Infinite Mage - Remake

After vaulting over the fence of Ogent’s mansion, Shirone and the others sprinted through the aristocratic district, desperate to put distance between themselves and their pursuers.

Thanks to Shirone’s spatial teleportation, they had escaped Bischoff’s predicted coordinates—but they were far from safe. A schema adherent’s mobility was monstrous, their movement radius akin to a predator’s. No amount of short-range teleportation could guarantee evasion.

Only when they reached the bustling downtown streets did Shirone finally exhale, his pulse still hammering. Bischoff’s furious face flashed in his mind.

He wouldn’t have hurt his own son… right?

But the whirlwind of violence in that man’s eyes had been unmistakable. Shirone had acted on instinct—yet guilt gnawed at him.

With a weary sigh, he turned to the others.
“What now? We’ve come this far—no going back.”

Rian grinned, utterly unfazed.
“Who cares? We’ve got plenty of coin. Let’s grab a carriage and head to the port.”

Without his father looming over him, Rian was fearless. Sure, he’d face consequences later—but right now, adventure called.

They reached a stable on the city’s outskirts, where travelers could rent horses or hire coaches. Time was tight, so Rian secured a four-seater carriage on the spot.

Inside, the space was cramped—commoner accommodations weren’t built for comfort. Rian and Tess sat side by side, while Shirone and Amy faced them, knees nearly touching.

The ride began in stiff silence, but the breeze through the windows soon eased the tension.

Tess fanned herself, studying Shirone with newfound curiosity.

She wasn’t a mage, but she knew enough: teleporting through dense forest was no small feat. This commoner boy wielded advanced magic—yet Rian had sworn knighthood to him. Why?

“That second spell you cast… it wasn’t just teleportation, was it?” she asked.

Shirone nodded.
“Spatial traversal. The disorientation comes from the time-axis curvature.”

Tess’s fan froze mid-swing.
“Wait—spatial traversal?!”

Her noble friends attended magic academies, yet none had mastered such a spell. This wasn’t mere theory—it demanded mental fortitude, years of grueling practice.

“That’s… incredible.” She caught herself, backtracking. “Not that I’m doubting you! But spatial traversal is elite magic. Did you train under a master?”

She assumed Shirone had been inducted into the arcane arts young—how else could a commoner achieve this?

Shirone gave a noncommittal shrug.
“Rian’s family helped me enroll in magic school.”

Tess brightened.
“Ah! That explains it. Still, competing with nobles from childhood must’ve been nerve-wracking.”

Shirone chuckled.
“At first, yeah. But I adjusted. Amy helped a lot.”

Amy scoffed, turning away.
“Tch. Don’t drag me into this.”

Beneath her prickly exterior, irritation simmered. Tess’s assumption—that Shirone’s skill was handed to him—ignored the brutal effort behind his growth.

Rian, ever blunt, ripped off the bandage.
“Actually, he’s only been studying magic for six months.”

Tess’s neck nearly snapped with how fast she whipped around.
“S-Six months?!”

That was impossible. Spatial traversal in half a year defied every known limit. Even among nobles, this was unthinkable.

Her gaze darted between them. Shirone smiled awkwardly; Amy glared, chin raised.

Realization struck—Tess had stepped on a landmine.

Swordsmen spoke plainly, but mages parsed every word. To Amy, her curiosity had sounded like dismissal.

“Oh—I’m sorry!” Tess backtracked, hands raised. “I didn’t mean to offend. If someone undervalued my lover, I’d be furious too.”

Amy turned scarlet.
“W-What?! Who’s a lover?! We’re just—just friends!”

Despite her flustered denial, her posture relaxed.

Tess sighed in relief.

Rian, ever the mediator, cut in.
“First meetings are awkward. Tess is blunt, but she doesn’t mean harm. If something bothers you, say it outright.”

Shirone and Amy exchanged glances. For mages accustomed to veiled debates, such directness was… uncomfortable.

Tess bit her lip, struggling to hold back laughter as she watched the two boys fall into awkward silence. At the swordsmanship academy, she was used to tough, battle-hardened peers—but here, surrounded by magic school students, even boys her own age seemed like bashful younger brothers.

“By the way, Amy, you were amazing back there,” Tess said, breaking the quiet. “When did you learn to use a schema?”

Amy adjusted her glasses, a faint smile on her lips. “Before enrolling in magic school, I trained for about two years.”

“Really? That’s unusual,” Tess remarked. “Most people say it’s bad for growth if you start too young.”

“I didn’t push myself too hard. I just… happened to pick it up.”

Tess understood immediately. While prodigies from the Spirit Zone often excelled in magic, schema training strained the body—something most children couldn’t handle. But with Hongan’s self-image memory, Amy could precisely control her physique without brutal conditioning.

“Ah! So that’s how you use Hongan,” Tess said, impressed. “That’s genius.”

Amy shook her head modestly. “It’s nothing special. My build isn’t suited for combat, and it only gives a slight strength boost. Compared to you, I’m practically a child. Earlier, your acceleration was so fast I couldn’t even cast Teleport in time.”

“Oh, come on! You’re a wizard—I’m a martial arts major! Besides, Rian still can’t even use a schema, so what does that say?” Tess grinned. “Now I see why the Karmis family is so famous.”

Shirone’s head snapped toward Rian, eyes wide. “Wait—Rian, you never learned schema? Then how did you chop all the firewood at my house? I thought you were using one!”

“Pfft—HA!” Tess burst out laughing. “Rian did that? Oh, this is perfect! Just like Instructor Kuan always said—‘stupidly strong brute muscle!’ Hey, remember that time at the academy during the final test? When he—”

“HEY! Shut it!” Rian’s face burned as he cut her off. He didn’t care what anyone else thought—but Shirone? Never.

The outburst lightened the mood, and soon the group was swapping stories about their schools. Despite their different disciplines, they were all students—and the conversation flowed effortlessly.

By the time they reached Creas Harbor, they’d grown closer.

The Voyage to Galliant

The massive Galeas ship at Dock 6 loomed before them, sails unfurled and ready for departure. With all kingdom schools on break, the harbor swarmed with tourists. Shirone let the crowd carry him aboard, then claimed a spot on the third-floor deck.

Passenger cabins lined the lower decks, but this was Shirone’s first time on a ship—he wanted to see everything.

Salt-laced wind whipped through his hair as waves crashed against the hull. Only when the port vanished below the horizon did it truly sink in: they were adrift on the open sea.

“How long until we arrive?” Shirone asked.

“About five hours from Creas,” Amy replied.

“Lucky we didn’t miss it,” Rian mused. “This place is way more popular than I thought.”

Shirone nodded. The deck teemed with passengers—merchants hauling crates, nobles in fine silks, and travelers from distant regions.

“You weren’t kidding about Galliant’s reputation,” Shirone said. “What’s so special about it?”

“I did some research.” Amy pulled out a notebook, looking smug.

“Ooooh!” Tess clapped. “Now that’s preparation!”

Shirone scratched his head sheepishly. “Yeah… I kinda just, uh, went for it.”

Amy shot him a disapproving glare. “You’re exploring ancient ruins and didn’t even research them?”

“Haha! Well, uh…”

There were two kinds of travelers: reckless adventurers and meticulous planners. Amy was firmly the latter. Shirone? Neither. This was his first real trip—every sight, every sound, was exhilarating.

“Let me explain,” Amy said, flipping pages. “Galliant Island spans 1,500 square kilometers, shaped like a crescent moon. The northern cliffs are sheer rock faces—ships must dock at the southern port. The west holds resorts and residential areas, while the Kergo Ruins dominate the east.”

“Kergo?” Shirone leaned in.

“Mhm. The ruins were once a temple for Kergoin, a civilization from 2,000 years ago. They’re extinct now, but descendants remain in the island’s central Autonomous District.”

“Descendants?”

“Short, dark-skinned, with sunken eyes and tiny pupils. They tattoo their faces to honor Ankera—their ancient god.”

“Ankera?”

“According to legend, they chewed loop root, a hallucinogenic plant they called ‘the god’s stimulant.’ Some say their civilization collapsed from religious wars… others claim they overdosed on loops and tore themselves apart.”

Shirone whistled. “Hallucinogens wiped them out? That’s wild.”

“When you mix drugs and religion, disaster follows,” Amy said. “Oh! My brother mentioned something else.”

“Your brother? Ares?” Shirone’s eyes lit up. Ares was a famed explorer—if he had insights…

“He said, ‘The fall of civilizations isn’t decided by scholars. If you want the truth, you’ll need something more valuable than an admission fee.’”

Shirone’s pulse quickened. Between Ares’ riddles and Alpheas’ warnings, the Kergo Ruins were clearly more than a tourist trap.

Seeing Shirone’s excitement, Rian smirked. His duty as a guardian knight just got way more interesting.

“So, when do we hit the ruins?” Rian asked.

“Not yet!” Shirone grinned. “We’re on vacation first. Let’s enjoy the island!”

“Then we need lodging,” Tess said. “The west beach has resorts, baths, and amazing seafood. Let’s head there after docking.”

“YES! Sun, sand, and food!” Tess vibrated with excitement.

Four hours flew by—until finally, a shout rang out:

“LAND HO! GALLIANT ISLAND!”

Passengers rushed to the prow. Shirone and his friends sprinted to the deck’s edge—and there it was.

The northern cliffs rose like a fortress, a wall of stone jutting from emerald forests. The crowd erupted in awe.

“WE’RE HERE! Look at those cliffs!”
“I need a swim NOW!”

Merchants stayed lazy—the southern port was still 30 minutes away.

Galliant Harbor – Chaos and Opportunity

The port was packed. Merchants unloading goods collided with locals hustling for business, creating a human whirlpool. Tourists waited patiently—Shirone’s group among them.

The moment they stepped onto land, humid southern heat embraced them. While Creas had cooled with autumn, Galliant was still summer.

And the touts? Relentless.

“Dolphin Inn! Cheapest beds on the island! My wife’s cooking’ll make you weep!”
“Fresh seafood! Free carriage rides to our restaurant!”
“Need a porter? Strong backs, fair prices!”

Shirone’s group drew stares. Young, well-armed, and clearly not locals—they were prime targets.

But not all attention was innocent.

In a shadowed alley, a group of rough men licked their lips.

“Heh. Look at those rich kids. Who should we skin first?”

Jis’s sharp eyes flickered with interest as they swept over the bustling crowd. Behind him, his two friends leaned in, their gazes locked onto the same sea of people.

What set them apart from the usual street vendors was simple—they weren’t shopkeepers. No, they were backstreet hustlers, surviving on wit, charm, and the occasional well-placed lie.

Life on the island was different from the mainland. Here, playing by the rules meant starvation. If you didn’t seize every opportunity, you’d go to bed hungry. And Jis? He’d learned that lesson early.

A born rebel, he’d spent his childhood dodging blows from nobles who didn’t appreciate his sharp tongue. But now? Those same scars were just tools for his trade.

One of his friends nudged him, impatient.
“Jis, look at this crowd—holiday season’s packed! Think we’ll score big today?”

Jis smirked.
“Half these folks are just here to gawk. We gotta pick the right mark—someone soft, someone rich.”

His other friend fidgeted.
“Jis, hurry up! The others are already moving in!”

“Relax. I’ve got this.”

Jis’s gaze swept the harbor like a hawk’s—until it snagged on Dock 3.

There, four young travelers stood chatting. And among them—a girl with fiery red hair.

Even from a distance, her delicate features stood out. High cheekbones, a sharp little nose, lips like rose petals. Pretty. No—stunning.

Jis’s pulse quickened.
“That’s the one. Two guys, two girls. See ‘em?”

His friend squinted.
“Uh… Jis, that big guy’s armed. Sword at his hip. Maybe we pick someone else?”

Jis scoffed.
“You kidding? Who am I? Jis, the King of the Docks. That guy’s just a scared rich boy playing tough. You really think a real fighter would wander a tourist spot with a blade out?”

The second friend bit his lip.
“Still feels risky. And Jis—don’t tell me you’re falling for some girl you’ve never met. What if she’s a mercenary?”

Jis rolled his eyes.
“Use your head! Look at them—they’re students. Soft, spoiled, and way too polite to hit us. I’ll hit ‘em with the high-pressure approach. Just back me up. And don’t act noble—rich kids like that hate being challenged.”

With that, Jis led the way, weaving through the crowd. Even as they moved, his eyes kept flicking back—making sure no other hustlers swooped in first.

But the closer he got, the more the red-haired girl’s face burned into his mind.

‘What is this girl…?’

Island boys always fell for foreign women—it was practically tradition. But this? This wasn’t just attraction.

This was awe.

Jis shook himself. Focus. If he hesitated, someone else would take the shot.

“Hey there! Welcome to Galliant! Here for a vacation?”

Jis raised his hand in a friendly gesture. No matter how noble his visitors were, the unspoken rule on this floor was to avoid formalities when dealing with outsiders.

In a way, it was like gambling with one’s life for profit—but even if caught, hiding for a month was enough to evade consequences. After all, most tourists who came across the sea rarely returned just to settle a grudge.

“Yes, we’re here with friends,” Shirone replied with a polite smile.

Amy, however, narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Having grown up navigating the underworld’s shadows, she recognized their tactics immediately.

“You look like students. Which school?” Jis pressed, feigning casual curiosity. “Must be a fancy one, right?”

“Alpheas Magic School.”

“Ah-ha! I know that place! Lots of students visit from there.”

Amy suppressed a groan. Idiot. Revealing their school was like handing these vultures a weapon.

“But you all look a bit… sturdy for wizards.”

“What?!” Tess snapped, fists clenching. “We’re from the Kaizen Swordsmanship Academy, you moron! We’re tall because we’re swordsmen!”

Jis chuckled, unfazed. “Haha! My bad. Just a compliment, but I guess it came out wrong.”

Internally, he smirked. Perfect. The nobility were shackled by rules—especially students from prestigious academies. Alpheas and Kaizen were notorious for strict discipline. A scandal here would mean expulsion.

“Anyway, welcome! Name’s Jis. I’m a local guide. Hire me, and I’ll handle everything—sightseeing, lodging, the works.”

“We’re still discussing. We’ll decide later.”

But Jis wasn’t like the other touts they’d brushed off. He’d already sniffed their weakness and leaned in, grinning.

“C’mon, rich kids like you can spare some coin. We’re just poor locals trying to survive. You’re here to spend money, right?”

Shirone’s smile faded. Rian and Tess tensed, their eyes sharpening. Jis’s friends flinched under their glares—but Jis stood firm.

Pathetic. He’d dealt with hotheaded nobles before. Alpheas banned magic use abroad, and Kaizen drilled chivalry into its students. They wouldn’t dare attack.

“Hurry up, yeah? My arms are tired.” Jis hefted their bags mockingly. “Time’s money, friends.”

“That little—!” Tess lunged, but Shirone blocked her.

“Stop. Violence isn’t worth it.”

Rian watched silently. To him, this trip wasn’t just a vacation—it was preparation for the future. As Shirone’s sworn knight, he’d face countless such situations. Better to learn now.

“Fine. We’ll hire you,” Shirone conceded. “How much?”

Jis’s grin widened. “For you? A special discount. Just 5 gold.”

“Five gold?!” Shirone gaped. Even for a guide, that was daylight robbery.

“That’s insane!” Amy hissed.

Jis shrugged. “Tourist prices. I’ll cover transport, lodging, and tours. A steal, really.”

Amy’s patience snapped. She’d seen this before—leeches who’d bleed you dry if you showed weakness.

“Here.” She flung five gold coins at Jis’s feet. “Take it and leave.”

His friends scrambled for the coins, but Jis froze. Amy’s icy stare pinned him in place.

“W-We got paid! Let’s go!” one lackey urged.

Jis didn’t move. His pride, the one thing he’d clung to, was crumbling.

“What’s wrong?” Amy sneered. “Not enough?”

Shirone stepped between them. “Amy, that’s enough.”

“No, it’s not! If we back down now, they’ll keep extorting us!”

Jis’s hands shook. He’d endured nobles’ insults before—but this? This was different.

“Jis, forget it,” a friend muttered. “We got the gold.”

“Give. It. Back.” Jis growled.

Jis snatched gold coins from his friends one by one, his fingers trembling with barely contained greed. The weight of the coins in his palm sent a thrill through him—yet he clenched his fist hard, crushing the temptation. His gaze, icy and sharp, locked onto Amy.

"Heh. Arrogant nobles," Jis sneered. "Must feel good tossing around five gold coins like they’re nothing. Can’t even imagine what that’s like, can you?"

With a flick of his wrist, he scattered the coins at Amy’s feet, watching as they rolled across the dirt, glinting mockingly in the sunlight.

"Aha! That’s how it feels!" Jis crowed, grinning. "Come on, boys—let’s get out of here."

He turned on his heel, his gang trailing behind as they disappeared into the shadowed alleyways of the docks.

Amy stood frozen, stunned by their audacity. But by the time her anger flared, they were already gone.

"Ugh! Of all the—!" Amy whirled on Shirone, frustration boiling over. "Why did you just stand there? Guys like that need to be put in their place!"

Shirone exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. "I get it. But if you really hated what they did, you could’ve refused or walked away. Was all this necessary?"

Amy’s eyes flashed. "What, so now I’m the stuck-up noble looking down on people?"

"I didn’t say that," Shirone replied evenly.* "But that’s how it came across."

Amy scoffed. "Even after seeing what kind of scum they are? Weren’t you treated like trash when you were younger?"

Shirone’s lips pressed into a thin line. Maybe she was right. But no matter how despicable Jis and his gang were, he couldn’t condone Amy’s blatant humiliation of them.

"Fine. Whatever." Shirone turned away.* "Let’s just find the wagon."

When he didn’t argue further, Amy huffed and stormed off.

Tess, who had been watching the whole exchange, scratched his head awkwardly.

"Well… this got messy fast."