Shirone returned to his room, collapsed onto the bed, and fell asleep almost instantly.
Since he was suspended for the week, he didn't have to attend classes starting tomorrow.
However, the mental and physical exhaustion he was feeling was so overwhelming that he couldn't even think about it.
The day passed by like that.
The sound of a piano in the morning and the bright sun in the sky felt like they belonged to someone else, not him.
"Hey, Shirone. Shirone."
Shirone opened his eyes, squinting at the sound of someone shaking him.
Two blurry figures appeared, and soon, he saw Naid and Iruki smiling at him.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"You're amazing. Are you still asleep?"
"I don't know. I'm tired. Let me sleep more."
"Don't be like that, get up. We won't be going to class anyway. Let's go play instead."
"…Go out and play?"
"Iruki knows a casino where they give you free drinks and there are lots of pretty girls. Since we're already here, we might as well make the most of it."
As soon as Shirone heard the word "casino," he didn't even feel like responding.
"Aren't you two tired? I feel like I'm dying."
"We slept all day too. You've been asleep for 27 hours now. Don't be like this, let's stay for just three days and then come back. With Iruki's Servant ability, we can make money in no time!"
Shirone knew that those who called themselves experts would often find themselves in situations where they lost everything.
Of course, when it came to calculating probabilities, Iruki's Servant ability was unmatched. However, gambling was still gambling. Probability was just that—probability. To win at gambling, you also needed the instincts of a gambler who could sense when the tide was turning in your favor.
Shirone could clearly imagine Iruki slowly winning money, only to lose it all in an instant.
"I'm not going. You guys go ahead. I don't gamble."
"You don't have to gamble. They give you free drinks, and there are a lot of pretty girls. Are you sure you're not going?"
As soon as Shirone heard that, he rolled over, thinking it would be impossible to stay calm.
"Oh, sorry. I'm just really tired. I guess I'll sleep some more. You guys have fun."
Both Naid and Iruki knew it would be difficult to change Shirone's mind once he was in this mood. After all, Shirone had been the most tired while preparing for the presentation.
"Alright, I got it. Then get some rest. We'll be back soon, so don't worry about it."
"Okay. Bring back lots of snacks. I'll buy you something nice."
Iruki smiled.
"Don't worry. Trust me. When we wake up, we'll be sitting on a pile of money."
After hearing the door close, Shirone buried his face in the pillow again.
'You have so much money, yet you're so confident…'
He briefly thought about Mercodine's power but soon drifted off into a deep sleep.
That Night
"Huh… Huh…"
Shirone tossed and turned in his sleep, covered in sweat.
The nightmare that hadn't appeared when he first fell asleep was now creeping back into his consciousness.
"Aaaaaaaaaahhh!"
Shirone shook his head from side to side.
In the vastness of the universe, humans are insignificant. That overwhelming emptiness hit him with full force.
Time was flowing backward, and the universe was being drawn into a single dot.
The string of light vibrated, forming bubbles, and everything that made up Shirone seemed to glow.
"Ugh!"
His upper body jerked upright, his wide eyes still locked onto the lingering afterimages of the dream. He turned toward the window upon hearing the sounds of birds chirping.
It was morning.
"Phew. I thought it was just passing by."
The nightmare had arrived as usual, but now, Shirone felt a strange sensation enveloping him, causing his body to shiver.
'But I'm not really scared anymore.'
Thanks to Armin, he had learned the source of these dreams and had stopped them from crossing into the infinite realm.
It was only after gaining some control over his immortal functions that he began to feel an urge to explore them.
'The universe in the dream... It clearly represents the beginning of everything. And gauge symmetry...'
Shirone rested his chin in his hand.
'In the beginning, the universe was created. All the forces we know were born. However, Armin said that the current universe seems to have asymmetry. If there's a force that originated from the beginning and goes beyond human understanding... maybe my portrait captured that force.'
The pieces were starting to fall into place.
'I guess nightmares are a way for the subconscious to organize information. They repeat because I can't comprehend the force yet. If I understand it, the nightmares will stop. But even if I don't fully understand...'
It will eventually make sense.
'Because I already have it. It'll settle at the point where the subconscious and conscious minds merge.'
Finally, Shirone understood what Armin meant when he described it as a state that couldn't be named.
At that moment, the sense of mystery faded away.
"What the heck?"
Feeling a bit better, Shirone went to the bathroom.
As he brushed his teeth, he tried to recall his memories, thinking about Iruki and Naid stopping by.
'Was that a dream? Or did it really happen?'
He faintly remembered the faces of the two, saying they would go to the casino to win big.
'I should've gone with them. What am I going to do all alone now?'
After finishing his shower and leaving the bathroom, Shirone stood in front of the mirror, shaking out his wet hair. He then glanced at the bed reflected in the mirror and turned around, startled.
"…Huh?"
Tiny dust particles were slowly floating in the air as if they were orbiting around an invisible center of gravity.
He looked around, but there was no sign of airflow that would cause convection.
"Why is it like this?"
He reached out toward the center of the floating dust.
The moment he touched it, a powerful surge of supernatural energy washed over him.
"Ughhh!"
It felt like a shocking first encounter—an unpleasant and unfamiliar sensation, like when a sensitive nerve is touched where a tooth once was.
Shirone suddenly realized something.
'This is it! Something that can't be named. But… really, why is it like this?'
He sat up, shaking off the strange sensation as the dust slowly settled.
'I got out of bed about 20 minutes ago. I don't know what it is, but it seems to linger.'
After an hour of thinking with no answers, Shirone decided to go out.
Even though his fatigue had subsided, he still couldn't think clearly since he had just woken up from nearly 48 hours of sleep.
'I need some fresh air.'
He left the dormitory, but since it was during class hours, there were no students around.
Shirone walked toward the main gate, feeling a mix of tension and calm.
Since he was suspended, he couldn't attend classes or use the school's facilities.
Since the situation was already unavoidable, he figured he might as well use the time for a break after his special training.
'But where should I go?'
The first place he thought of was home. The thought of seeing his parents made his heart ache.
'No. That's just nonsense.'
The journey would only take half a day by carriage, but there was no reason to go back now.
Even if he went to the Ozent family, it would be awkward without Lian.
"Oh, that's right!"
Suddenly, Shirone remembered the bookstore.
Although the school library was filled with books, he had always dreamed of buying books at a real bookstore.
He recalled how happy he felt as a child when his father bought him an old book. He read it until it wore out and longed for a new one.
'But now I can buy one.'
Thanks to the monthly donations from the Ozent family, Shirone had saved enough money. If he bought books in the commoner's district, he could fill an entire basket.
'This is my first book.'
Making up his mind, Shirone quickly passed through the noble district and entered the commoner's district.
The street that he had often passed with his father's cart when he was younger was still the same.
Shirone checked the gold coins in his pocket and confidently entered the bookstore.
The shopkeeper recognized him immediately.
"Oh, my! Aren't you Shirone?"
"Hello, ma'am."
"You've grown so much! I haven't seen your father around lately. I thought he had moved to another city. But he always bought books when he came."
"He won't be coming anymore. I'll be buying for myself now."
"Well, take your pick."
"Alright. I'll have a look."
Shirone walked through the bookstore with a smile.
The books were clearly priced, and those in good condition were always more expensive, no matter the content.
Though only a small number of commoners could read, this was still a profitable business in a large city like Creas.
However, as expected, novels sold better than academic books, with even the occasional academic book only covering basic topics.
Shirone realized that the books in Alpheus Magic School's library were much higher quality than he had imagined.
While there weren't any books related to his studies, Shirone enjoyed reading and picked up a novel about a wizard.
It seemed to be a popular book, as several copies were available, ranging in price depending on condition.
Since he had the money to spare, Shirone chose the cleanest, newest copy and handed over a gold coin.
Though the prices were cheaper here, new books were still ten times more expensive than the lowest-priced used ones.
"Oh my, why are you buying such an expensive book? Who are you running an errand for?"
"No. Actually, this is my first book. I wanted to buy it new, even if it means spending a bit more."
"That's admirable. Not many people spend their money on books. Anyway, read a lot. That's how you become wise. When you're smart, you won't cause trouble for your wife when you get married."
The shopkeeper, completely unaware that Shirone attended the prestigious Alpheus Magic School, rambled on with pride.
Shirone smiled and nodded, feeling in a good mood as he left.
'This is my book.'
A book that was his, not borrowed or shared with anyone.
Just feeling its weight in his hands made his heart flutter.
"Huh? Isn't that Shirone? Hey, Shirone!"
Shirone turned as he heard someone calling his name.
A group of familiar children were gathered near a wagon.
He froze when he saw a familiar face.
"Altor? Martin? Even Lumina?"
It was the group of children from Hwajeon Village, the ones he used to play with when he was younger.
"Hey! Is it really Shirone?"
The children rushed toward him.
Most of them were his age, with only a one or two-year difference.
However, they had grown so much since he last saw them. In particular, Alto, the leader of the group, had grown into a giant, even bigger than most adults.
Martin, who had been small, was now about the same size as Shirone.
Alto hugged Shirone around the neck.
"You, punk! Where have you been? You disappeared for years. When I asked Uncle Vincent, he just said you were in the city."
"Haha! Sorry about that. It just happened."
Despite the chilly reception, Shirone was glad to see his old friends again.
Martin, whose front teeth protruded like a rabbit's, was impressed by Shirone's outfit.
"Wow, you've really made it. Anyone who sees you would think you're a noble."
"Really? I'm not sure."
This was the first time he'd heard that.
Since he was at a school only nobles could attend, he never heard anyone talking about his background.
Lumina, the only girl in the group, said,
"Shirone always seemed like he came from a noble family. Anyway, I'm glad to see that you're doing well."
"Yeah. Thanks, Lumina. You've gotten prettier too."
Lumina blushed.
Shirone remembered her as a chubby girl with freckles, but now, she had become a slim, mature young woman.
Alto laughed loudly.
"Your lies have gotten worse, Shirone. Well, even back then, no one could stand up to your words. What's so special about this cheeky girl?"
"Shut up! Stop making fun of me!"
When Lumina got angry, Alto quickly apologized.
"No, I was just joking…"
"Enough! I don't want to talk to you."
"Yeah! Fine! I'm embarrassed to hang out with someone like you!"
Shirone's memories flooded back. Though it seemed like they were arguing, it was just a typical day for the children of Hwajeon Village, where they easily got angry but never crossed the line.
Martin asked, "By the way, Shirone, what have you been up to lately? I heard you live in the city. Do you work at a store or something?"
"Huh? Well… that's…"
Shirone, who had been thinking of a few excuses, decided to just tell the truth. He realized that even if his father kept quiet about it, lying would only hurt him in the long run.
"Actually, I go to magic school."
"What? Really?"
Shirone couldn't believe it.
He had known from a young age that he was different, but the fact that he was the son of a hunter made it even more unbelievable. Even though he wasn't an expert in magic, he knew this was not a place for commoners to enter.
"Really? Oh, how did that happen?"
"I was lucky. I worked as a librarian in a noble family's library for a while. They took a liking to me and offered me admission. In short, it was a special admission process."
The children's faces went blank.
No matter how well one did their job as a librarian, nobles wouldn't go that far in providing opportunities for commoners. If they didn't know the process Shirone went through to get there, it was no wonder they couldn't understand.
"Amazing. So you're learning magic?"
The children, now realizing what Altoor meant, gathered closer.
"Wow! Magic? Show us, show us!"
Shirone smiled awkwardly and held up both hands.
"Haha, I'm still not very good at it. Besides, using magic outside of school is against the rules."
"Hey, what's that?"
As the children's disappointment grew, a doubt began to form in Alto's mind.
Maybe he didn't want to believe it.
Shirone and Alto had been close friends since childhood, but recently, things felt different. Alto had always been the leader of their village, the strongest and most respected among the children.
But as Shirone started spending more time with Vincent, a subtle shift began. Shirone wasn't particularly strong, but he was smart and had a pretty face.
'Alto must have felt the change. There were probably others who liked Shirone more than me.'
Alto realized it himself. The rankings had been sorted out smoothly because Shirone had supported him. At the time, Alto had thought it was his own strength that had done it, but now it felt different.
A magic school.
Even though they had gone their separate ways, being reminded of that time made Alto feel uneasy.
"If you're going to a magic school, why are you here? Shouldn't you be studying hard?"
"Oh, that's... I applied for a short leave of absence. I took a tough test a few days ago, and I just wanted to rest for a bit."
This time, Shirone had to lie. If he admitted that he was suspended, Vincent might hear about it too.
The children seemed to buy it. Since there was actually a leave of absence, no one questioned it further.
Lumina grabbed Shirone by the collar and asked, "How many days are you resting?"
"Well, maybe three days?"
"Really? So, are you going home?"
"No, the semester is ending soon anyway, so I'm planning on heading home then. My parents will be busy too."
"Well, in three days, my vacation will be over."
No one understood better than those with the same kind of parents how busy a hunter's work could be.
Martin asked, "So, have you decided where you're going? Where will you sleep?"
"I haven't decided yet."
Lumina blushed and suggested, "Then let's stay together. We used to sleep and play together in Hwajeonmin Village. We came back to our hometown a year ago, so there'll be plenty of places to stay."
Shirone remembered those days. In the shared community of Hwajeonmin Village, they had been friends, brothers, lovers, and family.
"Is it okay if I go?" Shirone asked Alto again.
Now that they were all grown up, they all remembered that in a village like theirs, the presence of a leader was directly tied to survival.
Alto laughed bitterly. He wasn't sure himself, but he knew how important it was.
He wiped away his past emotions and wrapped his arm around Shirone's neck. "What are you talking about, Inma? Of course, you can come. Come on, let's go! I've sold everything, let's go!"
"Ouch, that hurts!"
"Haha! How did you get so much thinner? You need to have stamina to become a great wizard."
Shirone realized this was Alto's way of reasserting his position as the leader, and he didn't mind. It felt like a rite of passage for staying in the village. In fact, he thought it would make things more comfortable.
"Now, this is the best seat," Alto quickly lifted Shirone onto the cart.
Despite his size, Alto easily lifted him, which made Shirone wonder how much stronger Alto had become. He ruffled Shirone's hair and laughed.
"Nice to meet you, Shirone! Let's drink until we're all crooked today!"