Chapter 55

【”So, where’d you leave the tea cups?”】

【”Just sit the hell down. Who’d want to drink that disgusting tea you make?”】

【”Oh, so you want your guests to see your stinginess in all its glory, you’re as vicious as ever.”】

【”Says the one who ensnared a girl while on duty. You want to get yourself a side wife?”】

【”Like hell I’d willingly marry such a thin girl.”】

【”So you’d consider it if it was a voluptuous woman. Good luck getting your fiancée to approve of a mistress.”】

【”How ridiculous for a scientist to jump to conclusions so easily. If you judge everything with such extreme logic, then that astral body research you take so much pride on isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”】

【”And who’s the one who benefited from that research? Careful what you say, you’re being rude.”】

【”You better worry about yourself, bastard, your dementia is getting worse. Did you forget how many times I broke my engagement with that girl?”】

【”Oh well. Please pay no heed to that eccentric man, you two― which reminds me, I haven’t heard your names yet, have I?”】

【”I- I am Lifa Goodridge.”】

【”My name is Elu. It’s quite an honor to meet the famous Dr. Freund.”】

【”I’m Justus Freund. Please don’t stand on ceremony.”】

Elu poked Lifa’s arm with his elbow. After that signal, Lifa started to speak.

【”I’m interested in magical research and I’m actually studying it myself. So I asked Harold to let me meet and speak to an expert of the field and…”】

【”With his reputation being what it is, we thought the one he worked for might fit the criteria.”】

【”I see, it’s quite unusual for that guy to accept a request like that.”】

【”Well, it seems he was interested in an idea of hers that could involve the use of astral powers, though it’s not really part of her research.”】

【”Oho….”】

Elu reined his thoughts in and put impregnable defenses on his mind, ready to resist any scrutiny, while he smiled naturally, challenging Justus so the two would sound each other out.

◇

【”But what I’m wondering about is that idea of yours that piqued Harold’s interest. Can you tell me about it?”】

【”Yes. I wondered whether I could combine magic, which relies on an individual’s nature, with the versatility of science and what I figured was―”】

【”…..Mhm, I can understand why Harold was interested.”】

【”So, what do you think? Are there some things that I can improve or……”】

【”Although I can’t really say without putting this into practice, there are several points I have some thoughts about. I wouldn’t mind teaching you, but I’m already too busy as is.”】

【”But your ideas and points of view are certainly wonderful. You can stay here for a while if you want. We’ll get to discuss lots of things whenever I have some time.”】

【”Huh, really?”】

However, the more she stayed the more the risks increased. Every little thing she exposed from there on out could reveal the secrets of Harold & co, one after the other.

【”Hold on, Lifa, if you do that, we’ll get back to the village too late and our lie will be exposed. You do know uncle won’t just forgive you after one good scolding this time, right?”】

【”What does this mean?”】

【”The two of us come from a small village. Most of the villagers there make a living by working in the fields and raising livestock. Since it’s that kind of village, Lifa, who’s devoted to science, stands out a little, and her family has strictly told her to stop wasting her time on research.”】

【”Mhm. Then, how long can you stay?”】

【”Two weeks is our limit.”】

【”Is that so? But it’s just as I thought. You are smart. I’d have had some doubts if you had directly replied that you can’t stay.”】

【”When you want to return, I’ll find you a ship that will get you to the closest town to your village. That way you’ll be able to extend your stay.”】

Proposed Justus. But in Harold’s ears, that proposition sounded like a death sentence.