Chapter 4 : A New Strategy

“Back in Limbo?”

[Correct, User.]

“Can I go back again?”

[Of course.]

Ethan found it an astonishing magic but somewhat understandable.
Invaders of Damarath Yumaha like the Dark God Oer, Tentacle God Musamusa, or Exiled Dragon Lorankerio always wielded terrifying spells for their contractors.

The Empire tried to downplay Demi’s invasion, but others from different nations witnessed it.
Records described Demi’s forces as formidable.

Two quests appeared in Ethan’s vision.

[Quest generated!]
[Quest: Defeat Vain Wiz Dekarun (C)]

[Quest generated!]
[Quest: Survive for Three Days (D)]

Ethan asked.

“Two quests at once?”

[Quests can generate multiple times based on conditions.]

“What does ‘defeat’ mean exactly?”

[It includes killing or removing someone from their physical or social position. If they no longer hold their status and cease to obstruct you, that counts as ‘defeating’ them.]

“And ‘Survive for Three Days’?”

Demi paused, as if choosing its words.

[Quests arise when they’re sufficiently challenging, necessary, and worthwhile. ‘Survive for Three Days’ suggests you’re dying too quickly, making survival itself a worthy challenge.]

“…Thanks for the explanation.”

Demi held out a black box with a hole.

[Would you like to draw a lot?]

“Might as well.”

Ethan reached out but noticed something new in the corner of his vision.

“Wait, what’s that?”

He pointed to a figure in Limbo’s corner, clad in a red robe and a golden mask with only eye holes, clearly empty beneath.

It looked at Ethan.

[I am a Merchant.]

“A merchant?”

Ethan glanced at Demi, who nodded as if it was safe to engage.

He approached the Merchant.

“A merchant sells things, right?”

[Correct.]

“And buying requires money?”

[Correct.]

“But I don’t have any.”

The Merchant pointed to Ethan’s coat pocket.
Skeptical, Ethan reached in and found something—a light, blue coin with white stripes and a ‘D’ in the center.

“This is…?”

[Your coupon for a D-Rank lottery with the Administrator. You can use it for a draw or trade it to me for goods.]

“What goods can I buy?”

[With a D-Rank coupon, only D-Rank items.]

Ethan calculated mentally.

“Wouldn’t buying always be better than drawing? Instead of hoping for something useful, I can just buy what I need.”

[But some things are only obtainable through the lottery. I don’t sell a wide variety, and everything I offer can also be gained through draws.]

So, buying from the Merchant could be better, but if he needed something the Merchant didn’t have, drawing was the way to go.

Ethan said.

“Alright. Let me discuss this first. That okay?”

[No problem.]

Ethan returned to Demi.

“Can I trust that merchant?”

[Yes. I control your Limbo, and harmful entities are barred. The Merchant is allowed because it can be helpful.]

Ethan nodded.

“Good. Let’s talk about what happens after I go through your door. I don’t think I can do things the same way as before.”

[Why not?]

“If I go back, things will be better than last time. I’d kill Bjorn first.”

[Yes.]

“Then Professor Vain.”

[Yes.]

“No, reverse the order. Assassinate Vain first, then Bjorn. They’ll be less guarded, so the odds are better.”

Ethan glanced at Demi.

“I don’t enjoy killing.”

[I didn’t say anything.]

“…”

Demi added.

[After killing them, you could find evidence of the Inquisition Bureau.]

“Right. Bjorn definitely has it. But there’s a problem.”

Ethan said.

“To kill Vain, I’d have to use the gun.”

[That would expose you as a black mage.]

“Exactly. Yurmuth’s professors probably won’t kill me, but they’d seal my black magic. And if the Empire’s reach extends to Yurmuth, they’ll notice me eventually. My future would be uncertain.”

[What’s your plan?]

Ethan looked at the Merchant.

“Here’s what we’ll do.”

Ethan stepped through the door and headed to the Basic Magic Practice lecture hall.

When his turn came, Professor Riverton said.

“Ethan, your turn.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Ethan stepped forward, he heard chatter.

“Still attending class. Courageous or just noble pride?”

“If he’s proven unable to cast magic, it’s just disgrace.”

Ignoring the mockery, Ethan ascended the platform.

“Ethan, final practice.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I hope you’re prepared.”

“I’ve done what I can.”

“Begin when ready.”

Ethan pulled an object from his coat pocket, gripped it with both hands, and faced the students.
He yanked the string attached.

–Pop!

Colorful confetti and glittering paper scattered.

Ethan had used a party popper bought from the Merchant.
One seemed pricey, but it came in a set of 100.
He’d bought it to pass Basic Magic Practice.

‘Using the gun would alert Bjorn. Demi said this party popper is from Terra, but it’s never been used in Damarath Yumaha.’

Compared to other students’ spells, it was modest, and they burst into laughter.
Ethan glanced at Riverton, who, thankfully, didn’t laugh.

When the confetti settled, Riverton asked.

“Is that all?”

“No, there’s more.”

Ethan pulled out another popper, but Riverton stopped him.

“No need to repeat the same spell.”

“Understood.”

Riverton checked his list and asked questions.

“Looks like alchemy, correct?”

“Yes. As I understand, alchemy falls under magic, and renowned alchemical families are treated as mage families…”

Riverton raised a hand.

“Just answer the questions.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Can it be cast instantly?”

“Yes.”

“Can you increase the explosion’s size if needed?”

“Yes.”

“You used dazzling materials. Why?”

“They’re good for distracting enemies.”

“I see.”

Demi interjected.

[‘Party’ in party popper refers to celebrating joyful occasions together.]

[I know. But this is a magic academy, not a trick school. To earn points, it needs to seem useful, and that use must align with what the academy traditionally values. Combat magic is intuitive and easy to understand.]

[I understand. But Riverton’s asking more questions than before.]

[I know. Be quiet.]

After more questions, Riverton nodded.

“Ethan.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You pass.”

Ethan sighed in relief.

But that relief didn’t last.

“Ethan!”

Turning, Ethan saw Arka leaning against the corridor railing, arms crossed, as before.

“What’s the matter, Sister?”

“You passed Basic Magic Practice?”

“Yes.”

The conversation matched the past up to this point, but praise didn’t follow.

“Passing with such a pathetic, circus-like spell! I don’t know what you’re thinking. Aren’t you ashamed before our family and Father? Alchemy, of all things? What will people think of our esteemed family studying alchemy?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize to me. Where’d you get that trick? Did you make it?”

“It’s… a secret.”

“A spell, you call it? Fine. Even if you passed this way, do you have a plan for next semester’s Basic Magic Practice?”

“…No.”

“I thought so. You pulled some stunt, but improvisation has limits. Go reflect in your room. Honestly.”

Arka stormed off.

Ethan said to Demi.

[This is why I didn’t want to do it.]

[Is the party popper such a problem?]

[The Charasen family is one of the five ancient families in the Mages’ Council, often holding the chair. They’re proud of their magic. The family’s full of people called geniuses, though they don’t use the term. But Arka’s a ‘true’ genius, even among them. She’d be furious I passed with such a trivial spell.]

[I see.]

Arka, thought to have left, hurried back.

“Sister?”

“I forgot something.”

“Yes?”

“Congratulations.”

“…Thank you.”

Arka pointed at Ethan’s mouth.

“Don’t smirk.”

“I’m not yet.”

“Not later either. Go reflect.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

After Arka left, Ethan glanced back while heading to his room.

As expected, Bjorn didn’t appear.

“Bjorn didn’t see the popper as black magic.”

[Fortunate. We can proceed to the next step.]

Ethan nodded and headed to Bjorn’s dorm room.

Knocking, he saw Bjorn emerge, wearing oversized glasses and an indifferent expression.

“Who… Ethan?”

“First time we’re talking, huh? You know me?”

“Word of a notorious troublemaker gets around, like it or not.”

“Oh, really?”

As Ethan tried to step inside, Bjorn blocked him.

“What do you want?”

“To talk.”

“Talk here.”

Ethan glanced around, already knowing no one was nearby, signaling Bjorn to look.

“I know you work for the Empire’s Inquisition Bureau.”