“······.”
Sophien slowly opened her eyes.
Her body was still languid, but a somewhat stranger sensation coiled around her mind.
It felt as though she had dreamed of something from quite long ago······ and for quite a long time.
“Your Majesty.”
“Mm······?”
The Emperor raised her eyes to the knight calling her. Keiron stood there like a stone statue.
“Have you awakened?”
“······Yes. For some reason, I feel as though I had a long dream.”
“Is that so?”
“That insolent professor.”
“He has returned.”
Keiron, who answered succinctly, thought of Deculein.
The Emperor’s most critical secret: “regression.”
Deculein had come to know of it.
“He returned?”
“Yes. The lesson was over, so he returned.”
The following day—that is, tomorrow’s Deculein—had said that Sophien’s “regression history” existed in the underground 「Demon’s Mirror」.
After hearing those words, Keiron had cut down the demon—Nescius—and regressed to today.
“Is the lethargy any better?”
However, it was still a secret from Sophien. It had been Deculein’s request.
Since it was for Sophien’s sake, Keiron accepted it.
“It is somewhat better, but······ still there. Every time I fall asleep······ I have a long dream. For some reason, it feels as though I am returning to the past.”
Sophien murmured, looking up at the ceiling as though sunk in sentiment. She tried to revive the thoughts and memories from within the dream.
Yet the more she groped for those dim scenes, the deeper they sank. Like a small pebble dropped into a lakeshore······.
Before long, her tranquil eyes moved to Keiron.
“Keiron.”
“Yes.”
“You······.”
As if questioning the peculiar feeling that had suddenly arisen within her, Sophien asked her knight.
“······Are you satisfied with your life?”
The knight Keiron.
At the tender age of ten, he had been selected by the Imperial Family.
Though it was called selection, in terms of his life, it was not much different from being livestock in the Imperial Palace.
More than a hundred young talents chosen from all across the continent. They were raised in the Imperial Palace—no, brainwashed there—and fostered as knights solely for the Imperial Family.
“With your looks and ability, you could have taken a far more brilliant life than this hollow honor you have now.”
Though his perfectly center-parted hair was somewhat irritating, Keiron’s appearance was extremely outstanding. So much so that he was an object of affection and admiration not only to the palace maids, but even to the eunuchs.
“If you had merely pretended to be a little lacking, the Imperial Family would have driven you out on its own.”
“······.”
Keiron silently listened to Sophien’s voice.
It required no small amount of patience from him.
For these were words far more lacking in consideration than usual, spoken by the Emperor herself—the entirety of his life and his supreme task—as she denied her own worth.
“······Your Majesty. There is a phrase: dead-fish eyes. I, Keiron, have always thought Your Majesty’s eyes resembled that rotten fish.”
“Shall I personally gouge out your eyes?”
“However, Your Majesty once said to me, ‘Even if I die, I will not resent you.’”
Keiron had the ability to grasp what lay between the lines of words. It was a sense he had cultivated while serving the fastidious and sensitive Sophien.
Sophien twisted her lips.
“Hmph. It was merely something said to stir your motivation.”
“I know it was not.”
Sophien’s words seemed ordinary at a glance, but when connected to her miraculous life, they transformed into a definite meaning.
“At some point, I must have failed to protect Your Majesty. And the frequency was likely not only once.”
“······.”
“Your Majesty. I wish to be a consistent knight. I wish for myself to be my creed. Therefore, even in a past that does not exist, and even in an uncertain future, I will swear as a knight.”
Sophien made no expression.
“Even if Your Majesty’s time changes, I will always remain constant. Just as a mere metronome does.”
The Emperor’s knight hoped his lord’s indolence would soon cease.
Because he did not wish to see her suffocate simply because breathing was tiresome—truly tiresome.
“An incompetent knight wishes to die before Your Majesty.”
“······Hmph. What a fool. Dying before me is not your duty.”
Sophien gave a feigned sneer and rose from her seat. She tottered down the corridor of the Imperial Palace as though exhausted. Keiron followed behind her.
Soon, they reached the hall of the Imperial Palace where statues of knights stood in a row.
“Your Majesty. Where are you going?”
“To listen to Deculein’s lecture.”
“The lecture is still two days away. Do you intend to go in person?”
“Do you think I would?”
Sophien stopped abruptly and looked back at Keiron.
“I am going to find the cat. That red one is my vessel for outings, but when he disappears from time to time, he tends to be among these knight statues.”
No sooner had she spoken than, meow—!
A red-furred cat cried from the shoulder of one statue. The fellow leapt up and sat atop Keiron’s head.
Meow—!
As if answering that cry, Keiron said,
“They say cats instinctively seek out the safest place.”
“So that would be your head.”
“······.”
* * *
The annex of the Yukline mansion.
Late at night.
Perhaps dawn.
No, perhaps even early morning.
Scratch— scratch—
I am writing a lecture.
Whether this is what they call a trance, the flow of time is no longer in my mind.
Scratch— scratch—
The traces of the fountain pen continue to be recorded endlessly on the wall, in the air. Complex and subtle figures formed by lines and lines.
Geometric magic circles and formulas spreading from the center to the outskirts, and from those outskirts almost infinitely.
I am moving the pen with 「Telekinesis」.
[ The Pure Application of Earth and Fire: Manipulation Series ]
A lecture held once every other week, only four times in a semester. However, I will write it so that the completion of the whole reaches at least the “Milestone” rank.
As the word “Milestone” suggests, it is a signpost.
An honor given only to what Floating Island evaluates as “the discovery, or knowledge, of the century.”
I do not know whether a mere lecture will be recognized as a Milestone, but it is worth challenging.
This, too, will be treated as a quest achievement.
Scratch— scratch—
Of course, the thousand-year history of magic built up in this world is not so easy that I, only in my first year, can lead it.
That is why I have prepared something.
“······It is entirely possible.”
The magicalization of a 「Trait」.
To put it plainly, turning a 「Trait」 interpreted by my 「Understanding」 into “magic formulas.”
In other words, after observing all or part of a 「Trait」 magically, combining it with existing magic formulas and transforming it into an entirely new spell.
Therefore, I am now partially fusing the properties of 「Iron Man」 into magic.
The nature that magic will gain from this is: “it does not tire.”
The fire of magic composed through my theory will not die out, and the earth will not collapse.
In truth, it is the “pure” application of earth and fire.
Grrrrrrkk······.
However, the process of authorship is extremely painful. As though extracting marrow, it feels like tearing out an entire part of the 「Iron Man」 within my body.
Wiiiiiiing──
Tinnitus rings in my eardrums and my skull shakes, but I have no time to whine.
“······.”
Thanks to Epherene from the future, I realized one fact.
In these days when demons and the Altar cling to Emperor Sophien, and we move toward the full-fledged main quest.
I cannot stop them simply by becoming stronger alone.
“······Now.”
Therefore, I will make use of 「Understanding」 as I am doing now.
I will devote it to teaching this 「Trait」.
Deculein has clear limits, but the good talents I can “raise” are scattered across the continent. There are many named individuals who can grow with just a single word of advice.
Though I was born with the fate of a villain and cannot stand upright as the protagonist, I should be able to become something like a supporter in the shadows······.
Snap─!
At that moment, the fountain pen broke.
I did not need another.
“······.”
Silently, I took one step back.
It was insufficient.
I took two steps back.
Still insufficient.
Thus, three steps, four steps, five steps······.
“······It is done.”
Only when I stood at the very center of the annex did the result finally come into view.
My magic circle filled the entire space.
The records that originated from the large blackboard traveled along the inner walls of the building, and not content with that, spread into the air, embroidered like celestial bodies from another realm.
At the center of it all, I quietly closed my eyes and exhaled.
“······.”
My theory moves, alive.
My magic asserts its own value.
Though extremely faint, there is a sense of fullness, as if I have taken one step closer to the truth of the world.
······It is a strange feeling.
I opened my eyes.
A slight dizziness rose.
My mana was almost completely depleted, but the “lecture” I had been preparing since submitting the plan to Floating Island had been completed after nearly a month.
“The difference between the first draft and the final copy, is it?”
It is difficult to convey a theory only I know to others.
Thus, the effort and mana expended were dozens of times greater than that of the first draft.
“······It is rather enormous.”
A hollow laugh suddenly escaped me. The formulas endlessly covering the annex. This tremendous scale is difficult to contain even within my mind, but in any case—
The lecturer’s role is to deliver the class.
The rest of the understanding is the students’ share.
If they are talents who cannot understand even the slightest bit of all this······ I shall coldly abandon them. It means they will not be of help to the quest.
“What remains is······.”
I looked at the memorization status with 「Vision」.
◆ Memorization Status
： Basic/Intermediate Telekinesis (79%)
┏ Basic/Intermediate Firepower Control (53%)
┣ Basic/Intermediate Fluid Manipulation (48%)
┗ Metal Reinforcement (89%)
Still, it is that damned basic/intermediate level. Just how difficult is the intermediate realm for it to be like this?
The memorization of 「Telekinesis」 is extremely slow.
Knock knock—
At that moment, a voice announcing morning came with a knock.
—Your morning coffee.
It was Yulie.
I silently looked at the door.
“Hmm······.”
A little belatedly, a good training method came to mind.
—Professor. Your coffee. Knock knock.
My remaining mana is about 「300」.
However, the mana consumed by 「Telekinesis」 is extremely small, so this much is enough.
I opened the door.
*
Clang clang clang clang─
Violent sounds of friction and rising sparks.
A sword moved and knocked away the wood steel. The steel dug into the swordsman’s openings, but the elegant swordsmanship did not allow even an approach.
The swift blade danced softly as though cutting flower petals.
The wood steel that touched the path of that sword bent. It lost its trajectory and fell. Of the twenty pieces of steel, not a single one inflicted even a scratch on her.
Clang clang─
As long as Yulie did not overuse mana, her body was “still” fine, so she was quite a good sparring partner.
There was no need to control the power of 「Telekinesis」. My magic did not yet possess the skill to break through Yulie.
Clang───!
At last, a sharp metallic sound. One piece of wood steel split in two, and I stopped the sparring when exactly “1” mana remained.
The proficiency of 「Telekinesis」 had also increased by exactly 1%.
“Yulie.”
“Yes.”
“Your skill is good.”
At that, Yulie smiled broadly and sheathed her sword.
“Winter isn’t far off now, is it? Winter is the season of Puhairden.”
“It is still September.”
“······You have grown stronger as well, Professor.”
“Yes. Now, I no longer need anything like a guard.”
Yulie flinched, but soon nodded.
“······I see. Ah, right.”
Then she took a paper envelope from within her clothes.
“An adventurer’s parcel arrived for you, Professor.”
I received the letter. The contents visible the moment I tore open the envelope were concise.
[ This is Al Ros. The Altar has obtained a body. It is not one I made. ]
That single line burned up the moment I read it.
Fwoooosh──!
Yulie asked,
“What is it?”
“You do not need to know.”
The 「Soul of God」 exists. Those bastards of the Altar are plotting the resurrection of a god with that soul.
Since it is an unavoidable 「Main Quest」, I likely cannot prevent its progression itself, but the timing is far too early.
At this rate, only half a year.
To delay the speed of the quest as much as possible, the pursuit and elimination of “Nescius” is the highest priority above all else.
“I see.”
“······I will tell you later.”
“If it is a personal matter, it is all right.”
Fortunately, Nescius, being nothing more than a lesser demon, is not the type with strong martial force, so any named individual of decent level should be able to dispose of him easily.
However, because of the trait that he flies through the sky, and his form appears differently to each person······
It was then.
“Knock, knock~”
Someone made the sound with her mouth.
We turned that way at the same time.
“Hello, Professor~ Hi, Yuli~?”
It was Yusepin.
“······.”
I stared intently at the face of the woman who had suddenly appeared.
Yusepin.
She was a human capable of spreading her “shadows” into every dark corner of this world. Every one of those shadows was Yusepin, a single “person,” and therefore Nesius’s outward form remained constant before her “shadows.”
Moreover, Nesius’s defense mechanism took as its shell the form that the target found most horrific, but emotions such as fear did not exist in her. She was a sociopath more bizarre than any demon.
In short, she was a Named who was practically Nesius’s natural enemy······.
“My, my~ Why are you staring at me like that?”
Yusepin smiled brightly. Yuli pressed her lips together.
I said,
“Yuli. Step away for a moment.”
“······Yes.”
Yuli withdrew without another word. As soon as she was far enough away, I approached Yusepin.
But before I could reach her first, she strode over and whispered into my ear.
—Deculein. You killed Veron.
At those definitive words, the wind blew.
Whoooooosh······.
Yusepin’s hair tickled the area around my neck. A chill swept over the nape of my neck.
I glared at Yusepin.
As if smiling, she continued.
—You haven’t already forgotten who Veron is, have you? The knight my younger brother cherished.
* * *
“······!”
Epherene hurriedly opened her eyes.
Before she knew it, it was morning, and she was sitting at the desk in the assistant research lab.
“······?”
She tilted her head blankly.
Blinking only her eyelids, she looked around.
“Was it a dream?”
It was strange.
So bizarre and uncanny.
She had clearly spent an entire day being chased by a ghost······ and when she opened her eyes for a moment······ she was at her desk?
“······Did I really dream it?”
Epherene muttered and looked at the clock.
Wednesday, 11:55 a.m.
“Huh?!”
Her body sprang up like a coil.
She didn’t know what had happened, but today was the day of Deculein’s lecture.
If she was late, she was dead!
“Hoo, hoo.”
Epherene quickly slung her bag over her shoulder and left the lab.
Deculein’s “advanced” lecture was held on the 80th floor of the Magic Tower—in other words, the special floor.
Ding—!
“Wa-wait! I’m getting on too!”
Barely making it into the elevator, Epherene checked her appearance in the mirror.
“An advanced lecture······ Of course, the advanced label might get peeled off midway······.”
She snickered as she touched her swollen face. If the lecture content was immediately judged to be poor, it would be downgraded from advanced to intermediate, and he would lose his spot on the 80th floor as well.
She had heard that even on the Floating Island, maintaining an “advanced” rating was incredibly difficult.
Epherene was curious. How long would Professor Deculein be able to keep the advanced rank?
Ding—!
Just then, they arrived at the 80th floor.
Epherene stepped out without thinking, then was greatly startled.
As expected of the Magic Tower’s special floor, the scenery was like some kind of stadium.
The space was vast, and the ceiling height was enormous. The ceiling seemed endless.
“Wow······.”
There were many people, too. Among them, the only Solda-rank mages seemed to be herself, Drent, and a senior named “Reol.”
The rest of the faces included Grand Prince Kreto, the Cat, imperial palace mages, the addict Astal, Professor Luina, Lelin, and even Rogerio, who had briefly returned to school just for this class······.
Countless famous figures were seated in the lecture hall.
“Epherene. O-over here.”
Drent timidly raised his hand. He seemed quite overwhelmed by the atmosphere. Epherene also pulled her robe’s hood low and sat down.
Right beside her was Luina.
“Solda Epherene. Nice to see you?”
“Y-yes, Professor······.”
Then, it became noon. She knew even without looking at a clock.
The moment Deculein arrived on the 80th floor was noon.
Step— Step—
Appearing without even a second’s deviation, he walked with a steady stride.
Step— Step—
He was not the least bit intimidated even before high-ranking mages. Rather, he carried himself with more dignity than anyone else in the world. He was dressed in an immaculate suit.
At last, standing at the lectern, he spoke as if addressing ordinary students.
“Good to see you.”
Epherene swallowed. It was because the atmosphere of the space changed completely at that moment.
“First, I will give prior notice regarding the lecture. This is the Magic Tower, and this is my lecture. Therefore, all of you are students attending it. Be aware of that.”
It meant he would speak down to them unconditionally.
“Also, class time is once every two weeks for four hours, but I may end the class early whenever I choose.”
Deculein intended to cut class off immediately and run if the letter paper in his breast pocket—in other words, if contact from Chiron—arrived.
“That is all. Any complaints?”
“I have one.”
“Here as well.”
As if they had been waiting, hands went up. There were four in total.
They were Ether-rank “Rogerio,” the addict “Astal,” Epherene’s senior “Roel,” and Grand Prince “Kreto.”
Rogerio spoke first.
“I don’t mind the informal speech, but saying you might cut the class off midway is a bit much, isn’t it~?”
Astal, the Floating Island’s most famous scholar and magic journalist, picked up her words.
“That is correct. We, who have been dispatched from the Floating Island, have a duty to evaluate this class properly.”
The moment Epherene saw him, she inhaled sharply. Hearing only the status and reputation of the addict Astal, she had assumed he would simply be an old man, but he was an incredibly handsome, beautiful young man.
“However, if the class is interrupted midway, that evaluation becomes difficult. I ask that you reconsider that point.”
Epherene was newly astonished.
So, in other words, everything else was fine, but they didn’t like the class being cut off in the middle.
As expected, their zeal for learning was amazing.
“In that case.”
Then Deculein nodded.
As if he understood everything. As if that was only natural······ he gestured gently with his hand.
“Leave.”
Bang— the door opened. The chairs of the four who had raised their hands slid with a scrape. It was an escort by 「Telekinesis」.
“If you have complaints, you may leave through that door.”
“······.”
“······.”
“You’re not leaving?”
None of the four said anything. Though their faces were full of dissatisfaction, they slowly lowered their hands.
Deculein snorted and nodded as if in mockery.
“Good. If there are no complaints, I will say a few words before beginning the lecture.”
He placed his briefcase on the lectern. Then he put on his glasses.
“First, the name of this lecture is [The Pure Application of Earth and Fire: Manipulation Type].”
Some of the students took out magic notebooks, while others merely folded their arms as if trusting their own minds.
Deculein slowly continued.
“For the first three classes, I will teach the meaning of this ‘pure application.’”
Pure application. Epherene had also been unsure what that meant.
Application was application, so what was pure application supposed to be?
“What pure application is. How it differs from ordinary application. You will either realize that fact, or you will fail to realize it.”
Epherene quietly looked around.
“However, I am not a nanny. If you cannot keep up, give up on your own.”
And then she thought.
He wasn’t a nanny?
If they couldn’t keep up, they should give up?
There were not only students of the Magic Tower here, but imperial palace mages and even an addict from the Floating Island. Was that not far too arrogant a thing to say······?
“We will begin now.”
Snap—!
Deculein snapped his fingers.