Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 71



Only Krnovel

＃Returner’s Notepad Episode 71

Hanging Garden (1)

Monday morning.

Clem Hall in Week 4 of College Board First Quarter.

“… … “Hmm.”

No one is surprised when I show up at Cleham Hall anymore, but today’s scene is quite unusual.

Kane and Escher were separated after a fight, and Elise was reading a hardcover book, taking notes.

I was curious about what they were so passionate about, so I enlarged it with the SZX-9500… … .

Isn’t that my [Bard] script?

“nice to meet.”

Then Chadrek appeared. It was 9 o’clock sharp as always.

Does that guy have a clock on his head?

“It’s week 4 of College Board, and I’ll start my assignments right away on Monday. The title of the project is ‘Experience and Art.’”

Then many groans rose up like sighs. It was a very tiring task.

“For today.”

Even today.

From the current time 9:03 until midnight.

Just before the seniors almost lost their minds at the word, which means a total of 14 hours and 57 minutes.

“Go on a trip to Edsilla.”

A statement that bewilders everyone in Clem Hall.

travel?

“… … .”

I was in a daze. Kane and Escher instinctively looked for each other and growled again. Raye was sleeping with her face buried in her desk. Elise seemed to be contemplating her destination with her hand resting on her chin, and Soliet, the walkie-talkie who safely escaped from her restaurant early this morning, turned on her smartphone.

Gerken… … He took out his Endex library card from his magnetic card wallet.

But he tried to find his travel destination at the library.

“The journey you will undertake today is an ‘experience’ among ‘experience and art.’”

This next thing is important.

It’s just a journey, it could be hell from there.

“’Art’ is something that expresses the ‘experience’ beautifully. Writing such as an essay or travelogue is okay, a painting is okay, a composition is okay, and a photo or video is okay. “To transform the experience into some form of art.”

To put it simply, it means to travel and embellish your impressions.

Fortunately, this time it seems to be a task that has nothing to do with actual combat.

Chadrek looked at his watch and said.

“It’s 9:20. Gather your own data and set off. “Assignments must be submitted to the Endex University Association office by this Friday.”

The seniors looked at each other and stood up one by one.

I sat down and thought about it.

travel.

There were many places I visited before returning, but there was nothing that could really be called a trip. It was more like work.

So, which travel destination would I want to keep as art?

“Hmm.”

No matter how much you think about it, there is no place like that.

Instead, there are places you just want to go.

A place I desperately want to go to.

A place where you want to go and destroy the ground, set fires, and cut off heads.

Libra’s original family.

Hanging Garden.

After all, there is no other way.

“okay.”

I got up. By chance, I made eye contact with Solliet, but we didn’t pretend to know each other… … .

She gave me a slight nod.

It was a very faint eye greeting, no, it was a chin greeting. I thought to myself as I watched her walk out.

Isn’t this a violation of the contract?

Anyway, I also left Clem Hall.

Tiring-

The smartphone rang.

[Tori: Where are you going?]

It was a text message from a stranger.

“Hey~ Shion~!”

At that time, Raye, who seemed to have woken up, ran towards me. Having dyed her hair black again, she waved a script print as she looked at me.

But why is this printed? Elise is a hardcover book.

“This script~ Can you give me some more lines~?”

“There are enough.”

“Hey~”

Tiring- I received a text message from Elise again.

[Torai: Go and see a play. I will also come see musicals and plays.]

I think it’s because of the bard, but does he suddenly feel a sense of belonging? Why do you work so hard and get tired?

[Tori: I recommend the Galparam Opera House. I don’t even know where you are.]

I replied.

[ㄷㅊ]

[Thorai: The most highly rated play these days is Bellaso’s Ho.]

[Torai: What? What? Are you crazy?]

“Don’t do that~ Just one more line~”

“Move.”

“Ahh!”

I pushed Raye away and left Cleam Hall straight away.

But when I think about it, I don’t have any cash. Because of the nightly surcharge on taxi fares.

I rummaged through my pockets.

“what is this?”

A couple of casino chips were caught.

“ah.”

These are leftovers from the last assignment.

I quietly looked back. Raye was glaring at me with a sullen face.

“… … what. why.”

“Give me some money. “Transportation expenses”

“What! “I don’t like it!”

“I’ll give you one more line.”

“… … .”

Raye then thought for a moment and took out some cash. There were three bills.

“ruler! Are you giving me one more line?”

“of course. “Keep your promise.”

I was startled when I tried to insert the bill. I thought it was 10 ren, but it was 100 ren.

There was no sign of where Raye had already gone. I muttered in bewilderment.

“… … “He’s really rich.”

Thanks to you, I can take a taxi.

* * *

It’s floating in the air, so it’s in the air.

When you look up from the ground, it looks like a large garden.

Additionally, the Hanging Garden is Libra’s home.

“It’s big. also.”

I looked up and muttered.

Actually, true to form, the Hanging Garden is a city that is like Libra’s territory. Edsilla is prohibited from owning fiefdom, no matter how great the noble, but since the law is limited to ‘ground’, Libra created land in the air and legally owned fiefdom. A huge territory with an area of ​​13㎢ and a population of 40,000.

It’s one of my bucket list.

Dropping this hanging garden and plunging it deep into the mantle.

… … Of course, civilian casualties should be kept to the minimum possible.

“The elevator fee is 50 ren.”

To enter the Hanging Garden, you must first take the ‘Libra Elevator’ that goes up to the Hanging Garden.

The entrance fee is 50 ren. They don’t even check IDs.

“ruler. “Everyone can go in.”

Wow~ Wow~ I got into the elevator with a lot of tourists on the street.

A spacious and transparent elevator that can accommodate up to 300 people at a time.

As the sky gets closer and the earth gets farther away, parents, children, and lovers are the happy faces of the world.

Ding-

Tourists rushing out as soon as the door opens.

“again… … “It did come.”

I stood still and looked at the other side. The sun and clouds were in front of me. The daytime moon was as clear as a biscuit.

The scenery at 3,333m above sea level was truly worth seeing.

“Has it been 5 years?”

The Hanging Garden was always open like this, but I couldn’t come here often before I returned.

I was caught planning a terrorist attack and was blacklisted.

Isn’t that too much?

Anyway, the Hanging Garden is divided into a total of six areas. From District 5 to District 1, to the Libra clan’s mansion, which is equivalent to District 0.

It looks just like an onion.

The outskirts are a typical cityscape, and as you get closer to the center, it becomes more glamorous, but from District 2 onwards, it becomes secretive and magical again, and District 1 and the main mansion have never been revealed to the media.

In particular, Area 0 is literally a space only for ‘blood relatives’, so anyone who is not a confidant recognized by Libra, a family elder, or a close relative can even enter.

“… … “There are so many people.”

On the other hand, in District 5, the outermost area where I am currently standing, most people are tourists because there is no ID check.

As such, the Hanging Garden is quite a famous tourist destination. Just looking down from the air is quite thrilling, and there are many things to do, including the monorail, parks, restaurants, cafes, clubs, hotels, swimming pools, etc.

But my destination isn’t just District 5.

I took the monorail and arrived at the entrance to District 4.

“Id, please.”

From here, your ID will be checked, but a student ID will be sufficient.

“An index student ID is okay too, right?”

“yes. “Show me.”

The guard in District 4 only noticed whether the student ID was forged and nodded.

“yes. Confirmed. “Please come in.”

District 4 is similar to District 5, but is more upscale. Luxury select shops, department stores, 5-star hotels, casinos, apartments, luxury mansions, etc. That’s why travelers with money come and go often.

Most people who live in the Floating Garden, that is, whose address itself is the Floating Garden, live in this 4th district, but my destination is not even here.

I continued walking until I reached the entrance to District 3.

“Stop.”

The guard in District 3 was a knight. He looked my face up and down.

“What is the purpose?”

“I am a senior at Endex. “I’m working on an assignment.”

I held out my Endex student ID. The knight asked back.

“… … assignment?”

“yes. Experience the brilliance of Libra-”

“impossible.”

He refused without even listening. Huoi waved his hand with a stern look on his face.

“Go back.”

“… … yes.”

Well, you can’t go in anyway if you waste your time. There are no shortcuts here. Unlike Endex, if you force yourself over the fence, you will be shot immediately.

It’s a pity, but I guess I’ll just kill myself in area 4, draw a picture, and then head down.

A luxury car passed in front of me as I turned and walked.

“Loyalty!”

Afterwards, the sound of cheers rang out from the gate of District 3. I glanced over there.

The driver who sent me away was talking to a luxury car.

“Oh, yes! “They say they’re here to do an assignment at Endex!”

It seems like he’s talking about me, but the knight’s head, which was stiff just moments ago, is almost on the verge of touching the ground.

“yes! He said he had come to experience the splendor of Libra!”

Even cold sweat pours down his face.

“Yes, I understand. “Student, student!”

Soon he pointed at me.

“Come here!”

I went back there and stood next to the car. It was the royal class sedan ‘Cath Royce’.

The car body reflects the sunlight so brightly that it is difficult to open your eyes. What kind of fluorescent light is this?

“Is there a problem?”

When I asked, wheeeeee—— the backseat window vibrated menacingly and slowly lowered.

I looked inside without thinking and my back became stiff. Her eyes opened wide. The dantian wriggled almost as if by instinct.

The man in the backseat seemed to like my reaction and smiled faintly.

“It was you, after all.”

All-white hair pulled up without missing a single strand, pure white skin as if the melanin had disappeared, and sharp features and jawline as if they had been cut with a chisel.

A man literally like a statue.

“Well, was this a student that Lord Jade knew?”

The guard from District 3 said that damn name.

Jade.

The owner of the Limto mine and Libra’s second son.

“okay. In the mine… … .”

He paused.

Could it be that Bellingham heard about what I did in the mine?

I swallowed my saliva. Jade must have felt pitiful at that sight and said with a smile.

“They applauded me very enthusiastically.”

“… … .”

Anyway, there is no way he would have received a report or something. Bellingham must have handled it in his own way.

“okay. “You came to experience Libra’s splendor?”

Jade asked that.

“yes.”

I answered briefly. Jade raised her eyebrows. As if anticipating the next words to come out of my mouth.

Of course I know what he wants.

Because I am so obsessed and obsessed with Libra that I have collected even the most trivial information. Because I and my “Notepad” know their tendencies and habits, not only their present and past, but also their ‘future’.

“But… … .”

I thought intensely.

Nevertheless, this is something I truly do not want to say. This is flattery that makes my heart scream.

… … Looking back, it was because of this petty pride.

An orphan without parents. He died without achieving anything due to his petty pride and the fact that he had nothing.

Torn like flies.

Now, that wasn’t supposed to be the case.

“Whoa… … .”

I took a deep breath. I poured out all the rotten things in my heart.

Pride is outdated. In order to achieve what you want, you must let go.

therefore… … .

Now I have to speak sincerely.

“That splendor has now appeared before my eyes.”

“… … under.”

Then Jade laughed. She shook her head as if she was dumbfounded. “This is something that can’t be helped,” he sighed.

“That’s pathetic. “You found brilliance by looking at me in this great hanging garden?”

They say so, but no one likes one-dimensional flattery as much as Jade. He especially loves compliments about his looks and business.

Because appearance is the only thing that is perfect for you.

Business is always a mess.

“Hagiya. “I’m much better than that myeloid or gambling addict.”

The eldest son, Jedric, would be the myeloid patient, and the eldest daughter, Jahanna, would be the gambling addict.

Indeed, they are brothers and sisters who hate each other every chance they get.

“Get in. “I’ll let you in to area 2.”

At that moment, a person got out of the passenger seat. He guided me to the passenger seat, which had been his seat until just now.

“Get on.”

“No, no need to-”

“Get on.”

“… … yes.”

I didn’t even plan on getting a car.

I climbed to Caithrois. The interior of the mansion was enormous. The back seat was much more spacious than it looked from the outside, and the ceiling was dotted with stars.

“Let’s go.”

“Loyalty!”

The guard saluted and opened the gate to Area 3.

I stared intently at the scenery of the floating garden revealed beyond the magic bulkhead.