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Section 1
## Prologue: "Glorious World"
Proofreading: Lilian Scans: Xiaoye
This was an age in which the difference between television and the personal computer had all but vanished, and the multi-linked computer—short for Multi-Association Network Computer—had, as a matter of course, become the image receiver of the next generation.
Speaking of digital games, a title that lacked popularity on the online networks of the present was as good as extinct.
Starting with the players of games in which many people took part at once over the network, there was not only bug-fix support issued by the official side, but even online services that offered walkthroughs and the like. Games, of course, continued to be sold.
If you asked people who played games, "What is the most famous game in the world?" eight out of ten would answer "Glorious World," and one would answer "Memory of Other World."
"Glorious World"—its official title was "Memory of Other World," which, put simply, meant "memories of another world"—was a game officially announced about five years earlier.
It came to be called "Glorious World" because the online name of the general designer of "Memory of Other World" was Glorious Arcadia.
A world wrought with precision through the most advanced computer technology of the time, and one that also possessed "the greatest in the world..."
## A New Life
Age 3: "Morning. Waking..."
My sunken consciousness rose slowly to the surface. I opened my eyes and woke.
I pushed my body up and crawled toward the edge of the bed.
I turned myself properly, planted my feet on the floor, and climbed down.
Slowly I took off my nightclothes and reached for the clothes stacked beside the bed.
When I was still unused to it, it took a great deal of time, but now, even by myself, I seemed able to finish changing.
Once I had changed, I pattered over to the full-length mirror in the room.
When I smiled toward the mirror, I could see a cute child in the glass smiling back at me.
"I think... therefore I am..."
I muttered the famous line of philosophy that lingered in my memory.
This was something I had done every morning since I first came to understand the world.
I thought it was about time I stopped a daily habit like this.
Because the state I was in now was absolutely no dream. It was reality, and it was time I admitted that.
My name was Kentaro Osugi. But from the name Kentaro Osugi one could infer a little: a pure Japanese with black hair and black eyes, who happened to be a twenty-year-old university student.
He could never possibly be a three-year-old infant with pale golden hair and beautiful blue eyes, like a Western doll.
If I were to explain my situation in passing, it was "reincarnation while retaining the memories of a previous life."
Lately, I had all at once become able to recognize "the memories of my previous life."
According to the odds and ends of knowledge from my original world, from birth until the age of three the human brain, through stimuli from within and from without...
## A New Family
Age 5: "A Guest Has Come"
Today was the seventh day of the fourth round of the Season of the Forest.
Since I was born into this world, five years and two seasons had passed.
"Wow—Miss Ella is so pretty."
"Yuu thinks so too? A girl really does become beautiful once she's dressed up."
In the room where Mother had called me, I could see Miss Ella standing before the mirror in a formal gown.
Miss Ella was already a slender beauty. With a light touch of makeup, a dusting of powder, a hint of lipstick, and a soft gown that gave off a faint deep-green sheen, she was truly lovely.
"Mother, where did this gown come from?"
"Mm, this is what I wore when I married my dear one."
"M-Madam... this dress really is too fine for me..."
So the reason Miss Ella had been so quiet all this time was simply that she was too nervous.
Miss Ella usually kept a stern look in her eyes, and there was always an air about her that felt cool and grave. In truth she was the opposite of that appearance. She often tripped on level ground, she was afraid even of horses, and she was gentle and sweet at heart. I had only come to know this recently.
"Nothing of the sort. It suits you wonderfully. Or is it that you don't want to wear clothes I've already worn?"
"N-not at all. It's only that you already look after me so much, and now you're even lending me a dress this beautiful..."
"I'm the one who should say that. Ella looks after me day after day. Never mind lending it—even giving the gown to Ella..."
## The Royal Capital
Today the twin moons still hung in the night sky, shedding a beautiful light.
The smaller moon was called Rena, the larger Tina, and these were also the names of the twin moon-spirits of legend.
I adjusted my flying height and came down to land on the balcony I had grown familiar with of late.
Then I released the flight magic and the invisibility magic upon myself.
Ordinarily he would arrive first and wait for me here...
With a click, the door beside me opened. A boy with hair as white as snow appeared on the balcony.
In his hands was a tray set with a tea service.
【Already here, Yuri? Sorry to have kept you waiting.】(Here "Yuri" is the whole of the name, and the tone has changed; it is not that I left off the "a.")
【No. I only just arrived myself. More than that—what is that in your hands?】
【I see. That's fine, then. Ah, right. I happened to get hold of some rare tea leaves, and I thought I'd try drinking them with Yuri.
I used the time to prepare quite a few delicious sweets. So don't be angry.】
【I am not angry just because I waited a little. Besides, I don't much mind that sort of thing.
That said, have you taken me for a glutton?】
【Haven't I?】
【As for what sort of image of me lives in your heart, Fel, we may need to have a proper talk.】
The one standing here now was neither Yulia nor Fern.
It was only the two of us: I, who called myself Yuri, and he, who called himself Fel...
## The Academy City
I carefully drew the sword from its sheath and set the sheath gently to one side.
The blade caught the light that fell upon it and glimmered faintly.
With a prepared scrap of cloth I took up the old oil and carefully wiped the blade.
After that I took out a fine cloth once more, let drops of a specially made oil fall upon it, and spread a thin coat over the sword.
This special oil, blended to protect metal and keep it from rusting, had been made by an alchemist who was, to me, like an older sister and like an old friend.
How many times had I cared for this sword like this?
Two or three times a year, and it must already be close to forty.
The days when, in his absence, I held this sword and soaked the pillow could fairly be called a thing of the past by now.
Even so, I would still, as if something had come back to me, tend this sword I had no plan to use. Lingering attachment ought to know when to stop.
For me, this was atonement.
A repayment of sin, without seeking pardon.
Caring for the sword was also a ritual of confirmation, so that I would not forget him.
It could only be self-satisfaction.
If he were still alive, he would surely have worn that troubled smile and forgiven me in a single sentence.
After all, he could never harden his heart toward women or children.
And because he had been an orphan, he held a fierce longing for family.
When he died, I thought of following him at once.
But the one who stopped me was her, who then was still only an alchemist in the egg.
【...
## Something Like an Afterword
On the serialization of "The Mage Who Cannot Use Attack Magic"
It has been a long time. I am Kinuno Boshi.
This time I wish to report to everyone on the book publication of "The Mage Who Cannot Use Attack Magic," and on the serialization as it stands now.
Regarding the book publication of "The Mage Who Cannot Use Attack Magic": because of a split in which the publisher opposed publication, and because the terms could not be reconciled, every plan to publish from Volume 2 onward has been brought to an end. Along with that, the web serialization of "The Mage Who Cannot Use Attack Magic" will also be frozen.
I am deeply sorry for this outcome, to everyone who has read this far and to everyone who has supported me.
I myself still have so very much I want to say about Yulia and the others. But after weighing every consideration, I came to the conclusion that this was the best decision.
"The Mage Who Cannot Use Attack Magic" is a work that, though less than a year had passed since serialization began, was encouraged by a great many people. The brisk pace of updates was possible only because of the support of you readers. I am truly grateful.
Though "The Mage Who Cannot Use Attack Magic" has ended, I have no intention of ending the act of writing books. From here on I will go on holding a fierce desire to write. I hope to return with a new tale, carrying what I learned this time.
If any activity begins again, I will let everyone know in advance on the blog. For a detailed report on this matter, please also come to the blog.
Thank you truly for the great support you have given until now.
Here...