I Was a Dropout Who Couldn’t Use Magic for 16 Years, but Then I Remembered My Past Life as a Scientist and Became OP in Another World - Chapter 15

“What—what are you doing!?”

Just as we left Runorga’s craft shop and wandered the town with Johann leading the way, a voice called out from behind us.

Turning around, I saw Carla approaching in a flustered state.

“Oh, it’s you, Carla. What are you doing here?”

“That’s what I’m asking you!”

“I came to pick up something I had commissioned. Look, it’s in this bag.”

“Ah, that strange design you mentioned earlier? It’s finished? That’s good to hear… No, wait! Johann-sama!”

Carla’s expression softened briefly before she suddenly furrowed her brow and pointed accusingly at Johann, who was hiding behind me.

“The senior staff have been searching for you! You’re supposed to be resting!”

“Uh oh.”

Using me as a shield, Johann muttered this nonchalantly as he stuffed a fried chicken-like snack into his mouth. Caught red-handed.

“Carla, were you sent to look for me? Does that mean everyone else is searching too?”

“Ah, no, um, actually, I’m running an errand—the first one I’ve been entrusted with, in fact,” Carla said, pulling out a small list from her pocket.

It seemed that she had finally been trusted enough to handle errands on her own. Perhaps it had something to do with her experience accompanying me to the morning market a few days ago.

“Well, then, no problem. Just pretend you didn’t see anything, okay?”

“Th-th-that’s impossible! If I ignore this, I’ll be the one who gets scolded!”

“Why? You’re just here for shopping, right? As long as you finish that and go back, no one will blame you.”

“…Oh. That’s true. Is it? Really?”

“Carla, don’t let him manipulate you with such flimsy logic.”

Watching Carla stroke her chin as if genuinely considering it, I narrowed my eyes.

“See, Johann? I told you it was a bad idea for you to come out. I also said I wouldn’t take responsibility if you got caught.”

“I told you it’d be fine as long as no one found out.”

“Well, you’ve been found out now.”

“No problem. Watch this, it’s easy to smooth over. Carla, take this and let it slide, okay?”

With that, Johann handed Carla the rest of his fried chicken. Though she hesitated for a moment, she quickly succumbed to the temptation and took a bite.

“Munch munch… Fine, just this once.”

“See? Told you she’s easy.”

I buried my face in my hands as I watched the absurd exchange.

—

“Gulp. I’ll let it go this time, but Johann-sama, you’re definitely getting scolded when you get back.”

“That’s fine. I don’t care about getting scolded as long as I don’t get dragged back home.”

“That ‘as long as I’m having fun now, nothing else matters’ attitude of yours isn’t exactly healthy, you know?”

“Life is just a series of ‘now’s, Nii-sama. If you enjoy the present, you’ll enjoy life forever.”

“Who on earth taught you that philosophy?”

As I shuddered at the thought of my brother someday massively derailing his life, Carla—having finished gnawing every last bit of meat off the bone—spoke up.

“So, you’ll head back to the mansion in a little while, right?”

“Nope, not yet. We’re heading to the forest next, right, Nii-sama?”

“Yep.”

“T-to the forest?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected destination, Carla blinked in surprise.

“It’s not far. We’re going to Pteryx Lake.”

“The lake? But why would you need to go there?”

“Oh, it’s just more of Nii-sama’s strange stuff. He says he needs something again.”

“That strange research of yours again…”

Johann and Carla exchanged exasperated glances. I couldn’t exactly defend myself—both of them had already been roped into assisting with my research multiple times.

“Carla, why don’t you come with us? It’ll be more fun with three people.”

“Wha—!? N-no, I can’t! I still have shopping to do!”

“I’ll help you with your shopping. Right, Nii-sama?”

“Hm? Sure, I don’t mind.”

“Wait, no! If I’m late, I’ll get in trouble!”

“Hmm, well, you have a point,” Johann said thoughtfully, nodding as if convinced.

But then he looked up at me with a sly grin.

“Nii-sama, if we’re going to the forest, why not buy lunch and have a picnic too?”

“I wasn’t planning to stay long, but that sounds nice. Though I’d feel bad dragging you along.”

“Yay! It sounds like Nii-sama is feeling generous today. Let’s buy lots of food!”

“A p-picnic?”

At the mention of food, Carla perked up.

“Yeah, sandwiches and desserts and stuff.”

“…Fine, Carla will come too.”

Her voice was barely audible, and she fidgeted as she looked down.

“What was that?”

“C-Carla will accompany you…! It wouldn’t be proper for a servant to let you both go to the forest alone, after all.”

Hearing this, Johann snapped his fingers with a satisfied grin.

And so, accompanied by our ever-worrying (and food-motivated) novice maid, we set off for Pteryx Lake.

—

〇

Pteryx Lake is a small body of water about two kilometers in circumference, located southeast of the town and surrounded by forest. Despite its modest size, it’s surprisingly well-known among the locals, thanks to a peculiar legend associated with it:

—

“Once upon a time, there was a prince afflicted with an incurable illness.
Doctors had given up hope, telling him he didn’t have long to live.
One day, the prince stopped by a lake to rest and noticed his body felt strangely light.
The heaviness caused by his illness seemed to lift, as if by magic.
After spending some time by the lake, the prince fully recovered.
He went on to become a renowned magician, leaving his name in history.”

—

It’s the kind of story every local hears at some point, though there’s no monument or signboard at the lake to commemorate it. Honestly, I feel like the region’s lack of tourism promotion is a missed opportunity.

That said, my visit to the lake wasn’t motivated by this legend, but rather by instructions from Seiryu, the spirit I met at the shrine.

—

“Bring me a branch from one of the trees by that lake.”

—

That was what Seiryu had whispered to me.

I hadn’t asked why, but I suspected it was related to magic in some way.

Hoping to uncover more once I reached the site, I navigated the forest path leading to the lake. The trail was overgrown, with dense vegetation threatening to obscure the way entirely if I let my guard down.

—

“Nii-sama, there it is!”

“This spot would be perfect for a picnic…”

Hearing their voices, I looked up to see the shimmering surface of Pteryx Lake before me.

The water sparkled under the sunlight, and low grass by the shore seemed to invite us to lounge on it. A gentle breeze carrying the scent of greenery brushed against my face.

“Oh, I’d forgotten how pleasant this place is.”

The lake water was crystal clear, and small fish darted around near the shore. Even without being a prince, I felt the urge to sit down and relax.

“Nii-sama, over here! Sit here!”

Johann flopped onto the grass, patting the ground beside him energetically.

“Ronnie-sama, let’s eat! Come on!”

Carla, still loyal to the fried chicken bribe, had already spread out a cloth and was sitting primly, swaying slightly as she urged me to join them.

I placed the food we’d bought earlier onto the cloth.

“You two start without me. I’ll leave my bag here too. Be careful with it—there’s fragile stuff inside.”

“What about you, Nii-sama?”

“I’m going to check out the forest for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”

“Okayyy!”

—

Seiryu hadn’t specified what kind of branch to bring, so I figured any would do.

I ventured a little deeper into the forest, away from the path.

“The trees around here all seem to be the same type. I don’t know what they’re called, but I don’t think I’ve seen them near the mansion…”

I tapped one tree’s trunk experimentally. It had a thick, pale grayish bark interwoven with streaks of white. The shape reminded me of a beech tree, though its large, curled leaves set it apart.

“Is this what he wanted? What a strange request.”

I picked up a few fallen branches of varying sizes—thin, medium, and slightly thicker ones. If Seiryu complained, I could always swat him with one.

“Well, that should do it. Now I just have to indulge those two until they’re done with their picnic. Honestly, I’d rather head back and start experimenting with the new—”

—

As I turned to leave, a single leaf fluttered down in front of me.

It moved in a zigzag pattern, swaying gently as it fell, slower than I expected for a leaf that was still fresh and full of moisture.

“…?”

It was just a leaf, carried by the wind.

Yet I felt an inexplicable sense of unease. Something about it seemed… wrong.

I picked up the leaf from the ground and let it fall again, this time from my hand.

It floated down in a similarly slow, weightless manner.

For a leaf that wasn’t dry, it seemed unusually light, as if it were defying gravity slightly.

Looking up at the tree above me, I realized the forest canopy near the lake was unusually high. That was why the area felt so much brighter compared to the forest’s entrance.

With a growing sense of curiosity, I returned to where Johann and Carla were.

They stared at me with puzzled expressions as I reappeared, holding branches and leaves.

Ignoring their curiosity, I let the leaf fall again, this time over the grassy lakeshore.

This time, it dropped straight to the ground without any of the previous trembling or floating.

—

“So, it’s normal here. Which means only the area around those trees is behaving strangely. But this isn’t conclusive evidence…”

“Nii-sama, aren’t you going to eat? Your share’s going to be gone soon.”

“Wait, I’ve got it! The hourglass Runorga made—I can use that for a controlled experiment!”

“Oh no, here he goes…”

“It’s started again…”

Pulling out two hourglasses from my bag, I handed one to Johann.

“Johann, hold onto this. When I give the signal, flip it over at the same time I do. Once all the sand has fallen, raise your hand.”

“Wow, this is pretty. Carla, look at this!”

“H-how intriguing… What an unusual design…”

“Focus. Are you ready? Let me know when the sand has finished falling.”

“Got it! I don’t really understand, but I’ll do it.”

“Good.”

—

Conclusion:

The hourglass Johann used near the lake finished in normal time.

But the one I used near the trees… took five seconds longer for the sand to fall.