Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 162



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 162

Going out (2)

“Do you like Soliette?”

Is it a trend these days, or is it obvious even if I just keep quiet?

It’s a question I hear quite often.

I put my smartphone down for a moment.

“Are you bored?”

“… … If that’s the case.”

Elise said, still fiddling with her smartphone.

“It’s impossible.”

A sharp gaze flashed over the smartphone.

“It is something that cannot be achieved.”

I was dumbfounded by those confident words, but I just leaned back in my chair.

“I’m too old to have the luxury of liking anyone.”

Revenge of Libra. Survival of the individual.

Those two things alone would make my life bursting with joy.

Of course, ‘individual’ here includes not only me, but also Soliet, and not only Soliet, but also the survival of my benefactors before my return.

“You seem to have a lot of free time. You even play games.”

Elise took a book out of her backpack. The cover was [The History of the Edsilla Family]. She opened it and continued speaking.

“Commoners sometimes make the mistake of thinking that if they work hard enough, they might be able to have some romantic relationship with a noble person.”

“I wasn’t mistaken.”

“In Edsilla, the marriage rate between commoners and nobles is only 1%. And even then, most of them are collateral, and even if they are direct descendants, they are not heirs.”

“I didn’t do it.”

Elise completely ignored what I said.

Of course, he’s the kind of guy who has to say something to me no matter what. No matter how I respond, he’s already decided what he’s going to say.

“Even Arcne is said to be a family that believes in magical eugenics.”

“……eugenics?”

“Yes. The quality and number of magic circuits are relatively less affected by genetics, but the ‘Spectrum’ itself is extremely genetically dependent.”

Sagrak- She turned the page of the book.

“For example, if humans without ‘Spectrum’ reproduce and produce offspring, the probability that the offspring will bloom with ‘Spectrum’ is less than 3%. However, if both parents have ‘Spectrum’, the probability increases to 97%.”

Elise leaned back in her seat.

Rattling-!

“Huh!”

Although she went down a little, Elise didn’t show it. She swallowed once and crossed her legs leisurely instead.

“… … But Arcne goes one step further. They conclude that all magical talents, including the spectrum, are directly linked to genetics.”

“The chair is too low for you.”

“That’s why throughout the 500 years of history of the Arcne family, there has never been a time when they didn’t have a political marriage. At least, that’s the case with the heirs who will become the head of the family.”

She slowly lifted her body.

“If there was no suitable partner, he was very active in taking in collateral branches, and did not even hesitate to take incestuous relatives.”

Then he put the book down on the table.

Swish- He held it out to me as if telling me to read it.

“It means that this family is much more dangerous than you think.”

“Is it dangerous?”

Just then, a snack car arrived in the train car. Elise waved her hand proudly.

“Here it is.”

I bought squid, octopus, milk, snacks, and other things and placed them on the table. I asked her.

“What’s dangerous?”

“… … Soliet is one of the most talented people in the history of the Arcne family, no, in the history of the continent.”

North-! Elise tore the rat gun.

“Although recent events have caused a brief pause, the Arcne family is still optimistic. They believe that Soliet will one day reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship.”

“Crunch crunch,” she continued, eating the rat poison.

“So, Arcne is probably already watching you closely somewhere. She might be treating you like a parasite. So.”

I put the sucker in the banana milk.

“It means that you shouldn’t stay near Soliet for too long. For your own safety.”

Elise sucked the banana milk, holding it in both hands.

I watched her quietly and then asked her.

“Then is Petra any better?”

“… … .”

The guy’s face hardened. His right eye twitched slightly.

But soon, he put down the banana milk with a calm expression.

“Compared to Arcne or Libra, Petra is a divine being. She is said to be very progressive and open-minded. Above all, we believe in strict magic, magic, and science. We do not believe in superstitions or religions that border on ghost stories. To be exact, ‘I’ who will be the successor.”

“whatever.”

“… … You just asked.”

Elise frowned. I picked up the squid. I chewed it and looked out the window.

Clouds passing by.

As I was watching the flow, suddenly.

A single hypothesis spread through my head like an electric current.

A cool breeze that chills the lower back.

“hey.”

I looked back at Elise. Elise was slurping her banana milk.

“You know. Felix Alter.”

“pooh!”

She blocked it with “Psychokinesis” just before it was about to spurt out, and glared at me, groaning.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

“why.”

“Why are you suddenly asking such a taboo question?”

Felix Alter. His name is almost taboo in Endex.

Because it was that shocking.

That’s not the problem now.

“How can a person’s name be taboo? Besides, wasn’t Felix Alter also a commoner?”

Felix Alter’s origins.

I asked it.

“… … Although I am a random noble, I am infinitely closer to a commoner. But I am different from you. There was a time when I was a noble.”

“… … .”

I slowly fell into thought.

I had vaguely concluded that ‘no one benefits from Felix Alter’s death’.

But now that I think about it again.

The ‘benefit’ will obviously vary depending on the criteria.

It depends on what each person thinks.

So, if any group thought of Felix Alter as a ‘parasite’, as Elise said.

If it had been considered an obstacle that hindered Soliet’s growth… … .

Squeak squeak-

I dug in, chewing on the squid.

Whoosh-!

But Elise stole the squid.

“… … Ah. You ate all the legs.”

I bit my lip and glared. I shrugged.

“Let’s share some.”

“You bought it? You bought it? You shamelessly ate all the legs?”

Elise’s forehead turned red.

“Foot.”

A snicker escaped. It was funny to see the famous ghost of Petra now angry at a mere squid leg.

“… …What are you laughing at? You look like an idiot.”

Elise put the squid down again, grumbling in discontent.

“Aren’t you eating?”

“The body isn’t that great.”

“I’ll cut it off like a leg.”

“… … It’s pathetic. Many people cut the torso into long pieces like legs and eat them, but it’s just a cheap trick.”

“Why bother with such cheap tricks?”

“That’s right. Cheaper than cheap, it’s an infinitely cheap illusion. The body is much more dry and hard than the legs, which puts more strain on the teeth and jaw, while it lacks much flavor and has no chewy suction cups, so the texture is bland.”

“… … Are you some kind of squid expert?”

Elise raised her eyebrows and opened the book again. This time it was a book on magical powers.

I buried myself in the chair.

I looked out the train window.

Felix Alter.

Javed Arkhne

Soliet Arcne.

And… … the Arcne family itself.

It felt like the puzzle in my head was slowly coming together in a bad way.

* * *

Elise got off at the train station before Zion.

─Goodbye.

She tried to ignore him as he waved at her from the train window. She had somewhere to go today.

“Let’s go right away.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

We got on a sedan with the staff waiting at the station and arrived quickly.

[ Petra Psychiatric Hospital ]

It’s a place I absolutely hate to come to often, but it can’t be helped because it’s almost election time.

“Are you here?”

There were already quite a few people from the family there. They bowed to greet him.

“Congratulations. You were number one throughout the second quarter.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Elise, who accidentally acquired [Time Fragment], is currently in ‘overwhelming’ first place in the second quarter. The Planarium rankings are updated on the entrance exam site.

Thanks to this, whatever you do is legal.

“There won’t be any eyes to see, right? I’ll check.”

Elise narrowed her eyes sharply.

A person from the family, that is, a person from the father’s family, cannot be completely trusted.

“Yes, of course. The congressman said so too.”

“… … If that’s the case.”

… … .

The visiting room in the psychiatric ward.

In the middle of a place where everything is pure white and made up of magic barriers, a man is bound.

“Oh, you’re here. Little brother.”

Yael.

One’s own blood relative. A brother related to one by blood.

Elise swallowed her rising sigh as soon as she saw him.

“I heard the news. You said you were in first place for the entire second quarter?”

“… … .”

I looked around the inside without reacting. There was no sign of surveillance cameras, wiretapping, or magic.

“Elise. There’s an election coming up soon?”

Yael said. Elise twisted her lips expressionlessly.

“Yes. My father will be re-elected and become a member of the ‘Round Table’.”

Round Table. A semi-permanent seat that does not require re-election.

There are only 13 seats at the round table, and at least three terms as a member of the National Assembly are required.

Yael smiled brightly.

“Elise. Do you think your father doesn’t know?”

“I’m going to cut it short.”

Elise sat across from him.

I have no intention of being dragged by him. Everything is under my own initiative-

Yael said.

“It’s Zion.”

“… … ”

Elise’s hands trembled. Yael continued, shaking her bound arms.

“To enter the Round Table, you need a war. You have to bring down the other houses.”

That’s why the Round Table is a ‘semi-permanent’ council. For a new family to enter the Round Table, an existing family must be brought down.

She glared at him. She asked back with a pretended calmness.

“… … I don’t know what that has to do with Zion. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Hey. Why are you asking when you already know? Zion Askar is also quite high in the rankings. He’s getting a lot of attention.”

“… … ”

It’s true. He deserves to be in the top tier, not only in Q2 Planarium, but also in Q1.

You can enter Edsila National University.

“The more Zion stands out and grows, the more of a stumbling block it will become for Petra.”

This is not due to the power of each individual in Zion.

If the War of the Round Table—a bloody fight between families—occurs.

The opposing family will ‘recruit’ him as a weapon of war or material.

“Elise. You know it too.”

Yael smiled, showing her teeth. Elise gritted her teeth.

“You will have to make a choice someday.”

Because his chest was so naked, so blatant, so disgusting.

She smiled like that too.

“You. Do you think I would choose Zion?”

He leaned back and crossed his arms as if it was funny.

“Then it was a miscalculation, so please keep your mouth shut.”

Zion Ascal.

“He is… … .”

He is a good person.

“Because it means nothing to me.”

However, you cannot be Petra’s friend.

Elise knows it all too well.

Because he’ll hate himself someday.

Because you’ll end up hating Petra.

“Remember, it’s election time. If you open your mouth, you’re really finished, so keep your mouth shut.”

At those words, Yael smiled serenely.

“Elise. I will always follow your choices.”

… … .

It was a hard earned trip, but I ended up going home stressed out.

Elise leaned against the sedan window and turned on her smartphone.

[ I will do it for you ]

I was thinking about asking him for advice, but then I turned it off.

Instead, I closed my eyes.

Knock, knock, knock.

I tried hard to endure the pain that felt like stabbing my heart.

‘The more Zion stands out and grows, the more of a stumbling block it will become for Petra.’

“… … .”

Zion.

Zion Ascal.

He is Petra’s Achilles heel.

……no.

Not Petra’s, but my Achilles’ heel.

She thinks of him quietly.

Where is he and what is he doing now?

Is the ‘revenge’ that you want going well?

When will we learn that the target of our revenge is Petra?

If you find out… …what kind of betrayal will you feel?

Elise opened Messenger absentmindedly.

[Zion Ascal] was searched.

“… … ?”

I was startled.

His profile picture changed.

A guy who always had a basic profile, that is, a profile without a profile, suddenly uploaded a selfie of himself.

“what…….”

Was there a change of heart?

Whatever, it doesn’t matter.

Elise snorted and put the phone down.

The photos seem to be well taken, but I’m not really interested in them…

“… …Why all of a sudden.”

Elise picked up her smartphone again.

I pressed and held down on the small profile picture. His face filled the screen.

She glanced at the driver with a start.

Luckily, I’m just concentrating on driving. I can’t see it in the rearview mirror anyway.

“Hmm… … .”

Elise looked at the photo, drooling for no reason.

Just in case, there might be some hints here… …

* * *

After a long time, I visited Trick City again as Dale Carl.

I met Kanya at [ A Glass of Whiskey ].

“Mr. Wizard. Are you using that?”

Kanya Widerd.

She asked about the ‘Bethundun Premium Special Edition CD’ that she had been given as a mission completion bonus.

“I am writing.”

“… …Did you use all the special benefits?”

I nodded. Then Kanya sank down on the counter chair.

“Whoa… … .”

He let out a sigh and leaned back.

“Oh my… … .”

“What’s going on?”

She looked at me again, snickering, pressing her temples.

“No, I gave away that treasure for so cheap.”

“What a bargain?”

“Ugh. But there’s nothing I can do since it’s already been given to me… … Let’s at least show some color.”

Kanya said with a somewhat regretful, almost tearful voice.

“That’s worth almost a million renminbi now.”

Millions of Ren. I was a little surprised. All the money I’ve earned so far hasn’t even exceeded a million Ren.

“Is it because of the rumors about Bedenden?”

“Huh? I guess the wizard heard about that too? That’s right. There’s a rumor going around that Bedundun will be incorporated into the real dungeon, so the CD itself is sold out right now.”

No matter how much you think about it, the idea that a game can become reality is absurd, but it is certainly possible in a dungeon.

Because dungeons are ‘part of reality’.

Kanya raised her lips in a pout.

“You were lucky, Mr. Wizard. I was a pushover. Thanks to that, I was able to prevent that human trash from becoming a council member. Now, the person with the strongest chance of being elected is an old man named ‘Mayers’. He’s a typical old fart, but he’s still a fair-minded person. A bit like a sheriff?”

She spread out the papers on the counter.

They were [mission requests].

“Thanks to you, our district will be doing a little better. Although not by millions of ren.”

I picked up those requests.

[ Follow-up ]

“Background investigation?”

“Ah. I still don’t know the wizard’s disposition. I’ve already included most of the requests you’ve asked for.”

Of course, background checks are my specialty.

It’s not just a special skill, it’s a special skill among special skills. “Notepad” is extremely helpful for these types of requests.

but…….

“… … Bellida Len Cassano.”

The subject of a background investigation.

The name ‘Belida Len Cassano Cassano’ caught my eye.

“Huh. Someone asked me to do some background checks on that gentleman. That’s strange. He doesn’t have a bad reputation. I personally don’t like him, though.”

“… … .”

reputation.

The reputation may not be bad.

But, I know this guy.

Crazy old man.

A man who hides all kinds of mean thoughts under a kind-looking exterior.

“… … Take care of it.”

“Oh, really?”

Survival of the individual.

As well as revenge on individuals.

He is one of those targets.

This guy is one of the ‘hotlines’ sent from the underworld to the surface. To put it simply, you can think of him as a spy.

Thanks to that, quite a few of my colleagues died.

“Mr. Wizard. Your expression is scary.”

“… … .”

All the favors I had forgotten about come back to me vividly.

Now I am strong enough to let go of those from the past.

Of course, they might protest and say, ‘I didn’t do it,’ but that doesn’t matter.

Because I remember.

Because those memories before my regression make up who I am now.

Whether before or after the regression, the fact remains that you are the ones who deserve to die.

I put the request form in my bosom.