Chapter 18
"Yes, that's right."
When I answered, Rebilton nodded and spoke to Rinave.
"That's what he says, Miss Rinave."
"What? Huh?"
"I vouch for Ethan's skills, so there's nothing to worry about."
Having said that, Rebilton picked up a sword from the weapon rack in the corner of the workshop and left. Rinave didn't even have time to argue.
I said.
"That's how it turned out."
"What, you… you tricked me?"
"I didn't tell a single lie."
My words weren't wrong. Rinave simply didn't know that Rebilton was fond of me and agreed to my joining the Combat Magic Society.
Rinave crossed her arms and sighed.
"What should we do?"
"Huh?"
"You won the bet. You don't think I'd ignore Professor Rebilton's words and refuse to let you join just because of my pride and a cake, do you? Should we go buy a cake now?"
I said to Bien.
"Oh, that's a bit unexpected."
"What's unexpected?"
"I thought Senior Rinave would hold more of a grudge."
"What do you take her for? She always grumbles, but she's more upright than anyone."
"She's right here, you know. Can you answer me, Ethan?"
I said.
"No, go when it's convenient for you. Like when you have to go to town."
"…It feels like I owe you something."
"That's exactly what I want."
Bien said.
"Ethan."
"What?"
"Don't people ever say you have a bad personality?"
And so, I successfully joined the Combat Magic Society.
∞
When the vacation began, Arka decided to return to her hometown, Charasen. Arka's openly discussed original plan was to take me, who was supposed to be expelled from Yurmus Magic School, back with her, but that plan fell through when I passed Basic Magic Practice.
Before boarding the carriage sent from Charasen, Arka said to me as I came to see her off.
"Don't skip meals just because I'm not here. Eat properly, got it?"
"Yes, Sister."
"Don't wander around at night. There are rumors about ghosts in the forest."
"Yes."
"Don't go to dangerous places."
"Where would there be dangerous places at school?"
"There are. Like the Great Library."
"What, …yes."
It was Arka's nagging that I had experienced several times before, but I answered sincerely.
"And the back alleys too."
I had wandered the back alleys to obtain offerings for Black Magic. When I averted my gaze, Arka pursed her lips.
"You thought I wouldn't know? I know everything."
I knew that wasn't true. There was hardly anyone at school who didn't know the story of me hanging out with the ruffians in Yurmus's back alleys. But I didn't bother to argue.
"I won't go, so don't worry."
"You better not."
As the coachman glanced over, Arka said.
"I'm going."
"Take care."
As Arka stepped onto the carriage's footboard, I held her hand from below. In a previous regression, I had seen Arka stumble slightly. It wasn't enough to make her fall, but her weight briefly rested in my hand before lifting. Arka widened her eyes in surprise for a moment before returning to her prim expression.
"Ethan."
"Yes."
"…I'm sorry for asking again, but don't you want to come back with me?"
I said.
"Even if I went back, wouldn't Father tell me to leave? 'Body Enhancement Magic? Who calls that magic?'"
"No way."
"I need to study hard under Professor Rebilton during the vacation. That way, I can keep attending school with you."
"…Well, that's welcome news."
Arka closed the door and said.
"See you later, Ethan."
∞
After sleeping, I checked the rewards I had obtained in Limbo: one from completing the quest to befriend Bien, another from creating the Heart Burst skill, and two D-rank Lottery Coupons, plus a C-rank Lottery Coupon earned by surviving 90 days.
When Demi asked if I wanted to use all three coupons, I said.
"I'll use the C-rank one, but not the two D-rank ones."
Demi said.
"So you can use the D-rank ones when you need them."
"Exactly."
"But you can't know when that need will arise."
"Then I'll come back and use them at the same time."
"If that's your choice. …Will you use the C-rank coupon now?"
"Yes."
I took the C-rank coupon from my pocket and handed it over. Demi lifted a black box about the size of a human head, containing the lottery. It had a smooth, stone-like texture, and the opening was lined with soft black fabric, making it impossible to see inside. I slipped my hand through the slit in the fabric. What I felt were thin, rectangular plates that bent slightly with finger pressure. According to Demi, these were called cards. There was nothing distinguishable by touch alone, but no matter how I looked, the inside of the box seemed far larger than the outside. I tested it by putting my arm in up to the elbow, but I couldn't reach the bottom.
'Even just the C-rank lottery has this many. There must be tens of thousands at least. Will I ever draw them all?'
Demi was cooperative with me but said it couldn't answer direct questions about the system. So, I had to figure out the rest myself. The C-rank powers I had so far were the Handgun item and the CPR skill. The Handgun was impressive enough for Rebilton to admire as Combat Magic, but CPR had limited uses. Even a C-rank, better than a D-rank, wasn't always great.
I picked up a card that my fingertips touched. It was written in characters I couldn't read, but the system reacted immediately.
[Archive Acquired!]
[Archive: Human Anatomy (C)]
I felt uneasy about the name, but soon, as the knowledge was literally inserted into my brain, I realized it held far greater significance than I had initially felt. And before I could convey that feeling to Demi, another message appeared before my eyes.
[Synergy Acquired!]
[The abilities related to 'Archive: Human Anatomy (C)' are enhanced together!]
[Skill: Marksmanship (D) → Marksmanship (D+)]
[Archive: Personal Hygiene (D) → Personal Hygiene (D+)]
[Skill: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (D) → Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (D+)]
[Skill: CPR (C) → CPR (C+)]
[Skill: Heart Burst (D) → Heart Burst (D+)]
That wasn't the end.
[Ability has surpassed the threshold, acquiring a skill!]
[Skill Acquired!]
[Skill: Ruure's Breathing (C)]
I said to Demi.
"What's synergy?"
"Synergy is the additional value created when the powers you acquire are related to each other. Not all skills produce synergy. It requires your understanding to follow. However, skills are more likely to produce synergy than items, and archives are more likely than skills. It's not possible to say definitively which skills produce synergy, but you can predict it."
I asked the next question.
"What about acquiring a skill by surpassing a threshold?"
"Including you, many people have countless abilities and knowledge. But not all of them are labeled as skills or archives. Walking is relatively universal, and there are things considered common sense in the world. Skills, on the other hand, refer to special abilities you feel and abilities that distinguish you from others. Archives also mean knowledge that isn't universal. For example, an ability being labeled as a skill means you excel at it compared to others and can use it at a meaningful level."
"So, I can consider myself to have finally mastered Ruure's Breathing?"
"Yes."
That might be true. As my understanding of human anatomy expanded, I could tell where and how to channel Magical Power, how that power was carried in the body, and how it should be released.
To confirm, I asked.
"But you said Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was the skill of a third-year beginner. Yet it was D-rank. Ruure's Breathing, based on my perception, is about a year and a few months. Even Professor Rebilton said I was slow. Yet it's C-rank. Why the difference?"
"Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is learned and practiced by many in Terra. In contrast, few have mastered Ruure's Breathing in Damarat Yuma. Moreover, the evaluation varies based on the skill's utility or value, and it may start at a lower evaluation considering future growth potential. It can also differ based on your personal disposition."
"So, it's a matter of utility and importance."
"Correct."
After leaving Limbo, I woke up in the morning, sat cross-legged, and began practicing Ruure's Breathing. The breathing was far more natural than before, and the parts I hadn't understood were completely clear. Of course, there was still room to grow. In fact, it could be said that there were now more parts I didn't understand. The image of organs nestled within sturdy bones, the shape of muscles, and the blood vessels, nerves, and lymph nodes passing between them. Magical Power wasn't tangible, but at the same time, it interacted with reality.
'Muscles are strengthened through Magical Power. Then, what about other bodily organs…?'
∞
Eager to show off my progress, I went to the Combat Magic Society workshop to find Rebilton. In my view, the Combat Magic Society workshop was the place Rebilton frequented most after his own workshop, as visiting a professor's personal workshop directly felt daunting.
But an unexpected person was there.
"What's the matter, Maiya?"
Maiya was with Bien. They seemed to have just finished a conversation, with Maiya looking apologetic and Bien appearing awkward.
Bien said to me.
"Ethan, it seems you need to decide."
I said.
"What's going on?"
"Ethan, do you know my friend Koshe?"
"I know his face."
He was a student in the group that followed Maiya.
"Koshe went into the Great Library Labyrinth and went missing."
"How did that happen?"
"He's greedy about magical research. He's been stopped several times from entering the Great Library Labyrinth, but he recently found an entrance."
The Great Library Labyrinth was a place beneath Yurmus Magic School, where general students were forbidden to enter without a professor's guidance.
I first stated the obvious.
"This doesn't seem like something we can handle. What about telling the professors?"
"Then his grades will be ruined. If he's unlucky, he might even be expelled."
As I stayed silent, Maiya, growing anxious, spoke first.
"He couldn't have gone in too deep. He's very cautious."
"You're going to bring him back?"
"Yes."
"You don't know the way to the Great Library, do you?"
"Koshe told me the way."
I walked past Maiya and placed a hand on Bien's shoulder.
Before I could speak, Bien whispered.
"I'm against it. There's nothing good for us if we get caught by the professors."
"It's a chance to get Maiya to join. Even if not, there's no better way to get closer to her. We might even find evidence in the Great Library Labyrinth that Maiya is a Black Magic user."
"It's dangerous."
"It's not dangerous."
Bien glared at me.
"It's a labyrinth forbidden to students for generations. How can you be so sure?"
I already knew. It took two days, but Koshe safely escaped the Great Library Labyrinth on his own. So, Koshe could definitely be rescued.