Return of the Back Alley Wizard Chapter 115

Episode 115. You must be having a good dream.

Early in the morning, I put on my academy uniform and left the inn where I was staying.

Riley, who had drunk so much the previous day that he was practically a rice cake, was lying in a daze, but there was a smile on his face.

'I guess you had a good dream.'

Yes, a dream you couldn't achieve in reality. Achieve it in your sleep.

“Are you going now?”

“Don’t follow me.”

Shine, who was looking out the window, shrugged.

“Isn’t that my heart?”

“I guess it would be my intention to beat you up.”

“If you can, try it.”

Shine's red eyes glowed. A confident smile erupted from her eyes.

Is that the guy who got busted at Base Camp 4? He's so confident.

'Well, that makes sense.'

From Base Camp 4 to the city of Hazen.

Shine had recovered quite a bit of strength.

A vampire's power comes from consuming blood, and they suck the blood of monsters so voraciously that no one would think they are carnivores.

One, I also regained my strength.

but.

“Okay, just stay quiet and don’t cause any trouble.”

“It’s nerve-wracking.”

I walked outside, leaving behind Shine, who was throwing provocations for no reason.

'I need to make a circle quickly to use it.'

Transcendence.

I had overcome a wall I couldn't overcome in my previous life, but I still had a long way to go.

The land is truly magnificent, but is it lacking in the vessel to support it?

To fully unfold transcendence, it is imperative to elevate the physical body and vessel to an equivalent level.

This was a process for which it was not easy to predict how long it would take.

'Well, it wouldn't be as difficult as breaking through the wall of transcendence… … .'

Anyway, Transcendence is sealed until the vessel is raised.

However, there was no need to be discouraged.

Could it be because I glimpsed the final stage of the vision of red flame, the living flower, at the time of transcendence?

The mind has progressed from this stage of becoming a fire to the third stage of being a calamity.

Finally, I have reached the level of Kalahen.

What does this mean?

'Now, you're saying that you can crush someone as big as Kalahen without any luck.'

It was truly a tearful achievement.

The reason I've been able to survive until now is not because I have a high level of skill or because I have an outstanding vision.

It's because I'm good after all.

Because I was running wild every moment like there was no turning back, I caught Kalahen too, huh? I caught the swamp ruler too, huh? That's what happened.

If it were any other guy, they would have been killed long ago.

'Sure, I'm good at hitting.'

Some may say that it is cowardly and shallow, but being shallow is also a skill.

Of course, I couldn't feel at ease.

Just as the ruler of the swamp, who reigned in fear over the adventurers of the Hamern Forest, was trampled by me, there is always a synergy.

anyway.

Finally arrived at the dormitory.

'… …Not yet?'

I took a look around the lobby, which I hadn't been in for a long time.

As the students prepared to go to school, rubbing their sleepy eyes and walking, the faces I was looking for were nowhere to be seen.

Usually, it's time to come down around this time… … .

It was then that I encountered a familiar face coming down the stairs.

Stop.

A student stopped walking when he saw me. The person with the same cold expression was none other than Paula.

"female."

“…….”

My roommate, Paula, looked at me with a complicated, no, annoyed look, and then quickly passed me by.

“……The letter was delivered successfully.”

“Okay.”

“And my ransom is expensive. Just this once… um.”

Ting!

“Is that okay?”

Paula, who had snatched the coin I had flicked away, glanced at me after seeing the silvery sheen.

“Use it again next time.”

Just a simple kid.

I really like the fact that it's loyal to its capital.

Anyway, as I was silently watching Polar pass by, I heard a sound coming from above.

"Listen. Chenbi, you're supposed to keep your promises. And I kept my promise. I studied hard for the midterms and placed in the top 16. Right?"

“Yeah, I see.”

"Then, Mom has a duty to make both Blood, Sweat, and Tears 1 and 2. Do you understand?"

“Yeah, I see.”

"But, you have to choose. Build Blood, Sweat, and Tears No. 1, or No. 2. Does that make sense?"

“Yeah, I see.”

Despite the early morning, her voice was tense. Even amidst the halfhearted responses, she was still able to speak her mind.

The two faces coming down the stairs looked quite familiar.

“This is a clear breach of contract… Huh?!”

“Yeah, I see.”

It was Damian who discovered me first.

Damian opened his eyes wide, rubbed them a few times, and then stared at me.

It was shortly after that that Chenbi, with his eyes half-awakened, discovered me.

"……friend?"

“……? ……!”

Wide-open eyes.

"friend?!"

“……Aster?”

“Are you a friend?!”

“Aster……?”

The two people took turns exclaiming in disbelief, as if they were seeing a dead person.

I greeted those two with a hearty smile.

“I am here.”

But why is that?

Chenbi's once sparkling eyes grew cold. He turned away from me with a slightly hardened expression, then dragged Damian along and walked away.

“Damian, that’s not Aster.”

“No, it’s not, but it’s right?”

“The dead cannot come back to life.”

“No, but he’s not dead?”

"No. Aster is dead. That was an illusion, and we were hallucinating."

“Is that so?”

Two people passing me by.

Damian kept looking back as if he couldn't believe it, but Chenbi's attitude was firm.

Finally, Chenbi grabs Damian by the collar and drags him away.

“Friend, are you really dead?”

“…….”

I had no answer to that question.

It's only been a little over a month. It's not a long time, but what on earth made Chenbi like this?

It was something I had no idea about.

* * *

The classes at the academy were nothing special.

Since the midterm exams and interpersonal combat tests were already over, most of the classes were focused on review.

At the end of the semester, in a relaxed atmosphere, students spent their time excited about the upcoming vacation.

Of course, I wasn't.

“……So, you left for training and couldn’t make it on time?”

“Yes, I got lost…….”

“Hmm.”

The interview with Professor Jayra was quite bleak.

She looked at me with a somewhat suspicious expression and then nodded coolly.

"Okay, I understand. In any case, attendance will not be recognized. In this case, no substitute exams will be possible. Please keep this in mind."

“Yes, I understand.”

It seemed like there were many things he wanted to ask, but Professor Jayra didn't ask any further.

Considering it was a somewhat muddled story, the alibi was pretty solid.

As I was leaving the faculty office, I ran into Assistant Professor Yorbi, who was carrying some documents.

"Aster, it's been a while. You came so quickly. I'm glad you're safe."

“Oh, yes.”

I wonder if it's a relief that you're safe, or if it's a sign that you're late.

He was a consistently unlucky gentleman.

Oh, by the way, I don't know what happened to Evelyn, the golden jade leaf at the top of Goldrin.

If I were Evelyn, I would have changed it.

'Looking at your pale face, it seems like nothing happened.'

By the way, Evelyn is still busy these days.

Externally, it seems that he is busy with the work of the upper class, but he seems to be busy trying to appease the nobles with the black market issue.

Anyway, after my interview with Professor Jayra, I walked to the cafeteria on the first floor of the student cafeteria.

There I began my second interview with Chenvi and Damian.

“……So, that’s why it’s late?”

“……Well, that’s true.”

I have somewhat adapted and told the story of my journey through the Hamerne Forest.

Of course, I did not mention sensitive topics such as 'Hammer Forest', 'Destroy', or 'Golden Horse'.

However, I went on a training trip and it just so happened to be in a forest overflowing with monsters.

To make matters worse, I got lost and almost died. That's about it.

“……Um, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Well, I was hurt, but I’m all better now.”

“You can’t get sick.”

Perhaps it was because of the story of his death and resurrection? Chenbi's stiff demeanor softened even more.

No, I thought it would subside.

“I thought you ran away again.”

“…….”

"I thought you were hiding somewhere and playing. Oh, don't get me wrong. I didn't think you were just slacking off under the guise of training."

That's right. I think that's the right way to think about it.

"Well, I was comfortable at the Academy. Very comfortable. With Damian, I ate three meals a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and once a day, I caught someone who ran away and brought them back."

“…….”

"I'm not saying anything. Um, absolutely not. I just wasn't worried that you might have gone somewhere and gotten into trouble. Yeah, absolutely not."

“…….”

I wonder if there were a lot of things that were tied up.

Come to think of it, it's only been a little over a month.

While Damian is taller and has chubby cheeks, Chenbi has a somewhat rough and sharp appearance.

At this point, there is only one attitude I can take.

All I can do is lie down and say sorry until the calm storm passes.

How many times have I heard such lamentations?

"Anyway, Aster. I'm glad you came back safely."

"thank god!"

The atmosphere has become much softer.

I'm fine.

Chenbi's soft-spoken words stabbed me like a knife, but I was still breathing.

I sat on a bed of thorns, coughed up blood hundreds of times, and collapsed, but I still survived.

So, after the hearing was over.

Only then were we able to exchange proper greetings.

“Oh, what about interpersonal combat?”

“I got 2nd place! Chenbi got 22nd place!”

“Second place?”

"Yeah. Dahlia won first place. But actually, I let her win. She could have won, but if I won, Dahlia would have gotten hurt."

Perhaps, Dahlia ran towards him without hesitation.

It seemed that Damian, who was not desperate, gave in and Dahlia took the victory.

However, even so, Dahlia's propaganda was quite unexpected.

'I guess you got the hang of it quicker than I thought.'

If it weren't for that, we wouldn't have gotten results like this.

So, we spent time catching up on recent events.

The main topic of conversation was Blood, Sweat, and Tears No. 1 and No. 2. That is, the lake and the statue.

“Choose one of the two!”

“Then of course it’s number 2.”

Because it takes more work.

As a result, the topic of conversation naturally turned to the upcoming vacation.

The first vacation is just around the corner.

"This time, I'm going to go to the Brando family's house with Damian to greet their mother. My parents are already here."

“I’m going to go make number 2.”

Chenbi plans to use this opportunity to meet Gamo Bianca and spend time with his family.

Damian was planning to make Blood, Sweat & Tears No. 2. A dragon statue.

Well, even so, the stonemasons will do it all, and Damian will just stand by and say things like, "Put some persimmons and put some pears."

Anyway, it was at that moment that Damian, who was chatting away in high spirits, suddenly looked at me.

“Will your friend come with you?”

Clear eyes.

I scratched my head for a moment at that look in his eyes.

"……well."

If I had my way, I would go to the Blando family and create a circle, but there was still a mountain of work to do at the academy.

Not only visiting Lapeter, but above all… … .

Professor Falun.

Because Professor Falun was looking for me.

– Crackle, crackle.

From a few days ago until today, the call beads break one by one every day.

First of all, I needed to meet Professor Falun.