Julie and the knight order arrived at the scene of the incident.
A place not far past the fourth station. Less than an hour from Bercht.
“……During the first attack, Professor Deculein managed to secure the train safely and rescued survivors together with Knight Veron.”
The functionary dispatched from the Public Security Bureau explained the situation while releasing mana.
“After that, in the second attack, the entire body of the train overturned off the cliff, and in the process, Knight Veron appears to have fallen down the cliff. However, the VIP car Professor Deculein was riding in was miraculously caught beneath that cliff.”
“I see.”
Julie and the knights understood well enough. The functionary also showed them photographs copied from Roen.
“Of course, since this place is so remote, all we have to rely on are eyewitness accounts from the parties involved, but did you happen to see that article?”
“Yes.”
Julie had already read the article. Naturally, she had also seen the photograph of the train suspended in midair, and Deculein sitting calmly inside it.
“There are probably a few that haven’t been released, but have a look.”
The functionary showed them one more photograph. It was of the corpses of the assassins who had attacked the train.
“It seems the Head Professor subdued them, but, well. A wizard capable of becoming Head Professor really is an army unto himself. Haha.”
The functionary chuckled and added that. However, the knights did not laugh. Sensing the mood, the functionary spoke gravely again.
“To summarize, both of them tried to resolve the situation, and Knight Veron seems to have met with disaster during the second attack.”
“……Thank you.”
“Yes.”
After bowing politely, Julie looked around.
The entire world was white, endless. It was a landscape that made one’s mind grow faint.
Rockfell sank down onto the tracks and muttered like a sigh.
“……Stupid bastard. A man who lived that hard goes and dies just guarding a train?”
Julie did not hear Rockfell’s words.
For a moment, her ears rang hollow.
She had thought she was accustomed to the loss of comrades, but that pitiable life kept coming to mind.
He had truly been a child with nothing. He had risen from the bottom and chased nothing but his dream, and after countless efforts, he had finally begun to see the light……
Julie asked the functionary.
“Are there, by any chance, any belongings that might serve as mementos?”
“There are none.”
“Then, the one behind the attack……”
“That is rather ambiguous. The journey to Bercht is supposed to be one where no one questions one another’s sins, but since the only victim happens to be a knight, of all people, we are unsure whether we should investigate or not……”
It was an understandable dilemma.
However, at the very moment Julie nodded.
—My little sister~
A voice flowed in from somewhere. Startled, Julie took the wallet from her pocket. Inside it was a crystal orb she did not recognize.
Julie hurriedly stepped away and said,
“W-what is this!”
—Mm~ I heard about the incident. So I contacted you.
“When did you put this orb in here!”
—When you didn’t know~
Hehe—Yusepin laughed.
—More importantly, I heard your subordinate was attacked? Aren’t you curious about the whole story?
“……Are you saying you know the whole story, Sister?”
—Of course. I’m the queen of high society, aren’t I? Do you know how many people there are who will bring me anything if I simply ask?
Indeed, for some reason, Yusepin held immense assets when it came to information. Almost every rumor in high society was absorbed by her.
“……”
—Should I tell you some of the information I picked up?
That was suspicious as well, but outwardly, there were no problems with her. Rather, Yusepin’s reputation was more beautiful than anyone else’s in this world.
“If it is something illegal—”
—It isn’t anything like that, so listen carefully. First, the most likely forces behind the attack are magic families from the Kingdom of Leoc. Fifteen years ago, two heads of household from the Kingdom of Leoc died during the conference, you see. It seems they wanted revenge for that. In truth, they weren’t targeting Deculein specifically. They were simply aiming for any imperial head of household. Deculein just fell into that trap. The rumor is already widespread in the magic world.
“……”
Julie was dumbfounded. In other words, Veron had died from a blind blade.
—But, no matter how I think about it, there’s one thing that feels a little strange. The person who asked Terch to appoint Veron was Raon.
“……Raon?”
—Yes. There’s someone called Galak, and he’s one of Galak’s many confidants. Rot’s younger brother. Ah, Rot is one of my connections. A businessman.
Galak. Raon. Rot.
At the feast of two-syllable names she did not understand at all, Julie furrowed her brow.
—You don’t know? A name you would recognize, Julie, is…… right.
Before hearing those words, Julie looked around at the surrounding knights. Each of them was wandering along the tracks with a complicated expression.
—Giletheon. Galak is his biological younger brother.
“……!”
Julie’s eyes widened.
—You know Giletheon, don’t you? But you probably don’t know Galak. On the surface, it’s been over thirty years since the two of them broke ties. But they can’t fool my eyes. Whether Giletheon and Galak really fought back then, or only pretended to fight, I don’t know, but now they’re in a relationship of mutual assistance. Galak does the ambiguous and dirty work Giletheon can’t do himself.
“What does Giletheon have to do with this attack?”
—Who knows. I don’t know yet. I’m just saying it bothers me why Galak would specifically “name” Veron and ask that he be assigned to guard the train. That is all I have heard.
“……”
—You know the price, right? You have to have a meal with me sometime.
“……Yes.”
—Mm. I’ll be going now.
Yusepin cut off the communication.
“Giletheon……”
Julie thought about Giletheon. She knew his infamy well from Zeit.
However, it had already been more than ten years since his reformation, and in the current situation, it was probably closer to coincidence.
But.
“What on earth happened there……”
Julie looked down beneath the cliff. Fragments of stone were pushed by her heels and tumbled down.
The edge of the world, covered in fathomless mist.
Her comrade’s remains were down there at the bottom.
* * *
The fifth-week lecture of [Understanding Pure Elemental Magic] was naturally canceled due to the Bercht issue, but I gave one assignment in its place.
—Write a paper on one pure elemental magic.
Since I expected they would dislike it, I even added the condition that they did not have to do it if they did not want to. In exchange, points would be deducted.
After that, I devoted myself to making exam questions at the mansion.
This time, it was my originality.
Of course, I had drawn inspiration from previous exam questions, but the process and result of solving these questions would be distinctly different.
Furthermore, I devoted myself not only to the questions but also to magic, and succeeded in implanting the formula of 「Basic Firepower Control」 into my 「Beginner Telekinesis」. It was now possible to perform “remote firepower control” through telekinesis. My next formula implantation target was 「Basic Ground Manipulation」.
Thus, after spending about a week doing nothing but training, discipline, and research, finally.
Today.
“……”
When I saw the questions I had created with these naked eyes.
I could not help but be impressed.
“……Good.”
A current of pure gold was rippling over the exam paper. 「Great Wealth Magnate」 was reacting to a mere exam paper.
The exam questions numbered eight in total.
Questions 1 and 2 focused on theory, but the rest were centered as much as possible on application and utilization.
Among them, the difficulty of questions 7 and 8 was at least above Debutant. If questions 1 through 6 were single-variable functions, it would be correct to think of questions 7 and 8 as multivariable functions.
If they worked hard to solve them and made the effort, they would gain much from it.
Whether an examinee or a wizard, the insight one realizes while challenging difficult problems is growth itself.
In a good mood, I left the annex. On the way to the main building, I met Roy.
“Ah, Master. These are the auction results.”
Roy handed me a paper. It was a check recording the auction results and payment deposit details for the 「Vase of the Eastern Artisan Egehan」.
“……It sold for quite a high price.”
The price was a staggering twenty-one million. Of course, after subtracting fees, taxes, and the like, it would be around thirteen to fifteen million, but it was more than twice what I had expected.
“Yes. We commissioned the Mage Tower to analyze the components of the petals, and the results showed that they were effective not only for relieving fatigue but also for the skin. Thanks to that, many adventurers as well as noblewomen participated in the auction, and—”
“I understand what you mean. It should be enough for the finances of the mansion, yes?”
“Yes. That is so.”
“Has there been any other contact from Yeriel?”
“No.”
I must have spent around nine million elne in Bercht.
Seeing as there had been no contact for a week, had she decided to let it slide?
“Delivery! A parcel!”
At that moment, a shout rang out from the mansion’s front gate.
“Count Yukline! It’s from Bercht!”
The man shouting like that possessed an unusual aura. No, upon closer inspection, he had some sort of identification card hanging around his neck.
It was an adventurer’s identification card.
“Please sign first!”
“……Adventurers do deliveries too?”
I approached and asked while signing.
“Haha. We do anything if we’re paid. Then, farewell!”
The box the man handed over was heavy.
My heart was pounding in a manner unbecoming of my dignity.
“Roy, rest comfortably.”
“Yes.”
Pretending it was nothing, I went up to my room in the main building.
After authenticating my biological information with the safe magic, I opened the box.
As I opened it, many thoughts passed through my mind.
Only a week. Had that old man made it carelessly, or was Deculein’s blood simply too poor?
When I opened the parcel with such worries in mind.
For a moment, I lost myself.
───「Rockelock’s Yukline Cane」───
◆ Information
：A cane crafted by Master Rockelock and dedicated to Yukline.
：Exclusive to Deculein von Grahan Yukline.
◆ Category
：Equipment ⊃ Cane
◆ Special Effects
：Stores 「500」 mana.
：This cane itself functions as a supplementary circuit. Therefore, the performance of the magic cast by the user is naturally enhanced.
◆ Item Traits
────────
Its appearance was neither a staff nor a wand. It was simply a cane, the sort medieval nobles used as a walking stick.
It had beauty and performance approaching those of a relic, and it even possessed “Item Traits.”
──「Ironwood」──
◆ Description
：The innate ability and nature of the wood.
：Its material potential may indeed be called the highest among woods.
──────
──「Self-Learning」──
◆ Description
：It autonomously understands the magic performed by the caster and assists them in using it more efficiently.
──────
──「Aesthetic Object」──
◆ Description
：Not only is its design beautiful, but it reacts to the wearer’s attire and adopts the most fitting color.
──────
──「Yukline Bloodline」──
◆ Description
：Displays outstanding power in the process of exorcism or demon expulsion.
──────
It was a thing that had copied my traits exactly. Fortunately, it seemed to have taken only the good parts and filtered out the rest.
“This, for only nine million elne……”
It was an enormous discount.
I fiddled with various parts of the cane. It felt almost like when I first bought a smartphone as a child.
“……Ahem.”
Getting excited over a mere cane was childish. There were three days left until class, so I should prepare the lecture.
Of course, the format had already been decided. I had also written the plan to borrow the lecture hall.
The final class before the midterm exam would be, so to speak, [Comprehensive Review Through Practice].
* * *
Wednesday, the final lecture before the midterm.
Epherene arrived on the fifth floor of the Mage Tower. Today’s class was not in A Class on the third floor, but on the fifth floor’s “purpose-specific floor.”
“What are they going to do this time……”
There were only three lecture rooms on this fifth floor, and Epherene took hold of the doorknob of one of them and opened it.
“……”
At the same time, her mouth fell open.
A vastness her two eyes could not even fully take in, a hemispherical ceiling soaring high, a rectangular stage in the center, and even audience seats around its border…… In a word, it was a space like some sort of stadium.
Many wizards had already gathered there, murmuring among themselves.
“Oh, Ephie!”
Club members, including Julia and Perit, approached her. Epherene naturally formed part of the commoner group, and standing at the opposite end was Sylvia.
Sylvia, who was said to have gone to that tremendous place called the Bercht Conference, was surrounded by nobles.
Epherene kept glancing at Sylvia, while Sylvia paid her no mind at all.
Then, exactly when it became three o’clock.
Deculein appeared at the entrance. With his appearance, the noisy chatter died down in an instant.
His gait was as neat and aristocratic as ever, but he held a cane in one hand. It was an absurdly luxurious-looking object.
He said he’d gone to Bercht; did he buy it there?
“Good to see you.”
Deculein said so and stepped onto the stage at the center. Looking down at the wizards, he continued.
“Today’s class will be practical training in magical combat.”
Magical combat. Those words that no wizard could avoid, and should not avoid.
The Debutants grew tense.
“Also.”
Snap—
Deculein flicked his fingers. The veil around the arena’s perimeter was lifted.
“Huh.”
“Wh-what is this?”
Epherene and the wizards were greatly startled. A crowd that seemed to number well over several hundred had already entered.
“This is a public practical.”
The wizards looked around in surprise. For a moment, the place grew noisy, but Deculein spoke in a firm voice, as if driving the “procedure and objective of the lecture” into them.
“You will fight one another while manifesting any magic you choose, but you must employ at least three pure elemental spells. Regardless of victory or defeat, I will focus only on the process, observing and recording your strengths and weaknesses. I hope you will develop based on that. Professor Relin?”
“Yes. That would be me.”
At those words, Relin appeared. As a professor of the support department, he waved his hand while enjoying the gazes of the wizards and the audience.
“Professor Relin will make sure there are no casualties, so there is no need to hold back.”
“Hahaha. Everyone, just trust—”
“We will begin the class. First, Eurozan.”
“······Y-yes!”
Eurozan, who had been standing there blankly, raised his hand and went up onto the arena.
“Choose your opponent. You may choose anyone here.”
“Uh······.”
Eurozan hesitated, then chose one of his friends. It was a man named Roton.
Soon, the two stood facing each other.
“Begin. The time limit is three minutes.”
At Deculein’s words, they awkwardly exchanged spells at first.
The fire Eurozan released spread thinly like a curtain and wrapped around Roton. Roton interfered with that curtain of flame with mana.
Ssszzzt—!
The flames evaporated, and steam arose. Roton froze that steam. The frozen vapor took on a metallic quality and rushed toward Eurozan.
Clang—!
Eurozan defended with a barrier.
“······.”
After that first exchange.
The awkwardness disappeared without a trace, and only seriousness remained between the two.
They repeatedly manifested spells, countered them, and defended, but······ the duel did not last even a full minute.
“Ugh!”
A groan announced the end of the duel. The wizard whose mana ran out first was Roton.
“The victory goes to Eurozan, but the score will vary according to the process.”
Deculein had been observing and taking notes on all of it. No, a fountain pen in the air was moving and writing on its own.
“Next, Beck.”
Beck. From Epherene’s perspective, he was a rather nasty noble. He smirked and chose Ferit. Ferit went up onto the dueling ground in fear.
“Begin.”
The two exchanged attacks and defenses using pure elemental magic, but the difference in level was clear. Ferit’s support magic could not withstand Beck’s destruction magic for even thirty seconds.
“Beck wins. Next, Rondo.”
······The duels proceeded one after another.
But Epherene, while focusing on the battles between the Debutant wizards, was seized by a certain thought.
Deculein’s words kept bothering her.
“You may choose anyone here.”
Even in the meantime, the battles between wizards continued.
Electric currents sparked, and the ground trembled. Tiles rose up, and metal surged from the flames. Even Epherene could not help but be surprised by the 「Electromagnetic Gust」 that combined wind and electric current.
Those magical battles were awakening a certain desire inherent in Epherene’s heart.
“Next······ Epherene.”
Epherene finally realized that her name had been called. Even so, she went up to the arena alone without naming anyone.
All the wizards looked at her in puzzlement. Paying them no mind, she asked Deculein.
“Is it truly all right to choose anyone?”
“Yes. You may choose anyone.”
Epherene lowered her eyes for a moment.
With this, she had her definite answer.
She could choose anyone.
Anyone.
No matter who.
She was allowed to choose.
“Epherene. Do not dawdle.”
Deculein urged her.
······Somehow, her eardrums felt numb, and her insides were boiling hot. It felt as though mana was raging through every blood vessel in her body.
Epherene slowly raised her head.
“I.”
She slowly stretched out her finger.
A finger covered in scars. Calluses etched into it from all manner of work.
And where that rough index finger pointed was······.
There he was.
“Head Professor Deculein.”
Someday, without fail, I want to crush you with my own skill.
Of course, I know that as I am now, I still have a long way to go.
But because of that, I want to gauge just how wide the gap between you and me is right now. I want to fight you seriously at least once.
It does not matter if the time is too soon.
I do not care if the result is utter defeat.
I simply do not want to let an opportunity like this slip away.
Everyone in the arena looked at her. Their gazes were as though they were dealing with a lunatic madwoman.
Epherene, too, decided for a moment that she must have lost her mind.
“Wh-what! Look at this crazy bitch! Hey! Get down!”
Professor Relin ran over in shock, but Epherene did not lower her finger. She looked only at Deculein. Deculein did not avoid that unwavering gaze.
“I.”
Epherene returned once more to the winter four months ago,
holding in her heart exactly the emotions she had felt in the moment she first saw Deculein.
“······choose you, Professor.”
Epherene said so.
And she saw it clearly.
On Deculein’s lips, a faint smile rising as if twisting them.