Infinite Mage - Remake

Shirone had parted ways with Rian at the noble’s residence. With his departure scheduled for tomorrow, he needed to secure a partner today.

Since he was unfamiliar with the area’s geography, he decided to visit her home for guidance. The place he arrived at was no ordinary mansion—it was a breathtaking estate, far too grand to have been built merely for convenience.

‘This is the Karmis family’s home.’

At school, they spoke freely, but standing before her family’s estate now, Shirone felt a creeping unease. Even the guards at the front gate eyed him with suspicion, their hands tightening around their sword hilts as he approached.

Shirone: "Uh… hello?"

Guard: "State your business."

The guard’s grip on his weapon didn’t loosen. Shirone’s aura—honed through countless trials—was intense enough to unsettle even hardened warriors.

Shirone: "Is Amy home?"

The guard’s expression stiffened. Amy was well-known among noble circles, admired by many her age. Yet few ever dared to visit her family estate unannounced.

Guard: "May I ask who you are?"

Shirone: "I’m Shirone. A friend from the magic academy."

The guard exchanged a glance with his superior, who frowned deeply.

For someone who had served the Karmis household for twenty years, this wasn’t entirely unfamiliar—but it was irritating.

‘Tch. Right after vacation, and this nonsense starts again.’

Unless explicitly forbidden by the family head, protocol demanded he report the visitor. With a sharp nod from his superior, the guard mounted his horse and rode toward the mansion.

Shirone waited anxiously at the gates. Meanwhile, the senior guard studied him from the corner of his eye.

‘Good looks, decent demeanor… but that won’t be enough.’

Countless men had been turned away before. Even distant relatives of royalty had left without so much as a glimpse of Amy. Such was the prestige of the Karmis name—renowned across the continent.

Ten minutes later, the guard returned, his face tense. The superior didn’t need words to guess the outcome—disappointed nobles often took their frustration out on the gatekeepers.

Superior (dryly): "Well? I assume you have urgent matters to attend to today."

Guard (hesitant): "He’s… to be let in."

Superior: "Right, of course—wait, what?"

The superior blinked. The guard looked just as bewildered—this was a first.

Guard: "Lady Amy… she said to bring him inside."

Shirone (relieved): "Oh, good. I was worried she might be away."

Had Amy not been present, a commoner like him would never have been permitted entry.

Soon, a luxurious pink carriage arrived at the gates. The guards paled as a dignified old man stepped out, leaning on an ornate cane.

It was Adele—the Karmis family’s head butler.

Shirone (to the guard): "Can I go in now?"

Guard (snapping to attention): "Y-Yes! Welcome to the Karmis estate!"

The superior was stunned.

‘Adele himself is allowing entry? Even noble sons rarely warrant his presence. Unless… is there an event today? No, I’d have heard.’

Adele approached Shirone with measured steps, his expression deceptively mild for a man of his station.

Adele: "Welcome to the Karmis estate. I am Adele, the head butler."

Shirone: "Hello. I’m Shirone."

Adele: "A pleasure. However, before escorting you inside, I must verify your identity."

Shirone (puzzled): "Verify… my identity?"

Adele: "Indeed. The young mistress said, ‘If it’s Shirone, bring him.’ I interpret this to mean only the true Shirone may enter. Thus, you must prove you are who you claim."

Shirone’s patience frayed. Amy’s words had clearly been casual—why twist them into suspicion of impersonation?

Shirone (frustrated): "How am I supposed to prove I’m me? I am Shirone!"

Adele (calmly): "Words alone are insufficient. As the Karmis butler, I bear the responsibility—and authority—to scrutinize all who enter."

Shirone (gritting his teeth): "If you’d just take me to Amy—!"

He cut himself off. Adele’s kindly facade had shifted—something dark pressed against Shirone’s chest, crushing his lungs like a vice.

‘Ugh… so this is ‘Pressing’.’

The guards pitied him. Adele was infamous for using this technique—flooding a target’s nerves with amplified emotions, disrupting their body. While it caused no physical wounds, prolonged exposure could rupture organs from sheer stress.

Yet Shirone stood firm, his expression unreadable.

Adele’s eyebrow twitched.

‘He’s resisting? How?’

He increased the pressure. Shirone’s heartbeat spiked—not from fear, but anger. Adele’s hostility was fueling it.

‘Stay calm. It’s just an illusion. Control it, and it can’t hurt you.’

Like a drowning man clinging to a rock, Shirone focused inward. The pressure mounted, his breath shortening—but he refused to buckle.

Adele’s composure cracked. Cold sweat beaded on his brow.

‘Impossible. No one withstands Pressing this long unless—’

There were only three explanations: stupidity, insanity… or absolute emotional mastery.

And Shirone?

He had endured the infinite abyss—shattering and reforging his mind countless times. The Indestructible Diamond within him rendered external emotions meaningless.

With a sharp inhale, Adele released the technique.

Adele (bowing deeply): "Forgive this foolish old man’s rudeness."

The guards gaped.

Adele (voice trembling): "Upon our return, you may reprimand me as you see fit. Any punishment would be merciful. I beg you—let go of your anger."

Shirone (coolly): "So your family wasn’t suspicious of me?"

Adele: "No. My overinterpretation and endangering you were my own actions. The family head imposed no conditions on your entry."

Shirone (frowning): "Then why?"

Adele smiled faintly.

Adele: "Quite the opposite. In all my years serving Lady Amy, no man has ever been invited into her home. I wished to see what kind of person warranted such an exception."

Shirone’s irritation faded. He understood—Adele’s duty was to protect the household’s dignity.

After all, even in the Ogent family, protocol was sacrosanct.

“Alright. Then, may I see Amy now?” Shirone asked.

Adele smiled warmly. “Of course. The young mistress is expecting you. Please, step into the carriage.”

As the carriage rolled forward, Shirone gazed out the window at a sprawling garden bursting with vibrant roses.

If the Ogent family embodied discipline and tradition, the Karmis family was the opposite—wild, unrestrained, and free. Sculptures of bizarre shapes stood defiantly across the grounds, each one breaking conventional standards.

“This is incredible,” Shirone murmured. “It’s like stepping into a dream.”

Adele chuckled. “I’m glad you think so. The Karmis Garden is a reflection of each family member’s tastes. Every generation claims a section and decorates it as they please. It’s our way of celebrating individuality.” She pointed toward a shimmering fountain. “That one, for instance, was built by Lady Amy when she was ten. We call it the Rainbow Fountain.”

Shirone leaned out the window, eyes widening as water arced from the cone-shaped structure, scattering droplets that caught the sunlight—painting a fleeting rainbow in the air.

“Haha! A Rainbow Fountain… That’s so Amy.”

Adele watched him with quiet fondness. No wonder Amy had returned home brighter than ever after the semester.

“The Karmis family possesses an ability called Red Eye,” Adele explained. “Because of it, we stand out whether we want to or not. So, the family makes a point of not interfering in each other’s lives. Even when reports came in about the Arcane incident, the family head only confirmed Amy’s safety and ordered us to let her handle it herself.”

Shirone’s jaw slackened. Her life was at risk, and they just… let it go? The sheer boldness of the Karmis mindset was staggering.

“Not that we lack affection,” Adele added quickly. “It’s just our way. But Amy, being the youngest, struggled to understand it. She wandered lost for a long time—especially when she was younger than she is now.”

“Ah, I knew some of that,” Shirone admitted. “But I didn’t realize how deep it went.”

He remembered their first meeting—twelve-year-old Amy, cornered in an alley, seething with resentment. Back then, he’d seen only her anger. Now, knowing her past, he understood her better.

“Lately, though, she’s changed,” Adele said softly. “She’s begun embracing life like the rest of the family. And I think… that’s thanks to you.” She bowed her head slightly. “Thank you.”

Shirone flushed. This wasn’t just a butler’s gratitude—this was a guardian’s. No wonder Adele had scrutinized him so harshly earlier. There was probably a little grandmotherly jealousy mixed in too.

“I’m sorry for causing a scene earlier,” Shirone said. “I didn’t expect the butler to personally greet me.”

Adele waved it off. “Don’t worry. Lady Amy approved your visit, I merely happened to be passing by, and the family head simply ordered someone to escort you.”

Still, Shirone couldn’t shake his nerves. If even the butler doted on Amy this much, how intense would her actual family be?

“Ugh… I’m sweating already. I hope they don’t throw me out the front door.”

Adele laughed. “Oh, they’ll exceed your expectations. Just… don’t take anything too personally.”

Before long, the carriage halted before a grand mansion. Shirone followed Adele inside, his boots clicking against polished marble. The entrance hall was a gallery of eccentric art, flanked by twin staircases spiraling like seashells up to the fourth floor.

Adele cleared her throat. “Family Head, Lady Amy’s guest has arr—”

“KYAAAAH! OH MY STARS! A REAL BOY!”

A woman who looked like an older Amy burst into the hall, clutching her cheeks. Isis, the family matriarch. A former royal dancer, she retained her youthful energy even past fifty—though her mannerisms were decidedly childish.

“What? Shirone’s a guy?!”

“No way! Let me see!”

Two men came barreling in—Diane, the eldest son, and Ares, the second. Diane, despite being in his mid-thirties, had a boyish charm, while Ares’s thick beard made him look like a rugged adventurer. Both gaped at Shirone as if he’d sprouted a second head.

“Uh… h-hello,” Shirone stammered. “I’m Shirone, Amy’s… friend.”

“Forget greetings! Come here!” Isis yanked him onto the sofa, where a man sat behind a newspaper—Shakora, the Karmis family head. A political heavyweight who’d retired after denouncing corruption, he was tall, imposing, and impeccably composed.

Thud. The newspaper lowered.

Shirone gulped. Three pairs of glowing red eyes locked onto him.

‘Oh right—Red Eye lets them memorize anything.’

He suddenly felt like a butterfly pinned to a board.

“Hmm.” Shakora’s gaze swept over him.

The silence stretched. Shirone fidgeted.

“S-so, uh… nice to meet you?”

The Red Eyes flickered out. Isis immediately pounced.

“Ohhh, he’s adorable! Are you really Amy’s friend? Or—more?”

“Y-yes! Just friends!”

“Hmm? What year are you in?”

“Fifth Class.”

The room froze.

“…But next term, I’ll be Fourth Class,” Shirone added hastily.

“AHA!”

All three Karmises lit up with identical grins.

Shirone’s soul nearly left his body. They didn’t care about classes at all.

‘What kind of family is this?!’

Then he recalled Adele’s words:

—It’ll exceed your expectations. Don’t take it badly.

She wasn’t wrong. Just not in the way he’d feared.

Isis clapped. “Sooo~ When did you and Amy meet? Are you dating? Holding hands at school?”

“Wha—? N-no, we’re not—”

Shirone’s stammering was cut off by a voice from above.

“What’s this? Interrogating someone without me?”

Amy stood on the second-floor landing, arms crossed. Rescue.

Ares smirked. “Oh? You changed clothes? You bolted to your room when Shirone arrived.”

Amy’s eye twitched. “Should I have greeted him in pajamas? Anyway, disperse. Dad, can I talk to my friend alone?”

Shakora chuckled. “This is the first ‘boyfriend’ you’ve brought home. It’s tradition to grill him so you can’t complain later. Ha!”

Amy didn’t dignify that with a response. She knew—give them an inch, they’d take a mile.

As Shirone ascended the stairs, Isis called after them:

“Amy! Be honest! Are you two together? Are you?”

Amy walked faster.

“Stop it! Boys! You are dating, right? Right?”

“UGH! YES, WHATEVER!”

Amy slammed her bedroom door shut.

Silence.

Then—

Amy finally couldn’t take it anymore. With a furious shout, she stormed toward her room, leaving the others behind.

Isis’s mouth hung open in stunned silence. Shakora, equally startled, jerked his head up to stare at the staircase—but the two figures had already vanished.

Inside the room, Shirone and Amy sat awkwardly across from each other at a small table. Shirone’s eyes wandered, taking in the details of her private space. The walls were lined with shelves of arcane tomes and spellbooks, but tucked away in a shadowed corner were a few untouched romance novels.

‘Hah! Seriel-senpai must’ve lent these to her.’

Despite her reputation as the academy’s icy heroine, the room had an unexpectedly girlish charm. His gaze lingered on a large, well-loved doll slumped on the bed—a teddy bear with one eye half-torn, as if it had endured years of fierce affection.

Shirone: “You have a doll. A teddy bear, no less.”

Amy: “So what? Is it a crime to have dolls in my own room?”

Shirone: “No, it’s just… it kinda looks like you. Haha!”

Amy clicked her tongue and fell silent. Truthfully, she had no idea what to say. This was the first time she’d ever let a man outside her family into her private space.

Shirone: “But… are you really okay with this? We’re only pretending to date at school. You didn’t have to lie to your family.”

Amy: “Don’t worry about it. They won’t care anyway. They’re just doing this because they’re bored and think it’s fun.”

Though Amy brushed it off, Shirone sensed something deeper. Her family might seem reckless and eccentric, but beneath the surface, there was an unspoken bond—a warmth that tied them together.

Amy: “Enough about my family. What did you want to talk about?”

Shirone: “Well, actually…”

Before he could continue, the door slid open with a quiet creak. Isis’s face peeked through the narrow gap, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Isis: “Oh my, did I interrupt something important? Here, have some tea while you chat!”

She glided in, balancing a delicate tray, her gaze never leaving Shirone. Just as he opened his mouth to speak again, the door swung wider—this time revealing Diane.

Diane: “I brought… sweets.”

His body moved forward, but his head remained tilted toward Shirone, his curiosity blatant.

Amy sighed. Her family was never like this. Normally, her brothers barely spared a glance for anything outside their own obsessions. But a sister’s “boyfriend”? That was a spectacle they couldn’t ignore.

Amy: “Fine. All of you, just come in. I know you’ve been waiting outside.”

The moment she spoke, the door burst open fully. Ares stood there, holding a plate of sliced fruit with an awkward grin.

Ares: “Uh… brought some snacks. Haha.”

Amy: “Sit down. Since we’re all here, let’s do this properly. Shirone, you don’t mind?”

Shirone: “Ah, not at all.”

And so, with the exception of Shakora, the entire family settled around Shirone, their eyes locked onto him with varying degrees of fascination.

Amy: “This is Shirone, a rising star among magicians. Shirone, this is my mother. She was a dancer in her youth.”

Shirone: “I can see that. She’s… very elegant.”

Isis: “Ohoho! Amy takes after me, you know. But don’t get any ideas—I’d hate to break my daughter’s heart.”

Shirone: “Y-Yes, of course.”

He nodded stiffly. What else could he possibly say to that?

Amy: “And this is my eldest brother, Diane. He’s a certified fifth-rank swordsman and leads the royal archery division. He’s only here because he needed to discuss political matters with Father.”

The family blinked at her in unison. Even for a “boyfriend,” that was far more detail than necessary. Amy’s forced calm was crumbling—her nerves were showing.

‘Huh? Is this boy making my daughter nervous? Amy—bold as the world itself.’

The Karmis family was known for their open-mindedness, but Amy stood out even among them. Her fearless personality wasn’t just a noble’s privilege—it was how she’d tamed street gangs as a child.

Her brothers, now eyeing Shirone, seemed to share the same thought. Their little sister, who never listened to them, was suddenly attentive to this outsider. Jealousy simmered in their gazes.

“This is my second brother, Ares,” Amy introduced, then tilted her head. “And what exactly do you do again?”

Ares grinned, stroking his thick beard. “Hahaha! I’m an explorer! I map uncharted lands and excavate ruins. The Dragon’s Nest in the Alpones Mountains? The Crystal Caves at Corona’s northern edge? Those are my works.”

“Oh! I’ve heard of the Alpones Mountains,” Shirone said, impressed.

The Alpones Mountains—a realm of dragons, a place so perilous it belonged in legends. Just days ago, Rian had been raving about them while reading Knight of the Dragon.

“That’s incredible. I heard it’s lethally dangerous,” Shirone remarked.

“Danger is part of the romance!” Ares boomed. “And the pay’s good if you survive. Though Amy here despises my job.”

Amy rolled her eyes. “At least shave that rat’s nest off your face. You’re not some unemployed vagrant. But if you laze around at home for months, I will kick you out.”

“So harsh! This time, the expedition’s a two-year commitment. I only waited this long to see my dear sister’s face.”

“Ugh, spare me…” Amy turned away, but Shirone caught the flicker of worry in her expression.

Explorers vanished for years—no letters, no confirmation of life or death. Of course she feared for him.

“Still, I think it’s amazing,” Shirone admitted. “I’d love to try it someday.”

“Once you start, you’ll never quit,” Ares warned. “Normal life can’t compare. If you’re serious, join me after graduation. I’ll sneak you onto a special team.”

“Enough!” Amy slammed her hands on the table. “Stop luring him with nonsense! Everyone out—introductions are over.”

The family erupted into protests, but Amy’s glare silenced them. They fled so fast the door hinges rattled.

‘Now I see where she gets her temper.’

The sudden quiet was deafening. Shirone fidgeted, unsure how to break the silence. Amy sipped tea, avoiding his gaze. The air was thick enough to choke on.

‘Why did he even come?’

This wasn’t a casual visit. If it were urgent, he’d have sent word. Yet here he was, sweating under her scrutiny.

“Well?” Amy snapped. “You didn’t come just to gawk at my family. Spit it out.”

Shirone straightened. “Right. Actually… I need a favor. I should’ve sent notice first—sorry for barging in.”

“Whatever. What’s the favor?”

“When the time comes… would you come to Galliant Island with me?”

CLINK. Amy’s teacup hit the saucer. Her mind blanked.

“You—you want to go. With me. To an island?”

“Well, Rian’s coming too. He’s bringing a friend, so I thought I should invite someone. Four people total.”

“Oh?” Amy’s eyes sharpened. “This ‘friend’ of Rian’s… a girl?”

“Probably. Wait, how’d you know?”

Amy gulped her tea, thoughts racing.

‘A couples’ trip. That sly bastard Rian—!’ Then her stomach dropped. ‘Wait. He’s taking me? Why?’

Her face burned. Shirone—stoic, clueless Shirone—proposing a getaway? It had to be about numbers… right?

But seniors spent vacations training relentlessly for graduation finals. He knew that. So why ask her?

“Why me?” she demanded. “You’ve got other friends. Or is this just—?”

She couldn’t finish. The cup trembled in her hands.

Shirone met her gaze, earnest. “Amy… no matter how I think about it, you’re the only one.”

“PFFT—!”

Tea sprayed across the table. Shirone blinked, dripping.

“WHAT KIND OF LINE IS THAT?!” Amy shrieked, scrubbing her mouth with her sleeve. Crimson-faced, she fled and returned with a towel.

“Clean yourself up! Disgusting!”

“…You’re the one who spat on me.” Shirone dabbed his face. “Anyway—remember Miro? The first head of the Supernatural Psychic Research Society?”

“Huh? Oh, the one you met during the Immortal Function?”

“Right. My new theory links the Immortal Function to light-speed phenomena. I need to investigate, and the headmaster approved a trip to the Kergo Ruins on Galliant Island. Rian suggested it, so…”

Amy exhaled. The Kergo Ruins were a tourist hotspot—but also a legitimate research site.

“So it’s a research trip? Not just…?”

“It’s probably safe, but the headmaster hinted there’s more to it. If you’re with me, I’ll feel better prepared.”

Rian’s “plus-one” was surely a girl. But beyond that, Amy was the strongest ally Shirone had. While others chased rumors, she’d fought her way to the top of the senior class. If danger struck, she’d hold her ground.

“Tch! Fine! At least I won’t faint at ghost stories.”

“That’s not—I mean, yes, but…” Shirone rubbed his neck.

Amy knew the truth. He wasn’t asking her just for strength.

Back on that cliff, Shirone had caught her. One heartbeat from death, and he’d refused to let go.

That was why he could ask this of her—knowing the risks, trusting her to face them at his side.

“I get it,” she murmured. “That’s what this is about…”