…Whether the space was isolated or wrapped in a barrier, the Magic Tower Admission Guideline meeting was trapped in magical darkness.
“Hmm…”
Lia looked into the darkness beyond the door.
“Do you think you can tell, Lia?”
She shook her head at Leo’s question. She lacked a way to figure it out, neither with the system nor magic.
“No. I don’t know. I can’t see anything, and I don’t think there’s anything. I’m not a wizard, so…”
“What is it?”
At that moment, Maho approached with a smile. Her arms were filled with pamphlets from all the departments.
“If it’s a magical terrorist, have we been kidnapped?”
“I don’t think… oh right.”
Lia tapped her temple. She forgot her duty for a moment. No matter what the circumstances, escorting this princess was her number one priority.
“Sit down for now. Leo, you should watch the princess.”
“Yeah! Princess, come with me!”
“Yes, ~.”
Maho, drawn away by curiosity, soon returned to sit with Leo again.
“…As expected, you’re so strict.”
Although she was the model of an ingenious princess from an old fairy tale, her inside was sharp as a sword. Not one sword, but dozens, lurking under a thin veneer. Even now, it was probably not out of curiosity but a hint that they were neglecting their mission.
—How did Leo become an adventurer at such a young age? I’m curious. That’s impressive~.
-Yes? Well… ahem… hmmhahaha! It’s not that impressive~.
Leo twisted his body and enjoyed the princess’s compliment. Lia watched the two of them, thinking of the predestined future. Maho’s Quest. In the course of that independent quest, she might, inevitably, die.
Of course, might and inevitably contradict each other…
“Long time no see.”
Instantly, a voice that froze the air cut through her thoughts. Lia frowned and looked around.
“…”
Deculein. He approached and looked down in her direction, reflecting her image in his cold eyes.
“I see that you have returned to the islands.”
“…Yes.”
“What about the job you were doing in Annihilation?”
“…”
It was a task and an oath to Deculein. She promised to find medicine for Carlos and to make him a human again.
“Did you fail?”
Deculein laughed as if he knew the outcome. Lia clenched her fists.
“I didn’t. We have a possibility now.”
“Possibility.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me.”
Lia hesitated, then glanced at him.
“…It’s a secret.”
“…”
Suddenly it grew colder. She felt chills run down her neck and arms. Deculein stood still, and the temperature hadn’t dropped, but it was pure psychological pressure. She reluctantly opened her mouth.
“…I met someone there.”
“You mean from the Altar?”
“…”
Lia was surprised. She didn’t want to tell him because it was hard to believe. Most of the Named didn’t believe that people lived in Annihilation. However, Deculein didn’t seem to be surprised, and he didn’t seem to doubt her but rather immediately identified them as the Altar.
“Did you… know?”
At that moment, Lia had a small suspicion. She wondered if Deculein also joined the Altar.
“Tell me.”
…No, the Named Deculein was a staunch atheist. If there were a religion called atheism, he would be the most devout believer. It would be a character error for Deculein to join the Altar, an impossible thing. As Deculein interrogated and killed the Demon Blood, he would inevitably learn about the Altar’s existence.
“…I asked them, and they said there was a flower.”
“A flower.”
“Yes. A flower that harmonizes one’s mana and dark energy.”
“…Harmony.”
Deculein’s brow twitched.
“Yes. If we completely purify the dark energy, Carlos will die. But… if we harmonize them…”
Carlos would be no different from the Demon Blood. She swallowed back the latter part. Deculein would consider a Demon Blood and a Demon the same.
“Anyway. They call the flower Regetal. If we find that, Carlos can live like an ordinary person.”
“…”
Then, Deculein wore a thoughtful face for a moment. Lia, worried about his thoughts, wiggled her fingers as she continued.
“But… more importantly. If it’s a magic terrorist attack, shouldn’t you deal with it?”
“That’s impossible.”
“…Eh?”
He gave an immediate answer. Lia tilted her head while Deculein explained.
“Because it’s a complete separation barrier spell.”
“…What is it?”
“Since the core of the barrier is outside, it is a complete separation.”
“…”
She didn’t know the term, but anyway.
“You mean we can’t go out?”
“It is impossible to escape from inside.”
“…Forever?”
“Until the core runs out of mana or the core is destroyed.”
“Oh~.”
As expected, there wasn’t a thing Deculein didn’t know. Of course, Lia was still a little embarrassed by his huge personality change, but she added the big alteration of a fiancé. Lia purposefully smiled widely.
“Then it’s not a big deal, is it?”
“No.”
“…Yes?”
“It is rather a big deal.”
“…Why? Shouldn’t it be nothing if you already know everything?”
Deculein looked down at her again.
“The complete separation barrier spell is the last hypothesis. It’s the last hypothesis remaining after thinking of hundreds of possibilities first, improvising the procedure, and erasing the status, traces, and mana concentration of this venue one by one as evidence.”
“…The last hypothesis?”
“Right. Except for the impossible, all that is left is the truth, no matter how unbelievable it may be.”
Lia trembled at the familiar saying, and a wizard, Epherene, sneakily approached. Her expression was very serious compared to Deculein’s.
“Then are we in trouble?”
“This a Giant spell.”
“…”
That quieted Lia. Giant magic transcended the category of magic and reached the realm of miracle.
“Giant… magic?”
Lia looked up blankly at Deculein. He still wore a calm expression.
“Then… this isn’t terrorism?”
“Implementing a barrier in a civilian area without permission is terrorism under imperial law. However, the magician who executes this barrier is not bound by any special laws.”
“…Sorcerer.”
Deculein nodded. He took a deep breath and looked back at the stage.
“An archmage, or a wizard equivalent to it, is here.”
“…”
Then, Lia’s head went blank for a moment. Demakan? No, if it was an equivalent to that… Murkan?
“Maybe he came looking for me.”
“…The Professor? Why?”
Deculein explained it very simply.
“Because I killed Rohakan.”
* * *
Meanwhile, Julie arrived on the island with Reylie.
“Here! It’s here, knight!”
“Okay!”
The two stopped at a nearby clothing store before going to the Imperial Palace, the most famous in the islands, Antoir.
“…Knight. Look. How about this?”
Reylie looked around the clothes and recommended one antique dress. However, Julie shook her head.
“More than that, how about this suit?”
It was a formal suit that even an old man wouldn’t wear. Reylie sighed.
“You don’t need a suit. After all, if you go to the Imperial Palace, you might be awarded. Just buy a dress.”
“…It’s too expensive. Why does a dress cost 50,000 Elnes?”
As Julie muttered her dissatisfaction-
—I think this will suit you.
In an instant, a voice touched Julie and Reylie’s hearts. Deculein’s clear voice.
—Haha. It seems that the professor only thinks of Knight Julie.
—It is natural to think of a beautiful person when looking at beautiful clothes.
The terrible voice of the past. Her heart was pounding, and a cold sweat formed on her forehead.
—So, is the engagement ceremony tomorrow?
—Yes. I’ll take this.
—Okay. Hahaha. Wow, I envy that knight~. She has such a great professor as her companion…
A smile that spread like a mist.
“…It’s Deculein’s voice, isn’t it?”
Reylie asked. Julie nodded without saying a word.
“Hmm, well… indeed. This Voice phenomenon is said to connect with people who are related to them. Therefore… I’m a bit scared too. I’m afraid I’ll hear my mother’s or father’s voice. Anyway, don’t worry-“
—But, Professor. I know I shouldn’t ask this.
The voice continued again, and the two instinctively listened.
—It’s a topic that the social world is so curious about these days…
—Say it.
—Ahaha. What made the professor so captivated with Knight Julie?
…The manager asked. And.
—…She is a pitiful woman. That woman never had anything but an empty and pitiful life. Even the way she pretends to be strong is also pitiful.
Deculein responded.
—Is it… compassion?
—It could be that too. But, what does it matter? Rather, she will be happy with me because of that. She, too, wants that. There’s no way she wouldn’t…
With those words, the erosion of the Voice subsided.
“…”
In the blazing silence, Julie clenched her fists. She clenched her jaw so hard that it shook.
“Hmm… it’s nice to see this now.”
Reylie picked up the suit Julie had just chosen.
“Excuse. How much is this? We’ll take this.”
* * *
Knights with a prominent reputation on the continent were gathering in the Imperial Palace one by one. From famous masters such as Verock, Jaylen, Youpley, and Bomas, to the younger generation, including Julie and Delric. All of them were on the list gathered by the emperor herself.
“All thirty people have gathered in the dining hall.”
“Okay.”
Sophien watched the reception room, where they gathered through the crystal ball.
—Bomas. I knew you would be here too.
—Haha! It’s me, after all. But, why did Her Majesty call us…
The knights talked to each other, full of happy and proud smiles, except for one person, Julie.
“Julie. She’s become an outcast.”
She was sitting alone in a corner and just blinking. The way she put her hands on her knees in her outdated suit was awkward, and no knight was approaching to speak to her.
“It seems to be because of the Freyhem corruption case.”
“I know.”
The corruption case of the Knights of Freyhem. With that, her innocent and graceful image was damaged, and Deculein abandoned — rather, pretended to abandon — her. Of course, Sophien vaguely knew the inside story. Unless Deculein himself confessed, she couldn’t tell for sure, but at least she knew that it was something he did for Julie.
“Call Julie first. I will interview each of them one by one starting from her.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Ahan moved quickly. Within three minutes, Julie arrived at the emperor’s study.
“Good to see you, Your Majesty.”
Sophien glanced at Julie, who was politely greeting her. As expected, she wasn’t loud or arrogant. This was the typical image of a loyal person expressing their sincerity.
“Okay. It’s been a long time. It seems just like yesterday that you were teaching me.”
“Yes. It was an honor. Those days were too short for me. Dishonored by my fault-“
“Enough.”
Sophien interrupted Julie. If she had let her, she would state her sins all over again.
“Today, do you know why you’re here?”
“I don’t know.”
“It is a test.”
“…”
Even though Julie didn’t know, she didn’t ask. It was the etiquette of a knight, so Sophien explained briefly.
“I’m looking for a knight to succeed Keiron. A person who can serve as my escort and then become the guardian knight of the empire.”
Imperial Guardian Knight. At that moment, Julie’s eyes widened. Her white pupils shook.
“Assignments have been prepared in advance for that. Do you think you can do that?”
“Your Majesty. Just giving me the qualifications to take on the challenge will be an infinite honor-“
“Take this.”
Sophien held out a picture for Julie of a child. Not even eight years old, they were too young.
“It’s a Demon Blood. This is a Demon Blood who lived a very ordinary life, like an ordinary child.”
“…”
“However, I hate the Demon Blood… so, let me ask you.”
Sophien’s lips curled up mischievously.
“Can you kill this child with your own hands? Can you cut this child’s head off with your sword?”
“…”
Then Julie raised her head. Sophien became immediately serious as their eyes met.
“…Your Majesty.”
Julie wasn’t agitated, and there was no worry in her eyes.
“There is no sin with the child.”
To her, it was just natural. Killing a child for her wealth and prosperity? Julie was a knight who couldn’t even accept the thought.
“…Tsk.”
Sophien clicked her tongue.
“I think I can tell now.”
Seeing that belief and conviction, she felt she knew.
“Why that professor hates you.”
Deculein. Why he hated this woman.
“Why he loves you.”
Why he loves her? At that moment, Julie asked back.
“…The Professor Deculein, me?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Julie shook her head firmly.
“He never loved me.”
“…Never?”
“Yes. It was just compassion for a stray dog.”
Words uttered with intense hostility. Not knowing anything, no, thinking to know everything.
“…”
For Sophien, that judgment felt twisted. She did not, however, show it. Rather, it would be more interesting like this.
“Enough. I have another task for you.”
“…Yes.”
“I don’t make knights kill children. Killing doesn’t mean you’re a loyal person, and on the contrary, killers are prone to being madmen…”
Sophien stuck her head out. She looked into Julie’s eyes, who was bewildered by the sudden change.
“However, when I was young, at the age of the Demon Blood in the picture, someone tried to poison me.”
At those words, Julie quickly became serious. She looked at Sophien resolutely.
“So, the task is this.”
Sophien smiled and continued.
“Use all your powers to find out who was behind that.”
“…”
To the knight who kept her mouth shut, the emperor asked.
“Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
The knight nodded.
“I, Knight Deya. I will make sure that I can pass the test of Her Majesty by doing my best and with a humble attitude.”
…It was an answer Sophien liked very much.
