“…”
Sophien fell asleep while Keiron watched over her as a knight. After suffering from the pain in her heart, she passed out, but her expression was calmer than ever.
He didn’t yet know whether this had caused her to break free from the Altar’s influence or whether she had been freed from her God-given destiny. He didn’t yet know. However, in the eyes of Keiron, the Emperor’s knight, at least his master’s face was peaceful now. Full of confidence without worry or concern, the smile she wore was bright.
“It is a smile that Your Majesty has never shown before.”
A smile that was neither too dark nor too light. Simple like other ordinary humans on this continent, simple beauty like wildflowers swaying in the wind along the roadside…
“…Who is it?”
Then, a voice came from behind. Keiron looked around. Epherene had returned to the Sanctuary. Her eyes went wide as she noticed Keiron and Sophien lying on the floor.
“Huh?!”
“Epherene?”
Epherene swallowed hard and nodded.
“You did a good job.”
Keiron glanced at Julie inside the barrel. Epherene scratched the back of her neck.
“Oh, that…”
“Knight Julie deserves a better life.”
Keiron’s words, at least, were not empty.
“…Yes.”
She nodded softly.
“Okay. Come on, check Julie’s condition. Also, if you need anything in the future.”
Keiron pulled a statue of a knight the size of a finger out of his pocket, and he then put it on the table.
“Tell me.”
“…Is that you?”
“Yes.”
Epherene nodded again.
“But why are you here? And Her Majesty?”
“To kill Julie.”
“I beg your pardon?! Why?!”
“Julie stole Deculein’s heart.”
“What!”
Epherene’s eyes widened. She ran over to check on Julie in the barrel. Fortunately, Julie was fine.
“…But she’s fine.”
“Because Her Majesty changed her mind.”
“Yes? What is…”
—At that moment.
The echo of dark energy passed through Epherene’s mind. Someone was approaching.
“It’s Deculein!”
“…Deculein?”
“Hide, hide, hurry up! If you get caught here, you’re in trouble too!”
Epherene hastily dug a pit with magic. She shoved Keiron and Sophien inside, then covered it with a membrane of her mana.
Stomp- Stomp-
Echoing footsteps. Epherene cleared her throat and turned around.
It was true that he killed the demon, but Deculein was still buried in dark energy.
“…Professor.”
Now Deculein was dangerous. His eyes were glowing purple.
“…”
He stood still and looked around. Silence suffocated the air, and Epherene tried hard not to glance to the pit where Sophien and Keiron were hidden.
“You were here.”
As he said those words, dark energy flowed like smoke from Deculein’s mouth.
“I am trying to save Julie.”
“…”
Nevertheless, Deculein was calm. He didn’t react; he just stared at her.
“It’s true. I will explain everything… even how I will do it.”
Epherene’s time magic mixed science and magic as well as natural medicine. Epherene explained it all. However, something still bothered her a little.
“Of course. If you move time, Knight Julie will forget her past.”
That Julie would forget her memories. Deculein wouldn’t tolerate that fact because he loved Julie more than anyone. He wouldn’t be able to stand being erased from Julie’s head.
“But!”
Epherene continued. She picked up the diary set on the table.
“Knight Julie wrote in this diary. With her handwriting and her mana. So, when Knight Julie wakes up, she will know again.”
Stomp-
Deculein moved closer. Dark energy leaked from every pore of his body, but Epherene blocked his path.
“What are you going to do?”
“…It’s just a fake memory.”
“Yes?”
His words were vague for some reason. Epherene frowned.
“Then, do you intend to let her die while remembering you?”
Deculein looked down at her without saying a word. Epherene felt heat rising to her head.
“Is it okay to die remembering you now, Professor? Better than Knight Julie’s survival?”
“Even if she survives this way, she would be living with fake memories. It’s a life that has no meaning and no value.”
“…Wow.”
Steam was practically leaving her ears now. Had she evaluated this Professor wrong? She didn’t imagine he would do this. Was this a sign telling her not to forget him and just die?
Deculein spoke.
“Move away.”
“I can’t. If you’re going to, move me first.”
Epherene spread her arms out. She was planning to stop Deculein’s advance with her body.
“You’re a fool, Epherene.”
“Hmph! I’m pretty strong now- ugh!”
Whooosh—!
Immense mana shoved her away. She was sent flying as if she had been hit by a car.
“Ugh…”
An overwhelming mass of Psychokinesis had thrown her. A surprise attack? He could’ve given her some time to put on armor…
While she was groaning, Deculein had already reached Julie.
“Wait!”
Ignoring her call, he looked at Julie in the barrel and remained there with sorrow across his face. He picked up her diary.
“What… will you do…!”
Epherene forced her ragged body up. Deculein glared at her.
“Don’t push yourself too far.”
“…What.”
“I’m telling you not to turn it around.”
“What!”
In an instant, mana burned in his grasp. Flames of destruction mixed with dark energy.
Epherene reached out to stop him.
“No!”
Whoooosh-!
The flames lapped across his fingers. And…
“…”
Epherene blinked a few times as the world went silent.
“…Huh.”
It definitely burned. But something different from what she expected occurred.
“…?”
Flowing through his fingers… was black powder. He didn’t burn away the time cylinder, like she feared, but instead… Julie’s diary.
“…Why?”
Epherene asked. Then, Deculein turned around. Epherene flinched.
“…The reason I let Julie go.”
In the dark Sanctuary, his voice echoed softly.
“Because I want her to live freely.”
Deculein knew. If away from Deculein, no, only when she escaped from Deculein could Julie be freed?
“Because I wanted her to spend the rest of her life on herself.”
“…!”
Epherene trembled.
“…I approve of you trying to save Julie.”
Deculein said as he strolled away.
Stomp, stomp.
Was it her imagination that his gait felt particularly pitiful?
“However… do not deprive her of her chance to live freely.”
Epherene looked up at him. He reached out to her.
“This second life must be hers alone.”
“…”
“I shouldn’t be in it.”
Looking at that hand, Epherene thought she was right in evaluating Deculein. Really, she was. This Professor was an excessively principled wizard, but he was sometimes too arrogant, and he ignored and despised people too easily. Still, in terms of loving someone, he loved stronger than anyone else…
Stomp-
Suddenly, Deculein’s eyes closed. He collapsed as he held out his hand.
“Huh?”
…In these clichéd situations, the direction in which one falls usually is the problem.
“Uh.”
Deculein fell atop Epherene.
“…”
Now holding him in her arms, Epherene’s face turned red as if she was about to explode, and Keiron stood up, watching them.
Epherene asked him for help.
“Knight! H-Help me-“
“It seems you’re enjoying it.”
“Enjoy what! Take him with you-“
Epherene shook her head violently, but Keiron abandoned her in the Sanctuary.
* * *
… Three days later.
Quite a few things were decided after the demon intrusion incident. First, Bell and his house’s destruction. It was his punishment for daring to cover up the demon’s attack.
Second, Emperor Sophien left for the Empire. Rather, following the demon attack, she was forced to return.
“This is the blueprint for the magic circle of self-destruction.”
As a result, I was negotiating with Idnik. Emperor Sophien and Idnik of the desert were sharing a formal discourse.
“Instead of submitting this blueprint, what we want is desert autonomy. It doesn’t matter whether the Empire annexes the desert as a territory or establishes borders. I just want the survival and the proper preservation of the desert and the tribes guaranteed.”
“…”
I examined Idnik’s arbitrarily modified giant magic blueprints.
“Your Majesty. Are you okay with that?”
Behind my back, Sophien, observing the agreement from the back room covered with a screen, cleared her throat.
—Good. However, you will have to cooperate in the expedition to Annihilation.
“Of course. Our human network is taking over the intelligence of the desert. We have a spy at the Altar so that we will help Your Majesty both physically and mentally.”
Idnik handed me the papers.
“Also, while the desert can be sustained to some extent, it doesn’t mean we don’t need external supplies. Therefore, some trade-related agreements are also needed.”
—Trade?
Sophien took the document with Psychokinesis and read it.
—…It’s nothing special. I’ll allow it. However, do not use the Demon Blood in these processes. I’m not yet ready to face them.
“Yes. Thank you.”
Idnik shook her head once more.
“By the way, we are ready to cooperate with Your Majesty like this. There are many desert tribes hostile to the Empire. Because of the tribal oppression of this-“
“There is a guy prepared for something like that.”
This time I responded. Idnik didn’t seem to know what I was talking about, but I said his name.
“Bell.”
He was now imprisoned in a dungeon with his arms and legs cut off.
“Take Bell with you. It will be perfect if you use him to relieve their anger. Bell was the most direct perpetrator of the campaign of tribal oppression in the first place.”
A smile spread across Idnik’s lips for a moment, but she quickly corrected her expression and said.
“…Your Majesty. Is that okay?”
—Take him. Whether you raise him in a hovel or make him live as a toy for the rest of his life and then kill him. Do whatever you want.
After speaking, Sophien held out two personal letters. One was the Emperor’s agreement to this deal, and the other was an order to hand over Bell to the desert.
Idnik asked as if she was stunned.
“Is it possible that you were considering this since you put Bell here?”
—Hmph. It must have been Deculein’s idea. Seriously, he’s the kind to kill his political opponents in the worst way. I knew there was a reason he didn’t move a finger in matters related to the tribes.
Idnik looked back at me, but I didn’t say anything. Sophien waved her hand.
—The agreement ends with this.
“…Yes. I’m honored.”
Idnik blinked at me and walked out, then I stood.
“Your Majesty. I will pass this on to the servants-“
—Deculein.
Sophien cut me off and opened the screen. Sophien’s shy face appeared as she peeked out.
“…Wait. I have a present.”
“A present?”
“Right.”
Sophien cleared her throat.
“This is the reconciliation that I offer you-“
“Your Majesty’s intention alone is a gift to me.”
“Damn.”
Her face crumpled so that I couldn’t help but nod.
“Yes. I will take it.”
“…Good. There is no need for such nonsense. And, it’s nothing, so just shut your mouth and take it.”
Sophien poked me in the side with something.
“…”
I stopped thinking for a moment as I saw it.
“…What?”
It was a small flowerpot. She held a very small flowerpot.
“Is it too small and insignificant…?”
Sophien asked anxiously. As she said, there was only a very shabby cactus and small flowers in the pot.
“…Tell me.”
It was too small and shabby, so ugly that it couldn’t even be called a flower. However, Sophien’s handwork and sincerity were clear.
“…”
I stared at it without a word. I had no idea what to say or how to respond. It had been so long since I’d been perplexed. It might be because it was so unexpected, but old memories came to mind. It was the first time in my life that I received flowers as a gift…
No. It was the first time since I stopped being Kim Woojin.
“Deculein?”
“Thank you.”
I responded hastily. My heart was pounding with a sense of agitation that surprised even me.
“I should get going.”
I bowed and left quickly…
* * *
Creek-
Immediately after the door closed, Sophien muttered blankly.
“…It worked.”
She was sure of it. It still seemed that various senses in her body had been damaged due to her emotional injury, but it wasn’t because of that.
She was just sure.
“His heartbeat from just now.”
When she handed the cactus flower over, it was evident in Deculein’s heart.
“Keiron! Call Lia!”
—Yes.
Sophien exclaimed urgently.
Creek-
After a while, the door opened, and Lia entered.
“Yes, Your Majesty. What happened?”
“It worked!”
“…What worked?”
As if puzzled by Sophien, who was rejoicing like a child, Lia tilted her head with eyes round.
“The thing you said. It worked.”
“…?”
“Flower. I mean the flower!”
Sophien explained. She was proud of her colossal achievement.
“Deculein’s heart trembled at that very shabby flower.”
“Oh…”
Only then did Lia understand.
“His heart was beating significantly faster.”
Sophien explained excitedly, but Lia’s complexion wasn’t all that good.
“…That’s fortunate, Your Majesty.”
“Yes. If so, say it.”
However, right now, Sophien doesn’t care about Lia’s condition.
“What… do you mean?”
“Isn’t there going to be another one? Whatever it is, tell me what Deculein will like.”
Sophien, of course, hoped Deculein would be happy. She was willing to give up as long as Deculein was happy because that was love.
—But.
It wasn’t suitable for her aptitude.
“Every time one thing works.”
So, this time to be fair, in a head-to-head match. Without killing anyone or sneaking around. With her devotion, she would approach Deculein.
“I will give you whatever treasure you desire. The treasures of the Empire.”
Sophien pounded her chest and declared.
“…”
However, there was no answer from Lia. It would be only natural that she should like it, but Lia’s heart felt dark and rotten.
“Lia?”
Sophien asked suspiciously. Lia clenched her teeth.
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
However, it was necessary to distinguish between public and private matters. Since Deculein was not Kim Woojin, to clear the main quest for Sophien’s mental health and to obtain the wealth of the imperial family-
“I’m here to help.”
Above all, as Lia, not Yoo Ara, she had to do it.
“…Good. I will trust you.”
Sophien smiled brightly and took Lia’s hand.
