Under the crumbling starry night.

…

Yes, I have came to a realization.

But, my troubles did not stop there, and I soon learned of a greater torment.

I chanced upon the realization of my unique circ.u.mstances when I examined my magic. My body would not age. Even though I had all the normal biological functions, my time was completely frozen – a paradox in and of itself. The reasons were unknown, the theoretical basis was unknown, and of course, I have had no idea myself. As if I was a dancing in the palm of some greater power, where ‘until I remembered and completed my mission, I was not permitted to die’.”

I was not sure whether it was disgust at my unnatural existence, or the jealousy and envy for the existence seemingly superior to them. Whenever I was discovered to be an immortal, everyone would drift away and grow distant to me. The one that had declared his eternal love and vowed to stay with me till the end of days would curse me as ‘not a human, but a monster’ and abandon me. The stinging stares and persecution would converge upon my undying body. I would slowly grow angry, fatigued, and stagnant.

After dozens of years pa.s.sed since my awakening, I stood before their graves with a bundle of flowers in hand, looking not a day older than when I first arrived in this world. As always, I have not changed at all.

Crack.

◇　◇　◇

Glenn quickly applied himself to the investigation of the observatory.

“I-I didn’t hear anything about this! Wasn’t it suppose to be a safe ruins?!”

“Darn it! This better be the only encounter!”

“Tsk! Ah, what was it again?! I-… I am the shooter•The root of power…!!”

Compared to Kash, Wendy, and the others, who were startled by the sudden onslaught and were unable to even enunciate their spells correctly…

The magic bullets gathered on her fingers pierced through one specter after another. In a sharp explosion, the damaged specter dissipated into the air.

“Hmph!”

After a few moments, they successfully defended against the specters’ onslaught. Not a single attacker remained, and the surrounding air returned to its normal calm.

“Ahaha~ not bad, not bad at all! You kids are pretty strong.”

“Leaving the students to fend for themselves, you are a real piece of work, you know…?” Glenn finally relaxed after nervously watching over the students during the encounter.

“B-but…”

“Yes, that makes sense. But…” Glenn suddenly turned to where the specters came out, “Darn it, to think this site still had malevolent spirits within…”

“It is nothing unusual. They are easy to appear in ruins like this. Don’t forget, most ancient ruins are built close to spirit veins. Either way, it looks like the fights against the malevolent spirits will continue on for some time.”

“Do not worry, after this expedition, this site may need to be b.u.mped up a difficulty rank or two.” Celica playfully looked at Glenn, “Aren’t you glad that I am here with you guys? Otherwise you probably planned to just call quits, right?”

For phantasmal beings like spirits and fairies which have gained its body through magic power, elemental spells such as flame, ice, or electricity were relatively ineffective. To defeat them, it is necessary to directly disrupt its magic flow. As of such, they would have to rely on Black Magic [Magic•Bullet] and other non-elemental attack spells, where the magician would gather their magic power before shooting it out. In the eastern lands, such spells were commonly referred to as ‘Chi’.

Certainly, using the Black Magic [Weapon•Enchant] and fortifying fists for combat was always an option, but from purely the standpoint of efficiency, the ability to chant shortened version of Black Magic [Magic•Bullet] like Sistine and picking them off at a distance was preferred.

“Sure, sure. I am just a useless trash. I leave the students in your care, o’ esteemed master… Hmph.” Glenn grumbled and then turned away.

While the master and pupil were having their exchange, another conversation went on elsewhere.

“Oh? Really?”

“Yeah, how to put it. When the enemy suddenly attacked earlier, you were very calm and didn’t seem to be scared at all. Were you really not afraid?”

…But compared to the time with Jatice.

“Ah? Really? I was really scared at that time! Honestly!” After hearing Wendy’s words, Sistine hastily retorted.

“Oh, that? I-I wonder when…? Ahaha~”

“Ugh! D-don’t think you are better than me because of this!”

Wendy and Gibul both glared at Sistine with displeased eyes.

“Then, we must work hard to catch up… Hmm?”

“Another group? W-wait, aren’t there a few too many of them this time?! Won’t it turn bad like this?!”

The students became pumped for combat, but…

“B-but Professor, aren’t there too many of them…?” Sistine worriedly watched the approach attackers.

“To just leave them all to you feels a bit excessive, perhaps it’s better if everyone…”

And then another pop…

“””?!”””

“””…”””

“Mm. And this is how you do it, understand?”

“This is really… beyond any reason…”

They were all well aware that Celica was on a completely different plane of existence as them, but only after witnessing her magic up close did they once again understand just how big a gap really existed.

Glenn and the others continued down the path, occasionally punctuated by encounters with malevolent spirits.

“Mm, got it.”

The ‘Taum Observatory’ as shown by the map was quite expansive.

To think that the entire structure was carved from a single stone, and not only that, the path under their feet showed no signs of corners cut. Just bringing the light close easily revealed that, regardless if it’s the ceiling, the floor, or the walls, everything was perfectly polished. Additionally, the ceiling and the walls were completely covered with compactly placed etchings and pictures. The time and effort spent by the ancients to construct this observatory were unfathomable.

Lumia inquisitively looked at the map on hand, thinking perhaps the excitement while inside the structure has dulled her sense of size.

“The s.p.a.ce here is warped.” Celica, who was walking next to Glenn, hijacked the conversation.

“Hmm? ‘Seemed’? As in, we aren’t really sure?”

“Umm… So even Professor Arfonia have no way of deciphering the magic?”

After having her chance to show off s.n.a.t.c.hed by Celica, Sistine was seething from behind.

“Although I don’t quite understand what you are talking about,” Riel entered into the conversation, “won’t it be simpler if we just blow a hole through the wall and cut across?”

“Hahaha~ That’s interesting, but not possible.”

Riel tilted her head sideways in confusion, and Celica kindly began her explanation,

“Is that so? While I am not sure about all that details you mentioned, it’s regrettable.”

“This is why, despite the thousands of years, this ruins could still remain in pristine shape.” And then, Celica indignantly threw up her hair, “b.a.s.t.a.r.ds… If it weren’t for this annoying coating, I would have done in that lousy Underground Labyrinth long-…”

“S-such amazing technology… How incredible are these ancients? Were they really humans like us?”

“Hey! Don’t get overconfident! Don’t forget we are still on the expedition!”

◇　◇　◇

“Finally. So this is the first ritual chamber.”

Glenn prepared his revolver, and turned to his students. The gun was now fully loaded with magically enhanced bullets, and therefore would be effective even against malevolent spirits.

“Hmph! To brave the danger for the sake of your students, aren’t you the cool one, Glenn~?” Celica let out a mischievous chuckle, and poked fun at Glenn.

“Are you sure you will be fine alone? If you are afraid, I can always go with you.”

“Ah, t-then, teacher, please be safe.”

Upon entering through the gothic doors, Glenn was greeted by a large hermispheric chamber. The floor, wall, and ceiling were thoroughly polished, a constant reminder of how the entire structure was carved out of a single rock. Etched on the surfaces were mysterious drawings that were akin to star charts used by diviners. One could make out the lines that demarcate the ecliptic and the lunar orbit, the sun and the moon, as well as the planets and the stars. The entire chamber gave off the feeling of a mini-replica of the universe.

“Twins of the Sky, Taum.” (1)

According to Glenn’s prior research, the ancient civilization, or rather, ancient people believed that the sky have a will of its own, and have been awestruck by it, deified it, and wors.h.i.+pped it. Considering all of this, it was no wonder that for such a ritual chamber, there would be an accurate and easy to understand star chart etched in meticulous detail, where even a layperson could understand. At its center, the ‘Twins of the Sky, Taum’ was the supreme deity of the ancient astrological religion, G.o.ddesses that represented the ‘Heavens’.

Suddenly, Glenn experienced a weird sensation. A knife-like chill crept up his back as his heart was gripped by a feeling of tightness. His vision narrowed and his ears became deaf.

When Glenn first entered the ritual chamber, that ‘thing’ wasn’t there, or rather, it shouldn’t be there. It was a sizable existence that shouldn’t have gone unnoticed. A small girl unwittingly descended before the statue of the twin angels. There she sat, as if waiting for someone to come.

Yet the girl’s face was very human and very beautiful, which when juxtaposed to the revolting wings, elicited only feelings of utter disgust and rejection. As the image of that abnormally-shaped girl entered Glenn’s eyes, he felt his soul becoming invaded, evoking a sense of insanity.

“Long time no see, Glenn.” The girl gazed at Glenn and said.

“…Rather at this time, it should be our first meeting, no?”

D-darn… darn… darn it!

“Tsk!”

“?!”

What was there a moment ago was… gone, as if being startled awake from a terrible nightmare.

For the next few moments, Glenn heavily panted as he stood dumbfounded in place.

Soon, Celica followed in with a laid back expression.

“Hmm? What is wrong? You look a little pale there~”

To avoid worrying the students, Glenn quietly whispered the details to Celica.

“Idio-! Of course not!”

“Even as a joke that’s going a bit too far!!”

“Seriously! I am totally not frustra-… I definitely saw a girl!”

“Huh? Really? Then that would mean…”

Celica said as she puffed her chest in pride, clearly without an ounce of dishonesty. That and, Glenn knew perfectly well how omnipotent her magic was, so what he saw was possibly…

As Glenn thought back to his encounter, he felt that the sight was quite comparable to a waking dream. His memories and feelings of the earlier events became murkier the more he tried to remember.

“Enemy?!”

“Teacher, what is wrong? Is there something on my face?”

“N-no, it’s nothing. Please do not mind it.”

“Then, everyone!” Glenn pulled himself back together, clapped his hands a few times, and called for the students still waiting by the door, “Let us begin our investigation of this chamber! Riel, you keep watch by the entrance, Lumia and Sistine will record the etchings on the ground, and Wendy will a.s.sist with the interpretation of the tablets, good luck. The remainder of you guys will check for any trap doors or unnatural magic responses. This process will be quite time consuming, so please work diligently.”

Perhaps I really am just exhausted…

“Haa…” Glenn quietly let out a deep sigh.

Under the crumbling starry night.

I do not need anyone, I am perfectly fine alone.

To be seen as a monster, to be rejected by others, and now, even those few who understood me has departed this world. Ultimately, I was shackled by my thoughts.

The me at that time stood at the edge of insanity.

But, thinking back to those times – that long and h.e.l.lish years, there were still people who approached and reached their hands out to me. For one, the swordswoman known as the strongest of the empire… Yet, I pushed them all away, and continued to run alone, taking on the role of a victim in a tragic drama.

Until, the day…

◇　◇　◇

The investigation was proceeding smoothly.

At dusk, the group would return to the campsite.

“W-what are you talking about?!”

“I came to this conclusion as we were investigating the seventh sanctuary’s etchings! Considering those odd drawings on the wall, the ancients must have been ruled over by aliens! This would also explain why the ancients had such advanced understanding of magic.”

Perhaps due to the enthusiasm Sistine showed in ancient civilizations, every night around the fire place, the students would eagerly express their own thoughts on the ancients, somewhat giving the air of a professional group of archaeothaumatology scholars.

“Oh! Lynn, we were all waiting for you! I am starving!”

“Teacher, after having Wendy goes over the translations of the drawings and etchings in the observatory, were there any leads on spatial-temporal magic?”

“Either way, if this observatory really is the ritual site for some sort of magic, then there will definitely be a control room somewhere – an undiscovered ‘hidden chamber’ in some corners of the ruins. Such was the belief of the previous investigator.” As he said that, Glenn revealed a self-deprecating smile, “Honestly, I do not believe we will find anything on this trip. Something as absurd as spatial-temporal magic has no place in reality, I think…”

It seemed she came over to bring the two dinner. She was carrying a tray with four bowls of stew atop. In the cold, the bowls emitted clouds of white steam. Sistine seemed to be angry as she handed Lumia and Riel each a bowl of soup.

The stew was made by carefully boiling dried vegetables and meat, with herbs and mushrooms collected from the vicinity. At a glance, the stew was well flavored, and very delicious.

But, as Glenn extended his hand to receive his bowl, Sistine purposely pulled away.

“I-I got it! I got it already, just please give me my dinner!”

“Uwaaa!! More than your lecture, I want my meal!!”

Gulp. Gulp. “Mm. It is delicious.”

Perhaps Riel was very hungry. Before anyone had noticed, Riel had already finished off the two’s share of stew.

“Heh…”

And then, a wave of shouts came from around the campfire.

“What are you talking about? No matter how you look at it, my hypothesis should be the better one!”

“No way! E-even my dinner… Ahhh!!”

“Mm. I still have many questions that I was hoping you can answer!”

“Really, you guys are very loud. But… I guess I should…” Celica revealed a wry smile as she closed the book, and joined the group by the campfire.

This kind of peaceful and mundane expedition continued as usual…

On the fifth night.

“Oh? It looks quite nice here…”

This natural hot spring was discovered by Celica a few days ago. Celica posited that from what she sensed through the spirit veins, the surrounding area was thermally active. Therefore, as long as they searched around, they would definitely find one.

Because of Celica’s achievements, the female students, who were originally stuck with using wet towels to wipe down their bodies, came to wors.h.i.+p Celica as a G.o.d.

Even the relatively dense Glenn came to felt sorry for neglecting the girls by camping out for days on end, so Celica’s help was very timely for Glenn.

“But still, despite being surrounded by beauties, I had to come bath alone. If only there was a companion for the occasion, hehehe~” As Glenn let out his perverted thoughts, he took off his clothes.

“I want to go peeping! I want to gaze upon paradise! Even if it will cost me this life of mine!”

“Now…” After Glenn hid his clothes behind the boulder, he entered the hot spring, “Uwaaa… So good…!”

“Haa… So comfortable…♪”

“~♪”

And then.

Only at this moment did Glenn felt the sting of regret for involving the students in his own personal matter and bringing them out to the middle of nowhere. Despite it being a mere F-ranked ruins, the investigation was more complicated than Glenn had initially imagined, and he was somewhat remorseful for not adequately thinking it through before asking the students.

I should also think about it carefully… really…

“Hmm?”

“W-who goes there?” Glenn tensed up and declared.

And then, the shadow unhesitantly approached Glenn and the hot spring. As the steam dissipated, the person revealed before Glenn was…

“Ah? It’s Glenn. So you’ve come.”

She stood at the edge of the hot spring completely nude. The only thing that covered her porcelain white skin was a single towel held at her breast and the large amount of steam. Yet, even they could not completely hide her beautiful figure, with curves that resembled of the beautiful ancient sculptures.

“How is the water, Glenn? I bet it is quite nice, right?”

As if trying to get away from Celica, Glenn quickly shuffled to the center of the hot spring, with his back turned to her.

“Hmm? Why are you acting all nervous? I don’t mind at all.”

“W-wh-…?” Sensing her entering the hot spring, Glenn’s whole body grew stiff.

“Hehehe~” Celica let out a mischievous chuckle as she approached Glenn.

“Y-you…!”

On the other hand, Glenn is already reaching his limit.

“It shouldn’t matter, right? After all, we are family~”

“That and, didn’t we bathe together frequently when you were young? Shouldn’t we have already gotten used to seeing each other nude?”

“Don’t worry about the details. Bathing together once in a while isn’t bad…”

Glenn had noticed that this was not the usual impish Celica, and decided to not push the topic.

Celica’s soothing voice repeated the statement once more, and made Glenn felt warm and fuzzy inside.

Certainly, as long as Celica did not mind, why should I mind?

“Haa… Seriously…”

Glenn lost all will to retort, and Celica just gently laughed in response.

A long while pa.s.sed since they started soaking in the bath before the silence was broken.

“Huh?”

“How long did you think has pa.s.sed since you picked me up from the streets?”

“Hasn’t it been over ten years? It would be weird if I didn’t change.”

Glenn felt a bit awkward by the conversation.

About ten years ago, after a certain event had turned Glenn to an orphan, Celica decided to adopt Glenn on a whim. That was when the two of them first met.

“S-speaking of which, how are your injuries?” Because the conversation has become more and more awkward, Glenn forcibly changed the topic.

“Umm… Before joining the expedition, didn’t you venture deep into the Underground Labyrinth? I had seen it when you first entered the hot spring. There are still many unhealed injuries on your hand and feet.”

“Huh?”

“Uwaaa… I can’t believe you were able to ogle my entire body in that short amount of time. Ahh~ Is it really safe for us to stay under the same roof? What if you give into your desires and force yourself upon me? You need to take responsibility if that happens, alright?”

Celica stifled laughter could be heard.

“I-I am totally not worried about you! Haa… But seriously, it is all because of how obstinate you are with exploring those dangerous ruins. If not for that, such problematic matters would not have happened.” Glenn let out a long sigh.

The Underground Labyrinth. A mysterious large scale ruins located right under the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy. The difficulty was rated as S++, ranked as the most difficult of all the ruins in the empire.

But beyond the first nine floors, the danger was on a completely different scale. To put it into perspective, the only person who was able to obtain permission for expeditions past the tenth floor in all of the empire was Celica alone.

“Yes, can’t argue with that.”

“…”

“Celica… I think it is better to just give up on that labyrinth.” Glenn sternly told Celica, “I am not saying you lack the ability, but rather, that place is not meant for humans to set their foot in… For a place like that, it is better…”

“So, please don’t go there anymore? Give up on that Underground Labyrinth.” As of such, Glenn said what he always wanted and needed to tell Celica.

“O-of course there is the pride as a seventh-ranked magician, and things like there is no longer any other option… but still, your life should be the top priority.”

“If… you end up meeting misfortune… I…”

Celica remained silent.

“…Hey. Can you at least… tell me your reasons?” The disappointed Glenn tried to change the topic, but even this was met with…

“…You can’t say?”

Before anyone noticed, the once proud woman was nowhere to be found.

In her place, was a delicate girl filled with remorse.

“…Celica?”

“Yes, I also heard you became an immortal…”

“…”

Why did she bring all this up?

“But… After I had gained so much from you… After I had already been blessed by our relations.h.i.+p…”

“Because of my selfish wish to push you to greatness, I didn’t think twice before recommending you to become a Court Mage. When I irresponsibly forced you to endure those h.e.l.lish days, when you should have every right to hate me for it… despite all that had happened, you still… to me…” Celica abruptly stopped.

As silence descended, a heavy atmosphere enveloped both of them, until…

After a moment’s pause, Glenn asked in the most heartfelt manner.

Yes. To Glenn, Celica was like a mother, a sister, and a friend. Even to this day, Glenn has yet to find the perfect word to describe their complicated relations.h.i.+p. If one had to definitively describe their relations.h.i.+p, it would certainly be…

Celica emotionlessly replied.

“…Ah?” After being blindsided by the unexpected question, Glenn momentarily frozen and missed his opportunity to reply.

“…Sorry. It seemed that the heat from the hot spring is getting to me, just forget what I said.” Celica lifted herself off Glenn’s back and stood up.

“Tomorrow will be the last stop of this expedition, at the deepest recess of the observatory, the planetarium chamber. Is that correct?”

“I’m sure you will be able to wrap up this expedition splendidly by tomorrow, so give it your all.”

With that said, Celica left the hot spring and departed. Glenn, who alone remained in the hot spring, was confounded by the meaning of Celica’s earlier words. In the end, Glenn couldn’t figure out her thoughts.

Glenn’s mind was a complete blank. No matter how much Glenn tried to think, he could not understand.

“Ahh! Really! What is she up to-…!”

“…Ah?”

“Sisti! Hurry up!”

Glenn could see from between the cracks of the rocks that it was Lumia. Although she had most of her body wrapped in towel, but she was definitely… nude.

It wasn’t just Lumia and Sistine.

“Mm. We really need to thank the Professor for finding the hot spring for us.”

The girls who came to bathe in the depth of night slowly approached.

Glenn impulsively dived into the water.

Almost immediately, the naked girls came out from behind the rocks and arrived at the edge of the hot spring.

Glenn regretted his thoughtless mistake that led to this dilemma.

At that moment, as if flaunting their youth with their watery skin, the girls entered the hot spring one after another.

“Mm… Very warm.”

Sistine stretched her tired limbs, Lumia comfortably immersed herself in the water, and Riel sat with sleepy eyes while she splashed around. Each of them enjoyed the hot spring in their own unique way.

“Hmm? Ah… I-is that so? I-…”

Wendy, Lynn, and Teresa also soaked in the hot springs.

Uwaaa?! These guys, how long do they plan on staying here! Could I really hold my breath until they all leave?! Impossible. I will definitely die.

The girls didn’t notice the troubled Glenn, and just lightheartedly chatted away.

“Ah, no need to worry, Wendy. I have already strung Kash up and hung him by the feet.”

“Ahaha~”

“Ugh… Lumia, yours is still as magnificent as always.”

“C-certainly, Professor Arfonia’s figure is perfect… Everything about her is like a beautiful sculpture from a bygone era. I am so jealous!”

“Hahaha! Speaking of which, yours still look so small, Sistine! On this point alone I am superior to you!” (Wendy)

“Ah? Lynn, you… Despite how short you are, could you r-really be larger than-…? Are you the type who appears thin when wearing clothes?”

“Luuumia! Why is everyone’s bust round, while mine is flat?”

“Sistine is also quite flat.”

Blurb blurb…

The submerged Glenn just obtained some seriously good Intel, and quickly began to sort out the details in his head.

Celica >= Teresa > Lumia = Lynn > Wendy > Sistine > Riel

Surrounded on all sides by naked beauties laughing away in the night, Glenn continued to resist, and suppressed his pain and desire to breath. Until, the need to breath finally overwhelmed him…

Splas.h.!.+

With the sudden development, all the girls were dumbfounded, and stood there completely naked.

“…Correct.” Glenn revealed the face of having a great discovery, looking incredibly refreshed.

She raised her left hand toward Glenn while gathering magic power in her palm…

That night, deep within a certain mountain, the scream of a lone man echoed.