When Kouki finally came down, Suzu thought this would be awkward since Kouki was beaten effortlessly when he was trying to kill Hagime. And also he was the only one without an Ancient Magic when the ones he used to lead to clear the Great Labyrinths currently hold one.
"Did we stay here…"
"I see you have awoken, we were just discussing about a way back home. Take a seat anywhere"
Not caring a bit about the trivial atmosphere that was building up, Ken addressed Kouki and offered him a place among their discussion.
But Suzu was most surprised of Hagime showing the same attitude when he was practically the target of Kouki's killing intent and also being the one to knock him out.
And even though Shizuku, Koari and the rest of the former Hero party cared for Kouki's wellbeing, he looked fine and well which allowed them to bring their attention to the discussion.
"Erm~ so where were we?" inquired Ken.
"Concept magic… with that, we can go back home to Japan, right? By any chance, you three can use it already now?" said Koari after gathering her thoughts on such a crucial issue.
"No, not yet. Do you remember what Liberator Haltina said?... just because you have the knowledge doesn't mean you can use it. Besides, the knowledge we obtained is also not something like the concrete way of learning or the way to use it, if I have to say what is it then it's something like hypothesis or theoretical knowledge."
"Hypothesis knowledge?"
Shizuku asked by repeating the words. This talk was about the possibility of them returning home. Beginning from Shizuku, even Ryutarou, Nagayama, Suzu, Kaori and Kouki too made a serious expression.
"The hypothesis knowledge Hagime is saying is the broad application these Magics have but are limited in their usage. Ancient Magics are magic that interferes at 'world principles' , but we didn't really understand the exact foundation of that power.
Theoretically, if we use Restoration Magic to manipulate time in anyway, it will not affect the time flow of Tortus in the slightest.
But with obtaining Concept Magic as the absolute prerequisite, it was necessary to completely understand all the Ancient Magics."
"… Nn. Besides, to understand this is too deep of an abyss, if someone is not in the level that can conquer all the trials, their body and heart won't be able to endure the burden and they will break."
That was the reason that in order to arrive at concept magic there was a need to earn all the Ancient Magics.
After Ken and Yue explained what Hagime meant by theoretical, Suzu's expression turned complicated.
"I see now. This is real, big, and yet these magics can interfere with fundamental ideas. It seems that these surpassed the territory that humans can touch. … But, after hearing all those, I guess that you two still cannot create the Concept magic for the sake of returning home then? Based on what I heard, it feels like it has considerable difficulty…"
"Well, certainly it will be difficult since our experience and knowledge of it is shallow but if we can use Spirit and Evolution Magic along side a strong wish or desire we could create something, an artifact on the level of a Concept "
This news brought brought tears of joys to the faces of Shizuku, Koari and Suzu, who understandably missed the comfort of their homes.
Inorder to complete this trial run on time as everyone was eager to know if it was plausible; Ken, Yue and Hagime entered the room where they acquired the Ancient Magic and closed the thick doors behind them.
Before that, Ken picked Riveria to guard the door for 'total concentration' on their part but everyone knew that during the whole process they might be vulnerable for at least two hours by rough estimate and that they still didn't trust Kouki's mental state which brought a wry smile on the faces of Kouki's childhood friends.
"Are you okay, Kouki" said Shizuku with some vigilance hidden behind her concerning voice.
"I'm okay... S-sorry I'm very sorry for what happened with me. I almost hurt Koari. I need to properly apologize"
"Its okay you weren't you, and I don't think Hajime-kun minds, as long as you're not rampaging anymore he wouldn't demand an apology... but Kouki did you really snap out of your delusions, or do you still think Nagumo-kun has brainwashed me?" Koari asked severely while narrowing her eyes, so much that the sweet voice that waved off Kouki's apology before the brief silence seemed like an illusion.
Kouki being unhurt and Kouki being in control were different questions entirely. Hajime and even Kenshiro likely wouldn't permit him raging out of control a second time, and it needed to be understood that Hajime didn't kill him despite the killing intent because of them.
After receiving the still voice and glare from Koari, Kouki quickly turned his eyes. But Shizuku who won't permit such spoiled behavior spoke.
"Kouki, don't look away."
"Well… ah… I do not think that anymore. At that time, it really seemed like…"
Kouki's face held a shadowed expression, but he answered firmly while looking up at Shizuku and Koari. For a while, Shizuku looked back at Kouki. Likely to try to understand his thoughts through his eyes. Eventually they nodded to each other signifying that they needed to observe but to Kouki, it meant they had believed him.
...
An hour after Ken, Yue and Hagime went behind the thick doors of the Ancient magic circle room, a violent quake followed by a massive mana wave was felt through out Schnee's Abode which stopped the idle chatter the others in the living room were having.
Worried that a failure of the experiment was the cause, as well as a possible backlash the trio might experience; Shia, Tio, Koari and the others rushed to the origin of the quake to quench their worries.
When they got there, Riveria had already opened the thick door but just stood there which meant that either everything was fine or she was in shock for some reason, and when they entered they found that both were true.
The trio were fine sitting in a three-pointed star position facing each other with their hands stretched out. The waves of magical power increased in density the closer they approached the trio in the room. It was so shocking that cuts started to appear on the bodies of the spectators who tried to use their elbows to block the intensity of what was happening.
What spread out from there was a scene where the mana of purple-black, gold and red became a torrent of spirals in-between the trio; and in the midst of the torrent were various crystals, metals and minerals that shone in trio's mana.
As the trio were concentrating extremely hard with faces full of sweat, they failed to notice that they had company in the room and frankly Ken wasn't worried, he had full trust in his women to keep them safe. After verifying that the trio were safe, the rest released a breath of relief as Riveria edged them to leave for her to resume her duties.
While the others were retreating with expectation in their eyes, Kouki just stood there with his mind someplace else. Shizuku noticed his absentmindedness and called out to him which drew the others' attention.
Without showing any signs of responding or hearing to being called out, Kouki with a... passion? creeping out of his very posture took a step forward and stopped before ultimately taking another two.
But before he could get any closer, Riveria grabbed his shirt collar and yanked him out of the room with a stoic face.
And when they were outside, she throw him aside like some garbage before attempting to close the door; she wasn't going to give him the benefit of the doubt when Ken specifically placed their safety in her hands.
And those of the former Hero party knew this, and that's why they didn't speak up about Kouki's treatment.
Before the thick doors could fully close, another massive mana wave was felt but this time it was different and they could feel it, literally.
From the wave, the group felt the wish, feelings and desire Ken and Hagime were building up with Spirit Magic, inorder to create a concept level artifact that will send them home. The following subtle mana waves carried with it tangible emotions of the duo.
Ken's desire or wish was built upon the feeling of wanting to go home and make things right with the people who gave him a second life. The way he treated them before he was isekaied was very ungrateful considering the fact that they tried to be better parents everytime they could and no regret or excuse could warrant it. He also missed everything in the modern world.
But Hagime's desire was so complex and strong, that it created illusions that the others saw, and that was the primary reason Ken wanted him to join because, if it was only creating an artifact he could do it.
The first thing they saw was a cave system which they immediately knew where that was. The illusion was so strong that they were literally in his shoes; weak, pathetic, but also smart, brave and determined.
They felt the fear he was going through when he volunteered to hold down the Behemoth, and when he did everything in his power to make sure he and everyone survived; the confusion when Daisuke Hiyama redirected a fireball to hit him and he fell to the abyss.
Everyone felt it, they saw it and they hoped not to experience such a thing in their lives. Even Kouki was quivering in fear when faced with the hopeless feeling of facing the Kicking Rabbit not to mention the Talon Bear that took his Hagime's arm. Everyone within the illusion felt every single emotion of fear, anger, loneliness, hopelessness, hatred, fury and strong will of Hagime's journey out of the abyss.
{A/N: I'm saying "Hagime's journey" because this is his POV of sorts. So even though Ken and Yue appeared in the illusion, it was his journey and emotions they are experiencing}
Hagime had to revisit what he had buried deep within, what he himself had vowed to never show or tell anyone after Koari; all just to erupt enough desire for such an artifact of everyone's hope, and he was none the wiser that it was on display.
Now anyone who didn't know what he had been through to get this strong; who just thought the abyss had an untapped knowledge or an inheritance of some powerhouse, and Hagime and Ken got it by just falling were immediately proven wrong and were thankful it wasn't them.
The illusion stopped when five words were heard three times which seemed to further fuel the storm into a violent spiral.
I Want To Return Home!
I Want To Return Home!!
I Want To Return Home!!!
The spectators heard these words spoken by Ken and Hagime in perfect synergy, but it sounded and felt like a single being altering reality.
At the end of these five words, the materials in-between the trio fused and started to absorb the mana storm of three colors like a black hole. After the storm was absorbed, a golden color was emitted in high radiant light and energy which forced the spectators to cover their sights from being blinded.
After the radiance died down, an object which was the final results of everything was revealed in great splendor.
"Is that a doorknob…?"
"Well, it looks like an antique doorknob made out of pure gold."
Ryutarou added to Suzu's mutterings. It was shaped in-between Hajime, Ken and Yue, with a antique Mortice style on the surface.
It was created with the fusion of the any material with an above 8 in mana conductivity and other minerals or hard metals, finishing as an antique Mortice Door Knob that captures the beautiful artwork of simplicity with a full golden body.
The golden Doorknob then kept floating as the trio started to moved again with little subtle movements before they opened their eyes to see their creation in all it's glory.
....