Ascendance of a Bookworm (LN) - Volume 4.6 - Chapter 13

Professor Hirschur’s Disciple

Immediately after Raimund taught me how to improve the magic circle, I was hurried out of the room; Hartmut and Cornelius didn’t seem to want me staying any longer than was necessary. Raimund had proven himself so capable with his explanations that I wanted to ask about the tools Ferdinand had left behind and how to improve them, but I couldn’t sit around when my retainers were all being so prickly.

Upon returning to the dormitory, Cornelius and Hartmut instructed me to send a letter. “It would be best to write to Lord Ferdinand,” Cornelius said. “He’ll know better than anyone how Ehrenfest should deal with Professor Hirschur’s disciple.”

“I shall gather intelligence on Raimund,” Hartmut added. “I cannot imagine many will know of a random third-year apprentice medscholar, but I will see what I can do.”

We had ended up returning much sooner than fourth bell, and as my retainers busily got to work, Wilfried stared at me in confusion. “What happened this time?” he asked.

“Professor Hirschur’s new disciple is an apprentice scholar from Ahrensbach,” I explained.

His eyes shot open, and the most he managed in response was a startled, “Wha?!”

“Assuming he has free access to Professor Hirschur’s laboratory, it’s possible that all of our intelligence is flowing directly to Ahrensbach. Professor Hirschur is already quite limited in what she knows, since she spends so little time in our dorm, but we must see just how severe the information leak is.”

It was safe to say that Raimund knew everything Professor Hirschur did about the magic tools and circles she was researching. Given the absolute state the lab was in, it was likely impossible to hide anything from him.

“Would that mean they know everything of the magic circles we embroidered onto Schwartz’s and Weiss’s clothes?” Lieseleta asked, looking worried. The magic circles existed to protect the shumils, but if our enemies knew what activated them and what they did when activated, it was more likely for their defenses to be penetrated.

“It will depend on how much Ferdinand has told Professor Hirschur... but yes, Raimund will know most of what we brought back in documents,” I said with a sigh and then began writing an emergency letter to Ferdinand. It was sent to Ehrenfest the moment I was done; all we could do now was await a response.

The common room was mostly populated with first-years who had finished their afternoon classes; most of the second-years were attending their practical lessons, and while there were some third-years present, they were certainly in the minority. Cornelius and Rihyarda were my only retainers presently with me, since Hartmut had swiftly left the dormitory after lunch to gather intelligence.

I observed the magic circles that Raimund had corrected and tried to learn his methods. His circles were entirely different from my own.

“Raimund is a third-year...” I muttered to myself. He was just beginning his third-year classes, while I had already completed all of my second-year ones; in theory, we should have known about as much as each other. Judithe had even mentioned that the third-years hadn’t learned any complicated circles yet, but Raimund was immersed in research with Hirschur and attending Gundolf’s lectures, so he knew far more about magecraft than I did. All the hard work he was putting into learning this stuff was clear from his suggested improvements, and I felt terrible about the way things had ended.

“He’s clearly dedicated so much time to studying magecraft,” I said. “It’s no wonder he was dying to read Lord Ferdinand’s book.”

“He is from Ahrensbach,” Cornelius replied plainly, fixing me with a tight look. I could understand why his feelings toward the duchy were so harsh—he had no doubt spent the two years after that fateful night dwelling on what he viewed as his failure as a guard knight.

“But containing one’s desire to read is an impossible task, would you not agree? Raimund has a book he wishes to read within his reach and yet he cannot even touch it. My heart aches for him.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about that...” Cornelius said with a sigh, slumping his shoulders. He came down onto his knees, such that his head was right before my eyes.

“You are too tense,” I said and patted his light-green hair. It was almost on instinct, most likely from the days when I would do the same for Gil. “I understand that being on guard is natural for a knight, but if you do not relax at least while you are here in the dormitory, I fear you will one day fall apart.”

Cornelius’s expression softened, betraying his exasperation. He had gone from exuding the aura of a knight to that of an older brother. “If you were more on guard, Rozemyne, I wouldn’t need to be. How else am I meant to act when the person I’m supposed to protect is getting all empathetic for the enemy?”

“Being unable to read a book is one of the greatest misfortunes one can experience, so yes, I do empathize. But I am not careless. I do not want to be hurt, nor do I intend to put myself in harm’s way time and time again.”

Cornelius met my words with a dubious look, but before he could respond, the knight guarding the teleportation hall came rushing into the common room. “An emergency reply from Lord Ferdinand,” he announced.

Upon hearing this, Cornelius returned to his feet, his expression hardening once again. I could guess that he wanted to retrieve the letter, but Rihyarda moved first—she took the paper with one swift movement and then handed it to me.

I opened the letter, and as I started reading through it, my eyes widened. “Ah... It seems Ferdinand is coming here tomorrow afternoon,” I said.

“What?!”

“I realize adults shouldn’t visit the Royal Academy under normal circumstances, but it seems that he needs to speak with Professor Hirschur about how his magic tools are being handled and treated. He has asked us to invite her to dinner tomorrow. He also wishes to know about the circumstances before they meet, and in that regard, he has asked us to compile what we discussed in the laboratory and the information available to us regarding Raimund.”

Ferdinand wanted us to find out a great deal about Raimund, such as what faction he belonged to in Ahrensbach, whether he was connected to Count Bindewald, how much skill and knowledge he had when it came to magic tools, and how he viewed Ehrenfest.

“There’s no time to gather that much information by tomorrow afternoon!” my retainers wailed, but Ferdinand being unreasonable was nothing new.

“Ferdinand will decide whether Professor Hirschur may attend the changing of Schwartz’s and Weiss’s clothes, so we have no choice but to do whatever we can,” I said. There was a chance he would move to restrain his teacher, so we needed to provide him with as much ammunition as we could.

Charlotte gave a firm nod of agreement. “Sister, I will send my retainers to gather intelligence as well. In fact, all members of the Ehrenfest Dormitory should use this opportunity to find out what they can. I shall rouse the troops. Uncle has found it necessary to break tradition for this visit, and we must prepare for his arrival as much as we can.”

Over dinner that night, we revealed that Professor Hirschur’s disciple was an apprentice scholar from Ahrensbach and that Ferdinand would be coming to determine how we handled things moving forward. Then, once everyone was on the same page, we asked them to gather information.

“Yet more problems, I see...” Ferdinand said as soon as he arrived with Justus and Eckhart. He took a seat in the common room, extended a hand, and then said, “Papers.”

Hartmut was used to helping Ferdinand in the temple, so he wasted no time in presenting the prepared documents. “Raimund is an apprentice medscholar not viewed all that favorably in Ahrensbach,” he stated, beginning his explanation. “His mother was born in Werkestock and served the executed second wife. At the moment, he is being raised in a house that has fallen out of the times. He is on the lower end when it comes to mana, and nobody in his family has particularly high hopes for him. That seems to be why he is quite dedicated to Professor Hirschur, who actually recognizes his talents.”

“I see. And his connection to Count Bindewald?”

“We could not find one. He has so little mana that he has been struggling even with his research. He initially attempted to recreate the magic tools and circles you left behind on his own, but this shortcoming means he has had to settle on simply improving them. It seems he admires you greatly as well. I am even told that he envies Lady Rozemyne, who is both rich in mana and in a position to request your teachings directly. He has said that he wishes you could teach him and that he fervently wants to discuss your research with you.”

As it turned out, Raimund had wanted to join the all-nighter that Hirschur and Ferdinand had pulled after last year’s Interduchy Tournament. He also envied Hartmut, who had the opportunity to work with Ferdinand and look after his books.

“He sounds very much like Heidemarie,” Justus said with an expression like he was holding back laughter. Eckhart responded with a pained expression, while Ferdinand nodded in agreement.

I could only blink in confusion, unsure whom they were talking about. Rihyarda must have noticed this, as she whispered into my ear that Heidemarie was Eckhart’s late first wife. She had apparently served Ferdinand as a scholar and had assisted him with his brewing.

Wait... So both people in that relationship loved Ferdinand to death?!

I was positively stunned by these revelations, but it seemed the conversation had moved on without me. “Are there any documents showing what Raimund has discovered through his research?” Ferdinand asked.

“He modified one of my magic circles yesterday,” I noted.

I showed the circle in question, which elicited a slight, bemused smile from Ferdinand. “I am impressed you packed so much into it,” he said and then started carefully analyzing Raimund’s improvements. After some time, he muttered, “Interesting...” and shut his eyes in contemplation.

It was a short while before Ferdinand opened his eyes again.

“My conclusion is that I wish to maintain relations with Raimund and, if possible, use him as a tool to gain information about Ahrensbach,” he said. “Our situation is not like before, when we could manage by cutting ties with our adversaries. We are now the Tenth, meaning other duchies will want to gather intelligence on us. We are also doing business with Klassenberg and the Sovereignty, which brings us to the attention of the other top duchies. If they have someone who might be drawn in with innocuous research documents, it would be best to remain on guard but nonetheless bait them into revealing their secrets. I will determine what documents Raimund may see, while all of you gather experience here in the Royal Academy. This will not be easy by any means, and we cannot expect help from adults, who are already so set in their ways.”

The surrounding students nodded, while I topped things off with an enthusiastic, “Understood!” Ferdinand must have heard that, and after shooting me a look, he began to lightly tap his temple.

“However,” Ferdinand continued, “I am forbidding Rozemyne from speaking with Raimund. She will spill every secret she knows based on emotion and inertia. Let her communicate only through an apprentice scholar.”

“Um, wait... Just me?!” I exclaimed, protesting with wide eyes. “I would rather not receive this kind of special treatment!”

Ferdinand glared at me. “You have a strong tendency to be even softer on those who pull on your heartstrings. As someone raised in the temple, the ways that you think and act are fundamentally different from the rest of us. I cannot determine when or where you might suddenly consider someone an ally—or even family—and that is why I cannot risk letting you speak to Raimund directly. It is much too dangerous.”

“Ngh...”

There was nothing I could say in response—especially when I was indeed prepared to accept Raimund as a fellow bookworm. Ferdinand knew me far too well.

“You are closer to the library’s and my magic tools than anyone, and you know much about trends and technologies that need to remain concealed at all costs,” Ferdinand said. “Your lack of secrecy is deeply problematic, and if you cannot protect knowledge that must remain unknown, I will have you returned to Ehrenfest at once. Yes, it is important that you gain more socializing experience, but your socializing impacts the future of our entire duchy. You have already finished your second-year classes, so it would be safest to call you back before you can make a cataclysmic error.”

Again, I was unable to argue. My scheduled tea parties were all with professors or greater duchies, but even then, I didn’t want to be sent back. I had things to look forward to this year other than just reading, after all.

“I would not like to be sent back to Ehrenfest before I can work in the Library Committee with Hannelore,” I said.

“I do not wish to forbid you from spending time with your friends, but you have already contacted the third prince and are being targeted by Drewanchel. Take care not to worsen the situation such that I have no other choice but to call you back,” Ferdinand replied.

I could do nothing but agree, since I really was in a precarious situation.

“Those around you will need to take care as well,” Ferdinand continued, turning his gaze to Wilfried and Charlotte. “Raimund is attending Professor Gundolf’s lessons, so I believe it would be wise to spread only some knowledge of my research and then leave dealing with Drewanchel to Raimund and Professor Hirschur. Tell them that only I know the details they seek. We can better control the information reaching Drewanchel through limiting what Raimund knows, rather than allowing Rozemyne to attend a Drewanchel tea party and potentially leak everything.”

Ferdinand then turned to Hartmut. “Raimund is but the first of many researchers who will soon open communications with Ehrenfest. You and the other apprentice scholars serving the archducal family must handle them.”

“Understood,” Hartmut replied.

The long-term prospects of our relationships with Raimund and other duchies mattered, but what was happening tomorrow mattered more. I voiced what I was most concerned about.

“Ferdinand, what about changing Schwartz and Weiss? That is planned to happen tomorrow.”

“Neither Raimund nor Professor Hirschur will attend. I have already allowed her a number of my documents. Just tell her that, as a scientist, she should be able to figure out the rest on her own. They concern magic circles that I devised, but since these circles also belong to the Sovereignty, the tools should not be shown to an apprentice scholar from Ahrensbach.” Ferdinand then extended a hand to me. “Rozemyne, where are the documents I gave you to manipulate Professor Hirschur?”

“Philine,” I called, and she brought them out at once for Ferdinand to flip through. He took out several particular sheets and returned the rest.

“These may be leaked without issue,” Ferdinand said. “Use them when necessary.”

“I thank you ever so much.”

And with that, it was dinnertime—our discussion had proven quite long indeed, and Ferdinand had needed a chance to read over the prepared documents.

Hirschur arrived soon enough and greeted Ferdinand. It was with a perfectly calm expression that she mentioned what a surprise it was to have received a letter of invitation, but I could tell that she was feeling tense.

“To think you would come all this way, Ferdinand...” she said. Adults were generally forbidden from meddling in Royal Academy affairs, since it was believed that the children needed an opportunity to grow and accumulate experience. And although the children would at times send questions back home, it was highly unusual for an adult to arrive and call for a professor.

“This matter concerns magic tools of my own creation, so my direct involvement was necessary,” Ferdinand replied. Our current situation was his own mess, and there was nobody he could entrust to clean it up for him—such was his excuse for getting involved personally.

Ferdinand and Hirschur’s conversation continued all throughout dinner and showed no signs of stopping even when the last person had finished. During this time, they touched upon various matters such as how to deal with Raimund, how to handle the magic tools, and future information sharing.

“There is a broader chasm between our duchies than your gathered intelligence would lead you to believe, Professor Hirschur,” Ferdinand went on. “I was saved by your teaching philosophy myself, and I have no intention of rejecting it... but I must do what is expected of an Ehrenfest noble.”

“Shall we treat Raimund as your disciple then, Ferdinand?” Hirschur asked. “I am sure he would adore that.”

“I will select the most innocuous magic circles and tools that I have made and give them to him as homework assignments. Should he manage to improve them, he may return them to me via an Ehrenfest scholar. I will evaluate them, then send new documents in return for information on Ahrensbach.”

“I can already see him spilling all of Ahrensbach’s secrets for those documents,” Hirschur said. She was wearing a bemused smile, but it seemed she had no intention of getting involved or interfering. Apparently, just as it was natural for knowledge to flow from teacher to student, it was natural for knowledge to flow from student to teacher. Ferdinand would train Raimund as his disciple through long-distance communication and then invite him to Ehrenfest as a retainer once he came of age.

“Is it possible that Ahrensbach will not permit him to leave?” I asked.

“Of course,” Ferdinand replied. “They will not wish to lose a skilled researcher so easily. And if they wish to keep Raimund, they will need to grant him a lofty position, bringing him into the upper folds of the duchy. Such an outcome will allow me to attain even more meaningful information. He may either climb the social ranks in Ahrensbach or come to Ehrenfest as my retainer.”

So his only future now is to be your pawn? I guess that’s fine, assuming he wants that, but... Eeh...

As I debated the issue in my head, Hirschur put on a soft smile. “You certainly have changed, Ferdinand,” she said. “In the past, no matter how wonderful of a magic tool you made, you would lose interest upon completing it and set it aside forever. You showed so little investment that you would simply allow me to have any that took my fancy. To think you would raise a disciple from afar, selecting which magic tools to give them and carefully evaluating their results...”

It was a move in pursuit of gathering intelligence, but even then, Hirschur had not expected Ferdinand to work so hard for Ehrenfest. Throughout his time at the Royal Academy, he had presumably had to endure persistent interference from Veronica, all while receiving no credit for the works he actually completed.

“Politics change over the years, as do those shaken to and fro by its currents,” Ferdinand said with a calm expression. He then headed to Hirschur’s laboratory with Eckhart and Justus. It seemed that he would be taking back any magic tools that he did not want to risk Raimund modifying such that even mednobles could use them. Some things were too dangerous to be allowed to spread far and wide.

Soon enough, a magic circle spread out near the teleportation hall started producing one magic tool after another. They would pose a serious threat if activated accidentally, so laynobles within the dormitory were tasked with carrying them one by one to the luggage carrier.

“There are this many dangerous magic tools? If the safe ones aren’t even here, then just how many did Ferdinand make in total while he was in the Academy?” I asked with exasperation as I watched a small mountain form on the carrier.

Hartmut smiled. “Will you not do the same, Lady Rozemyne?”

“I do not plan to.”

“Is that so? I see a clear future in which you produce one bizarre magic tool after another, all while claiming that each is essential for the library.”

Okay, I can’t argue with that.

As I pursed my lips, Hartmut crouched down so that only I could hear him. “Lady Rozemyne, when do you intend to accept Roderick’s name?”

“Hartmut?”

“I am going to be graduating this year, so for next year onward, I will need to train a scholar who can stand between Raimund and you. Given that he is a medscholar, you will want a medscholar or archscholar of your own for this,” he explained, his orange eyes carrying a sense of real urgency. Philine was doing her best, but status was something that no amount of hard work could overcome.