······In the northern reaches of the continent, belonging neither to empire nor kingdom, there is a mountain range called “Bercht.”
Its elevation is 3,500 meters. With a resident population of roughly a thousand, it is the dwelling place of magicians known as the “Elders.”
Bercht is the aggregate of the magical schools spread across the continent, or an institution that gathers their collective will, and it ratifies and resolves upon the schools’ collective actions.
Any agenda adopted by Bercht possesses such authority that even the “Floating Island of Magicians” has no choice but to obey, yet “convocation meetings” are exceedingly rare, occurring only once every several decades.
─······A convocation, is it.
One day in April, the Elders felt it in their very skin: that convocation was drawing near.
─We must do so.
At Bercht’s highest summit, buried in long darkness, a meeting was being held in the Hall of Elders.
─A demon has appeared in the Dark Mountain, after all······.
From its very beginning, magic was invented as a secret art to execute the demonic.
That was why even Bercht, which did not involve itself in worldly affairs, made a grave exception when it came to demons.
─Has the list been drawn up?
─We will need to deliberate over the rising magical houses, but the attendance of the Twelve Houses is certain.
Those to be summoned were the twelve traditional magical houses, including Iliade, Yukline, Brann, Beorad, and Rewind, as well as eight rising magical houses determined by the achievements they had accumulated over the past ten years.
Since attendance itself was an honor to one’s house at a Bercht meeting, no family would refuse the summons.
─Iliade and Yukline. Those two houses once clashed bitterly.
It was the concern of Bercht’s greatest decision-maker, the Grand Elder “Djekdan.”
─That is a matter of the past. They have already reached a certain agreement with one another.
─It is nothing more than a superficial agreement······.
Djekdan let out a low sigh.
─Of course, that may be so. However, Gilleon has certainly grown gentler.
─You are hoping for calm currents in a strait.
Gilleon of Iliade had once been an uncontrollable conflagration.
A torch of ambition that wished to burn forever. Djekdan still remembered Gilleon’s conduct, how he had refused to let go of that obsession.
─Gilleon has a child greater than himself. His grand ambition now belongs to that child. He will never do anything that might bring harm to her.
This, too, was true.
Even that spark, which had seemed ready to swallow the world, had eventually died down, and he had brought forth a radiance more brilliant than himself.
Gilleon was fire, and Sylvia was light.
─······Then let it be so. As for the rising magical houses, ask the addicts of the Floating Island.
At Djekdan’s words, all twelve Elders bowed their heads.
─Yes. Once the Floating Island narrows it down to eight houses, we will send the missives.
When that day came, Bercht’s will would be transmitted to every Magic Tower and magical house in the nation. At the same time, the remarkable sight of high-ranking magicians from across the continent setting out on their journeys would follow.
However, the missives they sent always contained the following sentence in the postscript.
[ Bercht bears no responsibility for the safety of the magician. Bercht’s law is only magic. Death in Bercht shall be considered a magical natural death. Keep this in mind. ]
The reason for that would soon become clear.
* * *
About ten days later, the items I had won at auction in Luten came pouring in.
As Ganesha had advised, I bought two top-grade magi-engineering safes, and stored one each in the main building and the annex. Not only that, I called Professor Lellin of the University Magic Tower and the magicians of the assistant department under him to renew the mansion’s defenses.
With this, there should be no chance of theft.
“As for things I can use myself······.”
Among the many items, there were two artifacts that did not go into the safes but remained in my hands.
Both were relic-grade, the sort any magician would covet.
───「Luperin’s Ring」───
◆ Grade
：Masterpiece
◆ Information
：Equipment crafted by “Luperin,” one of the foremost artifact artisans of his era. His blood, sweat, and breath dwell within it.
◆ Category
：Equipment ⊃ Artifact ⊃ Accessory
◆ Wearing Effects
：Blood circulation becomes smoother.
：Mana recovery speed increases, and the power of all magic is amplified by an extremely small amount.
────────
A ring that aids blood circulation and mana recovery.
It also has the tiny effect of amplifying the power of all magic by an extremely small amount—when the explanation is phrased like this, it is usually around 1% to 3%.
───「Ancient Relic Necklace」───
◆ Grade
：Relic
◆ Information
：A relic necklace engraved with ancient runes.
◆ Category
：Equipment ⊃ Artifact ⊃ Accessory
◆ Wearing Effect
：Stores 「300」 mana.
────────
A necklace designed to hold mana. If one were to compare its one-dimensional function, it was a “portable battery.”
The necklace absorbs 「300」 mana from my body and functions like an auxiliary mana source.
It may only be 「300」 in words, but in the game system, “mana capacity” is an extremely, truly extremely important stat, so items like this are also rare.
The very reason I, despite being an 「Iron Man」, cannot even dream of changing paths to become a knight is because of the limit of my mana.
Starting today, these two valuables will be used as my equipment. Judging by 「Aesthetic Sense」, their designs are quite refined as well.
However.
The most important item of all was······.
Swallowing a sigh, I looked down at the problematic object.
A color of resplendent winter, a white and blue radiance within a mysterious metal. Though its shape was ugly because it had yet to be refined, the “Snowflake Stone” was a thing whose very existence was akin to magic.
“It won’t move.”
It was worth a full forty million elne, yet no matter how much telekinesis I poured into it, it would not budge.
Was it because it had not been refined? Because it was too large? Because the level of my magic was insufficient? It was not a matter of such things.
It was simply that the mana within this metal was resisting my magic.
In this state, even if it went through refining, smelting, forging, or the like, I would never be able to control it in my lifetime.
“What am I supposed to do······.”
Even in the game, it had been so expensive that I had only glimpsed it in passing, so no method came to mind.
Just as I was staring at it, doing nothing but pondering,
suddenly, I remembered a passage I had read in some book in the library.
─A fine sword requires a process of taming. A knight swings the sword in order to tame it. That process is called communion.
Communion.
I am a magician, so I have never learned the sword. However, if that “taming” means understanding the sword “itself”—
Then.
I gazed at the Snowflake Stone through the eyes of 「Comprehension」. As though sight alone was not enough, I placed my hand upon it.
The sensation was a cold heat. Two qualities that, by common sense, could never coexist tickled my palm.
However, what I wanted was not the contradictory nature within it, the structure of its atoms, or its material value.
It was something far more important than that: an essential understanding that transcended matter. A communion of selflessness achieved through insight that surpassed reason······.
“······!”
A burning pain, as if electricity had sparked in my eyeball, flared up. Bzzzzzt─ The hand I had placed on the Snowflake Stone was scorched. Gripping one eyelid, I looked down at the Snowflake Stone.
The Snowflake Stone seemed utterly unchanged.
However, I could feel it in my body. Confirming it with 「Vision」 made it even clearer.
「 Understanding ： 0.1% 」
「 Mana ： 1,357 / 3,357 (+300) 」
Two thousand expended for 0.1%.
Considering that my usable daily mana, accounting for recovery speed, was around ten thousand or more, the time required to fully understand this metal was at least one year.
Perhaps even if it were not 100%, if it reached 50%, or at least around 40%, it might become much easier to control. Until then, however, Wood Steel was the best option.
······It seemed I had one more routine now.
With a bitter smile, I put the Snowflake Stone into the safe.
Afterward, I put on Luperin’s ring and wore the Ancient Relic Necklace.
But then, something curious happened.
“Mm?”
The atmosphere and color of the accessories touching my body had changed all at once, becoming even more antique and dignified.
─「Aesthetic Sense」─
◆ Grade
：Unique
◆ Description
：A genius sense for distinguishing beauty and ugliness.
：Possesses the potential to master all artistic refinement, and resonates with works of art of high standing.
─────
Was this the manifestation of the effect, “resonates with works of art of high standing”?
I had thought it was the most useless trait after 「Prodigy」.
It was not practical, but it was not bad either.
I put on my jacket and prepared to go to work.
* * *
My routine as a professor is exceedingly diligent.
First, as soon as I arrive at work, still carrying the aftermath of my morning training, I analyze theses in my laboratory, and when noon comes, I drive out and have a meal at a restaurant.
After lunch, I return to the Magic Tower and prepare for the fourth week’s lecture.
As I alternate between Allen’s lecture notes and various books, thinking over what to teach and how to teach it, it is already five in the afternoon before I know it.
“······The midterm will be theory.”
Sitting in my chair, I nodded.
Today, I had settled not only the broad framework and composition of the exam, but also the topics for assignments and reports.
The exam difficulty would probably be atrocious.
“Hm.”
This is fun.
Too fun.
Tormenting students, that is.
I was feeling pointlessly pleased while imagining the magicians who would suffer over the problems, when I saw the notebook on my office desk and my mood became a little strange again.
[ Schedule Notebook ]
Deculein’s timetable—in other words, his schedule.
I swept my hair back and let out a sigh. Since last week, there had been an event that kept bothering me.
[ April 9 ]
[ Death Anniversary ]
Death anniversary.
It was not the anniversary of Deculein’s parents’ deaths.
It was the death anniversary of Deculein’s fiancée—in other words, the fiancée before Yulie.
It was a setting I had known from before, so I was not flustered.
Once, at the social party “New Year’s Flower,” when I met Ganesha for the first time.
She had certainly said it as well.
······Was it because he got engaged again, or something like that.
Deculein had a fiancée before Yulie, and I knew the entire “out-of-game” story behind her all too well.
Once, late at night in some world that had now grown far too distant,
during a break on the day when almost every employee at the company was being subjected to crunch,
there had been a time when we discussed Easter eggs.
At that time, Yuara said she had thought of a clever Easter egg and added a small setting to Deculein.
That was Deculein’s first fiancée.
“Three days from now······.”
Perhaps the only trace in this world through which I can recall her.
What sort of mischievous prank did you leave behind as an Easter egg?
What was it that made you smile so brightly?
I intend to go there, to recover my memories, and also to remember you.
Knock, knock─
A knock sounded. I opened the door with telekinesis.
It was Allen.
“Professor. Count Freyden has arriv—ugh.”
Allen, who had been about to introduce him, was shoved aside by the huge man who entered behind him and fell on his backside.
“Ah. My apologies. My body is too large. Are you all right?”
“Ah, yes, yeees. I’m fine······.”
Allen bowed deeply and went outside. Zeit stared intently at Allen, then twitched his eyebrows.
“Is that man your subordinate?”
I nodded.
“Yes. He is my assistant professor.”
“Hm. Is that so? He seems somewhat ambiguous.”
With his arms crossed, Zeit muttered something strange.
I looked at the clock.
5:15 p.m. There was still quite a while until our appointment at seven.
“It is still some time before our appointment.”
At that, Zeit smiled brightly.
“Ah~ The place we are going is so famous that I simply couldn’t wait. And I wanted to get a ride in your car as well.”
As expected, this man wants an automobile for the dowry.
* * *
“Von Mechle,” a restaurant counted among the very best in the Empire.
Its reputation was such that it was said to present dishes to the Emperor himself, and even most high-ranking nobles found it difficult to make dinner reservations there······.
And yet, in that very place, in a private room on the second floor no less.
“Ah— uuh—”
Yulie kept wriggling her body.
At times, she seemed almost to be babbling like a baby.
“Buu—”
For her, who had always worn only armor, a dress was a shackle more bothersome than handcuffs. The accessories kept scratching at her body, and the clothes squeezed her muscles far too tightly.
“······Are you all right?”
Josephine, watching Yulie squirm like a caterpillar as though she found her cute, asked.
“Yes. I’m all right.”
Yulie smiled bitterly.
“You don’t seem all right?”
“I’m all right.”
Josephine, resting her chin on her hand, pouted. Then she raised her eyebrows and asked again.
“······A lie.”
“I can endure it.”
“Not that outfit. This position. And the marriage.”
“Pardon?”
“You don’t want to get married, do you?”
At that blunt question, Julie was left speechless.
“……It’s fine.”
She shook her head, her face shadowed.
Heh—Josephine grinned like a mischievous child.
“If you hate it that much, shall your big sister tell you a way out?”
“A way?”
Josephine brought her lips to the ear of Julie, who was tilting her head innocently. Then, in the smallest of voices, she whispered.
─You can just marry him and kill him, can’t you? Then that Yukline family will be yours too.
As if a serpent’s tongue had licked her ear.
Goosebumps rose all over her body.
Julie’s eyes flew wide in horror. Her tautened face glared at Josephine.
To Julie, it was a reckless remark she would never have dared even imagine.
“S-Sister! How could you say such a thing—”
“It was a joke, a joke.”
Josephine chuckled and tapped Julie’s shoulder.
“At least make your jokes sound like jokes!”
Julie shoved that hand away. As if that were not enough, she even tried to strike Josephine with a hammer fist. Though she could not bring herself to actually hit her and only flailed.
“I just thought it was a pity for my precious little sister to waste her life on a man like that, so I played a little prank. Don’t be too angry.”
“Be quiet! Who in the world makes a prank like that! That is not a prank, it is an insult, an insult!”
“Mm~ I just did, didn’t I?”
“Y-you really! Do you think this is a joke!”
Bang, bang.
Just then, as Julie, enraged, pounded the innocent dining table with a face gone bright red, and Josephine kept repeating sorry, sorry—
The door to the private room opened.
First, a clean fragrance swept in. It was a refined air that changed the atmosphere in an instant.
Then, following it, the man in question appeared.
Upon seeing him, Josephine could not help but let out an admiring, “Ohh~” His appearance and style were especially exquisite today.
“You must have drawn quite a few eyes on the first floor on your way here.”
Josephine smiled brightly as she spoke to him. He gave no particular reply. He merely looked the two of them over with an indifferent air, bowed his head, and took his seat.
Next, Zeit squeezed in through the door. Taking up space enough for two people all by himself, Zeit looked at Josephine and tilted his head.
“Mm. Josephine, you were here too?”
“I came along to style my little sister as well. What do you think, Brother?”
Zeit looked at Julie in her dress and opened his eyes wide.
She was someone who had loved only armor even if it killed her, yet now, for the first time in more than ten years, she was wearing a dress.
“Ah~ No wonder it felt so radiant. You. Isn’t it quite a picture?”
Zeit looked at Deculein and grinned proudly. As he said, Julie, whom Josephine had dressed up with determination, was on an entirely different level of beauty.
“Julie is my little sister, but she is truly beautiful, and you are a man like me, but you are truly handsome.”
Deculein said nothing and looked only at Julie. Julie, too, looked at Deculein. As if they were engaged in a battle of pride, neither of the two turned their eyes away first.
Within that meeting of gazes, Zeit turned his head to the side and secretly laughed.