The Magic Academy's Physicist-Chapter 150: The Noble Assembly (5)

Chapter 150: The Noble Assembly (5)

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There was one thing to be aware of before engaging in swordplay.

In a situation where it was a duel of knowledge, the answer was fixed. For example, if one asked ‘What is one plus one?’ then the answer was two. Any other answer was incorrect. Yet someone could answer with three, right?

Swordplays had to be objective and fair.

Considering the fact that someone could insist on the wrong answer, there needed to be a third party to referee. Fortunately, it wasn’t hard to find an educated Fire Mage in the hall. Renawill, who had stepped away for a moment, soon brought another man before Aether.

“Well I’ll be, if it isn’t Aether.”

Count Cromwell Saliere–Lotte’s father as well as the one sponsoring Aether’s research.

The Count smiled warmly as soon as he saw Aether, and the sight caused Renawill to be caught off guard again once more.

“The two of you know each other?”

“Haha, well. She’s a friend of my daughter.”

Count Saliere shared a firm handshake with Aether. A friendly demeanor. Renawill’s head filled with confusion.

“I am about to engage in a swordplay with this child....”

“You, My Lord?”

“Yes.”

“I am acquainted with this child. Will that be alright with you?”

The referee of a swordplay had to be neutral, as even they could be wrong about the facts. If they had acquaintance with only one side, then it could lead to biased judgment.

But that didn’t seem to concern Renawill.

“Why. Even the heavens know that you have good character.”

Count Saliere was an Elemental Mage. Although weak, he was blessed by the Elemental of Fire Magic.

Elementals didn’t just come to anyone. Those who were brilliant and had virtuous character, those who didn’t lie easily and treated everyone with sincerity. The Goddess only bestowed Elementals to such people.

“Haha....”

Saliere scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, thinking that he didn’t deserve this kind of compliment, even.

Then, the Count’s gaze turned to Aether.

“So by the way, why are you in a maid uniform?”

“That. For reasons.”

Aether trailed off. She was trying not to show it, but she appeared to be embarrassed. She had only shown herself as being mild during the summer break, so Count Saliere’s eyes widened at the unexpected sight.

My daughter was like that once.

Then he soon collected his thoughts. As the tradition went, a lady’s secret had to be protected. As such, it wasn’t good to pry when they were reluctant to answer. This was a fact that Cromwell had learned the hard way after becoming a father.

“It suits you.”

In times like this, it was best to move on using routine compliments. Cromwell spoke as he normally did to Lotte.

“......Thank you.”

Somehow, something went wrong.

**The swordplay still needed to take place even in this awkward atmosphere, because the two relevant parties had agreed to it.

Since old times, swordplays had been an honorable practice that allowed one to sharpen both their mind and skills at the same time. Those in higher ranks who had lived in the middle or early modern times had engaged in swordplay on a near-daily basis. In today’s day and age, it happened less frequently but it didn’t mean that they didn’t practice it at all. Swordplays in particular involving a high-ranking official like a Duke was of interest to others as well.

“Is it true that Duke Hasfeldt is doing a swordplay about Fire Magic with a Golden-Eyed servant?”

“It is.”

Even if they were trying to do it secretly in a secluded area, people gathered as if they discovered something interesting.

It was inevitable, because though they were nobles, in essence they were human. Watching others fight was usually the best entertainment.

“Will both parties please take the pen and papers.”

Aether and Renawill sat at the hastily prepared desk. In front of each of them were ten sheets of paper and a fountain pen. Looking at the papers and pen, Aether made a disgruntled face.

“What is this?”

“Since this is an academic swordplay, it’s to make it more convenient for you to do your calculations or draw scrolls.”

“Huh.”

Aether let out an exclamation that could either be a grunt or sigh. In the meantime, Renawill scribbled some words on the paper to check the condition of the fountain pen. A smooth writing experience. He had a good feeling today.

As the other side was getting ready, Aether looked around the area with sharp eyes. There were quite a few nobles who had come.

There were some perturbed faces amongst them as well.

Marquis Robespierre, and Count Meriga Heerlein.

Formally, that was who they were, and normally they were the chairman of the Academy and the homeroom teacher. Both their expressions seemed to be saying ‘what are you doing there’. Aether grinned and turned her head.

“The rule of the swordplay is simple. Each person will take turns asking a question. Every question must have a clear answer, and failing to answer it within the time limit or giving the incorrect answer will result in the deduction of points.”

The default was three points. It couldn’t go higher from here. Only, the first person to reach zero lost.

“However, the person who goes second will be given another chance even if they hit zero first.”

It was a rule to ensure fairness. Besides that, nothing else was complicated.

Just a fight where the smarter person won.

“Pardon me, but what do you say we bet some money since it’s boring to just watch?”

“What a good idea!”

There was bound to be a gambler at these kinds of fights. Starting with a few nobles who had gambling tendencies, the swordplay arena immediately became a cash market... that is, a gambling house.

Seeing this, Aether snorted inside. Sacred swordplay? Ridiculous. But there was no one trying to stop them. If anything, there would be bastards who encouraged it.

Before the swordplay started, Aether suddenly looked in between the collarbones of some lady. Not on purpose, but the arrangement made it so that her eyes would naturally gravitate there.

Why is that old lady going around with a transistor around her neck?

She knew that mana stones cost as much as houses due to inflation. But even still.... Aether barely managed to hold back the laughter that was trying to burst forth.

Negotiations were in full bloom. Who are you going to bet on? Wouldn’t Renawill be better? But I heard that that servant developed Flare. Nonsense! Says who? Don’t be absurd. For goodness’ sake, do what you will, then.

The many voices of gamblers rang in her ears.

“Still, I’d rather pick the Duke.”

“It is the biggest family of Fire Magic in the Empire.”

The final ratio was nine to one against Aether. She wasn’t very pleased to be backed by those who sought to get lucky with one stroke.

“I suppose you are the chairman after all to be siding with the student, Marquis Robespierre.”

“I am not the only one. Count Heerlein and Baron Cai-Lussac have also bet on her.”

“Oh dear, you’ll only lose your money. Are you alright with that?”

“Isn’t that the fun of gambling?”

Unbelievable. Aether brushed back her bangs.

“Huu.”

Then let out a sigh.

“Are you worried?”

“I will do my best.”

There wasn’t any particular point to this swordplay. Renawill simply wanted to see the capabilities of the girl before him.

Flare? She may be a Golden-Eyed but she couldn’t possibly have made that kind of complicated magic within a month. His daughter had to have contributed.

If I win here....

Flare might not return to them but he would be able to recover his daughter and the family’s honor to some extent.

“Then we will begin.”

Ting! The coin was tossed. It hovered in the air and then got caught in a hand. Heads.

“After you, Duke.”

Renawill nodded with a highly pleased expression.

Good.

He would go hard all at once. Although it might be too much against an Academy freshman, what else could he do? If it hadn’t been for Flare, he wouldn’t have initiated this swordplay.

Renawill had certainty. Certainty that he wouldn’t lose.

“Draw the construction formula of the Flame Wall scroll.”

‘Flame Wall’. An Advanced Fire Magic that created a great wall of fire. It was difficult for a first-year to draw, but if she had the skills to develop an Ultimate Magic like Flare, then she should be able to draw it even with her eyes closed. In fact, Klais had been going around having learned most Advanced Magics since she’d been a first-year.

“.......”

“What are you doing? Hurry and draw it.”

Aether spun her pen with her chin in hand. The fountain pen spun skillfully in her small, delicate hand. It was yet uncapped.

“I pass.”

“...Is that so?”

For an instant, Renawill doubted what he heard, but soon smiled in great relief.

Of course.

The girl’s abilities had been exaggerated. Making Flare when she couldn’t even draw a single Flame Wall?

Flap. Aether’s chance went from three to two. When it became zero and she failed to answer one more time in that state, she would lose.

“It’s now your turn.”

“Uhmm.... How is the specific heat of a crystal given in Classical Fire Magic studies?

It was easy.

“Three times the magic element constant.”

“That is correct.”

Perhaps it was because she was a first-year. Her question was one that someone in the same year could answer. Because of that, Renawill, now smug, straightened his back and squared his shoulders. A cobra-like posture.

“It’s my turn again. Tell me what is the rate of mana loss that each stone takes up when a ruby, garnet, and topaz of equal size are connected in a line on a straight circuit.”

This time, the level was lowered to a third-year’s. Although it was still difficult, it was a memorization question that could be answered with a bit of prior learning.

“However, include a simple proof as to why that is.”

Aether, who had been about to say something, closed her mouth at Renawill’s added words. Renawill immediately noticed the change.

He smiled with satisfaction

This would be his win.

“I pass.”

“Why don’t you forfeit at this point?”

It was clear who would win and who would lose. Yet Aether smiled subtly in the face of Renawill who advised her to surrender.

“The important thing is not to let your guard down until the end.”