Chapter 64 – While I Was Away (6)

I saw it on the Internet when I was young. It is said that the pleasure one gets from gambling is as strong as that of drugs.
I don’t know if that’s really true, but it was definitely so difficult for gamblers to quit gambling that even if it ruined the whole family, it was impossible.

So I didn’t bother to ask Lehel for some time to think. It is better to lose weight slowly rather than all of a sudden, so if you pay attention to what I say, you may be a little more cautious.

Next day.
When I woke up in my soft bed, Rachel was sitting on the sofa next to me. Touching her slightly dull hair as if she hadn’t slept at all, she greeted me as usual.

“Ah, did you sleep well, boss? “She’s going back to the Academy today, right?”
“Yes, I have to go. But didn’t you sleep?”
“Haha, I have a lot to think about.”

Yes, it’s a time when you have a lot to worry about.

After checking out and coming out, I looked at the view of the desolate sand canyon again today and waited for Lehel to write her 〈 transition statement 〉.

“Okay, let’s go then.”

But she just walked without even thinking about casting a spell. As soon as I started walking behind him without knowing why, questions naturally came to me.

“Aren’t you going? Vatudis cannot move to 〈 or 〉 because there is a lot of fog blocking the flow of mana. “It’s not that far from here, is it?”
“Where is Vatudis?”
“Didn’t you know? “You were told yesterday to follow Baldur’s nightmare.”

I don’t even know who that Baldur is. Lehel studied my expression and smiled lightly as if she understood.

“Baldur is the first illusionist.”
“Illusion Ball?”
“Yes. Well, it wasn’t the time when the Archduke’s name was used, but he was a pretty great man.”
“What now?”
“Of course he died. Baldur’s nightmare can be seen as a remnant of that.”

Lehel explained a strange phenomenon occurring in the region of Vatudis.
Called phantom murder, it was something where one was swallowed up by an illusion made up of remnants of the past and could not return.

“Saya, the Sentai illusionist, established the Pekda Magic Tower to manage nightmares. Although he himself lost his life during the Great War.”
“So there were two fantasy balls? “Has the original magic been passed down?”
“Yes. There were many in between. But I don’t know the method. “It was definitely not passed down through the bloodline like Roshoir, and the gap in time was quite long.”
“Hmm…”

Is it true that the Phantom Ball’s unique magic is also being passed down? Well, that was probably good.

Certainly, Mareil’s memo also said that the farther you go to the Batudis region, the more demons there are. If I’m going to catch the guys spreading it, I’ll have to go to the Pecda Magic Tower to see if it’s a nightmare or something.

“But first, let’s go back to the academy.”

But I decided to stop by the store first. It would take a long time to fully investigate the demon statue, but I had told Liv and Adella that it would come soon. I should leave the money I won from gambling.

“Oh right. Come to think of it, you were also close with Adela, right? Well, you might be curious about other archdukes. The most foul-tempered person among the Grand Dukes currently remaining in Penheim is the Gourmet Duke of Megrez Tower…”

But Lehel ignored my words and continued walking. At the same time, she recited information about the five princes of Fenheim that she knew.

I listened to it in silence, but in truth, there was nothing particularly interesting about it. If you really want to be specific, Ice Snow Ball’s unique magic has once frozen time?
It’s hot and I really want to go home… Just when she thought that, her steps ahead suddenly stopped.

“… And finally, there is Reincarnation.”
“Chairman?”
“Would you like to tell you a fun fact about me?”

Lehel said, placing her hand on her chest.

“Now my time is going backwards.”

***

“I enjoyed that movie too.”
“Movie? “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but it’s not a joke, it’s real.”

He had a pondering expression, wondering where to start. I took a gulp of water from the canteen and sat down.

“I gain artificial immortality by living two lives alternately using my unique magic. To put it simply, when the time to die due to aging approaches, time goes back and you become younger and younger.”
“On the other hand, after you get younger, you grow back?”
“Yes, that’s correct. And the time of this body accelerates every time you use unique magic. Hey, boss. “How old do I look now?”

I observed Lehel’s appearance with her arms crossed.
Although her hair was white, it was not gray like gray, but rather abundant white hair, making her look even younger. She is short and her body size is smaller than Adela. At most…

“Around mid-twenties?”
“Hey, use a little more. “I’m 22 years old.”
“Then aren’t you about the same age as third graders?”
“Yes. That’s right.”

She said without a big deal, twisting her hair around.

“And like I said, we’re going backwards now. “Do you know what this means?”
“It means that the number of times you can use unique magic is limited.”
“Also! “Be smart!”
“What happens if you stay young until the end?”
“I will leave the academy before then. “It has to go into the cradle.”
“A cradle?”
“Yes. Would you understand if I said ‘Sacrer Dragon’s Nest’?”
“There…”

One of the four great secret places of the empire. A secret place, unknown to anyone, where countless treasures collected at the time of the empire’s fall are buried. It was a place where she prepared to end her life and begin again.
My eyes were fixed on the rosary that Lehel was wearing. Did you say that it was a supreme demon made from the bones of a dragon?

“Oh, is this a secret? “I only told the boss.”
“…”

Only then did I figure out why she was saying this.

“When is the next life?”
“It will take at least twenty years, maybe more. “When I come out of the cradle, the world will have changed again.”
“How many spells are left?”
“I used up a lot of my lifespan during the Great War, so I only have one more left, or two if I’m lucky.”
“…”
“So, you know what you said yesterday. Sorry.”

In other words, if a situation arises where you need to use unique magic, it will disappear from the academy at any time.
The deep water beneath the old cone hat is probably not just because the shadow contrasts with the stinging sunlight.

“Quit gambling… I’ll try my best. “But I can’t give a definite answer because there isn’t much time left.”
“It’s okay.”

I shrugged her shoulders and reassured her.

“Anyway, we’ll meet again in the next life. “Even if I’m a little older, wouldn’t we be able to fix it together then?”
“President…”

Lehel looked touched for a moment and then nodded her head.

“Then shall we just stay for one more day?”
“Do you want to rummage?”

We returned straight to Parencia.

***

“Wow, we’re in big trouble!” My newlywed home… !!”

Liv barely came to her senses when Adela reacted by making a fuss and screaming at her. But her mind was still confused.

The boss? Marriage? No, dating? With Rochear’s second daughter… ?

It was impossible. An ordinary store owner and a famous family in the North Sea. There were degrees of high-ranking marriages.
Probably not. Also, this screwed-up wizard is probably saying strange things to himself. At a time when Liv was trying hard to deny reality, two iron dogs hiding in a corner of the store jumped out.

Kiing! Whip!
— What, you guys. Why have you become so skinny?

Lewis had arrived. Adela, who was distracted, and Liv, who was half out of her mind, simultaneously looked at the huge hole that had opened up on the second floor.
〈 Ice Pick 〉, which Liv had derailed with 〈 Wind Bead 〉, exploded on the second floor, which was Lewis’s living space, tearing the surrounding area to shreds.
I’m sure he will be angry when he sees this situation. However, rather than trying to resolve the situation, Liv wanted to confirm whether Adela and Louise were really dating.

“I’m a teacher~!”
“Huh? I was there. “I came back early because work finished faster than I expected.”

However, when Liv opened the door of her stall to avoid the broken glass, Louise also saw the mess inside the stall and a large hole in the ceiling.

“Now, here. The Sandalphonia mud cookies you asked me to buy…”

Tuk.

The black envelope in his hand fell to the floor. Liv, who saw Louis’ expression, was startled and took a step back without realizing it.

“…”

Lewis slowly walked into the cafeteria. And he stood in front of a lot of rubble on the floor.
Strange objects that fell from the second floor, most of which had unknown purposes—black iron plates or rubber straps. A wooden model that rolls around like a broken cookie and a cloth made with sloppy hands.

Most of them had already been damaged to the point where their original shapes were unrecognizable.

“… “What happened?”

It was a voice that seemed dead of emotion.
Adela shouted, pointing straight at Liv.

“Teacher! Listen! That baron just told me I’m terrible…”
“Did you do that?”
“Teacher… ?”

Even though she was oblivious to the situation, she felt that Lewis’s attitude was cold. But again she cautiously extended her hand to him.

“Oh, that’s right. I finally realized the unique magic that the teacher mentioned. Although it’s still a bit immature…”
“Get out.”
“Yes?”

Adela looked incredulously in the direction Luis pointed her. Liv could also see that the blue eyes were constantly shaking.

“Seo, teacher…”
“Get out.”

There was no third. Faced with Lewis’ harsh warning, Adela seemed to be in great shock, unable to utter a word and was kicked out of the cafeteria.

Now all that was left was Liv.
After seeing that Adela had left, Lewis passed by her without saying a word and went inside her counter. When he took out a cigarette from the drawer and lit it, white smoke blocked the space between them like a curtain.

It meant a break, but at the same time, Liv, who was able to avoid his gaze, finally mustered up the courage to open her mouth.

“… President.”

I thought she would be angry, but I didn’t expect her to be this angry. She did not know what significance the small space she created by reconstructing her memories of her life meant to Louise.

“Maybe with Adela…” …”
“Baron Liv, please leave too.”

The next words were cut off before I could finish them.
I felt like my heart was being ripped out just by hearing that cold voice. Nevertheless, Liv continued to ask questions. This was because the cut out part looked like it would rot if left as is.

“Are you dating Adela?”
“What does that have to do with you, Baron?”

However, the answer that came back was as painful as being stabbed by a knife.

“What does it have to do with destroying my store?”

It hurt so much.

“Get out.”

Liv was kicked out without a chance to express her feelings.

“Let’s pretend we didn’t have dinner plans.”

Even a ray of hope was cut off.