A scholar is one who contemplates the entire continent from a narrow desk. One who, by virtue of a peculiar temperament, is called a dreamer, a paranoiac, or perhaps a philosopher.
From where they sit, they calculate the world beyond, and with theories of their own devising, they predict the great currents to come.
However, words composed solely of contemplation and formulae, without direct experience, are seldom believed. They are dismissed as absurdities too far removed from reality.
Even if they happen to be close to the correct answer, they are not widely employed throughout the Empire.
For they are plagued by the famous attack: “To infer the future with numbers and sentences is no different from charlatanry.”
“There is insufficient basis to trust it completely. Professor Deculein is, of course, a figure of high renown in the magical world. However, this research concerns matters outside of magic, and even the Floating Island is ignoring the proof of his premises.”
Thus, it was by no means a coincidence that such controversy had erupted in the great hall of the Imperial Palace.
Deculein, who, more as a “scholar” than a mage, had invented an independent concept and devised a calculation formula to predict the scale of the monster wave.
“Of course, had it been an ordinary warning, we would have accepted it as well. However, Professor Deculein’s prediction is far too pessimistic and provocative. Fifteen times the wave from nineteen years ago?”
The monster wave from nineteen years ago was a major incident recorded even in textbooks.
There were still many who could not forget the scars of that day, and many villages in the North had collapsed into the back alleys of history, unable to recover from the astronomical loss of life and property.
“To put it simply, it is no different from the delusions of an apocalyptic madman. If it were not for the weight of the name ‘Deculein,’ no one would have lent it an ear. This sacred great hall would not have been swayed by such preposterous nonsense.”
That was the extent of Minister of State Romellock’s statement.
The reactions of the other retainers varied. However, most of them did not rashly add anything.
Deculein’s warning of “at least fifteen times that of nineteen years ago” was, of course, difficult to accept, but it was because of the standing of the Yukline family.
Sophien, the Emperor seated at the head, asked.
“Minister of State, you mean to say you do not believe it.”
“Yes.”
“Is there no one who will refute Romellock’s words?”
No one opened their mouth. Instead, the faction standing behind Romellock cried out loudly.
“““We believe Duke Romellock’s words are correct, Your Majesty.”””
All the remaining retainers kept themselves out of it.
Sophien was dumbfounded.
“……Your vessels are not merely small, they are nonexistent. Enough! I shall hear from an expert.”
The Imperial Palace had invited a scholar from the university. It was for the purpose of verifying Deculein’s theory.
“I am Luton, professor of mathematics at the Imperial University. It is an infinite hon—”
“Explain it to these fellows. I have no need of it.”
Sophien had already fully accepted the concept of the “collision value.” In her opinion, Deculein’s theory itself was flawless.
However, a prediction was still only a prediction, and she understood why her retainers found it difficult to believe.
“Yes. Professor Deculein’s ‘collision value’ has a rather complex calculation formula. I have prepared the process of calculation in advance……”
Luton began his explanation. A blackboard had also been prepared in advance to aid understanding.
“As you can see, this collision value is an exceptionally subtle concept. It is presumed that Professor Deculein devised this concept in order to correct the uncertainty of monster waves. First of all, the fact that he mathematically excluded the factor known as ‘luck’ is particularly noteworthy.”
The retainers did not understand the words that followed. They merely watched while coughing—khm, hmm—into their fists.
“Just state the conclusion. The conclusion.”
Romellock, unable to endure it any longer, spoke. Luton nodded.
“Ah, yes. First of all, our academic circles are reviewing Professor Deculein’s concept positively. Of course, other variables must be considered, but—”
“Hah. Then are you saying a wave that exceeds the great wave of nineteen years ago by more than tenfold will come crashing down upon us?”
“Mm…… I cannot be certain of that either. I would have to go to the North in person and compare the soil and atmosphere to know—”
“If the sample investigated is wrong, then no matter how fine the theory, the result can only be wrong.”
Romellock drew his own conclusion.
“Deculein must have collected the wrong samples. Furthermore, according to the prediction of the existing ‘Ruhaman’ theory, is it not merely double that of last year?”
“Yes. That is correct. According to the Ruhaman theory, the danger level of this monster wave is estimated to be about 1.87 times that of last year.”
Ruhaman, who died thirty-three years ago, was the scholar who first devised a model for predicting monster waves.
Romellock bowed to Sophien once more.
“Your Majesty. Ruhaman’s theory has been correct for seventeen years. Let what is right remain as it is. There is no need to be swayed by the theory of Deculein, a mage rather than a scholar, and waste the national treasury.”
“““We beseech Your Majesty to consider our words——!”””
Sophien quietly watched them. For no reason, she swept her gaze over those nauseating faces. Then she spoke.
“If Deculein is correct, can you take responsibility?”
“……Your Majesty. This is not a personal matter—”
“Deculein said he would take responsibility. That man wagered himself upon his choice.”
“…….”
They ran their mouths however they pleased, yet never intended to take responsibility.
If they were going to run their mouths however they pleased, then at the very least, taking responsibility would be the conscientious thing to do.
“I shall strengthen national defense. As part of that, from today onward, the military supplies of the imperial capital shall be monopolized by the Imperial Palace. Deculein’s report shall be distributed to the border territories, with an added note instructing them to prepare.”
“……Ah.”
Romellock clamped his mouth shut. However, Sophien’s decisions had never once been reversed thus far.
In truth, it was rather what he had hoped for.
If Deculein was wrong—no, since he would be wrong—then using this incident as a pretext to trample Yukline’s momentum would make it a worthwhile exchange.
“Today’s great hall conference ends here. You, too, shall each make your own preparations for winter.”
Yes, Your Majesty. Your grace is boundless……
Letting that thunderous cry pass by her ears, Sophien rose from her seat, and Romellock and the retainers quietly gathered together and left to confer.
“Really now, that reprobate Deculein stops acting like a reprobate, and suddenly he starts dabbling in some strange charlatanry.”
“All the better. It seems he intends to ruin the reputation he earned with his own hands.”
“Fifteen times that of nineteen years ago? Has he not watched far too many plays? I hear he has even been sponsoring plays lately.”
Romellock stroked his beard with a face full of worldly dissatisfaction.
“Hmph. What does a man like him know about sponsoring the arts? Were they not, from the beginning, a family of hunting and pursuit? A base breed who go around with blood on their hands.”
“Hahahaha! Truly so!”
Deculein, who could be called the foremost contributor to the immense power currently being placed in Emperor Sophien’s hands.
“Is a demon hunter any different from a boar hunter?”
“That is precisely what I mean. If a family had hunted boars since the beginning of time, would they not only invite ridicule? And yet, the only family treated well for doing a bit of hunting is Yukline.”
“Hahahahaha! Truly, Minister Romellock, your sense of humor is extraordinary!”
Because the ministers’ anger toward Yukline was quite sharp, their backbiting continued well past nightfall.
* * *
“No one is going to believe this!”
After returning to the Magic Tower, I also submitted the theory to Adrienne.
It was, in its own way, a definite result from my business trip to the North, but given how shocking the contents were, most reactions were skeptical.
“Is that so.”
“Yes.”
The Chairwoman frowned as she read the report.
“For now, I am studying the collision value Professor Deculein submitted as well! But!”
The Chairwoman pointed to a certain paragraph.
As expected, it was the conclusion. “Fifteen times that of nineteen years ago.”
“Isn’t this too excessive?! Professor Deculein, you were there nineteen years ago too!”
I was not. Nineteen years ago, there would have been Deculein in his teens.
“I suppose I was.”
“What does that mean? Anyway! I find it hard to believe~!”
“Believe it. This winter, your help will be absolutely necessary, Chairwoman.”
With Adrienne’s destructive magic, she could block off one entire sector on her own.
Not metaphorically or exaggeratedly, but truly, literally, “on her own.”
“Hmm~ Well! I always welcome any occasion where I can fire off my magic to my heart’s content! It relieves stress too! But it seems the border doesn’t like it very much!”
Adrienne handed over an official document.
It was a [Request for Review] sent directly by the three margraves of the North: Pihairden, Dhaman, and Delek.
“After all, if you don’t withdraw this theory, Professor, they’ll end up spending an outrageous amount of money on defenses! And if they spend an enormous amount of money on defenses, but the monster wave turns out to be lackluster? It would lead to fatal losses for their territories, wouldn’t it?!”
“I know. However, I will not withdraw it.”
“Wow! So stubborn!”
Adrienne’s eyes widened. She let out a snicker, then slammed both hands down on the table with a smack!
“Then we’ll have no choice but to go support the North! Since Professor Deculein belongs to our Magic Tower!”
“Do so.”
“Here! It’s the list of assignment locations!”
Adrienne held out a document. In a large font, the difficulty was indicated with stars★ for some reason.
“Did you make this yourself?”
“Yes! I’ll have to receive applications for firepower support soon anyway, so I tried making one! The more stars, the more incredible the assignment’s difficulty!”
I instinctively looked at the very top.
[Reccordak ★★★★★★]
—You might die as soon as you get there! Caution, and caution again!
“…….”
Reccordak. From that place name, a certain name came to mind.
“This Reccordak will be difficult to endure.”
Reccordak, the front line, would probably be riddled with death variables. No matter how capable Julie was, it would be difficult for her to overcome it alone.
“Then Professor Deculein can go and help!”
“…….”
“Oh, right! I hear Knight Julie is at Reccordak too!”
Julie was at Reccordak. That approached me with a slightly complicated meaning.
I was trying to distance myself from Julie, yet the storm that would soon arrive in the North was a disaster impossible for Julie to withstand alone.
“If only for old times’ sake!”
Adrienne shouted. I shook my head.
“See! Professor Deculein doesn’t want to go either!”
“It is not that I do not want to go.”
“Hmph! What are you talking about!”
“You should force me, Chairwoman.”
“……Pardon?!”
Adrienne, startled, asked back. Her large eyes blinked like a rabbit’s.
“I, who wish to become the next Chairperson, will gladly step forward for any task, so long as it does not damage my dignity.”
Adrienne, understanding what I meant, rounded her mouth into an “oh~.”
“……Also. Professor Deculein did say he would take responsibility for his research results! So going to the front line wouldn’t be bad, would it?”
“That may be so.”
“Good! Then I will assign Professor Deculein to Reccordak!”
“Is that so.”
“Of course! The final gate of the Chairperson test! Two months from now, Deculein and Ihelm will go to Reccordak! Together with Knight Julie!”
“It cannot be helped.”
I nodded expressionlessly. Adrienne went hmm-hmm and wiggled her eyebrows with a sly look on her face.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
“Yes! Go on, then!”
* * *
……Yeriel drastically strengthened the defenses around Rohalak, on the Hadekain border—that is, the area adjoining the undeveloped lands.
She repaired the walls, built watchtowers as well as fortresses and gates, reinforced the troops, and began practical training for the territory’s mages.
It was the result of placing complete trust in Deculein’s words.
“Ah, this is seriously annoying. Why did he have to say such weird, ridiculous things to the central government?”
In truth, she did not believe him. It was that hard to believe.
The insane prediction that a monster wave fifteen times greater than that of nineteen years ago would come crashing in.
She desperately wanted to ask how that was any different from the destruction of the continent, but……
“Ah, if even the family doesn’t believe him, our prestige will be completely ruined, so what choice do I have—! Seriously, so annoying!”
Yeriel pounded the car seat as she doubted. Truly, she could not help but doubt.
The balance she had spent already amounted to three hundred million elne. As winter passed, this cost would increase exponentially.
All the money earned through the Marik underground passage was about to fly away.
“My lady. We have arrived.”
“…….”
Yeriel looked out the window. It was the Rohalak detention camp and wall, where repairs were in full swing.
The butler asked.
“Shall we proceed with the troop deployment as scheduled?”
At the Rohalak camp, they would deploy not only prisoners, but tens of thousands of territorial troops as well. The plan was for soldiers and prisoners together to stop the monster wave.
Whether the two could be harmonized, she did not know, but it was the method Deculein had recommended.
“Fine. We’ll do it this way.”
Whether it was right or wrong, she did not know.
But right now, Hadecaine was overflowing with money. Even if all the money earned through Marik vanished, they would merely be back where they started.
No matter how they tried to squirrel it away, nearly half would be torn from them in taxes anyway, so it might be better to squander it on defense costs instead.
“If this prediction is wrong, we’re going to be in deep shit, aren’t we?”
“……Yes.”
“Especially the territories that trusted us and spent some money on preparations. They might demand compensation.”
“Morally, they may do so, but there is no legal obligation to compensate them.”
“I know.”
Yeriel answered curtly. Immediately afterward, she staggered as a sudden wave of dizziness rose within her.
“Good grief. Am I supposed to hope this winter really is the worst, or what…….”
Still, he must have made such a prediction because he had confidence. Because he was certain he was right.
“It is not too late to retract it even now, my lady.”
The butler spoke. Yeriel glanced at the rearview mirror, then shook her head.
“No. Even so, I believe him. No, I have to believe him.”
She muttered it like a sigh.
My fate really is a strange one. I wasn’t a Yukline, yet I became one.
And despite that, my brother acknowledged me as his younger sister.
“Mybro-Itrust.”
“Pardon?”
“An abbreviation. It’s popular among young people these days.”
“…….”
“He’s my brother. I trust my brother.”
“……Ahem.”
The butler cleared his throat without a word.
But Yeriel clearly saw the smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.
…….
“Haa…… as expected.”
Yuli requested support from the inner castle of Phairden. To be precise, she had asked Zeit for it.
However, the official reply that came down was rigid.
[Our finances are not ample. Hold out as long as you can, then abandon it.]
It was an irresponsible sentence. A cruel message. Or else, it meant they distrusted Deculein’s report.
Whichever it was.
Yuli had no intention of abandoning this front.
“Lady Knight……?”
Raylie called out anxiously. Yuli turned to her with a hardened face.
“……Just across the stream, there is a small village. A hamlet where thirty households live. There are four or five children, and six elderly people as well.”
At the far northern edge, there were many residents who lived depending on Reccordak. After all, the very meaning of Reccordak lay in that “symbiosis.”
To provide convicts who deserved death with at least a path to atonement. To allow them to spend their lives in a comparatively better way.
“Past the forest, there is another village. Fifty households live there. The adults of that village went out to hunt boar and encountered a tiger. So most of those left there are children, women, and the elderly.”
Yuli thought of the faces of the residents she had seen. They were the ones who had engraved her duty as a knight upon her once more.
“If Reccordak falls, they cannot flee. They have nowhere to go.”
For those barely surviving in the villages of the North, this place was their home and their foundation. Even if they did flee, they would be battered this way and that until they were worn away.
“……Yes. I know that too.”
Raylie let out a sigh.
“There’s no helping it. We can only hope Deculein’s report is wrong, or fight until we die.”
At those words, Yuli looked at Raylie. Raylie, too, showed a small smile.
Just then, as the two of them shared their bond and a common cause.
Knock, knock—
A knock sounded.
Yuli said,
“Come in.”
—Yes, Lady Knight.
The person who opened the door was an officer of Reccordak. He was holding an envelope.
It was sealed as confidential.
“An official letter has come for you, Lady Knight. It is probably a notice of reinforcements.”
Yuli nodded and tore open the envelope.
[Mage Fire Support: Reccordak]
Mage fire support. Her eyes widened when she saw that section. After all, in the North, mages were an extremely rare and special resource.
However.
─Division under Deculein.
─Division under Ihelm.
─The above two individuals appear to have volunteered for Reccordak as part of the chairman’s examination.
The name “Deculein” on that list.
Those letters, engraved far too clearly.
Brushed cold against her heart.