Chapter 13: "Shield of Light"
The morning at the inn begins with the aroma of bread and the sound of dishwashing. Louis was once again struggling with bubbles.
"Why do bubbles run away so much...? It's just like my self-esteem."
Just as he muttered that to himself‚ a loud explosion echoed from the center of the town.
"Magical beast Glaval has appeared! Citizens‚ please evacuate!"
Shouts came from outside. Louis tossed aside the sponge and looked out the window.
(That's... a demonic beast? Magic power absorption type... and it even has the power to destroy barriers.)
In his mind‚ structural analysis of the magical beast had begun. Magic flow paths‚ attack range‚ reaction speed—everything was being converted into formulas.
(Incantation won't make it in time. In that case‚ I have no choice but to deploy a barrier without chanting.)
In the town square‚ Glaval was roaring. Buildings collapsed‚ and citizens fled in panic.
Leon stood at the front line with his sword ready.
"Damn... The barrier won't hold!"
Even his holy attribute magic was ineffective against the beast's absorption ability.
"Someone‚ put up a barrier—!"
At that moment‚ the space was enveloped in light.
"Barrier deployment. Magic flow path reconstruction. Blocked area‚ radius 42 meters. Error within 0.01."
Louis's voice rang out. No chant‚ no staff. A geometric magic circle floated around him.
"Louis...!"
Serina rushed over. Her eyes were filled with surprise and a few tears.
"I believed you would come."
"Because I calculated it. Your position was within an error of 0.03."
"...Is that supposed to be romantic?"
"Probably not."
The barrier completely blocked the magical beast's attacks. The citizens were protected within that light‚ and Leon sheathed his sword.
"You're really amazing‚ Louis. You truly are... a hero."
Louis scratched his head bashfully.
"No‚ I was just... fighting with bubbles."
"Bubbles?"
"Yeah‚ the dishwashing bubbles. They run away‚ those guys."
"...You're really the same as always."
Leon laughed. Serina laughed too. Louis smiled a little as well.
That night‚ the three sat on the roof of the inn.
Stars twinkled‚ and the wind gently brushed their cheeks.
"Louis‚ today's barrier... was incredible."
"Thanks. But I'm still scared. That someone like me could protect others."
"But you did protect us. Us and the town."
Serina's voice was gentle and warm.
Leon looked up at the sky and said‚
"I protect with my sword. Louis protects with numbers. Serina protects with her heart. ...Isn't that fine?"
The three remained silent for a while‚ watching the stars.
The silence was no longer painful.
It was the beginning of their bond.
And so‚ the hero‚ with the shield of light in hand‚ gradually began to accept himself.
Chapter 14: "The Three's Oath"
The moon quietly illuminated the sky.
The seaside town was peaceful as if it had forgotten the daytime bustle‚ with only the sound of waves coming from afar. On a small hill in the backyard of the inn—the three sat side by side there.
"...It's been a while since we've done something like this."
Serina muttered quietly. She hugged her knees and looked up at the moon.
"We used to count the stars here a lot‚ didn't we?"
Leon smiled nostalgically. His sword was at his waist‚ but there was no sign of fighting tonight.
Louis sat a little distance away. The distance was more emotional than physical.
(I wonder if it's okay for me to be here. I haven't become a hero. Rather‚ I'm an existence erased from the records.)
He glanced at Serina's profile. Illuminated by the moonlight‚ she looked as beautiful as a painting‚ yet somehow lonely.
(Serina would probably be happier with Leon... No‚ this isn't the time to think about that.)
"Louis."
Serina suddenly called his name.
"Eh‚ w-what?"
"Come here."
"Eh‚ no‚ I'm fine here—"
"Come."
Her voice was gentle but had a strength that wouldn't let him escape.
Louis fidgeted and stood up‚ then sat next to the two. Serina smiled brightly.
"Hey‚ let's talk properly. We've been missing each other for so long."
A brief silence flowed.
Leon spoke first.
"I... like Serina. I've always wanted to protect her. But recently‚ I realized that's not enough."
"Leon..."
"Louis‚ I've always thought of you as my best friend. But I was jealous too. Of your intelligence and your feelings for Serina. I was dishonest."
Louis looked down.
"I... I was the one who arbitrarily decided things about you two. I was convinced that Serina liked Leon. That's why I kept my distance... and ran away."
"Running away should be left to the bubbles."
Serina chuckled.
"Bubbles?"
"The dishwashing bubbles. They run away‚ those guys. Just like my self-esteem."
"...That's a bit pitiful."
The three laughed a little. The laughter softened the air.
"You know‚ I've always liked Louis."
Serina's voice was quieter than the moon‚ yet certain.
"But Louis called me an 'unattainable flower' and only watched from afar... I'm not that special. I work at a pastry shop‚ I trip a lot‚ and I'm airheaded."
"Well... yeah‚ that's true."
"Hey!"
Serina puffed out her cheeks. Louis hurriedly waved his hands.
"No‚ I like those parts about you. Everything about you is... dazzling to me."
"If it's dazzling‚ wear sunglasses."
"Should I make a light-blocking filter with magic?"
"I might want to see that."
Leon watched their interaction and smiled quietly.
(This is fine. My feelings might not have reached her. But if the two of them are smiling‚ that's enough.)
He gently held out his hand.
"Hey‚ shall we make an oath? From now on‚ the three of us. No matter what enemy comes‚ no matter what difficulties we face‚ let's support each other."
Serina placed her hand on top.
"Of course. Both of you are important to me. Louis and Leon."
Louis hesitated a little‚ then placed his hand on top.
"...I calculated it. If the three of us link our magic power‚ theoretically the probability of saving the world is... 0.0003%."
"That's low!"
"But if we allow for error‚ there's still a possibility. So I... swear too."
The three hands overlapped under the moonlight.
It was proof of their friendship and the beginning of their bond.
And it was the first step toward the future.
Chapter 15: "The Tower of Fate"
The sky over the royal capital was dyed purple.
The Magic Tower—the symbol of the kingdom's magical research and the center of the magic furnace—was now emitting abnormal magic waves. Space distorted‚ the air trembled‚ and distant clouds rotated in reverse.
"...Do clouds normally move like that?"
Louis looked up at the sky from the inn's roof and tilted his head.
(The frequency of the magic waves exceeds the tower's normal output. And that vibration... it resembles my theoretical formula.)
In his mind‚ the tower's structure and the magic furnace formulas were unfolding at high speed.
(Could it be... that my theory has been stolen?)
"Louis!"
Serina rushed in. Her expression was serious‚ and she held a staff in her hand. Leon appeared from behind‚ carrying his sword on his back.
"Emergency contact from the royal capital. The Magic Tower is going out of control. The cause is—"
"I think it's my theory."
Louis's voice was quiet. But his eyes were trembling.
"The formulas left in Zeno-san's grimoire. The theory I analyzed and completed. It was stolen by someone... and being used for forbidden arts."
"...No way."
Serina's eyes widened. Leon clenched his fist.
"Then the only one who can stop it is—"
"Me. No‚ only us."
The three remained silent inside the carriage heading toward the tower.
Louis looked out the window while reconstructing the tower's structure in his head.
(The magic furnace output‚ control formula collapse‚ forced amplification by forbidden arts... all applications of my theory. But if you use it the wrong way‚ it will destroy the world.)
(The thing I created is going to destroy the world...)
"Louis."
Serina gently took his hand.
"Your theory was born to protect someone. If it's being used wrongly‚ we just have to use it correctly again."
"...Yeah. Thank you."
Leon gripped the hilt of his sword and said‚
"I'll protect. No matter what happens inside the tower‚ I'll protect Serina and Louis. That's my role."
"...But my magic power index is only 0.2?"
"Doesn't matter. You're the mage who changes the world with numbers‚ right?"
The three stood before the tower‚ buffeted by the wind.
The Magic Tower was pulsing like a giant heart. Magic power leaked out‚ the ground shook‚ and space creaked.
"Once we go in‚ we might not be able to come back."
Louis said.
"But we're going. Because this is my fault."
"That's not true."
Serina shook her head.
"It's not your fault. Someone just misused your 'possibility.' So we'll correct it together."
"...Yeah."
Leon drew his sword.
"Then let's go. The three of us."
The moment the tower door opened‚ space distorted.
The three stepped forward into the light.
On their backs dwelled resolve and bonds.
And so—the journey of the three toward the Tower of Fate began.
Chapter 16: "Corridor of Memories"
The interior of the Magic Tower was like a dream.
No‚ it would be more accurate to call it a nightmare. The walls‚ floor‚ and ceiling all felt somehow unreal‚ and the space swayed with every step. It was an unstable world‚ as if fragments of memories had been stitched together.
"This place... feels really weird‚ doesn't it?"
Serina frowned. At her feet floated a doodle she had drawn as a child.
"Even my sword scars are here... Isn't this the training ground wall?"
Leon held his sword ready and stayed alert to the surroundings.
Louis stayed silent. Before his eyes spread his old room—the attic room of the inn.
(This is... my memory?)
"Hey‚ Louis."
A voice spoke. When he turned around‚ another "himself" was standing there.
"...Who are you?"
"Who? I'm you. No‚ 'you' are me. A meaningless existence‚ unwanted by anyone‚ a dropout with magic power 0.2."
"...Stop it."
"Stop what? I'm just stating facts. You've always been hiding behind someone. Behind Serina‚ behind Leon‚ behind bubbles."
"Bubbles have nothing to do with this!"
"They do. You're like bubbles—you run away immediately. From your own potential and from your friends' feelings."
Louis clenched his fist. But he couldn't punch. Because the opponent was himself.
(This guy... is the 'resignation' inside me.)
"Louis!"
Serina's voice echoed. She came running. But a transparent wall appeared‚ as if the illusory space was rejecting her.
"Serina!"
"Louis‚ listen! You are not meaningless!"
"But... I have nothing. No magic power‚ no courage‚ nothing to be proud of..."
"You do!"
Serina's voice shook the wall.
"Because you were there‚ I am here. Because you were there‚ I could smile. Because you were there‚ I—"
Her hand broke through the wall.
"Fell in love with you!"
At that moment‚ the illusory "Louis" began to crumble.
"...I see. So that's it. You finally acknowledged yourself."
The illusion smiled and disappeared.
Louis took Serina's hand.
"Thank you. I finally understand. It's okay for me to be myself."
"Yeah. You are fine just the way you are."
Around that time‚ Leon was also facing his own illusion.
"You can only protect. You can't take. Not Serina's heart‚ nor Louis's talent."
"...Even so‚ it's fine. I'm here to protect. As long as the two of them can smile‚ that's enough for me."
The illusion quietly nodded and disappeared.
The three regrouped.
"...We were being tested‚ weren't we?"
"The Corridor of Memories... I guess that's what it is."
"But we're okay now. We are one."
Louis held out his hand. Serina placed hers on top‚ and Leon placed his on top of that.
"Let's go. Next is the magic furnace."
"We're going to save the world with numbers‚ right?"
"Yeah. The three of us will change the future."
Beyond the Corridor of Memories‚ a dazzling light awaited.
It was the light of hope.
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