Chapter 105: Ghost (1)
[We’ve lost our ranking on NU ? It seems that it’s partly due to the fact that NU is hiding this series from the homepage.]
[Inn], one of the islands surrounding the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth.
Setting aside her curiosity regarding how many such landma.s.ses...o...b..ted the floating island, Sylvia, with her hair disheveled and face languid, focused on the woman sitting in front of her.
“I really didn’t think it would pa.s.s.”
“…”
“I admit. You’re definitely born with the blood of the Iliades…”
Instead of replying, she let her acknowledgment enter one ear and out the other as she glanced outside the window, beyond which only the clouds in the sky greeted her.
She wasn’t in an inn built on an island.
Rather, the entirety of this particular floating island itself was the inn, serving as a place of relaxation for wizards traveling across the many islands around the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth.
“… Hey. Are you listening?”
“Yes.”
“Anyway, if you genuinely want to challenge becoming an Archmage, who is currently the most powerful Archmage candidate?”
“Chairman Adrienne.”
“That’s right. She’s a master of the [Destruction] series.”
The woman lit a cigar, transferring the light in the air to its filter.
Sshhhhhh—
“If Adrienne actually became serious, there’s not a lot of people who’d be able to stop her. She can singlehandedly destroy the entire continent.”
“She’s that strong?”
“Yes. To make things worse, [Destruction]-series Archmages have always been naturally one of the most difficult opponents to deal with.”
Some wizards, in this world, had already reached heights previously thought impossible. Archmage Demakan, his younger brother Murkan, the Black Beast Rohakan, Bercht’s Great Elder Dzekdan, Chairman Adrienne…
“And me.”
The woman pointed to herself as she exhaled smoke, which spread towards Sylvia’s face.
She bit her lips tightly, trying to act as if it didn’t bother her.
“…”
Her behavior was no different from bullying, but Sylvia knew her reputation well.
Idnik the Merchant.
Although her t.i.tle sounded unpleasant, that was overshadowed by the fact that she was one of Demakan‘s only three disciples and was a close friend of her mother, Sierra.
“Huuuu… You’re holding your breath, aren’t you?”
“I ang nod(I am not),” She answered with a stuffy voice, causing Idnik to smirk.
“When you’re having a hard time, have a cigar. Well-refined tobacco is good for a wizard since they don’t cause health problems. You have a lot of money anyway, so you can definitely afford to smoke ‘Dukrek."”
“…”
“It’s quite expensive at around 500 Elnes per pack, but buy some and give me one anyway.”
“…”
Haaa—
She continued with another puff of smoke.
“Back to the point, someone as extremely trained in the [Destruction] series as Adrienne is dangerous. One wrong move against her will turn her into a disaster that can obliterate humanity as we know it. That’s why she’s the most powerful Archmage candidate. If she’s the heavens above, we’re merely the ground beneath her.”
“Can no one really stop her if she goes on a rampage?”
“The continent can’t stop her… but its people can. Zeit, perhaps, can deal with her. Other than that northern weapon, the truth is, even Rohakan can’t deal with her.”
Sccchhhhh…
She rubbed her cigar against the ashtray. “Do you think you can match someone as powerful as her?”
Sylvia nodded without hesitation.
“Yes.”
“You have high hopes.”
Taking out a notebook, Idnik changed the topic.
“It’s true that Deculein killed Sierra.”
At that moment, Sylvia’s heart twisted.
“That’s probably why you came to me.”
That was indeed one of the reasons why she looked for her, a childhood friend of her mother.
“…”
“First and foremost, put this on.”
Idnik held out a robe and a badge, both indicating she had ascended to Regello, the 8th rank of wizards.
“You’re growing swiftly.”
“…”
She took off her worn Solda robe silently and wore her new red robe afterward.
“You’ll probably reach Monarch within three months, which is Deculein’s current rank. You might even surpa.s.s him in half a year…”
Sylvia didn’t respond to her praise.
All that meant was that the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth recognized her talents.
‘It’s true that Deculein killed Sierra.’
She didn’t feel good.
Her heart and mind slowly sank into the cold void.
*****
Zeit served as the opening event of the Great Knights War instead of being its finale.
No, he couldn’t be its finale.
Zeit’s match was just far too unique for it. After all, despite having eleven knights as his opponents, he chose to fight them alone… barehandedly.
An irrational duel that went against chivalry.
Even so, the knights standing before him had the most nervous faces in the world.
Bam— bam— bam—
The sound of drums resonated, marking the start of their fight. Nearly a dozen knights rushed towards him soon after, whom Zeit countered by throwing his fist forward, the movement of which caused his long white hair, the Freyden symbol, to flutter like a phantom.
His target wasn’t his opponents, however.
It was s.p.a.ce itself.
———!
The shockwave from his fist caused tremors that quaked the entire hall, the explosive sound that came with it resonating throughout his vicinity.
His attack was the ‘wave’ itself.
In other words, it flowed through s.p.a.ce in a sound-like form, but the power he transmitted through it was nearly no different from his actual physical strikes.
Just swinging a sword, no matter how strong, wouldn’t cause it to release a wave. Even if it did, its power would be significantly lower than an actual swordsmanship technique.
But such natural laws did not apply to Zeit.
Simply put, his punches and his fists’ waves were the same in the sense that both of them could cause the same amount of damage despite their differences in form.
Booooom——!
Hit by that strike, his opponents felt as if they had been struck in the back of their head or stabbed through their sides dozens of times.
The overwhelming power of his [Characteristic] crashed through the walls in the form of an echo, its intensity and strength increasing tenfold as it continued down its unpredictable path, which made it impossible to avoid.
With no more than a single punch from him, he obliterated the entire stadium along with the eleven knights that dared go against him, knocking them unconscious. Zeit’s wave, mixed with mana, then swirled around the area until it subsided.
“Hahaha—!”
The battle ended in just one minute. As his magnanimous laughter filled the area, thunderous cheers and applause followed.
In the middle of it, Zeit looked directly at me.
“Did you see that, Deculein?”
His short display of strength was more than enough for everyone to know he was not a force to be reckoned with. Capable of ma.s.sacring tens of thousands of enemies in a short amount of time, he was truly the epitome of a one-man army.
Throughout his history, few knights managed to even barely survive his ruthless decimation. That was what made him known as the world’s most powerful knight.
“Julie.”
“Hmm?”
“Will you be able to win against him in the distant future?”
There would come a day when Zeit would tell her, ‘If you beat me, you can do whatever you want with your life.’
It was part of the game’s official storyline and was also related to the main quest. In a way, Julie was his only obstacle.
“Yes.”
Zeit’s offense infinitely surged s.p.a.ce and wind, but Julie could freeze all of it. “Of course.”
However…
As it was now, even if countless years pa.s.sed by, such a daunting feat would be impossible for her.
Julie’s growth, from the moment she reconciled with me, became stagnant.
“I am not afraid of anyone.”
Julie’s answer was no different from the knights’ paragon, but that made me realize.
Slowly, the time to let her go was approaching.
*****
Two days later, at the Head Professor’s research lab.
I installed the new technology [Component a.n.a.lyzer], which I ordered from the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth.
While it looked nothing more than a microwave-sized gla.s.s cube magic crystal, it was actually a state-of-the-art magical machine that a.n.a.lyzed the composition of objects placed in it multilaterally.
I thought its delivery would take quite a long time, but it had been processed surprisingly fast.
That being said…
“Interesting~”
“I know… It’s sparkly.”
“Hohoho… You’re as amazing as ever, Professor Deculein, known as one of this era’s few intellectuals recognized by the floating island… Have you used this machine before, though, Professor?”
Allen, Louina, and Relin spoke, respectively.
Even the other rising professors visited my lab by ‘chance.’ Looking at the [Component a.n.a.lyzer], they then smacked their lips.
“I’m envious of you, Professor Deculein. The floating island doesn’t usually give out new technologies like this. Is it because of your high-quality lectures?” Louina said, her eyes fixed on the [Component a.n.a.lyzer].
I answered bluntly.
“Get out.”
“Uhm, once you’re done using all of this, maybe we could later—”
“Go away.”
“Come on, don’t be so selfish. I’ll write down my turn first. You won’t be using it forever anyway. Just for one week, no, three days—”
“I’ll be using it a lot.”
“Still… Agh.”
I kicked them all out, but they chose their own turns as they pleased outside regardless.
“I, Louina, was the first one to hear the rumors. In that regard, I should have priority over it.”
“Oho. In times like this, it’s only proper to take our ranks into consideration. That’s why I, Senior Professor Relin, should come first.”
“Uhm, I also need it for research… I’m Professor Deculein’s a.s.sistant professor, after all…”
Baaam—!
After slamming the door closed using Psychokinesis, I put the [Artificial Nucleus] in the [Component a.n.a.lyzer] and turned on its power.
Vroooong….
a.n.a.lyzing the item inside it like a microwave heating up food, Dark energy leaked from the nucleus and p.r.i.c.ked my nose.
The scent alone made my heart race and the deep anger within me resurface, a clear sign that the Yukline blood within me was responding violently.
Knock knock—
I opened the door with Psychokinesis.
“Professor, I brought my research report,” Epherene said as she came in. In her hand was a doc.u.ment containing a compilation of everything she had studied so far.
“Firstly, the [Harmony of the Four Major Elements].”
“…”
Taking and skimming through her 43-paged research report regarding a single magic book, I turned my gaze to her.
“This is infinitely outdated.”
“… What?”
I didn’t like it.
It wasn’t just ‘lacking.’
From my perspective, considering Epherene’s talent, it was nothing but garbage. “Reading the book itself is far better than this.”
“Oh, I—”
“Go one step further from just understanding it and write down what you’ve realized. Discern it. a.n.a.lyze it. At this rate, what you’re making is no better than a waste not even worth revising.”
Schwaaaaak—!
I tore the report in half.
“A-ahh!”
Her eyes widened in shock and horror as she looked at the already torn report. Soon enough, she bit her lips, not knowing what to do.
“Do it again.”
“… Okay.”
The kid went outside with her head down just as my new machine completed its a.n.a.lysis.
[Dolan’s right heart, Decrion Spore, Human blood vessels…]
Thoroughly identifying the materials of the [Artificial Nucleus], it even marked both the time it was gathered and its a.s.sembly date.
Winter, ten years ago.
“It’s definitely an amazing item.”
If I initiated the investigation based on this information, it would be possible to find clues related to the Altar and Decalane.
Satisfied, I stored the [Artificial Nucleus] inside my head, one of the many functions of [Encoding], a high-cla.s.s characteristic of mine.
*****
Late at night in the [a.s.sistants’ Laboratory].
“… There wasn’t any need to rip it, was there? Unbelievable.” Epherene grumbled as she rewrote her entire report. “What in the world does he want from me?”
What did he even mean by ‘one step further from just understanding’?
Wasn’t understanding advanced theories such as [The Harmony of Four Great Elements] already amazing in itself?
“Phew… I wonder what Sylvia’s doing.”
She was most likely living without problems, considering she had huge amounts of money.
“I also should have just went to the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth… tsk.”
Epherene, breaking her own thoughts and writing using her pencil again, glanced momentarily at the letter she received today from her sponsor. He deposited 100 thousand Elnes this time!
Crunch crunch—
Writing what she understood as clearly as possible, she soon came to a realization.
The morning sun was already rising.
“At this rate…”
She took a look at her report and nodded. Soon after, the clock struck 8 AM, which was when Deculein went to work.
Immediately looking for him, she confidently handed over her papers.
“I’ve completed its revision, Professor.”
He seemed like he had just arrived, considering he hadn’t even sat down yet.
“Did you stay up all night for this?” He asked as he skimmed through her doc.u.ment.
“Yes.”
‘Because of a certain someone…’
Epherene bit her lips while swallowing her retort.
He hung his coat on a hanger and read her report, his sharp eyes moving up and down.
Almost as if they were mincing through it.
“… Gulp.”
As she nervously swallowed hard, he told her his verdict.
“It’s still lacking. Revise it.”
“… What?”
“I said it’s not enough.”
“Uhh… Can you at least tell me which parts of it are in need of revision—”
Deculein returned her report, his face deathly gelid.
“No. Look for them yourself.”
“…”
“… Okay.”
Fortunately, he didn’t rip and throw it away this time. Epherene went back to the [a.s.sistants’ Laboratory] where she found Allen and Drent, who arrived while she was away, unpacking their bags in their seats.
“Huh? Did you not go home yesterday, Ms. Epherene?”
“Yeah… Let’s go have some breakfast.”
After talking behind Deculein’s back over her first meal of the day, she revised her work for six whole hours.
“Whew! I’m getting older.”
Satisfied with the result, she boosted her self-confidence.
‘I should pa.s.s this time. I still have 12 remaining reports left to do, though…’
Five minutes later.
Epherene squeezed her fingers together in the Head Professor’s office. However, Deculein’s answer to her third report remained quite concise.
“Can’t you understand what I’m saying?”
“… What?”
“I don’t want a formal report. I know the contents of this magic book better than you or any other. Hence, I have no need for a narration of it from a third party’s perspective. What you have to do is convey what you’ve realized.”
Throwing away her report angrily, Epherene could only stare at him blankly.
“A sudden stroke of brilliance is much more valuable than a 30-paged report.”
“B-but—!”
“Get out.”
Bang—!
The door closed in front of her as if she was being expelled for failing thrice already.
“Seriously…”
Fed up, she tore her own report herself, went back to the lab, and flipped through the magic book to look for a ‘stroke of brilliance.’
Skkkrrr— Skrrrrr—
6 hours later. Fourth attempt.
“Is this the best you can do? If so, then aren’t you aiming for a goal far higher than your limitations?”
She had already submitted three reports depicting her own thoughts, but Deculein’s reaction remained dubious.
“Answer me honestly, Epherene.”
“… No. I’ll do it again.”
Returning to the [a.s.sistants’ Laboratory], she prepared to write another report.
The next morning.
She delivered her fifth attempt as soon as Deculein arrived.
“… Are you stupid?”
Epherene expected that much…
Tik— tok— tik— tok—
Tik— tok— tik— tok—
3 AM.
Having already been rejected a total of five times in merely three days, she stared at the ceiling blankly, her mind seemingly about to lose its sanity.
“Did Deculein make me his a.s.sistant to hara.s.s me? What did I even do wrong? I might murder someone at this point…” She mumbled absentmindedly while looking at the sixth report in her hand.
“… h.e.l.lo?”
With Deculein’s office door open, Epherene stumbled in and glanced inside his room.
Whiiing—
Its interior was already dark, and the Head Professor was nowhere to be found.
Thinking he left temporarily or forgot to lock his door, she decided to leave it in the drawer instead. However, as soon as she slid in her seventh report, she noticed a paper on top of his desk.
“…?”
The darkness prevented her from scanning it properly, but fiddling with it was enough for her to tell its texture was familiar to her.
“Where have I…”
A high-quality paper that could be used for letters. A quill pen next to it.
“…”
Frowning, she tilted her head in doubt… Only to find a tall person in front of her.
No, she only found a huge, white face about 3m long and 40cm wide.
His eyes, lacking scleras and having crimson pupils, stared directly at her as his elongated mouth drew a huge smile, his lips almost seemingly tearing apart his cheeks to reach his ears. Hundreds of sharp, yellow fangs revealed themselves within his hole-like mouth, causing gooseb.u.mps to spread all over her shoulders, arms, and back.
A ghost had appeared before her.
“Aaaaaaaahhh!”
Epherene shrieked and cohered magic. She couldn’t even think straight enough to figure what type it was. Nevertheless, she scattered it all over the place as she ran away, only for her to hit her head against a bookshelf.
“Kugh!”
Epherene fainted on the ground. However, thanks to her magic, an alarm went off.
Whiiiing—!
Whiiiiiiing—!
The ghost took turns looking at the fainted Epherene and the ceiling.
Shhhhhh…..
Soon enough, he disappeared, seemingly scattering with the wind.
*****
The next morning.
I went to Epherene’s hospital room at the University Hospital. She had been confined after fainting in my office.
“A ghost?”
“Yes…”
Allen replied worriedly. Epherene was breathing gently, but she was sweating coldly and had sustained a wound.
“She just woke up and mumbled about seeing a ghost. She fell asleep again right after.”
“What kind of ghost?”
“I couldn’t ask her about the details. The doctor thinks she probably saw an illusion…”
“…”
Ghosts…
There were certainly quests related to their existence. Like every other school, the Imperial University also had ghost stories. One of them was known as the “Legend of the Tower.”
I didn’t know all the quests, though, so it was difficult to discern if this incident was related to one.
“There were no other problems, weren’t there?”
“Yes.”
I took off my gloves and clenched my teeth to avoid making my disgust obvious. But one day, it was something that I needed to overcome.
I used [Understanding] on Epherene by placing my hand on her forehead, Allen’s surprise visibly growing.
“……..”
Utilizing [Understanding] this way allowed me to check one’s condition. If she really was actually suffering due to a ghost, I could narrow down the possible types of her current status.
[Condition: Scared]
Nothing special. Taking my hand off of her, I found her sweat sticking to my palm. As swiftly as I could, I wiped it off with my handkerchief and got up from my seat.
“Call me when she wakes up.”
“A-alright…”
Clack—!
Just in time, the door of the hospital room opened, and Drent came in.
“Oh, Professor!”
“Come in.”
As I left, he took my seat.
*****
… 5 minutes after Deculein left, Epherene opened her eyes quietly.
“Oh, you’re awake?”
“Are you alright?”
Allen and Drent asked, their voices filled with concern.
In reply, Epherene smiled bitterly, raised her upper body, then fiddled with her forehead.
“… I’ve been awake all this time.”
“All this time?”
“Yes.”
Epherene scratched the back of her neck as she recalled the situation just now.
Deculein gently placed his hand on her forehead, causing her more gooseb.u.mps than what the ghost could give her. Anyway…
“What happened?” Drent asked.
Chills clawed up her spine as she trembled. Nevertheless, she persevered.
“Ah… My heart pounds even when I think about it now. See, what happened was…”
In a calm and orderly manner, she slowly told them of her experience.