Recognition

As Luna left, I was seized by a strange emptiness. It was as if the constant smile I had been wearing just moments ago was a lie, and I walked towards Modist with a sullen expression.

Today, a plump man wearing a monkey mask guided me to Estelle’s room, replacing Amber, who had left for Ludwig to save her younger sister. Naturally, Estelle was wearing a black cat mask.

I don’t know if she wears it all the time when she’s at the guild, or if she hurriedly put on the mask after hearing that I was visiting.

Estelle, who was sitting at her desk looking at documents, asked me curtly without even glancing at me.

,What is it? Coming to visit without an appointment. You’re such a rude man.”

,Well, there are things I want to ask and things I need to say.”

While experiencing the penalty of continued combat, I had a lot of thoughts. And I thought I should have a serious conversation with Estelle at least once.

When I woke up, I was too out of it to have a conversation, but now I had plenty of time to talk.

,That’s good. I have a mountain of things I want to ask too.”

Whether she was serious or not, Estelle put down her documents and created an atmosphere like a detective interrogating someone in a drama, so I shrugged and sat down in the chair opposite her.

,Even a fool would know that our relationship has become a shared destiny, right?”

I didn’t want to attach such a grand word as “shared destiny,” but I was in the same boat as Estelle, and I couldn’t find a reason to deny it, so I nodded.

,That’s right. Shared destiny.”

,Heu-eung….”

I wondered if it was a good choice, and the sight of Estelle humming in a pleasant tone made my back itch for no reason.

,Just like I revealed the face I had been secretly hiding from you, there’s one piece of information I want to get from you too.”

At Estelle’s serious voice, I tried to maintain the most indifferent expression possible.

,Ask me anything.”

Estelle, who seemed like she was about to throw a question right away, hesitated and fidgeted with her hands on the desk, which made me feel uneasy as well.

,Have you ever heard of…? Our clan’s founder, Parelga-nim.”

Parelga…? Just in case, I rummaged through my memories, but it was a name I was hearing for the first time. I might know Patulga, who created the space magic I use.

,That’s a name I’m hearing for the first time.”

,Re-really? Are you sure? Even in passing… no, it should be related to the space magic you use?”

Asking a question with the answer already decided was rude, but Estelle looked so desperate that I couldn’t help but stroke my chin.

,I don’t know. The magic I use is space magic created by a magician named Patulga. Unless the name is confusing, wouldn’t it be someone else?”

,Patulga…?”

Estelle muttered, then lowered her head for a moment and said nothing. A strange silence flowed, and finally Estelle opened her mouth.

,I’m sorry, but… could I see that, uh, grimoire…? Of course, I know it’s rude! But I’ll help you a lot in return! Just think of it as owing me in advance…!”

At Estelle’s rambling, I sighed and raised my hand. Estelle, who had leaned her upper body towards me and was continuing to say something, buried her back in the chair as if disappointed by my gesture.

At that sight, I moved my hand to the side and said.

,Calm down first. I’ll show it to you.”

When I took out Patulga’s grimoire from the space storage, Estelle got up from her chair as if excited. Seeing her look like she would wag her tail violently if she had one, I unconsciously held out my palm.

,Sit down.”

As if she had heard an order, Estelle sat down on the chair with a loud thud that made me wonder if her butt would hurt, and I could feel her tapping her feet impatiently.

I thought about taking out some snacks from the space storage and throwing them to her, but I stopped joking around and put the grimoire on the desk.

,I’m showing it to you because we’re a shared destiny. Of course, the contents of the grimoire are a secret to others.”

Estelle nodded her head up and down diligently at my warning.

As soon as I removed my hand from the grimoire, Estelle reached out as if she had been waiting, and touched the cover of the book with a careful touch, as if appraising a work of art, and then began to read the contents.

A moment of silence flowed in the room. I regretted refusing the man who had brought me here earlier when he offered to bring tea.

Looking at Estelle reading the book was a boring task, unlike watching Luna sleeping for hours. Soon, Estelle’s voice was heard.

,This can’t be happening…. Parelga-nim definitely…. But how did this grimoire…? This can’t exist….”

I don’t know what she’s muttering. I wondered if she had found something, so I leaned my upper body slightly, and Estelle, startled, screamed.

,Wh-what! You scared me! You pervert! Don’t bring that dirty face close without warning!”

It was a slightly hurtful reaction.

,Did you find anything out?”

,…No. It’s gotten more complicated.”

I shrugged at her weak voice.

,Anyway, I showed it to you.”

When I reached out to retrieve the grimoire, Estelle held the book to her meager chest.

,Wa-wait! I still have something to ask!”

,If you have any conscience, isn’t it my turn to ask questions next?”

,Yo-you stingy bastard! It’s related to this grimoire! Just answer me! I’ll answer your questions honestly too! You calculating pig!”

I thought about forcibly taking off her mask, but she was the guild leader of Modist. With my current skills, it was a delusional idea.

I sighed and asked.

,What are you curious about? As I said, I don’t know anything about a person named Parelga.”

,I heard that, you idiot! I’m curious because I saw this grimoire.”

Estelle, who was hugging the grimoire as if it were precious, flipped through the pages as if looking for something, and then handed the book to me.

,This basic space magic here. This is the magic you mainly use, right?”

At Estelle’s attitude of asking to confirm the facts, I nodded with a sullen expression.

,So?”

,Then how do you use this so freely?”

I didn’t understand Estelle’s question. Naturally, I was just using the formulas in the grimoire to recognize space coordinates. I had only repeatedly imprinted the magic in my brain for ease of use.

,I don’t understand what you mean… Can I ask you to elaborate?”

At my question, Estelle pointed to the text in the book with her finger as if frustrated.

,Recognizing space coordinates.”

,…So what?”

Even I thought it was a slightly stupid voice. Estelle sighed deeply and didn’t hide her annoyance.

,You real idiot! How did you recognize the space coordinates!!!”

,Of course, I used the formulas in the grimoire.”

Silence fell between us again. We just stared at each other blankly as if we didn’t understand each other’s words.

,So… you’re saying you used the formulas here to recognize the space coordinates in that short amount of time?”

,…Right?”

Is that a problem? Seeing that the basic space magic that Headmaster Nelson efficiently changed is also working well, it doesn’t seem like the formulas are wrong.

Come to think of it, Headmaster Nelson only told me the formulas. He didn’t directly demonstrate it.

,Ho-how on earth do you do that? I can recognize space too. But recognizing coordinates is a different matter…? Even the concept of a dimensional passage itself… this is impossible.”

I still didn’t understand Estelle’s words. The concept of a dimensional passage…? I had never thought about it that deeply. I had only used it as it was written in the grimoire.

Estelle read my expression and shouted as if frustrated.

,Just use it once right now!”

I felt like I was looking at an ugly child lying on the floor of a supermarket whining for a toy, so I immediately created a dimensional exit in front of Estelle’s eyes.

Ttak-!

I smacked Estelle on the head hard, and only then did she come to her senses and take out a dagger from her chest, so I quickly pulled my hand away.

,I see! You’ve been recognizing space coordinates since you came into the room! But even so… that’s an unbelievable speed….”

At Estelle’s words, I smiled and said.

,What are you talking about? I just recognized it and made it.”

,Th-that’s a lie. That’s impossible!”

She looked like she would faint if I took a pigeon out of my hat. I thought about putting a pigeon in the space storage next time and answered.

,Why is that impossible? I showed it to you right in front of your eyes, didn’t I?”

I shrugged and answered, and Estelle raised her hand and pointed to the ceiling.

,Ge-get that spider web on the ceiling over there!”

,Eek, that’s a bit….”

,Hurry!”

At Estelle’s urging, I sighed and used space magic. I took my hand out to the ceiling, stirred the spider web in the corner with my finger, took my hand out, and showed Estelle the spider web.

,Is that okay?”

,Re-really…? You just recognized the coordinates and did it…?”

,You can doubt it as many times as you want, but that’s the truth.”

I wiped the dirt on my hand on my pants and sighed as I answered, and Estelle muttered to herself in a small voice.

,How is that possible…? Is he perhaps that much of a genius? That’s definitely not it….”

It was a very rude mumble. Why is she so sure that I’m not a genius? Even so, Ross had a high intelligence. A whopping 8.3…!

Even Headmaster Nelson acknowledged that my understanding of space was excellent.

,This grimoire… can you tell me where you got it?”

At Estelle’s question, I came to my senses.

,Well, I can tell you, but… why?”

I was also curious at her sudden words, so I asked.

,Just… I want to investigate the grimoire.”

In fact, I was also curious about Patulga. I had searched for the name in the library, but nothing really came up.

,In Destin Village….”

I told her about what happened before the entrance ceremony. I read the future and found the cave in the mountain that herbalists often visited and obtained the grimoire.

After listening to my story, Estelle took out a piece of paper from her desk drawer and asked about the location in detail as if interrogating me. After about 10 minutes of questioning, Estelle nodded as if satisfied.

,Okay, this is enough to investigate. You’ll be curious about the results of the investigation too, so I’ll let you know separately later.”

I felt a little tired and nodded.

,Then can I ask questions now?”

,Sure. Ask away~”

It was finally my turn to ask questions. I cleared my throat once and asked.

,Do you happen to know who is hiding a corrupt artifact inside the academy?”

I was going to find out in advance who was involved in Ross’s death. I was even thinking of killing them right away if necessary.

At my question, Estelle answered without any hesitation.

,Of course I know.”

And at the following words, I clenched my fist for a moment.

,It was me.”