Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 181



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 181

Soul in a barrel (4)

Magic is the essence of magical power. While magic is used by ‘refining’ magical power, magic manifests magical power as its original form.

Therefore, the physical force that magic causes is ultimately ‘magical’ above all else.

Unless you move an external object with your mind like Elise and strike it, even fireballs that are magically generated are considered ‘magical’ damage.

I have some resistance to all of that.

The same goes for shocks that come into direct contact with the body.

In numerical terms, it is offset by 10% or less.

Thanks to this, most magic is reasonably tolerable.

But that’s not all that I have as a decisive advantage when dealing with wizards.

I can observe the magical ‘core’ with the SZX-9500.

If you can observe it, you can destroy it with just a tree branch.

Kwaaaa …

The wizards created a whirlpool filled with magical powers. They trapped me in it. It was indeed a magic worthy of the job.

Kkwaddeuddeuk───!

The whirlwind blade spun like a blender. It shot up with power like a thunderbolt.

For me?

It was like fluff.

If I had to make a metaphor, it would be like the insole of a shoe hitting your whole body?

It’s not that it doesn’t hurt at all, but it’s just annoying and stinging. Instead, my clothes are turning into rags.

“Go after him. He probably hasn’t gone far yet.”

The wizards passed by, and I quietly walked out of the vortex, completely unharmed.

He threw a branch at the back of their heads as they ran.

“100 million!”

One of the four fell. The remaining three quickly turned around.

I threw the branch again at the surprised men. It hit one of the three between the eyebrows.

The remaining two formed a barrier.

I grabbed the third branch, infused it with magic power, and threw it hard.

Choaaaak─!

A tree branch cutting through the air.

They showed the arrogance typical of wizards. They only trusted in their barriers and did nothing.

It’s a mistake.

Wedge─!

The branches lightly penetrated the barrier.

No, it’s not even a penetration. From the beginning, it penetrates smoothly as if it’s ‘not affected at all’,

“100 million!”

I hit one guy’s nose horizontally. The guy, who had no preparation other than the barrier, was knocked unconscious.

It’s because of the magic I’ve breathed into it. Not only my body, but even the magic flowing within it has the same properties.

“… … .”

Anyway, now there’s only one left.

He activated his own magic. He gathered the wind and shot it out like a blast of energy, and a huge wave of wind surged forward.

Kwaaaa …

Now it was finally a magical effect.

If we had to quantify it, it would be around 0.2 Dragon Breath.

I was hit all over my body.

“It hurts.”

It wasn’t an empty promise.

It’s really painful, like getting punched in the stomach or doing a stomach dive.

“… … What is this guy?”

The wizard was quite taken aback, but that only lasted for a moment. Soon he looked me up and down with a scholarly expression.

“That’s unusual. Is the body itself solid? Or-”

I threw a branch at the bastard.

“100 million.”

The bastard fell down with a thud.

I approached the four wizards and took off their robes.

Even though this robe looks like just a piece of cloth, it’s actually incredibly expensive.

In addition to that, I packed everything that could be of value, like a wallet, shoes, etc.

Anyway, these guys can’t be reported. They’re the ones who got caught first.

“Let’s see… … .”

I activated Relic’s “Ancient Magic”. I pulled out the magic like a long rope and tied the four together.

“after.”

Knock knock – I shook my hands.

That’s it.

If you’ve been treated this badly, you probably won’t be able to do anything weird when you wake up later.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I headed for the exit.

As we came out of the magical space, Elise and Solliet were waiting. Elise raised her eyebrows and asked.

“… … How was it?”

I shrugged.

“What? I just touched it a little.”

“Touch? Isn’t that a robe in your hand?”

“… … Don’t worry about it.”

I put the remains of the wizards in my backpack.

“Anyway. I think he was trying to show off to you.”

“Target?”

“Uh. The Magic Clan wants to give your family some support.”

“… … .”

Elise’s mouth opened slightly. Her face was one of bewilderment.

“I’ve already sorted out the rest, so you can go back to camp.”

“Yeah. What… … .”

The guy muttered very quietly.

… … Thank you.

“What? I can’t hear you.”

“Ahh… … What are you guys going to do now?”

Elise looked back and forth between Soliet and me with a slightly red face. I answered with a smirk.

“I need to travel a bit and then solve the problem.”

“Haha! You’re finally revealing your true feelings.”

Then Soliet turned around to look at me as if she had caught me. She fired rapid-fire shots like a detective.

“You said you solved number 12. Now you’re solving it again? That doesn’t make sense. You’re stuck, Zion.”

“… … Oh, okay, okay. I haven’t solved it yet, but I’m almost done with it. Is that okay?”

“haha.”

“Well… … You figure it out yourself. When should I contact you again?”

Elise asked Solliet. Her expression quickly became serious and she said.

“After the third quarter ends, there will be something called the ‘Red Moon.’ That’s when we plan to start… … .”

* * *

… … Elise, who returned to the magic camp, faithfully attended the curriculum. As Zion had said, the territoriality was particularly noticeable, and although most of the magicians were from the ‘Magic Family’, she also got to know a few magicians who were worthy of being acquaintances.

“……excuse me.”

This is a research lab located inside the camp.

After extracting magical power from natural substances, analyzing the nutrients and soil quality of the ground based on that, and even predicting the possibility of natural disasters, a break is taken after submitting a report.

Elise glanced at one of the wizards. He was looking at something on his smartphone.

“What are you doing?”

“Hmm? Oh, I’m analyzing it.”

A man with crossed eyes. His name is not yet known, as expected of a wizard who puts off revealing his true identity as much as possible, but he is a decent person.

“What kind of analysis is this?”

“Uh… …Would you like to watch it together?”

The man showed her the screen of his smartphone in a rather lively tone. Elise tilted her head.

“What is this?”

What a montage of fencing masks.

A man wearing a fencing mask.

“Don’t you know Edsilla? This villain is famous in Trick City.”

“Villain?”

“yes.”

“Huh… … .”

Trick City is considered a progressive city, so terms like heroes and villains that you would only see in old comic books are actually mentioned in the city’s laws.

“I guess you’re from Trick City.”

“Yes, I am a native. But what I am analyzing is.”

He rewound the video on his smartphone.

[CCTV footage showing the special technique used by the avenger ‘Rakel Dra’ to commit murder.]

This is CCTV footage.

Squeezes the air and shoots it out like a sword. Using the wand as a medium, a very special magical technique is triggered… … .

A person is cut into halves.

Elise frowned in surprise.

“Ah. Is that too cruel?”

“no.”

[Currently, experts at the Trick City Department of Magic are trying to analyze and reproduce this spell, but the spell’s connections are intricate and complex, so it will take some time… … .]

“Can I see it again?”

“Yes, of course.”

Elise narrowed her eyes.

A magical technique that compresses the air and shoots it out like a crescent moon.

It may look simple, but the combination of the technique is, as the news says, extremely detailed and complex. If the only purpose is ‘killing’, it is an extremely excellent and highly complete technique.

Even for Elise, it is not easy to see through or interpret.

By no means is this an ordinary skill.

By ‘combining’ simple magical techniques, he can ‘weave’ them with powers greater than magic… …a clear master.

“He seems like a strong villain.”

“Yes. The guy here who’s being cut down like a radish is a cartel mercenary. He’s a famous knight-level thug in Trick City’s D District. He’s from District B though.”

“I think he’s a wizard.”

Elise guessed so.

Unless you’re a wizard, this level of magical harmony is impossible. I don’t know why wizards do this, though.

“That’s right. The Trick City Enforcement Team also suspects the same thing. That the wizard is killing people-”

“─Participant Elise.”

At that moment, Deol Leng called her from the lab stage.

“yes.”

“Come up.”

She climbed up onto the stage.

High Wizard Deol Leng. He looked back and forth between Elise and the report she had just submitted.

Elise became nervous again.

I don’t know about the other dwarves, but this guy is an important wizard.

Deol Leng smiled faintly.

“… … Ms. Elise won’t even need a semester. She’s perfect.”

It’s the best of the best, saying that you don’t need to go to college, meaning you can enter the magic tower right now.

Elise maintained her composure. She tried hard to suppress the twitching of her lips.

“Have you decided on a school?”

“No, I haven’t decided yet.”

“If you have a talent for dynamic magic, the Velothi School will teach you well. If you want to delve a little deeper into theory, the Elmander School is also good.”

Deol Leng said as he handed the report back to her.

“Well, everyone would want Miss Elise. I’ll see you at the top soon.”

“… … That’s too much praise.”

An attitude of humility and modesty.

Elise nodded and turned around.

I pretended to go to the bathroom and came out of the lab.

… … Yay.

He held his breath and clenched his fists.

And then, after thinking about it for a moment, I made a phone call to someone.

Tiring ringing──

─Why.

Zion Ascal. The opponent received it immediately.

Elise coughed in vain.

“Ah. It’s nothing… … Did you solve the problem?”

It was a coincidence, but I still got help from the camp.

If Zion hadn’t solved the problem yet, I would have helped.

Of course, if you get caught, you both fail, but it’s better if you don’t get caught anyway.

─Oh. I solved it.

“How many times?”

─I only solved number 12.

“… … .”

Elise was slightly speechless.

“Don’t touch me.”

─What.

“Be honest. I can help you.”

─Honestly, I solved it.

A small vein popped out on Elise’s temple.

“No. Sion. I’ve told you over and over again that you have a talent for magic. It’s not that you don’t have it. So if I help you just a little, you can do it. So be honest. How many times-”

─Hang up.

Stop-

“what?”

Elise frowned and called again.

Tiring ringing──

Zion answered the phone.

─Why.

“Hey. Even I couldn’t solve it, so how could you solve number 12-”

Stop-

Zion hung up the phone. Elise puffed out her cheeks as she glared at the screen.

“… … This kid is crazy.”

* * *

These days, Endex’s seniors are surprisingly busy.

The first and second quarters are both over, but the lights are still on in Endex’s library and other study cafes because the third quarter is underway.

Of course I am free.

Today is October 30th.

The answer to the mystery is ‘that day’.

The day I went to meet my old teacher, Teia Isil.

“… … Haaaaaam.”

I yawned loudly and looked at the sofa.

Soliet was lying down.

That guy is staying at my place these days. He’s using the excuse that he’s going to solve problem number 12.

“hey.”

“… … ?”

Soliet turned her sluggish body and looked at me.

“Aren’t you going home?”

“… … .”

The guy had a very sleepy face. His face was puffy and his eyelids were filled with sleep.

“hello?”

“……yes.”

The guy just woke up. She said, rubbing her eyes.

“……Zion.”

“why.”

“Here, strangely enough, I can sleep well.”

Haaaaaam──Solit yawned.

There was a hint of tears at the corners of her eyes.

“I used to have nightmares all the time in my apartment. This place is comfortable. I sleep without dreaming. I’ve never slept so comfortably as I do these days. But I think I’ll feel uncomfortable again when I go back to my own house.”

“… … .”

Don’t kick me out – that’s taking too long.

“Do whatever you want.”

I got up.

“Where are you going?”

“I told you. I solved it 12 times.”

“… … Zion- is that bullshit again-?”

Solliet rolled around on the sofa, muttering.

“Uh. I’m going.”

“Have a nice trip.”

“Clean it up.”

“Yes. Leave it to me.”

As soon as she said that, Solliet closed her eyes on the sofa.

* * *

Edsila National University. A prestigious school filled with the best facilities on the continent and where the best talents on the continent gather.

‘Teia Isil’ stands on the rooftop of [Ebina Hall] as a professor emeritus responsible for the future of the university.

A riddle he has been giving every year since he became a professor. It is a waiting that comes from the hope that someone will solve it.

Of course, it doesn’t seem like it will happen this year either… … If it doesn’t happen this year, which is considered the golden age, then who on earth will solve this mystery and when?

Actually, there hasn’t been a single one so far.

Oh, there was just one person.

But it wasn’t an undergraduate. It was her old friend, now virtually cut off, now a traitor to Libra, ‘Bellingham Kanta’.

“… … .”

The current time is 10:00 AM.

The time limit is exactly 30 minutes, until 10:30.

Teia leaned against the rooftop railing and looked out over the university.

There were many students in the morning class. They all had smiling faces.

Undergraduates always look so happy. When they go on to get their master’s or doctorate degrees, they start to get a little bit hellish.

Teia looked at her wristwatch.

10:15.

Should I start preparing to go back soon?

Because it looks like it won’t come this year either.

She let out a small sigh and counted the passage of time.

10:25.

There are only 5 minutes left.

This year is coming to an end too.

Gerken, whom he had his eyes on, Soliet, whom the world raved about as a talent, and Elise…

I couldn’t solve number 12.

At this point, it feels like it’s my fault for causing this problem.

Well, what good will it do to solve this problem?

10:27.

She swallowed a sigh and turned around quietly.

“… … .”

For a moment, the movement stopped.

Squeak──

It was because the door opened suddenly.

The iron gate rang loudly, and a person appeared from beyond it.

She looked at him.

He looked at her too.

For a moment, the rooftop was filled with silence.

The wind blew, tousling her jet-black bob hair. Her elegant eyes wavered.

“Is this it? Question 12.”

Soon, ‘he’ spoke first and smiled.

“Ebina Hall. Until 10:30 AM.”

Step by step─ Step by step─

He approached with a confident stride, his long, steady steps unhesitating.

He boldly extended his hand in front of the slightly embarrassed Teia.

“Zion. This is Zion Ascal.”