Chapter 30: The Seer Girl’s Ordeal

Yuri’s life had been nothing short of a relentless series of hardships.

“So, you’re Mr. Yuma’s daughter?”

“Your grandfather was that legendary joke mage, and your father is the leading expert in party trick magic.”

Her family’s notoriety echoed throughout every corner of Yowin.

They were called, among other things: those who insulted the academic world, those who lived their whole lives as one big joke.

“Just watch, that girl’s going to start singing any second now. She probably thinks this is some kind of school play.”

“Don’t let it get to you. Just think of her as a morale-boosting entertainer. Could be a decent change of pace.”

With a wisdom and depth far beyond her years, Yuri, at just seven years old, knocked on the doors of the academic society with the goal of proposing a new theory.

But few were willing to welcome her.

“We can give you three minutes in one of the back halls around evening. If you manage to impress there, we might consider a better venue.”

The presentation of her research—on “Magic to See the Future,” which had taken her years to complete—was ultimately delivered in a cramped room where drunk men lay sprawled out, and lasted only about three minutes.

After all, the place they’d given her for her presentation was nothing more than a post-conference party hall.

But Yuri didn’t give up. She had a reason she simply couldn’t abandon.

What she held deep in her heart was the smiling face of her late mother.

Yuri had lost her mother in a fire. Yuri herself had barely escaped with her life.

—Was there truly no way to have prevented that tragedy?

If only she had known the fire would happen—her mother might have been saved.

She never wanted to experience such sorrow again. And so, Yuri began her research into magic that could see the future.

At the time, the idea of such magic was considered pure fantasy, and it would still be a while before her research would be taken seriously.

As for her father, Yuma—

“It’s unfortunate about your mother. But I’m just happy Yuri made it out alive!”

“…”

Even on the day her mother died, her father acted no differently than usual.

“We need to get ready for the funeral. Come on, Yuri, help me out.”

He was practically cheerful as he prepared for the funeral, a musical instrument in hand.

…She thought he was heartless. There wasn’t the slightest sign he was grieving his wife.

The funeral went by without issue.

Yuma, the bereaved husband, wore a smile the entire time.

He even told the mourners, “Check out my latest research,” and gleefully had puppets perform an orchestra at the graveyard, soaking in their applause.

At the end of the service, he laughed and said, “Guess this year’s academic society gold prize goes to me!”

For him, scoring laughs with his performance was more important than his wife’s funeral.

Yuri was deeply disappointed in her father.

“I’m sure Yuma had his reasons.”

She confided her frustration to a researcher close to her father.

And the answer that came back surprised her.

“Your mother… Ms. Kuri, you know? She was apparently drawn to Yuma because of how ridiculously cheerful his magic was. That’s why she decided to marry him.”

“Mom… was?”

“So maybe Yuma just wanted to send her off in the way she loved best—through his magic performances. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

Though he was often ridiculed in the magical academic world as a joke researcher, Yuma also had a loyal following.

He was a true-born magical entertainer, weaving performances with a rare sense of showmanship.

Magic has many uses. So why shouldn’t there be a mage who uses it to bring people joy?

The more open-minded researchers would always attend Yuma’s presentations, and genuinely look forward to them.

The quality of his performances was no joke.

“…Even so, I was still sad.”

She understood where her father was coming from. But Yuri had wanted to say goodbye to her mother in a quieter way.

She had wanted to cry her heart out and give her a proper farewell.

But because of her father’s ridiculous performance, Yuri couldn’t shed a single tear on the day of her mother’s funeral.

“…Haa.”

Yuri quietly resented her father.

---

Still, there was one good thing about having Yuma as her father—he brought in a lot of money.

Most researchers who don’t produce results tend to be perpetually broke. In fact, Yuma's work had never attracted any sort of funding, and under normal circumstances, he should’ve been living the life of a destitute scholar.

But Yuma was also an exceptionally talented performer. Every now and then, he’d be invited to noble parties, where he earned decent money performing.

Thanks to that, while not quite living like the nobility, Yuuri was able to enjoy a relatively comfortable life.

“I have money. And I have ways to gain knowledge.”

The environment she needed to pursue her dream was all there.

With the help of her father’s fellow researchers, Yuuri finally began her studies in precognitive magic.

A spell to prevent tragedies like the fire that took her mother from ever happening again.

“Isn’t precognition supposed to be the exclusive domain of spirits?”

“Spirits are nothing more than questionable folklore. At least, I’ve never seen one, and I don’t understand them. I don’t want to give up on discovering a way to see the future just because I can’t rely on some sketchy legends.”

That was what young Yuuri said—and then she began devouring every record and piece of literature she could find on spirits.

“I’m sure that spirit users in the past actually knew how to use precognitive magic. But instead of claiming ‘I predicted it myself,’ they said ‘a spirit showed me’ to lend credibility to their words.”

“…Huh. I see.”

“I’ve already designed a prototype of a future-sight spell. It’s still simple, but the framework is there.”

With that, Yuri showed her theoretical groundwork for the spell to a researcher who happened to be a fan of her father.

What followed was:

“Hm… Hm, this… this might actually be valid.”

“Right? I knew you’d think so.”

“Incredible. For someone her age, this is truly impressive.”

Even professional researchers couldn’t help but be impressed by the completeness of her work.

Yuuri’s first academic presentation was met with harsh skepticism, but gradually, her research began to earn recognition.

With that recognition, the venues for her presentations shifted from the side halls to the central chamber of the main conference.

“What’s the accuracy of this precognitive spell?”

“I’ve tested it 18 times. All 18 times were correct.”

“What happens if someone tries to change the predicted future?”

“…Then the future changes. This spell only shows the most probable future at the time it’s cast—nothing more.”

What was once dismissed as fantasy—precognitive magic—was now widely acknowledged as real and impressively precise. And with that shift, Yuri’s reputation changed.

No longer seen as the daughter of a joke of a mage, she came to be widely known as a brilliant young researcher.

“We recreated her spell formula in our lab and saw a remarkably high success rate.”

“Just as Ms. Yuri said, spirits don’t exist. Those old spirit magicians must’ve been using this formula for their predictions all along.”

The so-called "spirits" were merely a metaphor for mana—nothing more. The long-held belief that they were "a collective of human souls" was a complete fabrication.

Even without borrowing the power of spirits, humans could uncover the future.

Yuri’s spell and the academic theory behind it shook the foundations of the academic world in Yowin.

A new field of study—divination magic and precognition—was born, and many scholars began to pursue it.

“She’s a genius.”

“Can someone like her really come from that man?”

Groups studying ancient magic were so thrilled by Yuuri’s conclusions that they claimed her research had advanced the field by a hundred years.

---

“…Irine. Your sublimation coefficient—your mana conversion efficiency—is off the charts.”

“I was told it's at 100%.”

“I see. So you’ve already reached a realm that even master magicians can’t attain, even after a lifetime of effort.”

This was after returning from Garius’s party.

I’d received a summons from the young genius researcher, Yuri.

“To be loved by spirits, to be a true practitioner of spirit magic… If you’re not lying, then the vision you saw must be the very thing I’ve been desperately chasing—true precognitive magic.”

“Yuri… san?”

She looked… tired.

Looking closer, I saw a chaotic pile of documents on her desk, probably gathered over the entire day.

“Tell me. Please don’t lie, Irine. What you saw, what you heard—was it truly a being with a shape and will, like a fairy?”

There was a hint of pleading in her voice.

How was I supposed to answer?

According to Garius, my experience directly contradicted her research.

…If I told the truth, Yuri—who had been ostracized by the academic world because of her father’s reputation but had clawed her way back through her own brilliance—might lose the recognition she’d finally earned.

“…It’s true.”

“I see.”

But what would lying accomplish?

Telling a comforting lie to protect Yuri’s position would ultimately do more harm.

“Ah… I see. So that’s how it is.”

“Yuri-san?”

“Irine. You promised to explain the details of that ‘mysterious light’ you saw, didn’t you?”

With that, Yuri handed me several sheets of paper, flipped upside down.

“This isn’t my work—it’s a friend’s thesis.”

“I… I see.”

“I believe the answer is in there. …But forgive me, I just don’t have the energy to explain it myself right now.”

With a slightly defeated tone, Yuri averted her gaze.

“Just read it, please.”

Researchers are usually the type who love to explain.

For Yuri, someone like that, to hand over documents without a word more…

It could only mean one thing—

…Fuu.

—She was grappling with a crushing sense of emptiness.

“Very well, I shall read it.”

“Thanks.”

…The light in the forest. The existence of spirits. A magic that reveals the future.

The explanation for all those strange things that had happened to me—

—was written in this paper.

---

Introduction.

When performing this spell, be sure to have observers present. This is because, by its very nature—inflicting pain upon oneself—this magic is inseparable from the risk of accidents.

Also, being watched just feels better.

Discussion.

This spell requires rope. As for the length, anything at least twice your height—several meters—should suffice.

Existing self-punishment spells only went as far as inflicting pain and offered no way to enjoy the masochistic thrill of being restrained. But with the development of this spell, we can now easily indulge in bondage play.

Method.

The rope itself needs no modification. The core of the spell lies in the magic circle prepared on the ground. Following its construction, the rope will slither around the body with a slick, slimy motion, eventually tying you up in lewd formations────

"...I'm going to have to ask you to stop reading that."

"Ah."

With quick reflexes, Yuri snatched the paper from my hands.

"This isn’t it. That’s the wrong paper, so please just forget what you read."

"R-right..."

"Gah, no, this one. This is the one I meant to give you. Ugh, seriously."

Looks like Yuri handed me the wrong document by accident.

Still, why was that paper even on her desk? Maybe she used it to blow off steam or something?

"This is the correct one. A report on 'Spirits' based on facts and evidence within the context of Heroic Lore────"

"Oh my. What’s this rough rope doing under the desk...?"

"Kindly refrain from discovering unnecessary things."

Out of curiosity, I peeked under the desk and found a thick coil of rope, several times Yuri’s height—just like the one described in the paper.

"...I didn’t see anything, alright?"

"Understood."

I could practically feel Yuri’s unshakable will saying do not pursue this any further.

Alright. Let’s steer the conversation back on track.

"Yuri-san, Lord Garius said this: I am to compile my recent experiences into a formal report."

"Ah, that would be best. I’ll offer my full support as well."

"Are you really okay with that, Yuri-san?"

"Of course. If it's the truth, I will accept it and move forward."

Despite her words, Yuri’s expression clearly said this makes no sense.

She likely hasn’t fully come to terms with it yet. Spirits are real. Foresight magic is their exclusive domain.

And no matter how much effort humans put in, we may never be able to surpass the spirits in that regard.

That’s a fact that directly undermines Yuri’s dreams.

"...Denying facts is the mark of a sophist. A true researcher accepts the truth, refines it, and builds upon it."

But Yuri is sharp. She probably senses that what I’m saying is true—and that’s exactly why it’s hurting her so much.

Even now, she’s likely scanning through every contradiction in my story, trying to find something to disprove.

"Hey, Yuri-san. I have a favor to ask."

"What is it? I’ve already said I’ll assist with your report, within my ability."

"It’s not about that."

Right. I owe Yuri a lot.

Thanks to her, I was able to save Rita. Thanks to her, we’ve been able to operate smoothly in this city.

So it’s only right I repay her somehow.

"Do you have time tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? Hmm... I don’t have anything scheduled."

Confirmed—Yuri is free tomorrow.

Perfect.

"Then, would you go on a date with me?"

"...Huh?"

I casually grabbed her shoulder and smiled, asking her out on the spot.

"...Wait. A date?"

"Indeed. Let’s spend the day out together."

Putting on my best expression, I invited a girl out for the first time in this life. My very first date ever.

Well, I’ve been invited out by guys before for noble events, but those don’t count.

"Um, wh-what exactly do you mean—"

"Yuri-san. Whatever your heart desires, I promise I will make it come true. So please, give me your time tomorrow."

"...Eh?"

Yuuri blinked in surprise, staring at me.

Then, with a trembling voice uncharacteristic of her usual calm, she let out an almost comical shriek.

"EEEEEEHHHHHH!?"

"Um, Yuri-san?"

"N-n-n-no I mean, I-I, uh, w-whaaa!?"

"Why are you so flustered?"

"A-a-a d-date, as in, THAT kind of date!?"

Hmm. Maybe the word “date” was too much. Her face flushed bright red as she looked up at me, completely flustered.

So that’s it—she’s a girl just stepping into adolescence. Sensitive and at that age where emotions run high.

“No need to get so worked up about it. We’re just going out for a bit of fun, that’s all.”

“F-fun…?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Well, I am male on the inside, so calling it a date isn’t exactly wrong.

“Of course, you’ll come with me… won’t you?”

“F-fuh… y-yes!”

Not wanting to risk a rejection, I leaned in just a little—an intentionally cheeky move.

If Yuri's even a little conscious of me, this should be enough to seal the deal.

“I’ll be looking forward to tomorrow.”

“U-uh, um… o-okay, I got it…”

“Good girl.”

Alright, that sealed it.

Now then—can’t wait for tomorrow.

---

“…F-fun? What kind of fun? What’s going to happen to me tomorrow…? She knows about that side of me now, so maybe, just maybe…”

---

That night—

The muscle-bound noblewoman got a refreshing sleep after her workout,
while the adolescent girl spent the whole night restlessly tangled in her thoughts.