“What? vacation?”

The very next day I decided to talk to Salem in a different way.

As usual, I went to Salem during lunchtime, and was barred from the door in front of the tower with such words.

“under! Because I don’t want to be ridiculous.”

Even if the timing is precise, it cannot be this precise.

As soon as people make up their minds, they are terribly confused.

“… … So what do you do now?”

I usually spent this time negotiating with Salem, not negotiating.

Eating at the restaurant he used to go to is now used to him.

However, I don’t know what to do when there is a gap between times like this.

Lunchtime is awkward.

Short if short, long if long.

Now, there is not enough time to invite Lucia and Prina or Shuren to have lunch together.

It will be dinner, not lunch.

That’s why it’s like having lunch alone at a fancy restaurant like that.

“Let’s find another restaurant… … .”

“Oh, then I just know of a nice place, how do you feel?”

I hurriedly turned my head in the direction from which the voice came, and there was a face I would never forget.

An elegant figure reminiscent of an aristocrat somewhere, and eerie red hair tied back in a fine ponytail.

“… … Lena.”

“Yes, Mr. Oz. long time no see.”

The first person I saw right after I woke up was standing behind me.

I’m not an idiot enough to be caught off guard in ＜Spellage＞, where there are probably the most assassins targeting me.

I’ve never turned [Contemplation] into inactive state right after stepping on this land.

The only thing that could not be caught in advance through this was Shuren, an elder-level magician.

missed it though

Because she’s so talented?

no. No matter how good her skill is, it would only be about SR grade.

Alexios also admitted.

She’s strong, but she’s never got anything to call a talent.

“You look like you saw a ghost.”

“Nothing.”

After visiting Mt.

The reason I first discovered her in advance was because she was suggesting an ominous form of life.

However, it was different when I escaped the border. I hadn’t captured her form until right before I was caught in her grasp.

And so it is now.

Lena didn’t seem to have any intention of killing me right now.

yes, that’s why

“… … There was no mana.”

It was only then that I realized that she was an empty person.

She, like Arietta, is a person who cannot hold mana.

That’s why even [Contemplation] couldn’t capture her figure.

“Hmm? If you come here and ask me… … . It seems that what Janus-sama said is true.”

“What did the child say?”

“I do not know? Would you like to know?”

Saying that, Lena reached out her hand to me. It must mean asking for an escort.

she has no intent to kill

It probably won’t harm me even if I follow her like this.

But at the same time, there was something that could be known just by not showing any intent to kill.

“Are you trying to pass the time?”

“Yeah!”

Unless there is some reason, Lena has no reason to approach me.

That’s why I asked directly, and the answer came back to the extent of being cool.

“… … .”

There is something. That’s for sure.

Whether it’s Janus or ＜Parade＞, he’s probably plotting something.

But I don’t know what it is.

Until Lena appeared, he was not even aware of the existence of ＜Parade＞.

The fact that she approached me in such a state would mean that it would be known anyway.

And at a known point, he must be thinking of holding on to me.

“Okay then.”

For once, it fits. It’s even better if you collect information while doing it.

He answered while fiddling with the communication tool in his arms. When things happen… … .

“Since it’s been a while, let’s ask for guidance.”

It’s enough if you leave immediately.

‘Cause I’m not alone

* * *

“Will it fit in your mouth?”

“so so.”

“You can’t be honest.”

The restaurant Lena guided me to was actually a place I really liked.

The ambiance of the restaurant itself was not heavy and the food was delicious.

Best of all, there is a partition so you don’t have to worry about other people’s eyes.

It’s creepy that they know me so intimately, but… … .

“Where should I start talking?”

“If you tell me what you’re up to, that would be the best.”

“Whoops, even kidding.”

Lena smiled and began to stir the dessert black tea with a teaspoon.

Lena, who was stirring the tea like that, eventually spoke with an expressionless face.

“First of all, yes. Shall I start with this? Who are you?”

“… … .”

Again, this is a bold question.

To be honest, I was surprised. That’s probably not who I’m asking. Wasn’t she the one who knew as much about Oz as anyone else?

He probably brought him to this restaurant because he knows Oz’s taste.

what she’s saying now

yes.

“Are you aware of who you are now? won’t you tell me The ‘current’ Mr. Oz.”

“under… … .”

I knew it in a word.

She noticed that I wasn’t Oz.

No, it must be Janus to be precise.

Since he was Oz himself, he must have noticed the difference in me.

This is amazing too. I didn’t have much contact with Janus.

At most, twice.

But to figure out that I’m different from Oz with just that much is a guy who can’t be careless.

The very fact that I could doubt such a thing in the first place is frightening.

“It’s fun.”

“I mean.”

Rena smiles brightly as she tries to laugh because it’s ridiculous.

If I did, would this be funny to her too?

She must have had memories with Oz, but wouldn’t she be mad at me for overwriting them?

“therefore? What then?”

“I do not know… … .”

Salem still called me Oz.

Even though I insisted so much that I wasn’t, they didn’t understand.

But I realized that Oz wasn’t the worst enemy I had to face, even though I didn’t claim it.

How funny is this.

The thing that understands me the most is that he is my main enemy.

“I remember what Bihyung said.”

“If it is non-formal… … Are you talking about the goblin king? What did you say?”

In the past, when I prepared to reconcile Baekyang and Soyeon.

Bi-hyung said that he had a rival named Jeokmae in order to open the heart of Baek-yang, who is living an emotionless life.

“The more you hate each other, the better you know each other.”

Yes, the more you hate each other, the easier it is to understand each other than anyone else. Looking at the other person to catch fault is also an investigation.

Lena blinked at my words and then said as if she understood.

“Yes. I’m sure there is no one else who loves and hates Oz as much as Janus.”

“Love and hate? Does that son of a bitch have any heart for Oz?”

“Sure.”

Contrary to her calm tone, Lena said with a frown on her face.

“It was a tragedy because of that. Well, it seems that the current Oz-sama doesn’t even know that.”

“It’s a tragedy… … . It’s not wrong.”

The opening of the gate, the chaos in the empire, the death of Tia and the deaths of countless people are all.

It must have been by Janus, the incarnation of the key Oz possessed.

That’s why it’s the same as Oz’s work if you look at the fundamental culprit.

There’s a reason why I’m rolling so hard right now.

“I have. Cursed.”

“… … You mean no mana?”

“Including that. Well, now Oz-sama doesn’t seem to know that either, so let me explain… … .”

crooked smile.

Hate unknown.

Those were the feelings Lena showed me.

“Your blessings. The curse that is the opposite of all of them dwells in me.”

“… … blessing?”

“Ah, blessed people. People who were blessed with the fate of being a ‘saint’ just by being present. I am very envious.”

The pope, Lucia Domine, once said it. Arrieta was born with the destiny of a saint

And that fate is to sweep everyone around.

That’s why Alexios became the [King of Fist], and I became the [Successor of the King of Sorcery].

In my case, there might have been something called Salem’s blood… … .

Maybe it wasn’t a coincidence that they came together like that.

“There was someone who could grasp reason, such as understand the essence itself just by looking at it.”

It’s about the [contemplation] that I, Oz Quo Vadis, have. It is said that these eyes only appear to special people.

He is truly a special person to the point of being blessed by God.

It can be said that it is an eye that can be said to be more special than anyone else as a magician who seeks reason.

“There was someone who could understand things, like someone who was free to handle any weapon the moment it came into their hands.”

It’s about [King of Fist] Alexios’s [Manyu Demon].

That guy can handle any weapon with a high level of skill.

“And the other was loved by God more than anyone else, and there was a person who seemed to have captured such a blessing in a human form.”

[Saint of Hope] This is a story about the characteristics of Arietta Domine.

She has no mana at all, only divine power.

“Then what about me?”

As if resentful, Lena made a tearful face, as if asking why she had to see this.

“What do you think it would have been like for one of the four children to drop out?”

“I didn’t get anything… … .”

“Nope!”

thud!

Lena slammed the table and shouted in a passionate tone.

“Even the little things I should have were taken from you!”

Lena soon began to release her situation with dead eyes.

“I don’t feel mana. No, it’s more like being rejected. It is impossible to even activate magic tools without auxiliary equipment because mana cannot be stored in the body.”

she doesn’t know the reason

“I have no talent for any weapon. No, I’m rather dull in everything I do with my body.”

can’t understand things.

“My body even rejects divine power. I can’t even receive any divine treatment.”

couldn’t be loved

“I am like this just by the fact that I was with you.”

“Is that why you hate Oz?”

“Nope. It can’t be. You can’t hate your family just for that reason.”

Soon after, Lena started to shed tears as if she was sad.

“The one I hate is Mr. Oz. There is only you. I hate it and yearn for it to the point of wanting to kill it.”

Lena reached out to me.

The hand that reached out to me had no murderous intent, and all it contained was affection.

But before that hand even touched my cheek, it moved away again.

Her love and hatred seemed to be interfering with that.

“Now you don’t even know why I hate you.”

“… … .”

“So, I will stop hating one-sidedly. still… … .”

bang!

The moment Lena smiled lightly, the entire street was engulfed in heat.

“Please destroy with me. So Oz can hate me.”

A sight I have seen somewhere.

Yes, it was the moment when ＜Parade＞, which I had seen in the game, took its first step towards the world.

“no way… … !”

I never would have imagined that there would be an open mess like this.

Isn’t this ＜Spellage＞ where the [King of Darkness] Salem is located?

But the prerequisites were wrong.

“… … Are you thinking of hitting Salem?”

“Yes. Because Oz-nim worked harder than I thought, Janus-nim also flocked that much.”

“Tsk… … .”

There is no time for this.

If their goal is Salem, they will definitely be noticed wherever they are. The battle of wizards, as usual, was bound to be splendid.

bang!

That was the moment I was about to leave the restaurant. A hatchet flew right in front of my eyes and hit the wall.

It’s a scene I’ve only seen in movies, but seeing it in real life gives me goosebumps.

“Did you tell me? to perish with me. Please, please don’t leave me like this.”

“Isn’t it strange that you don’t hate me, but want me to destroy you?”

“What can I do? Reason can understand, but emotion cannot.”

For very reasonable reasons.

As a brother and sister pair, they harass me with ridiculous sophistry.

Even though this side knows I’m not the one who hurt her, it’s frustrating to do that.

“Do you think you can beat me?”

“Can that be? Still, I can do enough to hold onto Oz-sama’s ankles. Because it’s special. To struggle ugly while rolling in the mud.”

“… … Yes, it can’t be helped if it’s that kind of resolution.”

I can’t afford to mingle with her wild childishness. One Eleanor would be enough for such a fool.

intermediate magic

[Lightning Bind]

Lena’s skills are at the SR level.

Then, among the interpersonal magic, there is no magic that has a paralyzing effect.

At her level, perfect defense wouldn’t be possible, and getting out wouldn’t be a problem if she was moderately suppressed by paralysis.

“really… … You forgot everything.”

As if Lena is running away from a magical ray, she moves in all directions and closes the distance towards me.

In the past, I would have been embarrassed, but I have already gone through all the prenatal battles.

It’s easy to shoot her down now, even if you’re not as prepared as before.

intermediate magic

[stalagmite]

I’m sorry to the restaurant owner, but it’s an emergency right now.

A spear in the form of a stalagmite shoots up from the floor, narrowing Lena’s range of movement.

“I’m sorry.”

Pazuzuz that is!

I narrowed the radius of movement like that and hit [Lightning Bind] towards Lena, who was guided to one place.

With this, she won’t be able to move for a while.

The moment I was about to kick out the restaurant door like that.

“Did I say that right then?”

“What is this… … .”

She, who must have been hit by magic, walked out casually.

It reminds me of the time when I escaped the border, and chills run down my spine.

“The moment the next ‘march’ starts, they won’t miss it.”