Memoirs of the Returnee

Paper Birds (1)

Trill-trill—— trill-trill——

An alarm is ringing on my smartphone.

Trill-trill—— trill-trill——

“Ugh…….”

A text alarm trying to wake me up.

Trill-trill—— trill-trill——

“……Aargh.”

Trill-trill—— trill-trill——

Writhing in agony, I finally couldn’t bear it and sat up.

“Shit.”

I reached out and picked up my smartphone.

It was 2 a.m. on Wednesday.

“Who the fuck is……?!”

I was cursing when my eyes widened. I snapped to attention.

[#85 000-324-5839 : Excuse me ☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★]

[#85 000-324-5839 : Can you take a request^▽^]

[#85 000-324-5839 : Excuse me ☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★]

[#85 000-324-5839 : Excuse me ☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★]

They seemed like a lunatic, but it was a request text.

I hastily tapped on the screen.

[I can. Please tell me what you need.]

A reply came immediately.

[#85 000-324-5839 : Well.. I have an assignment.. But this is confidential, right? ￣-￣]

[Yes. Confidentiality is strictly maintained.]

Then several photos were sent.

[#85 000-324-5839 : Photo]

[#85 000-324-5839 : Photo]

[#85 000-324-5839 : Photo]

[#85 000-324-5839 : Photo]

[#85 000-324-5839 : Photo]

[#85 000-324-5839 : These.. Can you do it?]

“……Who is this?”

Five landscape pictures in total, with the assignment from the Tuesday elective ‘Latinel I’ written underneath: [Describe each of the above landscapes in over 1,000 characters.]

I was slightly taken aback, but I replied immediately.

[I can. However, the quality of the assignment should be similar to your level. If it’s too good or too bad, you run the risk of being suspected. Please send me a brief three-line Latinel writing that you’ve done yourself.]

[#85 000-324-5839 : Oh (emoji) Okay. Just a moment~]

“Is it Layla?”

I’m not sure.

The text itself looks a bit dumb.

Trill-

My smartphone rang again. It was the client’s Latinel writing.

[#85 000-324-5839: Harbor. The clouds are floating. A ship is docked. A few people watch the boats in the harbor. The sun is shining. It looks hot. It is actually hot. I’m sweating. Summer.]

“……It’s Layla.”

Almost 90% it’s her. My first partner when I first entered the Endex in my freshman year.

The psycho who went berserk, threatening to cut my finger because I crossed the desk line a little.

[Confirmed. It’s 500 Ren. 50% in advance.]

I deliberately asked for a high price.

Whether it’s Lalya or not, 500 Ren is a small change to the nobles learning Latinel.

[#85 000-324-5839 : How do I send it?]

[You can purchase a department store gift card in Messenger, take a picture of the barcode, and send it.]

I was going to give my account number but decided against it.

It wouldn’t matter if I was found out, but there’s no good in being found out.

[#85 000-324-5839 : Here. Advance payment.]

Immediately, the barcode of a department store gift card came. Not 250 Ren, but 500 Ren.

“I said the advance payment was 250 Ren.”

Did they understand the advance payment as 500 Ren?

Well, that’s good for me.

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“……Of all places, it had to be Libra Department Store.”

Libra Department Store gift certificate.

It was a bit irksome due to my old habit—boycotting any and all goods related to Libra before my regression—but I decided not to be petty about that anymore.

So, it’s rather good. It’s the most popular gift certificate, so even if I cash it in, the commission is only about 3~4%.

[Yes. Please wait for 30 minutes.]

Having replied, I sat at my desk and picked up a pencil.

* * *

3 a.m. A luxurious villa in a cypress forest.

Having finished her day’s work, Elise is lying on the sofa, looking at her smartphone to relax.

Kuaaa-! Kssssss—!

She gently snaps her fingers, drowning out the white noise of Asher and Kain’s martial arts fight outside the window.

[Balan: Elise. How about Dorsia this week? I barely managed to make a reservation.]

[Hmm. Not sure.]

[Tyric: Saw your interview. Your comments were cool.]

[Thanks.]

[Silbin: My dad also mentioned you, Elise haha, Are you thinking about writing an article?]

[Not really interested in writing articles.]

Here, Balan is the second son of the conglomerate Lostday, Tyric is the youngest son of a congressman, and Silbin is the eldest son of the Versio Knights’ commander.

Following her father’s advice, she’s managing her connections to some extent, but Elise finds it all rather bothersome.

Because she can guess what these people might be thinking.

“Tsk.”

Her mother—and other people—say that being pretty is a sin, but no matter how much she thinks about it, it’s an irresponsibly cruel statement.

This excessive and vulgar attention focused on her appearance, these annoyances, are they all supposedly ‘my fault for being pretty’? It doesn’t make sense.

Beauty is innocent.

It’s the flies that stick around without knowing their place that are guilty.

“……Elise. I finished my Latinel composition.”

At that moment, Layla appeared from the corner of her vision. She extended five sheets of paper with a slightly tense expression.

Elise raised an eyebrow.

“Already?”

“Yeah. This. Can you check if the meaning and interpretation are correct?”

Elise took it from her. An assignment to describe five landscapes in Latinel. With a condition of more than 1,000 characters per page, it’s quite a hassle……

Elise sighed.

“It’s good.”

“Really?!”

“You didn’t do it, did you?”

“Gasp!”

Layla clamped her mouth shut, startled by the pointed remark.

“How did you know? Was it obvious?!”

“No, it wasn’t that obvious.”

The language proficiency, sentence structure, and word difficulty aren’t particularly high.

Layla, it’s just a bit better than your level. I wouldn’t suspect a ghostwriter.”

“Really?! Awesome! But how did you know?”

“You couldn’t have done all this in one day.”

“……Ah.”

Layla’s talent is exceptional. To be frank, she’s on par with, if not superior to, Elise.

The problem is, she doesn’t put in the effort.

Layla has the highest potential of the ‘Spectrum’ among the people Elise knows, but at the same time, she’s the laziest and loves to play the most.

Especially, she despises physical training so much that her athletic ability is even less than that of an average middle school student.

“So, you mean you didn’t suspect me, right~?”

Layla was sprawled on the sofa, grinning from ear to ear.

“Sure. I’d recommend doing it on your own if possible… Who did you hire?”

Latinel is the highest and oldest language. As an ancient civilization, countless words have yet to be deciphered, making the language itself a form of social power.

The high cost of textbooks reflects this, and many prideful linguistics professors and fallen nobles speak Latinel.

Therefore, if someone is willing to ghostwrite a Latinel assignment, they’re likely to be someone Elise knows-

“I asked on a flyer?”

“…What?”

“This one.”

Layla handed over a crumpled piece of paper.

[At Your Service.]

“…”

Elise stared blankly at it. Layla chuckled and said,

“Elise, you should try it too~ They do a good job.”

“Are you crazy?”

“It only costs 1,000 Ren.”

“1,000 Ren?”

“Yeah. 500 Ren upfront, and 500 Ren upon completion.”

1,000 Ren. Considering the hourly rate of Elise’s weekly Latinel tutoring, it’s incredibly cheap.

“Forget it. What can I learn from someone who does such a simple assignment?”

Elise shrugged.

The result is bound to be amateurish. It’s not at all awkward for Layla’s level.

“No~ I asked them to adjust it to my level.”

“…”

Elise was slightly interested in that statement, but soon shook her head and stood up.

“More importantly, when are you going home?”

“Oh, did your car arrive, Elise? Then take me with you. Let’s go together.”

Elise and Layla left the villa together.

“Are you guys leaving now?”

“See you tomorrow~”

Two men waving their hands in the grassy yard, soaked in sweat.

Elise waved back lightly and got into the sedan with Layla. She immediately spoke to the driver, who was gripping the steering wheel.

“Drop Layla off first today.”

“Understood.”

“Haah~ I’m going to sleep for a bit.”

As soon as the car started, Layla fell asleep. Elise, with her arms crossed, was memorizing Latinel vocabulary when she glanced at Layla.

The flyer sticking out of Layla’s pocket.

“…Hmph.”

She wondered if she could complete the assignment with something like that. Even for Layla, it seemed a bit pathetic. When will this guy grow up?

Elise shifted her gaze to the window.

“…”

Her eyes fell back on the flyer.

There was no particular reason.

She was just curious.

Curious about who was selling their knowledge of Latinel as a mere errand.

She checked the phone number on the flyer with a quick side glance…

“Hmm.”

And saved it on her smartphone.

* * *

Wednesday.

This morning was particularly tiring, but my mood was particularly good. It was thanks to earning 1,000 Ren overnight.

Of course, I couldn’t be too excited.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are the days with college board assignments.

On those days, it’s more of a summons than going to school, so everyone always gathers at Clemen Hall.

“…It’s quiet.”

I arrived at Clemen Hall at 8:45. It was still quiet, probably because there was still time until 9:00. Everyone seemed busy with meditation, studying, or breakfast.

I sat down in any seat. Unconsciously, I found a certain head. It was the only red hair in Endex.

Soliette.

Since our meeting that day, my eyes have always been searching for her.

No, they naturally find her.

Because she’s such a special person.

While admiring her back with my chin resting on my hand, the front door of the hall opened.

“Nice to meet you~”

“?”

A rather lively voice echoed. Everyone was taken aback and turned to look in that direction.

A girl with pigtails was coming in, holding a box in her arms.

“I’m ‘Asillen ‘, the person in charge sent from the University Association~ Why isn’t it Chedric? We all have schedules too~ Three or four of us will take turns evaluating you~”

She cheerfully introduced herself and put down a ‘box’ on the desk. Then, she quickly pulled out a file and read it.

“Endex’s college board. From the last assignment, out of a total of 153 people, 26 failed, so from today, it will proceed with 127 people~?”

As she said, the place was a bit empty.

From the start, the college board has a national pass rate of 25%, and even in Endex, it’s a brutal process that only goes around 40~50%.

“Hmm. Isn’t 127 still too many~?”

Asillen muttered ominously while looking at her wristwatch. I also checked the time on my smartphone.

9:03 AM.

“Anyway. The ability I will evaluate today is ‘Mana Observation’~”

Snap- Asillen flicked her finger. Then, a fireball sprang up in the air.

It was a blue-colored 「Will-o’-the-wisp」.

“But before that, let’s explain briefly. What is a ‘Magic Formula’~?”

“It’s a formula made of mana.”

The immediate response.

Of course, it’s Elise.

“That’s right~ A formula made of mana. A magic formula can implement a very simple magical phenomenon. Like this will-o’-the-wisp. Then, what is a ‘magic spell formula’?”

“It’s a spell made of two or more magic formulas.”

This time, too, it was Elise.

“That’s right~ A spell made of two or more magic formulas is a magic spell formula. With this magic spell formula, you can implement much more complex and amazing phenomena than a magic formula. Like flying an airship, expanding space, and so on~”

I also know the basics.

The appearance of a ‘magic formula’ is a complex figure where circles and lines are intricately intertwined.

If two or more of these complex figures are connected, it’s a ‘spell’.

When this spell is completed in the correct order, then a ‘magic spell formula’ is implemented.

“What do you all see this will-o’-the-wisp as~? First, the one with yellow hair!”

Asillen pointed at me.

Why me again.

“What do you see this fire as? Answer me.”

The blue 「Will-o’-the-wisp」 flickering in the air.

“……It looks like fire.”

Fire is fire, what else?

Then Asillen shook her head from side to side.

“Nope! Anyone knows the answer?”

Elise raised her hand.

“Good, you there!”

“It appears as a magic formula.”

“Correct.”

Asillen raised her finger. From its tip, mana sprouted like a stem and formed a ‘formula’.

“This is the magic formula of the ‘Will-o’-the-wisp’.

Asillen looked at me.

“If you all really want to live with mana, you should be able to observe ‘phenomena’ in a ‘magical’ way like this. Those who accept phenomena as they are, are not professionals~”

She said, looking at me and grinning.

“Got it?”

“…….”

I remained silent. Then Asillen bit her lower lip slightly.

“Answer.”

“……Ah, yes. I understand.”

“Good.”

Asillen, who nodded, smiled again.

“Then, how should we observe this magic formula?”

“With the eyes of a mage.”

This time, too, it was Elise. Asillen made her fingers like a gun and pointed at her.

“Right~ Of course, you can also get help from tools. But, the help of tools is limited, right? You can’t be pulling out a microscope in a pressing situation~ Ultimately, you have to see with your naked eye, that is~”

Asillen pointed at her own eyes. She forced them wide open.

“The easiest way is, of course, the Magic Body. It’s about connecting the mana passage of the meridian to the optic nerve and sending mana through it.”

“…….”

At that moment, I felt a chill.

In the end, it’s all about the magic body.

It’s all about the meridian.

“Feeding mana to the eyes is the easiest part of the meridian. It’s the basics of the basics.”

It’s an impossible basic for a terminal cancer patient.

“So, if you can’t even do that in today’s assignment, you won’t be able to avoid failing, right?”

Asillen, who had said up to that point, gripped the lid of the box.

“So, now we’re going to start the official evaluation task~”

Snap-! She flung it open. From inside, paper birds noisily sprang out.

Flap flap flap——!

“Ugh!”

“Wow, that’s surprising!”

“Eh!”

The seniors each watched them with surprised faces.

The size and appearance of the paper birds varied, but they all flew out the window in the same way.