Chapter 118 - What's Wrong with You...? (5)

... Alon had no idea how she had done it, but thanks to Heinkel's help(?), he had successfully secured the submission of Basiliora the Receiver. Afterward, he began taking lessons in magic from her.

Five days.

It could be considered a long time or a short one, but it had been immensely helpful to Alon. Heinkel did not work with phrases or sentences, yet her magical knowledge had raised his abilities from those of someone who had only just reached the fourth tier to those of an accomplished fourth-tier mage.

He could even make limited use of spells he had never so much as considered casting because of their poor mana efficiency. He had learned how to use his current mana supply just a little more efficiently.

Of course, Alon was not a genius who could immediately apply everything he learned to perfection, so it would take time to put it all to proper use. Still, just a little instruction had already allowed him to cut his usual spellcasting costs by a considerable amount. That alone was a major gain.

And the greatest benefit of all...

"Whew..."

Was this.

HUM

Alon looked at the magic manifested before his eyes. Or, more precisely, it was a visible representation of a mana arrangement: a geometric shape in which spiraling strands of mana formed a pentagram, much like DNA.

It was not perfect yet, but it was unmistakably what he had wanted, and inwardly, he grinned. This was the very reason he had sought Heinkel's instruction—and the fruit of those lessons.

'I didn't think I'd be able to manifest it this quickly.'

The arrangement crumbled into tiny pieces the instant he let his concentration lapse. Even so, Alon exhaled in satisfaction.

What he had just created was one of the "traits" available to mages in Psychedelia.

Traits.

They were unlocked by entering a particular labyrinth in the game. Upon reaching the fourth tier, mages could use the knowledge acquired there to give their magic a unique trait. Though "unique" really just meant choosing from a limited selection of about ten traits in the game.

In any case, Alon had manifested one of those traits without ever visiting the labyrinth.

It was not because he was special. In fact, anyone could use them if they knew how to incorporate a mana arrangement—the overall shape, sequence, and positioning of mana—into a spell. Of course, unless someone entered the labyrinth and discovered the traits for themselves, Alon would remain the only person using these as-yet-undiscovered traits.

'... The labyrinth hasn't even appeared at this point, anyway.'

The labyrinth that granted traits had only appeared through a rift after one of the Sins descended.

'I think I'll be able to control it perfectly with just a little more practice.'

Only after imagining the magic he would soon possess—magic with a unique trait unlike that of other mages, and one that would be immensely useful to him as he was now—did he feel satisfied.

Just then...

"My lord."

Alon turned at the sound of Evan's voice.

"What is it?"

"Nothing in particular. The symposium is almost over, so I was wondering what you planned to do."

"Hmm... How many days are left?"

"About three, I think?"

Alon considered Evan's question for a moment.

'... I think they said we could stay for another week or so after the symposium ends. Still, I doubt more lessons would do me much good from here.'

Heinkel's instruction had certainly given Alon an extraordinary gift. But that aside, he could no longer continue learning from her even if he wanted to. More precisely, any further lessons would teach him things he could not put to use at all.

The physical limitation of his mana reservoir was beginning to turn Heinkel's teachings into something that looked wonderful but offered no practical benefit.

And so...

'... I've gotten what I can for now. Perhaps I should try increasing my mana, even a little.'

He had just recalled an item that should have appeared near the Central Tower by now—one that could increase his mana somewhat—when Evan spoke.

"Oh, that reminds me, my lord. Have you heard? Things are in an uproar outside."

Evan abruptly changed the subject.

"An uproar? Has something happened?"

"Rather than one particular thing happening... there seem to be a lot of 'incidents.'"

"... What sort of incidents?"

Evan drew out a thoughtful "Hmm..." before continuing.

"Recently, all across the allied kingdoms, mountains have been suddenly bursting apart, and there have been naturally occurring massacres in the principality's territories, things like that."

"... In the mountains and the principality's territories?"

"Yes. Apparently, there have already been more than eight incidents in the past week. Mount Temax near the Kingdom of Rosario, in particular, has been reduced to a complete wasteland."

"Why?"

"I don't know the cause yet. That's what the rumors going around say, at least."

"Do the places where these incidents occurred have anything in common?"

"From what I've heard, they're scattered all over."

A quiet sense of danger stirred, along with a question.

'... If an Outer God were appearing, incidents wouldn't be breaking out in so many scattered places.'

Alon tilted his head.

But only for a moment.

'Still, I should look into it first.'

Intending to investigate in person, he passed his instructions to Evan.

'I'll have to leave soon.'

He decided it was about time to depart the magic symposium.

####

That night.

As he did every day, Alon listened to Heinkel's instruction and then practiced magic on his own. Watching him, Heinkel wore a peculiar expression.

At first, she had been horrified by his mere arrival. These days, however, she had taken quite an interest in him. Part of that was because he followed her lessons surprisingly well, but more importantly, the magic he used was extremely unusual.

Alon used "primitive magic," which had all but fallen out of use even in her lifetime. And he wielded it so naturally that curiosity was inevitable. Or, more precisely, she was curious about his magic.

'... I'd like to ask him to teach me.'

Unfortunately, had they not already settled into the roles of teacher and student? Given her temperament, asking Alon to teach her something now was a little difficult.

Yet Heinkel's magical curiosity easily overcame her temperament. As befitted a mage once called the Chalice of the Beginning, her thirst for knowledge was tremendous.

In fact, she had brought up the subject of phrases with Alon a few days earlier. ... Though she had shut her mouth the moment she uttered the word, so the conversation had gone no further.

She had no choice, thanks to the being lurking on the other side of reality behind Alon.

'... It looks at me the instant I try to bring up phrases. I can't even ask.'

Over the course of teaching him magic, Heinkel had come to understand Alon and that eye—which must not be perceived—to some extent.

Alon was unaware of the eye behind him. In truth, it would have been stranger if he had noticed it. Anyone whose Eye had not opened could not see that being in the first place. Even to glimpse what lay hidden on the other side would require insight and strength comparable to her own.

And above all, the eye that appeared whenever he used magic was itself avoiding Alon's notice.

"..."

Despite being a spirit, Heinkel felt every hair on her body stand on end.

For reasons she did not understand, the eye that refused to let Alon perceive it also reacted distinctly to phrases, albeit not to the same degree. She could not be certain that it was avoiding the subject, but her survival instincts warned her fiercely not to bring it up lightly.

"... I'll be going for today."

["Oh, all right. See you tomorrow."]

"Yes. Thank you, as always."

She knew meddling would do her little good. Even so, her curiosity prodded her more relentlessly with each passing day.

'... Isn't there a good way to do this?'

Even after Alon left, she continued mulling it over until an idea came to her.

'Come to think of it, the eye doesn't really react when he recites phrases... As long as I don't directly ask to be taught, couldn't I listen if the "eye" offered to teach me first?'

Heinkel knew perfectly well that such a scenario was unlikely. But curiosity had already consumed her mind.

'... How can I get it to bring up the subject first?'

She began pondering that question.

Suddenly...

"You goddamn old bastard!!! I know you're hiding here, so come out!!!!"

She frowned at the shout ringing through the entire library.

What insolence. Who dared...?

"... Hmm?"

A moment later, however, she recognized the owner of the voice.

Penia Kraisinne.

Heinkel, who wandered around the Central Tower whenever she was bored, could hardly fail to know who Penia was. Her name came up countless times among mages. And just recently, there had even been rumors about her and Marquis Pallatio...

'Hmm? Wait a moment.'

She could see a possible way forward.

Penia. If Penia—

'... Really is involved with Marquis Pallatio?'

A little plan began taking shape in her mind.

####

Penia Kraisinne was furious.

Understandably so: she had never intended to attend this magic symposium. Her magical supplies had only recently begun arriving properly, finally allowing her to resume her stalled experiments.

Yet the reason she had come to the Central Tower was...

"You goddamn old bastard!!!!!!!!"

The rumor spread by the Blue Magic Tower's master.

["Oh, don't be shy. Why didn't you tell us?"]

["Wow, I didn't realize you'd already gone through the introductions."]

["Wow, the deputy tower master getting married! You really never know what life has in store."]

Penia ground her teeth, recalling the professors who had barged in during her magical experiments to make those remarks.

And she was even angrier because the source of the rumor was none other than Selaim Micardo—the man who habitually dumped every bit of work on her and wandered about without a care in the world.

She could not let this pass. She had to punish that old bastard immediately.

Penia had rushed straight to the symposium. Searching everywhere for him after he had somehow gone into hiding, she had arrived at the library.

And there...

["Who are you?"]

"...!?"

She encountered a girl in spirit form. Or, more precisely...

"The Chalice of the Beginning, H-Heinkel...?"

Heinkel, the Chalice of the Beginning.

["Oh? How remarkable that you know my name."]

At that confirmation, Penia froze in astonishment, forgetting why she had come.

####

Penia had long known one of the rumors surrounding the Central Tower's library: the story of Heinkel, the Chalice of the Beginning.

It was simple enough. If you visited the library at night, Heinkel would appear and teach you magic. Almost no mages believed it, however. The very idea of Heinkel suddenly appearing in the library when she should have died hundreds of years ago made no sense.

Even so, Penia had once visited the library at night after hearing the rumor. As a child, she had dreamed of becoming a great mage like Heinkel.

Naturally, then, she recognized Heinkel at once. She had seen countless statues of her and portraits in books.

["Tell me your name."]

Penia, who had been staring blankly at her childhood idol, started in surprise and answered.

"P-Penia Kraisinne...!"

Her heart pounded at the realization that she had met someone she had admired for so long.

But...

["Penia Kraisinne... I see. So you're the one involved with that Marquis Pallatio, are you?"]

"Pardon...?"

Strange words emerged from her idol's mouth, and Penia could not help frowning sharply. Months of incessant rumors had left her with next to no tolerance for them.

"That's a terrible misunder—"

She tried to explain reflexively, but...

["I have one condition for you. If you agree to it, I will personally teach you magic."]

"What?"

The offer that followed silenced her.

["Exactly as I said. I have a favor to ask concerning Marquis Pallatio. If you are involved with him, it shouldn't be particularly difficult. What do you say?"]

Though she had certainly heard something strange...

"You'll teach me magic?"

["Yes."]

"The Chalice... of the Beginning herself?"

["I will not repeat myself."]

She could not argue.

Countless memories flashed through her mind, every one of them a memory of suffering connected to Marquis Pallatio. Beginning with making potions to hand over to him, then being dragged off by pirates while traveling with him, then the nearly daily stress caused by rumors linking them together—they passed through her mind one after another.

Honestly, Penia wanted to put the rumors about Marquis Pallatio to rest once and for all. She still felt that way now. Even with the chance to study magic directly under the Chalice of the Beginning, her stress had long since exceeded its limit.

And so Penia calmly prepared to tell the truth—

["Could it be that the rumors are mistaken?"]

—the truth...

"No. Of course not."

["Then?"]

"M-Marquis Pallatio and I—"

"—are involved. Yes. Absolutely."

... Never passed her lips.

Instead, she smiled brightly and cheerfully affirmed Heinkel's words.

... Even the stress that had gnawed away at her and tormented her for months could not overcome Penia's thirst for magical knowledge.