Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 212



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 212

Meaning of Villain (5)

Even before I returned, Void had been evading capture for quite some time. He had been avoiding the tracking net. The reason was surprisingly simple.

Because the appearance was that of a ‘child’.

The least suspected and most protected entity in human society.

I looked down at the child lying on the ground. Boyd was already dead. I killed him.

However, I learned something new.

The reason his activities were brought forward like this is because of ‘Rakel Dra’.

The guy whose thoughts were as childish as his appearance wanted to join forces with me, and he came to me on his own feet.

It was easy for me.

Because all you have to do is kill them.

Crackle─ Crackle─!

Magic sparked. I looked over. Elise was in the middle of reverse-calculating the spell to dismantle the barrier.

On the other hand, Raye stopped resisting. She froze like a fish that had been out on land for a long time.

It didn’t stop on purpose, it was almost like he was unconscious.

He lost all his strength as he struggled, kicked, screamed and threw tantrums trying to break free from his captivity.

I glanced at the wand in my hand.

Even I am surprised at the effectiveness of these magical techniques. Of course, it is due to the performance of my own magical power, but the wand Akane gave me in return is amazing.

I also breathed “Perion” into the wand.

The performance itself is in an amplified state.

Crackle— crackle——.

Just then the sparks stopped. I looked at Elise. A mass of magical power was forming in the middle of the alien spell.

The reverse operation was almost finished.

I told her.

─Activate.

Then Elise glared at me. Her gaze was somewhat venomous.

“… … Void is still alive. I don’t know what will happen if the barrier is dismantled.”

─No. Void is dead.

“… … ?”

Elise frowned. I added a word.

─I killed him.

“… … .”

Elise looked slightly puzzled, but then looked back at Boyd, who had fallen to the floor.

“There was no need to kill the child.”

Boyd is human. He is not a monster. He is just like a child. No matter what tests you do, autopsy or whatever, he measures up as a 10-year-old child.

Because of its mysterious identity, opinions in the academic world were divided.

Some said it was the “spectrum” of the Void, while others claimed that the Void itself was an alien life form that had learned from humans.

I extended my finger to the corpse of such a void.

─It’s a void.

“… … .”

Elise still looked in disbelief.

She simply connected her magic to the reverse operation. A large mass of magic was concentrated at the center of the spell, writhing like a living organism.

Suddenly, Elise looked this way.

There was life in his gaze.

At that moment, I formed “Advanced Defense”.

The magical power flowing from the tip of the wand enveloped my entire body,

Kwaaaa …

The ritual was detonated.

All of Void’s alien magic was burned, but the mechanism still had one more step left. The attack magic that Elise had artificially set. It was sharp like a laser.

Chaeng──!

It’s like the sound of metals hitting each other.

My “protection” blocked it cleanly. Elise’s expression was filled with shock.

Before long, the once dark window opened up into a pure white light.

──Stop! Survivors inside, don’t move an inch! Stay where you are!

Outside, where the barrier had been dismantled, there were still troops. I quietly backed away and hid in the darkness.

* * *

Situation ended.

The infection technique was successfully dismantled by Elise, and the whereabouts of the terrorist Void remained unknown.

The military killed all the infected, and Elise took charge of those who were infected but had not yet reached their golden time.

Elise postponed her own surgical procedures as much as possible and helped other infected patients. She used her ‘magnetism’ to attract larvae and assist in their removal surgeries.

The number of people saved in this way was 27.

As Rakel Dra said, there was no way to cure those who had already been completely mutated into infected beings, but those infected who had the culprit, the magic larvae, removed survived intact.

[… … Also, the debate over whether ‘Rakel Dra’, who was captured at the scene, was an accomplice or the mastermind is still ongoing.]

Elise was the last to undergo surgery. When she woke up, a day had already passed.

[The confusion is growing as Raquel Draga’s testimony that she saved herself and her daughter overlaps… … .]

I was just blankly watching the TV news, blinking my eyes.

I don’t know how time has passed lately.

Elise looked at her smartphone.

◆Notice from the Department of Magic

This is the National University of Korea Magic Department Student Council. We would like to express our deepest condolences to the students who were caught up in the Ceylon Tea Tower, and first of all, we would like to say that we are glad that you are safe.

All lectures at national universities this week have been canceled, so please get some rest… … .

First of all, fortunately, all lectures at the national university were suspended. There were also twenty-one national university students trapped in this tower.

Tiring-

One more text came.

It was a text from my father telling me to come over for a moment.

“… … Ugh.”

Elise got up and went straight down to the main hall of the hospital.

At the same time.

Pabat── Pabababat──!

There was a huge flash. It was blinding.

Elise frowned. There were a lot of reporters.

How on earth did they get into the hospital? Each of them asks an incomprehensible question in a voice that is almost like a scream.

─What’s going on-

─Saving people-

─The hero who did the reverse operation-

Elise paused, trying to sigh.

I stared blankly somewhere.

It’s really strange.

There are countless flashes of light, many reporters are stationed here, and Elise can see someone’s face very clearly.

It’s much more special than you might think, thinking, “Well, it’s just because he’s a head bigger than other people.”

His name is Sion Ascal, and he smiles softly at her when their eyes meet.

The man who saved himself with a walkie-talkie.

The person who helped me come to my senses and not die.

Elise wants to approach him.

I feel like getting closer.

But, there are reporters everywhere, so I can’t even take a single step closer.

The gap is only ten steps, but the psychological barrier between them is enormous.

“Elise.”

Someone called Elise. She turned around with a start.

Father, there was Gen Petra.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Gen put his hand on Elise’s shoulder with a natural smile. Pavabat──! The reporters’ cameras fired.

“……yes.”

Elise nodded absentmindedly. This photo will probably make the front page tomorrow.

“Would you like to tell your story to the reporters?”

Gen had a face that seemed quite proud of himself. For Elise, it was the first time in a long time that she had seen her father.

“hurry.”

Gen pushed his own back.

Elise stood before the reporters.

─Please explain in detail!

─What happened inside?!

─You achieved incredible things as soon as you entered the Magic Department at the top of your class!

─They say they want testimony from the rooftop too!

“… … I just improvised according to the situation.”

Elise answered only like that.

─I heard you saved countless lives!

“It’s not just me. My friend Raye risked his life to protect me, and there was a Line Knight who guided the survivors so that they wouldn’t die anymore. And… … ”

Zion Ascal.

I couldn’t bring myself to say that name.

Could it be because of my father standing behind me?

Or maybe it was because of the reporters crowding in front of me.

─You meet the criteria for the Edsilla Council Medal… … .

“It’s an honor, but I don’t want any medals. Just being able to save people… … I feel fortunate.”

Elise looked back at Zion cautiously. He smiled slightly. Elise’s lips also shook.

─I heard you came face to face with Rakel Dra! Could this terrorism be the work of Rakel Dra?!

Rakel Dra. When a reporter asked about it, Zion turned around, looked at her back as she left, and shook her head.

“Rakel Dra’s crimes… … did not seem like it.”

─Really?!

─What is the basis for this?!

“Because Raquel Drado wanted to get out of there-”

“Up to here.”

Gen Petra stepped forward. He appeared at the moment when the topic was about to change and pushed the reporters away. With that one word, the reporters left like the tide.

“… … .”

Elise looked up at Gen. Gen also looked down at Elise quietly.

Then suddenly.

“A tiger’s offspring is still a tiger. Even if they are driven to a cliff, they will definitely survive. That is their instinct.”

He spoke softly and turned around. Elise saw a faint smile on his profile.

Of course, his father seems proud of his achievements today.

“… … I didn’t do it alone.”

Elise grabbed him. Gen’s steps became firm.

“If it weren’t for Zion, I would have died. He helped me-”

“Let’s pretend we didn’t hear that.”

That was the end.

Gen left, and Elise was left alone in the main hall of the hospital. She looked around blankly and then quickly picked up her smartphone.

“Oh, right. Yes.”

I called Raye.

Dooroo- Dooroo-

A few signals.

─… …Ellie, why?

The voice we heard afterwards from Raye was very wet.

“Are you okay?”

─… … It’s okay.

It’s not okay at all.

I guess you’ve been crying for a while now.

* * *

Weekend. As the chaos of the Void Terror subsides, I head to the World Series of Poker 4th qualifying round.

Before I just took the bus, but today it was a limousine.

“… … The treatment is quite nice.”

It’s not even an ordinary limousine. There are a lot of snacks inside, and there are also some opponent analysis files.

“Please read it.”

The problem is, there’s a rather scary person next to me.

Beckman.

Jahanna is the balancer of Libra.

“Is there really any need to read it?”

“If you know yourself, you will be undefeated in a hundred battles. If you familiarize yourself with it in advance, it will help you win.”

“… … .”

Beckman is a guy I know. He’s a really tricky guy. He’s infinitely loyal to Jahanna, but because of that, his brain melts, and he ends up betraying her and getting killed.

It’s a stalker story about someone who wants to bring down Jahanna and monopolize her.

“What is that?”

I read through the document. I wrote down the names of my opponents, their habits, their quirks, everything in a “notepad.”

In the 4th qualifying round, a total of 36 people will play six games, and only the top 6 chip players will advance to the official round.

“… … Have you read it all already?”

“yes.”

Beckman pursed his lips. He was a man who couldn’t keep a poker face. That’s why he got dumped.

“Can I take the test?”

“as you please.”

He listened to the analysis file.

“Ben.”

“33 years old. Male. Usually explores in the early stages, makes a bet in the middle, and just keeps the stakes in the later stages. His facial expression never changes. If he doesn’t have a good hand, he’s the type to throw quickly rather than bluff.”

I said, looking at the “notepad” in the air.

I’m very familiar with this type of cheat sheet.

“Jaco.”

“25 years old. Female. The beginning and middle are breathtaking, but the second half is a reversal… … .”

I also recited the names of all 35 participants, and Beckman nodded with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.

“Yes, you passed.”

I don’t know who you are to say things like pass or fail, but whatever.

First of all, it’s a balancer.

In fact, the fact that this kind of person became a balancer is proof that the succession structure is tight, but I have to understand that he will be kicked out someday.

* * *

I arrived at the 4th preliminary round.

Unlike the first to third preliminary rounds, it was full-fledged. There were seats on the upper floor balcony, and the interior was as flashy as an actual casino. There were no windows, and no clocks.

The guide spoke first.

“Please sit down.”

There were six tables. I sat at the one with my name on it.

[Zion Ascal]

“It’s about to start. Don’t worry too much about the guests coming in. Just watch.”

I looked around my table. There were quite a few people who looked like they were experts. Each person had a tie, ribbon, bow tie, or something to accent their outfit, and I could tell which family they were from by the color.

I’m wearing a blue tie right now.

“Please prepare yourselves. The fourth preliminary round will begin soon.”

The dealer appeared at the table. A few people were sitting on the balcony. I glanced at them and quickly lowered my gaze.

Jahanna.

Even though he is wearing a mask, the presence he exudes is of a different level.

She, the eldest daughter of Libra, is the embodiment of money who runs the largest casino, dozens of department stores, and high-end luxury brands, and she is here ‘in person’… … .

* * *

4th preliminary round.

Jahanna, sitting in the VIP section of the balcony, is really annoyed by the mafia guys sitting next to her.

By the way, the mafia and the cartel are a little different.

While the cartels are the scum of the underworld who make a living from criminal activities like drugs, looting, murder, and contract work, the mafia is the ones who have come out of the shadows and entered the casino business.

After all, birth itself is the same.

Therefore, to Jahanna, the mafia is both an enemy and an ally, a rival who covets each other’s territory and money…

“You brought a rookie player with you, Princess Jahanna.”

A consigliere, or executive, of the mafia opened his mouth. Jahanna snickered.

“There is such a thing as beginner’s luck.”

“Haha. Isn’t that not something that suits a gambler?”

“… … .”

Jahanna watched the table in silence.

Zion Ascal. Only one out of 36 is a Libra player.

“They said that if you don’t make it to the finals, you’ll get 300 million renminbi.”

The consigliere next to me was quite talkative. Jahanna responded expressionlessly.

“If you make it to the finals, you’ll get 300 million Renminbi.”

The fourth preliminary round had just begun.

Actually, Jahanna didn’t have any high expectations.

Even if you can get through the first to third stages with luck, from the fourth stage onwards it’s a fight only for true experts.

Jahanna looked at table number three of Zion Askal.

“Well. By the way. Table number 3? You’re really unlucky. You were given a bad table from the start.”

The male consigliere raised an eyebrow.

“Jericho, Tommel, Cassano, Derian, and Pencil. Only five of the elites are gathered here.”

That’s true in reality.

It’s clear that the mafia are plotting something. Only the best players who wouldn’t be surprised if they were to enter the round right away are gathered at the table of Sion Ascal.

“It’s a death trap that even Jahanna can’t get through… … ”

I want to kill this guy who keeps nagging.

If I get 300 million Ren, should I ask for this guy’s neck instead of 100 million Ren?

Good idea.

“Your Majesty, Jahanna. The game begins now.”

“Okay, then just shut up.”

“Haha. Yeah. What.”

Jahanna watched with indifferent eyes.

I tried my best not to expect too much, because I knew I would be disappointed if I expected too much.

“Oh~ They keep dying. I guess I can’t read their expressions very well.”

Zion Ascal died three times in a row at the beginning. The consigliere was talking like a madman.

By any chance, is this guy risking his life? Is he expecting me to get mad and kill him?

At that moment, I was gritting my teeth and trying to suppress my murderous intent.

[4: Zion Ascal wins.]

[Acquire 1 million chips]

In the fourth game, Sion Ascal won. The consigliere of the mafia smiled bitterly.

“… … You’re lucky.”

“joy.”

Jahanna leaned back in her chair.

At first, she thought she was lucky.

but…….

[5: Zion Ascal Victory]

In the fifth game, Sion Ascal also won.

[6: Zion Ascal Victory]

The sixth game was the same.

“… … What.”

The consigliere looked slightly embarrassed, and Jahanna glanced at him and grinned.

“I guess I’m pretty lucky.”

I died quickly in the seventh game, but I won the ninth and tenth rounds.

He won five of the first ten games.

“Hey. Speak up.”

At that moment, the tables were turned. The consigliere kept his mouth shut, and Jahanna patted him and smiled.

“Hey, you idiot. Tell me. Do you think you’ll get five rounds of luck?”

“… … It might be like that in the beginning, you know. If you pop the champagne too soon at the gambling table-”

[11: Zion Ascal Victory]

The consigliere bowed her head.

“under!”

Jahanna also smiled broadly and tilted her head. She looked into the eyes of the consigliere who had lowered her head.

“Say it again. What did you say? What did you say──?”