Shirone Returns from Heaven

Shirone was currently under the effects of slow magic.

He had likely spent the entire night just trying to lift his eyelids—assuming he was even alive to begin with.

"Alright, I'll now lift the spell."

Alpheas restored time to its normal flow, but Shirone showed no signs of movement.

The tension in the room was suffocating, and no one could predict what would happen next.

"Haaah!"

Suddenly, Shirone took a deep gasp and sat up, his abrupt movement causing everyone's faces to light up with relief.

However, Shirone himself looked pale as death, as if he had just crawled back from the depths of hell.

"What... what happened?"

The world he had seen while under the slow spell had been a swirling abstraction of colors, like a surreal painting. Then, in an instant, all the colors froze, revealing the familiar landscape he knew.

"Oh... you guys..."

Only after recognizing familiar faces did he finally feel at ease.

Iluki and Neid stared at him in disbelief, while behind them, Amy was holding Seriel's hand, her eyes brimming with tears.

From Shirone's perspective, not much time had passed.

After entering the Immortal Function, he had met a woman, spoken with her, and then opened a dimensional rift to escape. That was all.

He had no way of knowing that ten whole days had already passed.

Shirone gave an awkward smile and raised his hand.

"Haha, hey."

"Hey?! That's all you have to say, you bastard?!"

"Ack!"

Amy's fist met Shirone's face with a sharp impact, twisting his head to the side.

Dazed from the unexpected punch, he turned to her in shock.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

Tears streamed down Amy's face.

The Return to Everyday Life

"You idiot! Do you have any idea how worried we were? You... you jerk!"

Shirone, momentarily stunned, soon broke into a soft smile.

He wasn't sure what exactly had happened, but Amy's tears spoke volumes about the passage of time.

"I'm sorry, I—"

"Shirone is back!"

Before he could finish, Neid and Iluki shoved Amy toward him and then leaped onto him as well.

Amy, flustered, found herself in Shirone's arms, her face burning red. Meanwhile, Shirone, now buried under his friends' weight, let out a distressed shout.

"Ack! That hurts! It really hurts!"

With all his strength, he struggled, sending Iluki, Neid, and Amy tumbling off the bed in a heap.

Shirone, overwhelmed by the chaotic welcome, sat there, dazed.

"Phew... What the heck was that?"

Alpheas, watching from nearby, chuckled as he approached.

"That's quite the grand welcome. Youth is truly a wonderful thing."

"Headmaster..."

Shirone's expression turned serious.

The mere fact that Alpheas was here meant the situation was grave.

Turning to Neid, he asked, "What happened to Arcane? And the others? Why is everyone gathered here?"

"Why do you think? You've been dead for ten days."

"What? Ten days? Dead?"

"Of course, idiot! Your heart wasn't beating! How else would we describe it? We're the ones who have questions. Start explaining."

Shirone, utterly shocked, struggled to find the words to respond.

He remembered everything vividly, but where was he even supposed to begin?

At that moment, the door burst open as the teachers entered.

"Why all the commotion—"

Shiina and Ethella froze at the sight of Shirone sitting upright in bed.

They had prayed for this moment, but seeing it happen before their eyes was almost too much to believe.

"Sh-Shirone..."

Ethella's voice trembled, her face on the verge of tears.

She had supported the Immortal Function theory, but for ten days, she had been consumed by overwhelming guilt.

"Professor, I'm sorr—"

Before he could finish, Ethella rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"No, this is my fault. If I had been more careful... I won't let anything like this happen again."

The others looked on warmly, but Shirone was struggling.

Her strength was suffocating—literally.

"P-Professor..."

"Hmm?"

"I can't... breathe..."

Realizing this, Ethella quickly loosened her grip and stepped back.

"I'm sorry. I was just so happy..."

Though Shirone's face was pale from the lack of oxygen, this moment felt truly real.

And that alone made him smile.

"Now... it finally feels real."

"Huh?"

Seeing his friends' puzzled expressions, Shirone quickly waved his hands.

"No, no! That's not what I meant—"

"This little brat! What do you mean, 'real'?!"

Amy, glaring, grabbed Shirone's cheeks and stretched them.

"Why? Did it feel fake? Huh?"

"Ow ow ow! That's not it!"

While Neid and Iluki burst into laughter, Alpheas quietly turned away.

Shirone had returned. Now, the real work would begin.

As Alpheas walked down the hallway, Shirone hurried after him.

"Headmaster!"

Alpheas turned. "What is it? You should rest for now. Talk to your friends. The academy will likely remain closed for the time being."

"I understand. Thank you for your concern. But... there's something I need to ask."

"Something to ask?"

Shirone briefly recounted his experience—the moment he entered the realm of infinity, how he traversed a dimensional tunnel, and his encounter with the woman before returning.

At first, Alpheas listened with curiosity, but as the story progressed, his expression hardened. When Shirone mentioned the woman, he sighed and closed his eyes.

"She said she knew me?"

"Yes. She even told me to pass along her regards to you. My memory is hazy, but I'm sure she said that."

Alpheas' expression grew even more solemn, making Shirone wonder if he had said too much.

"I see. I think I know who she is."

"Wait... You do?"

Shirone found it unbelievable. Alpheas was an extraordinary mage, but the woman he met had transcended even the concept of existence.

The fact that the two were connected felt... unsettling.

Alpheas, however, thought differently.

Coincidence? No, this was fate. The moment Shirone awakened to the Immortal Function, his encounter with her had already been set in motion.

"Who is she?"

"Adrias Miro. She was once called the 'Labyrinth of Time and Space.' She was my student and specialized in Scale Magic."

Shirone's mind went blank.

A student? Someone who wielded abilities that seemed divine... was just a magician?

"Scale Magic... what is that?"

Alpheas hesitated before answering.

"Scale Magic can only be wielded by those who understand the infinity of space and time."