…People gathered in the hall of the old house. Excluding the Altar, there were less than ten people left. Everyone else must have either died or escaped.
“…They fell asleep.”
Louina approached cautiously. She pointed behind her, flicking her long green hair off her face. Epherene, the chairman, and Primienne were sleeping together on the couch. Adrienne had her head on Epherene’s lap, Epherene was leaned back on the couch, and Primienne laid on the ground.
“When did you become so close? She just hugged you, not scared of the Yukline name at all.”
Louina asked with a smile. I shook my head.
“Thanks to the chairman, the rumors will surely spread.”
I had lost face; it still felt terrible. The way she suddenly rushed into my arms in front of so many eyes, including Adrienne, and confessed, ‘I heard your conversation with Julie.’ As a disciplinary measure, I thought of having her as one of the grading committee members and making her clean the toilets.
“Oh, right. Right now, the chairman doesn’t seem to be helping, so just let her sleep. I would even give her a sleeping pill if I had one.”
This was a place that was opposite to the fairy races. Here, Adrienne couldn’t show the insight of the Archmage.
“But, will Decalane come to visit us?”
“He will.”
Epherene responded. Decalane would come. He had something to tell me.
“She has some guts, that kid. Talking to Decalane.”
Louina smiled a little. I answered casually.
“It’s the Archmage’s talent. She’s still a bit, no, a lot stupid, though.”
I stopped talking and then looked at the watch. It was five pm. Even though it was early in the evening, the sun was being swallowed up by darkness. The eclipse had arrived.
“This solar eclipse is going to last for about two hours~. We have to solve this by then.”
Syrio said as half of the building was dyed in darkness. Louina frowned.
“Why are you so stingy when you don’t even help? No, how did you join such a cult?”
“Haha. Cult? Well, I don’t know either. More importantly, over there.”
Syrio pointed to the other side of the darkness. A dreary chill crept in, the energy of a ghost. I turned around, and Adrienne was snoring.
Snore— Snore—
I gazed at the figure that rose within the darkness with Vision.
─…Nice to see you.
The soul of the dead calling me.
—My son.
Decalane.
* * *
In the basement of the cursed old house, at the bottom where Decalane guided me. Although he was a ghost, he seemed to live like a human. Magical research materials were neatly arranged here and there.
—Sit down.
Chairs and tables were placed in the center of the basement. Decalane sat first and looked at me.
“…”
I sat face to face opposite him without saying a word. Decalane was expressionless, matching my look. However, I felt a bit strange. Was this person Deculein’s father? Or my father? It was sometimes confusing.
-It’s been a long time.
“Are you the one who closed the door?”
─No. This old house closed. It thinks and acts on its own. It is the cradle that sustains us and is a life no different from humans.
I frowned. Decalane crossed his legs.
“Is it your magic?”
─No. I just helped a bit. This old house has realized itself and is now angry.
“Why is it angry?”
—It wanted to devour the Emperor.
“…”
—The Emperor wasn’t supposed to leave this place. However, a certain spirit guided the Emperor to the back road.
I already knew who he was.
“Yes. So, what does this old house want?”
—You should know. There is a disaster lurking in the Emperor. A disaster that thinks of itself as a god.
The god of the Altar. That soul awaited its advent from outside the world, but it seemed that the body had already manifested itself in the world.
—He perfectly sculpted his own body and sent it down to this world. That is Sophien, and there are traces of him on her body. In time, he will assimilate with Sophien’s soul.
It was different from the main story. Did something go wrong? Or, was I wrong in thinking that this was a determined story?
—Iggyris was the first to know that and tried to kill the body. But Sophien had power. That power saved Sophien.
Regression. The power to keep her from dying forever.
-Now it’s just a matter of time. The Altar morons couldn’t even wait that time and made this mess, but soon Sophien will be assimilated into their god.
However, that power now belonged to Epherene, not Sophien. That was induced by the Altar. That power helped raise Sophien, but it was a huge hindrance to Descending.
—So, kill Sophien, Deculein. If you swear, this mansion will set you free.
Decalane continued.
─This old house is a space that shares the history of the empire. It doesn’t want the destruction of that family or the empire, the destruction of this continent, any more than you do.
“I have to decline.”
I answered firmly. Then-
Bang—!
The space shook violently. Decalane asked with still no emotion on his face.
─The reason?
“I know my future. I’ll die soon.”
─…
Decalane was silent. He just watched me.
“But it’s better for me to change it than to comply because I know it.”
His brow twitched, and a shadow spread across his face.
“I have no intention of accepting a future like that.”
I found all of this strangely funny. That god guy, these situations pushing me right now.
“…I am the one who even abandoned Julie.”
I smiled a little, but a dark fire blazed in my heart. It was a heat that reached the tip of my tongue.
“Now they will have to pay the price.”
I gathered Psychokinesis in my hand. The space around us shook as if resonating.
“I am a Yukline.”
Decalane nodded. He relaxed his face and spoke in a low voice.
-I’m proud of you.
“…”
My expression hardened. For a moment, the thoughts in my head stopped. Suddenly, my feelings as Deculein tickled my heart. A certain joy filled me. The time when I wanted to receive the approval of my father, who was more perfect and crueler than anyone else…
—Deculein. I wanted Yukline to be great.
Decalane stood.
—That’s why I pushed you so hard, that I did not trust you and sought for eternal life.
Saying so, he scanned through his research materials in this old house.
—Leaving a futile legacy to be ridiculed in this world or becoming a monster and making your family great. I chose the latter. Even if I wear the stigma of corruption, even if I live in a body other than mine if only I can build a great family.
I looked at him. He picked up a book.
-To this day, I still couldn’t believe you.
Since ghosts couldn’t handle the real thing, he only studied with mana. Decalane’s magic vision – 「Artifact Magic Science」. Perhaps it was a coincidence, but I now had a quest reward called Additional Series Option.
—You are now worthy of being trusted with our family.
He gave it to me. And again, he looked straight at me.
─Yes. As you said, you are a Yukline. I don’t care who you are or what your soul is.
I felt a certain meaning in Decalane’s sudden next words.
‘Whatever your soul is now.’
…Kim Woojin and Deculein, or a soul that was a mixture of the two.
—Use dark energy, Deculein. Use whatever you can. Rip apart those who argue about morality and humanity. Thoroughly trample on those who try to teach character and ethics. The only principle of this world is that the weak are the prey of the strong. There is no need or value to learn something from underachievers who do not even know their origin.
Decalane’s voice grew passionate.
─…Be the demon.
He whispered and placed his hand on my shoulder.
-Show the power of Yukline. Show it to the world. Speak with dignity, whether it is to a god, an emperor, or a giant.
His red eyes stared at me.
-Tell them to fear the Yukline.
…He was truly a person who was more Yukline than anyone else. At this moment, I seemed to know Decalane’s principle of action. I realized it.
“…”
I put the Artifact Magic Science inside my pocket without saying a word. I stood and looked at Decalane.
“But don’t you know? I killed you.”
—Beasts do not honor their parents. Parents only raise, and children only grow. If they grow up to become the king of beasts, no, to become the king.
Decalane used mana to straighten my clothes.
-You should be able to easily trample on your parents. Most of all, didn’t I also persuade Kagan to kill your fiancée?
I closed my eyes for a moment. Kim Woojin, who grew up as an orphan at a very young age, didn’t quite know whether this was a kind of love or not. However, Deculein…
“You are nothing more than a ghost.”
Of course, he didn’t want to learn from Decalane, and it was disgusting. But he seemed to think that the recognition he received wasn’t bad.
“But whatever happened, here is my memory. I need to see him.”
-You may die.
“I just find it funny.”
Then, for the first time, Decalane showed a change. He smiled.
“He probably knows Sophien better than Sophien herself. So, I must meet him.”
-Then go. That memory is waiting for you too. I’ll open the door.
The moment I nodded and turned around-
“…”
He was there. Seeing him, I asked.
“Did Her Majesty make a decision?”
He answered.
“This is the decision. As you said, I know Sophien better than herself. Sophien denies it on the outside, but deep down, she wants us to be with her.”
“…Does she?”
I laughed.
“What a coincidence. Me too.”
* * *
…The raid on the Imperial Palace was settled overnight.
The cognitive barrier they activated just before the attack served as a poison against them. They were trapped in their barriers.
Click- Clack-
Now, Sophien was walking through the quiet and wet garden of the Imperial Palace. Between the corpses of the Altar, the court ladies and eunuchs killed by the Altar were mixed. She stopped in the middle of the carnage and muttered quietly.
“…Your blood and your flesh will become manure. When you die, the wrath of people arises, and the cause of the expedition to annihilation will form.”
The Emperor always had a plan. Even the bombing of the Altar’s temples and the Emperor’s event, ultimately believing in Keiron, and all the sacrifices made today would be utilized for political purposes.
“More than half of the eunuchs who had been annoying me have disappeared….”
However, her mumbling cut off. It was because she found the figure of a certain woman buried between the corpses.
“…Hmm.”
Sophien’s expression grew stiff. She approached it slowly. Ahan, the court lady, was lying in the middle of that hell.
“…”
Sophien knelt beside her. Suddenly, Rohakan’s words came to mind. He said that everyone with her would meet a poor ending.
“You…”
Cough-! Cough-!
Suddenly, Ahan coughed. Sophien quickly pulled her hand back and cleared her throat.
“…Your Majesty?”
Ahan suddenly opened her eyes and looked up. Sophien crossed her arms.
“What, what? Were you pretending to be dead?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I was hiding among the corpses… more importantly, is your body-“
“Hmph. I’m fine. The raid was cleared.”
“Aha~. I’m so glad.”
“This girl. You’re lucky. Go back and rest.”
“Yes. I’m so glad…”
Ahan said that and fainted again, and Sophien smiled.
“That’s a relief.”
Keiron, following her, spoke up. Then, the light of the sun slowly faded away.
“…What’s a relief?”
Sophien looked up at the sky. The moon was eating the sun.
“Your Majesty seems to have found someone who can handle her.”
“…What?”
Finding it absurd, she looked back at him. Keiron was holding back laughter.
“If that’s not the case, maybe Your Majesty’s one-sided feelings—”
“Shut up. You moron. Why are you talking bullshit the second you arrive? Are you not keeping the virtues of a knight?”
“Didn’t you used to say that I had my mouth shut too much? More importantly.”
Keiron pointed behind her. There, ‘he’ was.
“Professor.”
Deculein. Sophien met his eyes, and she suddenly felt something that made her happy. At the same time, she felt sad.
“…Professor.”
She called out to him in a low voice, blaming herself. She had no intention of deceiving him. The decision she wanted without even knowing, he…
Stomp- Stomp-
Deculein approached. Nevertheless, Sophien didn’t lose her dignity and composure as an emperor. However, it was still awkward, and she felt confused. Like this, the guy named Deculein always made her lose a part of herself. Therefore…
“Professor-?”
Deculein approached her, but he stopped and looked at Keiron. Keiron did the same. And then…
“Nice to see you. Long time no see, Keiron.”
“Me too. Long time no see, Professor.”
The two smiled. Then, they shook hands.
“…”
Sophien blinked her eyes in bewilderment before furrowing her brow. How dare they blow the Emperor off?
“Professor. Your Majesty is angry. Go.”
Only then did Deculein turn to the Emperor. Sophien said bluntly.
“Go.”
Keiron laughed. Sophien’s eyes widened, and Deculein shook his head.
“It’s okay, Your Majesty. I’m fine.”
“…Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
Approaching her with that answer, he went down on one knee.
“…Now that I see, Your Majesty has grown a lot.”
The Professor had spent hundreds of years with the young Sophien. Therefore, he was more familiar with her young appearance. However, it sounded too cocky to the Emperor, and Sophien blushed.
“Y-You bastard, you went nuts!”
* * *
Swooosh…
Julie regained her consciousness. The first thing she noticed was the sound of a blizzard raging around her. She opened her eyes, struggling against a pain that threatened to tear apart her heart.
“…Julie.”
Josephine was calling her name. Julie calmed down slowly. She drew her arms in tightly and murmured.
“…Sister.”
“Yes, it’s me. Calm down.”
Josephine’s voice was kind. However, it only served to raise Julie’s sense of shame.
“I…”
She clenched her teeth. Unable to control her trembling body, she forced herself to open her mouth.
“I made a very big mistake, I….”
“Yes. I’m sorry, I knew everything.”
“…Eh.”
Julie’s breath caught as Josephine handed her the Rockfell file.
“The corruption committed by some members of Freyhem. And the truth about Rockfell and Veron. Everything is there.”
“…”
“Rockfell should have died. He was a guy who bargained for people’s lives. Do not be sad.”
Julie, staring blankly at the file, quickly raised her hand and turned the pages. One, two, three, four… prisoner trading. Embezzlement and incitement?
She looked up to Josephine again.
“What is this…?”
“Deculein didn’t want his guilt to be revealed, so don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault, and it’s not his fault. It’s just Rockfell’s fault.”
“…”
Julie leaned back in the bed. She looked out the window with dazed eyes. Then, she let out a laugh that sounded like a death throe.
“Why did our father… do such a thing… in the past?”
“…He must have thought it was right then.”
Saying so, Josephine picked up a brush.
“If Decalane had obtained Marik’s nucleus, his biological test would have been carried out. Perhaps our father wanted to stop it?”
She combed Julie’s hair.
Swish- Swish-
Her long, pure white hair gently glistened like snow.
“Our father was such a fool. He was too obsessed with good. More than family, more than his children.”
Her hair was beautiful, but its owner’s eyes were lifeless like a dying person, empty.
“…Julie. If you are sorry.”
Josephine handed her a bracelet. It was the only gift Iggyris left to her.
“Live. Keep living. Even if you have to hate our father.”
“…”
“Brother… no, he’s not a brother-in-law any more. Will there be a problem with that name?”
Josephine smiled and showed her a newspaper.
“Look. Julie, you are now officially free.”
Julie’s hazy eyes read the headline.
[#3333 The breakup between Freyden and Yukline is public. Official announcement.]
“Oh, right. The imperial attack was already two weeks ago. It’s been quite some time.”
Two weeks. During that time, Julie was asleep, and the world changed.
“Deculein also came to visit you.”
“Oh!”
Julie quickly raised her eyes.
“The breakup required your stamp. You did it while you were asleep.”
“…Oh.”
She nodded blankly as if she understood. Josephine, who looked at her like she was pitiful and a little cute, soon put on a stern expression.
“Then, what are you going to do now?”
“…What?”
“How are you going to live? Are you going to die like this? Are you going to give up the life that the Professor was so desperate to save?”
“…”
Deculein suddenly came to her mind, what he said to her and what he did for her. Her father’s secret and Freyden’s sins. All of it bloomed in her mind. So, Julie shook her head.
“No.”
“I’m glad. So, what are you going to do now?”
“…It’s still the same.”
She answered and sat up.
Boom-!
She endured the heavy shock in her heart. Josephine asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I have to be a knight.”
Taking off the hospital clothes, Julie put on her armor.
“…Whose?”
Julie answered while grabbing her sword.
“The one I have to repay.”
Josephine felt jealous, but still, it wasn’t bad.
“Of course, I know that the past cannot be changed. I know I am going to die.”
Freyden’s winter. After all, Julie was the woman who most resembled it.
“Every day is a bonus.”
It died in the warmth and survived longer the colder it was, but even though it was winter, it wasn’t without warmth. Winters in Freyden were bleak, but hope remained. The tough northerners called it will.
“However, you must not give up on your own life. Absolutely not. Because-“
Dressed as a complete knight again, Julie looked at Josephine.
“Because that bonus is not mine.”
She picked up Iggyris’s Bracelet and slipped it on.
“So I must survive and become a better knight.”
Josephine watched with a hand on her chin. She smiled with delight.
“I want to give it to him. I want to be his sword.”
Whoooosh…
The blizzard was still raging outside the window. However, the hospital bed was warm, so it wasn’t bad from Josephine’s point of view. Even if the fire of that life was in danger and dim to the point of extinguishing soon…
“I am jealous. But I’m glad. Hearing you say you’ll continue to live.”
Really, it wasn’t bad. Josephine muttered without realizing it.
“…But, yes, I hope you get to.”
“…”
“I’m joking~. Huhu.”
