I snatched the [Time Travel Research Records] and arrived in front of the magic tower’s library.
“Bella?”
“Hi.”
Why hadn’t I realized it all this time? That the person who wrote [Time Travel Research Records] was right next to me! It was none other than my roommate. No wonder I always thought something was unusual about her personality… I felt it painfully in my bones that only someone this peculiar could devote themselves to researching time travel, something that neither made money nor had a high chance of success.
Sitting down in the library, I handed the bundle of research projects to my roommate, who was gloomily working on a new project. I had snatched not only the [Time Travel Research Records], but other research records as well.
“Here. Those guys stole all these from you because they said there was money in them, warning you never to research them again, right?”
“Huh? Yes…” She lowered her head dejectedly.
“You can research them now. Because those guys aren’t around anymore. That’s a relief, right?”
“What? But how did you find these again? Did they just give this mountain of research back to you? Wait, they told me not to do this kind of lousy research that doesn’t make any money…”
What a load of nonsense. Those guys lacked talent and had abominable personalities, but they at least had an eye for value. They undoubtedly planned to present this research as their own and hand it over to me.
Since I couldn’t lay out the whole truth, I simply shrugged. “Well, it’s a long story. Yeah. They just gave them to me.”
After I gave her a rough explanation, my roommate’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. She hugged her research projects to her chest, then hurried away, saying that she would tell the others about what had happened as well.
In the first place, it was completely absurd that those three stole other people’s research to present as their own. Then again, absurdities like that happen all the time. Just like professors who steal the research achievements of graduate students. The crazy part is that those guys were acting like professors despite being nothing more than teaching assistants. But now, I suppose it was safe to say that it was essentially over.
My roommate, who had run off saying she would distribute the research projects to her friends, soon returned with many people.
“Excuse me… You’re Bella, right?”
“…Mmm?”
The once-quiet library, which had contained no one but my roommate and me, was now packed with people. Each of them held a research project in their arms and bowed to greet me.
“Is it really true that we’re allowed to do this research again?”
“Yeah.” I glanced at the front page of the bundle of papers she was holding. Seriously, I couldn’t understand why anyone would research something titled [How to Make Cockroaches Multiple Even Further]. Well, as long as they are happy, I suppose…
“T-Thank you.”
“Besides, ever since you came, we haven’t been getting bullied anymore.”
“A-And…”
“Sorry for standing by and doing nothing all this time.”
“Mmm.”
“…”
“Even while watching you get, um, bu-bullied…?”
Pretty sure I was the one doing the bullying. But they seemed a little puzzled about it since their words gradually trailed off. Understanding how they felt, I deliberately spoke gently. “It’s okay.”
“Yeah. If we’d stepped in, I feel like we would’ve only made things more troublesome for you.”
“Honestly, that’s true…”
“Actually, I don’t even know anymore if that was really bullying…”
In truth, I was the one doing the bullying, the perpetrator of violence. But I played dumb. “It was bullying.”
“Ri-Right! Normally, when people suffer that kind of bullying, they either become helpless like us or leave the magic tower altogether.”
“But Bella always fought back well.”
“I-It was so satisfying!”
“Oh.”
“Thank you so much!”
This was bad. All I’d wanted was to blow off some steam. I awkwardly smiled at the innocent-looking mages. As expected, receiving thanks like this was much more awkward and embarrassing than causing a ruckus.
They then cautiously spoke up. “And thanks to you, we have something to do now, too.”
“…Something to do?”
They spoke quietly.
“We heard that Duke Kalinos is coming this time, so we might be able to present our research results then!”
“O-Of course there’s no way someone like him would sponsor people like us.”
“Those three stole every single chance we had to show our research, but at least we got it back somehow…”
“Maybe we’ll have a chance this time.”
Their expressions turned glum again. However, I knew better. Just as my roommate had thoroughly researched time travel, thinking that 1st-circle mages couldn’t produce good research was nothing more than a prejudice.
I grinned. “You’ll be able to present your research when Duke Kalinos comes.”
“That would be nice, but…”
Who knows?
“If you present good research, you might even receive sponsorship. Why don’t you all give it your best shot?”
* * *
Several days passed, and the day of Duke Kalinos’s visit to the magic tower finally arrived. It was a little disappointing that the days when I could enjoy the thrill of hiding my true strength were gradually coming to an end…
After I left, I heard that the trio had dangled around like silkworms until a professor finally discovered and rescued them. Apparently, even reporting them hadn’t worked. They were supposedly living on with their arrogance completely crushed. But I was still keeping an eye on them.
Neither Duke Kalinos nor Count Melandorf had arrived yet. If there was one unexpected problem, it was this. The fact that low-circle mages kept approaching me. It was especially problematic whenever I went to the magic tower’s communal cafeteria to eat.
“That’s Bella, the one who beat up three men at once.”
…I can hear you even if you whisper.
“I heard her physical strength is incredible.”
Guys, I can hear you.
I pretended not to know what they were talking about and quietly looked over at them again. They let out a startled “Eek!” and averted their gazes. Still, there were some people who actually came closer.
“Ah! Bella, take this.”
“Huh…?”
“I made these flowers as part of my research results this time, and I thought you’d like them. They’re flowers that never wilt!”
Before I visited the magic tower, its hierarchy had been quite firmly established. First, the bullies with both skill and powerful connections. Second, the mages who had skill but got demoted because they lacked connections. Third, the people who had neither skill nor connections but simply loved magic.
Usually, the people in the second category had their achievements stolen by those in the first. The people in the third category lived as quietly as mice, only to be bullied whenever someone felt like having a little fun. And the shabby, smelly mage of around twenty years old standing before me was one of the third kind.
“Oh, thanks.”
“It isn’t much compared to what y-you did for me.”
“I don’t think she ever actually helped you though…” My roommate, who was eating beside me, chimed in indifferently. She mentioned that he was the mage who had been bullied the most severely by the trio.
“So, thank you.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded. To think that my wild antics for the sake of time travel, or rather my antics in pursuit of a dopamine hit, ended up being the exact help someone desperately needed. It was truly a strange thing. I grinned and nodded.
It was unfortunate, but it was about time to prepare for the finale.
* * *
Meanwhile, the trio had already contacted Count Melandorft. They had told him that their secret had been discovered by a crazy 1st-circle mage named ‘Bella’. While anxiously waiting for his reply, they received the perfect response. They screamed in excitement.
“Duchess Giselle Kalinos is coming to the presentation too!”
“What? That archmage?”
Gold’s golden eyes flashed. I’ve had most of my power taken away, so I’m still lacking. But I have a chance!
At long last, after trampling countless insignificant nobodies, the day had finally come when they could earn recognition from the archmage, Duchess Giselle Kalinos.
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