Chapter 4
"Did I come back to Limbo?"
"That is correct, User."
"And I can go back to the past again?"
"Of course."
I thought it was amazing magic, but I could understand it to some extent. The magic that invaders of Damarat Yuma, such as the Dark God Oer, the Tentacle God Musa Musa, and the Banished Dragon Rorancherion, inflicted upon their contractors was always terrifying.
The Empire worked hard to downplay the invasion by Demi, but there were people from other countries who had witnessed the spectacle directly. According to records, the military force during the invasion by Demi was said to be formidable.
Two quests appeared in my vision.
[Quest Generated!]
[Quest: Defeat Vine Wiz Dekarun (C)]
[Quest Generated!]
[Quest: Survive for 3 days (D)]
I asked.
"There are two quests."
"More than one Quest can be generated depending on the conditions."
"And what exactly does 'defeat' mean?"
"It refers to making them leave their physical or social position, including killing them. If you make them unable to enjoy their current status and prevent them from interfering with User, that counts as 'defeating' them."
"What does 'Survive for 3 days' mean?"
Demi was silent for a moment, as if choosing its words.
"Quests are generated when they are sufficiently difficult for User's current situation, have a reason to be done, and are worth challenging. So, 'Survive for 3 days' seems to have become a challenging objective for User because you died too quickly."
"...Right. Thanks for the explanation."
Demi held out the black box with holes.
"First, would you like to draw the lottery?"
"Shall I?"
I replied and was about to reach out my hand when I realized there was something added in the corner of my vision that I hadn't seen before.
"Wait, what is that?"
I pointed at something in the corner of Limbo. It wore a red robe and a golden mask with only eye holes, and it was clear there was nothing inside the mask and robe.
It looked at me.
<I am a Merchant.>
"A Merchant?"
I looked at Demi. Demi nodded as if it was alright to talk.
I approached the Merchant.
"If you're a Merchant, does that mean you sell something?"
<That is correct.>
"And to buy that something, I need money, right?"
<That is correct.>
"But I don't have any money."
The Merchant pointed to my outer coat's inner pocket. I rummaged through my pocket suspiciously. There was something inside the pocket. It looked like a coin to me; it was blue, with white stripes on the edge, and very light. There was something recognizable about it too. The letter D was written in the center.
"Is this...?"
<This is a coupon you can use to draw the lottery from the Administrator. You can either perform a D-rank lottery or give it to me and buy something from me.>
"What kind of things can I buy?"
<With a D-rank coupon, you can only buy D-rank items, likewise.>
I did the math in my head.
"In that case, wouldn't it be better to buy things than to always draw the lottery? Instead of hoping I get the item I need, isn't it better to just buy the item I need directly?"
<However, there are some things that can only be obtained through the lottery. I do not sell such a variety of things, and everything that can be bought from me can also be obtained through the lottery.>
So, while it might be better to buy an item through the Merchant, it would be better to draw the lottery if the needed item wasn't available from the Merchant.
I said.
"Okay. I'll go discuss something for a moment. Is that alright?"
<It does not matter.>
I returned to Demi.
"Can I trust that Merchant?"
"Yes. User's Limbo is under my control, and I do not permit entities that are harmful. I permitted the entry of that 'Merchant' because it can be helpful."
I nodded.
"Alright. Let's talk about what happens after I go through the door behind you. In my opinion, I can't do it the same way as before."
"Why do you think so?"
"If I go back like this, the situation will certainly be better than before. First, I kill Bien."
"Yes."
"Then I kill Professor Vine as well."
"Yes."
"No, it would be better to change the order. I'll assassinate Professor Vine and then assassinate Bien. The probability of killing them will be higher when they're not on guard at all."
I looked at Demi's expression.
"I don't like killing people either."
"I did not say anything."
"..."
Demi added.
"After killing those two, you will be able to find evidence related to the Inquisition."
"Yes. Bien is definitely involved. But there's a problem."
I said.
"To kill Vine, I must use the gun."
"Then the fact that you are a black mage will be exposed."
"That's troublesome. I don't think the professors of Yurmus Magic School would kill me, but they would at least try to seal my black magic. And if the Empire's influence reaches even Yurmus Magic School, then the Empire will eventually find out about my existence. Then my future will become uncertain."
"Then what are you planning to do?"
I looked at the Merchant.
"Let's do this."
∞
I opened the door and returned, heading to the Basic Magic Practice lecture hall.
When it was my turn, Professor Rebilton said.
"Young Ethan, it's your turn."
"Yes."
As I walked out of my seat, I heard whispering.
"Attending class until the very end. His courage is commendable. Is it the honor of a prestigious family?"
"Well. If it's clearly revealed that he can't use magic, shouldn't it be seen as dishonor?"
Ignoring the ridicule directed at me, I went up to the platform.
"Young Ethan, this is your last practical session."
"Yes."
"I wonder if you prepared sufficiently."
"I prepared as much as I could."
"Begin when you are ready."
I held the object I took out of my coat pocket in both hands and faced the students. Then I pulled the string attached to the object.
-Pop!
Beautiful colored paper and sparkling paper fragments scattered.
What I set off was a party popper I bought from the Merchant. I thought one was expensive, but a set came with 100. I bought party poppers to pass the Basic Magic Practice.
'If I use the gun, Bien will find out. Although this party popper thing is also an item from Terra, Demi said no one has ever used such a thing in Damarat Yuma.'
Compared to the other students, it was a relatively humble magic, even for Basic Magic Practice, so the other students burst into laughter. I subtly glanced at Rebilton. Fortunately, Rebilton didn't laugh.
When all the colored paper and paper fragments fell to the floor, Rebilton said.
"Is that all?"
"No, there's more."
When I pulled out another identical party popper from my pocket, Rebilton stopped me.
"If it's the same magic, there's no need to do more."
"Understood."
Rebilton checked the checklist with a quill and asked a few questions.
"Looking at this, it's alchemy, correct?"
"Yes. To my knowledge, alchemy broadly falls under magic, and famous alchemy families are treated as mage families, and..."
Rebilton held up his hand to stop me.
"Just answer the questions."
"Yes."
"Can it be detonated instantly?"
"Yes."
"Can the size of the explosion be increased if needed?"
"Yes."
"You used dazzling materials. What is the reason?"
"Because they are good at drawing the enemy's attention."
"I see."
Demi interjected.
<The word 'party' in party popper means gathering together to celebrate a happy event.>
<I already heard that explanation. But this is a magic school, not a school of conjuring tricks. To get extra points, I have to guarantee its usefulness somehow. And that usefulness must be an element traditionally recognized by magic schools. Combat magic is intuitive and easy to understand.>
<I understand that. However, Professor Rebilton's questions seem to be more numerous than before.>
<I know. Be quiet.>
After a few more questions and answers exchanged, Rebilton nodded.
"Ethan."
"Yes."
"You passed."
"Thank you."
I felt relieved inwardly.
∞
But that relief didn't last long.
"Ethan!"
When I turned around, Arka was leaning against the stone railing of the second-floor corridor connecting the lecture building and the dormitory, arms crossed, just as before, looking at me.
"What is it, Sister?"
"I heard you passed the Basic Magic Practice lecture?"
"Yes."
Up to this point, it was the same as the previous conversation, but what followed wasn't praise.
"To pass Basic Magic Practice with such trivial magic like some conjurer! This older sister doesn't know what you're thinking. Aren't you ashamed in front of the family members, let alone Father? And alchemy? What will people think if they hear that we, whom they call a prestigious family, are studying alchemy?"
"...I apologize."
"You don't need to apologize to me. Where did you get that conjuring trick? Did you make it yourself?"
"I-It's a secret."
"So it's magic, is it? Alright. But even if you can pass Basic Magic Practice like this, do you have a plan for the second semester's Basic Magic Practice?"
"...No."
"I figured. It seems you somehow managed to devise a strategy, but there's a limit to improvising. Go back and reflect. No matter how urgent it is."
Arka said that and abruptly left.
I said to Demi.
<This is why I didn't want this.>
<Is a party popper that big of a problem?>
<The Charasen family is one of the five oldest families in the Council of Mages. We've often held the position of Chairman. Family members have very high pride when it comes to magic. Furthermore, there are so many people who would be called geniuses if they were mages that they don't even bother using such expressions, but my sister is a 'true' genius whom even those arrogant mages acknowledge. So she must be angry that I passed the test with such a trivial magic.>
<I see.>
Arka, whom I thought had left, hurried back to me.
"Sister?"
"I forgot something."
"Yes?"
"Congratulations."
"...Yes."
Arka pointed to the corner of my mouth with her index finger.
"Don't smirk."
"I'm not smiling yet."
"Not later, either. Go back to your room and reflect."
"Okay."
After Arka left, I glanced behind me and headed towards my room.
As I expected, Bien didn't appear.
"Bien didn't recognize the party popper as black magic."
<That is fortunate. Then we can proceed to the next step.>
I nodded and headed to Bien's dormitory room.
When I knocked on the door, Bien came out. He had a somewhat indifferent expression behind his slightly oversized glasses.
"Who is i... Ethan?"
"This is the first time we've greeted each other, right? Did you know me?"
"You can't help but know about the notorious ruffian."
"Ah, really?"
When I stepped forward to enter the room, Bien blocked my way with his body.
"What is it?"
"I want to talk to you."
"Do it here."
I looked around the surroundings. I already knew no one was there; this was an action intended for Bien to see.
"I know you work for the Imperial Inquisition."