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Before the Surgery.
"This will really work, right, Teacher?"
"I've never seen it done before, but the paper clearly states it was successful."
"Inscribing a magic circle on bone... I've never even imagined such a thing."
"Yeah, me neither."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, no, I mean, it's amazing. I wonder who came up with this idea in the first place? Ahahaha."
The solution that Medium came up with after listening to Davian's worries:
To inscribe a magic circle on Davian's bone that matched the warp magic circle carved in the hidden place.
It was similar to the concept of embedding a scroll into bone.
Medium had never done it before either.
But according to what he saw in the Royal Medical Center library, it was definitely possible.
"So, after this surgery, if my left arm breaks, it will automatically warp to the magic circle connected on the other side, right?"
"Yeah, that's right. And at a speed that can't even be compared to tearing a magic scroll. Because the magic circle is carved inside the medium you want to move."
"You're saying it will activate much faster than tearing a scroll or warping while standing on a magic circle?"
"Yes. If the bone breaks, it will probably activate almost simultaneously."
"If an enemy wants to kill me in one shot, they'll aim for my head or heart. So I can use this left arm to block it."
Medium nodded.
"Yes. Then your arm will break, and your body will vanish in an instant."
"Nice. Even excluding the purpose of moving to that cave, it could be useful someday."
"That's why this surgery was created. Okay, now, let's anesthetize you."
The problem was.
It started from here.
"Huh? Why isn't the anesthesia working? I definitely injected the correct amount. Should I put in more?"
The item that makes you immune to all poisons, 'Potion of the Green Dragon'.
This potion regarded the anesthetic as a poison and immediately detoxified it, so it was impossible to perform local anesthesia on the left arm.
"What should I do? Should I just do it? It's going to hurt a lot..."
"How long will it take?"
Medium held his hands about 30cm apart.
"I have to tear it open this much, then inscribe the magic scroll onto the bone with this special needle. If I do it as quickly as possible... about 30 minutes?"
"Then let's just do it. I'll try to endure it. It's better to endure some pain now than to die later."
It was a surgery almost like extending life once.
In the midst of battle, on the verge of death from a fatal wound.
If you block the opponent's attack with your left arm, the warp magic will be activated at the same time as the left arm breaks.
Then Davian will be transported to the front of the well in the hidden place.
'I have to endure it.'
Davian had also experienced a dagger piercing his heart.
He thought he could endure this much surgery.
But.
Swish, swish.
Another problem arose.
When Davian's arm was cut open for surgery.
The tissue of the cut surface began to move and regenerate on its own.
When he tried to engrave the magic circle on the bone, the wound would seal itself.
"Davian, you're really amazing. This regeneration speed... Even a troll would be slower than this. Wait a moment."
Medium returned with several iron objects that looked like torture devices.
"I think I need to fix the flesh open with these to perform the surgery. What do you think, should we continue?"
"Haa..."
Not an easy decision.
But.
It's better than dying.
"...Let's do it, Teacher."
"I iie arr ouaaa."
"Does it hurt too much? How can you swear like that? Just bear with it a little longer. You can't turn back now."
"Ann ee airr."
"Don't say 'I should have'. It's better than dying later, right? You chose this. Just bear with it a little longer. Okay, done! Now just inscribe the magic circle!"
Thirteen in total.
Surgery preparation was completed only after thirteen medical devices were inserted into Davian's left arm to hold the flesh open.
The torn wound was still wriggling, trying to regenerate on its own.
Thirteen black iron tools were preventing it, with their mouths wide open.
Scratch, scratch.
Medium, having injected Aura into a special surgical needle, began to engrave the magic circle into Davian's bone.
Looking at the design Davian had drawn, he drew the magic circle quickly and carefully.
"Ouaa iie err aarr."
"Does this hurt more? Just bear with it a little longer, Davian. You really can't turn back now."
"Aii iiaar."
"Don't swear."
Scratch, scratch.
Whether he was too focused, beads of sweat formed on Medium's forehead.
But he couldn't stop halfway through.
Scratch, scratch.
Only after drawing the borders and first equation was he able to stretch his back for a moment.
"Ah aeeyo?"
"It's not all done yet. I have to draw the second equation."
Click, click, click.
"These flesh pieces are still trying to stick back together even after being pulled apart. Amazing. Okay, let's start again."
Scratch, scratch.
That time, which felt like eternity, passed.
Actually, only 20 minutes had passed.
"Okay, done! Now to cover it up."
Medium took out the medical tools that were holding Davian's flesh apart one by one.
Swish, swish.
As the medical tools were removed, the pieces of Davian's flesh began to entwine with each other, seeking the opposite side.
"Ah uaaayo?"
"Yes, it's all over. You can take the thing out of your mouth now."
Davian spat out the wad of cloth he had in his mouth.
"I thought I was going to die."
"He's dead."
"Cain was defeated, you say?"
"Yes. Only his corpse remained at the spot where the dungeon disappeared."
"He's not one to be easily defeated... Was it confirmed who he was fighting?"
"We confirmed with the villagers nearby."
Elias Vernin, the branch manager of base X-4, narrowed his brow.
"Who defeated him?"
"They say it was the students of Elton Academy."
"Students? Wouldn't a fight against multiple opponents be even more advantageous for Cain?"
"Apparently, that guy was there."
"By 'that guy', do you mean?"
"Davian Naone."
Branch Manager Elias Vernin raised his palm to his forehead as if he had a headache.
"Following Solvere, even Cain... Solvere was an ominous woman to begin with, so it's understandable. But Cain was an important asset for us, wasn't he?"
"Yes. I didn't think he would be so easily defeated..."
Deputy Branch Manager Manuel Iger opened his mouth.
"I will go."
"The Deputy Branch Manager himself? What about the training?"
"Even Cain was defeated. I will go and deal with that Davian Naone and return. It would be better to resume the dungeon core amplification operation after finding a suitable person afterwards."
Branch Manager Elias slowly nodded.
"Yes... Maybe it's right to deal with that Davian first, as the Deputy Branch Manager says. But we can't neglect training our troops even for a day. How long will it take?"
"A week at most is enough."
"You can catch him for sure, right?"
"Yes."
"Catch him!"
"That way!"
A large forest inside the 2nd-year space of Elton Academy.
Sword Arts Department practice is in progress.
Today's topic is 'Pursuit'.
For this practice, they have directly invited helpers from the Assassin Guild.
They are dodging and evading the students.
The students' task is to chase and capture the assassin.
"There!"
Bonita shouted, finding the assassin.
Bellum and Liberde, who were following behind, also headed towards where Bonita was pointing.
"Huh? He disappeared again."
"Wow, how do you catch him? Why is he so fast?"
"It's not about being fast. He was just here, but there's no trace of him. Is he flying or something? Is he even stepping on anything?"
Davian arrived late where his friends were.
Bonita glared at him.
"Hey, Davian. Are you really not going to help?"
"I caught one a while ago."
"So you're just dawdling and following behind us like this? Help out a little! Or just go outside the forest."
"It's one of my joys to watch my friends grow."
"Ugh, I wish you couldn't talk. At least tell us which way he went."
Davian silently pointed to the north.
"That way? But how do you know?"
"There. Can't you see a broken branch?"
"Where?"
"Way over there. About 50 meters? 70 meters from here?"
"Crazy. You're saying you can see a broken branch over there?"
Davian answered by slightly shrugging his shoulders.
"Let's go! Bellum! Nubes!"
"Yeah!"
Davian muttered as he watched his friends disappear.
"Should I help a little now?"
Taat.
Davian Naone, lightly stomping his foot, instantly disappeared to the east.
East of the forest.
"Boring, boring."
The assassin Charlie sat on a tree branch and looked around.
"In the first place, there's no way I could be caught in a chase with academy brats."
As Charlie expected.
The students who were chasing him a while ago disappeared to the north.
After sprinting north, he deliberately broke a branch and turned towards the southeast.
Having moved in a right triangle, it would be due east from the place where he was spotted by the kids earlier.
"Still, they managed to figure out to go north, so there must have been someone with a good eye in that group."
Charlie raised his head and looked at the sky.
"Let's see... They said I just have to hold out until the sun goes down?"
A few days ago.
Elton Academy requested 5 assassins to help with practice.
Everyone was reluctant to go, but because of the Academy Sword Arts Department head and the Guild Leader's friendship, 5 people had to be chosen.
As they were passing the buck and eventually decided to draw lots.
Only Charlie volunteered himself.
"If I had been born into a good family, I would have graduated from this academy. Then would I have become a Royal Guard instead of an assassin?"
Charlie was curious about the skills of the academy students.
He had never fought with academy students before, so he didn't know their combat skills.
Anyway.
Seeing that they couldn't even chase his tail properly even after half a day, their skills were obvious without even looking.
"I shouldn't have volunteered. I didn't think it would be so disappointing."
Charlie fiddled with the dagger belt around his waist.
"Fight my ass. They can't even chase properly."
"Fight who?"
"Who else but the academy brat... Huh!"
Charlie, startled, almost fell off the tree.
"Wh-Who are you!"
"Who else but the academy brat you wanted to fight."
Whoosh!
Charlie's arms moved quickly.
His hands were already holding two daggers.
"How did you get here without a sound...!"
"I came right out in the open, but you didn't notice? You were just looking at the sky and muttering."
"Impudent!"
Charlie, who was on the tree, jumped lightly and landed in front of the student standing on the ground.
He jumped from a high tree, but there wasn't even the sound of leaves being stepped on.
"I heard it's okay to inflict injuries that aren't fatal. I don't know how you suddenly appeared, but you better be careful from now on. I'm an assassin, you know. You've never seen an assassin before, have you? You've never crossed swords with an assassin, have you? But my daggers have already tasted the blood of countless people."
Davian tilted his head.
Why is this assassin so talkative?
And he's asking if I've seen an assassin before.
I've fought with assassins a few times.
Even one of them.
Was once called one of the two great swordsmen of the continent.
Swish, swish!
Charlie waved his daggers wildly and charged.
'A hothouse flower who's been living comfortably in the academy thanks to his good parents. I've been active in this assassin guild since I was 16 years old.'
The corners of Charlie's mouth curled up slightly.
His eyes scanned Davian's body here and there.
'Where should I carve you up, rich young master.'
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