Message from the Spellbooks

Having finished his exchange with the Magical Scientist, Hikaru was ready to leave.

Although being able to travel between dimensions twice a month was an incredible privilege for a student like him, his Spirit Compatibility was still low; so even with Tierra's support, he was only at Six-Star rank, and staying too long would affect his next trip.

Plus, the Magical Scientist hadn't prepared any new "endgame" puzzles, so Hikaru wasn't planning to stick around.

He would rest a few days, then use Ra Yellow's dimensional gate to check out "The Mountain."

If the Village of Spellcasters was home to Spellcaster-type spirits, then the Mountain might attract Winged Beast, Dragon, and Thunder spirits.

It wasn't Dragon Ravine, still, since it was a Field Spell linked to those Tribes, maybe he'd encounter some ancient spirits.

With that in mind, Hikaru wasted no time. After agreeing to return in two months to challenge the scientist's new puzzle, he prepared to leave.

However, just as he was about to exit the dimension, Tierra glanced back and warned him, "Hikaru, don't rush back yet."

"What is it?"

"A spirit is coming to see you."

"Wait, seriously?" Hikaru was surprised.

In the Village of Spellcasters, dueling spirits usually required formal applications. He hadn't expected anyone to seek him out.

That said, when he turned around and saw who it was, he realized— 'Oh.'

A Spellcaster-type spirit in a blue robe and mage hat, panting and holding a glowing Spellbook.

At first glance, it wasn't obvious—once recalled, Hikaru recognized the figure.

Spellbook Magician of Prophecy!

A once-meta-defining monster in the Spellbook series, a powerful low-level card that could fetch any Spellbook Spell Card.

Even in the timeline before Hikaru transmigrated, people still used this card to search things like Spellbook of Knowledge or Pot of Greed-like combos.

In a nutshell, a deck-thinning expert.

Still, with no connection to Fusion, it was definitely not a volunteer ally—No such luck.

"Phew, whew—so undertrained, so undertrained!" the magician puffed, fanning himself.

"Hello," Hikaru greeted. "Were you looking for me?"

Assuming it was just a random encounter, he stayed polite.

"Ah, yes, close call!" The magician straightened his robe, coughed, and looked up. "You must be the Fusion Summoner from another dimension, heir to the peerless Alchemist—Amagi Hikaru, correct?"

"Uh—y-yeah." Hikaru flinched at the title.

That was embarrassingly grandiose.

"Excellent! Excellent." The magician flipped through his Spellbook. "Let me formally introduce myself. I am a magician of the Grand Spellbook Tower—Spellbook Magician of Prophecy."

Though Hikaru already knew, he nodded anyway.

"Our academy is devoted to spreading Spellbooks so that all mages—Ah, no, not that one." He flipped a page. "Right, here we go.

Lord Crowley sent us to find you. We heard you were in the Village of Spellcasters, and I was dispatched to deliver his message."

"Crowley?" Tierra tilted her head. "Didn't Injection Fairy Lily mention Aleister was also called Crowley?"

"Indeed. Crowley is Aleister, and Aleister is Crowley," the magician confirmed cheerfully.

"Wait, you came because of Professor Banner?!"

The magician nodded. "Yes. Lord Crowley wanted me to inform you—your teacher has successfully reached the Realm of the Spellcasters. You've been to the Warriors' Realm, yes? Then you know it's the closest realm to the underworld, guarded by Pharaoh's keepers."

Hikaru let out a breath of relief.

That duel with Professor Banner had been rough—He hadn't used the Philosopher's Stone, and had even attacked Hikaru's friends; even so, Hikaru understood—he just wanted to test their growth.

If Banner had been possessed by Yubel, the Light of Destruction, or DarkNess and fought them for real, Hikaru wouldn't have taken it lightly.

He wouldn't just sit and lose, but it would've hurt to fight for real.

"So what now?" he asked.

"Reincarnated," the magician said, stroking his chin. "I haven't visited the Realm myself, so I can't say for sure. But per Lord Crowley's message, your teacher will become a top-tier Spellcaster."

That wasn't explained in detail, but Hikaru understood. If Crowley said that, then it had to be a Ten-Star or stronger magician.

Maybe even Twelve-Star.

Not that the Spellbook Magician dared say that out loud.

Hikaru was overwhelmed for a moment. His teacher was reincarnated as a powerful spirit, no longer at risk of corruption. That alone was worth celebrating.

And the higher-ranked the spirit, the more memories it retained, right?

Like Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl, who ultimately remembered being Mahad and Mana.

He'd tell the others back at school; It would ease their minds.

"Was that all?" Hikaru asked.

"Oh, one more thing." The magician pulled a card from his book and handed it over—A Spell Card inscribed with strange glyphs.

"What is this? Spellbook Tower's coordinates?"

The magician shook his head. "That's already recorded in your Emerald Book. We wouldn't dare give them out prematurely."

Fair enough.

"This is our Academy's certification card. If you ever want to challenge a mage, show this at the exchange guild." He pointed toward a building in the distance. "This will grant you access."

'Whoa.'

Hikaru was thrilled and a little regretful.

Thrilled because now he could duel rare Spellcaster spirits—Regretful because aside from wanting to fight Aleister, he didn't need much else. He already had Dark Magician from the Fusion Army.

Aleister had said they'd only duel again once Hikaru found the Realm of the Spellcasters—he clearly wanted to stay by Banner's side.

Still, better to have it than not!

If he ever got cards like Endymion the Mighty Master of Magic or Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist, he could always come back.

For now, though, he needed to rest back in the human world.

And go tour that ramen company.