Tick. Tock.
In the lecture hall, only the sound of the clock hands could be heard. Valerius said calmly as he poured tea.
"I was not the one who put your name forward to the Imperial Court. I was only informed yesterday morning."
"Then who was it that revealed my name?"
"It was a series of coincidences, one after another."
He sighed and laid out the whole story. Listening to him, I organized the events in my head. 1. The Thesis Review Association transferred the review of the 'Great Mage's' thesis to the Imperial Court.
2. The Imperial Court investigated the thesis and discovered the true value of calculus. 3. Valerius, the owner of the thesis, was to receive a medal.
"Is that correct?"
"Yes. A disciple of Doloren is good at summarizing, I see."
Normally, I would have just let it pass, but today it felt like sarcasm. I said to Valerius.
"Where does my part of the story fit in?"
"We're about to get to that."
Valerius took my entrance exam answer sheet from his pocket.
"Does this not bring anything to mind?"
"... Not particularly?"
I played dumb. My answer sheet was just as I had neatly fabricated it.
"Lies. You answered everything on this exam correctly and pretended you didn't know."
His tone wasn't one of suspicion. Valerius was certain.
"How did you know?"
"By using 'invisible light,' one can see the past traces on a parchment."
"Hah."
I was at a loss for words. 'Did he use X-ray vision?' On Earth, they use that technology to restore lost text on faded parchments.
To think mages in a medieval setting could do that... They must have known that there were wavelengths of light beyond the visible spectrum, even if they didn't know the principle. 'What incredible intuition.'
For a moment, my anger subsided.
"That's amazing, Sir Valerius."
"This isn't the time to be smiling, is it?"
"... Why not? The discovery that 'invisible wavelengths of light' exist is truly incredible."
That discovery alone is worthy of a Nobel Prize.
"I wasn't the one who figured it out first."
"Then who discovered it?"
"The Dean."
"... What?"
"The Dean saw right through your exam paper. And she noticed that the notation on your entrance exam document was the same as the notation in [Calculus]."
In that instant, the Dean's face flashed through my mind. A blonde elf with eyes that shone like sapphires. -'Don't stop playing. I have something to test.' -'I see.
That was a good answer. Take this down. Not you, Isaac, I'm talking to the Head of the School of Sound Magic.'
Not just any elf, but an elf with a rotten personality. Of all the people to get caught by, it had to be her. Should I have used Newton's notation for calculus?
No. If I had, deriving things like the chain rule would have been difficult. Newton's notation for calculus has its limits, so using Leibniz's was the right call. A moment later, Valerius spoke.
"The Dean, knowing that the creator of [Calculus] was you, a disciple of Doloren, advised the Imperial Court."
"... He told them that I was the creator of [Calculus]?"
"No. It was a request that the 'School of Magical Surveying' also be given a medal, since [Wave Theory] had a great influence on the conception of calculus."
"So she let me off the hook this once."
"Yes. But I don't know if she'll be so merciful in the future."
"As you know, the Dean is a madwoman."
By the time my conversation with Valerius ended, it was already the middle of the night.
Trudge, trudge.
I walked listlessly through the Magic Tower in the dead of night. The moon was bright outside the window. Today must be the full moon.
"Come to think of it, it's been a while since I've gone home seeing the moon..."
Since I started living with Giuseppe, seeing the sunset on my way home had become a daily routine. I treasure that routine. No nagging professor, no extra work, a harmonious lab.
How precious is that? But now, all of that was about to be shattered by a single mistake. I couldn't even blame anyone else.
I was the one who solved the entrance exam problems, and I was the one who revealed calculus.
"... Should I run away?"
Irresponsibly, the thought crossed my mind. The 'Isaac' of this world was an orphan, after all. I could change my name, move to the countryside, and live there.
If an enlistment notice came, I could just run away again.
I've decided.
A midnight escape. 'I'll go back to the dorm, pack my things, and bolt immediately. I even know a trustworthy coachman, so it should be possible.'
When I opened my dorm room door, I couldn't help but freeze. In front of the door, Liam, Elara, and Gwendolyn were gathered.
"... Why are you all here."
"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations!"
The moment they saw me, they cheered and set off fireworks magic.
Pop.
"Isaac! Congratulations on receiving the medal!"
"This is a cake we all pitched in to buy! Hurry and blow out the candles!"
I stood there dumbfounded, looking down at the cake before me.
[Congra - Isaac Upperhills - lations] [The greatest graduate student in human history] "...
Who wrote the message on this?" At my question, Liam looked sheepish.
"That was me."
"Did you prepare the cake too, Liam?"
"Elara prepared that."
Elara silently made a V-sign with her hand. I asked her.
"Does the V-sign mean something good in this world, too? It doesn't mean something like, a vow of bloody vengeance, does it..."
"Such a joker. Just blow out the candles."
An order from the floor leader must be obeyed.
Whoosh.
I blew out the candles. Clap, clap, clap, clap. The sound of applause echoed in the darkened dorm room.
My insides were twisted in knots. Does this dark reality signify my future? A life where I can't even run away properly...
Looking back, I've lived quite diligently for the past year and a half since my transmigration. Learning letters and magic, earning the respect of the villagers, climbing the Magic Tower... And now I'm being threatened by an old pointy-ears.
"Alright, I'll turn on the lights."
"No, Liam. Don't turn on the lights."
"Why not?"
I couldn't say why. But, for now, I wished they would stay off.
"Isaac. Don't tell me..."
Elara's mouth opened.
"Are you that moved? It's okay to cry!"
"That's right. My father cried when he received his medal, too."
Gwendolyn added to Elara's words. Who said anything about crying? The situation wasn't bad enough to cry over.
In fact, looking back, it was pretty good. In my previous life's graduate school, theoretical physics was 'a field for those who want to starve despite being smart.' But it was different here.
My knowledge could change the world. It was a bit burdensome, but... Honestly, I didn't hate it.
Should I say the process itself was fun... When you can manipulate reality by understanding its principles, who wouldn't find it fun? I'd want to do research for the rest of my life if I could.
My name is out anyway, so there's nothing to gain by running away now. What the hell. Let's do this.
Down with the pointy-ears. Q = mLv I circulated my mana, vaporizing the 'sweat of my heart'. A moment later, the lights came on.
"What... you didn't cry. How boring."
A small laugh escaped me at Elara's words.
"Well, there wasn't anything to cry about."
"Bah. No fun."
Just then, Gwendolyn took out several bottles of high-class wine.
"Grapes grow well on my family's estate. These are some of the finest vintages."
Seeing Gwendolyn's wine bottles, Liam trembled.
"The finest wine from the Everglow family? Are we really allowed to drink something like that?"
"Of course. We're friends."
That day, I ended up drinking for two consecutive days. Being a blockhead, I couldn't tell much of a difference between it and the honey mead I had with Hans.
Gulp, gulp.
A bittersweet, fruity aroma enveloped my tongue. Draining my wine glass, I thought. The weak me of yesterday is dead.
From now on, I am 'Isaac Mk2'. Reborn as a stronger me, unshaken by fame.
The next day, the moment I entered the dining hall, I realized how futile yesterday's resolution had been. All eyes turned to me. It was on a completely different level from the usual curious gazes.
Whispers came from all directions.
"Ah. Is that him?"
"Yeah. Isaac Upperhills."
"He came from an orphanage, but he's made it big."
Jealousy.
"What. Isn't he the kid who went to the 3rd floor after just taking the entrance exam?"
"You didn't know they were the same person?"
"Of course not."
Awe.
"I smell money."
"Should we try to recruit him to our school?"
"Too many eyes watching. Let's try later."
And greed. ... In a situation like this, I wouldn't even know if my food was going up my nose. 'Should I eat out for a change?'
It would be nice to have some chicken skewers to the tune of the morning bell. I could see Barnabas too while I'm at it. Just as I was about to turn around, someone blocked my path.
It was a female student I had never seen before, adorned with fancy accessories.
"Oh my, Mister Upperhills. It's been a while."
Why is she acting like she knows me? I pride myself on having a pretty good memory, and I don't know this person.
"You don't remember me? Didn't we see each other at Sir Dwayne's party?"
"A party?"
"Yes."
"I've never been to a place like that. I'm an orphan."
At my words, the girl froze with a dumbstruck expression, just as a familiar voice cut in.
"Excuse me, but Mister Upperhills is busy right now."
It was Gwendolyn. She shot a cold glare at the girl.
"Do you have anything else to say?"
"Ah. No. Lady Everglow. Then... I'll be going."
The girl's face turned beet red as she fled. Gwendolyn chuckled and said.
"Elara told me. That person has a history of stealing research projects from her juniors."
"Right."
First Elara, now Gwendolyn. It seemed they were all looking out for me. Looking around, I saw Elara waving at me from a distance.
I gestured to her, inviting her to eat with us. But Elara glanced at Gwendolyn, then shook her head. What was that about?
And so, I ended up having breakfast with just Gwendolyn. For the record, Liam had been drinking heavily yesterday and then stayed up all night doing assignments.
Poor guy.
I met Gwendolyn's eyes and said.
"Thank you for your help."
"It was nothing. Seeing how you spoke earlier, it seemed like you would have gotten out of it just fine even without my help."
"Ah. The orphan story?"
"... Yes."
Gwendolyn's tone became subdued. It seemed mentioning being an orphan was indeed effective. Come to think of it, something similar happened with Elara. -'That can't be.
My last name is Upperhills. I'm an orphan.' -'Sorry... I'll be more careful with my words next time.'
If even someone as friendly as Elara was flustered, how would others react? I should use this more often in the future. A moment later, Gwendolyn said.
"From now on, if anyone bothers you, you can use the Everglow family name to get away."
"Is that really okay?"
Gwendolyn replied with a smile.
"Consider it payment for teaching me calculus."
It was a bright smile that suited her red hair. For some reason, I felt sorry for thinking she was part of a pyramid scheme when we first met.
My sweet home, the lab. Giuseppe had already arrived.
Zzz... Zzzz...
"Can you even call this arriving first...?"
Giuseppe was passed out drunk on the lab floor with his classmate, Rufus. Several empty liquor bottles were rolling around on the floor.
"Looks like you had a celebration party yesterday too, Senior."
Giuseppe was also a recipient of the 2nd class medal like me, so it was understandable.
"You still managed to hide the Excel well, though."
As expected of the best senior, Giuseppe. Two letters were lying on the desk. The recipient was the 'School of Magical Surveying,' so I opened one.
The sender was Doloren.
"Who was that...?"
I'd heard the name somewhere before.
Ah.
"Right, he was my advisor."
I hadn't seen him in so long, I almost forgot. The letter was filled with congratulations for Giuseppe receiving the medal.
"Not a single mention of my name."
Does he not care about the first new student to join in ten years? There wasn't even any mention of him coming back. And the next piece of mail.
This was a letter from the Dean.
"Damn it..."
A curse escaped me automatically. I hate pointy-ears. That is my chosen truth.
Tensely, I tore open the envelope. Inside was a single document.
[Order to Relocate the School of Magical Surveying to the Main Building] "...
So it's goodbye to my sweet home." My one and only sanctuary was about to be forcibly relocated into the eye of the storm. But I wasn't worried.
After downing the Everglow family's wine last night, I had become 'Isaac Mk2'. I'll chew up and spit out anyone who gets in my way.