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Chapter 74: The Incident (2)
Indifferently, Sophien stared at the fountain pen stuck in the air. She had learned recently that [Fire Ball] of the destruction series, [Barrier] of the auxiliary series, and [Psychokinesis] of the operation series were the basics of each series of magic.
Additionally, there was a certain limit to one’s magic output, so it was common knowledge that a wizard’s talent greatly influenced their prowess.
“…”
Sophien pulled the fountain pen towards her with her own [Psychokinesis].
In doing so, she destroyed the entire study room, but her target didn’t even budge.
Her magic tore apart the flooring, demolished the ceiling, smashed the columns, and obliterated the bookshelves around them.
Amid the ruins of it, Deculein remained calm, unwavering. He didn’t even look tired at all. His breathing was relaxed, and his dignity remained intact. His aristocratic appearance stimulated Sophien.
“… That’s amazing.”
She had a keen and sharp sense of feeling, of what was possible and what was yet to be so.
Deculein’s [Psychokinesis] belonged to the latter. Of course, she didn’t want to admit it at first, but now that she had almost run out of time, she had no other choice left.
“Twenty minutes have passed.”
The emperor gazed at Deculein, whose blue eyes had been observing her. His irises were filled with mystery, yet they shone like crystals.
“I can see why you displayed so much confidence earlier. I can’t beat your [Psychokinesis]. Sophien grinned.
Deculein answered, “Then let’s start the concept class now.”
“You still have a concept left to teach me?”
“Yes. I want to show you a concept only I know.”
“A concept only you know?”
He drew a magic circle in the air while answering her, forming a shape that was far from ordinary magic circles.
“… Incredible.”
The emperor rested her chin on the back of her hand. More than the magic circle he showed, she found Deculein himself interesting.
“I know you. I’ve read you through a document, and I’ve been observing you in person.”
Sophien took out all the papers that the intelligence agency gave her and handed them straight to him.
“None of them were right about you.”
“… That’s a classified document, Your Majesty. You shouldn’t show it to anyone.” He frowned as he looked at the document, but Sophien didn’t even care. They were all wrong anyway.
“They said your talents were fake and that you’ve only been deceiving others all this time, but the Deculein I see now is different.” The emperor stared at him, her self-righteous gaze harboring strong doubts.
“You are full of anonymity and mystery. I think you’re hiding a secret. Am I wrong?”
“No. You’re right.” Deculein confirmed. He never lied.
Sophien was content with just that. Since he didn’t try to deceive her, he deserved to look at her in this place.
“Good. One day, I will rip your secret out of you.”
“If you engross yourself in my class, Your Majesty, that moment won’t be far away.”
Deculein’s answer was filled with vigor. The emperor, laughing bitterly, finally looked at the magic circle presented by Deculein.
“This is the magic I want to teach you. It’s a concept from ancient times, and it’s one of the branches of the magic theory that’s been reinvented by the modern era.”
“Hmm. What is it?”
“It’s Rune language.”
“… Rune language?”
Sophien’s eyes filled up with surprise, but Deculein remained calm.
“Yes.”
From the moment he destroyed the runes, he intended to teach the emperor everything he learned about them to break her boredom and give her great power to confront the future final boss.
“I heard it was destroyed.”
She was also aware of his Symposium. The eyes and ears of the Imperial Family had always been the fastest to deliver such news in the world.
“The knowledge still exists in my mind. However, from now on, there will be no evidence of it in my class.”
That was possible only because at this moment, Deculein was a teacher, and Sophien was his student.
It was a communion made only through words and magic.
“…”
At that moment, the emperor realized his intentions. Another emotion came in her gaze as she stared at him.
“I will tell Your Majesty all of the 48 runes that I have interpreted. If you perform your [Psychokinesis] in runes, even I can be defeated.”
No wizard in the world would find it easy to destroy their research, even more so if it was about the rune language. What kind of madman would completely bury such a thing, if not a person who really wanted to leave their mark on this world as the epitome of insanity?
“I understand now.”
Sophien understood what Deculein meant.
He seemed to have been patiently waiting for her.
“You mean to tell me to be your disciple.”
A superhuman capable of accepting the ancient and powerful magic called ‘Rune.’
The talent that could carry on his research and bring it higher than anyone else ever could.
“Yes.” Deculein nodded frankly. The emperor simply smiled.
“Your Majesty will be the first disciple of my rune language.”
That was his purpose.
From their very first meeting, that was already his goal.
“By teaching you the runes, I will be able to understand your Majesty, and your Majesty will also be able to understand me.”
“Arrogant bastard.” Sophien laughed. She wasn’t really bothered. Rather, she liked his boldness.
“Okay. I don’t know if it’ll go your way, but I’ll give it a try.”
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Deculein immediately assembled the runes.
The way he rushed as if he had been waiting all this time was so honest that she found it rather cute.
* * *
… After 90 minutes of class, I came out of the study room.
“Duke Yukline.”
As I was walking down the corridors of the imperial palace, I heard someone call my name. Turning around, I saw eunuch Jolang, a blonde-haired, fair-skinned man with short stature and a beard that didn’t seem capable of growing any longer.
“Are you done with Her Majesty’s classes?”
Despite being a vassal, his neatness made him seem more like a servant.
I knew who he was. He was a Named vassal who played a significant role in the imperial palace. He was also the master of the ‘Devil’s Mirror’ quest called “The Darkness of the Imperial Palace.”
“Yes.”
“Then, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Is it about what lurks beneath the imperial palace?”
“…” Jolang looked surprised, but he soon removed any emotions on his face as he looked up at me.
“That’s right. Follow me. This isn’t the right place to discuss it. There are ears listening and eyes watching all over this place at all times.”
I followed Jolang through the imperial palace’s corridors, passing hundreds of rooms until Jolang entered one of them.
It was an empty room with the scent of incense.
“It’s perfect for a secret meeting.”
“Haha. Yes. That’s the purpose of this room in the first place.”
“Do eunuchs have dates too?”
“Well, it depends on the time. Anyway, Deculein. Let me explain what lies in the darkness of the imperial palace.”
I already knew the story behind it.
Amid the darkness under this grandiose structure was a demon’s product.
To be precise, no one knew if it was demonic in nature or not. Regardless, that mirror reflected the other side of this world.
There was no problem if it just reflected it. However, it also led to a passage to it, and at this point, it had already been a long time since it first encroached on the basement.
“… So, we are gathering people to clean up the basement. Her Majesty is trusting the Duke of Yukline…”
“Alright.”
I didn’t ask much.
I didn’t need to ask. This was a quest I had already cleared when I was testing the game.
“However, I have a condition.”
“What is it?”
“Julie is to be excluded.”
Jolang raised an eyebrow and soon laughed softly.
“… Is that a form of hedgehog love?”
Jolang might have just said it as a joke or a sarcastic remark, but the sentence pierced my mind intensely.
Hedgehog love.
Two hedgehogs shivering in the cold approached each other to share their body temperature. Trying to survive the winter, they cuddled as close as they could to each other, but eventually, they realized.
The closer they were to each other, the more their thorns wounded them.
“It was a joke.”
Misunderstanding my stiff expression, Jolang quickly changed his words.
“… It’s okay. Just take what I said.”
“Yes. Alright. I’ll explain it as best as I can to Knight Julie.”
I nodded and left. My head was filled with complicated thoughts, and I consumed a lot of mana while teaching Sophien the runes, but I still had one more schedule left to handle.
Haylech’s Auction House.
* * *
As the wealthiest city of the empire, Haylech was a trendsetter center of all kinds of goods, rare treasures, splendid luxury, and beautiful art.
Arlos closed her eyes as she basked in the sunlight as bright as Haylech’s gold. Vitality different from the Ashes filled the streets of this affluent conurbation.
A small leaf fell on her shoulder as she walked, and a voice came from it.
—Arlos.
Her eyes widened.
—This is Zukaken.
Zukaken was in a cooperative relationship with the Altar, much like Arlos. However, at the same time, he was also one of the Six Snakes.
“I definitely said I’m not going to participate.”
“This mission is about subjugation, not assassination. Also, the plan is simple. I just need you and Gerek. There’s no risk involved.”
“… Gerek won’t be able to help you that much. He loses his reason when it comes to Deculein. He doesn’t suit your cautious temper.”
Zukaken from the underworld was thorough.
He had to have been thinking of a tactic since the Altar offered 30 million Elnes for Deculein’s captivity.
By comparison, Gerek was more like an insane psychopath with Dissociative Personality Disorder.
—Have you forgotten that Deculein held his own against Rohakan during their clash? That alone should tell you this task requires immense force. He needs to be there.
“If our goal were to kill him, Gerek would do it for free.”
—I repeat, this mission is about subjugation, not assassination.
Walking while having a conversation, she arrived at Haylech’s auction house. She looked up at the sign that said [Klein].
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“I’ll hang up.”
—The Altar added the ‘Manastone of Extinction’ as part of the bounty, and I’m willing to give you 15% of it. I only need your puppet and Gerek.
“…”
With the Manastone of Extinction now included in their negotiations, she grew a bit greedy.
Zukaken grabbed that opening.
—You only need to lend your puppet. On the right side of the road, you’ll see a red-haired middle-aged man smoking a cigarette.
Arlos looked in the provided direction, finding a driver wearing a suit and doing what the intel said.
-He’s ‘Jeff.’ Deculein’s driver. We’ll subdue him, so you pretend to be him with your puppet.
“Deculein has a history of noticing my puppets, you idiot.”
He was the first person to ever see through her magic.
Of course, thanks to the hint he gave her, her puppets no longer emitted ashes.
—Deculein doesn’t pay much attention to his servants since he thinks of them as tools. It’ll be fine. I can guarantee you that much.
She didn’t answer.
—We’re talking about a mana stone of the highest quality here, Arlos. A gem equivalent to a mana diamond humans hasn’t touched or tainted yet. Don’t you want it?
“…”
—I estimate the value of the mana stone they offered alone to be at 100 million Elnes. I’ll give you 15% of that. 15%.
After thinking for a moment, she replied, “20%.”
─…
Zukaken grew silent. Either way, Arlos had nothing to lose.
She had a personal grudge against Deculein, but she didn’t want to turn the entire Yukline family into her enemy.
—Damn it. It’s a deal. I, Underworld Ruler Zukaken, promise a 20% reward to the money-eating hippo Arlos.
“Great, but don’t be in a hurry.”
—Opportunities don’t come very often. Today is the best.
Arlos nodded. After that, she went inside [Klein].
“I need your ID, please.”
“Here.”
“Yes. Solette. Confirmed.”
There were many people in [Klein], Haylech’s auction house. Most of them were beautifully dressed, seemingly trying to declare their aristocracy. They were probably aiming for ‘Homeren’s Fragmented Ring’ like her.
But she had no intention of handing it over to anyone.
… 2 hours later.
“Congratulations on winning your bid for Homeren’s Fragmented Ring, Solette. The owner of the good is waiting here.”
Arlos nodded, having been guided by the staff to the auction house’s backstage after accomplishing her goal.
The owner was standing with his back turned in the middle of the backstage. For some reason, she thought his silhouette was familiar.
“The successful bidders have come.” The staff member said.
When he looked back, his identity surprised her, but she didn’t show it.
Deculein.
He looked at her with his back to the sun, creating quite the dazzling scenery.
“Congratulations on winning the bid.” He said, carrying an object in one hand.
Arlos approached calmly. She had nothing to be nervous about. Deculein didn’t know her true form.
“Thank you.”
“Was your name Solette?”
Arlos nodded. As he looked at her, he smiled.
That gesture was familiar for her. Men could never stop themselves from smiling whenever her beauty blessed them.
However, she still grew a bit reluctant since who she was up against wasn’t just any ordinary person.
“Here’s Homeren’s Fragmented Ring. It was a good deal.”
“Indeed.”
As she received the item that cost her 20 million Elnes, Deculein looked past her with surprise in his eyes.
“… Sylvia?”
“Yes.”
Arlos also noticed her a little too late.
It really was Sylvia, the daughter of the Iliade family.
“… ‘Loterin’s Pumpkin Brooch.’ Was it you who bought it?”
“Yes. With the pocket money I’ve saved so far.”
“Shouldn’t you be busy with the final exams?”
“It’s okay.”
Arlos watched the strange combination for a moment. Deculein looked perplexed, Sylvia was expressionless, but she emitted a strange glow.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
Arlos went out.
—The brooch is pretty.
—…
—Professor. Have you had dinner yet?
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—I did.
—Oh.
She thought it would be rather nice if she dragged time…
* * *
After the auction, I got into the car.
“Keep safe.”
Sylvia bowed outside the window, her hair decorated with [Loterin’s Pumpkin Brooch]. She stayed with me backstage for nearly 30 minutes.
“Thank you. The brooch suits you well.”
“Oh.”
Sylvia’s cheeks puffed up as I closed the window.
“Let’s go back to the tower.”
“Yes.”
Today’s driver was Jeff.
The vehicle slid off its parking space. As usual, I leaned against the back of my chair and pulled out a thesis.
[Solda Drent Thesis: Earth Rotation]
This was the thesis Solda-ranked wizard Drent asked for corrections during career counseling last week.
My correction was so highly valued that I didn’t just accept anyone asking for it.
—I want to be Professor Deculein’s assistant!
Drent agreed to apply under my command. He seemed to have reflected on himself a lot, so I took it as part of the contract.
[The core circuit of [Earth Rotation] is to be set up in this way, considering its role is…]
“It’s inefficient.”
I laughed at the first paragraph of it, discovering an inefficient circuit from the very beginning of his paper.
“Too naive.”
The flow of its circuit, its knots, and its connections were loose. It was because the effect of [Earth Rotation] itself was too difficult.
“Your ability is insufficient compared to the goal you’ve set.”
I continued to read his thesis.
“It’s strange that he came to me, but…”
However, his idea for his thesis wasn’t as bad as his execution, so there was room for development.
“… He needs proper teaching.”
To be honest, he had too much talent to be under Deculein…
*****
Arlos drove Deculein’s vehicle.
Zukaken kidnapped Jeff as planned, and she imbued her puppet with Jeff’s image and her soul.
“…”
She looked at Deculein in the rearview mirror, who was reading some documents. She couldn’t see what was written on it, though.
‘With this distance between us, he won’t notice me.’
Arlos swallowed a sigh of relief.
Her puppets were no different from humans.
Moreover, she perfectly took on the appearance of his driver. Combining that with the intel that he couldn’t care less about his servants, she thought he would never notice.
However…
“It’s inefficient,” Deculein said.
Arlos’s heart pounded. Instinctively, she gripped the car’s steering wheel tightly.
What did he mean by inefficient?
Arlos looked at Deculein in the rearview mirror, and he continued calmly.
“Too naive.”
Arlos clenched her teeth.
“Your ability is insufficient compared to the goal you’ve set.”
She was certain.
He had seen through her puppet.
For Arlos, it was a humiliation in itself, and it was a question.
How was this possible? Was there any magic that could grasp her puppet at once?
‘Our plan failed.’
Arlos tried to convey the words to Zukaken, but something was wrong. She felt a strange sense of discomfort.
Even though he already noticed it, why wasn’t Deculein showing any hostility? He expressed his extreme agitation within her barrier back then. Was he just talking to himself right now?
“It’s strange that he came to me, but he needs proper teaching.”
Teaching.
As she pondered about it, his arrogant tone made her bite down on her lower lip.
She had finally realized.
She didn’t know if their plan had been leaked and if there was a traitor among them, but it didn’t matter now. Deculein had fully anticipated their operation and even probably already knew who was behind it.
He had been waiting for this meeting long before they even planned it.
Arlos’s breathing became rough, but she soon calmed down. She could just get out of her puppet anyway.
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‘Zukaken. If this guy quietly comes with me… The rest is up to you.’