After Silvia fell asleep, I came out of the lodging. A single bolt of lightning that had struck beyond the window had led me here. It was the intuition of 「Great Wealth Magnate」.
Because I had deliberately broken the rules, several supernatural phenomena did occur, but they were not much of a threat. If anything, they felt shoddier than the ghost room.
“Where was that lightning strike…”
The mountain path leading from the Fourth Hall to the Elder Hall.
This place, near Bercht’s summit, was in truth a high-level area that a player could only reach in the mid-to-late stages. Without the Bercht Conference, entry itself would not be permitted unless one were an elder or an initiated senior disciple, so the probability of acquiring rare items ought to be quite high.
Thus, from Bercht’s dark peak, I looked down over the mountain range.
All sorts of spirits and ghosts clung to me, but when I did not startle no matter how much they carried on, their threats turned into curiosity.
—Shii sinasinrai rodennai.
—Bureurakan turnima.
Roughly, it seemed to mean something like, Why isn’t this one scared? What a strange fellow.
I explored Bercht’s mountains with the ghosts in tow. With 「Great Wealth Magnate」 activated in both eyes, I wandered for quite some time.
During that time, I witnessed a tiger as large as a house, saw snowflakes moving of their own accord—in other words, ‘snow spirits’—and even encountered a wildcat with twenty eyes.
If possible, I wanted to beat them to death and use them as materials, but unfortunately, I did not have the skill to pick a fight first, so I held myself back.
And so, while I was slowly making my way through the mountain of darkness.
“…!”
A golden current caught my eye.
Amid the entirely white coniferous forest, there was a patch of scorched earth.
—Burutan kailishnima.
—Ratarata keurashinyuma.
The ghosts said something.
Ignoring them, I approached, and found that the whole area had been charred black. As expected, it seemed to have been struck by lightning, and at the very center of it, the source of the golden current was a lone, half-burned piece of wood.
———「Purified Demonwood Fragment」———
◆ Information
: A fragment of demonwood split apart by lightning.
: A tree that originally contained a great deal of magic power has been purified by lightning. It could serve as an exceedingly good material.
◆ Category
: Miscellaneous ⊃ Special Wood
────────
Demonwood. In simple terms, a tree that grows by feeding on mana.
Most trees cannot absorb mana from moisture or the air, but mutant trees that appear every so often take in mana and embody it as magic power.
For that reason, demonwood may become a man-eating monstrous plant that threatens humans, or a top-grade staff material limited to mages. And if demonwood that grew at the summit of Bercht was even struck by lightning?
That meant, since it had grown in Bercht, the quality of the demonwood was perfect, and since it had been struck by lightning, not only purification but even maturation had been completed naturally.
“…Good.”
It was not merely good; the corners of my mouth were on the verge of twitching upward.
Whether made into a staff or a wand, it was a precious item that could raise one’s ability as a mage by half a level.
I held the demonwood fragment to my chest.
Encouraged by this result, I busily moved my feet again. Just in case, I even spoke to the ghosts.
“If there is anything good, guide me to it.”
—Keurupushirisiki!
—Kpureureureureu!
The bastards spat mana at me. Then they cackled with laughter.
“…Useless things.”
I ignored them and walked on.
After that, I continued searching with my eyes wide open, but it seemed that wanting more than this was greed after all.
I stood silently and looked east. The morning sun that had been peeking out was slowly rising. In the dawn light washing over the ridgeline, the ghosts and spirits lost their forms.
It was time to begin the conference again.
* * *
Silvia woke with the morning sun. Clutching her bird’s-nest hair, she looked around, but Deculein was already gone.
“……”
Silvia rubbed her eyes, then soon tidied herself and returned to her own room. Speedy at her bedside was still asleep.
—Knock, knock. Breakfast.
She waited until 10 a.m., received her meal, and ate. Then, an hour later, she walked to the Elder Hall with twenty assistants.
However, Allen, whom she met on the way, was somewhat pitiful. Since his skill alone lagged far too much behind, he was being treated like an outcast.
In any case.
Perhaps to finish the agenda they had not completed yesterday, the conference began at noon.
Of course, from the start, it was an agenda regarding the Jeokgwe.
The first to open his mouth was once again Betan.
“As Yukline said, there is no conclusive proof that the Jeokgwe are demons. However, is it not true that the demonic flows in their blood? Is there any bloodline among humans born with the demonic?”
The fact that demonic energy flowed in human blood. The vague relationship between demons and the Jeokgwe derived from it.
In that gap, the mages’ suspicion bloomed.
“No one knows when or where the demonic energy inherent in their bodies may erupt. The possibility that they could turn into demons in an instant is more than sufficient!”
“That is what one calls a baseless assumption.”
“A baseless assumption?! What do you mean!”
More than half of the magical families harbored ill feelings toward the Jeokgwe, and they joined forces in an attempt to persuade Deculein.
“You have already decided that the Jeokgwe are ‘evil,’ have you not? If they truly do erupt, then it is because of the demonic, so their entire clan must be oppressed; if they do not erupt, you simply pretend not to see and take no concern? Out of humanity’s thousands of possibilities, you focus on only one, using it as an excuse to corner an entire race…”
However, Deculein was unyielding.
“To begin with, because a faint demonic energy flows within them, they are not humans but demons? That is no different from saying that because a single grain of salt has mixed into a cup of water, it is not water but salt.”
Everyone at the round table, and Silvia as well, had never anticipated this development before speaking with Deculein last night, nor could they even understand it.
The very war sixty years ago that Deculein had disparaged as ‘politics’ was one in which Yukline’s ancestors had participated. Had Yukline’s ancestors not, in fact, rendered more distinguished service than anyone else—in other words, killed countless Jeokgwe—and even earned, as merit, partial rights to a magic stone mine?
“Even their religion is alien to ours!”
“Did we come here to discuss religion? Or is Bercht a round table of religion? Say such things at a cathedral.”
Betan clenched his teeth.
However, with Yukline this unyielding, even he could do nothing.
Bercht’s round table seemed equal at a glance, but regarding certain agenda, one family’s authority was greater.
Among the twenty families gathered here, there was no family that could be said to ‘clearly surpass’ Yukline in the tradition and fundamental history of magic, and furthermore, in the field of ‘the extermination of the demonic,’ Yukline was truly an authority that no one could dare approach.
Even in ancient texts from four hundred years ago, demon hunters presumed to be Yukline’s ancestors could be found.
If a direct descendant of that bloodline insisted that ‘the Jeokgwe are far from demons’…
—Since it seems no conclusion will be reached at this rate, the agenda regarding the Jeokgwe will be set aside without further discussion until a later conference.
Thud—!
Betan slammed the round table and glared at Deculein with reddened eyes, but Deculein did not so much as blink.
—After a brief recess, we shall begin with the next agenda.
The mages returned to their respective waiting rooms. Betan sprang up, kicking back his chair, and Silvia followed after Giltheon.
“…Hahahahaha!”
“?”
As soon as Giltheon sat in the waiting room, he burst into wild laughter.
“Father.”
“Interesting. How interesting. Indeed, I have underestimated him too much until now…”
Giltheon’s current appearance was entirely different from the side he had shown her as a father. He was chuckling to himself, thinking about something.
Most likely, he was trying to infer what on earth Deculein was aiming for by doing this.
“……”
However, Silvia thought Giltheon would never arrive at the answer. In truth, it was a very simple matter, but because it was too simple, her father would not realize it.
“…What is that man aiming for?”
Giltheon was pondering fiercely enough that his temples pulsed.
The reason Deculein had truly changed, and also the reason he had set down the sentiments of his ancestors—the answer to that question was, in the end…
—Magic was not created to kill people, was it?
That single sentence Deculein had spoken last night.
* * *
The agendas after the Jeokgwe proceeded without delay. In order to soothe the families I had argued with over the Jeokgwe matter even a little, I said favorable things about every agenda.
There were families whose anger softened at my warm(?) words, but as expected, there were more families with whom I had made enemies today.
I had wanted to escape 「The Villain’s Fate」, yet for now, the side advocating for the Jeokgwe was being treated as the villain by them.
Well.
In the game’s story, the ‘magical schools’ persecution of the Jeokgwe’ at the first Bercht Conference was an almost certain event.
In any case, after the nine-hour conference ended like that.
“What exactly do you want? Are you truly secretly raising a Jeokgwe somewhere?”
As soon as we came out of the Elder Hall, Betan grabbed me. Looking at his eyes filled with hatred, I shook my head.
“I think it would be best for you to lessen your anger.”
“Anger… Indeed. You, who denied the will of your own roots, cannot even feel anger. It was your ancestors who considered the Jeokgwe demons more than anyone else. Our family followed your ancestors into the war and was annihilated.”
Betan glared at me. I did not avoid that gaze either. Betan was short, but within his solid body, magic power and physical strength coexisted.
I said,
“Even so, let us not turn an entire clan into demons. A mage’s reason must be independent from anger.”
“……”
Betan clenched his teeth. A sneer flowed through the twisted gap between them.
“Do not think this conference will be the last.”
“Do not misunderstand. I do not hate Beorad.”
“From now on, Beorad will loathe you.”
Betan brushed past me as if shoving me aside.
“…Tsk.”
In truth, I could understand Betan’s anger as well.
The Beorad family had participated more zealously than anyone else in the war sixty years ago, but they were absurdly defeated and lost nearly everything, including the family head. Even so, because their achievements were deemed insufficient, they gained nothing.
Beorad was a family that had risen again purely through the bloody efforts of Betan and his father.
Then Essencil approached.
“It is puzzling that your thoughts on the Jeokgwe have suddenly changed, but I, too, agree with Duke Yukline’s opinion. Keeping the temperature regarding the Jeokgwe lower than it is now would be better for us as well.”
Essencil said that, but the majority of the mages did not speak to me at all. There were not many friendly gazes among them. My remarks themselves must have displeased them, but the malicious conduct Deculein had shown until now had likely been effective as well.
“……”
However, I do not regret it. If this, too, could be called a sacrifice, then it was a sufficiently worthwhile one. From the next Bercht convocation onward, the interval would become extremely short, only one to two years, but I had earned that precious time.
If this were a player, they would grow rapidly during the one to two years gained in this way, but… in a world without a player, or at least a world presumed to be without one.
I can only hope.
During this remaining time, that a Named character kinder than I am grows as quickly as possible.
* * *
The next morning, before leaving Bercht, I descended to the ‘First Hall.’
“No matter how many times I see it, it’s such a fascinating village…”
As one can tell from the fact that it is a mysterious village built in the highlands, Bercht’s motif is Machu Picchu. As such, the scenery is truly wondrous and admirable, but I did not come here to sightsee.
I had obtained 「Demonwood」, a key material for crafting a staff.
And in Bercht, there was a famous artisan, so after purchasing supplementary materials at a magic shop, I intended to place an order for a staff.
It was just as I was walking.
“…Is this truly so expensive?”
Near a certain street stall, I spotted the back of a familiar head.
“Of course it’s expensive. Do you know how precious this material is?”
“Then show me something cheaper, if you would.”
“Hm? No, no can do. You said you were going camping.”
“I did.”
“If you’re going to camp in Bercht, you can’t buy something cheap. Selling that would be a bad thing to do, a bad thing. Someone’s obviously going to die, so why would I sell it?”
“It’s fine.”
The deputy director of the Imperial Security Bureau, whom we had encountered on the road to Bercht. One of the core named characters—“Lilia Primienne.”
Allen’s eyes widened, and he pointed a finger.
“Ah!”
“What is it?”
“We were able to get all the way here thanks to that person! She’s our benefactor!”
“I see.”
I approached her. The closer I got, the more clearly I could hear the conversation.
“……Hey. Just show me something else that’s cheap.”
“Now, now. If you’re going camping in Bercht, it has to be something like this.”
“I asked if there was anything cheaper, so why are you telling me it has to be something like this? Just answer whether you have something cheaper or not.”
“No, there is something cheaper, but if you camp with that, you’ll get dragged off by ghosts.”
“No, enough. If you have something cheap, bring that out—”
Whether it was haggling or arguing, I couldn’t tell.
I stepped in between them. Primienne and the shopkeeper, who had both been straining their necks at each other, turned to look at me at the same time.
“How much is that sleeping bag?”
“Ah, it’s ten thousand elne. You see, when people sleep, they become most vulnerable to illusion magic—”
“I’ll buy it.”
I wrote him a check on the spot. The shopkeeper smiled and shook his head.
“No, we don’t accept checks here. Only cash—”
“Look at the family.”
“……?”
The owner looked down at the check.
The crest of House Yukline and Deculein’s signature.
The owner looked back and forth between the check and my face, then grinned.
“Hahaha. If it’s the head of House Yukline, that’s another matter. Here, take it.”
And so I bought the sleeping bag and held it out to Primienne, who stood beside me with an expressionless face.
“Take it.”
“……What? Why are you giving this to me?”
Primienne said that with suspicion, yet still hugged the sleeping bag to her chest.
“I heard Allen arrived safely thanks to you. This is my repayment.”
“……”
At that, she looked at Allen beside me. Allen laughed foolishly, hehe, and scratched the back of his neck.
“……Hmph.”
Primienne clicked her tongue as if displeased, but she took the sleeping bag, and I continued around the market.
As expected of its reputation, Bercht was a paradise of magical materials, so I was able to obtain the components for the staff in no time.
“Saber-toothed White Tiger’s Fang,” “Frost Swan’s Feather,” “Magic Stone Keindel,” and so on…… I spent four million elne just to buy eight items.
Of course, there was no balance in my personal account, but it was a family check anyway, so Yeriel would pay for it later.
And even if not, I could settle it with the money from selling the vase.
“W-wow……”
Allen’s teeth chattered at my spending.
“Hmm?”
As we walked, a restaurant caught my eye. I wasn’t hungry, but unusually, everything from its exterior to its interior looked extremely high-class.
As if possessed by something, I went inside.
“Ah, welcome, Count Yukline.”
The employee knew my face. From the start, it seemed like a restaurant that only dealt with customers like me.
Then, from somewhere, a sly voice drifted over.
“Oh? Well, well, what’s this~ Isn’t this our noble Count Yukline~?”
The cheap-looking blond hair caught my eye first.
It was Ihelm, the head of Rewind. He was enjoying wine from early in the morning.
He was about to say something, but when he looked behind me, his eyes widened.
“Hm? Deputy Director Primienne is here too? I heard camping was your hobby, but you came all the way to Bercht?”
Only after Ihelm said that did I realize Primienne was still tagging along.
“Yes. On vacation.”
Primienne spoke as if she had been part of our group from the beginning. With the sleeping bag tucked under her arm.
Had I cleared some companion recruitment quest without realizing it? If the price was a sleeping bag, that was quite cheap.
I sat at the seat the waiter guided me to, but Ihelm continued speaking to me. He seemed to have drunk quite a lot of wine already, as his face was flushed.
“Hey, Deculein. I’m genuinely curious. Why did you suddenly change your stance?”
Without answering, I ordered food. Allen was one thing, but strangely, Primienne did not leave either, so naturally, it was for three people.
“Weren’t you the one who once said you wanted to beat the Jeokgwe to death? No, beyond beating them to death, you said they were a vile and inferior race with no worth living on this continent…… I hear the anti-Jeokgwe thesis you wrote is still at the university?”
Ihelm let out a hollow laugh as if recalling the distant past. Then, glaring at me with pupils half-swallowed by alcohol, he said,
“Did you perhaps obtain a Jeokgwe as a slave? Was there a genius among the Jeokgwe you could make do your research for you?”
“That is not true!”
Out of nowhere, Allen stood up and shouted loudly.
“Our Head Professor Deculein would never do that! Do not insult him!”
Ihelm did not even acknowledge Allen’s courage and merely snickered.
“No, because if that’s not it, I really can’t understand this situation. Why you would defend the Jeokgwe even while watching the reactions of those pathetic mage bastards.”
“……”
“Why? Is rotten cheese not even allowed to say this much?”
I shook my head.
“I understand because you’re rotten. Since even your brain matter is nothing but rotten, putrid cheese, you can only think such things.”
“……I see.”
Ihelm glared at me with his eyes and smiled with his mouth. The smile was grotesque.
“I heard there are six months until the research presentation. Or was it three months? Let’s see how long your vile tricks can go undiscovered~ I’ll be watching closely~”
Ihelm shrugged and rose from his seat. His flippant tone to the end and the way he glared were quite irritating.
After Ihelm left like that.
“……If what he said is true.”
This time, Primienne looked at me and muttered.
“It will become quite a problem.”
“I said it’s not true!”
Allen shrieked. Primienne glanced at Allen, then continued.
“Slavery was abolished long ago. Even if the subject is a Jeokgwe, it is a serious crime.”
“……”
“Of course, only if it is true.”
“If you intend to keep prattling, hand over the sleeping bag.”
“……”
“And you pay for the meal.”
With an expressionless face, Primienne let out a soft laugh. Then she closed her mouth.
After that, throughout the meal, she did not say a single word.