Episode 144 – Planarium (2)

Planarium (2)

Bang bang bang bang-!

I planted a signboard in front of the vinyl greenhouse.

[Ascal Farm]

Ascal Farm. Of course, there’s nothing yet, but it’s quite satisfying to look at.

“……I’m counting on you. I don’t know how long I’ll stay.”

I spoke to the farm. I also bowed and prayed.

In [Planarium], all sorts of things have souls. It’s best to treat even the smallest things with care.

“It’s delicious.”

By the way, Layla was still tearing into the meat. Gerkhen had gone on a business trip to buy seeds.

“Shion, the mana quality here is high, so the kids must have grown well.”

She was eating with a couple of hind legs clenched, but surprisingly, there was no mess. The oil on her lips was just right like lip balm, there was no splattering or dripping of sauce or meat pieces, and she just swallowed just the right amount each time she chewed.

It was almost an art of dining etiquette.

After all, Trick City A-Section is almost a top-tier area where only 2~3 line aristocratic Senators can live in terms of Edsilla. Even though her speech is a bit crude, in everyday aspects, the aristocratic demeanor is as natural as breathing.

“Her parents must have raised her well.”

“……What are you talking about.”

I thought while looking at the cheeks of the meat-filled girl.

Layla.

Mila.

She is the hero of Trick City.

Even if not now, she will become one someday.

The reason why the powerful nation ‘Edsilla’ leaves Trick City alone. The reason why it virtually guarantees Trick City’s autonomy to the level of a separate state, and even gives Edsilla voting rights, is purely because of the underworld.

Trick City is the only breakwater blocking the underworld. Because the monsters trying to come up from the bottom ‘must’ pass through Trick City.

The mainland is all benefiting from Trick City to some extent.

However, the underworld will run wild before long.

At this point, it seems like the principle of the world.

Heroes always appear in troubled times.

“It’s getting dark.”

I looked at the sky.

Before I knew it, it was becoming night.

“Go down now.”

Layla firmly shook her head.

“No, I have to eat all of this. I don’t know if there will be any tomorrow. I was hungry yesterday too.”

“I’ll pack it for you.”

I drew the Ascal sword. I cut the meat into bite-sized pieces with a shick-shick-shick-shick- sound.

“Wow…… Shion is good~ You’re not going anywhere with your part-time job at a barbecue restaurant~”

“Take all of it. Throw away that snail soup.”

The snail soup that Layla ambitiously cooked had already fallen into a strange substance.

“Can I take this much?! What about you, Shion?!”

“I ate a lot.”

Layla, holding a large barrel of meat, gave a thumbs up.

“Thank you!”

And like a squirrel, before I could change my mind, she quickly turned around and ran down the forest path.

“……Hmm.”

I got up. I took a small breath and put my hand on the ‘Ancient Mana’ on my right forearm. I clenched my hand as if holding a card. A square entity was implemented from the grip of that hand.

It’s a card.

A card that shines in pure white.

“……Barrier, huh?”

I can’t quite understand the effect. But if 「Treasure Hunter」 works ambiguously, it means it’s an excellent item.

I flicked the card lightly.

Whooosh…

The card, fluttering in the wind, soon spread out like a transparent barrier, wrapping around the entire greenhouse in a circular fashion.

─Wow, what is that, Master?

“I don’t know either. What does it look like?”

─Hmm.

Grawl poked at the barrier, muttering.

─It’s not a boundary, but more like a ‘barrier’ that’s semi-permanent? It maintains its stability.

“A barrier?”

─Yes. Unless artificially dismantled, it seems like it will last a very long time…

“Will it block souls?”

─Of course.

Contrary to common sense, souls can take form, and they can also remain formless. Particles of souls mixed very finely in the atmosphere are also souls.

However, the biggest danger in [Planarium] is the embodied ‘souls’. They are the ones who try to steal the bodies of the living.

─Souls won’t be able to penetrate here.

“Is that so.”

Grawl’s knowledge is thanks to the smartphone, but knowledge related to magic is probably from the previous ‘S-class monster Grawl’.

“…Ah. Here it comes.”

─Wow. It’s fast.

Down the dark mountain path, I could see a head maintaining a marathon-like pace, climbing up the road.

It was Gerkhen.

He had traveled that long distance in just 4 hours, his obsession with food was truly insane.

Gerkhen, who quickly climbed up, was panting and put down the seeds.

“In order, mango, watermelon, melon, strawberry, pineapple, mango…”

“You’ve worked hard. Go down and rest.”

“…If you can’t grow them properly, I’ll reclaim my shares.”

Leaving those words behind, he went back down the path he came from.

“Grawl. You heard? Plant the seeds.”

─Yes~

* * *

The first day of school. The day the college board’s second quarter resumes.

After the temporary assembly, the seniors who returned to [Planarium] all lined up in the stadium.

Everyone was half-prepared.

They seemed to have brought various Artifacts, tools, and materials, but most of them probably won’t work. The environment in [Planarium] is an entirely different world.

…Swoosh.

Suddenly, someone stood next to me like a phantom. I glanced at them and was surprised.

It was Elise.

But she looked strange.

“Did you eat a panda or something?”

Her dark circles were almost as long as a panda’s, and her eyes were almost bloodshot. It seemed like she hadn’t slept at all.

Elise glanced up at me and let out a small sigh.

“There’s a child I need to save. It’s a serious matter. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Then should I understand?”

“Haaah…”

She yawned behind her hand, and soon began to doze off. Just as I thought she was about to fall over, her knees gave out and she lost her balance.

I grabbed her back. I propped her up with my arm and forced her to stand.

“What are you doing?”

“…?”

Elise looked up at me with slightly unfocused eyes. Her vacant pupils flickered, then quickly scanned our positions.

My arm around her waist, and the closer than usual distance.

“You, what are you doing! Let go, let go!”

She flailed like a cat, retreating and making a fuss on her own.

“Even when I help, you make a fuss. If you’re tired, go rest.”

“…Be quiet. I can handle it myself.”

Elise wiped the sweat from her forehead, looking at me.

Suddenly, I felt a gaze.

It was Soliette.

She looked at Elise and me alternately, holding a seemingly bitter smile.

──Greetings.

Just then, ‘Deloh’ spoke from the podium.

──Starting today, the second quarter begins at [Planarium Academy].

The tense breaths of the seniors fell silent in the stadium.

──It’s also the day when the turbulent period of [Planarium] begins.

Turbulent period. It’s like a season of [Planarium]. During the stable period, the encounters between reality and soul decrease, but during the turbulent period, they become very active.

──During this turbulent period, [Planarium] will be completely connected with the ‘immaterial world’ for 45 days. No one will know whether these 45 days will be extended or shortened. Because all mysteries, such as time bending or space twisting, will occur.

In the turbulent period of [Planarium], all imaginable mysteries can occur.

Mysteries that cannot exist outside of [Planarium].

That’s why it’s a place where souls linger, and at the same time, a highland like a mirage.

──Let me repeat. The student ID given to you is the ‘anchor’ that keeps you in this world.

Then Elise poked my arm. It was the corner of the student ID.

──For 45 days, we will try to maintain your safety, but we cannot guarantee all safety. Self-help. Endure by saving yourself. If you can’t, give up at any time.

I chuckled as I received the student ID.

“When did I give it?”

“……I didn’t steal it. If you’re going to keep it carelessly, just leave it to me.”

──Then……. Feel it.

Just then, ‘Deloh’ raised his hand.

At that moment, as if he had been waiting.

Goooooooo───

As if the whole [Planarium] was resonating with the world, a ringing sound arose,

Click─!

With a surge as if a key was inserted.

The air of [Planarium] changed in an instant.

The blue sky was dyed purple, and the moon doubled and looked down on the ground like pupils.

──In this [Planarium], there are soul experts, or embodied souls residing. Detailed consultations will be assisted by the staff of [Silent Hall]. Please perform as many tasks as possible, earn as many achievement points as possible, and convert them to CP……

Soul experts, or ’embodied souls’.

Deloh retreated like that, but the seniors stayed in the stadium for a while with a creepy chill.

I looked around the grounds of [Planarium Academy].

In some buildings that were definitely empty, the lights were on.

* * *

[Silent Hall]

Elise is sitting in the consultation chair, looking at the ‘official’. A woman with long black hair and crimson pupils.

“Are you…… a soul?!”

This rude question is not from Elise, but from Layla.

Elise formed a party with Layla, Kain, and Asher for the first time in a long time.

“I’m a human. Idiot.”

“……An idiot, you say.”

Layla pouted her lips.

“Well, it’s good to doubt. There are many souls that seem like real humans. Among souls, 30% are good guys, 30% are thoughtless guys, 10% are guys with no interest in the secular world, and maybe about 20% are bad guys.”

The woman scanned the student IDs that Layla, Elise, Kain, and Asher had placed on the desk.

“Let me introduce myself first. I’m Akane.”

“Aka…ne?”

Elise’s eyes widened.

“Could it be, are you Akane Kedzen Meol?”

“Another one who knows me.”

Good heavens!

She is a mythical figure in the magical world.

She was the first to reach the pinnacle of the ‘Leolien’ school, but was betrayed by her master – according to her own claim – and left the academic world. She is a tragic genius and a puppeteer who manipulates souls.

“Anyway, the ‘task that gives a lot of achievement points’ you requested is about this much.”

She handed out a pamphlet.

◆ Task: Retrieval of Time Fragments

◆ Grade: S grade

◆ Summary: Retrieval of torn time fragments

◆ Achievement Points: 30,000

◆ Task: Removal of the Western Forest’s Watchtower

◆ Grade: A+ grade

◆ Summary: Removal of the Watchtower

◆ Achievement Points: 10,000……

“One time fragment is 30,000 at S grade.”

“That’s right. This fragment is somewhere in the eastern forest of [Planarium], and if you retrieve it, you get 30,000 achievement points.”

“If it’s 30,000 points…”

“Even if you divide it among four people, it’s a guaranteed top rank. Well, you’ll probably spend it on food or something over 45 days.”

However, Elise twisted her lips grimly.

“Even so, can we do this at the senior level? I know that conceptual fragments are very… difficult to handle.”

A fragment is, of course, just a fragment, but when a certain ‘concept’ is attached to it, its value and weight change.

Especially a fragment with the concept of [time] attached to it…

“That’s why I’m giving you 30,000 points. By the way, when I was your age, I dismantled a fragment of the soul, you know?”

Akane said something genius-like.

“…….”

Elise, who prides herself as a genius at least on par, was triggered by some competitive soul.

“Guys. What do you want to do? I think it’s worth challenging.”

There are still 45 days left. Even if we fail in the challenge, there’s still time, and if we succeed, we can start from a much more advanced position.

“Well… if you’re going to do it, do it.”

“Right! Elly, let’s do this quickly and earn 30,000 points!”

“…….”

Did you hear that?

With those eyes, Elise looked at Akane, and Akane, chuckling, handed over the task pamphlet.

“Go ahead. Give it your best shot.”

* * *

The Elise party that came out of [Silent Hall] is standing in the eastern forest of [Planarium]. The sky is still purple, but the ground is as clear and bright as any morning.

“Haah… then, shall we split up and start looking for traces?”

At Elise’s words, the team members nodded.

The party was divided into Elise, Layla, and Kain with Asher. Three teams in total.

Asher and Kain were a team because Kain hated scary things.

“We’ll be out before 4 PM, so don’t worry too much.”

“Wh-who said I was worried? Ha-ha? Ha-ha-ha?”

Kain laughed with a trembling body.

“Let’s split up then. If you find any clues, don’t act rashly, share them. Absolutely, do not act impulsively.”

“Understood.”

Everyone scattered in different directions.

Elise also walked the forest path with Cookie in tow.

But…

Rustle. Rustle.

Every time there was the sound of stepping on the undergrowth.

Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

The sound of a camel’s hooves came to mind.

A very pretty, cute, and adorable camel.

A camel with black fur that shone brightly.

A camel she had already named.

‘Bianca’ kept flickering in her mind.

“No, no.”

She shook her head.

─Bark!

Cookie barked in agreement.

“I know.”

The priority is the college board.

Games are only for the weekend.

Besides, she had already earned three gold coins, right? If she earns hard this weekend, she can buy Bianca.

…What if it’s sold before then?

“I’ll kill them.”

Just imagining it made her blood boil. In that case, she would have no choice but to become a PK user.

Anyway.

As she climbed the mountain path, she took in the sensation of magic. Fragments of specific [concepts] cause very peculiar waves. So, if she opened the antenna in her head and filtered out only the abnormal magic frequencies…

Suddenly.

Kwaaaaaaa───!

Lightning struck the purple sky. For a moment, the world was infinitely bright. Elise closed her eyes.

She opened them again.

“…?”

The lightning was frozen.

In the middle of the sky, as if buffering. Still scattering white flashes.

“What is this-”

Kwang!

Suddenly, the lightning struck late, and the world was now infinitely dark.

Swoooooosh───

Rain that wasn’t there before poured down.

“…Damn.”

The environment is filthy.

Elise shook her head and asked.

“Cookie. Are you okay?”

There was no answer.

She looked at her waist.

Cookie was gone.

“…”

For a moment, it felt like a hammer had fallen on her heart.

Did she lose it because of the lightning?

She looked around, but it was nowhere to be found.

She felt instinctively.

She had to go back.

But…

Where was the way she came?

The footprints she had walked on had already disappeared.

She moved anyway. She walked somewhere. She ran anywhere. She frantically pushed through the forest.

Swoooooosh───

Her whole body was soaking wet from the rain pouring down as if a hole had been drilled in the sky, strength was gradually leaving her arms and legs, and when it felt like her internal organs were twisting in pain.

“!”

Her eyes opened wide.

A twinkling light was detected somewhere.

At first, she thought it was a hallucination, but it wasn’t.

What── a light attached to a sign.

[OPEN]

Open? Open?

“Open!”

Elise ran towards it. It didn’t matter what it was. It meant there were people there…

As she got closer, its form became clearer.

It looked like a greenhouse.

The words engraved on the sign with the [OPEN] light were [Ascal Farm].

She hastily pushed open the door.

It was warm.

Bubble, bubble – the sound of something boiling. Above all, the ‘warmth of a person’ flowed in.

“Haa, haa….”

As Elise, almost collapsed on the floor, was panting heavily…

Then.

“…Are you coming in?”

A slightly familiar, teasing voice called her.

Elise, soaked in the rain, raised her gaze. Someone was standing in the kitchen at one corner of the greenhouse.

Only showing his back.

Elise tilted her head.

The voice was familiar, but the body was not.

“Who are….”

Before that sentence could be completed, he turned around.

Elise’s eyes widened. Her mouth fell open.

“I was getting a bit annoyed waiting.”

He… at least in face, was Shion Ascal.

But…

“Are you… really Shion?”

“Who else do you see me as? A ghost?”

“….”

He was much taller. His physique and skeleton were the same. Of course, the current Shion was also much better than at the beginning of the semester, but now….

He chuckled and approached her. Elise dumbly got up. She only reached his chest.

He handed her a note.

“Here.”

A date was written on it.

[June 8. Open the farm door.]

Interestingly, it was today, written in her handwriting.

June 8.

Elise blankly stared at it.

“You gave it to me. You didn’t write the year, so I opened it every year.”

“When did I….”

She didn’t remember giving it.

– Elise’s lips stopped as she was about to say that.

At the same time, she remembered the goal of the S-rank mission she received today.

[Retrieve the fragment of time]

“….Could it be.”

Elise blankly raised her head.

“Right.”

Then, Shion Ascal, with a small smile, placed his palm on her head.

“You’ve briefly visited the future.”