[Thank you for the kind words!]
Chapter 209: University Magic Tower (1)
On the way out of the vineyard, Julie helped the Imperial Knights and Agents scattered here and there up. The other knights, including Isaac and Lawaine, assisted her.
“…Julie.”
Then Isaac called out to her. Julie looked back at her old boss and nodded.
“Yes.”
“How… have you been?”
The question wasn’t like Isaac, who was always stiff and unmoving. Julie couldn’t hide her surprise.
“There are no cracks in the life of a knight. Why are you asking such a thing?”
“…”
Isaac smiled bitterly. Now he was drenched in remorse. No, not only that, but all the knights here were the same. In this vineyard, they saw their past and met their memories thanks to Rohakan’s world line.
“…I should have protected you back then.”
When they were in the Imperial Knights, Isaac was her direct supervisor. However, since Isaac was an aristocrat in need of political support, he could not block Deculein’s interference. He was obsessed with Julie, and Isaac couldn’t push him away.
In the end, he made Julie leave the Imperial Knights by herself. At that time, he had no choice but to convince himself by saying that he couldn’t do anything else, but the memories in the vineyard tormented him.
“No.”
But Julie shook her head. She kept a proper distance and watched Deculein’s back as he walked ahead of them.
“Now, the Professor isn’t obsessed with me anymore.”
“…I heard the news of the breakup.”
Julie continued without a word. Then, suddenly, she turned her gaze to see the darkness between the trees to her right.
—She was unnecessary.
In the Winter Castle, Freyden. A child who couldn’t sleep at night had wandered out into the hallway with a blanket and heard a voice in front of her father’s door.
—To me…
He was soaked in water and spoke as if lifting a weight off his chest. The child held the blanket wrapped around her a little tighter.
—…There is no one more important than you.
Snap-!
The clear sound of snapping fingers startled Julie. Deculein was watching her.
“Don’t get caught up in your emotions.”
At those words, Julie came back to her senses. The illusion was gone, and the feeling gnawing at her heart vanished.
“Focus on the present.”
His mental power that had reached its peak spread outward. His words, his voice, and just his very existence. Not limited to himself, it affected the world around him. The knights felt this divine phenomenon. The dark and damp road of the vineyard suddenly grew clear the moment he spoke.
“There’s nothing as ugly and pathetic as wandering in one’s memory.”
Deculein marched ahead after that. The knights followed him slowly. However, in Julie’s ears, old words repeated.
—Take it, Julie.
Before starting the Underground Passage escort mission, her father had given her a bracelet.
—Keep it like a talisman.
It was the happiest moment in her life, feeling both infinitely short and long. It was the first gift her father gave her. It had disappeared now, but a faint smile appeared on Julie’s lips. Her father had acted out of consideration for her, at least at that moment…
* * *
I arrived at the islands, but I didn’t pick the noisy road. I sent the knight to the front door first and returned to the Yukline mansion while all attention was on them.
“We did a good job.”
It was Primienne. But that bothered me.
“What did you do?”
“I was blocking the entrance from the outside.”
“…”
She was too bald-faced in her lies. I held the wooden box and looked at my watch.
“I heard that the Imperial Palace is calling the professor.”
“I know.”
“Shouldn’t you go right away?”
“I have something to find.”
I went straight up to my office. I could now see memories that weren’t originally in my head clearly, among traces of the original Deculein. Among them, inside the magic safe in the office-
“…”
A broken and corroded bracelet lay among all the jewels and debris. When I looked into it with Vision, I could see that its location tracking function remained faint.
“…Freyden.”
The Underground Passage case where Julie was seriously injured. At that time, the one who attacked Deculein was the lord of Freyden and her father.
“Iggyris von Kreil Freyden.”
Whether he tried to kill Deculein with Julie, or if Julie was caught up in it by accident, or she had nothing to do with it…
…But. What I didn’t have the slightest idea about was why Deculein had kept it in his safe?
Knock, knock-
I put the bracelet in my coat pocket and opened the door with Psychokinesis.
“Master. This is a confidential letter from the Round Table that arrived the other day.”
It was my secretary, Ren. He walked over and handed me a magic-sealed letter, all while Primienne watched him silently.
“Then I’ll be going.”
When Ren left, Primienne’s interest shifted to the letter.
“Is it confidential? I can go outside and wait.”
“…”
I read it without responding.
—[Book of the Round Table]—
…Now that the long migration is over, the Round Table hopes to help the continent’s stability. One fact was secretly delivered to the elders of the Round Table or those who have the potential to become elders.
It’s very surprising news, but it’s not ready yet, and it could be troublesome if the information leaks, so please keep this quiet for a while. Going back to the main point, Betan of Beorad has learned and trained Blood Magic to the extent of the eighth series and finally invented magic that can distinguish a Demon Blood with a single drop of blood!
We’re working with the Empire and the Kingdom to separate the demonic bloodlines, punishing the filthy clans who have hidden their identity and deceived us.
─────
Betan’s invention of blood magic was one of the major events leading to the focal point of the world’s main quest.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen the secret seal of the Round Table.”
As Primienne muttered without much thought, I pretended that it wasn’t a big deal and leaked the letter’s secrets.
“Betan invented blood magic.”
At that moment, Primienne trembled slightly.
“…Betan? I guess this can be considered quite a secret.”
She muttered calmly, but her body was showing a different reaction through Vision. Of course, her face remained the same, but her blood vessels were tightening, and her mana was moving erratically.
“A drop of blood is enough to distinguish the Demon Blood… it will be convenient.”
“Well. Surely.”
Primienne crossed her arms. I handed her the document.
“Read it.”
“…Is that okay, though? The Round Table said it was confidential-”
“Should I obey the old people from Round Table?”
Primienne pondered it for a second and then took the letter.
“Yes.”
I walked out of my office, leaving her to read the contents alone.
“Ren.”
“Yes.”
I called out to Ren, who was waiting nearby.
“Purchase the finest mana stones and crystals.”
“How much?”
“Enough to build a cave.”
Grade 3 mana quality. In terms of the game system, it was a slight rise, but it would be very different in reality. It would be difficult to adapt to and handle. By analogy, it would feel like a sudden increase in height by 20 centimeters. I would have to change everything I was used to and relearn.
This required an artificial and optimal training place.
“I will prepare. Also, they are waiting for you at the Imperial Palace.”
“I’ll change my clothes and leave.”
“Yes.”
I had a separate suit to wear when visiting the Imperial Palace, something neater and simpler. I went up the stairs to my room…
“…”
When I opened the door, I was struck speechless. There was another person in my bed.
“…”
All sorts of emotions rushed past me, and I stopped breathing for a moment. The calm stack of the body suited for meditation that I had accumulated so far almost burst.
“…That brat.”
Yeriel. I don’t know when she arrived, but she was curled up in my bed like a shrimp and sleeping. I placed my hand on my forehead. It was the first time I had sweated in a long time. If it were a Black Beast instead, I would have probably killed them.
“…”
I looked down on Yeriel. Fortunately, she was sleeping quietly. She wasn’t drooling, and her clothes were fortunately clean.
“…”
I pondered what to do. Should I wake her up by lifting her by her hair or smashing her head against the bed? But there was no time. Her Majesty, Sophien, was waiting for me. I turned around, pretending I didn’t see anything. I wouldn’t have to burn the bed since it was Yeriel, fortunately. Sterilization would suffice.
After changing into a neat outfit and taking up Rohakan’s wooden box again, as I was about to leave, I suddenly looked back at Yeriel. She was still sleeping like a child.
“…This is ridiculous.”
I didn’t know if she was being cheeky or if there was a big shock and her feelings had changed. Well, she must’ve suffered a hard time from learning about her identity.
“If you drool, I will kill you.”
I left.
* * *
I arrived at the Imperial Palace. Several officials were already waiting for me with a banquet prepared. The many wizards, eunuchs, and servants had gathered behind them. They all spoke to me and showed interest in the wooden box I still held, but I didn’t want to insult Rohakan by showing him these filthy things.
Without even realizing it, I might have come to respect Rohakan a little. At least, he was a better person than all the waste of this Imperial Palace. He was truly a noble man.
“To the Lord Deculein who killed that damn Black Beast—”
The one giving a toast was the central noble Romellock. I stared at him for a long moment before turning around.
“I believed in you! Professor Deculein!”
After passing by him, Delric spoke to me. Delric had become a fairly large figure in the Imperial Knights these days. He was a pretty good guy for political use, so it wouldn’t hurt to support him like this.
“Right. You as well, keep working hard.”
With that said, as I offered to shake hands with him, Delric’s eyes grew large. His cheeks puffed out, and his grin grew wide.
“Yes!”
When Delric bowed with a shaking hand stretched out, exposing his squirrel-like front teeth-
“Professor Deculein.”
A woman approached me. It was the first time I had seen her face. As I stared at her silently, Delric, by my side, spoke.
—This is the court lady that Her Majesty has hired. She seems to be well-liked, so keep an eye on her.
He explained as the court lady lowered her head in a bow.
“Why don’t you go visit Her Majesty? Today, you may be allowed to go in.”
Sophien, who had been busy with work, was finally reopening her doors. I was about to answer but abruptly stopped and traced my memories. I thought of what Sophien would ask of me.
—Even if Sophien kills you in the future, you will always remain by her side.
Rohakan’s voice echoed in my ears.
—It’s a relief to have met you. Let’s meet again next time, disciple.
For Sophien, a wish to protect his lies.
—I killed the Empress.
But today, Sophien would certainly ask the truth, and if so…
It might be better not to meet her. At least, if the purpose of the meeting were Rohakan, it would be better to avoid her. I couldn’t lie to her.
“Professor Deculein?”
The court lady called my name again. I stopped thinking about it and looked down at her. She smiled and continued speaking.
“If it’s not today, you might not have another chance. So hurry, Her Majesty is-”
“Take this.”
I gave her Rohakan’s wooden box. She blinked and held it with a face that said she didn’t know what was going on.
“T-This is… deliver it directly to Her Majesty? If it’s not today, you probably won’t have another chance… ”
The court lady, perplexed, began to tremble. Still, I shook my head.
“Today is not Wednesday.”
“Yes?”
“The day I teach is every Wednesday.”
I straightened my sleeves and collar, then glanced at the wooden box.
“Today, I am merely carrying out the Emperor’s command. So, there is no need to visit her in person.”
The court lady’s mouth nearly fell to the floor.
“I’m leaving, and you can deliver Rohakan to Her Majesty.”
“Oh, I. I-!”
I turned around coldly. Passing by the banquet with classical melodies playing, the aristocrats dancing in a Waltz, the laughter of the servants, and the splendid jewels of the Imperial Palace, I left.
I would head back to my mansion, no. I decided to return to the magic tower, where I still had work to do.
