Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins

T/N: Edited 10/28/24.

In the end, I was the only one among the three of us who had been staying in the supplies warehouse that could properly join the procession.

There was no time to feel regret or futility.

The ordeal wasn’t over yet.

“Please let me through!”

“Whoa, there. You’re quite impatient.”

An hour had already passed since we docked at an unknown port in the Frauvian Federation.

Since there was insufficient time for the hundreds of passengers to disembark, the deck was still bustling with people.

I, too, joined the disembarking crowd.

Fortunately, no one paid attention to the gray hair peeking out from under my hat.

The chaos created by the sea breeze, all sorts of luggage, and countless people mixing together obscured people’s vision.

Some even closed their eyes and entrusted themselves to the crowd.

But on the contrary, I kept my eyes wide open.

The scene I had been dreaming of.

The scene I had imagined for eight long years was unfolding before my eyes. I couldn’t look away.

Lost in thought, I found myself walking along the auxiliary bridge that connected the Eddington to the pier.

As I descended the ramp, the rocking sensation gradually disappeared.

Thud.

As I took the last step, it completely vanished.

“Phew.”

Land.

The feeling of two feet firmly planted on the ground.

Despite only spending half a day on the ship, walking on land felt quite strange.

“Perhaps it’s because this is an unfamiliar land.”

Well, not all of the Federation’s land would be muddy.

I quickly dispelled the idle thoughts and moved forward.

Unlike the port city of Rosko in the Bayel Empire, which was essentially an open field, this unknown port had a huge building standing right next to the pier.

Was it some kind of immigration office?

Seeing the entire crowd from the Eddington heading towards it, I couldn’t be certain due to its sheer scale alone.

Red bricks and four towers topped with domes.

The building, illuminated by magic lamps on all sides, looked imposing, appearing twice as large as Leman’s bank.

If I hadn’t surveyed the port area from the deck, I would have thought how that building alone was that huge.

No.

Even this unknown port city was more prosperous than Leman, one of the core cities of the Bayel Empire.

…Despite a significant portion of it needing to be rebuilt due to the war.

I just stared with my mouth shut.

“If I hadn’t come across it, I wouldn’t have known for a long time.”

That is, how rapidly the world was changing.

At that moment, someone firmly pushed my shoulder.

“Hey. Young man. Don’t block the way and move along.”

Right. It wasn’t over yet.

I started walking again.

The immigration office boasted an entrance as grand as its size, resembling a monster’s maw.

The only difference was that being swallowed by a monster would envelop you in endless darkness while the inside of the office was filled with soft light.

The magic lamps hanging from the steel beams supporting the ceiling illuminated the spacious area without fail.

The chaotic crowd gradually began to come to order.

Immigration was imminent.

About a dozen immigration officers worked tirelessly while people sat on chairs lined up in front of them, waiting for their turn.

From brief observation, soldiers belonging to the Frauvian army seemed to have separate certificates and passed through easily.

The problem was ordinary people like me.

They probably wouldn’t be that strict in their selection.

However, seeing one out of every hundred people move to a separate room, I couldn’t let my guard down.

“Please.”

Time flew by, and it was my turn.

Thud.

“Hello.”

I stood in front of an immigration desk with a tired-looking officer and a young assistant.

Without even looking at me, he instructed in a lifeless tone:

“Yeah. Take out your ID.”

I already had it in my hand.

I handed over my identification document without hesitation, and the officer receiving it slowly raised his head.

“Hmm.”

Our eyes met.

“An abridged ID without a listed residence. What brings you to Oslovya?”

Oslovya.

One of the three main countries of the Frauvian Federation, it was once a separate nation.

Fortunately, I had anticipated this question.

“I came to study magic.”

When I subtly showed my grimoire, his expression softened a little.

But it seemed his suspicion hadn’t subsided.

“Take off your hat for a moment.”

“……”

Hesitating here would only heighten his suspicion.

I gently removed Mrs. Diemann’s hat. It was the moment my distinctive gray hair was revealed in front of countless people.

This time, it was the officer’s turn to be silent.

“Oh. Gray hair.”

In his right hand were two stamps.

‘Approved’ and ‘Rejected’.

The latter meant being ‘moved to a separate room.’

It wouldn’t be discovered right away, but if a detailed investigation were to take place in the ‘separate room,’ the fact that I was an illegal immigrant would inevitably be revealed.

I tried my best to maintain a calm expression.

…But the officer reached for the ‘Rejected’ stamp.

Just as the officer was about to stamp the paper…

“Sir. Are you doing this again?”

The young assistant spoke up.

“Don’t you remember how we got into big trouble last time when you mistook a gray-haired old man for an Imperial citizen?”

“Well, still…”

“Illegal immigrants are found here once every three months at most. He has an ID and carries a grimoire, so why would you detain such a promising talent?”

The assistant shook his head with an exaggerated expression.

This guy probably just wanted to leave work early.

But that was a tremendous stroke of luck for me.

The officer conceded.

“I got it. I understand.”

Thud!

He stamped the paper and handed it to me.

[Approved]

“Welcome to Oslovya.”

“…Thank you.”

After receiving the paper, I hurried my steps.

The immigration office was kind of a gateway, and after passing the desks, another door appeared.

A door that directly led to the city.

A city with no guards or soldiers, softly glowing even in the middle of the night, was right before my eyes.

I finally realized it.

This was the first step towards my dream.

A pounding heart and advancing toward my dream are good, but more important than that are the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter.

If I couldn’t find an inn tonight, I might have to repeat what I did three years ago and sleep under some bridge.

If I had no money, it wouldn’t be so bad, but unlike then, I had 12 pounds on me.

Finding an inn wasn’t difficult.

It seemed that the industries sustaining the port city were logistics and distribution, along with the lodging business.

Signboards for taverns and inns were hung everywhere on the streets.

“It’d be better to choose a place with fewer guests.”

Among the numerous inns, I picked one that looked decent while having fewer lights on.

Ring— 

With the cheerful sound of a bell, I entered.

It had a cozy interior.

While lacking the same coziness as the duplex house of the Oslo family, it was a home with a sense of life in every corner.

Except for the crotchety-looking owner, I liked it.

Instead of asking my business, he gestured with his chin.

I had no idea about the customs between innkeepers and lodgers. I asked with the most natural gestures and expressions I could muster:

“One night. Without meals. How much?”

It seemed to be the correct question.

The owner glanced over my appearance and replied:

“Eight pounds.”

“Pardon?”

“Are you deaf? I said eight pounds.”

Eight pounds?

That was excessively expensive.

However, the owner just stared at me blankly without adding any further words. A gaze that asked, what’s the problem?

“Ah.”

I realized my mistake from his nonchalant demeanor.

The Federation and the Empire. The Empire and the Federation.

After the war, the Empire was in a position to borrow the Federation’s currency.

Naturally, the prices couldn’t be the same.

“One night, please.”

“The room at the very end of this floor.”

After visiting five more inns and confirming that the price for a one-night stay was not lower than eight pounds, even if it was higher, I finally returned to the first inn I went to.

As if all places where people lived were the same, the inn room wasn’t remarkably better than the warehouse under the ship.

…But it was about twice as spacious.

“Oh!”

There was a bed.

Lying on the bed and stretching out for a few minutes, the effects of seasickness and tension seemed to gradually improve.

Staring blankly at the ceiling, I organized my thoughts on the situation.

“Prices are high.”

Considerably high. In the Empire, one shilling could buy a loaf of bread, but here, you had to pay about three shillings.

That’s not all.

The biggest problem was transportation and accommodation.

When referring to the Frauvian Federation, it mainly means the alliance of three countries.

Oslovya, with developed industries such as steel and textiles.

Frauzen, the center of magic.

Berleu, with its vast pastures and farms.

Among them, the place I wanted to go was none other than Frauzen.

“Even the name suggests it’s the center of magic.”

According to Benjamin, his wife, Susan, and the rest of his family lived there, and above all, the Federal University of Magic was located there.

Benjamin did mention sending a letter to his family in Frauzen to inform them of my existence, but oh, well.

I had no intention of seeking their help immediately.

I had that much decency.

However, even with that limitation, going to Frauzen, where the university was located, was the most appealing choice.

This was where transportation and accommodation became an issue.

It would take weeks on foot. So, I had to use the railroad.

My original plan was this: Enjoy a railroad trip to Frauzen while thriftily spending the 12 pounds.

But…

“If one night’s stay costs eight pounds, how much would the fare be?”

I was short on money. Severely.

There was only one solution.

Thoroughly conceal my Imperial identity and secure funds to reach Frauzen.

In other words, I had to find work somehow.

“…It seems the journey will be longer than I thought.”

For now, though, it’s time to rest.

I buried myself in the cozy bed and fell asleep.

I didn’t dream… 

…because it had already become a reality.