Ghost. (1)
......The outskirts of the Floating Island, the 'Guest Inn'.
At this point, one might wonder just how many islands orbit the Floating Island, but anyway—it's one of the surrounding isles.
"I truly didn't expect you to pass."
"......"
In a guest inn with a capacity of a hundred, Sylvia—with her disheveled hair and fatigue-etched face—stared at the woman seated across from her.
"I acknowledge it. You have truly inherited the blood of the Illaydes......"
Sylvia simply listened to the words of acknowledgment without response.
In truth, she let them flow in one ear and out the other, glancing sidelong out the window.
Beyond the glass lay only clouds and sky.
This 'Guest Inn' was essentially an island unto itself.
The entire island was the inn—a tiny sanctuary for mages traveling between isles.
"......Hey. Are you listening?"
"Yes."
"Anyway. If you're truly serious about challenging for archmage, who is currently the most likely candidate?"
"President Adrienne."
"Correct. That one is a master of the 'destruction' series."
The woman clamped a cigarette between her lips. Crackle—fire ignited in midair, lighting the filter.
"If Adrienne ever got truly angry, the continent might crumble. Few could stop her."
"That strong?"
"Not just strong—masters of destruction magic are notoriously hard to handle."
There exist mages beyond the standard in this world. The sole archmage Demakan, his younger brother Murkan, the Black Beast Rohakan, Elder Dzekdan of Verhert, President Adrienne......
"And me."
The woman pointed to her chest and exhaled smoke. Whoosh—it wafted toward Sylvia's face. Sylvia bit her lip, pretending not to care.
"......"
Her manners were thuggish, but Sylvia knew her reputation well.
The merchant 'Idnik'.
The moniker 'merchant' grated a bit, but she was one of only three direct disciples of Demakan—and a close friend of Sylvia's mother, Cielia.
"Sigh...... You're holding your breath, aren't you?"
"Nng, not at all."
She replied in a stuffy, nasal voice. Idnik chuckled and continued.
"Smoke one when you're stressed. Well-refined tobacco is good for mages—never bad. You've got money, so go for 'Dukrek'."
"......"
"Buy some and give me one too. Around 500 elne per pack. Worth the price."
"......"
Haaa—she exhaled once more and pressed on.
"Back to the point: someone like Adrienne, who's honed destruction to the extreme, is dangerous. One misstep, and they could turn into a calamity shattering the entire continent. That's why she's the top candidate for archmage. Send them to the heavens beyond the skies, where they can't cause trouble."
"No one can stop Adrienne if she snaps?"
"The continent can't. But a person might. The only one who could face her alone...... maybe Zeit. Aside from that northern weapon, even Rohakan couldn't handle her."
Crackle...... Idnik ground out her cigarette in the ashtray and asked.
Do you think you can become like this Adrienne?
Sylvia nodded without hesitation.
"Yes."
"Ambitious enough."
Idnik pulled a notebook from her bosom. Then she spoke immediately.
"Cielia was indeed killed by Deculein."
In that instant, Sylvia's heart writhed.
This was one reason Sylvia had sought out Idnik. She had been childhood friends with her mother, Cielia.
"That's why you came to me, too."
"......"
"Take this first."
Idnik handed over a robe and a brooch—the insignia marking Sylvia's promotion to 3rd rank Regello.
"Ultra-fast promotion."
"......"
Sylvia silently shed her Soda robe. In place of the worn, frayed navy garment, she donned the crimson one.
"At your pace, you'll hit Monarch rank in three months. Same as that Deculein bastard. You might even surpass him in half a year......"
Sylvia offered no reply to Idnik's praise.
Her talent was being recognized by the Floating Island, no doubt......
—Cielia was killed by Deculein.
But her mood soured.
Her chest and heart sank into cold depths instead.
Zeit's match was the opening of the knight tournament. Normally, the main event would cap things off, but Zeit wasn't the main.
No—he couldn't be.
Zeit's duel was simply special. His opponents numbered eleven.
Eleven knights against Zeit alone.
It seemed a duel so unfair it violated chivalry. Zeit was bare-handed, without even a sword—yet the knights facing him wore the most tense expressions in the world.
Dong—dong—dong—
The drum signaling the duel’s start. At once, the eleven knights charged, pounding the ground—and Zeit threw a punch.
But its target wasn't a knight.
It was 'space' itself.
———!
A strike resounding through all space. The shockwave from Zeit's fist shook the arena, his Phairden-white long hair rippling like a demon's aura.
One might think it shattered space outright, but I could see it.
Zeit's blow was a 'wave'.
In other words, like sound riding a medium, its propagated power matched the real thing almost perfectly.
To illustrate: why doesn't swinging a sword generate 'wind'? It's called sword wind, but its power pales compared to the blade itself.
This natural law didn't apply to Zeit.
Simply put, the force of Zeit's sword and its wind were equal. Whether cut by the blade or its gust, the result was the same—bisected.
Thus, the 'wave' of his straight punch.
Rushed forth undiminished.
Kugugung———!
In an instant, one attack multiplied into dozens via the medium—striking backs of heads, stabbing sides, and more.
This trait, functioning like an 'echo', was overwhelmingly potent.
A normal punch's range extended dozens of times, invisible to the eye and impossible to dodge.
——The result.
One swing demolished the arena. The eleven knights charging Zeit were already down, and his mana-infused wave swirled the area before fading.
"Hahaha—!"
The match ended in a mere minute. Boisterous laughter filled the air, followed by thunderous cheers and applause.
Amid it, Zeit looked straight at me.
"Did you see it, Deculein?"
One against many—he could slaughter thousands or tens of thousands alone.
One against one—in single combat, few knights in continental 'history' could handle his aberrant destruction.
Thus, the world's most devastating knight.
"Julie."
I turned to Julie.
"Yes?"
"Even far in the future—can you win against him?"
Zeit had once decreed to Julie:
'If you defeat me, live your life as you wish.'
A formal storyline tied heavily to the main quest.
In a way, Julie was his sole counter.
"Yes."
Zeit's assaults rode space and wind infinitely—but Julie could freeze them all.
"Of course."
......However.
In her current state, it would take eons.
Julie's growth had stagnated long ago—more precisely, since the moment we reconciled.
"I fear no one."
Her reply was the epitome of knighthood, but I sensed intuitively.
Now, slowly.
The time to let her go was approaching.
Two days later, in the chief professor's lab.
I had installed the new device I'd commissioned from the Floating Island: the Component Analyzer.
It resembled a glass dodecahedron the size of a microwave, but the entire glass was a 'magic crystal'—a cutting-edge magitech machine analyzing objects' components from every angle.
I'd expected a long delivery, but processing was surprisingly swift.
......But.
"Whoa, this is cool~"
"Yeah...... it's sparkling."
"Heh heh...... As expected of Professor Deculein, the intellect endorsed even by the Floating Island...... But Professor, have you tried using it?"
Words from Allen, Ruina, and Rellin respectively.
Not just them—various junior professors had 'coincidentally' visited my lab. They eyed the Component Analyzer, smacking their lips.
"Professor Deculein, you lucky guy. Normally, the Floating Island hoards new tech like this. Must be thanks to your advanced lectures?"
Ruina said, eyes fixed on the analyzer.
I replied.
"Out."
"Pr-Professor. If you use it up, can we—"
"Leave."
"Aw, don't be stingy. I'll jot down a turn order. You won't hog it forever. Just a week—no, three days—"
"I have much to do."
"Still...... Ahh."
I chased them all out, but they arbitrarily set a queue outside.
"I heard the rumor first, so I'm number one—Ruina."
"Ahem. Hierarchy matters here. I'm Rellin, first."
"I-I need it for research too...... I'm Professor Deculein's assistant......"
Bang—!
I shut the door with psychokinesis.
Then I placed the Artificial Core into the Component Analyzer and powered it on.
Vrrrrm......
As it analyzed like a microwave, demonic energy leaked from the core, stinging my nostrils.
My heart raced, anger surged. The Yukline bloodline resonated violently.
Knock knock—
A knock sounded then.
I opened the door with psychokinesis.
"Professor. I brought the research report."
Ifrin. She'd compiled her studies into a report.
"First up: the Harmony of the Four Elements report."
"......"
I took it wordlessly.
A 43-page report on a single magic tome. I skimmed it, then glared at Ifrin.
"Utterly trite."
"......Pardon?"
It displeased me.
Not merely 'lacking'.
From my view—and considering Ifrin's talent—it was mere trash.
"Reciting the book's contents is your best?"
"Ah, I—"
"Write what you realized. Advance beyond comprehension. Gain insight. This is worthless refuse not even worth marking."
Riiip—!
I tore the report in half.
"Ah, ah!"
Ifrin’s eyes widened in shock. Staring at the shreds, at a loss, she soon bit her lip hard.
"Redo it."
"......Yes."
She bowed and left.
Right after, the Component Analyzer finished.
ANALYSIS COMPLETE
Dolan's right ventricle, Decrion spores, human blood vessels......
Collection date: Winter, 10 years ago
Assembly date: Winter, 10 years ago
The analyzer had thoroughly broken down the Artificial Core's materials, even displaying harvest and assembly dates.
Winter, ten years ago.
"Excellent device."
With this intel, investigations could target Dikailen—and unearth Altar ties.
I nodded, encrypting the Artificial Core into my mind.
A high-level application of the trait Encryption.
Late night in the assistant lab.
"......No need to rip it. Ridiculous."
Ifrin grumbled while rewriting the entire report.
What the hell does he expect from me?
What even is 'insight beyond comprehension'?
Understanding a high theory like Harmony of the Four Elements is impressive enough, right?
"Sigh...... Wonder what Sylvia's up to."
Rich girl, probably thriving.
Maybe I should've gone to the Floating Island too.
"......Tch."
Ifrin gripped her pencil again. Beside her desk lay a letter from her sponsor.
Another 100,000 elne deposited!
Anyway.
Scratch scratch—
Line by line, she wrote her understandings, pondering insights—until morning light filtered in.
"This should do......"
She nodded at the report. It was 8 a.m.—Deculein's arrival time.
Ifrin headed to him with the stack.
"Professor. Here. Fully revised."
She handed it confidently. Deculein, freshly arrived, hadn't even sat.
He scanned her and asked.
"Pulled an all-nighter?"
"Yes."
Because of you.
Ifrin pouted, swallowing the rest.
Deculein nodded, hung his coat, and read. His sharp eyes darted up and down.
Like vivisecting.
"......Gulp."
As tense Ifrin swallowed, his verdict came.
"Insufficient. Go back."
"......Pardon?"
"I said insufficient."
"Ah, what part—"
"Figure it out yourself."
"......"
Deculein returned the report. Such a cold face.
"......Yes."
Grateful it wasn't torn, Ifrin staggered back to the assistant lab.
Allen and Drent, just arriving, unpacked at their desks.
"Huh? Ifrin, didn't go home?"
"Yeah...... Let's grab breakfast."
Ifrin ate with them—gossiping about Deculein—then revised for six more hours.
"Phew! Getting better."
She admired her work, self-satisfied.
This one's passable. Though twelve more reports loomed......
Five minutes later.
In the chief professor's office, Ifrin fidgeted as Deculein reviewed the third report. His reply was curt.
"Do you not understand words?"
"......Pardon?"
"I don't want rote reports. I know this tome better than anyone. Don't recite it—convey your realizations."
Ifrin stared blankly as he flung the report in anger.
"Thirty pages of drivel hold less value than a single stroke of genius."
"B-But!"
"Get out."
Bang—!
Door slammed; third failure.
"Ugh, seriously......"
Fuming, Ifrin tore her report to shreds.
Rip rip—
She shredded the pile, returned to the lab, and—as Deculein said—hunted for that 'stroke of genius'.
Six hours later.
Fourth attempt.
"Is this your best? Or are you demanding too much of yourself?"
Submitting three pages of personal thoughts, but Deculein's reaction remained dubious.
"Answer yourself, Ifrin."
"......No. I'll redo it."
Back in the assistant lab, Ifrin prepared again.
All day effort; next morning.
Fifth attempt at Deculein's arrival.
"......Are you an idiot?"
Indeed, idiot—no, failure......
Tick-tock—tick-tock—
Tick-tock—tick-tock—
Three days, five rejections now.
3 a.m.; steady second hand.
Ifrin slumped in the [assistant lab] chair, head nodding.
Mind fraying.
Did Deculein take me as assistant just to torment me?
"Did I do something wrong...... Might turn into a murder case......"
Mumbling blankly, she grabbed the sixth report and shuffled.
"......Still here?"
Deculein's office door ajar.
Ifrin staggered over, peeked in.
Empty—
Darkness filled it; no Deculein.
Out? Or forgot to lock?
"Leave it in the drawer......"
Ifrin set the seventh report on his desk.
"......?"
Then spotted familiar paper atop it.
Too dark to see well, but the texture felt familiar.
"Where've I......"
Premium stationery.
Ink-stained quill beside it.
Frowning Ifrin tilted her head curiously—and looked up.
"......"
A tall figure loomed before her.
No—a pale face.
At least 3 meters tall, a 40cm vertical mug.
No whites; only crimson pupils glaring. Long hair draped over Ifrin's face.
Its massive mouth curved in a smile. Corners tearing to the ears.
More maw than mouth, packed with hundreds of yellow, jagged teeth writhing wildly.
Chills raced over shoulders and back.
Its nature was unmistakable......
Ghost.
"Gahhhh—!"
Ifrin screamed, gathering magic haphazardly. Type unknown—just flung it wildly while fleeing, smashing her forehead into a bookshelf.
"Guhk!"
Ifrin collapsed unconscious. But her spell triggered the alarm.
Weee-ooh—weee-ooh—!
The ghost alternated glances between fainted Ifrin and the ceiling.
Then, whoosh......
It dissolved like mist in wind.
Next morning.
I visited Ifrin’s hospital room at the university hospital, where she'd fainted.
"A ghost."
"Yes......"
Allen replied worriedly. Ifrin breathed softly, but cold sweat beaded her forehead, and the gash between her brows was deep.
"She woke briefly, mumbled about seeing a ghost, then slept again."
"What kind of ghost."
"Didn't hear details. Doctor said it was a hallucination......"
"......"
Ghost. Of course, ghost-related quests exist. Like any school, the tower has 'tower legends' ghost tales.
But I don't know every quest, so it's tricky.
"Any other issues?"
"No."
I removed my gloves. Gritted teeth subtly. But it was something to overcome eventually.
I placed my hand on Ifrin's forehead. As Allen watched in surprise, I invoked Understanding.
"......"
One application of Understanding.
This lets me understand her abnormality, manifesting it visually. If truly ghost-attacked, the status type narrows it down.
> Status Abnormality: Frightened
No major issue. I withdrew my hand—slightly sweaty. Wiped with a handkerchief and stood.
"Contact me when she wakes."
"Y-Yes, sure~."
Bang—!
Just then, the door burst open; Drent entered.
"Ah, Professor!"
"In."
I swapped places with him.
......Five minutes after Deculein left.
Ifrin slyly opened her eyes.
"Huh? Ifrin, you're awake?"
"You okay?"
Allen and Drent asked in surprise. Ifrin smiled wryly, propping up.
She touched her forehead.
"......I've been awake from the start."
"From the start~?"
"Yes."
Ifrin scratched her nape, recalling.
Deculein gently placing his hand on her forehead. More chilling than the ghost, but anyway.
"What happened?"
Drent asked. Ifrin shuddered at the returning chill.
"Well...... My heart's still pounding thinking about it. So, here's what went down......"
She began explaining slowly, step by step.