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Episode 43
Retrograde (6)
As the strong light subsided, I was able to look at the world again.
Sarur─.
eye.
Pure white snow was falling from the sky.
[… … .]
It’s snowing at the historic site.
It was impossible. I looked at the snowflake again.
[ah.]
Only then could I realize it.
It wasn’t snow.
Ashes.
Ashes were falling from the sky.
I followed the slowly falling pile of ash. The scenery created by ancient magic belatedly came into my sight.
Hwaruk─.
[… … .]
The garden was on fire.
The plants that had bloomed so beautifully had now turned to ashes and were slowly falling to the ground.
Inside the boiling garden.
There were no more colorful flowers.
All I could see were crimson flames greedily devouring their surroundings.
[… … .]
I couldn’t help but stick out my tongue at the sight that looked like something straight out of hell.
[her…….]
It was clearly an imperfect ancient magic.
The spell Olivia cast had a few minor mistakes in its “development.”
As this was her first real match, minor errors were bound to follow.
thus.
Clearly, the power of the explosion would have been greatly reduced… … .
Hwaruk, hwaruk──!
Nevertheless, ancient magic brought about such repercussions.
[Well, by the way.]
After confirming that, I turned my gaze back to Riley.
[hey.]
“… … .”
[Are you alive?]
Riley was lying face down on the dirt floor.
Wiggle─!
Riley wiggled her pinky finger as she heard my question.
Still, it seems he’s conscious.
I don’t think he’s come to his senses yet.
A closer look at Riley’s body fortunately revealed no serious injuries.
All that is visible are shallow burns and abrasions.
Of course, there is a possibility of internal injuries, but if you stop by the temple after the test and receive healing, there will be no aftereffects.
“Are you okay… … ?”
While I was checking Riley’s physical condition, I suddenly heard Olivia’s voice from behind me.
Olivia ran towards us with a worried expression on her face… … .
Boom!
“Eww!”
… … I fell down while coming here.
[… … .]
That must hurt.
That knee must have been completely scraped.
“Ugh, all, all, my legs… … .”
Olivia had a hard time getting up from her seat. Judging by the way she was holding onto her legs, it seemed like her strength had been lost.
but.
There’s no way your body would be healthy if you poured out that much magic power at once.
Olivia was a reclusive loner who spent all her time locked in her room doing nothing but studying.
Since there is no need to use magic power normally, the aftermath is bound to be even greater.
Rather, it was a miracle that she didn’t faint.
Normally, if you pour out that much magical power, you would lose consciousness due to magical exhaustion.
Were you born with some kind of innately strong magical circuit?
So that’s how you were able to hold out without fainting?
If that’s the case, then it means that he is truly a genius without peer when it comes to ancient magic.
[Ummm… … .]
Well, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep watching Olivia from now on.
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Concentration, obsession, talents specialized in ancient magic, etc.
Given the overall potential Olivia showed today, she was a friend with ample room for growth.
Although she still has some shortcomings, she will definitely be of great help to us in the future.
My intuition was telling me so.
“Phew… … .”
I was continuing to have such thoughts on my own.
Suddenly, I heard Riley, who was lying on the dirt floor, take a deep breath.
[Have you come to your senses?]
“……yes.”
Riley nodded, her hands struggling against the ground.
“… … Ugh.”
Of course, she also had a hard time getting up.
Riley’s delicate arms were seen shaking.
As expected, there seems to be some internal injuries.
I looked inside her body once. I could see that the boiling fire was twisting her muscles here and there.
It wasn’t serious. It was an injury that would heal quickly.
Still, it seemed like it would be painful to move around for a while, so it seemed better to take care of myself.
[Let’s rest a little longer, okay?]
‘No.’
But Riley flatly rejected my suggestion.
‘I have something to do right now.’
[……okay?]
‘yes.’
Well, then.
I didn’t want to stop him since he said he had something he had to do.
“Ugh… … .”
Riley struggled to get up from her seat and tried to walk with heavy steps.
She walked slowly.
Towards Garon Theobald and his men lying in the distance.
Thud thud thud─.
“… … .”
As we got closer, the image of Garon Theobald and his party became clearer and clearer.
Riley frowned as she looked at them.
‘… … This is terrible.’
All those who were directly hit by the explosion were in a horrific state.
Not only did he suffer burns all over his body, but parts of his body were also distorted due to the shock of the explosion.
The internal injuries were also severe.
Could it be that the magical power has flowed backwards due to the firepower of the explosion?
Dark red blood flowed from the corners of their mouths.
[I think I’ll need to be hospitalized in a temple for a few weeks to recover from that… ]
Even so, it was fortunate that Garon Theobald deployed high-level “defensive magic” at the last moment. If it hadn’t been for that, they certainly wouldn’t have been able to save their lives.
‘Still, he is a high-ranking wizard after all. He was able to stop that powerful explosion.’
[huh.]
I couldn’t help but agree with Riley.
Even though it was an imperfect spell, it managed to stop the explosion of ancient magic at the last moment.
As expected, it was a great skill. I could feel once again that it was not for nothing that Garon Theobald was given the nickname of ‘the best shield in the empire’.
“… … .”
[… … .]
And here’s one more surprising fact to add.
‘… … You felt it too, Master Magushu?’
[huh.]
The point was that the “defensive magic” that Garon Theobald deployed was not limited to his own team members.
Ancient magic unfolds.
A huge explosion goes off.
The last moment when the mouth of the crimson flame extended towards us.
Kwaaaaang──!
The curtain of wind that blocked the way ahead.
‘… …Why is that?’
Garon Theobald’s defensive magic protected Riley and Olivia.
Even though we were out of the range of the explosion, it was all thanks to him that we were able to survive.
‘There was no reason to protect us.’
[what…….]
I continued. It was easy to guess why Garon Theobald had protected us.
[… … They never intended to harm us from the beginning.]
That may be why he kept urging Riley to surrender.
‘But why is that person attacking me as if he’s going to kill me?’
[You crazy bastard.]
You were the one who struck first.
What kind of development did you expect when you were the one who said, ‘If you don’t get through me, Sir Theobald will die!’?
‘aha.’
[… … .]
‘By the way, Master Magic.’
You’re beating around the bush.
But since she had a hard time today, I decided to let her fool me this time.
[why.]
‘What should we do with them?’
Riley looked at Garon Theobald’s group and asked.
I turned my gaze towards them too.
“… … ”
[… … .]
Three wizards were seen lying unconscious.
Of course, there was no danger to his life, but if he was left alone without any treatment, he would clearly suffer from internal injuries for a while.
[ha…….]
I sighed.
In any case, it was an undeniable fact that we had received help from Garon Theobald.
Is this what they call a repayment of debt?
I was not so cruel as to abandon the benefactor who helped me.
And so it was with Riley, because it was her belief that you had to give back as much as you received.
[Well, do whatever you want.]
It’s embarrassing to say this now, but there was no benefit to be gained by fighting with a high-ranking wizard.
I don’t know if that’s meaningful since I’ve already had a huge fight, but… I’ve already given up on rational judgment a long time ago. I should just do whatever my heart desires.
‘All right.’
After hearing my words, Riley nodded and placed her hand on Garon Theobald’s chest without hesitation.
Woof─.
Her magical power flowed into Garon Theobald’s body.
After a few minutes, his irregular breathing became steady again.
‘I think this is enough.’
[huh.]
Of course, it wasn’t a complete recovery. It was just that his twisted magical circuits were returned to their original state.
Although it was a stopgap measure, this level of emergency treatment should be sufficient.
The rest will have to go to the temple and recover or drink potions on their own.
‘I treated you like this, so you’ll repay me somehow later, right?’
[… … If it weren’t for you in the first place, I wouldn’t have gotten hurt like that?]
Even though I gave you a bottle and medicine, you still want a lot.
‘Hmm, then I guess I’ll have to take care of this.’
Riley, who had been treating the rest of the group in turn, took something out of Garon Theobald’s arms.
Swish─.
A brightly glowing sphere.
It was the core of the golden golem.
‘Okay, that’s it.’
Riley wrapped the core tightly in dragon skin and tucked it away inside his robes.
This gives us two cores.
“Don’t feel bad, Sir Theobald. I feel satisfied only when I give back as much as I have received.”
“… … .”
“Since it has come to this, let’s take the test together again next year.”
Riley said with a grin.
Of course, it was impossible for an unconscious person to hear those words, but that didn’t matter to her.
Riley turned her head, her expression brightening even more.
“Miss Olivia.”
“yes yes……?”
“Are your legs feeling better now?”
“Oh, yes! I think I can walk again now!”
Olivia, who had been sitting on the floor, struggled to get up from her seat.
“Then let’s go.”
“Ah! Yes, yes… … .”
A garden filled with flames.
Riley and Olivia walked leisurely towards the exit, looking at the work they had created.
* * *
Outside the indoor garden.
A cliff located at the end of an outdoor flower garden.
Whoosh─!
Riley threw one of the cores off the cliff.
The golden sphere gradually became smaller and smaller, and soon disappeared into the thick fog.
“… … .”
[… … .]
silence.
A long time passed, but there was no sound of the core hitting the ground.
‘It really does look like a very high cliff.’
Riley muttered, staring blankly down the cliff.
‘No one will be able to find it if it’s this deep, right?’
[huh.]
I can never find it.
I could really guarantee it.
Putting aside the fact that the energy of the core is faintly felt, there is not much time left for the exam.
“Umm… … .”
Riley swallowed quietly after hearing my answer.
She began to ponder, holding the last remaining core in her hand.
Swish─.
Riley nodded and put the last remaining core into her inner pocket.
‘I’ll just keep this.’
[why?]
‘It was something I worked hard to get. Even if I failed the exam, I wanted to keep it as a souvenir.’
Since it was something he worked hard to obtain, he probably doesn’t want to throw away the core, even if it has nothing to do with passing the exam.
but.
I would have done the same thing.
[Do as you wish.]
Then the core processing will be finished.
Riley began wandering aimlessly through the garden with Olivia again.
Thud thud thud─.
“… … .”
“… … .”
The giants’ garden was truly a beautiful place.
azure.
And even huge flowers and plants.
If the indoor garden we were in a little while ago had a very artificial feel, well, now it felt like walking through a fairy forest created by nature.
No matter how long I walked, no monsters or traps appeared. It was amazing that there was such a peaceful place inside the ruins.
“… … .”
[… … .]
Time passed so quickly.
Before we knew it, there were only about 10 minutes left until the test ended.
Thud thud thud─.
Awkward silence.
Olivia, who had been watching Riley closely since earlier, spoke to her in a cautious voice.
“Um… …. Hey, Ms. Riley?”
“yes.”
“He, hey, maybe… … .”
Olivia, who had been hesitating, soon gathered her courage and continued speaking.
“Do you happen to know the last phrase of the ancient magic… … .”
“You promised not to ask that.”
Riley cut her off with a cold voice, a response that worked very well for someone as timid as Olivia.
As expected.
Olivia answered in an even more creepy voice after hearing that answer.
“Ah, ah… … .”
“… … .”
“… … That, that’s right.”
Her shoulders slumped. And so the awkward silence began to fall once again.
Thud thud thud─.
How much longer did it take?
This time, it was Olivia who broke the silence.
“Miss Riley.”
“yes.”
“Ms. Becky… … is really dead?”
It was a question asked not out of ignorance, but rather to deny reality.
Riley didn’t answer.
Instead, he just walked leisurely, looking around without saying a word.
In the silence that followed, Olivia asked no more questions.
“… … .”
“… … .”
The wind blew.
Huge pollen particles were scattered.
The flower stems swayed, and the green grass that reached Riley’s waist rustled gently.
It was truly a beautiful sight.
I say it again, it’s hard to believe that this is a historic site.
“ha…….”
Riley let out a complicated sigh and tried to speak to me in a low voice.
‘That’s too bad.’
[what.]
‘It’s just this situation.’
She continued in a subdued voice.
‘I thought I could easily pass the test. The Magic Book said so, and I also had that confidence.’
[… … .]
‘But since I failed the exam like this, my pride is a little hurt.’
Riley added quietly.
‘More than anything, I’m a little sad that I lost a teammate that I had grown attached to.’
[… … .]
okay.
It was a pity.
It was really a shame.
Having seen firsthand what Riley has been working on, the current situation feels even more disappointing.
but…….
‘… … But it wasn’t all bad things.’
[huh.]
We were able to gain valuable experience.
Real-life situations, crises, experiences, etc. Riley’s skills improved explosively in these complex situations.
The rapid growth she showed surprised even me.
okay.
1 year.
One year is enough.
After training again in the hideout of the Rich guy, he took the selection test once more, and thus caught the eye of the “Five Great Magic Towers” and entered the “Lantes Magic Tower”…
So in the end.
I’m fucking up a scammer who impersonates my disciple’s disciple.
[Let’s cheer up together.]
“… … .”
[Just give it another year.]
I have been waiting for a new disciple on the bookshelf for 300 years.
That one year was nothing.
Hearing what I said, Riley answered with a faint smile.
‘Good.’
[… … .]
‘Training leisurely for another year… … .’
Stop─.
At that very moment.
An unidentified liquid fell from the sky.
“… … ?”
Riley wiped her cheek.
‘This is… … .’
A sticky blue liquid clung to her hands.
‘… …The blood of the golden golem?’
Just as Riley was about to turn her head towards where the liquid had fallen.
“hey.”
For a moment, a thin, trembling voice came to my ear.
“Haa, you’re finally here.”
“… … .”
“What are you doing? Hurry up and let me go of this. I feel like my arm is going to fall off.”
It was a voice so familiar to us.
That’s because we’ve been hearing this guy’s voice so much over the past 24 hours that it’s almost tiresome.
“… … .”
Swish.
Riley looked away without saying a word.
A huge tree came into view.
An orchard full of delicious fruit. The unidentifiable pink fruits hanging from the branches were glowing softly.
and.
At the tips of the branches where those delicious fruits are borne… … .
“… …Ms. Becky?”
“Yeah. That’s right. Come up quickly and let me take this off.”
A wizard wearing the skin of a dragon was hanging there in a very pitiful state.
