Chapter 60
"Yes, what's wrong, teacher?"
Takuson didn't understand why his teacher asked that question, but he didn't hide it. Based on their conversation, Alice had indeed simply forgotten.
Could it be that the teacher possesses Magic that can make the other person remember?
Thinking about this, he suddenly felt that it was very likely.
Her teacher had been collecting Magic over the years, whether it was from Demon, Dungeon, or even Monster; she could learn it with just a glance.
As expected of Angel!
Without further explanation, Xiu Er set off directly towards Alice.
The blonde girl opposite felt a strange unease when she saw Xiu Er walking straight towards her, as if she was about to experience something terrifying.
"Um... is there something you need?"
Alice didn't know what the other party's intentions were, so she could only ask cautiously.
But Xiu Er didn't respond, and silently did what he did next...
Golden energy flowed from Xiu Er's chest, where the golden rhomboid crystal that had appeared earlier due to the system modification had been located.
Energy flowed from the air into Xiu Er's right hand, condensing into a "revolver".
— [The Codex Opening]— [The Pseudo-Codex]— [Kokker Emperor: The Tenth Bullet]—
The power of the Tenth Bullet lies in conveying the past memories of the target it strikes, and it is also Xiu Er's solution to this matter.
A surge of golden-red energy flowed into the pistol's cylinder, Xiu Er raised the gun, aiming it at the blonde girl's forehead.
Looking at the dark opening, Alice, who was being pointed at like that, didn't know what the prop was for, but she was already panicking.
What are they trying to do?
This item is so small, but why does it feel so dangerous to me?
Before Alice could think further, Xiu Er pulled the trigger.
Bang--!!
The gunshot startled the blonde girl and Takuson, who was standing nearby. In their eyes, a golden-red energy shot out from the mouth of the small object and pierced through the girl's head.
"Aaaaaah—!"
The girl screamed in fright at the sudden turn of events, while Takuson, after a brief moment of surprise, developed a strong interest in the "revolver" in Xiu Er's hand.
Ignoring Alice, who was already sitting on the ground, Xiu Er fired the [Ten Bullets] and the revolver in his hand immediately disappeared.
"Huh? I'm not dead?!"
Still in shock, Alice frantically touched the spot on her forehead where she had just been hit.
"[Question] Now, can you recall the exact address of your uncle's house?"
Without giving the other party a chance to process the question, Xiu Er asked without any hesitation.
"I told you I forgot... Ah, I think I remember now!"
Alice, who was about to refute, suddenly realized that she had indeed remembered; the memories she had forgotten had returned?!
That's amazing.
Xiu Er used the [Great Memory Restoration] on Alice, and the effect was outstanding!
"[Reminder] Inquiring about the specific coordinates of this route."
"Okay, I'll tell you right away! Don't rush me!"
Having just experienced what happened, Alice was afraid that the other party might do something drastic, and her heart couldn't take the constant shock.
While Alice was telling Xiu Er the coordinates of her uncle's house, Takuson, who was standing to the side, was already preoccupied with the "tool" that Xiu Er had just been holding.
Is it some new [staff]?
Although I have never seen my teacher use any kind of staff, my teacher never uses such a thing when casting spells.
He wasn't worried about the effects of the energy, which resembled an attack, penetrating Alice's head, because he knew his teacher wasn't the type to harm others casually.
Hmm, I'll ask the teacher later to see if I can get the same one.
"Is this okay now?"
"[Confirmed] Data collection complete."
With that, Xiu Er left Alice's side and walked to an open space.
— [Codex Opening]— [One-Way Street]—
A golden Space Gate that Takuson knew all too well appeared beside Xiu Er.
Xiu Er ignored the girl, glanced at his apprentice, and went inside.
As she watched Xiu Er disappear into the Teleportation Gate, Alice turned her gaze to Takuson.
"Come on, go through this door and you'll reach your uncle's house."
"Real?"
Alice couldn't believe she'd moved so fast!
Takuson wasn't surprised by Alice's astonishment, after all, he himself had been surprised by his teacher's "Magic" back then.
"Real."
Trust us, we won't hurt you.
Takuson was aware of the other party's concerns, so he kindly offered his reminder.
"Besides, this isn't the first time."
Xiu Er had used this ability before when he went to wipe out the bandits, and Alice was indeed surprised when she stepped into the Teleportation Gate for the first time and saw that she had indeed arrived in a completely new place.
"Okay, I believe you."
In the end, Alice put aside her concerns and, together with Takuson, entered the still-open Space Gate.
Episode 38: The Target - The Spirit Village
"Teacher, do you think there's something wrong with Alice's uncle?"
Takuson, carrying a basket of cookies and munching on newly bought snacks, asked the purple figure beside him.
"[Answer] Based on facial expression information, the target individual did not have any negative emotions."
"Ah, I know, on the surface her uncle is indeed a gentle person."
When the master and apprentice took Alice to the address of her uncle Joseph Charles.
After learning the whole story, Joseph himself had no complaints and accepted Alice as his adopted daughter, saying that he could let her be his adopted daughter.
Everything went so smoothly. Alice found a place to go, and Xiu Er and his apprentice received their commission. Incidentally, most of the money they had "picked up" from the bandits was also given to Alice.
Alice didn't actually know exactly how much money her family's caravan had carried, so Xiu Er simply gave half of the money they had earned this time to them.
It was probably because of this money that the "uncle" chose to adopt Alice.
This is the result that Xiu Er analyzed from the other party's expression and actions.
He did not choose to tell Takuson these things.
Because it's unnecessary.
The commission has ended, and they have no further connection with Alice.
"But teacher, I always feel that Joseph isn't very willing to adopt Alice."
"[Reminder] The 'contract' with Alice has ended, and subsequent events are unrelated to us."
"That's true."
Takuson was easily persuaded, after all, it was unconditional trust in his teacher, and he never doubted Xiu Er's actions.
After warning Takuson not to meddle, Xiu Er immediately ended the topic.
As for why he doesn't care about this issue?
Of course, because the current situation is already good enough. It is the best possible outcome that Alice, who lost her parents and had no one to rely on, was adopted by her uncle.
Regardless of whether the other party's intentions were genuine, it's better for Alice to be homeless.
Unlike Takuson, who was worried about Alice, Xiu Er never put her in his "memorandum".
We were just strangers who met by chance, so there was no need for us to have any further contact.
Currently, his "memorandum" only includes three people: Takuson, Sariel, and Volumen.
"Teacher, where do we go next?"
After this little incident during the trip, Xiu Er led Takuson toward the city gate, where the latter, unable to contain his impatience, brought up the topic.
"[Answer] The Spirit Village."
"Huh? What place is that?"
"[Supplement] A gathering place for elves."
After passing the guards' routine check, the two successfully reached the outskirts of the city.
"Is it a place where many elves live?"
"[Answer] Literal meaning."
"I see."
Xiu Er suddenly noticed that there was actually "expectation" in his apprentice's eyes.
"[Question] Do you know anything about that settlement?"
"Oh, actually, I heard the stories that adults told me when I was a child."
"I was really curious back then, what exactly are 'elves' like? I've never encountered one before."
Actually, Sariel, who fought with Xiu Er, was an elf. However, due to various reasons, Takuson couldn't see the specific details of that battle and didn't know who his teacher was fighting.
He would never have known that Sariel was the "elf" he had wanted to meet when he was a child.
"Teacher, do you know what elves look like?"
Because he firmly believed that his teacher was knowledgeable and experienced, Takuson did not hesitate to ask him.
And coincidentally, Xiu Er did know what the elves of this world looked like.
"[Answer] Elves are 95% similar to humans, with the only differences being lifespan, appearance, and ears."
"Eh—I see."
Seeing the other person's expression, which seemed to indicate that their illusions had been shattered, Xiu Er felt a sense of doubt.
However, as if he had grasped something important, Takuson cheered himself up again.
"Teacher, what exactly does this so-called 'appearance' difference mean? Does it mean that we don't look like humans?"
Ignoring Xiu Er's statement about "95% similarity," Takuson's manner was as if he wanted Xiu Er to admit that elves and humans did not look alike.
Could it be that this child has a fetish for other species?
However, he didn't take it to heart. No matter how strange his apprentice XP was, it didn't matter to him.
"[Negative] According to intelligence analysis, the appearance of the elves in this world is generally within the 'good' range of 'human' aesthetic standards."
"So, you're saying that all elves are actually handsome men and beautiful women? And that's all?"
After searching through the data from his previous life, Xiu Er considered it for a moment and then nodded.
"[Affim] "
Although her figure may not be perfect, her looks are still great.
"[Question] Which one are you thinking of?"
Seeing Takuson's disillusioned expression, Xiu Er was very curious about what kind of elf the other person had in mind.