Epherene stood atop the barrier, gripping the automatic crossbow. She placed her hand on the handle exactly as the guard instructed.
“Yes. Now all you have to do is pull the trigger.”
“……Dududu— dududududu— dududu—”
However, she only mimicked the firing with her mouth. If she actually shot the arrows, that would be a waste too.
The guard, who had been watching with a smile, said,
“You may try firing it yourself, if you’d like.”
“It’s fine. More importantly, I sometimes hear thunder at night. Was it this?”
“Yes. With this crossbow, we can suppress even trolls without difficulty.”
“Oooh……”
Epherene and Louina were impressed.
Trolls were magical beasts that should have been difficult to suppress with most physical force. Had some kind of magic been added to this crossbow?
It was then.
Whoosh—!
The wind blew, and two small children nimbly leapt over from outside the barrier. The moment Epherene saw them, her eyes went round.
“Lia? Leo?”
“Ah. Big sis Epherene.”
“Hi, Epherene!”
The two adventurers had become close to her before she knew it. The children also greeted Epherene with bright smiles.
Epherene stroked their heads and asked,
“Where have you two been?”
“We went outside for a bit to communicate with Ganesha. We also caught a wild boar on the way back.”
“Oh, right. Your captain is buying us time right now, isn’t she?”
Ganesha of the Red Garnet Adventurers truly was as amazing a figure as she had been in the fairy tales. To think she would draw the attention of such a vast army of magical beasts all by herself……
“But, a wild boar?”
“Yes! Look at this!”
Lia pointed to the boar Leo was carrying on his back. The moment Epherene saw that plump thing, her mouth watered.
“……It looks delic—”
“Guard. Where is the Professor?”
Suddenly, a voice colder than a winter blizzard flowed in. Everyone turned that way.
It was Yulie.
“Why is that friend looking for the Professor again…… She seems really angry.”
Louina murmured like a sigh. Since the story of Yulie and Deculein was far too famous, Epherene’s face also turned a little bitter.
“……But why did those two break up? Sir Deia, no matter how I look at her, doesn’t seem like the sort of person to commit corruption……”
“Who knows. I’m not sure.”
Louina shook her head.
The official reason was the loss of dignity caused by corruption involving Yulie and the Frenheim Knights. However, no matter how one thought about it, Yulie was not the sort of person to commit something like corruption.
Louina said,
“Miss Epherene. Did you perhaps hear anything from the Professor?”
“No. Not really……”
“Nothing at all?”
“Yes. The Professor didn’t seem to dislike Sir Yulie all that much, though.”
Epherene answered as such.
Well, Deculein was not the sort of person who would reveal his true feelings so carelessly either.
Louina had been nodding without much thought, but then, at some point—
“Ah?”
Her eyes widened as if she had realized something. Sensing that something was unusual, Epherene clung to her.
“No way.”
“……Why? What is it?”
Louina felt a bolt of lightning flash through her mind. Epherene swallowed.
“What is it, Professor?”
“……”
Louina glanced around. Lia and Leo, the two children, were staring blankly in their direction.
“Come with me.”
Louina led Epherene to a secluded place. In a concave trench of the barrier, she whispered as if reproaching herself.
“……I’ve been suspecting it all this time, but why did I only realize it now? Yulie isn’t the kind of friend who would commit corruption.”
“?”
Why was this professor suddenly acting like this? Epherene only blinked.
Louina, who had been watching her, asked,
“Assistant Professor Epherene, don’t you know?”
“Huh? No. And I’m still only an assistant.”
“……Whatever you are. Come here. Ear, ear, ear.”
Louina brought her lips to Epherene’s ear. Then she conveyed in an extremely small voice.
—Couldn’t it be because he loves her too much?
“……”
Even then, Epherene did not know what she meant.
However, Louina’s following words enlightened her.
—You know, don’t you? That Deculein does not have much time left.
“……!”
Only belatedly did Epherene’s eyes widen as well. With just that one sentence, the entire story made sense.
After all, it was a cliché that often appeared even in ordinary novels.
“……No way.”
Shock filled Epherene’s entire face.
Louina nodded solemnly, gravely.
“I think it is that ‘no way.’ Because of that, perhaps he broke up with her on purpose. Before she could be hurt even more because of him, perhaps he is trying to make her hate him instead.”
“No, but even so. That’s too……”
“I know. It isn’t a good method. But Deculein does not care about the method if it is for the sake of his goal.”
“……”
“……”
At some point, the conversation came to a halt. Just as the two women were exchanging a solemn understanding while looking into each other’s eyes, Yulie approached.
She asked Louina and Epherene as well about Deculein’s whereabouts.
“Have you not seen the Professor?”
Epherene scratched the back of her neck and answered,
“He probably went to check on the people’s living conditions……”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Yulie nodded and descended below the barrier.
* * *
Reccordak. In that place known as the worst prison on earth, the laughter of children echoed.
The pet dog brought by the residents gave birth to puppies, and the adorable animals acted cute toward the knights and guards. They, too, smiled. On the other hand, livestock such as chickens, pigs, and cows were raised purely for slaughter.
“These are the herbs we dug up in the mountains today.”
And I was teaching four herbalists, including Jupan.
“Good. Then I will ask one by one. Jupan, what is this?”
I lifted one herb. It was a flower with a purple stem and blue leaves.
“It is Veralon.”
“No. It is similar to Veralon, but the shape of its bud is slightly different. This is an herb called ‘Bella.’ It is quite effective for hemostasis.”
“……I see. Yes. This is Veralon.”
Jupan took out another herb and held it up. This time, it was the proper Veralon.
“Correct. The effects of Veralon?”
“It helps with stability and sedation.”
“If merely chewed and eaten, perhaps. But if crushed and extracted, it can be used as a high-strength anesthetic. It could put even a knight to sleep. Refine it as such.”
“……”
At that, the blunt-faced herbalist, Jupan, looked up at me with a rather surprised expression.
“How do you know so much, Professor? You have never once worked as an herbalist.”
“Because I acknowledge what I do not know, and strive to learn what I do not know. Sort the gathered herbs according to their effects and take them to the hospital.”
“……Yes.”
Reccordak’s old building, that is, the former main building, had been renovated and was being used as a hospital. For now, since the southward migration had not yet begun, it was only treating minor ailments among the residents.
“Hey, Deculein. Supplies have arrived. Go check them.”
At that moment, a greasy voice called me from somewhere.
It was Ihelm.
I dislike how that bastard rolls his tongue every time he speaks. If I were to transcribe his pronunciation just now as it was, it would have been something like, “Shuppliesh have arrived. Go sheck them.”
“What are you doing? Follow me.”
“……”
When I went to the entrance of Reccordak, a merchant caravan had indeed arrived, just as he said.
The guards had already gathered around and were checking the goods on the carts, while the person in charge of the caravan came running over with a bright smile.
“Haha. Professor! It’s good to see you!”
“You are quite late.”
“Yes. I apologize. There were too many bastards trying to hoard supplies, so I was delayed while pushing them all back and clearing them out. However, because we were late, we brought far more than what was in the contract! I also heard the rumor that you had taken in the mountain residents as well…… You will know once you check.”
Just then, the supply officer, who had finished inspecting the carts, approached. He spoke with a proud expression.
“Yes. That is correct. With this amount of supplies, combined with the food we have remaining, we should be able to feed everyone, including Reccordak’s residents, for a good three to four weeks. Also, they say supplies from other caravans are on the way……”
I nodded with satisfaction. The merchant rubbed his cheek and held out the contract.
“Then please sign here to confirm fulfillment. Haha. I would also be grateful if you remembered my name.”
“I will.”
Whoosh— It was the moment I signed with my fountain pen.
—This is terrible! Professor!
Beyond the entrance of Reccordak.
In the far distance, the silhouette of some scout appeared.
“This is terrible! Professor! Professor!”
He ran over while shouting loudly, knelt before me, and spoke as if coughing up blood.
“They say a landslide occurred on the mountain road leading to the city!”
“……A landslide?”
“Yes! Because of that, the caravan bringing supplies was completely annihilated, and the road is said to be blocked tight. They suspect Jeokgwe is behind it……”
My brow furrowed on its own, but it was a check I had anticipated to some extent.
From the Altar’s position as well, Reccordak was a land that absolutely had to be destroyed.
“Um…… What an unfortunate matter…… Then we’ll be on our way.”
The caravan leader and his mercenaries quietly turned around. To them, who were trying to leave in haste, I said,
“Did you not hear? A landslide occurred.”
“……Yes?”
“Reccordak is a natural stronghold. Therefore, there is only one path leading outside, and only one path leading in. That one path is the mountain gateway you passed through. If it is a landslide, that means the road to that gateway has collapsed.”
“Uh…… Then……”
“You are trapped.”
“……”
The faces of the caravan group turned pale, and I counted their numbers.
Forty in total. That many more mouths had been added.
“However, you arrived with remarkable luck.”
“Th-that’s true…… Ah, no, that’s not the issue. Couldn’t we force our way over the mountain and leave?”
“Do you think Jeokgwe would not know that simple fact? Do you think they would not lie in wait in the mountains and try to slaughter you?”
“Ah…… Those damned Jeokgwe bastards!”
The merchant roared and stomped on the road.
In any case, everyone in Reccordak was now trapped within Reccordak.
Since magical beasts were swarming in every direction, it would be difficult to expect support from the capital. Thus, after everything came around again, the greatest problem was once more food.
“……”
I swept my gaze over the area.
Reccordak’s barrier, the renovated new building, the fluttering snow, and…… a group of residents trudging along while carrying hoes.
“Where are they going?”
“Ah. They say there is land nearby where cultivation is possible. They say sprouts grow there even in this winter. It is difficult to believe, but they say they are working, so we are leaving them be.”
At a glance, it sounded like a “magical space.”
“I will go there as well. You are to guide the caravan to their lodgings.”
“Yes? Ah, yes!”
I followed after the residents.
—Let’s go, let’s go~
—Let’s go to work~
Humming, they carried hoes and plows and arrived at a place.
Before long, the sound of digging echoed out, and land where sowing was being carried out came into view.
Dozens of residents had gathered and were plowing the field.
Tak—
I deliberately made the sound of my footsteps. The residents who were scattering seeds flinched in surprise and knelt.
“……Uh, Professor! Wh-what are you doing! Hurry and kneel!”
“Yes, yes yes! Wh-what an honor!”
“Oh my……”
I slowly approached and lowered one knee to their field. I placed my hand on the ground. At the same time, I confirmed it with my naked eye.
──「High-Quality Land」──
◆ Information
：Land imbued with mana.
◆ Category
：Space ⊃ Magic
◆ Special Effect
：Crops do not die easily.
────────
Though its quality was low, it truly was a magical space.
However, when viewed through 「Great Magnate’s Wealth」, it was faint. The fact that crops did not die easily was not that great of an advantage.
“……Hmm.”
Perhaps I should bestow 「Midas’s Hand」 upon this land once.
I did not know whether it would work or not, but since I had mana to spare anyway, there was no loss.
With my hand placed on the ground, I manifested 「Midas’s Hand」.
Goooooooo……
A sensation as if something inside my body was being consumed in an instant.
Nearly four thousand mana seeped into the road surface, and the land heaved blue like waves.
“……”
Afterward, I looked at the ground with 「Naked Eye」.
One more line had been added to the land’s “Special Effect.”
For the present moment, it was quite a desperately needed effect.
───────
◆ Special Effect
：Crops do not die easily.
：Crops nourished by this land grow quickly.
[Midas’s Hand: Stage 4]
───────
With this much, military farming would be entirely possible. A bountiful harvest was naturally impossible, but commoners should be used to eating barley boiled into gruel.
If there came a time when they might starve, we could feed them barley porridge.
“A good discovery. Continue farming here.”
I spoke to the residents, who had been bowing low since earlier.
“I will dispatch troops to protect you.”
“Ah, yes! Ah, Professor! Thank ye, truly, truly!”
* * *
Night fell. I searched in case there were any other cultivated fields, but found nothing, and upon returning to the main building, I encountered the knights in the middle of sparring.
Clang—! Cla-clang——!
Beneath the crackling campfire, swords danced as they intertwined. Sparks scattered like flower petals.
At this hour, the training grounds always belonged to them.
“Oh, it’s the Professor.”
Just then, someone pointed at me. It was Sirio.
Beside him stood Gwen, arms crossed sullenly.
“Well, well. If it isn’t the Professor who said he’d teach us swordsmanship theory?”
I approached her and nodded.
“I can point out theoretical errors well enough. There are flaws in your swordsmanship too, Gwen.”
“……What? What are you talking about?”
“I’ll write up the parts you’re lacking in later and hand them over. Correct them.”
Gwen stared with her mouth hanging open. She gaped like a goldfish before spitting out a single dumbfounded remark.
“……Unbelievable.”
I found it unbelievable as well.
The sight of them failing to distinguish theory from practice, granting the right to evaluate solely based on one’s level in swordsmanship.
Ignorant fools.
“Yes.”
Then, from between the blazing campfires, a pure-white knight emerged.
Yuli.
“……I read what you wrote in your evaluation of me, Professor.”
I answered at once.
“Yes. Your sword had particularly many problems.”
A vein bulged in a cross on Yuli’s forehead.
I continued calmly.
“You are too honest. Whether it’s because of that inflexible personality of yours or not, maintaining that swordsmanship even in battle is foolish. Ignorant, even.”
“……Ha.”
Yuli let out a heated breath and slowly closed her eyes.
All the other knights fell silent. This time, they seemed to be on Yuli’s side.
Well, from their perspective, I was a magician who had never even held a sword.
“I can show you myself, Deia. How to dismantle you with pure swordsmanship.”
“…….”
Crackle—
At that moment, the campfire froze over. Yuli clenched both fists. With her head lowered, her expression could not be seen.
At last.
“Yes. Very well.”
Yuli handed me a sword. Then she raised her face.
With moist eyes in which anger, resentment, humiliation…… all sorts of emotions flickered, she glared at me.
“Please show me. I will learn humbly.”
It was exactly what I wanted. At the very least, the body of 「Iron Man」 and 「Strong Bones」 should be twice as tough as Yuli’s current one.
“……Huh? Everyone, wait!”
But then Sirio suddenly pointed at the sky. I looked up as well.
“It’s the Red Moon.”
The moon was being dyed red. It was the signal announcing the full-scale march south, but the knights merely nodded and said nothing in particular.
Gwen said,
“The Red Moon is the Red Moon. It’s not like we need to stop.”
The corner of her mouth twisted into a smirk.
“Show us, Professor. Where and how did you learn swordsmanship, to look down on knights like us so much? Without mana or magic, with pure swordsmanship.”
I nodded without hesitation.
Thinking that this, too, would serve as foundation for Yuli’s growth.
“I’ll show you. How to break an obtuse knight.”
* * *
Tick— tick—
The sound of the second hand ticking.
Sophien was tapping the desk with her finger. To some extent, she was nervous, and irritated as well.
“……How long do you intend to keep revising it?”
Sophien showed Creto her letter. It was a personal reply to Deculein’s memorial.
“Hmm…… First, I removed all the punctuation marks, including these quotation marks and commas, leaving only one each. All of these things like ‘You scoundrel,,’ as well.”
“Why? If I just leave the sentences there, won’t it seem too serious?”
Sophien fluttered the slipping dragon robe. Creto shook his head.
“Not at all. The Professor will understand Your Majesty’s feelings very well. However…….”
Creto rubbed his chin and said,
“Since it is a letter you are sending personally anyway, I think it would not be bad to add a sentence at the end.”
“What sentence do you mean?”
“Well, the Professor’s memorial is receiving tremendous praise within the imperial palace, isn’t it? As a reward for presenting a masterpiece that will remain in this era…….”
Sophien stared intently at his mouth. Sensing that gaze, Creto laughed softly.
“Something like, ‘We look forward to meeting you safe and sound,’ should suffice. It does not seem overly worried, nor does it seem indifferent.”
“…….”
Sophien pondered. In that time, which could not have been more than three seconds, she thought hundreds of times.
The result was ‘no particular problem.’
“Very well. Then I shall send it that way.”
“Yes.”
Sophien picked up her pen and scrawled the final sentence. Then she spread the letter open with a rustle and read the entire thing.
The paragraph beginning with something like, I have received and read the memorial containing your loyal heart— did not seem so bad in its own way.
“Your Majesty. Are you aware?”
But then Creto suddenly asked something out of nowhere. Sophien glanced at Creto.
“Am I aware of what?”
At that, he smiled.
“Right now, Your Majesty, you are smiling.”
“……What idiotic nonsense.”
Sophien quickly moved her fingers and felt around her own mouth.
Strangely enough, the shape of the lips she touched was odd, and as if to confirm the kill, Creto showed her a mirror.
“…….”
Sophien, a smile had settled on her own face.
Not a forced smile or a hollow laugh, but a ‘real’ smile that had flowed out unconsciously.
As Sophien blankly admired that face for a moment, Creto said,
“……I, too, am satisfied, Your Majesty.”