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Chapter 24 – Aftershocks
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After balancing the crack—
The space inside the village stabilized more.
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Not completely back to normal.
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But no longer spreading.
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A state… temporarily acceptable.
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Lira still stood beside Rei.
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"Are you really okay?"
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Rei checked himself.
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Heart rate: irregular.
Spatial fluctuations around his body: minor presence.
Internal system: slight interference detected.
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"…Can continue functioning."
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Not "okay."
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But enough.
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Elias looked at him.
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He didn't ask more.
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Just said:
"Let's withdraw."
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No one objected.
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The original mission was investigation.
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What they saw—
Had exceeded its scope.
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On the way out of the village—
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Rei noticed the first thing.
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Magic… began returning.
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Very weakly.
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But clearly.
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Elias tried again.
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A small shadow appeared.
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Unstable.
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But existent.
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Lira exhaled.
"Finally, we can use magic…"
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Rei looked around.
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> Area influence is shrinking
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But not disappearing completely.
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A part of the "empty zone" still persisted.
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When they reached the edge—
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Rei stopped.
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Not because of danger.
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He turned his head.
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Looking back at the village.
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A question arose.
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> If it isn't stabilized…
> Will it spread further?
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No data.
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Elias called:
"Rei."
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He turned.
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"Go."
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Rei nodded.
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They left the area.
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The difference became clear immediately.
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The air felt "fuller."
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Magic flowed normally.
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As if they had just left a place not belonging to the world.
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When they returned to the intermediate station—
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They prepared a preliminary report.
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Lira wrote.
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"Phenomenon: Un-summonable zone"
"Cause: Unknown spatial crack"
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She paused.
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Looking at Rei.
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"…And interaction with Rei as the subject."
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Elias added:
"Subject has local stabilization ability."
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An important line was recorded:
> "Phenomenon may be directly related to Rei."
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Rei read the report.
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Did not object.
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Did not confirm.
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Just… acknowledged.
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That night—
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They stayed at the station.
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Rei lay down.
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For the first time in days—
He fell asleep immediately.
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Internal system activated:
> Restorative Reset
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His body began recovering.
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Physical damage: regenerating.
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But—
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Part of it remained unchanged.
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Spatial fluctuations around his magical core still persisted.
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System recorded:
> Cannot fully restore
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In sleep—
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Rei saw images again.
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Not the village.
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Not the crack.
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It was… the arena.
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This time clearer.
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Hot sand.
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Fresh blood.
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Sound of metal clashing.
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A voice:
"You do not belong anywhere."
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Rei looked down.
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His hands were stained with blood.
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No emotion.
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Just… state.
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The voice continued:
"Then exist by yourself."
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The image shattered.
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Rei opened his eyes.
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It was still dark.
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He sat up.
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Checked his status.
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Physical: recovered.
Magic: more stable.
But—
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> Spatial fluctuation: still present
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Not damage.
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It was… aftershock.
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Rei placed a hand on his chest.
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Felt it.
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A part of the "empty zone"—
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Was existing… inside him.
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The next morning—
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Elias received feedback from the Council.
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Short.
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Clear.
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> "Continue investigation."
"Priority: preserve subject Rei."
"Do not lose control."
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Elias looked at the last line.
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"Do not lose control."
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He lightly clenched the paper.
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Outside—
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Rei stood alone.
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Looking toward the path they had traveled.
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No crack remained here.
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But he knew—
It still existed.
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Somewhere.
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And possibly—
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Inside him.
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End of chapter.
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Hidden status board:
> Rei (零)
Status: Temporarily stabilized
Spatial aftershock: Present
Notes: "Subject begins carrying influence of the outside-system zone."
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Arc 2 nears its climax.
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And one thing begins to become clear—
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Rei does not just touch the "empty zone."
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He has brought a part of it…
Back into the world.
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