Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins

The entrance exam for the Federal University of Magic in Frauzen could be divided into three sections: mathematics, natural philosophy, and the rest.

“The rest” referred to questions on world history and Frauvian grammar, which were generally considered to have little impact on the test results.

Therefore, the battleground where examinees would compete fiercely was mathematics and natural philosophy.

Five questions on Arithmetic. Seven questions on Algebra. Three questions on Basic Calculus.

Three questions on Basic Physics. Three questions on Basic Chemistry.

The pass/fail line was determined by how many of these 21 questions, varying in length and difficulty, one could solve.

It was generally known that solving 14 or more questions was considered passing.

Excluding the question of the highest difficulty in each field, the minimum for passing was getting two questions wrong.

Conversely, this meant that if one was confident in their skills to some extent, two mistakes were allowed, but…

This had nothing to do with me, who needed a scholarship.

It was a given that I needed to completely prevent mistakes from happening. Moreover, I needed to build up my skills to be able to solve all the highest difficulty questions.

“Haaaaa…….”

Two weeks of being glued to the desk…

Because I was racking my brain over chemistry.

Thanks to Benjamin’s appropriate guidance, my knowledge of mathematics and basic physics was much richer than that of ordinary students of the Federation, but chemistry was the only subject I had barely learned through self-study.

“Damn. I finally solved it!”

Perhaps the result of pouring in time paid off.

I finally succeeded in solving a problem corresponding to the highest difficulty…

…but I fell asleep face down the moment I put down my pen, having exhausted my brain by grappling with one problem for three hours.

Pitter-patter. Patter. Pitter-patter. Patter.

When I opened my eyes, drawn by the sound of raindrops hitting the window…

I realized that a blanket with delicate patterns was covering my shoulders.

While gently easing my stiff neck, I folded the blanket neatly and placed it on a corner of the desk.

It was already the third time.

#September 13th. Rain.

“Children― Come eat breakfast―!”

Susan’s gentle voice announcing that it was time for breakfast came from the kitchen.

One shouldn’t dawdle just because she has a gentle voice.

There was a time when the twins didn’t come down even after being called three or four times, perhaps oversleeping, and I saw Susan, still smiling, going up the stairs with a frying pan in one hand. 

I immediately headed to the kitchen.

With a blanket in one hand.

Susan was already seated at the table where a steaming breakfast was laid out.

When our eyes met, Susan’s eyebrows curved gently.

“Good morning.”

“Susan. Good morning.”

“Yes. Oh my, that blanket…”

“Ah. I used it well. Thank you as always.”

I must have been covered with the blanket by Susan every time.

If so, this was the third time I handed the blanket back to her.

Susan, who received the blanket and tidied it up appropriately, just covered her mouth and laughed softly.

What is it?

Could it be that the husband and wife are alike? I was thinking that Susan wasn’t simply an easy person to understand, like how Benjamin occasionally indulges in eccentricities.

“Good morning.”

Lena, dressed neatly and finished with her grooming, brushed past me.

Of course, the greeting was probably directed at Susan.

Being ignored like this had become part of the daily routine after about two weeks.

As I was turning around to sit at the table, someone tapped my back.

“Hello! Good morning!”

“Ah, good morning.”

It was the twins.

Height barely reaching my waist. Bright blonde hair and emerald eyes. They were identical twins who looked alike no matter where you looked, but.

Distinguishing who was who was the simplest thing.

One child with her hair tightly tied in a ponytail, hands on her hips. Another child hiding shyly behind her, glancing at me.

Among them, the child with the ponytail asked me with sparkling eyes.

“Hey. Hey. Big brother. Did you remember my name?”

“Ellie. Right?”

“Hehehe. Correct!”

Excited that I got her name right, Ellie ran and plopped down at the table.

“Um, um, Ellie.”

“Sally is glad to see you too. Good morning.”

I crouched down and offered a handshake to the lone child, Sally.

“G-good morning!”

Sally chose to run to the table instead of shaking hands. With personalities this different, it would be strange not to be able to tell them apart.

I awkwardly retracted my outstretched hand, scratched my cheek, and sat down at the table next.

“Let’s―eat―!”

With Ellie’s loud declaration, everyone started eating without hesitation.

Originally, the Oslo family seemed to engage in small talk during meals. Seeing the twins occasionally chatting and laughing with Susan.

However, it would be an exaggeration to call it a warm atmosphere.

Because Lena was silently focusing on her meal, exuding an atmosphere of disapproval.

The reason was obvious.

It must be because of me sitting across from her.

If I had been an ordinary Frauvian, I might have felt intimidated, but my childhood was far harsher than this to feel that way now.

Trust is something to be built gradually.

Right now, savoring the oil-dripping sausage was more important.

Meat for breakfast. How luxurious is this?

As I was immersed in the happiness of the sound of rain mingling with the sausage, Susan parted her lips.

“Lena. Is everything going well at the telegraph bureau? You mentioned being short-handed last time.”

“…The situation is similar. The financial state has worsened more than expected.”

“Oh my.”

“But the business potential of the Eastern Telegraph Bureau itself is reliable. If we expand our talent pool and gather more investment, we should be able to recover quickly, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

The Eastern Telegraph Bureau.

The telegraph company in Frauzen, where Lena serves as its youngest consultant.

From what I’ve heard, it was originally in a bad state, but Lena revived it, and recently, it seems to have become precarious again.

It’s not that sales aren’t coming in. Rather, it’s the opposite.

She must be seriously worried as she let out a deep sigh, even with me in front of her.

“The biggest issue is that we don’t have enough lines compared to the demand. We need both manpower and machines to increase the lines, but we’re not ready yet.”

“I see. You need to hurry and recruit people, then, right?”

“That’s not going as easily as I’d like. Leaving aside telegraph technicians who are skilled labor, even people with good physical strength and perseverance are not that common…”

“Hmm.”

Susan, who had been lost in thought with her eyes closed, suddenly raised her head as if she had a good idea.

“Lena.”

“Yes?”

“How about hiring Eugene?”’

At those words, both Lena and I widened our eyes.

“Mother. What are you saying?”

“You said you needed someone with good physical strength and perseverance. Eugene aspires to be a magic scholar, so he must have accumulated knowledge, too. Isn’t he exactly the kind of talent you want?”

“B-but.”

Lena rolled her eyes.

It was evident that she wanted to object by any means necessary.

Not long after, as if she had come up with a logical rebuttal, Lena grinned.

“How could someone who studies while abandoning their sleep schedule have time to work? We’re not completely without new employees, so there’s no need for that at all.”

Hmm?

I replied to Lena’s objection.

“How did you know that I study while abandoning my sleep schedule?”

“…!”

“Have I mentioned that I’m preparing for the entrance exam before?”

“Y-yes. I heard what you said before.”

“I see.”

But.

After serious consideration, I came to a conclusion.

It’s true that I’m busy with studying. If I fail the exam, by any chance, I would be wasting a year.

However, building trust with the Oslo family, including Lena, is not just a matter of one or two years.

It’s a relationship that will last a lifetime, growing close and distant.

Moreover, if I earn money, wouldn’t it help in preparing tuition in case I don’t get a scholarship?

I conveyed that intention in one sentence.

“I’d like to try working at the telegraph bureau, can I ask for that?”

“Eek.”

“That’s great. Both of you, do your best!”

Joy and sorrow crossed paths.

I got a new ID card.

[ Eugene Oslo / 1880. 3. 14 / 15 Kram St., 20178 Frauzen]

Lena said that to get a job in Frauzen, you need an official identification document with your place of residence written on it, so I got a new one issued.

I couldn’t bring myself to throw away the previous ID card, so I ended up carrying two ID cards.

After getting the ID card issued, I headed to the Eastern Telegraph Bureau with Lena.

From holding an umbrella under the pouring rain, which was already an unfamiliar experience, to being unfamiliar with Frauzen’s geography and having Lena just a few steps away, it was an even more awkward walk.

As we were nearing the telegraph bureau, Lena quietly opened her mouth.

“…Instead of taking away your time for review, your rest time will be guaranteed. However, the salary might not be very generous. Our circumstances are not favorable.”

When I asked how much the salary would be, Lena answered with some hesitation.

“For a new employee, it’s about twenty pounds per day.”

That seems like a decent salary compared to the amount of work.

At least, it should be a much better working environment than the coal mine.

It seemed that although Lena was a cold-headed businesswoman, she wasn’t a harsh consultant.

“We’ve arrived.”

It happened to be a holiday. I went to work at the Eastern Telegraph Bureau with Lena.

Creaaak.

I opened the door of the telegraph bureau and entered it with Lena.

The next moment.

“Welcome, Miss Lena!”

As if in chorus, dozens of employees shouted greetings in unison.