A Devoted Reader’s Foreshadowing Recovery Log
His younger sister had fallen gravely ill.
He had taken her to renowned doctors, but they only shook their heads repeatedly, saying they could not identify the cause.
In that case, only one option remained.
A high priest of archbishop rank from the Life Church would have to cast a healing spell. However, mobilizing a figure of that stature required an enormous donation, and the man did not have such funds.
“…And that is the personal circumstance of Camilo Rubio, the financial genius I am about to recruit.”
“I see.”
Linia, accompanying me, appropriately nodded along to my explanation.
In truth, while the fee for an archbishop-level priest was high, a healing spell could be obtained for around two platinum coins.
A man who, in ten years, would freely wield thousands of platinum coins as a tycoon, was currently in such dire straits that he could not even afford that amount.
…Of course, even if he had the money, the fundamental problem would not have been solved.
Frowning slightly in discomfort, I headed to the appointed shop. A young man appearing to be in his early twenties was waiting for us.
The young man bowed politely toward me.
“Camilo Rubio.”
“Aiden Stroke.”
“I heard you wish to employ me.”
Camilo’s face bore a subtle expression mixing desperation and bewilderment as he spoke.
A few days before joining the clan, I had sent a letter stamped with the Seal of Struggle to the Rubio household where he lived, expressing my desire to hire him.
It must have puzzled Camilo.
He possessed outstanding knowledge, but to others, he appeared merely as an idler who wasted time debating worldly affairs in his room or playing with numbers. At a glance, his resume showed no qualities that would attract the attention of a heavyweight like the bearer of the Seal of Struggle.
But his sister’s life was at stake.
He was in no position to suspect me.
“The contract period is 10 years… and the advance payment of two platinum coins is truly as stated?”
“I would not dare tamper with a contract for fear of the Church of Struggle’s authority alone.”
“…I accept.”
After that, everything proceeded smoothly.
I confirmed Camilo had pressed his seal on the contract and handed him the two platinum coins. Camilo clutched the platinum coins preciously, as if fearing someone might snatch them away.
“Are you planning to donate that money and request the <Heartless Cure> spell for your sister?”
“You knew.”
He did not interrogate me about how I knew his circumstances. He seemed to assume I had investigated beforehand.
“I heard your sister’s illness is quite unusual. If there is no improvement even after receiving the archbishop’s faith-based spell, what do you plan to do then?”
“That is…”
The Life Church’s faith spells possessed remarkable efficacy. However, they were not omnipotent. They could cure most diseases, but most truly meant most—not all. Diseases had various causes, after all.
Camilo’s expression hardened.
It was a possibility he did not want to consider.
He had deliberately avoided thinking about it.
A Camilo who lost his only remaining blood relative due to lack of money would, in the future, become a moneylender and extract tears of blood from countless people.
But having seen the setting book, I knew the truth. Ironically, even if Camilo had possessed sufficient funds, the outcome—his sister dying—would not have changed.
I proposed to him.
“I have some expertise in diagnostics—if it is alright, may I examine your sister’s condition?”
“You, Young Master? But even renowned medical experts could not determine the cause.”
Camilo showed reluctance, but he had no grounds to refuse a mere examination.
The Rubio siblings lived alone using the inheritance left by their middle-class parents. Camilo’s younger sister, Albina, was a girl nearly a decade younger than her brother.
Albina lay in bed with a pallid complexion. As I approached her closely, I felt something pulsing within her body.
A ‘vibrational energy’ circulating through her veins was strongly resonating with something.
This phenomenon meant only one thing.
There was another possessor of Reverse Veins nearby.
I viewed the sheet over the bedridden Albina.
<Albina Rubio>
[Level: 0/27]
[Stamina: 01][Strength: 01][Agility: 01]
[Magic: 03][Spirit: 02][Sense: 02]
[Divinity: 00]
[Traits: Reverse Veins (A), Frail Constitution (-)]
[Skills: -]
[Description: Age 11, human race. A girl bedridden with a severe illness.]
Surprisingly high potential level.
And the Reverse Veins (A) trait.
By lightly probing her energy veins up close, I could tell.
As expected, the severe illness afflicting Albina stemmed from the Reverse Veins she possessed. Unable to control the intense vibrations unique to Reverse Veins and the peculiar flow of her veins, her entire body’s energy and blood had tangled, rendering her organs dysfunctional.
This disease, rarely afflicting young possessors of Reverse Veins before their veins properly settled, was called ‘Reverse Flow Energy’. Though no patient of this disease appeared directly in the original story, I had noted that the symptoms of the illness Camilo’s sister suffered matched Reverse Flow Energy.
Seeing it in person confirmed it.
And Reverse Flow Energy could not be fundamentally cured with <Heartless Cure>.
[MacGuffin No.862 / 『Reverse Flow Energy』 recovered.]
[Achievement Points +30]
Compared to his status, Camilo’s role in the original story was not that significant. Thus, the decisive event that changed his life was not a particularly important MacGuffin either.
An individual’s birth, aging, illness, and death were trivial matters before the grand flow of the narrative.
It felt somewhat bittersweet.
“…Camilo. Just in case, if there is no significant improvement even after Heartless Cure, contact me immediately. I will arrange treatment somehow.”
“…Yes.”
After probing her energy veins here and there and speaking, Camilo replied with a dumbfounded expression.
Returning to the clan house, I wrote a long letter and said to Linia.
“Linia. Rent a messenger pigeon from the city hall and send this letter.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
The letter’s destination was the Kalliroi Holy Empire.
The headquarters of the Alsigima Style.
The Dense Elemental Amplification (S) that Chesa possesses is an extraordinary trait.
As befits an S-grade, it encompasses various functions, but if I had to pick the most core one, it would be this.
- Correction to the minimum value of other held elemental dominances by 60% of the highest elemental affinity dominance
A function that naturally raises other dominances just by maximizing one elemental dominance. Thus, over time, she would become an all-weather mage capable of freely wielding many elemental magics.
And after raising numerous elemental dominances to considerable levels, using the technique 『Compressed Fusion (S)』, she could cram multiple elemental magics together. Compressing it beyond limits would transform it into the terrifying spell <Void>.
Void’s power is divided into three stages depending on the number and method of fused elements, as well as proficiency. The final tier, Third-Void, is also the ultimate spell symbolizing the final boss of Reca Chronicles Part 2.
In other words, the final boss of Part 2 also possesses the Dense Elemental Amplification (S) trait, just like Chesa.
Combining the theory I saw in the setting book with the magic theories I had studied in spare moments, I barely managed to explain the theory of the Void spell to Chesa.
“If it’s you, you will be able to use Void someday.”
“………”
She appeared speechless at the theory, which clearly seemed extraordinary at a glance.
In fact, the original Chesa never used Void. However, judging by her traits, she meets the acquisition conditions themselves.
This topic was quite an intriguing IF among Reca Chronicles readers. For example, what if Chesa had mastered Void and faced the battle against the Schneefeld family?
There were also a few setting plays stemming from her other S-grade trait, 『Extreme Mana Circulation Body (S)』. By setting, those with this trait can easily tattoo ‘Spell Engraving’, which allows rapid use of high-level spells.
Readers expected the popular character Chesa to grow stronger through various means, but in the end, there were no significant power-up events until near the finale, so it amounted to mere hype.
From these aspects, one could see that although Chesa was depicted as a considerable powerhouse in the original, she did not fully realize her potential. Her future growth possibilities were boundless.
She said.
“You said you saw me freely wielding numerous elemental magics in prophetic dreams? If that’s true, then theoretically, it is indeed a usable spell, but…”
This was Chesa, who had studied for long periods in the magic tower.
She always scored perfectly in written exams.
I could grasp it somewhat through character sheets or original settings, but it was truly amazing how she could estimate just from hearing the theory.
After pondering deeply, Chesa continued.
“…But with my current mana control, it’s nowhere near enough. Aiden, that Compressed Fusion you mentioned sounds like a technique so difficult it gives me a headache just hearing about it. It seems far too distant a goal to aim for right now.”
“For mana control, it’s stabilizing rapidly even now, right? At this pace, it will soon improve to normal levels, so it’s fine.”
“…Certainly.”
Chesa was steadily taking the Yin-Yang Tea and practicing spells even now.
Soon, she would visit nearby ruins to collect magic books, and with the blessings of countless item buffs and elixirs—including Nano Eater (S)—her growth rate would steepen further.
In the original, Chesa collected discarded mana control theories from various magic towers, independently researched her constitution, and eventually pioneered her path. The exact timing was not mentioned, but her first successful spell use was about 2 to 3 years from now. Thereafter, in just a few years, she showed terrifying growth surpassing level 50.
Since she achieved such results from scratch, with all the support now, there was no need to mention it. Comparing her to the Witch Empress—the world’s top mage in Part 4—would be overreaching, but she would undoubtedly become incomparably stronger than Tristan Alabr, one of the Triple Star.
In Reca Chronicles, once one grasped a doorknob, development often came in leaps. Chesa too would, in a few months, become a mage capable of easily toying with elite knights.
Leaving her as she began honing spells in the training room, I came to my personal office.
Camilo, now in his second week on the job, greeted me.
“Here is the report on Blispiel’s financial status, Sub-Master.”
“Thank you.”
I replied briefly and received the bundle of documents.
The report neatly summarized current financial issues and improvement measures. He began a lengthy explanation to me as I started reading.
“…So, Elanore has very high tax rates. If the clan grows larger, we should consider tax havens, but with the current active clan members not even reaching double digits, it is unnecessary for now.”
“I-I see.”
Typically, innate trait grades are proportional to potential level, but non-combat S-grades often appear even at low levels. Camilo was such a case. His level itself was not high, but he possessed 『Great Manager (S)』 and 『Calculator (A)』 traits.
His unlisted resourcefulness was also astonishing; using just three platinum coins, he swiftly restructured the clan’s funding flow and even planned long-term strategies. Thanks to him, Blispiel quickly took on the proper form of a clan.
…The reason I was handling paperwork I had no affinity for alongside him was simple.
Originally, I planned to leave all this to Master Arent, but he was the type who kept far away from such tasks. In fact, he had been reluctantly pushed into the clan master position after the other elders disappeared.
Damn it, that’s exactly why he got backstabbed by the accountant.
There was a reason Blispiel fell so quickly despite its fame.
“How is Albina’s condition?”
“That is…”
Camilo’s expression darkened noticeably as he reported to me. It seemed Albina’s condition had not improved significantly despite receiving the expensive <Heartless Cure>.
He distinguished work and personal matters clearly, so it did not affect his duties much, but I could not leave it like this.
It was about time for a response to the letter I sent earlier.
…As I thought that, Linia knocked and entered the office.
“Young Master! A welcome guest has arrived!”
Speak of the tiger, and it appears.
I took the involved Camilo and went to the lobby. There, a blond boy was waiting for us.
“Oh, I’ve been waiting.”
The middle-aged man disguised as a boy waved cheerfully and joked.
“To think you told me to come see my master—now I see you’re quite the ill-mannered disciple?”
“It’s related to a new promising disciple of the style, so please overlook it just this once.”
“You were so shocked by what I said that you rushed here day and night. I didn’t expect you to raise one so quickly.”
The master of the Alsigima Style and currently the continent’s top assassin, Estriel Mirvana. He was the key to resolving Albina’s Reverse Flow Energy.
Examining Estriel’s complexion, there was almost no shadow compared to our first meeting.
“Spiro. How is Patriarch Pantilis?”
“After prescribing the medicine you mentioned, there was surprisingly improvement. On behalf of all believers in the Circulation Church and the Holy Empire, thank you.”
Soon, Estriel looked back and forth between me and Camilo and said.
“Let’s catch up later—for now, I would like to examine that Miss Albina’s condition first? From what I heard, she has a severe illness.”
I turned to Camilo.
“You heard him, Camilo? He says to go to Albina.”
“Understood.”
I had explained beforehand that if my acquaintance came, he would take separate measures for Albina. But until now, he had seemed half-doubting.