Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins - Chapter 141

My side feels ticklish.

Thinking to herself, she slightly lowered her eyes and took a step.

However, it wasn’t very effective. 

Tap― 

Every time the cane hit the ground, the surrounding students glanced in her direction, and each time, the tickling sensation intensified.

Julia Müller.

No. Julia, whose name had now changed even in official documents, let out a soft sigh.

“There’s probably hardly anyone who remembers me now…”

The Frauzen Federal University of Magic. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Visiting one’s alma mater more than a year after graduation sounds nice in theory. You could reminisce about the youth spent on campus or meet people you miss.

But that’s only when you visit together with others.

Julia was alone.

Snow piled up softly. Undergraduate students enjoy playing in the snow, laughing cheerfully despite being burdened with studies.

Walking alone through the center of this celebration of youth made her side tickle involuntarily.

Moreover, Julia’s attire was utterly plain compared to the blooming undergraduates. Her coat and scarf, prioritizing functionality, seemed poised to completely cover her lower face.

“Ugh.”

Her body trembled faintly.

It was because Julia’s outfit was the epitome of ‘so-and-so’s modest wife’.

If someone who remembered the elegant figure of Student Council President Julia Müller were to spot her, it wouldn’t end with just embarrassment.

Of course, the real reason for Julia’s ticklish side was slightly different.

The silver-plated cane and her graceful gait. The refined facial features not typically found in a student’s youthful appearance.

Her every move, shining even more due to the modest attire, drew attention, but there was no way for the person herself to know this fact.

She couldn’t delay any longer.

Julia, who had almost run to reach her destination, knocked on the door with the back of her hand.

Knock, knock―

“Are you there?”

Given the location, she didn’t expect an immediate answer.

She was prepared to wait a bit from the start.

Just as she was looking for a place to sit…

“…Madam President?”

“Oh. You were here.”

Their gazes met through the slightly opened door.

The brown-haired female student had managed to remember her old title.

Grace Brown brightened her eyes and opened the door wide.

“It’s been so long! Please come in.”

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Miss Grace. It’s a simple matter, so there’s no need to go inside.”

“I’m not busy at all, so please come in. It’s an order as the Student Council President!”

“…You’ve become quite something. Abusing your power and all.”

“Hehe. Well, look who I worked under.”

She puffs out her chest proudly and grins.

Julia gazed steadily at her former Student Council junior and the current Frauzen Federal University of Magic Student Council President, inwardly murmuring.

You’ve learned unnecessary things, she thought.

#December 24th. Clear.

As Grace had said, the Student Council Room was empty. After quickly finishing the preparations to welcome her guest, Grace guided Julia to a familiar seat.

That is, the seat where they often discussed ‘plans’.

“It brings back memories.”

The old days.

Indeed, enough time had passed to call it that.

There was no need for formal greetings like ‘How have you been?’

She was one of the few council members who knew well about Julia’s love life, and being in the position of Student Council President, she would have heard through the grapevine that Eugene Oslo’s position had stabilized. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Still, she looked worried, so Julia gently stroked the back of Grace’s hand.

“There’s a wedding in five days.”

Grace’s eyes widened.

“A, a wedding?”

“Yes. It’s shameless of me, but I hope you can attend as a guest― Oh, you startled me.”

“There’s nothing shameless about it!”

The hand that was being stroked was suddenly gripped tightly.

“I’m honored that you’re inviting me.”

“Ahahaha…”

After vigorously shaking her former superior’s hand in excitement, she gently hugged her, almost on the verge of tears.

Because of this, Grace didn’t see the awkward smile on Julia’s face.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect such a warm welcome.”

“Huh? Why are you sorry?”

Even a modest wedding needs guests.

As a result of deciding to invite only family and close acquaintances, Eugene said he would invite Werner Ross Diemann and two colleagues from his research lab.

Julia, after much thought, came to a conclusion.

She had no close acquaintances.

Lena was already included in the family category. Therefore, she selected her Student Council colleagues, but she didn’t expect them to be this happy about it.

“It’s nothing. More importantly…”

After patting Grace’s back apologetically, she continued.

“How is Vice President Gustav doing? I heard he’s in a relationship.”

“Well, he’s doing fine. If you’d like such a person to be invited too, I’ll drag him by the collar on the day!”

Though she says that, I’ve heard they’re a well-matched couple in various ways.

Julia nodded affectionately.

She had secured two guests. She had barely avoided making the bride’s side look excessively desolate.

“Thank you for agreeing. Here’s the wedding invitation, and I’ll see you in five days.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“Hmm, should we talk more?”

“…It’s been a while, after all. I actually wanted to ask you about how to conduct myself as the Student Council President.”

Judging by the long hesitation, she seems quite nervous.

It’s not unpleasant to spend time with someone grateful. Just as she nodded willingly and sat back down…

Suddenly…

She remembered what kind of place this was.

“Ah.”

How to persuade a dull man.

This was the place where numerous discussions about that had taken place, and where quite successful plans had been formulated.

The person in front of her was the godfather of that love project, wasn’t she?

Grace, who had no way of knowing Julia’s inner thoughts, just tilted her head slightly.

“Madam President? Your eyes look serious. I guess the Student Council President really does need to be careful about their conduct. I wonder if I can do well.”

“Miss Grace.”

“Yes?” [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

“How should I seduce him to spend a sweet first night?”

“Huh?”

“No, my question was wrong. When he makes a request, how should I grant permission to spend a warm night?”

“…Huh?”

Julia was utterly serious.

Well, the promised one month had passed.

Grace, who had been rolling her eyes around, squeezed out words.

“You’re, asking that now…”

“Yes. I’m serious.”

Julia learned for the first time that a person’s face could turn that red.

It was strange. Until now, she had been strategizing with Grace, and the results had been largely successful.

As far as Julia knew, Grace Brown was the most knowledgeable person in this field.

A moment later, Grace spoke haltingly.

“F-first, have a meal together.”

“Yes. A meal.”

“And, tilt some wine glasses too.”

“Wine, I see. I’ll remember that for now. What else?”

“Wh, when the evening arrives…”

“When the evening arrives?”

“Wh, when it arrives…”

Grace, who was becoming redder like a ripening carrot, suddenly bowed her head sharply.

Almost to the point of hitting her forehead on the table.

“I don’t know.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m sorry, Madam President. I, I, actually don’t know much about romance! The advice I’ve been giving all this time was actually all learned from romance novels! About things after dating, I’m sorry. I don’t know anything at all.”

Julia was surprised.

She wasn’t surprised that Grace was literally an ‘academic love relationship explorer’ who had ‘learned romance from books’.

However.

As soon as she realized that further evasion was impossible, she felt a gentle bewilderment towards her own heart, which was beating unusually fast.

She had to do it herself.

Both seducing him.

And accepting him.

“Oh…?”

She cupped her slightly trembling hands to her cheeks.

They were hot.

Like a furnace.

And before the bewilderment could subside, a letter arrived from Eugene.

[ I’ve secured a house ]

[ Shall we go see it together the day before the wedding? ]

[ Münz St. 5, 2070 Frauzen ]

What that meant…

Julia could only come up with one interpretation.

#December 28th. Clear.

The world might be made of love and justice, but society is certainly made of paperwork and formalities.

The past few weeks have been nothing short of a journey to accepting this cynical proposition as fact.

Tax processing for the Russell Prize money. Immigration procedures for the permanent residency I’ve just received. The complex and tedious procedures of real estate transactions and marriage registration.

“Haah.”

I lifted my head and exhaled, hoping that the fatigue accumulated on my face would leave with it.

I find myself envying the protagonists of fairy tales who can live happily ever after with just one line of narration. After all, they probably don’t need real estate purchase contracts to build a cottage in the forest.

“First world problems.”

Shaking my head to shake off the vain fantasies, I looked at the duplex house that now belongs to Julia and me.

A brick house old enough to easily surpass Benjamin’s age, like any other house in Frauzen.

There were no particular features. If compared to the surrounding houses, it had a uniquely stylish roof and…

It was a duplex.

The money I earned from winning the Russell Prize and the money I received from Julia as a ‘sponsorship’, combining those two with Julia’s dowry of a similar amount, helped me prepare the funds.

Even such a large sum was largely consumed when we purchased the house, to the point where it’s surprising that it was a sufficiently reasonable price.

It can’t be helped. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

For me, a house meant a duplex.

I had been looking at the overall view of the house, forgetting the passage of time.

Only when someone tapped my back did I come to my senses.

When I turned around, she was there.

“Julia.”

“Ta-da.”

A modest yet slightly stylish outfit.

Her complexion, which sometimes looked pale, had a pleasant flush, and she had wrapped a scarf around her head through which chestnut-brown hair could be seen.

Modest. That word suited her appearance very well.

Julia put her hands behind her back and said:

“How do I look? Do I look like a newlywed?”

“…”

“…Say something.”

“I’m not sure exactly what a newlywed is supposed to look like.”

“Tch.”

“If you had asked if you look pretty to my eyes, I would have nodded without hesitation.”

I deliberately uttered those embarrassing words while lifting one corner of my mouth.

I can clearly see how Julia will respond.

She’ll pretend to be displeased and say something like ‘You’re good at sweet talk’ or ‘Hmm. If I had heard that thirty years ago, I might have been thrilled.’

Only then will she give an honest smile.

However.

No matter how long I wait, no answer comes.

She just looks up at me with wavering eyes, her mouth slightly open.

“Julia?”

“Ah. Yes, thank you.”

Her crimson lips formed a gentle smile. It’s a welcome sight, but why now?

I don’t know.

And it’s not the first time I’ve found Julia incomprehensible.

I adjusted the hem of my coat and then silently spread my arms.

“Here.”

It was a preparatory motion for an embrace.

<An hug when we meet, a kiss when we part.>

This is a rule that has been ongoing for a full two years, despite everything.

Since Julia has developed a habit of putting on a strange act every time we meet, it might be more peaceful to simply accept the embrace.

If I half-heartedly put my arms around her, I might end up hearing harsh words instead.

I put my arms around Julia’s shoulders and…

“Eh?”

…pulled her upper body in close.

Immediately after…

“Huu―”

Along with a voice that pierced my ear, Julia’s slender body trembled slightly.

So vividly that the vibration transmitted throughout my entire body.

Julia’s ears turned bright red.

I asked calmly, pretending not to notice.

“…What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing. Really.”

What is she on about?

Before I could ask, Julia hurriedly shook her head and put her arms around my back.

She buried her face in my collarbone and breathed in and out. With each breath, the warmth of her exhale reached through the coat to the inside.

Except for the fact that she was somehow flustered, it wasn’t much different from usual.

If I had to find a difference.

The rhythm of her heartbeat, which was immediately transmitted due to our close contact, was faster than usual.

T/N

Hello! Axiomatic here.

Thanks for reading, see you in the next one!