Sophien, seated upon the throne, was staring at the “Imperial Speech.”
“······.”
Only silence filled the grand hall. The sovereign’s solemn gaze combed through every sentence. It was different from before, when she would read a little, grow annoyed, and order them away.
The change in the Emperor left the retainers rather flustered. Especially Romellock and Cruhan, the leaders of the two great factions in politics.
“······.”
“······.”
They silently exchanged glances.
Slothful Sophien had never taken an interest in politics or domestic affairs until now, so they had thought that even if she could not become a wise ruler, a “politics of harmony” carried out through the authority of the ministers would be possible.
At last, Sophien spoke.
“I shall revise the first sentence of this speech.”
“······Ahem. The speech, Your Majesty? You mean the speech text?”
This Majesty was utterly willful.
Her refusal to heed her retainers and even her attempt to revise the speech clearly showed the makings of a tyrant.
“That is so.”
“Your Majesty. There is no issue with the speech. It is a text composed together by your servant Romellock and Lord Cruhan.”
Romellock, an old retainer of sixty, spoke. Cruhan of the opposing faction also bowed his head in agreement.
At present, the two factions of politics had formed a temporary alliance.
“Yes. That is correct. It is a very important speech into which all your retainers have joined their will—”
“No.”
Sophien cut them off. Then she pointed to the first sentence.
“Is there truly any need to mention the names of the continent’s nations one by one?”
The first sentence of the speech began by mentioning the Eight Nations of the continent. Leoc came first, and the Duchy of Yuren last.
“I will simply revise it to ‘the eight nations.’”
At a glance, it might be mistaken for a ceremonial speech, but the problem was the order.
Which nation’s name came first from the mouth of the Imperial Emperor? That mere word, nothing more than a single utterance, was quite an important diplomatic matter to the nations of the continent.
“You must not, Your Majesty. Please reconsider. This is the result of history and diplomacy passed down from the late Emperor.”
“““Please reconsider!”””
The cries of the retainers rang out like an echo. Sophien placed a finger on her temple and shook her head.
“Enough. I am not bound by the affairs of the past. I will revise the first sentence, so know it as such.”
“Your—”
“In any case!”
The Emperor roared and rose to her feet. At her blazing aura, the retainers lowered their eyes.
“It is my will. The morning schedule ends here.”
She walked toward her bedchamber. Belatedly, nonsense such as “You must not—!” resounded, but she did not even glance back.
“······Wormlike things.”
As soon as she returned to the depths of the Imperial Palace, she flung the speech away.
“How much gilding has been applied to this one speech? How much did they take and stuff down their throats to make these sentences?”
Every nation on the continent, large or small, sent bribes to the Empire. In truth, calling it tribute would not be wrong, but the problem was that more than seventy percent of it was concentrated in the hands of the retainers in politics.
It was due to the gentle nature of the late Emperor Crebaim.
“That money is now mine.”
However, Sophien’s speech this time would become a message to the various nations of the continent.
The bribes you fed the retainers are no longer effective—therefore, devote that effort to the Imperial Family instead—something along those lines.
Of course, there were many other parts of the speech she disliked, but if she acted too uncooperative, those fellows might respond cleverly in their own way.
For now, reducing the effort they put into “using their heads” was also important.
Thus, if she did not want things to become bothersome, it was right to pretend to be an impulsive and arrogant sovereign.
“Politics······ truly is bothersome.”
Sprawled across the bed, Sophien was assailed by ennui once more.
Lying blankly, she recalled all her memories, not of politics, but of daily life.
The hundreds of years in which she repeated death and regression.
During those days, Deculein had thrown away his life time and again to remain with her.
Yet recently, Sophien found the “feelings he concealed” burdensome.
That emotion, which was always sincere, was rather uncomfortable.
“······Perhaps.”
Sophien did not know Deculein’s intention in not saving Julie from ruin.
At least, rational deduction was impossible. Only emotional conjecture was possible.
“Did that fellow truly abandon his woman and······.”
Sophien could not understand it at all. The principles of human emotion were a madness she had still not mastered—no, would never be able to master—and Deculein was a man who hid his thoughts far too well.
“Hmm······.”
Sophien lifted only her head from the edge of the bed and looked at the snow globe. Snow was still falling inside it.
“Keiron. You likely would not know either.”
A man who had lived alone his entire life. An old bachelor who knew nothing of women.
“It would be nice if that fellow did not trouble me too much······.”
Sophien looked at herself reflected in that mirror.
Certainly, she was exceedingly beautiful. It was a fact that anyone on the continent would acknowledge.
“Tch.”
Even this beauty makes me troublesome.
Clicking her tongue, Sophien took out a sheet of correspondence paper. It was an item connected to her old knight instructor, Julie.
“I do not know what will become of it.”
She pitied Julie, who resembled Keiron. There was also, to some extent, the strange feeling that she had taken what belonged to her.
Thus, once this situation was somewhat settled, she intended to bring her back into the Imperial Family······.
······.
The harsh North, where hordes of tens of thousands of monsters migrated south every year. The territory of the margrave who had engraved the proverb “Northerners are strong” upon the continent.
Among them, in the square of the holy land of knights especially respected by all people, the [ Phaireden Knights ], Julie stood.
“······Knights of winter.”
The main headquarters of the knight order numbered three hundred. Including the knights carrying out missions throughout the territory, their numbers were several times that, and each and every one was filled with pride in their affiliation and origin.
“······.”
For that reason, the way they looked at Julie was anything but kind. They kept glancing at her, standing at the very back, with displeasure. She was, of course, a direct blood relative of Phaireden, but regardless of status, she had committed a dishonor difficult to tolerate as a knight.
“The ‘southern migration’ is now not far off.”
Zeit, standing on the platform in the square, also did not spare Julie a glance. Julie regarded that fact as only natural.
“A wave of monsters will crash upon the border. However, as His sacred Majesty has consented to grant Phaireden the support it deserves, I will deploy knights to each strategic point. I will ensure an unbroken battle line.”
The strategic points selected by Zeit and his staff numbered thirteen in total.
The knights of Phaireden could volunteer to choose one among them.
“Come up to the platform one by one and show your will.”
Then, starting with the knight in the front row, they ascended the platform. He offered Zeit the northern courtesy, then revealed his choice to all the knights in the square.
“I, Griffin, shall display a knight’s valor and resolve at the Roheller Wall.”
Among the strategic points, there was not a single place that could be called easy. Every one of them was suitable to be called a death ground.
—Descendant of the Strong, Griffin!
For that reason, the knights of Phaireden sent cheers to their comrades’ choices.
“I am Victor. I shall protect the villagers at Domon Fortress.”
—The Lone Swordsman of Belloris, Victor!
A glorious title held by any knight belonging to Phaireden. That resonance filled the square.
In the Imperial Capital, it was an antiquated relic they recoiled from as childish, but in Phaireden, it was still a tradition that inspired knights.
“Bomas chooses the rough terrain of Dokunkan!”
—The Giant of Gerun, Bomas!
Thus the knights’ choices continued, but there was one place.
A strategic point abandoned by all.
It was easily the worst among the eleven strategic points, but naturally, it was not avoided because they were afraid or because it was too difficult.
It was left for the most dishonorable knight—no, for that knight’s sake. It was granting her, by her own will, a “chance to atone.”
“······.”
Therefore, when Julie stood on the platform, everyone’s eyes gathered upon her. There were no cheers that seemed to shake heaven and earth. There was only silence.
Julie spoke without hesitation.
“I choose Reccordak.”
Reccordak. A prison where only the worst criminals on earth were incarcerated, and a human wall that defended against the monsters migrating south.
Julie volunteered for that place, no different from hell, where more than eighty percent of the inmates died within a year.
“Understood.”
Zeit looked at her and nodded. The knights in the square did not send her cheers, but the piercing gazes had softened considerably.
“Knight Deia has chosen Reccordak.”
Zeit did not even call her by the name Julie. Julie was not so weak a knight as to feel hurt by something so trivial.
“Yes.”
Julie stepped down from the platform and met the eyes of the knights looking at her. Resentment, contempt, disappointment, sorrow, anger, betrayal, and more······ there were many emotions.
Julie endured them all.
Compared to what “that man” had done to her, this was far too light a trial.
“Now, after one month of training, each of you will depart for your strategic points. Until then, all of you should hone your skills personally as well.”
Zeit spoke. Even without raising his voice, his charisma was enough.
The knights of Phaireden looked up to him as though looking upon a king and answered thunderously.
“““Yes!”””
* * *
The Imperial University had now entered midterm period. However, since my class had no midterm exam, my work as a professor consisted only of checking my research assistants’ papers.
“Hey. Why is this car so nice? It’s the same brand as mine.”
On the way back to the Yukline mansion by car, Ihelm, in the seat beside me, muttered.
Without a word, I took out a book. It was the bestseller “Blue Eyes” that Sophien had handed me.
[ A season still too early to be called winter. Heavy snow fell upon the Imperial Capital······. ]
“What’s this now?”
As I read the first sentence, Ihelm kept fiddling with the seat belt.
For reference, the belt was a product I had personally participated in designing for the car. This world still lacked the concept of safety devices.
To begin with, there were not enough cars for traffic accidents to happen.
Zuuuuuuk—— Buuuuuuk——
Ihelm played with the seat belt, stretching and shortening it.
“Is this a magic item?”
It was quite irritating. I set down the book I had been reading.
“Shut your mouth.”
At that, Ihelm shrugged.
“You could just explain. What this is.”
With 「Psychokinesis」, I fastened his seat belt. Ugh— Ihelm briefly made a choking sound.
“Ah. It binds you. So it was for prisoner transport.”
“······.”
I did not bother correcting him. I decided to think of the man who had shamelessly hopped into my car the moment we happened to run into each other as a prisoner.
“Hm? Hey, isn’t that Leaf over there?”
Then Ihelm pointed out the window.
“······.”
Epherene, wearing a backpack, was waddling along like a penguin. Behind her, several boxes followed like pets. It was quite a cute use of 「Psychokinesis」.
Ihelm grinned and opened the window.
“Hey!”
“Eek!”
Epherene sprang up like a startled cat and looked this way.
“What is it!”
“I called because I was glad to see you. Why?”
“Seriously, what are you doing······ Oh, Professor?”
The growling girl found me. Then she tilted her head and asked.
“Are you two going together?”
“Yeah. We’re headed the same way. What about you, Leaf?”
“······I’m sending my luggage ahead first. I got accepted.”
Epherene glared at Ihelm discontentedly. Ziiiiing— like a laser.
I did not know if it was because of Ihelm, but lately Epherene had become famous as Leaf as well. At this rate, even Allen would soon call her Leaf.
“Accepted where?”
At that question, Epherene gauged my reaction. For no reason, she scratched the back of her neck without answering.
Ihelm asked again.
“Why. What did you get accepted to?”
“······The Yukline Mage Training.”
“Hm? Ah~ that? Haven’t they not announced the results yet?”
“I was accepted in advance.”
“Accepted in advance?”
Ihelm looked back at me again.
Yukline’s Continental Mage Training.
A mage development program held every winter on the “Lake Island” of the Yukline territory. Usually, only university mages from various nations with exceptional talent were selected, and quite famous mages came as daily mentors······.
That much I had heard from Yeriel.
However, I had not known that Epherene had been accepted too.
“Looks like your professor thinks the world of you, huh? Getting you accepted in advance to such a famous program, like some kind of corruption.”
“W-what are you talking about? It wasn’t corruption, okay?”
Ihelm grinned as he watched Epherene give a startled little jerk.
“By the way, Leafy. Are your midterms all over?”
“No. I’ve still got about half left, but I think I’ve gotten perfect scores on almost all of them—no, more importantly, I told you I’m not Leafy!”
“Oh, really? Perfect scores?”
“......Yeees.”
“How many days is the training supposed to last?”
“They said it’s a one-week schedule. Is that right, Professor?”
Epherene asked me. I didn’t answer and simply closed the window.
Epherene looked dumbfounded outside the window, but I didn’t know much about the training myself. And I would sooner die than say, “I don’t know.”
Ihelm said,
“Right. Deculein. Have you recruited the mentors for the training?”
“......”
Yeriel had asked me to recruit them.
Nothing had been set in motion yet, but it didn’t seem all that difficult. Rose Rio, Gindalf, Louina, and so on—my connections were not exactly narrow.
“Hey. From the look of things, you haven’t managed to recruit many. Want me to go?”
Ihelm acted a little insolently. I narrowed my brows and glared at him.
The bastard snickered and continued.
“In exchange, it’ll be a deal. Just tell me why you didn’t save Yuli—aaagh!”
I immediately opened the car door and ejected Ihelm.
* * *
......I began recruiting mentors in earnest.
It was, after all, a Yukline training program. If the roster consisted only of professors like Relin and Ciare, my personal dignity would suffer as well.
The first was Rose Rio. I summoned Rose Rio under the pretext of an interview with a student.
“Rose Rio. Will you participate as a mentor in this Yukline training program?”
“Hmmm~? ......Ah~ Kuhuhuhu.”
At that, Rose Rio’s posture changed quite arrogantly. She crossed her arms, crossed her legs, and looked at me.
“Hmm~ But you already know, don’t you? These days, I don’t have any time—”
“Rose Rio. You know, don’t you?”
I cut her off.
“Expelling a student from my lecture is entirely up to me.”
“......”
Rose Rio’s eyes narrowed askance. I met that gaze impassively.
Rose Rio smiled with a rather chilly air.
“Ha ha. Are you threatening me right now?”
“......”
I said nothing. I merely took the student roster out of the drawer and held a red ballpoint pen in one hand.
At that instant, Rose Rio’s body trembled.
“......I’m telling you, I don’t have time, all right? You said it’s a week-long schedule.”
“The contents of my class from here on will be the pure application of the ‘Series.’ It will be far more difficult than what we have done so far, but it will be a valuable lesson.”
Cold sweat broke out on Rose Rio’s forehead. Gulp—her Adam’s apple bobbed noisily.
I slowly moved the pen.
With a single line drawn in red, Rose Rio would be deleted from my list of students.
“......”
Rose Rio’s eyes widened, and the cold sweat at her temples gathered beneath her chin and ran down.
At last, the moment the red pen touched the paper......
“Ah, fine! Seriously! How petty can you get over something like this?”
Rose Rio reached out and snatched the red ballpoint pen away.
Hiding my smile, I nodded.
“Good. Let us draw up the contract.”
......
Next was Louina.
“Sure, why not.”
Louina accepted the conditions I presented immediately. There was no negotiation, hesitation, or delay.
“These terms are satisfactory enough.”
“......Are they.”
“Yes. Then I’ll see you at the training? I’m busy with research right now, so I’ll be going.”
With a bright smile, Louina rose from her seat. Then she stopped abruptly, turned back to me, and said,
“Oh, right, Boss. Take better care of your health. So you don’t get any worse......”
......
The third was Gindalf.
I presented Gindalf with special terms. Naturally, it was “money.”
“Hmm...... I’m not so sure...... This old man does not have all the time in the world either, you see......”
Even so, Gindalf appeared to be agonizing over it, but I placed a turtle on the table. It was a longevity turtle made of “diamond mana stone,” the pinnacle among mana stones.
“......Ahem!”
Gindalf cleared his throat loudly and quietly slipped the turtle into his robe.
“Very well. You have shown sincerity all this time, and I too committed a grave wrong against you in the past. I shall accept this as a commemoration of reconciliation between Yukline and myself!”
Hahaha—Gindalf laughed heartily and signed the contract.
* * *
Three days later. The final stretch of midterms.
Returning to the Magic Tower while drinking coffee, Epherene flinched when she saw the crowd gathered around the bulletin board.
“......What is this?”
The Magic Tower bulletin board. Wizards had gathered at the place where various training programs, programs, missions, and requests were posted.
Drawn by curiosity, Epherene approached and spotted familiar faces among the crowd.
“Oh~ Epha!”
It was Julie, and at some point, “Ephie” had become “Epha.” It was because, thanks to Ihelm, she had recently been called things like “Leafy.”
Leafy—no, Epherene let out a deep sigh.
“......Could you just call me Ephie?”
“Huh? Sure. Ephie!”
“But what are you doing here? ......She’s here too. Lucia.”
Lucia, a wizard from a prestigious family who had quite the ill-fated relationship with Epherene. That obnoxious girl was also staring blankly at the notice on the bulletin board.
“Ah~ You know the Yukline training program from before? The list of mentors was announced.”
“Yeah. So?”
Epherene had already been notified of her acceptance in advance. It was probably thanks to Deculein.
“What do you mean, so, Ephie? Look at that mentor list. It’s seriously insane.”
Julie pointed, making an expensive artifact jingle. Epherene looked in that direction as well.
The first name was Deculein.
That much she had expected, but...... Rose Rio, Gindalf, Louina, Ihelm, even Astar the Addict and an elder of Bercht?!
Epherene was shocked.
“W-what is this? An elder of Bercht is coming down?”
“I know! That’s why everyone’s going crazy right now.”
“Dzekdan?!”
“No, no. Not the Grand Elder, just an elder.”
“Ah......”
It was ultra-luxurious. No, beyond ultra-luxurious—it was a training program that a commoner wizard might never experience in their entire life.
There was indeed a reason the place was packed.
“So the Magic Tower is in complete chaos right now. If people could buy and sell accepted slots for that, they’d probably go for hundreds of thousands of elne.”
“Hundreds of thousands?”
“Yeah. Ephie, you said you got accepted in the advance recruitment, right? I’m jealous.”
“......”
At that moment, the gazes around them focused on Epherene. They were strangely cold and frightening stares.
“Then, Julie. I’ll be going......”
Ahem, ahem. Clearing her throat, Epherene quietly slipped away.
“......Hoot.”
And yet, for some reason, her steps were extremely light.
“Puhuhuhut! Ohohoho~”
Pat pat pat—pat pat pat pat—
Epherene walked through the corridors of the Magic Tower as if she might take flight.