Chapter 148: Unexpected Bet (1)
“Deculein doesn’t have much time left.”
Epherene stared blankly at Louina.
Zeeeing—
The wood steel vibrated as if it were telling her to come to her senses. Epherene’s shoulders trembled.
“…Saying that he has no time left.”
Her voice broke as her vocal cords tightened.
“…”
Louina looked around. Before saying that, she had already checked around with magic, but just in case someone was watching, her senses perked up.
“I expect it to be from an incurable disease.”
Epherene’s jaw fell as if to touch the ground. Louina laughed bitterly and continued.
“I’m not sure, though. However, a great reason is necessary for a person to change.”
“…”
Louina said she wasn’t sure, but Epherene already knew. She still remembered the words her future had left her.
“Huhu.”
Suddenly, Louina chuckled as if she was cute.
“You’re about to cry. Like a baby.”
“Eh? No, I won’t cry. Who’s crying…”
Louina pointed to Epherene’s eyes without saying a word. Epherene rubbed at her cheeks, surprised to find them wet.
“Huh! What!”
She sprung up, surprising Louina.
“Oh my gosh, you scared me. What are you so surprised about?”
“Er… um… I think I just yawned.”
Louina offered a p.r.i.c.kly smile.
“It’s not like that. If the Professor is seriously ill…”
Epherene’s cheeks swelled up until she looked like a pufferfish.
“I think it’s like karma.”
“Karma?”
Epherene pouted bluntly.
“…Because he’s done so many bad things in the past.”
“Huh? Do you know what Deculein did?”
“…”
Epherene nodded quietly. As she investigated her father’s past in the tower and the Floating Island, she found plenty of information and rumors. Instigation of violence, bullying commoners, stealing a thesis… there were many unbelievably vicious things.
“Right. Deculein wasn’t normal. Especially during the Academy days, I wondered if he was even human.”
“Academy?”
“Yeah. The academy is much more tied to one’s family and status than the tower.”
Louina, recalling those days, wore a tired expression. Epherene also thought for a moment, and she was terrified just by imagining it. A time when Deculein’s personality reigned purely as evil, how frightened the commoners in the academy must have been.
“I had a pretty bad relationship with him too… now I think it doesn’t matter. I received some help from Deculein, and above all, I think I forgot before I noticed.”
“…”
“But I am still curious. How did Deculein’s magical powers progress to what they are now? Well, I heard he was considered the 7th strongest in the Empire, right? It doesn’t seem like it, but it appears Deculein himself also made this stone.”
For some reason, Epherene seemed to know why. Rohakan once said that the closer a wizard grows to the end of their life, the more opportunities they have to realize the truth. It was a natural phenomenon that occurred as the human soul moved closer to mana than the world.
“Oh. It’s already this late.”
Louina looked at her watch and stood. Then she looked to Epherene with a broad smile.
“Is what you just said a secret?”
“Oh, yes, of course. Where else are you going?”
“Yeah. The project inspection is still in progress, and I still have a lot to teach the babies. I’m quite worried.”
Epherene nodded. This professor called her students babies; it was somewhat cringy yet warm.
“Yes. Bye. And you can speak without formalities.”
“No way. You’re a disciple of Deculein, so I have to treat you well. Anyway, TA Epherene, work hard too!”
Louina, who clenched her fists and winked, left with a proud step. If Epherene had a disciple someday, she wanted to look as reliable.
“…You stay still.”
Epherene tapped the wood steel resonating in her arms. Its vibration stopped with a buzz, but…
Brrrrrrrr-!
It soon grew louder and began to tickle Epherene.
“Oh, ouch, stop it! Ugh!”
* * *
Today’s keynote manager job ended with thirteen teams. To summarize the results, four teams pa.s.sed, I cut the finances from five teams, and all others were rejected. However, since I had suggested enough alternatives, they would come back with modifications. If they couldn’t even do that, they didn’t have the qualification to carry out their project.
“I’m going.”
“Oh, yes!”
When I stood, Allen, busy putting the reports in order, straightened up.
“Bye! I will finish up all of this!”
It was pitiful for some reason to see her buried in papers but still speaking cheerfully. I nodded and opened the office door. However.
“…”
Epherene was standing right outside.
“…”
She looked up at me with surprise.
Gulp-
Swallowing, she stared at me for a moment before smiling. No, it was a bit too bizarre to be called a smile. A facial spasm would be more appropriate.
“A-Are you going? Haha, hahaha.”
“Get out of my way.”
“Oh, yes.”
Epherene took a step back, and I pa.s.sed by her.
“G-Good-bye… Professor.”
A strangely sad voice came from behind me. Naturally, my brow furrowed. I turned around to regard Epherene.
“…”
She just bowed her head. It was an interaction I didn’t want to deal with.
“G-Goodbye!”
The ending was also weird. I ignored her and took the elevator straight to the parking lot. Ren was waiting by the open car door.
“Would you like to go straight to the mansion?”
“Let’s go.”
I climbed into the back seat. Just then, the crystal ball vibrated.
—Successful in securing Rockfell. However, I don’t think I’ll be able to get to Hadekain.
It was Arlos. Since there was a risk of being eavesdropped on by the Altar, the crystal ball was commissioned directly by a hardware store to make it wireless.
“It doesn’t matter. Make sure you take care of it.”
- Okay.
I turned off the radio. After leaning back for a while, I tried using the Duct Tape I had just learned.
“Hmm.”
The mana emitted from my fingertips was condensed like tape.
「Workmanship: 0%」
Of course, it was still at 0%. However, there were enough ways to raise this number in a short time. The training method was also simple. Just pick one person and…
……
“Oh, I can’t move! My body isn’t moving!”
I called Yeriel, who was sitting idle in the mansion. She arrived last night saying she had a job to do on the continent.
“Take me down! Stop joking!”
Anyway, under the pretext of magic teaching, I started my actual training, and as a result-
“Take me down!”
Yeriel became a tape pupa clinging to the bark of the big tree in the garden.
“Can’t you release yourself?”
“d.a.m.n!”
Yeriel, face turning red, shook. Just five minutes ago, she was following me like a puppy.
“Ugh—”
She was growing noisy, but that was it. No matter how much force was applied or how much mana she scattered, the tape would not release. Although it was Yeriel, one of the functions of the tape – bondage – had been proven.
Snap!
I released Yeriel.
“Ouch!”
In an instant, the tape disappeared, and Yeriel fell. With gra.s.s and dirt now all over her body, she stood and glared at me.
“Really, why are you like this these days?!”
Seeing her screaming made me feel a bit meaner.
“You can’t even respond to only this level.”
“What?”
“When are you going to grow?”
“…What.”
Yeriel glanced at me and picked up the pouch lying beside her, pulling out a sheet of paper.
“Forget it! Take this.”
“…”
I took it without a word.
[Disengagement: Yukline Freyden].
The t.i.tle was a bit uncomfortable.
“What’s with that face? Aren’t you going to call it off?”
I didn’t answer.
“Either way, there is no disadvantage to either of you. No, it’s only bad for us. Since Yukline has decided to forget their debt for supporting Freyden in the meantime.”
“…”
I nodded slowly. So now, it would be right to let it go. For Julie, even for me.
“…That means you will?”
The only way for Julie to live right now was to hate Deculein. To hate him enough to kill him. Even if someday I found a way to heal her, it was still a long way off.
“Yes.”
* * *
Deculein’s test — the so-called moving stones. Today that the simple test entered its fourth day. Finally, the first successful applicant appeared.
“Nice—!”
As expected, it was Rose Rio. As expected from her, who concentrated all her talents in manipulation and earth, she was the first to understand and accept the theory of Deculein and finally succeeded in moving the 「Magic Resistance Stone」.
“Look! I did it!”
Rose Rio placed the stone on the palm of her hand. Then, the stone floated. At the same time, all the pieces in the main square also floated up. It was the Gravity Zone spell that was ten steps higher than Psychokinesis. It served as the highest peak of the manipulation series, in which the magician manipulated nearby gravity at will. It was the result of applying Deculein’s theory to that high-level magic.
“Hahaha-! Then I’m going! Hahahahahaha—!”
“…”
Everyone, including Epherene, watched Rose Rio with envy as she left to show off this achievement to Deculein and all the Floating Island.
“Whew… huh?”
Epherene sighed and saw Kreto standing up.
“Where are you going, Wizard Kreto?”
“Hmm? Oh. I want to go see my sister today.”
“…”
After that, everyone went silent for a moment. Kreto’s sister was the current Emperor Sophien. Epherene felt his ident.i.ty anew.
“Oh, okay. Bye.”
“Right. You too, Leaf, work hard.”
“…Yes.”
Leaf. All the high-ranking wizards these days were calling her Leaf, thanks to Ihelm. Epherene grunted and again soaked the stone with her mana.
“What the h.e.l.l is…”
Just like a black hole, this stone wouldn’t change no matter how much mana she put in. It wouldn’t move as it stubbornly accepted the formula, seeming to extinguish all mana.
“…”
Epherene looked at the wood steel on her desk.
“…Do you know?”
When asked that question, the wood steel made a bizarre sound, as if she were pathetic.
“Are you mocking me?”
Epherene sighed as she stared at the wood steel.
“Whew.”
“Beef, look at this.”
Drent called out to her, receiving a glare for his efforts.
“Hey. Just call me Leaf. What’s with beef now?”
“Hahaha. I’m sorry, this is more fun. Beef.”
“Man. Don’t do it.”
“Okay. Sorry. Look at this; I think I found something—”
I think I found something… I think I found something… I think I found something…
His voice echoed as a short wave of dizziness engulfed her, and Epherene closed her eyes blankly.
“Oh, my anemia…”
When she opened her eyes again-
“…What.”
The world had changed. She was definitely in the main square of the hall just now, but suddenly she was in some sort of ruin—
“Stupid Epherene.”
A familiar voice called out to her. Epherene looked back, startled.
“Move away, Epherene. Why are you here?”
In the ruined hallway, Sylvia sat under the shade.
“…You! Why are you like that?!”
Blood flowed from a wound in her side, her hair was tangled, and her right hand’s index and middle fingers were torn off as if eaten by something.
“Go away. You might become like this too.”
“Why-“
- As soon as she asked her, she knew why. It was on the other side of the corridor of the ruins.
Grrrrrrrr—!
A fierce rumble like an erupting volcano.
“…!”
A weird scarlet body stalked the dark hallway, made of compressed muscles and majestic bones. The king’s pattern was engraved on its forehead. The beast dominated the area it stood in and radiated power and dignity.
A tiger.
“T-T-T-T…”
The first real beast she encountered in her life. Epherene gasped for a moment, its savage pressure squeezing her.
“You idiot. If you want to die, do whatever you want.”
Sylvia started to run away, and Epherene followed after a second’s lag.
“Hey! W-Wait for me!”
* * *
…Meanwhile, Kreto returned to the Imperial Palace. After meeting Sophien, he recommended she start with the Compilation of Deculein’s Theory.
“You can move the stones only if you learn this theory.”
“Hmm. I don’t think it’s a big deal.”
“No. It is very difficult to move them. There’s a reason why the Floating Island is also watching.”
“Is that so?”
Sophien answered bluntly. She already knew. Even now, she was watching it by Kreto’s side inside the cat’s body.
“But Your Majesty, you’re wearing something special today.”
“It was a gift from Yuren. Wearing it will save them face.”
Today’s Emperor’s attire was a modern outfit popular in Yuren, composed of blue trousers and a b.u.t.toned blouse. Kreto nodded in approval.
“Anyway. Professor Deculein is a good person, a talent who will make the continent great. He is the most suitable for the slogan of ‘Great Continent.’ Haha.”
“…You’re finally visiting me, but you’re only talking about Deculein.”
Sophien was somewhat dissatisfied. This cute little brother didn’t get cuter at all as he grew bigger.
“Would I have anything else to say? By the way…”
Ahem-!
Kreto coughed and took out the stone.
“Take this…”
“Did you come here to cheat?”
“Hey, why would you say that? I am not here to cheat but to seek advice from the sister I love.”
“…Tsk. Look at how you talk.”
Still, hearing that he loved her put her in a better mood.
“I’ll give it a look.”
Sophien pretended to read Deculein’s theory without saying a word, and then she used Psychokinesis on the stone. It moved.
“Whoa! Whoa, whoa! As expected! As expected from Your Majesty!”
“It’s easy.”
She had already studied obsessively but pretended she was seeing it for the first time now. Kreto watched her with admiration plain in his eyes.
“Then tell me the secret too!”
“Enough. Kreto.”
“Yes?”
“…Didn’t that guy say anything?”
“That guy? You mean Professor Deculein?”
Sophien nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why is Professor Deculein that guy?”
Sophien let out a soft breath.
“…Before I get mad.”
“Oh, okay. About what?”
“About me.”
“…?”
To the bewildered Kreto, who didn’t know what to do, Sophien sighed.
“It seems that he is in love with me.”
“…I beg your pardon? Ha.”
Kreto chuckled.
“Hahahaha. Hahahahaha…”
That laugh soon turned into mockery. Sophien bit back her anger.
“Your Majesty. I don’t mean to say this, but have you been feeling well lately?”
“What, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d? Are you nuts?”
“No. Rumors are circulating that you’re pa.s.sionate about everything these days…”
“And?”
Kreto laughed like an old man.
“Even if that’s a good thing, why would Professor Deculein have a crush on you?”
“Do you have proof?”
“I mean, isn’t that right? Why would he like someone like you….”
It was then that Kreto realized he had made a mistake. Sophien’s gaze sharpened to a killing point. Swallowing fear, he quickly changed his words.
“Wise, benevolent—”
“Did you go nuts? Is the Emperor funny to you?”
Knock, knock-
A knock rattled the door. It was his opportunity to prolong his life.
“What!”
Kreto sprung up and answered it, receiving a response from the maid standing outside.
- Yes. Her Majesty Sophien, Prince Kreto. The Teaching Wizard Deculein has arrived.
Today was a magical lesson day; that was why Kreto came to see Sophien.
“Well. That’s great. Your Majesty. Why don’t you ask him directly?”
“Ask him? Me?”
Sophien pointed her finger at her chest. Kreto grinned with narrowing eyes.
“…Yes. I will do it for you.”
“Hmph, forget it. Hey! Let him in!”
—Yes, Your Majesty.
The door opened at Sophien’s call to reveal Deculein. Dressed in a navy blue suit, he approached elegantly and sat facing Sophien.
“Your Majesty. And Prince Kreto is here too.”
“Haha. Somehow, it turned out that way…”
Sophien beckoned to Kreto, motioning for him to forget it. Kreto decided to open up the conversation.
“Oh, right. Professor Deculein. Have you ever played Go? These days, Her Majesty and I are addicted to this game.”
“Yes, I’ve tried it.”
“Oh. Really?”
Kreto and Sophien glanced at him with wide eyes.
“As Your Majesty recommended, I practiced hard.”
“How much energy do you think you have? Oh, right, in Go, energy refers to the grade. Like Monarch, Lumier, you know? The highest is nine.”
“I see.”
“So, what do you expect your energy to be?”
Then Deculein looked at Sophien. Sophien scanned his face. As always, it was the face of a handsome n.o.bleman, calm and insensitive.
“I think… it seems to be worthy of competing on an equal footing with Your Majesty.”
“?”
For a moment, Sophien’s brow narrowed. She was bewildered at first, and then a heat rose to her head. That arrogant remark was outrageous. Sophien ground her teeth tightly and twisted the corners of her mouth. It felt her intestines were twisting more than her lips.
How dare he? A guy who only trained for ten days thought he could beat her?
“…I can’t let this pa.s.s by.”
Bang-!
Sophien’s set the Go pieces and the board with Psychokinesis.
“Let’s fight. If you beat me, I will grant one of your wishes.”
A declaration to grant a wish, from the Emperor of all people no less. Kreto was shocked, and Deculein simply looked into the air.
Right at the sudden quest alarm.
[Independent Quest: The Emperor’s Bet]
“…?”
An independent quest, not a side quest, that occurred only with Go. He thought the Emperor’s Independent Quest would at least be equivalent to the Demon’s Mirror…
“Yes. All right.”
It was quite disconcerting, but Deculein nodded.