Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins

T/N: Edited 10/28/24.

This story takes place when the Bayel Empire was still an empire.

At that time, all trade markets were controlled by the hands of the Empire.

The hegemony of long-distance trade, which began with a caravan in a desert region, passed to the empire, which pioneered more than 30 new trade routes.

The immense wealth and cultural prosperity that followed hardly need to be mentioned.

When discussing that splendid past, it would be absurd to leave out the Imperial Navy. However, the shipbuilding technology of the Empire was not particularly outstanding.

Instead, they had a minor but relevant skill.

The Imperial Navy mainly dealt with pirates. Pirates of various origins and numbers took every opportunity to raid and plunder the empire’s expensive cargo ships and repeatedly escaped.

However.

The Imperial warships were always faster than the pirate ships.

Even if they chased them to the ends of the earth, they never let them escape.

Opinions vary, but the speed of the warships, which were always slightly faster than any other ship they were compared to, is often regarded as the driving force behind the Empire’s era of peace and prosperity.

Perhaps that was why.

When the Frauvian Federation’s sailing ships broke the speed record, the Empire’s ships simply stopped operating.

Neither the Empire’s technology, culture, nor magic tried to keep up with the Federation’s.

As the maritime advances ceased, the power dynamics were reversed.

Truly profound.

Thud!

“Ah, damn.”

The side of my head was ringing.

The train, which had been swaying gently, must have finally swayed heavily. While dozing off, I smacked my head against the train wall.

“I had a stupid dream.”

Thinking we might have arrived, I looked out the window.

The bustling port city was nowhere to be seen, and only green fields and the foot of the mountains slowly flowed by.

Beyond the mountain ridge, the sun was slowly setting.

Swallowing back the thought that the natural scenery of the Federation was also quite remarkable, I rested my chin on my hand.

As I silently observed the flowing scenery, I noticed things that were not visible in still lifes or landscape paintings.

The nearby fields quickly flashed by.

The distant mountain ridges moved slowly.

The setting sun remained motionless.

It was a simple phenomenon.

The train was moving quickly, and the distances made things appear differently.

The point was that it wasn’t the fields, mountain ridges, or sun that were moving, but the train I was on.

The stupid dream I’d just had came to mind.

Perhaps the Empire didn’t cut off all of its advancements, but rather, it’s just that the Federation became powerful at a dizzying rate.

Like a train leaving the fields behind.

Like the Imperial warships faster than pirate ships.

“……”

Wouldn’t such differences in speed always bring about some kind of change?

The moment I advanced my thoughts that far, I realized.

Most dreams you have while sleeping lightly are stupid dreams.

It was two hours later that the train released its final steam in the city bathed in the desolate moonlight.

“We have arrived at Leslie Station!”

The pungent smell of smoke stings my nostrils.

It wasn’t a smell that was unfamiliar to me.

It had been subtly present since I set foot in Oslovya Station and was strongest when I stood in front of the train.

It was probably the smell that resulted when coal dust and the scent of burning coal mixed together.

However, the reason I covered my nose after getting off at Leslie Station was that the smell was several times stronger than when I was at Oslovya.

Knowing why it was so was easy to find.

“They transport coal by rail too.”

On another set of tracks laid next to the train, instead of passengers, there were freight trains lined up, loaded with coal.

So much so that it was difficult to gauge the total amount.

“……”

I had expected there to be a coal mine in Leslie, but if it was on this scale, it seemed unreasonable to leave it at ‘There is a coal mine.’

It was probably a major production area supplying coal to the entire Federation.

At this point, I began to realize why the expressions of the people in the third-class cabin had been so grim.

They must have come to find work, just like me.

Around that time, the people who had gotten off the train began to split into two groups.

One group was dressed in neat attire and carrying light luggage.

They were heading towards the ticket office.

The other group consisted mostly of people wearing dirty clothes and with fingertips blackened by coal dust, and they were leaving the station.

I checked the remaining money I had on hand.

A few pounds and some coins.

In the empire, it would be enough money to prepare a feast, but its value changed greatly in this foreign land.

Now, I knew that this amount would disappear just by staying one night under a decent roof.

Which group I should follow became clear.

#July 23rd. Slightly cloudy.

There was a very efficient system involving something called a dormitory.

I was wondering if there would be an inn large enough to accommodate dozens of people or if the time had finally come to make use of my long-trained experience of sleeping outdoors.

“Dormitory 1 – capacity for 50 people!”

“Dormitory 2 is full!”

“Dormitory 3 is accepting 25 people!”

“Dormitory 4-“

The moment I heard the voices of the unenthusiastic solicitors, people began to disperse, each with a tired expression.

At that time, I wondered what was going on.

But now, having had a good night’s sleep in Dormitory 3 and breathing in the morning air at the foot of the mountain, I have a clear understanding of what a dormitory is.

Eight pounds a night.

I thought it was expensive, but it seemed the same for these people.

Most of the people who got off the train and came here were short on money.

They were people who valued a few pennies more than the kindness that travelers might want, such as private rooms or soft beds.

The dormitory was a facility for such coal mine workers.

It offered only a blanket, a space to lay one’s body, and a decent meal, but in return, it charged only two pounds a night, which was quite a bold strategy.

“Phew. Nice.”

It was appealing.

If there was a downside, it would be that I had to sleep hugging my grimoire tightly to my chest, fearing it might be stolen.

“Ugh.”

It was still early morning.

I took a deep breath while lightly stretching my body.

My physical condition wasn’t too bad.

After some time passed, people who had woken up started coming out one by one.

Among the people who had slept in Dormitory 3, there were quite a few who were around my age or slightly older, and they had shadows under their eyes, perhaps from lack of sleep.

One of them, a pole-like tall man who was taking deep breaths next to me, asked me a question.

He was also grumbling.

“Hey, mister.”

“Are you talking to me?”

“Yes. How are you so sprightly? There are quite a few people here who feel like their backs are going to give out.”

“I’m not too particular about where I sleep.”

“You were the only one who ate the leftover breakfast with gusto, too.”

Was he talking about the jerky tougher than leather and the hardtack?

Perhaps because it was the first time in a while that I had tasted meat, I ate it without thinking, but it seemed the others found it completely unsatisfying.

The tall man let out a deep sigh.

“In a mine like this, eating and sleeping are directly related to stamina and strength. I envy you, mister.”

“Haha.”

I scratched my cheek as if embarrassed, but I didn’t respond to his last remark.

It was closely related to my upbringing.

“…….”

If it were to be revealed, even by mistake, that I was from the Empire, it would certainly not end with mere detention.

I kept my mouth tightly shut.

I need to be careful.

The people with blackened fingertips were already assigned to work in a specific mine and tunnel, I was told.

As mining work requires strength and stamina, one must pass a suitable examination to formally establish an employment relationship.

So, along with the people whose fingertips were still white, I headed to the information center.

It had the appearance of a single-story hut.

Entering the information center, two examiners greeted us with distorted smiles, swiftly sweeping their gazes over the crowd.

“…….”

The atmosphere was certainly rough.

Fortunately, they properly explained what we needed to do.

“First, get a physical examination from my buddy standing next to me. Then, look over the papers pasted on the wall, and tell me the tunnel you want and your name. You’ll be assigned there starting tomorrow.”

The short-haired examiner pointed with his chin.

“Each tunnel has different working conditions and pay, so keep that in mind. If the number of applicants exceeds the capacity, we’ll give priority to the ones with better exam results, so keep that in mind, too. Now, let’s start with the physical exam.”

The physical examination was very simple.

Can you swing a pickaxe 20 times in a row?

“Phew!”

“Pass.”

It wasn’t as easy as I thought. As proof, 2 out of 10 people were kicked out of the hut for reasons such as getting tired halfway through or dropping the pickaxe.

After completing my turn, I headed towards the wall where the flyers were posted.

I had to choose one of the eleven tunnels.

I squatted down and carefully read the text from the bottom when it happened.

Poke.

“Huh? Why is there a gray-haired person in a place like this?”

Someone placed their palm on my head.

I just raised my head and looked at that mug.

“What is it?”

“Your eyes are fierce. Judging by your hair color, it seems like there’s some barbarian blood mixed in your ancestry somewhere. Just as I thought.”

Making a whistling sound, I felt him putting more force into his hand, pressing down on my head.

It was that, wasn’t it?

The first ‘direct discrimination’ I encountered since coming to the Federation.

I had a feeling I knew the reason. The young man, who appeared to be around my age, had black hair and black eyes, and he seemed to have trained quite a bit, as the outlines of his muscles were visible even through his clothes.

Still pressing down on my head, he continued.

“Which tunnel are you going to?”

“Why are you asking?”

“I’m going to the same place as you. It’s obvious that a weak-willed bastard with barbarian blood will run away in less than a week. I’ll gladly take the reward for reporting a deserter, so feel free to run away.”

The man grinned viciously and then shouted, waving his hand:

“Hey, old man examiner! I’m Damon, the one who set a new record in the physical exam earlier. I’ll go to the same place as this guy!” 

So his name was Damon.

I think I’ve used enough polite speech with him.

I slowly stood up.

“Damon.”

“……?”

“Thanks for the good information about the reward for reporting deserters.”

Damon’s hand was still on top of my head.

But he couldn’t stop me from standing up.

It was impossible from the start.

Because I didn’t realize it when I was squatting, but the moment I fully extended my knees, I was looking down at Damon from half a span above.

I also raised my hand.

“Mr. Examiner. Eugene Oslo and Damon, two people in total, please assign us to Tunnel 7.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Of course.”

Tunnel 7.

Highest workload.

Only two light meals are provided per day. Able to return to the dormitory when working double shifts. Sleeping at the tunnel entrance is recommended.

Double pay.

“Damon.”

“You… What nerve do you have to choose the notorious Tunnel 7…?”

I tried to give the same vicious smile he had given.

“Feel free to run away.”