The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 20



Only Krnovel

Episode 20

It’s coming in.

Once again, waves of uncontrollable memories enveloped my head.

Although memories are inherently a product of the past, the memories that were troubling my mind contained both the past and the future.

Twella slowly opened her eyes.

Now I’m used to it and it doesn’t bother me.

The things that would happen in the future, the events that would occur, were not surprising.

Emotions become dull and the mind becomes dull.

Still, I never lost my sense of purpose.

I retrieved the loosened rope and wrapped the worn-out blanket around my body. I leaned against the warehouse wall and pretended to sleep for ten minutes.

“Why are you sleeping in a place like this?”

A visionary has appeared.

Hyodan.

A goblin who has acquired the karma of a son.

Although it was their first real meeting, Twella knew everything about the goblin in front of her. His tastes, his personality, and what he wanted.

“Yeah, I like it here.”

He spoke in an awkward tone.

The ascetic standing behind Hyodan approached with a lantern. He whispered something to Hyodan, probably personal information about the human named Twella.

“What a talented kid.”

Hyo-dan approached, bending down.

A dazzlingly beautiful woman.

A goblin that Quilbian once loved.

“Don’t you get lonely when you’re alone?”

“I’d rather be lonely than be hit by kids.”

“Oh, my. Why do you think those kids hit you?”

“I was punished for saying something bad. That shouldn’t have happened.”

“What did you say?”

Hyo-dan’s expression was compassionate. It was a gentle smile that seemed to forgive any sin.

Twella thought it was really fleeting, and crouched down as much as possible.

“Don’t be afraid. I can take care of your sins.”

“Really?”

“Okay. Okay, then tell me with your own mouth.”

“… … He said he felt disgusted when he saw the sun.”

“The sun is disgusting, huh? Do you still think so?”

“no!”

This shitty acting had to end quickly, so Twella had to try not to let out a dull sigh.

“Be honest with me. Twella, I want to hear your true feelings.”

As Hyo-dan gestured, the ascetics standing behind him stepped back into the distance.

“It’s just the two of us now. So you can tell me your secrets.”

“… … I kept thinking it was gross. Am I wrong? Should I drop out?”

As he answered, he released a little of the nack he had hidden deep inside. Hyo-dan’s pupils dilated slightly.

“No, no. You told the truth. Telling the truth is a noble act.”

“Even though I said the sun was dirty?”

“It can happen. Anyone can be swayed by evil thoughts. There is nothing wrong with that in itself.”

Hyo-dan held out his hand.

“I will lead you to the right path. There is light in you. It is a very brilliant light. If you refine that light, you will be able to wear the black robes and even undergo the awakening ceremony.”

Here it comes, the conman’s words.

Twella raised his voice, laughing inwardly.

“Really? Can I really get the black robe?”

“Yes, Twella. You will be qualified. My eyes are very special.”

I felt Hyo-dan’s sharp blade pierce my body.

It was the kind of look one would have when checking whether slaughtered meat was spoiled or fresh.

Twella left herself free to observe him to her heart’s content. Even if Hyodan used magic to look inside her, she would not be able to find the hidden Naq.

because.

Because that’s fate.

It was a memory I had seen countless times.

Finding this place was sometimes a pleasure, and sometimes a struggle.

They all wanted me, they looked at me, they drooled at me.

In the hundreds and thousands of waves of memories, Nak was never discovered even once.

That’s for sure.

They are inferior to me.

If I had moved my hand even now, I could have chopped off Hyo-dan’s head and that filthy body.

With the cutting power of the wind that Twella possessed, it was a very easy task.

But I endured it.

Because that too is a fate that has already been decided.

“Oh, I see you’re flustered because it happened so suddenly. It’s okay, that’s understandable. I understand, so you can be happy, honestly.”

Hyo-dan reached out and caressed her cheek.

Did the sight of someone being overcome by an inescapable fate look like joy and surprise to the goblin’s eyes?

This was also a sight I had seen countless times.

are you okay.

Because we will overcome it in the end.

I can’t change the ending, but I can adjust the process leading up to the ending to my taste.

That’s fine.

Then I can remain happy.

In an instant, a field of flowers covered in gray passed before my eyes.

Twella shut her eyes tightly, shuddering. She thought she had become numb, but facing the end was still a scary thing.

Hyo-dan came and hugged me.

A hug that doesn’t feel warm.

Even though it was disgusting, I reached out and hugged her.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Everything will be okay now. I will lead you.”

“thank you.”

“I will be by your side from now on. Oh, I forgot to tell you my name.”

Twella pulled away slightly and waved his hand.

“Oh, how can you tell the name of the Seer to an ordinary student like me… … .”

“You’re not a regular cadet anymore. My name is Hyo-dan. Would you like to call me by my name?”

Hyo-dan openly made a seal with his left hand. It seemed to be some kind of magic that was activated when the target mentioned his name.

It didn’t matter.

No matter what kind of magic containing salt flies in, it won’t have any effect.

“Hyo-dan.”

“good job.”

I felt the Nak seeping into my left ankle. Was it some kind of surveillance magic? It wasn’t a great magic.

“Come on, let’s get up.”

I returned to the area where the living quarters were densely packed, holding Hyo-dan’s hand. I saw ascetics waiting in the open space.

There was also Altera in it.

They exchanged glances briefly to confirm each other’s safety.

Twella was relieved.

Yeah, that’ll do.

“Now that the problem has been resolved, everyone, please return to your seats. And take good care of this child.”

Altera stepped forward slightly. Twella also stood next to Altera.

“Twella, I’ll come back tomorrow. Until then, take care, okay?”

“Yes, Hyo-dan.”

As Hyo-dan turned around, the ascetics with their backs up followed him. The other ascetics who had been gathered together also dispersed and returned to their respective dormitories.

Altera asked, taking a step forward.

“Is there anything I should know?”

“No. It’s just as I saw it. Nothing will change. What about you?”

“Quilvian did it, just as you said. I decided to teach him the magic.”

“Good job.”

“What’s meant to happen, happens, that’s the greatness of destiny.”

It was Altera who walked ahead, sticking out his tongue. Twella stared at his back.

Who is that person?

In the memories that were being torn apart, Altera’s appearance was always changing. It was strange. Sometimes she was a man, sometimes she was a woman.

Yet the name was always the same.

What on earth is a human being who changes within a fixed destiny?

In the first place… … .

“Mr. Ascetic.”

“huh?”

“Is this person?”

“Didn’t that argument end a few days ago? Think about it rationally. If I were a goblin, I would already… … .”

“No, I never suspected you were a goblin.”

“then?”

“… … It’s frustrating not knowing that.”

“What on earth did you see with those eyes? I have no idea what you saw that made you say that about me.”

Twella kept her mouth shut.

You must not say it.

I also saw this from memory.

The moment you speak, everything changes drastically. To the point where your vivid memories of the past and future become greatly distorted.

The ending is the same, but the content leading up to the ending becomes more miserable.

That had to be stopped.

Altera shrugged.

“It doesn’t matter if you doubt me. After all, I’m just a supporting actor. I’ll just go along with your actions.”

“It might not be a supporting role.”

“No, I am not loved by fate as much as you are. So I cannot be the main character. That is for sure.”

“How can you be sure?”

At that question, Altera frowned.

“that…….”

I run my finger over my eyebrows. The man in front of me looks down at the ground as if he is thinking deeply, then smiles.

“I don’t know why I thought that. Actually, I don’t remember much from outside these days. That’s why I’m a little scared. Like you said, there could be a ‘me that’s not me’ inside here.”

Altera’s index finger pointed to her heart.

“But what can I do? You won’t answer, and I don’t remember very well. So I have to focus on the moment, on the present.”

“Do you want me to answer?”

Altera shook her head firmly.

“If you hesitate, it means you have already seen your fate. Then don’t tell me. There is no need to drag me out. I am content with a supporting role.”

“Go and sleep quickly,” said Altera, pointing to the dormitory.

Twella looked at the fourth floor of the Friendship House where Quilbian was for a moment, then turned around.

*

“Good news and bad news. I’ve prepared one each. Which one do you want to hear first?”

That’s what Altera said as soon as she woke up.

Quillvin rubbed his eyes and replied.

“Is the good news good enough to cover up the bad news?”

“It may be true for me, but it may not be true for you.”

“Then I’ll hear the good news first.”

“Hmm? Given the mood, I thought you’d tell me the bad news first.”

“It’s better to eat the bitter stuff later.”

Altera pointed out the window. I stood up and looked outside. The cadets preparing for the morning cleaning were moving around the yard.

“No child was caught. What you are worried about will not happen.”

“That’s good. I don’t want to see my kids die again. So what’s the bad news?”

Altera said, tilting her neck from side to side.

“I won’t be able to see Twella again.”

“Yes? Why?”

“Because I was transferred to a special class.”

“Special class?”

“Oh, you don’t know the name. You just call them ‘special children’?”

Special children.

What that meant was clear.

“You’re going west.”

“Yes. You will learn magic with the other children in the special cage.”

“farm?”

Alteria had a look of surprise on her face, but soon returned to her calm expression.

“I guess the name doesn’t really matter now. This is the primary work area where we select materials like you. And to the west is a special breeding ground. There, we teach children with outstanding Nak.”

“Why do goblins do such dangerous things? When they learn sorcery and the brainwashing that the ascetic said wears off… … .”

“Those who are under special management are subject to even stronger restrictions. There’s no need to worry about them being released.”

Altera approached from the side.

“If we put a strong gold standard on everyone here, it would be easier to manage, but the specialness of the materials would disappear. Neglecting them is part of the process of becoming more sophisticated. That’s why I said fate. If the gravity of fate hadn’t worked and you two hadn’t met me… … .”

I could tell without even hearing the aftermath.

He would have been dragged out to an empty lot and beaten to death by cadets.

Or maybe they were caught in a powerful spell and ended up as material without realizing anything.

“Twella will do well. He didn’t even get caught by the Seer. That means he hid the Narc perfectly.”

“… … What should I do? I can’t just sit there dumb.”

“For the time being, I’ll just spend my days reminiscing about my foolish past. Until I’m ready.”

“How about practicing sorcery?”

“Just come here during your break time. Never do it inside the dorms.”

Altera pointed to his forearm.

“You said that thread was a stopgap measure, right? If you use Nak carelessly, it might come loose. So keep that in mind.”

“Okay, I’ll be quiet.”

“… … That’s not a very reliable answer.”

“I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t do anything that would get me in trouble.”

“Then that’s good.”

Quilbian packed his clothes and opened the door.

It’s time to go back to the room where Drich is waiting.

(Continued in next episode)