n

n

nMaybe, I had expected it from the start.

nProtagonist Hunter Lv.2 has activated.

nThe talents and skills of the successfully hunted protagonist will be shown.

nYes.

nFiolen was not a magic genius.

nWhat Seodam needs more than anything else was a magic talent.

nIn the end.

nYou’ve successfully hunted a Level 70 protagonist.

nYour Level has risen by 5.

n700 days of lifespan has been rewarded.

n

n

nRemaining Lifespan: 2075 Days, 11 hours, 47 minutes.

nFiolen’s skill Araceli’s Mana Circling 40th Iteration (SS) has been absorbed.

nLooking at the slightly disturbing skill window with a bunch of ‘Araceli’ skills, I absorbed the first skill I had seen Fiolen use.

nI wish I had gotten the SSS-Rank Special Magic Formula skill.

nBut, I was positive.

nThe skill I absorbed in itself was quite good.

nNo, it was amazing.

nThe best ‘mana absorption method’ that exists on Earth is only C-Rank.

nAlthough I couldn’t absorb mana very well before, I’ve now acquired an SS-Rank skill that could do so!

nAraceli’s Mana Circling 40th Iteration.

nThis skill, which allows even ordinary people to absorb mana, has the fraudulent effect of allowing the flow of mana throughout the body by filling all areas of the brain, heart, and stomach with mana.

n< Araceli is an extraordinary genius who was credited with advancing the magic of the continent by more than a few hundred years. >

n< One of her greatest achievements, Araceli’s Mana Circling, will allow everyone 20 years from now to be able to use magic. >

nAraceli will become a Tier 9 mage in the future, a well deserved title.

nIf her talent was shown, perhaps it would be Magic (SSS).

nThat’s how overwhelming and devastating Araceli’s talent is.

n‘By the way, Self Regression.’

nThis SSS Rank skill allowed the protagonist, Fiolen, to return to the past.

nIt could only be used once, and it allowed a person to return to the point where they were the most vulnerable.

nObviously, if I had gotten this, the acquisition would have been canceled, so I wasn’t really disappointed.

nI flopped down on the floor of my lab.

nA day had passed since the expedition and death of Fiolen who was declared as a Black Mage.

nSeodam, who withheld his return to Earth, was still staying at the academy.

nMagic.

nTo successfully use at least one magic spell.

nHaving drawn a complex magic circle on the floor, I sat down in front of it and took a deep breath.

nThis magic circle looks complicated at a glance, but in fact, it was the most basic and easiest magic where even the students attending Vivienda Academy would scoff at the sight of it.

nIf compared to Earth, it was at the high school level.

nHowever, unfortunately, I had no prior education with magic at all, and I had a feeling that ‘learning’ is also a talent.

nAlthough I studied magic earnestly for nearly two months, I didn’t understand the formulas, and just memorized and imitated it.

nYeah.

nMy magic circle was crude.

nI closed my eyes and reached out towards the magic circle.

nI could feel an unknown energy burning from my heart; soon it passed through my brain, then back to my heart again, and finally reaching my stomach in an instant.

nThe only experience I had with mana absorption was picking up grains of sand on a beach with chopsticks.

nBefore, I could see and recognize the presence of mana, but surely it was impossible to scoop up sand with chopsticks, right?

nHowever, the SS-Rank Araceli’s Mana Circling skill was like a forklift.

nIf before I was picking up sand with chopsticks, now that chopstick has become a forklift!

nHwiing…!!

nSlowly, the magic circle began to glow.

nIt was the first time magic has responded to my unique mana.

nMagic is truly a very profound subject.

nIf superpowers are from absorbing aether into the body and taking shape, then magic is the need to mathematically calculate and develop the shape.

nThat is, whoever studies magic can do something similar to superpowers.

nAs proof.

nThe paper that was placed in front of me slowly rose into the air.

nThe wind was moving in accordance with my will.

nSoon the wind lost its strength and the paper fell to the floor, but it was enough.

nNo, it wasn’t just enough.

nIt was great.

nI wanted to cheer for myself right now.

nA person like me, who has no talent for superpowers at all, has succeeded in magic!

nWith this, I was certain.

nEven if I don’t have superpowers, I can learn and use magic.

nI only lifted a simple sheet of paper, but I felt as if my heart was full and the whole world was within my grasp.

nGeniuses will never know this feeling.

n‘Huuu…’

nSoon after, I slowly rose from the floor.

nThen, I stumbled as I tried to put strength into my legs, so I hurriedly grabbed the desk to support myself.

nI only moved a sheet of paper using magic, but this was the result.

nIf it wasn’t for the Araceli’s Mana Circling, I might have been exhausted without the magic spell even working at all.

nNow that I’ve checked my ability to use magic.

nIt’s time to return to Earth.

nWith that in mind, I cleaned up my lab.

nIt was a place we had been together for nearly two months, so I felt a bit attached to it, and now I won’t be able to come back here.

nKnock, knock!

n“…?”

nWhen I was about to return to Earth, a knock came from the door.

nI can just return, but for some reason, I wanted to find out who it was.

n“Who is it?”

nProfessor, it’s me, Araceli.

n“…Hm? Come in.”

nThe door opened, and Araceli, with her untied long black hair, entered cautiously.

nSomehow she hasn’t fully regained the confidence she had when we first met, and I couldn’t understand why.

nFiolen is dead.

nWith the fake image he had created, it should have also crumbled with him.

nBut that didn’t mean Araceli’s image would suddenly improve.

nInstead, for the past two months, Araceli’s image continued to fall.

n“What is it?”

n“You…”

nAraceli peeked around the lab when she saw Seodam’s attire.

n“…I thought you were leaving. I came to say goodbye.”

n“How did you know?”

n“That, I just had a feeling.”

nI didn’t tell anyone I was leaving.

nI had conversations with the professors, but I didn’t get close to them.

nI thought I would never meet them again once I left this place.

nLikewise, I didn’t get close to any of the students.

nNow, and in the future.

nI will wander through worlds and dimensions meeting many people.

nBut if I give my affection every time, I will not be able to hold out.

nI’ve already lost many ties, and I’m worn down.

n“Before you go, I really wanted to say thank you.”

n“Thank me? Thank me for what?”

n“Just…Everything you’ve done. Thank you.”

nAraceli slightly bit her lips.

nActually, I already knew.

nWhat part of me was she thankful for?

nAlthough it was a short time, one thing I found out about her was that she had a fragile mentality.

nShe was publicly suppressed by Fiolen and wondered if she should quit magic altogether.

nI couldn’t believe she’s so mentally weak that it only took two months of bullying.

nI can’t understand her.

nAraceli was almost as good as the protagonist, but there were considerable flaws in her mental state.

n“Still. Thanks to Professor, I gained confidence. Now I can learn magic with confidence…So, I really wanted to give my thanks before you left.”

nAraceli is a supporting character.

nA supporting character who lost all her achievements to the protagonist.

nSo, was it fate that the protagonist took everything from her?

nWill she become a villain in the distant future?

nI don’t know.

nHowever, there was one important point.

nShe became a great mage in the distant future with her own strength.

nBecause she had the self-confidence of someone who is considered a genius and was able to advance the magic of this world rapidly.

nBut now, her confidence had been shattered.

nPerhaps the future of this world has slightly been shaken by the presence of Fiolen.

nAnd, originally, she would have made her name widely known at the Maelka Dungeon, thus gaining the opportunity to interact with the numerous master mages and completing more outstanding magic.

nBut now even that starting point was twisted.

nI didn’t have to be nosy.

nBut for some reason, I just wanted to.

n“The mastermind behind the Hell Sphinx summoning, is in fact, a different person.”

n“…Huh?”

n“He’s still active behind the scenes at this academy. And I don’t know what he’ll do next.”

nI could only say this much.

nJust knowing that a villain exists, Araceli will use her brilliant mind to catch the Black Mage.

nIf she does, the reputation she would have gained, will return.

n“Catch him.”

nI didn’t say the reason.

nPerhaps, she can’t understand it as it is now.

nThe reason why I was doing this.

nHowever, maybe she will understand it in the distant future.

nThe countless opportunities that comes by hunting the Black Mage.

n“…Then, are you leaving now?”

n“Yes. This isn’t where I belong…Maybe this will be my last time here.”

n“That…I see.”

nAraceli hesitated for a moment, then asked.

n“…By any chance, can you tell me where you’re going?”

n“Well. It’s a place you’ll never find.”

nNowadays, dimensions were actually fairly common on Earth.

nThe protagonists with the ‘travelor’ hashtag and the dungeons on Earth had to do with dimensions, and even I, a dimensional traveler.

nHowever, it was not a result from human ingenuity.

nHumanity can’t just randomly pick up knowledge of dimensions.

nIt was just a coincidence, following the course of nature.

nSo the possibility of Araceli realizing dimensions with human ingenuity is bound to be zero.

nFor that reason.

nAs an eternal parting gift, I gave her a present.

nIt was also a kind of ritual to completely disengage the affection that I almost felt for a moment.

n“This is…”

n“It’s a bullet.”

n“Bullet..?”

nA small, dainty, yet destructive thing that can kill a monster instantly.

n“Also, let go of your lingering feelings.”

n“Huh? What are you saying…!”

nAfter saying what I had to say, I opened the door to the lab and went out.

nWith the bullet in Araceli’s hand, she followed right after him.

n“Huh…?”

nNo matter where she looked.

nShe couldn’t see him.

nGone.

nWithout even saying goodbye.

nLike he was never here.

n“…What. Are you really gone forever?”

nHolding the bullet in her hand, Araceli bit her lips.

nThe words spoken by Seodam echoed in her mind.

n‘It’s a place you’ll never find.’

nHowever, she thought differently.

n“Magic…the word ‘absolute’ does not exist.”

nAll magic prohibits the use of the word absolute.

nEverything was possible with magic because it has infinite possibilities.

nTherefore, the professor’s words were contradictory.

n“The next time we meet, I’ll point out the contradiction.”

nThinking so, Araceli took a step forward.

nThe road has been carved.

nNow, the only thing left to do is to run along it.

nFor some reason, I had a bittersweet feeling.

nIs it okay just leaving like that?

nWith such a thought, I let go of any lingering feelings.

nBecause it was for the best.

nMission Completed. Returning to your original world.

nTime has returned to normal.

nFor a little while, I felt like I was floating in zero gravity.

nA familiar smell struck my nose.

nMy small studio apartment.

nThe unique smell of an old building built more than 30 years…and beer?

nI instinctively placed a hand on my aether blade, and hurriedly looked around my surroundings.

nThen.

n

n

nI saw the TV in the middle of the studio was turned on.

nThere, sat in their underwear was a person casually drinking a beer.

n“…Taylor?”

nWhen our eyes met, the owner of the short silver hair gave a ‘happy to see you after such a long time’ expression.

nHer name is Taylor Nine.

nA S-Rank superhuman working in Russia.

nAnd an acquaintance I made a pact with 15 years ago to walk the path of a hunter.

nTaylor, who had beer stains on the corner of her mouth, soon wiped it off, then blinking her golden eyes, spoke.

n“W-what are you doing…?”

n…Shouldn’t it be me asking that question?

n