Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]: Chapter 78

Academy Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Episode 78

Academy Gumiho is a Magic Genius Episode 78

Housemate (3)

I sat at my desk, scanning every ancient document in the room.

The books were so old they seemed ready to crumble, but I read them all anyway.

Some were so fragile they were damaged by the slightest touch.

However, even within these ancient documents, there was no record of anyone named ‘Tamamo.’ Records of people who lived in the same era as her were meticulously written, but the name Tamamo was nowhere to be found.

I turned to face Tamamo, who was behind me, and asked, “What name did you use in this era?”

─ What are you talking about?

“Tamamo, Tamamo-no-Mae. The name that refers to you now isn’t in any of these ancient books.”

─ Is that so? Then just look for books from other eras.

“Do you think I haven’t? I even searched through records of Wakamo, Izuna, Posa, Daji, Consort Hua Yang, and even Wu Zetian, or Wu Zhao, as you claim.”

─ So, the conclusion?

What was she even asking?

She knew the conclusion better than I did.

“There was nothing.”

─ Nothing?

“Nothing.”

─ Ah, there *was* something?

“No, I said there’s nothing.”

A festival of nonsense.

I clutched my head, a headache forming from her words.

‘Ah, my head is killing me.’

You can’t have a real conversation with her.

I knew she was capricious, but I never imagined a conversation like this. No, this isn’t just about her personality; it’s…

‘It just seems like she doesn’t *want* to answer.’

Living and interacting with various people, you naturally learn to read them through facial expressions and intonation.

Tamamo is capricious, but she’s not lacking in understanding or awareness.

Rather, the impression I have of her is the complete opposite.

“You don’t want to answer, do you?”

─ I don’t know what you’re talking about. What are you hiding?

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. Since it doesn’t seem to be recorded in ancient documents anyway, verifying anything about you is impossible.”

─ ……

My blunt words seemed to have stunned her, and Tamamo closed her mouth with a sulky expression.

I wanted to know more about the companion I would likely be spending a long time with, but it seemed I couldn’t find out about her this way.

I have no choice.

I’ll just have to learn about Tamamo slowly, over time.

“By the way, it’s almost sunrise. I’m hungry, so I was thinking of grabbing something to eat. Are you okay with that?”

─ I’m fine. What meaning does a meal have for a dead spirit, right?

“Is that so? Then I’ll eat alone.”

I took a cup of ramen from my bag.

The ‘subspace bag’ I got from the old man in auction seat number 3.

Right now, this bag contains fragments and powder of the Killing Stone, all sorts of auction items, the cup ramen and large bottle of water I was recommended to buy when I went to the convenience store with the students a few hours ago, and wooden chopsticks.

There’s no pot or coffee pot in this room right now, but there’s enough water and magic to heat the cup ramen.

I snapped my fingers.

Snap─

At the same time, magic implemented a designated formula.

*Whoosh*, flames flickered in the air like a gas stove burner.

I poured the bottled water I bought from the convenience store over it.

The water flowed downwards along the opening, following gravity.

However, the flowing water soon defied gravity and floated upwards. A mass of water hovered above the burner.

All of this was accomplished with just one magic.

My unique magic, 「Pyrokinesis」, born from repeated modification and improvement.

In this magic, which still has many points to improve, I separated the ‘fire magic’ and ‘telekinesis magic,’ which are the largest components. I set it to react with just the fragmentary action of snapping my fingers, implementing the current action.

In other words—

“—「Ramen Water Boiling Magic」. How’s the name?”

─ That’s quite a bizarre name, isn’t it?

“Is that so? Even if the name is bizarre, I think it would be popular if it were actually put to practical use.”

If I simplify the water, ramen, and formula, and make it easy to use just by injecting magic power, I could make some money.

Outdoors, where it’s difficult to use electricity or fire.

It seemed especially useful at the sea or in the mountains.

…Should I really get a patent?

─ I can’t understand it at all. To think that something that looks like a high-dimensional formula is used for the purpose of boiling water for noodles. If Abeno, that little brat, saw you now, he would be greatly shocked.

“Shouldn’t high-dimensional formulas be used like this all the more?”

─ High-dimensional formulas and spells are the exclusive property of sorcerers who have reached a high level. In that case, isn’t it natural for dignity to be embedded in every act of performing magic?

Tamamo, who lived in an era of spells and curses, royalty and honor, could not understand my words. Not to mention low-level spells like child’s play.

Wasting a formula that is a collection of difficult formulas, which is obviously one step higher than other formulas, on such an undignified act.

The sorcerers of her time…

Especially Abeno Yasunari, the eminent sorcerer who killed her, would have foamed at the mouth and been horrified, not just shocked.

“Well, it seems there’s a bit of a difference in perspective as well as a difference in era in that regard.”

─ What? Are you perhaps trying to say I’m old?

Tamamo died about a thousand years ago from now.

If the records of Daji and Posa’s time are correct, she was a woman who was actively working even before Christ. There’s no denying that there’s a gap of time between her and me that has changed the landscape hundreds of times.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t understand her unconditionally.

The old-fashioned trend of valuing honor and status is the same as the military nation I’ve spent my whole life in. A soldier’s actions and life are honor, and the ranks between them resembled royalty.

So, Tamamo and I have a bigger difference in perspective than in era.

She valued honor and dignity, while I valued the convenience of people more.

“I understand your heart that values honor and dignity. There was a time when I lived like you too.”

─ I wonder. Can you, who were born and raised in such a prosperous environment, understand me?

“…Are you sulking because of your age?”

─ Oh, there’s no way. I’m an adult who’s old enough to have a difference in era, as you said. Hehe… There’s no way I can’t forgive you with a heart as vast as the sea.

She’s sulking, she’s sulking.

I didn’t know she would be so sensitive about her age.

Even if she’s a thousand-year-old sly fox, a woman is a woman.

It seems like this was my lack of consideration.

Judging that further discussion would not help resolve her anger, I poured the water that had boiled in the meantime into the cup ramen.

Ubu Udon cup ramen, which is all the rage on SNS [Social Networking Services] and among students these days.

As someone who doesn’t trust the hype of SNS, it wasn’t a very trustworthy recommendation. But the students’ recommendations were so strong that I bought it on faith.

And now that faith has returned with substance.

“The fried tofu is substantial. It’s not retort [pre-cooked and packaged], it’s real fried tofu. And it’s quite expensive fried tofu too.”

Taut, flavorful fried tofu.

At a glance, it’s on a different level than common low-priced fried tofu.

Well, considering the price, this level of quality was to be expected.

13,800 won [approximately $10 USD] when purchased at a convenience store.

I was someone who used money in units of 100 million [approximately $75,000 USD] without hesitation at the auction house, but that price for a bowl of cup ramen was repulsive.

Food sold at convenience stores has, how should I say it…

A uniquely cheap feeling.

I don’t know if my taste is too luxurious, or if my sense of taste is broken because I’ve been eating military rations for too long. But I thought this would be pretty good.

Should I take a bite?

The moment I split the wooden chopsticks and tried to eat the noodles, Tamamo approached.

─ Contractor.

“Why are you calling me? Ah, do you want to take a bite?”

She grabbed my shoulder.

When I turned my head, she was staring at me intently.

Why are you doing this? It’s unnerving.

She’s still sulking because of her age; is she angry because I’m trying to eat udon?

─ It smells so good, I want to take a bite too.

“…Really?”

─ Yes, really. Is there a need to distinguish between truth and falsehood in wanting to take a bite? It smells so good.

No, weren’t you sulking about the age thing?

The desire to ask that was buried in my heart.

Today is an important day to establish her first impression with me. I didn’t want to ruin it with unnecessary words.

“Okay, take a bite.”

─ Then I’ll take a bite.

Her hand reached for the cup ramen.

At that moment, when it seemed like it would pass right through.

*Crack*, the air tore, and huge teeth appeared from the ceiling.

At the end of the teeth were jaws and a mouth, and the appearance was that of a huge fox.

I know what it is.

「Fox’s Gluttony」 embedded in the ring.

I wondered what kind of ability it was, but it was like this.

I thought he was using a poltergeist, a kind of psychic phenomenon, as much as he was a ghost.

By the way, he eats udon well.

“Hey.”

You said meals are meaningless to ghosts.

What’s with the way you’re sticking your face in the cup ramen container?

Meanwhile, in human form behind her, she was pretending to eat modestly, covering her mouth with her hand.

It seems that the fox’s mouth and her mouth are connected.

Still, it’s good to see her eating well.

─ Why are you calling me, contractor? You shouldn’t bother me when I’m eating.

“…No, I’m just saying you can eat it all.”

─ Really? Judging from the unique umami [savory taste], it seems like a precious food. Are you really going to give it all to me?

“Yeah, I wasn’t going to eat it because I was hungry anyway.”

It’s really okay.

Anyway, I only need to take care of about one meal every day or two.

For masters and magicians who have reached a certain level, most life-sustaining activities, including meals and sleep, lose their importance.

I’ll die if I don’t eat and sleep for too long, of course.

Giving up a meal and staying up all night isn’t a big deal. Furthermore, I don’t really like convenience store food.

I just bought it because the students told me to.

If it’s cup ramen, I could gladly give it to her if she eats it so deliciously like Tamamo.

Don’t worry about anything and eat it all.

By the way, she eats ramen really well.

“Hey, do you want to try *sundae* liver later?”

─ *Sundae* liver? I don’t know what it is, but I won’t refuse if you give it to me.

“Okay, let’s eat it together later.”

I nodded, covering my rising smile.

“I’ll buy it for you soon.”

I realized how to handle this arrogant and capricious housemate.

These kids are easy to handle.

I smiled to myself.

* * *

Tamamo, who was in a languid mood, said, perhaps because she was full from eating Ubu Udon.

─ Hoo, that was really good. I never dreamed that there would be such a delicacy.

“Is it that good?”

It’s quite expensive ramen, but it shouldn’t be enough to warrant such praise.

It seems that it was a big deal because it was the first time she tasted MSG [monosodium glutamate] in the secular world.

This kid is going to be a mess if I take her to a convenience store.

I shook my head, imagining it in my head, and Tamamo, who was watching me, opened her mouth.

─ I was thinking while eating udon. I think there needs to be a certain ‘purpose’ in our relationship.

“You thought about that while eating udon? You were eating so hard that the bottom of the udon bowl was going to break, but you managed to think about that too.”

─ Don’t stray into other topics. You have to focus on what I’m saying.

Tamamo said, clearing her throat.

─ Hehe, so, what do you think about a relationship where we exchange Zen questions and answers once in a while?

My head became complicated at her words.

Zen questions and answers?

Well, is it like exchanging conversations to pursue the truth in order to practice Zen?

Tamamo, who saw my expression, puffed up her cheeks.

─ I’m going to ask just in case. You’re not thinking strange things, are you? What I’m talking about when I say Zen questions and answers is a relationship where one side asks a question and the other side answers it.

“Ah, I thought you were going to convert to Buddhism and become a wandering monk.”

─ Don’t say ridiculous things. Although my body is dead, my soul is not dead. There’s no reason for me to bother looking for my own grave.

Through my conversation with her, I felt like I knew roughly what Tamamo wanted.

“What you want from me is the current state of this world, technology, information, knowledge. Or maybe my story?”

─ Of course.

“Then what will you give me…”

─ Sorcery.

Tamamo said with a confident expression.

With this, you can’t help but be tempted, right?

It was an expression filled with conviction.

─ One spell for each question. I’ll teach you my sorcery.

“There won’t be any flaws or errors in the sorcery you teach me, right?”

─ That’s a matter of course.

At my words, her face contorted as if she had heard an unpleasant question.

─ I am the originator of sorcery and curses. A nine-tailed fox standing at the very top of the fox race. Contractor, even the sorcerer who wrote the book you are looking at now cannot surpass me in the realm of sorcery.

“…Is it that good?”

─ What are you asking? Do you think I would have been called Wu Zetian, leaving behind prominent sorcerers and royalty during my heyday for no reason?

This thing in my hand right now…

It was a textbook written by Professor Nam Hwayeon.

I was reading it from earlier to compose a draft of the script for the lecture on Monday morning, but Tamamo, who had glanced at it once from behind me, confidently asserted that she was superior to her.

Although it’s a limited area of sorcery.

To show this much confidence, in the end…

“You’re confident?”

─ Of course. It’s not a boast, but my achievement is that I established the system of sorcery as one in the first place. At least I won’t disappoint you. Rather, I’m worried that your talent won’t meet my standards.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of that myself.”

Tamamo and I had a fairly close conversation.

But don’t be mistaken.

Her relationship with me is not just a friendly one.

My eyes turned purple.

[「Yoma Eye」 analyzes the identity of the spirit, ‘Tamamo-no-Mae’.]

[A hundred different true names and lives are intertwined like a net.]

[Her identity cannot be specified as anything!]

…

[The spirit, ‘Tamamo-no-Mae’, looks unkindly at the 「Yoma Eye」 that observes her.]

[「Yoma Eye」 is forcibly closed!]

[Just before 「Yoma Eye」 closes, it succeeds in grasping even a part of the identity of the spirit, ‘Tamamo-no-Mae’.]

…

[The spirit residing in the ring is a type of evil spirit!]

[She is a possessing spirit residing in the ring, and also a lurking spirit behind you, watching for a chance. Be careful of her intentions!]

She is definitely not my colleague.

Doubt her.

Hollow words that say not to believe without doubting are not applicable to her who has the tongue and greed of a fox.

Keep that in mind.

We are just a relationship tied by contract and necessity.

Nothing more, nothing less.