Chapter 47

When the system transitioned from closed beta to open beta, several things changed—or rather, stayed the same. A notable example was the previous rule where only those who hunted slimes briefly appearing in the city could log in, and so those people were roughly referred to as Explorers. But now, anyone could log in. The social issues and changes brought about by this are none of my concern.

“Mom, haven’t you leveled up yet?”

“Why should I?”

“Just now, Grandpa was bragging. He said that leveling up and becoming healthier has made his life more enjoyable.”

Apparently, he’s exploiting the party system—staying home while leveling up without actually hunting. I don’t know what the system manager is doing; they haven’t improved the system.

“That’s Grandpa going senile. Though he did have joint pain before, so he must feel a sense of relief now. On the contrary, I’m worried about Mom. There are numerous reports stating that magic power can have negative effects on the body, and the academic community also shares this concern. Yet you don’t seem to worry. Now that we’re on the topic, how about our daughter have a health check-up today?”

“The last one showed no issues.”

“Getting check-ups regularly is good.”

“Overdoing it isn’t.”

Mom scanned my casual clothes and chuckled.

“Not wanting to go out?”

“I didn’t mean it that way. Anyway, it’s unnecessary.”

“Then do you want to take a walk with Mom?”

“Is a walk really necessary? Stretching seems more efficient.”

She shook her head and pulled me into a hug.

“Why is our daughter so cute?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What’s the sudden cuteness?”

“It does make sense.”

Mom got a message on KakaoTalk and pushed me aside to check it. It was about Yumina persuading Doyugeon to visit an island for fun. Things are going well.

“I’m going to hang out with friends during the break.”

Mom exaggeratedly made a surprised face before casually asking.

“Back here?”

“Visiting isn’t the same as hanging out.”

“But didn’t Mom and Dad already plan for the break?”

“You two go without me.”

Mom cheered and lay down on the sofa, taking out her smartphone. She’s probably messaging Dad. Huh? She looks genuinely happy… I feel a little hurt. I thought I was a good kid, but was I actually causing them trouble?

Eh, well, that could be.

I returned to my room with a subtle sense of hurt. While lying in bed, random thoughts kept popping up. Even so, is it really okay for parents to show such excitement in front of their child? That’s overdoing it, no? Mom is bad. Dad is bad too.

After messing with the blanket, I checked a previously ignored KakaoTalk message. Yumina was blasting messages, wondering why I was ignoring her.

– Stop being noisy and reply properly.

– Finally!

– Right, I just saw it. Congratulations.

– We’ve got a problem.

– Is Doyugeon saying he doesn’t want to go?

– He’s actually excited to go.

– Then what’s the issue?

– We also need to invite one more person, right? But we couldn’t find anyone suitable.

Since the scenario involves inviting Doyugeon, we need to appropriately expand the group size.

– Don’t you have a lot of friends?

– True, but once the Young Lady gets mentioned, people start refusing. They’d rather hang out with others. It seems like including four people (counting her) might feel burdensome.

– So you couldn’t find anyone?

– Not exactly, but…

Then what do you want me to do?

– I don’t get your point.

– Can we bring a Magical Girl?

– I only know one Magical Girl.

– Her!

– Sure.

After a casual conversation, I turned off my smartphone.

That Magical Girl must be the one who uses space-time magic. Like, time reversal…

I rose from the bed and sat at the desk, stretching while organizing my magic power. Reflecting on what I saw briefly, I recalled the simplest space-time magic circle I encountered. It was quite complex but not impossible to replicate.

I retrieved a small handbook and placed it in the middle of the desk. I channeled my magic power and followed the design from memory. I first established the framework, then carefully created the details from the outside inward. Once I felt it was all aligned, I gazed at the handbook expectantly.

Nothing happened. It was supposed to teleport, but it didn’t.

Could my memory be wrong? I used a rarely-used magic record skill to ensure the pattern in my memory matched—it did. What could be the issue? Hmm. Come to think of it, this magic might not have been created with magic power.

Remember, the magic circle that appeared when Schrödinger turned into a cat in the Magic Dictionary wasn’t made of magic power, but blood. So, it’s not necessary to use magic power for the circle. Maybe there was a valid reason why blood was used over the easier magic power option.

But I recall that the space-time magic circle was neither made of magic power nor blood. What else could it be? Soul, perhaps? But I have no clue how to manipulate one.

If that Magical Girl uses magic directly like me, asking her would be the best course of action, but according to Yumina, Magical Girls rely on magical tools and don’t understand the principles behind them. In plain terms, the tools are the real magicians, and the Magical Girls are just fuel tanks.

No answers. Shall I draw the magic circle and make an offering of beef as a sacrifice while chanting? Sounds plausible, right? In this fantasy world, it’s entirely believable. This seems more fundamental anyway.

Enough foolishness. I found a needle. People who don’t donate blood are supposed to do stuff like this, after all.

I drew the magic circle with my blood. It wasn’t entirely necessary, and using blood instead of a soul was uncertain, but the slight greed nudged me forward.

A sticky, crimson magic circle activated, and the handbook in the center teleported to the edge of the desk with a small thud. Wow, it worked.

My heart raced, and my mind was filled with various thoughts. Shaking my head, I tried to clear them.

After calming down a bit, I noticed a throbbing sensation in one of my fingers. I should have treated it right after drawing blood, but I got distracted by the magic. Now blood is spilled all over the desk. Quickly, I healed my finger with magic and wiped the desk with a tissue.

During this time, thoughts kept flowing. More capital, more opportunities, more power, more honor—if I can only reverse time, I can achieve unimaginable realms.

“Guess I overthought it.”

The fatigue setting in feels like a side effect of the magic. It probably is. Thinking occult-wise, blood is a part of the body and a symbol of the soul, so using magic with blood could be interpreted as tampering with the soul. That sounds reasonable.

Since moving the handbook alone left me feeling drained, the side effects of reversing time at a significant scale would surely be unbearable. Time-space magic is better left unmastered. It’s full of drawbacks. Greed is not good.

“I wasted time.”

Then, what if I use someone else’s soul for magic? The precedent of Magical Girls shows it’s possible.

I lay back on the bed.

Better stop overthinking and take a nap.

“Don’t say it. Let me guess. Is that big boat ours?”

Yumina pointed to the largest yacht at the pier, one with several sails.

“Nope.”

Cha Ha-neul shook her head.

“Not that one? Then is it that one?”

She pointed to the second largest yacht.

“Can you guess why you’re choosing these? Do you know how much maintenance costs for those? We’re taking a smaller one.”

“Oh?”

“Over here.”

Cha Ha-neul pointed to a yacht beside it. It wasn’t particularly small.

“That’s the one?”

“It might seem small compared to the others, but it’s more than enough for four people.”

“Wasn’t that what you were implying? Is it yours?”

“No, it’s rented.”

“Rented this?”

Yumina’s eyes sparkled. Hanging out with friends on a yacht painted a vivid picture.

“How much does it cost? What kind of budget would this require? Can I rent one too? Is there a specific rental company?”

“I don’t know the exact cost. It’s my grandpa’s.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Still, if you want, I can introduce you. Why would he refuse?”

“Woooh! You’re an amazing friend!”

“Sure, sure. When Doyugeon comes, just follow the plan I told you about. I’ll double-check the yacht. Got it?”

“Got it!”

Cha Ha-neul walked up to a person waiting in front of the yacht.

Left alone, Yumina thought about checking social media for the remaining time, but she couldn’t since Doyugeon showed up quickly.

“You came fast! Doyugeon, here on a random invitation to join our already planned schedule!”

“Are we still keeping up that concept?”

Looking somewhat exasperated, Doyugeon asked.

“Cha Ha-neul just told me to repeat this.”

Yumina pointed to Cha Ha-neul who was still talking.

“I don’t get why she does that. Why tell a lie that’s so obvious?”

“Who knows?”

“She often does this, mostly full of gaps, and doesn’t even try hiding it.”

“She probably tries.”

“And gives up halfway?”

“That sounds about right.”

“What kind of state is this…”

Cha Ha-neul, noticing them looking at her, tilted her head and walked over, cutting the conversation short.

“What were you two talking about while looking at me?”

Doyugeun gestured dismissively.

“Gossip about you. Go away. Waah.”

Cha Ha-neul frowned, slightly puffed her cheeks, alternated glaring at both of them, and went back to the yacht, while still looking back occasionally.

“Did she get upset?”

“Probably not.”

Not long after, the Magical Girl arrived.

Yumina introduced her.

“You might recognize each other, but this is the first time introducing each other properly, right?”

Doyugeon had encountered the Magical Girl a few times during several Rift explorations, and they engaged in regular conversations with Yumina, but they never formally introduced themselves.

“That’s right. I’m Doyugeon. Nice to meet you. Since we’re going together this time, it’s nice that we know each other. Recognizing faces makes things more familiar.”

“Ah, that’s true. Nice to meet you too.”

After a short pause, Doyugeon waited for more from the Magical Girl, but she didn’t say anything further. He glanced at Yumina, who shrugged, prompting him to refocus on her.

“It’s fortunate that you’re also pleasant. I was worried it wouldn’t click, but luckily, it did. This vacation is going to be super fun!”

“Feel free to call me anything.”

Doyugeon looked at Yumina again.

“I don’t know your name either.”

Still feeling puzzled, Doyugeon stared at Yumina for a moment before speaking to the Magical Girl.

“You’re really a cheerful person! I was worried, but thankfully it worked out! This break is going to be fun!”

Approaching the Magical Girl, I’d thought about it at home—time reversal magic needs to be seen firsthand. Knowledge and information are valuable regardless of whether they’re used, right?

When I asked her for a demonstration, she replied.

“Where’d you hear that?”

“Schrödinger told me. That cat talks too much. Plus, you said you were guarding Yumina, didn’t you? That’s not something you’d tell someone unrelated.”

“That too? Does Yumina know?”

“She doesn’t.”

“Thankfully. Can you keep it a secret from Yumina?”

“Mhm.”

The Magical Girl sighed.

“I heard I could use it since becoming a Magical Girl, but I’ve never tried it.”

“Then try it now?”

“I won’t. The cost is too high. It goes against the movement of celestial bodies and the twinkling of stars.”

“How high?”

“Pretty sure it could be fatal.”

Not that big of a deal. After all, you’re reversing time; even for a brief moment, a soul is incredibly cheap for that.

“If Yumina dies, what will you do? Reverse time?”

“I have to, due to the contract.”

“So you’ll die instead of Yumina. You’re like a spare life.”

“That’s… true.”

Indeed.

“I’m satisfied. Have fun without worry. Let me know if you need anything.”

“There’s one thing.”

“Sure, I’ll help. Tell me.”

“Would you leave me alone for a bit? I’m getting way too happy right now.”

“Is that sarcasm?”

“You get me. Thank goodness.”

“So, you mean you’re feeling terrible? Your mentality seems fragile. You should go rest. It’s good timing for that. Have fun playing. By the way, I have one question—”

“Don’t bother her.”

Doyugeon came over, grabbed me, and lifted me up. Glaring up at him, I questioned.

“What do you think I am?”

Doyugeon ignored me and looked straight at the Magical Girl, who nodded.

“You were teasing her. Would you mind taking me away? Your presence is troublesome.”

“Actually, we were chatting fine.”

“Sure thing, Young Lady. Let’s go.”

Doyugeon carried me off.

He won’t put me down…

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