Chapter 293: Desert’s Feeling (3)
A hideout made by digging deep into the sandy ground of the desert and a small-scale village inhabited by the Demon Blood race called the Ant Cave.
“Every time I see it, I just can’t get used to it.”
Idnik raised an eyebrow. It was a cave in the desert, but strangely, it had everything. School, restaurants, training camps, farms… how did they build a farm?
“It’s well done, right?”
Allen smiled broadly.
“That farm is thanks to the magic I learned from the professor.”
“What kind of magic?”
“It’s an artificial sun. It was on a midterm exam in the past. With a mana stone of about 100,000 Elnes, you can build a farm that can feed three hundred people for a year. There is also groundwater down here.”
It wasn’t as marvelous as the title might imply, but just a mana stone object that radiated sunlight.
“And the capital?”
“It is covered by sponsorship.”
“Hmm. Indeed.”
Thanks to the clan’s unique magical abilities, they had a lot of money. Although indiscriminate inspections were being implemented these days, there was no way to avoid them, and the money they earned wouldn’t go anywhere, so at least they wouldn’t be financially strained.
“But what would you do if there were informants among them?”
Allen laughed a little.
“Yeah. It’s okay. There are dozens of such towns. There is no contact point even if one gets discovered. It’s a point organization.”
“…Then, I guess the leading members aren’t here, huh?”
Idnik asked. Allen, understanding what she meant, placed a hand on her shoulder.
──Next.
“It’s here.”
The space changed. Darker than the previous cave and deep enough to feel the difference in the air.
“…”
An oil lantern burned quietly inside, and a woman relied on the light to fill out a ledger. As if not surprised by the sudden visit, she raised her round glasses and glared over at the two. Idnik laughed a little.
“…Are you Elesol?”
“…”
Elesol glared at Allen.
“Yes. Then, I’ll just leave~. Talk to the elder.”
Allen left as if running away, and Idnik handed Elesol a sheet of magic paper.
“Read it.”
The moment she glanced at it, Elesol’s eyes dimmed. The pattern was too vast and complex to understand at a glance.
─What is this?
“Hmm? Oh~, indeed. Is that magic someone like you can’t understand?”
‘You should be at least at my level to understand the purpose and scale of this magic. Yeah.’
Muttering, Idnik added.
“I stole it from Deculein.”
Elesol’s shoulders trembled. She lifted her lantern to light up Idnik’s face.
“You understood me, right? I stole it from Deculein.”
Idnik didn’t tell the leader of the Demon Blood that it could become Deculein’s Achilles heel. This gigantic magic must be stolen by her. If it were declared that it was ‘given’ to her, he would become a rebel to the Emperor and the Empire.
“It is a gigantic magic that can destroy not only the desert but also parts of the Empire, and it is the perfect weapon for mutually assured destruction.”
“…”
“I know I stole it, but I was surprised too. How did he come up with such an artistic way of destruction?”
Elesol looked back to the magic paper.
“If we deploy this magic, at least we will be able to prevent a war in the desert.”
─It would take a lot of wizards to implement this.
“Yes. A few hundred people above the Lumiere rank, at a glance.”
-That’s not enough. Very few are Lumiere.
Fifth place, Lumiere. It separated the elite wizards from the rest.
“Yeah. Could you prepare thirty close-mouthed people instead? We already have two that can help with the rest.”
Elesol’s brow furrowed slightly.
—Wizards that can be counted… one would be you.
“The other is Epherene.”
Epherene? Surprised, Elesol quickly used sign language.
-Deculein’s old disciple and the thief was here?
“Huh? I see you didn’t hear about it from Allen. She has been with me for a while.”
Elesol’s teeth ground. Why did Ellie always skip the important facts?
—I know your relationship with Deculein has grown worse.
“That’s why it helps. Right?”
─…
Elesol pondered… but there was no need.
-Okay.
Mutually assured destruction. That was the logic Elesol always insisted on.
* * *
…A temporary Imperial Palace in the desert. The duel between Keiron and Lia was stopped by Sophien, after which a calm afternoon greeted them.
Scratch— Scratch—
Lia was sitting in front of Sophien, writing.
[1. Riding]
[2. Reading]
[3. Knowledge discussion]
[4. Sail]
“…”
Looking at the list, Sophien asked with her eyes: What is this?
“Oh. These are the things the professor likes.”
Based on Deculein’s setting, these were hobbies that he would surely enjoy. Horseback riding, sailing, hunting, and openly aristocratic sports.
“Why are you writing it down?”
“I thought you would want to know.”
“…Me?”
Sophien was outraged. How long had it been that someone other than Deculein could act so calm in the presence of the Emperor?
“Yes.”
Lia responded boldly.
“I heard you like the professor.”
“…”
“I will help you. I’m an adventurer who does anything, right? Now, I am also a parasitic houseguest of Yukline, so I know it well.”
“Haah…”
Sophien shut her eyes tightly. How dare this spy eavesdrop on the Emperor’s personal stories and say it so proudly? It was better than begging for mercy…
“Lia. I won’t punish you because you have been a great help in the interpretation of the divine language.”
Her eyes were fixed on the paper. Lia, for some reason, knew Deculein’s secrets.
“I know all of them.”
“…Oh?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…”
Lia thought about it. Well, it was obvious what Deculein would like. He was such a firm and consistent person.
“Then…”
Lia changed ideas. What about thinking of Kim Woojin, the model for Deculein? Of course, Kim Woojin didn’t have the slightest resemblance to Deculame’s personality, but if it were something he would like…
“Surprisingly…”
Flowers. Woojin was an artist; he was a painter. Also, he liked Van Gogh, and there were many still-lifes in his paintings, most of which were flowers. Sunflowers, dandelions, roses, cotton, lilacs. She hadn’t put a flower in his ex-fiancé’s name for no reason.
—Yuli von Vergiss Meinnicht.
Vergissmeinnicht. The original word for forget-me-not.
“Um…”
But for some reason, Lia didn’t want to tell her.
“So? Then tell me.”
Sophien urged her to speak, but the more she did, the tighter Lia’s mouth sealed.
“Lia.”
“…”
“If you speak, I will forgive you for spying on me.”
Lia remembered him drawing dandelions on her cheeks while she was sleeping. When he was discharged from the military, he weaved dozens of roadside flowers and presented them as a substitute for flower shoes. (T/N: In Korea, after being discharged from the military service, men give their girlfriends flower shoes as a gift, meaning they don’t want to break up.)
He bowed his head, saying he was sorry that he was poor now and would present a better gift later.
‘That cute and pure feeling was my gift. I thought I was thankful that you were mine.’
“…Lia. Answer me.”
Of course, Deculein wasn’t Woojin, but… Lia didn’t want to share.
“Lia.”
‘I don’t want to tell. I want to have that alone.’
“Hey, kid.”
Bang-
When the Emperor knocked on the table, Lia raised her head.
“Yes?”
“I’ll forgive you if you tell me.”
“…Oh.”
But now, it was all a thing of the past. Lia smiled bitterly.
“Surprisingly… he might like flowers.”
“Flowers?”
Sophien frowned.
“Yes. Flowers.”
“…”
Sophien wrinkled her nose and beckoned.
“Go. For what you said, I’ll forgive you.”
“Yes. He might like flowers-“
“Did Julie give the professor a bunch of flowers? Or, even a flower island?”
“…”
Come to think of it. Indeed, it was highly unlikely that Deculein would like the flowers that Woojin liked.
“Then-“
“Scram. I won’t tolerate more than that.”
Sophien didn’t repeat herself. Lia jumped up and bowed. Keiron watched as she left.
—The adventurer child is strong.
“Didn’t you go easy on her?”
—My power is, of course, scattered here and there, but even if I return to my main body, I can’t blindly guarantee victory.
“…”
Considering Keiron’s state, this was a very unconventional evaluation. But now, Sophien wasn’t interested in those things.
…Flower. It was out of place in this desert.
“Flower.”
-Your Majesty!
Suddenly, a cry came from outside.
—The Count has captured all the escaped prisoners!
Sophien unconsciously clenched her fists.
* * *
Whoooosh-!
In the middle of a sandy desert, a hot wind raged. Emperor Sophien stood still and watched the hordes of prisoners march by. Though the air was hot enough to scorch their skin, they shivered.
—Look down! Even looking at me is a felony for you guys!
General Bell screamed as he would kill them, and Sophien watched impassively.
“Your Majesty. How are you going to deal with them?”
Someone behind her asked softly. Sophien glanced back.
“Why do you ask? Do you not know the punishment of prisoners who failed to escape?”
Damn professor… no, Deculein was the chairman now.
“I will kill them all. Either bury them in the ground or strip them and tie them up there.”
“…”
There was no particular reaction from Deculein. Just casually, as if ordering food, he responded indifferently.
“Give them a chance.”
“…Ha?”
Sophien smirked and twisted her lips.
“There is no Demon Blood among them. And they have great strategic value as a tribe well-versed in finding water veins. So, give them even the slightest chance.”
“…Chance.”
These were the words of a truly merciful Deculein. Sophien looked down on the prisoners, kneeling deep as if swallowed by the sand. Staring at them made her anger rise, though it was probably not because of them, but because of Deculein…
“Did you just say chance?”
“Yes.”
“…Moron.”
The guards behind them made a small commotion. That said, the remark just now was very serious, and if he had said it in a public place, it would be a massive political blow.
“Get out.”
However, Sophien took a step forward.
“General Bell.”
The general who was beating the prisoners to death. At first, he didn’t even know she had called him, and he only blinked.
“Won’t you answer?”
“Oh, yes, yes, Your Majesty! It’s an honor!”
“Take it.”
She threw an armband at him. Bell managed to catch it before it fell into the sand.
“You are the one who drove out those insects and took over the oasis. It is commendable.”
“Oh! I’m so honored-“
“So, you are now the commander of this desert expedition.”
“Huh… eh?”
Bell’s jaw dropped. Then, he quickly lowered his head.
“Your Majesty! It’s an honor!”
“…”
Sophien turned around and entered the hall without looking at Deculein.
“Damn it.”
Her heart ached, and it felt like a big stone was pressing on her chest, but… this, too, would pass quickly.
-Your Majesty.
As soon as she lay down on the couch in the office, she heard a voice. On the other side of the inner room was Keiron.
—How about making a distinction between public and private affairs?
At that moment, a vein sprang up on Sophien’s forehead.
“Keiron. If I made a distinction between public and private affairs, I would have killed the professor as soon as he said that.”
The professor committed treason. He confessed to the attempted assassination of the Emperor, and he declared that he would accept all the sins of the hearing. Nevertheless, Sophien didn’t sentence him the death penalty because he didn’t tell anyone.
“Since I don’t distinguish between public and private, no… since I can’t do it.”
—…
“Deculein is alive.”
It was a bleak and dry tone, but her voice sounded weepy. Keiron remained silent.
“…”
Sophien stretched out her hand, looking up at the ceiling without a word. However, her arm soon swayed and sank.
—Are you okay?
“…No. I don’t even have the strength to go to bed. Maybe it’s listlessness, but my body won’t even move.”
Sophien was heartbroken.
“Keiron. I can’t… predict that madman.”
Deculein, that crazy professor. She was afraid he would die on his own instead of Julie. No, in place of Julie.
“So, if I kill Julie first….”
Embracing those complicated feelings, she fell into a deep sleep.
“…”
Her head lowered slowly, and her body was laid out.
…And.
Creek.
The door opened.
…Stomp, stomp.
Silent footsteps.
—You came.
Keiron greeted the newcomer.
“Yes. I see she fell asleep.”
He knelt in front of the slumbering Sophien. Deculein.
“…”
He put his hand over her forehead.
“She has a fever.”
He let out a small breath. It felt like she was boiling.
—Her Majesty seems to have suffered a lot because of you.
“Is that so?”
—Don’t underestimate Her Majesty.
Keiron stared at Deculein.
—Her Majesty can kill you. I mean, don’t be more negligent than this.
Deculein kept his focus on Sophien.
“I know that much, Keiron. I have been with her for hundreds of years.”
—…If you die, Her Majesty will have trouble.
“It’s fine.”
He put his hand on Sophien’s back. He lifted her as if holding a princess and laid her on the bed.
“…The subject I will teach her from now on.”
Then he laid together with her in bed, pushing back her hair with his hands.
“It is suffering.”
He wore a mischievous smile.