A weekend morning. The School of Magical Surveying laboratory. Normally, I would be resting in my dorm without a thought in my head, but today was different.
Scratch, scratch.
The sound of a quill pen gliding across parchment filled the laboratory. Right now, I was writing the Principles of Calculus.
“This is trickier than I thought.”
Although this was a text to be published as a paper, it essentially had to be an educational document. Covering both scopes was a difficult task. In education, misconceptions are sometimes tolerated for the sake of quick understanding, but not in a research paper.
Still, thanks to Excel, I didn't have to move my own arm, which was a relief.
Scratch, scratch.
Who knew I would find such a great use for a friend I made out of a broken chair and clock parts? As I was working on the paper.
Creeak.
The laboratory door opened. The visitor, as expected, was Giuseppe.
“... Junior, what brings you here on a weekend?”
“I have something I need to write.”
“I see.”
It sounded like a normal exchange, but the reality was different. Giuseppe’s eyes were fixed on the paper ‘Excel’ was writing.
“What are you writing this time? An expanded version of that last assignment?”
“Assignment…?”
Had Giuseppe given me an assignment?
“Have you forgotten already? I’m talking about the assignment Sir Valerius gave, ‘What is impossible with magic’.”
“Ah.”
Right, there was that. During the last class, so many things had happened that I never got a proper chance to turn in the assignment.
‘Should I have handed it to him as soon as I escaped the turtle spell?’
What would that have been like? Let’s imagine it. - ‘Disciple of Doloren. How did you overtake the turtle?’ - ‘I don’t know about that, but here’s the assignment I forgot to turn in earlier.’
It would have looked like I was showing off. It was a good thing I didn't. I answered Giuseppe.
“Unfortunately, it’s not that assignment. I plan on publishing that one only after I’ve released several other papers.”
“To think you’re already planning that far ahead. Remarkable.”
“Thank you…”
I scratched my head for no reason. I was still not used to Giuseppe’s surprise compliments. He pointed at Excel and asked.
“Then what is that one writing?”
“Hmm…”
It was a dilemma. Should I tell Giuseppe the truth? According to the contract, the fact that I was the creator of ‘Calculus’ had to remain a secret.
However, the confidentiality clause only applied to Valerius. If I wanted to, I could reveal the truth. Just then, knock, knock, knock.
A knock came from the door. Giuseppe and I made eye contact. Hiding Excel was the priority.
I left Excel’s side to Giuseppe and approached the door.
“Who is it?” - “…This is Gwendolyn Everglow from the School of Fire Element Magic. Is Isaac Upperhills here by any chance?” …Why is this person looking for me?
And how did she know I was here? I consciously lowered my voice and pretended to be someone else.
“There’s no one here by that name.” - “Excuse me, are you not Isaac Upperhills?”
“No. I’m Howard.”
“…”
There was a moment of silence from the other side. - “If you’re going to be like that… then I have no choice but to be rude.”
“…I’m telling you, I’m Howard Wallowitz.” - “I know about the magic you demonstrated during the last special lecture.”
Damn it.
She had to bring that up. After confirming that ‘Excel’ was hidden, I let Gwendolyn into the laboratory. She gave Giuseppe a brief nod, then immediately turned her gaze to me.
She bowed her head deeply.
“I sincerely apologize for threatening you.”
It was a cleaner apology than I expected. It had been a long time since I’d heard such a straightforward apology, without phrases like ‘unintentionally’ or ‘I had no choice’. I asked her.
“So, what brings you here?”
“Do you remember the magic you showed in the last special lecture?”
I did. Calculus Magic.
It was the first time I had ever used it purely on its own, without applying it to other spells.
“I spent days and nights searching through all my family’s secret grimoires, but there was no such magic anywhere. That was a spell you developed for the first time, wasn’t it, Isaac?”
To have noticed that already. She was sharp. Most mages are practically blind outside their own field of study, so they don’t know much about other people’s magic.
I glanced over at Giuseppe. Giuseppe was pretending not to, but he was perking up his ears, listening to our conversation. He must be curious about the ‘newly developed magic’.
I’ll have to tell him later. Gwendolyn took a step closer to me and spoke.
“May I ask you for a favor?”
What could it possibly be that she had to lead in like this?
“…I’ll hear you out, at least.”
“Could you please teach me the magic from the last lecture?”
“…Pardon?”
“Please, I’m begging you. I’m dying of curiosity.”
I had never imagined her request would be something like this. Just then, I heard Giuseppe muttering from behind me.
“To think a daughter of the Everglow family would bow her head… I’ve lived a long life.” …Is it that big of a deal?
Because Giuseppe said it, my eyes went to her one more time.
‘Come to think of it, Gwendolyn’s face looks quite haggard.’
She didn’t look like this during the last class, so she probably wasn't lying about having searched her family’s entire library. To be this fixated on a field that wasn't even her own research topic… she had the wrong disposition to live as a graduate student. Of course, if someone like her succeeds, she could become a great scholar.
I let out a small sigh.
“I can teach you. However, there are conditions.”
I could have taught Senior Giuseppe for free, but Gwendolyn was different.
“Payment, you mean? What do you want? Money? Magical ingredients?”
“You seem to have quite a bit of sway with people. I’d like you to ask the students from the special lecture to keep their mouths shut.”
The rumors just needed to not spread until Valerius published his paper. After that, it wouldn't be a problem. Valerius could just suppress it with his authority.
Gwendolyn answered immediately.
“I’ve already taken care of that.”
“…You have?”
“I apologize, but I did some research on your tendencies, Isaac. I was told you dislike standing out. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“So I told everyone to keep quiet for now. Was that an imposition?”
“…No.” I take back what I said about her not being suited to be a graduate student.
At this rate, she probably wouldn't get on her professor's bad side.
“Then, I have one more favor to ask.”
“Alright.”
“How about you be a beta tester for my paper?”
“Beta… tester?”
I carefully took out [Principles of Calculus], making sure not to reveal ‘Excel’s’ identity.
“Read this, check every part you don’t understand, and bring it back to me.”
“…You’re not going to teach me directly?”
“No. I need some data on what mages understand and what they don’t.” Naturally, we made a confidentiality clause.
And from that day on, my peaceful daily life was shattered.
Gwendolyn was an incredibly diligent beta tester. One day, I was having breakfast with Liam in the dining hall. Gwendolyn suddenly approached and said to Liam.
“I’m sorry, but could you please excuse yourself for a moment? I have something to discuss with Isaac in private.”
“…Pardon?”
Liam shot daggers at me with his eyes. He seemed to be asking, ‘Are you really doing this to me?’ But because of the confidentiality clause, I couldn't help it.
In the end, Liam left, and she looked around before asking me in a small voice.
“Why is it that if a function is differentiable, it is also continuous?”
Another afternoon, I was reading a book in the library. Gwendolyn stealthily appeared from behind a bookshelf and spoke to a nearby graduate student librarian.
“Librarian, perhaps you could go check on another section of the library for a moment?”
“Excuse me?”
“Please.”
The librarian looked bewildered. That day, she asked about L’Hôpital’s Rule.
“At this rate, I feel like she’s going to pester me on the weekend too…”
I didn't want that. The next day, I declared to Gwendolyn.
“If it’s going to be like this, why don’t we just set aside a day for you to ask all your questions at once?”
“Wow… I was just about to ask you that.”
“Were you?”
“Yes. A strange rumor has been going around my school’s research lab.”
Gwendolyn twirled a strand of her red hair with her index finger.
“Hm. I see.”
“…Aren’t you going to ask what kind of rumor?”
“No.” I’m not particularly interested in rumors.
I’d rather use that time to sleep. Was my reply too blunt? A brief silence followed.
She asked me.
“Then when and where should we meet?”
“To maintain secrecy, it would be better if we met outside the Magic Tower.”
“…If that’s the case, I know the perfect place.”
“And where is that?”
“My family’s villa.”
“Wow.”
She must have a pension or something in the scenic suburbs.
How impressive.
“But if we’re going to use my family’s villa, it would have to be on a weekend.”
Then I’m not going. Why would I spend my precious weekend there?
“…You don’t like that idea?”
“No.” My refusal left Gwendolyn speechless.
She must have naturally assumed I would follow along.
“Hmm… then let’s make a deal.”
“A deal?”
“Yes. In exchange for taking up your time on a weekend, tell me if there’s anything you want.”
“…Why are you being so proactive about this?”
Forced labor? Human trafficking?
That couldn't be it… At my words, Gwendolyn shook her head and said.
“You created it, and yet you don’t know? ‘Calculus’ will be a turning point for magic.”
Oh.
A turning point. Seeing her use the concept in a real-life context, she must have been very impressed by what she read.
She continued.
“And I’ve been given the opportunity to receive one-on-one instruction on such a magical theory. Shouldn’t I naturally do my best?”
“Hmm…”
True.
While calculus may not be very necessary for everyday life, its applications are truly endless. It’s at a point where there’s hardly any magic I use that doesn't involve calculus. The information of the world is always continuous on a macroscopic level.
‘Since I need a beta tester anyway, it’s a good deal for me…’
I was lost in thought for a moment. I didn't know how rich she was, but as a noble, she should be able to provide basic support. I decided to ask for what I needed most right now.
“Then from now on, please purchase any and all books I say I need, immediately and without question, with the exception of forbidden texts.”
If it was something like magic books, Giuseppe would buy them for me if I asked. But it’s always better to save the school's funds when possible. Magic books were quite expensive, after all.
“This should be a reasonable trade, don’t you think?”
Gwendolyn’s expression was strange upon hearing my request. It was a complex look, as if she was disappointed, or maybe just dumbfounded.
“…Is that all?”
“Pardon? Yes.”
“You won’t regret this?”
Regret?
What was there to regret? I answered confidently.
“Yes. Isn't getting magic books a pretty good deal?”
And that weekend, I bitterly regretted that decision.
Gwendolyn’s villa was nothing like a pension. It was closer to a ‘fortress’ or a ‘palace’. It encompassed an entire massive lake as its private garden, and dozens of servants and guards were bustling about. The building itself was the size of a small annex of the Magic Tower that had been moved here whole. Only then did I understand Gwendolyn’s words. “If I’d known she was this rich, I would have asked for more…”