Chapter 231: Voice Island (2)
Moving South of Annihilation.
The Empire recovered from the harsh wounds the brutal winter had scratched as Emperor Sophien turned the historical disaster into an opportunity.
She distinguished between the dead and the living. The dead were old, and the living were young. The old died because they were weak, but the youth lived because they too were weak. The old chose their death, and the youth gained life through that sacrifice.
Emperor Sophien deliberately persuaded them to die. The elderly who were seriously injured or unable to move were left without treatment. Instead, she saved those who were still young and healthy. The elders gladly accepted. In any case, their death was beneficial to the Empire, both in the short and long term. There were fewer mouths to feed, so she acted on reason, not emotion. At least Sophien thought so.
That was the start.
Restoration of the people’s livelihood that the migration had destroyed began. The villages and slums naturally collapsed, so they were all incorporated into Imperial land. The Emperor pursued thorough and planned development referencing the efficient city model of the Princ.i.p.ality of Yuren. Unlike other high-minded servants, she didn’t despise it, saying it belonged only to the Princ.i.p.ality, but openly accepted it.
As a result, Sophien corrected the confusion in just three months. At the same time, she cracked down on the Empire’s internal politics, strengthening Imperial power and reforming social structures.
“…All thanks to Your Majesty’s grace. The media is also praising Your Majesty, saying that you are a saint.”
At the Imperial Lake, Ahan delivered the press’s words with a smile to Sophien, fishing with a pipe hanging out of her mouth.
“The empire now only has to grow stronger…”
“…”
Sophien looked over the calm lake. It was peaceful. However, when she stared intently like this, she suddenly felt that something was out of place and grew dizzy.
─In this lake.
She heard something from someone.
“…Your Majesty?”
“Give me the newspaper.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Sophien took the newspaper instead of thinking about it further. Media freedom was a social value she was trying to promote these days. She, of course, had the purpose of keeping her servants in check. She hoped that these new eyes and ears would shed light on any corruption…
“…What the h.e.l.l is this?”
Sophien grimaced. She pointed to the huge headline at the top.
[3333Deculein, who strongly insisted on the annihilation of the Demon Blood, was interrupted by the mercy of Her Majesty Emperor Sophien.]
Sophien scanned the article underneath.
─…Professor Deculein seems to have advocated for more than a simple suppression of the Demon Blood, opting for annihilating the entire race. Still, he was met with generous opposition from Her Majesty Sophien. No matter how sinful the clan, since extinction is irreversible…
Sophien crumpled the newspaper. Beyond the paper, Ahan wore a sour smile.
“Oh… that is… I mean. An excerpt of Professor Deculein’s direct conversation with the chairman was extracted…”
“…The b.a.s.t.a.r.d said that.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Ahan bowed.
“If I dare say it, I wonder if the Professor is trying to bear the weight of suppressing the Demon Blood on behalf of Your Majesty….”
“Tsk.”
Sophien opened the newspaper again. As Ahan said, all cruel or cold claims were attributed to Deculein, and only kindness and grace were hers.
“I have no idea what this guy wants.”
She couldn’t tell what was inside his head. He was an aristocrat who seemed to hate the Demon Blood more than anyone else but then asked her to reconsider the most important policy.
“Perhaps…”
Ahan carefully opened her mouth.
“The Professor doesn’t want Your Majesty to be hated.”
“…Hate?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Isn’t there a proverb that when hatred and resentment unite, it will descend into a curse comparable to that of a giant’s magic?”
“Hmph.”
Sophien laughed with disdain and looked down at Keiron’s snow globe near her feet.
“…With this, I am sure. No one regards Your Majesty as sincere as the Professor-“
“I got it, so just shut up. You will have to ask the Professor directly for the truth.”
Sophien grabbed the fishing rod again. She didn’t catch any fish, but she stirred it around to no result.
“Tell the Professor that when the Voice Island or whatever is over, visit me. I will interrogate him.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Ahan bowed and held back a smile. She didn’t say anything, but there was a red blush coloring her cheeks.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Yes, yes? Oh, Your Majesty. That is…”
“…Just bring a snack or something. I’m getting hungry.”
“Yes! I’ll be back soon!”
Ahan ran away.
* * *
The Voice Island appeared in the territorial waters to the west of the Empire. As soon as the news spread, hundreds of adventurers rushed in, but they were detained by Deculein and the Imperial Guards.
─I mean. Does it make sense that we’re stuck here?
─Gosh. No, did the Empire decide to become the Adventure Guild’s enemy? Oh, is that a boycott?
—I understand that an island appeared in the Imperial territorial waters. But is that all from the Empire? So what about fishermen? Where do fishermen catch and sell fish?
“Haaahm~.”
Most had been moved to a large theater prepared for holding.
Yawning, Ganesha pulled out her newly purchased walkie-talkie. Double and triple preparation was quite natural for adventurers, so they divided their party into two groups before they even left.
“Dozmura. Can you hear me?”
—Yes, Captain.
He replied right away. Ganesha asked with a smirk.
“Yeah. Where are you now?”
─We’re-
“…Huh?”
Chijijik-
The radio cut off, but she heard a voice from nearby.
“Here. We’re here, captain.”
The adventure team, including Dozmura, sat calmly, waving their hands from behind. Blood vessels popped out on Ganesha’s forehead.
“That useless b.a.s.t.a.r.d, seriously… that ugly b.a.s.t.a.r.d can’t do anything. Should I just smash his face?”
“Still, this is rather fortunate.”
Lia spoke. Then, she looked around the inside of the theater. Their numbers were around at least five hundred.
“We don’t know what will happen if so many people enter at once.”
Then, the door of the theater opened again. Receiving the attention of each of the adventurers, a man appeared while straightening his cuffs and wrist.w.a.tch. It was Deculein.
“Nice to meet you.”
He looked around the adventurers and spoke. However, the adventurers all wore harsh expressions.
“I am not unaware of your feelings, but the Voice Island belongs to the Empire. Laws exist to be obeyed. Isn’t that correct?”
An overbearing voice that halted rebellion or reb.u.t.tal in advance. The corners of his lips twisted in contempt.
“No! The agreement between the Adventurers’ Guild and the Empire is-“
“You can ask any time for any matter related to the interpretation of the law. We can discuss it if you want. All of you.”
A bald, well-known adventurer named Durok rushed in but was immediately suppressed.
“What…”
“Let me ask. Do you think I understand matters of jurisdiction less than you?”
“…”
Durok stared at Deculein and sat silently back down. Ganesha laughed.
“He’s wrong. The focus is not on legal matters in the first place.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Well, the guys you see here are mostly people who don’t even read the Adventurer’s Law properly. The brains who read stuff like that are probably looking for ways from places other than here, right? Like that girl, Sylvia.”
“…But.”
Lia nodded and raised her hand. At that moment, Deculein and several adventurers turned to look at her.
“Professor. So, adventurers can’t enter the island at all?”
“No. Entry is possible as long as you go through the proper evaluation and screening, perform certain missions, and then swear to leave the island.”
“…Who’ll conduct the evaluation screening?”
Deculein c.o.c.ked an eyebrow as if he found it a ridiculous question.
“I will.”
* * *
Gulp-
Lia gulped as she faced Deculein. Fortunately, Ganesha was by her side, but she was still nervous.
“Are you two the only Red Garnet Adventurers?”
It was a dark s.p.a.ce that looked more for interrogation than evaluation. Deculein read their adventurer’s ID and doc.u.ments before posing the question. Lia answered.
“…Yes? There are a few more out there. Should I call them?”
“Call-“
“Hey~, let’s not do that. We both know each other and have debts to one another.”
Ganesha winked at Deculein.
“…”
There was no reaction. He stared at her with blank eyes.
“…Ahem.”
Ganesha flapped her pigtails a few times and spoke again.
“What do we have to do to go to that island? No, what is your purpose?”
“My purpose, of course, is to abolish the entirety of the Voice Island. If the erosion goes beyond this, the world will be devoured.”
Deculein returned Ganesha and Leah’s IDs.
“When the Voice spreads, the distinction between the living and the dead disappears. This place will be no different from the underworld, and it will become a continent of the undead.”
Lia quietly admired him. Deculein knew the essence of the quest called Voice. Was it because he was part of the Yukline family?
“How can we destroy the island?”
“You just need to find the master of the wave and kill it. The Voice in a human disguise. That demon must be lurking on that island.”
Ganesha pondered for a moment before nodding.
“Are there any rewards?”
Then, Deculein replied with a sneer.
“You can’t even imagine how much.”
“…”
For a moment, Ganesha’s expression hardened. There were times when the speaker was more important than the content of what they said. If a moderately rich man said such a thing, she would just dismiss it as a bluff, but if it were a n.o.ble like Deculein, that would be another story.
An unimaginable reward as spoken by the head of Yukline. That simplistic phrase was a heart-shaking declaration even for Ganesha, who had been wandering the continent for over ten years and touched all kinds of gold and silver treasures.
“What about evaluation and selection? And if selected, what kind of orders will we receive?”
Looking at Ganesha, who had grown quite serious, Deculein offered a soft smile.
“If you are selected, you will enter the Voice with me. Your actions are free for you to decide, except for our common purpose. No matter what you do there, I won’t interfere.”
“Yeah, fine. So, how will you select? Are there any exams?”
“There is a simple test.”
The selection criteria were very simple. The item to be evaluated, and the evaluation process itself, was a kind of note-taking test that would end instantly if possible.
“Deal with me using your mental power.”
Do you have the mental power not to be taken in by the Voice’s deception? In other words, could you fight with only your mental strength?
“…That’s all.”
Deculein wore a sinister smile.
* * *
…Meanwhile, Julie was digging through cla.s.sified doc.u.ments in the bas.e.m.e.nt of the Imperial Intelligence Agency. The task given to her by Her Majesty was to find the one behind her attempted poisoning. She was steadily approaching the truth, step by step.
“Does she need to know that?”
A figure approached Julie as she turned the pages. Startled, she looked back and shook her head.
“…Sir Syrio?”
The quick swordsman smiled brightly, Syrio.
“You scared me.”
“Sorry. That’s your a.s.signment, right? Attempted poisoning. I can see all the doc.u.ments.”
“Ahh… ahem. Are you doing your task too, Syrio? Well, my a.s.signment is a secret. Please keep it quiet.”
“Of course. I’m tight-lipped.”
Syrio smiled cheerfully and sat down next to her.
“Aren’t you going to the Voice Island? All the knights want to go.”
“If I receive the opportunity, I will not hesitate. However, it is said that there is no chance of going except for those who have a connection with Deculein.”
In that place where there was danger and opportunity, only those with Deculein’s connections could enter. Although it was said that the Imperial Knights were nominally supported, the person in charge was Delric, so any faction that hated Deculein in the slightest would be rejected immediately. It was an absurd situation.
The Imperial Knights who served the Empire more than anyone else were being swayed by a single professor.
“Really? Indeed, that’s how Deculein is.”
“Yes. Now, Deculein is acting no different from a gang leader.”
There was deep hostility underlying Julie’s voice. Syrio glanced over and gave a small smile.
“Julie, I guess you still hate Deculein.”
Julie answered while putting some papers in her bag.
“…Yes.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why? You know why, Syrio. The things… he did.”
“Yeah. I do. I saw it myself. He used to be pretty bad.”
Syrio chuckled.
“But in the end, it was all for you. That was just a little too much, right?”
“What the… forget it. I’ll just go. I don’t want to argue with you.”
Julie grabbed her bag and stood. The backpack, filled to the brim with doc.u.ments, swelled to a size even larger than Julie’s body.
“Julie. But, just stop at this point. You might regret it. If you know the inside story of the attempted poisoning or whatever it is. Also, if you dig into Deculein’s past.”
“…Yes?”
“You might be in danger.”
Instead of the usual cheerful Syrio, a b.l.o.o.d.y wind swept Julie. She turned to face him.
“Sir Syrio. What does that mean?”
“…”
Syrio held no expression. Staring at him, Julie placed a hand on the sword around her waist. Syrio, following her with his eyes, suddenly smiled.
“I’m just saying it’s dangerous. A dangerous truth to know. You’ll get hurt too. Are you still okay with that?”
“…I have nothing more to lose.”
Julie nodded resolutely and clenched her teeth.
“Professor Deculein took down the Knights Order that was my all and killed two of my most faithful men.”
“So? You want revenge?”
Syrio’s remark dripped with sarcasm. However, Julie didn’t deny it.
Revenge. Maybe revenge was right. Without adding grandiose beliefs, she now felt that the feelings she had toward Deculein were for revenge.
“Yes. I want revenge. I…”
“…”
It was a firm response. Syrio returned to his usual self at that moment. He let out his breath and smiled warmly.
“Okay. Then I won’t have to deal with you here.”
“…Deal with? Syrio, why-“
“It’s a secret. You’ll find out all about it later anyway. I am also inside the secret you are chasing.”
“…!”
In an instant, Julie quickly drew the sword from her waist.
“Knight Syrio! If that’s true, I won’t-!”
Whooosh-!
A gust of wind blew through the enclosed s.p.a.ce, knocking down books and sending papers flying up to cover Julie’s sight.
“…Syrio.”
Iliade’s knight, Syrio, had already disappeared.