"...The surveillance target, Silbia, is currently residing in Mumyeongdo, which she created herself."
The base of the [Silbia Surveillance Team], established by the Intelligence Bureau and operating jointly with the Public Security Bureau, is an ordinary residence.
One of the red-brick complexes on Beijin Street, where Imperium bureaucrats reside. Its interior design and furniture layout are thoroughly mundane.
"She does own a mansion under her family name on the Floating Island, but she does not appear to visit frequently."
I sat on the living room sofa, surveying the members of the surveillance team.
Deputy Director of Public Security, 'Rillia Peurimien'. Intelligence Bureau named agent, 'Rukeuhal'. Aside from these two, the team was composed of six other agents known to be quite exceptional.
Peurimien spoke.
"The monster said to have been created by Silbia's subconscious?"
"It has concealed its whereabouts, but according to eyewitness testimonies, its appearance is as follows."
A tall, snow-white woman. A maw as massive as a shark's, densely packed with teeth.
Peurimien asked again.
"It looks fucking hideous. Put that away. What about Mumyeongdo, the place that served as her Monarch promotion achievement?"
At that, an Intelligence Bureau agent infused mana into a crystal orb. The orb projected the scenery of Mumyeongdo.
"Hmm......"
Peurimien crossed her arms in silence for a moment. I simply watched as well.
The red-haired agent, 'Rukeuhal', asked.
"What do you think, Deputy Director Peurimien?"
"...Now I see how that brat became a Monarch in just three months."
The other agents nodded in admiration like Peurimien, but to me, the atmosphere of Mumyeongdo was familiar.
Wheat ears and fallen leaves swaying vividly like an oil painting. Sunlight beating down with blazing, searing intensity.
It had once been a technique from an exam I designed. Silbia had transplanted Van Gogh's canvas onto that island.
"...She learned well."
Peurimien and the agents turned to look at me. Their expressions were subtle.
Peurimien spoke cynically.
"Are you pretending to have taught her, or did you actually teach her?"
"If you're curious, buy my exam papers and see for yourself. They come up for re-auction on the Floating Island from time to time."
"...Auction?"
Peurimien glanced at Rukeuhal. Rukeuhal signaled another agent with his eyes. That agent immediately headed outside. He was probably going up to the Floating Island.
"Professor Dekyulrein."
The red-haired Rukeuhal spoke. I turned to look at him.
"We would appreciate your esteemed opinion on what surveillance level should be assigned."
Surveillance level. Simply put, it was a measure of the target's 'danger level', and the order from the top was Black(黑)—Red(赤)—Cyan(靑)—Green(綠).
"We were considering assigning a Red level."
Peurimien nodded at Rukeuhal's words.
"Five people have fallen victim to the monster created by Silbia. A Red level should suffice."
Red was defined as 'armed surveillance at close range, acknowledging that the target is dangerous.'
I shook my head.
"There is no need for that. Green is enough."
"What?"
Green, on the other hand, simply meant 'surveillance from a distance.'
Both Peurimien and Rukeuhal made faces of disbelief. Rukeuhal asked first.
"Do you have grounds for that?"
"A child who created an entire island couldn't fail to notice someone watching her nearby. Cyan-level surveillance or higher might unnecessarily cause stress."
"But—"
"Furthermore."
I cut Rukeuhal off. I fixed my gaze on him with lowered eyes.
"She is a good child."
"..."
This time, every agent's eyes were focused on me. Their gazes were rather eerie.
"We simply need to watch over her from afar. How much Silbia will grow, how far she will rise."
"...Excuse me?"
"There is no need to treat a child who is not a monster like one."
I rose from my seat. Rukeuhal scratched his head and nodded.
"Well, since it's the expert's opinion, we shall do so. For now, we will assign a Green level."
"Then I leave it to you."
I calmly exited the residence. Deputy Director Peurimien followed after me.
"...Do you harbor some sense of guilt toward that child?"
Peurimien's characteristically dry voice. I walked along the road and pondered for a moment.
Silbia.
Had I developed an attachment to her that even I was unaware of? Had I come to feel regret for our past?
Or...
"She is a pitiful one."
Pity is not a good emotion. It is a sentiment that I, as Dekyulrein, can barely feel.
However, it is simply the truth.
Silbia's past has been anything but smooth.
A child who suffered too many scars in too brief a moment. One who grew up parched and barren, killing herself inside all those many days.
"There is no need to torment her further."
"..."
Peurimien said nothing. She walked alongside me, then parted ways at some point.
......
Meanwhile, the wind invented by Silbia reached that distant land.
A magic with no name. This thing that is simply 'wind' cared not for distance, minded not obstacles, and delivered the sounds of the world using only her mana as a medium.
—...A good child.
The reverberations that the wind delivered to her.
—We simply need to watch over her from afar. How much Silbia will grow, how far she will rise.
Dekyulrein's voice, which seemed like it would remain eternal even as time passed.
—There is no need to treat a child who is not a monster like one.
Silbia had eavesdropped on all of it. She was monitoring the distant island from thousands of meters in the air.
—Do you harbor some sense of guilt toward that child?
The question of another, not Dekyulrein.
Dekyulrein answered after a brief pause.
—...She is a pitiful one.
The moment she heard that sentence, she clenched her fist. Her heart thumped heavily.
This blasted pity. She had never wished for it, not even once.
I simply...
—There is no need to torment her further.
Each and every one of his words pierced into her heart.
Silbia gritted her teeth. A small curse slipped through her clenched molars.
"...You bastard."
?
Idnik, who had been sipping tea at a nearby tea table, turned to look at her. Silbia's haggard eyes were moist.
Idnik clicked her tongue and approached her.
"Silbia. Are you endeavoring to hate?"
Hwaak—! Silbia whipped her head around to glare.
Idnik snickered and held out the tea. Then she sat beside Silbia and gazed at the island's scenery.
It was beautiful like a single oil painting.
The Nalssendoli flying beyond the wheat ears and the Gomtaeng Panda frolicking through the wheat field were peaceful.
Among them, only one had a distorted face—Silbia. Idnik spoke as she sipped her tea.
"Relax your face."
"...Mind your own business."
"Mind my own business? Silbia. There is something in this world called physiognomy."
"I don't believe in such things."
"It's not about belief; it's a phenomenon."
Idnik tilted her head and peered into Silbia's face. Silbia furrowed her brows and pushed her away.
"People wear expressions as they live, and expressions stem from the heart. If the heart rots, the expression rots as well."
"..."
"When an expression rots for a long time, that rotten pattern is carved into the face. That is physiognomy. And you are carving that pattern now."
Silbia rose silently and went inside the house. It was an oil-painting-like mansion she had made herself.
Idnik spoke with a small smile.
"Yes. Rest well."
* * *
The night when a crescent moon rose like a croissant.
Ipeulin returned to the dormitory after a long time. For no real reason, because the bread-like moon, she had bought three pieces of bread.
"Sigh......"
Letting out a small sigh, she set down her backpack and bread bag. Then she reached under the bed.
A worn travel bag came out stiffly. After fumbling with it a few times, it clicked open.
"..."
Inside were her father's letters. Ipeulin recalled the past when she had read these countless pages with joy, or with indignation.
The childhood days when she harbored futile hopes—that he would return someday, that they could be happy together.
"...Achilles' heel."
Ihelreum had said that he was Dekyulrein's Achilles' heel. That Dekyulrein being kind to him was nothing but 'appeasement'.
But the future self she had met in Rokeurallen—though those memories were now faint—had at least not treated Dekyulrein like an enemy.
"I don't know......"
Phew—her sigh blew up her bangs. Ipeulin, who had been fidgeting for no reason, suddenly pulled out a sponsorship certificate from her drawer.
Proof that Dekyulrein had sponsored her. Beside it, she placed Ihelreum's [Witness Summons Request].
"...Dad. I don't know."
Ipeulin roughly ruffled her hair.
"What on earth..."
But no matter how much she agonized, there weren't many options.
The nearly only way to know Dekyulrein's true intentions, and the past of her father and them.
She gripped the [Witness Summons Request] and looked at the moon outside the window.
"..."
The bread-like crescent moon. Ipeulin tore open the paper bag and bit into a croissant.
* * *
...The next day.
I commissioned mirrors from the craftsmen of the island and erected the 'Mirror Tower' in the backyard of the Yukeuraine mansion.
It was to seriously train my 「Talent」.
"My lord. Is there anything else you require?"
The butler Ren asked. I shook my head.
"No. This is sufficient. Do not let anyone inside."
"Yes."
The moment Ren bowed, I opened the door to the Mirror Tower.
A space where countless mirrors illuminated the interior. Standing in the very center, I nodded in satisfaction.
"...Indeed."
It felt as though my body and mana were growing lighter.
Since my 「Origin」 being a mirror meant that the nature, attributes, and characteristics of mirrors were all my talent, in a space surrounded by mirrors like this, I became like a fish in water.
It could be called a very one-dimensional sense of affinity.
"..."
I took out a piece of Mokgangcheol from inside my clothes.
Snap—!
When I snapped my fingers, the Mokgangcheol shot forward in a straight line. At the same time, it refracted to the right.
A single piece of Mokgangcheol moved as though it were two.
"If I add more mana to this."
The Mokgangcheol, which had been advancing in a straight line, suddenly multiplied into dozens of trajectories. Its blade-light flashed innumerably.
This time, it was the effect of 'reflection.'
"The lethality is outstanding."
A highly useful ability when facing humans or monstrous beasts.
For now, a medium of mirrors was essential, but with a bit more training, it should be possible even without mirrors—that is, using the 'surface of the Mokgangcheol' itself as a mirror to achieve such reflection and refraction.
"Hmm."
However, even this was merely a stepping stone.
The ultimate goal was to apply this 「Origin」 to 「Seolhwaseok」. That clear and transparent metal inherently possessed the nature of a 'mirror', so it was not impossible.
"...Again."
I resumed my training.
Clang—! Clang-clang-clang—!
In the Mirror Tower, the Mokgangcheol repeated refraction and reflection, and the movements of my 「Telekinesis」 were sharper than ever.
Having expended ninety percent of my mana in this manner, I finished my training.
◆ Memorize Status
： Beginner-Intermediate Telekinesis (96%)
┏Beginner-Intermediate Firepower Control (72%)
┣Beginner-Intermediate Fluid Manipulation (71%)
┗Metal Hardening (95%)
"At this rate......"
Not only was 「Intermediate Telekinesis」 close to completion, but 「Metal Hardening」 as well. There would likely be ample time before the winter 'Monster Wave'.
I brushed away the sweat droplets covering my entire body with 「Cleanse」 and stepped outside. It was already night.
"Oh my. You're only coming out now?"
Unexpectedly, someone was waiting for me.
"Nice to see you~"
Yusepin, sitting at a tea table. She sipped her coffee and waved her hand.
"I've been waiting to see when you'd come out~"
"...You look cheerful."
I straightened my attire, including my tie, and approached her.
"Why are you here?"
Yusepin smiled brightly.
"I will tell Yulli that I have recovered Beron's body. Then that child will hold the funeral again."
"..."
"All the knights of the Peurenheim Order will attend that funeral. I will do what you desire there."
I listened silently and nodded. Yusepin pouted her lips as if throwing a slight tantrum.
"But is this really the right way? If Yulli is so shocked that she just dies—"
"It is the correct method."
Eternal Winter. I understand its nature better than Yulli herself.
"...Yes~"
Yusephine spoke as she traced letters on the tea table with her finger.
“To be honest, I have no choice but to trust you, either. I found out, you see. That there is no cure for Julie’s curse.”
Her finger was repeating a single word. Curse. Curse. Curse. Curse. Curse…
Then she lifted her eyes and stared steadily at me.
“Well, she ended up like that protecting you, so you ought to take responsibility.”
Her murmuring voice was cold. The eyes fixed on me were as clear as hollowed-out ice. A pure abyss in which not the slightest trace of emotion existed.
I said,
“Believe me. Julie will recover. Without fail.”
“Yes. I’ll believe you. But… if she doesn’t recover. I don’t know how I’ll change, either.”
Then, as if it had all been a lie, Yusephine once again wore a fresh and innocent smile. Rising from her chair, she had not taken more than a few steps before she became a mere shadow and vanished.
“…Crazy bitch.”
Yusephine, the most dangerous named lunatic in this world.
Muttering with all sincerity, I entered the mansion. As if he had been waiting, the butler Ren approached and said,
“Professor. Assistant Professor Allen has come to visit.”
“Allen?”
“Yes.”
Ren pointed somewhere. Allen was dozing off on the sofa in the drawing room.
“Allen.”
“…!”
When I called him, his eyes flew open and he sat up. Then he smiled brightly, like a puppy.
“Professooor~”
“What is it?”
“Ah! This isn’t the time—class preparation! What are you going to do for class preparation? The second class is coming up soon!”
Class preparation.
I answered without much thought. I already had a schedule decided in advance.
“I’m thinking of giving a pop quiz.”
“A pop quiz? Haven’t we only had, like, one class?”
“Those who failed to understand that first class have no worth in attending the next. Follow me.”
“Yes!”
I walked with Allen. Our destination was the study on the third floor. Leaving Allen standing there awkwardly, I took a sheet of paper from the drawer.
“Solve it. It’s a problem I devised myself.”
“Y-yes.”
Allen received the problem with a slightly tense expression. And then…
* * *
Wednesday, the day of Deculein’s biweekly lecture.
Epherene arrived on the 80th floor of the Magic Tower. The first thing that caught her eye was the cat beside Creto.
“Is this the cat Your Highness is raising? It’s super cute.”
“Ah. I’m not raising it. It’s a cat His Majesty entrusted to me.”
“…Pardon?”
Startled, Epherene quickly withdrew the hand that had been tickling the cat’s chin.
The red-furred munchkin cat blew its nose with a pfft! and glared at her as if to say, How dare you—
“…Sorry.”
She quietly backed away and sat down.
In the meantime, all the students had arrived, and then it was noon.
Exactly 12:00:00.
Professor Deculein appeared without even a single second’s error.
“Good to see you.”
“Ah, Professor! Didn’t that cat troll us last class!”
The instant he appeared, Rogerio pointed accusingly at the red cat. The other mages also glared rather fiercely at the red-furred munchkin. However, the cat merely went hmph— and flicked its tail as though mocking them.
“Look at that thing. Seriously obnox—”
“Quiet. Sit.”
Deculein stopped him with a gesture of his hand. Rogerio pouted and took his seat.
“We will begin the class.”
Then Assistant Professor Allen entered the lecture hall. His complexion was somewhat haggard. Dark circles under his eyes were deep, as though he had not slept, and his fingertips trembled faintly.
For some reason, he looked ominous… Deculein said,
“Today will be a pop quiz.”
“A pop quiz?”
A pop quiz from only the second class.
Epherene tilted her head and looked around. The other students also seemed a little bewildered, but well.
Everyone already knew that Deculein’s classes were special and entirely at his discretion.
“Allen.”
“Y-yes…”
With shaking hands, Allen turned the test papers over and distributed them. Epherene stared down at the paper. There didn’t seem to be any particular magical treatment on it.
“I’ve distributed them all.”
At Allen’s words, Deculein nodded.
Holding a timer, he stood in the middle of the lecture hall.
“No questions. We begin immediately.”
Click—
The sound of the timer being pressed. Epherene quickly turned the test paper over.
“…What is this… alien language?”
There were only two questions on the pop quiz.
However, their contents were absurdly difficult. To what extent? For starters, the first question did not contain a single letter of the Empire’s common tongue. Only formulas and calculations.
To the students, whose mouths had fallen open, Deculein added,
“Open book is permitted, of course, and you may also discuss with one another. However, if a quarrel breaks out as it did before, you will all fail.”
“…”
At that, Epherene slowly raised her head and surveyed the atmosphere around her.
Like her, there were an enormous number of gazes desperately searching for comrades(?).