episode_0103

“[Condition: Understanding the nature of attributeless mana] Met.”

“[Main Story Chapter 3: Artemis Ruins] Cleared.”

“Experience and rewards have been given.”

“Level up!”

“Scenario unlocked. [Main Story Chapter 4: Final Exams]”

Kwaak-

Fingers intact.

Pot- pot-

Firm thighs and buttocks remain unchanged.

Boing- boing-

Luscious breasts are as usual.

Although I felt like I had been away from my original body for quite a long time, there wasn’t a single problem anywhere on my body.

No, even more than that.

My senses throughout my body were sharper than before, and the flow of mana was even stronger.

I felt like I could do anything right now.

But before that—

Ssssusss-

—there was something I had to finish.

My mother’s magic stone, slowly losing its light on my palm, beginning to crumble from the surface.

Even if it was just a fragment, it was something I had faced and spoken to.

I couldn’t just treat it like an ordinary stone.

I gently folded my hands, placing the magic stone on top.

I carefully knelt down.

Tidik- tik-

Tat-

It was a spirit that, even in death, protected the form of its soul and remained to teach me until the very end.

Even if I broke her into a million pieces.

Each and every one of them is my precious mother.

“Thank you so much.”

Paat- Sarararak-

Soon, the magic stone turned to dust, swirling like dust in the air above the training ground, and then…

“[Trait, [One Who Transcends the Laws of Nature] is activated.]”

It was completely absorbed into me.

“Rest… peacefully within me.”

A warmth spreading from my chest.

For a moment, like Pavlov’s dog, my mother’s smile flickered in my vision.

‘Now, what can’t I do?’

Immediately grasping the black quartz pendant, I channeled mana, following the faintly connected black mist, to Nyx’s spirit.

Hwaat-!

「Nyx, can you hear me?」

「Ait- shit, you scared me… H-huk-! 」

Even if I worried about when I said that… I was the one who felt guilty.

That’s why I can’t even drink cold water in front of kids.

I need to be careful with every word from now on.

「Anyway… where are you now?」

「That’s my line. I can’t sense Nari’s power anywhere nearby…」

It seemed Nyx also had a talent for “[Mana Detection]”, possessing the ability to read wavelengths.

「I briefly returned to the Royal Capital.」

「Wha- shi-」

「Tssuup.」

Nyx was quite flustered by the sudden announcement of my departure and the belated notification. The repeated and emphatic curses of her lover are making Nari anxious-!

Since she’s already startled, I decided to tell her everything.

「So, where are you?」

「Where do you think? Everyone finished work and gathered at the inn.」

「Okay, just wait a moment… I’ll be there soon.」

「Wha- what-」

The attributeless mana, ‘Aether’, stretched from the Royal Academy training room to the Evermore Inn of the Empire.

Thanks to the connection between Nyx’s physical body and her true form, I could easily connect the two points.

All that remained was to follow the path.

By overlaying the information of the mere physical body onto the spirit body and mana-fying my whole being, I can ignore the laws of physics.

It’s easy if I think of myself as magic.

“Whew… I’m getting nervous.”

Took- Tuduk-

I loosened up my body a little, took a deep breath.

While stretching, bouncing lightly, I suddenly felt another magic stone in my pocket.

‘This is…’

It was a Return Stone.

“Puhuit-”

Another fun idea popped into my head, but I’m more curious about their expressions when they see this new magic.

Holding the Return Stone, I extended the Aether and slowly burrowed into its interior.

“[Status window updated.]”

“[Trait, [One Who Transcends the Laws of Nature] information partially modified.]”

“- Can perceive and understand Aether.”

“Similar effects are present in a skill, leading to spontaneous evolution.”

“Skill, [Mana Detection] evolves into [Omni-Detection].”

Hwaa!

A pure white light swallowed the Return Stone.

Right, I’ve only ever stacked books and read the covers.

Even though I clearly had the ability to turn those pages and read the contents inside.

I hadn’t thought of it.

If the world is made of mana, and mana is made of Aether…

The world is Aether, and Aether is the world.

Information etched in my mind, guided by the sensitive sensations at my fingertips.

I skipped over the complex structure of the magic stone, extracting only the spell information and slowly assimilating it.

It’s a type of spatial magic using dark attribute mana, but it can be easily reinterpreted with Aether.

Magic that reads the mana waves of a living being and instantly sends it to a registered coordinate.

[Teleportation].

“…It’s really easy.”

If my mother had awakened to this power, she probably would have scolded the top mages, saying, ‘That’s not how you use magic!’

I registered the coordinates of the training ground and immediately flew to Nyx.

The distance between the Empire and the Kingdom, which took six hours to go and 30 minutes to return…

Took less than a second on my return trip.

* * *

“You really came…”

“Should I have faked it?”

A stinging blow to Nyx’s head, her mouth agape.

“To think one person can use this kind of magic… It’s the first time I’ve seen it in person.”

Eve crossed her arms and quietly marveled.

Originally, crafting Return Stones, Gates, or Portals required dozens of mages to barely inscribe the spells, a high-difficulty task.

Therefore, the magic itself wasn’t simple, couldn’t be cast by a single person.

Any magic student who witnessed this would be awestruck.

“I may have to tell you guys everything soon.”

“What is it?”

“I… I think I can do precise analysis of magic and spells like Nyx. This magic I just used is also from analyzing the spells of the Return Stone.”

Eve quietly nodded and fell into deep thought.

Nari watched her for a moment, but…

The short silence was easily broken.

Because Nyx, like a drenched garment, clung to her arms.

“If you can even do that… am… am I useless now…?”

Perhaps due to the repeated scolding over her newly learned curses, she was even more submissive today.

And Nari wasn’t going to miss this opportunity.

“What are you saying? You’re incredibly useful—”

Mol-kang-

She hugged Nyx with one arm and kneaded her various parts.

While not feeling bad, cracks slowly formed in Nyx’s self-esteem.

“Uuu… I’m a useless, cheap meat-hole spirit except for being Nari’s seed-bearer…”

Of course, I know it’s just a joke, and I’m playing along appropriately.

I firmly believe that Nari would never think of her that way.

Satisfied with her reaction, Nari gently wiped away Nyx’s feigned tears.

“It’s a joke, a joke~”

“Really? You’re not going to put me in a cardboard box with that pendant, write ‘Please take care of me’ and throw me out—?!”

Kissing her cheek, gently held in one arm, she whispered softly.

“To avoid being thrown out, you have to work hard tonight, right?”

“Yes…!”

Watching them was Yuri, already nestled in the other arm.

“You two have been getting along so well lately—”

“We’ve always been close—!”

The bickering of the two women, closer than ever, was immeasurable happiness for Nari.

And her mother’s smile naturally appeared on her face.

. . .

Nyx, who was outside; Yuri and Eve, who had packed their bags and come out to the inn and there were more people waiting for her.

The four members of the [Four Saints’ Society], each with their own unique expressions, gave her an excessive reaction.

“I heard you were on your deathbed… you’re surprisingly here.”

“When I heard you were coming back, I couldn’t stay put.”

Terrence was the first to approach with a hearty laugh.

“How’s your body?”

“I’m fine. No issues even at night.”

They bumped fists, sharing their experience as equals.

Of course, as leaders.

“Try layering them up like a sandwich. Amazingly tasty.”

“Did you just realize that?”

It seems they are talking about food. Hmm.

Then, Joy peeked out from behind Terrence.

“Thank… thank you. We couldn’t have possibly dealt with that opponent alone.”

“No, it’s my pleasure. It’s a morpher’s job to complete requests, isn’t it?”

She was a few years Nari’s senior.

Just because someone is strong doesn’t make them an excellent adventurer, and the difference in experience is a significant gap.

Still, Joy bowed deeply.

“Really… thank you so much… our families almost faced danger…”

As her rambling continued, Lily quietly approached Joy.

“Okay, okay. It’s impolite to keep someone who’s leaving.”

“Uhn… right.”

She nodded, signaling her understanding, and Nari smiled slightly.

“Anyway, thank you very much. If you ever come back, let’s go to a good restaurant together.”

“Sounds good! Will you treat us?”

“Of course not~ you received platinum badges; do you really need to milk us for more?”

Hahaha-

A boisterous atmosphere.

But Nari and Eve quickly exchanged glances.

‘That shadow guy…’

‘…isn’t here.’

Nari subtly looked around.

“Ah- maybe, about Reef?”

“Yes. It would have been nice to say goodbye, but he’s nowhere to be seen.”

“He said he had a sudden emergency and left immediately. I’ll pass on your regards.”

They bumped fists briefly again, and she said goodbye to Terrence.

“Live long.”

“You too.”

Psik-

It was a short phrase but their meaning was clear.

Nari’s party gathered in one place.

“Then, we’re really leaving—!”

“Drop by often! Our reputation would suffer if we don’t properly handle a platinum badge holder!”

“Are you ordering a platinum badge around?”

“Ignore me, you idiot—!”

The awkwardness from their first meeting was gone.

Eve, who had subtly avoided eye contact, ended up making eye contact with the two women.

‘…!’

The ill will between them had completely vanished.

They say that kindness washes away resentment.

In this world, there are no eternal allies, nor eternal enemies.

Eve felt that this journey was her first truly rewarding one.

She was a little surprised at herself for thinking that.

Change was always a risk factor, but today, it didn’t feel entirely bad.

[Teleportation]—!

A bright white light enveloped Nari’s party, and she waved her hand slightly.

‘See you later.’

Joy and Lily were a little surprised.

They never dreamt that the cold, cold Eve Estar would change so significantly.

The two, who always felt inferior to her, once again felt their ambition burn brightly, today.

To surpass her, who had changed, for the better.

They raised their hands high and waved with all their might.

‘Goodbye, you nemesis.’

‘Don’t get hurt out there.’

Their feelings, flying at each other like shells on a battlefield, will never be fully conveyed to the other side.

But that’s enough.

Because feelings generally can’t be conveyed properly.

. . .

Late at night, the Empire.

A shadow flickered on the floor of Darius’s office.

Ssuuk-

And from within, emerged the figure of a woman shrouded in black cloth.

“I’m back.”

“Yes, did you enjoy the adventure?”

Tsut-

Persona clicked their tongue.

“Cut the chatter. I didn’t come here for that.”

“Yes, yes. You’re always so sharp. Being more amiable would enhance your feminine charm—”

Kaddeuk-

“—Alright, alright. I’ll drop the act. ”

In the half-empty glass, the red wine once again shone, reflecting the moonlight.

“I want to hear the results of this exploration operation.”

“Kuk- Kkuk… It was far beyond imagination. It’s beyond human comprehension. It would be an understatement to call it a monster.”

“Despite that…”

Ssiik-

“You seem quite happy.”

“Dissecting the insides of such a monster, tearing its body apart… is the most exciting thing in this world—!!”

Khahaha—

Persona’s chilling laughter reverberated through the room.

“Are you… confident?”

“Of course. Just give me a proper plan. I’ll carry it out perfectly… and serve that woman piece by piece.”

Binggle-binggle-

Darius swirled the wine glass, savoring the scent of blood, then…

He didn’t say it out loud.

“Right, then I’ll inform you of the operation.”