Chapter 203: Return (3)
“Now, let’s go back.”
At Primienne’s words, I looked at my watch. It was 3 am. After waiting for a half-day, Sophien said it was impossible to meet her because it was too late.
“…”
I didn’t have expectations anyway. If it were Sophien’s decision, it wouldn’t end today or tomorrow. Even though she lived in indolence and boredom, I was certain of her stubbornness.
“Primienne.”
She was examining the piece of Rohakan’s robe.
“Can you track him?”
Rohakan was one of the most-important Named and an integral part of the main quest. It was a big event that he met Sophien directly. At the same time, it was also important that the task of tracking him had been given to me. I could not kill him.
Primienne muttered.
“This robe is a true luxury. Every master’s skill is engraved in it. How much would this-“
“Just answer me.”
“It’s possible.”
Whoong-
Primienne placed her mana in Rohakan’s robe. Their particles took on a specific shape of a pair of wings and a curved antenna: a butterfly.
“If this butterfly chases, I will know his path.”
This was one of the characteristics of the Deputy Director-General of Security, Primienne, known as Printer. It could shape intangible thoughts, emotions, mana, traces, plans, and more. It was a treasured talent for the security bureau and a skill specialized in intelligence and interrogation.
“But.”
Primienne knelt, running a hand over the ground.
“Rohakan made a lot of mistakes, which isn’t like him. There are footprints left behind.”
“Can you see it? It would be from quite a long time ago. “
“I can see it.”
Primienne stood and dusted herself off, then pulled out several documents.
“This is another thing, but these are Sylvia-related files. The intelligence agency has been directly monitoring Sylvia’s actions and arranged the cases in chronological order. Read them when you have time. “
“…”
I looked to the outer wall of the Imperial Palace, then to the firmly closed door. Primienne set aside the papers.
“Do you intend to keep visiting her?”
Sophien was the master of this world. She was a very important person, but my personality couldn’t accept coming here every day. It wasn’t suitable for my etiquette. However, I wasn’t done teaching. Sophien still had a lot to learn. She spent her years in death and suffering, and even Keiron wasn’t here now, it wouldn’t be wrong to call the situation a massive death variable.
“Teaching is the tradition of the palace. The period is a year after the ascension.”
The teaching cycle was originally once every other week, but she rested quite a bit during her business trip to the North…
“I can’t go against that tradition. I can visit once a week as scheduled.”
“It seems that it will be very cumbersome for you.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Fortunately, there was one point. Sophien hated lies and was extremely disgusted by excuses. That discipline applied equally to her. So, at least her excuse that she was working was also the truth.
“Hmm… Professor. Can I ask you one thing? “
I looked at Primienne. Her expression was stiff.
“Are you loyal, or is it for the admission? “
“…What do you mean? “
“I wonder since you keep saying it’s tradition. Everyone knows that Yukline is not a family that is traditionally close to the Imperial Family. “
That wasn’t wrong. Of course, the Imperial Family would be wary of the growing power of local aristocrats, but the Yukline was one of the biggest families.
“…”
I glanced around the Imperial Palace without a word. The Imperial Palace at dawn was dark, but people were slowly waking up among the lower floors. Lights turned on and spread through the halls.
“…Neither.”
Near the top, there was a dim room. It was sealed by magic, so it couldn’t be seen from the outside, but it was the Emperor’s bedchamber.
“Then?”
Primienne asked back. It was quite annoying, but in a broad sense, Sophien would eventually be our duty.
“More than duty…”
Therefore, as long as I was Deculein. As long as I, at least now, lived on this continent.
“Fate.”
I couldn’t give up on Sophien. I couldn’t let Sophien give up on me.
“Her Majesty is that kind of existence to me.”
“…”
Primienne coughed.
“I guess you believe in things like fate.”
“I don’t.”
“What?”
“I can’t say I believe it. It’s the most basic position for a scholar and a wizard.”
Primienne nodded and thought over what I had said.
“…Okay. Now, let’s go back. “
* * *
In the Emperor’s bedchamber, leaning against that window, Sophien watched Deculein leave.
“…”
She sank wordless, holding a fountain pen in one hand and a document in the other. She repeated that arrogant voice that said she was his fate for some reason, which made her want to laugh.
“…Fate.”
Did that kind of thing exist in this world? If she died, it started again. But in this precarious world where everything broke down, something as unchanging as fate…
“That’s bizarre.”
Sophien was questioning things she didn’t know. She lived over a hundred years, no, died over a hundred years, yet things she hadn’t thought of even once were suddenly happening. Sophien didn’t know this kind of experience; she had only suffered from her disease and died in agony.
Back then, she thought that death itself was a kind of fate.
“…I see.”
She looked inside her mind for a moment. Before and after her regressions, she recalled a certain human that remained in her memory.
“Deculein. You bastard…”
A man who shared all of her deaths with her and eventually died himself.
“Even in that regression.”
When she regressed once more to save him, he forgot all the memories they shared.
“Nothing has changed.”
The Deculein of that time and the Deculein of today were no different. He was always constant and unchanging, like a metronome announcing a beat, like a clock that announced the time. So, one day, he would regain his old memories. He would share the regression with her.
Sophien was sure.
“…”
She leaned her forehead against the window, feeling the warmth of spring permeating it. While doing this, Sophien suddenly realized Rohakan’s words could be true.
“…That’s fucking ridiculous.”
She cursed and turned away from the window. She sat back in her office chair and grabbed a pen.
—Sophien. If you cherish Deculein.
In the still darkness, Rohakan’s voice sounded in her thoughts.
—Or if you fall in love, I ask. Please, stay away from him.
Sophien exhaled a shallow breath, blowing away that voice. Her resolve sank low.
“It’s easy. It will be easy…”
* * *
In the Palace Square.
Winter disappeared along with its blankets of snow, and a beautiful blooming spring arrived. The sounds of people speaking while resting on dark green lawns and the soft classical melodies were peaceful.
The worst migration in the history of the Empire had erased hundreds of villages, and even now, there was still much dying elsewhere, but it was a completely different world from this place.
“…To those of you who sacrificed yourselves to deal with the countless beasts, endured the pain of sliced bones and the harsh cold winds, and finally defended Reccordak to protect the people of the North and the stability of the Empire….”
It was the tenth day since Deculein, and the Reccordak frontline returned. A commendation ceremony was held to commemorate their achievements. Golden medals were placed on the chests of Gwen, Raphael, and Syrio, as well as the Imperial Palace Knights, including Delric.
“Hahaha… the Imperial Order… Third Place… hahaha… it’s so precious that I can’t take it with me. I’ll put it in a frame and keep it as an heirloom.”
Delric kept the medal in a pre-prepared high-quality wooden box. The Lieutenant Zerok chatted him up.
“Hey, Delric should at least get second place. Use the third place until it wears out and put the second medal of honor in a frame!”
“What? Haha, this guy! Medal of honor? That’s… ah!”
At that moment, noticing someone, Delric ran away. The lieutenants quickly followed him.
“Professor!”
Deculein, the true hero of Reccordak and the golden rope held by Delric and his men. He greeted them with a glass of champagne in one hand. As usual, his eyes were cold. So, Delric spoke to the young wizard next to him first.
“…Haha. Your assistant is also here.”
“Oh, yeah. Hello.”
Deculein’s assistant Epherene. Nodding, she carried a large velvet pouch in her arms.
“What is that?”
“The sweets here are really good, so I wanted to take some home.”
“Yes? Uh… oh~, hahaha. Gosh. You’re very thrifty.”
“Delric.”
Deculein called his name. Delric straightened up.
“Yes, Professor.”
“And the knights.”
“Yes!”
Delric’s thirteen lieutenants responded vigorously. Looking around, Deculein said:
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“…”
At that moment, the knights fell speechless. Some of them even choked. Of course, Deculein had already turned around as if he weren’t interested, but they continued to stare at him.
The Professor who threatened to kill their families before thanked them?
──Thank you for your hard work.
It wasn’t a compliment or praise. It was just a meaningless sentence, but their chests tightened.
“…Are you enjoying this?”
Gwen broke the emotional atmosphere. Delric and his knights stared at her.
“Huh? What? His fiancée ran to the point of death to save him, but what’s so good about a rotten bastard who doesn’t even acknowledge that?”
“Hey! Careful with what you say. And she’s not his fiancée, she’s his ex-fiancée. Also, it is natural for any knight to save the Professor. If it were me, I would have saved him too.”
“You’re lying.”
“What? Lying? Ha! You don’t understand. Just get out of here!”
Delric puffed out his chest, and Gwen clicked her tongue and left. The knights murmured while they watched her leave.
“Who is she calling rotten, who’s rotten?”
“Yes. She’s talking a lot these days.”
“Anyway. I haven’t liked her since college.”
While talking behind her back with his lieutenants, some reporters caught Delric’s eyes.
Ahem, ahem—
He walked over to them, pretending to be casual.
—Knight Delric!
“…Is someone calling me?”
He slowly turned around and faced the reporters.
—Knight! Congratulations on your return from Reccordak!
“Hmm. Well, yes, I did.”
—I heard you did a great job with Professor Deculein. Do you intend on joining them in tracking down Rohakan?
“…”
He didn’t have an answer ready for the first question. Rohakan’s invasion, which they kept a secret during the migration, began to spread as the situation stabilized.
“Ahem. That…”
Looking back, he saw his lieutenants’ twinkling eyes on him.
Ahem— Ahem— Ahem— Ahem—
After clearing his throat a few times, Delric firmly shook his head.
“I can’t.”
—Why not?
“That… because it is a life-and-death situation between the Professor and Rohakan.”
—Life-and-death situation…
The journalists took notes, and his lieutenants also looked quite satisfied. Swallowing a sigh of relief, Delric was pleased.
“Yes. Life-and-death situation. Putting everything they have at stake. Diamond cutting diamond. And, anyway, do you remember the fight from the other day when Professor Deculein and Rohakan ended in a draw? If the Professor is going to settle this, how dare this petty knight intervene? As a knight, how could I not know the etiquette of a duel….”
* * *
“…Can you hand this over to Her Majesty?”
Standing in the Imperial Palace, I handed over a book to Sophien’s exclusive courtier.
“She seems to be under a lot of work today.”
It was the [The Magic of Probability] written at Reccordak and [Advanced Life and Death Skills in Go].
“Since life and death only deal with difficult problems, Her Majesty will be able to enjoy it.”
“Yes. We will pass it on to her.”
Sophien refused visits today too. After the migration concluded, she was locked up in her bedroom for the reason of handling the situation. Of course, looking at the policies coming out, it seemed that Sophien was doing her job properly. No, it seemed that she was working more than she needed to, so it wasn’t all that bad.
“This one is good too.”
Epherene was eating cookies next to me.
“Then I’ll be going.”
The palace man bowed his head and left. I turned my gaze to Epherene. Her cheeks were packed full like a squirrel’s.
“Oh right, Professor…”
-At that moment.
The world changed.
“…Huh!”
Creak— Creak—
The ceiling was creaking, and I could see a dark world outside the window. It was obvious where this was: we were in the world of the Voice, in the hotel room that I remodeled myself.
“What a relief!”
Epherene shouted.
“What do you mean?”
“Look at this!”
Epherene held out her velvet bag filled with snacks.
“Thank God I packed them! This is all food! Somehow, I thought we would come here!”
“Quiet.”
I stood and opened the door.
“Come out. We have a place to go to.”
“Oh, okay!”
The person we met as soon as we left the hotel was…
“Carlos. This one is also very good. Try it…?”
Lia held a rice cake skewer. She looked at me with wide eyes, and my gaze naturally moved to her side, to the child with blue hair standing next to Lia. The child of a bloodline of half-human, half-demon trembled and paled.
Carlos. The moment I tilted my head at the unexpected encounter, Lia’s cry resounded through the hall.
“R-Run, quickly—!”