Return of the Back Alley Wizard Chapter 364

Episode 364. Daily

Evelyn thought.

'What is life?'

The sun rises. And then it sets. As night falls, darkness pours into the place once filled with light, and the blue night sky turns black.

The black sky is filled with stars and the moon.

And the moon disappears when morning comes.

The sun rises again.

Yes, one day.

Living the day.

Evelyn's day was truly monotonous.

I wake up in the morning and start work with a cup of coffee. I eat a simple meal of bread.

The reason why 'meal' follows 'start of work' is because breakfast is usually eaten while going through the documents from the previous day.

And after eating all the bread, I got down to work in earnest.

‘Let’s see… … The agenda that came up yesterday… … .’

The work she handles at the development site is extensive.

From financial management, material fluctuations, personnel, and even minor requirements.

She had so many things to do that she couldn't define them as 'doing this and that', but as she dealt with each task one by one, the day passed by in no time.

And then back to bed.

As she goes to bed, Evelyn thinks again.

'What is life?'

Day by day.

A life filled with work.

Day by day.

‘… … If there are three things, it’s three.’

No, this isn't it.

Evelyn lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, then shook her head as a thought crossed her mind.

This kind of nonsense was a side effect of my life at the academy… my interactions with Damian, Chenbi, and Aster.

Anyway, that's not what's important right now.

'What is life?'

Evelyn always ended her day with this worry.

In fact, no answer came out.

Because 'life' is something incomprehensible that cannot be understood even after reflecting on it for a lifetime.

But why?

'Somehow… I think I know.'

Lately, Evelyn has felt like she can define what 'life' is.

The reason is probably… … .

[I'm flying! I'm flying without using my wings.]

“No? If I do this, I won’t be able to do it.”

[Gyaaaaaaaah!]

In the middle of the night, that voice chattering loudly outside the window.

Pada dadadak!

With clumsy wing flapping.

“Ugh! Bam! Crack!”

A refreshing scream.

[Uncivilized human! I'm a dragon! You're uncivilized!]

And cries of indignation.

Pok, bang, bang!

An unidentifiable impact sound.

If I lie in bed and quietly listen to that sound, I think I will be able to understand what 'life' is.

If so, what is life?

'……pain.'

It's a never-ending shackle.

Why is that?

"……Day."

There was too much work.

Actually, I didn't mind having so much work.

It was just a lot of work, but it was more than she could handle.

Anything you can handle on your own will ultimately only make you stronger. So, it's not suffering.

But, what is now considered ‘pain’ is… … .

“Okay, try this.”

[I'm learning a new magic.]

"This is an order, isn't it? Now, let's begin. 'I'."

[I am.]

"lizard."

[cutting board…….]

"lizard."

[… … ?]

Yeah, this is it.

When I look at those crazy, idle guys, I can clearly see that they have a lot of work to do.

I lived without knowing that pain was pain, but the existence of those two is making Evelyn realize that pain is pain.

[Gyaaaaaaaaaaah!]

“Ugh! Knock! Stop it!”

Evelyn closed her eyes tightly and covered her ears at the ringing sound in her ears.

'Life is… … suffering.'

What is the pain if you do that?

… … Those kids.

Those things that reminded me that life is suffering, lounging around day and night, were the real suffering.

Of course, Evelyn knows too.

Just because I'm Aster doesn't mean I'm just playing around.

'Aster-kun… … .'

In this second development, I have received a reward for breaking down the second development site's conspiracy and dealing with the tyranny of the nobles in the second and third development sites together with Viscount Calond.

And not long ago, he went directly to the two nobles of Araprugin and obtained a promise of cooperation.

So, what did that strangely named self-proclaimed dragon called 'Wyvern' do?

I did nothing.

but.

'… …base camp.'

In building it, the existence of that self-proclaimed dragon was an essential element.

Why?

The black wyvern, known by the ridiculous name of 'Yongyong', was the leader of all the wyverns in the Arapugin Mountains and claimed to be a servant of 'Wyvern'.

but.

Regardless of its usefulness.

For Evelyn, both were a pain.

Maybe that's why.

“Okay, I’ve decided.”

Evelyn jumped up and looked out the window. It was dawn, and even the moon was setting. Outside, a beast and a human, no better than a beast, were tussling.

Evelyn smiled as she looked at the two.

“I’m on strike.”

It's a rooftop and a sleeping place, I can't live like this.

… … That was Evelyn’s choice.

* * *

It was the next morning that Aster heard the news of Evelyn's strike.

“……This is a big deal. Miss Evelyn has declared a strike.”

Ahnar, who came early in the morning, told Ibelin the news of the strike with a stern expression.

As he was handling a significant portion of the development work alongside Evelyn, he was able to hear the news of Evelyn's strike faster than anyone else.

Meanwhile, Aster tilted his head when he heard the news.

“Strike…is that it?”

It's unbelievable.

Evelyn's on strike? Does she like that kind of work?

“You don’t believe me, do you? Come and see.”

Aster followed Ahnar's instructions and walked to Evelyn's room, which was located on the same floor as the building.

And I was able to discover it.

strike

A door with a strike sign posted on it.

“Uh… what on earth is going on?”

“……Are you asking because you don’t know? There’s just too much work. And…… Even I feel like my clothes are about to burst.”

“Why?”

“Why would that be?”

Ahnar looked at Aster with cold eyes.

And at those eyes, Aster smiled awkwardly.

“That’s all the reason…….”

"Yes, I suppose so. There must be a reason. There is a reason, but I'm saying to consider the viewer's perspective as well."

“Then, somewhere I can’t see…….”

“Are you kidding me?”

“…….”

Aster shut his mouth tightly in shock at the chilling aura of Ahnar.

Anyway, that wasn't the important thing.

“But if Evelyn goes on strike, the development schedule will be….”

"I'll do my best to handle it. But it won't be easy. Unlike last year, we've already entered full-scale development, so there's a lot to handle."

That was fortunate.

Because not all schedules are on hold.

Of course, that doesn't mean that we can be completely at ease.

"I'll go. Thankfully, he's cleared up the work he was doing."

“……Ah, yes.”

“And you… know how to behave yourself.”

“…….”

It means to behave yourself.

What it meant was simple.

The story is about making every effort to end the strike without further provoking Evelyn.

If so, what should I do?

“……Ugh.”

Aster was faced with the unexpected problem of 'Declaring the Ibelin Strike' and expressed his frustration.

It was at that moment that the wyvern appeared.

Flap, flap.

[Give me the tribute.]

The story was about giving up the morning moonstone… … .

“Ugh, I can’t live because of you, I can’t live.”

What happened? I don't know. But I do know one thing. Everything is karma. Karma is yours.

“This, really….”

Aster was about to slap the squeaking wyvern, but he sighed deeply when he realized that he was still in front of Evelyn's room.

“Okay. What do I have to say to you?”

Aster handed three moonstones to the wyvern and walked away with a shaggy gait.

First of all, since Evelyn went on strike, something had to be done.

‘… …The question is what to do.’

At times like this, I missed Chenbi.

If it were Chenbi, he would have immediately noticed what the problem was and given appropriate advice.

* * *

First, Aster decided to focus on the 'phenomenon'.

'Ibelin must have declared a strike because she was sick of seeing me playing.'

So, what had to be done was simple.

"viscount."

“……?”

Early in the morning, while eating breakfast at his lodgings, Viscount Calond frowned at Aster's sudden visit.

Now he knows too.

Aster is a person who is not good to meet.

“What… is going on?”

Naturally, his voice couldn't help but tremble, but Aster smiled as he looked at Viscount Calonde.

“Aren’t you bored?”

“I’m busy.”

"What are you talking about? Why is the count so busy? What are you doing right now? Think carefully before you answer. The Chamber of Truth is always open."

“……Hmm, hmm. I don’t have anything I should be doing.”

Recently, Viscount Calond's role in the development area has been minimal. He only occasionally responds to communications from the second and third development areas.

However, even that was not a big deal since the traffic control had already been completed.

So, I guess you can eat leisurely like this.

Aster nodded in satisfaction as he looked at such a work.

“Then, let’s go.”

“……?”

"Oh, you're going to play? Senior Ahnnar is working, and you're going to play alone? Evelyn's on strike, and you're going to play?"

“…….”

Count Calonde put the bread he had in his mouth back on his plate and looked across.

The knight who had been sitting across from me eating got up with a disgusted expression.

“……Let’s go.”

“You’ve had a hard time because you chose the wrong master.”

“It’s just a natural disaster.”

“I appreciate you thinking of it that way.”

So, Viscount Calonde walks with his escort knights.

Aster looked at her back with satisfaction and then started walking again.

“For now, we’ve sent reinforcements.”

What's next?

‘… … That’s right.’

Does playing make you hungry? Then just show me how to work.

The question is what to do.

In fact, there was only one thing left for Aster to do in the development zone.

“……Preparing the base camp site.”

That was it.

* * *

… … Meanwhile, at that time.

Eastern Empire.

A series of groups were entering from the border adjacent to the Kingdom of Hoaxen.

Their movements were so stealthy that they even evaded the surveillance of the Imperial Rangers, which was, in a way, natural.

Ten robed men.

Because each and every one of them was a Golden Horseman who had shed his shell.

When they had completely crossed the border, the one at the forefront of the Golden Horse took off his robe and looked up at the sky.

“The Empire… it’s been a long time.”

It's been at least half a century since the old war ended and I moved to Hoaksen.

What is it like to step on the land of the empire after a long time…?

“……I still feel nauseous.”

After sharing his thoughts briefly, the old man turned his gaze to one of the golden horses following him.

“Yes, where is the place where Dekulan’s half-penny is waiting?”

“It’s around here. Just a little further and you’ll find it.”

“Then, I guess I can take it easy.”

“As you wish.”

The old man resumed his steps. Unlike when he crossed the border, his pace was slow, as if he were out for a walk.

'Dahern, that snake-like bastard would really send my son away… … .'

The man who treated Salvatum so poorly that he couldn't even be bothered to help reached out. And he did it by sending his own son.

But, what's more surprising is… … .

‘… … Reverse, you’re saying it was in Dekulan?’

“It’s fun, it’s very fun.”

But why did Dekulan suddenly announce the existence of the reverse sky and reach out?

Could it be that Yeokcheon came into the world…?

'If, then… … .'

The eyes of the four elders shone with a gloomy light.

Perhaps, it was an event that allowed him to see the long-held wish of the resolution in his own generation.

“Either way, it won’t be free.”

A union that had been crouching for thousands of years has raised its head from the surface.

To take the bait called 'Reverse Heaven' thrown by Deculan.