Covenant of Error
Chapter 18 – The Core of the Magic Circle
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The group returned to the Black Forest.
No more searching.
No more probing for paths.
They knew exactly where to go.
The stone circle.
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The atmosphere was completely different from before.
No traps revealed.
No creatures attacking.
Too… clean.
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Rei walked in front.
Steps steady.
No hesitation.
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Elias followed behind.
His gaze never left Rei.
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After twenty-five minutes—
They arrived.
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An open space in the forest.
Trees pushed back.
At the center—
An ancient stone circle arranged in a ring.
Each stone stood over two meters tall.
Runes carved, worn by time.
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No enemies.
No ambush.
Only… the magic circle.
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Lira whispered:
"Too easy."
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Elias did not respond.
He knew—
This was not a physical trap.
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Rei stepped into the clearing.
Stopped at the edge of the circle.
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The moment he approached—
The runes on the stones began to glow.
No activation needed.
No incantation required.
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The magic circle recognized him.
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Elias immediately said:
"Step back."
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But Rei did not move back.
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He looked toward the center of the circle.
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Within the internal system:
> Magic circle response: Automatic
Compatibility level: Unknown
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A sensation emerged.
Not pressure.
Not danger.
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It was… a call.
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Rei took another step.
Into the stone circle.
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Instantly—
Light surged.
Not blinding.
But dense.
As if space itself was compressed.
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Elias rushed forward.
"Rei, get out!"
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But an invisible barrier stopped him.
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The magic circle had locked.
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Lira shouted:
"Break it!"
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Elias summoned shadows.
A massive black entity struck the barrier.
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No effect.
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The magic circle did not counterattack.
It only… held.
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At the center—
Rei stood still.
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The light began to scan.
Unlike the one at the academy.
No data panel.
No notifications.
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Only sensation.
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As if every part of him—
Was being separated.
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Physical body.
Magic power.
Soul.
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No pain.
But clear.
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Inside Rei's mind—
A voiceless voice echoed.
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> "Determine."
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Not the academy system.
Not human.
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It was the ancient magic circle.
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> "What are you?"
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A question without choices.
No categories.
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Rei did not answer.
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The magic circle continued.
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An image appeared.
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Not a clear memory.
Just… fragments.
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Sand.
Blood.
The clash of metal.
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An arena.
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No audience.
Only humans… and something not human.
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Rei stood there.
Smaller.
But the same.
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A voice:
"Only the one who survives."
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The image shattered.
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The magic circle analyzed deeper.
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> "Origin: Unknown."
"Soul structure: Irregular."
"Designation: None."
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The light fluctuated.
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Outside—
Elias clenched his hand.
"Stop…"
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But there was no way to stop it.
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The magic circle continued.
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This time—
It did not just scan.
It… demanded.
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> "Choose."
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Not forced.
Not coerced.
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A choice.
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In a white space—
Three concepts appeared.
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Human
Non-human
Undefined
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Rei looked.
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If choosing "Human"—
The soul structure would be forcibly adjusted.
Stabilized.
But limited.
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If choosing "Non-human"—
The system would assign a label.
Isolation.
Seen as completely different.
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If choosing "Undefined"—
The magic circle would not complete.
No conclusion.
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Rei stood still.
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Time passed.
No limit.
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Outside—
Lira shouted:
"Rei! Don't just stand there!"
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Elias said nothing.
He understood—
This was not a battle.
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This was a choice.
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In the white space—
Rei analyzed.
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> Human = easier integration
Non-human = clear definition
Undefined = freedom
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But this time—
There was an additional variable.
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> "Want to know."
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Rei looked at the three choices.
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Then—
He stepped forward.
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Not toward "Human."
Not toward "Non-human."
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He reached for—
"Undefined."
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At that moment—
The magic circle trembled.
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Not an error.
Not a collapse.
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It was… incomplete.
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The light flared, then vanished.
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The barrier disappeared.
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Rei stood in the center of the stone circle.
Unharmed.
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Elias rushed in.
"Rei!"
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He looked at him.
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No change in appearance.
No change in body.
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But something was different.
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Within the internal system—
A new line appeared.
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> Classification: Not applicable (Self-confirmed)
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Not an error.
Not a rejection.
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A choice.
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Lira exhaled.
"You… okay?"
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Rei nodded.
"Stable."
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Elias looked straight into his eyes.
"What did you see?"
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Rei answered:
"A question."
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"And?"
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"… I do not need an answer from the system."
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Elias fell silent.
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In the distance—
Within the shadows of the forest—
A tall, thin man observed.
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He smiled.
"As expected."
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"Not an error."
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"Something that does not accept being defined."
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He turned away.
"Now it's more interesting."
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End of chapter.
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Hidden status panel:
> Rei (零)
Classification: Not applicable
Source of confirmation: Self
System note:
"The subject has rejected all existing definitional frameworks."
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Arc 2 moves toward its climax.
And from this point on—
Rei is no longer something the system does not understand.
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He is something the system cannot force itself to understand.