—Perhaps. Do you love me?
The moment when Deculein asked about love, in the Imperial Palace at the same time-
“You crazy bastard!”
Sophien cried out involuntarily. She moved about restlessly, tossing all the furnishings in her room. The Go board, stones, and state documents flew to the ceiling.
“You are out of your mind!”
Her heart pounded in her ears as her heart burned. Sophien was more agitated than she had been in centuries, confusion claiming her mind. She slammed her desk, shivering at the emotions inside her.
“You disrespected me. How dare you say such a bizarre thing out of nowhere? This is an act equivalent to rebellion. This crazy, crazy professor.”
“…What do you mean?”
At that moment, Keiron responded. Ahan sat beside him, pouring tea with a smile. Sophien frowned.
“Didn’t you just hear?”
“I have no way of knowing the conversation you had while in possession.”
“…Hmph. Forget it. I’ll go back to him and tell him the truth…”
Shaking her head, she tried to reconnect the possession again, but there was no way since Yuren was a country more than 1,000 kilometers away.
“Ah.”
Sophien let out an exasperated sigh. She tapped her forehead.
“Your Majesty. What did the Professor say?”
Keiron asked. The Emperor’s face was swollen and blushing even now.
“You seem like a little girl.”
“Shut up. That professor just…”
With her hair ruffled, she tried to say what happened but instead closed her mouth. Keiron and Ahan stared at her.
“Just now…”
She tried to say something again but stopped and closed her mouth.
“I mean, just…”
And again, Sophien failed to say it.
“…”
This time, she shook her head. It was a gesture that Sophien would remain silent, and Ahan held out new documents with a slightly disappointed look.
“Your Majesty. This is the report of Knight Julie you asked for earlier.”
“…”
Sophien took it, pretending to be calm. It was a document submitted by the intelligence service that recorded Julie’s recent activities. As she read, Sophien suddenly burst into laughter.
“She’s walking in search of suffering.”
“Yes, that’s what worries me. I wonder if she isn’t about to die…”
The Ice Mountains of Freyden, a brown bear’s cave, Ice Crystal Lake, and Annihilation outside the Empire’s borders.
“It looks like she’s staying in Annihilation now.”
“Yes.”
“Her path is weird. Isn’t she already dead?”
“No. Recently she…”
Ahan paused for a moment and pulled out a letter from her bag.
“Here.”
“Yes.”
Knight Julie regularly sent letters to Ahan. Since she was a Freyden, she couldn’t send them to Yukline, and even if she did, it would be rejected by the elders, so Julie requested they be sent to Ahan to someday pass these letters to the Professor.
“Now there are twenty-three in total. One more arrived last night, so Knight Julie is still unharmed.”
“Is she writing a diary or something?”
Although her response was blunt, Sophien was calm as she looked at the letter.
“Yes. There’s also one to Your Majesty.”
Ahan gave Julie’s letter to the Emperor. Sophien put her hands to her temple and ripped it open with Psychokinesis.
“About the hearing. I also apologize to Your Majesty for my shortcomings…”
The Emperor’s Hearing was presented by Julie and the knights. However, several incidents had overlapped, so Sophien decided to postpone it.
[…I’m always sorry to Her Majesty the Emperor. I am on my knees like a sinner up north in the harsh lands of Annihilation, where the frigid wind blows, and life is withered. Too many incidents due to my negligence and misunderstanding…]
Sophien shook her head, unable to finish it.
“…She’s a stupid knight. She’s so stupid and so sincere it’s making me, the Emperor, act pettily.”
Sophien tried to destroy Julie and Freyden by manipulating evidence. Whether she didn’t know or pretended she didn’t, Julie’s loyalty was still there. However, Sophien’s feelings for Freyden didn’t change. The Freydens were involved in her poisoning.
When Deculein returned, the hearing would resume.
“Go now.”
Returning Julie’s letter to Ahan, Sophien stood. She stomped over and laid down in bed.
“Keiron, you too. I will be alone.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The voices of the two servants overlapped. After that, Ahan left, and Keiron became a statue.
“…”
Sophien fell into her thoughts again.
─Do you love me?
Deculein’s voice tickled her ears. Although her face turned red again, it was with rage as she lifted herself back up.
“That damn bastard…”
Again, Sophien felt troubled with herself.
“…Hmph.”
The present Deculein had the memories of his hundreds of years with her. If it were the words of that guy who had realized all of that and had already come to know her better than even herself… If he did…
She laughed.
“…Okay.”
So, Sophien nodded.
“I’ll admit it.”
Looking up at the splendid ceiling of the bedroom, she whispered in a low voice.
“I…”
As she closed her eyes, the Professor’s face suddenly came to mind. He was the one that always haunted her, and she couldn’t deny it even if she wanted to.
“…I love you.”
* * *
Yuren’s VIP room. I was sitting at my desk and reading a scroll. No, I was just looking at it.
“…For sure, there is no answer.”
There was no strength in my body. My fingertips hung limp at my side since I had run out of mana. Of course, my posture didn’t collapse even in this situation, but…
“Did I learn only the alphabet?”
I was on the verge of mana exhaustion, but I only understood the very basic system of the divine language. Even this was a record of the first year, and almost everything that I had learned would change in the next.
“It’s hopeless.”
The idea was to convince Quay. In this game’s ending, something could be done through talking. But I couldn’t do that with this level of proficiency in the divine language, which was a necessary condition.
“…”
Looking at the darkness outside the window, I stood and saw the red-haired Munchkin sulking on the bed. Paying them little mind, I left the room into Yuren’s palace corridors.
Prosecutor Rose stood at the far end, looking at me as she pushed a wheelchair by.
“…Professor?”
I strolled toward her. The person sleeping in the wheelchair was Carla. I checked her complexion.
“She’s a lot better. They administered first aid and pain relievers. Now, she wanted to take a short walk, so I brought her out. Although she fell asleep right after we started.”
Seeing her breathing lightly, I could tell that she had improved.
“…But, is it possible to heal her?”
“We just need to get the ingredients and apply the conversion formula. I’ve already ordered the ingredients from Hadekain.”
“…”
Rose watched me quietly.
“Can I ask you something?”
“What.”
“Are the things you said to Princess Maho today… true?”
“Of course. Are you implying I told a lie?”
Democracy. People’s sovereignty. Direct election system, a republican government. It would be shocking enough for the people of this continent to bite their tongues off. That was how rebellious such a concept was.
But that wasn’t the case for me. Rather, it was a familiar and natural ideology according to Kim Woojin’s knowledge.
“Professor… you are a noble. You also must think that you have been chosen.”
I laughed a little at Rose’s words. At the same time, I detected someone moving near us. Maho was probably trying to overhear.
“Of course. A pile of ashes, or worms that have committed a disgusting sin, cannot stand beside me. However, I highly value special inventions and extraordinary talents.”
Yuren’s princess and one of the important Named, the script of Maho, was pitiful. She would die early in at least five out of ten games and inevitably die in four of the other five. She would devote herself to her ideology and her country, sacrificing herself as kindling to spark the fires of rebellion.
“Rather than vain flattery, I respect those who do not break their beliefs under any circumstances.”
I respected Maho because of that.
“The idea of democracy is also a brilliant invention, and I appreciate the courage and belief of the unidentified author who willingly left that book, knowing what it would cause.”
“…”
Moonlight seeped through the window to illuminate the hall.
“Princess Maho, who kept the book in question in her library, must also be such a respectable person.”
Rose looked startled but eventually nodded. After a moment, she decided to change the subject.
“The news about your conversion formula keeps being repeated in the inquiry. So…”
“You don’t even have to look for it.”
I interrupted her. I had no intention of looking for it, nor would I ever find it. I could vaguely guess who stole it, anyway.
“Don’t bother. Please, take care of Carla.”
I told Rose. Rose straightened up.
“Yes.”
* * *
The next day, early in the morning.
“It’s really surprising.”
Maho and Rose were discussing in the basement of Yuren’s palace. Last night’s conversation with Deculein sparked something big in the two, as well as in Yuren itself.
“I know, I know. I think the Professor is a very fair person. Sometimes he looks evil, but….”
“His evaluation criteria are firm and cool.”
Rose organized it succinctly. Maho nodded.
“Yes, then. Let me introduce everyone. The key pillars of the future who will become founding members, whom I have recruited in advance.”
“Yes? This suddenly?”
Rose’s eyes grew large. Maho smiled as she injected mana into the large crystal ball.
Whoooong-
Five people floated around the basement conference room.
“We don’t have time~. I trust Prosecutor Rose~.”
Valla, the eldest judge of Yuren, the eldest son of the count, Mipel, and Charlotte, the princess’s escort. Rose looked at them in turn.
“Prosecutor Rose, we will gather and start a revolution. In the name of the Republic.”
“…”
“We’ll gradually abolish the class system, then lay the foundation for Yuren so that citizens can feel pride and patriotism.”
Maho clasped Rose’s hand.
“Would you like to join us?”
“…”
Rose didn’t even have to think. She held Maho’s hand.
“Of course, it would be an honor.”
Meanwhile, at the same time, in the waiting room of the Yuren Magic Exhibition.
“Guys. The test flight date was set for tomorrow.”
“Okay~, Ifi.”
Epherene was fiddling with the machine beside her teammates. This was the final check of their motor to be exhibited.
“Well. Is this something you made?”
Quay muttered as he looked at the engine. Epherene responded while fixing the propeller with Psychokinesis.
“Yes. We made it.”
“It looks a bit incomplete.”
At Quay’s words, Epherene’s eyes widened.
“Where?”
“The saw-toothed wheel on this engine. It’s standing out alone.”
“Where!”
Epherene ran quickly to look at the gears. The engine was an elaborate mana stone gear that generated energy, and Quay pointed to a single tiny piece.
“It’s this one.”
“…?”
It looked normal to Epherene, but maybe it wasn’t to Quay. He took off the gear and made it smaller. It was a very subtle reduction, best measured in millimeters.
“Now it’s better. Perfect.”
“…What, can I trust you?”
“Haha. See the results and believe. It would be great if I could earn your trust with just this.”
“Hmm! Okay. Well.”
Epherene closed the engine lid. Then, wiping her hands, she turned to Drent and Julia.
“Then I’ll guide Quay at the exposition. You guys, keep guarding this.”
“I’m envious~. You’re going on a date with a handsome guy.”
“It’s not a date, alright? And, he’s my uncle, okay?”
His status was officially as Epherene’s uncle. His temporary ID also showed that.
[Notary public: Deculein von Grahan Yukline]
[Niece: Epherene Luna]
“Yeah, yeah~. Go, go~.”
Julia giggled as she beckoned and linked her arm in Drent’s arm. Drent cleared his throat and let go of her arm. Epherene felt sorry for Julia, but Drent was already dating Knight Gwen.
“Let’s go, then. Take a look at the expo.”
“Okay.”
Epherene went out of the waiting room with Quay. Quay shook his head as he looked up at the expo hall’s ceiling.
“Humans have progressed in a very strange direction. Did they need to make it this flashy?”
“It’s good to look pretty.”
“Really?”
“Yes. If the temple is pretty, the believers will like it too.”
There was a transparent dome above each stage. Those expansive glass balls gave a place to showcase the new inventions and magic.
“What the, it seems that the Professor is also exhibiting something.”
At that moment, Epherene found a certain nameplate in the fair center. Quay also approached to read the name.
[Deculein von Grahan Yukline]
“Deculein. Well, I guess he’s also displaying something. Can’t we see what kind of invention it will be?”
At Quay’s question, Epherene ran over and read the back of the nameplate.
“Well… it’s a combination and manipulation type magic. What is Artifact Magic Science? Oh, there! Curator!”
She called the curator, who was wandering nearby. The middle-aged gentleman in glasses walked over with a smile.
“Do you need help?”
“There was no mention of Professor Deculein participating. What is this?”
The curator responded kindly.
“Oh, it was decided hastily. He’s a judge of this expo, and at the same time, he’s presenting a part of his 「Artifact Magic Science」.”
“What is Artifact Magic Science…?”
“Professor Deculein’s father created it. It is speculated that he is trying to succeed Lord Decalane’s will. Artifact Magic Science is the name Sir Decalane personally gave to his magic specialization.”
“…Oh~.”
Epherene nodded without a further word, and Quay smiled softly.
“Hmm? He’s coming at the right time.”
At that moment, the curator pointed towards the entrance, and Epherene looked over.
“He’s the Professor Deculein.”
“I know.”
“…”
Deculein strolled in wearing a suit and holding a staff. Always fancy, and always neat. He wasn’t much different from his usual self, but it felt strange to Epherene today.
“…What’s going on?”
Was it because of the light effect of the sunlight coming down from the ceiling? Or maybe it was because of the fashionable scarf around his neck, which he had never worn before.
“What’s wrong with me?”
Epherene was perplexed.
Stomp- Stomp-
Her heart was trembling strangely as she watched him enter.
“Why all of a sudden?”
It was as if… she liked that person.
