REAPER SCANS

Translator: Ryuu

Editor: Gorm

Discord: https://dsc.gg/reapercomics

◈ The Inept Mage’s Infinite Regression

Chapter 4

"I’ve returned to Limbo?"

<Yes, User.>

"Can I return to the past again?"

<Of course.>

Ethan found this magic astonishing, but it made some sense to him. The invaders of Damarth Yumaha, such as the Dark God Yor, the Tentacle God Musamusa, and the Banished Dragon Loranchelio… they always wielded terrifying magic through their contractors.

The Empire had tried to downplay Demi’s invasion, but people from other countries had witnessed it firsthand. According to records, Demi’s invasion force had been immense.

Two quests appeared in Ethan’s vision.

[Quest generated!]

[Quest: Defeat Bain Wiz Decarune (C)]

[Quest generated!]

[Quest: Survive for Three Days (D)]

Ethan said, "There are two quests."

<Depending on the conditions, more than one quest may be generated.>

"And what exactly does 'defeat' mean?"

<Killing the target or forcing them to leave their physical or social position qualifies. If you make it so that they can no longer interfere with you or enjoy their status, that counts as 'defeating' them.>

"What does 'survive for three days' mean?"

Demi paused, seemingly choosing her next words carefully.

<Quests are generated based on your current situation when a task is sufficiently challenging, necessary, and worthwhile. Thus, 'survive for three days' likely means that surviving itself has become a challenge because you are at risk of dying too quickly.>

"…I see. Thanks for the explanation."

Demi held out a black box with a hole in it.

<Would you like to draw a lot first?>

"Sure," Ethan said.

He was about to reach out when he noticed something in the corner of his vision, something he hadn’t seen before.

"Wait, what’s that?"

Ethan pointed toward the thing he’d seen, in the corner of Limbo. It wore a red robe and a golden mask with only eye holes, but there was clearly nothing inside the mask or robe.

It looked at Ethan and said, <I am a merchant.>

"A merchant?"

Ethan glanced at Demi, and she nodded, indicating it was okay to engage.

Ethan approached the merchant and asked, "If you’re a merchant, do you sell anything?"

<Yes.>

"And to buy it, I need money, right?"

<Yes.>

"But I don’t have any money."

The merchant pointed to Ethan’s coat pocket. Suspicious, Ethan rummaged through it and found something that looked like a coin—a blue one with white stripes, and very light. It had one particularly notable feature: a "D" was written in the center.

"This is…?"

The merchant said, <It’s a coupon that allows you to draw a lot from the administrator. You can use it either for a D-rank draw or to buy something from me.>

"What kinds of things can I buy?"

<With a D-rank coupon, you can only buy D-rank items.>

Ethan did the math in his head.

"Wouldn’t it always be better to buy something than to draw lots? Instead of hoping I draw what I need, I could just buy it."

<Some things can only be obtained by drawing lots. I don’t sell a wide variety of items, and everything I sell can also be obtained by drawing lots.>

So while buying from the merchant might sometimes be better, if the merchant didn’t have what he needed, then drawing lots was the only option.

Ethan said, "All right, I’ll discuss this for a moment and then come back. Is that okay?"

<It doesn’t matter.>

Ethan returned to Demi and asked, "Can I trust that merchant?"

<Yes. I control your Limbo, and harmful entities are not allowed entry. I permitted the 'merchant' to enter because it may be helpful.>

Ethan nodded. "Good. Let’s talk about what will happen after I enter the door behind you,” he said. “I don’t think I can keep doing what I’ve been doing."

<Why do you think that?>

"If I go back like this, the situation will be better than before. First, I’ll kill Boen."

<Yes.>

"Then I’ll kill Professor Bain too."

<Yes.>

"Wait… it’s better to switch the order. I’ll assassinate Professor Bain first, then Boen. The chances of success are higher if they’re not on guard." Ethan glanced at Demi. "I don’t enjoy killing people, to be clear."

<I didn’t say anything.>

"…"

Demi added, <After killing them both, you should be able to find evidence of the Imperial Inquisition.>

"Right. Boen has the proof… but there’s a problem," Ethan said. "To kill Bain, I’ll have to use a gun."

<Then your identity as a dark mage will be exposed.>

"That’s a problem. Although the professors at Yurmus Magic Academy might not kill me, they’ll likely seal my dark magic. And if the Empire’s influence reaches Yurmus Magic Academy, they’ll eventually find out about me. Then my future will be uncertain."

<What do you plan to do?>

Ethan looked at the merchant and said, "Let’s do this…"

REAPER SCANS

Translator: Ryuu

Editor: Gorm

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/reapercomics

Ethan opened the door and returned, heading to the Basic Magic Practice classroom.

When it was finally Ethan’s time again, Professor Rivielton said, "Ethan, it’s your turn."

"Yes."

As Ethan walked to the front, he once more heard the murmurs.

"He’s still attending class. Admirable courage. Is this the honor of a noble family?"

"Who knows? If it’s proven he can’t use magic, wouldn’t that be dishonorable?"

Ethan ignored the ridicule and stepped onto the podium.

"Ethan, this is your final practice."

"Okay."

"I’m not sure if you’ve prepared enough."

"I’ve done what I can."

"Begin when you’re ready."

Ethan pulled something from his coat pocket and held it in both hands, facing the students. He then pulled the string attached to the object.

Pop!

Colorful paper and glittering confetti scattered.

What Ethan had just set off was a party firecracker he’d bought from the merchant. He’d thought it expensive, just one of these for a D-rank coupon, but they actually came in a set of 100. Ethan had bought the party firecrackers to pass Basic Magic Practice.

'If I use a gun, Boen will notice. These party firecrackers are from Terra, but according to Demi, no one in Damarth Yumaha has used anything like them before.'

Even though this was Basic Magic Practice, Ethan’s magic seemed shabby to the other students, who burst into laughter. Ethan glanced at Rivielton. Fortunately, the professor wasn’t laughing.

Once the confetti and paper had settled, Rivielton asked, "Is that it?"

"No, there’s more." As Ethan pulled out another party firecracker, Rivielton stopped him.

"If it’s the same spell, there’s no need to continue."

"Understood."

Rivielton checked his clipboard with a quill and began to ask some questions. "It seems like alchemy, correct?"

"Yes. As far as I know, alchemy falls under the broader category of magic, and famous alchemy families are treated as mage families…"

Rivielton raised a hand to stop him. "Just answer the questions."

"Okay."

"Can it be activated instantly?"

"That’s right."

"If necessary, can you increase the scale of the explosion?"

"Yes, I can."

"You used visually dazzling materials. Why?"

"Because they’re effective at distracting the enemy."

"I see."

Demi interjected, <The 'party' in ‘party firecrackers’ refers to gathering to celebrate happy occasions.>

<Yeah, I know. But this is a magic academy, not a trick academy. To earn points, I need to demonstrate usefulness, and that usefulness must align with the values of the academy. Combat magic is intuitive and easy to understand.>

<I see. But Professor Rivielton seems to be asking more questions than before.>

<I know. Be quiet.>

After a few more questions and answers, Rivielton nodded. "Ethan," he began.

"Yes."

"You pass."

"Thank you."

Ethan sighed in relief.

∞

But that relief didn’t last long.

"Ethan!"

Ethan turned to see Arca, leaning against the stone railing of the second-floor corridor that connected the classroom and dormitory, arms crossed as usual.

"What brings you here, Sister?"

"I heard you passed Basic Magic Practice."

"Yeah, I did."

Up to this point, the conversation was the same as before, but this time, what followed was not praise.

"Passing Basic Magic Practice with such a trivial, trickster-like spell! I don’t know what you were thinking. Aren’t you ashamed to show yourself in front of our family, let alone Father? And alchemy? What do you think people will say if they hear a noble family like ours is studying alchemy?"

"…I’m sorry."

"You don’t need to apologize to me. Where did you get that trick? Did you make it yourself?"

"It’s, uh, a secret."

"You call that magic? Fine. But even if you can pass Basic Magic Practice like this, do you have a plan for the second semester’s Basic Magic II?"

"…No."

"I thought so. You’ve come up with a temporary solution, but there’s a limit to what you can do with improvisation. Go back and reflect. Even if you’re in a hurry, this isn’t the way."

Arca turned and left.

Ethan said to Demi, <This is why I didn’t want to do it.>

<Is the party firecracker really that problematic?>

<The Charasen family is one of the five oldest families in the Mage Council. They’ve often held the position of chairman. The family takes great pride in their magic, and among mages, my sister is a 'true' genius, recognized even by those with high standards. Of course she’s angry that I passed the test with such trivial magic.>

<I see.>

Arca, who Ethan thought had left, suddenly returned with quick steps.

"Sister?"

"I forgot to say something."

"Yes?"

"Congratulations."

"…Thank you."

Arca pointed at the corner of Ethan’s mouth with her index finger. "Don’t smirk."

"I’m not even smiling right now."

"Don’t do it later either. Go back to your room and reflect."

"Got it."

After Arca left, Ethan glanced back and headed to his room.

As Ethan expected, Boen didn’t show up.

"Boen didn’t recognize the party firecracker as dark magic."

<That’s a relief. Then we can proceed to the next step.>

Ethan nodded and headed to Boen’s dorm room. When he arrived, he knocked on the door, and Boen stepped out wearing oversized glasses and a careless expression.

"Who is it…? Ethan?"

"Isn’t this the first time we’ve spoken? Do you know me?"

"Even if I didn’t want to, how could I not hear about the infamous troublemaker?"

"Ah, is that so?"

As Ethan tried to step into the room, Boen got in his way. "What do you want?" Boen asked.

"I want to talk to you."

"Do it here."

Ethan looked around. He already knew no one was around, but he was making a show of it for Boen.

"I know you work for the Imperial Inquisition."

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/reapercomics