Reincarnated User Manual

Chapter 237: Palace

Chapter 237: Palace

When Seira spoke a name from her past life, Lucia seriously contemplated.

‘Should I kill myself?’

Usually, she thought negatively of people who took their own lives, but now she somehow deeply understood their feelings.

A doom with no escape in sight.

Instinctively, Lucia thought she couldn’t escape from those vividly glowing purple eyes.

Although her actions were far from dignified, Seira was a strong and noble Archmage when she kept her mouth shut.

What was an Archmage?

It was a realm that even the most renowned scholars of the academy could never reach. Whether it’s magical talent or lack of time to build up one’s state, high intelligence was a necessary condition to become an Archmage.

In other words, despite her appearance, Seira was exceptionally intelligent.

On the other hand, Lucia’s intelligence was, at best, average for a new academy student. Therefore, it was impossible for Lucia to directly break through Seira’s interrogation.

However,

Even a worm would wiggle when stepped on, and a cornered rat could bite the cat.

“What are you talking about?”

Unable to bring herself to commit suicide, Lucia did not back down even though she knew she was at a disadvantage.

“Are you still pretending to go along with Shiron acting as Kyrie?”

Lucia tilted her head and asked back.

Unable to erase the memory physically, she decided to play dumb until the end.

“What are you doing?”

But Seira was not fooled by that shameless act. She crossed her arms and looked down at Lucia with half-open eyes.

“What do you think I’m doing? It’s fascinating that someone who died 500 years ago is here.”

“Are you going to keep denying it?”

“I don’t understand what Seira is saying. I’m not Kyrie; I’m Lucia Prient.”

“…So you’re going to play dumb until the end?”

Seira sighed deeply and touched her forehead.

“Nachsom.”

Flinch. Lucia’s shoulders trembled. Seira, not missing that reaction, spoke again.

“Falling Sky Strike, Meteor Sword, Dropping Waterfall, Blossom, Cry, Sirius.”

“…”

“Shouting out the skill names without using magic is one thing. I can understand if the Prient family learned swordsmanship since it’s your descendants who founded it. But.”

Seira glared at Lucia, who was avoiding her gaze.

“You shouldn’t have finished with a blast punch after using Meteor Sword repeatedly! If you were going to hide it, at least vary the combos a bit!”

Pok- pokpok- The callous-free fingers poked at her soft cheek.

“Are you still going to pretend? Huh? Is our relationship just that shallow?!”

“…”

“And, I was considerate enough to make the kid sleep. Not only that, but I also put up a barrier so no one can hear our conversation, right?”

“Sigh…”

Lucia sighed deeply and glanced in Shiron’s direction. There, Shiron was floating in the water like a corpse.

“Really… Shiron can’t hear this conversation, right?”

“Of course. What do you take me for? I’ve never lost to anyone in magic, you know.”

“…Yeah, you’re great.”

With a resigned look, Lucia grabbed the finger poking her cheek.

Having decided to admit that she was Kyrie, she wasn’t going to allow any more undignified behavior. It wasn’t because she wanted to avoid lowering her dignity, but because she and Seira had a poor relationship when she was alive.

But even so, Lucia sighed deeply and stared at Seira.

“I am Kyrie. Are you satisfied?”

“…It would have been better if you admitted it sooner.”

Seira looked at Lucia with a pitiful expression but soon smiled faintly.

Though she was displeased to have been deceived, and it was infuriating that Kyrie tried to fool her, she wasn’t at an age where emotions were high, and the dignity accumulated over hundreds of years didn’t go away.

Turning her back on Lucia, Seira picked up the peacefully sleeping Shiron.

“It’s not the best place for a leisurely chat, is it?”

Seira raised Kiara’s arm and pointed to the water’s surface.

---

A quiet fishing village.

The two, who had taken care of Shiron, returned to the inn where they had stayed before descending underwater. They expelled the salty water that had filled their lungs and used magic to dry their clothes. After laying Shiron on the freshly made bed, Seira quietly closed the door and headed to the balcony.

“Somehow, I thought you were too strong for your age.”

A table with warm tea. Seira sat across from Lucia, crossing her legs.

“And no matter how shy you are, you were especially awkward with me. I thought it was just a teenager’s resentment.”

“…Sip.”

“There was a reason for it, wasn’t there?”

Lucia silently watched Seira, who had a triumphant expression. She thought Seira would be angry about being deceived all this time, but her past colleague seemed more joyful than angry.

“Of course, if you wanted to hide your identity, instead of trying to make it less noticeable, you should have cut off the cause entirely. You did pretty well for Kyrie.”

“…”

“But that was clumsy. If you didn’t want to be discovered, you should have driven me away or left the house yourself. How did you think you could continue living in the same house and still hide your identity?”

“…Still, didn’t I manage to last five years?”

“Sorry, but five years isn’t exactly a long time.”

“…Yeah, it must be nice to be old.”

Lucia answered shortly and drank the contents of her teacup in one gulp.

She didn’t think she would never be discovered, but since nothing had happened for five years, she had a slight hope.

They ate together every day, and during the commute to and from the academy. Seira rarely left her room.

Even if she stayed in the separate building, the only times Seira woke up were when she had to spend time with Shiron or watch Siriel’s training.

Was it a year ago? With the retirement ceremony of Sir Johann, Seira regained some vitality, but it didn’t mean Seira took any special interest in Lucia.

“If you’re going to get angry, do it now. I’m prepared for it.”

“At least you feel guilty about deceiving me. If you had shamelessly continued, I would have hit you a few times.”

Seira erased her smile and looked at Lucia.

“Why did you deceive me?”

“I told you to hit me.”

“Anyway, hitting you wouldn’t hurt, would it? So, let’s hear the reason.”

Having met after 500 years, there were many things to ask and tell, but there was an order to these things.

Continuing the conversation from the deep sea. Although the embers of emotion had diminished over time, they had not completely turned to ashes.

Still, weren’t they comrades who had entrusted their lives to each other?

Knowing this, Lucia bit her lip and closed her eyes tightly.

“It started because of a threat to my life.”

“Your life?”

“Do you know that Yuma is alive?”

“I know. But why does that matter?”

Seira recalled the demon in the isolated castle amidst the storm.

“Last time I saw her, she had reformed, corrupted by maternal love, saying ‘Young master~ Young master~ How dare you defy the young master, you insolent wench. For threatening the young master’s life, you deserve to be punished… this nonsense!”

“What’s with your tone…”

Lucia couldn’t understand Seira’s sudden excitement, but she didn’t want to argue about it.

Surely, Yuma had become much milder compared to before, but when she first met her, she was just an 8-year-old kid.

Her mana was insignificant, and she didn’t have the luxury to consider why there were descendants she hadn’t given birth to.

“Ahem, anyway. So there’s no reason not to reveal it now. Aren’t you already stronger than Yuma?”

“…That’s why I was revealing it on the way here.”

“What?”

“Yuma already knows who I am.”

“Then what… why didn’t you tell me?”

Bang- Seira hit the table. At first, she tried to act magnanimous like an elder, but hearing this, she couldn’t help but show her hurt feelings.

“You, we were comrades. Yura, Anjay, and Vinella… they all died. Don’t you remember those adventures we had together? How could you tell Yuma and not me?”

“Hey, Seira.”

Sigh- Lucia sighed deeply.

“Did you really forget everything?”

The reason why Seira was uncomfortable for her.

Recalling unpleasant memories made her nerves on edge. Even though she learned that a comrade was alive after 500 years, Lucia found Seira too uncomfortable.

Kyrie, who was magnificent, aloof, and strong beyond anyone’s reach.

Lucia, who was strong but naive and awkward, seemed like someone anyone could befriend…

It wasn’t because of her foolish actions after reincarnation.

The embarrassment stemming from the difference in perception was nothing compared to past events.

Even though the comrade who reappeared after 500 years lived a life almost like a wreck due to the demon’s curse, the reason she couldn’t reveal her identity and open her heart was…

“Do you not remember what you did at the end?”

Hoo- Lucia’s trembling sigh reached Seira. Tears welled up in Lucia’s eyes as she looked at Seira.

“You, Yura died because of you.”