The Inept Mage's Infinite Regression - Chapter 3

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Translator: Ryuu

Editor: echo

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◈ The Inept Mage’s Infinite Regression

Chapter 3

Being told to draw lots after a bombshell like that—Ethan could hardly wrap his mind around the odd request. And yet, he couldn’t think of a reason to refuse. Regardless of his confusion, Demi was his backer. There was no point in refusing now.

Ethan reached into the box and drew a lot.

[Archive acquired!]
[Archive: Personal Hygiene (D)]

A wealth of new information flooded his mind. Ethan paused to process it all.

Hygiene was a set of practices performed to prevent disease and preserve health. Personal hygiene in particular was practiced by the individual through methods like bathing and maintaining bodily cleanliness, such as oral and hand hygiene, wearing a fresh set of clothes and checking the freshness of food, and improving one’s environment.

Ethan also noticed he’d gained access, however incomplete that access might be, to other related archives. He eyed the names, noting archives on public hygiene, health, parasites, infectious diseases, illnesses, and soap. The problem was, Ethan already understood the value of personal hygiene and was practicing it as much as his environment allowed.

"What use is this archive to me?"

"Well, that’s not the point," Ethan said to Demi. "What happens to me now?"

Even if Demi had not just confirmed it, Ethan knew he had been quite literally stabbed in the back and then died as a result. Nevertheless, the fact that he was still conscious meant it wasn’t over—not yet.

Or at least, he hoped so.

"I figured as much."

That caught his attention. "How?"

Demi pointed at the door to its back.

"Return?"

<Yes. You will “regress.”>

"To when?"

"How is that possible?"

Ethan decided to accept it. This was an otherworldly being he’d made a deal with. Expecting to understand everything about her would just set him up for failure.

"Got it."

Ethan walked past Demi and opened the small wooden door. Beyond its threshold was nothing but darkness, making him hesitate. Glancing back, he saw that Demi had not turned to face him but instead was facing the opposite direction, toward another entryway. It was a large double door, contrasting with the small wooden one.

Demi stood motionless, staring as if expecting someone to walk through at any moment.

<User.>

Though puzzled, Ethan entered the door at Demi’s urging.

∞

Ethan found himself standing in the center of the magic circle he had drawn to contract with the outer god, a handgun held in one hand.

Still getting his bearings, he asked, "Did you come back with me?"

Text appeared before Ethan’s eyes.

[Quest generated!]

[Quest: Why Did Ethan Dora Charasen Die? (D)]

"I’d need to figure that out whether or not I had a quest," Ethan grumbled.

Ethan looked down at the gun in his hand. "Other than this? Can’t say another reason jumps out at me."

"But it made a loud noise. Can someone tell I used a gun just from the sound?"

"True, it’s like how most people know about the magic of the Dark God Yor—like the face-flaying magic,” Ethan noted, nodding. “Even if someone hasn’t seen one of Yor’s dark mages, they can recognize their work by the traces of magic left behind. The same goes for you, Demi. If your followers had used them when you invaded the empire 20 years ago, someone would be bound to know about guns."

"Then I should deduce that someone attacked me because I used a gun. Right?"

There was only one reply he could give to that.

"No."

"It’s simple," Ethan said. "I’ll take the Basic Magic Practice exam, just like before."

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Translator: Ryuu

Editor: echo

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After using the handgun during the exam once again, Ethan met up with Arca. He deliberately responded the same way, calling upon his memories for the task, to ensure their conversation went exactly as before.

"A secret, then? Fine."

With that, Arca left.

Ethan watched her walking away, then headed back to his room. As he walked, he concentrated on the sounds around him, listening closely.

There.

He sensed someone approaching from behind. Though they tried to muffle their footsteps, the sound was unmistakable.

"Ethan—"

The moment Ethan heard his name being called, he spun around and drew the dagger from his pocket. The attacker, who had killed Ethan once before, flinched and took a step back but then steeled themselves and charged at him.

Ethan didn’t hesitate, plunging the blade into the attacker’s stomach.

"Ugh!"

The attacker staggered, and Ethan pounced on the opening to kick, sending them sprawling to the floor. He shot his foot out at the attacker’s hand, sending the dagger there flying, then pulled off their hood to find a thin, bespectacled male student.

"Damn it,” Ethan cursed. “Boen Palmize?"

Ethan answered Demi in his mind. <A classmate, one of the top in my class. A bookworm.>

Focusing back on his physical surroundings, Ethan asked, "Boen, why did you attack me?"

The boy mumbled something under his breath. Ethan leaned closer, trying to hear.

"What did you say?"

Though he had closed the distance between them, he didn’t let his guard down completely. It was a good thing too, as something rose at the edge of his vision, catching his attention.

A sharp, crystalline shard.

<Magic!>

Yanking the dagger from Boen’s stomach sent the shard clattering to the ground. He didn’t stop there, gripping the dagger with both hands and stabbing it into the boy’s chest. Boen clutched at Ethan’s arm until, gradually, his hand loosened and slipped away.

Ethan stared down at Boen, then turned to take in the glimpse of sky peaking through the end of the hallway, listening to the distant laughter and chatter of students.

"What do I do now?" he asked hollowly.

"No, that’s not what I meant. Is there nothing else? Nothing I can do?"

<There’s nothing else I can do for you now.>

In that case, moving Boen’s body to his dorm room had to be the first step.

"It was pure self-defense," Ethan argued as he carried the boy inside.

"We need to find out who Boen really is. People don’t just attack their fellow classmates out of nowhere. There must be a reason."

Ethan rummaged through Boen’s pockets and found the key to his dorm room, which he then used to grant him entry.

"That goes for all criminals."

There were a few more books, but other than that, nothing in the room caught Ethan’s eye as different from his own. He opened boxes, searched through the boy’s belongings, and checked under the mattress. If he hadn’t been attacked, Ethan might have stopped searching there, but Boen had already killed him once. He wasn’t just a suspect—he was criminally culpable.

"The answer must be in the books, right?"

He flipped through book after book. About halfway into his search, he picked up another, only to notice it felt strangely heavy. When he opened it, he found the pages hollowed out and a small wooden box resting within.

Ethan opened the box to find a piece of jewelry and a few documents.

"So I was right."

"This decorative pin with the two-headed dog emblem represents the Imperial Inquisition. These documents… They’re appointment papers—I can tell at a glance. Looks like Boen was an agent under the order of the Inquisitor."

As he reached that conclusion, a quest completion window appeared.

[Quest: Why Did Ethan Dora Charasen Die? (D) – Success!]

[Reward: 12 Experience Points]

[Reward: D-rank Lottery Coupon]

<Yurmus is an independent territory outside of the Empire’s jurisdiction, isn’t it?> Demi asked. <Can the Empire operate in Yurmus? The Imperial Inquisition is part of its religious activities, after all.>

"It’s illegal, so of course they can’t. But that doesn’t stop the Empire from sending Inquisitors abroad to hunt dark mages. Because the Empire is so powerful, even if their agents get into trouble, they’re sent back to the Empire without severe punishment."

"Of course. Dark magic itself is taboo by the laws of the Mage Council, after all. It’s forbidden magic. What differs from country to country, though, is the severity of the punishment if you’ve been found out. In minor cases, you might just pay a fine and be exiled. If they opt to imprison or confine you, you can be released if you promise not to dabble in dark magic again. That’s why some mages secretly practice dark magic despite the taboo."

Ethan tucked Boen’s box into his pocket.

"Anyway, I’ve figured out Boen’s identity. Even if his body is discovered, as long as I have this box, the Yurmus Council won’t hold me accountable."

He scanned Boen’s room one last time before stepping out—right into someone waiting outside, blocking his way.

"What a mess, Ethan Dora Charasen. You’ve turned your friend’s room into quite a sight."

Ethan looked at the slender, platinum-blonde man standing before him. "Professor Bain Wiz Decarune?"

<Who is that?> Demi asked, prompting Ethan to respond telepathically once again.

The professor walked into the room and leaned forward on his straight white cane, forcing Ethan to step back.

"What’s all this, Ethan?"

"Oh, I can explain,” Ethan replied. “Boen attacked me, and he wasn’t playing around. He came at me with a dagger from behind. We struggled, and I managed to survive, but Boen died in the process. I knew that if I left it at that, I’d be punished for murder, so I figured I’d find out why Boen attacked me and searched his room."

"I see. So, why did Boen do it?"

Ethan took out Boen’s box. "This is the evidence."

"Indeed." Bain snatched the box from Ethan’s hand. "The Empire’s Inquisition, huh?"

"Yes."

"Then that means you’re a dark mage."

"What?"

Ethan had already found Bain’s behavior suspicious, so when the professor swung his cane, he was quick to react.

But Bain wasn’t merely swinging his cane.

A translucent blue blade extended from the tip of Bain’s cane, slicing through Ethan’s left ankle. Blood splattered across the room.

"Ahhhh!"

Ethan screamed and collapsed to the floor. In contrast, Bain’s voice was strikingly more composed.

"Boen was a capable student. He knew how to assess his opponent’s level of skill and acted accordingly, always walking that thin line between excess and insufficiency. But for him to be countered and killed… Well, he was still a student, after all. I can understand. But 'our' Inquisition won’t."

"Our?" Ethan gasped out.

"Yes. I’m the Inquisitor of Yurmus. I’ll have to send you to the Empire. Well, before that, I’ll interrogate you myself to find out what you’re hiding."

Ethan gripped the handgun in his pocket. He could pull it out and shoot, but he’d only have one chance, and given Bain’s obvious skill on display, he couldn’t be sure of success.

Ethan turned to Demi.

<User,> came the reply. <Do you trust me?>

After listening to Demi’s suggestion, Ethan retorted, <Are you joking?>

Ethan knew he had no other choice. If he attacked Bain and failed, he might be dragged to the Imperial Inquisition.

<Fine. I’ll trust you.>

Ethan pulled the gun from his pocket, causing Bain to lower his stance and tighten his grip on the cane.

"So you did have a weapon from Terra," he said, ready to dodge Ethan’s shot.

However, Ethan wasn’t aiming at Bain.

He put the barrel in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

∞

Ethan opened his eyes in Limbo once again.

Demi stood with her arms crossed, looking down at him.

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