“Wizard’s Floating Island” is a community made solely of magic and magical engineering, an island that floats forever 1,500 meters in the sky.
It is so pioneering and research-oriented that, with only some exaggeration, people say, “All magic on the ground is distributed through the Floating Island.” Yet it is also an Independent District where the individualism unique to mages has manifested to the extreme.
With rare exceptions, only mages may enter this Floating Island, and even then—if the mage’s rank is below Monarch—an entry ticket costing one thousand elne is required.
More than half of the transient population that enters in such a way operates around the “Megiseion,” which sits like a core at the center of the island.
To put the “Megiseion” simply, it is an ark storing such vast magic and knowledge that even if the continent were destroyed, it could be rebuilt within a single century.
The people of the Floating Island have a somewhat fanatical side, trying to record and gather every spell in the world, and this institution is where that disposition has condensed in the most positive direction.
They say one of the highest honors sought by mages of great renown is to engrave a spell named after oneself on the “Cell,” the highest level of that “Megiseion”...
And now, in the [ VIP Academic Auction Room ] on the ground floor of that Megiseion, an auction is in full swing.
“A total of 1,205 people have currently bid 35,000 elne, so we will restart the auction at 36,000 elne.”
As befitting an auction on the Floating Island, the item for sale was not some treasure, but a document—specifically, the Imperial Magic Tower’s recent midterm exam questions, “Understanding Pure Elemental Magic, Nos. 1–8.”
“...We will restart the auction at 37,000 elne.”
The number of mages participating in this copyright auction was a staggering ten thousand, including remote participants.
However, auctions among mages are utterly quiet. Needless acts such as chatter, shouting, or politics do not exist.
Only the sound of pens whispering echoes through the room.
“Yes. Exactly 1,000 people at 40,000 elne. The final auction result is 40,000 elne.”
The pure elemental exam questions said to have been made by Deculein drew the interest of the Floating Island’s mages not only for their own level of perfection and difficulty, but also for the artistic “reward” said to be granted if all questions up to No. 8 were solved.
To begin with, it was an exam that would not have sold anywhere but the Floating Island.
“The 1,000 successful bidders will each have their blood drawn before the exam papers are distributed.”
Through blood drawing, these exam papers are made so that only the purchaser themselves can view them. It is basic yet strict security, and a very fundamental system of magical rights.
In mage communities, whose populations are not particularly large, these magical rights are strictly observed—even in “Ashes,” the den of illegal mages.
However, depending on the grade of the magic, the period lasts from a minimum of one month to a maximum of fifteen years. Naturally, the higher the grade of the magic or record, the longer the protection period.
In that sense, Deculein’s exam received an extraordinarily high evaluation for a midterm record: a full “three years.”
“We will now conclude the auction.”
The auction ended quietly.
Creto, second in the imperial line of succession, who had remained in his seat until the very end, rose in satisfaction and looked over the list of successful bidders.
“Oho. I even see the names of a few ‘Addicts.’ Is this that famous?”
Creto asked the knight beside him, Fassbender. Though he was not a mage, he was permitted to enter the Floating Island as an imperial guard knight.
“Apparently it is these days. Lord Adrienne’s remarks also had an effect...”
The chairwoman of the Aether rank had clearly said it.
Deculein’s final question, in which he had shown for the first time in a long while the reputation that had once called him a “genius of formula interpretation.” With just No. 8, one would understand that these questions themselves were art.
“It is also said that Rojas, an Addict who solved them in advance to assess the value of the record, gave them high praise.”
Addicts referred to those who lived above the tenth floor of the Megiseion—people literally addicted to magic and numbers.
They assessed the value of magic and records, investigated and managed the achievements of mages all over the world, and oversaw the most important “promotion examinations.”
“Is that so? Then this should be quite fun.”
Creto smiled broadly as he moved to the successful bidders’ room. He accepted the blood drawing requested by the mage staff without the peculiar aversion typical of royalty.
“But will I be able to solve this?”
“Of course. Your Highness’s magical talent is far more outstanding.”
“Still, it’s a midterm exam paper. I never learned pure elements from Deculein.”
“It will be fine.”
“They say only one out of one hundred fifty got full marks... Well, whether I solve it or not doesn’t matter.”
Whatever it was, it was good. New problems were always right.
No matter how difficult they were, it was fine as long as there was enjoyment in solving them, and if they could grant him magical insight, nothing could be better.
“I should go solve them. Fassbender, prepare some answer sheets for me.”
“Right now, Your Highness?”
At Creto’s words, Fassbender hesitated for a moment. Creto gave a faint laugh and nodded.
“I know what the situation is right now. It doesn’t matter. That’s tradition, isn’t it? In any case, I saw him once last month, so sending a letter will be enough. It should be.”
Just then, the exam papers were completed. Creto accepted the thick bundle of documents and smelled them.
“...This scent is pleasant no matter when I smell it.”
It was then.
A tall, handsome man appeared from the far end of the corridor. He was clearly approaching Creto, and Fassbender instinctively blocked his path.
Deculein von Grahan Yukline. Yet the body revealed by the lines of his suit was more trained than that of most knights.
He looked at Creto and said,
“Though these questions are lacking, I am deeply honored that Your Highness the Prince has personally purchased them. Your Highness should be able to solve them without difficulty, and I hope this experience will be of help to you in some way in the future.”
That sudden etiquette was far too perfect; it did not abase him too much, yet held sincere reverence toward the imperial family, and it flowed with dignity so abundant it seemed about to overflow.
In this way, Deculein’s personality acted in reverse toward those of noble blood universally acknowledged, such as a prince.
Briefly flustered, Creto shook his head.
“Th-there is no status on the Floating Island.”
“Not for the imperial family.”
Deculein answered so in a low voice, smiling faintly. Creto looked at Fassbender.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It was agreed upon about eight years ago.”
“Ah. Then.”
Ahem. Creto cleared his throat and said,
“I shall try solving them well.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Deculein gave a slight bow and left. Watching his back blankly, Creto murmured,
“He seems like a rather decent professor compared to the rumors, doesn’t he?”
“...Please do not believe only what is visible.”
As a knight, Fassbender knew the past between Yulie and Deculein, so he chose his words sparingly.
* * *
After finishing the auction and returning to the Magic Tower, I sat in my private office and checked the payment that had been deposited.
[ 40,000,000 ∃ ]
An income of forty million elne, far more than expected.
It was thanks to Yeriel’s sharp advice: that it was a misconception to think I could earn more by releasing a large quantity, and that I should instead limit the number and aim for a naming premium.
For reference, there are neither taxes nor fees in a mage’s auction. As expected, 「Great Tycoon’s Wealth」 does not lie, but...
It was still too early to simply rejoice.
I picked up the newspaper lying in one corner of the office.
Today’s urgent bulletin from The Journal, the largest media company in the Empire.
A newspaper of only one page, with only one line.
[ The 18th Emperor, Crebaim Bedio Yudra von Eggers Ziphrane, Passes Away ]
This was the true turning point.
In three days, the palace gates would open, and at that time I would likely visit the imperial palace once. Then, after another nine days, the succession ceremony would follow.
After that, countless upheavals would occur.
Named characters I had to save within the flow of the story would appear, places I had to occupy first would arise, various laws would be revised, and incidents large and small would erupt.
As for places and laws, if I left them to Yeriel, that child would handle them on her own, so setting those aside, the named character I most needed to save was...
“Maho.”
A princess of a kingdom who possessed an independent story on par with a main quest.
She was currently staying in the imperial capital under the pretext of studying abroad, but the moment the emperor ascended the throne, her death event would trigger. I knew this for certain because I had some acquaintance with her from back when I tested the game through a knight playthrough.
I did not want her to die.
Of course, there was the trivial attachment I had built through keyboard and mouse, and also the fact that she was a character I had personally designed and modeled, but above all, she was a good named character who would become a great strength in the future.
I was also curious.
Whether the princess and the knight companions, including “Charlotte,” with whom I had carried out the escort in the game, would be the same in reality.
—Knock, knock.
There was a knock. When I opened the door with psychokinesis, it was Allen, as expected.
“Professor. Here, you’ve received an invitation for a lecture!”
For some reason, Allen looked excited. I wondered why he was acting like that over a mere lecture, but it was a “lecture on the Floating Island.”
“A lecture on the Floating Island?”
“Yes, yes! They said they’d like you to give a lecture related to the exam questions in about a week!”
The invitation fee was one million elne, equivalent to one billion won.
Of course, compared to forty million, it was pocket change, but as could be seen from Allen’s flushed face, giving a lecture on the Floating Island was an immense honor for a mage.
It was also an achievement in itself.
[ Event Quest: Lecture on the Floating Island ]
◆ Mana + 30
Because of Deculein’s personality, my heart was thumping, and now even the system was urging me on.
Like this, “Event Quests” sometimes gave mana stats. It was called a stat reward, and the type usually varied depending on the location.
The Floating Island gave mana, knight orders gave half stamina and half mana, adventure parties gave stamina, and so on.
“Tell them I will consider it favorably.”
It was only 30, but it was far better than nothing.
“Yes!”
Allen answered energetically.
* * *
...After the emperor’s passing, many things happened.
Executions were suspended, a short-term prohibition was enforced, and all educational institutions were closed.
Festivals and parties were naturally postponed, and even the forces of the underworld, including gambling dens and thieves’ guilds, lay low for a while.
The Empire was as silent as death.
Among it all, in a particularly mournful annex of the imperial palace, Princess Maho’s escort knight, Charlotte, was agonizing.
“Char~ Why do you look like that?”
The princess spoke.
A girl with beautiful jade-colored hair. She had seemed to be enjoying teatime on the balcony, but before Charlotte knew it, she had returned and was smiling at her.
“...Princess.”
“You don’t need to worry so much. I know the situation too~ If First Brother loses, First Brother’s retainers will all try to use me, won’t they? If Second Brother loses, Second Brother’s retainers will do the same.”
Maho’s bloodline was unusual.
She was royalty, second in the line of succession to the duchy and third in the line of succession to the Kingdom of Leoc.
In truth, when she first came to the Empire to study abroad, she had been fifth in the line of succession, but as they fought among themselves, her rank had naturally risen.
“Rather than that, they must be thinking they’d rather have the two of them fight to the death without me. I know that too~”
Unlike the Empire, where succession was smooth, iron and blood lurked in the Kingdom of Letran.
That was why Maho had volunteered to study abroad, a situation close to being a hostage. In fact, from Maho’s perspective, the Empire had been the safest place.
However, now that the emperor had died, royalty from another nation could not remain in the Empire. Sophieen also did not want this hostage system that existed in name only.
Therefore, Maho would have to show her face at the succession ceremony and then immediately return to her homeland.
“The reply to the letter sent to the duchy has arrived.”
Charlotte answered.
To Maho, her homeland was a deathtrap. It was obvious she would be killed as soon as she went to the Kingdom of Leoc, so Charlotte intended to entrust Maho to the duchy.
“Really? Really, really? What did Grandfather say?”
“He said it was, of course, possible—”
“Ah, he agreed?!”
“Of course.”
However, an attack during that process would be inevitable.
Of course, they would not be able to drag troops all the way onto imperial soil. But precisely because of that, in the empty zone where the borders met, far more terrifying assassins would be lying in wait.
“Then we can think of it as a trip~ Good~”
Maho smiled brightly. At that happy face, Charlotte gave a bitter smile.
“For now, I am looking into as much protection as possible. I intend to hire not only knights and adventurers, but also mages from the Magic Tower.”
“But we don’t have any money, do we?”
“It will be fine.”
Maho had only three escort knights, but there was a tidy sum prepared for a day like this.
“Hmm…”
At that, Maho blinked her uniquely large eyes as if pondering, then rummaged through a drawer.
“I have a little money too~ I’ve saved up my allowance, and I have lots of jewels and things—”
“No. It’s all right.”
“Whyyy? If this trip is going to be a proper trip, don’t we need lots of money?”
“…”
It was an entirely correct statement.
“Here, take it, Charlotte~”
To Charlotte, who had been rendered speechless, Maho handed over all the wealth she had saved up, and Charlotte accepted that little nest egg and went outside.
“Kuhuhuhk…”
The moment she stepped out, tears came first. Charlotte walked down the corridor and suddenly looked out the window. The freshness of summer was spreading across the whole world.
“Though summer is already in full bloom, the kingdom is still in winter…”
Charlotte left the annex and walked along the road leading out of the Imperial Palace.
“What sort of adventuring party would be best, I wonder.”
If she combined Maho’s entire fortune with her own, it would come to about ten million elne, and with that much, she could post an escort mission for an adventuring party.
She had mentioned the knight order and the Magic Tower to reassure the princess, but the knights would not get involved in political affairs.
As for the Magic Tower… it went without saying.
She was walking along, troubled by such thoughts, when—
Far off in the distance, she saw someone who had once been a classmate of hers at the Imperial University.
The head of Yukline, Deculein.
He had come to offer condolences for the emperor, who had passed away four days ago.
Of course, the heads of each house could not even approach the wooden coffin where the emperor had been laid to rest.
Only Sophien, first in the line of succession, and the empress could remain at his side, but the act of offering condolences itself was both etiquette and justification. Even if they could not see him, they would at least be turned away at the door once, thereby expressing their “loyalty” to the emperor thus far.
“…It has been a while.”
Charlotte had intended simply to pass him by, but Deculein called out to her first. Charlotte looked at him with a slightly uncomfortable expression.
For some reason, Deculein murmured with a face that seemed almost glad to see her.
“You look exactly the same as you did then.”
“…Then? Are you talking about our university days?”
“Ah, right. We did have such a connection between us.”
Deculein nodded. Charlotte twisted the corner of her mouth with a faint snort.
“You look exactly the same as you did then too. I hear you’ve been on people’s lips lately for making your exam questions too difficult?”
“That is half correct. I wasn’t on people’s lips—I was praised.”
“What?”
“I earned forty million elne.”
“…”
Charlotte’s eyes widened. Deculein spoke in a calm tone.
“Are you now returning to the Kingdom of Reok with the princess?”
“…”
“Or perhaps to the Principality of Yuren.”
At that moment, Charlotte’s brow hardened.
Was he mocking the princess’s situation?
Clenching her teeth, she answered.
“On a sorrowful day, and between people meeting again after so long, don’t make harsh words come out of my mouth.”
“Take it.”
Deculein took a small orb from his pocket. It was a crystal orb capable of communication. Charlotte did not accept it.
“…What is that?”
“A lifeline offered to a classmate who has chosen a death ground.”
“What?”
Naturally, Charlotte was suspicious. Deculein looked down at her with an indifferent expression.
“Charlotte. How close were we?”
“At the very least, not close enough for you to call me by my name.”
“I also bear ill will toward Reok.”
That was all Deculein said. Telling her that he knew the future, or that he had once seen her through a monitor, would never work.
To begin with, within the game’s setting, Reok was not a very good country. Rather, it was close to beyond saving.
“So I am merely extending you a lifeline as well, while taking the chance to screw them over.”
“Get lost.”
Deculein’s eyebrow twitched. He soon let the crystal orb drop carelessly.
“…I wonder if you still have the luxury to be picky about people. Or if you are refusing to protect your liege merely for the sake of being picky about a person.”
The fallen crystal orb bounced and rolled along the road.
“Do as you like.”
Deculein brushed past Charlotte.
The princess’s knight did not so much as glance at his retreating back. She simply walked on, more proudly than anyone in the world, until at some point, she stopped.
Then she looked somewhere.
…At the crystal orb rolling in the dirt.
* * *
In that way, I had opened a line with Charlotte.
Whether she made use of the crystal orb or not, there were ways to save her somehow, but in any case, that would happen after the succession ceremony.
So for now…
“Hoo— hoo— hoo—”
Inside the lecture waiting room on the floating island. Beside me, Allen was taking deep breaths, tense to the point of bursting.
I found that absurd. I was the one giving the lecture, not Allen.
“Why are you the one nervous?”
“Y-yes? Ah… I’m sorry, I…”
Knock, knock—
The door opened with a knock. A robed mage looked at me and said,
“Professor Deculein, please prepare for your lecture.”
“Very well.”
I straightened my clothes and rose from my seat.
Guided by the mage, I stood before the door to the lecture hall on the second floor of Mejiseion. A nameplate was attached there.
[Deculein of Monarch Rank: Lecture on Understanding Pure Elemental Magic (Bring Exam Paper)]
“I-I’ll be waiting in the back. Anytime, anytime, if there’s anything, any problem at all, please call me.”
Allen said so with his face bright red. I nodded and opened the door. I stepped up to the podium and looked over the faces attending this lecture.
Strangely, they did not feel unfamiliar.
And with good reason. Not only professors and associate professors, including Professor Relin, but even several Debutants including Sylvia—there were quite a number of people from the Magic Tower.
However, among them, the face that stood out the most—
There was someone looking straight at me, smiling ominously for some reason.
It was the chairwoman.
Without giving her so much as a glance, I climbed onto the podium.
“Good to see you.”