A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special - Chapter 62

Episode 62. Summer Break (3)

* * *

Clack-clack, clack-clack.
The rhythmic sound echoed through the compartment. Beyond the windows lining the corridor, the landscape streamed past in an endless blur. Watching it flow by, Dezir found himself unable to tell whether the train was moving or the world was sliding past him.
“We’re finally departing.”
Fram opened the door to the rear compartment and spoke as he stepped inside.
Dezir’s party had only managed to clear customs four days after Romantica departed for the Frilechia Kingdom. The procedures required for exit screening had consumed considerable time.
Now that the Western Kingdom Alliance and the Hebrion Empire had forged a Peace Accord in response to the threat of the Shadow World, citizens of both nations could travel freely between them. Yet the customs process itself remained rigorous.
The Outer.
As long as that criminal syndicate existed across the continent, each nation had no choice but to conduct thorough border inspections.
“It’ll take at least three days to arrive, so get some proper rest.”
At Dezir’s words, Fram began exploring the compartment with eager curiosity, while Azest withdrew a book and settled into reading.
Dezir decided to use the journey to organize his plans.
The surface reason for their party’s journey to the Frilechia Kingdom was to participate in the Yellow Ocean Tournament.
But for Dezir, that was merely secondary. His true purpose was the Grand Conference of the Western Kingdom Alliance.
The Grand Conference would be attended by the kings of the five nations that comprised the Western Kingdom Alliance, along with the heads of organizations wielding significant influence within the Alliance.
And Dezir, with Jord’s approval, had secured a place at the conference as a representative of the Magic Tower.
‘Priscilla… she’ll be invaluable.’
Priscilla Hysilkite.
Priscilla wielded magic far beyond the ordinary, earning her the title “Immaculate Saint,” and had even come to be called the sixth king of the Western Kingdom Alliance.
As such, it was certain she would attend the Grand Conference as the head of the Artemis Church.
‘To prepare for the Shadow Labyrinth, I need the Western Kingdom Alliance’s strength as well.’
There had been countless omens before the Shadow Labyrinth emerged—signs that something was coming.
Yet humanity had continued to fracture, unable to achieve true unity.
And then came the Shadow Labyrinth.
The Western Kingdom Alliance and the Hebrion Empire, faced with an urgent crisis, hastily formed a joint force to confront the worst Shadow World in recorded history.
Fifty million soldiers mobilized.
Nations gathered every powerful warrior on the continent and sent them to face the Shadow World.
Yet it was impossible for those who had opposed each other for so long to suddenly unite.
In the end, the armies of the Hebrion Empire and the Western Kingdom Alliance fragmented, and there was no hope they could properly confront the Shadow Labyrinth, the worst of all Shadow Worlds, in such a state.
‘Back then too…’
Dezir felt the images he had witnessed in dreams flicker across his mind.
In his past life, he had faced countless desperate situations over long stretches of time. Each one had been branded deep into his heart. A sorrow that spread like ink through water.
It was then.
Knock, knock.
At the sound of someone knocking on the door, Dezir turned toward it and spoke.
“Who is it?”
The door slid open.
“Forgive the intrusion. I find myself growing lonely traveling alone—would you mind if I joined you?”
The man who entered had white hair and the weathered face of an elderly person. Deep lines etched his features, traces of decades carved into his skin.
Dezir glanced toward Fram and Azest.
Azest, without lifting her eyes from her book, nodded her consent, and Fram did the same.
“Please, come in.”
“Then I’ll impose upon your hospitality.”
The old man stepped inside. Since the compartment was originally a four-person cabin, it didn’t feel cramped.
The old man looked between Fram and Dezir before speaking.
“I hope I haven’t spoiled the pleasant atmosphere you had going.”
“Not at all, you haven’t.”
“Polite youth, I see. I’m called Dmitri. Are you students from Hebrion Academy?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m Dezir Armang, a student at Hebrion Academy.”
“Ah, I’ve been ignorant of a notable person. I’ve been wanting to meet you—I never expected to do so like this.”
Upon hearing Dezir’s name, Dmitri extended his hand to offer a handshake.
Somewhat caught off guard, Dezir took the offered hand.
“You know of me?”
“I know all about you. Your name is quite famous, after all. It couldn’t be otherwise. A commoner pressing down the high nose of nobility—that’s not something you see every day.”
Dezir understood immediately what Dmitri was saying.
“I think it’s been exaggerated quite a bit.”
“It’s no exaggeration. Is it easy for a commoner to rise to Single Ranker status at Hebrion Academy, where the nobles have everything locked down? My own child is attending the academy, so I know how things really work there.”
“Ha ha ha.”
“To be honest, when you first passed the Promotion Exam, plenty of people were skeptical. There were rumors that you’d cheated, bribed professors, all sorts of things. Of course, I believed in you from the start! When you cleared that fourth-grade Shadow World, you proved what you’re capable of. You showed us—the commoners—that it could be done. That we could accomplish just as much as those arrogant nobles.”
Dmitri didn’t let go of the hand he’d clasped.
Showing that commoners could achieve what others thought impossible—that was all Dezir had really done.
But that single act had begun to shift how people thought.
It was a small accomplishment, truly small, yet Dezir felt a deep sense of satisfaction in it. He thought that was enough.
“Look at this old fool getting sentimental. My apologies.”
Dmitri laughed with a touch of embarrassment. Then he glanced around the cabin.
“So everyone here is part of your party, then.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Please, clear the Shadow World again next year. I’m counting on you all.”
“Of course.”

* * *

Dmitri traveled with them until his stop, and when the train finally arrived at his station, he gave them a light farewell before departing.
From there, they continued for another full day before arriving at last in Frilechia Kingdom.
Fortunately, unlike the exit inspection, the entry inspection went smoothly thanks to Jord.
The first sight that greeted them as they stepped out of the station was a sprawl of thousands of streetlamps lining a massive, well-paved thoroughfare, with ornate buildings packed densely along both sides.
The capital of Frilechia Kingdom.
Deltaheim—the city of commerce and abundance.
It possessed a grandeur sufficient to explain why Frilechia Kingdom was called an economic power.
Frilechia Kingdom stood at the crossroads connecting the various kingdoms, and to the east of its capital Deltaheim stretched a vast strait.
From here, the logistics of the Western Kingdom Alliance radiated out to the entire world.
Deltaheim’s pride wasn’t its ornate architecture or orderly streets. Its greatest treasure was the sea itself.
In that hour between afternoon and evening, the waters of Deltaheim glowed a brilliant golden yellow, as if displaying Frilechia’s wealth for all to see.
And the tournament created to symbolize that sight was none other than the Yellow Ocean Tournament.
As Dezir’s party gazed in wonder at the streets of Deltaheim, they spotted a well-dressed man holding a sign.

Dezir Armang.

Dezir’s jaw dropped, and Fram spoke with exasperation.
“Your name has reached this distant land…… This is starting to feel frightening. Do you mean to tell me everyone across the continent knows who you are?”
Gulp.
Dezir swallowed hard even as he desperately protested.
“That can’t be right. That old gentleman on the train only knew because his child attends Hebrion Academy. This must be…… there has to be some other explanation.”
Azest offered her opinion.
“Why not go ask him.”
“Yeah, we should.”
As Dezir’s party approached the man with the sign, he turned to Dezir and asked, “Are you Dezir?”
“That would be me, but…… ”
Dezir’s gaze shifted to the sign, and the man quickly put it away before bowing deeply.
“I’ve come from the Eru Merchant Company. Miss Romantica has invited you and your companions to her residence. A carriage is waiting for you.”
“……!”
They had planned to seek her out anyway, but this wasn’t how he’d imagined the meeting would happen.
‘Now that I think about it, the Eru Merchant Company really is enormous.’
Fram muttered the realization aloud.
“Miss Romantica must be incredibly wealthy…… ”
Because Romantica had such a reckless personality, it was easy to forget she was the daughter of such a massive enterprise.
By the time they had boarded the carriage the Eru Merchant Company had arranged and arrived at Romantica’s residence, evening had fallen.
It was a splendid mansion with an excellent view of the sea.
When Dezir rang the bell, Romantica came rushing out. She wore a girlish dress with frilled trim.
Upon arriving, Romantica greeted Fram brightly and gave Azest a casual wave—which Azest ignored entirely.
Then Romantica turned to face Dezir.
“You’re right on time.”

“Because I promised. I don’t break my promises.”
“Come on in. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ll prepare dinner, so wash up and wait. I’ve told the servants to help you settle into your room.”
“We can just go inside like this? Shouldn’t we greet your parents first?”
“It’s late, so let’s save that for another time. Besides, there’s no one here right now except me and a few servants.”
“Hmm?”
“This is a summer estate. My parents’ main residence is elsewhere.”
‘This is a summer estate?’
Dezir Armang let out a low whistle.
It was certainly no ordinary place.

Dezir and his companions unpacked their belongings in their respective rooms. Afterward, they shared an elegantly prepared dinner before gathering in the parlor for dessert.
The sight of the night sea, visible from the parlor, was breathtaking.
As they were enjoying a moment of leisure, Romantica spoke up.
“I went ahead and submitted the entry for the Yellow Ocean Tournament just to be safe. Now we just have to wait the remaining six days until it begins.”
“Really? Then we can get more training in.”
Training.
At those words, Romantica’s demeanor shifted entirely, and she turned to Dezir with a coaxing smile.
“Listen, Dezir. We’ve trained hard all this time, haven’t we? We successfully conquered the Shadow World. Plus, it’s summer break now.”
Fram, who had been listening to the exchange, chimed in.
“That’s right, Dezir. When else will we get to visit the Frilechia Kingdom again?”
“Sure, sure. I didn’t get to see it tonight, but the sea bathed in golden light is pretty impressive, I’ll grant you that.”
“Just one day wouldn’t hurt, would it?”
An endless barrage of pleas from Fram and Romantica!
Dezir turned to Azest and asked her.
“Azest, what would you prefer?”
“As party leader, it’s your role to consider your members’ desire to relax.”
“Well, yes, I suppose that’s true…”
Dezir paused briefly, then exhaled a sigh.
‘We’ve already pushed them hard right up until summer break. If I’m going to work them just as hard next time, I owe them some compensation.’
Weighing the future ahead, Dezir decided to accept Romantica’s proposal.
“Fine. Just one day, though.”
“Yes!”
“We did it!”
Fram and Romantica high-fived each other.
Dezir said nothing and gazed out the window.
The sea, stained black with night.
The faint sound of waves reached his ears.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————