Chapter 33: Can a Person Die Many Times?

After that, more than a month passed.

The ringing sound that echoed was the bell signaling the beginning of the lunch break.

On the rooftop of the academic building, Sal was sitting on the steps before the railing together with Vivian.

This was already the thirty-first day since Sal officially began studying as a student of the Magic Side.

During this time, she had learned many things and met many people.

But contrary to what the people around her expected, Sal’s smile did not increase as she made more friends.

Instead, it grew fewer and fewer.

Natia Vida had gone off to handle some student council matters, so she had temporarily split from the two of them and would be having lunch at the council office.

After the remaining two finished lunch, Vivian suggested bringing Sal up here for some fresh air and to relax a little.

Though she said “relax,” in truth Vivian wanted to use the time to talk to Sal properly.

To tell her not to keep her worries bottled up inside.

Vivian thought: perhaps if Sal could just let it all out in one go, releasing the pressure built up over the past days, the smile on her face would return.

At this moment, Sal was leaning against the safety net, looking outward.

The Cantoria Academy’s enormous size was such that even from this tall building, it covered nearly half of her field of vision.

In the far distance—already hard for Sal to see clearly—were wooden houses and stone buildings of a completely different style, belonging to the medieval world outside Cantoria.

Such a jarring contrast in scenery, and such vastly different lifestyles—Sal couldn’t understand: how had Xingxuan and the school principal managed to isolate the entire academy from the medieval world beyond?

Sal voiced this question to Vivian, who explained for a long while.

But in the end, it all boiled down to just one or two sentences.

The modern technology Xingxuan demonstrated to the Imperial King successfully impressed him.

It convinced him to divide off a portion of land in the capital specifically for Cantoria Academy to develop innovative alchemical technologies.

Though the King appeared indifferent to Cantoria’s development, in reality over eighty percent of the academy’s upper management were people sent by the Empire—his most loyal confidants.

Not to mention noble children like Natia Vida, who entered the academy as students.

One could say that Cantoria was now bound tightly with the Empire’s ruling class.

It enjoyed unimaginable freedom in development, yet in many aspects was fully restrained by the Empire.

“So even though most of the capital still keeps its original medieval style, in just two or three years at most, the King will approve the initial reconstruction of the districts surrounding the academy!”

Vivian spoke excitedly, pointing out the directions to Sal.

“Look—first there’s the commercial district over there, then the service area next to it… and finally, the residential area.”

“At that time, the entire capital will become just like our academy—convenient, fast, and clean!”

Compared to Vivian’s enthusiasm, Sal didn’t feel any joy.

Because she was someone who had come from the modern world, she knew clearly the downsides modernity brought.

First, while modern life brought convenience, it would naturally lead to the weakening and breakup of clan ties…

Those were small issues—after all, none of it would affect Sal directly.

The real problem was this:
If modernity truly spread rapidly throughout the entire Human Empire, and even beyond into the vast continents…

Then where would she go on adventures?

What meaning would there be to her transmigration?

From Sal’s perspective, she definitely did not want the Empire’s modernization to continue.

But that wasn’t the main reason for her gloominess today.

At that moment, the iron door leading to the rooftop opened again.

Vivian turned toward the sound, and upon seeing who it was, she immediately stood and bowed.

“G-good afternoon, Mentor!”

The newcomer only nodded slightly before speaking.

“Go downstairs for a while.
I have something to discuss with Sal.”

“Okay!”

Without a word, Vivian hurried downstairs, even remembering to close the iron door—the only exit—behind her.

The reason she slipped away so decisively was because of who the newcomer was.

“What are you here for again?”

She didn’t need to look—just hearing the voice, Sal had already recognized the person.

She turned and sat back on the steps, patting the spot beside her where Vivian had sat earlier.

The meaning was obvious.

The newcomer didn’t refuse and simply sat down wearing the instructor’s uniform.

His casual posture made the originally dignified clothing look a bit comical.

“I came to see how you’ve been adjusting.”

The person was none other than Rein, whom Sal had not seen for a long time.

He was now wearing the Cantoria instructor uniform, working on the Magic Side under the name “Rhein.”

Rein had no intention of revealing his identity, and he even reminded his mentor Xingxuan to keep his return strictly confidential.

In theory, unless he exposed himself on purpose, no one would recognize him just from his middle-aged face, which looked quite different from before.

As for checking Rein’s personal records?

Sorry—those records were fake, too.

And the reason Rein went through so much trouble was for one goal:

To monitor whether his “junior fellow disciple” was secretly plotting something bad.

“Nothing to adjust to.”

Before, Sal might have teased him a little.
But now—

She no longer had the mood.

“What have you been busy with lately? You didn’t even come see me.”

“Hehe… did you miss me?” He chuckled twice. “I’ve been busy, yes—busy thoroughly inspecting the alchemy devices in the academy.”

“Why inspect those things?”

“Because I’m afraid someone with ill intentions might use them for something bad.”

Hearing this, Sal seemed to make some sort of decision.

“I want you to help me with something.”

A gust of cold wind swept across the rooftop, lifting Sal’s long golden hair, which she hadn’t tied up.

“You want my help?”

After thinking for a moment, Rein replied with a half-joking, half-serious tone.

“If you want my help, you’ll have to pay a price.”

He said this clearly to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

…

But only when he met Sal’s gaze did he realize that his attempt at humor was not funny at all.

For some reason, Rein felt that Sal’s eyes—locked onto his—were filled with exhaustion and a kind of…

Guilt?
Self-blame?
Or was it simply weariness?

“You didn’t sleep well last night?”

Sal shook her head.
Looking closely, her eyes were bloodshot, yet strangely expressionless.

Then she spoke again.
But this time, she asked Rein a very strange question.

“Do you… do you think a person can die many times?”

“Even when you saw her with your own eyes—killed, dismembered—and yet the next day she appears before you alive and well.”

“No matter her memories, appearance, or personality… she’s exactly the same as the person you knew.”

“But only you know that this person actually died last night.”

“So tell me… is the one standing before me right now still the same person I knew the day before?”