Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 135



Only Krnovel

Returner’s Notepad Episode 135

Lion Cub (4)

In the middle of a desolate desert. Fortunately, Groul came to his senses first in the fiery Scarlet Earth.

─Is this enough?

With my strength, I created a temporary cave where B04 could lie down. It was a natural tent with a deep sandy bottom and hardened interior.

“uh. “It’s refreshing.”

Because it is a cool basement, there is no fear of getting heat stroke.

In addition, they left behind food, money, a compass, maps, and medicine. If you’ve done this much, B04 will take care of the rest.

“then… … right.”

I was about to leave, but I ended up taking the rabbit doll ‘Cookie’ with me.

“Is this guy invincible?”

I brought it from Elise’s belongings just in case, and only her ear was slightly burned during the intense battle, but the rest was fine.

“Growl. let’s go.”

─Yes.

Afterwards, I carried Elise and rode on the back of Groul, who had transformed into a camel.

“What about ancient magic?”

─I think more specific analysis is needed, but it has an organic nature.

“organism?”

─Yes.

Groul said as he walked through the desert.

─What if this ancient magic is transplanted into the roots of the relic? Then, they may breathe and reproduce naturally from the roots in units of horsepower.

Transplanting magic power actually means transplanting a magic circuit. This is because the magical power that forms the form has its own ‘magic circuit’.

Therefore, magical power transplantation is surprisingly common. Ancient magical power is rare, but the ‘massive magic power’ itself is easily discovered.

The magic that has been stored for a long time in deep caves, far underground, or at the mouth of the sea forms a lump, and although humans can transplant it through surgery, the accepted opinion is that most of the circuits—at least 98%—are blown away.

“How much percentage can I leave?”

─Master, you are transplanting it to Relic, not Danjeon. If you do well, you can leave up to 90%.

“90%… … . Then, how much will the horsepower capacity increase?”

─At least 2 adults? We will have to analyze it to find out what effects this ancient magic has.

2 adults. I’m an Endex student, so my horsepower capacity is equivalent to that of 10 adults. If it increases by 20%, I would be satisfied.

“Good work.”

─Don’t forget your desktop~

anyway.

It took 3 hours to cross the desert like that.

Tiring-!

Tiring tiring tiring tiring!

Suddenly, several alarms rang on my smartphone.

Finally, the radio wave reached.

─Ah. I need to check my phone too.

Groul made a stand out of his own rock and placed the smartphone on it.

“… … “It’s ridiculous.”

I also looked at the text messages that had just accumulated.

[Soliet: Haha]

[Soliet: What are you doing?]

[Soliet: Haha]

[Soliet: I found a fun game haha]

[121: ㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’m doing it these days. Is it closed?? Why don’t you reply… … I have to do my vacation homework, so I’ll do it ㅠㅠ]

[121: Please ★★★! Please do it!★★★]

[121: Please ★★★! Please do it!★★★]

[121: Please ★★★! Please do it!★★★]

[121: Why aren’t you working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Soliet is Soliet, and 121 is Laje.

I replied to Solliet.

[Sorry. I couldn’t reply because I had some work to do.]

Raye… … You seem to be out of your mind, so let’s do it later.

Weeing-

The other pocket cried. I rummaged through it and took it out. It was C01’s wallet and cell phone.

[A11:C01. How did the mission go?]

A11. He is a guy who doesn’t even know who he is. Looking at the code, it seems to be related to B04 and C01, but it’s over now anyway.

I was about to throw it away in the desert, but stopped.

“… … .”

I changed my mind.

[The mission was completed, but we were ambushed by B01. It is presumed to be B01’s opinion. C05 and C06 were killed by B01, and B01 was killed. B04 was healed and placed safely. Target Elise Petra is safe.]

[C01, I am deeply hurt and will hide for a while.]

One day, the day may come when I can use this identity again.

Of course, my height will grow over time… … Let’s talk around it a bit. Their faces are the same, so what can they do?

“I can see it now.”

Meanwhile, far away.

The tall silhouette of a five-star hotel appeared at first glance.

* * *

[Last week, a museum occupation occurred in Dicapo, Arahal. Edsilla civilians were also involved, but fortunately there were no casualties… … .]

Endex, Gugwan Lakeside. I am watching news that is a real-time hot issue. It was reported today, two days after the incident occurred… … It’s definitely different.

“It’s not kidnapping.”

There was no news about Elise’s kidnapping, and it all turned into an escape. Before returning, Elise continued to wander in the desert and suffer.

“… … “Are you glad?”

I put down my smartphone.

Break time is over.

I grabbed the wooden sword again.

My body is now covered in sweat, and I have long since taken off my top.

“after.”

I took a deep breath and hit the stone scarecrow that Groul had made.

Pak-! Pak-! Circularly clockwise.

It may seem like you are just swinging it around, but it is not. A herbivore that targets each of the eight sides in turn. It is ‘Eight Swords (八劍)’ training.

“Sigh!”

There is something quite artistic about these eight swords.

A sword struck from the top [一劍].

Two swords [two swords] deployed from the upper right corner.

The three swords [三劍] that stay at the right edge.

They all have different purposes and meanings.

First of all, one sword and two swords are destructive. As it is a hard strike from above, the movement itself is large and powerful. High risk, high return.

The three swords on the right side have a strong defensive nature. This is because it is the front where you encounter the most enemies. However, since it is a mixture of herbivorous and ‘stinging’, it is suitable for exploiting the opponent’s loophole.

The next Four Swords [四劍] confuse the opponent in the lower right corner. So there are a lot of fakes. Pretending to throw or swing, it induces the opponent to defend or make a fuss.

First of all, I am repeatedly training from the first sword to the fourth sword… … .

「125 / 130」

Recent change: -4

Capacity reduced by 4.

This is the result of repeated training for 8 hours a day for 3 days. At this pace, I think it will take at least 2 to 3 months for it to fully materialize.

This probably means that the depth is far away.

─Juuin.

Suddenly someone called me.

“Oh, are you here?”

It was Growl. The guy who had been out exploring came down to the lawn and unpacked the bundle behind him. This time too, there were magic stones, magic cores, and gathers.

─I have decided.

But today, his face is uncharacteristically determined for a cat.

“What decision?”

When asked again, he takes a deep breath with his eyebrows stiffened.

─We need a research center.

“… … what.”

─Please build a research lab.

“That requires my decision, not yours.”

─I also helped with magical power transplantation.

Growl pointed to my right forearm. I fiddled around for no reason. There was a vague sense of magical power above the relic.

─The lab will help the master survive, not me.

My current relic: Some ancient magic clings to the roots of “Treasure Hunter.” It’s still in the adaptation stage, so there aren’t any major changes.

“I don’t have any money.”

─You have to invest money to make money.

“… … .”

That is correct. If you think about it, you can’t stay in this old building of Endex forever.

“Later.”

─C01 has 300,000 Ren in his account.

“Hey. “You can’t touch old money.”

─100,000 Ren is a reward and bonus for what we did? That’s ours.

“Now that I think about it, yes.”

Even though 200,000 Ren originally belonged to C01, the remaining 100,000 Ren was earned through my own hard work.

-The moment I was thinking about something like that.

Shuung—!

There was a brief flash of light from the bushes near the lakeside. I looked back there.

“ok?”

On the lawn, a cathode ray tube TV is turned on and twinkling, and inside it is a 2D game character made up of dots.

A character standing straight in the middle as if looking in this direction.

“… … what.”

Then the character jumped up and down. A rectangle appeared at the bottom of the screen.

mark

[Soliet]

: Zion.

“Zion?”

It’s my name.

mark

[Soliet]

: yes. Zion. You.

“What… … .”

I looked closely at the dot character.

Red hair and blue eyes. A character that takes all of Soliet’s characteristics and adds them to the character. But it’s not in good condition. My whole body is covered in blood.

mark

[Soliet]

: Are you coming now? You waited, right?

The 2D dot guy waved his hand up and down as if he was happy to see me.

“No, I came two days ago… … “Are you sure you’re Solliet?”

mark

[Soliet]

: Yes, that’s right.

I just blinked at her.

There are many questions, but only one word comes out of my mouth.

“… … “How did you get in there?”

mark

[Soliet]

: Please wait a moment. I will log out soon.

Shuuuuung-!

The monitor flashed, and a bloodied Soliet popped out.

“uh!”

I suddenly hugged her as she almost flew away.

* * *

… … A spring day when I was 14 years old.

For some reason, back then, I was much more confident than I am now.

I was shorter, my face was smaller, my hands and feet were smaller, and my cheeks were a little fuller, but there were times when I thought the world was mine.

Elise is walking on the hospital’s marble floor wearing high heels that don’t even fit her feet.

It is a business experience. I want to research and experience various aspects of Petra University Hospital, which I will one day inherit.

‘Between the 2nd and 3rd periods of Dazekist… … Is that right?’

Along with the hospital’s professors and board members, she went from room to room examining patients. I want to boast that it is possible to roughly guess the name of the disease by looking at the patient’s appearance and symptoms.

‘yes. you’re right.’

The doctor nodded in surprise. Elise raised her eyebrows as if it was no big deal.

‘I don’t think medical treatment should be done. ‘Because it’s interfering with the mana’s ability to self-recover.’

Treatment by a magician or superhuman who has trained a magical body is not common. The magical power they have accumulated basically works to save themselves, but if their immune systems clash because of that, something serious can happen.

‘The diagnosis I think is… … Ricksil. It seems better to just continue taking the tranquilizer. What do you think?’

‘It’s the exact same diagnosis as yours.’

The doctors are impressed by the young girl’s knowledge of horse medicine, and she pretends to be humble and arrogant.

At the age of 14, her dream was to become a doctor and a high-ranking mage.

He is a duel master who is skilled in medicine and magic.

Other than playing card games.

‘then… … ?’

While looking for another patient, she suddenly found someone.

What a man it was. A guy his age is lying down and just looking out the window.

Just then he turned his head this way. His eyes met slightly. A small blush appeared on his face, and he pursed his lips before hurriedly avoiding my gaze.

The astute doctor gave her the chart. Elise confirmed it.

The diagnosis is leukemia.

He is 14 years old, the same age as me.

The name is──

‘Zion Askal’.

… … .

Elise woke up from her dream. She was a familiar home in the capital Ed Silas.

“Dream… … “Why is this like this?”

She rolled her eyes and looked up at the ceiling blankly for a moment.

The incident in the desert was already two days ago.

When he came to his senses that day, he was already inside a 5-star hotel, and there was only Cookie by his side.

There was no Sion Askal.

Because of this, my memories of that museum still feel like a hazy dream.

“… … .”

Elise lifted the cookie from the bedside table.

A cookie with slightly burnt ears.

Tan cookies.

Even if I forget, lose, or even get caught up in an accident, this child always comes back to me.

“… … “You are the proof.”

Proof that it wasn’t a dream.

Elise pressed the guy’s chest.

─Lady, young lady!”

Suddenly, the maids outside started screaming loudly.

“What else… … .”

Suddenly the door opened.

“miss! “The head of the family is calling!”

“… … Father?”

Elise’s eyes opened wide. She quickly got up from the bed.

This is the first time in almost four years that my father calls me directly.

“yes! “The head of the family said that the lady-”

“Okay, calm down. filled?”

“The driver is already outside!”

… … .

Gen Petra, Elise’s father, sits in the congressman’s office.

Elise, who came in 5 minutes ago, doesn’t seem to care. She just flips through the pages of her document with her glasses on and reads.

“… … are you okay.”

Elise, who was standing alone and just wiggling her fingers, finally spoke first.

“A lot happened, though.”

“Know.”

Chin-Gen put down the file. I took a small breath and looked into Elise’s eyes.

“They said there was a battle in the desert.”

“… … ”

Elise kept her mouth shut.

Tuk-tuk-.

Gen Petra tapped her fingers on the table.

“The site itself was mostly swept away by sand, but three bodies were found.”

“… … “I know.”

Elise slightly drooped her eyes. Gen continued speaking in an indifferent tone.

“I don’t know what your condition is. “Because you are weak, and I have never been weak like you.”

“… … .”

What answer should I give to his words?

Although she thought hard about it, Elise still couldn’t figure it out.

“But Elise. As I always tell you, humans grow from trials. If you just pick flowers in your head, your head will become a flower garden. You become a useless person who does not know reality. So you end up… … .”

Gen tapped his temple with a thick finger.

“You have to fill yourself with the coldest things. Think of this as that experience.”

“… … yes.”

Elise only answered briefly. Gen handed her a file. She held it with both hands.

“good. Good job.”

For a moment, Elise’s eyelids fluttered when she heard that she had worked hard.

It’s not warm at all and it’s just dry, but it feels special to Elise right now.

Were you somewhat worried?

“I’m going.”

I left the office, holding back the laughter that was about to escape.

In the capital city of Edsilla, the line was long in the hallway of the congressman’s office. They were all people who came to receive approval from Gen.

From Elise’s perspective, it was a landscape where power took shape.

She got out and got into the car.

“… … “I’m going home.”

She let out a light, somewhat pleasant sigh and sat down on the chair. After casually putting down the file her father had handed her, she picked it up again.

[Postmortem report]

It seemed to be an autopsy file of a person who died in the desert.

Elise turned one page.

１. Name: Rogel Putan

Was the name of that masked B01 Rogel Putan? Elise thought about just covering it up, but Zion’s words suddenly came to mind.

You must remember.

You have to face the consequences of what you have done.

I passed one page.

───Main autopsy findings───

(go)

１. A sword wound was discovered that appeared to have cut the neck horizontally.

２. Confirmation of the sword carved diagonally on the chest.

３. Cervical vertebrae were confirmed to have been crushed by destructive forces acting in 360-degree directions.

４. Evidence of magical activity presumed to be the cause of number 3 was confirmed.

５. It was confirmed that the most direct cause of death, ‘cervical comminuted fracture’, was the result of number 3.

(me)

There are many wounds on the body, but it is confirmed that the first examination occurred postmortem, and that the primary cause of death was the action of magical power that crushed the cervical vertebrae like powder… … .

───────

When Elise read the file, her shoulders trembled slightly.

Both eyes were dazed with a dull light.

“… … .”

I lifted my finger and read it again.

[It is confirmed that the primary cause of death is the action of magical power that crushed the cervical vertebrae like powder.]

Suddenly, a tone spreads like an echo in my head.

… … Not really. No need to get your hands dirty one more time.

Saying so, Shion cut off B01’s head.

“this… … .”

A stone was placed on Elise’s chest as she recalled that day. Her breath caught slightly.

… … Not really. No need to get your hands dirty one more time.

His voice flowing into my ears. Distracting one’s weak mind… … consideration.

Did he know then?

B01 is already dead.

‘I’ killed it.

No, you couldn’t have known. If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have said that.

Nevertheless, it was as if he had killed himself──.

Elise grabbed the corner of the file. She clenched her teeth. Her hands trembled and she lowered her face. She let out a wet laugh.

“You’re acting like a fool… … .”

Elise eventually picked up her smartphone. She called him.

Tooru- Tooru-

─Hello.

As soon as she heard that voice, Elise froze. It wasn’t like I didn’t know what to do – I was speechless – or something like that.

“… … who are you?”

It wasn’t Zion.

It was a woman’s voice.