Charlotte saw the assassins quite literally being “ground to pieces.” Deculein’s steel rotated dozens of times per second, crushing the area around it, and the flesh and blood of things that had once been human scattered across the ground in a gruesome spectacle.
Charlotte covered Maho’s large eyes with her hand. When Maho tilted her head to avoid it, Charlotte simply held her in place and blocked her eyelids entirely.
“Ah, why are you doing this? Why?”
“You mustn’t look, Princess.”
The situation was still urgent.
More than a dozen of the assassins had escaped the range unharmed, and above all, the most dangerous one—“Dianent”—had yet to show itself.
“······.”
Charlotte raised her sword. Just gripping it sent pain through her right shoulder. It was the injury she had hidden from the princess—the binding of a curse.
“Charlotte.”
Deculein spoke. He was watching them with his staff in hand.
“Leave with the princess. I will follow shortly. If you remain here too long, the princess will be in danger as well.”
“······Can you manage?”
“Go.”
Charlotte hesitated, but in the end she nodded. This was not a situation where she could stubbornly insist on staying with him.
She lifted Maho into her arms, and a single blade of steel followed beside the two of them. It seemed this steel was meant solely for escort.
Ron said,
“Captain. I will stay behind and assist the professor.”
“······Very well.”
Just as Charlotte turned away with Maho.
A demonic aura rose distinctly. Not far away, Dianent was revealing itself.
As she had heard, it was human in shape, but its silhouette was as faint as the setting sun.
A mutant, a blend of demon and ghost.
A troublesome thing that was both solid and possessed the properties of a fluid.
Charlotte ran with Dianent at her back. However, she controlled her speed moderately. If she went too fast, there was a risk the princess would be poisoned by demonic energy······.
······Fweeeee.
Dianent whistled as if mocking them.
“How far will those two women be able to run?”
Deculein forcibly tightened his grip on the thread of reason. From the depths of his consciousness, instinctive hatred and contempt surged up, but it was still bearable.
Then Dianent laughed.
“Steel without a trace of mana will not be able to kill this body.”
Its voice sounded scorched and stuck deep inside its throat.
“Of course, magic will not be able to kill this body either.”
As it said, ordinary steel could not kill Dianent. Magic manifested only for an instant could not annihilate something so close to a fluid.
It was similar to being unable to cut or burn the air.
To eliminate it, the level of magic had to be exceedingly high, but this was the “Crevasse Gorge,” so any grand magic would be scattered by the demonic energy.
It knew that fact extremely well.
“······.”
Deculein closed his eyes.
Taking into account his magical amplification and recovery rate, he devised the routes for his 「Wood Steel」. He designed the process by which he would tear the creature apart. He predicted and gauged the course of battle for roughly the next thirty minutes.
Goooooooo······.
「Rokelock’s Staff」 heated with his mana. The staff, imbued with the blood of exorcism, was enraged alongside its master.
At last, Deculein opened his eyes. His eyes gleamed blue. Across from him, Dianent was still there.
He drew an imaginary line on the road not far away.
The moment Dianent crossed that line—the swarm of steel would faithfully execute Deculein’s conception and design.
Step.
Dianent took one step.
Sweat gathered in Knight Ron’s hands.
Step.
The thing believed in itself.
However, Deculein knew how to kill Dianent.
Step.
It took one more step.
With that, it crossed the “line.”
A cold flash burst from Dianent’s right side.
Ron’s eyes could not see it. Even Deculein could not perceive its execution.
The Wood Steel acted not according to Deculein’s will, but according to the design laid out in advance.
Everyone’s time had come to a halt, and only the steel moved of its own accord.
Shwaaaaaak—!
Dianent felt its neck being pierced through. Yet not a single drop of blood flowed from the cut surface.
The first Wood Steel severed Dianent’s neck, then plunged rapidly downward. It split the creature precisely from clavicle to groin.
The second Wood Steel swung horizontally. It sliced from the lower right pubic bone to the upper left armpit.
The third, fourth, and fifth Wood Steel tore out the spine at every joint.
The sixth and seventh Wood Steel cut off the wrists.
The eighth and ninth Wood Steel severed the legs.
The tenth and eleventh Wood Steel cut in spirals, as if winding around the body.
With that, numerous fine lines were etched into Dianent’s flesh. Smoke seeped from the cut surfaces.
Before long, Dianent felt its vision turn upside down. As the world spun round and round, it saw its own body being torn apart by steel.
A body whose head had been sent flying.
The twelfth steel drifted in leisurely. It pierced the eyeball and smashed the brain.
The thirteenth and fourteenth steel rampaged inside Dianent’s body.
“······.”
However, using that opening, many assassins attempted to pass Deculein and pursue Charlotte. Deculein extended his steel and killed them.
They moved nimbly and retreated. Even Ron could see the bewilderment and confusion they felt.
“Professor! Over there!”
Ron pointed that way and shouted loudly. Dianent was writhing again, trying to regain its form.
Deculein remained composed.
“Do not make a fuss.”
He knew how to kill Dianent.
It was simple.
“You simply beat it to death until it dies.”
A dozen or so blades of Wood Steel surged up once more.
The steel repeated the very process that had just collapsed Dianent, exactly and infinitely, and Ron stared blankly in admiration as he felt the destructive force firsthand.
* * *
Charlotte safely broke through the gorge with Maho. They escaped the Crevasse and raced across the field.
They did not stop until they reached Yuren’s border, but as expected, it was not easy until the very end.
Enemies.
Assassins rushed in, scattering shadows. Charlotte swung her sword with one hand and killed them.
The pain of the curse binding her right arm surged through her entire body, but she paid it no mind.
“───!”
Sword aura rippled from the blade Charlotte thrust out. The released sword aura crushed their flesh and bones.
Before it was too late, a shout rose from somewhere.
“There!”
They were the Grand Duke’s knights.
They could not enter the Empire’s border, but once Charlotte reached the Yuren route she had promised, they appeared as reinforcements.
The knights charged in swiftly and cut down the assassins.
The battle situation reversed at once, and Charlotte let out a sigh of relief. She asked Maho, who was looking up at her from her arms.
“Are you all right, Princess?”
“······Yes. I feel a little sick, but I’m fine. U-uek—”
“It is an early symptom of demonic energy poisoning, but I am glad it is only that much. You will be all right soon.”
Kraaaaaagh—!
The knights did not let even a single assassin escape, and the captured assassins chose suicide.
Slash—!
As swords cut through skin, the surroundings slowly fell silent.
And soon, the duchy’s Minister of the Interior and Maho’s great-uncle, “Girand,” appeared.
“Maho.”
“Ah! Great-Uncle!”
Maho shouted brightly and ran over. Girand looked at Maho as she approached him with a rather apologetic expression.
“It has been a long time. Forgive us for being in a position where we could only wait here.”
“It’s all right, it’s all right~ I understand everything. I’m grateful instead. Thank you for coming.”
Maho was still bright. Girand stroked Maho’s head and looked at Charlotte. Charlotte was clutching her stiff shoulder.
“Charlotte.”
“Yes.”
“You did well. Are you the only survivor?”
“······No.”
Charlotte shook her head.
Deculein had clearly said he would follow after them, so he would come with Ron.
“We will wait here.”
Girand nodded.
They tended to themselves, buried the corpses, and waited for the comrades who would soon arrive.
Time flowed dryly.
The wind was cold.
Thirty minutes passed like that,
then another hour,
then two hours, far too late.
“We should return now.”
Just as Girand placed a hand on Charlotte’s shoulder.
“······Ah! There! Over there!”
Maho pointed somewhere. Everyone looked that way.
A colorless evening where the boundary between earth and sky was vague.
From that distant horizon, two men were walking toward them.
Charlotte let out a sigh of relief.
“You’re safe!”
Maho ran ahead first to greet him.
Deculein was still soaked in the aftertaste of battle. His expression was rigid. But soon, he smiled and bowed politely.
“Thank you for your concern, Princess.”
“I’m so glad, so glad. Phew. Thank you, Professor, truly—”
“Princess.”
Deculein brought his lips to her ear. Then he whispered softly.
—There is no need to act anymore.
Maho’s expression stiffened slightly.
He knew Maho’s true personality.
Of course, it was not as if this fairy-tale tomboy appearance was false.
However, that airheadedness and pure innocence were false.
She knew thoroughly which aspects of herself could evoke sympathy, and which actions would raise her chances of survival.
“······.”
Maho looked at Deculein with her large eyes. Deculein gave a low, wordless smile.
Charlotte approached.
“Hey. You······.”
“The matter is over now. As for the details, hear them from this Ron. Ron?”
“Yes! Understood!”
At Deculein’s words, Ron straightened his back.
Ron, who had been full of suspicion just a day ago, had become like a loyal retainer. His eyes as he looked at Deculein were filled with admiration and respect.
Charlotte nodded.
“······Thank you. I will never forget this favor—no, this ‘deal.’”
Deculein turned away without answering.
There was not the slightest rest. He did not even show signs of fatigue.
He was full of dignity, just as he had been when they first met.
“Charlotte.”
Girand called Charlotte. He, too, was looking at Deculein’s back.
“Yes.”
“Is that man part of the escort team?”
Before she could answer, Ron spoke.
“Yes. He is Senior Professor Deculein of the Imperial Mage Tower. He killed dozens of assassins alone and eliminated Dianent.”
“······Dianent? No, inside that Crevasse Gorge?”
Ron nodded proudly.
“Yes.”
“Is that possible?”
“I saw it with my own two eyes. Professor Deculein’s magic differed in both course and caliber from that of ordinary mages.”
With a face full of emotion, Ron gazed beyond. Maho, too, fixed her eyes on the same place.
“The professor toyed with Dianent as if handling a plaything. No attack worked against him. A technique close to invincibility—indeed, it was the very essence of ‘combat magic’······.”
At Ron’s lavish praise, not only Girand but even the Grand Duke’s knights looked beyond with fresh eyes.
On the dark horizon, the blood of Yukline was swaying.
* * *
[ Independent Quest Complete ]
◆ Shop Currency +4
◆ Mana +30
······When I came out of the Crevasse Gorge, the Red Hare was waiting as I had ordered. I climbed straight onto its back to return, but then suddenly looked toward the entrance of the gorge.
The mana recovery rate inside that place was enough to grant 「Midas’s Hand」 to all of my 「Wood Steel」 and still have some left over.
In fact, during the six hours I walked out, I bestowed the trait upon four pieces of 「Wood Steel」.
However, purifying and absorbing demonic energy itself placed a burden on my body, and in particular, the consumption of mental strength was extreme. It felt as if the contagion of personality was growing even stronger.
I had no desire to spend time in the gorge while enduring all of that.
“Let’s go, to Hadekain.”
The Red Hare dashed off steeply.
I sought a light sleep in the saddle. Perhaps it knew my fatigue, for the Red Hare also reduced its speed and the vibration.
After closing my eyes like that for a moment and opening them—
It was Hadekain’s lord’s castle.
“······Hmm.”
I had not intended to come here.
Since I am here, I might as well look around Deculein’s room.
“Hey.”
“······Ah! We greet the family head!”
I entrusted Red Hare to a nearby guard and entered the castle.
Inside, I had a servant guide me to Deculein’s room.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“It has been a while, so I got confused. You may rest.”
I opened the door. The room itself was tidy, and there was nothing particularly special about it. However, one notebook tucked into the bookshelf caught my eye.
[ ─ ]
Untitled. A notebook with no title at all. A magical artifact lodged in one corner of the study.
There was no content or anything else within, but my 「Naked Eye」 told me that this notebook was “special.” It also told me that, without 「Naked Eye」, I would not even have been able to see it.
I tucked the notebook into my coat and left.
“······.”
This time, I went up to the lord’s office.
Knock, knock—
After knocking once, I immediately grabbed the doorknob and flung the door open.
“What the hell!”
The moment I opened the door, a sharp voice rang out. It was Yeriel.
Yeriel crumpled her expression and glared at me.
“Knock, will you!”
“I did.”
“You’re supposed to wait for an answer!”
I approached Yeriel. She had a pencil and notebook on the desk and was solving something.
“What were you doing?”
“······This issue of ‘Wizard Academic’.”
‘Wizard Academic’ was a magical academic journal. In truth, it would not be an exaggeration to call it a “magic problem booklet,” since they enjoyed setting magic problems for one another.
Of course, they say it is not entirely pointless, as one may sometimes gain insight in the process of solving these problems. Above all, there are also records of magic problems posed by the great mages of the past, known as the ‘Millennium.’
I had never even considered trying them. Naturally, because it was a waste of time.
“Let me see. What were you solving?”
“······.”
Yeriel handed over the Academic without a word. I employed 「Comprehension」 and solved the problem.
For reference, 「Comprehension」 displays great power when applied to problems with answers. Also, the more limited the field and the more straightforward the problem—rather than one requiring application—the less mana it consumes.
Despite that, a single problem consumed 2,000 mana. Without thinking much of it, I wrote the magical solution in the answer section.
It was then.
[ Mini Quest: Solve an Academic Problem ]
◆ Mana +2
“······Hm?”
“What.”
Yeriel asked back apathetically.
“······It’s nothing.”
My mana had risen by ‘2.’
It was certainly something, but I returned the journal without another word. Yeriel, receiving it, saw the correct answer written in the answer section and widened her eyes.
“Ah! Why would you write it down!”
“I’m tired today, so I’ll be going to sleep.”
“What? Hey! No, I’d been working on that for two hours—!”
“What you could not solve in two hours, I solved in one minute.”
“Oh, so what! Are you bragging?!”
I chuckled and left the office. I could hear her shouting, Wow, seriously—! What’s wrong with him, that lunatic—! but I did not feel bad.
Because right now, even a mere ‘2’ mana was precious to me······.
「Mana: 1,419 / 3,419 (+800)」
「Mana Grade: 5」
* * *
The Duchy of Yuren is called a duchy in name, but it is not subject to the interference of any king or emperor.
That is because the Duchy of Yuren itself is a state that inherited the ducal title of a kingdom that has already perished.
Bordered by the sea to the southwest and protected by a natural barrier of mountains to the northeast, the duchy cultivated its own independent culture thanks to its geography. Commerce was valued, and banking flourished; the academy ‘Atlan,’ which fostered artists in literature, fine art, music, and the like, was a unique product of the duchy.
Late at night in ‘Lucangel Castle,’ where the monarch of that duchy—the Grand Duke—resided.
The Grand Duke’s younger brother and Minister of the Interior, ‘Girand,’ summoned Charlotte to his office.
“Yes, Minister. What is the matter?”
“······How is Maho?”
Girand’s expression as he asked was grave.
“She has just retired to her bedchamber.”
Charlotte answered with a somewhat weary face. Girand let out a low sigh.
“Sit. I have something to tell you.”
He gestured to the chair with a troubled twitch of his eyebrows.
Feeling anxious inwardly, Charlotte sat down.
“What is it you wish to say?”
Could it be that even the duchy intended not to accept Maho? She asked back while maintaining as much composure as she could.
“Do not be too surprised.”
······But in the very next moment.
The words Girand uttered were of a kind she had never dared imagine.
“His Grace wishes for Maho to succeed him.”
“······Pardon?”
Charlotte’s mouth fell open. She stared at Girand without even blinking. She was so exhausted that she wondered if this situation itself was a dream.
“What do you mean by······?”
“It seems the Grand Duke had this in mind even before Maho sent her letter. After all, his grandson is rather unreliable.”
“I—I mean, I do not understand. That means······ the Princess could inherit the next Grand Ducal seat······?”
“That is correct.”
Girand smiled bitterly. Charlotte asked back in shock.
“Is such a thing possible?”
“Of course it is possible. Maho is a direct descendant of the Grand Duke. And three years ago, she became second in the line of succession.”
“But the Princess will not be able to bear the weight of the crown.”
At Charlotte’s words, Girand shook his head.
“You have a rather naive side as well.”
“Pardon?”
“In any case, it is top secret for now. Only the Grand Duke, I, and you know of this.”
“Ah, yes. That is only natural······.”
Charlotte nodded even as she felt a headache coming on.
However, not long after, a crease formed between her brows. A certain thought hovered in her mind, on the verge of surfacing.
“What is it?”
Girand asked.
At that instant, a spark flashed through her mind.
“······Ah!”
“!”
Girand flinched at the sudden cry.
“Surely not.”
She thought of Deculein.
Deculein had known that Maho could only survive if she went to Yuren.
Furthermore, he had called this cooperation a “deal.”
At the time, she had accepted it, believing in his grudge against Leoc, but in truth, the very expression “deal” had been absurd.
After all, a deal is established on the premise of mutual benefit.
However, Maho, a princess abandoned by the kingdom, had nothing whatsoever to give him.
“What is it?”
Girand said. He seemed quite curious about Charlotte’s inner change.
Charlotte, who had grown serious before she knew it, asked back.
“Minister. Is there truly no one else who knows this?”
“Of course not. The Grand Duke only told me today.”
Charlotte felt goosebumps rise all over her body.
The words Deculein had once spoken replayed in her ears.
—I am an exceedingly political man. And whether it be intelligence or insight, or anything else, I am surely far superior to you.
If so.
Had he considered all of these political circumstances, that is, inferred the relationship between the Grand Duke and Maho, calculated the dynamics and tensions between the kingdom and the duchy, and in the end predicted the conclusion that “Maho may inherit the ducal seat,” thereby making this deal?
If that was true······.
“What a monstrous man.”
Just how deep did that thinking go? How elaborate and meticulous were his thoughts and stratagems, truly······.
“What was that? Are you calling me a monster?”
Charlotte suddenly came back to her senses. Girand was glaring at her with narrowed, sideways eyes.
“No, not at all.”
“Your inner thoughts slipped out, didn’t they? I apologize. You mean to say that I made no diplomatic effort to save Maho, and yet now that she has arrived, I start with such a weighty matter, making me truly monstrous and dreadful.”
“That is not it. I did not mean—”
“Enough.”
“No—”
“You may go.”
“That is not it. Please, listen to me for a moment······.”