I entered Rohakan’s vineyard. I pushed forward through the jumbled worldlines with sheer mental strength. If I had not acquired “Tenacity” before, it would have been quite the troublesome obstacle.
“You’ve come.”
Thus I arrived at a cabin somewhere within the vineyard. A blue sky and harsh sunlight, as though it were summer. Rohakan sat on the wooden porch, waving his hand.
“Come and sit.”
His face was older than when I had killed him—that is, he was a young man.
“Hooh…… Indeed. You have changed quite a bit, haven’t you?”
I approached him.
“This should make you worth teaching.”
And so, the lesson began.
Rohakan had no preamble or needless embellishment.
“First, have a look.”
He began by drawing a formula in the air. It was a simple yet enormous magic circle, and to me it was an exceedingly familiar shape.
“This is your ‘Psychokinesis,’ yes?”
The “Psychokinesis” engraved upon my “Iron Man” body.
Rohakan grasped it at a glance.
“Yes.”
“What madness…… To carve an entire magical formula into your own body. Did it not hurt?”
“It was merely pain.”
Rohakan gave a small laugh.
“Indeed. You engraved a magical formula into your body and amplified the function, output, and efficiency of your magic exponentially. For an ordinary mage—no, even for most knights—it would be a method they could not even dare to attempt.”
A method possible only for Deculein in this world, enabled by the trait “Iron Man” and his unique mental strength.
“Every time you manifest magic, the circuits must overheat. That heat could burn your blood vessels dead…… At any rate, the fact that you’re alive is proof enough that it’s all right.”
Then Rohakan arbitrarily modified the “Psychokinesis” in the air. The form of the formula and the array bent ambiguously. Dozens of bizarre circuits newly sprang forth. Circuit intertwined with circuit, drawing an unidentified geometry.
I looked at it with “Comprehension.”
Rohakan asked.
“How is it?”
“……Inefficient.”
“Is that so?”
It was inefficient.
The three elements of efficiency in modern magic were shortest, optimal, and highest.
The circuits composing magic should be set as short as possible: shortest.
The mana consumed should be kept as low as possible: optimal.
While observing the two principles above, it should produce the best output possible: highest.
“It looks like cheap trash that fails to uphold even one of the three elements.”
“Huhuhu. Indeed. To ordinary mages, perhaps it would. No, they would not know. That sometimes, inefficient magic is all the greater.”
“Is that so.”
“Indeed. This formula is neither scientific, nor mathematical, nor efficient. However, in the literal sense, it is ‘magical.’ You, who look at things through the measure of reason, may find it difficult to understand.”
I looked at the formula again.
But no matter how closely I examined it, it was only incoherent.
Rohakan said,
“With this, your ‘Psychokinesis’ may be able to move ‘phenomena.’”
“Phenomena.”
“Indeed. For example, controlling the particles floating in this air. Controlling energy—especially gravity.”
I nodded.
Controlling particles or gravity with “Psychokinesis.” It was an extremely attractive and powerful—
“That is low-level.”
Rohakan cut me off. I turned my head and looked at him.
“Deculein. The essence of ‘Psychokinesis’ is the concept of ‘controlling’ something.”
“…….”
He was right. The official concept of psychokinesis was “controlling an object without physical contact.”
“However, focus on that ‘concept.’ When you control ‘something,’ no one knows where the limits of that ‘something’ lie, do they?”
Rohakan smiled broadly. I furrowed my brow slightly.
“Are you perhaps referring to some sentimental nonsense about controlling a person’s heart—”
“Hahaha. Even magic cannot move a person’s heart. But have you never thought of this? That with your ‘Psychokinesis,’ you could control all things dynamic and static. For example, that you could bring this ‘entire world’ to a stop. The imagination of controlling a ‘concept.’”
“Impossible.”
I shook my head. Rohakan clicked his tongue, tsk tsk, and continued.
“You little brat. Do you think there is such a thing as impossible in magic? The moment you are bound by notions, the moment you fall into a mold, your growth stops. So you, too, should try to become a little disordered.”
Splash—
A bucket of water poured down over the crown of my head. My damp bangs slid down, tickling my eyebrows.
“…….”
“Kuhuhuhuhu. Yes. That’s what I mean by becoming disordered.”
“…….”
“Kuhuhu…… Ahem. In any case.”
Rohakan hardened his face into solemnity again.
“This is the first teaching. Go back and at least make an effort to understand the formula I have given you.”
I rose to my feet. The formula Rohakan had conveyed had already been stored in my mind.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“……Indeed. Ah, and be wary of the ‘Voice.’ It seems ‘Erosion’ will begin soon.”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
It was not particularly surprising. The progression of the main quest, “Voice,” was still within my expectations…….
More importantly.
As I walked the path leading out of the vineyard, I reflected on Rohakan’s words.
What could be called his teaching was only this bizarre magic array left in my head, and it was endlessly inefficient and complex, to the point that it would likely take more than half a year to engrave the whole thing onto my body.
“It is worth contemplating.”
If for no other reason than that it was knowledge and advice conveyed by Rohakan—
—Deculein! Take this!
At that moment, before I could even turn around, an old wooden staff came flying through the sky toward me.
I caught it with one hand.
—I have no use for it now, you see.
“…….”
The name of that item was—“Murkan’s World Tree Staff.”
It was an incredible treasure. In a word, a staff at the very pinnacle of this world.
I looked at Rohakan in silence.
—Take it.
The World Tree Staff held in one hand, and my original staff held in the other.
Soon, I grasped Rohakan’s intent and nodded.
“Yes. I will deliver it, though I do not know whether she will accept.”
—…….
A staff of the world’s highest class did not suit me. A staff of this level judged its user and their talent, and above all, it came with the tremendous restriction of “mana quality Grade 2 or higher.”
That meant one had to possess talent at least on par with Adrienne to use it, and since there was no way Rohakan would give his staff to Adrienne, the remaining person was naturally—
Sophien.
—……Indeed. Even so, do not say it is from me. Tell her it is a trophy.
“Yes. I shall.”
Rohakan answered quietly and waved his hand.
—Let us meet again.
* * *
“Why didn’t you say you were freshmen?”
Back at the university café, “Blue Melody.”
Yeriel smiled as she spoke to Ahan, who sat opposite her.
“……No. It was our carelessness.”
“What carelessness? If you’re freshmen from another country, you might not know about the one-drink-per-person rule. Classes haven’t even started yet. I thought you were second- or third-years.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Mm. Is that lady over there the young miss you serve?”
Yeriel pointed to the lawn near the café. Sophien—no, Soliette—was there with some cats.
“But where did those stray cats come from?”
Soliette stood there indifferently, while only the cats fawned at her feet.
It was quite a strange sight.
Cats craving affection and an indifferent person. Wasn’t it usually the opposite?
“She’s cold. She could pet them at least once.”
“……Yes.”
Just as Yeriel was glancing at Soliette while drinking her coffee—
—Ignore that bastard.
A deep voice flowed from somewhere.
Yeriel’s eyes widened, and Ahan looked at Yeriel and asked back.
“What did you just say?”
“No. I didn’t say anything. But you heard that just now too, right?”
“Yes. It said to ignore that bastard…….”
—No, I will ignore him. But what do I do if that bastard does something?
The timbre echoed again.
This time, it was certain.
It was Ihelm’s voice.
—Don’t worry. Kagan Luna is a useless cripple who can’t do anything. Leave him be.
This reply was Deculein’s voice.
Yeriel looked around, and soon realized that the voice was ringing from the table where they sat.
—Right. What’s your younger sibling doing these days? I heard he quit the university.
Again, Ihelm’s voice asked Deculein.
—I told you not to talk about that bastard. It’s none of your concern.
Judging from the youthful voices and the topic of conversation, it was a conversation from quite long ago.
Voices of the past.
“……What the hell is this now?”
Faced with an inexplicable mystery, Yeriel swallowed, pretending to be calm.
“It is the Erosion of the Voice.”
And then, words that seemed to explain the phenomenon.
Startled, Yeriel turned toward that side. Soliette was trudging toward them with her hands clasped behind her back.
Yeriel said,
“The Erosion of the ‘Voice’?”
“Yes. It is a phenomenon in which voices of the past become mixed with the present. A conversation exchanged by people of the past at this place is being eroded and flowing out.”
“……How do you know that?”
Because suspicion was a virtue to Yeriel, her eyes narrowed for a moment.
Soliette smiled faintly.
“These remnants, these echo phenomena, will continue for quite some time.”
“No, I’m asking how you knew.”
“That is…….”
However, her leisurely expression stiffened at the words that followed immediately after.
—Oh, right. Deculein. Are you going to meet Her Highness the Imperial Princess this time? I heard there’s some banquet.
—Why bother? It is not an obligation.
—Why? It’d be nice to meet her. You can get acquainted early.
—Rumors are rife that her personality is savage and ferocious. Also, I am a Yukline. If I attend, gossip will spread that I attended, and if I do not attend, gossip will spread that I did not attend, so the best choice is not to go…….
Those words were the last.
The “Erosion” had been cut off.
“I asked how you knew. Aren’t you in the Department of Business Administration?”
Yeriel asked for the third time.
To her, looking frustrated, Soliette merely extended her hand.
“It was a pleasure to meet you. We will have another chance to meet.”
“……Huh? Ah…… yeah.”
Yeriel took her hand in bewilderment.
Without realizing it, she had shaken hands with the Emperor.
“Then I shall be going.”
Soliette turned away with Ahan, and as they did, Ahan asked in a small voice,
“My lady, I beg your pardon. But is this Erosion just now truly real……?”
“It is real. It is the work of a demon composed of the concept known as ‘Voice.’”
“…….”
He looked unconvinced. To that Ahan, Sophien said,
“Ahan. Request the Intelligence Bureau to investigate Deculein’s past movements.”
“……Pardon?”
At the sudden command, Ahan blinked. Then he gave a small smile.
“Aha~”
And added as though he understood.
“Though you say that, were you perhaps disheartened by the fact that he visited the vineyard…….”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“My apologies.”
“……It is because it will be advantageous to Deculein as well if I appear to suspect him.”
Though she had said she would permit Deculein’s visit to the vineyard, it was necessary to “pretend to be suspicious.” Otherwise, the eunuchs and vassals would run wild, demanding that she “interrogate Deculein’s true intentions.”
“Furthermore…… I seem to be curious. About that bastard Deculein’s past.”
She had never been curious about anyone’s history before.
These days—no, when it came to Deculein’s background alone—she found herself strangely curious.
Of course, it was not because of the Erosion just now, or because of a conversation along the lines of “there is no need to meet the Imperial Princess.”
“Do you understand?”
“Yes. I shall do so as soon as we return.”
“In addition.”
Sophien looked at Ahan again. Then, for some reason, she spoke with a mischievous smile.
“The Guardian Knight of the Empire after Gepfrid…… It seems the time has come to fill that vacant position.”
* * *
I returned to the Magic Tower only late at night. Epherene, who seemed to have been waiting in my office all this time, fell asleep as soon as I arrived.
Snore— Snore—
The girl was sleeping without a care in the world, her head on a pillow placed upon the desk, but for some reason, I felt chilled. The bizarre “death variable” she had emitted before kept coming to mind.
However, while I was in perfect condition, there was no way I would fall to her.
……Not yet.
Scratch— scratch—
I wrote down the formula Rohakan had taught me on magic paper.
As I scrawled it personally with a fountain pen, I recalled Rohakan’s words: “Bring this entire world to a stop.”
I thought about the essential concept of “Psychokinesis”—
“Hwaaaaaam——!”
—when the cry of an elephant waking up rang out.
Epherene.
Looking out the window, I saw that morning had arrived before I knew it, and my notes were filled with Rohakan’s formula.
“Haaaaam…….”
Epherene yawned repeatedly and checked her wristwatch. Then she spoke with a rather dissatisfied look.
“Professor. There’s an admissions exam briefing or something at Roteo Hall tonight, you know?”
“I know.”
“……And your work is all finished?”
“It is.”
I rose to my feet. Epherene looked up at me while stretching her neck and shoulders.
“Ah, but, Professor. When you go out for outside activities, couldn’t you just take me with you? You keep making it so I can’t sleep every day—no. You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you? Right? You’re deliberately tormenting—”
“Deliver a letter to the Imperial Palace. Say that I have a gift to present to Her Majesty.”
Epherene, who had been grumbling complaints, gasped—her breath catching as she tensed.
“……Today? To the Imperial Palace, today?”
This girl feared the Imperial Palace more than necessary. Was it because she had lived like a commoner?
“Yes.”
Today was Wednesday. As it happened, it was the day for lessons.
However, anything to be brought into the Imperial Palace had to be reported in advance. Whether it was a gift or anything else.
“……Yes, yes, yes yes. First, um, I’ll deliver it in writing. Oh, right. And…… here’s today’s newspaper.”
Epherene handed me the newspaper, The Journal.
Its headline announced the full-fledged omen of a demon.
—[The dead, or voices of the past, appearing in the middle of the street. Is this the beginning of another disaster? Or an ordinary magical phenomenon?]—
…….
—[The dead, or voices of the past, appearing in the middle of the street. Is this the beginning of another disaster? Or an ordinary magical phenomenon?]—
Reccordak, the northernmost edge of the Empire.
Julie set down the newspaper she had been reading. Sylvia, sitting across from her, shrugged.
Julie said,
“It is likely the aftermath of the ‘Voice.’”
There was a medal on her chest, and her complexion and color were quite good as well. It was thanks to Deculein having left the North.
“Yes. The Voice is trying to assimilate with this world.”
“There has been no direct damage yet, but it will need to be resolved before any damage occurs.”
“Yes.”
Julie had now grown used to Sylvia’s curt replies. The strangely hostile tone as well.
“…….”
Julie fell into thought for a moment.
After Deculein left, she had steadily developed here in Reccordak. She had become a renowned powerhouse.
Indeed, countless knights from the North now visited this Reccordak.
Simply to cross swords with her in pure swordsmanship.
In all those sparring matches, Julie’s record was—99 wins, 0 losses.
She had not lost even once.
Julie’s “awakening” had already spread beyond the North and across the entire continent.
“Sir Julie!”
At that moment, the door flew open with a loud shout.
Sylvia glared as if to say there was no decorum, while Julie blinked and looked over.
“Reilly, what is it this time?”
“H-H-Her Majesty the Emperor!”
“Her Majesty the Emperor?!”
The instant she heard those words, crash—! She shot upright. Her knee struck the office desk and all sorts of writing implements fell, but she paid them no mind.
With only her right hand placed over her heart, she stared at Reilly’s mouth.
Thump, thump—thump, thump—
“She has invited you, Sir Knight!”
“Me?!”
“Yes!”
“What is the reason? Could it be that my strength is needed for this ‘Voice’ disturbance?”
“I don’t know that either, but what are you doing! Hurry up and pack! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You don’t need to know the reason!”
“Understood!”
Julie put on her tiger-hide armor and picked up the bundle lying in the corner of the office.
“Hurry! Hurry! Your formal attire! And, ah! A gift for Her Majesty, too!”
“Understood!”
“In case there’s a ball, pack something other than armor as well!”
“I don’t have any other clothes! What should I do!”
“Oh, honestly! Then have a set made once you get there! You have money, right?!”
“Yes! Let’s do that! How much should I bring!”
“All of it! Your entire fortune! You have to buy the best you can! You need accessories, too!”
“M-M-Money is best saved as much as possible, isn’t it? I also have stocks—”
“Oh, honestly! Sir Knight! Get a hold of yourself!”
“Understood!”
Sylvia watched the two of them hastily packing with a somewhat pitiful expression.