What to do?
That was the first question I threw at myself.
Maybe I should send a message—to let my family know to pick me up, and also inform them about the academy closing. With that in mind, I went to my wardrobe.
I opened it and started searching through the clothes. Soon, I found a communication device. This device used mana to send signals to whoever it was paired with. A single device could be paired with one or many others, forming something like a private network.
But this particular one was paired with many.
There were no such things as phones in this world. Security for these devices actually meant something, because only the important or the rich could afford them. And obviously, rich and important people mattered in any world.
The working of these devices was simple—at least in theory.
First, the exact number of pairings and their type had to be decided, because unlike mobile phones, once a device was paired, contacts couldn't be added later. Then a common rune was added, connecting all devices. This rune could also be used to identify whether the devices were still linked.
Next came the runes of mana distortion. These distortions acted as signals—one device sent them, another received. But where should the signals go—left, right, or across space? For that, runes of space were used. All these runes were carved onto special metals treated with a mana saturation process. And finally, mana stones were used as the battery.
The initial process made these devices expensive. But using them was just as costly, since each use consumed mana stones.
After informing my family of the situation with the communication device, I decided to visit the library. The library was far from my dorm, but I was free, so I left.
On my way, my stomach growled in protest. So I decided to calm it first.
I went to the cafeteria, which was nearly empty save for a few students. Maybe most had already left, I thought, as I sat in a corner and ate quietly.
Nearby, two students were eating slowly, talking as they did.
"Hey, when will you go home?"
"I'm leaving the day after tomorrow. What about you?"
"I don't know. My home is quite far."
"Yes, but the academy is closed, so you'll have to leave."
"Actually, you know where my home is. The Fifteenth Demon General attacked yesterday, and now the path is closed."
"So what now?"
"I talked to a teacher. He said I could stay at an academy city hotel. They'll give me a discount, and I can return home later."
"Why don't you come to my home instead? My family owns an alchemy shop, and we're both alchemists. You can help in the shop—you'll also gain experience."
"That's actually a good idea."
Hmm… Demon General.
So the attack happened now. The consequences would be huge. Demon Generals never moved for small gains, so whatever happened must have been significant.
Well, it wasn't my place to think about such large events. For me, just matching things to the novel was enough for clarity.
After eating, I resumed my march toward the library. My pace was slow—I wasn't in any hurry. My stomach was full, and there was still plenty of time before nightfall.
When I reached the library, I silently observed it. Its size was enormous. Judging the height was impossible. And with the way the exterior was designed, I couldn't even count the number of floors—it all looked like one continuous structure.
After admiring it, I entered and was amazed again by the interior. The height of the floor was at least five meters. Huge bookshelves added to the grandeur. Though this floor was mostly for seating and administration.
I went up to the first floor to pick books and found a quiet corner. Looking around, I noticed many students here—so much for my assumption in the cafeteria.
I started with the theory books for first years. To my surprise, there was almost nothing new. This body's memory already had everything. At least for theory, I didn't need to be afraid.
After further analysis, I realized even 80% of second-year theory was already in memory.
I was impressed. This guy would surely have aced the theory part of the rank evaluation exam.
Then I remembered something—something that made me pale. Why? I'll tell you later.
After that, I was in no mood to study, but I still skimmed a few other books. In the end, I decided not to borrow any.
I left the library, not knowing what else to do. Returning to my room, I found it boring. So I decided to recall some memories—to at least know this guy's habits.
Now, you might ask, why do I need to search through my memory if I already lived through it?
I'll give an example. You know all your memories, but you don't think about them all at once. Like, if someone asks you, "What's five times seven?" you'll search your memory for the answer. Just like that, I had this guy's memories, but I needed to actively recall and practice his habits.
Based on the distance from my home, I guessed it would take four days for my escorts to arrive. So every day, I decided to spend an hour doing this.
Thinking further, why not also study magic? He must have attended classes, after all.
But after trying a little, I discovered something odd. Even though his memory contained perfect knowledge of how to perform basic spells, he couldn't cast even a single one.
How could someone know exactly what to do, yet fail to produce the simplest spell?
Alright—calm down. Since I had time, I decided to practice.
After some effort, I found I still couldn't cast spells, but I faced fewer problems than he had.
I continued this for two days.
On the third day, someone knocked on my door.
"Does this guy even have friends?" I wondered.
His memories didn't show anything close to friendship.
I walked over and opened the door.
An academy staff member in uniform stood there, waiting patiently. After I opened the door, he asked,
"Are you Adrian Lewin?"
I nodded.
He nodded back, then informed me,
"Your escorts have arrived. I was asked to notify you. They are at the academy gates."
A little confused at how they had arrived so quickly, I thanked him and said I would go soon.
He left as soon as I replied.
I packed my things—just a few clothes and important items, keeping the load light. Then I left quickly for the gate, though I moved with caution as I approached.
When I was almost at the gates, I hid and began observing the carriage.
It was definitely a carriage from my family—but who knew? Maybe someone had stolen it.
I examined the escorts standing near the carriage. They looked like my family's escorts. Though I found this comforting, I wasn't going to take any risks. I kept looking, hoping for some sort of clue on or around the carriage. But nothing out of the ordinary was visible.
You can't blame me for being cautious. I had only come to this world a few days ago. Even this body was foreign to me, so a little precaution was necessary—especially for an "extra" like me.
While I was focused on the carriage, someone suddenly placed a hand on my shoulder.
I screamed and quickly pulled away, stumbling and falling to the ground in the process.
Now, many eyes were on me. My ears turned red from embarrassment, but if nothing else, this unintended scene would at least put attention on me—deterring whoever was behind me.
Still shaky but with no time to waste, I turned to see who it was.
The person was male. His face wasn't fully visible; he covered part of it, as if regretting scaring me. Well, regret all you want—I don't care.
After his face, I noticed his clothes. They weren't flashy, but even I could tell the fabric was far too expensive for most nobles.
The crowd quickly lost interest in the small scene. I, however, felt a little relieved. After all, I wasn't important enough for someone this rich to bother harming.
Then, I heard the man's voice:
"Adrian, why put me in this embarrassing situation?"
I protested:
"It's me who got scared. The one who screamed was me. The one rolling on the ground, covered in dirt, is also me. If anything, you should apologize!"
The man only sighed.
Now I was much more relaxed as his identity wasn't a mystery. The moment I saw his face, I recognized him. I was happy and felt much more secure with him being present. Atleast the identities of escorts were of no issue.
Getting up from the ground, I asked,
"Uncle sure is free—wasting time to come and pick me up."
Yes, the man was my uncle.
My father's younger brother.
Belhart Lewin