“That Deculein does not have much time left.”
Louina spoke. The space sank into silence, and Epherene stared blankly at her.
Vrrrrr—
The woodsteel vibrated, as if telling her to come to her senses. Epherene’s shoulders flinched.
“……Doesn’t have much time leeeft↗”
Her voice cracked. Her vocal cords had tightened from excessive tension.
“…….”
Louina looked around. She had already checked with magic before speaking, but just in case any eyes had appeared.
“I’m guessing it’s something like an incurable disease.”
Epherene’s mouth fell open as if it might hit the ground. Louina continued with a bitter smile.
“I’m not certain. But for a person to change, there must be a significant reason.”
“…….”
Louina said she was not certain, but Epherene already knew.
She still remembered.
The words the future Epherene had left for her.
“Hehe.”
Suddenly, Louina laughed as if she found her adorable.
“You’re about to cry. Like a baby.”
“Huh? Nooo, I’m not crying. Who’s crying…….”
Without a word, Louina pointed at Epherene’s eyelids. Epherene brushed the spot with her fingers.
There was moisture on them.
“Ah! What the heck!”
Her whole body sprang up like a coil. Louina was startled in turn by the commotion.
“Oh my, you scared me. Why are you so surprised?”
“Uh…… um…… I guess I just yawned?”
Louina chuckled, wearing a mischievous smile. Epherene deliberately stiffened her expression. Then, fidgeting with her fingers, she said,
“It’s really not like that. Even if the Professor really is suffering from some terrible illness…….”
Epherene’s cheeks puffed out. Like a dejected pufferfish.
“I think it’s something like karma.”
“Karma?”
Louina asked back. Epherene pouted bluntly.
“……Because he did so many bad things before.”
“Hm? You know about the things Deculein did?”
“…….”
Epherene quietly nodded.
While investigating her father’s traces throughout the Magic Tower and the Floating Island, she had heard a great deal of information and rumors. Among them were inciting violence, ostracizing commoners, stealing papers, and so on…… an unbelievable number of wicked deeds.
Louina nodded as well.
“That’s right. Deculein wasn’t normal. Especially during his Academy days, I wondered if he was even human……”
“The Academy?”
“Yes. The Academy is far more bound by family and status than the Magic Tower.”
Remembering those days, Louina’s face turned weary. Epherene thought about it for a moment too, and even imagining it was frightening.
The time when Deculein’s current personality reigned as pure evil. How terrified must the commoners at the same Academy have been?
“He and I had quite the ill-fated relationship too…… But now I think it doesn’t matter anymore. I did receive some help from Deculein in my own way, and above all, it’s like I forgot before I even had the chance to remember.”
“…….”
“Still, I am curious. How Deculein’s magical ability advanced to where it is now. They say he’s the seventh strongest in the Empire or something, right? I don’t think that’s true, but this stone also seems to have been made by Deculein himself.”
For some reason, Epherene felt as though she knew why.
Rohakan had once said it.
That the closer a mage came to the end of their life, the more opportunities they were given to realize the truth. It was an entirely natural phenomenon that occurred because the human soul grew closer to “mana” than to the earth.
“Oh my. It’s already this late.”
Louina checked the clock and rose from her seat. Then she smiled brightly and said,
“What I just said is a secret, all right?”
“Ah, yes, of course. Naturally. Are you going somewhere again?”
“Yes. The project inspections are still in progress. There’s still more I have to teach the babies. I’m quite worried, you know?”
Epherene nodded.
This professor calls her disciples babies. It was somehow cringeworthy, but also warm.
“Yes. Take care. And please speak comfortably with me.”
“Oh, no. You’re Deculein’s disciple, so I should treat you properly too. Anyway, Assistant Epherene, do your best!”
Fighting. Louina clenched her fist and even gave her a wink before leaving with an elegant stride.
Her retreating figure was that of a very cool adult.
If I ever have disciples someday, I should do that too.
“……You stay still.”
Epherene tapped the woodsteel that had been resonating in her arms for some time. The woodsteel’s vibration cut off with a vrrr, but—
Vrrrrrrrrrr—!
Soon it became an even greater resonance, tickling Epherene.
“Ah, aah, hey, stop! Aaagh!”
* * *
Today’s work as Director of Planning ended with thirteen teams.
To summarize only the results: four teams passed, five teams had their budgets cut, and the rest were all rejected.
However, I had provided them with sufficient alternatives, so they would revise them according to their abilities and return. If they could not even do that, then they lacked both the qualifications and the capacity to proceed with their projects.
“I’m leaving.”
“Ah, yeees!”
When I stood, Allen, who had been organizing the reports, straightened his back.
“Goodbyyyye! I’ll finish all of this!”
Seeing him buried in documents and shouting with such vigor for some reason looked pitiful.
I nodded and opened the office door.
However.
“…….”
Epherene was standing beyond the threshold.
“…….”
She looked up at me with a startled face. After gulping down her saliva and staring for quite some time, she gave a bashful smile.
No, to call it a smile was somewhat bizarre. It would be more accurate to call it a facial spasm.
“A-are you leaving? Haha, hahaha.”
“Move.”
“Ah, yes.”
Epherene took a step back. I passed by her.
“Goodbye, please take care…… Professor.”
A strangely wistful voice flowed in from behind me. Naturally, my brow furrowed. I turned around again and glared at Epherene.
“…….”
She merely bowed her head.
It was the kind of reaction I did not want to deal with for no reason.
“T-take care!”
Even her farewell was strange. I ignored her and went straight to the elevator, then out to the parking lot.
Ren, who had been waiting, opened the car door.
“Shall we go straight to the mansion?”
“Do so.”
I got into the back seat. Just then, the radio in my breast pocket crackled— and vibrated.
—We succeeded in securing Rockfell. However, I don’t think we can make it all the way to Hadekain.
Al Ros’s voice, which I had not heard in a while.
This was, literally, a “radio.” They said a crystal ball risked being wiretapped by the Altar, so I had commissioned a hardware store directly to create a radio.
“It doesn’t matter. You deal with it for certain.”
—Understood.
I cut off the radio. After leaning back in the rear seat for a moment, I tried using the 「Duct Tape」 I had just acquired.
“Hmm.”
The mana emitted from my fingertips condensed like tape. It was exactly the same as the tape I had seen in the modern world.
「Proficiency: 0%」
The proficiency visible to the naked eye was naturally 0%. However, there was a sufficient method to raise this figure in a short time.
Practical training.
That training method was also simple.
All I had to do was choose a person……
…….
“I-I can’t move! I said my body won’t move!”
I called Yeriel, who had been lazing about at the mansion. She had come up to the capital last night, saying she had work to attend to in the Imperial Capital.
“Let me down! Stop joking around!”
In any case, under the pretext of “magic instruction,” I began practical training, and the result was—
“I said let me down!”
Yeriel had become a tape chrysalis and was stuck to the surface of a large tree in the garden.
I asked calmly,
“Can’t you undo it?”
“Damn it!”
At that, Yeriel’s face turned bright red as her body trembled.
It had only been five minutes since she followed me out like a puppy, all happy about it.
“Grrrrr—”
Her fighting spirit was noisy, but that was the end of it. No matter how much strength she used, she could not break free from the tape’s restraint, and even when she scattered mana or magic, 「Duct Tape」 resisted sufficiently.
Though the opponent was Yeriel, one of the tape’s functions—“binding”—had certainly been proven.
Snap!
I flicked my fingers and released Yeriel.
“Ack!”
The tape vanished in an instant, and Yeriel, who had been bound to the tree, fell with a thud.
Covered in grass and dirt, she quickly got up and glared at me.
“Seriously, what is wrong with you lately?!”
Seeing her shriek, I became needlessly mischievous.
“To think you cannot even respond to this level.”
“What?”
“When do you intend to grow?”
“……What are you talking about?”
Yeriel gave me a coy glare, then picked up a pouch lying nearby. Then she took out a document.
“Whatever! Just take this.”
“…….”
I accepted it without a word.
[Certificate of Broken Engagement: Yukline–Freyden].
The title itself was somewhat uncomfortable.
“What’s with that expression? Are you not going to break off the engagement?”
Yeriel asked. I did not answer.
“There aren’t really any disadvantages for either side anyway. No, only we lose out. We agreed to call it even with all the support Yukline has given Freyden until now.”
“…….”
I slowly nodded.
If that was the case, then now, it would be right to let go to some extent.
For Julie’s sake, and for mine.
“……Does that mean you’re breaking it off?”
The only path for Julie to live now was to hate Deculein.
To loathe him enough to kill him.
Even if someday I found a way to heal her, that was still far in the future.
“I will.”
* * *
Deculein’s test—commonly known as “moving the pebble.”
On the day that simple test entered its fourth day.
At last, the first person to pass appeared.
“Hell yeah——!”
As expected, it was Roserio.
As befitting her, whose talents were all concentrated in ore, land, transmutation, and manipulation, she was the first to understand Deculein’s theory, to accept it, and finally to succeed in moving the 「Magic-Resistant Pebble」.
“Look! I succeeded!”
Roserio placed the pebble on her palm. Then duuuung— the pebble rose into the air. At the same time, every object in the main square floated up with a wooong.
「Gravity Field」, a magic ten stages nobler than something like 「Telekinesis」. Reality interference in which the caster arbitrarily manipulated the gravity nearby, in other words, the pinnacle of the “manipulation” category.
It was the result of applying Deculein’s theory to that high-level magic.
“Kahahaha—! I’m going! Ahahahahaha——!”
“…….”
Everyone, including Epherene, looked at Roserio with envy, and Roserio left the main hall to brag about this achievement to Deculein and the entire Floating Island.
“Sigh…… Hm?”
Epherene, sighing, noticed Creto rising from his seat.
“Where are you going, Mage Creto?”
“Hm? Ah. I’m going to visit my elder sister today.”
“…….”
At those words, everyone fell silent for a moment.
Creto’s elder sister was none other than the current Emperor, Sophien.
Epherene was once again made keenly aware of his status.
“Y-yes. Have a safe trip.”
“Right. Leafy, you work hard too.”
“……Yes.”
Leafy. These days, all the high-ranking mages called her Leafy.
This was all Ihelm’s fault.
Grumbling, Epherene once more seeped her mana into the pebble.
“What on earth are you……?”
This pebble was like some kind of black hole; no matter how much mana she seeped into it, there was no change.
It did not bounce back out, nor did any magic formula activate.
Whether this pebble was annihilating all the mana or what.
“…….”
For no reason, Epherene looked at the woodsteel on the desk.
“……Do you know?”
When she asked that, the woodsteel let out a strange pfft sound, as if finding her pathetic.
“Is this thing making fun of me?”
Epherene glared at the woodsteel and sighed.
“Sigh.”
“Epal. Look at this.”
Just then, someone called Epherene. It was Drent.
Epherene quickly turned around and glared at him.
“Ah, damn it. Just call me Leafy. What the heck is Epal?”
“Hahaha. Sorry. This one has a better ring to it. 282.”
“Ah. Seriously, stop.”
“Got it. Sorry, sorry. Look at this. I think I found something—”
I think I found something……
I think I found something……
I think I found something……
That voice rang like an echo. A sudden dizziness overtook her head, and Epherene blankly closed her eyes.
“Ah, anemia……”
When she rubbed her temples and opened her eyes again.
“……What.”
The world had changed. She had clearly been in the main square of the hall, yet suddenly she was in some place like ruins—
“Stupid Epherene.”
A familiar voice called her. Epherene flinched in surprise and turned around.
“Move, Epherene. Why are you here?”
A corridor of ruins. Beneath the dark shadow, Sylvia stood. The moment Epherene saw her, her face turned aghast.
“……You! Why do you look like that?!”
She was covered in wounds, blood streaming from them. Her hair was tangled every which way, and even the index and middle fingers of her right hand looked as though something had bitten them off…….
“Hurry up and go. You might end up like this too.”
“Wh—”
The moment she tried to ask why, she understood.
It was at the far end of the ruined corridor.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr——!
A roar as low as an infrasonic rumble, and as fierce as a volcano.
“……!”
In the dark corridor, its scarlet body looked especially alien.
Compressed muscles and a magnificent frame. The character for king [王] was clearly engraved between its brows.
A beast radiating dignity and majesty, dominating the entire area.
A tiger.
“Ti, ti, ti, ti…….”
The form of a “true” wild beast, seen for the first time in her life.
For an instant, Epherene’s breath caught in her throat. That savage pressure seemed to crush her entire body.
“Idiot. Do whatever you want if you want to die.”
Dadadadadada—!
Sylvia quickly fled, and Epherene belatedly followed after her.
“Hey! Wait, wait for me!”
* * *
……Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, which Cret had returned to after a long absence. After being received by Sophien, he first recommended to her the “Organized Edition of Deculein’s Theory.”
“You must master this theory to move a pebble.”
“Hmm. It doesn’t seem like anything special.”
“No. Moving a pebble is extremely difficult. The Floating Island isn’t watching for nothing.”
“Is that so.”
Sophien answered indifferently.
In truth, she already knew. The red-haired munchkin. Even now, she would often watch through the possessed body mewling beside Cret.
“By the way, Your Majesty. Your attire is rather unusual today.”
“It is something offered by Yuren. If I wear it, they can save face as well.”
The emperor’s outfit today was the modern style said to be fashionable in Yuren. Blue trousers and a buttoned blouse.
Cret nodded and said,
“In any case, Professor Deculein truly is an exemplary man. A talent who will make the continent great. He is the one most fitting for the slogan ‘A Great Continent.’ Haha.”
“……You come here after so long, and all you talk about is Deculein.”
Sophien was somewhat displeased. This cute little brother of hers was becoming less and less cute the more he grew.
“Well, is there anything else in particular to say? So, about that…….”
Ahem—!
Cret cleared his throat and took out a pebble.
“If you could just…….”
“Was your purpose in coming here to cheat?”
“Oh, why would you put it that way? It isn’t cheating. I came to seek advice from my beloved Your Majesty.”
“……Tsk. Your words, at least.”
Still, hearing him say he loved her did improve her mood a little.
“I will take a look.”
Sophien silently pretended to read Deculein’s theory.
Then she cast 「Psychokinesis」 on the pebble.
Tak—! The pebble moved with a snap.
“Oh! Ooooh! As expected! As expected of Your Majesty!”
“It is easy.”
In truth, she had already studied it through her possessed body, but she pretended she was seeing it for the first time. Pretended she had not put in any effort at all.
At that, Cret said with a look of utter admiration.
“Then please tell me the secret as well!”
“Enough. Cret.”
“Yes?”
“……Did that fellow say anything to you?”
“That fellow? Do you mean Professor Deculein?”
Cret asked back in an innocent tone. Sophien nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why is Professor Deculein ‘that fellow’?”
At Cret’s point, Sophien let out a low breath.
“……Before I get angry.”
“Ah, yes. What do you mean by anything?”
“Anything about me.”
“……?”
To Cret, whose face was bewildered with incomprehension, Sophien spoke as though sighing.
“It seems that fellow is in love with me.”
“……What did you say? Ha.”
For a moment, Cret let out an incredulous laugh.
“Hahahaha. Hahahahaha…….”
That laughter soon spread into mockery. Sophien’s blood pressure rose for an instant, but she endured it.
“Your Majesty. I was not going to say this, but have you perhaps fallen ill lately?”
“What, you bastard? You lunatic.”
“No. Rumors have been going around that you have been passionate about everything lately…….”
“And what of it?”
Cret laughed, “Haha,” like an old man.
“That may be a good thing, but why would Professor Deculein be in love with you, Sister?”
“On what basis?”
“No. Isn’t it obvious? What does the professor lack, that he would someone like you…….”
At that moment, Cret realized he had misspoken. Sophien’s gaze was sharp enough to kill. Swallowing, he quickly twisted his words.
“Wise and benevolent—”
“Has this bastard gone mad? Do you take the emperor for a joke?”
Knock, knock—
Just then, a knock rang out.
It was an opportunity to extend his life.
“What is it!”
Cret asked as though shouting, and outside, a maid said,
—Yes. Your Majesty Sophienne. Grand Duke Cret. Deculein, the magic tutor, has arrived.
Today was the day of their magic lesson. It was the reason Cret had made a point of coming to see Sophien.
“Mm. This is good timing, Your Majesty. Why not ask him directly?”
“Ask him directly? Me?”
Sophien pointed at her own chest with a finger. Cret narrowed his eyes and chuckled.
“……Yes. I will ask in your stead.”
“Hmph. No need. Hey! Tell him to enter!”
—Yes, Your Majesty.
At Sophien’s cry, the door opened. Beyond it stood Deculein.
Dressed in a navy suit, he approached with dignity and sat facing Sophien.
“Your Majesty. And the Grand Duke is here as well.”
“Haha. It just turned out this way…….”
Sophien jerked her chin at Cret. She was telling him to hurry up and ask.
……She had just said there was no need.
Cret first opened the conversation.
“Ah, right. Professor Deculein. Have you tried something called Go? It is a game both His Majesty and I have become absorbed in lately.”
“Yes. I have.”
“Oh. Truly?”
Both Cret and Sophien widened their eyes.
“Since Your Majesty recommended it, I trained diligently.”
“What would you say your rank is? Ah, right, in Go, ‘rank’ refers to one’s level. Like Monarch or Lumiere. The highest master is 9-dan.”
“I see.”
“So, what rank do you expect yourself to be?”
At that, Deculein looked at Sophien. Sophien studied his face. As always, it was the face of a handsome nobleman, calm and emotionless.
“In my opinion…… I believe I would be sufficiently able to contend with Your Majesty on equal footing.”
“?”
In an instant, Sophien’s brow furrowed sharply. At first she was bewildered, and then heat rose to her head.
That arrogant statement was absurd.
Grit…….
Clenching her teeth hard, Sophien forced the corners of her mouth to twist. No, rather than her mouth, it was her insides that twisted even more.
How dare he.
A man who had practiced for a mere ten days.
“……In that case, I cannot let this pass.”
Bang—!
Sophien’s psychokinesis roughly set down the Go stones and board.
“We shall compete. If you defeat me, I shall grant you one wish.”
A declaration that she would grant a wish. The words of none other than the emperor, the one above all.
Cret was greatly surprised, and Deculein looked into empty air.
It was because a quest alarm had suddenly appeared.
[Independent Quest: The Emperor’s Wager]
“……?”
An “Independent” quest. Not even a “Side” quest, but an “Independent” quest, triggered by something as trifling as Go.
If it was an Independent quest from the emperor, he had expected it to at least be on par with 「The Demon’s Mirror」…….
“Yes. Understood.”
Though rather flustered, Deculein soon nodded calmly.