Chapter 70: Artifacts
Okay, so the guy that I tried to interrogate is now in the hands of the police. I'm sure they'll do much better of a job than I can in getting information out of that guy.
If he knows where the leader of the Magic Liberators is, that would be great, but that is asking too much. There is no way that a small-time assassin will have that kind of vital information. Especially an assassin who sucks so bad at his job that he got caught by a 17-year-old by getting hit by a steel pole.
I mean, the guy just sucks at his job, honestly. He has to be such a loser, a complete failure, and a letdown to all of his colleagues...
Ahem... sorry, I don't know what came over me there. I just felt like insulting the guy for some reason.
In all seriousness, though, I know I've gotten pretty seriously hurt throughout this job, but it almost feels too easy... beyond the whole anti-magic fiasco, I mean.
I mean, I hit the dude in the head with a metal pole. That is all I did. It's almost like something is going on here, something that feels too suspicious.
There is no way that a terrorist organization that is attempting to assassinate public officials would be so easy to catch.
Everyone BUT the assassins is good at hiding their trails, and no other people have been linked to the recent attempts of murder. That seems a bit off.
Well, that's not my job, so I don't really have to worry about it.
Nonetheless, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells; I've gotta be more careful in the future.
Whelp, time to retire for today. I'm beat. Time to take a nap.
===
"We've got everything in place, we made the right call hiring those assassins. I was hoping that with the artifacts we gave them, they would at least be able to take care of someone, but that's what we get for hiring cheap help. They served their purpose."
"Yes, all the disruptors are in place; there is no way anyone is escaping from this. Even if some annoying magician tries to block off the space we need to get to, their magic won't have any effect."
"Good; remember to keep your face hidden. We don't want the police on our trails."
"Trust me, we've got this. These artifacts we received from 'Him' are coming in handy."
===
The next morning I wake up to a call from Osiris. I wonder what he's calling me about.
"Hey, what's up? Why are you calling me so early?"
"You need to come here right now."
This... is the first time I've heard an honest-to-god serious Osiris. Somethings got him shaken up. What is going on?
I teleport up to the ISS, and Osiris has the anti-magic thing within a chamber, seemingly analyzing what the thing is.
"Did you figure out what that thing is?"
"Sort of. This device, no, should I say artifact, is a remnant."
"A remnant of what?"
"I don't know. It isn't exactly old, but its composition doesn't make any sense. I ran an x-ray through the thing, and I found a single item held up inside of it."
Looking at his screen, I see something that I never thought I would see. It's a... driver's license?
"It's a driver's license? What's so weird about that?"
"The driver's license isn't weird, it's the information it contains. The picture is clearly of a Sapient, and the information all seems normal. The first strange thing about it, though, is that its country of origin... doesn't exist."
"Huh?"
Osiris points to a part of the screen, saying, "Here, it says that it is a United States driver's license."
No way.
"What is the second weird thing about the license?"
"It seems to cancel out any form of magic that is injected into it, almost like the matter it is made of just can't exist in the same plane as MP. It seems whoever made this device used that property to create an anti-magic barrier."
"Why are you calling it an artifact, then?"
"Because that is what the assassin you brought in called it."
"Oh..."
I think I get it. After the Shift, tiny items and objects got glossed over somehow and escaped its effects. Just like how I still have my memories. However, in these objects' cases, they must have developed special properties, properties that can be weaponized in the wrong hands.
I guess it was naive of me to believe that only my memories survived the Shift. However, it still doesn't make sense. How could these other people figure out about these 'artifacts?' Someone must have come across them by chance.
Also, does that mean I got special abilities, just like the items? Eh, probably not.
"Do you have some way to track these 'artifacts' so that we don't have to worry about others getting their hands on them?"
"Yes, they give off a particular aura that can be traced within a certain distance. Come back in a week, and I'll make you something to find these artifacts."
This is... actually a blessing in disguise. These artifacts could hold clues about what the Shift really is. The only problem is that objects left untouched by the Shift could be anything. Vehicles, watches, phones, IDs, anything.
I'm going to have to get that device that Osiris makes to find them, so I'll have to wait.
===
"... So that is what the Gigantomachia is... and then the warriors fought back the monsters... and then the leaders of the different countries came together..."
"Jess? Could you answer the question?"
"H-huh?"
I almost forgot that I still have school. I guess I've been busy lately.
"Um... could you repeat the question?"
"Jess, I know you want to specialize in Magic Studies, but your knowledge of history is still important; I would like it if you could pay attention in class."
Ugh... I can't even argue.
Whatever, I guess I'll need to start paying attention to school. I've been so busy with all this other stuff that I almost forgot that I'm still a high school student.
To be fair, I've been almost murdered multiple times, kidnapped, protected public officials, fought a mecha, etc. I haven't had much time to focus on schoolwork.
"Jess, stop spacing out!"
"Sorry!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Xubx
Xubx I forgot to make the obligatory number joke in the previous chapter... you know what I mean.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone