Chapter 30

Chapter 30

“This technique was created by the ancient class nine grand mage Simeon and the silver dragon Likurgos. I’ve never seen anyone find fault with it.”

Ah. So that’s how it is. Since such revered people had been responsible for creating it, nobody had ever dared to even question it. In addition, the mana in the air had been more plentiful in the days of Tegea, and there had been flourishing intellectual exchanges between the different races—it had been a Golden Age of magic. Ancient magic artifacts were being traded at astronomical prices and the empire’s mages considered the mages of Tegea to be something akin to gods. No wonder there had been no progress.

“Father, let me solve it this time.” I proceeded to solve the geometric progression—that is, a problem seeking the total amount of required mana for an area spell—in less than a minute.

The duke’s impassive expression cracked to give way to pure shock. “What did you just do? How did you find the answer in only thirty seconds? This isn’t a problem that allows you to just guess the answer. What are the chances of that happening anyway?” he rambled.

“If you suspect that I simply got lucky, you can give me another problem.”

Since he was struggling to believe I’d done it so quickly, he created a few more problems—all of which I immediately solved. Resting his hand against his forehead, he looked like he was on the verge of having a breakdown.

“But how? This makes no sense. If only you knew how to use mana, you would be the greatest battle mage who ever lived...”

“Hmm. Why is that?”

“This would greatly increase your casting speed. Frankly, I’ve never seen anyone as quick and accurate as you.”

The conversation with the duke told me that the method used to solve the formulas wasn’t important—as long as I could find the answer, I would be able to use it to cast spells. What was more, the speed at which one could solve them was directly linked to how fast they could cast.

Damn it! If only I had the ability to manipulate mana, I could have distinguished myself in battle like that one class five mage who’d gone on to marry a mercenary leader. Then I wouldn’t need to save up ten billion gold so I could become the head of a family.

I was a direct descendant of the Seymour line, so why wasn’t I capable of magic? I swallowed back the urge to cry, pushing aside my momentary grief. I was a coward. The moment I saw someone burn up in a fireball that I had thrown, I would faint. The guilt of having killed someone might haunt me to the end of my days, leaving me tossing and turning in my bed every night. It’s still a pity, though. I stood to gain a lot from being able to use mana.

Lost in my bitter thoughts, the duke interrupted my musings. “Deborah.”

“Yes?”

“You just described this technique as inefficient, similar to how you said using magic to help those daisies wasn’t the best method.”

“Right.”

“It seems to me as though there is a faster, simpler way to go about solving formulas, just like soot was the more expedient method in the case of the daisies. The current methods would never allow speeds like yours does.”

“That’s correct.” I was secretly impressed by how shrewd the master of the Magic Tower was.

“As you said, if we use the new technique that I developed instead, the answers can be found much more quickly and easily.”

I only knew how to solve them so quickly thanks to the great mathematicians in my world, but I supposed it wouldn’t hurt to take credit, since nobody else knew of them, anyway.

“I’d love to see how it works,” he said.

I gazed into the duke’s suddenly sharp, studious gaze for a moment, then took up a quill to show him how I had done it.

“Ah! So that’s how you do it!” The duke exclaimed many times over the course of my explanation. “Why do you solve this part that way?”

“It involves substituting numbers like this.”

In the end, I essentially taught a private math lesson until the sun began to set outside the window. I had plenty of experience tutoring students in various subjects, so it wasn’t all that much of a hardship. Feeling thirsty, I reached for some water. Noticing his eyes on me, I looked up.

“Let’s go out for dinner,” he said suddenly.

But why? Frankly, I found the food prepared by the Seymour kitchen far tastier than any restaurant in the Iones District. Last time we’d gone out to celebrate being freed from my probation, but I couldn’t understand why he wanted to eat outside the mansion when we had a chef at home that could have worked at a five-star hotel.

This wasn’t a planned outing either, so he won’t be able to rent out an entire restaurant this time. Surprisingly, though, the carriage stopped in front of a large jewelry shop in the Iones District instead of a restaurant.

Huh? Wait, don’t tell me he’s taking me shopping? Wow, the duke is really next-level generous.

“Pick out anything that strikes your fancy. I now know that my daughter is a Seymour through and through, and a genius at that. I’d like to buy you a gift.”

The left head of the twin-headed snake that comprised the Seymour coat of arms symbolized ravenous intellectual hunger and new paradigms. He seemed deeply impressed by how the technique I’d shown him broke with tradition. He spoke in his usual emotionless, dispassionate tone, but the satisfaction in his eyes was unmistakable.

This was hardly surprising, really. No doubt learning that his daughter, who’d been heavily criticized for capitalizing on her connections to get into the Department of Magic, was actually a genius capable of outdoing a grand mage was an intensely gratifying experience.

“Thank you, Father,” I said. My heart swelled with excitement when we entered the imposing shop. The title Father had never rolled off my tongue quite so easily. Well, he really is my father now.

“Don’t take too long, Deborah.”

Sadly, like most fathers, he didn’t particularly enjoy shopping. He pressed me quietly to make it fast and I looked through the various display cases. I eventually pointed at an expensive-looking bracelet packed with diamonds. I thought the gigantic obsidian stone in the center would suit Deborah’s lovely lavender hair.

The shop owner, who’d been rubbing his hands together in excitement upon seeing a highly-ranked noble arriving at his establishment, rushed over and reached into the case. But just as he began to prepare the receipt, the duke loomed over him, arms crossed.

“You there. Do you think so little of House Seymour?” he asked, suddenly coming down on the shop owner. The duke looked ready to order his execution.

The man paled, then started bowing frantically. “My apologies, Your Grace. If you find anything lacking, I will see to it that it is fixed right away.”

“I was informed that the imperial family sometimes frequents this establishment. I’m deeply disappointed with the lackluster customer service.”

Uh, what are you finding fault with? Frankly, I’d been pretty happy with my experience thus far. Both the owner and I listened to his stern lecture, confused.

“How can a businessman be so lacking in sense?” the duke complained, sighing. He indicated the bracelet the man was holding with his chin. “My daughter wants everything in that display case but that cheap bracelet!”

Oh, is that so? For some mysterious reason, the duke seemed positive that this was the case.

“You didn’t think she would settle for a single bracelet? My disappointment is immeasurable. Isn’t that so, Deborah?”

“Of course. I can’t believe we even had to say anything. What a frustrating fellow,” I quickly agreed. I was starting to think that I had actually wanted the entire display case, with the exception of the bracelet. I was in such a good mood.

The shop owner and his staff, fresh off a humiliating dressing down, began to gift wrap all the gems in the display case. They looked as if they were uncertain whether they should laugh or cry.

Idiot! I forgot he’s as rich as Midas. I regretted only asking him for four thousand gold last time. Why must we humans always repeat our mistakes? The next time one of these golden opportunities rolls in, I’ll be ready to grab it by the horns. Relearning my lesson about high-ranking nobles and their bottomless coffers, I spaced out, staring at the jewelry box that was steadily filling to the brim.

* * *

After our utterly absurd shopping spree, we ate dinner at a fancy restaurant and returned home. Darkness had fallen by then.

“Take my hand.” Duke Seymour held his hand out for me to take coolly. Accepting his gruff help, I stepped down from the carriage. “Go and rest.”

“I will. Goodnight, Father.”

“I don’t think I’ll be getting any sleep tonight. I need to go over the technique you invented.”

The duke was a passionate intellectual with insatiable curiosity. If he had lived in my world, he would no doubt have made history as a researcher or a scientist.

But no researcher is that handsome in real life. After saying goodbye, I made my way down the corridor that led to the annex. A dark silhouette loomed out of the shadows, nearly making me jump out of my skin. It was Veleque.

“You’re probably the only girl in the empire who looks at her older brother like he’s her mortal enemy.”

Hey! You’re the one who came out of nowhere and surprised me! The truth was, Deborah had a resting b*tch face so intense that she looked like she was glowering even when she was surprised.