Chapter 156: Forest. (1)
The second match resulted in Sophien’s victory with a 2.5 point lead.
“Mwahaha.”
The way Sophien celebrated her victory was sinister. Her face hadn’t changed, but the way she smiled only with her mouth was interesting to see. Meanwhile, I slowly reviewed the match, going over the strategic moves and careless ones inside my head. Then, I started to study them using Understanding.
“We caught them, Your Majesty.”
The Imperial Knights approached courteously to offer their report. The truth was, the situation was taken care of a while ago, but everyone had waited until the game was finished.
“Will you go back to the palace and interrogate them? Or-“
“There’s no need for that. Just kill them.”
“But, Your Majesty. The one pulling the strings-“
“Kill them all. I don’t have time to spare on those kinds of bastards. Burn all of their bodies.”
“…Yes.”
All the Knights stepped back and left. Sophien watched them leave before turning back to me.
“Deculein, this was fun. The third match will be next week.”
“I see.”
“Are you confident?”
“Yes, it was your time to win.”
I nodded, and Sophien smiled.
“Good. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
—Professor!
At that moment, a loud voice rang from inside my pocket, coming from my crystal ball connected with Allen.
—We found Epherene!
“…Oh.”
Sophien’s smile widened just a bit, and her voice turned kind.
“The fallen child has come. Go ahead and check on her. I will review this great match. I have to do my best so that I won’t lose to you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I stood and backed out.
…….
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Epherene was on the way back to the lodging with Drent and Allen.
“…I’m okay. It wasn’t even a big deal; I just got lost for a second.”
Fortunately, she wasn’t away for too long. No, it was only for three days, though Epherene spent about a week with the future Deculein.
“Well. Magical phenomena are common during the winter here in the North… oh. It’s the Professor.”
Drent pointed to where Deculein stood, awaiting them. Epherene had been with him for a week, but precisely because of that, she felt awkward around him. Deculein, wearing a suit, watched her with chilly eyes.
“…Epherene.”
He spoke in an already unfamiliar tone to her, cold and sharp as steel. Epherene grew still.
“Yes?”
“Where did you go?”
“That’s… a secret.”
She scratched the back of her head. Deculein scrutinized her, his eyes sweeping from her head to her toes.
“There’s a penalty for not participating in the mission and for leaving the area. You won’t have any complaints about your secret.”
“…Yes.”
“Go inside.”
Epherene passed him begrudgingly and opened the door to the lodge. Though part of her thought it was unnecessary, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed, and a strange emptiness took place in the corner of her heart. It was so strange that time did not fit.
She sighed, trudging up the stairs-
“Are you Epherene?”
She raised her eyes and stiffened in place.
“You’re Deculein’s disciple, right?”
Long hair burned like flames and beautiful eyes sparkling like rubies, belonging to the successor of the noblest family on the empire and the most powerful on the continent: Emperor Sophien. Sophien Ekater von Jaegus Gifrein.
Thud—!
Epherene knelt on the spot.
“Yo-Your Majesty, nice to meet yooooooouuu—!”
Her vocal cords suddenly contracted, causing her voice to crack. Sophien grinned and gestured for her to stand.
“Don’t bother. More than that, I’m curious where you went?”
“…What?”
Sophien was able to see the mysterious energy swaying next to Epherene. It was known as a trace or a track. Deculein should have noticed it, too.
“Did Deculein say anything to you?”
“Yes, yes. He told me to just go inside….”
“Hmm. Well, then again, it’s not in his character to pry into things like that.”
Sophien looked into Epherene’s sparkling eyes.
“However, I want to ask something. I’m also curious whether you’ll tell me the truth or if you’re going to lie….”
There was a smile playing at the Emperor’s lips. Epherene swallowed nervously.
*****
…At the edge of the North, at the foot of a mountain near Reccordak, Julie wiped off the blood covering her sword and body.
“This is the North.”
Blood-stained ground, torn flesh in all directions, and fatal scars etched on Julie’s back. They were serious injuries that would mean immediate death for normal people, and if the bleeding weren’t staunched, it would be hard to guarantee her safety even as a Knight.
“…Yes.”
But, Reylie was calm to mirror Julie. For now, it was fortunate that they had survived.
“If it’s that big, I could buy a house in the archipelago.”
Reylie pointed to the animal slain after the bloody fight with a black pattern in between its yellow and white fur. It was a cunning tiger that devoured herb gatherers and explorers at the foot of the mountain.
“He looks like an adult… you should make your Knight armor with its leather.”
Reylie approached Julie.
“It’s going to hurt a little.”
“It’s fine.”
She took off her smashed armor and applied medicinal herbs to her torn muscles. Julie’s slender shoulders shook all the while. These types of injuries were more than twice as painful when healing.
“Ugh…”
“Does it hurt?”
“…I can take it.”
“But, you’re crying.”
“I’m not…”
“Pfft. Still, Knight Julie has achieved a feat, just as Lord Zeit had.”
“…”
She didn’t answer back no matter how long she waited.
“Oh?”
Julie’s eyes remained closed. She had lost consciousness.
“Hmmm.”
During that time, Reylie busied herself separating the tiger’s skin from its flesh. She would dry the leather and make it into armor, and she would grill the flesh for Julie while she healed.
“…Oh, Deculein, you bastard.”
Clang—!
Then, feeling a sudden flash of anger, she threw down her tools. It wasn’t enough to break down the order of the Freyhem Knights to bury the truth about Veron; the fucking bastard also killed Rockfell. The evilest guy in the world, somehow crueler than Decalane.
“It’s so annoying!”
She shouldn’t have believed it from the start. She should’ve kept on doubting it.
“…But still.”
Reylie looked back at the fainted Julie. Now, Julie was getting stronger. Because of his betrayal, because he broke down everything she had. Julie, who had nothing to rely on, had to lean on herself.
“You’ll regret it someday.”
Killing the tiger was an obvious achievement, only accomplished in a one-on-one fight on one other occasion by the Head of Freyden, Zeit.
“Seriously.”
Reylie used magic for tanning the leather and grilling the tiger meat. This much was easy for her – support and control.
“Someday, I’ll definitely….”
Reylie ground her teeth, thinking of Deculein. If this was the kind of anger she felt right now, what must Julie be feeling? What about her heart, frozen solid by the bitter cold?
“I’ll make you regret everything.”
“Reylie, be quiet.”
“…Oh, you’re awake?”
Julie, coming to her senses, smiled despite her pale pallor. Reylie quickly handed her the tiger meat, and Julie took a bite.
“How is it?”
Julie nodded.
“It’s good. I think this can be considered the spoils of the war after the pain of fighting.”
“Hahaha. Go ahead, eat up.”
Julie tore at the meat, and Reylie watched her with a smile.
“Eat a lot. Get better quick.”
“…Yeah. Reylie, I owe you a lot. Thank you for all this time….”
Her gratitude didn’t last long. She closed her eyes as she held onto the tiger leg, falling into a deep sleep.
“…”
No, maybe fainted was the right expression. She had lost a lot of blood while fighting against the tiger.
“…There’s no need for thanks.”
Cold winter and a desolate wind. In the extreme north, Reylie only possessed one motive: for Julie to get well soon, so she could take revenge on Deculein…
It was then.
“…!”
Reylie felt a thirst for blood radiating from nearby. With her eyes wide open, she grabbed clutched her wand in one hand and a dagger in the other.
*****
“…”
Epherene was restless. Her fingers and toes were wriggling. It wasn’t even warm, but she was sweating profusely, and her hair was already drenched. It was all thanks to Sophien lying on the sofa in front of her.
“…Hmm.”
Sophien gallantly abducted Epherene, but as soon as she arrived, she stuck herself on the sofa. She had used up too much mental energy on the game of Go, and her fatigue had belatedly caught up to her now.
“Anyhow… where were you….”
Sophien couldn’t even properly talk to Epherene. She yawned with her mouth wide open. To Epherene, she was like a big cat, but that cat’s power was weighing her down.
“…Oh.”
Sophien looked up at the ceiling vacantly.
“Uhm… Your Majesty, may I go now?”
Sophien rolled her eyes and looked at Epherene. Then, she shook her head.
“I still have something to ask.”
“…I-is that so?”
“Where have you been?”
“What do you mean…?”
Sophien snickered.
“The mana in your body is different. To be exact, your body is filled with celestial mana.”
“…Oh.”
It was probably because of the shooting star. She was soaked in that mana as it soared through the sky.
“Deculein might have sent you away despite knowing, but I won’t.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. My lips are sealed.”
It was reassuring that Sophien was an Emperor. No one would dare demand her to reveal her secrets. Even so, Epherene shook her head.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Hmm.”
Then, Sophien looked up to the ceiling, running through inferences in her mind.
“Why is your body filled with celestial mana….”
Epherene wriggled her hands and feet again. She was drenched in sweat.
“…Also.”
Sophien took Epherene’s robe off using Psychokinesis. Epherene quickly grabbed at the hem of her clothes, but Sophien’s exquisite control easily pulled out the robe’s contents.
“Ahh!”
“What is this?”
An astronomical report on the shooting stars of the past and the future dates of comets, all according to the future Deculein’s perspective.
“Can I look at this? If you tell me not to, then I won’t….”
The Emperor’s face was half-asleep as she retorted.
“…”
No, Sophien fell asleep without even hearing Epherene’s answer. The day given to her was exhausting.
“…Ehem.”
Epherene slipped her hand in to take the document that Sophien had taken. But, Sophien yawned at that moment and turned around with the document still clutched in her arms.
“Ahh…! Nooo…!”
*****
“This is amazing, Professor! It’s fun!”
Whooooosh—!
A swift snowmobile cut over the snow-covered ground. The steel body of the motor was as solid as a rhinoceros.
“Wow~!”
I drove skillfully, and Allen sat amazed behind me. Our speed wasn’t much different from the horse troop following behind, but Allen complained of motion sickness.
“This is it.”
Today’s mission was to collect and analyze soil. This area, adjacent to the unexplored land, was still a place that could be considered extreme, so we required an escort.
“Everyone put the soil in this sack.”
“Yes!”
The soldiers scattered after receiving sacks. I stood still and spread the wood steel, then Allen looked at the map.
“Professor! Reccordak is in this area?!”
“…”
The worst prison on earth, and likely the location where Julie was on duty. There was a prison at the crossroad, but we passed through it on purpose because of her.
“If it’s Reccordak, then it’s very terrible….”
“Allen.”
“Yes?”
“Be quiet and work on setting up.”
“…Yes.”
Ziiip—
Allen zipped her mouth and began setting up. The mini-lab table, a reagent bottle, magical analysis tool, and more…
The dark energy permeating the soil decreased over time, so she brought all these devices here, thinking they would be needed to analyze the soil right at the location.
“Are you finished?”
“Yes!”
“…”
I furrowed my brow, sensing a strange murderous intent coming from the wood steel. In addition, I also identified a destructive spell nearby, at the edge of the North. In that place where you didn’t know when demons or tigers would appear, a wizard was using such loud magic?
“…Professor?”
I asked for a report from the wood steel that went northeast. The first one who sensed the bloodthirst delivered its unique resonance. In addition, it also delivered the scene that it witnessed.
“…”
The very next moment, my expression stiffened. I bit my lip. It was a very troublesome situation.
I sighed as I climbed on the snowmobile.
“Professor? Where are you going? I just finished setting up!”
“…I have something to do.”
The wood steel spoke just now and also showed me something. Far away, in the forest. Julie, unable to fight, and Reylie were surrounded by enemies.
“Me too, I’ll go too!”
Allen clambered onto the snowmobile. It was bothersome because she was like extra luggage, but I didn’t have time to care about such things.
Whiiiiiiing—!
I used [Midas’ Hand] on the snowmobile, sending it off with a roar.