“Alright, that’s it for the math trip.”
The math trip has ended.
Though it was just a time of fun and games, the changes Arshien and Florens schemed up worked out rather positively.
-“Hey, Carsein. Can I ask how you investigated the territory?”
-Would you consider issuing a通行许可证 for us to use part of Shatren’s path?
-Your Highness. Please, I need your help. That path is absolutely necessary for us.
Even though it’s only a small number, it’s still a big change.
The noble heirs showed a changed attitude, acknowledging the situation.
It feels like it was just yesterday when they were yelling at me for blocking Shatren’s path, causing inconvenience. Now, someone comes directly to me, politely asking for my help. Some even bowed their heads, something unheard of when I was just a commoner.
This must be another instance where I’ve broken prejudices, like after the symposium.
Even if it’s only a few people, this value is significant.
-Ding!
-You’ve earned Noblesse Points!
[Current Point Count: -248]
[Recognition is very low. This is a score that makes it hard to gain recognition in the noble society.]
‘Arshien’s affinity was supposed to reach a certain level in Chapter 3 before I could get these points for the first time. I got them now.’
*What are Noblesse Points?
[They represent recognition and reputation among nobles, and as they increase, interactions begin.]
In the game, they would explain this system the first time it appeared.
Generally, in person-to-person relationships, affinity is most important. But for those in the noble circle, things are different.
Because they see Carsein completely differently, we have to look at him as having a field’s recognition and reputation rank.
‘This system can be seen as representing recognition and reputation within the noble society.’
This is a number harder to manage than affinity. Getting it early is quite a good achievement.
“I’ll practice more next time.”
“Take it slow. Water isn’t so familiar yet, right?”
“…Okay. I’m going!”
Harrier said that and left.
I should go too.
It’s time to return to our respective places.
But…
…
Since the math trip has ended, I plan to head back to the House of Bargrand.
I have to face the wrath of the three sisters glaring at me over there.
And then, what will Isabella say when I return?
Ugh, my head already hurts.
“Carsein, you idiot!”
While I was holding my forehead, a little kid suddenly raised their voice.
What? Why is she doing this all of a sudden?
“Flora, why?”
Claire and Arina also looked surprised, not just me.
Regardless, the blonde kid glared at me and shouted again.
“You! You’re from the House of Bargrand! Of course, you should have played with us on the night of the math trip?!”
“What?”
“And the next day…! Why were you only with that guy?!”
Wait. What kind of nonsense is this?
What’s wrong with teaching Harrier how to swim?
“Hey, Flora? Let’s go back first?”
Claire glanced between me and Flora, then flinched and spoke.
“Why? The trip is over. Let’s go eat dessert. Okay?”
“Dessert…?”
“Yeah. Let’s start by eating some sweet dessert together, as Claire said. I want to eat it too.”
“…Okay.”
Not understanding anything, Flora had been badmouthing me, but once Claire took me away, her grumbling ceased.
Arina had hinted too, but didn’t say anything.
Luckily, it ended without much fuss…
“Why am I being treated like this?”
I couldn’t understand at all.
[1. House of Bargrand]
[2. Territory of Rusmaier]
[3. Shatren Territory]
[4. Math Trip Hotel]
[5. Imperial Palace of Peselros]
[6. Training Hall]
[7. Choose one location in the West region]
*Sigh. Better ride a horse to avoid any trouble.*
Right then.
My destination changed momentarily.
“Now you’ve arrived, Carsein.”
“Talpon? Why are you here?”
“I waited here because of this math trip thing. Anyway, let’s talk about the document I entrusted for decryption.”
He held something up.
“It’s finally decrypted.”
***
It is known that after this symposium, I uncovered all the secrets of Shatren and revealed its true nature.
But that’s slightly off.
I couldn’t uncover everything either.
Because I couldn’t use one piece of evidence due to the need for decryption time.
That document is right in front of me.
“We read through it with Pollux before giving it to you, but we couldn’t decrypt it all.”
“You couldn’t decrypt it all?”
“Yes. Even though we went to Lindel tribe, who are best at decryption, we couldn’t complete it.”
I somehow knew he was going to tell me this.
‘Yeah, we couldn’t decrypt it all.’
If he just wanted to tell me the content, he could have just sent a letter.
I haven’t figured out if this is a game element or not.
Reading it myself seems like the right choice.
-Scratch.
As I turned the front page, I began reading the decrypted document carefully.
The content of the decrypted document had some words missing or erased here and there, but it was readable if you put the pieces together.
“…A plan to monsterize flora and fauna.”
It was an outrageous act.
Monsters are called beasts in this game, but dealing with them isn’t simple.
You have to hunt them with blood and sweat.
Humans alone can’t handle them, and sometimes they’re even life-threatening.
To artificially create such monsters…
Those guys are crazy.
‘But does that mean it’s related?’
Shatren strawberries and grapes were indeed in a good condition to become monsters.
So this background seems to set Shatren as a threat.
But looking at this, it doesn’t seem to be the only reason.
“What do you think?”
Talpon asked for my opinion.
Although I wasn’t 100% sure, I shared my thoughts with him.
“The tribes in the West handle mana, sensing, listening, and other special abilities. They’re also the ones leading the charge in eliminating monsters.”
“So?”
“If artificial monsters are created, the chances of getting caught are high. Just like in the black market, even if hidden underground, they’d be discovered by smell. That’s why the target was set on the West.”
Aiferos’s Pollux.
Rilfetten’s Talpon.
All the tribes in the West could interfere with this plan.
“But what bothered me the most was the Kingdom of Wederos. If mana flow could only be tracked visually, they would have been the most threatening enemy.”
“So that’s why.”
“The reason is obvious. Probably because of strong opposition to the royal family. They planned to overthrow the royal family, which was trying to curb the corrupt nobles.”
“If that’s the case, it makes sense that they continuously lowered the West’s perception. Maybe they deliberately isolated us to prevent us from coming out.”
“That’s right.”
It was a clean deduction.
Power. With that, the cause-effect relationship connects perfectly.
Now, all the connections are made.
‘It was when strange monsters started appearing from underground. So that’s what happened.’
The plan of the Waglew faction, which rebelled against the royal family.
The means to isolate the Western tribes, seen as obstacles.
The fact that they most feared the Kingdom of Wederos.
It flowed naturally.
“But, that story aside, since the Waglew faction is rooted out, there shouldn’t be any problems. But this needs some explanation.”
Yes, I need an explanation now.
“Why did you lie about incomplete decryption just to say what you wanted?”
Talpon clearly said the decryption wasn’t finished.
But from the content I just recited, it’s clear there was no sign of incomplete decryption.
That means Talpon has something to talk to me about.
Maybe Talpon needed time to think, as he closed his eyes.
-Ding!
What?
Hold on. Why is there an alarm sound in this state…
“Spread the last page with mana, Carsein.”
While I was distracted by the status window, Talpon opened his eyes and told me.
When I turned the page as Talpon instructed, a new page unfolded.
No, this wasn’t a new page. It wasn’t attached to the document but a completely different material.
“What is this? Why did you attach this…”
Before I could finish my sentence,
I had to widen my eyes in shock.
‘Wait. These characters…’
That’s impossible.
These characters shouldn’t exist here.
“Indeed, Carsein, you can see the characters. Not just see them, but also read them. Right?”
“…What?”
How does he know that?
“Because there were other foreigners here besides you. He was also from the Kingdom of Wederos.”
“What…?”
*EX Episode. Traces of the Kingdom of Wederos are ongoing.*
*Information about the Kingdom of Wederos has been obtained.*
***
There was once a man somewhere.
This man, speaking in a somewhat alien manner, said:
“In three days, there will be heavy rain, and a flood will occur. So we need to prepare.”
Suddenly appearing and saying there would be a flood due to rain. People might believe he was bluffing and ignore him without raising any interest.
But this is the West. The people of the West could vaguely sense that it was true.
“It feels very humid on the skin.”
“…You felt it too? I can smell moisture in the wind.”
On the second day, Pollux followed by Talpon sensed rain. The remaining tribal leaders could also sense it faintly.
By the third day, all members of the tribes noticed the large dark clouds.
They didn’t ignore the man’s words and widened the irrigation channels to prepare for the rain.
When the heavy rain came on the third day, fortunately, the flood didn’t affect civilians.
People realized then that the man’s words were true.
This mysterious man later wandered around various places, predicting future events.
He foresaw all kinds of future events, and none of them were wrong.
Soon, he became known as a prophet in the empire and received great rewards for helping to overcome a major crisis.
And when he returned to travel across the empire and came back to the West,
The people of the West could vaguely guess that he was from the Kingdom of Wederos.
“At that moment, we first learned that there was a person who could read mana from the perspective of the Kingdom of Wederos, using knowledge entirely different from ours… No, knowledge entirely different from this world. That’s why we could suspect the existence of a foreigner.”
It’s ridiculous.
This is completely overlapping with my situation.
“No, now is not the time to be stunned!”
This is a chance.
I’ve found a clue to return to reality.
“Was there any other record left by that prophet? Anything he left behind?”
Hastily, Talpon firmly cut me off.
“That prophet appeared only three years ago, Carsein.”
“…What?”
What is he saying?
That’s contradictory.
The Kingdom of Wederos fell more than ten years ago, right?
“Exceptions aside, survivors can exist. But it’s unreasonable for a survivor to appear three years later and inherit the power of the Kingdom of Wederos. My wife is a survivor of the Kingdom of Wederos.”
“…! You mean…”
“Yes. There are a few others, but not many. Those who can be called survivors. However, none of the Wederos people we protect have awakened that sight. Do you understand now?”
It means different.
Different from the existing rules.
The power of the Kingdom of Wederos vanished completely after its fall.
The prophet who appeared three years ago.
And excluding me.
This boundary, which has become clear enough for them to distinguish foreigners, can be seen as the power of the Kingdom of Wederos itself.
If this power exists in me…
“There is something else. Something more, isn’t there?”
The conclusion is that this isn’t just a simple game setting.
“…You’re quick. I thought you’d have a complicated expression.”
“Don’t say that. My head is plenty complex enough.”
Talpon laughed bitterly, as if he didn’t pray.
“Well, whether it’ll be helpful or not, he always used to say this.”
The words of the prophet that came out of Talpon’s mouth.
They just spouted them without understanding.
But I didn’t.
-I will definitely return to Korea. For sure!
I understood the meaning clearly.
-Ding!
*EX Episode. Traces of the Kingdom of Wederos are ongoing.*
*Obtained information related to the Kingdom of Wederos and filled the achievement level.*
*Achievement level reached 100%. As a special reward, the player will be provided with the secret of the second world!*
*Reward*
[???]
With crackling noise, the status window distorted momentarily, then opened another window.
[You failed to save someone in the past, and that person eventually met death.]
…What?
What is that supposed to mean?
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
