……In the far east of the continent, there exists a secret society known as the “Altar.” Their goal is the resurrection of a god who died in antiquity, and their base lies in the Sanctuary of Myeolji (滅地), where no new life can grow.
The second coming of a fallen god. They devote their lives wholly to that single purpose. They never doubt their convictions or their faith. They would even gladly sacrifice their own lives.
Because the medium that binds them together is a “dream.”
One day, a wisp of dream descended upon them like a revelation.
Each of the believers receives the same grace and looks toward the same goal. They are fanatical in answering the call of God, and they build a proud religion for the descent that will one day come.
—It is the will of God.
That is why the Altar wants Deculein’s runic language. Because God desires the knowledge in his head. He appeared directly in the dreams of the faithful and said as much.
—Is that professor walking a different path from his father?
However, Deculein rejected the Altar’s proposal. His attitude was markedly different from that of the previous head of the house.
“Great achievement” and “honor.” Surely those two had been the supreme objectives of Yukline.
—I cannot say for certain. Perhaps he wants to monopolize the runic language for himself……
—It does not matter. We need the runic language. If we learn the runic language, we can communicate with Him.
A language that would make communication with God possible. With that knowledge, they could serve Him with greater devotion, and perhaps even hasten His descent.
—Keep watch. We need that professor’s knowledge. He cannot refuse negotiations forever. Stir up the Jeokgwe.
Deculein’s course of action was strange even in the eyes of the Altar.
They did not know why that professor had defended the Jeokgwe. Though it was merely the scheme of a human, they had no way of knowing it. They could only make thorough use of that “fact.”
—Yes.
The Empire already knew of the Altar’s existence. At present, they were too busy accepting bribes to pay attention, but the Altar also knew that, deep down, they regarded them as madmen.
Therefore, the Altar also knew what words they had to say.
“The Altar also supports the Jeokgwe.”
That one line would be enough.
The rest would be left to humans blinded by rage.
* * *
The Yukline mansion. In the front garden, where I arrived with Yuli, one guest was waiting. It was Zeit, dressed in a suit.
“Oh~ you’re here~”
Zeit approached with a broad smile.
“Professor Deculein! You two look quite good together. You too, Yuli.”
“I am currently on duty. Please refrain from personal remarks.”
Yuli snapped at Zeit with a stiff expression. Zeit shrugged and looked over the new car from here and there.
“Oho. Is this a new car? This one looks roomy enough even for me. Still, I liked the car you used to ride better.”
“Is that so?”
“Sure is. Strange, though. This one looks more luxurious and newer in design……”
It was probably because I had not bestowed “Midas’s Hand” on it. Zeit’s five senses would be able to perceive even the smallest “trait” clearly.
“Anyway, I heard you met those ‘Altar’ bastards.”
All of a sudden, his tone sharpened like a blade. The gaze with which he questioned me was as blatant as a beast’s.
“Yes. They wanted knowledge of the runic language.”
The more one plays the game, the more the identity of the “Altar” is gradually revealed, but in truth, most named characters already know of them.
Some named characters have mutually beneficial relationships with the Altar, making deals with them and even accepting bribes, but there are also many who loathe them intensely, like Zeit.
“I knew it. I wouldn’t feel satisfied even if I tore their jaws apart with my bare hands and ripped out their guts……”
“You’ll break the car!”
Just then, Yeriel tapped Zeit’s hand. Zeit, who had been unconsciously gripping the window frame, laughed heartily and stepped back.
“Ah~ I sometimes forget the strength of this body of mine. This is why cars can’t be used on the battlefield. If you shove them with your body, they just go flying.”
“That’s a problem with your body, Count, not with the car.”
“Is that so? By the way, Yeriel, my in-law. Is this car a new model?”
“We aren’t in-laws yet, but yes. It’s a new model.”
“Oho. How much is it?”
Zeit’s face brightened. Yeriel nodded.
“Three hundred thousand elne. Are you going to buy one? If it’s a request from Count Pihairden, you probably won’t need to take a number.”
“……Hahaha! Expensive! I won’t buy it!”
Zeit burst into a hearty laugh. Yeriel huffed and twisted her lips.
“More importantly, will you be staying today as well, Count Zeit?”
“No. I’ve confirmed it was the doing of the ‘Altar,’ so that’s enough. Besides, if I’m here, I think I’ll get in the way of your romantic business.”
Zeit wriggled his eyebrows slyly. Yuli growled like an angry tiger.
“Ah, speaking of business. I heard Yeriel, my in-law, started a business this time too?”
“No! Why would you say that!”
Yeriel shrieked and glanced at me.
Of course, she must have thought I did not know. In reality, I had received reports from Ren and Enen from the very moment she started the business.
“Yeriel.”
“……”
Flinch— Yeriel’s body trembled, and cold sweat formed at her temples.
Zeit scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
“Ah~ seems it was my in-law’s independent decision. Then I’ll be off now~”
As the enormous white bear departed, Yeriel glared at him, grinding her teeth.
“Yeriel.”
“……The weather’s nice.”
“Answer me.”
“……No, it’s just…… now…… ‘auto’mobiles have more business potential than ‘horse’ carriages……”
Yeriel, who had been stammering, seemed to change strategies and spoke bluntly.
“Because it looked impressive. Why! It would be good for our family to build a factory too. And those bastards from the ‘Brunhil’ family are so damn rude just because they make cars. ‘We can provide a car for Lord Deculein, but Miss Yeriel’s car has a long waiting list—’ That kind of bullshit!”
Yeriel puffed out a breath and thumped her own chest. Then she furtively looked up at my face.
“So…… I’m going to make cars. We have plenty of mines in the territory too.”
“Make them. Why haven’t you done it until now?”
At that, Yeriel’s mouth fell open. From that reaction, I understood. Naturally, it must have been because of Deculein. Manufacturing is work for lowborn rabble— it lacks dignity— something like that.
“There is a talented fellow at the hardware store I invested in. Send him to Hadecaine, and I will create the design today. Start based on that.”
“A hardware store?! You?!”
“……You?”
When I narrowed my eyes, Yeriel tapped her own mouth.
“Then I’ll be going now……”
And then she scurried away.
*
When Yuli asked for “the smallest room,” I gave her “the smallest guest room” in the mansion.
However, as a guest room was literally a room for receiving guests, it came not only with facilities such as a restroom and bath, but even a dressing room.
“Use this.”
“It’s too—”
“It is the smallest guest room in the mansion. Do not disregard Yukline’s hospitality. There is nothing smaller than this.”
“……Yes.”
Without complaint, Yuli placed her bundle of luggage on the bed.
“By the way…… what are you, a person from the old era?”
I gave a faint laugh as I looked at her luggage. It was some kind of bundle.
In an age when handbags, backpacks, and even travel cases had been invented, it was a bundle wrapped in cloth.
“Ah. It may look like that, but it’s a magical item. It holds as much as two or three ordinary bags. I bought it for a very cheap price four years ago.”
Her voice was filled with pride as she said that. Seeing that she was even smiling, she seemed to be recalling the memory of when she bought that bundle.
“At the time, I bargained very well. The merchant asked for five thousand elne, and I immediately—”
“Enough of your heroic tale. Is the execution of your official duty twenty-four hours a day?”
“Yes. The night will likely be the most dangerous. Their attack will not end with only one attempt.”
“I suppose so. However, the second attempt may be a year from now. If we are to live together for an entire year, it would be better to simply marry.”
“……The period of official duty is only three months.”
Yuli avoided my eyes and untied her bundle.
Indeed, there were quite a lot of things inside.
“Take it.”
I held out a crystal sphere the size of a coin to Yuli. Yuli tilted her head.
“What is this?”
“It is a crystal sphere linked to the barrier around this mansion. If an intruder appears, it will be the first to know. It also serves as a communication device, so you can maintain constant contact with the underground security team.”
“Ah~ there are many fascinating items.”
Yuli nodded and tried to take the crystal sphere, but I subtly withdrew it.
“However, you are too careless for me to give it to you as a sphere.”
“Yes? What do you mean? Why am I careless?”
Yuli furrowed her brows.
I alchemized my golden tie pin into a necklace and threaded the crystal sphere through it. Then I hung it around her neck.
Startled, Yuli made as if to resist, but soon accepted it in silence at my words.
“I heard you lost the ring I gave you last time too.”
Yuli had lost the ring I gifted her.
Rather than lost, she had likely thrown it away.
As I smiled like that, my face suddenly hardened.
“……”
Why do I
have this memory?
“Um……”
Misunderstanding that expression, Yuli lowered her head without a word. Somewhat flustered, I simply patted her shoulder and went outside.
Leaning against the corridor wall, I swept my hair back.
“……It’s vivid.”
The scene of forcing a ring onto Yuli’s finger when she did not want to receive it. Roughly enough to nearly crush that finger. Yuli, biting her lips shut, tears brimming in her eyes.
A memory that was not mine felt as vivid as my own.
“Ah.”
I knocked again and opened the door. Yuli, in the middle of unpacking, turned back toward me in an awkward posture.
“Wh-what—”
The half-unpacked bundle left on the bed.
Inside it was a stuffed doll.
“Hmm……”
The moment my gaze touched that doll, Yuli let out a small scream. She grabbed the panda by the head and hid it behind her back.
“It’s for lu-luck. A jinx, something like a jinx. Every knight has one of their own—”
“It is the key to the guest room. Keep it locked at all times. I may come by suddenly.”
I handed her the key. Yuli’s complexion was like a tomato, but her expression alone was solemn like a knight’s as she received the key.
“Thank you.”
“Or shall I hang this key around your neck as well?”
“I-it’s fine! Please leave now!”
Yuli pushed me by the back, and after being driven out, I stood in the corridor and laughed.
At that moment.
“Hmph!”
A voice full of dissatisfaction pierced my ears like a needle. I turned around and saw Yeriel.
“You look absolutely thrilled~”
“Yeriel. Did you not return?”
“……What? You said you’d give me a design.”
“A design?”
“The car design!”
“Ah, that’s right. Follow me.”
I nodded and walked down the corridor with Yeriel. Yeriel kept chattering. That smile just now was creepy as hell. I thought a centipede was smiling. Try smiling like that normally too.
“Quiet.”
“……”
After going up to the study, I took out paper and a fountain pen. On it, I drew a design using modern knowledge and “Aesthetic Sense.”
Of course, it was not a blueprint. I would only handle the design; the rest of the engineering would be left to the engineers.
“Take it.”
“There are two sheets?”
“One is a car, and the other is a watch.”
“A watch? Why a watch too?”
Yeriel glanced toward my waist.
“You already carry a really good pocket watch. If you’re not going to use it, give it to me.”
“Leave it to the employee at my hardware store. He will take care of it.”
“Hmph. Then, well……”
Yeriel, who had been about to tuck the designs into her arms and turn away, stopped.
“But I really can start this business, right? You’re not going to suddenly say something weird about this later, right? ……Sir?”
“If you fail, it will be the switch.”
“……Who says I’ll let you hit me? Sir?”
Yeriel glared fiercely and left the study.
* * *
The next day.
After going to work at the Mage Tower, I submitted the plan for the final exam to the Chairwoman.
“……It’s quite ordinary?!”
The Chairwoman’s eyes widened as she looked at the documents.
“It’s completely different from the last exam!”
“Is it acceptable?”
“It is acceptable, but…… it won’t have as much impact as the last one.”
“It will not be as ordinary as you think.”
The Chairwoman put the plan into a drawer with a somewhat dissatisfied expression. Then she took out another document.
“Ah, right. You issued your first approval as the Chief Planning Officer this time!”
“Yes.”
“That project eats up an absurd amount of money! What kind of initial funding is ten million elne? It’s insane!”
“There will be a return to match.”
“······.”
The chairwoman glanced at me through slightly narrowed eyes, then muttered, “Well, it’s your responsibility anyway!” and rose from her seat.
“Fine! Then let’s go out together! I want to get a look at Dame Yuli, the escort knight!”
“As expected, you already know.”
“What do you mean, as expected? The rumor’s already spread all the way to the Dadohae!”
I got into the elevator with the chairwoman.
On the first floor, which we reached in no time, Yuli was waiting. Probably, not only Yuli, but several knights of Freinheim had taken up positions at certain points.
“Oho! Dame Yuli! You look beautiful today!”
Yuli did not answer. When the chairwoman tilted her head, I explained the reason.
“She does not speak while on official duty.”
At that, for some reason, the chairwoman wore a sinister smile.
“Is that so······?”
She spun around and stood right beside Yuli.
Then, after warming up her mouth with an ahem—
“DameYuliIt’sBeenAWhile!GoodToSeeYouHasItBeenTwoWeeks?!”
She began chattering without a pause.
“IfItWereTheOldDaysYouWouldHaveRefusedThisMission!NoMatterIfItWasHisMajestyTheEmperor’sOrderYouWouldn’tHavePersonallySteppedForward!AndYetYouAcceptedIt!PeopleSeemToFindThatIncrediblyStrangeToo!TheRumorSpreadSoFast!”
“······.”
“CanWeTakeThisToMeanYouTwoHaveCompletelyReconciledNow!NoMaybeYouAlreadyHave!ThenWillTheWeddingProceedSmoothlyAfterAll?!”
“······.”
“AmazingSoYouHaveReconciledAfterAll!TheySaySilenceMeansConsent!TheProfessorMustHaveBeenVeryWorried!ForYouToPersonallyEscort—”
“Oh, honestly! My ears are going to burst!”
At Yuli’s shout, I laughed without making a sound.
* * *
Now, finals were next week.
Because of that, the atmosphere across the entire university—the ordinary faculties, the Knight Department, the Magic Tower included—was stretched taut with tension.
The library was always packed with people, the cafeteria that used to close at 9 p.m. had extended its hours to twenty-four, and the wizards of the Magic Tower were studying for exams and self-improvement while also constantly looking for opportunities to keep one another in check······ at any rate.
Today was the day the final exam notice for Deculein’s class, [Understanding Pure Elements], would be announced.
Since the value of a final exam for a whopping five-credit lecture went without saying, Epherene arrived at the classroom thirty minutes before the notice.
“There really are a lot.”
As if everyone had thought the same as she had, about 140 out of 150 people already seemed to be there.
Epherene sat down, studied, and waited.
And then, three in the afternoon.
At exactly three o’clock, Assistant Professor Allen came in. As if to prove he was Deculein’s assistant professor.
“Good to see you! This paper is the outline for the final exam. Everyone, please take one, and don’t lose it~”
Allen handed out the papers with a broad, easy smile.
What kind of exam would it be this time? Hoo— Epherene took a deep breath and looked at the paper.
“······?”
She only blinked as she stared. Soon she flipped the paper upside down, and after that, checked the papers of the other Debutants.
It was a natural reaction. Every Debutant in the classroom was acting just like Epherene.
“All right. Then please head back now~ The final exam will begin on Monday, three weeks from now.”
Allen left like that, but Epherene’s questions remained. Since the assistant professor who should have resolved those questions had gone out, she was even more bewildered.
“······What is this?”
Epherene muttered as she glared at the paper.
The paper was empty.
In other words, it was a blank sheet.
*
After leaving the Magic Tower, Sylvia glared at the paper and pondered.
No matter how she looked at it, it was blank. From this angle or that, it was nothing but an ordinary blank sheet, so what was she supposed to do?
There had been the assistant professor’s clue of “don’t lose it,” but······ was this paper really that important? Could the paper itself be the exam?
As Sylvia walked aimlessly, she suddenly spotted a wizard.
The arrogant, stupid, moronic parachute case, Epherene.
She was lying on the grass, staring at the paper.
She held it up high to the sky, shining it against the sun, then turned it vertically in that state, then horizontally.
As if no answer was coming to her, she gripped the paper and trembled brrrrr— like she’d been electrocuted.
“······Idiot.”
Sylvia twisted her lips in contempt and was about to simply pass by, but then a terrifying thought occurred to her.
That paper Epherene was holding.
Should she tear it up?
Then perhaps she would be eliminated.
“Forget it.”
She shook her head.
There was no guarantee that tearing Epherene’s paper would benefit her, and she did not even want to think about doing anything unaristocratic anymore.
It was then.
Riiiiip—!
The loud sound of paper tearing.
Sylvia flinched in surprise.
She did not know whose doing it was, but it had been an unexpected ambush, and the target was—
“Uuuuuuuugh────?!”
Epherene.
Epherene’s paper had been neatly sliced in half. Her two eyes bulged as if they would pop out.
Sylvia laughed despite herself.
“Uh, uh, uh······.”
Epherene only opened and closed her mouth, choking as if she were trying to deny reality.
“Who was iiiiiiiit──!”
In an instant, she transformed into an enraged wild boar.
“What, what kind of──”
As Epherene shouted, Sylvia found her both ridiculous and pitiful.
“What kind of bastard did thiiiiiiis────!”
Sigh. That’s what you get for sitting around like that near the Magic Tower. Wizards, more than anyone, were cold-blooded when it came to exploiting weaknesses.
Letting out a sigh, Sylvia approached that foolish girl.