Chapter 253: Event (1)
Hadekain, the capital of Yukline. Returning to the continent, I first visited the Yukline Mansion.
“Oh, you came-“
“Step aside.”
I pushed away Yeriel, who was waving her hand sullenly, with Psychokinesis.
“Ugh, no. Hey! Hey! I have something to say! Gosh, not again!”
I walked away, ignoring her. Epherene followed after.
“But, Professor, will Sylvia stay on the island? Alone?”
I shook my head.
“It was the second-best way up to that point. There is still one step left to be the best.”
The third and the last process remained in the magic circle embroidered throughout Voice’s Island.
“One step?”
“Yes.”
At first, it was just a possibility. I wasn’t sure it could be realized, but that changed due to the unique grade equipment catalog. Thanks to her, I received three of them so that I could spare one.
Epherene asked.
“What is the best?”
“…Not leaving her alone.”
I answered and headed down the stairs. Before long, we reached the basement guarded by knights. Ahead, several groups of adventurers were asleep.
“Salute!”
They saluted.
“Are the adventurers still asleep?”
“Yes! They’re exploring.”
“Then wake them up. There are corrections to be made.”
“Yes!”
They moved in unison without question. I looked at my watch. Epherene pulled at my sleeve and asked.
“Correction? What kind of correction?”
“The connection between their consciousness and magical space.”
“…Huh?”
“I have already drawn a magic circle on the island.”
No one could enter the Voice now. If someone of flesh and blood went there, it was highly likely that they would be caught up in the remnants of the Voice. However, sending only one’s consciousness wasn’t a problem.
“Holding it in shape has already been proven possible with my magical space. Since the Voice’s Island… no, Sylvia’s Island is a place full of creative qualities, it will be enough.”
Of course, it was practically a wild fantasy. But.
“Where will you get the mana?”
In response to that question, I showed her a mana stone. Epherene’s eyes widened.
“Huh…”
An item obtained from the Unique Grade Equipment Catalog, a golden mana stone the size of a thumb.
“Wow…”
It was the only mana stone in the equipment catalog.
“I want it…”
“Wake up.”
I flicked Epherene’s forehead as she stretched out her hand for it.
“Ouch!”
Epherene staggered and came back to her senses. She rubbed her forehead.
“It hurts… but what is that? It’s mesmerizing.”
“It is the mana stone of the sun. It is a mana stone condensed by receiving the light and magic of the sun, without any other impurities.”
───「Mana Stone of the Sun」───
◆ Information
: A mana stone made entirely of the light and magic of the sun.
: It is the result of a miracle.
─────────
This was a collection of innocence that couldn’t exist in reality. It was the literal result of a miracle, so it would help me realize even the smallest miracle I wanted right now.
“What? Receive only the light and magic of the sun? Is that possible?”
“You don’t need to know if it’s possible or not.”
“Oh… indeed… since you are rich…”
Epherene looked at the Mana Stone of the Sun again. Her eyes quickly blurred.
“Wow… this is mine…”
“Quiet.”
I shook off her hand.
“Get ready. When the adventurers come out, we will modify the magic circle.”
“…Y-Yes!”
Creek-
Just then, the door opened. The adventurers looked tired, but they had quite a few bundles hanging from their backs.
“Professor, what? I was looking for treasure~.”
Ganesha babbled, unsatisfied. Lia and Leo were next to her with grumpy faces. I didn’t know what they were doing, but I responded firmly.
“I will publish the second test, so come back in three days. You can wait in the mansion…”
* * *
Three days later.
“…Hmm.”
Sylvia’s Island. From the central lighthouse, the island owner was looking out over the island and painting a landscape.
“Done.”
The trees filled the forest densely, grass blew in the wind, and blossoms swelled profusely over the beautiful oil painting. It was a work that Sylvia was satisfied with, and if Deculein were here, he would have praised it.
“Good.”
She smiled brightly and patted the panda on her lap.
“I think I drew it pretty well. Right.”
The panda stretched out without a word, and Silvia’s smile softened. She put down the canvas and the brush feeling a bit sad. She looked out the window quietly.
Clouds hovered above the fallen leaves. It was between summer and autumn; the season was lost in vagueness.
“…”
It was empty. She was empty. It was lonely. That much was true.
How many years would she spend alone here…?
Kyeeeeek-!
Then, suddenly, her familiar who had gone out for a walk cried out. Sylvia, startled, raised her eyes to the sky.
“Hey, Nimbly. What-“
“Huh?”
A voice suddenly caught her ear.
“…”
…Sylvia went silent for a moment.
“…Huh?”
After that, this time full of admiration, another voice. The voice of a person who shouldn’t be here.
“…”
Sylvia lowered her head slowly.
“…Oh.”
There was someone. One, two, three, four… now they looked up at Sylvia, who was staring at them quietly.
“Oh, I think that person is Sylvia.”
They called her name. Then they waved, saying hello. Sylvia was confused, but soon she heard a familiar name: Deculein. Did he send them?
“What are we going to do here? Excuse me~, is there anything for us to do?”
“Do you have any errands?”
“The scenery is nice. I want to find some mines.”
Sylvia didn’t know yet; honestly, she couldn’t see or hear since her eyes and ears on the wind were blinded now, but the purpose of this magical connection that Deculein gave to them was quite simple.
…Don’t let Sylvia feel lonely. As long as they kept to that great principle, he wouldn’t care about what they would get or take from this island. This was Deculein… and Kim Woojin’s last, best try.
* * *
The Empire was still at peace. Now that the post-war restoration had begun smoothly and the Voice was also disappearing, public sentiment towards Sophien was at its peak. On the other hand, the tension with the Demon Blood clan, including those in the desert, was tighter than ever.
“Congratulations.”
In that complicated and delicate situation, addicts from the Floating Island who had no interest in the continent came to my office and handed me boxes and certificates. These were the marks of my etheric promotion and a robe.
“Thank you.”
Just below the Archmage, this was one of the greatest honors a wizard could enjoy. I felt great.
“Now, go.”
“Yes. Then, please continue to work hard.”
[Rank Quest Complete: Etheric Promotion]
◆ Mana +300
◆ Series Talent Option
300 mana, of course, and the option of choosing a series talent. It wasn’t a bad reward.
“Oh, congratulations. Now you’re etheric ranked.”
As soon as the addicts left, Epherene mumbled with slight jealousy. She was sitting at the assistant’s table and writing her thesis, looking miserable.
“When will you finish your thesis? Also, when are you planning to learn the four-class magic? You’re just piling up work. It’s too pathetic.”
“But it’s hard. It’s hard!”
She yelled, acting cheeky. But, well, it was my fault. She spent three days and three nights together with me, trying to connect the adventurers’ consciousness with Sylvia’s island.
“Epherene, I’ll deduct your evaluation. Keep your attitude and dignity.”
Of course, that and her evaluation were different matters.
“Your behavior is not as good as a wild dog’s.”
“Gosh, seriously!”
Bang!
When Epherene smacked the desk with her forehead-
Knock, knock-
I beckoned to Epherene, and she opened the door with a grimace.
“Who is… aaahh!”
Immediately after, she fell back. Looking at my visitor, I understood.
“I-I-I-I see, Your Majesty!”
She trembled and bowed as I stood up. With courtesy, I looked at the woman beyond the door’s threshold.
“Professor Deculein.”
Emperor Sophien. Dressed in a tiger coat, she approached me and sat across the desk. I lowered my head.
“…What did you come here for? If you had called-“
“Take this.”
Sophien presented a document.
“This is a list of the Demon Blood villages you will dispose of.”
“Demon Blood villages?”
“Right. While you were away on your business trip, we tracked down quite a few of their villages.”
She smiled. It was as evil as a snake’s but nobler than anyone else’s.
“If you want to mobilize the royal knights, then-“
“We don’t have to. At this size, it seems like that I alone will be enough. Don’t worry about it.”
“…”
I folded the document and pocketed it. Sophien raised an eyebrow but nodded.
“We will also install a gas chamber in Rohalak. I noticed that the largest concentration camp has no gas chambers. I wanted to ask why you didn’t install them yet.”
She asked skeptically.
“There was no reason to install it.”
“…”
After a short silence, Sophien continued with a grin.
“From next month, you will be staying in the Imperial Palace for eight weeks. It’s an event.”
“Yes.”
[Main Quest: Event at the Imperial Palace]
◆ Store Currency +3
◆ Possibility of obtaining additional rewards
The Imperial Palace held an event every few decades. It was, to be precise, an emperor’s event. This event, held under the guise for the emperor to recognize the loyalty of local nobles and servants, was entire as the emperor pleased in both manner and timing. The cycle was once every few decades as tradition dictated it would happen once a generation.
I said:
“By the way, will it be okay now?”
“What does that mean?”
“The event is originally held as a means to intimidate or provoke nobles and servants when Imperial power is shaken—”
“Professor, do you think the time will come when my power will be shaken?”
I shook my head as I pondered.
“I don’t think that time will come, so I decided to do it next month. Before I start a war.”
War. The Demon Blood and the desert.
“I see.”
I met Sophien’s eyes. Epherene ran away long ago, leaving a single shoe behind. Then, suddenly, Sophien’s attention moved to the Go board.
“Hmm. Let’s play Go since it’s been a while.”
“Yes. But, Your Majesty, if you come here in person, you may cause trouble.”
I spoke as I put the board on my desk. Sophien answered by handing me the Go stones.
“Who cares? It’s an honored visit.”
“The political intention is different. Even if Your Majesty had no other intent, they would interpret it in another way.”
Sophien chose black; I took white.
“Hmph. I visit as I please. Also, that interpretation is ultimately what I decide.”
“I won’t quietly accept that.”
Tap-
Black took the first move. Then, she glared at me.
“…You won’t accept.”
“Yes.”
Rustle-
I held the white stone.
“I respect and serve Your Majesty, but….”
Tak-
“I’m not a toy.”
I made a direct attack. At that moment, Sophien’s brow twitched.
* * *
In a dense jungle in the southeastern part of the Empire, there was a Demon Blood village where the clan gathered and lived quietly, known as Padahal. They were peaceful, unlike those working with the Altar or living in the desert, but they weren’t naive. Magic traps and watchmen were set everywhere in the forest, and guards trained in martial arts and magic protected the village.
Rustle—
Footprints caught the eyes of that secret Demon Blood village.
Rustle—
The forest was quiet, but the tension in the air was ready to snap.
Rustle—
The Demon Blood’s Reaper, Deculein von Grahan Yukline. He was walking through the woods.
Rustle—
Padahal’s guards watched him, swallowing their fear and wiping the sweat off their palms.
Rustle—
Branches crunched underfoot. Deculein stopped in the middle of the forest and looked around. Coincidentally, he was in front of countless magic traps.
“Can you hear me?”
There was no answer from the forest, but with a sneer, he continued.
“Of course you can. Since you placed… such poor magic.”
They were all weak and insignificant. Muttering with contempt, he stared off past the trees.
“Listen. I’ll give you a choice.”
He spoke as if offering great mercy.
“It’s simple. Everyone here will be decapitated.”
The guards ground their teeth. They each took a deep breath and prepared for battle.
“Or, spend the rest of your life in Rohalak.”
Would they die in a final display of resistance, or would they live a short life in Rohalak? Whatever choice they made, there would be only death in the end—
“But there is not much time.”
The Demon Blood of the forest accepted Deculein’s options as such.
“I’ll wait ten minutes.”
In the forest where tall trees blocked the sun and tangled weeds formed bridges, Padahal.
“That is the rest of your time.”
Deculein stood alone, waiting for their decision.