There is no vegetation in the unexplored lands. Since it is already dead earth, ordinary plants cannot grow there; everything is a product of demonic energy.
Thus, in the Deadlands, not only demonic beasts but every feature of the terrain is a danger.
“Julie. You have no sense of direction. Why do you keep trying to guide us?”
In a place like that, Julie was taking the lead.
Gwen found it absurd. This was the same girl who had gotten lost even inside the Knights’ compound.
“It’s fine. As long as I have this map.”
Even so, Julie advanced while looking at the map. Her gaze was fixed solely on it. Gwen, Drent, and Debrin, who were on her team, were curious about that sheet of paper.
“This red dot is our current location. Therefore……”
Julie, who had been crunching over the ground, stopped walking. Then she looked around, sweeping her gaze over the surroundings.
“It seems to be here. Let us install the waystation.”
One of their missions was to install waystations even in the unexplored lands. Gwen asked suspiciously.
“Is this the right place? Are you sure?”
“Yes. Look.”
Julie showed her the map directly. The place marked with an X and their current location matched exactly.
“……Huh? This must be an artifact. Nice buy, Julie.”
“I did not buy it.”
“Then?”
“It is mission equipment. Sir Drent?”
“Yes.”
Julie and Gwen set down the materials they had brought. Drent, being a mage, constructed the waystation in an instant—just like that.
Watching him, Gwen muttered.
“……But I don’t know what the point is of building it here. The demonic beasts will smash it to pieces anyway.”
“I will also place the mirror.”
Julie, not listening, set up the mirror. She did not know why they had been told to install a mirror, but it was part of the mission nonetheless.
Aaaaaaaaaargh——!
At that moment, a scream rang out. The three knights sharpened their senses and stared in that direction.
“Ah, it’s fine.”
But after recognizing the voice, Drent waved a hand as if to say there was no need to worry.
“It’s probably nothing. That was Leaf screaming.”
“Leaf? A fly?”
“No. Epherene. She’s a colleague of mine.”
“Then shouldn’t we help her all the more?”
Julie asked back. Drent smiled faintly and shook his head.
“No. Leaf is…… a bit unusually talented. She’s also been receiving practical combat training from Professor Deculein all this time.”
“Right. If it’s Epherene, well, she’s that mage on Syrio’s team, isn’t she? Syrio will handle it.”
Gwen chimed in as well.
“Let’s just do our own job. It’s not polite to help blindly, you know. You know that too, Julie.”
“……Yes.”
Just as Julie nodded—
Kiiiiiiiiiiing───!
Beyond the Deadlands, a whirlwind twisted together like steel. A firm and sharp current of air wrapped around the entire area.
It was high-level destructive magic, making the scream from moments ago seem almost absurd.
Gwen said with a slightly dumbfounded expression.
“……Your friend Leaf must be quite the exaggerator.”
“Mm. Rather than exaggerating, I’d say she still doesn’t quite know how strong she is.”
“Why? If she’s that strong—”
Kiiiiiiiiiiing———! Kwagagagagak───!
The wind Epherene raised was, literally, a blender. A storm that ground up and swallowed everything……
Drent smiled faintly and said,
“Ah. As I mentioned, she received practical combat training from the Professor. Since she could never do a thing and only got beaten…… she doesn’t know. That she’s strong.”
“……Mm.”
Gwen thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Well, Deculein is said to be a mage highly specialized in real combat…… It was written that way in the scout report too.”
Scout report. One of the pieces of high-grade information provided to members of the Imperial Knights.
Julie asked,
“A report?”
“Yeah. Among mages, Deculein’s report is the longest.”
When knights and mages cooperate, they need to understand each other’s capabilities. Thus, these days, the Knights share information about mages, and among them, Deculein’s reporting volume is the largest.
“Is that so?”
“Even aside from the fact that he’s a mage, his personal combat ability is outstanding, he is extremely cool-headed, he has no hesitation in killing, and so on…… The overall summary is even more ridiculous. It says—”
“‘He does not appear to require cooperation with knights.’”
The third knight, Debrin, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. A middle-aged man, he was a fairly well-known knight attached to the Imperial Palace.
“I have never in my life seen such a paragraph in a mage report. Usually, reports emphasize ‘ways to protect’ the mage. But do not protect him? There is no need to protect him? I was dumbfounded.”
“…….”
Listening quietly, Julie looked at her wristwatch.
She pretended not to be uncomfortable, and Gwen had likely brought up Deculein on purpose to put her at ease, but to be honest, it was somewhat uncomfortable.
“We are short on time. Let us proceed to the second location now. Move out.”
“Right. Hey, mage friend, are you all right? Can you keep running?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Good. Let’s go. By the way, you’re cute. How old are you?”
“……Pardon?”
The four of them advanced deeper.
* * *
……The battle ended.
The snow-covered field was smeared with the carcasses of beasts and monsters. The world that had been so pure white was stained red. A cold, fishy stench rose from the entrails and blood spread here and there.
A snowfield marked clearly by slaughter. I looked at the system shimmering on my retina.
[Action Bonus: Due to fierce combat, a sub-attribute of 「Iron Man」 has blossomed.]
◆ Trait experience complete
◆ Acquired sub-attribute 「Hard Bones」
[Perfect Slaughter: You have slain more than 3,333 demonic beasts of a single type in one battle.]
◆ Acquired rare trait 「Demonic Beast Slayer」
First, Hard Bones.
I did not know the details. Its explanation was only, ‘—Your bones become harder.’
It must mean my bones have become even harder.
On the other hand, 「Demonic Beast Slayer」 was intuitive.
──「Demonic Beast Slayer」──
◆ Grade
: Rare
◆ Description
: An achievement realized through large-scale combat.
: The greater the number of demonic beasts you face, the more the power of your magic increases.
──────
“P-Professor! Are you all right!”
The guards and wardens came running. Each of them wore similarly shocked expressions.
“You people clean up these corpses. You should be able to sell them for a reasonable price.”
“Yes, yes!”
I had killed them cleanly. Their number exceeded three thousand, but at least they had not been mangled. They would be clean enough to skin and sell.
“P-please go in safely! Rest well! Leave this place to us……”
I walked leisurely back inside the wall. A brief wave of dizziness came over me, but I endured it.
My remaining mana was 「0」.
I had consumed all of it in this battle.
Even so, I did not stagger.
I forced myself to maintain a steady stride.
Like that, I returned to the mansion.
After washing myself and putting on a robe, I lay straight on the bed.
“…….”
Quietly, I closed my eyes.
* * *
Meanwhile, Zeit and his party arrived at Reccordak.
“We greet the Patriarch—!”
The guard standing at the entrance straightened and saluted. As expected, there was no one in the North who did not know Zeit.
Zeit said,
“Step aside. Keep my arrival a secret.”
“Yes! Of course!”
Thanks to that, the remaining five—Lia’s party, Sylvia, and Primienne—were able to enter Reccordak safely.
“By the way, what are you all going to do? There won’t be much to do here. There’s nothing from Iliade to spy on either.”
“We’re not spies.”
Sylvia shook her head. Zeit chuckled, and next Lia answered.
“We’re going to wait for Ganesha here!”
Last came Primienne.
“I have separate business matters to discuss with Professor Deculein. For now, I intend to wait at the prison office.”
“Good. In any case, let each of us do what we came here to do. Though my brief meeting with you star-like talents ends in parting here, our reunion will not be far off. May you complete your journey safely.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
“Farewell, King of Winter.”
The trio of Lia, Leo, and Carlos greeted him warmly, while Primienne offered the courtesy of the North. Sylvia had already vanished.
“……Mm.”
Left alone after having been six, Zeit crossed his arms. In that state, he looked up at the branches of a tree.
The shadow shimmering there took form.
“……You’ve arrived?”
Yusephine. She smiled at Zeit.
“Where is Deculein?”
“Hm? Right away?”
“Every moment is precious. That is the only reason I came. To hear from Deculein himself whether your deduction is true.”
“…….”
As if to prove he was a northerner, he was far too impatient.
Yusephine shook her head.
“Very well. I shall guide you. But I go first. Follow quietly. The Professor is sleeping right now……”
* * *
I opened my eyes. It was because, suddenly, I felt as though I was not alone.
“Oh my.”
Before my eyes was another eye.
A large eye. Its iris was white, resembling Julie’s.
That eye curved into a beautiful arc as it looked at me.
“Have you awakened?”
It was Yusephine.
“…….”
I looked out the window.
Night had fallen before I knew it, and the moon had risen. With half a day of sleep, my stamina and mana had completely recovered.
“What is it?”
I first checked the state of my clothing.
……There was no need. I was wearing a robe.
Yusephine took two steps back and smiled faintly.
“I came because I had something to ask.”
“Something to ask.”
“Yes. Rumors have been circulating lately. About Her Majesty’s poisoning. They say you know who is behind it, my lord.”
I looked at Yusephine. I thought I roughly understood why she had come to see me.
Using 「Villain’s Fate」, I inspected the area.
There were no death variables.
“…….”
No, there was a very small trace outside.
A trace so faint that I would not have caught it without the eyes of 「Iron Man」. Someone who had hidden his presence that perfectly.
Who could it be?
There was no need to deduce it.
Most likely, the person who would be with Yusephine right now was……
“Is it true?”
Yusephine asked.
I merely answered calmly. There was nothing to be flustered about. It was content I had seen to death back when I had been a player.
“It is true.”
Sophien’s poisoning. Behind it is Freyden. It is a very large “turning point” in a character quest.
However, what matters now is not that damned quest.
“I know.”
I devoted my thoughts to a way to eliminate the death variable Zeit possessed. To a method of peacefully persuading the man who had come with Yusephine……
……
“I know.”
Deculein said. In that instant, Yusephine’s heart sank.
Deculein’s expression, on the other hand, was calm. Yusephine could not analyze that look.
“……When you say you know?”
Deculein silently reached out. Wine and a glass flowed into his grasp.
A 678-vintage Gorwine. The cork of the wine considered among the finest was opened, and red liquid was poured into the glass with a soft gurgle.
“When I say I know, it means I know. What more do you want?”
Deculein spoke as if in a sneer, savoring a sip of wine. His expression, his gestures, his dignity—all of it settled vividly on Yusephine’s retinas.
It was a charm difficult to describe.
“I am curious. If you know, my lord, why are you keeping silent?”
“…….”
He stroked his chin. He tidied the hair that had fallen forward.
“Keeping silent…… Is there any need to speak of it? If you have watched me all this time, you should know. I am not some vagrant who lets his tongue wag as it pleases.”
Deculein looked at Yusephine. His gaze was straight, as though it would pierce through her.
“Even so, you may incur Her Majesty’s hatred. Are you not afraid?”
“Hmph. I have no such thing as fear. Even if I were to expose that truth, there would be no benefit. Rather, the Empire would fall into chaos.”
“……Chaos? Who is behind it, for you to say so?”
Deculein’s hand, holding the wineglass, stopped. For a moment, he said nothing and furrowed his brow.
“Do not test me when you already know. Yusephine. Your move is shallow, unlike you.”
“…….”
Yusephine felt briefly offended. She pouted. However, this time, even she could not do anything about it.
Zeit was watching from not far away.
“Is it because of Julie?”
At those words, Deculein reacted.
“……Julie.”
“That is right.”
He sipped a glass of wine. Yusephine licked her lips with her tongue.
“That may be part of it.”
So it was true. A small smile slipped out.
“I hope Julie will be happy……”
However, the words that followed were quite unexpected.
“And I do not want the North to collapse.”
“……The North?”
Yusepin’s eyelids fluttered open slightly.
Dekyulrein nodded. And then, he recited a line “that Jaiteu would love.”
“The North has sacrificed much until now. For the Empire. And for the subjects. And for nobles like us.”
“…….”
Yusepin blinked blankly.
“The Divine Demon Incident seventeen years ago. The Northern Marik Incident thirteen years ago. The Demonic Beast Summoning Incident of Rohal Geuroson twenty years ago. The Balrog Subjugation twenty-three years ago. The Lopalma Great Calamity twenty-two years ago, the Behemoth Advance eleven years ago, the Great Tiger nine years ago…… And countless monster waves and numerous other incidents besides.”
Dekyulrein recited all of the North’s history, one by one. He spoke of the records of the North protecting the continent.
He had read them as game scenarios, played through them directly as a player, and understood them through the history books of this world.
“Therefore. Though in the not-too-distant past Phairden committed an act it should not have, I am convinced. That it, too, was the result of being deceived—whether by misunderstanding, or by conspiracy and sowing discord.”
Yusepin simply gazed silently into his eyes.
Conviction dwelling in unwavering pupils. Transparent faith. The ‘Ego’ held by the human named Dekyulrein.
“Phairden is different from the other mutt-like mongrels of the Central region. It is greatly different from the insects that falsely claim to be nobles. That is why I believe in the North. In its divine righteousness and grand cause…….”
Why was Dekyulrein saying such things? Had he truly respected the North this much?
“The reason I do not tell His Majesty this fact is.”
Even at this moment, Yusepin felt no emotion whatsoever. No matter what became of her household, what treatment she received, or what situation she faced, she did not care in the slightest.
Her interest lay solely in ‘Yulri’.
“Of course, the love I bear for Yulri holds a corner in my heart as well.”
However, Dekyulrein’s conviction-filled appearance was—
So strange, so ambiguous, and yet so magical…….
“The first reason is that the North is nobler than any noble of the Central region.”
Yusepin smiled.
“The second is because I have no desire to be played for a fool by whatever bastards’ scheming.”
Just then, the revealed full moon shone upon him.
“Is that answer enough, Yusepin?”
Dekyulrein looked at her and nodded.
“Good. Even if the great sin you committed is revealed.”
His slightly disheveled hair. His face, with his forehead covered unlike usual, was beautiful.
“I shall protect the destiny of the North.”
Yusepin rested her chin on her hand. Without realizing it, she looked upon him as if admiring a painting.
“Therefore, just as I believe in them, so too may they believe in me.”
……Chewing over those words, Yusepin thought.
What a fascinating person. A person whose every word was filled with self-conviction, and thus seemed so very truthful. And a person who loved Yulri more than anyone else in the world.
“……Yes.”
For some reason, Yusepin wanted to believe him.
It was a trivial matter, yet a momentous one.
For there was no one else in this world who had ever made her feel the emotion called ‘faith,’ save for Yulri…….
* * *
Late at night. The plains of Rekoreudak.
Grit—
Jaiteu sat in that empty darkness, clenching his teeth. As a man of the North, such feelings were rare, yet something surged hotly from within.
“He truly…… is a proper man, that Professor Dekyulrein…… A hero and a stalwart. A true scholar.”
He looked up at the sky. Gazing at the great orb of the moon, he thought of Dekyulrein.
A man harboring love, pure devotion, and faith in his heart. A man who, despite his gigolo-like exterior, was truly the genuine article. Filled with faith—no, an incarnation of loyalty!
“To think the professor respected the North so deeply…… I shall reflect. I admit it! I harbored ill thoughts for a moment!”
Thud—
Jaiteu clenched his fist and struck the ground. The vibration shook heaven and earth.
Yusepin shrugged and spoke.
“So loud…… It is a secret from Yulri. Until that child recovers.”
“……Yusepin. I too am a man who has known love.”
Jaiteu answered with a strange sentence, and Yusepin shook her head as if pitying him.
Soon, the two gazed up at the full moon in silence for a moment.
However.
“Keuk…….”
A sound like someone choking back their voice came from right beside her. Yusepin turned her head with a blank expression.
Jaiteu was covering his face with his hands.
“Are you crying, by any chance?”
“……Who said I’m crying.”
Jaiteu raised his face again. The corners of his eyes were already red. Yusepin’s lips parted halfway.
It was truly a sight she had never seen before.
“It could be a pretense. Do not be too moved.”
“A pretense? He is the first man to acknowledge the North like this. There were even incidents that no one but a Northerner or a member of Phairden’s clan would know, yet the professor knew them. Such a pretense does not exist in this world. You know that as well, Yusepin.”
Indeed……. Yusepin raised her eyebrows in agreement.
“That is right. In truth, there was not a single lie. Especially the ‘Divine Demon Incident’ and ‘Northern Marik’—tragedies that the Imperial Family systematically concealed~”
“That is what I mean. Even those, Dekyulrein knew…….”
Jaiteu exhaled a great breath. Thick smoke, like that of a cigarette, billowed out. Soon, he formed a faint smile.
“Hmm…… For the first time in nearly forty years, it seems I have found someone worth trusting. I shall go out to the battlefield with him about ten times. I shall trust him with my back.”
Nodding and listening intently to those words, Yusepin suddenly realized a certain discrepancy and whipped her head around to glare at Jaiteu.
“Wait. Then. Are you saying you cannot trust me?”
“……I’m going, Yusepin. I have much to do.”
Jaiteu hastily rose to his feet. And then, thump-thump-thump—he began to head off somewhere.