[EN] Episode 19 - A Graduation Thesis 2

The fruits of the research were finally becoming visible.
Going beyond simply using silk instead of mithril, they coated the silk with a thin layer of mithril. This began to produce performance that would make conventional concentrators weep.


Sssssss-


Though the rustling sound of fabric each time it activated tickled the ears in a peculiar way, this would drastically reduce the weight of mages' wands.


“Coating the thread with mithril...”


Wingester gazed at the completed thesis, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
This could cause a major stir throughout the entire kingdom.
If he gave the production blueprints to his father and had them mass-produced for sale, it would likely become a great source of income for the shop.


“Berett. Thank you so much.”


Berett, who had been organizing the bundles of mithril-coated silk beside him, seemed slightly startled and fidgeted nervously.


“Oh, it's nothing... Your research is incredibly interesting, and it's been a great experience for me too.”
“Next year is your turn, berett. Work hard.”
“Yes! I'll do research that will surprise you too, Senior!”


Seeing her eyes shine, Wingester felt reassured.
Between the matter with Romulus and Wingester himself, being a half-blood pursuing upper-level courses at the academy wasn't exactly ideal.


With low mana aptitude, earning practical skills points was nearly impossible, and even theory proved difficult.


The faculty barely gave such students the minimum passing grade, practically pushing them aside and ignoring them.
In this environment, simply learning and researching properly was a major ordeal.


“Let's go submit it to the Magitech professor.”


Tucking the completed, thick thesis—the size of a book—under my arm, I left the lab.


As I exited the lab building and was just heading toward the professors' building, I ran into Romulus, who was returning empty-handed, presumably having already submitted his work.

“Hey. Going to submit now?”
“Yeah. Looks like you've already finished submitting?”
“Yeah. Professor Koch praised me.”
“……!”


The fact that he'd submitted to Professor Koch—renowned for never giving lenient evaluations—and even received praise meant Romulus must have conducted some ingenious research of his own.


That self-assured look on Romulus's face right now was definitely not just bluff.


“About that courtesy thing, can we do it the day after graduation?”
“...Sure.”


Just as the two were glaring at each other fiercely, burning with competitive spirit, someone emerged from the lab building, spotted them, and approached.


“...What were you two discussing?”
“......?”
“...Ah.”


When they turned to look, standing there was the Third Princess, wrapped in her graduation thesis like silk—slightly thinner than Wingester, but undeniably present.


“Y-Your Highness...!”
“......!”
“The Princess?!”


Seeing the two male students hastily bowing, berett belatedly bowed as well.


The princess waved her hand dismissively at the three of them,


“It's fine. Here, I'm just a student too. If you bow so excessively...”
“But, Princess, showing disrespect to a member of the royal family is a grave offense. Please understand...”


Romulus responded smoothly, then gestured toward the professors' building with an arm extended, indicating his intention to escort her.


Watching this, the princess calmly shook her head slightly and said,


“It's fine, Romulus. I can go on my own.”
“Ah...”
“More importantly, what were you two discussing just now?”


At the princess's question, Romulus flinched, averting his gaze. Wingester, as always, moved his feet as if preparing to head toward the professor's quarters with his usual slightly insolent attitude.


Romulus blocked Wingester's path, and Wingester, seemingly annoyed, pressed his forehead against Romulus's in irritation, his fighting spirit ignited.


“Move. I'm in a hurry.”
“The princess is asking you a question. At least talk it out before you go.”
“You can do it.”
“Senior?!”


Only after noticing berett's anxious look beside him did he let out a small sigh before turning to face the princess.


“Talk...?”


The moment he tried to speak, it seemed like it would only cause headaches, so he racked his brain for excuses,


“...No lies. Both of you. Please tell me the truth properly.”
“......!”


Her clear eyes met theirs, as if she were looking right into them.


Finally, Romulus opened his mouth, then clenched his teeth and slowly began to speak.


“...After the graduation ceremony ended, the very next day, I promised Wingester we would face each other in a magic duel once more.”


Hesitation.


A flicker of unease crossed the princess's previously composed expression.
She already knew from reports that their previous magic duel had escalated to quite extreme circumstances.


For two people who hated each other so intensely to duel again meant this time, blood would surely be spilled.


“You two. Isn't that a rather hasty decision? You're both still young. Please think it over more carefully...”


Wingester looked at the anxious princess as if he didn't understand what she was saying, while Romulus immediately seemed to grasp her unease and waved his hands dismissively.


“Ah, this time it's not like last time. This magic duel is purely me challenging Wingester, a way to measure our respective levels as magicians...”


Only then did the princess relax her expression. She looked at Wingester, as if to confirm the truth.


“…….”
“Is it true?”
“Wingester.”


Romulus stood beside her, glaring sternly, as if demanding a proper answer.


“…It's true.”


Only then did the princess breathe a sigh of relief, her hand falling from her chest.


“What a relief. I was worried you two had gotten so heated you were going to fight to the death...”
“Hardly. Wingester and I are proper rivals now, unlike back then. We won't do that again. Right?”


Romulus nudged his shoulder, seeking agreement, and Wingester chuckled softly.


“...I wonder about that.”
“Hey!”
“Haha. Just kidding. I don't want to lose to you, of all people.”


Convinced the two no longer harbored any lingering resentment, the princess seemed to make a decision. She drew her staff, bearing the royal crest, from her waist and tapped it lightly on the floor.


“...Princess?”
“......?”
“I've made up my mind.”
“?”
"... I will serve as the official witness for your magical duel.“
”What?!“
”?!"


Caught completely off guard by this unexpected declaration, Romulus waved his hands frantically, stammering incoherently, while Wingester froze in place, speechless.


Indeed, the princess's character left no doubt about her fairness, and as a member of the royal family, she was the ideal candidate to serve as the official witness.


Having witnessed their actions, she might even consider them strong candidates when recruiting talent later.


“Th-that, that's too flattering...!”
“......”


Unlike the flustered Romulus, Wingester averted his gaze, his feelings deeply conflicted.


Romulus might be one thing, but Wingester's Barrett Staff was rooted in his grandfather's research, which had been firmly sealed away.
Was it truly safe to show such a thing to a member of the royal family?


Of course, there was the option of fighting without using the Barrett Staff.
But among the magical tools Wingester could currently create, the Barrett Staff was the only one truly useful in combat.


The opponent was none other than the youngest of the Seiz family, a talent so dense it was overwhelming even for Wingester.
A powerful orthodox mage, at least a 5th Circle Master level, truly a professional combat mage in both name and reality.


Without the Barrett Staff, he simply couldn't face him.


“Why such a sudden decision….”
“Because there are aspects where the two of them have intense feelings toward each other.”
“……!”


The princess was clearly looking at Wingester as she spoke.
From the very moment she first met him, the princess had sensed something in Wingester that should never be felt in children his age.


The same sensation she'd occasionally felt from assassins or attempted kidnappers in the past.
Desperation, resolve, and murderous intent.


“Kuhhh...”


Though only a select few in the royal household knew, the princess possessed one hidden talent.
Whenever she locked eyes with another person, their true intentions would manifest as an image in her mind.


Romulus's image had changed significantly since their first meeting. Unlike before, the current him evoked the form of a young male lion, its thick mane billowing in the wind.


Turning her head to meet Wingester's gaze with difficulty...


Grrrrrrr...!


“…….”


A shabby alleyway.
A wounded jackal, cornered at a dead end, baring its teeth and growling, came to her mind.


If things continued like this, Wingester clearly wouldn't be heading in a good direction.
It was the same image she'd had of him since their first meeting.


“Romulus. Will you agree to have me serve as your notary?”
“……!”


Romulus looked momentarily flustered before nodding.
When she then looked back toward Wingester,


“I refuse.”
“Wingester, you?!”
“Senior?”
“…Could you tell me your reason?”
“…….”


Wingester silently shook his head and began walking toward the faculty building.
It wasn't a story worth explaining to her.


“Wingester, you really?!”
"… Romulus. I don't know about you, but I have my own reasons.“
”……!“
”I don't like showing my abilities in front of the princess or other dignitaries."


Wingester took berett away like that, and Romulus, worried the princess might be heartbroken, looked back at her.


“P-Princess! I'm truly sorry. I should have explained better...”
“…It's fine, Romulus.”
“……?”


Contrary to his expectations, the princess wore a slightly mischievous smile, as if she'd caught him off guard.


“I clearly made a ‘declaration’.”
“Huh?”
“When I said I'd made up my mind, I wasn't ‘requesting’ it of the two of you. I was unilaterally ‘declaring’ that I would do it.”
“Eh...?”
“So, in truth, your consent is meaningless.”


Only then did Romulus seem to grasp something, cold sweat beading on his forehead.


“N-no way...”
“Yes. Regardless of your intentions, I will appear where you two are that day. As a notary.”
“......!”


For the first time, Romulus thought this princess was scary.
He'd always thought her personality was just calm and innocent, but unexpectedly, she had a devilishly cunning side.


-To be continued-