Book 4 Chapter 13

Episode 87

In the world, black magic organizations are known to be unified under a single purpose and order, but in reality, half of that is wrong and half is right.

While there were groups of petty criminals who roughly learned basic black magic and imitated black mages, there were also elite groups gathered under a council called the Black Church (黑敎會).

The group led by Tureina was one of the latter. Of course, that doesn't mean they actively communicate or cooperate with other groups.

[Livadin was defeated?]

When Shadow #5 asked in a surprised voice, Shadow #1 nodded.

[He was annihilated along with the Special Affairs Department mages who were lying in wait. Tyrintid was among them.]

Tyrintid…

He was a considerably strong mage, but he wouldn't have been skilled enough to defeat Livadin.

[Was Tyrintid a martial arts type? How else could he have dealt with Livadin's chains….]

[Since he's also dead, there's no way to find out.]

[This is troublesome. Number 8 was also killed by the head of the Special Affairs Department. Now, including us, there are only four members left.]

Then, Shadow #4, who was humming and caressing an ominous doll, chuckled.

[It's quiet and nice, why?]

[This is no time for jokes. Balensidius will soon go to the Papacy.]

At that moment, a puff of tobacco smoke was exhaled, creating a powerful ripple in the flow of magic. As if submitting to that overwhelming power, everyone fell silent.

"Livadin was annihilated while dealing with the rookies from the Special Affairs Department…"

With a long pipe in her mouth, Tureina deeply pondered the report Balensidius had given, then the next moment, she stared directly at Balensidius.

"Those words, I can trust them, can't I?"

A pressure that felt like all the veins in his body were tightening, an overwhelming presence that made his spine straighten like a doll pierced by wire.

Despite his physical body being far away in <Delighten>, Balensidius's body was instantly drenched in cold sweat.

In that magical storm, where even breathing seemed to twist, Balensidius lowered his head with an air of composure.

[How could I tell a lie?]

Silence hung in the air for a long time.

A gaze, as if probing his soul, lingered on Balensidius's eyes.

Only after the heat rising from the long pipe subsided did Tureina open her mouth again.

"And the child, Rain Ludwig?"

[As a result of observing him throughout the final exams, I could confirm his immense talent, but it wasn't enough to defeat Ribeni.]

"Is that so?"

Tureina, who seemed to be lost in thought for a moment with the long pipe in her mouth, suddenly sensed a presence and nodded.

"Then let's meet next time. At the Papacy itself. Until then, avoid any suspicious actions. This will be our last regular contact."

Starting with Balensidius disappearing with a bow, shadows #4, #5, and #7 vanished one after another. Only then did Tureina look over her shoulder.

"What is it?"

Following light footsteps brushing through the darkness of the ruined temple, a girl with short dark blue hair walked out briskly.

"We'll have to pull off a big heist soon, so I figured Tureina might need some help, so I came~!"

Her appearance was that of a ten-year-old girl.

The innocent smile blooming on her face also made her seem unmistakably ten years old, but in reality, she was a monster who had lived for hundreds of years.

'One of the three pillars that have led the Black Church… Ellamas.'

Even Tureina herself couldn't discern the limits of the power this monster wielded.

"I'll handle it myself. I don't need your help."

"Aw~ there you go again. No need to play hard to get. We need to retrieve Rin's body, but our forces have been cut in half, you know."

"They were all expendable pieces from the start. It doesn't matter how many died or how many are alive."

Then, she quietly approached like a snake and gently reached for her master's long pipe. But Tureina immediately emitted magic irritably and drove her away.

"Don't touch my belongings carelessly."

"Ahahaha~! Good, good, this playing hard to get is Tureina's charm, you know."

These disgusting things…

Every time I face them, I feel like gagging, but I just need to endure a little longer.

'Once I awaken my master, I'll wipe them all out and burn them to ashes along with him…'

You might think you're using me, but it's the exact opposite. I'm using you.

"Then just say the word if you ever need help~! I'll come running right away for cute Tureina!"

Afterwards, if I just explain that it was all for this plan, I'll be able to nullify the excommunication order from the Church.

And once again with my master…

* * *

"Pipi, look at this! This!"

As soon as he returned to the dorm, he made a fuss. He was so intoxicated by the power of this stone that he couldn't even remember how the party ended.

"Do you know what this is? Hehe, curious?"

Pipi, who was sleeping in the cage, slowly opened her eyes, then turned her body as if uninterested and closed them again. Rain spun the cage around.

"Curious? This, you know, it's a Black Yangrin! It's a memento of Emitza Page!"

"…"

"Hehe, aren't you jealous? Jealous? Hehehehe."

Then he flopped onto the bed. To ensure the Black Yangrin wouldn't break or get lost, he wrapped it with a thin chain and hung it around his neck.

He merely had it on his body, but he could feel the flow of qi filling and circulating throughout him.

To be able to clearly feel in everyday life a sensation usually only experienced when meditating in the lotus position to train magic power.

Such things feel different when seen as numbers, so he immediately summoned Rudiyen.

Gustaba: Objectifies the practitioner's physical state into mathematical values.

ㆍPillars; Current magic power: 39,412.

His magic power, which was roughly in the low 30,000s, had jumped by almost 10,000. It was an explosion of roughly a quarter of its value, leaving him speechless.

Brante.

- New magic circuit connection confirmed: ???

>>>

Camitishia.

Analyzing the circuit…

ㆍ If circuit connection is maintained, 'Active Magic Power Recovery' will activate in the practitioner's main node.

ㆍ Magic power recovery per hour: 3,941 (1\/10 of the practitioner's current magic power)

ㆍ If the circuit connection is broken, the 'Active Magic Power Recovery' ability will be deactivated.

It's incredible, truly incredible.

With meditation, he could recover all his magic power within 4-5 hours. This means magic power would recover even during combat.

Socrafres.

- You can inherit the progress of 'Unique Magic' research from the surrounding environment.

- Progress: 49.2%.

Perhaps thanks to genuinely fighting Livadin and Balensidius this time, the unique magic progress was already nearing 50%.

What kind of bonus would be given when it reached 50%? As expected, just thinking about rewards was thrilling.

But Balensidius, as his face came to mind, his head, full of excitement, cooled down.

'I should have somehow interrogated Livadin this time to find out who their leader was.'

He knew about my cross-dressing, he knew the techniques I used (the magic circle for Chains of Respect is not recorded in any history book)…

Who could it be?

Although it's a fact only known by party members, hadn't Lista, Kies, Friede, and Tureina all died?

'Could it be Tureina's legacy?'

If he thought that way, it did fit. He died recently, so if he created Ribeni and Livadin before dying…

'But isn't human alchemy black magic?'

But then again, considering that the 'Children of Gold' are furiously chasing Tureina's footsteps, the puzzle pieces fit once more.

I don't want to believe it.

I don't want to, but…

No, perhaps those who borrowed the power of the 'Lord of Time' might have spied on my past self.

My aunt also said that Tureina's book was merely used… there's no need to hastily suspect a disciple, is there?

'He was a kid who listened to my words so well. He couldn't have forgotten my earnest admonition not to dabble in black magic, no way.'

More than anything, I just don't know what they intend to do with my soul, but there's no need to worry about the outcome. My soul is already in this body.

"Pipi."

"Pipi, sleepy, sleepy. Rin, quiet."

"Do you remember what it was like when you parted with Tureina?"

It was a question asked without much thought, but Pipi trembled slightly, then opened her mouth after a brief silence.

"Pipi, Tureina bad. Tureina, often fought with Friede. Friede, sometimes cried. Rin, so Pipi doesn't like Tureina."

A tremendous shock passed through him in that instant.

"…That insolent kid talked back to Friede? Why?"

That tomboy dared to talk back to her sky-like master?

This really crossed the line, didn't it?

To not even be able to repay the grace of being taught and raised in my stead over a lifetime… If I had been there, it wouldn't have ended with just a slap on the head.

"Can't say, Pipi can't say."

"Why, tell me. It's okay."

"Won't say. Friede said, don't tell Rin. Pipi, won't say."

He was so dumbfounded that for a moment, blood rushed to his head, causing a headache.

Tureina, that kid, really…

It was something he was truly curious about, but Pipi always prioritized Friede's words, so no matter how much more he pressed, he wouldn't get an answer.

'First, keep in mind the fact that Tureina went a bit wild in her later years.'

That way, even if he hears shocking information later, his mind won't collapse. It's always good to assume the worst-case scenario.

He just hoped such a thing wouldn't happen.

So, the only one he can get information from now is Balensidius? How should he interrogate that guy to make it known that he got good information?

'But that guy, seeing him use magic in the final exams, he really isn't an ordinary fellow…'

Since there were fewer than fifty students in the third year, all final exams concluded on Friday afternoon.

Balensidius, as he had for three years, took the top student position with overwhelming scores. Both the head and assistant professors gave him perfect scores.

But seeing how he dealt with Livadin last time, it seemed he wasn't the leader. The more he thought about it, the more it became a maze.

'Still, having acquired the Black Yangrin this time, I've powered up properly…'

It shouldn't be too difficult to devise a strategy to deal with him.

* * *

Before long, as the morning of the next day dawned, it was time to part ways with his family.

The North Gate (北門) of <Goldenrose> was bustling with magic-world figures returning to various parts of the Empire, but the escorts of the Ludwig family, a powerful house, were large in scale and grand in appearance, making them easy to spot.

The family's escort knight, Swan, recognized Rain and Elin and immediately saluted.

The private soldiers, who were packing luggage, also saluted in succession, but strangely, they were all grinning.

"Long time no see, Swan."

"Have you been well, young master?"

Elin, who had been yawning sluggishly beside him, narrowed her eyes at the soldiers' smiling faces.

"What happened yesterday? Why are they all so excited?"

"It's because the heir of a famous family became the top student. Some even won five gold coins in a drinking bet."

Then a young soldier shouted, "Thank you very much, young master!" and a wave of laughter soon erupted among the soldiers.

"Oh my, oh my, oh my! You're all amazing, aren't you? Coming all the way to the demonic realm just to gamble. If you were going to bet, you should have bet big and earned more."

"Twenty silver coins were my entire fortune! I'll bet it all on the second semester's final exams and definitely increase it!"

"Okay, received. I'll help you get a house."

When Rain cheerfully agreed, the soldiers burst into loud laughter.

"Young Master!"

"Young Master! Young Master!"

"Young Master! Young Master! Young Master!"

Then they cheered in unison, but as piercing stares fell upon them from the surroundings, Elin immediately calmed them down.

"Hey, you good-for-nothings! Do you have to embarrass someone right now?! Why don't you just splash dung water on the family flag? Can't you be quiet?!"

Rain's family appeared around that time.

"Rain, big brother!"

As always, Seri jumped forward.

The problem was that this time, his four-year-old younger brother Bran also joined the charge, making it a bit difficult to defend.

In the moment of hesitation, Seri clung to his back as she pleased, and Bran stuck tightly to his left leg. Kids, I'm going to die like this.

"B-big brother… I, I'm going to become a cool magic, magician like big brother…!"

A cool magician like me?

Oh my, what on earth is that… He was so dumbfounded that he tousled that small head, messing up her hair like a bird's nest.

"You'll have to work extremely hard for that."

He didn't know it when Kies did it to him, but now that he was doing it himself, he understood. It feels incredibly good to be the one doing it.

"I-I will…!"

"Really? Then teach Seri what she doesn't know."

"Just trust Seri!"

Suddenly feeling a gaze, he looked up and met his mother's eyes, who was smiling brightly.

"You've become a big brother who sets a good example for your siblings, Rain."

"They're just clinging to me, though."

"Have you thought about why your siblings do that?"

Brimm, who had asked a question Rain couldn't answer, approached him and lovingly patted his son's cheek.

"Since you're a student council member, you'll be getting into preparations for the seasonal festival in earnest now."

"Really? That sounds terribly bothersome."

"Please create a festival that many people can enjoy. It will be a good memory. For you, and for others too."

With Balensidius?

Still, since my family is leaving the demonic realm, I don't have to worry about them being taken hostage by him.

"…Well, I'll try."

"I know you'll work hard while saying that."

Afterwards, after some brief chatter, the family boarded the family carriage. As soon as Swan mounted his horse, the private soldiers held their spears and formed a line.

"Then, Lady Elin, Young Master Rain. We'll be leaving now."

"Uh. Be careful on your way."

When Rain, thinking of Balensidius, replied with a slightly serious voice, Swan also nodded with a solemn expression.

"Don't worry. I will protect the safety of the three of you, even at the cost of my life."

As the procession departed, following Swan who led the horse, Seri and Bran clung to the carriage window, waving their hands wildly.

"Big brother!"

"Brother!"

Since they seemed ready to keep doing that until he died if he didn't respond, he annoyingly waved back, and they burst into laughter.

"Why aren't those two waving at me?"

When Elin grumbled in a pouting voice, as if disappointed, Rain chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.

'Family, it really is just troublesome.'

Annoying, bothersome, and troublesome to deal with.

But still… it's not entirely bad. It also feels like a part of his life is filled with something inexplicable.

If I had to just state the conclusion, yes, it's not bad.