***
After finishing my conversation with Ghieuspe, I returned to the group and saw Arkhangelo cheering enthusiastically.
“As expected, I am truly great!”
“Arkhangelo, what’s going on?”
“I found Aurora’s box!”
“Oh!”
Aurora’s box, which reveals her location, was found!
“How did you find it?”
“It was dropped at the place where Aurora had boarded the airship earlier!”
“Hurry and crack the code!”
As always, Aurora had left a note on the box.
[Wow, I can’t write much this time because I think you guys will catch me soon;;
So, I’ll quickly give you just the problem.
8+11=310
22+9=1313
43+56=1318
72+19=5319
8+6=214
22+11=?]
“Aargh!”
Arkhangelo roared as if fire was coming out of his mouth again.
“Do it properly! 8 plus 6 is 14, what nonsense is 214?”
“Arkhangelo, please calm down.”
But even as Raffaelo said this, his expression wasn’t very pleasant. He looked at me and Ghieuspe as if expecting an explanation.
“Of course, you two know, right?”
“Um… yes, I know.”
“Yes, I do.”
As expected of Ghieuspe, he seemed to have figured it out right away. But since he didn’t seem like he was about to explain, I slowly started speaking.
“Alright, everyone, focus! What did the teacher say about solving problems like this?”
“Seraphina, you’re not my teacher though.”
“We need to find the pattern, right? The key to finding the pattern is breaking it down!”
“You’re really into this.”
“Wow, now the answer is becoming clear?”
As I spoke like I was teaching elementary students, the group seemed a little uncomfortable.
“Okay, let’s take a closer look at this.”
8+11=310
22+9=1313
43+56=1318
72+19=5319
8+6=214
22+11=?
“For the three-digit numbers, focus on the first digit! For four-digit numbers, focus on the first two digits! These numbers represent the difference between the two numbers.”
“That’s clear enough. So, the first digits for 22+11 will be 11.”
“Exactly, see, effort pays off!”
“……..…”
“The last digits, however, are a bit more complex.”
I knocked on Aurora’s box as if pointing at a blackboard.
“First equation: 8+1+1 equals 10. Second equation: 2+2+9 equals 13. Third equation: 4+3+5+6 equals 18. Now, I’ll call on someone!”
“Damn, I hate being called on….”
Arkhangelo groaned, but I met his gaze and asked him.
“The first digit, Arkhangelo! What is 2+2+1+1?”
“I can do that math. It’s 6.”
“Great! So, 22+11 equals 116!”
[116]
Then, with a slightly embarrassed face, Arkhangelo said.
“Haha, well, that’s the answer….”
“Why? Why don’t you speak like you did earlier? It was fun.”
“Shut up, Raffaelo….”
I picked up Aurora’s note as if showing it off.
[Crman]
“Crman?”
“It’s the capital of Cassan. It’s a city of art and culture.”
“A place Aurora would certainly like.”
“Alright, then let’s head to Crman!”
Raffaelo shouted eagerly with a voice full of enthusiasm. With that, we decided to leave the Tower of Magic and head for Crman.
However, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
It was because of Simone, who was riding the motorcycle. I kept glancing at the back of his head, unable to stop thinking about it.
‘Will he be alright?’
I wasn’t stupid.
Having just learned the secret of the Tower of Magic, I could guess what kind of past Simone had experienced there.
As I was pondering what to say to Simone, the motorcycle came to a stop.
“What’s that?”
Seeing the light bursting from beyond the forest, I squinted my eyes.
A yellow light, which didn’t fit with the dense trees, was there.
Raffaelo, who had turned his head to my question, had a troubled look on his face.
“Oh right, I forgot this was here on the way from the Tower of Magic to the Cassan Empire.”
“What is it?”
“It’s the Fairy Forest.”
It was Ghieuspe, speaking in a firm tone, who answered my question.
“It would be wise to avoid the Fairy Forest if possible, but Aurora’s motorcycle tire tracks lead straight into it.”
“Well, then we really don’t have a choice.”
“Hmm, I guess we’ll have to pass through it.”
I stood there, bewildered, and noticed that Arkhangelo, like me, had a look of confusion.
“Agh, stop talking among yourselves and explain!”
Only after Arkhangelo complained did Raffaelo begin to explain.
“The Fairy Forest is just a name. No fairies actually live there. Where would you find fairies in the world? The name comes from the fact that the forest is filled with magic.”
“Magic?”
“Yes, in some places in the world, magical power still lingers. If you step into such areas, you’ll be affected by the magic.”
“How does that work?”
“…You’re truly a mage, huh?”
Raffaelo gave me a look as if he had nothing to say, which made me feel a bit wronged.
I was just curious….
“Areas with lingering magic are usually places where mages lived long ago. Their residual magic built up over time, and now it’s an uncontrollable force.”
After Ghieuspe’s explanation, I nodded but couldn’t help asking another question.
“Then what’s the problem? Why is everyone so reluctant to pass through the Fairy Forest?”
“Magic is always active in places where magic has accumulated.”
“That means…”
“We could get caught up in it. In the case of the Fairy Forest, it’s known for causing hallucinations.”
“Hallucinations?”
“Specifically, they say it manifests as enemies drawn from the memories stored in one’s soul.”
“I think I understand….”
After hearing Ghieuspe’s explanation, I began to feel uneasy. What kind of enemy would appear for me? Could it be Princess Eva?
“And the Fairy Forest has another problem: it makes you lose your way.”
Raffaelo added to Ghieuspe’s explanation.
“Once we enter, we’ll be scattered, each following the path led by our souls. We have to break through the hallucinations to reach the other side of the Fairy Forest.”
“So, each of us has to overcome our own hallucinations.”
“Exactly. It won’t be difficult, but it will be annoying….”
Though we’d be separated, it was at least a relief that no one else would see my hallucinations.
“Ugh, magic is always a hassle.”
Arkhangelo grumbled with a dissatisfied face, but we still had no choice but to move forward.
I wondered what kind of hallucinations would appear for me.
‘Well, they’re just hallucinations, after all.’
I wasn’t too scared. After all the strange things I had experienced since coming to this world, hallucinations didn’t seem like such a big deal.
“Alright, let’s go.”
With those words, Raffaelo was the first to step into the Fairy Forest.
His figure disappeared into the glowing yellow forest in an instant.
“That’s normal. Don’t be too surprised.”
Ghieuspe entered the forest next. Arkhangelo, though not looking thrilled, followed after him.
Left alone with Simone, I hesitated for a moment, but Simone disappeared into the forest without hesitation. I stepped in after him.
As soon as I stepped into the light, my eyes began to sting terribly. I tightly shut my eyes and covered my face with my hands.
Even so, I didn’t stop walking forward, feeling as though my body was being transported to an unfamiliar and unknown world.
When the light seemed to fade and I opened my eyes again, what appeared before me was….
