The Head Professor’s office.
Warm sunlight rippled beyond the glass window, but Deculein’s atmosphere remained cold as ever.
There was nothing to fear. This was how he always was.
“Um…”
One step, then another.
Epherene slowly approached Deculein. Then, hesitating and stumbling over her words, she opened her mouth.
“It’s just…”
The moment she carefully managed to utter a single phrase.
“You see…”
“Get out.”
“Huh?”
Thud—!
In the blink of an eye, she was thrown out, and the door shut.
It was the effect of 「Telekinesis」.
“…What the hell.”
Epherene stared blankly at the firmly locked door. She shook the doorknob, but it would not open.
“What… Open up! Open up! I have something to say—”
“Ah, Miss Epherene. You’re here?”
Just then, Allen approached from behind. He smiled brightly at Epherene.
“Ah, um… yes. I am here, but…”
Epherene fidgeted for no reason and scratched the back of her neck. Her back suddenly felt hot. She was embarrassed and ashamed.
“That…”
“It’s all right~”
Allen shook his head as if he understood everything. His voice was still cheerful.
“Things like that can happen. Professor Deculein will probably think it was only natural for you to do so. If it were me, I probably would have done the same.”
“…”
“Revealing your family circumstances was also an act of courage, Miss Epherene. So all you need to do is repay him through your research~ None of us are bothered by it at all.”
Fighting! Allen shouted energetically, then plodded toward his own laboratory.
[ Assistant Professor Allen’s Laboratory ]
Perhaps because Deculein had newly expanded it for him this time, his steps were practically hopping like a rabbit’s.
“…”
As Epherene watched his back, a voice suddenly came to mind.
The conversation between Deculein and Ihelm.
—This research is not yet complete. Completing it will be Epherene’s role.
What Deculein had left for her.
And what I had to do for my father.
The completion of the research.
“…Right.”
Nodding, Epherene ran to the [ Assistant’s Laboratory ].
She flung the laboratory door open—! and, ignoring the startled Drent, sat down at the seat piled high with papers.
“I can do it. I can do it…”
Epherene did not waste even a moment. She was more motivated than ever before. Her purpose was clearer than at any other moment in her life.
And so, she immediately began studying.
* * *
…After the four-night, five-day hearing came to an end.
“You both worked hard!”
This was Adrienne’s office on the 100th floor.
Having been summoned together with Ihelm, I was facing Adrienne.
“I praised you tremendously, so the paper evaluation should be finished in about a month! But until then! There is a test for both of you!”
Chairwoman Adrienne had delivered my paper to the Floating Island.
Most likely, almost every addict there would bring all their work to a complete stop and devote themselves solely to that paper.
“This time, it’s to assess your practical abilities!”
“May I withdraw as a candidate?”
Ihelm asked, sweeping back his hair. Adrienne answered vigorously.
“Of course not! There’s still a chance for a reversal!”
“…I do not particularly wish to make a reversal.”
“Enough! Look at this!”
Then she took out a map and a crystal ball. They were records related to an island called “Goreth.”
At that moment, a quest alarm appeared.
[ Main Quest: The Altar and the Ghost ]
◆ Mental Fortitude +1
By now, almost every quest was being tagged either “Main” or “Independent.”
There was no longer time for anything like “Side” quests.
“The destination is Goreth Island! It’s also called the Island of Ghosts, and inside it there’s even a castle known as ‘Ghost Castle’!”
The chairwoman’s crystal ball projected an image. The three-dimensional scenery of the island itself was ordinary.
A pier where ships could dock, a massive castle beyond it, and weeds and grass grown long.
It was an island that anyone could tell had been abandoned for a long time.
“You both probably learned about it from textbooks at the academy!”
“Yes. I know.”
Ihelm answered with a click of his tongue.
“Goreth. A magical space where, sixty years ago, three thousand islanders disappeared in an instant.”
“Yes, that’s right! In the past, it produced local specialties and had many tourists, but after that incident, it fell into ruin as a dead island. But would you believe it! A mana stone mine was discovered on that island!”
“…Mana stones?”
“Yes~!”
A mana stone mine. A resource coveted by mages, of course, and by anyone in this world.
There was even a saying that “one would go to hell to mine top-grade mana stones,” so there was no need to explain their value.
“The mana stones buried there amount to a whopping ten thousand tons! If converted into elne… Oh my, oh my!”
The chairwoman fluttered about exaggeratedly. Ihelm crossed his arms with a sullen expression.
“That is why a purification operation is currently being prepared! That will be your test! We will determine which of you was of greater help in this purification operation—”
“In other words. You mean volunteer work.”
“No! Of course not!”
As soon as Ihelm asked, she shook her head.
“We will judge your achievements and distribute rewards according to your contribution. For example, if Ihelm is judged to have contributed 3%, then 0.3% of ten thousand tons! After subtracting half that belongs to the Imperial Family, you would receive a total of fifteen tons’ worth of shares in the mine!”
Fifteen tons. Though it depended on the quality of the mana stones, it was usually an amount equivalent to the annual budget of a decent small or medium-sized territory.
Adrienne continued.
“Ihelm is a master of support magic, and in preparation for any devils or ghosts that might appear, we have Deculein of Yukline! It will be a wonderful combination!”
At that, Ihelm turned to look at me. The man asked with his eyes whether I would participate in this test.
Since a quest had appeared, I had no reason to refuse.
“Yes. I will do so.”
“…Well. Then so will I. The chairmanship has already flown away, but shares in the mine are tempting.”
Ihelm shrugged.
* * *
The captain’s office of the Freinheim Knight Order. A wooden room so plain it was truly boring, without a single ornament or luxury item.
“Hmm…”
Captain Yulie was checking the order’s ledgers. Recently, everything had been in the black.
“…Hehe.”
She naturally felt pleased. Her own physical condition was still worsening, but with profits like these, the order could certainly be called healthy.
Knock, knock—
Just then, a knock sounded.
She put the ledger into a drawer. She quickly composed her expression. Then she ordered the person to enter.
“…Captain.”
Vice-Captain Rockfell. He was wearing armor and a black cloak. The moment Yulie saw his somber appearance, she rose to her feet.
“What is it, Rockfell?”
“We have… recovered Veron’s remains.”
“What?”
Yulie’s eyes widened. She hurriedly approached Rockfell and asked again.
“Veron’s remains?!”
The Freinheim Knight Order had also made efforts to recover his remains, but had failed even after spending an astronomical amount.
That was how hopeless that cliff had been.
“Yes. Lady Yusefin helped us.”
“Ah… I, I see.”
Yulie nodded. She staggered back and let out a sigh of relief. This time, she was truly, truly grateful to her older sister.
“…So he came back. That guy.”
It felt as though a burden in one corner of her heart had melted away, even if only a little.
Yulie looked at Rockfell. His eyes were already wet with tears.
“Captain. What will you do now?”
“We will hold the funeral again.”
“Yes. I will tell the members as well.”
Rockfell bowed his head and left the captain’s office.
“…Haa.”
Letting out a deep breath, Yulie looked up through the window of the knight order.
The sky was clear. The sunlight was brilliant, and not a single cloud could be seen.
“What a relief…”
Instead of crying, she smiled.
* * *
Meanwhile, Solda Epherene was drinking coffee at a café.
“…”
But she felt like she was about to get indigestion. Many of the people inside were all glancing at her.
“Ugh, my stomach hurts.”
These days, she drew gazes everywhere in the university like this. Because she was the assistant who had spoken her mind under Deculein.
There were people who supported her, people who worried about her, and many nobles who cursed her to death, but there was no one on Deculein’s side.
That part made Epherene feel a little…
“Mm~ So here’s the celebrity.”
Someone sat down beside her. Epherene turned to look and her eyes widened.
“…Professor Luina?”
Luina brushed her green hair behind her back and smiled brightly.
“Yes. Nice to see you. Your face still looks very confused?”
“Ah… yes. Hello.”
Epherene gave a bitter smile and bowed her head. Luina sipped her coffee and said,
“What do you think? Professor Deculein has changed a lot as a person, hasn’t he?”
“Ah, well, I don’t really know what Professor Deculein was like in the past…”
She had only read about him in letters, and had never actually experienced it herself. Epherene had now decided to believe only what she saw, or had seen, with her own eyes.
Luina let out a small sigh.
“Phew, well, I suppose. He really has changed a lot now. In the past, he was an awful bastard, so bad I can’t even put it into words… And there is always a reason when people change.”
Her tone was rather bitter. Epherene blinked and looked at her.
“Did something happen? To the professor?”
“Mm… I wonder. I probably shouldn’t say, right? Well, maybe he caught some terminal illness?”
“…What?”
In that instant.
From somewhere far back in Epherene’s memory as she tilted her head blankly.
A single strand of voice, buried at the bottom of her unconscious, faintly surfaced.
—But… in my world, Professor doesn’t exist.
A voice that scattered like a mirage. Repeating the sentence that had lingered briefly by her ear before vanishing, Epherene blankly pondered.
Who had said this, and where?
How had I heard these words?
“Solda Epherene? What’s wrong?”
Luina asked. Startled, Epherene shook her head.
“Ah, no.”
“Does something come to mind?”
“Ah… no. It’s not like that.”
She did not know anything about the reason he had changed. There was no way she could. She did not know Deculein’s past.
It was just…
“My head hurts. I think it’s because of this.”
Epherene took a sheet of paper from her clothes. Luina glanced at it and let out an “Ah—” of recognition.
“Ah~ Goreth Island. Ghost Castle? Professor Deculein is going there this time, right?”
“Yes.”
“Are assistants required to attend too? This is a dangerous place, so there shouldn’t be any need for everyone to go.”
“It’s not required, but still…”
Epherene scratched her cheek and said,
“I’m the professor’s assistant, so I’m thinking of going. I can still conduct research there. Of course, if the professor doesn’t want me to, I won’t—”
* * *
“…Ugh!”
When she opened her eyes, she was inside a ship. A ship heading toward Ghost Castle on an island called “Goreth.”
Epherene looked out the window. The sun was blazing, and the sea was calm. The interior of the ship was peaceful as well, befitting a cruise.
Haaam— Epherene yawned lazily and stretched.
“Miss Epherene. You’re awake?”
Allen, seated beside her, smiled brightly. Epherene wiped away the tears that had formed from yawning.
“Yes. It’s my first time on a ship, and I suddenly fell asleep. Is it because of seasickness?”
“Ah~ It’s your first time on a ship? Then that makes sense. But, Miss Epherene, are you all right not attending classes?”
For reference, Drent had been left out of this trip. Because of lectures and assignments.
“Yes, anyway… they’re all easy for me.”
“As expected~”
He answered as if impressed and looked out the window.
“But they say there are lots of ghosts where we’re going! There will be plenty to research~”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to it a little. Ghosts are magical beings, after all.”
“…”
Allen did not answer. Instead, he suddenly turned to look at Epherene. It was a grotesque movement, as if his neck had snapped.
“A-Assistant Professor Allen. Your body…”
His body was still facing the window, but only his neck had turned sideways to stare at her.
“Miss Epherene.”
“Yes?”
“Do I still look like Allen to you?”
“What do you…”
Then, blood flowed from Allen’s eyes.
Gush, gush, gush, gush—! Red fluid surged like tap water and splattered all over Epherene’s body.
So shocked, Epherene froze like stone.
Meanwhile, Allen’s mouth split wide open like a shark’s.
Guuuuuuuh······!
Epherene tried to construct a spell, but her body would not move. There was no strength in her limbs. As if she were trying to throw a punch in a dream······.
A dream?
“······A dream! It’s a dream!”
Epherene forced her eyes open. Her body was trembling, but the dreadful scene from just now had vanished entirely.
Allen was sitting in the seat beside her, gazing out the window at the sea.
“Phew······.”
Epherene let out a sigh.
Was it because her mind and body had been weak lately? Or had her mental strength simply grown frail?
“······Miss Epherene? Is something wrong?”
Allen asked in a worried tone. Epherene smiled bitterly and shook her head.
“Ah, well, I had a bit of a dream······.”
“What kind of dream?”
“It was nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“A dream like this?”
“······Pardon?”
Thud—!
Allen seized her hand and thrust his face close. From his eyes, tears of blood came pouring out—Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-ka—! It was exactly the same scene as before.
Spewing blood, Allen said,
“A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this? A dream like this?”
“E-euaaaagh······!”
Epherene screamed and thrashed, and then, at some point—
“Ugh!”
She woke from the dream again. She hurriedly looked around.
As expected, she was inside the ship, and it was night, not day.
Just then, Allen appeared.
“Miss Epherene! What’s wrong? Are you all right?”
“A-again! You’re going to do it again! Don’t come near me!”
“······Pardon?”
Epherene stopped Allen as he tried to approach. Allen froze in place with a wounded expression, and a voice drifted in.
“This is not a dream.”
“······?”
Epherene looked that way.
Head Professor Deculein was speaking while reading a book.
“Epherene. Have you ever heard the legend of the Siren?”
“Ah, yes. I have.”
“The mana of the sea draws people in. Its mediums are dreams and illusions. A being that possesses a little more substance than dreams and illusions is a ‘ghost.’ The island we are heading to is a magical space where that phenomenon is maximized. Therefore, the closer we get to the island, the worse this phenomenon will become.”
“······.”
“You were caught by a ghost and then released.”
Epherene swallowed hard. Then she looked at the wrist the ghost had just grabbed. There was a clear handprint on it.
“Huh, this is······”
“There is no need to worry. I am the proof of reality.”
“······Pardon?”
Epherene looked at Deculein. His gaze still fixed on his book, he said,
“They cannot imitate me. If I am not in your world, assume it is a dream. Wherever I exist is reality.”
“Oho~ How splendid indeed, Professor Deculein!”
Ihelm, who was enjoying wine on a sofa not far away, clapped. Deculein gave no particular response.
“Yes, yes. I’ll think of it that way.”
Answering awkwardly, Epherene turned her gaze out the window for no reason.
The sea was dark, rain and wind lashed about, and rough waves battered the ship.
Kwarrrrrrung—!
Lightning roared as if crying out. Within it, a skeleton-like shape flashed. Epherene started in surprise, but it was not only because of the lightning strike.
It was because of a sudden ripple of memory that had surfaced.
—But······ in my world, the professor isn’t there.
A voice that had remained faintly in a corner of her subconscious seeped in.
—So don’t hate him too much.
Words her future self had conveyed to her present self.
Epherene hurriedly looked back at Deculein.
—And if possible······ I ask that the professor remain in your world for a long time.
In a future not so far away, Deculein dies.