“This is an ancient relic containing Space-Time Magic, which is unique even among Ancient Magic. Its level as a spell is 3, but its level as a Treasure is 8. It is extremely rare.”
“I figured. It wouldn’t be strange for this to be a national treasure.”
When I think of Space-Time Magic, Nifl comes to mind, but normally it’s not a magic you can just pop off like she does. In fact, it’s doubtful if there’s even a human in the modern era who can handle Space-Time Magic. If there were, they’d immediately be elevated to a state-level VIP.
That is how high the value of Space-Time Magic—and by extension, Ancient Magic—truly is.
In other words, my right hand (Nifl) is the best.
While imagining Nifl doing a modest peace sign in my head, I sat back down on the sofa.
“Now, I shall activate this ancient relic. Please rest assured, I will leave the room after it is activated.”
“Yeah.”
I don’t even know what’s going to happen, so I don’t know what I’m supposed to be “assured” about, but for now, I’ll just play along.
Though, I can pretty much guess what’s coming.
Clunk! When Serge-san pressed the disc into the floor with both hands, a satisfying sound echoed as it locked into place.
Then, a faint light-blue glow rose from the center of the disc, filling the room.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me, Hizaki-sama.”
While watching Serge-san perform a perfectly elegant bow and exit the room, I silently watched the faint light converge.
Remote Projection Hologram. It’s a type of Space-Time Magic. If you just said it projects a person far away, that would be that, but this magic is a bit different.
There are many spells and Treasures in this world that can do similar things.
However, this Remote Projection doesn’t just project an image; it creates “another you” in the distant location.
To put it simply, it’s like… transferring your consciousness to an illusion that possesses all five senses so you can converse with someone far away.
In other words, it’s a pseudo-teleportation.
The scientific power of my original world could probably replicate normal magic to some degree.
But the things called Ancient Magic are truly “magic” that current science could never achieve.
The faint light formed a single silhouette.
[—Oh… To think these eye sockets would reflect your figure once more… what bliss.]
He wore the same gentlemanly clothes as when we last met. The face peeking out from under the wide-brimmed hat was—a skeleton.
Dark, empty sockets that reflected no light stared at me.
“Zeno, it’s been a while.”
[Hizaki-sama… Welcome back.]
“Too formal.”
[…I am glad you are safe, Shiou-kun.]
With a voice that was deeply kind, belying his horror-movie appearance, the skeletal gentleman nodded deeply.
[Allow me to introduce myself once more—I am Senoskar, the Chairman of the Senoskar Company.]
“You changed your name?”
[No. I only reveal my true name to those I hold in high respect. In other words, anyone outside the Senoskar Company executives who knows the name ‘Zeno’ is a friend who is my equal or greater.]
“If the Chairman’s friend showed up… well, that reaction makes sense now.”
Thinking back to the panicked Serge-san, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.
[I have made sure the name ‘Hizaki’ is thoroughly known to my executives as my benefactor, so that likely played a part as well.]
“I see.”
[Since I haven’t told the general staff, I imagine there were many rudenesses. My apologies.]
I held up a hand to stop Zeno from bowing and shook my head.
“That’s why I said no formalities. I might be a benefactor to you, but to the staff, I was just some suspicious guy.”
[As I thought, does this identification method have its flaws?]
“You might want to think of a different way…”
Mainly because my mental state took massive damage, so I’d appreciate an improvement. I kept those words to myself, though.
Undead Curse.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
If “Magic” is a product of positive mana, then “Curses” are the product of negative mana.
Zeno, formerly human, lost his home and has a past of being imprisoned as a test subject by a Great Criminal known as a “Witch.” I didn’t ask for details, and Zeno didn’t seem inclined to talk about it.
I didn’t need to ask.
A living skeleton. That appearance alone spoke volumes of the tragedy of Zeno’s past.
“You’ve gotten way too big. You were just a traveling merchant.”
[I am now the Chairman of a company that vies for supremacy on the continent. This, too, is thanks to meeting you back then, a hundred and eighty years ago.]
“Heavy, heavy… Don’t go pinning everything on me. It’s a burden.”
[No, my apologies. Naturally, there were many situations where I was saved by my own business acumen. I am constantly grateful for my own luck as a human being. It is just that among all that, I have never forgotten the luck of meeting you.]
“…I see. Well then, I guess we’re even.”
Clack-clack. Zeno let out a dry sound with his jaw, looking very happy as he swayed his body.
If Zeno says so, then I don’t know how things would have turned out if I hadn’t met him, either. Everyone in Helheim was a collection of outcasts rejected by the world. I don’t know about now, but at least in the old days, that was the case.
Zeno was literally the lifeline of Helheim. Considering there were food stockpiles and supplies in Eljudnir, it seems that connection hasn’t been severed even now.
“You kept up the trade even while I was gone, didn’t you?”
[It was more in the form of a deal with Nifl-sama personally, rather than Helheim as a whole. That lady never doubted for a second that you would return. Of course, I had no reason to refuse.]
“I really owe you both big time seriously.”
I don’t know how much devotion is required to keep believing in and waiting for someone who suddenly vanished, even if there was a reason.
At the very least, to the people who waited, I was someone worth that much.
“Thanks, Zeno.”
[…You helped someone who looked like this without asking for a reason. If you want to give thanks, please give them to the kind Shiou-kun of the past.]
“I had my own calculations back then… no, let’s stop this. You definitely won’t back down anyway.”
[As expected, you understand well.]
We both laughed self-deprecatingly at the strange situation of “passing the thanks” back and forth. Well, Zeno is bone, so I can’t see his expression. But I think he’s laughing.
[Now then, Shiou-kun, let us get to the main topic. I am thrilled even if you just came to see my face, but that is not the case, is it? You don’t particularly like that sort of thing.]
“You know me too well, Zeno. The reason we came to the Sleepless Country is to participate in an auction. We need the hide of a Primordial Species.”
[Ho, an auction. …I see, you need Divine Silver coins?]
“You catch on fast. It helps.”
Since the old days, Zeno was always the type to hear one thing and understand ten. His sensitivity to the nuances of others is likely part of his business talent.
[If that is the case, I believe I can assist you. My company is authorized by the Fortem Empire to handle Divine Silver coins… however.]
Zeno paused and scratched his cheekbone with a finger bone.
[If we perform a currency exchange for Divine Silver through the Company, we must report the trade partner to the Empire. If I neglect this, it will affect the reputation and trust of not just myself, but the entire Senoskar Company. I am also in a position where I am responsible for the lives of many employees. I cannot allow my personal feelings to jeopardize that.]
“Haha, and yet you used to claim that ‘solitude suits me.’”
[How embarrassing. Looking back, it was just me acting tough. I was trying to get used to being alone. No… that is not what I wanted to talk about. I personally have no issue giving your name to the Empire, Shiou-kun, but I suspect you would rather not have that, yes?]
“Yeah… I wouldn’t mind if it were just the Emperor, but I want to avoid the possibility of it catching the eyes of various people. At least for now.”
[Quite right. Currently, the name of Helheim has spread as a mark of notoriety.]
Zeno said this in a light tone and pulled a pure white coin from his breast pocket.
[—So, let us do this. Shiou-kun, please participate in the auction as my proxy. I will entrust you with the Divine Silver as the funds for that. In short, an errand. Then, we shall exchange the auctioned Primordial Species hide for an equivalent amount of gold coins. That way, my expenditure is net zero. Since it is a personal purchase, there is no duty to report it to the Empire. In the auction records, it will appear as if I bought it. How does that sound?]
Snap. Zeno placed a Divine Silver coin before me.
There was absolutely nothing to criticize in his plan, which combined my request with risk management. Well, I have zero knowledge in that area anyway. In short, all I had to decide was whether or not to trust Zeno.
“I’ll take it. Thank you.”
There was no answer other than an immediate yes.
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