ch41-ch60 · 051-ch44

Chapter 44

After the adventure with Hexaria, things were hectic.

But at the same time, Sai had already anticipated that it would become a big deal.

When they reached floor 11, they used the teleportation device in Shinjuku Tower to return directly to floor 1.

He'd predicted there would definitely be people waiting for them.

So they used Hexaria's concealment magic to block not just their presence, but every trace of their existence.

Literally flying over the crowd of people waiting for them — by deploying Hexa Shields in the air and walking across them — they returned to the Adventurer's Guild.

People were startled by Sai and Hexaria suddenly appearing from an unexpected direction, but by then they'd already finished changing, told the receptionist, "Sorry for causing a commotion. We've finished our adventure for today, so we're heading home," and left.

On social media, there was surprise and some criticism about their elusive behavior, but considering the chaos on-site, it was a reasonable way to handle things.

That's what Sai thought.

But problems arise when they come from unexpected places, or exceed expectations.

Now, the High Elf Hexaria was the talk of not just the country, but the entire world.

And the solo middle-aged adventurer Sai, who was inexplicably partying up with her and moving.

In the middle of all this turmoil, Sai was at home, holding his head in his hands.

"I expected it... I expected it, but..."

"Sensei, don't you think you underestimated Hexaria's impact?"

"So this is what happens when your DMs explode..."

Hiyori and Mio peered at Sai's phone with exasperated looks.

The adventurer streaming site Tower Tube, like other video sites, had a channel subscription feature (you had to apply for it), a comment function, and even DMs.

As an instructor teaching magic control training and the adventurer's mindset, Sai had made his DMs public, saying "if you have questions, send them here." As a solo middle-aged adventurer who had earned a certain reputation even overseas, if he were just an instructor, he'd only need to answer questions — and that function had served its purpose well enough.

But adding Hexaria into the mix changed everything.

To be honest, he'd underestimated Earth's information diffusion power.

His DM list was filled with questions about his relationship with Hexaria, interview requests, and then a massive — truly overwhelming — flood of congratulations and pure harassment.

Incidentally, it seemed Hexaria had received similar messages, but since she never checked her own streaming channel, she hadn't even noticed.

"If I have time to waste on trivial matters, I'd rather read as many papers from this world as possible, or give form to as many of the ideas I have now as possible."

That's what she said before holing up in her workshop, doing what she wanted to do.

"Somehow... information control really is hard, isn't it..."

"With the evil spirit and demon situation, this isn't just someone else's problem for us either."

The battle with the devils called the Shinjuku Demon Frontline last December was still fresh in memory.

None of it had been made public — a case where information lockdown had worked.

But Hexaria was already a High Elf woman known to the world.

It was too late for information control or anything like that.

The bomb of information had already exploded.

...No, there was still the super-sized bomb of Sai and Hexaria being married (even if it was fake), but let's set that aside for now.

"Hmph. Either way, this uproar is only temporary."

When had she come out of the workshop?

Hexaria appeared beside Sai.

"In any case, you've been through this before, haven't you."

"Well, yeah, but..."

"You've experienced this before?"

The two of them had said things like that — that they'd been through this kind of situation before.

Hearing that, she couldn't help but be a little curious.

"It's a story from a long time ago."

"Mmm. Well, just watch. What we do doesn't change whether it's that world or this one."

Hexaria chuckled, "Kuku ku."

Sai remembered the past well enough to cover his face with his hand and groan, "Ah jeez."

Better not to meddle with a High Elf.

◇

Then, some time later.

Hexaria's magical power lecture was finally going to be held.

Initially, a limited number of participants was planned, but so many people wanted to attend that making it a lottery resulted in odds of several hundred to one. Even after weeding out suspicious people through pre-screening tests and background checks, those were still the numbers.

So it was decided that the lecture would be held at a university lecture hall, rented out for the occasion.

Magical power was a confirmed existence, actively used primarily by adventurers — yet it remained an academic wilderness, untouched by scientific inquiry.

And into that wilderness would cut an otherworldly being. A High Elf. A peerless beauty.

It was only natural that people clamored to attend the lecture.

In a sense, it was like a lecture by a modern-day Einstein.

Universities, research institutes, independent researchers, adventurers.

Travelers of knowledge have always yearned for the unknown.

The venue was disclosed only to successful applicants, and the lecture was conducted under strict security.

A team centered around Kaga of the Magic Countermeasures Division had been formed, with police also deployed.

The venue was the lecture hall of a university famous as one of Japan's top academic institutions.

On the stage at the front of that hall.

Hexaria stood at the center, with Sai beside her.

The lecture was apparently also being streamed overseas, with real-time translations into various languages.

Amid the tension of everyone except Hexaria, her lecture began.

"Now then, I will begin the lecture — but there is something I must say first.

This lecture will start by sharing basic knowledge about magical power, and ultimately will disclose a part of what is called 'magitech' — technology from another world, from your perspective.

We currently anticipate ten sessions, but please understand that the number may increase or decrease."

The attendees stirred with murmurs.

Of course — they hadn't been told the number of sessions might change.

But Hexaria continued without concern for the murmuring.

"It has been about two months since I came to this world. There are dogs sniffing around my vicinity. These dogs have the audacity to stake out me, my belongings, my associates — they skulk around my perimeter, using me as a pretext to pursue their own profit."

Some among the attendees seemed to recognize themselves in that description, their shoulders trembling.

But Hexaria did not stop.

"Regarding these dogs — I have already ascertained exactly which organizations they belong to.

I have no need for petty excuses or self-justifications.

I dislike those who make a racket around me.

I dislike those who interfere with me.

Therefore, I hereby declare.

If any of you make contact with me, my property Site Yamana, or any of our associates without obtaining consent — I will terminate this lecture effective immediately."

An even greater murmur spread through the hall.

"...With that said, I will now conduct a demonstration. Witness the depths of magical power and magitech. Or rather — witness what happens when I am angered."

The next moment, everyone in the lecture hall experienced a fantasy and a terror.

And some viewers watching the stream outside the hall likely experienced terror as well.

From where did they appear?

Suddenly, tiny spirits alighted on the shoulders of every single attendee.

They had been completely undetectable — they appeared without warning, tiny spirits standing on their shoulders.

For most attendees, the spirits simply moved their bodies in an endearing way. They seemed to be greeting them. Then, through gestures, they also seemed to be saying "sorry for startling you."

On Earth, spirits are invisible.

Yet they could see them. Most attendees had no idea what these tiny spirits were. But they immediately understood they were fantastical beings.

So this was the depth of magical power and magitech.

But a fairy-tale scene could also become horror.

On the shoulders of some attendees, the tiny spirits whispered something.

At that moment, those people fell into a state of panic — some trembling with their heads in their hands, others fleeing from the hall.

The same thing should have been happening on the other side of the stream to certain individuals.

Those merely watching the stream were likely astonished by the fantasy that had appeared in the lecture hall.

But for those who had already acted with ill intent, a web of spirits had already been cast.

The tiny spirits that had suddenly appeared on their shoulders whispered a warning directly into their ears.

"You insolent ones. You irreverent ones. You arrogant ones.

Remember this well. This is what happens when you interfere with me."

The reactions among the attendees filling the hall varied.

The most obvious were those who suddenly fled, or those whose shoulders shook violently.

They were simply people who had "meddled with an existence they should not have touched."

The others — the well-intentioned ones who genuinely wished to study magical power — responded with various emotions: awe, applause, reverence, prayer...

Hexaria paused for a beat, then continued.

"...Now then, the person beside me will serve as my assistant for this lecture."

Sai bowed.

Once the lecture began, Sai's work would start.

He would display slides for the lecture, and serve as a demonstration subject for magic-related visuals.

The attendees greeted his bow with a smattering of applause.

"With that, I will now begin the lecture."

Later, this lecture series would be compiled as "The Great Mage Hexaria's Lectures."

And as an episode associated with her lectures, this story would take top billing.

Thus, Hexaria became known as the "Great Mage" on Earth.

Her lectures, which illuminated the unknown field of magical power, were well received.

Afterward.

The media's coverage of Hexaria was all about her lectures — they no longer touched on her personality.

Online reactions varied, but a very small number of the recklessly bold took extreme hostile actions to draw attention. However, the Japanese government and the Exorcist Alliance, led by the Ichijō family, responded immediately.

Without Hexaria having to lift a finger, standard legal penalties were applied.

After finishing her first lecture, Hexaria relaxed at home.

"Hmph. This should improve things a little — just like back in Tuare."

Saying this, Hexaria drank her coffee.

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Thank you for reading.