Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 120



Only Krnovel

Returner’s Notepad Episode 120

Change in thinking (4)

There was an apartment where Gerken led.

An apartment building stands tall instead of an exit, presumed to be the end of the maze. The exterior is shabby, but it extends into the fog of the sky and is endlessly tall.

We slowly approached that direction, which seemed suspicious to anyone.

“uh. here.”

As expected, there was a reader in the common entrance to tag cards.

I put the pieces together and held the completed key.

Ding-

The automatic door opened. The three of us went in almost at the same time.

The first floor lobby was ordinary.

Like an old apartment, there is a household mailbox, hallways on the left and right, and a staircase in the center… … The only thing suspicious was the person sitting in the middle of it with his head down.

Is it an enemy?

I grabbed the bone knife.

─Has it finally arrived?

The other side spoke first. It was an unusual voice. The tone itself was normally husky, but it caught my ear like telepathy.

─Congratulations.

Wearing a black coat and suit pants, giving off a noir-like atmosphere.

A ‘woman’ with long, black hair tied up like horsehair.

As soon as I saw that sharp face, I knew at a glance.

It’s not that she’s not, she’s a celebrity in the underworld.

It was also a relationship before returning.

─You are the first.

The name is Akane Kaedzen Meol.

There are countless occupations. A puppeteer, a necromancer, a designer, a surgeon, a wizard, and Theia Itil’s biggest rival… … .

A strange person.

─Was the maze fun?

She was sitting on an old-fashioned leather carrier. It was a suitcase that could fit 2-3 people.

“What are you doing here?”

I asked that almost unconsciously. Before returning, we were quite familiar with each other, so much so that we even spoke informally.

─Ask not who they are, but what they do. It seems like he knows me.

Akane raised one eye sharply.

“… … “You’re famous, right?”

Fortunately, she was a famous genius from a young age.

─That was a long time ago… … . done. First, tell me your name.

She took out a cigarette from her pocket and asked.

Gerken looked at me. Soliette also saw me.

I think it means that I should do it first, just in case. Just one name can make a difference in ranking.

Favors are well repaid.

“This is Sion Askal.”

─Shion As… … .

Her brow furrowed. He must have bitten his teeth so hard that the filter part of the cigarette broke into pieces.

Solliet (quitting smoking) stared blankly at the cigarette that had fallen on the floor.

“It seems like you know me.”

I took her words back. Akane asked, taking out another cigarette of hers.

─You know. Are you feeling okay?

Akane was confident.

“… … .”

I don’t really like people who recite my medical history, either past or present, but Akane is an exception.

It was rather unexpected.

Even before she returned, Akane treated me like she ‘already knew’ me from the first time we met, and she still treats me the same way now, even though she’s four years younger than then.

“I got better before.”

─… … is it.

Akane lit a cigarette again. He said, exhaling smoke.

─What’s next? The order doesn’t matter.

“This is Solliet Arcne.”

Eat. Akane clearly sneered at her.

─Is Nightmare still chasing you?

“This is crazy-”

Solliet’s complexion became stiff. She glared at Akane with her fiery eyes.

─You must be Gerken. How is your brother?

“… … .”

Is this also part of the evaluation test? Akane stabbed us like an awl, and even Gerken lost his composure for a moment.

No, this time I was surprised too.

Gerken had an older brother?

“Aren’t you an only child?”

“… … “Is it important?”

Gerken asked that question. It was an unusually tight voice.

I quietly backed away.

“It’s not important.”

─Three people like this. Confirmed. I am Akane, the designer of the maze hired by the association. I am also the manager who ensures your safety here until you leave.

“… … .”

The monster is the manager.

I was a little surprised, but whatever.

It was at least four years later that it was revealed that she was a monster. It was hidden for an incredibly long time. At this point, she is a great person worthy of being outsourced by the university association.

─When ordering a maze from me, the association asked me to evaluate situation-solving ability, physical ability, judgment, survival ability, magical ability, and finally mental ability.

Akane said.

─Therefore, the final stage, this apartment, is simple. Assess mental ability. For the remaining time, just climb to the highest floor as possible. There are 100 stairs on each floor.

I saw the central staircase. Before coming in, the height of the apartment came to mind.

I guess I’m done with this.

─If you have any further questions, please ask.

“… … “Is it okay if it’s not about the evaluation test?”

It was Solliet.

She calmly hid her hostility. Akane met her eyes with an expressionless expression.

─It is impossible.

“Why? “You said something that wasn’t related to the evaluation first-”

─However, if you reach the 100th floor, you will be given a business card as a reward. Contact me anytime.

“… … .”

Solliet clenched her teeth, but then nodded quietly.

At that time, I sensed a strange ‘development’ in fate.

Before returning, Solliet and Akane were colleagues. The reason I met Akane was Solliet.

So, is this the beginning of these two?

Is this the beginning of an ‘inevitable event’ that will not change whether I return or not?

─Also. Let me make an announcement.

Whoa… … Akane stretched out her fingers as she burned the tobacco.

─Never enter room 101.

Room 101. Just before the hallway on the right.

I saw the door. At first glance, I felt a rather frightening energy.

─Are you curious?

Akane twisted the corner of her mouth. I nodded.

Okay, she got up and put her hands on her knees. Her height was slim. She was bigger than me now.

─The assassin who came for me is here.

“… … assassin? “Then shouldn’t it be communicated to the outside world?”

─It’s okay. Because we are gentlemen in our own way. We have decided to postpone it until your evaluation is over.

Akane stubbed out her cigarette and looked at her watch.

─20 hours remaining. You can rest in your room and go up, or you can go up right now. Do whatever you want.

I saw Gerken and Solliet.

“Are you going to go up right away?”

“… … yes.”

Solliet answered while glaring at Akane, and Gerken also nodded silently.

Both of their expressions are scary. It was probably because Akane stimulated Yeokrin.

“okay. “I’m taking some rest.”

This is my limit now.

I can’t continue doing anything anymore.

From the beginning, the fuel efficiency was poor, and all I did was camp and sleep in the streets, which was almost like sleeping on the street.

“Good work.”

Gerken and Solliet went straight up the central stairs, and I entered room 102.

* * *

Shootaaa—

I’m taking a shower.

Finally, a shower with warm water.

It seems as if all the fatigue in my body is melting away.

“Keuuuu… … .”

It makes you sound like an old man.

There are only 20 hours left, but since I’ve come this far anyway, I have no regrets about my grades.

Top 100 is enough.

however.

“I meet Akane here.”

I was lost in thought for a moment while soaking in the hot water.

Akane was her teacher Theia’s rival. The two were anxious not to kill each other, but maybe it was just hatred. She willingly helped her teacher when he was most in need.

They even made a perfect prosthetic hand for me who lost my arm.

“assassin… … .”

I searched my memory focusing on keywords.

Akane and the assassin.

… … He almost died then. It took me 3 months to recover. From that day on, I haven’t caught Gao.

A part of a memory that comes to mind at first glance.

A future where I went to her to get prosthetic surgery.

The ‘then’ she was talking about is probably now.

… … He should have killed him then. It still remains a problem.

“Growl.”

I muttered quietly and opened my eyes.

S-class monster, Groul.

He is a social evil who secretly acts as an assassin for Libra, especially Zedric. He is the leader of Libra, but he massacred countless people and assassinated my former colleague.

The sooner he dies, the better it is for me, but at my current level, I can’t even inflict a single wound.

“… … .”

No, it may be possible under ‘certain circumstances’.

Groul soon engages in a bloody battle with Akane. Probably, almost certainly, both will be mortally wounded. So much so that even Akane was driven to the brink of death.

Of course, even if Groul was in a dying state, I could kill him with just my little finger.

But… … .

The future I know must change.

Because my future is filled with only defeat and frustration.

If I don’t kill Groul now, he won’t be able to kill me until I die.

“Why don’t you try it?”

I turned off the shower. I came out of the bathroom, drying myself off with a towel. I roughly put on my pants first.

at that time.

─I’ll just take a shower and go up. Go up first.

Suddenly, with a somewhat familiar voice! The door opened.

I blinked and looked there.

“… … .”

It was Elise.

“… … .”

Her eyes, which were blank at first, gradually widened. My pupils rolled over. Is it a pupil earthquake, or is it a quick scan of my body? I’m glad I’m wearing pants.

Soon her cheeks turned red.

I just said one thing.

“This is my room.”

bang-!

Elise immediately closed the door.

I scratched the back of my neck and walked over to lock the door. I laid down on the bed without thinking much.

As soon as I lie down, my eyelids close.

Sleep comes and goes, but then pours out.

* * *

“Haaaam~”

When I woke up, it was 10 hours before the end of the evaluation.

I slept for a solid 10 hours. Thanks to this, the condition is excellent.

I came out to the lobby.

─You seem carefree. The others already left a long time ago.

Akane spoke from the same spot. Only then did I figure out her identity.

“Are you a doll?”

─Do you understand now? It’s dull.

“… … Can you tell me how many people came?

─97 people.

97 people.

Roughly speaking, if there are 4,000 people in total, they are in the top 2-3%.

“That is enough. “I’m satisfied.”

─I have no ambition.

I saw room 101. The magical power stirring within it still remains. It looks like they’re preparing for something.

Let’s ignore it for now.

─Don’t underestimate climbing stairs too much.

I put my feet up on the central stairs. As Akane advised, I climbed up carefully.

There was no problem.

I think I’ve said this before, but my physical strength is quite unusual.

The stamina itself is small, but its recovery is superior, so it gets tired quickly but recovers quickly.

It is by no means ‘excellent’, but just ‘unique’.

“Oh, it’s hard.”

This apartment has 200 stairs from the first floor. Even if there are no special obstacles, it is a difficult number in itself.

I climbed every 50 steps, taking a 2-minute break.

[Second floor]

By the time I reached the second floor, my whole body was already covered in sweat.

No supplementary or new methods were used.

In long-distance marathons like this, those who use horsepower are more tired.

Just go up one space at a time.

[3rd Floor]

[4th floor]

[…] … .]

[11th floor]

11th floor.

I found him collapsed from exhaustion in the middle of the stairs on the 11th floor. He was on the verge of exhaustion and couldn’t even breathe properly.

He glanced at me, but didn’t seem to have the energy to speak.

“?”

It was puzzling to me.

If you’ve come this far, you’re probably at the top, but you’re having trouble climbing stairs?

[15th floor]

One person was also found on the 15th floor. This time, he was stuck to the floor like a barnacle.

[18th floor]

From the 18th floor, there were about 15 people, one person per 20 stairs, spread out on the stairs.

“I guess it’s because I’m tired from coming.”

That’s all I thought.

Let’s get some sleep.

[18th floor]

[19th floor]

[20th floor]

[21st floor]

Continuing to climb the stairs, I reached the 25th floor.

I noticed a huge back walking in front of me.

“Big… … .”

A mountainous figure shaking his whole body like a zombie and climbing the stairs with a look on his face as if he were about to die.

I looked back as I passed him lightly.

“… … .”

He saw me too. A familiar face. It was Kane.

“Is it difficult?”

I asked casually. Kane was about to say something but clutched his chest as if his heart was straining.

“Huh, huh… … .”

He leans against the railing and cries out, spitting out blood as if he were coughing up blood.

“you… … how… … . It came up… … .”

“It just came up. “How do I go up the stairs?”

Of course, Kane is not a knight whose strength is physical strength. Climbing these stairs is actually more disadvantageous for larger people.

“Is this that bad?”

“crazy… … bloke.”

But Kane treats me like I’m some kind of monster.

Of course it’s hard for me too. I’m not trying to deceive anyone, but my arms and legs feel like they’re about to break, my heart is pounding, and sweat is pouring down like rain.

But I don’t think it’s to the point where he goes into cardiac arrest like Kane did.

“Gravity… … .”

Kane fell to the floor as he spoke.

I took out a bottle of water from my backpack and put it in his hand.

“ah… … thank you.”

Kane, who is having a hard time, is surprisingly docile. I also know how to be grateful for favors.

“Wait, gravity?”

Kane’s words just now belatedly became suspicious.

I unbuttoned my sleeves. I held it in my hand and let it go.

Pak-

fell.

At completely abnormal speeds.

“nice… … uh.”

Kane, who drank bottled water, leaned his face against the wall.

“Shall I give you a piggyback ride?”

Then Kane turned to me. He looked humiliated, but soon he was sneezing and shaking his head.

“… … Baby. “I have good physical strength.”

He left a comment as if he was acknowledging it, then clucked-

I fainted.

“what. Are you dead?”

I tried breathing through the tip of my nose.

Fortunately, I can breathe.

“… … “It’s gravity.”

I clenched and unclenched my hands. I picked up the button again and dropped it.

Pak-

The force of gravity pulling on the road surface is greater than ever.

When I think about it that way, my body doesn’t seem as light as usual.

“I understand.”

Thanks to you, I almost knew for sure.

To put it in a nutshell—some immunity to magical interference.

It’s the same with the fact that the mechanical octopus’ magic spell didn’t work, and it’s also the same with the fact that this gravity spell is ruined for me.

I still don’t know how much ‘some’ is.

For whatever reason, my body has developed a ‘partial immunity’ to magical interference.

If I were to guess the cause, it would probably be… … Because of my memories of the treatment for the demonic disease I had been suffering from, that is, the anti-demon treatment?

“I don’t know.”

Let’s go up first.

I stepped down the stairs, leaving Kane unconscious.