Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 194



Only Krnovel

Episode 194

Internship (5)

… … 2 hours ago.

At 6pm, when all the guests had arrived.

“Hall 1A clear.”

I am patrolling the rooms of the castle, balconies, rooftops, etc., slightly away from the main floor where the melodies of a classical orchestra flow. I was given the route in advance, and I memorized it in my “notepad” in the same order.

“… … .”

As I walked down the hallway, I caught a glimpse of Jade and Senator Amota’s rooms. I had switched their locations by manipulating the invitations, but fortunately neither of them seemed suspicious.

─Everyone, please follow the rules so that you don’t overlap with others. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, report it immediately.

The “Monster Association”‘s plan is probably to kidnap Representative Amota and then cause the castle’s barrier to malfunction, causing this charity party to fall into chaos. In reality, the attendees are trapped in this barrier for quite some time.

“Not yet.”

I looked at my watch. The room was still there. Of course, there was a way for me to evacuate only Rep. Amota.

But the reason I chose to pack Jade instead of her is… … .

It’s a gift. Libra’s second son would be a much more valuable hostage than Senator Amota.

If only I could kidnap her.

“Clear corridor in room 1A”

─The charity party will start soon. Exactly 10 minutes after Rep. Amota’s speech.

That was when.

──!

A small wave of magical power occurred. It was a rather quiet manifestation of the spell. I looked back at it for a moment.

One room was missing. It was originally Senator Amota’s room, but it was switched with Jade’s [107 A].

“It’s perfect.”

In the place where the guest room was neatly cleaned up, only the floor tiles remained. It seemed like it had been like this from the beginning.

I turned around, giggling.

Bam-

Just then, the door to room [108 B] opened. Just in time, Rep. Amota came out holding a script.

“Hmm? That’s the security guard at the entrance.”

She looked at me and smiled slightly.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“… … Yeah. Did you really think I was in my 30s?

“Because I don’t know how to lie.”

“Wow. What a clever guy.”

I don’t know much about Senator Amota. He’s already dead at this point before he returns.

However, I know about the ‘Amota Special Act’. I’ve heard rumors about it too.

A congressman who was endlessly kind to the lower classes of society, but mercilessly attacked criminal groups including cartels, before unfortunately dying.

“My speech is about to begin. Can you hear it?”

She asked me.

“I will watch from afar.”

“Um. Okay. Actually, it doesn’t matter if you don’t listen. I’m just asking for money.”

As Senator Amota crossed the hallway and headed toward the main hall, I ran a hand through my hair and laughed quietly.

“I don’t know if you received the gift well.”

* * *

The main hall of Gosung.

Elise and Raye are looking at the faces attending [Blue Day Lunaman].

“That person is the CEO of ‘Fine’.”

“Oh oh… …”

Raye was impressed by Elise’s words.

“That person is the largest shareholder of ‘Ruslione’.”

“Oh my. Is that guy the 30th richest person in Edsilla?”

As a person who was always up to date with current events, Elise had many familiar faces. The CEO of Fine, the smartphone manufacturer she was using, and the chief researcher at Billonde, a company that developed, invented, and exhibited various magical techniques…

“Yes. Didn’t it seem like Zion was here?”

Elise was more concerned about her bodyguards than anything else.

There was definitely a bodyguard who looked like Zion. Did I mistake him for the mask?

“Why is Zion here? She’s not invited.”

Raye had a bright smile on her face. It was her first party in a long time, and she seemed excited because it was a social gathering held in Trick City.

──Dear guests enjoying the party, could you spare us a moment?

At that moment, the sound of a microphone echoed throughout the party venue.

Everyone looked back at the stage.

──Representative Amota would like to say a few words to the distinguished guests.

A light was shining somewhere. Many eyes were focused on that place.

─Hello. My name is Amota, and I hold a minor position in the Edsilla Council.

It was Rep. Amota. As a three-term congresswoman, she was someone who was especially respected and trusted in this party.

Elise also looked up at her.

─Actually, what I’m going to say today might not be very welcome. That’s because it’s what I always say. Perhaps the business people here know better?

There were small laughter sounds. Elise slightly imitated the adults’ leisurely behavior.

“Hehehe.”

“Ellie. What’s so funny that you’re laughing?”

“… …Be quiet.”

─Today, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about ‘charity.’

Elise suddenly glanced at the edge of the main hall. There were many guards there.

Among those bodyguards, there is no one like Zion…

─The place where this castle is located is Trick City’s C-01 District. It’s somewhere between the very safe B District and D District. It might be a very dangerous place for you, right?

At that, the adults laughed. Elise followed suit and covered her mouth.

“Hehehe.”

“Ellie, what’s so funny?”

─I felt uncomfortable calling you all here. But it was the most appropriate place. Just one block up from here is District B, full of mysterious magical buildings, high-tech companies, and luxury homes.

Rep. Amota projected photographs from the podium. It was a familiar scene from District B to Raye.

─But if you go down just one more block, in Trick City’s D-section… … .

Chorrrruk-

The photo turned over like a film.

─Many children are still losing their lives.

A scene of children lying on the ground, collapsed in Area D.

Raye’s face suddenly became serious. Elise also watched her quietly.

─They simply have nothing to eat, no water, and most of all… …they are used as tools for criminals.

“That’s right. Villains.”

Raye gritted her teeth. Elise sipped her champagne.

─Not just Trick City D-Sector. The outskirts of Edsilla. Even in those places we simply call ‘slums’ and ignore and despise…

Rep. Amota handed over several photos.

─These social phenomena are not solved by simple laws alone. Your support, donations, and most of all, your interest. With them, we can protect children from crime. We can make their future bright. At the same time.

It seems like the most important part.

Rep. Amota raised his finger.

─This entire process will be transparent. We will disclose every single detail of how and where your donations and sponsorships are used.

That was when.

Suddenly, it got dark outside. Most people didn’t pay much attention. It was almost sunset.

─… … Well then. I’ve taken too long. I hope you all enjoy the party and go back.

Clap clap clap─

Applause rang out. Elise and Laye followed suit and clapped. Laye was especially enthusiastic.

“Ellie, I’ll donate all my allowance.”

“Then I will donate the same amount.”

At that time, celebrities also approached Raye and Ellie. They were CEOs of various companies.

This is how a charity party that builds connections through charity works.

Some people chat, and some leave quickly, saying they have something to say.

“… …Why is it so dark outside the window?”

At some point, it was a researcher from a magical company with particularly high intuition who noticed something strange.

Elise also looked around left and right. Then suddenly she looked up at the ceiling.

“……for a moment.”

Her eyes opened wide.

“Ellie. Why?”

Raye also looked up and flinched.

“… … What? Was it originally that tall… … ?”

The ceiling was dark.

Of course, the ceiling was already high, but it became so abnormally high that you couldn’t see the end.

“Ellie. What’s going on here?”

“I’ve seen it. In a magic textbook.”

Elise quickly assessed the situation.

“It’s a boundary error.”

“error?”

Then, the businessmen around her gathered around. They sensed that something was wrong.

“Yeah. Sometimes this happens when the extended barrier malfunctions… … .”

It is an error in which the space itself stretches like a stick.

“Don’t worry. It’s not an incident that could result in a loss of life.”

Elise looked around at them and said. The guards also moved. They were about to go out into the hallway-

“Don’t go out!”

Elise stopped him with her “psychokinesis”.

“It’s in a wide open space. If you go down a long space like a hallway, you could get trapped.”

The orchestra stopped. Elise focused her magic on her retina. She was trying to observe the circuitry of the barrier and find errors──

──Kwaaaaah!

A flying object appeared outside the window and crashed into me. It was a strangely shaped pile of rocks.

It really looks like rocks are flying around in a random clump.

Raye asked.

“What, what is this?”

“… … It’s the side effect of a barrier error. As magic power leaks out, it inhabits natural objects or things.”

The reason why the cursed mansions and ghost-inhabited one-room apartments that appear in movies are mostly due to this “barrier error”.

An error occurs because the barrier was designed incorrectly from the beginning, or because the barrier’s weak point is attacked, causing magical power to run wild and causing magical events inside the barrier.

“Gyaaaah!”

The scream of a businessman’s wife was the signal.

Even Elise, who turned around absentmindedly, felt nauseous.

There, there was a golem, a tangled mess of flesh, organs, muscles, skin, and bones that seemed to be human.

* * *

Same time.

Jia is alone in her room. But it’s not her room. It’s someone else’s room.

[INSTALLING]

[◆◆◆◇◇]

She wanted to attend this social gathering, too. She had deliberately asked Jade for an invitation.

Todododododo-

Despite this, I have no interest in the party itself or in networking.

She just types on her laptop keyboard.

Todododo-

[INSTALLING]

[◆◆◆◆◇]

Installing spyware. It is a program that is currently almost impossible to detect, as it has been set up very densely and cleverly by Jia herself. The downside is that ‘you have to install it by directly manipulating the device.’

“… … .”

This was her goal from the beginning.

Some ‘workaholics’ bring work to parties, and businesspeople who value privacy hate CCTV.

These are optimal conditions for planting hacking programs.

Tadadak- tadadak-

[COMPLETE]

Hacking complete. Now all information coming into this laptop will be sent through the backdoor.

The program was installed on the laptops of three key figures in major corporations: ‘Fine’, ‘Rusliion’, and ‘Billonde’.

Even if it’s just crumbs, it’s at least 10 million Elne. If I’m lucky, I can steal core technology worth 1 billion Elne.

In this way, Jia sometimes takes risks. She moves herself and aims for high returns. No one would think that Jia would do something like this.

“… … .”

She put the laptop in the owner’s bag and went out after erasing all traces.

I walked down the hallway, tiptoeing, tiptoeing.

“… … ?”

But, something is strange.

It’s too dark.

There is no light streaming in through the gaps in the windows, and the end of the hallway seems to be engulfed in darkness and cannot be seen.

She looked around.

The hallway got longer.

That was the only way I could express it.

“… … .”

Jia started walking.

When you have taken about six steps, adjusting the intensity of your steps and calculating the optimal stride length.

“……error.”

She predicted a barrier failure.

There are disadvantages to moving directly. There are returns, but you are also constantly exposed to risk.

Swish… … .

Suddenly a strange wind blew in. I didn’t feel good.

But there is no way. We have no choice but to move forward until the loophole in the error is discovered.

Step, step.

She kept walking. The more she walked, the less she could see or hear anything.

It felt like I was walking into darkness.

───Kuaaaah!

Suddenly a human scream was heard. The sound was distorted like a stretched-out tape.

The error in the boundary is quite serious. Perhaps it is due to an outside attack or hacking.

Jia swallowed.

Hwaruk-!

At that moment, a candle lit up in a nearby hallway. The light was clear in the darkness. There was a person in front of the light.

Gia paused for a moment.

Should I be suspicious or ask for help?

But fear is not something she handles well. She is afraid of only fear. She would rather endure pain than… … .

Zia walked towards the light, reaching as close as she could to the candle flame.

“I…….”

The words spoken to people stopped.

Soon, goosebumps ran down her entire body.

It wasn’t a person.

It was a picture.

Full body portrait.

In it, a grotesque man made of paint faces her… … .

───Hahahahahahahahaha!

He laughed. His eyes drew tear-jerking lines. The moment we met, my soul seemed to be captured.

She tried to step back, but her legs wouldn’t move.

The man in the picture reached out first.

───Hahahahahahahahaha!

He put both hands on his own neck, bursting into flames, slowly squeezing my breathing.

Kkuddeuk───.

Twisted skin. Restless breathing.

Gia uses all her strength to take a step away from him.

One step.

Slowly back away… …

Bam-

It was like adding insult to injury.

Something hard hit my back.

Jia almost fainted at that moment.

however…….

Sling─

The sound of steel scraping.

An unfamiliar sound, like pulling a sword out of its scabbard.

Wheeee …

A swinging sword. A flash of light in the air.

The man’s hand in the painting is severed, and a scream fills Zia’s ears.

Kaaa …

It was a much more unbearable roar. Jia let out a groan she couldn’t understand. Then, a thick palm reached out from behind her and covered her ears.

… … .

A world where sound has died down.

Within moments, someone’s sword moved. The sword strike curved diagonally.

He completely tore down the picture that had been tormenting him.

“… … .”

Zia staggered on both legs in the overwhelming feeling of exhaustion. She leaned against my back.

“……slowly.”

A soft voice flowed in.

“Take a deep breath. There’s no need to be nervous.”

Zia took a deep breath, trying to stay conscious.

I must not lose consciousness. I still cannot trust the person who saved me.

“There is no need to be nervous.”

There is no need to be nervous.

A word said to support oneself.

“Haa… … . Haa… … ”

Jia gasped for breath as if she was about to faint… … and then looked up at her head.

A blurry shape appeared in my slightly hazy vision.

“… … I will protect you.”

Eventually, the focus becomes clear, and a person fills her eyes.

A child I saw at an orphanage one day.

That little guy.

“I’m going.”

Zion Ascal.