. She can take care of herself even if something happens.”

“Nonetheless, that place is still dangerous. The Youko in particular causes serious damage to our territory every year.”

“The Youko?”

I already knew this from Vermel but asked as if I didn’t so I could compare information.

“To put it simply, they’re foxkin, those with fox ears and tails. They specialize in ‘hit-and-run’ tactics so it’s hard to catch them even when they loot the nearby towns.”

“Wow.”

“We have to be especially careful in times like these.”

“Why now?”

“Because monsoon season is approaching. The beastkin are strong but due to their nomadic lifestyle, they’re vulnerable to natural disasters. This river will soon flood and when that happens, the Youko could come to plunder our land.”

Flood damage, you say.

The river here certainly had tall sidewalks and well-built embankments. On the other hand, the other side of the drawbridge was nature itself. If a river this big flooded, the west would become a wasteland.

We returned to the mansion. After unpacking, I went out to the veranda of the house and looked out over the river.

A great stream bordering the Pitchblende Mountain. It was like looking at the Yangtze River except the color of the river wasn’t murky yet.

Seeing the crystal clear waters made me want to go fish.

“By the way.”

“Yeah.”

“Tell me about that Teller thing now.”

Shit. The thing I was writing down in the book earlier must have imprinted on her eyes.

“You’re making something like Flare again, aren’t you?”

“N-no?”

It sounded like an excuse but it technically wasn’t.

The Teller-Ulam design couldn’t exactly be called a magic. Rather, it was a design theory of nuclear physics that could be described back in my world as well.

There was no time to teach her nor was there reason to. Gazing at the mountain from the veranda, I thought about tomorrow’s plans.

[If it’s not related to magic, don’t write or talk about it.]

And there was the attitude of the hardcover, too.

R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at free𝑤ebnovel.com Only.

For some reason, it seemed to disapprove of me teaching Lotte physics theories. I sometimes thought about bringing up protons and electrons while explaining magic theories but the book would disrupt me everytime.

─ Practice explaining magic theories using only magic; it’s for your own good.

It sucked but I had to follow since the tips this guy gave me never turned out badly. And I needed to listen to what it said to return to Earth, at least.

Jingle. When I snapped out of it, there was silver in my hand.

“You know I can’t stand being curious.”

There it was, her habit of trying to buy knowledge with money.

Being a genius, Lotte would learn quickly, of course.

If I taught her, she could definitely be a huge help with designing the hydrogen bomb.

However, I shook my head and returned the silver in my hand. Lotte’s expression fell.

The reason why I couldn’t ask anyone to design a hydrogen bomb together including Lotte.

Because I didn’t have the time to explain the general theory?

Or just because the hardcover told me not to tell?

Actually, they were nothing more than initial excuses; the true reason lay elsewhere.

“It’ll be dangerous in many ways if I tell you.”

Because this was forbidden technology.

History repeated itself, and so did humans. Although the humans of Earth and Ahrens continent were different entities, they were similar in nature and intelligence.

Humans, elves, beastkin–all races except the Golden-Eyed knew how to work magic, which was something that manifested with the help of an Elemental. When the Elemental King gave their blessings early on, they were granted an attribute to wield.

Conversely, the Elemental could cut off a person’s magic if they wished. It was possible since they were the agents as well as alter egos of the Goddess who made this world.

Because of magic, the people here were content with what they had. Their reverence for the Absolute that was the Goddess made them humble in exercising their powers.

Hence, they shouldn’t be taught scientific technology greater than magic. This kind of power couldn’t be shown even to kind-hearted people like Lotte. I couldn’t watch them repeat the same history as Earth if someone else happened to catch wind of it.

“I really want to know.”

“Sorry, but it’s not happening.”

Yeah, Lotte.

Though I may walk the path of Teller.

I hope that you’ll remain as Oppenheimer.

**Lotte frowned for the first time after speaking with Aether.

Why... you used to explain kindly whenever I asked something!

Then why was she acting different this time?

“Is it really dangerous?”

If the magic was one that could harm her, then Aether might not want her to know. Lotte decided to believe that because it was the only way she’d feel better.

But it was still disheartening. Shoulders drooping, Lotte opened the door to the office and went in. It was just as Count Saliere was finishing his work.

“You’ve come, dear?”

Her father, Count Cromwell Saliere.

Cromwell was someone who’d been pushed out of the central party politics, banished to this estate for offering advice to the Emperor who’d kept coming up with strange policies.

If someone was wrong, he didn’t hesitate to point it out even if it was the Emperor, and Lotte sincerely admired her father for it.

In any case, Count Saliere was always occupied with his work.

“Why did you call me at this time?”

It started with small talk.

“Did you learn a lot at the Academy?”

“... I did. I made lots of friends and did valuable research.”

“That’s good to hear. And how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine now, no need to worry.”

Count Saliere nodded. With a content smile, he continued his words.

“Good, it’s time that I tell you, then.”

The main point.

Lotte tensed her shoulders.

“I’ve called you at this time for no other reason than to tell you something important now that you’re adjusting to school and have become an adult.”

“Father?”

She sensed something strange. Her father’s gentle face hardened.

It didn’t seem like something bad had happened, but his expression was one of determination.

“I’m only telling you once, Lotte, so listen carefully.”

Her father spoke.

“There is a magic that our family is also secretly working on.”