In the Imperial Library. I was organizing the records of the old house.
─[Cursed Old House]─
◆ The cradle of the soul with intelligence comparable to that of a human. It seems to provide a place of refuge accepting foolish souls. Its purpose is still unknown, and there is room for research, so it remains to be seen…
—-
Below was a description of all the relevant magic circles and formulas. It also contained information about magically interpreting and dismantling the mana concentration and phenomena inside the old house.
“Librarian. Keep this too.”
“Yes.”
The librarian, Lexil, put my writings on the library’s bookshelf. He then spoke with a small smile.
“…I’m glad the chaos has been resolved.”
“You mean the old house?”
“Yes.”
It was still in the backyard of the Imperial Palace, and the souls of Iggyris and Decalane were still there.
“We still don’t know if that was good. Cradles of souls are dangerous. A dead soul must not remain in the world of the living.”
“As an uninformed person, I wouldn’t know.”
“Think of it as talking to myself.”
The remnants of the Altar, including Syrio and Jaylon, were imprisoned in the Imperial dungeon. It was indeed by the majesty of Archmage Adrienne, and they didn’t resist much. However, the old house wasn’t a part of any quest, so there was no special reward. Of course, at least the results were clear. I got Decalane’s 「Artifact Magic Science」.
───「Artifact Magic Science」───
◆ Information
: The essence of artifact magic written by Decalane of Yukline.
◆ Category
: Unique Secret Law
────────
A hardcover weaved with mana. Decalane was a wizard who had reached the peak of the ductility series. His artifacts went beyond art and were treasures desired by nobles from all over the continent. So, it was difficult to learn, no matter how much I understood. After all, Deculein’s manipulation being the only talent he possessed, was now a thing of the past.
I tore the Additional Series Options, immediately choosing the ductility series.
“…”
Nothing happened. Was it because ductility and manipulation were similar series? There was no burning pain, no current of enlightenment, just one system sentence.
[Ductility was added to the series talent.]
Just then, someone approached and sat in front of me.
“But Professor.”
It was Epherene. She spoke while casting Silence.
“You know… About Her Majesty’s body being sculpted by the self-proclaimed god? That’s what they said, right?”
Having heard the whole story from Decalane in the old house, she was very curious. I didn’t know why Decalane explained even that to this girl.
“Does it have anything to do with the reason Her Majesty hates the Demon Blood?”
“That’s an instinctive disgust.”
“What?”
“Even if Her Majesty’s body was made by that god, she is not him. It’s another soul.”
It would be correct to view this situation as one of the countless branches of the main quest. A very special branch among them, at that. In most of the main quests, God made his own body and descended using it as a vessel, but he would adapt once the branch split.
“In other words, Her Majesty must destroy him to live. The expedition to Annihilation and suppression of the Demon Blood is also part of it, and they are an expression of her survival instinct.”
“Well… I understand about the Annihilation, but the Demon Blood? Not every one of that race is evil.”
“It is because of their religion. Like the Altar, they also believe in the gods of the past holy age. They believe in the same prophecy that one day God will come.”
“…Aha.”
Epherene nodded. Then, she grinned and rummaged through her pockets.
“Oh, right. Professor, you know. Look.”
She proudly presented an application form.
“I was qualified as one of the royal guards. Delric told me that I would be signed up if I filled out this and submitted it. He said that Her Majesty also wants me to join. Huhu!”
She looked at me triumphantly as if she had won the lottery.
“…”
I silently took the application in my hand.
“…Huh?!”
Rip-!
I tore it. Perplexed, Epherene hurriedly reached out, but I burned the scraps with fire.
“Noooo! W-What’s up with you again?!”
“This is not an organization that someone like you can join.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
Epherene frowned.
“There will be war. The royal guard will kill children, women, and the elderly.”
“…”
“Epherene, can you do that?”
Then her lips curled. It was a funny face to watch.
“Of course I will. I’ve already killed too many people; I’ve walked too far to go back. It’s a deception to talk about morality and kill one or two fewer people. But.”
I looked at the wood steel floating on Epherene’s shoulder. It was completely dyed with Epherene’s gray color, and now it didn’t even follow my orders.
“Not you, Epherene.”
Epherene’s eyes trembled slightly.
“You are not a wizard who kills people.”
“…”
Epherene lowered her head and scratched the back of her head before clearing her throat.
“Well, that’s… oh!”
Then she handed me a crystal ball as if she had just remembered something.
“Take this. I know how to use this pocket watch, you know?”
She showed me the wooden pocket watch.
“That crystal ball is connected to mine. So, please keep it for at least three years. Unconditionally, for three years.”
“Why three years?”
“It’s the crystal ball’s lifespan.”
“I see that you bought a cheap one.”
“I have no money, but anyway!”
Epherene placed her crystal ball on the pocket watch.
“Whoooo…”
As I watched, she breathed deeply, putting mana into the pocket watch. Gray energy seeped into it. And then-
“…Can you hear me?”
Epherene spoke through the crystal ball. However, that voice didn’t come to my crystal ball, rather.
─I hear you.
My voice, but not from the current me, answered her.
“Uuughhh—!”
Epherene screamed as foam-flecked her lips. I nodded.
“I understand. But the side effects are too severe.”
“…It’s particularly serious only to you. If it were an ordinary person, I would be able to talk while consuming only a moderate amount of mana.”
“Then you should’ve become rich by taking advantage of stocks.”
“…”
Epherene’s eyes gradually widened. Her mouth opened blankly, and her nostrils flared.
“…Have you never thought of that?”
“No… um… I need to go!”
She stood and ran off while laughing like a maniac and even jumping. I shook my head.
And then again, I opened Artifact Magic Science. Decalane’s table of contents was demonic from the very first chapter.
[1. A living and moving organism circuit explored from the source of the devil.]
* * *
…A week ago, the great incident occurred, even before the shock of the empire being attacked, went away. Emperor Sophien formalized the existence of the Altar. At the same time, they have declared enemies of the Empire. The Altar had risen to the surface. In that aftermath, the gas chambers in Demon Blood camps throughout the Empire were hastily completed. The hostility toward the Demon Blood and the Altar was fiercely spread among the aristocrats and the commoners.
-[The worst religious terrorist attack rocks the Imperial Palace]-
Hundreds of eunuchs and attendants dead or wounded. Part of the Palace was destroyed.
(Picture)
Emperor Sophien declared martial law across the Empire and warned of the Altar’s massive retaliation.
—-
“Wow, this is terrible. It seems there will be a war.”
At Gerek’s words, Arlos, reading the article, yawned and put down the newspaper.
“I know.”
“More than that, what happened to the thing you delivered?”
“You mean the doll?”
“Yeah. You said that’s where God will enter.”
“I don’t know. I just made it and delivered it.”
Arlos created the body of God with all her heart. As a master of puppetry, she completed her perfect masterpiece and presented it to the Altar.
“I don’t know if they liked it. Or maybe they haven’t been able to find the ‘lubricating oil’ yet. Anyway, I’m trying to fix that.”
If God tried to rule the continent with that body, Arlos’s fault would also be great. That’s why she purposely formed an adventure team.
“…But. What are you going to do in this underground city?”
Gerek grinned. As he said, Arlos established the base of their adventure group here in the Underground City of the Yuren Kingdom.
“Here is better than the Floating Island.”
Yuren was strangely different below the ground. Above the ground, the skyline filled with high-rise buildings was spectacular, but the ground below was mechanical and mysterious as designed by the dwarves. An artificial sun even rose from noon to 3 p.m.
“Everything is cheap, and unauthorized copying is also legal.”
Arlos smiled and pointed to the books on the desk.
[Deculein: Magic of Probability (Pirated Version)]
[Deculein: Collision Value Analysis (Pirated Version)]
[Deculein: Correct Understanding of Circuit Calculations and Formulas (Pirated Version)]
A pirated version that completely ignored intellectual property rights, paying hundreds of thousands of Elnes per book. It was a space that the Floating Island would make a fuss about if they knew, but she had no choice.
Here were the famous Ashes. The state that resided in the dormant volcano in the Yuren Mountains. A place despised and insulted by the Magic Tower as it was filled with anarchists, maintained with chaotic order, and lacked in discipline.
“But Arlos, did you know? I heard Deculein is coming to Yuren. Hopefully, we can see him.”
“Deculein in Yuren?”
Arlos frowned.
“That thing you are participating in, the Magic Exhibition. He’s coming to take a look.”
The Magic Exhibition. Literally, an Expo. The magic techniques of the Floating Island would come down to the continent. Various countries and magic towers on the continent would boast and compare their achievements. Even unknown wizards not from a magic tower could submit their skills and receive sponsorship. This year, the host of the exhibition was decided to be Yuren, and Arlos participated in the hopes of getting a sponsorship.
“…Hmm. Then, we’ll have to prepare a bit.”
“Prepare for what?”
“That guy won’t move for no reason. He must have heard something.”
Ding-
At that moment, the door opened. Gerek and Arlos turned around.
“Are they clients?”
It was a group of three. They looked like they weren’t from the Ashes, but they strode closer and slammed down some posters.
“It’s a wanted bounty. If you catch them before the exhibition, the reward is 10 million Elnes.”
It seemed like they were trying to tighten up security before the expo… Arlos glanced at the poster’s portrait and smiled as she nodded.
“Do you know who it is?”
“I do.”
“…You know?”
“Yeah.”
Arlos knew the face on the poster and their assembly method.
“This is a doll I made. It looks like the Altar guys have been using it.”
* * *
No matter what happened on the continent, the Floating Island didn’t waver. They didn’t move nor blink. The Magic Exhibition was a prime example of their stalwartness. No matter how the Empire was, whatever they did, the expo must be carried out.
The Magic Tower was in a similar state. Countless magic experiments were taking place on the university’s sports ground in preparation.
“What do you think of what we prepared?!”
As it was a fairly large event that was recognized by magic towers from all over the continent, Epherene would also participate in a team from the Imperial Magic Tower.
“It’s a power machine!”
As she shouted that, she waved a stock certificate at me.
“So we ride this and fly. It will be great if commercialized; it doesn’t even need a runway!”
Epherene’s team made a power machine that moved with mana stones. It was a plane that flew with one pilot. As she presented it, Epherene asked me to score her work.
“Um… what do you think? Is this okay?”
Relin asked cautiously. I shook my head.
“It’s not good.”
“What?! Why?!”
Epherene’s eyes went large. Julia and Maho, who were on the same team as Epherene, looked the same.
“First of all, there are no safeguards. And…”
I kicked the engine.
Crash-!
It broke.
“Even if it gets hit by a passing bird, it’ll be smashed.”
I snorted as if it were pathetic, but the other professors glanced at me. I told them.
“You don’t have to look like that. She’s nominally under me now, but I’m going to punish her if she doesn’t live up to my expectations.”
Only then did all the professors back away. Epherene was talking back at her group and being yelled at by Relin.
“If you know it that well, you can be a professor! Huh?! How dare you be an assistant professor!”
That was the correct development. Rather than being covered by the brightness or shade of Deculein.
“…?”
Someone called out to me from the shadow of the tower. The voice was faint.
—Deculein. Meow.
It was the red-haired Munchkin, the cat Sophien.
“What’s going on?”
—I can’t go out because of the imperial raid. Meow. It is harder to go out from the inside than to come in from the outside. Damn it. Meow.
Saying so, the red-haired Munchkin snuggled into my arms and tickled the tip of my nose with her tail.
—So, keep this cat for a while and take it to the expo.
“The expo?”
─Yes. You’re going to attend anyway.
“Is there any other reason?”
—Kreto will exhibit his invention there.
-Meoooow.
Shivering in the cold, the red-haired Munchkin murmured.
-I promised to go, so I’ll go. He’s my only brother. I don’t know if the Altar might attack.
“…Yes. Okay.”
The moment I answered-
Booooom-!
There was a loud explosion. Sophien and I glanced over at the same time.
“Aaah! Aaah!”
Epherene’s machine had exploded.
─…But your disciple is awful sometimes.
“My, what’s going on with this all of a sudden? During the test flight, it flew well, uuuughh! Help me!”
At the Emperor’s words, I had no choice but to nod along.
