“How was today’s instruction?”
The imperial garden. In the winter-settled scenery, Yulli asked cautiously. Sophien glanced sidelong at her and answered.
“It was not too bad.”
The Emperor had put off knightly instruction until now. In her own words, it had been because of closed-door training, but no one knew what sort of training it had been.
“That is a relief.”
Yulli swallowed a sigh of relief. Sophien looked at her from the corner of her eye and said,
“By the way, your chess skills were unexpected.”
During a break in the training, Yulli had played chess with Sophien. Yulli’s chess skills were decent, at an amateur level, but she was no match for Sophien.
“I had some expectations, since you are that man’s fiancée.”
“······Do you mean Professor Deculein?”
At the unexpected name, Yulli’s eyes went round. Sophien snorted.
“Is your fiancé someone else?”
“No. You are correct.”
“Learn from him. What use is keeping him by your side otherwise?”
“······.”
Yulli did not know his chess skills. To think they were enough to be acknowledged by His Majesty.
It struck her anew that she truly knew so little about him.
“Also, my younger brother wants your fiancé’s autograph.”
The Emperor held out a book to Yulli. It was one of Deculein’s works.
“Do you mean Grand Prince Kreto?”
“Yes. Get it here. I suppose I shall act like an elder sister for once.”
[ Understanding Elemental Magic ]
It was a book on magic theory written by Deculein. A book infamous for its atrocious difficulty and wicked price.
Yulli, too, had paid out of her own pocket to buy it in an effort to learn more about him, but she had not been able to make it past ten pages.
“Yes.”
“He said it was overly complicated and difficult. My brother added that he was only saying so, but do not leave that out when you relay it.”
“······Yes.”
A knight’s words did not grow long. Sophien seemed displeased by that instead, wrinkling the bridge of her nose and waving her hand.
“You may go.”
“Yes.”
“From next time, speak at greater length. A teaching knight does instruct me, but is also meant to become my friend and conversation partner.”
“······Friend, you say?”
Yulli’s eyes widened. The Emperor smiled faintly and nodded, and Yulli took deep breaths to hide the emotion welling up in her.
Hoo-ha— hoo-ha— hoo-ha—
“That will do. Now return, my friend.”
“······Yes. It was an honor.”
The Emperor returned to the palace with Knight Chiron. Yulli stood with her head bowed to their backs.
“This way, please.”
After that, she was guided by a maid.
She walked along a passage set apart in the garden. But soon the maid vanished somewhere, and a eunuch took her place.
“Greetings, Sir Yulli. My name is Jolang.”
“······What is the matter?”
Yulli looked at him with rather suspicious eyes. Jolang smiled brightly and said,
“May I borrow a moment of your time? For the stability of the imperial palace, there is something I humbly ask of you. The other knights are waiting as well.”
It was dubious, but she soon followed behind him.
“This is the place.”
The eastern side of the vast and complex imperial palace. In an annex at its corner, Raphel, Sirio, and Gwen were together.
They greeted Yulli with ambiguous expressions.
“······Yulli, you’re here?”
Gwen waved her hand. Yulli responded with a bow of her head and stood beside them.
Sirio smiled brightly.
“Now that we’re all gathered, Mr. Jolang? What is this about?”
“Yes.”
Jolang opened his mouth, still smiling. His tone was gentle.
“There is a mission I would like to ask of you all.”
“A mission?”
“Yes. There is a monster lurking beneath the imperial palace. Those within the imperial household find that monster burdensome, so we would like to ask you to handle it.”
“Is it an imperial command?”
Raphel’s heavy voice asked back.
“It is not an imperial command, but it is our loyalty. If this matter is resolved, we will be able to report it with praise for the knights. Of course, sufficient compensation will follow as well.”
“······.”
The knights pondered silently for a moment.
Before long, Gwen spoke. She pointed at Yulli.
“If Yulli is included, that person has to be here too.”
“That person?”
“Deculein.”
At that name, Jolang seemed slightly uncomfortable. Gwen smiled faintly.
Even a eunuch said to have gone through all sorts of hardships in the imperial palace feared the name Deculein.
Well, his political power was still famous, and his influence was growing higher by the day.
Even if one was the Emperor’s eunuch, it was only natural to feel burdened.
“It seems dangerous, so at the very least, shouldn’t her fiancé give permission?”
Gwen pointed at Yulli. Yulli hurriedly shook her head.
“N-No. It’s fine—”
“That is right. His practical ability is beyond doubt.”
Raphel cut off Yulli’s words and interjected. Sirio also expressed his agreement with a silent smile.
“······Hmm.”
Jolang seemed dissatisfied, but soon smiled and nodded.
“Yes, understood. I will say as much to Lord Yukline.”
That answer left Gwen dumbfounded.
He called us by name just fine, but Deculein is “Lord Yukline,” is he? So this is why they say family background is everything······.
“Do as you like. Yulli? Let’s have a meal together today.”
Gwen answered bluntly and left the imperial palace with Yulli.
* * *
「We are still following orders.」
I planned to make contact with them.
However, I would never reveal anything like impatience or panic. I must not show anything in my facial expression, words, or actions that they could seize upon.
Of course, duplicity is easier than breathing for me. It has already melted into this personality and body.
“······Master. Here it is.”
While I was considering countermeasures, Roy brought me a file of documents. I read through the contents.
[ Luxury Hotel Renovation: Black Crine ]
[ Future Trade Routes and Plans ]
[ Overview of the Mercenary Corps’ Missions ]
They were the results submitted by the businesses I had invested in. I used 「Comprehension」 to read their ledgers.
They were settling into place without any problems.
“Enough. Take them away.”
“Yes.”
It was good news, but I had no time to spare for it. After sending Roy away, I thought about how to reply to them.
······There was no need to think.
—Master.
A figure flickered in the shadows at the corner of the study. It was not real, but a magical illusion. I looked at it calmly.
The words that left my mouth were almost instinctive.
“Lead the way.”
*
······There is no utopia in the world where people live.
Even in the capital of the strongest empire on the continent, light and darkness coexist distinctly.
As the more brilliant the light, the deeper its shadow becomes, Oklan in the southeast of the capital was a slum where the entire region had declined after the mines were abandoned.
Deculein’s former confidant guided me beneath that slum. It was a gloomy, damp cave. Clinging moisture wrapped around my body, and pale lights dangled as if they might shatter.
“We greet you, Master.”
In that cave, two people knelt. One was a man, and the other was a woman. Their faces shared many similarities. They seemed to be siblings.
“Repeat it. What was my order?”
Before they could say anything, I asked as if testing them.
“Your order was that if Luina set foot in the capital, she was not to be forgiven.”
I looked at the two of them.
There were no death variables attached to them, and the fact that just the two of them had kidnapped Luina meant their abilities were quite outstanding.
However, what did these two want? That was the problem.
I continued speaking as if indifferent.
“You were rash.”
“We know.”
In the man’s voice as he answered, there was a glimpse of insolence.
“We thought you had abandoned us. Even now, we still suspect it.”
“Is this rebellion?”
“No. If Master abandoned us and is no longer our Master, then it would not be rebellion.”
“I have never abandoned you. Lead the way.”
I spoke calmly. The two rose from where they had knelt. The man walked first, I followed behind him, and the woman stayed at my back.
We soon arrived at an empty cavern.
In the center of the underground space, far too wide for the number of people present, Luina was tied up. A black sack-like thing covered her face, and her hands and feet were restrained with cuffs. She looked just like a prisoner of war.
“What treatment did you apply?”
“We injected Anti-Matoxin.”
Anti-Matoxin was a poison specifically for mages, famous even in the game. Its composition was closer to a “tranquilizer,” but once injected through the blood vessels, one would be unable to manifest magic for at least three days.
I studied their faces.
“You did well.”
At that one sentence, the atmosphere shifted subtly. They seemed to be trying to hide their expressions, but they could not deceive my eyes.
They were dissatisfied.
Thanks to that, I learned one thing.
They did not want something like my praise.
“······.”
I glared at the battered Luina. Beside her, a red current was clearly shimmering.
A death variable.
Luina was resolved to kill me.
The real problem began now.
I pondered in my mind. I tried to think of the most “plausible development.”
───I speak.
Luina, I saved you. The ones who kidnapped you have nothing to do with me.
Luina answers. “I don’t believe you!”
The death variable is not resolved.
───I leave the place as is and release Luina without revealing my identity.
Even then, Luina will suspect me, and those siblings will still suspect me as well. The death variable will also not be resolved.
───I kill Luina.
Kyaaaaaaah—! Luina’s scream fills the cavern. After that, she disappears forever, and the death variable is resolved, but I end up giving the “suspicious siblings” a permanent weakness to hold over me.
More than anything, the positive quests that would later unfold from Luina become buried.
From Deculein’s perspective, she is an enemy, but in terms of the entire worldview, she is clearly a named character on the side of good.
It would be an extreme loss.
“······.”
I raised the stone floor of the cave with psychokinesis. In that way, I improvised a chair. Influenced by my personality, it was beautiful like an antique.
I sat in the chair and slowly, thoroughly considered the possible cases.
The present situation could not be called good even as empty praise, but the initiative was still mine. This order itself ultimately belonged to “Deculein.”
“Here it is.”
The man handed me some kind of ledger. I accepted it silently.
······As I read through its contents carefully, a hollow laugh rose to my lips.
Deculein was vicious. Truly, impressively wicked.
Beyond wickedness, could there be anyone in the world so relentless?
“Interesting.”
As I read those staggering sentences in full, I had no choice but to admit it.
This death variable could not be resolved by peaceful means.
Therefore······.
* * *
Luina was swimming through unconsciousness. A dizziness as though she were swimming naked in the vast open sea. Nausea that surged up without warning.
She could no longer even perceive the passage of time.
She simply endured while burning with rage. She already knew whose doing this kidnapping was. If she did not know, she would be an idiot.
Deculein.
It was the moment Luina bit her tongue and repeated that name.
Swaaak—!
The sack covering her face was removed, and pain flared in her eyes. Her sealed mouth and ears were also opened in an instant.
“Huuuuugh······!”
Luina exhaled and bent over. As she gasped, she saw shoes attached to the dark ground.
“······.”
She slowly raised her gaze.
Clean shoes without a single stain or speck of dust. The hems of trousers tailored to order and neatly folded. Legs crossed while maintaining their distinctive sharp line. A fine necktie wholly out of place in the gloomy air. And······ his face.
At that moment, her heart sank.
There was someone looking at her. Cold shadows had settled over his sharp features, and his murky pupils were chilling like those of a bird of prey.
“······You.”
Luina’s voice trembled. Dread, fear, anxiety······ emotions she could not bear to acknowledge gnawed at her weakened mind.
It felt as though a heavy pressure was crushing her entire body.
“Never set foot in the capital again······.”
Deculein spoke. There was no intonation or rise and fall in his tone.
“I believe I told you that. What did you come to the capital hoping for?”
Ruina was silent. Dekleyn looked at her as if mocking her.
“I hear you bought a mansion in Jedo.”
“……Do you think you’ll be safe after this? I am the Emperor’s tutor—”
“Spare me the pointless talk.”
Dekleyn extended his palm. And he folded his fingers one by one. Five, four, three, two…….
“……Magic Vision.”
Ruina said. There was no change in Dekleyn’s expression.
“I’ve demanded its return several times before. I clearly paid back even the interest on the borrowed money, yet you pretended not to hear.”
Dekleyn listened to those words quietly. His indifferent face settled calmly.
Like a monster devoid of emotion.
“That’s right. However.”
Dekleyn brought out a document with telekinesis.
“Ruina, in this world, there is something called ‘compound interest.’ The amount lent fifteen years ago was 100 million Elne. The annual interest rate was 20 percent.”
A contract drawn up fifteen years ago, still exerting influence even now. He looked at its contents and twisted his lips.
“Thus, a total of 1,540,702,160 Elne.”
“What?”
If calculated with simple interest, it would be 400 million, but with compound interest, it was an astronomical sum of 1.5 billion.
Of course, it was a predatory clause.
Though simple interest was clearly stated in the contract, McQueen’s debt was switched to compound interest by a ‘special clause’ that Ukraine had hidden like a trap.
“Your house still has to repay 1,140,722,060 Elne…… Ah, right. And 200 million in interest is added every year.”
“…….”
Ruina wore an expression that went past absurdity to something like her soul had left her body. And she spat out:
“I will file a suit with the Imperial Family. Such nonsensical—”
“Under Imperial law, appeals are possible for up to ten years after the contract is signed. But you did not file one. Furthermore, this is an incident from the era of the ‘former Emperor,’ so the ‘current Imperial Family’ cannot officially review it.”
Dekleyn sincerely admired the previous Dekleyn’s cunning. Aside from a debt like this, numerous traps were ticking away like time bombs inside House McQueen.
“Asset seizure could begin as early as tomorrow.”
Ruina glared at Dekleyn. He remained expressionless. That lack of emotion was terrifying enough to make one’s flesh crawl.
“You…… No, you really…….”
He hadn’t let her go. He hadn’t forgiven her.
On the contrary, he had been waiting for the moment to shoot her down.
So that she would despair until she died, falling from the highest place in the most wretched manner possible.
“Continue speaking. I shall listen.”
In that moment, all the strength drained from her body.
Now was not the time to act prideful.
“……I have no intention of becoming Chief Professor. No, it would be a lie to say I never did, but the professors of the Magic Tower are trying to elect me—”
“It does not matter.”
Ruina made excuses with all the desperation she could muster, but Dekleyn shook his head.
Ruina’s heart pounded. Her mouth went bone dry.
“Then what on earth do you want? Do you…… do you want me to die?”
Ruina bit her lip.
However.
The words that left his mouth right after……
……were bizarre.
“Become the Chief Professor.”
No, they were grotesque. Not understanding his meaning, Ruina’s eyes widened into circles. Streams soaked with grievance flowed from her widened eyes.
“For I shall become the Chairman.”
His pupils, which had been murky until now, suddenly held a blue fluorescent light. That deep gaze fixed directly on her.
“If you help me from where you stand now, then when I become Chairman, I shall return McQueen’s Vision, and I shall consider canceling this debt as well. The position of Chief Professor shall also be given to you.”
Ruina could not fathom his intentions.
“However, you shall swear an oath to me.”
Dekleyn rose from his chair. He wrote down several terms with a fountain pen.
“First, you shall never speak of today’s events.”
“…….”
Vague commands such as “swear your allegiance” were ineffective. The more specific the terms, the stronger the backlash for violating the oath.
“Second, you shall adhere to the contents of this contract for five years.”
Dekleyn presented the contract he had written. Ruina was horrified.
It was a contract close to “master and servant,” and the restriction Dekleyn imposed was “destruction of your dantian.”
“Such absurdity……”
“You still haven’t come to your senses. Our next conversation is in three days.”
“No, wait—!”
At a single glance from Dekleyn, they covered Ruina’s eyes, mouth, and ears.
Leaving Ruina to tumble back into the darkness, Dekleyn turned away.
* * *
……Having finished my work, I silently looked around the underground cave.
“What will you do if she refuses the oath?”
The man asked. I looked at him.
“I’ll have to kill her.”
Since things have already come to this, it can’t be helped. If I don’t threaten her, I’ll be the one killed by Ruina.
“……Still, she won’t refuse. She wants to live.”
[ Villain’s Fate: Death Variable Eliminated ]
◆ Reward Acquired: Shop Currency +2
An alarm popped up belatedly.
It’s neither overcoming nor avoiding it but ‘elimination,’ but anyway, it means she’s made up her mind to take the oath.
“Will this be alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“House McQueen aided in the assassination of the previous Lord…….”
Hmm. So that’s what happened.
It means House McQueen wasn’t the only victim of Ukraine.
Since it was a fact I hadn’t known, I simply shook my head.
“It wasn’t something Ruina did herself, was it? Though Ruina is currently the head of House McQueen, this much guilt by association is enough. That aside.”
I looked around my surroundings.
A place too dark, damp, and filthy for people to stay.
“You’ve been staying in a place like this?”
“Yes.”
“But you promised us money!”
But suddenly, the woman who had been silent all this time shouted loudly. The man shot her a glance as if to stop her, but the woman did not back down.
“You said you’d give us money and let us go when the job was done!”
“Money.”
“Yes. Immense wealth—”
Smack—!
A sharp sound rang out. The man had struck his younger sister.
“I apologize.”
I looked at the two siblings. The younger sister sniffled and bowed her head, while the brother glared at her.
“It’s fine. For now, come to my mansion. This place is far too filthy.”
They possess outstanding talent. Even a wealthy magnate would recognize their worth.
That is why I will not let such ability go to waste.
“From today, I shall put you to urgent use. Of course, I shall give you the promised reward as well.”
At that, the younger sister’s eyes widened.
“However, all commands I issued before today are hereby revoked.”
“Thank you, thank you!”
The two siblings hurriedly dropped to their knees.
“Furthermore.”
I looked down at them and added my final words.
“Do not be so quick to use your hands. It is undignified.”