"A reincarnated person..."
"Am I wrong?"
"...How did you know?"
The man standing before him—Leonardo Gascoigne—spoke with absolute certainty. He was convinced that Rest was a reincarnated person. Trying to feign ignorance would be a waste of time.
Besides... isn't Leonardo Gascoigne the name of the man who serves as the Chairman of the Council of Sages?
The man had identified himself as such. Leonardo Gascoigne. He was also known by the alias the Heavenly Emperor. He was a member of the Council of Sages, the same elite circle as Verloid Hahn, the headmaster of the Academy Rest attended. He was a man hailed as the world’s best magician.
Is it really him? He looks incredibly young...
Rest couldn't pinpoint the man's age just by looking. He could pass for a youth, but if someone told Rest he was a man in his fifties, he could see that as well. However, if this truly was the real Leonardo Gascoigne, he had to be at least seventy years old.
This is a world of magic, though. Maintaining one's appearance probably isn't that difficult. I’ve heard there are members of the Council of Sages who have lived for over a century...
"I see. So you truly are a reincarnated person. And this horrific scar on the land is your doing, as well."
Gascoigne looked down at the site of the explosion caused by Kagutsuchi. He sighed as he surveyed the remnants of the wetlands, which looked like they had been hit by a nuclear missile.
"Destruction on such a scale... truly, a formidable power. Is it the Arrow of Indra, or perhaps the Sword of Surtr? No, the Spear of Odin and the Fang of Quetzalcoatl already exist, so it couldn't be those..."
Gascoigne stroked his chin, muttering to himself.
"Now then... what should I do with you? It depends on which side you are on, I suppose. Perhaps I should just kill you here and now?"
Rest immediately tensed. He didn't fully understand what the man was talking about, but if he was an enemy, Rest would have no choice but to fight.
"Hm? That mana... you’ve caused this much destruction and still have that much power to spare? Tell me, boy—is the power you possess the Ouroboros Circle?"
"...What are you talking about?"
"A difficult ability to master. Infinite mana often ends up as a wasted treasure, but have you actually managed to harness it? If so... it would be a bit of a shame to kill you here, wouldn't it?"
Gascoigne remained deep in thought while Rest stayed on high alert. Rest wondered if he should seize the initiative and strike first. Just as he was debating the risks, Gascoigne gave a firm nod.
"Boy, I shall put your judgment on hold for the time being. It appears it hasn't even been twenty years since you were reincarnated into this world. It is not yet the time to reach a final conclusion."
"I’m asking you, what is all this talk about...?"
"Yes, indeed. It’s still too early. Whether the ripening fruit falls to the earth, becomes food for the birds, or bears fruit in some other form... it is not yet the stage to determine that answer."
Ignoring Rest’s confusion, Gascoigne let out a small sigh as he looked around the area. Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
"What—!"
"Hear my decree. I forbid you from ever using this magic against humans. Should you break this vow, I will designate you an Enemy of the Human Realm and eliminate you with everything I have."
The words were whispered directly into his ear from behind. Rest spun around in a panic, catching a fleeting glimpse of Gascoigne's figure before it vanished again.
"Consider it a promise, boy. Do not become a fallen fruit."
Gascoigne reappeared in front of him once more. It was clearly teleportation magic, yet Rest hadn't sensed the slightest trace of mana or the activation of a spell. He still couldn't feel any power emanating from the man before him. It was as if he were talking to a ghost.
"Wait, are you also a reincar—"
"Farewell, then."
With that final, one-sided dismissal, Gascoigne vanished. This time, his presence was gone completely.
"What was with that guy...?"
The encounter had been as arrogant as it was mysterious. Left with no answers, Rest could only stare blankly up at the night sky.