Efrin stole a glance at Silvia. At first, she thought an earthquake had struck. The trembling was that immense, but as time passed, it gradually subsided.
‘…Did she confess and get rejected?’
It was a meaningful hypothesis. Efrin, rubbing her chin, focused her gaze on Deculein once more.
“The Solda promotion exam is divided into three stages in total. However, passing only the first stage guarantees promotion to Solda. The second and third stages are additional exams related to future rank promotions.”
Soldas who cleared all three stages received a bonus for their next promotion.
Because not all Soldas were the same.
“Furthermore, the promotion exam will be held at Suryeondo.”
When Deculein snapped his fingers, the scenery of the island floated in the air.
It was ‘Suryeondo,’ an island Efrin knew well.
“There will be a training camp for a certain period.”
Snap!
His fingers snapped once more. This time, it was the image of some dormitory.
“Inside and outside this lodging, you will be tested on your qualifications as a Solda.”
Efrin looked around. As expected, it was crowded, likely because people had gathered from across the kingdom.
“And today is the Phase Zero exam.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Assistant Professor Allen appeared and distributed exam papers. Efrin glanced at the contents. Six unidentified magic circles were recorded.
“After briefly assessing your ability to interpret magic, submit your examination pass…”
Before he could even finish speaking, Silvia rose from her seat. Then she went up to the podium and submitted her exam paper to Deculein.
The answers were already written down.
“Professor—”
“Debutant Silvia. Pass.”
“…I—”
“Take your examination pass and go back.”
Deculein held out the examination pass. Silvia looked up at him, pressing her lips tightly together. Soon, she snatched the pass with a swift motion.
Watching Silvia’s expression as she left the hall, Efrin was certain.
‘That girl, she got rejected!’
*
Efrin and Silvia came out together. Both of them held examination passes in their hands.
“Congratulations. First place again, I see.”
Efrin said. Silvia glanced at her and muttered as if sighing.
“…Stupid Efrin.”
“Oh! You spoke!”
“Who did you think was a mute?”
Silvia walked quickly with loud steps. Efrin chased after her, laughing.
“You’ve been a mute all this time. Now that your muteness is cured, let’s do well on the exam together?”
“I beg your pardon as well.”
A mid-low voice suddenly cut in. Startled, she turned around, and it was that ‘Kariksel.’
Thirty-three years old, a married man with three children.
“Mr. Kariksel. You solved it pretty quickly?”
“Haha. Well, isn’t that the basics?”
For reference, first place was Silvia, second place was some unknown person, and Efrin was third. Kariksel was probably around fourth or fifth.
Kariksel asked.
“By the way, are you well acquainted with Professor Deculein?”
“Whether I know him or not, I’m just a student in his lecture.”
“Ah~”
While they were conversing like that, Silvia was already far away. Efrin hurriedly caught up to her.
“Hey. Let’s go together.”
“Noisy. Go alone.”
“Ah, seriously, why are you like this? Why are you so prickly?”
“Cheeky Efrin. How dare you say that to me?”
…Watching the two bicker like that, Kariksel kept about ten paces of distance and observed.
“The daughter of Ilraid.”
The secret society of the Jeokgwae, “The Cradle of Trees.” Kariksel, a member of it, had been in quite a complicated state of mind these days.
“…Deculein.”
Deculein, whom he had met today.
He was the most dangerous person from the Jeokgwae’s standpoint. After all, he was the professor who had actually realized the insane plan to build a concentration camp in Rohalrak.
“For now, observation…”
Kariksel stealthily followed behind Efrin and Silvia.
He didn’t know what would happen during the Solda exam, so it was right to stay by their side for a while. They were connected to Deculein, after all.
“Everyone~ let’s go together~ I’ll buy you a meal~”
Kariksel ran after them with a silly smile.
* * *
—Results of the ‘Impurium Council’ regarding the treatment of the Jeokgwae. The Imperial Family has decided to actively support the development of blood magic to distinguish Jeokgwae, while also enacting the ‘Jeokgwae Self-Reporting Act.’ In the event that a Jeokgwae from the Empire voluntarily reports themselves……
A flying boat of a floating island soaring in the sky.
Brrrr—
While listening to the radio and thinking, a small vibration occurred from within his breast pocket.
I took out the crystal ball storage case from my inner pocket. Inside the luxurious box, five crystal balls were placed.
—Can you hear me.
It was Al Los’s voice.
“Didn’t you say there was a risk of wiretapping?”
—Depends on the subject.
“Fine. Speak.”
—I’ve located the whereabouts of the ones you mentioned. Take this down. Western Empire, Count Lordman’s territory, Peten……
I had asked Al Los for the location of certain Named. In this regard, Al Los’s intelligence network was tremendously reliable.
“Confirmed.”
—What are you going to do?
“What do you mean? The Jeokgwae Suppression Decree was enacted just last week.”
—A trip to the concentration camp?
“No. I have to kill them. Irredeemable trash will dirty the water itself, like loaches.”
—Pft.
Al Los laughed and hung up. He probably knew which Jeokgwae these were.
Today’s targets: Zekrek, Zertten, Zeketun.
These three brothers were Jeokgwae Named that I knew.
They were the protagonists of the sudden event “Terror of the Three Brothers,” and the inventors of the troublesome trap item, “The Three Brothers’ Scroll.”
They were crazy bastards I wanted to kill right this instant, but……
—We shall now arrive at Suryeondo.
Unfortunately, the destination of this flying boat was Suryeondo.
The place where the Solda promotion exam was held.
Whoooosh…!
The flying boat landed on land with a small tremor, and as I disembarked, a familiar voice called out to me.
“Ah! It’s Deculein over there!”
It was the Chairman. The Chairman, who had been standing by the shore, came running with short steps and handed me a newspaper.
“Professor Deculein! Look at this newspaper!”
“…A newspaper?”
I was greatly surprised.
The Chairman reading a newspaper?
Was it a harbinger of the world’s end?
When I took it, it was indeed the most famous paper in the Empire, a newspaper.
It was a special feature article from ‘The Journal.’
“The Chairman reading a newspaper…… Has the timeline gone awry?”
“What? Are you teasing me right now?! There was a terrorist attack recently! And a Jeokgwae incident! They said it was to boost patriotism, so The Journal put together a special feature!”
I glanced at the cover.
「The Empire’s 13 Strongest: Seventh, Full Professor Deculein」
“They say they’re revealing one person per day, and the seventh one was Professor Deculein!”
The Empire’s 13 Strongest.
Even the title was ominous.
“…How interesting.”
I read the article.
[At the scene of the Jeokgwae terror. In the plaza that had transformed into a living hell, the most mysterious and magical magician was undoubtedly Deculein. A presence that seemed to dominate the entire space. He captured scenes hard to believe from eyewitness accounts with clear photos and video……
……Rumors following this state that he fought an evenly matched, nail-biting battle with the Empire’s worst criminal, ‘Lohakan.’
After three years of anguish, the martial might of Full Professor Deculein, who has overcome some wall, has now reached a realm that no one can fathom…….]
Unable to finish reading to the end, I returned it to the Chairman.
“The first was Zeit, the second was Isak, and the third was me?! Finally, have you climbed up to a rank similar to mine?!”
“Please stop.”
The Empire’s strongest.
The rest of the roster, excluding myself, was at an unfathomable level.
──「 The Empire’s 13 Strongest 」──
１. The Winter King, Zeit.
２. Captain of the Imperial Knights, Isak.
３. Chairman, Adrinne.
４. The Emperor’s Knight, Keiron.
５. The Beautiful Asura, Ganesha.
６. Yaksha ‘Logan’
７. Full Professor ‘Deculein’
───────────
How awkward was ‘Deculein,’ wedged between those tremendous names.
What a forced fit.
“Why? It means they recognize Professor Deculein this much! I’m angry because I’m third! I’m going to find Isak right now and kill him!”
“Please don’t. They didn’t publish this article so that you would kill each other.”
“Are you angry because it’s too low, Professor?”
“I am humble, yes. But seventh is too high.”
Of course, this wasn’t an underestimation of my combat prowess. Having invested not only magic but also my physical body into combat, I wouldn’t kneel before most mid-grade or higher Named.
Especially if the opponent was a demon, the bloodline called ‘Yukraine’ filled me with confidence.
…Still, seventh overall didn’t make sense.
“I don’t like the article’s content, either.”
“Really? How strange. I thought the professor would like it?”
“Enough of that. Let us get to the main point. Why was I called?”
“What do you mean? ‘Course it’s about the promotion exam.”
It was a dialect I had heard before.
I turned around. A pink-haired magician grinned.
“Long time no see, Deculein professon-nim?”
“…Professon?”
“Professor, professor. I said professor, professon-nim.”
It was Roserio of the Ether rank, whom I had seen at the Rune lecture. Still having that pronunciation error, she was with Gindalph.
“That’s right! We’re preparing the promotion exam, and there’s a role for you, Professor!”
“What is it?”
“‘Security Chief!’ You’re the Empire’s seventh strongest! Terrorism is rampant these days, who knows what will happen during the exam?!”
“…”
The seventh strongest.
Hearing it continuously gave me a headache.
However, the first Solda exam was worth participating in. It was about time for sudden events and triggers to increase.
“Very well. However, I shall receive the detailed contents in writing. Today, I have something to do.”
“Something to do?”
The Chairman tilted her head, and Gindalph stroked his beard as he asked.
“Hehe. Might I ask what you have to do?”
I answered simply.
“A hunt.”
* * *
……The Empire, the city of ‘Peten’ in the outskirts of Count Lordman’s territory.
The damp basement of a certain private house.
“We did it! We can now cause explosions with scrolls alone!”
Zekrek, Zertten, Zeketun.
The so-called ‘Jejeje Brothers’ laughed loudly and high-fived each other.
“Fuck yeah! Let’s shove it in those damn Imperial bastards’ faces! Should we smash the house next door right now, hyung?! I fucking hated that brat next door!”
At the second son’s venomous words, the eldest shook his head.
“No. We must deliver this scroll to the high priests first.”
Scroll bomb.
It required no special medium and no caster to supply mana. A revolutionary invention perfect for guerrilla terror.
“See~? Look. The Altar was the right choice! The Altar folks share our ideals. They support us generously too.”
The youngest spoke. This time, even the eldest smiled in satisfaction.
“Yes. We will annihilate the Empire and its people like bugs, and help the Altar usher in an era of the divine.”
“Exactly! Exactly! Ah, but this isn’t the time for that.”
Then the second son ran upstairs in a fluster and brought back beer. The three brothers poured beer into their respective glasses and smiled at one another.
“To the divine era.”
“To it!”
Along with that shout.
The moment the brothers’ beer mugs touched.
───.
Silent steel flooded down.
A piece of steel that crashed through the ceiling. That lead-colored straight line pierced through the eldest’s neck.
“Kk!”
A short, short final scream.
A bizarrely abrupt situation.
The two brothers stared blankly at the eldest, who had collapsed in an instant. It was surreal, as if in a dream, yet a reverberation that announced reality rang out.
Boom—!
The basement door and lights were destroyed simultaneously. Pitch-black darkness descended upon the space, and within that darkness.
Clomp—
Clomp—
Frigid footsteps echoed, freezing their very ears.
“Y-you.”
The two brothers beheld someone’s eyes flickering blue. They knew all too well whose fierce gaze that was.
“Deculein……”
As if displeased simply by that name being called, narrowed blue eyes glared at them.
However, losing their minds was only momentary. Accepting their older brother’s death, the two brothers boiled with rage.
“Our… our brother—!”
At that instant, the wood steel surged in. The two brothers gathered their mana and projected barriers, but the ten blades of wood steel whirled through the cramped space as if they would burst it apart.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwang──!
Under the barrage of blows, the barriers were quickly smashed to pieces. Even so, the wood steel’s hacking did not stop.
Kyaaaagh─! Gyaaaagh──!
The gruesome sound of flesh being torn.
Screams echoing in desperation.
“Professor! Are you all right!”
The knights who had hurried after him lit a fire underground.
What was revealed were three corpses riddled like honeycombs. They flinched at the naked atrocity.
“They’re… they’re dead.”
The moment one knight muttered that, Deculein’s aloof gaze pinned him in place. Every knight straightened his back.
“They had to be killed.”
“Yes, yes! That is correct, absolutely correct!”
The knight answered, trembling in fear. Deculein looked indifferently at ‘the things that had once been people.’
“Take them out.”
“Yes! Yes! Understood!”
The six knights hurriedly shouldered the corpses and left.
Left alone for a moment, Deculein gazed at the three brothers’ magical legacy.
[ The Three Brothers’ Paper Magic ]
These three brothers had been an utter nuisance even during gameplay. 「The Three Brothers’ Bomb Scroll」, 「The Three Brothers’ Detonation Scroll」, and so on······.
Mad inventors who exploded at the slightest thing and made the player’s life unbearably annoying. Named characters who belonged to both the villain and madman categories.
“······I’ll be making use of this technique as it is.”
After seizing the results of their research, Deculein turned around. He climbed the stairs and stood aboveground. The knights were loading the corpses onto a carriage.
One knight asked.
“Will you be returning now?”
“No.”
Deculein shook his head.
“Then······?”
“Before this rumor spreads, should we not capture as many beasts as possible?”
Deculein’s eyes, as he answered thus, had sunk coldly. The knights facing him felt a chill and fear, as if they understood the reason.
For reference, those who had taken charge of Deculein’s escort today in Yulie’s stead were the lowest-ranked members of the Emperor’s Imperial Guard. In terms of rank, they were ‘F,’ and the gap between them and Deculein, who was R-rank, was—exaggerating only slightly—at the level where if Deculein ordered them to kill themselves, it would be proper for them to immediately commit seppuku.
“She’s coming.”
Just then, Deculein pointed into the distance. The Deputy Chief of Public Safety, Primienne, who had received the report, was approaching.
“Primienne.”
Primienne, who had strode over quickly, looked at Deculein. Deculein did not avoid that gaze of hers.
“We caught three Jeokgwe. I’ll leave the rest of the handling to you.”
“······.”
Primienne’s eyes reached the corpses atop the carriage. There was no change in her expression whatsoever. She was someone accustomed to hiding herself.
Deculein said,
“Your answer?”
“Yes.”
Primienne nodded.
“I will take care of it properly.”
* * *
────────────
······August 1st.
Today, Lia came to the underground passage. I also applied for the adventurer exam at the Adventurers’ Guild.
It’s a little strange that this underground passage was built much faster than expected, but I don’t think it’s bad. There are so many story branches, and if this passage makes攻略 Marik easier, it’ll be a big help with the main quest too.
“Lia. This is tasty?”
“Yes. It’s delicious.”
Ganesha just said that. Right now we’re eating a meat called Roahawk at a fancy restaurant called the Pig’s Flower. It is tasty, but I guess my preference really is sweet things.
“Oh. Letec just passed by. He’s not dead? That’s surprising.”
There are lots of adventurers in the underground passage. Sometimes you can even see people you could call named characters.
Oh, right, I also met a madman named character called ‘Gerek.’ Our eyes met for just a second, and I thought my heart was going to stop.
Gerek. An extremely terrifying madman named character. If that guy gets angry, one passage will be erased in no time.
“By the way, Ganesha. What are you going to do when we get to Marik?”
I asked while eating ice cream. This restaurant gives out ice cream for free. I think it’s a trait of popular restaurants, whether in the modern world or another world.
You know what I mean, right? There are sometimes barbecue restaurants where the ice cream is free.
“Who knows~? I’m not really sure, Miss Lia.”
Ganesha tilted her head with a face that said she really had no plan.
She’s someone whose individual specs rank among the highest even in this world, but in everyday matters, she’s so easygoing and careless that I just can’t trust her.
“We’ll mine some mana stones, do some hunting, and there are a lot of things to do.”
“Mhm~”
Mana stones. And hunting!
Good, good. This is a chance to get carried for free.
Marik is still hard for someone at my level, but Ganesha should be able to kill everything.
“Lia, are you okay? You’re not scared?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
It’s also insanely great that Carlos and Leo couldn’t come in because of the age restriction. Those annoying guys—if I don’t see them, I worry and feel empty, but almost every day they make me seriously pissed off.
It’s a little strange to get used to this everyday life, but it isn’t bad.
If I keep growing, someday I’ll be able to meet Yulie, Sylvia, Zeit, Al Los, Deculein, the Emperor, and even God.
I’ll meet God and ask Him to send me back to my original world.
For that, growth, sweet things.
Growth, sweet things.
No, not sweet things, growth.
Only sweet things.
No, only grow th.
Grow th!
Right now, there’s nothing else in my heart······.
End of today’s diary.
P.S) I don’t know how long I’ll keep writing this diary, but as a means to maintain the ego that is ‘me,’ I intend to continue it for as long as possible.
────────────
After finishing her diary, Lia glanced around at her surroundings and manifested magic. The diary became a mere current of air and clung to her body like a tattoo. It was 「Inventoryization」, one of the essential traits of a player.
“Huaa······ That was delicious. Then, Lia. Shall we go now? Rayleigh must be waiting.”
“Yes~ Let’s go.”
Lia smiled brightly and came out of the restaurant.
* * *
I returned to the Magic Tower office. Allen, whom I had not seen in a while, had a subtly odd expression, but soon smiled brightly and held out a newspaper to me.
“Professor, have you read this?”
It was the familiar 「The Empire’s Strongest」.
The Seventh Strongest, Deculein.
“I have read it, so take it away.”
“Ah, yes! Then, this!”
Allen handed me a second document. This time, it was a somewhat good document.
「Application to Serve Under Drent」
“Mm.”
I nodded. With this, Drent and Epherene had been secured.
Epherene was a talent of historic caliber, and Drent was fairly gifted in his own right, so with just the two of them, I could establish something of a school.
I looked at Allen without thinking. Allen was expressionless. When our eyes met, he smiled a little awkwardly, but strangely, it felt cold.
“······You may go.”
“Yes~”
Allen left the office, and as if taking his place, Yulie entered. On Yulie’s shoulder was the cat in question, ‘Blackie.’
“Professor. Is it in three days?”
Yulie, who asked that, was even more serious than I was.
“Yes. Three days from now.”
[ Imperial Palace Quest: The Demon’s Mirror ]
◆ Shop Currency + 10
◆ ???
The Demon’s Mirror.
At last, this quest had come right before my eyes.
“······Yes. In that respect, there is something I have decided. It is something I have been pondering until now.”
Yulie closed her eyes with the most serious face in the world. Then she let out a deep breath.
Wondering what she was about to say, making such an atmosphere, I watched with great interest.
“That day. The day I met Blackie. I grasped the potential residing in the Professor’s body.”
“You mean the day you embraced me?”
“Ah, hek, th-that, egh, no! That is not it! The day I met Blackie.”
Yulie’s face flushed bright red, but she quickly composed herself.
A tease that worked once did not work more than twice. That was a little unfortunate.
“Professor, your body is that of a born warrior. However, the mission in the Imperial Palace will surely be dangerous.”
“······And so?”
“Therefore, I. Yulie von Deya Phairden.”
Yulie placed a hand on her chest.
“Will teach you body techniques and swordsmanship, Professor.”
“······.”
I looked at Yulie.
For a while, I said nothing.
“······.”
“······.”
I kept my mouth shut for quite a long time.
Silence and stillness wrapped around us.
“······.”
“······.”
As if that made her embarrassed, or perhaps hurt.
Yulie blinked several times, then soon pouted her lips and, shrrrk—
Like a slime, she fled with soundless backward steps.
Only then did I call Yulie.
“Wait. Come back. Fine. I will learn from you.”
Through the slightly opened crack of the door.
—Forget it. You seem to think my teachings are common, but do you know how many knights have wished to become my disciples? I have nothing to regret either. Nothing at all······.
A voice full of sulking flowed in.