Chapter 34

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 34

Chapter Title: How Did It Become an Antique?

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I set the "very old bracelet" I'd bought at the auction house down on the floor.

In one corner of my vision, I had the 4th-circle spell formula that MagicIsNotHard had posted floating there.

A higher difficulty than the 5th-circle spell [Five Rays of Brilliant Flash].

Unlike that one, where all the construction formulas were the same length, this one's formulas varied in both length and shape.

Three distinct construction formulas. And a single thick one connecting all three.

At first glance, it was impossible to guess what any of it was meant to depict.

Without the imagery, casting the spell right away was out of the question.

For starters, I began practicing by slowly drawing each construction formula.

Two rectangles enclosing a winding, serpentine line.

A circle spinning endlessly round and round.

And finally, a section densely filled in with shading whose meaning was a complete mystery.

I repeated the three construction formulas for this spell, practicing them one by one as if drilling them separately.

"Ah..."

How many times did I go through it?

The formerly inscrutable meanings of each formula began to connect through the concept of a relic.

Before long, once I could form the imagery, I was naturally computing the spell.

Any object is created by someone with their own intent.

An item first used according to that intent is inevitably discarded someday.

Either the object itself is destroyed, or it's forgotten by its owner, or the owner passes from the world.

The object itself is mere inorganic matter, but it "dies" due to the finitude of those around it.

Thus, the dying thing is buried in the flow of time.

Even while still retaining its function.

Even while holding onto the story of its birth.

Dust gathers upon it amid the passage of time.

Thoroughly ignored by people throughout that long span.

Buried in some unknown place.

After enduring that arduous time and cycling back out into the world with its story intact...

The old object is reborn into the world as a relic.

The object's story meets time to become history. The history, amid thorough disregard, becomes a relic.

And this is the magic made to complete that cycle.

Mana rapidly circulated, stripping away the dust accumulated on the "very old bracelet."

The time embedded in this bracelet flowed along the mana like a panorama.

The dust-like patina of time cleared, revealing the bracelet's original form.

And as that cycle came to a halt. Whoosh—a dazzling flash burst forth, filling the room.

"Ugh... so bright."

When I opened my eyes again, there lay a pristine bracelet.

Unlike before, when dust had made it hard to discern the color of each bead,

this was a lustrous bracelet where the colors of its eighteen beads shone vividly.

The bracelet consisted of three black beads, three grayish ones, and twelve transparent beads gleaming a clear, water-blue.

"It really is lustrous..."

I carefully picked up the bracelet.

The colors were prettier now, but that alone didn't reveal what effects it had.

Looking closer, it seemed like each bead had something tiny engraved on it.

I took photos of the bracelet from various angles and uploaded them to the gallery.

(Photos of the bracelet from various angles)

The spell you told me about worked lol

It got all lustrous somehow, but I still don't know what it is

The gallery's archmages saying it's amazing even if they don't know exactly what it is.

Apparently each of the 18 beads has some kind of function built in.

Hmm, so I knew what the black and gray ones were, but the transparent 12 remained a mystery for now.

The black ones automatically defended against taboo attacks.

The gray ones unleashed their embedded spell when infused with mana.

But they required a ton of mana, so I couldn't use them yet.

Guess I'd have to keep up the steady training.

I thought that'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wrap things up casually, but then a late comment dropped.

SubsidyRiceEater, who knew all sorts of obscure lore the other archmages didn't.

Thanks to his knowledge, I'd survived the Grade 5 beast hunt too.

A moment later. SubsidyRiceEater, back from digging up the paper, posted again.

SubsidyRiceEater rambling incoherently about whatever he'd seen.

After some deliberation, he posted again,

and his utterly unexpected statement sent a stunned silence rippling through the gallery.

In the end, I dragged myself to the academy again without a wink of sleep.

It was because SubsidyRiceEater had dropped that bombshell about dimensional magic right at the end, and then the gallers went nuts.

Once dimensions came up, they ignored me completely and started conversing in jargon only they understood.

I tried to keep up, but grasping every detail was beyond me.

What I did manage to get was that dimensional magic was insanely hard—even the gallers had never succeeded.

Turns out they only communicated via the gallery; they couldn't actually cross dimensions.

There was some related research, but no one across all dimensions had succeeded yet.

The only candidate with potential was the gallery magic's creator,

but no archmage knew who that was.

Meanwhile, the transparent beads on this bracelet apparently showed pretty compelling evidence.

The curiosity-fueled archmages had chattered nonstop about my bracelet photos all night.

I trained a bit, checked the gallery, and headed to the academy.

With time left before lecture started, I was scrolling the gallery when someone approached me.

"Mind if I sit next to you?"

A neutral, beautiful voice.

I turned to see Chayuri Floridel brushing back his ash-gray hair with a smile.

"...Scram."

"Thank you."

Chayuri ignored me and sat in the seat beside mine.

If you're gonna do that, why even ask.

"Heh, hmm. Wow, really no seats left."

After Chayuri sat, Elrim Shuskalra grumbled as she took the seat on my other side.

Looking around, Hera's old clique was already huddled together over there.

What was this? Here to pick a fight? Craving another Grand Prostration?

"What nonsense? Plenty of seats over there."

"Too far back—no visibility! How could a protagonist like me sit in the corner?"

"Front row's empty."

"F-First row gets prof spit. Hate that."

"Your friends are right there then?"

"Th-There..."

Elrim suddenly deflated when I pointed at Hera's group.

Ah, got ditched then. Her lie must've blown up; no way they took that well.

"Pfft. Who told you to lie to them? Got your comeuppance early."

"B-But how could I admit losing to some trash commoner!"

"That's why—'cause you lied when it'd come out anyway. Picking fights everywhere."

"Shut up! They're all trash anyway? I beat them all in spars yesterday!"

Apparently she'd already thrown down with the clique's top dogs too.

Since she'd been ditched anyway, probably won spars to salvage her pride.

Makes sense—their skills were middling; Elrim could've beaten them all easily.

But lost her friends in the process.

"Aw. Good job. Still, friends like that are better gone."

"I'll handle it myself!"

"Wanna do Grand Prostration in your skirt again?"

"Eek!"

Elrim flushed red, yanking down her cadet uniform skirt.

Her losing friends was kinda pitiful, so maybe I wouldn't gripe about her sitting here.

I knew all too well how lonely it felt sitting alone.

Pat pat

And then someone else sat next to Elrim.

It was Hisenna Perryhill.

"Um, well. If we're friends, we should help no matter what, right? Plus, I scored higher on class placement, so I can help more."

"? What're you on about, Hisenna."

"I don't know what Ian thinks, but I want to help as a friend. So please don't stop me from staying by my own choice."

"Sitting next to me? Go for it, obviously."

Hisenna came over with this grim face and mumbled something incomprehensible.

Monday blues hitting everyone hard, huh.

Me? Pretty clear-headed by comparison. Training perks, maybe.

Maybe start a group training sesh next Sunday night.

"......"

"......"

"......"

Sudden silence hung in the air.

Somehow, being sandwiched between them felt awkward.

Glancing at both sides, the three stared daggers at each other with stiff expressions.

Maybe just let these three sit and find my own spot.

Right as that thought crossed my mind, the classroom door opened.

Still plenty of time before class.

In walked a group of cadets.

"Hello, A-Class freshmen. We're the Merhen Magic Academy Magic Stone Engraving Club..."

Oh, club recruitment.

Apparently Merhen had clubs for all sorts of fields.

Chance to advance specialized magic outside regular classes.

Senior-junior networking too—sounded worthwhile.

Come to think of it, the gallery archmages said connections mattered at lower realms.

"Ian, which club are you joining?"

Chayuri beside me asked.

At the question, Elrim and Hisenna—who'd been blankly listening to the pitch—turned to me too.

"Dunno. Clubs sound good, but no idea what's out there?"

"Huh? You're such an idiot? Clubs are huge in academy life—haven't even thought about it? Recruitment ends this week!"

"How would I know? I just learned clubs exist."

"They did orientation day one! Handed out club lists too. Total moron?"

"Elrim. Ian skipped the first day."

"Oh! Right."

"You're the morons. Gimme that—let me see."

Figures only I didn't know—they'd done it opening day when I was absent.

Recruitment ended this week, early in the semester.

I snatched Elrim's club directory pamphlet and flipped it open.

"Hmm. Lotsa interesting ones."

Didn't expect a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠magic academy to be all dry research—plenty of fun stuff.

Varied fields, intriguing topics galore.

"Think ahead or you'll miss out. This one's probably best? 'Magic Games Club.' Spar trash daily."

"Sounds like a dopamine addict den."

"H-How about the 'Familiar Volunteer Club'? Learn about familiars, maybe bond with one for your own."

"That's fine, but what about the 'Flight Magic Research Group'? Learn all kinds of flight spells, regular tournaments. Must feel amazing."

Talk of clubs got them hyped, each pitching their faves.

All sounded fun in their own way.

Like board games club, stray dog volunteering, or racing club.

Even more cool ones besides, so I wanted to mull leisurely,

but the three stared at me intensely.

Practically demanding an answer.

"Well? Wanna join 'Magic Games Club'? It'll be fun?"

"Familiars must be so cute, right?"

"How about Flight Magic Research ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Group?"

"Uh, um..."

Their gazes were super pressuring.

Overwhelming for a shut-in loner like me.

In times like this...