After finishing the emperor’s lesson, I walked through the palace corridors with Yulie. Yulie maintained her guard even within the imperial palace, and as we went, Jolang appeared.
“Duke Yukline. An incident has occurred underground.”
I nodded and followed Jolang down to the palace basement.
It was the sole passage leading to the darkness of the imperial palace—that is, to the 「Demon’s Mirror」.
However.
“It has closed. This has become troublesome.”
Jolang spoke with a frown.
I looked at the door underground. It was covered in a pitch-black, dried tissue like tar.
“When did it become like this?”
“It was an ordinary door, but today it suddenly turned into this.”
Jolang seized the doorknob. He shook it wildly, but it would not open.
“Even the knights could not open it by force. So I had no choice but to send them all back.”
I nodded.
“Then it must not be time yet.”
“Time… Duke Yukline. Do you know what lies beyond this?”
“…”
What lurked beneath this palace, and what the quest called ‘the darkness of the imperial palace’ meant.
I had already seen it. I had cleared it back when I was a player.
“Who knows.”
The darkness of the imperial palace referred to the darkness harbored by the master of this palace.
In other words, ‘Sophien’s past.’
Thus, what lay beneath this palace was Sophien’s past. The 「Demon’s Mirror」 was a passage connected to that past.
The question was, why did the demon insist on meddling in Sophien’s past?
The reason was that Sophien’s death would mean the destruction of this world.
As I said before, if Sophien died, it was [ Game Over ]. That was how the system worked.
It was an exceedingly important quest for that reason, but surprisingly, it was not something urgent right now.
Because Sophien was a regressor, the quest to explore her past also offered opportunities across ‘dozens of cycles.’
“How could I know when I haven’t entered? I’ll be going back. Contact me when the door opens.”
“Yes. I shall do so.”
Jolang turned away with a rotten expression, and Yulie murmured in puzzlement.
“This is suspicious. Why would the palace basement turn into that?”
“You do not need to know.”
“Pardon?”
“Do not even think of interfering.”
“…”
Yulie’s eyes narrowed sullenly, but the past hidden beneath this palace was not something she should learn.
Sophien’s death.
In the whole story behind it, the former head of ‘Freyden’—in other words, Yulie’s father—had also been partly involved.
“Let’s go. We have a full schedule today.”
“…Yes.”
We left the imperial palace together.
Near the castle gate, Ren, who had been waiting in the car, looked at his notebook and said,
“The next destination is Rohalak in the County of Yukline.”
Ren’s voice as he informed me was different from usual, but I gave no sign of noticing and got into the car.
“Depart.”
“Yes.”
* * *
Meanwhile, Epherene, Sylvia, and Carixel boarded the Floating Island together.
By now, they had grown somewhat used to the Floating Island’s mysterious scenery, but to reach the training island where the Solda promotion exam was held, a new invention called an ‘airship’ was essential.
“Phew…”
Arriving at the airship platform, Epherene felt both nervous and excited. Naturally, she had never ridden an airship before—not even seen one with her own eyes.
“Shall we all go?”
At least it was a relief that Carixel was there.
While Sylvia said nothing at all, Carixel, who had once been an adventurer, was knowledgeable and talkative.
“We just get on? We don’t have to do anything?”
“That’s right. Just come aboard comfortably, as if you were entering your own home. I’ll go first~”
Carixel climbed the high stairs of the platform first. Epherene stared blankly at his back, then followed after him.
“Ugh—!”
Just as she was about to climb the stairs, Sylvia grabbed the hood of her robe and pulled.
“Why all of a sudden?”
“Stupid Epherene.”
“What?”
Epherene’s brow furrowed in confusion. Sylvia silently looked down at her shoes.
“…Ah~”
Epherene soon realized something and gave a snort of laughter.
“My shoes? Who do you take me for, a real idiot? I know that much.”
She confidently thumped her chest.
In truth, she hadn’t known, but still, it was an airship, so of course she should take off her shoes. Carixel had said to board ‘comfortably, as if entering your own home,’ after all.
“I’ll go up first~”
Epherene climbed the stairs with noble elegance, and before boarding the airship, she took off her shoes. Then she looked around for a shoe cabinet.
“…Huh.”
There was no shoe cabinet.
Was it individual responsibility?
Just then, one passenger looked at Epherene’s feet and twitched his cheek. Finding that reaction strange, she glanced around.
…Everyone was wearing shoes.
“Pfft.”
It was Sylvia’s sneer from behind her.
Sylvia passed by with an obvious click-clack of her shoes, and Epherene’s face turned bright red.
“That, that little—!”
She hurriedly put her shoes back on and ran after her.
As she did, a familiar face and hair briefly caught her eye.
“…Assistant Professor Allen?”
“Epherene. You put your shoes back on.”
Sylvia, seated in her seat, said. Her puffed cheeks seemed full of laughter.
“Ah~? Yeah, sure~ Was it fun~? I let myself get tricked on purpose to amuse you. You’ve seemed gloomy lately, you know…”
Epherene stubbornly defended her pride as she sat in her assigned seat. It was the seat beside Sylvia.
—Airship 305D will now depart. Please fasten your seat belts.
As soon as she heard the announcement, she buckled her seat belt. Sylvia, who had been watching her movements closely, jeered.
“So you know how to wear a seat belt.”
“Hmph. I told you, I let myself get tricked on purpose to amuse you.”
Vwoooong—
At that moment, the airship rose.
“Uwaaah!”
“What are you doing?”
Epherene instinctively grabbed Sylvia’s shoulder. Sylvia flinched in surprise and tried to shake her off, but—
Vwoooong—
“Uwaaaahhh.”
When the airship shook, Epherene’s grip tightened. It was considerable strength. Sylvia struggled and pushed Epherene away.
“Let go of me.”
“Uwaaaah, it’s floating. It’s floating, uh, uwaaaah…”
“Idiot, let go of me. I said let go.”
The more she said that, the more Epherene clung to her with her whole body. She wrapped her arms tightly around Sylvia’s waist and buried her forehead into her shoulder.
“Don’t cling to me, dummy. You dummy.”
“Wait, I’m motion sick. I’m getting motion sick.”
“!”
“Ugh, ugh. Why am I like this? Do I have an allergy?”
“There’s no such thing as an airship allergy, you idiot. Ah, no. Don’t you dare. Don’t throw up. If you throw up, you’re dead. If you throw up, I’ll kill you myself… ngh.”
*
…Epherene and Sylvia, having arrived at the training island, were assigned their lodging according to the staff’s guidance.
There was no time to look around. It was already late at night, and the whole world was dark.
“Debutantes Sylvia and Epherene. You two are in room 503. The exam begins in 48 hours, so please rest comfortably until then. Stamp your fingerprint on this document and place it into the 「Goro’s Mouth」 outside the door.”
“Yes~”
Epherene answered as she opened the door to room 503, then was greatly surprised.
The room was spacious. When she heard dormitory, she had imagined a university dorm room, but this was far larger.
“…It’s nicer than my house.”
In the extremely large room were two beds. Two desks as well. Two refrigerators. Two bathrooms. One sofa.
Everything was arranged symmetrically.
Epherene walked blankly to the window and looked outside.
“Wow… it’s a cliff right in front of us? I can see clouds, too.”
Ruuuumble—!
A sudden roar rang out.
It was Sylvia’s magic. She had raised a wall in the large room, dividing it into two spaces.
“…Honestly.”
Epherene was dumbfounded, but she soon accepted it.
Sylvia, who had just had her heart broken, probably needed time alone.
“Alrighty.”
Epherene unpacked first. She stored the Roahawk in the refrigerator, and tucked emergency rations, including chocolate bars, into the inner pocket of her robe.
After that, she looked at the document the exam staff had handed her.
───[ Solda Promotion Exam Confirmation Form ]───
◆ Chief Supervisors: Roserio, Gindalf, Adrienne.
◆ Proctors: Ropal, Mimic, Relin, Deculein, Ehelm, Crancia, and 13 others.
◆ Head of Security: Deculein.
◆ Video footage and reports recorded during the exam may be purchased by various magic towers across the continent, the Floating Island, and noble houses. These will be used as scouting materials.
◆ The Floating Island assumes no responsibility whatsoever for injuries sustained during the exam.
◆ Fingerprint: [ ]
──────────────────
“…No responsibility whatsoever, huh.”
That was needlessly frightening.
Knock, knock—
Just then, a knock sounded.
Startled, Epherene spoke in a small voice.
“Who is it…?”
—It’s me, Carixel. I have something to give you.
“Ah~”
She immediately went over and opened the door. Carixel was smiling brightly.
“Miss Epherene… this room is rather unique, isn’t it? My double room is a bit different.”
“Sylvia did this.”
“Oh-ho. Then is this the Primary Colors? Truly remarkable talent for creation.”
The lodging had been perfectly divided into two spaces by Sylvia—even the doors had been made into two. Carixel looked around in admiration.
“But what is it?”
“Ah. I came to give you this.”
It was some sort of cylindrical object. Epherene tilted her head, and Carixel explained.
“This is called cup ramen. It’s quite popular in the south. You simply add the soup powder, pour in boiling water, and eat it. Please give one to Miss Sylvia as well.”
“Ah~ yes. Thank you. I was just getting hungry.”
“Haha. Then, see you tomorrow!”
Carixel left again, and Epherene stared blankly at the two cup ramens.
For now, she placed one in front of Sylvia’s door and knocked.
Bang—
Sylvia opened the door.
“Hey. A gift came for you. Take it.”
“…”
Sylvia left the room without so much as looking at the cup ramen.
“Where are you going?”
“Goro’s Mouth.”
“Ah, right.”
Epherene also took her document and came outside.
The 「Goro’s Mouth」 was in the lodging corridor, and it was truly a pair of enormous black lips.
Sylvia put her document inside first, and Epherene followed suit.
Chew, chew— chew, chew—
“This thing’s funny, huh? It’s actually chewing.”
After mumbling and digesting the documents, the 「Goro’s Mouth」 soon spat out two beads. One was Sylvia’s, and one was Epherene’s.
“What are these beads?”
“They are personal crystal balls. Communication is possible through them, and if a dangerous situation occurs, a signal will be sent to the head of security. They have various other functions as well, so please take care not to lose them.”
It was the mage standing beside the 「Goro’s Mouth」 who spoke.
“Ah~ yes. Thank you.”
“…”
Epherene put hers in her pocket, while Sylvia stared at the bead for a while. Probably because the head of security was ‘that professor.’
Just as Epherene was smiling bitterly—
“…?”
At the far end of the corridor, that person from before caught her eye again.
Assistant Professor Allen… no, not him.
“She looks like him.”
She looked like Allen, but she wasn’t Allen. No, there was no mistaking it, because her chest was quite something. Even beneath the robe, its swaying movement was clear.
That was a discomfort Epherene knew all too well.
It was no coincidence that her clothes were always loose-fitting robes. Other people’s gazes were one thing, but if she wore clothes that matched her body size, her chest would be squeezed far too tightly, making it suffocating.
“Oh right, Sylvia. Do you know what cup ramen is…?”
When she turned to ask, Sylvia had already disappeared.
“…She’s really hard to get close to. What is she, a stray cat?”
With a deep sigh, Epherene trudged back to the room.
* * *
Morning in the County of Yukline, inside a car rattling forward.
—Deputy Director Primien. You know this is an important meeting today, yes?
“Yes.”
Deputy Security Director ‘Lilia Primien’ replied halfheartedly to the Security Director’s crystal ball.
—Do not say a single word that might offend the professor. Please, watch your mouth.
“Understood.”
—Professor Deculein is the most influential figure as of late. He is not like the ordinary nobles you have dealt with.
“I know. I’m hanging up.”
—No, Deputy Director! If you misspeak even once, not only you but the entire Security Bureau will—
Click— She cut off the communication.
Still, as the director had said, today’s schedule was fairly tricky.
The subject was the suppression of Jeokgwe, and the location was Rohalak Prison Camp. To be precise, it was a ‘meeting with Deculein disguised as an inspection of the prison camp.’
“Hmm.”
Deputy Director Primien had thoroughly hidden the fact that she came from Jeokgwe, but even so, she could not help feeling tense at the prospect of facing Deculein.
“Are we still far?”
“No. It’s right over there.”
At the chauffeur’s words, Primien looked out the window.
[ Rohalak Prison Camp ]
A wasteland of death, barren as any desert. Right in its heart, a concentration camp was under construction. Gazing at it, Primien twisted her lips cynically.
“We have arrived.”
“Have we.”
The moment she stepped out of the car, she looked around for Deckulrein.
“The Professor is over there.”
Just then, the snow-white knight, Yulri, approached and pointed somewhere.
A tall watchtower. Deckulrein was looking down at the concentration camp from above. Even in such a desolate and sweltering place, he was dressed in a suit.
······That professor had slaughtered seven members of a clan overnight.
Primien felt a certain fury, but soon approached him as she always did.
“Professor.”
Deckulrein lowered his gaze slightly. Looking down at Primien like that, he nodded.
“You’re here.”
“Yes. We have one more guest. Though it seems you did not invite him.”
Primien gestured behind her with her chin. A single mage who had stepped out of the car was approaching.
“Ah, Professor Deckulrein!”
A stocky but solid man beamed brightly upon seeing Deckulrein.
“It is I, Betan!”
Betan.
The head of the Beorad family, who had clashed with Deckulrein over the Red Shell issue in Bercht.
The same man who had once shot the most vicious words at Deckulrein now wore the brightest, most innocent smile for him.
“Betan?”
“Yes. It is Betan. There was a terrible misunderstanding last time. I failed to recognize your grand designs, Professor!”
With a satisfied gaze, Betan looked around the grounds of the Rohallak camp.
“And so I came to offer my personal apology······ but this is a fine place. A very fine place indeed.”
What exactly was so fine about it?
Primien cast a sidelong, sardonic glance at them.
“······Indeed. It is a fine place.”
Deckulrein answered quietly and descended from the watchtower. Then he asked Primien,
“Vice Director Primien. I heard the Security Bureau is auditing the camp. What do you think? The support sent from the center was not wasted.”
“······.”
Primien looked back and forth between Deckulrein, Betan, and the skeletal frame of the camp.
“What need is there to audit a mere concentration camp? You may do as you wish, Professor.”
As she spoke, a stabbing pain pierced her heart. Her lips went dry at the thought of the clan members who would be imprisoned here to die.
“Of course! What need is there for an audit or permission for such an excellent idea? Professor, if you ever require manpower from House Beorad, please do not hesitate to ask. Beorad and this Betan shall always stand at Yuclaine’s side.”
“······Is that so?”
For some reason, Deckulrein was reminded of the man he had been in Bercht and let out a hollow laugh.
“Well, if there is nothing to audit, there is no need to linger here. Let us go to a restaurant in Hadekain.”
“Yes!”
“······Yes.”
Unlike the energetic Betan, Primien was reluctant.
······.
Upon returning to Hadekain, Deckulrein guided them to the restaurant *Light and Salt*. It was the most famous restaurant in Hadekain, a city with many three-star establishments.
“Why, I should be the one treating you, Professor. Do visit House Beorad sometime, and I shall repay your hospitality in grand fashion.”
“······.”
Seated, Primien looked back and forth between Deckulrein and Betan.
Hell on both sides.
“It is an honor, my lord.”
The restaurant manager handed the menu to Deckulrein.
“You two decide. You are the guests.”
Deckulrein readily yielded to Betan and Primien.
Primien had been thinking of steak, but Betan, having spotted something on the menu, laughed heartily as if grasping its meaning.
“Hahaha. I see. I understand. You truly are Professor Deckulrein······ Garçon?”
“Yes. How may I assist you?”
“First, three bowls of ‘Rotaili Soup’ for our appetizer.”
“······.”
The tips of Primien’s fingers trembled slightly.
Rotaili soup.
Literally, soup made from Rotaili.
However, ‘Rotaili’ is a type of mushroom famous for purifying demonic energy, and it is also one of the ‘three foods’ that the Red Shell tribe cannot consume.
Though it is a top-grade ingredient used even as an antidote, making it rarely encountered, it is not lethal. But if a Red Shell consumes it, they develop a burning fever externally.
The Red Shell’s blood reacts to the mana-purifying effect of the Rotaili.
“······What do you say, Vice Director Primien?”
Betan asked slyly. Primien nodded with her usual blank expression.
“I do not particularly like mushrooms. In fact, I fall into the category of hating all kinds, regardless······ but if it is as premium as Rotaili, it is worth eating. Is it not good for the body as well?”
Her voice was calm, but her heart was pounding.
“That is right. Very good indeed.”
Betan smiled, and Deckulrein said nothing of note.
“······.”
Had coming to this restaurant itself been a test?
Unwittingly driven to the edge of a cliff, Primien simply sat still. At times like this, she must not show any physical reaction whatsoever.
“Rotaili soup garnished with basil.”
“Haha. Thank you.”
The waiter served the dish.
Though she had wished it would not come.
The moment the soup was served, Betan lifted a spoon, and Deckulrein elegantly took a sip. Primien first downed a glass of water.
Watching her, Deckulrein asked,
“Do you hate mushrooms that much?”
“Yes. It is trauma from eating a poisonous mushroom in the countryside when I was young. Familiar with hunger, as I hail from a backwater village.”
Betan interjected.
“Vice Director, still, this is Rotaili. A mushroom more expensive than its weight in gold. Not only is it good for the body, but the taste is equally superb. It shall be a novel experience.”
“I see.”
Nodding, Primien gripped her spoon. She dipped it deep into the soup and slowly lifted it. Thick soup clung to the spoon.
In that instant, time stretched endlessly for Primien.
Drip,
drip,
drip.
The dark, yellowish liquid flowing over the spoon.
The noble laughter filling the restaurant.
The pounding of her own heart.
The poker face desperately maintained.
······A staff member walking near the table.
Primien used her **psychokinesis** to pull the staff member toward her.
“Kyaaack!”
The tripped employee fell in an instant, grabbing the tablecloth, and *crash—!* Primien’s soup bowl fell to the floor and shattered.
In a flash, every eye in the restaurant converged on them. Primien swallowed a sigh of relief inwardly.
“Hey! What is the meaning of this!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
The employee bowed repeatedly.
Deckulrein set down his spoon and looked at Primien. Having caught his gaze, Betan smirked and nodded.
“It’s fine. Go bring another soup!”
“Y-yes. I’m sorry. I shall compensate for the soup—”
“No.”
Deckulrein raised his hand to stop him. Betan, misunderstanding his intent, added,
“Yes. No need for compensation, just bring the soup—”
“That is enough.”
“······Pardon?”
“Do not do anything so trivial.”
Deckulrein stared steadily at Betan.
To be frank, the meddlesome Betan was getting on his nerves.
“Vice Director Primien is my guest.”
“Ah······ yes.”
Betan still looked suspicious, but said nothing more. Primien calmly smoothed her chest.
The nobles in the restaurant returned their attention to their meals.
Classical music flowed, calming the mood.
Within that elegant atmosphere, their meal continued.
After the appetizer, the main dish came out. Primien had garlic steak, while Deckulrein and Betan had a luxurious Paranimang fish stew.
“Ah, by the way. Will you also be going to the Training Isle this time, Professor?”
“Yes.”
“As I thought. Let us go together. I also intend to stay there for a while. An opportunity to see mages with room to grow······”
Betan wagged his tail incessantly from start to finish. Betan’s body was sturdy but his frame was diminutive, whereas Deckulrein was excellent in both height and build, so the sight was like a small Doberman performing tricks for a human.
“······.”
Chewing her meat, Primien eyed Deckulrein with suspicion.
Deckulrein, the head professor known as the ‘Genius of Spell Interpretation.’
Had he truly failed to notice a single use of her **psychokinesis**?
······As she fretted over this, she couldn’t tell if she was eating through her nose, her mouth, or her backside.
Having somehow disposed of the steak, Primien cautiously asked,
“It was a fine meal, but might I be excused for a moment?”
“Ah, yes. Go ahead.”
Deckulrein permitted it. Rising from her chair, Primien walked blankly toward the restroom.
Gripping the sink, she looked into the mirror.
“······I feel nauseous.”
She muttered so. After taking stock of her condition, she nodded. *Thud, thud.* She walked over and lifted the toilet lid.
Immediately after.
“───!”
She vomited everything she had eaten.
The undigested steak, the wine, the greens.
After evacuating it all, she came out of the restroom.
“Vice Director.”
······Right in front of her stood Deckulrein.
Her stomach lurched again.
He asked flatly,
“Were you vomiting?”
“Yes. I seem to have indigestion. Have you finished your meal, Professor?”
“Betan and I are finished. But Yulri has not yet finished hers.”
“······Yes. Then I shall step out first.”
Primien tried to pass him, but a voice flowed from behind her.
“I never knew you hated mushrooms.”
“Yes. We have not dined together so very often.”
“Hmm.”
That subtle hum of his grated on her. Primien cleared her throat and turned to look at him.
He was staring at her as if piercing right through her.
“Primien. Perhaps you know.”
“To what do you refer?”
“We met once in Bercht. We dined together at a restaurant there.”
Primien nodded.
They had indeed met in Bercht. They had even shared a meal.
But why bring that up all of a sudden······?
“The dish then was steak with mushrooms.”
“······.”
······In that instant, Primien’s entire body stiffened.
Deckulrein said nothing more. He merely looked at her in the silence.
Coldly frozen blue eyes.
Pupils empty of emotion, like a ghost’s.
Facing that evil spirit, Primien contemplated her life. She thought of life and death.
Her head felt like it would burst, as if her brain had stopped. Her guts felt twisted, and her heart beat madly.
──However.
Suddenly, the corners of Deckulrein’s mouth twisted.
As if he were smiling.
He shrugged his shoulders and corrected himself like so.
“It was a jest. How could I remember what we ate so long ago?”
*Thud—* His gloved hand came down on Primien’s shoulder. As if consoling her, he tapped it two or three times and spoke.
“You have worked hard today. Allow me to apologize for Betan’s rudeness on his behalf.”
“······Not at all. Take care on your way.”
Just then, Knight Yulri, having finished her meal, rushed out, and Deckulrein left the restaurant with her.
“······.”
Primien stood still for a moment.
Soon she walked a few steps down the hall, but then turned back into the restroom.
*Thud, thud.*
Walking as if nothing had happened, she lifted the toilet lid.
“───!”
Once.
“───!”
Twice.
“───!”
Three times.
Four times.
Five times.
She vomited as many times as she had contemplated her life. Until yellowish gastric fluid ran from her.
“······Hmm.”
Then she stood before the sink again.
“I feel a little better.”
Though her fingertips trembled, she straightened her disheveled tie in the mirror. She restored her pallid complexion to a healthy hue.
“What did I eat that day?”
Primien could not recall in the slightest, but there was someone who would know the menu from that day.
No, the menu no longer mattered in the least.
“······My face is burning.”
Primien splashed water on her face as if trying to scrub it cold. She turned on the tap and plunged her face directly into the stream.