To the Outskirts (1)

For a more stimulating play, hiding my power was nothing. The more the opponent let their guard down, the more ‘real’ it felt to me, so hiding it was advantageous. But there was no reason to hide it even in a situation like this. There was no reason to crawl, so why would I hide it and feel frustrated? The problem was ‘how much’ to reveal. Should I reconstruct my arm right in front of them? And then reveal that I’m an Archmage? I didn’t necessarily have to reveal that I was an Archmage. The only thing that proves my power is magic, so I just needed to show magic that fits.

So I decided to just say it. It’s not like I’d die from saying it… I used telekinesis on Shuriel’s body and pulled him towards me. He tried to resist by surrounding himself with Aura against the force trying to control his body, but soon realized it was me and gave up. He buried his face in my chest as he was. I stroked Shuriel’s head, who had his nose buried in my chest, and pressed my face against the top of his head. A cool scent stung my nose. I said in a languid voice.

“Hey, Shuriel.”

“Is it because it’s dawn that you’ve become so bold?”

He mumbled, feeling uncomfortable in his awkward face-buried position. He didn’t seem to want to take his head off. My soft breasts pressed against his face through his clothes. I felt a strange pleasure from the pressure and hugged Shuriel even tighter. Like he did to me in the Labyrinth Garden, I hugged him so he couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t perfectly recreate it due to the difference in strength, but I decided to be satisfied with his frowning face.

“I’m a much, much stronger magician than Shuriel thinks.”

I picked up the water bottle on the desk with telekinesis. Prussian blue? No, a darker dark blue than that. Whatever it was, it was an unnatural color for water scooped up from the lake. I opened my eyes, looking at the floating water bottle. Not the eyes of human Yujin, but the eyes of a magician. It was an awakening開眼. My eyes turned blue. The Archmage’s eyes, which see through the essence, began to analyze the components of the water. As expected, the Mana contained in the water was mine. There was no way I wouldn’t recognize my own Mana, so it was certain.

“I know you’re hiding your power. That you’re an F-class magician, that you’re a commoner with no ties, I wouldn’t believe such nonsense-“

“I also know that my excuse is something that even a passing dog wouldn’t believe. What I’m trying to say isn’t ‘just’ that kind of thing.”

Deu-deu-deu… The water bottle shook. After a few seconds, it shattered with a clang. But there was no water spilling or glass shards flying. The shards turned to dust as soon as they broke, and the water floated in the air, undulating as if in zero gravity. I pulled the water and wrapped it around my severed arm.

“Aren’t you curious about how I caused the explosion in the tower? To ignore the sanctuary of magic exiles and cause such a powerful explosion… how much Mana would I have to pour in?”

“…There’s nothing more foolish than trying to find out a woman’s secrets.”

“I agree. But hiding too much isn’t very attractive either. To reveal one secret, the reason Kahalia’s lake became like that is all because of me. The tower couldn’t absorb all the Mana from the explosion and it backfired… or something.”

“Do you know how much water there is in the Great Lake to say such a thing? It’s best not to say things you can’t handle.”

Shuriel explained that the lake had changed as the energy and Mana that the tower had absorbed over the years were released when the tower stopped. Then he shook his head, saying that my use of magic was just a coincidence. Hmm. That could really be the case.

But.

“Well, does that matter?”

That didn’t matter.

The water, which was only the size of a bottle, gradually increased and took the shape of an arm. There was no difficulty because I was using Mana from my own body. Shuriel, sensing the movement of Mana, carefully pushed me away and tried to see what was happening.

Reconstruction. The missing arm began to grow back. The lake water that wrapped around the arm became blood vessels and tendons. The appearance of the muscles being created was a bit grotesque. White skin was added over the bright red muscles, and when all the nerve sensations were completely restored, the reconstruction could finally be completed.

I clenched and unclenched my newly made right arm to check if it was working properly. It felt a bit awkward to have my right arm back after being empty for a while. The arm moved more normally than I thought. I thought there would be something wrong since I only reconstructed my right arm and not my whole body, but there was nothing like that. I smiled slightly at Shuriel, who was gaping in shock.

The beginning and end of magic is creation. Magicians imitate God’s miracles in exchange for Mana. There are many differences from divine power, but everyone agrees that it is a power that cannot be ignored. However, not many people approach the essential goal of ‘creation’ that all magicians pursue. Rather, what they pursue is closer to ‘destruction’. They create and throw fireballs. They are satisfied with that. That’s the reality. There are too many who have forgotten that there is creation before destruction.

“I told you. I’m a much stronger magician than Shuriel thinks.”

I am a magician.

So.

What do you think of glimpsing the end of magic?

In this world where God’s miracles appear in reality, it’s easy to reattach severed limbs, but that’s the story when divine power is added. Body reconstruction may seem like nothing, but it’s a crazy thing that even an average magician, or even a great magician, struggles with. You have to remember all the components that make up your body, and alchemize them one by one with Mana. It’s a technique that requires dozens of brains. Shuriel, a high-ranking agent who is well-versed in divine power, would know how high-ranking a magician I am.

“…Ha.”

“Disappointed?”

“No.”

When you experience an overwhelming difference in power, you tend to fall into a sense of futility. Futility soon leads to rejection. It’s right to spit out what you can’t swallow. But Shuriel, rather, smiled and pulled my hand. I, who had been sitting on the desk, was pulled by Shuriel’s hand as I was. My body, which was just the right size to hug, was placed on his lap like a doll. He poked and touched my body here and there, and reserved his words. After playing with me like that, Shuriel put his hand on my head and murmured softly.

“I want to have you. I’ve thought that before, but it’s gotten worse this time. I’ve never been so greedy.”

His possessiveness was boiling. I replied to Shuriel’s blazing voice.

“…You’ll have to work hard to have me.”

It won’t be easy to possess me. No. I can say it’s impossible. I’m not someone who can be bound anywhere. I’ll meet him often if I have a child, but I’ll never be subordinate to him. In the first place, this child is an unwelcome child. I’ll take responsibility for the child. So, to have someone like me… you’ll have to give up a lot. Shuriel snorted, finding it ridiculous.

“I’ll try to make you happy, by all means.”

* * *

I decided to keep my real power a secret. Shuriel himself knows that trying to tie me down by force will only backfire. For reference, I spent the night with Shuriel that day. Even though I said I spent the night, it was only 3 hours, but I stayed with him until he closed his eyes. I relaxed my body, thinking he might pounce on me in the middle, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

I woke up Shuriel and secretly left the room before Kalberd or the maids came. The place I headed to was not my room, but the front gate of the mansion. I was going outside. There was still some time before I had to leave for the Holy See, but I had no intention of staying in the mansion until then. What’s the point of staying when I’ll just get eaten by Shuriel and have to be aware of Hairak? I skipped breakfast. If Hairak put some strange medicine in the food, the count’s family would be ruined that day. It’s right to leave for Shuriel’s sake. I got permission. I also received a handkerchief and money.

The sun was rising a little early outside. The wind blew gently. I smoothed my fluttering hair and left the front gate. There was no escort. I didn’t want to take anyone with me even outside. I walked on the well-paved ground and organized my thoughts. I didn’t come outside without thinking. First, I’ll visit District 2 and stop by the Saint Ryu Association temple. I was visiting for greetings, but my desire to meet Semel was greater. There were also things I wanted to consult with her about.

It was a bit of a distance to the temple, so I came out early. I thought I would arrive at the temple around 9 o’clock. Weekday morning worship starts at 10 o’clock, so I should be able to arrive roughly on time.

Time passed, and a familiar street came into view. I headed to the temple, taking in the street decorated with beautiful blue water bottles everywhere. Then, I met the eyes of a white-haired female priest wearing a baggy priest’s robe. Ha Terial. She was sweeping the dust off the street.

“Ah… Sister! …Hmm?”

Terial grabbed her broom and ran towards me. But soon, she was filled with embarrassment. Clearly, the right arm that had been cut off at our first meeting was perfectly attached. I smiled bitterly and greeted her. I have to cut this off again anyway. It would be troublesome if Hairak or Kalberd saw it. I could make an excuse that I met the highest priest and recovered… but there was no such priest in Rushellini, and it would be a headache to ask. It was better to cut it off again.

“Yo, your arm… it’s back?”

“…That’s how it is.”

“Congratulations! I’m so, so glad!”

She was happy without asking any questions. I smiled without realizing it at the innocence I felt, and waved my hand to calm her down. The greeting was over.

“Thank you, Terial. Could I possibly meet the Vice-Priest-nim?”

“Hmm, are you going to receive another blessing?”

I shook my head. It wasn’t a blessing. There was something I wanted to talk about personally. I thought that she, who had given countless blessings to pregnant women, might have some insight into childcare. It was a so-called parenting consultation. I was embarrassed. That’s why Semel was the only person I could talk to. I have enough money… so I should ask her.

Terial made an ‘ah’ expression and bowed her head to me.

“I’m sorry! The Vice-Priest-nim has been dispatched to the outskirts. Hmm, according to the schedule… you’ll probably have to wait four days.”

“…The outskirts?”

“It means the outskirts that the lord-nim’s hands don’t reach. It’s not like back alleys, but literally areas that haven’t even been developed because hands haven’t reached them. Monsters occasionally come out… I don’t know much because I’ve never been there. I guess the day will come when I’ll be dispatched there too?”

“Why the Vice-Priest-nim in such a place…?”

Ah, damn it. Semel wasn’t there. I had to leave for the Holy See before that in 4 days. Then where should I go? I didn’t want to go back to the mansion. Terial comforted me, whose face was darkening, and continued.

“There are many people in the outskirts who couldn’t settle in the east and were pushed out. Especially since the outskirts are untouched by human hands, so most of them are in their natural state… the temple regularly goes out for volunteer work. If we leave them alone, unorthodox beliefs can spread.”

“They’re tumors.”

“Y, you can’t say that! It’s not right to be treated like that just because you don’t have money… All humans deserve to be saved. Come on, Sister, let’s pray together…”

“I’m sorry. I’m not interested yet.”

Well. If everyone had that qualification, the world wouldn’t be like this. I sighed faintly and turned my back. Terial smiled and waved her hand, even though it was a sufficiently unpleasant situation. She was unnecessarily kind. Still, I liked people like that.

More than that.

The outskirts. The outskirts, huh…

“Wait a minute, Terial.”

“Yes?”

“Where do I have to go to get to the outskirts?”