Return of the Back Alley Wizard Chapter 160

Episode 160. You're in luck.

I crossed the grounds of the Blando family home at Henge's call.

Of course, this was an act that would have been unthinkable in the first place.

Although it is said that infiltration from within is easier than invasion from the outside, the defenses of the Blando family were not ordinary, as expected from a noble family.

This was possible not only because of Troubleshooter's experience, but also because of the competent guide, Dinner Number 1.

Beep, beep.

I followed the wings of Dinner No. 1 and slowly approached the Magic Academy along the deserted road.

If you flap your left wing, you go left, and if you flap your right wing, you go right.

‘What is this… … It’s not even a vehicle.’

I suddenly found myself in the position of a bird's-eye view, but perhaps because of my experience with Breakfast No. 1, it didn't feel all that awkward.

As I walked through the Brando house, darkness falling, a few thoughts crossed my mind that I needed to sort out before meeting Henge.

'Well, meeting Henge is good, you know.'

There was no part that was caught.

Let's think about it for a moment.

How is the character 'Aster' defined to Henge?

First of all, the first thing that can be mentioned is the origin of being a 'black and white zone vagabond'.

It was through my involvement with Damian that I ended up on the same boat as the new Cheonwon Gong, but I guess the perception that I was a black-and-white vagrant was deeply rooted in me.

My worries started right there.

'How should I explain what has happened so far?'

In fact, there haven't been many incidents related to Shincheonwon Gong so far.

Even if the raid on Falun's mansion was inevitable, Falun didn't know about the Trial Hall incident.

Well then, at best, the recent Infinite Chain Gun is all there is.

Those are the two incidents that are the problem.

'If it's Henji… …then you can connect me with the masked man who appeared during the raid on Falun's mansion.'

There may have been contact with Falun that I was unaware of, and even if there wasn't, the circumstances were so coincidental.

Rather than saying, ‘The masked man who appeared by chance helped Falun,’ it was a more credible inference that, ‘The black and white zone vagrant at that time must have had something to do with the masked man.’

Of course, in a normal situation, the latter would be something that would make you shake your head and say it was nonsense, but the henge I saw was anything but normal.

Normally, people would believe in coincidence rather than a tiny possibility, but Henge would pay attention to a tiny possibility rather than a tiny chance.

But think about it.

'The black and white zone vagrant I accidentally dragged in turned out to be a very capable person?'

Ah, I can't help but doubt this.

If so, what do you usually do?

'Oh, I'm lucky… … and move on?'

Bullshit.

If I were you, I would split open the ship.

Even a suspicion that never existed will boil over like an active volcano, and I will immediately lock you up and fry you until you say you know what you don't know.

If there is… … .

'… What if you even obtained information about what happened at Lortel?'

My head was spinning.

If I were Henge, I would drag him to my 'personal space', which I jokingly mentioned earlier, and have a terribly cozy time.

Well, I don't think it went too far until the Lortelle gun.

“Tsk, it’s a shame to have so many things to hide.”

Actually, it wasn't hidden.

He's just a mysterious man who, like an onion, reveals new sides to himself no matter how much you peel him.

Anyway, the ambiguity of this relationship slowed my pace, but it didn't make me too nervous.

However, I am having a hard time figuring out how to explain it from where to where.

'First of all, we have to share the Lortelle Gun… … .'

I expected the conversation to be long tonight, so I picked up my pace, following the instructions of Dinner 1.

The back of the Magic Academy that we arrived at.

I was looking up at the brightly lit Magic Academy despite the pitch-black night, and it was at that moment that Dinner Number One flapped his wings.

Foodie, foodie.

He landed on a window on the top floor, his eyes seeming to say:

“Come up?”

Beep.

I jumped without asking twice, stepped on the window sill a couple of times, and was able to reach the window where dinner number one was seated.

And before knocking on the door, I took a deep breath.

'I am proud. I am also confident.'

When I came here a long time ago, I was just a black and white vagrant, but now that I've returned, I'm a righteous troubleshooter.

If so, what is justice?

strength.

Strong power makes me more righteous.

so…….

'Henji's personal space?'

I'm not afraid.

However, I just wished.

Please, don't let Henge's rash judgment awaken my sense of justice. Violence disguised as justice… no, at any rate, don't let it awaken something.

With that in mind, I knock on the window.

Chorus—

The curtains opened and a familiar tabletop was revealed.

Henji looked at me with his usual kind face and, without showing any sign of surprise, immediately opened the window to welcome me.

“Haha, Aster. Long time no see. How have you been?”

“I hope you’re doing well.”

What is this pounding heart?

My hands were itchy.

Maybe I'm… …addicted to justice?

* * *

Henji brought out tea with a smiling face and naturally started a conversation, which began with 'Falun's Letter'.

"Just so you know, I just received a letter from Falun. By the way, should I call you 'Top Lord' now?"

“Letter?”

I questioned the fact that Falun sent the letter.

It was expected that there would be close contact between the two, but it was because of the sensitive word 'top lord'.

Knowing the 'top lord' meant that the contents of the letter contained the overall circumstances surrounding Lortelle.

Perhaps he noticed my gaze. Henji opened his mouth.

"Ah, this is the first time I've received a letter in months. Thanks to Ilgum, Dekulan's surveillance has eased."

Oh, so that's what happened.

However, it was quite surprising that Falun sent a letter.

It's not like Falun didn't know I was visiting Lortel during the vacation, so there was no reason for him to send me a letter—

As I was thinking about it, Henge added an explanation.

"For your information, this letter wasn't sent because I absolutely distrusted Aster. It was simply sent to provide a more objective and accurate explanation of the situation."

… … Quite a lot.

I don't think you'd think I'd run away with the Cheonwon Gong thesis, but I guess you sent me a letter because you felt something was off about it.

Well, anyway, that fact wasn't that important.

'Okay, now what will happen?'

I waited for Henji's response with a pounding heart.

If Henji has been tainted by evil, to purify him with justice and guide him to the right path.

But, in the end, Henge was not tainted by evil.

just-

"You kept your identity hidden from Falun. That was a wise choice. It's better to avoid trouble."

Supported my choice.

"By the way, I'm surprised. Did you have some kind of connection between you? It certainly wasn't like that when we first met."

He expressed his admiration mixed with curiosity.

The conversation that followed was mostly Henji asking questions and I answering them, but the questions were purely out of curiosity.

What happened to Kalahen, what happened in Lortel, and how did Falun do it, even though he seemed to like her quite a bit?

This was the part where I couldn't hide my wonder.

“Falun likes me?”

"Yes, is that hard to believe? Haha, I understand. He's such a cold-hearted guy."

It was a moment when I became very curious about the contents of the letter.

If you think about Falun so far, it wouldn't be strange if half of my story was filled with harsh assessments such as 'ignorance' and 'lack of qualifications as a magician'…

Anyway, when there was a back and forth of detailed circumstances and questions of interest that were not generally included in the letter.

We paused for a moment, moistening our lips with our respective teacups.

At this point, I couldn't help but ask.

“……Why?”

“What are you talking about?”

"that is……."

When I actually asked this question, I was at a loss for words.

It's embarrassing to even ask myself, 'Why don't you question my identity?'

But, is it just a pretense?

It was immediately after that that Henji opened his mouth.

"Actually, well. I'm curious. Aster-kun is a vagrant from the Black Zone… He was definitely a bit special when we first met, but nothing like this. But when I read Falun's letter, he really is… Haha."

Henji smiled, trailing off.

It was as if he was recalling the surprise he felt when he first read the letter, but it didn't seem to be a particularly dramatic emotion.

Anyway, after a moment of composure, Henji asked me a question.

“But does that matter?”

“No… is it important?”

"Let's say Aster is a chess player. On the board are his and his opponent's chess pieces. But the start isn't fair."

Henji spoke calmly, and began to manipulate his magical powers to form a chess board and pieces.

It was a surprisingly precise and fast transformation, and soon the colors separated, and the black and white chess pieces took full shape on the chessboard.

However, the arrangement was quite odd.

White's side was filled with pawns, rooks, bishops, knights, kings, queens, etc., and they were so densely packed that they ignored the squares.

As if ignoring the rules.

On the other hand, what about black?

Only queen and king.

I'm holding on with just two words.

"It's an unfair game, isn't it? So, let's say you're the Black player, Aster. But one day, a 'pawn' joins the Black camp. A useless pawn, really. What will you do then? Throw it away? Or will you hold onto it and continue the game?"

“The game…will continue.”

"That's why I chose Aster. Ah! Of course, I didn't just see him as a 'pawn.' 'Oh, maybe this pawn could go to the rear of the enemy lines and change roles?' Well, that kind of faint hope, you might say."

By now, I could understand what Henji was trying to say.

Here the white player is Deculan.

The black players are Henge and Falun.

At the same time, Henge and Falun were also queen and king.

But then, one day, I showed up.

'I'm talking about a phone that seems like it could become a queen.'

But what is this?

"When I actually looked into it, it wasn't a phone. I don't know why, but it was a bishop or a knight… well, maybe even more. Everything exceeded my expectations. But, do I really need a reason in this situation?"

“…….”

I stared intently at the black pawn floating across the chessboard. Then it transformed, sometimes into a bishop, sometimes into a knight.

Yeah, I don't know how a chess piece that I thought was a pawn ended up being a knight, but the reason probably didn't matter.

In this precarious situation, the only thing that matters is that a useful card has been created.

And one more thing.

I could also see why Henge had chosen to use the chess analogy, and it was probably something like this.

'Chess pieces don't need stories.'

Why is a phone called a phone?

Why is a bishop a bishop?

Few people play chess knowing its meaning. And even if they do, the origin isn't what matters to the game.

What matters is how the chess pieces are used.

I nodded at the clear answer.

“You’re lucky.”

"……yes?"

“No, it’s nothing.”

Unfortunately, no, fortunately, no justice was served.

As I was sighing in relief, no, in regret, Henji smiled brightly.

"Oh, I heard you have something to give me? And I also heard you have something to ask me."