I looked at Epherene and Sylvia, seated together. The two, who had happened to end up in the same group, were glaring at each other.
Sylvia muttered.
“Impudent Epherene.”
“......What?”
It was an amusing sight, but I put it out of my mind and focused on the class again.
There were still two hours left in the lecture.
“I will now distribute the crystal balls. Allen?”
“Yes.”
Allen placed a silk pouch filled with crystal balls on the lectern. I lifted the balls with telekinesis and handed them out to each group.
The difficulty of the mana disasters differed from ball to ball. Some were difficult, and some were relatively easy.
The standard for distribution was “the combined total of the group members’ midterm scores.”
Naturally, Sylvia and Epherene’s team received the most difficult crystal ball.
The mages chattered among themselves over the balls.
“Focus.”
With that single word, the disorderly atmosphere settled. All 150 Debutantes fixed their attention on me.
“From now on, I will speak to you about the act by which you see the world—in other words, ‘observation.’”
I spoke while looking into their eyes. An unconscious authority seeped into my voice.
“You likely regard the world as nothing more than phenomena.”
If a scientist views the world scientifically, then it is only right that a mage view the world magically. However, to reach that state, one needs a process of maturation and training.
For example, a mere undergraduate in engineering cannot view the world scientifically. They lack ability, but more than that, they are not accustomed to it.
It is a discussion one can barely begin to understand only after reaching at least the doctoral level.
The same applies to mages.
Judging from what I had seen of the Debutantes so far, they did not analyze the phenomena of the world magically.
“However, the world I see and the world you see are different.”
This was not a lie. Nor was it boasting or bluffing.
The world truly appeared different to me.
The power to see abstractions, phenomena, ideas, concepts, and the like with the naked eye—「Vision」.
That trait was progressing appropriately as my magical knowledge accumulated.
“From now on, I will convey to you the world as I see it.”
It would be easy to assume at first glance that observation conducted through 「Vision」 would be impossible to explain, but that was not the case at all.
They were the Debutantes of the Empire’s greatest university Magic Tower, elite mages with outstanding talent.
Therefore, the method of teaching was rather simple.
“Do not miss a single word I say, nor a single line of formula I draw.”
If I expressed the process by which I saw the world through 「Vision」 exactly as it was, they would use that process as a textbook and study it on their own.
Simply looking at the scenery of 「Vision」 and imitating it directly would be enough.
The effect had already been tested and proven on Allen.
“Let us begin.”
First, I reproduced the mana disaster contained in a small crystal ball. It was “Frost Fog.”
“Frost Fog. This disaster appears to me like this.”
The fog was soon replaced by lines and circles. I implemented that process slowly and clearly.
The mages watched with their eyes and took notes with their hands.
“Sea of Fire. This mana disaster, which burns ships and sailors to death at sea, is somewhat peculiar. Since the sea itself has transformed into flames, extinguishing it is nearly impossible......”
I showed them various mana phenomena “exactly as I saw them.”
I tried to convey to them the world observed by 「Vision」.
Like that, one, two, three, four......
After demonstrating a total of eight times, I looked at the clock.
5:59:50.
“......Do not forget the world I showed you today.”
I straightened my sleeves. I smoothed the wrinkles in my suit.
“To look at and think about every phenomenon that ordinary people would simply pass by in magical terms.”
The mages’ gazes were blank. Their notebooks were filled with formulas.
“That mindset itself is the beginning.”
Six o’clock sharp.
“However, greed is forbidden. Learn from small things suited to your level.”
At that moment, the class ended.
I left the lecture hall with them behind me.
“Good work.”
The mages did not rise from their seats.
......After class ended.
Epherene stared blankly down at her notebook. Every page was filled with all sorts of geometric patterns. She had recorded every last bit of the “mana disaster conversion process” Deculein had shown.
“Ah...... So this is why the fog becomes like earth...... Ah, my head feels like it’s going to split......”
It was hard. Too hard. Insanely difficult, but doable.
At first, there had truly been no answer, but she was slowly starting to get a feel for it.
Epherene followed the process Deculein had shown exactly as it was. A very small earthen mist puffed up in her grasp.
This was it.
Yes, this was it.
This was what earthen mist was......
“It feels like the real class starts now.”
It was Yurozan, her groupmate, who spoke. Epherene nodded as well.
“I know. My head is killing me.”
“The professor really is amazing. How did he do all that......”
“......I know.”
Deculein had described the process of turning a mana disaster into a formula in great detail. Epherene was awed by the flowing smoothness of it, and at the same time, to a certain extent, suspicious.
“If that’s truly Deculein’s ability, that is.”
The skill Deculein displayed today was extraordinary.
However, Epherene alone could not help but suspect him. Suspect the possibility that he had found a “new slave” to replace her father.
Of course, she had no intention of exposing him or raising suspicion for no reason.
Whether in the distant future or the near one, someday, I will dig into that suspicion myself.
“Impudent Epherene.”
Sylvia muttered, glaring at Epherene. Epherene shrugged and said,
“What are you even saying? Anyway, if we’re going to do the group assignment, I think we’ll need to meet up sometime. When would be good?”
“......”
“......”
“......”
No one said anything. Epherene nodded.
“Then, at your mansion, Sylvia.”
“Who decided that?”
“Your house is the biggest. If all five of us are going, that’s the only place.”
“Fine. But you don’t come.”
“......Are you going to keep being that childish?”
* * *
Meanwhile, in the territory of Yukline, preparations were in full swing for the “opening of Marik.”
“How is the progress?”
A mountainous region not far from the mining area in the northwest. Yeriel asked while mounted on a horse. It was the red hare Deculein had once recommended, saying it was a good horse.
“The walls, watchtowers, and encampments are all nearing completion. The underground road is still under construction, but it seems it will be finished by this summer.”
“Good.”
Yeriel spoke with considerable solemnity. Then she looked around the area.
Suddenly, the contents of Deculein’s letter came to mind.
......Once Marik is opened, demonic beasts will first swarm out. Since the deployment of troops must be efficient, build walls, watchtowers, and encampments at key points in the northwest. I will indicate the locations.
Also, it is better to construct the road leading to Marik underground rather than aboveground. If you call it an underground road and collect tolls, you will be able to turn a profit quickly.
“Indeed, if we build an encampment here, we can see everything.”
“Yes. It could be called an ideal location. Your eye for judging terrain is truly remarkable, Lady Yeriel.”
The person in charge answered Yeriel’s mutter. Yeriel glanced at him and took the letter from her breast pocket.
She looked at the second of the four pages.
......Do not even think of sending bribes to the Imperial family or officials regarding the matter of Marik. The Emperor ignored his vassal’s advice and opened Marik. Therefore, he will not be swayed by anything any vassal says and will act solely according to his own convictions.
Also, do not try to curry the Emperor’s favor. The Emperor utterly detests falsehood and flattery. However, he does enjoy wine, so if you are to send a tribute, the finest wine will suffice.
“What is he, a fortune-teller......?”
The retainers happened to be considering bribes, so how did he know?
It was then. A cold crystal landed on Yeriel’s nose. Yeriel opened her eyes wide and looked.
It was snow.
“Huh?”
Tilting her head, she spread her hand wide. A snowflake settled on her gloved palm.
“!”
Greatly startled, Yeriel hurriedly unfolded the third letter.
......Abnormal weather will occur from time to time. There is no need to panic, but it may be a sign of a demon, so if snow falls in midsummer, strengthen your defenses in particular.
“What in the world is going on......”
Yeriel furrowed her brow.
I thought he was pretending to be a genius, but was he actually one?
No, that can’t be. How could Deculein be a genius?
“......Come to think of it, it started then.”
Yeriel recalled the beginning of this year.
Deculein’s change had begun from that moment, that week-long blank in the past.
The one week when he, who had always been methodical, canceled all his plans and shut himself away.
At first, she had thought it was because he had been rejected by Julie...... but had something else happened?
“Well, is there any need to know?”
Whatever the case, Deculein was once again showing traces of his former self. The days when he had been called a prodigy, that is.
It was not an entirely bad change, so she did not want to stir up trouble for no reason.
Yeriel put away the letter and shouted loudly.
“Attention—!”
At that fine cry, everyone in the encampment looked back at her.
“Abnormal weather may be a sign of a demon’s appearance, so strengthen your posture! Maintain strict all-around vigilance, and forbid independent action!”
Yes, ma’am—!
The soldiers’ shouts in response to the order echoed through the mountain range.
“Good answer. I will be off now.”
Yeriel was quite satisfied with her solemn appearance, and, nodding like a monarch, took hold of the reins.
The red hare walked easily along the snowy mountain path.
* * *
The next day, 8 a.m.
After finishing my morning routine, I sat in the study chair and picked up a document.
[ Haillech Yukline Auction: Lucho’s Scissors, Dark-Floor Carpet, Ancient Saddle...... ]
It was the first auction to be held after taking over the appraisal shop.
The sales list included 「Lucho’s Scissors」 and 「Dark-Floor Carpet」, whose potential had been awakened, along with three other items. Their performance was clearly good at a glance, so I expected a net profit somewhere between sixty million and one hundred million.
Knock, knock— It is time.
Just then, the butler knocked. I rose from my seat, opened the door, and descended the stairs with the butler.
“A total of twenty-three places, was it?”
I asked the butler.
Today, there were many external business matters I had to settle personally. More precisely, ways to make money.
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Good. Let us go together.”
“Yes.”
I got into the prepared car. The automobile set off straight for the center of the capital.
The first destination was the hardware store “Rokkan’s Wharf.”
“Ah, you’ve arrived! Been waitin’ for ya!”
The owner ran a hardware store while inventing this and that, and his skill had caught the eye of 「Great Wealthy Magnate」.
I drew up an investment certificate for him. A total of three million elne. In return, I acquired a thirty percent stake.
“Thank you kindly! I won’t disappoint ya!”
“I look forward to it.”
Next was the hotel “Romance.” It was an old hotel that looked as if it might collapse at any moment, but its newly appointed owner was searching for investors.
I drew up an investment certificate for her as well.
A total of four million elne. In return, a forty percent stake.
“Huuuuuk......”
“If you cry, it’s canceled.”
“......Hic!”
The owner stopped her tears of emotion.
“Focus on remodeling. If you use the name of Yukline, you should be able to obtain materials easily.”
“Ah, thank you, thank you!”
After that came shops, trading companies, blacksmithies, mercenary groups, and so on...... Twenty-three businesses throughout the capital, carefully selected and chosen with the eyes of 「Great Wealthy Magnate」.
I invested a total of eighty million elne into them. It was funding that would later increase to one hundred and twenty million.
“Good work, Roy. Let us return now.”
“Yes.”
By the time the sun was setting, we were on the way back to the mansion.
Watching the twilight slowly crumble away, I let out a faint breath.
It had been a satisfying day. The cash invested today would soon swell into enormous human and material assets......
“What?!”
At that moment, Roy in the passenger seat opened his eyes wide. I looked that way as well.
A certain ornate banner and a number of people were loitering by the gate. It was a banner engraved with the emblem of the Imperial family.
“Master.”
Roy’s voice was uncommonly urgent. I nodded and got out of the car.
Then the Imperial people looked back at me. Among them, I saw one named knight.
The Emperor’s direct guard knight, “Keiron.”
A blond Keiron approached me.
“Deculein von Grahan Yukline. A letter from the Imperial Family. Receive it with due courtesy.”
Still on one knee, I accepted the letter.
Its contents were as follows.
[ The Imperial Family hereby informs Deculein, Head Professor of the Imperial Magic Tower and head of House Yukline, that he has been included among the candidates for the honor of conversing with His Imperial Majesty and sharing magical insight······ as a ‘Tutoring Mage’······ Though it will be an infinite glory both as a noble house and as a mage, he must first solve the problem prepared by the court mage, Georg. ]
“Will you take the challenge? If you lack confidence in your abilities, the Imperial Family will not mind if you decline.”
I rose to my feet.
It was a nuisance, but I couldn’t refuse an event like this. After all, quests related to the Imperial Family always came with tremendous rewards.
“How could I not take the challenge?”
“Very well.”
Keiron handed me a sheet of magical paper. It was about the size of B4 paper, covered densely with formulae. I widened my eyes and stared it down.
As time passed, nearly four thousand mana was consumed, and the answer was barely derived.
The logic of the problem was somewhat familiar.
It was Runic.
I drew the solution formula onto the answer sheet.
[ Congratulations. I am Georg, mage of the Imperial Family. If you have solved this problem······ ]
When I infused it with mana, a voice flowed out. Keiron and the Imperial party, who had been about to leave, flinched in surprise and turned back.
Keiron asked again in a half-risen posture.
“······You’ve solved it already?”
“Yes.”
“How? Sir Georg clearly—”
The voice from the answer sheet continued.
[ I imagine it took a day or two at the earliest, three days at the latest, though I cannot know for certain. As you know now that you have solved it, this was a problem utilizing Runic. ]
“······It was a difficult problem. I only managed it because I have been studying Runic lately. I was fortunate.”
“······.”
[ Not to boast, but I put quite a bit of thought into making it neither too difficult nor too easy to solve······ ]
As the voice continued, Keiron approached. The lines between his brows and the wrinkles on his face rippled with bewilderment.
“······Yukline von Deculein, Yukde, no. Deculein von Grahan Yukline······.”
Keiron took out a card bearing the Imperial seal from his inner pocket.
“This is an invitation from the Imperial Family. You have been selected for the examination.”
“Thank you.”
With dignity and refinement, I bowed.
* * *
······The Imperial Castle, built upon the most exalted land in the Empire, is itself no different from a small world. The space within the inner castle is that magical.
The four seasons always coexist within the Imperial Castle. Centered around the Imperial Palace, the northeast is winter, the northwest summer, the southeast spring, and the southwest autumn.
Thus, the Emperor always lives amid the four seasons.
The people of the Empire call that strange phenomenon a “blessing from God.”
“Is that so? Then is there any need to hold a separate selection test? Just make it Deculein.”
In the Imperial Palace’s secluded study. Within that vast space filled with all manner of ancient texts and books, Sophien received Keiron’s report.
“Even so, I believe it would be better to observe a little longer.”
Sophien raised an eyebrow.
“What is there to observe? You said he solved it not in a day, but in five seconds.”
“It was five minutes.”
“Is there such a great difference between five seconds and five minutes?”
“······Sixtyfold.”
At that timid reply, Sophien burst into laughter. Keiron lowered his head, embarrassed for no reason.
“You seem to favor that woman called Ruina over Deculein.”
“······This is not a matter of personal likes or dislikes. I simply believe that an unblemished mage is more suited to the Imperial Palace. There are many rumors surrounding Professor Deculein. Ruina also solved the problem quickly.”
“Let me see, did Ruina solve it in three minutes?”
“······Three hours.”
“Hmph. The difference between five minutes and three hours is greater than that between ten seconds and five minutes. Also, do not speak to me of rumors. I believe only what I see with my own eyes.”
Having said that, Sophien picked up Georg’s test sheet.
“······.”
Ziiing— She stared at it with laser-like eyes.
Tick—
Tick—
Tick—
The moment the second hand moved exactly three hundred times, Sophien’s shoulders twitched.
“Five minutes have passed. I could not solve it. When he comes, I shall ask him how he solved it in five minutes.”
“······Yes.”
With those words, Sophien confirmed it.
The Emperor’s Tutoring Mage would be Deculein.
“By the way, is the knight selection examination still underway?”
“The knight examination is quite practical in nature, so it has not even begun yet. It seems it will take a little longer.”
“Didn’t the very man who prepared that examination end up injured?”
Isaac von Derick Lugeden.
The vice commander of the Imperial Knights had been injured while on the Marik expedition.
No, perhaps it had been a self-orchestrated farce. Isaac was opposed to the opening of Marik, after all.
“Therefore, we are searching for another suitable person.”
“A suitable person······ Ah.”
Suddenly, Sophien gave a mischievous smile.
“I have thought of a good idea.”
That good idea sounded ominous to Keiron. He looked at the Emperor in silence.
“This should be amusing. Listen carefully. After all, the selection examiner······.”
At the Emperor’s proposal, which continued like laughter, Keiron let out a sigh.