Chapter 50

Chapter 50

The bell signaling the start of class rang through the corridors.

“Oh, that kind of issue is right up my alley! Let’s head to the club together after class,” Nade said.

“But where’s Iruki?” Sirone asked. “I don’t see him anywhere.”

“He’s not coming in today. He said he’s not ready to accept mundane education after rediscovering his passion. He’s probably lounging in the club room now.”

Sirone chuckled. “That sounds just like Iruki.”

Even after his declaration of pursuing his dreams following the duel, Iruki’s extreme nature seemed to remain unchanged.

“Let’s talk more later. We better get to class.”

Realizing the hallway was now deserted, Sirone quickly made his way into the classroom. He spent the day focused on his studies before joining Nade to head to the clubroom after class. Approaching the Istas warehouse, Sirone was once again amazed. What used to be a colony-like structure now boasted seven towering spires.

“I’m amazed every time I see this building. It’s just incredible,” he remarked.

“It’s home to eighty-nine different layouts, so the possibilities are endless. I just hope Iruki’s awake.”

Nade skillfully navigated the transformed interior like a maze.

“I wanted to ask last time, but how do you always find your way? If the structure is changing constantly, markings would be useless.”

“We don’t rely on such basic methods,” Nade laughed. “It’s all about memorization. One of our upperclassmen once recreated Istas’ blueprint.”

Sirone’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What? The entire complex? But why? It’s not like it’s being reconstructed.”

Though unproductive, Nade took pride in it. “See those three dots on the ceiling? They signify that this is room number three. Now, check the color of the iron door of the third warehouse. Blue, right? That indicates this area is linked to the blue of room number three.”

Sirone’s eyes followed Nade’s indications.

“Now count the cubes. Four junctions mean four connected cubes. Here’s where it gets technical. You take the room number as X, convert the color to a numerical value as Y, and the cube number as Z. Then, you plug them into an equation.”

“An equation?”

“It’s not a conventional blueprint. That’s impossible to represent. Instead, the ‘blueprint’ I mentioned is a mathematical equation derived from studying Istas’ patterns. Input the values, and you’ll get a two-decimal solution that guides you. It’s impossible to get lost in Istas with this. It’s like having a master key,” Nade explained.

A master key? Sirone was struck by the extraordinary nature of the Paranormal Science Club.

Considering both its capability to transform into infinite configurations and the ingenuity of the upperclassmen who had captured its ever-changing patterns through mathematical equations, Istas was truly extraordinary. Even though it seemed like a pointless endeavor, the depth of thought behind it was astounding.

“But doesn’t it take a long time to calculate each step to find a room?” Sirone asked.

“It becomes second nature over time. Give it three months, and you won’t even need to think about the equation. It’ll just come instinctively.”

Sirone nodded, impressed.

“Navigating a maze with a single equation is remarkable.”

“Also, Istas is still a building shrouded in mystery, exclusive to Alpheas School of Magic. Rumor has it that one of the original members was a savant. Even Iruki was in awe when he first saw the equation. He doubted if he could ever design an equation simpler than this. But remember, don’t tell anyone about the master key. It could spell disaster if it gets out.”

This club is definitely niche... It was a haven for upperclassmen’s passionate—albeit seemingly impractical—obsessions and a legacy passed down from the original members.

Reaching the club room, they found it just as they left it last time. The crooked sign and a cloud of dust greeted them as they opened the door.

This time, Sirone was ready and quickly covered his mouth to avoid the dust.

“Iruki, we’re here,” Nade announced.

Iruki, who had been writing complex equations on the chalkboard, smiled upon seeing Sirone. “Hey, what brings you here again? I thought you’d never return to such a dull place.”

Nade chuckled, remembering their previous visit. “Yeah, but he’s considering joining now.”

“Really?” Iruki’s surprise was genuine as he set his chalk down and approached. “That’s unexpected. Our club isn’t exactly aligned with your personal academic pursuits.”

“Well, I don’t think that’s really the case anymore. I’ve been having this issue lately and was wondering if I could consult with you guys.”

Making eye contact with Nade, Iruki chuckled. “A genius who beat me facing a problem? This must be something serious.”

Sirone, accustomed to Iruki’s nature now, wasn’t bothered by the sarcastic remark. “Since speed gun, something has changed. I’ve been having nightmares, and when I wake up, I get chills. It’s eerie and feels like someone is always beside me. Could it be related to paranormal or spiritual phenomena? You guys are experts, right?”

Their eyes simultaneously lit up with interest. Nade, always keen to explore the unknown, and Iruki, a skeptic of the unexplainable, were both intrigued.

“Then you’ve come to the right place. Have a seat,” Nade instructed.

He motioned toward a sofa, but Sirone hesitated as a cloud of dust rose from it.

I think I know now where all this dust is coming from. It was all chalk dust from Iruki’s use. “I’ll just stand. Can’t you do something about this? Or at least clean up once in a while?”

“Come on! Don’t be defeated by mere dust! As our club’s first client, please tell us your issue.”

Nade and Iruki, who pulled up chairs and sat down, crossed their legs in a rather professional manner.

Sirone, finding humor in the situation yet desperate for answers, began recounting his experience. “I’ve been having these dreams...” He detailed them and the peculiar sensations that seemed to follow him. “I can’t figure out what it is. Could it be a ghost or something? Have you guys heard of anyone experiencing something similar?”

A hush fell over the room. Expecting them to joke, Sirone was surprised by their grave expressions. “H-hey! Why are you guys making me nervous? You’re just joking around, right?” he asked.

Nade scratched his eyebrow uncomfortably. “Well, about that… It actually sounds quite serious.”

“What do you mean? Explain.”

“That sensation you described with the eerie feeling as if you sense a presence...”

“Yeah. It gets really intense at dawn in particular.”

“It’s not scientifically proven, but what you might be experiencing is known as ‘extrasensory perception.’”

“Extrasensory perception?”

“Two hundred years ago, a scientist experimented on a death row inmate. He theorized soul transmission. The premise was if a soul were a material, then it could be decomposed into electricity. The experiment involved confining the inmate in a metal box and electrifying it. It was halted due to ethical concerns, saving the inmate. However, he was unconscious for a month. Astonishingly, he could recount events that occurred outside during his unconscious state.”

“That’s impossible. How?”

“That’s the mystery. The scientist theorized about soul ionization. He believed that by electrically decomposing the soul, it converted into electromagnetic energy, attracting information from the outside world to the inmate. Naturally, he was later dismissed as a madman by the scientific community. Furthermore, there were rumors that the inmate had bribed guards to preserve his life and obtain information.”

“I had no idea such an experiment existed...” Sirone muttered.

“Mainstream scientists don’t acknowledge it, but it remains a topic of interest in the field of paranormal science. Additionally, official religious organizations like the Church of Spirits recognize trance states, so the theory of soul ionization isn’t entirely without merit. The inmate, in this case, is said to have experienced what’s known as an extrasensory perception.”

Sirone felt a chill, considering the possibility that what happened to him mirrored this event.

“It’s my turn to speak,” Iruki interjected. “First, I have a question. You mentioned this extrasensory perception began after the speed gun, right? Your Photon Emission was certainly different than usual. If the method is confidential, you don’t need to disclose it, but it might help us understand your situation better.”

Sirone agreed with Iruki—understanding the cause was essential to analyze the effect. “What happened was...” He detailed his journey to the realm of infinity and his epiphanies with sequencing and transcending numbers during the pressure of the duel.

Iruki nodded, indicating his familiarity with the concept, which he had learned from his father. “Immortal Function, I see...”

“Immortal Function?” Sirone asked.

“I heard about it when I was young. It’s considered the ultimate function, capable of unraveling the world’s mysteries. In my opinion, it’s extremely dangerous. The concept of everything is phenomenologically the same as nothing.”

Remembering Etala’s cautionary words, Sirone realized just how perilous his endeavor had been. “I merely hypothesized. I never expected it to actually work. It’s something I don’t wish to experience again.”

Iruki chuckled lightly. “What are you saying? To a mathematician, Immortal Function is a dream-like realm. Now it makes sense. Only someone capable of defeating me could harness Immortal Function.”

Despite his idiosyncratic way of seeing things, viewing it as a boast rather than a concern, unlike Etala, Sirone felt somewhat reassured.

“Anyway, so you used Immortal Function. Hmm, that explains quite a bit.”

“Really? Have you figured something out?”

Iruki’s gaze shifted to the wall and began to stare at the blank surface as if he were writing equations with his eyes. “I’m not an expert in paranormal phenomena, so I can’t speak much about extrasensory perception. But I have a theory about your recurring nightmare and why you might be having it.”

Sirone tensed, bracing for what was to come. “Go on. I’m ready to hear anything.”

“Dreams often distort or amplify our memories. However, yours might be an actual projection, a psychological regression phenomenon. It’s like how people can vividly recall past experiences under hypnosis. If your nightmare falls into this category...”

“Then?”

“It’s likely that what you saw in your dreams was the universe.”

“The universe?”

Sirone was familiar with the concept —the vast, uncharted expanse beyond their known world. But like most people, his understanding was limited.

The dragons were the only race historically recorded to have ventured into space. The legendary Saint Dragon Gramisu embarked on a remarkable journey 680 years ago, leaving the continent to venture into space. It was an event witnessed by representatives from various races.

Tragically, his groundbreaking exploration ended abruptly when he crashed back to Earth just thirteen hours later, his body found in a grievously damaged state.

In accordance with a prior agreement, representatives from each race collected fragments of his body to take back to their territories. The analysis of these remains later played a pivotal role in advancing the study of cosmology, providing invaluable insights into the mysteries of the universe.

“My nightmare… is a vision of the universe?” Sirone asked.