The Magic Academy's Physicist-Chapter 78: Does It Look Like I’m Dating?

It wasn’t enough to prevent Heerlein’s death flag just once. Vermel decided to stay back in the capital to keep an eye on her.

On the other hand, I was going to be leaving here for a bit to prepare for the big move as well as avoid the beast’s surveillance.

So we were going to be separated in the meantime, which was a problem in itself. Because if I wasn’t able to communicate in real time with Vermel who knew the future, it was possible for me to make the wrong choice if something were to suddenly happen.

As such, we decided to gradually increase the length of our meetings. I planned to sleep during the carriage ride, and focused on exchanging ideas and getting as much information from Vermel as possible.

And that was how much time we spent together. Maybe that was why? A strange rumor started going around these past few days.

“Um, is it true that you guys are dating?”

I was even hearing something like this.

A random group of girls got a hold of me and asked me this question. Dumbfounded, I blurted out one thing in bewilderment.

“The hell?”

It was a sign of defiance, that he and I had nothing to do with each other.

It wasn’t actually nothing, of course. We were both from the same homeland called Earth and even had the same nationality. It wouldn’t be weird for people of the same origin to bond.

“You guys have been together all day these last few days. You thought no one would know because we’re on break?”

“I already knew this was coming. There was that time at the end of school party, too. They’re totally dating! From what I can see as Chloe, the love expert, I’m sure of it!”

“But Chloe, you’ve been single all your life.”

“Shut up, Lierra.”

Two female students started barking up the wrong tree. Their deduction soon lost its original purpose and changed into an argument.

Right as I sighed and was about to escape, another student struck.

“So? When did you start going out?”

They were provoking words. The three girls all looked at me in unison.

One of them even pulled out a notebook and pen, ready to take notes.

A notebook and quill. In my personal experience, people who went around like this were usually part of the literature or newspaper club.

If it was the Literature Club, then they were kids searching for materials for their novels, and if it was the Newspaper Club... needless to say, they were looking for a scoop.

“A love story between the top elf student and the second rank Golden-Eyed! Isn’t it perfect for a novel?”

With those words, I realized that they were part of the Creative Writing Club. As someone who wasn’t interested in dating, I found it absurd that I’d suddenly become the subject of a romance novel.

Shaking my head, I objected once more.

“That’s not it.

“You’re lying. What else would it be if a guy and girl are hanging out together the whole day?”

Oh my god.

They weren’t going to believe it even if I revealed that Vermel and I were from the same homeland. If anything, the beast who might be watching me could become suspicious if they learned this.

“You can just let us know. We won’t tell the Student Council!”

“The Student Council?”

“Because dating isn’t allowed on campus. Those rule-abiding Student Council members are so annoying.”

Now I was getting lightheaded. I really wanted to get out of here.

Although I was currently in a girl’s body, I was still a man; I couldn’t wholly understand the way girls thought.

But one thing was for certain–these girls believed the rumors about Vermel and I dating to be true. It was a clear presumption of guilt.

I glanced at what the current time was. Every minute, every second was a waste.

Anyway, I was the cause of this situation. I had to change my words here for the sake of the big picture.

After thinking for a moment, I spoke.

“Just keep it to yourselves; don’t tell anyone else.”

“Ooh!”

Putting a finger to my lips, I shushed them and that made the girls go wild and flail around. I was finally let go after being smacked on the shoulders a few times.

Fuck my life.

“Wh-wh-wh... what is thiiiiiiis!!”

It was a scream that was uncharacteristic for her.

She raised the screen, then lowered it. Then repeated the same action for a while. It wasn’t possible for her to have any hand tremors with her mechanical body, but her hands kept trembling.

Today was no different from any other day. She’d been monitoring big sis while continuing to plan for the Demon King’s resurrection.

─ Just keep it to yourselves; don’t tell anyone else.

And this girl made a love confession out of the blue.

“Ahhhgghhh!!”

Her head was spinning. That kind of relationship between not just any species, but an elf and Golden-Eyed!

“This is a disgrace to the Golden-Eyed!”

Rosemary pulled on her hair and huffed. Duke Blanton, who happened to be nearby, spoke as if pitiful.

“Didn’t I tell you? There’s no other reason why she was lingering around that elf.”

“So she had those rendezvous?!”

“How else can it be explained? The fact that they even went together to see Professor Heerlein should be answer enough.”

At Duke Blanton’s words, Rosemary closed her mouth.

He’d been in the Empire as Duke Blanton for decades, and was more knowledgeable about human society than her.

Blanton’s insights included a range of emotions of humans. Humans whose families were shaken by love, who made blunders out of envy. As he witnessed these things, Blanton stored it as part of his internal data.

He’d acquired and sorted through decades worth of emotions. If what they’d seen through Quartus’ Scope was true, then....

“You already know how strong the animosity runs between the Golden-Eyed and the elves.”

Rosemary argued as she put a candy in her mouth.

“Do not think of it that way; rather, please look at this as a matter between a man and woman. There have been instances throughout human history of men and women of enemy countries falling in love and betraying their respective nations by running off together.”

Rosemary still appeared as if she didn’t understand.

It could be helped; he would have to keep trying.

“That boy, Vermel Horde, certainly seems like he’d have some experience with girls. He has distinct features and is much taller than the average of his kind. His personality is decent and he shines in his studies.”

There would be many girls who’d want him. In fact, when Rosemary had scanned that Literature Club place, a few of the female students there had already used him as the subject of their romance novels.

Although the content was a bit bizarre; Rosemary wasn’t conscious of it at the time.

“I get that girls would fall for a face like his. But, but!”

“Yes, but you, technical advisor, aren’t one to do so.”

“Exactly! That’s why it’s weird!”

The one doctrine in common that the Goddess and Demon King had taught their respective people.

[The mind follows the body.]

“The body needs to change in order for the mind to transform.”

“It may be because she has not experienced Corruption.”

“Yes, you and I were thinking the same. I’m glad that someone like you is my adjutant, Jack.”

Rising from her seat, Rosemary rolled back her sleeves. Her hands were as slender as her small frame.

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

“Violin.”

Rosemary took the violin from Blanton and sat on the window sill, then polished the strings with pine rosin.

She soon began playing, a lovely yet forlorn tune that was perfect on a night of full moon. Her performance was good enough to be applauded even by those who weren’t brainwashed.

For a while, Rosemary played Tineella’s Requiem with her eyes closed.

“Have you come up with a good plan?”

As she finished, the corners of her lips turned up. Rosemary’s blue eyes changed to yellow once again.

“Indeed.”

After engaging in the arts, it felt as if the fog in her head was lifting. Now back to her usual, composed self, the girl began to review her plan.

Everything surrounding Aether had been significant.

Why was Aether moving together with Vermel? Why did she think to avoid her watch and meet secretly? Was she completely on the side of humanity? And why had they gone to Heerlein together?

“Love.”

That emotion certainly explained a lot of things.

Rosemary sneered. After returning the violin to its case, she closed the windows and poured herself a glass of premium gasoline to drink. Offering the glass to Blanton, she twisted her lips.

“Raise a toast, Jack. This Rosemary, the Requiem, has devised a plan that will kill three birds with one stone.”

Blanton understood exactly what she meant. He recalled what Quartus said last time.

That to bring Aether back on their side, they needed to make her feel completely betrayed by the humans.

“Oho.”

“Seems like you get it.”

The question was how to go about it. Since saying that, Rosemary had been trying to think of different ways.

That was no longer necessary; everything was simpler now.

“Tell sis two before you go west: big sis will be back at the tower by the beginning of December.”