─I... I was human. I was human!
Hearing the artifact's cry, Ban Yu-won felt moved, despite the inappropriate atmosphere.
"Seriously, I feel like I've heard that line a hundred tis in novels and comics."
─Those people, those people! The ones I trusted betrayed
and stuffed
into this staff! They implanted false mories in , trying to reduce
to a worthless existence!
The staff's ego scread.
anwhile, Ban Yu-won, who had calmly organized the knowledge and skills that had been imbued in him in a short ti, was able to deal with her with a mind as clear as a mirror.
─This isn't so novel or comic, I was really a living human being!
"Okay, then why are you making such a fuss about it now, as if you've just rembered?"
─Because I just rembered...! The core magical formulas that made up the staff were acting as locks to seal my soul. If you had ssed up the structure, my ego would have been torn to shreds, but you skillfully removed only the formulas that were sealing , and so I...!
Although it was difficult to understand easily, Ban Yu-won intuitively grasped it.
"You beca complete?"
─No, not completely yet. I've been sealed for too long... Even though the door has been opened, I can't recall everything at once.
That's understandable. There's no emotion or plot twist if you regain all your lost mories at once, is there?
It's already surprising that she realized she had been betrayed by soone and trapped inside a staff.
'No, get a grip. No matter how absurd the events unfolding are, this is reality. ...Co to think of it, I had a bad feeling ever since the soul value was 200.'
Wasn't Luciel's soul, which was said to be incomparably higher in rank than other beings from birth, barely reaching a level of 200?
Considering that, it wasn't an ordinary situation for a staff that appeared in just the 10th room to have a soul value of 200.
─Revenge, I'll have my revenge. Once I regain all my power... I'll find them all!
"Alright, alright, calm down... Huh?"
Ban Yu-won sighed and examined the staff once more, suddenly surprised.
'It's changing...?'
It seems there really was so kind of chanism in the staff.
After Ban Yu-won cleanly removed the concepts of Magic Language and elental magic that had been 'forcibly injected' into the staff, it was finally regaining its original function and appearance. ＲＡΝО??Е??
First, the length of the staff increased dramatically to 1.5 ters, no longer allowing it to be called a magic wand.
Moreover, the color of the staff, which had been pink, was now dyed a deep red, almost bloodlike in its intensity.
─I'll kill them all! I'll tear them apart and burn them to death!
"...It feels like it's suddenly changed from children's to young adult."
With a design that middle school students would probably like.
Was it reflecting the current state of the soul?
The staff, which had changed to an overall cold tallic and sharp feel, had a spear-like protrusion at the tail end that seed capable of stabbing or slashing enemies.
A deep crimson gem was embedded in the head, where the concept of the Soul was forming vast strings of characters and swirling around.
Since he didn't know there was a gem embedded in the staff until he removed the concepts, it's possible that it was really hidden inside the staff.
But what was truly surprising was.
[Tears of Celon: Soul 350, Magic Power 300]
The artifact had grown significantly and even acquired a na.
Originally, the soul depth was 200, and the magic power was 150.
It had grown exactly as much as the depth of 'Magic Language' and 'elental magic' that had been removed!
Presumably, as the soul grew, it naturally pulled up the magic power as well.
─Ugh, I can't rember any more... I can't even recall their nas. I can only vaguely see their faces... This seems to be my limit for now.
"You're saying there's still more room? At this point, it doesn't seem like it's for beginners anymore."
─Beginner? Beginner! Don't talk nonsense, do you think I'm such a trivial existence that I would only teach magic language or basic elental magic?!
"So what then?"
─That... That! I can't say!
Ban Yu-won could bet his entire fortune that even she herself didn't know exactly yet.
Her mories would be jumbled and confused, and it would be too difficult to explain herself to others in a situation where she didn't even know what to do herself.
In fact, Ban Yu-won didn't want to use the artifact or get involved in a grand narrative quest related to the artifact.
...Although he couldn't help feeling that he had already stepped into it the mont he obtained the artifact.
"Um... Then, Celon? Since the artifact's na shows up as 'Tears of Celon', I'll call you Celon for now."
─Celon... Yes. Sohow, hearing that na makes
feel at ease. You can call
Celon.
Judging by this reaction, Celon probably isn't this being's real na.
Ban Yu-won was certain of this with his deductive skills honed through countless language acquisitions, but he didn't bother to say it out loud.
"Alright Celon, let's move on to practical matters now that we're done with your past and circumstances. What can you do, how can you help ?"
─What? Did I ever say I would cooperate with you? I have my hands full with my own affairs!
Ban Yu-won felt sorry for her.
It seed that as so of her mories returned, her manners had disappeared in reverse.
"Actually, your opinion doesn't matter. I'll make it happen."
─Hmph, it would be troubleso to underestimate , the honorable and noble great mage Celon. As long as I don't want it, you won't be able to move this staff an inch, you know? Unless you promise to fully comply with my wishes from now on...
"Oh really? Then should I just put the concepts back? Or maybe it would be fun to shove in a bunch of other things."
Although the Magic Language had already perfectly lted into his body and it was actually impossible to bestow it as it was, Ban Yu-won had all sorts of concepts to pressure this soul.
─...Sob, uuuu.
The staff was silent for a mont, then surrendered with a sobbing sound.
─This cruel human, completely doing as he pleases from start to finish. What sin did I commit to be trapped in such a narrow and stuffy place, and on top of that, to be toyed with by such a rogue, sob.
"You fool, you've got the order wrong."
Ban Yu-won clicked his tongue.
"Regardless of my motives, you regained your mories thanks to , so shouldn't you thank
first? But instead, you were quick to make demands of . In that situation, how could I treat you kindly? Think about it."
─Uuuu...
Celon fell silent, seemingly feeling guilty.
Regardless of whether she was really a great mage as she claid, it was clear that this ego's ntality was not very mature.
"That's not how you make a deal. When you can offer rit to the other party, you prove it and then take rit from them in return. This is the proper form of a transaction."
─Ugh...
"But right now, you've unilaterally benefited from . In this situation, instead of making additional demands, you should first present the benefits you can give
before moving on to the next deal. Do you understand?"
─Sniff, yes.
She seed to have understood.
In fact, from Ban Yu-won's perspective, he had no intention of giving her any rit, so this couldn't even be called a deal, and it was a bit strange to push Celon so hard by saying she was the only one who benefited when she had dramatically grown by recovering concepts from the staff, but...
Words are all about how you package them.
Besides, situationally, it wasn't that far from the truth.
How dare an artifact make demands of its master?
─So... if I help you well, you'll listen to my requests?
"Rember that you're in a bad state right now. You'll have to work hard from now on. But if I really gain a lot from your support, then I might consider your requests at that ti."
─...Alright. Sniff, then I'll, I'll do my best.
This one's a fool.
And so, Ban Yu-won was able to freely use the ego of a self-proclaid great mage who had a hidden past and was a fool, but whose soul was certainly of high caliber.
*
The long-awaited Thursday afternoon arrived.
The remaining three mbers of Rebellion finished all their classes and headed to Class 11's training room to improve their physical condition in preparation for tomorrow's special activity.
"Yu-won, can't I really go with you? Even if I just stay by your side..."
"No, you can't. Dokgo Yeon, take her away."
"I've been displeased with this for the past few days anyway. Beast, follow
quietly."
"Yu-woooooon!"
Luciel, crying pitifully as if calling out the na of a husband being dragged off to the battlefield, was taken away by Dokgo Yeon.
Ban Yu-won gave a bitter smile and waved his hand lazily at Light, who was following the two, then began walking alone down the corridor.
'By now, no one should be watching.'
Due to the strong personalities of the mbers, when the four of them were together, they attracted attention anywhere inside the academy, but when Ban Yu-won was alone, he didn't stand out much.
Objectively speaking, he looked the most ordinary among the four, and his energy was the weakest, so it was natural.
'Hmm, let's see. The teleport structure of the student ID...'
As he touched the student ID, the densely packed strings of characters inside began to be read.
Ban Yu-won found the concept related to spatial movent among them.
More precisely, the variable elent among them: coordinates.
Once he understood the thod of generating coordinates set by the principal and Yumina respectively, it wasn't too difficult for him to insert new coordinates himself.
'Especially since Mysterious Body Technique has good compatibility with all kinds of concepts.'
This would probably be his first magical-like act.
The Mysterious Body Technique that Ban Yu-won extended ford Magic Language in the shape of Chinese characters and input the coordinates he had morized in advance.
Simultaneously, he set the trigger for spatial movent and activated it.
The next mont, Ban Yu-won was standing outside the lecture room where the Magic Combat class was held.
"...!"
Sensing a presence beside him, he turned his head to see a girl with sky-blue hair staring at him with wide eyes.
Her pupils were surprisingly close to pure silver, almost indistinguishable from the whites of her eyes, and those pupils, completely opposite to Dokgo Yeon's which were all black without distinction between white and black, gave off an almost sacred feeling.
But who was she? He felt like he had seen her sowhere before.
'Ah, the Special Class.'
Class 11 basically attended all lectures with other classes, and among them, this girl belonged to Class 1, the Special Class, with whom they attended 'Comprehensive Practical Combat' on Tuesdays.
In other lectures too, but especially in that one, the Special Class's ostracism of Class 11 was really severe.
If it hadn't been for that incident where Dokgo Yeon directly confronted and defeated Ortima, who was practically the representative of Class 1, unpleasant things would have happened several tis during class.
'Actually, since the class itself has a high proportion of duels, it's still pretty much the sa now.'
This Tuesday was particularly terrible.
Unlike that guy before, Associate Professor Entel tries to conduct the class fairly, but since he can't completely eliminate duels, which are practically the purpose of the class, he couldn't fully prevent Class 1 students from targeting Class 11.
The fortunate thing was that Class 11's level was clearly higher than Class 1's.
Needless to say for Dokgo Yeon, but Luciel had grown enough to maintain her sanity and trample several Class 1 students alone as long as Ban Yu-won was by her side.
Even Ban Yu-won had developed solid skills enough to finish off Erecto, one of Class 1's notable talents, head-on, so while it was annoying and tiring, they didn't easily lose in duels.
The problem was rather Light.
He could face anyone if he drew his holy sword, but he had the restriction of not being able to draw it unless his life was in danger, and it hadn't been long since he started using a spear as a weapon...
This Tuesday, he was the only Rebellion mber to record a defeat.
However, his opponent also knew that his main weapon was a sword, and couldn't completely overwhelm Light wielding a spear, so he wore a very dissatisfied expression and looked humiliated.
'Right, I rember that in the midst of all that, she was left alone without even participating in a duel.'
She was an extrely beautiful girl, but that wasn't why he rembered her.
Throughout the entire lecture, no one approached her or spoke to her.
It didn't feel like she was being bullied.
Rather, Ban Yu-won felt that Class 1 students held reverence for this girl.
It was an emotion similar to what they felt towards Ortima, yet qualitatively different.
'But could it be... she was a magician?'
Given that they just t here, that must be right.
He didn't even attempt to examine the concepts inside her body.
Judging by the aura of magical power she emitted, it was clear that she was above his level, and the greater the difference in level between himself and the target, the harder it was to read the internal concepts.
"Spatial movent?"
A frail yet clear voice.
Lost in his thoughts, Ban Yu-won realized a little late that she had spoken to him.
"Yeah. It's a student ID function, isn't it?"
He replied nonchalantly, but there was no change in her facial expression.
"You changed the coordinates, didn't you?"
"...That's right."
"How?"
"Well, with magic..."
"You read and distinguished all the vast code in the student ID? You accurately changed only the coordinates needed for spatial movent? You? How? Did you interfere with the code written by the principal?"
Scary.
What do you an opposite? This girl was just like Dokgo Yeon!
As she thrust her doll-like beautiful face forward and bombarded him with questions, Ban Yu-won, terrified, took a step back, when suddenly sothing soft touched his back, stopping him.
At the sa ti, a comfortable and sweet fragrance pricked his nose.
"You've found your way here well, Yu-won... I an, Student Ban Yu-won!"
"Professor Yumina!"
Realizing that he had used Yumina's chest as a cushion, Ban Yu-won was startled and jumped away from her, but Yumina smiled warmly as if telling him not to mind.
In fact, it was nonsense to think that soone of her caliber didn't avoid it because she didn't know, so she must have done it on purpose.
"Oh, Student Aire is here too. Co on, let's go in together."
"...Yes."
The girl called Aire stared intently at Ban Yu-won, then, receiving Yumina's urging gaze, entered the lecture room with a face that couldn't comprehend the situation.
"Shall we go in too?"
"Professor, that, your way of speaking."
"Oops."
Yumina tapped her lips and laughed cheerfully, then gently pushed Ban Yu-won into the lecture room.
It was only after entering the lecture room that Ban Yu-won realized the number of students attending this lecture was less than ten.
Upon learning that this was the total number of students handling magic in the entire first year, Ban Yu-won wanted to run away from this place right now, but unfortunately, Yumina had already firmly blocked the escape route!
Reviews
All reviews (0)