42
Chapter 42
I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
It was dimmer than before, but not completely dark.
It seemed I had passed out, unable to endure the relentless pain.
The belts and glass walls that had bound me were gone. Was it over?
After all that pain, my arm... Wait?
I could actually feel my right arm.
I wondered if it was just phantom limb pain like I'd had at first, but when I looked, my arm was right there.
I rotated it and shook it around; it felt perfectly fine.
"You like it that much?"
Ark appeared from my right, and I pulled him into a tight hug.
"Wha... what are you doing? Get off me, you creep!"
"I'm just grateful... You're actually a great guy!"
"Weren't you glaring at me earlier? I figured the moment you got out, you'd head straight to the Holy Kingdom for a Special Blessing."
I flinched for a moment.
Did he... read my memories?
"Don't say such hurtful things. I've always believed in you!"
"Alright, now let go."
Since he let it slide so easily, it seemed he hadn't read my memories.
I let go of Ark and climbed down from the bed.
I even did a few push-ups just to be sure, and there wasn't a single issue.
I couldn't help but be amazed.
How was this even possible? Even Roy, the 8th Class Wizard, said it couldn't be done.
"Since you're so excited, I should tell you—it's not a real arm."
"It's not real?"
I couldn't understand. It had normal strength and moved perfectly.
"I'll show you."
Ark stepped closer and pressed the crook of my arm, and my entire right arm instantly turned black.
I worried it had frozen up again, but I could still move it without any problem.
"Wha... what is this?"
"I disabled the Image Effect."
"Image Effect? What do you mean?"
"It's a built-in feature because a Nanomachine arm can be unsettling to others. Ugh, it's complicated to explain, so just think of it as a high-performance prosthetic arm."
If it's just a high-performance prosthetic, I probably can't use mana with it.
I'm obviously happy to have an arm again, but it's a shame if I can't use magic power.
"The Synchronization Rate hit 99%, so it won't be much different from a real arm."
"Ark, can I... use magic power...?"
"Of course you can. Anything over 80% works, but I guess you were too ignorant to know that."
"R... really? I can use magic power too?"
"Yep."
I pulled a dagger from subspace, gripped it in my right hand, and channeled my magic power.
A blue aura quickly enveloped the dagger, soon forming a vivid Aura Blade.
"It actually works?"
"I told you it would. Was I lying when I said I believed in you?"
"No, it's just that you called it a prosthetic, so I assumed... thanks."
I hugged Ark once again.
I had retired because I lost my arm, and after three years, I'd grown used to it, but it would be a lie to say I never missed it.
Ark called it a fake arm, but if I could move it freely and use magic power, it was no different from a real one.
"I told you to stop! You're creeping me out!"
Ark was disgusted, but in my current state, I felt like I could give him a kiss, not just a hug.
"I'm complimenting him, and he still hates it."
"You're the one who didn't trust me, aren't you?"
I glared at him. The brat was sharp.
"No way."
"Whatever. If you tap the crook of your right arm twice, the Image Effect will activate again."
I started to press it twice but hesitated.
"What are you doing? I said tap the crook of your arm. If you activate the Image Effect, it'll look like a normal arm to everyone else."
"That's why I'm not going to use it."
"Why?"
"If people find out my arm is fixed... especially the Old Man, I feel like he'll start exploiting me again."
"You worry too much. You've already done a hundred missions, so what does it matter? Anyway, it's your arm, do whatever you want."
Ark wasn't wrong, but I wanted to be safe.
There was no benefit in telling others, and even as it was, it looked much better than the prosthetic I used before.
"Anyway, thank you so much. But why is it so dark?"
It had been quite bright before, but now it was so dark I could barely make out my surroundings.
"Because I used most of the reserve power to fix your arm."
"Does that mean we can't use this place anymore?"
I didn't mind since I got back the arm I thought was gone forever, but I felt a bit sorry for Ark, as he seemed quite excited about the place.
"What do you mean 'can't use it'? I've activated the Emergency Power Generation System, so energy will return if we wait."
Since we just had to wait, I had worried for nothing.
"How long do we have to wait?"
"Only one small nuclear reactor in the Emergency Power Generation System is still functional, so it'll take about three years to reach the level it was when we first arrived. To use all the facilities normally, it'll take about twenty years."
...That's incredibly long... wait, then how do we get out of here?
"Ark, don't tell me we have to wait three years just to leave?"
"What are you talking about? I've already found a Personal Warp Device. I even found the coordinates for Seinti, so we can leave right now."
"Thank goodness. Let's go then."
After spending three weeks alone with Ark, I wanted to get out and see some people.
Besides, there was no point in staying in a facility that couldn't even be used yet.
"Before we go, let's do a simple test."
"A test? My arm is fine. You saw me make the Aura Blade."
"Not your arm. There's a device in Sector B-3 that converts magic power into electricity."
"Where is that? And what's electricity?"
"You'll see when we get there. Electricity is the energy needed to run the laboratory."
"Then you should have just said so from the start."
I followed Ark to a corner where a small door appeared.
"Put your hand up."
As soon as I raised my hand, the door opened.
After walking for about an hour and repeating this about ten times, we finally reached our destination.
"I thought the place we first saw was everything, but this laboratory is quite large, isn't it?"
"If you include Seinti—no, the Power Generation Zone—it would be about the size of the capital, Kashant."
"The laboratory is that big?"
"There were ten thousand Doctors of Magical Engineering working at Evankel's Laboratory. Below them were far more Master's Degree Holders, graduate students, and office workers. Considering their dorms, break areas, and power facilities, it's only natural."
If it's that size, shouldn't it be called a city instead of a laboratory?
While I was thinking, Ark finally stopped walking.
"If the warp system were still functional, we wouldn't have had to walk all this way... what are you doing? Hurry up."
Next to Ark, there was nothing but a metal wall.
"Where's the converter?"
"This wall itself is the converter. It's a similar alloy to the wall that caused the problem, but it's been optimized for higher efficiency."
"So I just touch it and inject magic power?"
"Yeah. I'll deactivate my Materialization as well, so give it everything you've got."
Ark vanished, and I placed my hand on the wall and poured in my magic power.
I was stunned.
It felt as if leeches were attached to my palm, sucking the magic power right out of my body.
In less than five minutes, the magic in my circles was gone, and with less than a third left in my mana core, I hurriedly pulled my hand away.
'Hmm, about 70%?'
'I filled it up by 70%? You said ten Archmages would have to work for a year to do that?'
'What are you talking about? I'm talking about efficiency. It means that for every 10 units of magic you provide, 7 are converted to power.'
'Three are lost? That efficiency is terrible.'
'...70% is actually phenomenal... forget it. My voice is wasted on you. Just activate the warp device I gave you.'
While moving, Ark explained how the personal warp device worked.
He said that as long as you have the device and the coordinates, you can go anywhere on the continent.
'We're leaving already?'
I thought the test would take some time, so this felt a bit anticlimactic.
Wait a second. If this device is a converter that turns magic power into energy for the laboratory, couldn't it shorten the restart period Ark mentioned?
'Ark, since I just charged it with magic, the time needed for restart must have decreased, right?'
'Oh, look at you. I didn't even mention it, and you actually figured it out for once?'
Haha, it's not that big of a deal.
'Don't look down on me. How much did it decrease?'
'By a tiny bit.'
A tiny bit? He's being way too harsh.
'Give me a proper answer. I can just come back and charge it every now and then, right?'
'Maybe by about five seconds.'
I didn't push myself to the limit, but I still put in quite a lot of magic power, and it only saved five seconds...
It's a shame, but if I come back and charge it often, it should decrease a bit more.
Ark told me not to be too disappointed, as I'd be able to charge more as my level increased.
Thinking that I should visit whenever I have time, I took out the warp device.
It was a small cylindrical object; he said that if you input the coordinates and inject magic power, it would transport you to the desired location.
In short, it was a 1-person gate.
To be honest, no matter how it was a 1-person device, it was so small it fit in one hand that I wouldn't have believed it in the past.
Now, of course, I trust it completely.
'I've already entered the coordinates, so just inject your magic power. If you're tired, take a break first.'
I thought about waiting until I recovered, but I wanted to leave so badly that I immediately poured in my magic power.
A light began to glow, but the mana consumption was higher than expected, making my mana core tingle.
'Ark, if I stop halfway...'
'You'll probably end up somewhere strange.'
I worried, but fortunately, a blue light soon erupted.
The moment I thought it was the same as when he brought me to the laboratory, the blue light enveloped me.
I closed my eyes due to the glare, and when I opened them, the scenery had changed.
There was none of that nauseating feeling you get with a gate; it was truly impressive.
I was surrounded by nothing but trees and grass, but that was fine.
This was the hill behind my house, a place I used to climb every day because of the ruins where Ark had been.
The sun was beginning to set, and I almost went straight home, but I changed my mind and headed toward the village.
There would be nobody at home anyway.
I had food left in my subspace, but I was sick of it.
Freshly made warm food, a cold draft beer with a thick head of foam, and some mindless conversation with people were more important.
I descended the mountain and headed to Valentino, the most popular restaurant and pub in town.
As I stepped inside, the place was packed with customers, as expected of a popular spot.
Luckily, there was a seat in the corner, and I quickly took it.
"Order... Oh, hello Mr. Bio. I heard you've returned, but it's been a while since you've visited our shop."
Melda, the owner's daughter and a clerk, greeted me warmly.
"I went on a little trip. Can I order now?"
"Of course."
"One veal steak and one roast whole pig, fried califish, and french fries with both chili and sour cream sauces. Add a bowl of today's soup and a draft beer so cold it'll break my teeth!"
It was a perfect order.
"You must have been starving?"
"I was, and I missed the food here more than anything while I was away."
"You're too much, Bio. I'll tell my father to hurry up with your order."
I waited for my food to arrive, tortured by the delicious smells around me, when I noticed a familiar back of a head at the next table.
"Willy?"
"Huh? Bio Hyungnim! I didn't expect to see you here."
It was indeed Willy, the village chief's son.
Was the woman with him his wife?
"Marie, say hello. This is the Bio I've told you about. He was an instructor at the Academy and is a Baronet."
"The noble who lives alone next to my father's house? Hello. I'm Marie."
She stood up abruptly and bowed, so I quickly waved her off.
"Being a Baronet isn't a big deal. Willy and I are like brothers, so please don't feel too formal. I'm Bio Rain. Willy, on a date with your wife?"
"Haha, yes. Today is our anniversary, so we left the kids at our parents' place."
"Oh, I was clueless. Congratulations. Order whatever else you want; I'll take care of your table too."
"What? No, that's really not necessary."
"Don't be modest. Your mother took care of me and looked after my house for so long. It's nothing much, so just order whatever you like."
"Thank you."
After getting my arm fixed, this was nothing.
Valentino might be an expensive place for people in Seinti, but it wasn't for me.
'He's excited.'
'It's all thanks to you.'
"By the way, Mr. Bio, I've stopped by your place several times recently but you weren't there. Please visit the post office after your meal. You've received a lot of mail."
Huh? A lot of mail?
Did May send them...?
"I don't have anyone who would send me that many letters. How many letters are there?"
"Over fifty. I believe some were from noble houses."
At first, I thought of May, but fifty letters would mean she sent one every day, and the numbers still didn't add up.
What could it be?
"Right. Thanks."
After finishing my meal, I stopped by the post office to collect the letters.
Sixty-three in total. There was one from May, but the rest were from different people.
Ara, Huey, Hans, Aidan, Mark. Every single one of these familiar names belonged to trainees from the Ranger Class I had taught.
Did May tell them that I had quit?
I checked May's letter first; she expressed her regret and asked if I would be okay with her visiting to learn during the break.
I opened a few other letters just in case she'd hidden something, but they were just ordinary messages asking how I was and requesting my guidance for the next semester.
I can't believe they're writing to a delinquent instructor who spent more than half the semester slacking off...
I had been so happy after a great meal and getting my arm back, but now my heart felt as heavy as if a giant stone were pressing down on it.
'Going back to the Academy?'
'I don't know...'
I had thought of them while I was trapped in the ruins, but... I didn't really know how I felt.
Maybe it's just because I've been isolated for three weeks; once I actually went back, I might want to leave again.
Besides, I had refused the Dean's desperate pleas to stay, so I had no excuse to suddenly return now...
I really didn't know my own mind.
"Excuse me, but it's almost time for us to close..."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
I left the post office.
I decided to go home, read the rest of the letters, and get some rest before making a decision.
I arrived home, but wait?
I could sense someone inside the house.