episode_0257

Watching the mana gather in her hands, Eve softly groaned.

‘…So that’s it. It’s not about sharing, but rather combining.’

The preparations ended faster than expected. Nix’s help was significant. Her ideas weren’t drastically different from what Eve already knew, yet simultaneously pointed towards a new path.

This world’s mana has extremely high versatility. Excluding special attributes, there are a total of four types of mana, but the number of spells is countless. Even a simple magic bullet spell varies greatly depending on how the mana is utilized.

Therefore, being able to wield all four elemental manas means virtually all existing magic is usable. Eve actually favors ice magic, but she can do anything if she sets her mind to it.

‘I felt like… I understood something back then.’

The first semester final exam tournament. The magic Eve prepared to defeat Nari, her opponent in the final match, was [Elemental Orb]. It could be considered the ultimate secret technique, gathering and releasing four types of mana at once.

Eve felt an inexplicable sense of euphoria at that time. The moment she unleashed all her mana without reserving any. It was the feeling of hitting a magical limit she’d always been unable to reach, and moving onto a new level.

That feeling, once more.

Eve drew all the mana within her body. Every sensation in her body, from her fingertips to her toes, sharpened. A raging storm raged within her. Each drop of mana formed a great tempest.

Tchut- Tsujit-!

“Kkeuk-”

She stumbled momentarily. It was a symptom of mana poisoning. Her body had suddenly exceeded its capacity to contain mana. It wasn’t a serious problem. Her body would soon adapt to the mana.

A new world overlaid Eve’s vision. Four beams of light appeared before her. She reached out and gently stroked each one. Each seemed to represent one of the four elemental manas.

Eve spread her arms wide and embraced the beams of light. It was a bit too much to hold, but she didn’t give up. She entrusted herself to the light, and it gradually began to shrink to fit her body.

Phit-

The boundaries between the beams of light collapsed. They began to mix, acknowledging their differences. Eve focused without the slightest tremor. She was creating a new spell that combined the four manas into one. Her immense concentration reduced the probability of error.

The colors of the light beams gradually became multicolored. It was only an intermediate stage, just combined. Eve continued to break down the concept of mana and mixed the light beams.

And, it was just for a moment.

‘…!!’

The moment she opened her eyes, Eve saw her body surrounded by a pure white light. An extremely comfortable and warm feeling. An indescribable omnipotence, transcending the cracks in the world.

It was a fleeting moment, but Eve saw the possibility.

. . .

“I guess she didn’t come today.”

“R-really…? I haven’t seen Nari lately either… Hehe-”

As soon as her training ended, Eve went looking for Nari. To challenge her to another duel. With this new possibility in hand, she didn’t want to waste even a moment of this feeling. She wanted to test her strength against her immediately.

Then it would feel like there were no regrets. She thought it was a good time to leave. Because she wanted to at least say goodbye.

But Nari wasn’t at the academy today. Yuri wasn’t there either. Apparently, Yuri hadn’t been feeling well the previous day and was taking the day off.

“Yuri’s sick?”

“That’s what I heard.”

“Why don’t you know, Eve? Weren’t you together yesterday?”

“I had some things to think about, so I didn’t have time to pay attention to others.”

Nari wasn’t there, so that was fine. Eve immediately turned and headed towards the dormitory. It was getting late, so it was a good time to go home. She needed to return to her room, rest, and organize and review what she had gained today.

“Then, I’m off.”

“O-oh…? You’re leaving already?”

On the other hand, Nix had a different purpose. She wanted to observe the causality she felt from Eve. She needed as much information as possible for Nari’s fate. She believed that someone as strong as Eve, who carried causality, would definitely be the answer.

That’s why she didn’t want to leave so quickly. The problem was that Nix had no reason to keep Eve. She also lacked the conversational skills to keep someone around without a reason and steer the conversation.

“Why? Do you have something to say?”

“O-oh… No. Goodbye!”

“Yeah.”

The girl with light blue hair gradually disappeared from Nix’s sight. It was a disheartening feeling. Nix regretted not properly learning how to talk to people from Yuri.

However, she couldn’t undo what had already happened. Nix decided to be satisfied with just having obtained a clue.

‘It’s not hopeless… Having obtained this much information, I have no choice but to suspect.’

Nari’s reincarnation, the intricately intertwined causality of this world. She couldn’t believe that Eve, with her strong presence, had no connection at all.

Nix returned to the mansion with a complicated heart. And the moment she met the person she loved after a long time, she felt a sense of liberation as if she had cast off all the burdens on her heart.

She didn’t need to tell her everything right away. Because she hadn’t come up with a definite answer yet. Besides, Gaia had said the same thing. The important thing was one’s own will and choice.

She decided to watch the situation a little longer. Of course, since they hadn’t seen each other in a while, getting intimate was the natural next step.

. . .

Late at night. Eve slipped out of the dormitory.

Her destination was the forest in the eastern part of the kingdom. To be precise, the forest itself wasn’t the destination. She needed to be out of sight to use the return magic.

Sabak-

Eve, who had been walking quickly, suddenly stopped. The Tara Plains unfolded before her. A wide-open dungeon, and the entrance to the Forest of Illusion. In the past, 1-A class was attacked by Moriarty here.

“…….”

She felt as if something was holding her back. Her feet were stuck to the ground, unable to move. It was definitely a delusion. Because it was physically impossible.

It was causality, in the name of affection. Not the bonds that made up Eve’s karma, but the relationships she had formed by choice with the many people she had lived with. The academy cadets who had always been by her side as if it were natural, held Eve’s ankles.

‘…No.’

She lifted her feet and walked on. She had already made up her mind. Turning everyone into enemies was inevitable.

She continued to walk. This time, a heavy wind blocked Eve’s path. This, too, was a delusion. The blades of grass around her weren’t swaying at all. It was quiet and calm.

What stopped Eve was fear. An instinctive fear that kept trying to pull her back to a comfortable place. The people who came to mind every time the dark path ahead stretched out. Nix and Yuri, who she used to be with every day, blocked Eve’s body.

‘…Get out of the way.’

Eve pushed past her two friends and moved forward.

Soon, she reached a place where no one could see. Two men appeared from the darkness and greeted Eve.

, and . They were Moriarty’s named individuals who knew Eve, and people she failed to save. Every time she saw them enveloped in thick dark energy, her past gentle self came to mind, making her guilt unbearable.

“…Long time no see.”

“What brings you here? The return order hasn’t come yet.”

“Due to your negligence, the Seeker is in a very troubled state.”

Psik-

Eve unconsciously let out a laugh. It’s not often she shows her emotions. The smile on her lips was very close to a sneer.

“…You bitch!”

“Enough, . Don’t keep dwelling on past failures. We are serving His will, and his anger is too much for you.”

“…I made a mistake. I admit it. I will report this myself and accept my punishment.”

From their conversation, Eve gained interesting information. Moriarty was currently in a very urgent situation. She didn’t know exactly what had happened, but the timing was good. Judging from her past experiences, this was the perfect moment for Eve to step in.

“Are you planning to repeat the same mistake?”

“I warned you it wouldn’t end lightly next time.”

However, just as she was about to make a declaration to the two men, Eve’s speech was cut short. Something embraced her body.

‘…!!’

Something she couldn’t resolve. It was regret. What made the dark path ahead even more frightening was the warm comfort she had to abandon to move forward. Eve felt the delusion of something very warm embracing her.

Eve’s last regret was Nari. The feelings she had always repeated as her destined rival, and had tried to ignore. She became certain of the emotion that couldn’t be explained in a single word, the moment she tried to abandon it.

‘…I’m sorry. And… I loved you.’

The reason she wanted to meet Nari and challenge her to a final duel was to solidify her choice. The goal she had envisioned for countless years, and the present, which had made that time meaningless. Eve constantly conflicted between the two.

But she thought. That she shouldn’t leave the choice to others. Deceiving Nari to gain confidence was wrong.

Eve left Nari’s embrace.

Sabak-

As soon as she took a step, the two men took a fighting stance and unleashed their killing intent.

“Eve Istar, we confirm your act of rebellion.”

“From now on, we will, according to the Seeker’s will—”

Taat—!

As Eve unleashed a powerful aura, the killing intent of and dissipated. The two were startled. They hadn’t imagined Eve possessing this level of power.

“You’re wrong. I’m not Eve Istar.”

“…!!”

The two men’s eyes wavered. They realized the meaning of what Eve had said. Their minds raced quickly. And they immediately knelt before Eve.

“…Are you returning?”

“Yes.”

“Th-this isn’t… the right time—”

“Your opinions don’t matter.”

Eve approached the two men. and were overwhelmed by her intense aura. They had to move as she wished.

“The time for war has come.”