The magic formulae of the Altar seemed to lack any particular system. Circuits connected arbitrarily squirmed like insects, and at a glance resembled living creatures, making them exceedingly repulsive.
A formula that Al Rose, who had studied under Adrinne and came from the 'Ashen Remnants,' was seeing for the first time in her life—a formula that any modern mage would naturally never have observed even once.
"I can study the whole through a part. In one week, I will be able to distinguish, grasp, and dismantle the structure and formulae of all the Altar's magic."
Even so, Deculein spoke in a tone filled with certainty.
"What. Is there something else you want to ask?"
Al Rose, a fully-fledged mage herself, was indeed curious, but she shook her head.
"There isn't. Stop showing off and give me the money now. So I can take it and leave quickly."
"...Hum."
He cleared his throat and took out a bundle of cash from the drawer. Exactly three bundles of one million Elne each.
"Then I shall take my leave."
The moment Al Rose received it and was about to rise from her seat.
Knock, knock—
Someone knocked on the office door.
'—It is Knight Deia. I am with Deputy Director Pfhairden.'
It was Yulli's voice.
"I am with a guest, so wait."
At Deculein's words, Al Rose changed her appearance. Flowing blonde hair and beautiful features. It was her true appearance as 'Sincia.'
"If you are with a child, there may be some trouble, but this is fascinating. How did you make something like this?"
Al Rose found the recorder and camera made without magic stones fascinating.
"Hadekain Hardware Store, Rokkan's Dock. If I convey the concept, Rokkan invents it himself."
"I shall make good use of it going forward."
Al Rose rose to her feet.
As she tidied her hair and was about to leave, she suddenly looked back at Deculein. He was transcribing the recorded video with a fountain pen.
"...Can you analyze that formula?"
Deculein answered while focusing on the video. Blue magical power had already settled in his eyes.
"The framework of the formula, the form of the magic circle, is arbitrary. However, analysis and dismantling, research and deciphering. All are possible."
Al Rose smiled faintly.
Whether it was bluster or conceit. He truly was a peculiar human.
"Good luck."
Screeeak—
Al Rose opened the office door. Outside, Knight Deia—that is, Yulli—was waiting.
"...?"
Seeing Al Rose, she flinched and trembled. She opened her eyes wide and tilted her head.
Al Rose spoke without much explanation.
"My business is finished, so please go in."
"...Ah, yes."
Al Rose passed by just like that, but Yulli watched her leave and asked.
"Perhaps, if you don't mind. From where has this guest come......"
Al Rose stopped dead in her tracks and looked back at Yulli. She could have made up a suitable excuse, but a mischievous mood came over her for no reason.
And so, with a rather coquettish voice, placing a hand to the corner of her lips, she whispered alluringly.
"It's not alright. Shall I say... it's still a secret?"
"..."
"Then farewell."
Yulli's expression stiffened slightly.
"Yes."
Yulli nodded and entered the office, but at the voice that immediately followed, Al Rose ended up letting out a small smile.
'—You had an incredibly beautiful woman as a guest. She did not seem to be from the North, however.'
'Where did she come from, who is she?' Unable to ask so directly, a roundabout question.
'—Leave the documents and go. I have no time for idle chatter.'
There was no way that would work on Deculein.
'—Yes, understood. Ah, I meant nothing by it. It is just that she was a beauty who caught even my eye—'
'—Leave.'
'—...Yes.'
Yulli's peeved face as she was kicked out of the office. Al Rose watched only up to that point.
* * *
The next day. Early morning in Recordak.
Kuuuung—!
Outside, the thunderous sounds of battle still erupted sporadically, and Ifrien, who had been on night watch all night, felt like she would die of exhaustion.
It was no joke; she was truly on the verge of passing out from sleepiness.
"Haaaam......"
Knock, knock—
She knocked on Deculein's office door while yawning.
"Professor."
Knock, knock—
She spoke along with the second knock.
"...Professor. The Great Tiger Robe is finished. Sun-drying? Or whatever, they said it's all done so I brought it. Please take it, and let me get some sleep."
Again, there was no response. Ifrien narrowed her eyes.
"Hello? Didn't you say before that I only sleep when I'm in front of you? Why aren't you at the mansion? I'm telling you, I feel like I'm going to die of sleepiness right now."
Knock, knock—
There was no reaction to the third knock either.
"Ah, what the heck. You weren't at the mansion either."
Ifrien knocked a fourth time—knock, knock.
Inside that door, it was still quiet.
"Ah, what the heeeck—! I'm sleepy, dammit—!"
Ifrien's eyes, growing more violent the darker her under-eye circles became, were hardly different from a panda's.
Thud, thud, thud—!
"Kyak!"
She pounded ferociously like a bear, then flung the door wide open.
Of course, Deculein hated anyone opening his office door without permission more than anything, but she was saying she felt like she would die of sleepiness right now...
"..."
Ifrien lost her words for a moment.
Blankly, she looked around the office. Precisely, she looked at the chair at the head seat.
"...Huh."
Deculein was sleeping. And in a chair, no less.
Of course, there was not a single wrinkle in his unique uniform, and though he slept in a posture as if he were studying, not even leaning back against the backrest, it was an undeniable fact nonetheless.
Deculein was sleeping in a chair.
"The professor is deeead—?!"
No, since Deculein would never sleep like that, he must be dead.
The startled Ifrien quickly rushed over to Deculein.
"...Whut."
But when she actually got close, she heard breathing. His pulse was normal, too.
'How can this be. Is the sun going to rise from the east tomorrow?'
"...Doesn't it usually rise from the east? Ah, I'm confused."
She wasn't in her right mind from sleepiness. Ifrien shook her head and looked at Deculein's desk. As if he had been researching all this time, documents that hadn't been there before were neatly organized.
"Ah... well."
You haven't eaten anything for over a week, so it's no wonder you're exhausted.
"Here's the robe."
Ifrien draped the Great Tiger Robe over his shoulders. Even so, he did not wake.
Just how exhausted had he been.
"Hmm......"
Ifrien quietly observed the soundly sleeping Deculein.
This was the first time she had seen him sleeping like this. She had always fallen asleep first, and the Professor had always been the one watching over her in perfect wakefulness.
"...You look about twenty years younger when you're asleep."
If you ignore those broad shoulders, I'd believe you were my younger brother. She smirked and drew the curtains at the back of the office.
Kuuuuuung—!
"Ah, startled."
The vibration and explosions she could never get used to. Because of that, even when she slept, she kept waking up.
"...Then I'll sleep too. Haaaam—"
If she took a nap and woke up, Deculein would probably be up first. He would likely be terribly ashamed that his sleeping figure had been discovered.
But well, he had reaped what he sowed.
Ifrien spread out a blanket and pillow on the office floor and lay down.
"Zzz...... Zzz......"
In the spacious office, faint snoring echoed. The air had settled peacefully and calmly.
And yet, within that, barely thirty minutes passed before Deculein opened his eyes.
"..."
Having finished three hours of deep sleep, he rose from his chair. Swoosh—he discovered the robe that had slipped off.
A treasure-grade item with golden embroidery on a black background.
『Great Tiger Leather Robe』
It was a robe of tremendous performance, but he had no leisure to pay attention to such things.
"..."
Ifrien was sleeping on the floor. Snoring. As comfortably as could be.
In other words, before that girl had come, he had—
"This crazy..."
He muttered with all his heart. He swept back his hair damp with cold sweat.
"...Damn it."
Since becoming Deculein.
Truly, he had never been so ashamed.......
* * *
Noon in Recordak.
I climbed atop the wall and gazed out at the horizon. The eyes of the 『Iron Man』 were clairvoyant far beyond ordinary sight, and thus I could see the 'Myriad Demons (萬魔)' advancing from afar.
"...Professor. We have reached our limit."
Then, Dellik of the Imperial Knights approached. With a haggard face, he spoke as if pleading.
"Even now, abandoning Recordak and fleeing would be......"
I shook my head.
If I abandoned Recordak, the difficulty of the main quest later on would rise drastically. This place, which was to serve as the forward base for humanity's advance into the Demon Territory, 'absolutely' had to be defended.
"It won't be long. This tenacious battle as well."
It was not a lie. The end was now in sight.
Literally, I could see that 'end.'
The army of demon beasts covering the ground, their numbers bordering on the immeasurable.
"...How do you know that?"
"I can see it. And I can feel it."
"Yes?"
When I firmly closed my eyes.
Thud.......
Thud.......
Thud.......
To the sensitive sixth sense of the 『Iron Man』, a certain vibration approached.
The reverberations of those marching beyond reached all the way here.
"The final battle is near. It will be hard, but if we endure just this, we can survive."
"..."
However, Dellik and of course the Imperial Knights following him looked as though they could not believe my words. No, they had faces of those unwilling to believe.
I looked around at them.
"Are you very tired?"
The knights' faces were truly pitiable. Many of them had sweat dribbling down, sunken eyelids, and dried bloodstains.
"You would speak of such a thing at a time like this?"
Dellik finally bared his teeth. And in his muttering voice, murderous intent was steeped.
Murderous intent.
I stared at him quietly.
"Dellik."
"Yes."
"Your family is on the islands. You must want to see them."
"...Of course."
This degree of insubordination.
It could sufficiently happen in such extreme circumstances. I understood completely.
I asked again.
"Those behind you must be the same."
The knights all nodded silently. Dellik spoke.
"Therefore, let us go back now, Professor. We too have reached our limit."
"Dellik."
Let me say it again.
I can understand this degree of insubordination.
I can only 'understand' it.
"I ask again. Your family is on the islands."
"Yes. The desire to see them—"
"You will not meet them. If you leave Recordak. If you show such insolent attitude."
I took out a sheet of paper from my breast pocket. It was a communication paper linked to Yusepin.
"...What do you mean by that?"
I glared at Dellik as he asked back.
"I understand your dissatisfaction. However, I will not tolerate it. If you wish to leave Recordak, leave on your own. If you would show such worm-like attitude to me without knowing your place, do as you please."
Having understood the meaning of my words to some degree, Dellik's eyes widened.
"...However."
If the situation is exhausting, if they hate battle, if all manner of hardship drives them into a corner.
I had no choice but to hold an even sharper blade to them.
"Not a single one of your family on the islands will remain."
"..."
Dellik opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish, as if speechless. The surrounding Imperial Knights had similar expressions.
"Such threats are intoler—"
"Who would tolerate that?"
I looked around at them. No one answered. More than half of Dellik's knights had already averted their eyes from mine.
"I am the one who tolerates. The head of Eukline and His Majesty's Royal Guard Commander."
Speaking the answer, I approached Dellik. I brought my mouth to his ear and whispered.
'—Dellik. Do not crawl up beyond your station as a mere knight. Work like an ox and devote yourself like a dog while you are treated well enough. That is the only way for you to survive, and the life you enjoy will differ depending on your efforts.'
Gulp—
Dellik swallowed his saliva.
The murderous intent he had been arrogantly giving off until just now had vanished like dust.
'—Eukline remembers grace and enmity. It rewards loyalty, but a dog that bites its master is killed without hesitation. Bear that in mind.'
Having finished speaking, I placed my hand on Dellik's shoulder. A weight that was nothing much pressed down on his body. Indeed, his body tilted diagonally.
He bowed his head without any resistance.
"...Yes. I will bear it in mind."
"Good."
Tak— tak—
As I patted his shoulder a few more times and was about to descend the wall.
Hweeeeeeeing.......
An ominous wind blew. The sky was dyed with darkness. Dark clouds descended, and a murderous gale raged against the wall.
"..."
I looked down at the ground of the Demon Territory. On the other side, not far from the wall, black fog arose. It billowed up in clumps.
"Professor. What is that...?"
Dellik, who had now become a docile lamb, asked. I took a deep breath and answered.
"The mages of the 'Altar.'"
The fog moved as if it were alive, then spit out dozens of humans.
A legion of mages draped in robes. And also ranks of warriors protecting them.
"The Altar, you say......"
Tadadadak—The sound of footsteps climbing up from below the wall increased.
I looked below.
Yulli, Deputy Director Premien, Ruina and Ihelm, and of course the adventurer party including Lia and Ganesha.
The child called Lia especially was in an uproar.
"Professor! Professor!"
Naturally, she must have dragged the rest here.
"Professor Deculein! Those guys over there—"
"Stop blabbering noisily and shut your mouth."
I dismissed her in a single word. Lia thumped her chest as if frustrated.
"No, that's not it...!"
Kugugugung—!
The vibration that rang out then. The demonic energy emanating. Though they seemed to be preparing a formula down there, I did not care.
Rather, that demonic energy fanned my killing intent. It temporarily amplified my main body.
Lia shouted loudly and pointed her finger.
"Th-those guys!"
"There is no need to make a fuss."
"Why?!"
"It is simple."
Kwaaaaaaa—!
The magic unleashed by the Altar. Their force that emitted a maddening gale and condensed enormous demonic energy, however, at a certain moment.
Tuk—
Vanished as if a thread had snapped. It died down like a match being extinguished.
"...?"
Silence fell over the area.
"...Pt."
And I smiled. Those guys, this entire situation, it was all so amusing.
And so, a hearty laugh burst out before I knew it.
It was likely due to the influence of the demonic energy.
"Hahahaha—."
Watching me laugh like that, the knights on the wall looked on with slightly strange expressions.......