······A satellite island of the Floating Island, the “Inn (客棧).”
At this point, I was beginning to wonder just how many islands there were in the Floating Island’s orbit, but in any case, it was a satellite island.
“I truly did not expect you to pass.”
“······.”
In an inn with seating for a hundred, Sylvia, her hair disheveled and her face worn with exhaustion, looked at the woman seated across from her.
“I’ll acknowledge it. You were born with the blood of Eleyade······.”
She simply sat still and listened to the words acknowledging her.
In truth, she let them go in one ear and glanced sideways out the window.
Beyond the glass, there were only clouds and sky.
This “Inn” was an island.
In other words, the entire island was an “inn.”
It was that small of an island, a resting place for mages traveling between islands.
“······Hey. Are you listening?”
“Yes.”
“At any rate. If you truly intend to challenge the position of Archmage, who is currently the most likely candidate?”
“Chairwoman Adrienne.”
“Correct. That woman is a master of the ‘destruction’ school.”
The woman bit down on a cigarette. Chiiiik— a flame in midair caught on the filter.
“If Adrienne truly gets angry, the continent will probably collapse. There aren’t many who could stop her.”
“She’s that strong?”
“Not only is she strong, an Archmage of the destruction school is no easy thing to handle.”
In this world, there exist mages beyond all standards. The sole Archmage Demakan, his younger brother Murkan, the Black Beast Rohakan, Bercht’s Great Elder Dzekdan, Chairwoman Adrienne······.
“And me.”
The woman pointed to her own chest and blew out cigarette smoke. Hoo— the spreading smoke brushed Sylvia’s face. Sylvia bit her lip, pretending not to care.
“······.”
Her behavior was no different from a thug’s, but Sylvia knew her reputation well.
The merchant, “Idnik.”
The epithet merchant was somewhat irritating, but she was one of only three direct disciples of Demakan in the world, and a close friend of her mother Cielia.
“Hoo······ You’re holding your breath, aren’t you?”
“I ab nod.”
She answered in a muffled, nasal voice. The woman smirked and continued.
“You should smoke one now and then when things get hard, too. Well-refined tobacco is good for a mage, if anything; it’s not something bad. You have plenty of money, so you can smoke ‘Dukrec.’”
“······.”
“Buy some and give me one from time to time too. It costs about 500 elne a pack. It’s worth the price.”
“······.”
Haaa— after exhaling smoke once more, she continued.
“Back to the point. Someone who has trained the destruction school to the extreme, like Adrienne, is dangerous. At some point, if something goes wrong, she could turn into a calamity that shatters the entire continent. That’s why she’s the strongest candidate for Archmage. She’s someone who has to be sent above the earth, into the sky, to the heaven beyond heaven, for there to be no trouble.”
“If Adrienne gets angry, can no one stop her?”
“The continent can’t stop her. But a person can. Someone who could face Adrienne alone would be······ about ‘Zeit,’ I suppose. Aside from that weapon of the North, not even Rohakan could contend with Adrienne.”
Chiiiik······ Idnik rubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray and asked.
Do you think you can become like this Adrienne?
Sylvia nodded without hesitation.
“Yes.”
“You have ambition enough.”
Idnik took a notebook from inside her clothes. Then she spoke at once.
“It is true that Deculein killed Cielia.”
At that moment, Sylvia’s heart stirred.
This was one of the reasons Sylvia had gone out of her way to find Idnik. She had been a childhood friend of her mother Cielia, with whom she had grown up.
“That must be why you came to find me as well.”
“······.”
“Take this first.”
Idnik held out a robe and a lapel pin. They were proof that Sylvia had ascended to the 8th rank, “Regello.”
“That’s an incredibly fast promotion.”
“······.”
Sylvia silently took off her Solda robe. In place of the navy-blue robe that was worn, frayed, and torn, she put on a red robe.
“At your level, you’ll likely reach the Monarch rank within three months. The same rank as that bastard Deculein. You might even surpass him within half a year······”
Even at Idnik’s praise, Sylvia did not answer.
Surely, it meant that her talent was being recognized by the Floating Island······.
—It is true that Deculein killed Cielia.
She did not feel good.
Her chest and heart were, instead, sinking coldly.
* * *
Zeit was the opening of the Knights’ Tournament. Ordinarily, if one were the main event, one would decorate the finale, but Zeit was not the main event.
No, he could not be the main event.
Zeit’s match was simply special. His opponents numbered eleven.
Eleven knights were facing only one man, Zeit.
At a glance, it was an unreasonable duel, enough to violate chivalry. Zeit was barehanded, not even holding a sword, yet the knights facing him wore the most tense expressions in the world.
Boom— boom— boom—
The drumbeats announcing the start of the duel. At that instant, the eleven knights kicked off the ground and charged, and Zeit thrust out his fist.
However, the target of that straight punch was not a knight.
It was “space.”
────!
A blow that shook the whole of space. The rupture born from Zeit’s fist rocked the area, and the long white hair that symbolized Freyden billowed like the ghostly aura of a rakshasa.
At first glance, one might think it an attack that shattered space itself, but to my eyes, it was visible.
Zeit’s heavy strike was a “wave.”
In other words, it traveled through a medium like sound, yet the force it transmitted was almost identical to the real thing.
To compare, does “wind” not arise even when one swings a sword? This is called sword wind, and compared to an actual blade, its power is markedly lower.
Such an obvious law of nature does not apply to Zeit.
Simply put, the strength of the sword and the sword wind Zeit wields are identical. Whether cut by the sword itself or by the wind of the sword, one would be split in two all the same.
Therefore, the “wave” of the straight punch he unleashed also—
surged forward without any reduction in damage.
Kugugugung────!
A single attack immediately rode the medium and swelled into dozens of blows, striking the back of the head, stabbing the flank, and so on.
The might of this 「Trait」, which acted like an “echo,” was overwhelming.
The range of an ordinary straight punch increased several dozenfold, and because it could not be observed with the naked eye, evasion was impossible.
──As a result.
With a single punch, the arena was destroyed. The eleven knights who had charged at Zeit had already been knocked down, and the wave mixed with Zeit’s mana circled the area before fading away.
“Hahahaha——!”
A match that ended in barely one minute. Hearty laughter filled the space, and then cheers and applause thundered out like a storm.
Amid it all, Zeit looked directly at me.
“Did you see that, Deculein?”
One against many, he could slaughter thousands, tens of thousands of enemies alone.
One against one, as a duel, the knights who could withstand his irregular destruction were few even in the continent’s “history.”
For that reason, he was the most ruinous knight in this world.
“Julie.”
I turned to Julie.
“Yes?”
“Even in the distant future, can you win?”
Someday, Zeit must have declared to Julie:
“If you defeat me, you may do with your life as you please.”
It was an official storyline deeply connected to the main quest.
In a way, Julie was Zeit’s only natural counter.
“Yes.”
Zeit’s offensive surged infinitely through space and wind, but Julie could freeze it all.
“Of course.”
······However.
In her current state, it would be impossible even if a hundred million years passed.
Julie’s growth had long since, more precisely, from the moment she reconciled with me—
stagnated.
“I fear no one.”
Julie’s answer was like the model of a knight, but I sensed it.
Now, slowly,
the time was drawing near when I would have to let her go.
* * *
Two days later, in the Head Professor’s office.
I installed the new invention I had ordered from the Floating Island, the 「Component Analyzer」, in my office.
Its exterior was a glass dodecahedron the size of a microwave, but that entire glass surface was “magic crystal.” It was a cutting-edge magitech machine that analyzed the components of any object placed inside from multiple angles.
I had thought delivery would take quite a long time, but unexpectedly, they handled the work quickly.
······However.
“Wow. This is fascinating~”
“It really is······ It’s even sparkling.”
“Huhuhu······. As expected of Professor Deculein. The intellect of the era, acknowledged even by the Floating Island······ By the way, Professor. Have you used this item yet?”
Those were the words of Allen, Luina, and Relin respectively.
Not only them, but also various other new professors had “just happened” to visit my office. And then they looked at the 「Component Analyzer」 with hungry eyes.
“I envy you, Professor Deculein. The Floating Island usually doesn’t want to give out new technology like this. Is it because of your advanced lecture?”
Luina spoke with her gaze fixed on the 「Component Analyzer」.
I answered.
“Leave.”
“Professor. If you happen to be finished using this, could we also, later, take turns—”
“Go.”
“Aww. Don’t be so stingy. I’ll at least write down the order before I go. You’re not going to use it for the rest of your life, right? Just one week, no, three days—”
“I have many uses for it.”
“Still······ Ah!”
I drove them all out, but even as they left, they arbitrarily decided their order among themselves.
“I was the one who heard the rumor first. So number one is me, Luina.”
“Ahem. At times like this, it’s only right to go by hierarchy. I, Relin, come first.”
“Um, I need it for my research too······ I’m Professor Deculein’s assistant professor······.”
Thud──!
After closing the door with psychokinesis,
I placed the 「Artificial Core」 into the 「Component Analyzer」 and turned on the power.
Wooooong······.
As it analyzed it like a microwave, the demonic energy inside the core leaked out and stung my nose.
My heart beat, and anger rose. The blood of Yukline was reacting violently.
Knock, knock—
Then came a knock.
I opened the door with psychokinesis.
“Professor. I brought my research report.”
Epherene. She had compiled what she had studied so far into a report.
“First is the report on 「The Harmony of the Four Great Elements」.”
“······.”
I received it without a word.
A report of about forty-three pages, studying one magic text. I quietly skimmed through it, then glared at Epherene.
“It is endlessly trite.”
“······Pardon?”
I did not like it.
It was not merely “lacking.”
From my perspective, and considering Epherene’s talent, it was nothing more than mere trash.
“Is merely reciting the contents of the book the best you can do?”
“Ah, I—”
“Write what you realized. Go one step beyond understanding. Gain insight. With something like this, it is nothing but waste not even worth correcting.”
Riiip—!
I tore the report in half.
“Ah, ah!”
Greatly startled, Epherene’s eyes went round. She looked at the already torn report, at a loss for what to do, then soon bit down on her lip.
“Do it again.”
“······Yes.”
She left with her head lowered.
Immediately afterward, the 「Component Analyzer」 completed its analysis.
[ Dolan’s right heart, Decrion spores, human blood vessels······. ]
The analyzer thoroughly examined the materials of the artificial core and displayed not only the “time of collection” but even the “date of assembly.”
Winter, ten years ago.
“It certainly is a fine item.”
If I began an investigation based on this information, I would be able to grasp clues related not only to Dikaileen but also to the Altar.
Nodding, I 「Encrypted」 the 「Artificial Core」 and stored it inside my head.
This was one of the varied uses of the high-grade trait, 「Encryption」.
* * *
Late at night in the assistant’s office.
“······There was no need to tear it. Unbelievable.”
Epherene grumbled as she rewrote the entire report.
What on earth did he want from me?
What exactly is “insight beyond understanding”?
For an advanced theoretical text like 「The Harmony of the Four Great Elements」, isn’t it impressive enough just to understand it?
“Sigh······ I wonder what Sylvia is doing.”
She had plenty of money, so she was probably living just fine on her own.
Maybe I should have gone to the Floating Island too.
“······Tsk.”
Epherene moved her pencil again. Beside her desk lay the letter from her sponsor that she had received today.
This time, too, they had deposited another 100,000 elne!
At any rate.
Scratch, scratch—
As she wrote down everything she understood, line by line, and pondered her realizations—
Before she knew it, morning sunlight was streaming in.
“This should be enough…”
She nodded as she looked over the report. It was just then 8 a.m., precisely the time Deculein came to work.
Epherene went to see Deculein with the bundle of papers.
“Professor. Here it is. I’ve completed the full revision.”
She handed over the documents confidently. Deculein seemed to have just arrived, and had not even taken his seat yet.
He looked her over and asked,
“Did you stay up all night?”
“Yes.”
Because of someone.
Epherene pursed her lips and swallowed the rest of her words.
Deculein nodded, hung his coat on the rack, and read the report. His sharp eyes moved swiftly up and down.
As if carving it to pieces.
“…Gulp.”
As Epherene swallowed nervously, the words he finally offered were:
“It is lacking. Go back.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said it is lacking.”
“Ah, um. Which part is lack—”
“Realize it yourself.”
“…”
Deculein returned the report to her. Truly, his face was cold enough to freeze the world.
“…Yes.”
Grateful at least that it had not been torn apart, Epherene staggered back to the assistant research room.
Allen and Drent, who had arrived in the meantime, were unpacking their bags at their desks.
“Huh? Miss Epherene. You didn’t go home today?”
“No… Let’s go have breakfast, the three of us.”
Epherene ate breakfast with the two of them—while badmouthing Deculein behind his back—then began revising again for another six hours.
“Phew! It is getting better and better.”
Looking at the report she had written herself, she felt satisfied.
This time, it was good enough to pass. Though the problem was that she still had twelve more reports left to write…
And so, five minutes later.
Epherene fidgeted with her fingers in the Head Professor’s office, and Deculein’s response after checking the third report was exceedingly concise.
“Do you not understand human speech?”
“…Pardon?”
“I do not want a perfunctory report from you. I know the contents of this grimoire better than anyone. Do not describe that rubbish to me. I am telling you to convey what you have realized.”
Epherene stared blankly at him as he flung the report aside as if angered.
“A single stroke of brilliance is far more valuable than a thirty-page report.”
“B-but!”
“Get out.”
Thud—!
The door shut as if she had been thrown out, and thus came her third failure.
“Ah, seriously…”
Thoroughly irritated, Epherene tore the report she had written into pieces with both hands.
Riiip— riiiiip—
She shredded the bundle of papers, returned to the research room, and, just as Deculein had said,
went in search of “a single stroke of brilliance.”
And so again, six hours later.
Her fourth attempt.
“Is this your best? Or are you expecting too much of yourself?”
She submitted three pages of a report describing her own thoughts, but Deculein’s reaction was once again unsatisfactory.
“Epherene, answer that yourself.”
“…No, it isn’t. I’ll do it again.”
Epherene returned to the assistant research room and once again prepared to write the report.
After working hard all day like that, the next morning—
At the time Deculein came to work, her fifth attempt.
“…Are you an idiot?”
As expected, an idiot—no, a failure…
Tick— tock—
Tick— tock—
For three days, she had now been rejected a total of five times.
The regular sound of the second hand at three in the morning.
Epherene sat blankly in the chair of the [Assistant Research Room], her head nodding.
She felt as though she was slowly going out of her mind.
Had Deculein taken her in as his assistant for this very reason, to torment her?
“Did I do something wrong…? At this rate, I might commit murder…”
Muttering to herself in a daze, she rustled as she picked up the sixth report.
“…Is he still there?”
The door to Deculein’s office was open.
Epherene staggered over and peeked inside.
Whoooosh—
There was only darkness filling the interior. Deculein was not there.
Had he stepped out, or had he simply forgotten to lock the door?
“I’ll just leave it in his drawer…”
Epherene placed the seventh report on Deculein’s desk.
“…?”
Then, suddenly, she discovered a familiar sheet of paper on the desk.
It was too dark to see clearly, but when she touched it, the texture somehow felt familiar.
“Where have I seen this…”
Fine paper fit to be used as stationery.
Beside it lay a quill pen soaked with ink.
Epherene furrowed her brow and tilted her head in puzzlement, and when she lifted her gaze—
“…”
There was a tall person before her eyes.
No, there was a pale face.
A height that seemed easily three meters tall, with a massive face that looked forty centimeters long vertically.
There were no whites in its eyes, only bright red pupils glaring at her. Its long hair flowed down over Epherene’s face.
Its huge mouth formed a smile. As if being torn open, the corners of its lips reached its ears.
Inside what was closer to a maw than a mouth, hundreds of yellow, pointed teeth moved about as they pleased.
Goosebumps rose along her shoulders and back.
No matter how she looked at it, its identity was…
A ghost.
“Aaaaaaaargh─────!”
Epherene screamed and condensed magic. She did not know what kind of magic it was. She merely scattered it wildly as she fled, then slammed her forehead into a bookshelf.
“Guh!”
Epherene collapsed unconscious onto the floor. However, thanks to the magic she had cast, an alarm rang out.
Weeeeeeeeng—! Weeeeeeeeng—!
The ghost looked back and forth between the unconscious Epherene and the ceiling.
Then, shhhhhhh…
It vanished as if scattering into the wind.
* * *
The next morning.
I came to the university hospital, to the room where Epherene was said to have fainted.
“A ghost, you say.”
“Yes…”
Allen answered with a worried face. Epherene was breathing softly, but cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and the wound between her brows was dark.
“She woke up just now, but she muttered that she’d seen a ghost, then fell asleep again.”
“What sort of ghost?”
“I didn’t hear the details. The doctor said she must have been seeing things…”
“…”
A ghost. Of course, there were quests related to ghosts as well. Like every school, the Magic Tower also had ghost stories called the “Legends of the Magic Tower” floating around.
However, since I did not know every quest, this was difficult.
“Are there any other problems?”
“No.”
I took off my glove. Without letting it show, I gritted my teeth. But this was something I would have to overcome someday.
I placed my hand on Epherene’s forehead. As Allen watched with a startled expression, I employed 「Comprehension」.
“…”
This was one of the ways to use Comprehension.
If I did this, this girl’s status abnormality would be 「comprehended」 and appear before my 「Vision」. If she had truly been harmed by a ghost, I could narrow down the range by the type of “status abnormality.”
[Status Abnormality: Frightened]
It was nothing serious. When I took my hand away, a little of her sweat clung to it. I wiped it off with a handkerchief and rose from my seat.
“Contact me when she wakes.”
“Y-yes.”
Bang—!
Just then, the door to the hospital room opened and Drent came in.
“Ah, Professor!”
“Go in.”
I changed places with him as if switching shifts.
…Five minutes after Deculein left.
Epherene quietly opened her eyes.
“Huh? Miss Epherene. You’re awake?”
“Are you all right?”
Allen and Drent asked back in surprise. Epherene smiled bitterly and raised her upper body. Then she touched her own forehead.
“…I was awake from the beginning.”
“From the beginning~?”
“Yes.”
Epherene scratched the back of her neck as she recalled what had just happened.
Deculein, gently placing his hand on her forehead. It gave her more chills than the ghost, but in any case.
“What happened?”
Drent asked. At the renewed chill running through her, Epherene’s whole body shuddered.
“Well… Ah. Even thinking about it now makes my heart pound. First, what happened was…”
Step by step, slowly, she began to explain.