A certain Chairman of Academy City in Danmachi

by Elesecroisa

After the battle, Accelerator was lost in another world. How will he return home?

11. Chapter 11:Dreams and Will

/Disclaimer:I do not own Toaru or Danmachi/

Lefiya stepped into the library, the air thick with silence. Towering bookshelves stretched endlessly, their ancient tomes illuminated by the dim glow of crystal lamps, casting an aura of mystery. She called out softly, her voice echoing through the vast space:

"Irena? Are you here?"

No response. Once again, it seemed Irena wasn't around. That meant Lefiya would have to analyze the wood grain on the enchanted broom by herself.

Finding the right book in this enormous library without Irena's help would be time-consuming. Fortunately, the books on rituals were placed on the first few shelves, making the search somewhat easier. But the first book she needed wasn't about rituals.

"This is going to be exhausting," she muttered, sighing.

Setting the broom down on the table, Lefiya began scanning the shelves, her fingers gliding over thick, timeworn book spines. Some covered the crafting of magical tools, while others detailed ancient magical principles. She flipped through pages with sharp focus until she finally found a few passages on wood grain replication techniques.

"Gloss coating, a thin layer of paint, then paper..." she murmured, carefully reading every line as her mind pieced together the process.

Leaving the library, Lefiya made her way to the alchemy workshop to gather the necessary materials: a bottle of gloss varnish, a dark-colored thin paint, and several sheets of thick white paper. Returning to her workstation, she got to work with unwavering concentration.

First, she carefully applied a layer of gloss varnish over the broom's wooden surface, ensuring every grain was coated. Once it dried, she brushed on a thin layer of dark paint, just enough to highlight the patterns. Taking a deep breath, Lefiya placed a sheet of white paper over the surface, pressing it gently but firmly. She felt the delicate ridges of the wood beneath her fingertips, making sure to capture every detail.

Minutes later, she slowly lifted the paper. The intricate wood grain pattern was imprinted clearly, forming a complex circular design. Placing the sheet down, she meticulously scraped off the excess paint from the broom before pulling out her notebook to sketch the magical sigil.

"This symbol..." she whispered, eyes locked onto the design she had just completed.

Lefiya shot to her feet, clutching her notebook tightly as she rushed toward the ritual flipped through the pages, stacking books one after another, her eyes darting across the lines. All she needed was to find a matching symbol.

"Here it is." She finally found the book she needed.

…

If today had to be described in one word, "awful" wouldn't be too far off. Accelerator had just finished a grueling research session and was heading toward the Dungeon, only to find out that Lefiya had completely stood him up. Now, he had to work to recover the money he had spent saving Wander in the Dungeon.

Fortunately, unlike other explorers, he didn't have to worry about equipment maintenance or preparing magic swords, so his money-making efforts were twice as efficient as the average off useless thoughts, Accelerator continued walking down the gravel-strewn path, his cane tapping rhythmically against the ground.

Before long, he arrived at the Hostess of the door open, the scene before him was irritating—a perverted god was trying to approach Ayla.

"Hey, kid. Want to join the Loki Familia?"

"I'm sorry, Kami, but I want to stay here with my mother. I'll consider joining your Familia later."

The perverted god continued to pester the girl, but each time, he was met with refusal. Accelerator quietly approached the green-haired elf. Her straightforward responses made communicating with her much easier compared to the other staff in the tavern.

"Hey… Where's Chloe?"

"She went to buy some missing supplies. Aren't you going to intervene?"

"No. It's unnecessary." Given how things were unfolding, the troublesome god would fail completely in recruiting the child.

"What if Ayla agrees to join that god's Familia?"

"Then I'll refuse."

"Why?" The elf's question carried a hint of curiosity.

"Personal reasons." Accelerator's expression remained completely calm. He had no intention of revealing anything. The elf gave him a cold look before sighing and asking again.

"I heard from the god that the little girl took down a monster during the festival. Is that true?"

"It's true." The rumors had spread too far. Denying it would be pointless. *I should've just erased everyone's memories back then* Accelerator thought to himself as Ryuu glared at him. Her tone carried a hint of irritation.

"If that's true, then how were the two of you watching over her?"

"Kids always have a way of slipping away from their caretakers, no matter how careful you are." He thought of Last Order, who always managed to disappear from his sight no matter how closely he watched her. Even if he kept a close eye on her, she'd vanish the moment he looked away.

"Besides, I wasn't there at the time."

"Don't shirk responsibility. You and Chloe are both at fault here." The elf sternly reminded him. Accelerator silently nodded, accepting the blame. As for the black cat, she had slipped away somewhere unnoticed.

Hearing his response, she sighed.

"You haven't been coming here as often lately."

"Everyone's settled into their own lives now. Coming every two or three days isn't too infrequent. Besides, I've been a bit busy recently."

"So you're free today, right?"

"Yes."

"Then have dinner here with your family. We'll help Chloe and Ayla."

Silently looking at her, he noticed a hint of sadness in her eyes. Accelerator quietly turned away to give her some privacy. He didn't want to disturb her at this moment.

"Take good care of your family." Ryuu rubbed her eyes and then turned to leave. Accelerator watched her retreating figure. The staff here held many secrets, just like their boss. Even though he had decided not to pry into their lives, he could still tell who she was.

"Thank you for looking out for Chloe."

Ryuu turned back and looked at him.

"You don't need to thank me for that. She's our friend. It's the least we can do." The elf replied before heading back to the kitchen.

Accelerator turned his attention to Ayla, who had been standing in front of him for a while now. Her eyes were full of resentment, and she spoke to him in a cold tone.

"Welcome to the Hostess of Fertility. Please take a seat quickly to avoid disturbing other guests." It seemed Ayla was upset with him for not helping her deal with the god earlier.

"Please follow me." Sighing, Accelerator followed Ayla to an empty seat. It was the spot where the god and the captain of the Loki Familia had been sitting. The two of them were now smiling at his predicament. He glanced back at Ayla, but her expression was completely serious about this.

"Please sit here. Your order will be ready in a few minutes." Ayla immediately walked away. Accelerator turned to face the two troublesome individuals in front of him. The captain of the Loki Familia was a pallum with medium-length golden hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. He was known for his sharp intellect and judgment, even surpassing that of the gods, earning him the title of "Braver."

The other was Loki, the head of the Loki Familia. She had light red hair, red eyes and was wearing jeans and a crop top. This god was quite different from the Loki of the myths he knew. Then again, Othinus was also different from her mythological counterpart, so he didn't complain about it.

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mad Mage. I'm Loki—" The god leaned forward to start a conversation with him. Accelerator immediately cut her off.

"Don't beat around the bush. Get to the point."

"So blunt." Loki slumped back in her chair, looking disappointed. "I just wanted to make the conversation more comfortable."

"I don't want a pleasant conversation with someone who's investigating me."

"So you already know everything. This conversation will be a bit easier then." The Braver responded. With these two cunning individuals in front of him, Accelerator had to be careful with every word he said.

Finn continued without missing a beat.

"A mysterious mage appears in Orario and is always involved in incidents where Evilus interferes. We need to verify—"

"Don't worry," Accelerator interrupted, his red eyes burning into the other. "I've never met those bastards."

Finn looked at him, his expression unchanged, but his eyes seemed to weigh every word. Loki, sitting beside him, tilted her head with a surprised look.

"So blunt. But honestly, your honesty makes me suspicious."

"Suit yourself," Accelerator replied coldly. "This city has no shortage of powerful people hiding in the shadows. The fact that you're investigating me is what's strange."

Finn nodded, responding tactfully:

"We're here because we have doubts. If there's no connection, then this is just a misunderstanding. We sincerely apologize."

The conversation was interrupted by a soft voice:

"Here's your order."

A drink was placed on the table, its mild aroma bringing a sense of comfort. It was a vegetable smoothie, a horrifying concoction that exuded the scent of nature, something any elf would find delightful. Accelerator looked up at Ayla, only to see the girl staring at him with disdain.

"Please enjoy the drink I made especially for you." Ayla's words made it clear that she wouldn't allow him to refuse. Qliphap, standing beside her, turned her face away when she saw him. Now he understood why she knew about this drink. Accelerator silently drank the disgusting beverage. Under the watchful eyes of the traitor, he couldn't use any magic unless he wanted Ayla to bring him an even more horrifying drink.

Staring at the strange green liquid swirling in the glass, Accelerator picked it up and drank it all in one go.

A revolting taste spread throughout his mouth. This was the price he had to pay for abandoning her to the perverted god. Slamming the empty glass down, he looked up to see Ayla smiling brightly.

The girl happily cleared the glass and then planted a light kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you, Dad, for enjoying my special drink."

Ayla walked away with a cheerful tune. Soft laughter echoed from the kitchen, making him feel annoyed. Thankfully, there weren't many customers at this hour, or they would have to face his terrifying wrath.

The little girl had truly become a little devil under Qliphap's guidance. A giggle came from the seat across from him.

"Tsk tsk, such a heartwarming father-daughter interaction. Hey, Finn, I told you this would be the most entertaining scene today!"

Finn smiled faintly and nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. The bond between them is quite impressive."

Ignoring the two troublesome individuals who were now chuckling, Accelerator shot them a murderous glare. Finn remained composed, while Loki waved her hand, trying to hide her lingering at the two troublemakers who were now discussing something, Accelerator clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Tch… So, what does a god want with a child working as a tavern waitress?"

The god turned around, rubbing his hands greedily in front of him. Finn quietly sighed, ruffling his hair beside him.

"Sincerely sorry, but we heard a rumor about a child who defeated a monster during the festival."

"That could just be some random Pallum. You can't be sure."

"A beautiful little girl who took down a monster, escorted away by her parents. One was a human with white hair, red eyes, and a terrifying face, while the other was a catgirl with green eyes, black hair, cat ears, and a matching tail."

Loki giggled and pointed straight at him.

"The only people who fit that description are the parents standing before me."

"What's going on, meow?" Chloe's voice rang out as she pushed open the door, carrying a pile of goods.

"Accelerator, you're here. Help me, meow."

"Why are you carrying so much stuff?" Accelerator waved his hand, making the bags float into the kitchen in perfect rhythm.

"I got punished, meow."

"Why am I not surprised? With a two-digit IQ like yours, getting punished is only natural."

"Who are you calling dumb, you crazy mage?"

"Chloe, get in here, now!" Mia's shout echoed from the kitchen, startling Chloe.

"Just you wait, stickman! I'll get my revenge for this!" Chloe bolted into the kitchen at full speed. Accelerator clicked his tongue in annoyance before turning back to the two troublesome figures—Loki and Finn. His glare was sharp enough to make the god stop laughing.

"Hehe… We just wanted to invite the child to join our Familia, in case she wants to become an adventurer." Loki swirled the wine in her glass. "Any Familia would want to recruit a talent capable of taking down a level 2 monster alone."

Accelerator's frown deepened.

"What do you think about letting the child join my Familia? While I can't invite her directly, if you persuade her, the chances of her changing her mind would be high."

He stayed silent for a moment before replying, "I'll pass on the message, but Ayla decides for herself."

"Thank you for that." Loki bowed her head slightly in gratitude before looking up with a sly glint in her eyes.

"Then, would you like to join—"

"No. If that's all, leave."

"Hahaha… Keep my offer in mind. Farewell." The god handed him a card before leaving. Finn smiled, stood up, and politely extended his hand.

"Thank you for your time. This is our first formal meeting, and I hope we'll have more conversations in the future."

Accelerator shook Finn's hand with rare respect.

"Accelerator."

"I look forward to seeing you again." Finn immediately left with his eccentric god. Watching them disappear, Accelerator shook his head in exasperation before ordering a cup of coffee.

...

Lefiya hugged the magic book she had just borrowed from the library, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Her feet carried her swiftly through the long hallway, her footsteps echoing in the silent laboratory.

Suddenly, a soft 'creak' sounded. She stopped in her tracks when she noticed a nearby door slowly opening, its old hinges groaning weakly. Lefiya frowned, curiosity piqued.

"This door… wasn't open earlier," she murmured, tilting her head as she peered into the darkness inside.

Under the dim hallway light, she cautiously pushed the door open a little more. Inside, there was only a small room filled with brooms, mop buckets, and neatly arranged cleaning supplies.

"A storage closet..." Lefiya let out a relieved sigh, about to step inside for a closer look when she suddenly recalled Accelerator's warning.

("If a door suddenly opens on its own, don't look inside or step through. Pretend it doesn't exist.")

She furrowed her brows, muttering uncomfortably, "These rules are so stupid. Who would even believe that? Mad Wizard is probably just trying to scare me."

Despite her words, an eerie sensation made her shut the door immediately, making sure not to glance back inside.

Lefiya turned away, her steps slightly faster than before. She decided to ignore what just happened and focus on the book in her hands.

Creak… creak…

But as her figure disappeared down the hallway, the door slowly creaked open again.

From the pitch-black gap, a thick, dark red liquid oozed out, seeping through the cracks in the floor.

…

The dark streets of Daedalus gradually grew colder, yet in Accelerator's heart, there was an extraordinary warmth. A simple meal with family made him feel at ease. The burdens and fatigue from his research had been completely swept away.

"This is what life looks like. People who love each other. A home. Take a moment. Feel it. You still have time."

A gentle voice echoed in his mind.

"You're quoting that line from some movie again, aren't you?"

Looking at the cat communicating with him telepathically from his shoulder, Qliphap remained as lazy as ever, sprawled comfortably on him.

"Nehehe… Master, you're so boring. You should watch more movies."

"Says the one who spends all her free time lazing around watching movies instead of doing housework."

Qliphap stretched lazily. "What housework? Irena is always busy analyzing something, and Ban takes care of all the chores. Besides, you were the one who forbade me from touching anything after last time."

Accelerator grimaced, recalling the disaster that had ensued when Qliphap had tried to "help" with cleaning. Instead of tidying up, the place had turned into a complete mess. Ban had spent the entire day fixing the wreckage she caused.

Suddenly, Qliphap's tone turned serious.

"Master..."

The street was wide yet eerily empty, aside from them. In other words, it was too quiet. The complete absence of people was unnatural. Everything was engulfed in the darkness of night, with only the stars and moon providing any light. Even the surrounding buildings weren't illuminated by any magic stones. A quick glance to the side revealed a magic street lamp—its ornate stone casing shattered, as if struck by a blunt weapon.

—We're being watched.

A lifeless alley cloaked in darkness. Someone was tracking him.

Accelerator glanced around before turning into a dimly lit alley. Damp, musty walls surrounded him, evoking unpleasant memories.

His gaze pierced through the narrow gaps between buildings along the broad road, cutting through the darkness.

"Come out," he said in a low voice, his cold eyes sweeping the shadows.

At last, their observer emerged from the darkness.

A cat person.

Dressed in black armor, black linen, and a black face-covering, he seemed to blend into the very shadows themselves. The figure was male—Accelerator could tell that much—and slightly shorter than him, but the metallic mask concealed his upper face, making identification impossible. The moonlight revealed black and gray fur on his cat ears and tail.

From his right hand extended a long silver spear, at least two meters in length. He radiated a bloodthirsty aura, like a cat unable to resist killing a mouse even when scolded by its owner.

"-"

A sharp noise rang out as the cat person kicked off from a stone.

He vanished, reappearing beside Accelerator in an instant, thrusting his spear. Accelerator shifted his body slightly to evade it. The next attack was a sweeping horizontal arc that shattered the walls. He leapt back lightly, reaching for his magic staff—only for a thought to strike him.

Wasn't this the perfect opportunity to test the combat techniques he had refined with Chloe?

A wicked grin spread across his face.

Accelerator's hand was suddenly shrouded in black smoke—a mere trick to deceive his opponent into thinking he was casting a spell.

"Clank."

The sound of metal rang out as his hand met the silver spearhead. The spear shot forward, but he stopped it with one hand before delivering a powerful punch to the middle of the shaft. The young cat warrior was sent flying backward but managed to hold his stance. He showed no reaction to what had just transpired.

Their eyes locked.

Seizing the moment, Qliphap immediately withdrew.

Accelerator took a calm step toward his opponent.

Last week, the techniques he had practiced—mimicking them from written records and attempting to integrate them with his vector manipulation—had left his body aching. The sudden shifts in motion had torn his muscles apart. But now, it felt different. His body seemed to have adapted, remembering those painful movements, if only slightly.

"Not bad," he muttered, inviting the cat warrior forward.

The enemy lunged.

Thus, the fierce duel began.

Sparks flew as Accelerator deflected the spear with his bare hands. The attacks grew faster—thrusts and slashes from all angles, redirected by well-placed strikes against the spear's shaft and blade. The cat warrior, frustrated, increased his speed.

But in doing so, he exposed more openings.

In the blink of an eye, Accelerator found a weakness.

His hand lashed out, knocking the spear upward. The enemy lost his balance, and in that instant, Accelerator lunged forward, shattering the sound barrier with an explosive burst of speed that would shock even the fastest adventurers in the city.

A precise punch to the stomach.

A sharp chop to the neck.

And a decisive strike to the temple.

The cat warrior spun through the air before crashing to the ground, his spear clattering uselessly beside him.

Accelerator gazed down at him, completely composed.

"Damn… Fuck… That hurts like hell."

But in truth, his body was screaming.

Despite his physical training, the technique he had just used had shredded his muscles. It was truly dangerous to manipulate vectors in this way.

"Come out. I know there are others."

A presence loomed from above.

Four small figures emerged on the rooftop of a three-story building, looking down at their duel.

Cane materialized in Accelerator's hand, aimed at the quartet.

The cat warrior, struggling to stand, collapsed again. The head strike had rattled parts of his brain—staying conscious was a testament to his status as a top-ranked adventurer.

"So, what do you want?" Accelerator asked coolly.

With their strength and the intel he had gathered, there was only one possibility…

"First-class adventurers of Vana Freya and Bringar!"

The pallums exchanged glances before one stepped forward.

"The goddess wants to meet you. Follow us."

The cat warrior had fully risen, staring intently at Accelerator. The tension in the air was thick. Accelerator had expected this outcome.

He frowned, glanced around, then nodded, signaling his acceptance.

"Lead the way."

The four figures guided him forward, with the cat warrior trailing behind.

On the deserted road, Accelerator's gaze drifted toward the towering Babel.

…

After passing through the long corridors and taking the elevator, Accelerator arrived at a grand hall. Towering white pillars stood tall, their intricate carvings adding a touch of elegance and refinement to the space. At the end of the room, upon a magnificent throne, sat a goddess. Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight, her flawless skin glowed with an ethereal beauty, and her sharp silver eyes radiated absolute authority.

But to Accelerator, the atmosphere she exuded was nothing but artificial and repulsive.

Beside her stood a beastman, solemn and dignified. He was a tall, muscular Boaz with dark skin, rust-colored hair and eyes, and a pair of boar-like ears. He wore a sleeveless dark blue top with a red chestplate and a collar-like design, gray pants, and brown and gray boots. Ottar—King.

"Leave," the goddess commanded, her voice soft yet undeniably authoritative.

The cat-person and four dwarves immediately bowed and exited the room. They shot Accelerator irritated glances before disappearing completely.

Now, only Freya and Ottar remained before him. Accelerator raised an eyebrow, meeting the goddess's gaze without a hint of hesitation. No bowing, no submission—he stood there as if her presence was unworthy of his respect.

A silent battle of wills ensued, neither backing down. But then, Freya let out a soft chuckle, her lips curling into a bewitching smile.

"How interesting," she mused. "Child, what is your name?"

"Don't you already know, Freya?"

Normally, he wouldn't address others so directly. But to call a god by name so rudely—it was an insult, a way of asserting equality. This was his own confidence and arrogance toward the gods.

Freya's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Fufu… You're quite intriguing, Accelerator," she murmured, idly running her slender fingers along the armrest of her throne.

"Get to the point," he cut in coldly.

"Very well. Are you interested in joining my Familia?" Freya tilted her head slightly, her silver eyes studying him as if she already knew his answer.

"No."

His reply came instantly, without the slightest hesitation.

Freya laughed, the sound echoing through the hall. "Hehehe. Don't look at me like that. Consider the benefits of joining a Familia."

"There are none," he replied indifferently. "I don't need a Familia, nor do I have any intention of joining one."

Freya sighed, though her eyes still sparkled with mischief. "Sigh… What a shame."

She leaned forward, a seductive smile gracing her lips. A strange power radiated from her, filling the space around them. Accelerator frowned in irritation.

Her charm was terrifying—it didn't simply affect the mind but struck at the very instincts of living beings. Unlike mental manipulation, it was akin to the madness of Qliphoth, a force he couldn't easily resist without fully understanding its nature.

"What a nuisance," Accelerator muttered, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"If you called me here just for this, I'm leaving." His voice was as sharp as a blade, slicing through the air.

Freya chuckled softly, unfazed by his attitude. "Fufu, you're so impatient. I'll leave my invitation open. You may join whenever you wish."

Without another word, Accelerator turned and left the hall. As he walked past, the servants glared at him with barely concealed fury, but he didn't spare them a glance.

Leaving the towering palace behind, he stepped into the darkness of the city, his gaze lifting to the starry sky.

"Qliphoth…" he murmured.

The invisible presence of Qliphoth coiled gently around his shoulders.

"What do you think of Freya?" he asked the entity, which often lingered in taverns to play with Ayla.

"Nehehe… She's a wicked and cunning one beneath that cute exterior," Qliphoth giggled. "She always arranges things subtly, whether to shirk responsibilities or to mess with her friends. That maid is a bit clumsy but genuinely likes helping others and cares about her friends. And… hehe… she's got feelings for some kid too. That's Syr, in my eyes."

His thoughts wandered to the silver-haired waitress, always so warm with her coworkers. The way she played with children and looked after his loved ones.

That carefree maid—she seemed more like the true essence of a soul, unbound by appearances.

"Syr is Syr. Freya is Freya," he murmured.

Leaving those thoughts behind, Accelerator and the demon disappeared into the city's shadows.

…

It was nighttime at Twilight Manor. The door to a room creaked open slightly, and a shadowy figure stealthily slipped outside. The dimly lit hallway stretched ahead as the figure clutched a long object—longer than their own height—tightly in their arms, carefully sneaking through the corridor. Moving cautiously past various rooms, ensuring that no one noticed, the figure finally reached their intended destination.

"This place should be safe enough. No one comes here."

Lefiya slipped into a dark corner of the room, surrounded by bookshelves overflowing with scattered books—literature, economics, commerce... This was a nightmare for everyone in the manor; no one wanted to bury themselves in these boring books (except maybe Riveria). She placed the massive black bundle on the floor and carefully closed the door. From her bag, she took out a small magical stone lamp, illuminating the surrounding space. The black cloth unwrapped, revealing a dark brown broomstick. Taking out a grimoire and other necessary tools, she laid them out meticulously.

'Why won't the broom fit inside the magic pouch?' No matter how many times she tried, it kept popping back out. In the end, she had to carry it manually—how annoying.

Once all the prepared items were arranged (a silver dagger, a small golden bowl of sulfur, a vial of iris essential oil, a spool of thread, the ring Wander had given her, golden candles, and lipstick), Lefiya set the grimoire before her and mentally prepared herself.

She opened The Magus—a book detailing the execution of arcane rituals—reviewing the steps and carefully inspecting each tool. Everything was ready.

'Just follow the instructions. It should be fine.'

A summoning ritual for an entity of knowledge, astrology, and numerology—it didn't sound too complicated. After all, she had practiced plenty of safe rituals before. It wasn't difficult at all. She reassured herself.

Carefully, she drew a magic circle on the floor, murmuring, "A-S-M-O-D-A-Y. Did I write that correctly?"

On the floor, a symbol emerged—a large enclosing circle with a vertical line dividing it in half. On the left, a sharp curved arrow pointed outward, while the right side was adorned with small spirals and graceful curves. Near the center, a small cross was symmetrically placed among short horizontal lines, inverted triangles, and tiny circles harmoniously aligned along the main axis.

Lefiya arranged eleven golden candles around the circle, positioning each one precisely to form a perfect asymmetrical pattern.

First, she needed to establish a temporary altar. Lefiya took the spool of thread, tied one end to a book on a nearby shelf, then stretched it across the room's corners, forming a web connecting the ritual space to its surroundings. Returning to the altar, she carefully placed the lipstick and the sulfur bowl on the left. On the right, she set down a plate of salt, the silver dagger, and a parchment. She added a few drops of the iris oil to a charcoal burner and lit it.

Slipping the ring onto the middle finger of her left hand, she placed the broomstick at the center of the magic circle, exhaling slowly before entering meditation.

She let her mind drift like flowing water, then reeled it back in—again and again—until she entered a void state, a place where nothing existed. The mana particles in the room gradually became clear in her perception. As she exhaled softly, an energy pulse spread throughout the room, filling the air with fragrance.

The altar was now complete. Next, she performed a protective inscription she had learned from the ritual book. According to her research, it safeguarded the practitioner, though its exact mechanics were unclear. She drew a triquetra on the parchment and placed it at the center of the circle. Closing her eyes, she clasped her hands together and chanted:

"The first tree births creation's light.

The second brings eternal night.

The third holds will of endless might."

Nothing happened.

"O nameless one, thou who hast crossed the abyss and comprehended the world's truths."

The room remained silent.

"Beyond good and evil. I beseech thy strength."

A faint platinum glow radiated from her body. The candles flickered as their wax melted at an alarming rate. The magic stone lamp flickered before extinguishing, leaving only the candlelight.

"Protect my free will."

"Let me forge my own fate and reach the truth by my own path."

With those words, she burned the parchment with a simple magic circle and waited. She felt something akin to roots connecting to her being. Then, three sounds echoed in succession.

A gentle tremor! Like a budding sprout, emitting a faint crackling whisper of life.

A dry snap... Like brittle branches breaking under weight, releasing a sharp, hollow sound.

A clicking sound! Like interlocking gears forming a seamless mechanism, ticking in steady rhythm.

Silence followed. Then, the candles began to flicker. Lefiya channeled energy into the silver blade, sprinkling a bit of salt onto it. The dagger glowed faintly, spreading its aura throughout the space. She traced the thread with her hand, holding the dagger as she circled the room, forming an invisible barrier. Lightly scoring an imaginary door onto the main entrance, she ensured that even if someone barged in, they would see only an empty room.

With the protective rites complete, she returned to the altar. Now, it was time for the main ritual. She opened her eyes, took a deep breath, and focused.

"Asmodeus, Wise One, Keeper of Hidden Wisdom, hear my call."

Taking the iris oil, she dropped it onto each candle.

Pop!

A mist enveloped the room, shrouding it in mystery. Any external light was snuffed out as darkness swallowed the chamber. The night sky unfolded across the ceiling, stars twinkling. Architectural structures materialized—marble-like formations reaching toward the illusory sky, forming an ancient temple. She used the lipstick to draw a symbol of connection, aiming it toward herself and the broom. Returning to meditation, she resumed chanting.

"I seek your guidance in this world of shadows and illusions."

The first candle was extinguished. The sulfur in the bowl ignited in golden flames.

"Share with me your knowledge, provide your protection, and grant me strength on my journey towards understanding and enlightenment."

The second, third, and fourth candles were snuffed out in turn. The stars became more vivid.

"I respect your power, acknowledge your majesty, and welcome your presence in my life."

All the candles vanished, and the darkness of the night sky engulfed the room. The structures sharpened, shaping a colossal temple. Eyes opened on the surrounding walls, staring directly at her. Then, a faint moonlight blossomed above, casting her reflection on an unseen surface of water.

"Asmodeus, hear my call, let your influence touch my life, and let our energies align for the greater good."

The magic circle radiated light, fierce winds howling from within as if crying out in agony. She bit her finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the broomstick. The lipstick-drawn symbol melted like blood, seeping into the broom and the ring on her finger.

"Art thou Asmoday."

With that final declaration, all the surrounding energy surged into the broomstick, causing its wooden patterns to glow faintly.

Whoooosh!

The broom floated in midair, gales swirling, rattling the bookshelves. Several books tumbled to the floor with dull, inexplicable thuds.

Thump.

A moment later, the winds ceased, and the broom dropped back down.

The ritual was a success. Lefiya could feel an invisible bond between herself and the broom. A tired smile crept onto her lips. This was her first time performing such a ritual. She stood still, cold sweat covering her entire body. Reaching out, she grasped the broom. A cool sensation spread through her fingertips, and she giggled softly. Leaning against the bookshelf, she gradually stood up, staggering toward the altar to thank Asmodeus before swiftly gathering her tools.

As the silver dagger dispelled the barrier, the illusory temple crumbled. She erased all traces of the ritual, and the mystical atmosphere dissipated.

Click! The wooden door creaked behind her, startling her.

'Damn it. I forgot the barrier was gone when I dispelled it.'

Panic surged within her—she had to escape immediately. As the door began to open, she made her decision.

…

Riveria was sorting through a pile of documents for the upcoming expedition. This task was usually handled by Finn or Raul, but occasionally, she helped with part of the work. After organizing the massive stack of papers, Riveria stood up wearily. Stretching her arms, she stepped out of the cramped room.

"It's already late, huh?" she muttered. Looking around the empty hallway, she decided to check on a certain stubborn elf in the second squad's dormitory. Lately, that child had been pushing herself too hard, which made Riveria worry.

Before long, she arrived at the child's bedroom. Carefully cracking the door open, she peeked inside. The desk lamp had been turned off long ago, and on the bed, two small figures were curled up, fast asleep. Smiling in satisfaction, Riveria quietly closed the door, making sure not to disturb them.

"Perhaps I should rest early, too," she thought to herself as she returned to her room. The dim glow of magical lamps illuminated the mansion, and a gentle breeze rustled the treetops. Riveria felt a rare sense of peace as she walked through the quiet evening paths.

"Hm?"

A strange fluctuation of magic occurred in the distance. Riveria immediately noticed it, but the phenomenon vanished just as quickly.

"Isn't that my study?"

Few people in Loki Familia were interested in that book-filled room, not even Finn. Everyone dreaded her long study sessions. A sudden sense of unease welled up within her, and she quickly made her way toward the room.

Her footsteps were silent despite her high speed. Moving with the grace of the wind, she reached the door within moments. Gently pushing it open, she scanned the room. The study was filled with empty bookshelves and silence.

Activating a magical lamp, Riveria carefully examined every corner. Her brows furrowed at the faint traces left on the floor and around the shelves.

"Someone was here?"

She crouched down, closely inspecting the marks, trying to determine what had happened.

Creak!

The window suddenly burst open, letting in a gust of cold wind that scattered loose papers across the floor. The howling wind outside made everything feel even more eerie, as if the room had been cut off from the outside world, shrouded in an atmosphere of death and unease.

Riveria examined the window—it seemed it hadn't been latched properly, allowing the wind to blow it open. Opening it wider, she glanced outside. The strong winds rustled the trees, the dim street lamps flickered, and the guards were still patrolling.

It was a moonless night.

Nothing seemed unusual.

Had she been worrying too much?

Letting out a long breath, a faint mist formed from her mouth in the cold air.

"The night is a bit chilly. I hope everyone has enough blankets," she murmured, rubbing her cold fingers together.

Click.

The room was swallowed by darkness. Only the magical lamp flickered weakly, its light flashing before nearly dying out. Each flicker plunged the space into unsettling silence, revealing faint, shifting shadows in the corners.

Riveria turned her gaze back to the room. The chilling air pressed in around her, and for a moment, her breath caught in her throat.

Something was off.

Using her Level 6 perception, she scrutinized every shadowed nook.

A dark figure flickered past her vision—

Squeaking!

A rat let out a sharp cry before scurrying away.

Riveria froze momentarily before sighing at her own overreaction.

"It seems the magic stone powering the lamp is nearly depleted. I'll have to replace it tomorrow."

Shaking her head, she shut the window tightly, turned off the light, and quickly left. Rubbing her temple, she muttered to herself:

"Finn was right. Resting early once in a while might actually help."

As her thoughts wandered, a shadow darted beneath the study.

…

Creak.

The window creaked open as a rope was thrown up, hooking onto the frame. A dark figure swiftly climbed up the rope, locked the window behind them, and slipped inside. Carefully stepping past Elfy's bed, they made their way to the peacefully sleeping Lefiya.

'Ahh… finally back to my beloved bed.'

Removing the carefully prepared pillow dummy (with a few magic stones tucked inside, just in case Riveria decided to check), she ran her fingers through her messy, leaf-covered hair, ignoring the fact that her dress was soaked through. Without hesitation, she jumped into bed, exhausted. After performing the ritual and using magic to escape, she was completely drained.

Placing a hand on her forehead, she reflected on the crazy things she had done ever since meeting that mad wizard.

'But it was worth it.'

The ritual had been easier than she expected. Even though the magic circles she used were all basic, she had successfully deceived Riveria.

'If I had chosen to use invisibility magic, I would have been caught immediately.'

Magic power gathered during chanting could be sensed by others, leaving behind residual traces afterward. This made low-level invisibility spells ineffective against high-level adventurers—those who could detect a person's presence and mana when nearby.

"No matter how sharp your senses, they're useless if the information is flawed from the start."

She was grateful that those words from the Mad Wizard had left such a deep impression on her. By draping herself in a black cloth and quickly carving magic circles with a knife and chalk in separate locations, she had successfully misled her opponent.

'Using magic creatively.'

She had thought about it a lot—more than ever since realizing she was the Thousand Elf.

Simple effects, from sounds to magical energy, had drawn Riveria's attention away in such a confined space, shifting her focus from the breath-holding Lefiya hidden beneath the black cloth. With a bit of luck, Lefiya had seized the opportunity and flown out the window with Asmodeus, embarking on her first terrifying flight.

Lefiya had shot straight up into the freezing clouds, then hurtled through the treetops of the forest outside Orario at an incredible speed. Somehow, she had managed to make it back to her beloved bedroom window.

'Now that I think about it… how did I even survive that?'

Muttering to herself, Lefiya glanced at her tattered, soaking-wet clothes. She barely remembered the journey—only that she had crashed down and blacked out in the bushes right outside her window. Luckily, no one was on the first floor at that hour.

She quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes to avoid suspicion. It was a good thing she had listened to the wizard's advice and packed a spare outfit in her bag (even if it had left her wallet completely empty after buying all those magic potions).

For now, a good night's sleep would do wonders for her.

Whoosh… whoosh…

As the wind blew through, the curtains swayed, and the gentle moonlight illuminated her bed. A few raven feathers drifted down silently.

Then, the first light of dawn began to glow on the horizon.

…

Sizzle, sizzle—

The film reel began to run, producing a soft, rhythmic clicking sound, like the heartbeat of time flowing. Each frame flickered past, the continuous hum of the film echoing as it projected images onto the screen in the center of the room. Ayla didn't understand how the machine worked or what it was made of. Sitting on her chair, she watched the projection in front of her but couldn't recognize anything moving on the screen. Everything was blurry and distant.

Blink.

Once again, Ayla found herself in that strange, white void. The air was eerily silent, as if every sound in the world had been swallowed whole. The endless space stretched infinitely in all directions, with no beginning or end—only a pale, colorless expanse.

"Alright. Time to find Noctis." Ayla patted her cheeks lightly, speaking to herself with determination.

This time, she wasn't as bewildered as before. Her small feet moved quickly, stepping past floating streaks of light. But something was different. The farther she walked, the more the scenery changed.

The glowing strands of light gradually disappeared, replaced by buildings rising into view. They looked normal, yet strangely unfamiliar to Ayla.

"This definitely isn't Orario," she murmured.

The cobblestone streets stretched ahead, covered by a thin layer of snow. Flurries drifted down from the gray sky, but Ayla didn't feel cold at all—perhaps because this was just a dream.

"A city?" she whispered, her wide eyes scanning the surroundings.

She saw snow-covered rooftops, wooden-framed windows, and the faint silhouettes of people moving in the distance. But when she tried to approach them, the figures faded like mist.

She kept walking, her small feet brushing against the soft snow. A familiar pull guided her toward the city's center—a vast, empty plaza. The place felt abandoned, shrouded in an eerie silence.

In the middle of the square, a strange cube floated in midair, surrounded by a faint glow. Within it, a familiar figure appeared.

"Noctis!" Ayla called out, her clear voice echoing through the space.

The figure inside the cube slowly turned, nodding in greeting.

"Do you know what this place is?" Ayla asked curiously, looking up at Noctis.

Noctis shook its head, the glowing symbols around it flickering as if trying to recall something.

"Then let's explore together!" Ayla suggested, a bright smile on her face.

Noctis didn't reply, only giving a small nod. Ayla gently hugged the cube and continued walking along the snowy cobblestone path.

The surroundings became clearer. The cityscape of variously sized buildings stretched on, but there was no sign of life. Eventually, they arrived before a towering castle—grand yet minimalistic in design.

"This has to be an important place," Ayla said, pushing open the massive doors.

"Moshi moshi... Is anyone here?" she called out, but only her own voice echoed back.

Inside, the castle was vast yet empty. Her small footsteps resonated through the long corridors as they began exploring room after room—an office with ornately carved wooden desks, a bedroom with a large, silk-draped bed, and even storage rooms filled with dusty books.

As they walked down another hallway, Ayla suddenly noticed a black raven perched on the floor, pecking at a notebook with its beak.

"Oh, a raven!" Ayla exclaimed.

The bird tilted its head to look at her, its crimson eyes glowing. As Ayla stepped closer, it swiftly snatched the notebook and took off.

"Wait!" Ayla cried, clutching Noctis tightly as she ran after it. She hurried through the twisting corridors, her footsteps quick and determined.

Finally, the raven slipped through a slightly open door and disappeared inside. Ayla pushed it open and found herself in a small room. The space had a feminine touch, with neatly arranged belongings and clothes on the bed. The raven perched on the windowsill, staring at her with those glowing red eyes before flapping its wings and flying away—leaving the notebook behind.

Ayla approached, picked up the book, and flipped through its pages. But they were all blank. She frowned slightly, then examined the cover:

"Isolde de Noctelune."

A delicate, feminine name was written on it.

"Is this... the owner of this room?" Ayla wondered, glancing around.

After a moment of thought, she carefully placed the book inside the desk drawer.

"Maybe the raven wanted me to keep it safe," she murmured, her expression turning serious as if accepting an important mission.

Just then, the space around her began to blur. Ayla felt her body growing lighter.

"Noctis! I think the dream is ending!" she called, her voice filled with reluctance.

Noctis nodded, its glow flickering gently, as if bidding farewell.

"Don't worry. I'll see you in the next dream."

Everything faded into white.

When Ayla opened her eyes, she was back in her familiar bed.

"Wow... A new day begins," she stretched, her voice full of energy. Then, she turned to her still-sleeping roommate.

"Wake up, Marina."

"Just one more minute…" Marina groaned, pulling the pillow over her ears.

Ayla chuckled. Marina was always like this. It would take a while to wake her up.

As she lay there thinking about the dream, something odd struck her.

"Wait… how did the raven even carry that notebook?"

…

In the flickering laboratory, Accelerator sat across from Specineff, a strange, elongated cylindrical device. Data from the scanner appeared on the large screen in front of him, but all he saw were meaningless lines of numbers. The artificial intelligence, Irena, integrated into the system, continuously ran analytical algorithms, yet they all led to the same conclusion: Unidentifiable.

"Nullifying both energy and waves. Tch, what a pain," Accelerator muttered, his sharp eyes scanning through the report lines.

He attempted to use his vector manipulation, focusing his entire ability to sense and control the forces interacting around Specineff. However, the moment his power reached it, it was as if an invisible wall blocked him. All vectors were nullified. Accelerator frowned, raising a hand to his temple as he felt the frustrating disruption in his ability.

"This isn't just technology," he said, his voice cold yet contemplative. "It's... similar to Imagine Breaker."

Irena quickly responded through the system speakers.

"Imagine Breaker is an entirely different phenomenon. Specineff's data shows no indication of any correlation."

Accelerator ignored her, focusing on a strange sensation. In that brief moment when his ability was nullified, he realized that his vector perception—the deep, natural sensory extension of his power—was still functioning. And within that, something was there... like a fleeting, minuscule conflict before being completely erased.

"A tiny gap?" he muttered, a faint smirk appearing on his face. "If I can analyze and understand this... I might be able to break through its defenses."

After confirming his hypothesis, Accelerator input some parameters before standing up from his seat.

"Irena, keep analyzing. Focus on the frequency of the conflict I just sensed. Try every algorithm, even the weirdest ones."

"Understood. Reprocessing the data," Irena's voice responded, steady yet reliably efficient.

Leaving the lab, Accelerator walked down the long corridor, his mind shifting to other thoughts. Irena needs an upgrade. She was powerful, but not yet quick enough to handle bizarre anomalies like Specineff.

Upgrading the hardware... not exactly feasible in a world that runs on magic stones. Unless he wanted to gamble his luck by diving into the chaos again and hoping for another piece of future technology to conveniently fall into his hands. The most viable option was to rewrite her code, enhancing her deep learning capabilities to refine her own algorithms. That required digging into the available data and devices here. But considering this facility was built by the top scientists of the future, how much could he really improve? Not to mention, it would take time to study the code.

"Better than nothing," he thought, hoping there were still books on the subject. Hands shoved into his coat pockets, he pushed open the door to the research sector and stepped outside.

"Well, you look busy."

A dark figure emerged from behind the hallway, voice unusually cheerful, carrying a large bag over their emerged from the hidden shadows of this strange place.

"At last, you've arrived." He gazed at him for a moment, noting the disheveled and tattered state of his cloak and clothing before commenting, "Took you longer than I expected."

"This is all your fault!" Wander angrily pointed at him. "You made me sneak after Lefiya just to uncover this teleportation site."

"And yet, you succeeded." Although his results were less than perfect—he had been transported inside the facility instead of the wooden cabin—just by briefly observing the magic circle's activation, he had managed to reconstruct the teleportation spell. An impressive feat, even for a mage.

"Yeah, well, because of that, I spent all evening analyzing the traces of magic you used. Not to mention, I had to wait for the people tracking you to leave." When Wander entered the room to investigate, an owl had flown in to inspect the area. One glance was all it took for him to realize that the owl's eye contained an artifact transmitting visual images. He had no choice but to wait for it to leave before activating his own magic.

Accelerator silently listened to all of Wander's complaints before making an offhand remark.

"So, are you mad?"

"No… Hahaha… Honestly, it was kinda fun."

"Then let's go."

Accelerator turned and walked away. Wander quickly caught up, matching his pace and asking,

"So where will I stay in this place?"

"Anywhere you like."

"Really? You're not worried I'll break something?"

"This place isn't exactly safe." Due to frequent encroachment by chaos, it wasn't uncommon for some unprotected rooms to be destroyed. "And it doesn't suit your nature anyway."

"Hmmm. Fair enough."

The two continued walking in silence. After a while, Accelerator suddenly stopped, his gaze lowering slightly as his hand clenched reflexively. A strange sensation washed over him.

'This time, my energy depletion is lower than before. That kid… must have completed the formal ritual, right?' He thought, caught off guard by the unexpected outcome. This completely contradicted his predictions—his energy consumption should have been greater, not lesser.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Wander broke the silence, looking up at Accelerator with curiosity.

"Nothing," he replied shortly before resuming his stride, maintaining his usual calm demeanor. But deep down, he knew that things were not going according to plan. After all, he had never claimed to fully understand magic well enough to make precise judgments.

"Speaking of your student, Lefiya..." Wander started, bringing the conversation back. "That kid is really talented."

Accelerator said nothing, his cold gaze fixed ahead.

"She's different from you." Wander continued. "You can see me because of your ability. But Lefiya… she actually sees me."

"So?" Accelerator asked, indifferent.

"Nothing… I just wonder if you've placed any contracts on her."

"I haven't placed any contracts." His voice was firm, without hesitation. "Just a warning, to make her more cautious."

Forcing someone into submission with contracts or vague rules wasn't his style. If Lefiya wasn't certain about which words might violate the rules, she would naturally be more careful—that was the effect he wanted.

"That makes sense. It fits your personality."

Just as Wander finished speaking, Accelerator suddenly stopped, his expression darkening as he looked ahead.

A hideous mass of red-black sludge slithered along the hallway, spreading across the ceiling. The lights flickered before going out, plunging the corridor into darkness. The surrounding shadows melded with the network of crimson tendrils, which swelled like giant pulsating veins constricting the space. Several white eyes opened, gradually turning blood-red as they slithered and writhed, covering the dark hallway. The entity itself seemed like a manifestation of pure agony, swallowing all light in its path. Its mere presence suffocated the air, giving the impression that everything was being pulled into an alien dimension beyond human comprehension.

"Tch... Looks like that kid broke one of this facility's rules."

Wander stepped beside him, watching the scene with amusement. "So the rules are real, but there's no contract? That kid, is she alright?"

"She's fine. Even if Irena is focused elsewhere, she knows everything happening within the facility. The kid left before this started." Using his vector sense, he observed the grotesque mass creeping closer at increasing speed. If Lefiya had truly been in danger, he would have known. As long as she wore that bracelet, he could still sense her.

"Haha… You still check on her before doing anything, huh? You're such a tsundere."

"Tch… This thing, is it a demon?"

The crimson tendrils lashed out toward Accelerator.

Bang! The attack shattered upon contact with his Reflection.

"No. This thing isn't a demon. Demons aren't this lowly." Wander calmly answered, casually munching on a sausage—definitely stolen.

The grotesque mass let out a shrill, ear-piercing screech. The remaining tendrils recoiled, and the crimson eyes glared at him with pure malice. A deep red glow spread through the surroundings, distorting the space itself.

Accelerator silently pulled out a tarot card and let it fall to the ground.

The High Priestess—a card symbolizing intuition, hidden knowledge, mystery, and the subconscious. But its reversed meaning blended aspects of The Hermit and The Moon, isolating oneself from the outside world.

As the card vanished, a blue-white barrier formed, encapsulating both of them and severing their connection to reality.

Beyond the barrier, the air turned a sickly red. The once-sterile ceiling decayed, rotting away. The lights became moldy, crumbling into dust. The ground cracked open, oozing a putrid black-red liquid. Even the air itself grew toxic and foul. Everything was rotting.

Yet inside the barrier, the two conversed as if nothing had changed.

"Wow… Haha… Not a bad trick. It's lucky that adorable girl wasn't caught up in this. I don't even want to imagine how that would've turned out."

"..." Accelerator silently swallowed the blood rising in his throat, forcing himself to erase the images Wander's words had conjured.

"Did you really need to set up this barrier? I doubt that attack actually affects you."

"Better safe than sorry." He observed the swirling crimson energy outside, analyzing its flow. Now he understood.

"What exactly is this thing?" he asked Wander.

"Hmm, how should I put it... If demons are like wild animals, then this thing would usually be just scraps, worthless waste. But this one is close to the level of a bacterium or virus."

"It's not a virus?"

"No. In everyday life, if given the choice, you'd rather deal with rats than bacteria or viruses."

Just as Wander finished speaking, black sludge seeped through the barrier, rushing toward them.

But neither of them reacted. The viscous fluid flowed around Accelerator, unable to touch him—his Reflection blocked everything.

'Good thing I closed the doors before leaving. Not that it matters, Ban will handle the cleanup.'

As for Wander, any sludge that touched him lost its meaning, sinking into the darkness of his cloak.

"Can you handle this thing?"

"Of course. I'll savor it slowly."

"So you enjoy eating garbage?"

"..."

"..."

"You bastard," Wander growled. "I hate you."

"If you have nothing else to say, I'll be going first." Accelerator uncorked a small vial of stored air from his sleeve and walked away, ignoring the attacks. "Make sure to clean this up. Do whatever you want here."

Leaving those words behind, he disappeared into the darkness of the corridor.

Wander sighed before turning to face the grotesque mass.

"Hahaharezereze..."

Then, he started laughing—loudly, uncontrollably—but suddenly, the laughter ceased. His indistinct face lost all expression. It wasn't mere apathy; it was something far stranger. The details of his features blurred, his form became unstable, as if everything that defined him was vanishing.

"You truly understand me best."

His voice became unclear—not rough like a machine, nor expressive like a living being. It echoed, spreading like distant, meaningless whispers, like incomprehensible philosophies, like the delirious ramblings of something detached from this world, carrying the weight of endless madness.

"I am here." He said, pointing at himself.

The amorphous mass of slime shifted its attention toward him. It was surprised to see a figure appear out of nowhere but quickly dismissed it, launching an attack. Tentacles twisted and lunged forward, waves of decay spread outward, and the blackened liquid formed countless grasping hands, all attempting to assimilate him into itself.

But it was all useless. Everything that touched him simply ceased to exist.

No sound emerged.

No shattering of glass, no sign of destruction.

No noise when everything ended.

No sound as existence cried out before returning to void.

IT'S NOTHINGLESS.

IT'S .

The eldritch mass stirred, hesitating—it no longer attacked recklessly, realizing its strikes were futile. There was something wrong with the entity before it. Though its thoughts were nothing more than simple, networked impulses, it felt the strangeness. It didn't understand, but it knew.

It had to deal with this being—quickly.

Tentacles gathered. Eyes swelled and began to bleed. It was preparing to unleash .

...Huh? What was it trying to do?

All of its tentacles blackened, infectious sludge countless eyes were gone.

The amorphous mass could no longer sprawling body, which covered the hallway and filled the unprotected rooms, desperately generated more matter to replace what was lost. It widened to see .

What?What was this?It didn't understand.

But instinctively, it knew—it had to run.

Each writhing mass had to ?It had to Something it had forgotten.

Now

What? It? What?

In the silent space of the research facility, a gentle breeze drifted through, carrying the cold air from the nearby forest. Accelerator sat quietly on a simple chair, his vacant gaze fixed on the woods beyond.

His hands moved slowly across the paper, sketching with a special kind of charcoal—a blend of red wine, iron oxide, and kneaded bread crumbs. Gradually, crude lines formed, shaping the symbols of flesh and blood to craft the Tarot card he had just used.

Resting on his lap, Qliphap, in the form of a cat, slept soundly, its eyes closed, breathing steady.

Fuu! He blew lightly on the card's surface, testing it with his power to confirm its completion. Placing The High Priestess on the table, Accelerator gently ran his fingers through Qliphap's soft fur, indulging in a rare moment of relaxation, free from burdened thoughts.

Though the air was cold and the night devoid of moonlight, the presence of Qliphap made everything feel just a little warmer.

The research facility's door creaked open. Qliphap stirred slightly in his lap.

"How does it feel?" he asked.

Wander approached the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Casually reaching for a piece of bread on the table, he took a bite, chewing leisurely.

"Feels great."

…

"Huh?"

That was the first sound that escaped her lips as she took in the scene before her.

A vast, dark space stretched out, seemingly enclosed by countless mirrors. They stacked upon one another to form a perfect pentagon, embracing the pitch-black sky like a colossal dome. These mirrors reflected the soft glow of a small moon hanging high above, its gentle light illuminating the surroundings just enough for her to see.

Lefiya stood up, her steps touching the cold ground, damp with a thick, viscous liquid—whether it was water or something else, she couldn't tell. She slapped her cheeks hard, the sting registering but not as much as she expected. That could only mean one thing—she hadn't woken up yet.

She had read about this phenomenon before in books on the occult—those she had flipped through by chance while researching magic. It was from those books that she had learned about dowsing, mirror divination, and tarot cards. She swore to the gods she had never been obsessed with them or brought them into her room. (Really?)

"A lucid dream?"

A dream in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming. But she hadn't expected to find herself in one at a time like this.

Wandering through the surreal dreamscape, Lefiya approached the nearest mirror and placed her hand against it. A chilling sensation spread through her fingers. Her reflection appeared normal. She leaned in, scrutinizing it for any irregularities. Nothing seemed off.

Just as she thought that, the reflection vanished.

She stumbled back in shock, instinctively distancing herself from the mirror. Could the horror stories she had read be real? Before she could regain her composure, a blurry figure emerged in the glass.

'Huh? That's…'

The figure in the mirror grew clearer.

Was it her? No… no, it wasn't. That wasn't her.

Lefiya blinked repeatedly, trying to determine whether she was seeing reality or just another illusion of the dream. But no matter how hard she looked, the image didn't change.

It was a beautiful teenage girl with golden blonde hair, round, deep blue eyes, and the pointed ears characteristic of the elven race. She wore a pink star-patterned cloak over a white blouse and a pink corset skirt. A purple ribbon adorned her collar, and her long hair was neatly tied into a ponytail.

No way… That couldn't be her. Could it…?

Lefiya took a deep breath, steadied herself, and fixed her gaze on the reflection.

The girl in the mirror—her other self—was eagerly running toward something.

The blurry surroundings gradually became clearer. It was another chamber within the Dungeon. The reflection of her sprinted to the center of the room, gripping a magic staff tightly in both hands.

Lefiya moved closer, observing the scene beyond the mirror.

Her reflection stood firm, began chanting, and traced a magic circle with the tip of her staff.

She recognized that spell immediately.

Elf Ring.

A unique summoning magic exclusive to elves, requiring a two-part incantation and a significant amount of mental energy. To use it, the caster needed to fully understand the spell's intended effect and chant the appropriate words to activate it.

Then, something shocking happened. Faster than she had ever seen Elf Ring cast before, a brilliant light erupted, bursting through the mirror and illuminating Lefiya.

Her eyes widened in awe.

A pure white barrier materialized—a symbol of elven spirit and transcendence. It spanned over seven meters in radius, shimmering with tiny flickering sparks.

This light…

Lefiya recognized it instantly. The holy radiance that had once protected her and her allies on the twenty-fourth floor. She found herself mesmerized by its purity for a few seconds. The resplendent shield blazed, burning away all evil, its brilliance reflected in her eyes.

She inched closer to the mirror, watching her other self brimming with excitement, like a child successfully casting a spell for the first time. A surge of longing rose within her—if that girl was her, then possessing this power shouldn't be impossible, right?

Lefiya pressed her hand against the mirror, then leaned in. If she could read the incantation from her other self's lips, then maybe…

"Huh?"

The mirror vanished.

The next moment, she plunged into an endless abyss.

…

She had seen this before.

In an old dream…

A nightmare where she fell endlessly from the sky, lost in an infinite void. Around her, objects drifted aimlessly in the darkness—clocks, furniture, toys, dolls, paintings—all spinning as if caught in an invisible vortex.

And now…

She was falling again.

Lefiya glanced around. Everything was an abyss of endless black, as if she had been completely swallowed by an unfathomable shadow.

Fragments of shattered mirrors floated around her, reflecting distorted, blurry images. Some showed people who looked almost like her, yet with subtle differences. Others displayed unfamiliar faces—strange individuals, cities, and architectural wonders she had never seen or heard of before.

She tilted her head up, looking at where she had fallen from.

A colossal castle of mirrors hovered in the sky, its surface glimmering with an eerie, ethereal light. Streaks of radiance extended from it like fading pathways, stretching through the darkness before dissolving into nothingness.

Lefiya felt her body continue to descend, slowly sinking into the endless night of the void.

.

Lefiya jolted awake.

Her breath came in ragged gasps, sweat clung to her forehead, and her heart pounded wildly in her chest. She was in bed.

The curtains swayed gently in the breeze, and the dim glow of the room's lamp illuminated the familiar contours of her surroundings. This was her room. Lefiya gripped her blanket tightly, her head still spinning. What had she dreamed about last night? She couldn't quite remember, but a dull ache throbbed in her skull.

That's right—the ritual! Last night, she had sneaked out to perform the ritual. A wave of nervousness washed over her as she hastily checked her belongings.

The ring on her finger was still intact. Her magic pouch and its contents were unchanged, except for a few missing bottles of magic potion. Her magic broom was also fine. Given that she felt normal today, it meant the ritual had likely been a success.

"What's wrong, Lefiya? Did you have a nightmare?"

Elfy, her roommate, turned to ask while changing her clothes.

"N-No, it's nothing."

"Alright. But you've been acting strange lately." Elfy resumed dressing.

"How so?"

"Well, sneaking out at night without telling me. Coming back at dawn."

"Ugh…" Lefiya flinched, nearly panicking at her roommate's words. "You were awake?"

"Of course. How could I sleep soundly when you're sneaking around doing something suspicious in the middle of the night?"

It was true. She had been so anxious before the ritual that she had paced around the room repeatedly.

"And who do you think opened the window for you to climb back in?"

So that was why she had been able to re-enter her room so easily last night. Did this mean Elfy knew everything she had been doing?

"Ugh… Elfy, please keep this a secret! If word gets out, Riveria will kill me!" Lefiya jumped out of bed, kneeling to plead with her friend.

Elfy's lips curled into an amused, knowing smile, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

"Don't worry, I'll keep your secret."

"Thank you! You're my savior!"

"If you ever need help, just let me know."

"Of course!"

"But…" Elfy's smirk deepened. "Care to tell me a little about what you're up to?"

The way she smiled sent a shiver down Lefiya's spine. That expression… Did keeping someone's secret always make a person feel this powerful?

"Like that broom of yours. You've been carrying it around for days and even hugging it in your sleep."

Lefiya was shocked. Was Elfy… changing?

Elfy—cheerful and easygoing. A beautiful girl who could get along with anyone, lift the mood effortlessly, and wield fire magic with skill.

And now, she was succumbing to the temptation of power.

No! Lefiya had to stop this and bring back the sweet Elfy she knew.

Taking a deep breath, Lefiya steadied herself, then smiled and shook her head.

"Elfy, I really appreciate your help, but this…" She met her friend's brown eyes. "I can't tell you."

Elfy blinked, then frowned slightly. "Why not? Don't you trust me?"

"It's not about trust. It's just… some things aren't meant to be known." Lefiya clenched her fists, her voice firm yet gentle.

Elfy was silent for a moment before breaking into laughter. "Haha, you make it sound so serious! Alright, I won't push you."

Lefiya sighed in relief.

The tension quickly faded, and they went back to chatting about other things—Riveria's lectures, the grueling training sessions, and the latest gossip in the familia.

Until a voice called out from beyond the door:

"Lefiya, Elfy! Are you still in there? Get moving, assembly time!"

Both of them jolted, realizing how much time had passed.

"Crap! Let's go!" Lefiya scrambled off the bed, hastily straightening her clothes.

The two hurried out of the room, joining the gathering crowd in the hallway.

The magic broom remained where Lefiya had left it, resting quietly at the head of her bed. Everything seemed normal—unchanged.

Except for one thing.

The symbol of Asmodeus, once faintly etched into the broom's wooden surface, was now completely gone. The spot where it had been was now utterly blank.

…

"So, you want to learn how to fly."

Right from early afternoon, Lefiya had rushed straight to him. From what Irena had reported yesterday, Accelerator could already guess what had happened. This child had successfully linked with her broom. But why did she look so sleep-deprived?

Before she could say anything more, her gaze was drawn to the scene in front of her.

In the middle of the courtyard, Wander and Qliphap were sitting across from each other at an old wooden table, playing cards scattered across its surface. Qliphap, in the form of a cat, was curled up comfortably on a chair, its eyes narrowed slyly as it pushed a card toward Wander with its paw.

"Meow."

Wander raised an eyebrow, resting his chin on his hand as he studied the cards. He picked up his own card, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the wooden table.

"Hmm... Looks like I'm about to lose."

Qliphap flicked its tail, its voice ringing playfully.

"Meow… meow… meow."

Lefiya blinked, bewildered by the strange sight. Wander and Qliphap playing cards together? But wait—there was something more important.

"Wait a minute. Wander, why are you here?"

Wander remained focused on examining his cards, contemplating his next move.

"If I weren't here, where else would I be? Why are you so surprised?"

After a moment of consideration, he finally sighed and tossed his card down.

"Alright, I lose. What do you want?"

Qliphap lazily stretched, its soft fur fluffing up.

"Meow… Meow… Meow…"

Lefiya barely had time to process what she heard before Qliphap turned its bright, suspiciously sparkling feline eyes toward her.

"Meow… Meow…"

Startled, Lefiya quickly shook her head.

"No, no, thank you! I just came to find Accelerator."

Even though she didn't understand a thing, her instincts told her that she should never accept any offer from Qliphap.

Wander chuckled softly, glancing at Accelerator.

"This girl is really hardworking, huh?"

Accelerator didn't respond immediately. He merely shrugged before turning around and walking away.

"Alright. Follow me."

Even if he didn't know much about broom-riding, one didn't necessarily need to understand something completely in order to teach it. There were different ways to handle this situation.

Qliphap quickly leaped onto Accelerator's shoulder.

"Wait, what about me?" Wander suddenly called out, feeling abandoned.

"You can come if you want."

"Never mind, I'll stay here." He sighed, gathering up the deck of cards while grumbling.

"I still have to prepare a bunch of fish for Qliphap."

Accelerator glanced at the cat on his shoulder. The cat only acted as if it had nothing to do with this. He shook his head and kept walking.

Lefiya trailed closely behind Accelerator, following him deep into the research facility. She walked with him into an empty room. The pristine white walls were engraved with strange markings and letters, stretching all the way to the supporting pillars. It seemed to form a massive magic circle.

Turning to her, Accelerator handed her a tarot card—The Chariot.

"Take it."

Swallowing nervously, she reached for the card. The entire magic circle instantly lit up, and the space around her twisted violently. Everything stretched before rushing past her at terrifying speed. Hundreds of images flashed by before stabilizing again—she was now standing on a precarious cliff edge. Loose rocks tumbled down into the abyss below. Beneath her was an empty void shrouded in thick mist.

It was as if she had been thrown to the end of the world.

Lefiya instinctively shrank back, pressing herself close to him. Peering ahead, she took in the breathtaking sight before her—a colossal waterfall, thousands of meters high and stretching for miles. Millions of cubic meters of water cascaded down every second, creating a white mist that enveloped the vast land below. Even the grandest waterfalls in the Dungeon's 25th floor couldn't compare to this.

"This is the largest waterfall on the surface. It's not on the main continent, so very few people know about it."

Dabbing his mouth with a tissue—which quickly turned crimson—Accelerator immediately answered the questions forming in her mind. Even from hundreds of miles away, the sheer volume of water crashing down created an overwhelming, otherworldly sight.

Meanwhile, Lefiya was still clinging to him like a cicada. The amused chuckling of Qliphap did nothing to make her feel better.

"First, I'll teach you some basic knowledge about your broom."

Peeling the cicada off himself, he tossed her deeper into the safe zone of the cliffside.

"But before that, you need to prove to me that you can control the broom."

No response.

Accelerator turned to look at her. Lefiya had gone pale, her face twisted as if she was about to vomit.

He sighed, jerking his chin toward a nearby ledge.

"You can throw up over there."

Not needing to be told twice, Lefiya bolted toward it.

"Ugh—!"

As she hunched over in misery, Qliphap—still in its cat form—rolled on the ground, happily flicking its tail.

"Meow meow~"

Even though it could only meow like a normal cat, its delightfully smug demeanor made the situation all the more infuriating.

"I feel better now."

After a while, Lefiya lifted her head and looked around.

Somehow, while she was still struggling with the nausea, Accelerator had created a set of stone tables and chairs and was casually sitting there, holding a thick book, seemingly indifferent to her presence.

"Alright, now try controlling the broom," he said without even looking up from his book.

Lefiya blinked.

'Code? What is that?'

She wondered but still took the broom off her back and placed it on the ground. Last night, it had worked perfectly. But now… there was no reaction.

She closed her eyes, trying to summon her magic to connect with it. But the broom remained still, showing no signs of responding to her commands.

Lefiya tried a few more times, but the broom still wouldn't move, leaving her frustrated.

"That's strange… It worked just fine last night," Lefiya muttered.

Hearing that, Accelerator raised an eyebrow and finally tore his eyes away from the book.

"That means it requires a specific activation condition," he commented nonchalantly.

Lefiya nodded, agreeing with that theory. But before she could think further, Accelerator stood up and walked toward her.

"Then let's find out what that condition is."

Lefiya hadn't even processed his words yet—

Suddenly, a hand rested on her shoulder.

And in the next second—

THUD!

She felt the ground disappear beneath her feet.

Lefiya plummeted straight off the cliff.

In a fleeting moment of panic, she thought:

'This feeling… it's so familiar…'

Then she screamed:

"Aaaaaaahhhhh!"

…

Calling today a bad day for Lefiya wouldn't exactly be wrong—because she had been thrown off the water tower seven times in a row by the very teacher she trusted.

Seven times!

The first time she was thrown off, sheer terror consumed her. The feeling of free-falling from such an immense height with nothing to grab onto was truly horrifying. She clutched the broom tightly, desperately trying to control it, but it was useless. Just as the thought that her life was about to end flashed through her mind, the Mad Wizard suddenly appeared beneath her.

Somehow, he had surpassed her mid-fall and gently lifted her up with powerful gusts of wind, catching her in a princess carry.

Honestly, if not for the shock of nearly dying, she might have drowned in embarrassment instead.

And she might have been able to let it go—if he hadn't done the exact same thing six more times.

"Hmm, seems like dangerous situations don't actually activate the broom," Accelerator commented casually while manipulating the water to heal her injured arm.

Lefiya stared at him, eyes filled with horror—did he seriously think this would work?!

"How did you actually think that would work?!" she yelled, her voice full of fury as the stinging pain in her arm flared up.

"But it did work, didn't it?" Accelerator shrugged, glancing at her right hand. "Somehow, you unleashed a stronger vine spell than usual on the last attempt."

Lefiya froze.

It was true. On the seventh fall, realizing the broom wouldn't activate, she had been forced to switch to basic spells. In the heat of the moment, with no time to think, she had instinctively used magic.

"Using flexible vines to slow your fall is a pretty effective method, but it only works if you're prepared and at a limited height," Accelerator continued, using his vector manipulation to check if her arm was severely damaged. "And that spell needs to be distributed evenly across your body, not just focused on one arm. Even if you're an adventurer."

Lefiya pressed her lips together.

She had wrapped vines around the cliffside and gripped them tightly with her right hand, essentially performing an impromptu bungee jump. It had slowed her descent but also dislocated her shoulder. If not for her adventurer's physique, the impact from a three-kilometer fall would have torn her arm off.

"You're good to go. You can move it normally now."

Accelerator let go of her arm after finishing the treatment.

Lefiya cautiously rotated her shoulder—everything felt fine, even better than before she was injured.

She silently watched him as he casually packed up his belongings as if nothing had happened.

Even though she had only known Accelerator for less than a week, she felt like she understood him better now.

At first, she thought he was cold, rude—worse than even Bete. Someone who made impossible demands and didn't care about others.

But when she got hurt…

He was still there.

He didn't say much, didn't make a big deal out of it—but he healed her immediately. His actions were precise, careful, and thorough.

Even with his usual impassive expression, there was something different—something subtle, something he himself might not even realize.

'Hey Lefiya, Accelerator really values you.'

Wander's words echoed in her mind.

Lefiya lowered her gaze to her hands. Now, she understood a little better.

Placing a hand over her chest, she felt the slow, steady beat of her heart, a warmth spreading through her body.

Was this what they called the bond between teacher and student?

"Lefiya, is something wrong?"

Accelerator looked at her curiously. He had already checked her thoroughly, yet she was still standing there, lost in thought.

Lefiya blinked, then quickly stood up with a bright smile.

"Nothing at all! What's next, Teacher?"

Ignoring his student's cheerful demeanor, Accelerator crossed his arms, deep in thought about the next stage of training.

"Hmm... the previous method wasn't effective. You still haven't fully grasped the conditions needed to activate that broom."

He glanced at Lefiya and pointed at the ring on her finger.

"However, you've achieved something else—you've learned to enhance your own magic freely. If that's the only thing working, then we'll focus on it."

Lefiya looked at the ring, the golden glow from its engravings reflecting in her eyes.

"You mean...?"

"We'll test its limits while also practicing combat."

Lefiya swallowed hard.

Before she could brace herself, Accelerator stepped back a few meters and raised his hand as if about to do something.

"Alright, let's start by seeing if you can withstand this attack."

"Huh? Wait—"

Before she could react, the ground beneath her feet suddenly trembled. A powerful gust of wind surged toward her, kicking up a cloud of dust.

And in the next instant—A barrage of wind spears shot straight at her!

Panicked, Lefiya raised her hands, and her magic responded instinctively. A magic circle appeared, the energy from the ring flaring up stronger than ever.

How would she defend against this attack?

Would she use wind magic to redirect the spears? Or summon a solid wall of earth to block them entirely?

Accelerator's sudden attack had a simple reason. Even with just basic magic, there were countless variations. No one could master everything perfectly in real combat. They had to choose—find the magic that suited their combat style best and focus on developing it.

This process was called personalization.

But to Accelerator's surprise, Lefiya didn't do what he expected.

She didn't use any familiar elemental , she pulled out a black cloth and raised it in front of her.

As the wind spears came flying, the cloth curved with the air's flow, causing most of the attacks to be deflected. That gave Lefiya just enough time to crouch low and leap out of the danger zone.

"Oh?"

Accelerator narrowed his eyes, a slight smirk forming. Interesting!

But Lefiya wasn't about to stay on the soon as she landed, she reached for the staff on her back, chanting under her breath. She closely watched her teacher's movements, predicting his next move.

But instead of drawing his own weapon or casting another spell, he lunged at her for close combat.

"Huh?!"

Caught off guard, Lefiya was forced to raise her staff defensively.

Accelerator wasn't a skilled melee fighter—his attacks were clumsy and predictable compared to Aiz. But his speed was terrifying, and more importantly, he wasn't giving her any time to chant.

That might have worked in the not anymore.

Now, she had completely mastered concurrent chanting with Filvis's help.

Each of his attacks forced her back step by this was the key difference between Accelerator and Aiz—while Aiz fought at an overwhelming speed that left no room to react, Accelerator left openings.

Gripping her staff tightly, Lefiya continued chanting, her lips moving non-stop.

Stepping, dodging, evading his relentless attacks—she made use of every opportunity, taking only the minimal hits necessary to keep her focus on her incantation.

Just like on her first day of training, she refused to back down or close her eyes in fear.

"Shoot, sniper of the fairies. Penetrate, arrow of absolute accuracy."

Spotting a brief opening, Lefiya spun, creating distance, and quickly completed her chant.

A magic circle formed beneath her feet. She finished her spell.

"Arc Ray!"

A brilliant arrow of light shot toward Accelerator.

Lefiya had Alio ready to redirect the attack if he dodged.

But he didn't simply raised his left hand, and immediately, the space around it gravity seized the light arrow, bending its trajectory—then flung it straight back at her.

The counterattack was far faster than the earlier wind this range, there was no time to pull out the black cloth to deflect Lefiya had anticipated this the moment she saw her light twisted in his palm.

The magic circle on her left hand flared—

A vine shot out, wrapping around a nearby tree branch.

Using it to pull herself away, she swung through the air, narrowly dodging her own attack.

As she spun mid-air, she traced a magic circle around her body.

"I wish upon the name of Wishe. Ancestors of the forest, proud brethren."

But Accelerator didn't give her time to counter.

His gravity sphere surged forward, hurtling toward her like a miniature black hole.

Lefiya gritted her teeth and poured magic into her legs.

She jumped.

A small magic circle appeared beneath her feet, glowing faintly.

"Turn the circle and dance around. Come, ring of fairies. Please—give me strength."

She couldn't control the wind as freely as Aiz.

But she could create this.

The moment the gravity sphere neared her, the magic circle erupted, releasing a massive burst of air, launching her skyward like an arrow.

Accelerator watched her movement, but the gravity sphere couldn't keep up. It shot upward before vanishing into nothingness.

After a quick mid-air flip, Lefiya landed.

"Ouch..."

She staggered slightly. This was her first time attempting this movement—it was definitely not easy.

But despite everything, her chanting had never stopped.

"Harbinger of the end, the white snow. Blow with the wind before the twilight."

Her teacher stood across from her, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

He was enjoying this.

He was enjoying this a lot.

Accelerator stomped the ground.

Immediately, shards of rock flew into the air. With a flick of his hand, they transformed into deadly projectiles, raining down on her like a storm of destruction.

Lefiya quickly pulled out the black cloth again, but this time, it couldn't deflect everything.

The fabric was torn apart under the relentless that wasn't her true intention.

Hidden beneath the shredded cloth—A small glowing orb floated in midair.

Flashbang.

A blinding explosion of light illuminated the entire forest.

Even though Accelerator wasn't affected, for a brief moment, he couldn't see through the dazzling radiance.

After all, he had lowered his power to the bare minimum to keep this fight fair.

And within that radiant burst—

"Closing light, the freezing land. Blizzard, the three severe winters—my name is Alf."

Lefiya, her outfit covered in dust and torn from her evasive maneuvers, still stood firm.

Her staff was aimed straight ahead, determination burning in her eyes.

Her spell was complete.

Three brilliant ice spears materialized, spiraling at the tip of her staff, ready to pierce through anything.

In response, Accelerator simply lifted his hand.

A sphere of wind formed in his palm, spinning wildly.

But it didn't stop compressed further, pulling everything around it as if devouring space then, a small orb of blue-purple light appeared.

A tiny, yet furious plasma sphere, swirling with power far beyond any wind magic the Sword Princess had ever conjured.

But Lefiya refused to lose.

She wanted to catch up to him.

She wanted to defeat her teacher one day.

"Wynn Fimbulvetr!"

A colossal, freezing blast shot toward Accelerator.

He swung his arm, unleashing the plasma sphere.

The moment the two forces clashed—

The forest was torn in half.

…

"Isn't this ruining the landscape?"

Lefiya looked around at the devastated forest, her voice filled with guilt.

"Don't worry, nature will recover on its own. Besides, I'll help it a little later."

Accelerator replied casually while pouring more coffee into his cup.

The two of them sat next to each other at a makeshift wooden-and-stone table he had just set up—after all, there were plenty of fallen trees to use. Around them, the aftermath of the battle remained untouched. Half of the forest was frozen solid, while the other half had been torn apart into tiny fragments. Cracks stretched across the cliffside, creating a scene of utter devastation, as if a great catastrophe had just swept through.

But no matter how ruined the surroundings were, what could be better than enjoying a good cup of tea after a tense battle?

Lefiya sipped her tea and took a bite of a sweet pastry. The warmth spreading through her body made her smile in contentment.

"You've improved a lot."

Accelerator's unexpected remark made Lefiya pause—then immediately, the corners of her lips curled up with pride.

"Of course."

He glanced at her before asking calmly,

"Why did you choose the black cloth instead of any other magic?"

Lefiya fell into thought.

How strange… Why had she chosen the black cloth instead of another spell? Was it simply because it was the most effective option at the time, or was there another reason? Back then, she hadn't thought about it at all—everything had happened purely by instinct.

"I'm not entirely sure," she answered slowly. "But I think… using magic creatively for support rather than just for attacks might be better?"

Not a bad idea. Even with enhancements, her spells couldn't compare to those powered by Falna—the divine blessing that continuously amplified one's abilities. If she wanted to survive real battles, she had to develop her own unique way of using magic.

Accelerator nodded, agreeing with her reasoning.

"That's fine. But your balance is terrible."

Lefiya flinched.

"Losing balance after moving is extremely dangerous in combat. One small mistake can get you killed," he continued, his voice completely devoid of emotion. "If you want to keep using that movement technique, you need to master it first."

Lefiya lowered her head, mentally taking note of his advice.

"Yes, I'll work on it."

As an adventurer, she could adapt quickly—Accelerator believed that.

After a moment, Lefiya looked up, curiosity shining in her eyes.

"What about you, then? Why did you suddenly start using close combat?"

He simply replied,

"I just wanted to practice a little."

Accelerator wasn't skilled in close combat, but recently, he'd realized that flexibility was crucial in battle. Training in martial arts could help him move more efficiently while adding a new option to his fighting style.

Lefiya pondered for a moment, then chuckled.

"So, in a way, I'm also teaching you something?"

"Yeah."

But then he paused, looking up at her—the smug grin on her face was unmistakable.

"…You're arrogant."

"Only with you."

"…"

Accelerator stared at her for a few seconds before quietly returning to his book, ignoring his student's self-satisfaction.

Lefiya giggled, took another sip from a Magic Potion, and then glanced at the ring on her finger.

A gift from Wander—its quality was exceptional. It enhanced her magic, and while it couldn't compare to Falna, it still made a noticeable difference. However…

"It's empty now."

The ring wasn't an infinite resource. It stored excess magical energy from her body as a separate reservoir, but once depleted, her Mind recovery rate slowed slightly since some energy had to be diverted into refilling the ring.

Which meant… This break was necessary.

"Lefiya spoke up, her eyes filled with curiosity. "But I have a question. Why does someone like you have to hide your magic?"

Even though she knew there were many eccentric people in the world, Accelerator's constant concealment of his power still puzzled her.

"It's because of my origins."

His calm response stunned Lefiya into silence.

She had only asked out of curiosity, expecting him to brush it off as usual. She hadn't anticipated such a serious answer.

"Are you curious?"

"Uh… um… I… no…" Lefiya stammered.

"If you want to know, I'll tell you—on one condition," Accelerator said, still engrossed in his book, not even glancing up.

"Huh? What's the condition?"

"When you pass your final test."

That would also be the time when he was likely to have found a way back to his own world.

Lefiya froze.

"…"

"…"

"Isn't that impossible?!" she shouted, her eyes wide.

"Can't do it?" he asked, his tone laced with challenge.

"No." Lefiya answered immediately. After all, she had already resolved to surpass him. If she wanted to defeat her teacher someday, then passing the final test was an absolute must.

"It's just that…"

Whether it was intuition or the time she had spent training with him, she had a feeling that once she learned his secret, she wouldn't be able to let it go without taking it out on him somehow.

"Alright," Accelerator cut her off before she could finish her sentence. "I'll tell you right before your final test."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Lefiya felt a surge of excitement upon hearing that. But her joy was short-lived as she suddenly realized something strange.

"Wait… where's Qliphap?" She glanced around, but the adorable black cat was nowhere to be seen.

"She said she had something to take care of."

Accelerator fell silent for a moment, his eyes seemingly lost in thought. Then, out of nowhere, he turned to her.

"You're going on an expedition in two days, right?"

"Yes, sir."

News of Loki Familia's expedition had already been made public, so it wasn't surprising that he knew.

"Then you don't need to come to training tomorrow." He spoke without looking up from his book.

"Huh?"

"I mean, take the day off."

"But, teacher, I can still—"

"Are you sure you can endure my harsh training and then go on an expedition without becoming a burden to your team?"

His voice turned cold. Lefiya couldn't answer right away. She wasn't sure.

Whether it was academics or combat, Loki Familia's training couldn't compare to what she endured here. While magic could heal her body, mental exhaustion and deep fatigue weren't so easily recovered from—even for a mage.

"Rest tomorrow," Accelerator continued. "Use the time to prepare and spend it with your friends. We'll resume training when you return."

Lefiya stayed silent for a moment, then gave a small nod.

"Understood. Thank you, Sensei."

"Good." He closed his book and glanced at her. "You can thank me by wearing shorts under your skirt. That way, you won't end up flashing your underwear during acrobatics."

At that moment, Lefiya's face turned crimson.

She quickly covered herself and shrieked,

"What did you see, you pervert?!"

"Tch… You're the one exposing yourself,' Accelerator glared at her. 'You should think about this when flipping around."

"Pervert! Mad Wizard!"

She shouted, firing a series of low-level spells at him.

"Tch… Don't think I'm some kind of creep. No one wants to look at that."

"What do you mean by that?!"

Lefiya's embarrassment quickly turned to rage.

Magic circles filled the air, despite the fact that she had only just recovered some of her Mind. She skillfully wove her spells together and launched them rhythmically at him—nightmarish storms, electromagnetic flames, and freezing metal…

But all of it was blocked.

These spells could kill a Level 2 adventurer outright, yet before Accelerator's Reflection, they dissipated into harmless particles of light.

However, this allowed him to smile slightly—the elf girl's growth was astonishing.

Just then—

"Meow… Meow… Meow…"

A soft cry rang out nearby.

Accelerator turned his head and saw that Qliphap had returned.

"Oh, you're back."

'Meow… Meow… Meow…'

It was unclear what the cat was saying, but immediately after, Accelerator coldly raised his hand—then karate chopped her head.

Smack!

'Meow?!'

Qliphap let out a pitiful cry, immediately jumping away and hiding behind Lefiya as if seeking refuge.

Lefiya laughed at the sight of her teacher chasing after the dumb cat to punish her. She didn't know what Qliphap had done, but it was sure to be something amusing.

Accelerator could only sigh in frustration.

"Tch… Haah…"

Crossing his arms, he leaned against the rough stone table, silently observing Lefiya as she played with Qliphap. The girl seemed quite fond of the foolish feline.

But that didn't matter. Loki Familia was about to embark on a dangerous expedition. Lefiya would have to face some of the most terrifying monsters in the Dungeon—creatures where even a moment of hesitation could cost her life.

He recalled facing the black lizard. Those eyes. That killing intent. A creature devoid of compassion, driven only by pure destruction. And even though it wasn't the strongest being he had encountered, just something slightly weaker than that would be enough to crush Lefiya completely.

If she let fear take hold from the start of the battle, she would die.

After waiting a bit for her to rest, Accelerator finally spoke:

"Get up. I'm going to teach you one last thing before today's lesson ends."

Lefiya looked up at him, slightly surprised.

"What is it?"

"Willpower training."

She blinked. "Willpower? What do you mean?"

"You don't have to do anything. Just brace yourself."

His answer puzzled her, but she still nodded. Lefiya stood straight, gripping her staff tightly, preparing to face him.

Without hesitation, Accelerator pulled out a Tarot card—The World.

The card signified completion and the successful conclusion of a journey or project.

But when reversed, it represented isolation, delays, and the feeling of being trapped in one's own space.

"Aquarius, Scorpio, Leo, Taurus. Born and separated. Harmonized yet divided."

Something invisible spread and enveloped the space around the mountain. Then he let the card float in the air, flipping it upside down, before drawing his sword cane and slicing it apart.

Something was severed—not just physically.

A separate world had been created, completely isolating them from the outside, preventing the eyes of the gods from peering in.

Lefiya instantly sensed the change in the air. Not in temperature or mana, but something deeper, more primal—something beyond her comprehension.

"Brace yourself, Lefiya."

With that warning, he swallowed the blood rising in his throat and closed his eyes.

Then, he tapped into something truly his own.

His sins. The clones who had died by his hand. The transformation he had undergone—from a monster to someone responsible for Academy City.

A power he had never fully harnessed, but knew how to manifest.

Then he opened his eyes.

In that moment—Lefiya froze.

The pressure crashed down like a tsunami, crushing everything beneath it.

It wasn't mere killing intent.

It wasn't just the presence of a powerful being.

It was something beyond comprehension.

A monstrous will.

Pure, overwhelming despair when facing an existence hundreds, thousands of times stronger.

And above all—an oppressive force from a being that had surpassed The Third Tree.

A god?

No!

Something beyond even them.

Lefiya's heart clenched. Her body trembled, as if her nerves were being strangled.

She wanted to scream but couldn't breathe.

She wanted to run but had lost all feeling in her legs.

Her mind shrieked, but there was no escape.

The next moment, Lefiya collapsed, unconscious.

Accelerator immediately withdrew his power. He quickly stepped towards her, crouching down to check her pulse and breathing. Beside him, Qliphap leaped down, gently touching Lefiya's forehead with her tiny feline paw.

'Nehehe… She's fine.' She spoke to him telepathically after scanning the child's mind. Fortunately, at the last moment, he had reduced the pressure, keeping it within limits for her spirit. Otherwise, she might not have simply fainted.

After a thorough check, Qliphap lowered her paw and turned to glare at him sharply.

'What you did just now was excessive and unnecessary. If you want to train the child's willpower,killing intent alone is enough.' She reprimanded him harshly—something she had never done before. But this time, he was completely in the wrong. He had mistaken her for someone else.

"When will the child wake up?"

"I will try to heal her, Master, but it might take a while." Qliphap returned to her true form and placed a hand on the child's head.

Accelerator watched her work for a moment before turning away. "Alright, then I'll get back to work."

…

Thud!

Pain… From the dark void, she had fallen somewhere.

Lefiya stood up, dusting off her clothes. Looking around, she found herself standing on solid ground, her gaze sweeping over the vast scenery before her.

It was an empty land stretching to the horizon, flanked by two rows of colossal stone pillars. They were so massive they could rival the Babel Tower—grander than anything she had ever seen.

At the end of the path between the pillars, atop seven enormous steps, sat a majestic throne. Behind it, withered black roots stretched out from the left, evoking a sense of decay and destruction. In contrast, the right side was adorned with lush green roots, blooming with flowers and exuding a pure, gentle aura.

At the center of the throne, reaching up into the sky, was a towering column made of complex mechanical devices she couldn't begin to understand. It rose higher than the stone pillars, resembling the trunk of a mechanical tree with ten spheres arranged in a perfect triangle with the opposing roots.

Lefiya stepped closer to the throne, observing her surroundings. When she looked up at the sky, she saw a shimmering light in the distance—a radiance forming brilliant paths like breathtaking auroras, illuminating this land.

Near where she had fallen, ethereal blue dust specks floated in the air, drifting along invisible currents. Strange creatures roamed the eerie space—beings shaped like wheels or enormous vessels made entirely of interwoven eyes and wings. They stared at her briefly before silently drifting away, leaving her with an unsettling feeling.

As she neared the throne, Lefiya could make out the figure of someone sitting there. The distance was still vast—around five hundred meters—but she could tell the figure was no larger than an ordinary person. Compared to the enormous throne, they looked so small, nearly swallowed by it.

They sat idly, their gaze seemingly lost in the distant sky, completely ignoring her presence.

Lefiya stopped, took a deep breath, and spoke, trying to keep her voice steady and friendly.

"Hello. Can you tell me where this is?"

Her voice echoed through the vast space, but there was no reply. The person on the throne slowly turned to look at her.

The moment their eyes met, a cold shiver ran down Lefiya's spine. Her knees buckled under an invisible pressure.

…

"Haah… haah… haah…"

Lefiya panted, her trembling hands clutching at her chest.

She bolted upright, her body drenched in sweat, breathing heavily as if she had just experienced the worst nightmare of her life. Her hands shakily ran over her body—the tangible sensation of her skin, her muscles, the rhythmic beating in her chest reassured her so much she almost wanted to cry.

She let out a sigh of relief, glancing to the side. Next to her, Qliphap was curled up, sleeping peacefully, her tail flicking slightly with each steady breath. Her staff and broom lay neatly beside her, untouched.

"You fainted."

Lefiya flinched.

She turned—Accelerator was sitting on a stone table, pen in hand, writing something in a notebook.

She clenched her fists, her gaze wavering.

"I'm sorry. I…"

"That's unnecessary. I'm the one at fault here."His calm words made Lefiya freeze.

"So what was that last trial?"

"A test of the mind." Accelerator continued writing, not pausing. "Exactly as I said. It was a natural form of mental attack."

He finished the last line, set his pen down, and looked at her. There was a hint of regret in his eyes.

"It's something that a few powerful monsters possess."

Lefiya clenched her hands tighter. She knew that.

In two days, she would embark on a dangerous expedition with the Loki Familia. She had to be prepared for anything.

"I miscalculated—"

"Can you continue that training with me?" She cut him off.

Accelerator looked at her.

"You just—"

"I'm fine with it."

A long silence stretched between them. Then—

"Alright. Let's continue."

Lefiya carefully placed Qliphap—who was still sound asleep—on the stone table. Then she took a deep breath and faced Accelerator once more. She stood firm, her staff in hand.

And then—the pressure returned.

Killing intent. Terror.

A primal fear engulfed her, making her body tremble instantly.

Lefiya felt her throat go dry, her mind spinning as if she were about to be crushed under this weight. She wanted to run. She wanted to was much weaker than the first time, but still far beyond her limits.

An opponent who overwhelmed her in every way.

A predator standing at the peak of the food chain.

Something humans could not resist.

Fear crept into the deepest part of her soul.

If this were a real enemy—

Would she surrender?

Would she let her comrades die?

Would she run away, abandoning everyone?

Or would she be too paralyzed with fear to do anything at all?

No.

No.

NO!

'I will protect them! That is my promise! That is my resolve! That is my will!'

Even as her legs trembled, she slowly raised her head.

Even as her body screamed to collapse, she forced herself to stand tall.

She fought against his killing intent with her will alone.

Courage—

It wasn't about being fearless.

Courage was moving forward despite fear.

And now, she understood that a little better.

…

Accelerator watched her.

His killing intent still surrounded her, mixed with the very nature of his power.

And for a fleeting moment, her image overlapped with a name from his who had once stood before him in the same way.

Kamijou Touma.

But the illusion quickly faded. She was not him.

Her will might be similar, but it was also different.

She was not Kamijou Touma.

She was not him.

She was simply herself.

And then, something unexpected was different from his usual smiles.A small, barely noticeable expression, but a genuine one.

Before him, Lefiya had straightened completely, her eyes filled with determination.

Her staff was raised, pointed directly at him.

…

She was back in that strange space once more.

The silent night sky stretched endlessly above, massive stone pillars towering around her. Shimmering auroras swept across the heavens, and rare star-like particles drifted through the deep darkness.

Before her, the being on the throne remained seated, nameless yet imposing—like an ancient god watching over the universe.

Its gaze fell upon her once more.

A crushing pressure bore down on her body, forcing her to her knees, strangling her breath.

A primal instinct flared—

To submit.

To obey.

To not resist.

Yet even as her body trembled, even as her will was twisted under an overwhelming power, she lifted her the being bathed in silver light, a spark of determination ignited in her eyes.

And at that very moment—The first sphere began to glow.

…

Night fell, draping the city in a veil of gentle stillness. The cool air, tinged with the faint chill of late evening, brought a soothing sense of calm after a long day. Along the stone-paved road leading away from Daedalus Street, two figures walked in silence. Lefiya followed closely behind Accelerator, her hand unconsciously tightening around her staff. She could feel each step against the ground, the soft echoes of her footsteps resounding in the quiet night.

Qliphap, as always, was curled up atop Accelerator's head, its soft fur rising and falling with each steady breath. He showed no signs of discomfort, simply continuing forward with his usual nonchalant demeanor, as if he had long grown accustomed to the small weight. Neither of them spoke, letting the peaceful atmosphere remain undisturbed.

The silver pocket watch Lefiya carried—crafted in the shape of a tree with a small leaf on its lid—told her it was already late. They had left the training grounds after finishing the meal Wander had brought them—though in truth, it was food Accelerator had prepared in advance. As always, he had little to say, wasting no words. Once their training had concluded, he had promptly led her back.

Of course, that also meant she had to endure yet another round of his dreadful teleportation. Even after experiencing it once before, she still wasn't used to it. The disorienting sensation, the way the scenery stretched and compressed in an instant—it made her stomach churn, no matter how much she tried to keep her composure. But in the end, she had no complaints—this was still the fastest way.

As they neared the outskirts of Daedalus Street, Accelerator suddenly halted. Lefiya knew exactly what this meant. He wasn't going any further. He was about to turn off in another direction—back to wherever he called home.

She didn't blame him. Over the past week, he had helped her more than she could ever repay, all without asking for anything in return. He was always practical—more of a man of action than words.

"Take this, kid."

Accelerator's voice broke the silence as he pulled out a small notebook and handed it to her.

"These are the methods I came up with for maneuvering on a flying broom."

She flipped it open, finding meticulously written notes detailing various movement techniques, modeled after the principles of fighter aircraft. The pages were filled with precise diagrams and annotations—unexpectedly thorough for someone like him.

"You won't be able to practice it today, but read through it. It'll come in handy."

Lefiya blinked, barely having time to express her gratitude before he pulled out a small pouch and placed it in her hands.

"And this is a charm Qliphap made for you. She came up with the idea and had Wander craft it."

Lowering her gaze, she looked at the pouch.

A gentle, comforting scent drifted from it—the warm fragrance of sandalwood mixed with the familiar aroma of her homeland. A deep sense of nostalgia and tranquility washed over her.

Tucking the pouch into her pocket, Lefiya clenched her hands, her eyes growing misty.

They had done so much for her.

A week ago, they were strangers. And now…

A week together felt too short. Far too short.

And as she looked back on their time together, her heart and mind swelled with emotion.

Without hesitation, she suddenly lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Accelerator.

She felt the stiffness in his body, the fleeting moment of confusion in his posture. But he didn't push her away.

After a brief moment, his voice reminded her, prompting her to step back hurriedly, embarrassment quickly overtaking her. She lowered her head, gripping the hem of her skirt tightly, unable to meet his gaze.

"Thank you. Thank you for everything," she whispered, staring at the stone beneath her feet.

A short silence. Then, his usual indifferent reply.

"It's nothing. I got something out of it too."

She nodded, reaching out to gently pat the sleeping cat atop his head.

Smiling, Lefiya took a step back and bowed to them both.

"Goodbye. See you again."

Just as she turned to leave, a low voice followed after her.

"…Good luck..."

Clutching the small pouch in her hand, she felt its warmth seep into her skin.

Without looking back, she continued forward, softly humming a cheerful tune.

…

Stories I Can't Easily Tell

1. The First Flight

"Aaaahhhh!"

Alright, cut! To understand why these sounds are being made, let's rewind time a little.

About five minutes before this happened, an elf girl was performing a ritual to connect with her formula broomstick. After successfully completing the ritual, she attempted to leave, but unfortunately, the strict dormitory supervisor—with green hair and a not-so-large chest—came by for a room inspection. Thanks to her quick thinking and a bit of luck, the elf girl managed to escape just in time with her broomstick, Asmodeus—the very object she had just bonded with.

And that was where it all began.

Now, let's continue the story.

Lefiya wasn't entirely sure what had possessed her to go through with this reckless stunt. Maybe it was the thrill of breaking the rules, maybe it was the sheer terror of facing Riveria's punishment, maybe it was the naive belief that she would succeed after the bonding ritual, or maybe… she was just too curious about the sensation of flying. But whatever the reason, the moment she leaped out of the window, clutching the enchanted broomstick, she realized she had made a terrible mistake.

The wind whipped against her face, tangling her hair and dress, making them flutter wildly. She clung tightly to the broomstick, but instead of a smooth flight, it jerked forward like a wild beast roused from slumber. Before she could even scream, the broomstick shot up into the sky at a terrifying speed, dragging her straight into the night.

"Uohhh… Aaaahhhh!"

Her screams were swallowed by the wind as her body was tossed around with every erratic movement. She tried using magic to stabilize herself, but the broomstick—no, this thing had a will of its own. And it completely ignored her commands.

Then, in the next instant, she realized she was shooting straight up—so fast that the air around her grew colder, tiny droplets of moisture crystallizing against her clothes. By the time she registered this, Lefiya had already broken through the cloud layer, where the moon glowed eerily above her. Something about the sky tonight felt… wrong. The vast night stretched endlessly around her, but she had no time to appreciate the view.

Because the broomstick suddenly changed direction.

"Wait! Slow down—!"

There was no "slowing down."

In the blink of an eye, Lefiya was plummeting from the clouds, streaking across the sky like an out-of-control shooting star. She shrieked as the ground rushed toward her at an alarming speed. The broomstick howled through the air, barely skimming the treetops of the forest outside Orario. Branches stretched out like grasping fingers, some even slashing at her sleeves, leaving a few small rips.

She thought she was about to meet a gruesome end—but somehow, in the chaos, her survival instincts kicked in. She twisted her body, desperately adjusting her position, and…

BANG!

There was no mercy.

She slammed into a tree branch, her entire body flung off the broomstick. Still propelled by momentum, she tumbled through the foliage—only to miraculously grab onto the broomstick again.

Fueled by her sheer fear of Riveria discovering she had snuck out at night, her grip was ironclad.

"Ah… Auchh… Hurts… Stop… Asmodeus… Please… Stop…"

Branches kept smacking into her as she was violently dragged through the trees, her voice breaking into painful yelps. The broomstick, however, refused to slow down. In fact, it accelerated even more.

Shooting past the forest, she was once again hurled into the sky.

The ground grew further and further away as the broomstick continued its insane speed. The icy night air bit at her skin, her breath turning into wisps of white. She was shivering uncontrollably, and with her mind in turmoil, she couldn't cast any spells. At this altitude, if she ran out of mental energy, she would undoubtedly end up as nothing more than a splattered mess on the ground. Her fingers, barely holding onto the broomstick, were growing weaker.

And the broomstick showed no signs of listening to her.

'Am I seriously going to die like this?'

That fleeting thought crossed her mind. But before she could think of her family, her Familia, or anything else—

A different voice echoed in her head.

"Quite disappointing. Determination is a fundamental quality of a mage."

That voice—clear as the first time she had ever heard it.

Ha! She never expected his words to come to her at a time like this.

This broomstick was a gift from him. A gift… and a challenge she had to conquer.

"Train me until I can beat you."

She still remembered those embarrassing words she had once declared.

No—she couldn't die before reaching the Mad Wizard.

She wouldn't die until she had defeated him.

Lefiya widened her eyes, struggling against the unbearable headache gnawing at her consciousness. The lack of oxygen nearly made her pass out, and her mind felt utterly drained after everything that had happened. Her skin went numb from the sudden drop in temperature, plummeting below -60 degrees. Ice clung to her clothes, making every movement heavy and sluggish. Her chest ached so much that every breath felt like a stab wound. Her entire body felt swollen from the pressure, with blood surging beneath her skin—both boiling hot and freezing cold at the same time.

Every basic survival condition was against her. Even top-tier adventurers wouldn't dare face an environment like this. And yet, in the midst of despair, her right hand still gripped the broom tightly. It was anything but comfortable—her palm was blistered from friction at the front while frozen stiff at the back. But she didn't let go, and neither did the broom stop moving.

Asmodeus continued shooting straight into the sky, piercing through the towering atmosphere. Around her, there was nothing but an endless void of darkness—an unexplored frontier for humankind. No trees, no people, not even clouds. Only the faint glow of distant stars and the cold, pale moonlight illuminating two lonely figures.

Dark and slow. The scene around her seemed to pause for a moment.

"Gyahhh…!"

Lefiya let out a wild scream, relying purely on sheer willpower to keep fighting. She reached out with her left hand, clutching the broom and pulling herself up. A reckless move—one misstep and she would slip and plummet to her death. But if she did nothing, she would die anyway.

And then, she succeeded.

Clamping her legs tightly around the broom, Lefiya forced the broom's head downward, trying to control it.

"You're not even a fraction of that person!"

She roared into the thin air, pouring every ounce of determination into her grip. The broom thrashed violently, but under her relentless pressure, it finally changed course. The golden ring on her finger blazed with light.

Both of them plunged downward.

The acceleration skyrocketed, and the wind tore through her clothes, threatening to strip away her flimsy protection. If not for her specially crafted adventurer gear, she might have been completely exposed in the open sky. She clenched her eyes shut as the pressure became even more unbearable.

At the broom's front, a ring of compressed air formed. One second later—boom!

A deafening sonic boom erupted as they shattered the speed barrier, a white shockwave bursting behind her, slicing through the night sky.

"Kyahhh—!"

Lefiya yanked the broom's handle up, trying to slow down. She tore through the frigid clouds once more, a massive wall of moisture slamming into her face, sending chills down her spine.

And finally, as she opened her eyes, a tiny speck of light appeared on the vast land below.

Orario.

She couldn't see it clearly yet, but she recognized it instantly. A magnificent city where even Babel—the grand tower—now seemed like nothing more than a speck of dust in the infinite world.

The sight before her left Lefiya breathless. Orario stretched out beneath the night sky, its rooftops, streets, and glowing lights blending into a breathtaking tapestry—one that perhaps no one had ever seen from this perspective. But there was no time to admire it. The most important thing now was figuring out how to land safely before her battered body could no longer endure.

She quickly glanced behind her—thankfully, her magic pouch was still strapped to her shoulder. Without hesitation, she reached inside, fumbling around and pulling out every potion she could grab. She didn't bother counting or measuring doses—she simply uncapped each bottle and downed them all at once. The liquid burned with raw magical energy as it rushed down her throat, setting her stomach on fire. Whatever she couldn't drink, she spat out, the bottles tumbling and clinking against each other in midair.

"Damn it…!"

She gritted her teeth, pulling the broom's handle hard to slow down, while her left hand—wrapped in black cloth—rose, preparing a magic circle. The runes spun in the air, glowing with golden light from the ring on her finger.

Lefiya kept plummeting, Orario growing larger by the second. She couldn't fully control the broom, but at least she could avoid a direct crash into the ground.

And then—Babel Tower appeared right in front of her.

"Crap!"

With no time to react, she yanked the broom hard, spiraling dangerously close to the tower's surface. The violent winds lashed against her, ripping apart the magical trails she had just created. She caught a fleeting glimpse of someone above—a silver-haired god watching her descent. But there was no time to care.

She broke free from Babel's trajectory, heading straight for Twilight Manor.

Struggling to stabilize, she gained altitude to avoid being spotted by the guards. If they saw an adventurer failing to control a broom crashing into the Loki Familia headquarters, it would be a disaster. Once high enough, she bit her lip, tightened her grip on Asmodeus—then let go.

Both of them fell freely.

The wind howled past her ears.

The magic circle she had prepared flared brightly through the black cloth. Without hesitation, she released it. A gentle gust embraced her body, softening the fall as she crashed into the bushes below a window.

Thud!

The vines tumbled down with her. The black cloth unfurled, wrapping around her like a cocoon. The scent of leaves and damp earth filled her nose, but at least she was alive.

Nearby, a guard flinched as an unusual sound echoed in the midnight silence. It wasn't the usual wind—it was the noise of something plummeting at terrifying speed. He narrowed his eyes, gripping his spear tightly, cautiously approaching the bushes where the sound had come from. Under the dim moonlight, the leaves rustled as if someone had just landed.

"Who's there?" he called out, quickening his steps, ready to face any intruder.

And at that moment—

Bonk!

A small object dropped from above, hitting him square on the head. A sharp pain shot through his skull, making the world spin.

Bonk! Bonk!

Before he could react, his legs buckled.

Thud!

The guard collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Beside his motionless form, empty potion bottles rolled around, clinking softly in the silent night.

And that was how it all unfolded—from the ritual binding her to Asmodeus to the unfortunate "attack" on an innocent guard. Perhaps by tomorrow, the man would wake up with a splitting headache, thinking he had just experienced a bizarre dream.

As for Lefiya, after shaking off the dizziness that made her forget a few things, she eventually made her way to her room and drifted into a deep sleep.

If only the sky wasn't already growing bright.

Regardless, this story ends here. Until next time.

Caw-Caw…

The sound of wings flapping echoed, leaving a few feathers drifting by the window.

—The End—

2. Worry

"La… La… La…" Lefiya cheerfully hummed as she made her way back to her Familia. Today had been tough—an intense training session, a delicious meal, and a fun conversation with her teacher. Despite her exhaustion, she couldn't wipe the smile off her face.

As she arrived at the gates of Twilight Manor, the home of the Loki Familia, a cold voice suddenly called out to her.

"Lefiya Viridis!"

The voice belonged to an elf with emerald-green hair tied into a waist-length ponytail, her eyes matching the same shade. She wore a green outfit with gold trim, a white cloak draped over her shoulders, a black belt, a yellow scarf, black leggings, and brown knee-high boots.

This was Riveria Ljos Alf—the vice-captain of the Loki Familia. Behind her, the Sword Princess turned her head away from Lefiya.

"You had fun, didn't you?" Riveria's icy tone sent a chill down Lefiya's spine.

Riveria's anger was terrifying. The sheer amount of mana leaking from her made her hair sway and coil like a green serpent.

"Disappearing from early morning until late evening without informing anyone in the Familia." Lefiya could only lower her head, too afraid to move under Mama Riveria's wrath.

"On top of that, you were training with some unknown person—the 'Mad Wizard.' Do you even realize how dangerous that was?" Riveria stepped closer.

"But…" Lefiya tried to protest, but Riveria suddenly pulled her into an embrace.

"I was worried about you." Riveria's hand gently stroked her back.

"You're not a warrior like Aiz, nor are you as strong as Tiona and Tione when venturing alone. Even though you're Level 3, I'm scared something dangerous might happen to you."

Lefiya felt warmth spread through her chest at Riveria's concern. It reminded her of her parents back home.

"Thank you, Mama Riveria."

The moment the words left her mouth, the atmosphere turned ice-cold again. Riveria's sharp gaze pierced through her like a blade. There was no escaping now.

"It seems we need to have a little talk, don't we, Lefiya?"

Riveria's words sent a shiver down her spine. Grabbing Lefiya by the scruff of her neck, Riveria dragged the poor elf into the manor.

"Aiz, help me!" Lefiya pleaded.

Aiz merely took a step back, distancing herself. She knew full well that if she interfered now, she'd be doomed as well.

"AIZ-SAN!"

3. First Step

In a cheap inn room he had rented, under the dim glow of a weak torch ignited by his own power, Accelerator sat in a worn-out chair and placed a stack of books he had just borrowed from the library onto the table. These were the rarest books on magic he could find in this region, obtained in exchange for the meager earnings he made from hunting monsters near the village.

He opened one of the books, flipping through the pages, only to feel immediate disappointment.

Its contents focused on teaching magic to those with Falna—mainly guiding them on controlling Mind, optimizing incantation processes, absorbing natural magic, and regulating breathing to enhance spell usage. But there were no illustrations of magic circles, nor anything truly useful to him.

Theoretically, this knowledge could benefit him as an esper utilizing Mind, but he had already long been familiar with it. In Academy City, he had studied similar concepts—and even more advanced scientific materials on the nature of energy and supernatural phenomena. What he needed was not a way to increase his power, but a type of magic that could support him in situations where manipulating Vectors was impossible.

He quickly moved on to the next book. Then another. And another. But they were all too shallow, lacking anything truly valuable. It seemed that in this small village, there were no books suited to what he was searching for.

Would he have to go to that magic city?

In the end, only one book remained. It looked relatively new, titled The System of Magic. It had likely been published within the last twenty years. Accelerator didn't expect much but opened it anyway.

And immediately, he realized it was different.

This book was unlike anything he had read before. The author seemed to have a deep passion for both art and history—its pages didn't just contain spell chants and rituals but also meticulously drawn magic circles, crafted with precise detail. Each spell's function was carefully explained beneath its respective illustration.

This was exactly what he needed.

He pulled out a large piece of parchment and began his analysis. As he examined the magic circles in the book, he cross-referenced them with the knowledge he already had—identifying similarities, breaking down differences, and systematically organizing them into a structure that functioned like an electronic circuit.

And after completing his initial deductions, he drew his first magic circle.

A fire magic circle—the element that had illuminated humanity since ancient times.

Taking out a small magic stone, no larger than a grain of rice, which he had acquired from hunting surface monsters, he placed it in his palm, extracted its power, and activated the magic circle.

Tsk… tsk… BOOM!

An explosion erupted.

Fortunately, he had reacted in time to contain the sound with his ability; otherwise, the entire inn would have been woken up. He tried again, using a new sheet of parchment.

This time, the flame ignited—only to burn through the magic circle and consume the paper entirely.

Again… but the flame was pitifully weak, barely 10% efficient.

Again… Again…

And finally, after dozens of attempts, a normal, stable flame appeared—controlled and sustainable.

Accelerator exhaled, leaning back in his chair.

He was out of magic stones.

Tilting his head back, he watched the soft flickering of the flame he had just created.

Then he turned to the final page of the book.

There was no author's name. Only a simple signature—Keith.

He silently stared at the name, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

Regardless, he had made some progress.

The cold, dimly lit room was now warmed by the gentle glow of fire.

Back to the Present

"Finally succeeded."

Accelerator sat calmly in the garden, one arm resting on the table, his lazy gaze following Lefiya as she completed her first wind magic circle.

Qliphap was curled up on the table, eyes half-closed, its tail lazily swaying in rhythm with its slow, steady breaths.

"Alright, try again."

He didn't need to ask. He already knew who she was trying to imitate.

Without saying another word, Accelerator quietly closed his book, setting it aside.

Relaxing his shoulders, he leaned back in his chair, stretched out his legs, and let out a long, contented breath.

4. Wishe Village

If someone told you that there was an elven village friendly to humans, would you believe it? If I hadn't known about this place, I would have thought it was nothing more than a beautiful lie—an unattainable fantasy in this world.

Even among the many elven villages, this one was widely known beyond its borders.

Located within the great river of trees that spanned the center of the continent, Wishe Forest served as a transit hub for merchants and travelers crossing the land. Many people from other races visited and passed through the village on their journeys.

It was an extraordinarily unusual situation compared to most elven forests.

The typically isolated and reclusive elves were slowly adjusting to the changes brought about by the dawn of the era of gods. But none had opened their borders as much as Wishe. Most elves living in forests remained dedicated to protecting their sacred trees, upholding their ancestral teachings, and maintaining a clear divide between themselves and the outside world. It was common for elves who left their homes to be shocked by the sheer diversity of the world beyond.

But the people of Wishe Forest were different.

They proactively interacted with other races, dreamed of the world beyond their homeland, and eventually embarked on journeys of their own. Social, adaptable, and possessing magic prowess that stood out even among their kin—these were the trademarks of a Wishe Forest elf.

It all traced back to the village's namesake.

Ahh, how foolish, how frivolous!

What meaningless fairy customs!

My fellow elves, leave the woods and gaze upon the world.

Build bonds and expand the circle of fairies.

Elves, know ye true pride!

These words were written by Wishe, one of the three great bards whose names had survived from the distant past.

And to this day, they remained one of the village's core teachings.

By all accounts, Wishe had been an uninhibited, wandering bard who never stayed in one place long enough to build a village.

But those who admired him reclaimed the forest of his birth from the monsters that had overtaken it and established a village there, naming it after him. That was how Wishe Forest came to be.

Following the teachings of an elf who had been freer than any other, the villagers took a greater interest in the outside world than any of their kin.

…

Accelerator arrived at the village from the port.

He could have simply flown there from the teleportation point, but suddenly appearing from the sky might have been a bit excessive—at least by this world's standards.

Qliphap lounged lazily on his shoulder, its tail swaying with each step he took.

The scenery of Wishe Forest was just as he had heard—an endless expanse of towering trees reaching toward the heavens, with a village hidden within, seamlessly blending nature and civilization. Wooden and stone houses with moss-covered roofs, stone-paved paths intertwined with ancient tree roots. A peaceful yet vibrant atmosphere filled the air.

Not long after he stepped into the village, an amber-haired elven woman approached him, a gentle smile on her lips.

"Are you a traveler?" she asked, her gaze briefly flickering to the cat resting on his shoulder.

Qliphap flicked its ears lazily and let out a halfhearted "Meow."

The woman chuckled in amusement.

"What a cute cat."

"Heh." Accelerator let out a short, dry laugh, offering no further explanation.

She didn't press him. She simply nodded and started leading the way.

As they walked, she spoke about the legends of Wishe, the village's customs, and how they welcomed travelers from all over the world.

After a while, Accelerator suddenly asked,

"…Is there a tavern here?"

The woman laughed softly and turned to a nearby elf man with deep blue-green eyes.

"Hey, show him to the tavern."

The elf man smirked and gestured toward a distant path.

"Go straight and turn left. You'll see a small tavern under the largest tree in the village."

"Got it." Accelerator gave a brief response and turned to leave.

As he walked away, a strange sense of familiarity flickered through his mind.

He glanced back at the elf couple.

They reminded him of Lefiya.

The woman's hair color, her gentle smile—

His brows furrowed slightly, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

It had nothing to do with him.

"It seems fate is toying with you," Qliphap murmured teasingly from his shoulder.

"Shut up."

Ignoring the talkative cat, Accelerator stepped into the tavern.

Inside, it was warm and inviting—a simple yet tidy space. Behind the counter, the barkeep—an older elf with silver hair—was polishing a glass.

Accelerator walked up without preamble and asked directly,

"Can I visit Wishe Village's Spirit Tree?"

The barkeep didn't seem angered or surprised. He simply smiled and shook his head slightly.

"You wouldn't be the first to ask that."

He set the glass down on the counter, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Plenty of travelers have come here, curious about that tree. But for security reasons, its location isn't disclosed. You probably already know how rare sacred tree wood is.

Still, if you keep your eyes open, you might catch a glimpse of it from afar."

"…I see."

Not particularly surprised by the answer, Accelerator simply left a coin on the counter as thanks before silently turning to leave the tavern.

Stepping outside, he quickly made his way to a secluded spot. With his vector senses, he scanned the area to ensure that no one was following him.

From within his cloak, he drew a tarot card.

"The Hermit hides me from the world. Grant me a moment of solitude."

Immediately, his existence was erased from the world. No one could perceive his presence. No magic could trace his whereabouts. Only an absolute silence remained, as if he had never existed. With a practiced motion, he drew the next card.

"The Star illuminates all paths. Show me my destination."

A soft radiance descended from the stars, forming a path visible only to him. While he could already sense the energy of the Spirit Tree through his vector perception, this method would guide him exactly where he needed to go.

Regulating his breathing and stabilizing his blood flow, he stepped forward onto the glowing path.

Before long, he arrived at the edge of a forest. The trees leaned together, their tangled roots forming a natural barricade that completely concealed the entrance within. Only a small tunnel remained—just big enough for someone to crouch and crawl through. He placed a hand on his forehead and sighed.

Qliphap chuckled on his shoulder.

"This child is really something..."

Not wanting to damage this beautiful place, he drew his staff.

"Cold-wet. Cold-dry."

At once, the leaning trees slowly parted, opening a passage before him. As he walked through, they closed behind him once more, hiding the path entirely.

Beyond the trees, a secret garden unfolded before him. Countless tiny white flowers stretched to the horizon.

At the heart of the garden stood the Spirit Tree, its luminous trunk glowing like lanterns in the night.

Accelerator deactivated his concealment. Immediately, the Spirit Tree responded. The air trembled slightly, as if the tree was observing him with curiosity.

He did not resist.

He allowed the sacred tree's aura to sweep over him, sensing its search for hostility. Finding none, the atmosphere gradually softened. A gentle breeze stirred, brushing through his hair—a quiet welcome.

He stepped forward and placed his hand on the tree's trunk. Without haste, he conveyed his intentions to the Spirit Tree.

Qliphap, still draped lazily over his shoulder, lent her power to assist the process.

Memories surfaced—of an unexpected encounter, of grueling training, and of her unwavering determination.

He expressed his wish to create an item that would aid her in the journey ahead.

After relaying his message, he stepped back and awaited the Spirit Tree's decision.

The tree shivered slightly. A soft wind swept around him. A distant, ethereal melody echoed in the air.

Qliphap chuckled, opening her eyes.

"Nehehe… It seems the tree wants you to touch it again."

Accelerator cast a glance at the cat before placing his hand against the tree once more.

Instantly—visions flooded his mind.

…

A small elf girl crawled through hidden passageways to reach this very garden. She sat on a fallen log, her eyes shining as she gazed at the Spirit Tree.

She dreamed of the world beyond, of grand adventures, of the day a prince on a white horse would come to take her away.

A childish dream—innocent, like a fairy tale. But more than anything, she longed for an opportunity.

Accelerator opened his eyes, his cold gaze piercing the tree's trunk.

"Isn't showing me this without the child's consent a violation of privacy?"

The Spirit Tree did not respond. It only swayed lightly, as if amused, before sending more visions into his mind.

A kind and gentle child. A curious spirit, dashing around on tiny legs, exploring the world with unbridled wonder.

She eagerly listened to travelers' stories at the village inn, pleaded with them for more tales, and grew enthralled by the souvenirs they brought from distant lands. She asked innocent questions that made many laugh.

Her days unfolded like the roots of the great tree, woven deeply into the village's life.

Kind-hearted, somewhat timid, and slightly indecisive, Lefiya struggled with the thought of leaving home.

Fearful, restless, yet determined, she finally set out when the grand ship arrived.

With the unwavering support of her parents, Lefiya prepared for her journey.

A small, warm farewell party was held in her honor.

Deep in her heart, she feared disappointing them if she failed the crucial exam. But when the good news came, she was overwhelmed with joy.

Embracing her parents tightly, she made a firm declaration—she would surely return.

On the day of her departure, a halo of light crowned the great tree's peak.

The sacred tree was bidding her farewell, just as the villagers had.

And so, the journey of the little elf began.

…

Accelerator remained silent, carefully organizing the memories he had just received—storing them neatly away, as precious as any others he had gathered.

When he opened his eyes again, a branch extended toward him.

The sacred tree had granted him its gift, along with a silent wish.

Gently, he placed a hand on the branch and whispered a promise.

"I will take care of the child."

Then, he snapped off the branch, bowed to the Spirit Tree, and turned to leave.

Qliphap plucked a few lingering leaves from the branch and tucked them away, playfully waving goodbye to the Spirit tree.

…

Evening—

In the magic workshop, the glow of enchanted lamps illuminated the room, casting light over towering stacks of books and scattered notes across the desk. The silence was broken only by the faint rustling of pages and the steady breathing of someone asleep.

"Snrrrrr…"

Accelerator glanced to the side, his gaze drifting away from the dry text in his book. Lefiya had dozed off atop her reports, her messy golden hair spilling over the table, one small hand loosely clutching a pen. She must have been exhausted after a long day.

"World… explore… Aiz…"

She mumbled nonsense in her sleep, her voice so soft it nearly faded into the air.

He watched her for a moment, his expression as unreadable as ever, but he didn't immediately return to his reading. Quietly marking his page, he set the book on his lap and reached toward her.

His fingers brushed against her cheek—warm and soft, like a freshly steamed bun. A strange sensation made him pause, then, almost instinctively, he gave it a slight tug.

Squishy. Bouncy—

Surprisingly pleasant. It reminded him, for a fleeting second, of Last Order. But he knew better than to compare the two.

"Uhh… Uhhh… Huh…"

Lefiya stirred, a faint whimper escaping her lips, discomfort flickering across her face even in sleep.

"Mad… wizard… terrible…"

Her drowsy voice murmured an unconscious accusation. Accelerator hesitated for a beat before releasing her cheek. An inexplicable twinge of irritation surfaced within him.

Without dwelling on it, he picked up his book again, resuming his reading as the girl beside him slumbered on under the soft glow of the magic lamps.

…

/Hello everyone, the author here!
There's a lot I want to talk about in this update, so let's go through everything step by step.

We've finally finished introducing the two key characters and their dynamic in this story—Lefiya and Accelerator.

Some people might dislike Lefiya, but she's actually my favorite character in DanMachi. Her development in Oratoria was amazing, and I really wanted to explore an alternative path for her in this story. I stripped away her shield and gave her a fighter jet instead.

I actually had a really cool power concept for Lefiya, but after some research, I found out that it wasn't as unique as I thought. (Coming up with a power as distinct as Accelerator's is genuinely difficult.)

As for Accelerator, I initially thought he would be a simple and easy character to write—mostly because people often say he's easier to handle than Touma. But I quickly realized that's not the case. Even in this version, he's still full of complexities.

The thing about Accelerator is that he has ideals. Unlike Touma, who saves people simply because he can, what makes Accelerator compelling is his strong sense of right and wrong. He genuinely believes in justice, yet he struggles because he can't live up to his own vision of it. That's why he keeps fighting toward something he believes he'll never truly reach.

I feel like my understanding of him is still lacking, and it's tough to write him well. If you have any insights on his character, I'd love to hear them!

Anonimosus :"It" has nothing to do with Goetia. I actually based it on a fanfiction concept that completely counteracts the Path of LOTM in LOTM.

Bonus: Aki x Raul is my favorite ship.

Thank you all for reading my story! The next chapter will probably be out in about three months. /