Mushoku Tensei (WN) Volume 11

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It was morning, I opened my eyes.

Sylphy was sleeping using my arm as a pillow.

White hair and a white nape.

If you look closely long eyelashes.

This cute of a girl is sleeping using my arm as a pillow without even a single piece of underwear to be seen.

She's sleeping so peacefully while defenselessly showing me her sleeping face.

It's just that much of a situation, but I already feel a hustle coming on this morning.

I flip up the blanket and glance below it and I can see Sylphy's cherry blossoms.

Just a bit above that, a small bruise is remaining.

It's the so-called kiss mark.

It's something that I put on her last night.

In my previous life, I always wondered what was so fun about adding a kiss mark though.

Just like this, waking up in the morning and seeing the kiss mark you've created yourself is really enjoyable.

I guess it's the DQN sensation of putting a tattoo or piercing on your own girlfriend. [1]

The feeling of conquest comes rising to the surface.

Sylphy is my woman.

I won't hand her over to anyone.

And while I was thinking such things, my son had started morning radio exercises. [2]

Even though he did that much intense exercise yesterday, he sure is energetic.

In my previous life, it was nothing but solo training, even though he was just a hikikomori these past few years, recently when it comes down to the time to act he's been quite energetic.

No good, no good, I can't serve it up in the morning.

Sylphy has work today as well.

I'll work it off on my end with my morning routine.

I removed my arm from under Sylphy's head and placed a pillow there.

"Nnn... Rudi, that isn't something you drink..."

Sylphy stirred, tightly shrinking her body.

Her sleep talk is cute.

I wonder what I'm drinking in the dream.

I have the feeling that I could drink any amount of Sylphy's Mineral Water. [3]

Somehow or other, I touched Sylphy's chest and stroked them a bit.

If I do it too strong in the morning, she'll wake up. So tenderly, gently.

Almost like touching tofu as you filter it. [4]

It's a modest sensation.

To think that I would get to touch something this good in the morning. I might be the happiest person in the world.

This is real sufficiency huh?

"Nn... Rude...?"

Sylphy faintly opened her eyes and looked at me.

And then she grabbed my hand, and with an absent-minded face laughed blankly and said,

"...Have a safe trip."

"I'm heading out and I shall be back."

I left the room.

The next time we'll be able to sleep together is three days later huh?

I'm looking forward to it.

Recently here, I've lived truly peacefully.

There's been no incident-like incident.

If you could say there was one, it would just be about the level that Rinia and Pursena introduced me to a first year.

Somehow, this boy is a delinquent of the first years and within two months he had put the squeeze on all of the delinquents in the same year as him.

After that, he was getting full of himself and thought he'd put his hands on the Bancho Group, it seems he was harshly beaten by the first a.s.sa.s.sin Zan.o.ba. [5]

As a result of that, it seems a variety of things happened and it was decided he would enter under my group.

That's quite the surprising and unexpected story. [6]

According to the story I heard, it seems our school has an existence like the Four Heavenly Kings, called the [Six Demon Group] ruling over it. [7]

The one ruling over the summit of that is me it seems.

It seems if you manage to defeat all of them you can gain the privilege to challenge me, the boss.

It's a composition like a delinquent manga.

I better not have some name like Gakuensai Festival or something with that kind of feel attached. [8]

Incidentally, those six are Zan.o.ba, Cliff, Rinia, Pursena, Fitts, and Badigadi, these six.

If you're speaking of all of them, I wonder if I'll end up having to face an opponent that can defeat a Demon King.

I don't really like that.

In any case this first year student boss was pitiful, since he was defeated by the first man.

By the time he had made it to my place, his tail was curled up, his head was rounded, it was truly a meek att.i.tude.

This first year student head, it seems he was able to give a somewhat decent fight thanks to the fact that he kept his distance and fought Zan.o.ba using magic.

Zan.o.ba somehow endured it, then approached when his opponent had exhausted his magic power and sunk him with one punch supposedly.

Nothing can be done about the fact that long ranged fights end up being close for Zan.o.ba.

Next time I thought about teaching Zan.o.ba the ultimate technique to swing a rock with a golf swing and send the opponent flying to China. [9]

In any case, at some point unknown to me people really started to treat me as the Bancho.

But you know, thanks to that the delinquents all listen to what I tell them, so it's quite helpful.

The other day at the time when I found some guys lurking behind the school it was the same.

If I say one word after readying my stance, their faces suddenly turn pale and they stop.

If I say just a single line to someone bullying, then the bullying stops.

It's not a bad position.

Within my field of vision, I don't forgive guys who hara.s.s the weak.

Even if for example, the bullied side was the problem.

One such day.

A letter arrived.

It was from Paul.

It seems to be a letter that was sent a year prior finally making its trip here.

[To Rudeus.

I saw the letter. That you're going to attend the Magic University. Congratulations!

Various things happened, but I feel happy that you're walking down your own path.

I'm sure you've heard from Elinalise, but it seems like we can somehow or other manage things with Zenith.

It's thanks to Roxy, Talhand, and Elinalise's help.

Please tell Elinalise thanks in that regard as well.

Well, I'm sure she'll just make an unpleasant face anyway though.

Well then, right now we're in East Port.

We're getting ready to head towards Begaritto Continent after this.

I've never been to Begaritto Continent before, but it's supposedly the next harshest land after Magic Continent.

Crossing over with children makes me a little bit uncomfortable.

Norn and Aisha are still nine years old after all.

So, the idea came up that we would send just the children up to your place.

Even though I say that, I know that letting the children journey on their own is dangerous.

Ginger said she would act as the escort for them, but I don't know what could happen.

It's dangerous, but if we're going to be separated again and worry about it, then it's better to take them along.

Just about the time I thought that, we reunited with a certain individual.

It's a person you know as well.

That person said he would take over escorting the children, so I left it to them.

I think you'll be surprised when you meet as well.

It's a reliable person.

Honestly, it was a mortifying option.

If something happens in the middle of the journey and it becomes something terrible when my eyes are off them.

When I think that, the feeling that I want to take them together with me is large as well.

But, after all I really want the children to stay in a safe place.

Including you as well.

After Norn and Aisha get there, I'd like for you to prepare a place for them to live and to commute to school from, it's fine even if it's small.

I've left money for school fees and life expenses in their possession.

It's a considerably large amount of money.

Don't buy a woman or anything.

...Like that could be the case. Well, I'm sure if it's you then you'll be able to handle it well.

Rather, it's something that I really should be doing myself though... sorry I'm a bad father.

I'm sorry, but I'm depending on you.

Thinking about it, you're already 15 years old, by the time this letter arrives you should be 16 huh.

You're an adult.

I feel bad that I wasn't ever able to congratulate you on your birthday.

I can't congratulate Aisha and Norn for their 10th birthdays as well.

But well, that's something grand we can do at the time when we reunite.

Together with all of our family.

It's alright for you to leave this side to us.

In reality, the Fedoa Region search group has disbanded, all that's left are Lilia, Talhand, Roxy, Vera, Shera, and I.

We should have enough combat potential to return from Begaritto Continent.

If things proceed favorably, with a one or two year delay we'll be able to head over there I'm sure.

In the beginning, I thought about having Lilia go together with the children on the journey, but it seems that Lilia is more worried about me than the children.

It's something I can't really accept. How pathetic.

Even though I say that, Lilia trusts in Aisha.

She seems to have taught her most things that she has to be taught.

Aisha is a genius.

Between you and Aisha, I'm scared of my own seed.

But, Norn is a normal child.

A bit different from you and Aisha.

That's why I'm sure you might feel impatient at many times, but please look at it over the long term.

Also, probably because I was spoiling her, I think she has some selfish points.

She also seems to hate you as well, along with that, her relations.h.i.+p with Aisha isn't very good.

Since that's the case, I think there's the possibility that she might end up being isolated, but... as an older brother I'd like for you to look after her without hating it.

Just in case, I've left the same letter with both of them.

I think it will be fine leaving it to that person, but if six months pa.s.s after the time this letter arrives, I'd like for you to search for them on your side.

For the time being, something along those lines.

It's come down to where I'm leaving every little thing down to you, I do feel apologetic about that.

I leave it in your care.

From Paul Greyrat.]

It was a letter overflowing with apologies.

Paul you... really now.

It seems Norn and Aisha alone are heading here.

I'm a bit worried, but I think it's probably better for them to come here instead of going to the Begaritto Continent as well.

But, I wonder if it would have been fine if they were left in the care of Zenith's parents in Milis.h.i.+on.

No, I think that in itself might have had its own problems a.s.sociated with it.

Putting aside Norn, Aisha doesn't have Zenith's blood flowing in her after all.

The journey is, well it should be alright.

Comparing the Central Continent to the Magic Continent, the degree of danger is pretty low after all.

If you were to call it a worry, then I am worried that there are many kidnappings in this world, but kidnappers fundamentally only target the weak.

If there are two of them and they have an escort with some amount of skill, then I'm sure no one will try to forcefully abduct them.

It was written in the letter that they have an escort with them.

Ginger was a female knight imperial guard belonging to Zan.o.ba.

I don't remember how skilled she was.

It's just that, since the knights of s.h.i.+rone had learned the Water G.o.d style, I'm sure she'll be useful for the duty of escorting.

And then, there's one more.

It's written that it's a person I can trust.

I wonder who. Maybe Gisu?

There's no way it could be Eris right.

Thinking about other reliable people that Paul and I know... ah, maybe it could be that person.

They did say they were going to search the Central Continent after all, it could be that luckily they managed to encounter each other.

If it's that person, then I can leave it to them.[10]

To the point where Ginger is unnecessary.

In any case, I could really feel Paul's trust in me from the contents of the letter.

It won't be good if I don't respond to that trust.

I'm the eldest son after all!

However, if that's the case it's really a success that I already bought a house.

We have plenty of leftover rooms as well.

We can receive them without any problems.

If there was going to be any problems, it would be that my two younger sisters are still young.

Sylphy's and my love life might not go very well in regards to their education.

Well, it should be fine as long as we prepare a room for them away from our bedroom.

It's something to look forward to.

I wonder when they'll come.

Maybe about two months later.

And before that.

"It's no good if I don't properly discuss these things."

I'll go discuss it with Sylphy.

Around this time she should be in the kitchen cooking.

After looking into the kitchen, a girl with a small build was chopping vegetables with a [chopchop].

Short height, small shoulders, a slender and well-proportioned body.

After seeing such a figure from behind, I started to feel a bit turned on.

"Sylphy...!"

I embraced Sylphy from behind.

I put my hands inside the hem of her ap.r.o.n and groped her soft chest.

"Ouch!!"

"Ah."

After looking Sylphy cut her finger.

The red blood was creating a glob and dripping down on top of the chopping board.

In the moment I embraced her, she cut her finger.

"...Geez. Rudi, that's dangerous when I'm holding cutlery."

Sylphy said it in an unusually criticizing tone.

The cut on her finger was healed in no time at all.

She seems to be using chantless healing magic almost subconsciously.

"I'm sorry. I won't cling to you when you're in the middle of cooking."

"Yeah. Please endure it when I'm cooking. It will be done soon after all."

I retreated from the kitchen and waited in the dining room.

I was a bit nervous.

I ended up getting her hurt.

I was getting a bit too ahead of myself.

I sat on the chair and waited.

And then, since Sylphy came out from the kitchen, I lowered my head.

"I am very sorry for just now."

"I'm not that angry. If you're going to apologize just do it normally."

"Yeah. Sorry."

"Yes. It will fine as long as you're careful next time."

We sat together on two chairs and started eating.

The distance to Sylphy is close.

It seems she isn't angry.

Recently, I might have been loving her too much, I'm afraid of the recoil from the time when she gets tired of courtesy.

"So, what is it? It's unusual for Rudi to be that cheerful."

"Yeah, I received a letter from my father."

"Eh!! From Paul-san!?"

I handed Sylphy the letter while she was surprised.

With a tense expression she started reading the letter and then looked a bit disappointed.

"Ah, it seems like the news that we got married still hasn't arrived yet."

It seems she wanted to know my family's reaction to our marriage.

However, after she continued reading it her face turned serious.

In the end she whispered, "I see."

"That's great isn't it, Rudi. Everyone's safe."

"Yeah."

Come to think of it, it was said pretty nonchalantly, but Sylphy already lost her parents.

I might be lacking a bit of delicacy.

After seeing my face, Sylphy made a bitter smile.

"Really, Rudi, don't make that face. Certainly my mother and father died, but now I have Rudi and Elinalise-san here as well, so I'm not lonely."

While saying that, Sylphy grasped my hand and smiled with a "yeah~"

Recently, Sylphy has been getting even more adorable.

Her very short hair has grown a bit and is just short now, it's making her seem even more girlish.

Her white hair is silky and the long ears that extend out from the sides of her hair are cute.

This kind of girl is my wife.

This isn't a dream right.

"Sylphy..."

I want to make a new family with this cute girl.

Such a desire is naturally rising to the surface.

All the more since we're doing it almost every night on the days we're together.

Even though I say that, the one who will be troubled by childbirth is Sylphy.

Her b.u.t.t is small and cute, but it's far from the easy delivery type.

Since there's healing magic in this world, I think there are few death incidents during childbirth...

However, not dying and the difficulty of it are also different matters.

No, the problem rather than that, is if we can manage to raise a child.

Honestly, Sylphy and I are both still immature as people.

Of course, in terms of age we're already considered adults in this world and we can earn money.

However, as a single human parent, I wonder if we can manage it.

...It's alright, it's something all the living beings in the world are doing.

Even I should be able to do it.

Even if I can't, Sylphy is here as well.

It'll be fine if we give it our best together.

Two years later, Paul and the others will return as well.

Lilia has her own personal views on child raising after all, so there's nothing to worry about I'm sure.

The problem is the mother-in-law though.

I had heard that Zenith and Sylphy got along well together, therefore, I want to think that nothing bad will happen.

In Paul's case... well if you just show him something like his grandchild, I'm sure he would be simple-mindedly happy about it.

Oh, that's no good.

Putting that aside for now.

"I'm sure you understand after reading the letter, but my two little sisters are coming. I'd like to let them live in this house, but is that alright?"

"Of course it is. This house will become busy as well."

While saying that Sylphy laughed shyly.

And there's no problem.

After we finished eating dinner we moved to the living room.

It was time to study magic.

As usual I can't use healing magic chantlessly.

However, I've learned the incantations by heart in preparation and stored the theory as knowledge in case it's needed to survive later.

Chantless isn't the only technique.

There's no need be fixated on it, it's better if I don't try to think about getting skilled at it in a hurry.

I think I'm the type who has talent in regards to this world, but I'm sure I can't reach the peak either way.

Since that's the case, I need to make sure I fortify my foundations and be careful so I don't fall down.

"Fununu...!"

Currently, Sylphy is trying to extinguish the Water Ball I've made with her Disturb Magic.

Her fingertips are facing my hand with her face bright red as she groans.

I maintain the Water Ball I created with magic power in order to try and prevent it from being extinguished.

It feels kind of like load training.

If the Water Ball twists and bends then flies off, it's Sylphy's win.

Then she acquires the privilege to do anything she likes with me on top of the bed.

Even without that privilege, if she just says a word about it, then I will go with it.

In reverse, as long as I can maintain it then it's my win.

Then I acquire the privilege to love Sylphy to my heart's content on top of the bed.

Though I possess it even without winning.

Incidentally, I generally win.

Currently, it seems Sylphy can use Advanced level attack magic of everything except fire.

Furthermore her healing is Advanced and Detoxification is Advanced.

It's this sort of feeling.

---

Fire Magic: Intermediate

Water Magic: Advanced

Earth Magic: Advanced

Wind Magic: Advanced

Healing Magic: Advanced

Detoxification Magic: Advanced

---

They're exceedingly high spec.

It's something I learned recently, but these six types are called the "Basic Six Types" in the Magic University.

Although they're called basic, they're the types of magic that are used the most frequently.

In regards to the Magic University, in your first two or three years you're supposed to get these six types to Elementary level as your goal.

After you've achieved that, in the remaining few years you decide on your major type, and learn it up to Advanced level.

Or at least that seems to be the standard flow for it.

Even if you devote yourself to a single one of them, without talent you'll reach a dead end at the Intermediate level.

For example not having a high enough aggregate magic power or stumbling on melded magic...

After taking any of the types to Advanced level, there are almost no individuals who make it up to Saint cla.s.s.

Although, it seems there are outstanding talents like Sylphy and Cliff once every ten years.

Outstanding talents once every ten years.

That means every 10 years there's one guy like that.

If they're a genius then I guess you could call them a genius, but it's a general category.

They'll never reach the level of the monsters known as G.o.ds.

I wonder about myself.

After putting together the stories I heard from Badigadi and Kis.h.i.+rika, it seems my aggregate amount of magic power is in the realm of G.o.d cla.s.s.

However, that absolutely doesn't mean that I myself can be considered G.o.d cla.s.s.

In my case, it's almost like attaching a pa.s.senger plane's fuel tank onto an average car.

No matter how long it runs it won't stop, but the speed won't increase.

Along with the fuel tank, if you throw on the jet engine as well, this time the body of the car won't hold together.

From a design standpoint it would be a piece of junk.

Being able to run as much as it wants without stopping is a great advantage though.

"Come to think of it, Sylphy."

"Wh, what? you know I'm concentrating..."

"It's about our child, but I wonder if they would have talent in magic."

"Faa-!?"

Sylphy's concentration power was disturbed.

The unskilled Disturb Magic scattered and the Water Ball was created to its complete orb form.

I froze that and then sunk it into the cup in front of me.

"Th... That is something we won't know until it's born..."

Sylphy's face was bright red, she was restlessly squirming with her thighs together.

"In order for it to be born, that is, it's essential for the Danna-sama to give it his best, you know?"

While laughing and trying to cover that up Sylphy came over and rubbed my thighs.

Sylphy's thin hand tickled.

In exchange, I rubbed the back side of Sylphy's shoulders as well.

These days this kind of contact somehow makes me happy.

In an instant, the mood in the living room became pink colored.

Sylphy buried her face on the top of my shoulder as she embraced me.

Cute.

Danna-sama wants to give it his best right now.

Le... let alone talking about when it's born, it's too soon to be talking about it when it's not even made yet isn't it.

An un-captured tanuki or something or other. [11]

If I don't capture the tanuki first.

"Yeah. But, since my elf blood is strong, it might be hard to make it... That is, I know that Rudi wants a child, but it seems there are cases where it can take a considerable amount of time to make it. Grandm... Elinalise-san said it as well, but, that is, the probability that we won't be able to make it soon is higher right..."

Sylphy separated her head from my shoulder and cast her eyes down with a somewhat worried face.

Several months since we were married.

Sylphy's and my s.e.xual relations.h.i.+p has been proceeding favorably.

It's just a bit of naked talk, but in the instant I'm about to pull the trigger on my magnum, I use lines often said in ero games.

Not with any particularly deep meaning, simply because I just wanted to try saying the lines, and while I'm aware that they are considerably disgusting, and somehow or other the interest takes a hold and I suddenly end up blurting them out.

Sylphy might be interpreting those seriously.

It seems she's still not to the point of worrying about infertility, but she might be holding worries about it in her own way.

"Th... That is if I'm unable to have a child, it's fine if you accept a mistress okay?"

"For the time being, there's no expectation for that at all."

"But Rudi... you want a child right?"

I'll try thinking about it with the positions reversed.

If it were to come to light that I was infertile and Sylphy felt by all means that she wanted a child.

Sylphy was led away by a different man and made a child.

I might commit suicide.

I can't afford to let Sylphy feel those sorts of things.

"You sure are foolish Sylphy. What I want isn't a child, it's the crystallization of love with the partner that I love."

"Rudi..."

"I love you Sylphy. My princess."

Even for me, those are some pretty toothy lines.

The back of my neck is itchy.

However Sylphy... Or more like, the people of this world are weak to these kinds of lines.

The other day as well, as a joke I said, "Cheers to your eyes" and Sylphy's face went bright red.

The effect is outstanding.

If I'm too embarra.s.sed to say it then we can't move forward.

"...I love you as well."

Sylphy's eyes were clouded while she was clinging onto my arm.

Her face was bright red, the area around her mouth was linked like she was extremely embarra.s.sed.

Perfect Communication. [12]

Well then, now that we've gotten a rise we should move up to the second floor.

I picked up Sylphy and carried her princess-like.

Sylphy put her hands around my neck.

In those clouded eyes, I could see my reflected figure trying to appear as attractive as possible, my heart was pounding like an alarm bell.

That she's given in to the arousal as well, is the best of all.

In these cases, the most important thing is that both sides' feelings are in it after all.

Now then, tonight it seems that it's going to be a hot night.

The incident occurred one month after the letter arrived.

---

Early afternoon.

I was helping out with Nanahos.h.i.+'s experiments.

Just, this day, it was proceeding a bit different.

"If this magic circle succeeds, we'll be able to proceed to the next phase."

Nanahos.h.i.+ declared that and displayed a magic circle much larger than any of the previous ones.

Far more enormous, even though I say that, it's still only about half the size of a tatami mat.

On an unusually large page for this world, delicate patterns were drawn closely packed together.

It was a masterpiece that took over one month to draw.

In regards to Nanahos.h.i.+, it's the compilation of two years of work.

"For the time being, is it alright for me to hear what this magic circle is intended to do?"

"...It's to summon an object from the other world."

"The metastasis disaster won't occur again right?"

Because Nanahos.h.i.+ was summoned, that metastasis disaster occurred.

That would mean, it might happen even if it's with just a small object.

Is what I was thinking, but Nanahos.h.i.+ shook her head.

"It's alright... in theory at least."

"For the time being would it be alright for me to hear that theory?"

"In all of the experiments until now, in order to summon something more complex and larger, I confirmed that it requires more magic power. In other words, the magic in this world falls under the category of the laws of energy conservation. This time what we're summoning is a small and simple object. If we were to use the a.s.sumption that the amount of energy used during the time I was summoned was enough to annihilate an entire region, in theory at most only an area of 1 meter or so around the magic circle would be teleported this time. And then, honestly I can't imagine it happening though, even if by chance the same thing happens again, I've prepared a safety within the magic circle. I already know how much magic power it will use after all."

The laws of energy conservation huh.

I see now. What was that again?

"Energy conservation... and, what was that again?"

Was it different from the law of conservation of ma.s.s...?

"...I'm not so knowledgeable about it that I can explain it to a person who doesn't know about it, but in other words all of the strange things that happen in this world, generally have magic power as their cause. That thing you use often, Rock Bullet was it? That as well, you're suddenly materializing a rock in mid-air, but the reality of it is that you're changing the magic power into rock."

I guess that would mean I was mistaken on the laws I thought of in the past.[13]

I see, Energy Conservation.

I see now, the more magic power you pour into the more it becomes, fire magic's temperature rises, the weight of earth magic increases is what that means.

"And then...?"

After that, Nanahos.h.i.+ explained it to me, but honestly it was too difficult so I didn't understand it.

Since you're applying the usage of some law, the magic circle's size and effect are something or other.

Also, after applying the something or other law, something or other happens.

Honestly, even if there was a hole somewhere in the theory, I wouldn't get it.

All that I understand is that Nanahos.h.i.+ is full of self-confidence.

If she has self-confidence, then I'm sure the probability of success is high.

Well. Even if it fails and I end up being thrown somewhere as well.

I'm sure I can somehow or other manage to return.

"If it fails and I end up being teleported somewhere, I'm leaving it to you to contact my family."

"That's why I said, there's no chance of that."

After that exchange, I stood in front of the magic circle.

"Well then, I'll start."

"Please do."

I wonder if that wish was something made towards me.

Or else something towards G.o.d.

I started to pour magic power into the magic circle.

The ends of the magic circle on the paper started giving off light.

Then the entire magic circle began to release a dim light.

I knew that my magic power was being sucked up continuously from my arm.

However, something was a bit strange.

I felt something was out of place.

I felt like there was some kind of stagnation in the way the magic circle was s.h.i.+ning.

One portion doesn't seem to be s.h.i.+ning as well...

Psht!!!

A small sound was let out.

Suddenly the magic power stopped pa.s.sing over.

The dim light from the magic circle stopped.

"..."

With that it was over.

After that, the magic circle returned no reaction.

After taking a good look, a part of the paper had a fissure made in it.

I guess it would mean it short circuited, and the safety or whatever started working.

In any case, this is...

A failure.

"...How about it?"

"It's a failure."

Nanahos.h.i.+ said it quietly.

And then, fell into the chair, put her elbows on the desk.

She made a deep sigh.

"Fu...."

She just kept staring at the paper placed on the floor.

The paint had disappeared from the paper and all that was remaining was the rough draft of the magic circle.

And the remaining fissure in the paper.

She just kept absent-mindedly looking at those without any movement.

After a short while, she looked this way and said it.

"Thank you for your work. Today is already... fine for you to return."

Roughly two year's worth of compilation.

It ended in just a matter of only a few seconds.

However, failures go along with experiments.

"Well, these sorts of things happen."

Nanahos.h.i.+ wasn't responding.

...I wonder if it's my fault.

No, I shouldn't be related.

I just kept sending magic power into it.

I didn't do anything different, as long as they have magic power anyone should be able to do it.

If that was no good, then it's Nanahos.h.i.+'s fault for not explaining it enough.

"..."

Nanahos.h.i.+ wasn't saying anything.

In any case, for today it goes this far huh.

"Well then, please excuse me."

I stood up.

Just before I left the experiment room, I looked at Nanahos.h.i.+ once more.

She's been in the same posture as just before, without a single movement.

I pa.s.sed through the storage-like room filled with a mix of things as I left the research room.

After several steps I stopped my feet.

Nanahos.h.i.+ has been considerably tense over these past several months.

With this failure, she might actually be considerably shaken I wonder.

That posture, that behavior.

Could it be, rather than thinking about the next experiment's failure, she was just staring in a daze?

No, even if she's like that Nanahos.h.i.+ is reasonably strong it seems.

She should have the capacity to accept a failure as a failure I'm sure.

The instant I thought that,

"Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh......!"

I suddenly heard a screaming voice from the research room.

Simultaneously, I heard the sound of something breaking.

The sound of someone raging.

I turned my heels around and quickly returned to the research room.

"Aaaaaaaah!"

There, Nanahos.h.i.+ was half in a frenzy with her hair disheveled.

She was tearing the books she wrote herself into pieces and scattering them, as her temper was going up, she pulled over the shelves, throwing the contents of jars all over the place.

She took off her mask and threw it on the ground.

While trying to scratch off her face she staggered into the wall.

While beating on the wall she staggered and tripped over the contents of the jar she threw everywhere.

She continued to slam the contents of the jar on the ground, stood up and then tried to tear off her hair.

I panicked and went up behind her and grabbed onto her, constricting her.

"Wai... calm down!"

"I can't return, I can't return, I can't return..."

Nanahos.h.i.+ was muttering it in a whisper with hollow eyes.

All of her muscles were stiffening, like she was saving up all of her power to start raging about at any time.

"I can't return, I can't return, I can't retuuuuuuuuuuuuuurn!"

Nanahos.h.i.+ was struggling.

To the limits of her power, she was struggling to try and release my restraint on her.

However, it was just the level of strength of a hikikomori female high school student.

Feeble.

There's no way she could shake me off.

Before long she released her strength and went limp.

When I started to release my hands, she started to bend towards the floor.

"Hey, are you alright?"

After looking at that face, I felt intuitively that it was dangerous.

The color of her face was pure white, her eyes were blank and had a shadow over them, her lips had lost their color, and they dried up and cracked.

This is the face that someone makes during a considerably severe emotional breakdown.

She might try to kill herself.

"...."

I can't deal with this by myself.

What should I do?

Who would help me at times like this...?

Sylphy.

It's Sylphy.

If it's her then she'll lend me a hand somehow or other.

That's right, today she has no night s.h.i.+ft.

Alright, today I'll return home with Nanahos.h.i.+.

Let's do that.

No, but before that, it would be better to calm her down somewhere.

"Are you alright?"

"You've been working a bit too hard you know. Rest for today."

Nanahos.h.i.+ wasn't responding.

I turned her shoulders around and partly forcibly stood her up.

Just like that, I left the research room while dragging her along.

The lock is... No, I'll do it after.

I'm sure it'll be fine for one day or so. Probably.

Just like that, I was heading towards the place Sylphy was at. The aim is the fifth year students' cla.s.sroom.

Maybe I should have someone call out to her.

Or else, I can call her myself.

I continued to walk while lending my shoulder to Nanahos.h.i.+, the surrounding gazes were gathering on me.

Just then I ran into the lot moving between cla.s.srooms.

They were talking loudly.

We stand out.

Is it because I'm lending my shoulder to a woman?

Right now Nanahos.h.i.+ doesn't have her mask on.

It would be better if we don't stand out too much.

But what should I do.

"s.h.i.+sho!"

I heard a voice from behind.

After turning around. It's Zan.o.ba.

"s.h.i.+sho... what's wrong!?"

"Zan.o.ba. Nanahos.h.i.+'s in danger, help me out here."

"...Is it illness!?"

"Something similar to that."

"Then, we should move her to the infirmary for now."

Yeah, first we should go there.

Infirmary, it's the infirmary. [14]

Alright.

"s.h.i.+sho, I'll carry her."

"Do it courteously."

"Of course, now, Silent-dono."

Zan.o.ba picked up Nanahos.h.i.+ and carried her like a princess. [15]

It was a solid and stable holding style. Nanahos.h.i.+ didn't resist at all.

She was completely limp with an expression like her soul had been drawn out.

"Clear the path!"

We went straight through the crowd while Zan.o.ba was yelling.

The people split like the sea.

I followed along through there.

We arrived at the infirmary.

We laid Nanahos.h.i.+ on the bed.

She was making a blank face.

It was a terrible face.

It looks like the shadow of death is coming out.

For the time being, I conveyed the important parts to the healing magician that was on duty.

Emotional conditions can't be cured with healing magic.

After suddenly looking at my feet, Julie was pulling at my cuff.

"Grandmaster, your face looks terrible."

After hearing those words I touched my own face.

Right now, I wonder what kind of face I'm making.

Ah, no, I'm probably considerably disturbed as well.

If I don't calm down a bit.

"Yeah, since I'm ugly after all."

I put my hand on top of Julie's head and patted it.

To think I'd even be making this kind of little girl worried.

"By all means, s.h.i.+sho."

Suddenly, I was handed a cup from the side.

It's Zan.o.ba.

"Thank you."

I received it with thanks and drank the contents.

It seems he got it from a pitcher that's reserved in the infirmary.

I felt a sensation like my tongue was coming undone from the top of my mouth.

It seems at some point unnoticed my mouth got completely dry.

"Fu..."

I sat in the chair and took a deep breath.

Zan.o.ba was standing at my side and quietly asked.

"s.h.i.+sho, what happened? It's the first time I've seen s.h.i.+sho panicking this much."

"Ah..."

I explained the things that happened in the experiment room.

The experiment failed and that Nanahos.h.i.+ started to act violently.

Since it seemed like she might die if I left her alone, I saved her.

After Zan.o.ba heard that, he looked over Nanahos.h.i.+ with a complicated expression.

"I guess she must not be doing her research because she wants to do it?"

"...That's right I guess."

No-no it's not like she's doing it.

It's not like she's doing it because she wants to do it.

She can't return if she doesn't do it.

If it doesn't go well, it can't be helped that it ends up like this.

It's been six years since the metastasis incident.

She's tripped on the first step.

"..."

I sighed and then reclined on the chair.

Somehow I'm tired.

Zan.o.ba didn't say anything more than that.

We just blankly stared at the ceiling in front of Nanahos.h.i.+, just able to do nothing but stand still.

After a short while, Nanahos.h.i.+ closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Around the same time as that Sylphy appeared.

Ariel wasn't around.

"I came to confirm the story that Rudi and Zan.o.ba-kun brought a female student to the infirmary."

It seems it was becoming a rumor.

I knocked a female student unconscious, brought her to the infirmary, and that I might end up doing something terrible to her.

That sure is cruel, why are they so lacking in trust of me. Is it because I'm the Bancho?

Though I haven't really done anything to earn their trust.

Well, it's fine.

I told Sylphy about the things that occurred in the research room. [16]

The experiment failed and after that Nanahos.h.i.+ went berserk.

And then, it ended up at the current situation.

"That sort of thing happened??"

Sylphy made a serious face and looked at Nanahos.h.i.+.

"Since it would be dangerous to leave her alone, I thought to let her sleep at our house for today."

"Wouldn't it be better to let her sleep in the infirmary I wonder?"

"At the time when she wakes up, it's better if there's a face she knows."

At the very least, during times like these it's no good if they're alone.

She'll fall as far as she can fall.

Nanahos.h.i.+ is young. She doesn't seem like she has any sort of resistance to these sorts of things after all.

It could be that up until now several similar cases of irritability have happened as well.

However, I could feel that the shock was largely different this time.

The thing known as a person's heart, when it's shaken this violently it will fall as far as it can.

The place it will look to is, in other words, suicide.

"I don't know how long it will take for her to calm down though. I feel we should look after her for a bit and let her sleep over at our house."

"Umm, is it alright if I leave it to you?"

"If it's at the level of meals, then it's fine."

It's just keeping her quarantined until she calms down.

It might be good to let her escape from reality a bit as well.

Averting your eyes during painful times is occasionally important.

It's the so called strategic retreat.

"...It's not like I'm particularly planning to cheat."

"I understand that. Or else, is there something you're feeling guilty about?"

"Nothing."

There's absolutely no feeling of guilt.

Even though I say that, I'm bringing a different woman to our home.

Not only that, but a completely limp girl not putting up any resistance.

But, it seems Sylphy isn't going to doubt me.

So this is faith huh.

"I'll leave it to Rudi. Today are you going to return just like this?"

"Yeah. Shopping, I can't go together, but can I leave it to you?"

"Leave it to me."

I greatly nodded to Sylphy's trustworthy response.

As expected of Sylphy.

After leaving the school and hurrying to my house.

Zan.o.ba offered to transport Nanahos.h.i.+.

Just now it was carrying like a princess, but this time he's carrying her over his back.

Zan.o.ba is a prince, but carrying on his back sure suits him. [17]

"I'm sorry about this Zan.o.ba."

"No, since I'm only useful in these sorts of ways."

Zan.o.ba who was effortlessly carrying the limp Nanahos.h.i.+.

Behind that, Julie was toddling along.

If you put diving clothes with a drill attached to Zan.o.ba, I'm sure it would be fine to call him Mr. Bubbles. [18]

As a test, I decided to try lifting up Julie.

"Hyaa! Grandmaster, what is it?"

"Nothing."

Zan.o.ba just made a fleeting glance this way.

I walked along while carrying Julie in my arms.

Julie's body was unexpectedly fluffy.

A year prior she was like skin and bones, but it seems she's properly been eating.

She's lacking a bit of muscle, but it's not like I'm going to demand something ma.s.sive from a seven year old child.

"Julie, is Zan.o.ba treating you well?"

"Yes, Master is giving me a lot of food."

"I see I see. Master is giving you lots to eat is he?"

"Master is giving me a lot of good food to eat."

"Very good."

Come to think of it, I wonder if Nanahos.h.i.+ is properly eating her meals.

During the time when I was carrying her, I felt she was considerably thin.

I won't say as light as feather, but she was considerably light.

She might not be eating any decent food.

Meals are an emotional stability drug.

Eating the things you like, eating together with someone.

Just with that, people can become a bit happier.

I don't think Nanahos.h.i.+ has done those sorts of things almost at all.

"Fu..."

I let out a sigh.

I wonder what kind of lifestyle Nanahos.h.i.+ has been living.

Secluding herself alone and not eating anything decent.

Without having conversations with anyone, an everyday life of just drawing magic circles.

"It's not s.h.i.+sho's fault, don't let it bother you too much."

"Yeah, I get that."

It seems Zan.o.ba was caught by my sigh in a different meaning.

He was looking at me with an overly serious face.

It seems he's more worried about me rather than Nanahos.h.i.+.

Well, I'm sure Zan.o.ba hasn't had almost any conversations with Nanahos.h.i.+ after all, it can't be helped huh.

"..."

For a short while we walked silently.

And then I heard the sound of Julie's heart beating.

Since Julie is a child, her body temperature is higher than mine and warm.

Listening to a heartbeat is strangely relaxing.

Next time, I'll buy Julie something.

After a short while, we arrived at the house.

We went inside the room I prepared for the sake of my little sisters and placed Nanahos.h.i.+ inside on one side.

She was completely limp stretched out on the bed.

Her eyes were open.

It seems that she woke up at some point.

But, it's still blank. I don't know where she's looking.

It's almost like a corpse.

I wonder if she'll really return to normal...

According to my diagnosis, it's still, just barely alright.

It's a considerably dangerous condition, but she's still alright.

There was a time where I fell into a similar place, but I was able to return from there.

Acting out is something like a spasm.

Those sorts of furious situations don't continue.

But for the time being, I grope around her clothes, and take anything that seems like it might work as a weapon.

She was holding onto a small knife.

I don't think you would die with this, but for the time being I'll hold onto it.

Inside the room there's nothing dangerous.

The window is... it's the second floor after all, a bit dangerous.

I guess I should fix it in place with earth magic huh.

Though if she shatters the gla.s.s of the window it would end there, but I want to think that right now she doesn't have that much energy.[19]

Since Nanahos.h.i.+ wasn't moving, I went down to the first floor.

"Is she going to be alright?"

"Well..."

When I went down to the first floor Zan.o.ba asked somewhat worriedly.

This guy seems like he'd be indifferent to gloom after all.

Though you can say he has weaknesses, but he's fundamentally positive after all.

"In any case, you helped me out there Zan.o.ba."

"No, since I'm always depending on s.h.i.+sho after all. There's nothing to worry about with this much."

Zan.o.ba declared it with his same composed face as always.

As expected, he's a reliable man.

"s.h.i.+sho, you as well, are you alright?"

"Me? Why?"

"It looked like s.h.i.+sho received some kind of shock when Silent-dono collapsed."

I've received some damage.

I wonder if that's the case.

Yeah.

I guess it is.

Nanahos.h.i.+ was raging about in insanity.

After I stopped that, she became something like an empty sh.e.l.l.

Seeing that from start to end, I remembered things from the past.

In Nanahos.h.i.+'s case, the shape is slightly different from me, but it's mental agony.

I'm feeling empathetic.

If the circ.u.mstances were a bit different, the one like that might have been me.

"Somewhat. I remembered something painful from the past."

"Is it fine for me to listen?"

"...During the time when I was small, I became like that, and just got lethargic and shut myself off."

"It's a sensation that I couldn't understand."

It was a forsaken way of putting it, but I don't want to simply be told that he understands.

"I'm sure."

"In any case, if there's a time when you need my power again, please ask, since I'm only overflowing in just power after all."

"Yeah, I'll rely on you."

I feel grateful to Zan.o.ba's good will.

This guy as well, even if it doesn't involve dolls he's a good guy after all.

After that, a short while pa.s.sed and Zan.o.ba returned.

Since I had nothing to do, I spent the time reading in the room where Nanahos.h.i.+ was sleeping.

I hesitated a bit whether to leave her alone or not.

In my case, during these sorts of times, you really want to be alone.

However, she's always been alone up until now.

She was alone.

Until Sylphy returned, I was at Nanahos.h.i.+'s side.

One week has pa.s.sed since we started looking after Nanahos.h.i.+.

She would just stare blankly throughout the day.

However, it seems the worst period has already pa.s.sed.

Her appet.i.te is thin, but she's eating and if we press her she even goes into the bath.

She goes in without trying to drown herself.

However, maybe because her stretched tension was cut, but I can't feel the willpower she previously had.

It's a feeling like she would simply break when pushed.

She has no energy as well.

If I were to say it, it's the kind of mood of someone who was deceived by the yakuza and found themself the star of an adult video in no time at all.

I can't leave her alone.

I need to be cautious not to let her meet someone like Luke.

The only thing that I can feel from the current Nanahos.h.i.+ is resignation.

That experiment failed, but it seems she was enduring it to that degree.

She seemed so self-confident, it might have been a firm theory.

I wonder if that failure had enough meaning in it for the past several years she spent to all be pointless.

I've never experienced a setback that big.

The closest thing I have is when my data from a net game I continued playing for several years to the point of being an invalid, was deleted.

The instant I got the Bad Login message and Account Suspension mail, my heart's pounding got intense, I spent almost a full day unable to think of anything.

After protesting to the administrations, crying out thoroughly, and finally crying myself to sleep.

After that, I couldn't motivate myself to do anything for a month.

That time, I swore to myself that I would never seriously play net games again.

Nanahos.h.i.+'s case is different from a net game.

She has the objective of returning to the previous world.

If she had to give up on that, I'm sure she wouldn't be able to live.

Thinking that, I looked here and there for ways to help but...

She was just spending everyday blanking out.

I don't even know if she was able to hear my conversation.

Is what I was thinking though.

"I thought I had closed it all up..."

One day, she suddenly said that.

I didn't respond and just listened.

"Magic circles, if I were to put them into words of our previous world, they're something like circuit boards. By joining together a number of patterns of circuits you can create a single function. However, no matter what, that one point, the circuit wouldn't connect together. No matter how much I changed the wiring, a certain single point and another single point wouldn't connect. I tried forcefully connecting them together, but then some other place always has a malfunction remaining."

For the sake of connecting together a circuit that isn't connecting together, she enlarged something that would normally be half the size.

And then in order to fix a single distortion, she added another circuit.

In the end it was a magic circle with a malfunction remaining in a single part.

Even though it shouldn't seem hopeless at a glance.

Just a single part isn't connecting together.

"It goes against the laws of physics. In other words, it means I won't be able to return to my home."

It was a magic circle full of patchwork almost like paper mache.

I'm sure Nanahos.h.i.+ put quite a bit of effort into it.

At a glance, if she were to put a bit more effort into it, you might think that the circuit that's not connecting, would connect.

However, I'm sure if you were to do that again, a different circuit would stop connecting.

"It's already impossible..."

Nanahos.h.i.+ said it like that and fell prostrated on the bed.

I proceeded towards Nanahos.h.i.+'s research laboratory, I decided to gather some plans.

After hearing her story, I remembered a certain thing.

It could be that it can be resolved.

Even though I say that, I don't want to give her false hope.

First I need to think of what I can do and check into it.

Next day. I called Cliff to Zan.o.ba's research room.

If three people meet, then they say you'll gain transcendental wisdom after all. [20]

I decided to borrow the intelligence of the Genius-sama.

In the research room, naturally as it was, Elinalise followed along as well.

"To think that Silent would end up in that sort of condition, it's hard to believe."

It seems she stays in Cliff's research laboratory, but I wonder what's going on with cla.s.ses.

It seems like she's advanced years, but I wonder if she might end up dropping out of school soon.

Well, it's her individual freedom I guess.

"She looked like a bit stronger of a girl to me though."

"A truly strong person wouldn't seclude themself alone and worry about things."

"Well, I guess that is true."

Elinalise shrugged her shoulders.

It doesn't seem that Elinalise has had much contact with Nanahos.h.i.+ as well.

Asking her to help us find some kind of breather might be a good idea as well.

"Well then, you two. First please take a look at this."

I show Zan.o.ba and Cliff the diagram.

In that moment, Cliff made a sullen face.

"What a filthy magic circle."

Saying filthy, what an interesting expression.

"Is there such a thing as filthy and clean?"

"Obviously. When creating magic tools, it won't be settled if you don't create them small and cleanly. If it were me I'd draw it cleaner. For example, here, if you were to connect them here, this area would be able to work with more refinement."

"Oh?"

Cliff pointed his finger at the magic circle and boasted fulled of confidence

Well, anyone can criticize something that's already completed.

Probably, if we did just as Cliff says, the malfunctions would increase again I'm sure.

"Ah, but, the idea is amazing indeed. To think of making a loop in this part, normally you wouldn't think of that... I see, it's because of this description that this side has become complicated...?"

Cliff was muttering some things while looking at the magic circle.

This, for example, that for example, or then around here for example.

It was all those kinds of words.

I wonder if it would be better if I study more.

Though it's not specifically guaranteed that I'll understand even if I study it.

"And then, s.h.i.+sho, what sort of magic circle is this?"

"It's a summoning magic circle that Silent is researching. Since she's reached a bit of an impa.s.se, I'd like to borrow your knowledge."

After saying that, Zan.o.ba tilted his head.

"However s.h.i.+sho, summoning magic is outside of our area of expertise?"

"Well, it's fine even if we can't come to a resolution."

Just, if it's something that you can't understand alone, if several people think about it you might figure it out.

In reverse, if the field is different, the ideas that come out might be different as well.

"For the time being, please look at this part here, it seems that the magic circle cut off around here, but do you get it?"

I pointed my finger at the part where it tore during the experiment.

"...Eh? Yeah. So it cut off here, I didn't realize it. This magic circle is incomplete. Ummm, where this should be connected to is... here?"

Cliff was surprised.

It seems even though he calls himself a genius, he couldn't recognize that part right away.

I guess it's that kind of thing.

"In order to connect this circuit, do you have any ideas?"

After asking that, Cliff crossed his arms and gave it some thought.

This and that are and started muttering to himself.

He was writing various things on the memo in his hand.

"This is a difficult problem. If you were to redraw it from scratch... No but... it's impossible."

"Could it work if we went with a multiple structure?"

Around the time when Cliff arrived at his conclusion, Zan.o.ba interposed.

Cliff made a puzzled expression.

"Multiple structure? What kind of talk is that?"

"In the doll that I'm researching, several magic circles are layered to give birth to a single result. Even though I say that, since I've only just started my research as well, I've never even properly drawn a magic circle before..."

"Wait just a second, doll you mean, the one from the other day? Show it to me for a bit."

"s.h.i.+sho, is that fine?"

For some reason after asking for my permission, Zan.o.ba returned with the round slice of the doll's arm.

Cliff looked at the cross-section round slice of the magic circle with great interest.

And then declared it.

"The guy who created this is a genius."

For the excessively self-conscious Cliff to say it, it seems it's that amazing.

"I've never seen a magic circle like this before...ku...I don't get the theory at all. Are there two magic circles overlapping... No, it's different, there's even more. It seems without them all a.s.sembled together it wouldn't move properly... But, even though it was broken it was still moving after all... Why? ...s.h.i.+t, what's going on with this magic circle."

Cliff was grinding his teet