Outside the world. In other words, the space beyond the system. The sky was red as blood yet dark as pitch, life withered and twisted, and souls and ghosts drifted without form: the Nine Springs.
“So there was a place like this in the Imperial Palace.”
It was an event that hadn’t existed in the scenario.
Sophien laughed softly.
“Well. If there is a gate connected to the underworld, it must be an exceedingly important place, and such a thing naturally belongs in the Imperial Palace, does it not?”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. So be careful. Ghosts, like people, differ from one to another, but they are beings steeped in all manner of emotions.”
“……”
I silently looked at the teacup. The black tea that had been half full swelled.
Gurgle—— it overflowed, crimson, and spilled out. A fishy, metallic smell spread.
It was blood.
“Hmph. Let us go inside. It seems the ones around here do not like us very much.”
At Sophien’s words, I nodded. I rose from the balcony and went into the room.
“Professor.”
Sophien spoke as she sat on the bed.
“Also, I intend to search for a soul here.”
“……”
I furrowed my brow slightly.
Ghosts and spirits were not demons, of course, but as similar spiritual entities, they stirred in me a revulsion close to instinct.
“A soul, Your Majesty?”
“Yes. In the Emperor’s study, there is a book describing the legend of this old mansion. They say this mansion opens once every six years. To be precise, six years, six months, and six days.”
666. A number regarded as ominous not only in the modern world, but in this world as well.
“It opens only once after such a long span. Would it not be vexing to return without obtaining anything?”
However, numbers themselves were not particularly unpleasant.
“Do you still have that book?”
I wanted to read it.
“Haha. I knew you would say that, Professor.”
Sophien laughed aloud and proudly held out a book.
[Records of the Imperial Palace]
Even to the “Vision,” it was a valuable item imbued with mana.
“But answer me first.”
“……”
I looked at the Emperor and asked.
“What kind of soul do you wish to find?”
I felt I could vaguely guess.
Sophien’s mother. The woman publicly said to have been murdered by Rohakan.
“The soul of a certain person and memory left in my head.”
Sophien tapped her temple.
“It is a ghost that may or may not be here. However, if you see it, you will know at once.”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“Your Majesty’s request is my duty.”
“……Hmph. A request, you say. I never said I was asking.”
“Is it not?”
I asked back, looking up at her.
“……Tsk.”
A request.
Even if it was an insignificant word, a single word from the Emperor possessed binding power beyond imperial law.
Moreover, Sophien was the sort to keep her word without fail, and because she knew that herself, a request was no different from political justification.
“Damnable professor.”
I swear loyalty, but I will not be dragged about by the Emperor.
I will become the sharpest blade, but I will not lower my worth to that of kindling. I will not become a treacherous flatterer who merely repeats that all is right.
After all, a true subject is one who can be trusted but is difficult to handle. Thus, whatever the matter, I would demand justification from Sophien, and I would protect my own.
“Yes, fine. It is a request, a request. I ask this of you. Is that enough?”
The Emperor grimaced as she handed me the book. As if responding in kind, I handed her the remake of Blue Eyes.
At that, Sophien gave a somewhat appalled laugh.
“……Professor. They say every single thing you do is political.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It is certain. You are giving me this book—or rather, this novel—as repayment for the request I made of you.”
“Of course not. Please read it. Quite a lot of the development has changed.”
Sylvia’s masterpiece. A piece of writing containing the heart of the child I had come to understand on the island.
A more adult, distinctly more mature posture.
“……Very well. I will read it. You may leave for a while. Seeing your face for too long grows tedious……”
Sophien waved her hand as if annoyed.
* * *
The next day.
Sophien gathered everyone in the great hall of the old mansion.
The great hall was originally a place where the Emperor and subjects gathered to discuss affairs of state, and that space had been faithfully reproduced in the old mansion as well. So much so that it was scarcely different from the Imperial Palace.
“I trust you passed last night well. I will not accept the weak complaint that you did not. Not even one of the eight weeks has passed yet.”
Not only the 58 participants in the event, but also the subjects of the Imperial Palace seemed to have gathered at the old mansion in the safe morning; roughly two hundred people now swarmed the great hall.
Then again, just because an event was being held, they could hardly throw away all affairs of state for eight full weeks.
“Thanks to the fact that I finished nearly eight weeks’ worth of state affairs in advance, there is no need for pointless discussion here.”
What a relief. Epherene muttered without realizing it.
“However, there was a special petition. Someone here dared to ask me, the Emperor, for a hearing.”
A special petition. At that moment, Epherene’s face stiffened. The same was true of the entire great hall.
For a moment, there was enough murmuring that they even forgot the Emperor’s presence.
“This special petition did not put forth a person, but a crime. I suppose it means to reveal the person who committed the crime at the hearing. However, these crimes are quite numerous, and the gravest among them are three.”
Sophien, seated upon the throne, spoke with her chin resting on her hand.
“First, incitement to murder.”
Epherene unconsciously searched for Deculein. He was standing in the place closest to the Emperor.
“Next, murder. And……”
Sophien swept her gaze around the hall. Then she gave a small, mocking smile.
“Attempted poisoning of the Emperor.”
That instant was silence.
Not even the sound of breathing flowed.
As though the entire world had stopped.
“……Mm. This is a matter of the past, so it would be correct to amend it to attempted poisoning of the Imperial Princess. In any case.”
Snap—!
The Emperor snapped her fingers. At that, her subjects stepped forward and presented a large sheet of paper.
“I will post this placard in the central square of the old mansion. Those who will attend the special petition shall write their names upon it.”
“……”
At that moment, Deculein’s head moved. He looked somewhere. Epherene followed his gaze.
……Yulie.
The pure-white knight met Deculein’s eyes with composure.
“From today, for one day, signatures from attendees will be accepted. With this, the great hall is dismissed. It displeases me that such a petition should come to a place meant for harmony, but this, too, may be a road toward true harmony. When you rest, forget petitions and enjoy yourselves at ease.”
Sophien laughed softly as she swept her gaze over the great hall, then rose from the throne.
* * *
……After the great hall, there was a party.
A cursed mansion? Hardly. It was high society unfolding in a party hall where classical melodies flowed.
Current men and women of influence such as Deculein, Louina, and Betan were extremely popular there, but commoners or royals from outside the Empire, like Primienne, Lia, and Maho, were given the cold shoulder.
“But don’t you have anything like a boyfriend? Call.”
So Epherene had deliberately returned to her room and was playing cards. There were four players in total: Lia, Maho, and Primienne included.
Surely, the purpose of this event was—at least as Epherene saw it—to “promote harmony amid fear,” yet the noble lords were ignoring Lia and Primienne because of status and cozying up only among themselves.
“Nope. What about you, Mage Epherene? Don’t you have a boyfriend? I call too.”
Lia asked as she bet 10 elne. Epherene shook her head.
“I don’t have time. But tons of men hit on me. You saw it this time too, right? Even the noble lords talked to me.”
The title of being Deculein’s disciple must have carried quite a lot of weight, because many famous mages had invited Epherene to meals—Betan, Delpen, even the Elder “Gaelon,” and more.
“Then why didn’t you eat with them? There was even an Elder of the Round Table there.”
“Just because. They treat people too differently. Maho too, and Deputy Director Primienne too.”
“That’s right, that’s right~ I almost got hurt, you know~ I’m a princess, but I wasn’t even treated like a baron~ I fold. Everyone, show your hands, show them~”
“……”
Maho pretended to sob, while Primienne silently laid out her cards.
“Four of a kind, threes. I win.”
“Ah!”
The former Deputy Director of Public Security, who was, in other words, enjoying gambling, swept all the elne piled on the table into her arms.
“How is a four of a kind possible~”
“Right?”
Epherene threw her cards down and sank into her chair. Lia, too, let out a sigh with a regretful face.
“Hmph.”
Primienne gave a faint smile and shuffled the cards again.
“Lia. But why did you become an adventurer at such a young age?”
“I have a goal.”
A goal.
At those words, Epherene thought for a moment.
What is my goal?
At first, it had definitely been revenge against Deculein.
Revenge.
Only revenge……
What about now?
Epherene looked at Lia again.
“I hear you get hurt a lot when you go on adventures and stuff. Doesn’t it hurt?”
“I’m used to pain, so. Most things don’t even hurt me anymore.”
“……”
Epherene and Maho grew somber for no reason, but Primienne dealt the cards.
“Call.”
And just as she was the first to call—
Thud, thud, thud——!
A sudden knock on the door—or rather, the sound of fists pounding it.
“What? Who—”
Thudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthud——!
“……”
“……”
In that instant, Epherene, Maho, and Lia hid behind Primienne’s back. Clinging tightly to one another, they stared at the door.
─……
When there was no response, the knocking stopped abruptly.
But a voice followed immediately.
—Epherene. Are you in there?
Epherene’s ears pricked up.
It was Deculein’s voice.
—Open the door.
He was telling her to open the door.
Swallowing hard, Epherene answered in a low voice.
“……Professor?”
As she tried to approach the door, Lia grabbed her.
“Shh. Look outside the window.”
Lia pointed outside the window. Everyone in the room looked that way.
“The sun’s already set.”
The sun, hidden behind dark clouds.
And the rule that rose in their minds.
[Do not leave your room after the sun has set.]
“It probably isn’t Professor Deculein. The Professor is someone who follows rules.”
“Then—”
“A ghost imitating his voice.”
It was Primienne who said that. She bravely approached and looked through the peephole.
“……Professor Deculein?”
She muttered, frowning.
“Hey. It really is Professor Deculein.”
“What? Really?”
Epherene also ran over without thinking and pressed her eye to the peephole.
“Huh? It really is.”
Indeed, Deculein was there.
Standing in front of the door, he spoke.
—Suspicion is a virtue. Good. But listen carefully. Rooms are not all safe. Especially when the sun does not rise for a long time. Around that time, even the rooms will not be safe. Seek me out, or go to His Majesty the Emperor, or to Yulie.
“What? Ah, yes, Professor. But what was that just now? Did you knock on the door?”
—No. It was the work of a ghost.
“Whoa.”
—I shall go now.
Step, step.
As though he had come only to say that, Deculein moved away, and sunlight seeped in again. Before they knew it, the dark clouds had disappeared.
“……We can go outside now, right?”
No—wait a second—wait— The remaining three tried to dissuade her, but Epherene immediately opened the door.
Creeeeak——
The door opened without incident.
Swoosh— Swoosh— She swept her gaze down both sides of the corridor and carefully stepped out.
“Oh, right. That special hearing thing. I need to go sign as an attendee.”
Epherene looked back.
“Did all of you sign?”
But perhaps because they were all terrified, they were stuck flat against the room’s wall like gum.
“Go, go ahead first. We’ll follow after.”
“……What the heck. You’re total cowards.”
Epherene pouted and nodded, then walked toward the old mansion’s square.
[Attendance Signature Form]
A large placard had been posted in the very center of the square.
Epherene absentmindedly approached to sign her name, then suddenly narrowed her brow and muttered.
“……Why are there so many names?”
At a glance, there were over two hundred signatures. “Far too many” names filled the paper.
As she tilted her head and looked up, at some point, she realized.
“……Wait.”
[Deculein von Grahan Yukline]
[Igiris von Krail Phaireden]
Deculein was normal.
However, beneath him was Igiris von Krail Phaireden.
“This……”
Epherene knew this name. Goosebumps rose all over her body with a shiver.
To begin with, it was a name famous enough to appear in fairy tales.
“U-ugh, chills—!”
“What are you so startled by?”
A voice approached from behind her. Epherene, her face turning blue as though she had already fainted, turned that way.
It was Deculein.
“Pr-Professor! Professoooor──!”
“Have you gone mad?”
Epherene quickly ran toward Deculein and tried to throw herself into his arms, only to be stopped by “Psychokinesis.”
“No, look at this!”
She quickly pointed to the placard. Deculein looked that way as well.
The name Igiris.
And beneath it, names that all belonged to dead people.
Deculein read them calmly, then furrowed his brow at one section. However, he soon nodded as though he understood.
“What is the problem?”
“No. Aren’t these dead people?”
“Yes. Everyone below Igiris.”
“That’s the problem……!”
“This is a cursed old mansion. It is also the threshold of the underworld.”
“Wh-what, the underworld?!”
Epherene’s mouth fell open in shock. So wide it seemed it might touch the ground.
“It means that when the sun sets, ghosts may interfere with us.”
Deculein, on the other hand, spoke calmly, as if reciting a passage from a book.
“Here.”
He pointed to “another name” inscribed on the paper.
“Dikailen’s name is here as well.”
Ruuuuumble───!
Thunder roared with unfortunate timing. Startled, Epherene turned to look out the window.
“……Gulp.”
The scenery made her swallow involuntarily.
The sun in the sky had, at some point, been hidden behind dark clouds, dyeing the world in darkness…….