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Returning Home to Japan – Part 01

The interrogation of Samal and Edward had wrapped up around sunset. They were first questioned by the Adventurers Guild, then handed over to Pond’s authorities, who let them go not long after as they didn’t want to deal with the mess. Edward also bribed them.

“Samal! What the hell are you doing here?!”

“I could ask you the same thing! It’s too late for you to be paying a visit to pops!”

Edward, his hair disheveled, wore clothes covered in dirt. Samal, on the other hand, was swathed in bandages.

Released from the guard station, the two made their way to the dilapidated house where Doma lived. A crowd had gathered outside, mostly neighbors. Some women were wiping tears with cloth.

“It can’t be.”

“Pops!”

They had both watched their father collapse right at the end of the brawl. They were also aware that he had pushed himself to get there.

With a sense of foreboding, they rushed into the tattered shack.

“Hey, Samal, Edward.” Doma was sitting on his bed, puffing on a pipe. “Ah, tobacco is the best.”

“…”

“…”

The brothers stared silently at their father, who seemed perfectly well.

“Why the stupid faces? You probably would’ve preferred if I had kicked the bucket, but it seems there are still things I need to do. The Grim Reaper decided to go back.”

“H-How’s do you feel?” Edward asked.

“Just fine, as you can see.”

“Stop smoking, damn it,” Samal hissed.

“Hell no. I’d be nothing without cigarettes. Anyway, both of you, come over here.”

Doman beckoned them over, and they inched closer.

“Sit.”

With no chairs around, the brothers sat down on the cold ground.

“I told you two to get along. I might not have taught you much, but I made sure to tell you that.” Clenching his fist, Doma thumped their heads. “I was told to live a little bit longer, so I changed my mind. I will stay alive at least until you two can stand on your own.”

“B-But I—”

“Edward.” Doma cut him off, placing a wrinkled hand on his head. “Sorry for leaving everything to you.” He combed through Edward’s hair with fingers like withered branches.

“You too, Samal. You tried to come up with something on your own. You left town, but I didn’t do anything to help. Sorry.”

“I…”

“It’s fine. I have a request… Samal. Stay here in Pond. Support Edward. Edward has the brains, while you have the brawns. With you two, the Ballast family will be invincible.”

Samal hung his head, lips pursed. “Okay,” he answered quietly.

Edward, sobbing uncontrollably, was in no state to continue the conversation.

Thank goodness.

Hikaru observed the situation from just beyond the wall.

Needless to say, it was Paula who treated Doma. While he was lying on the ground, teetering on the edge of death, he requested to be healed himself.

“I still have to look after my sons. Hikaru, you can cure me, can’t you?”

Doma had steadfastly declined Hikaru’s offers of treatment before this, and what prompted the sudden change in the man’s stance remained unclear. Nevertheless, it was apparent that Doma’s newfound will to live stemmed from his sons.

Paula cast healing magic on the unconscious Doma. When he woke up, Hikaru told him that the Wandering Saint was in town. Because of this, Paula had to run around providing medical treatment in a mask to establish an alibi.

My job here is done.

The three members of the Ballast family could help each other out.

On to the next part.

Hikaru had come to Pond to address the debt issue of House Taylor, which still persisted even when the Ballast family had reconciled. Vilma would likely seek loans in the future. While asking Edward not to extend any more loans to Vilma was an option, there were still the existing debts to settle.

The Ballast family will discuss how to proceed with House Taylor. Resolving the debt problem will take some time. It will still need to be paid, but I can ask them to stop their absurd collection methods.

The immediate danger had been averted.

In that case, there’s only one thing left for me to do.

After witnessing the family feud between Doma, Samal, and Edward, Hikaru had gleaned a clue.

I can complete the Four Elementals Fusion Theory right now.

Hikaru planned to return to the capital first thing in the morning.

---

“Ugh, not again,” the girl muttered, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

The pile of junk stones she had purchased recently had noticeably dwindled, a clear sign that Ivy had been tirelessly experimenting for the past few days.

“Why? I’ve measured the mana content perfectly and accurately, but the spell just won’t work. Maybe there’s an issue with the magic formula? But tweaking such a simple magic formula…”

“…is pointless.”

Ivy jumped as Hikaru—Silver—appeared at the entrance of the laboratory, wearing his mask.

“S-Silver? You’re back?”

“Yeah. So, Isaac. I think you should scrutinize your experiments a little bit more.”

“Scrutinize?” Ivy sighed. “I’ve scrutinized it dozens, no, hundreds of times. The result is right here.”

“Show me.”

“Ah!”

As Hikaru approached, Ivy pulled back, surprised.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“Well, um, you see… I haven’t taken a bath for the past few days.”

“What, that’s it? Not a big deal. It’s not like guys have to take a bath or anything—I like to take one, though.”

Ivy gave Hikaru a disgusted stare, which left him perplexed. He had not said anything weird.

“Well, anyway. Can we move on?” Hikaru urged.

“Uh, sure. So, what was it again? Do you want to see the lab equipment?”

“Yeah. This is a magic item for measuring the amount of mana, right? It seems accurate.”

“I keep failing every single time, though. Maybe something’s wrong with the magic formula after all.”

“No. The formula is correct.”

“H-How can you be so sure?”

“Because you succeeded once in your experiment.”

“Ah…”

“Since it’s the same magic formula as back then, it should be correct. Listen, Isaac. That’s your biggest asset. Without it, I wouldn’t have thought of assisting you.”

“Huh…”

“You succeeded, right?”

Ivy nodded firmly.

“So, the magic formula is not wrong. What’s wrong is the amount of mana.”

“…What?”

It was Ivy’s turn to look perplexed. “I just told you. I’m accurately measuring the mana with this magic item. Wait, is the item faulty?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?! Stop beating around the bush!” Ivy snapped, then quickly gathered herself. “It’s your fault for being mean.”

“Sorry about that. That wasn’t my intention. Anyway, the magic item is working correctly. The problem is how you’re using it.”

“How I’m using it?”

“I think many magic researchers had the wrong idea. First of all, if there’s such a groundbreaking theory as the Four Elementals Fusion Theory, curious scholars would have definitely tried to reproduce it using a more accurate mana measuring device than this magic item.”

“That’s a good point.”

“But all of them failed. Why do you think that is?”

“If I knew, I would have succeeded.” Ivy pouted.

Hikaru smiled. That was expected.

He placed his finger on the magic formula. “You made sure that the amount of mana on all four elemental magic stones are equal, right?”

“Of course.”

“I’m sure every researcher has done the same. However, there’s something everyone, including you, overlooked.”

Hikaru gently lifted his index finger. Ivy stared intently at its tip.

“It’s not just the elemental magic stones that affect the magic formula. It’s the traces of mana flowing in the air, the energy contained in the catalyst that’s used to draw the sigils, and even the mana permeating the metal base. All of these factors combine to affect the spell.”

“…What?”

“I can tell.”

Hikaru had maxed out his Mana Detection, allowing him to perceive magical energy as particles of light.

“As for the energy contained in the catalyst of the magic formula, we don’t need to consider it since the formula is engraved on the base. However, there’s wind-type mana in the air, and earth-type mana in the base.”

“Uh…”

Ivy was dumbfounded. She understood that there was magical energy in the lab equipment and in the air, but she had assumed it was at a negligible level.

In fact, Hikaru thought the same. If he hadn’t run into the problem with the theory, he wouldn’t have thought about it.

And he probably wouldn’t have come up with the solution if he hadn’t met the Ballast family.

Edward has brains, and Samal has brawns. You can complement what’s lacking. That’s what family is.

Upon witnessing this, he thought: what if the Four Elementals Fusion Theory was a kind of spell that incorporated and supplemented the magical energies drifting in the test site? All types of mana had to complement each other evenly. To achieve perfect harmony, you must consider all aspects, much like an ideal family.

“Don’t believe it?” Hikaru asked.

“W-Well…”

“Shaving off a bit of the wind and earth elemental magic stones on the magic table should give you a quick answer.”

“…”

“What’s wrong? Are you going to do it or not?”

“I-I will. I’ll do it!”

The possibility Hikaru presented before Ivy sounded absurd. However, Hikaru’s firm demeanor gave her the push.

“Will you tell me how much I need to scrape off?”

“Of course.”

The two of them initiated the experiment.

---

It was a chilly day that heralded the coming of winter.

Inside the Taylor family mansion, Lavia peered through the sooty window glass, having gathered most of the details from Hikaru upon his return from Pond.

That’s Hikaru for you.

If his assumptions were correct, the Four Elementals Fusion Theory would likely progress swiftly to completion. And it would be Ivy F. Taylor who would leave a mark on history.

Looks like the amendment to the kingdom’s laws is going well, too.

Lavia occasionally visited the royal castle, keeping herself hidden while checking on the progress of the amendment to the kingdom’s laws.

As Kujastria had assured, the process was proceeding smoothly and appeared ready to be enacted by the year’s end.

Once that happens, Ivy won’t need to hide her gender any longer. As the head of the Taylor family, she can confidently present her theory.

Lavia was not knowledgeable about sorcery, but witnessing Kujastria’s astonishment and Hikaru’s enthusiasm, she understood that it must be a groundbreaking discovery. She was also well aware of the financial benefits this breakthrough would bring.

Ivy will receive a substantial reward and patent fees. She’ll be celebrated as a rising star in the world of sorcery, and the Taylor family will be restored. That’s a great thing, and I’m sure Hikaru thinks so too.

People bundled up in thick clothes shuffled along the main street. Lavia blankly watched the figures hurrying down the street, looking cold.

You can be cruel sometimes, Hikaru.

Though Lavia and Ivy didn’t know each other for long, Lavia knew Ivy wouldn’t be entirely thrilled about this outcome.

She would complete the theory with the help of Hikaru—Silver. That was fine. She could repay her family’s debts. That was good, too.

But Ivy wouldn’t want to take all the credit. She’ll likely propose joint research with Hikaru. But Hikaru will refuse. No, he might have disappeared even before refusing. He will vanish from Ivy’s life without knowing that she was a girl.

A sigh escaped from Lavia’s lips.

I won’t tell Ivy either. I’m not so kind as to willingly increase romantic rivals and create conflicts. Ivy, too, is probably better off now being away from Hikaru.

At that moment, a surge of magical energy emanated from the distant laboratory. Immediately afterward, Hikaru and Ivy’s joyous cheers echoed.

Lavia alone grasped that it signified a farewell.