Rumors (2)
······Just as I mustered the courage to approach Ganesha.
“No way! This, this~ isn't this Professor Deculein~?”
A thick voice and a cloud of cloying perfume blocked my path.
“A pleasure. It has been some time.”
Blond hair, blue eyes, handsome features.
Shorter than me, but his mana felt robust.
I knew this face. I'd modeled him myself.
“······Ihelm?”
Ihelm von Jerian Rewind.
Deculein's nemesis······though that was too grand a term; likely just a named rival jealous of losing the chief professor seat.
“Yes~ Professor Deculein. How fares university life these days? I heard there was an incident right from your first lecture.”
“It has been resolved.”
“Haha. Of course it has. But lately, I've been worried—some ruffians seem to doubt your reputation.”
Ihelm made a fuss.
As the saying goes, a long tail gets caught. Just as he'd said, Deculein's deceptions and facades were slowly leaking out.
“Of course, I eagerly await your groundbreaking magical research, Professor Deculein. Surely you're pondering deeply for some monumental achievement? Though that pondering has dragged on for nearly three years now······.”
I looked at Ihelm. His vivid expressions and wrinkles were nauseating.
What if cheese came alive and moved? Like that.
Human cheese.
“······If that grand research is too complex, with no thread to unravel, and if you require my assistance, feel free to ask anytime. I'll come running.”
It was mocking provocation.
The original Deculein would have shown him some nonverbal disdain, but I offered no retort. Not even a blink.
Honestly, I didn't care.
“I understand, truly. The title of chief professor must weigh heavily. The pinnacle of honor for university tower mages······ Are you listening?”
After monologuing endlessly, Ihelm finally tired, wrinkling his nose and pinching his brow.
“I did not hear.”
“Tch······ You seem busy, so allow me one final word.”
I shifted my gaze past his shoulder, searching for Ganesha.
Gone.
Right, left, door, window—nowhere.
The important named character had vanished.
“Acting so noble and superior alone won't win you anyone's favor. You know that, right? Falls from grace aren't rare in noble circles. Abandon that absurd 'Pure Elements' research······”
Suddenly, heat surged to the back of my neck.
This bastard made me miss Ganesha, yet the mayonnaise fucker wouldn't shut up.
“Yes, Professor Deculein. Hell awaits soon, so laugh while you can. And furthermore······.”
One word had ballooned into dozens.
If I stayed silent, he'd nag till I died of old age, so I stepped closer.
“I have one word as well.”
“If you'll heed my advice······?”
Looking down at his yellow-white mug, I leaned to his ear.
And whispered softly.
······Mind your own business and fuck off, you rotten cheese bastard.
It risked a death flag, but it felt good. A natural smile tugged at my lips. Of course—Deculein had despised Ihelm too.
“Wh-what? Cheese? Rotten cheese? You just—”
“Farewell.”
I left the stammering fool and strode away.
Finally rid of Ihelm, but crowds still sought Deculein. Nobles swarmed like they'd been waiting.
—I heard about that incident. Illayde's child picked a fight with some lowborn's kid?
—And then Chief Professor Deculein appeared like a hero. My son told me all about it. Ha ha ha. Just hearing it excites me—what must he have felt? Oh, my son's name is······.
—Chief Professor Deculein. Are you free tonight?
They prattled endlessly—requests, woes, even temptations.
My head throbbed. Sweet desserts and heavy perfumes assaulted my senses. The Iron Man trait had needlessly sharpened my smell and senses.
Tired of it all, I sought solitude.
Up on the deserted third floor, leaning against a corridor window to catch my breath—
“······Professor Deculein?”
Someone called my name. Turning, I was stunned.
The named character I'd been hunting: Ganesha.
“What are you doing here?”
She approached, eyes wide.
Had Deculein known Ganesha originally?
No idea.
I replied impassively.
“······I am lost.”
“Oh? Making jokes now? You weren't waiting for me?”
Fair enough—Deculein likely had ties to Ganesha.
“······.”
I glanced sidelong at her as she stood beside me. Mistaking it for a glare, she smiled with her eyes and clasped her hands.
“Sorry about that mission. But I returned the advance and penalty fee. Forgive me just once?”
“······.”
Silence from me, and Ganesha pouted, puffing her cheeks. Her twintails swung side to side.
“Fine······ In the Great Desert, I saw the hugely talented kid you wanted. Can't say it's magical talent for sure······but it was a girl.”
I gazed silently at the sky outside. Night had fallen; pale moonlight bathed the sill.
Ganesha followed my gaze.
“Sorry I couldn't bring her. No—sorry I didn't. I got attached. Couldn't hand her to you.”
No Understanding needed to grasp it.
Aware of his magical shortcomings, Deculein had planned to enslave an easy-to-control, highly talented child for his research. He'd tasked Ganesha with it.
“But Professor, how long do you plan to live like this?”
I still stared at the moon.
No answer, so she pulled a cigarette from her pocket and bit it.
“Hey. Can you light this for me?”
“No.”
“······.”
Not that I disliked it—I couldn't. Hadn't learned Ignition yet.
Ganesha feigned offense, and I spoke.
“I intend to live differently from now on.”
“······Huh? Really?”
She moved the cigarette from her mouth to her hand. I nodded without looking.
“Uh······unexpected. I thought you'd try to kill me. Actually, came here to see you. Out of curiosity.”
“······What was so curious.”
“You ran off without a word, but sent no assassins.”
Her twintails fluttered.
Flutter flutter—flutter flutter—
Meant as surprise, but annoying.
“Excessive worry.”
Ganesha was a top combat named. Her freely moving hair showed it: a martial artist at physical peak.
Traits alone: Ten Thousand Flows Converge, even famed Indestructible Diamond Body······literally 'could kill with a single hair.'
Send assassins after that monster?
That'd be true madness.
“Really okay, Professor Deculein?”
Her right twintail slapped my shoulder playfully.
“If you came to see me, depart now.”
I stepped from the sill toward the stairs.
I'd come to build connections, but they already existed.
No need to linger in this social hall.
Ganesha called from behind.
“Ah, but can I? Gotta trust you. No extermination or expulsion from the guild?”
Yukline prestige could pressure the adventurer guild. She'd defied and abandoned the mission.
“······Beneath me.”
Insane anyway, so I cut it off and walked.
I felt Ganesha's gaze on my back.
······Huh, um······did he eat something bad? Sick? Or new engagement? What's with him······.
Even from afar, her mutter reached me.
Late now, she lit the cigarette; thick, acrid tar scent wafted.
Then.
Death Variable: Avoided
“······What? This?”
Villain's Fate had triggered.
Previously 'Overcome,' now 'Avoided.'
Meaning my exchange with Ganesha was a full-fledged 'death variable'······.
* * *
“Oh······ Chocolate flowing like a fountain.”
Julie gawked at the trendy socialite 'it' item: the chocolate fountain.
“Raylee. Look at this. Amazing.”
Her cousin Raylee grabbed her arm.
“Ugh, seriously. Stop and come here······.”
“······Why do you always do that when I say anything.”
“Can't help it—you're so uncouth. Think of your knight's dignity, Lady Julie! Don't gawk; act composed.”
“I never wanted to come.”
Julie shot Raylee a glare, then refocused on the fountain.
Gurgle gurgle——
Magic chocolate aside, she craved the chocolate itself.
Rich chocolate. Sweetness that made her salivate······.
“Hm? Why's Ihelm fuming like that?”
By the fountain's side, in her peripheral vision: Ihelm, huffing alone.
“Yeah. He was talking to Professor Deculein earlier. Why the sudden rage?”
“······.”
Deculein, Ihelm, Syrio, Rafel, Georg—peers dubbed the golden generation, Julie's seniors at Imperial University.
Deculein unchanged then or now; Ihelm his clinging faction hanger-on.
Some incident shattered them.
“But, um, how are things lately?”
Raylee probed slyly.
“What things.”
“With Professor Deculein. Lots of rumors.”
Social circles spread gossip instantly. Morning words reached even nobles' dogs by evening.
Raylee asked outright, hating Deculein as much as Julie showed.
“······Far from good.”
Clear, firm voice.
The whole circle likely perked up to hear it.
──But was this another twist of fated mischief?
Deculein, briefly absent, reappeared at the second-floor stairs.
Perfect timing, dramatic entrance.
“That man······still looks the same. Thirty-three now—why doesn't he age?”
Deculein fit any social scene, ever welcomed by his noble looks and style.
Even haters conceded that.
His fashion was the nobleman's textbook; he flaunted it.
Thus he always stayed till the end, displaying his grace······but today?
He headed for the exit.
Coat already on.
Nobles stared blankly at his odd path.
Step, step.
Resonant footsteps silenced the grand hall. Crowds parted for him.
Silent space; questions bloomed in minds.
What was Deculein doing?
Leaving?
Already? Abandoning the salon so soon?
Sun barely set?
Why?
Ah, because of Julie?
As they blinked in bewilderment—
Deculein exited; silence filled with only fountain gurgles. He never returned······.
His abrupt departure linked to Julie's words.
The party ignited on that gossip fuel.
* * *
Attend Salon 'New Year's Flower'
◆ Shop Currency +0.5
◆ Current Shop Currency: 4.5
Back before sunset, servants stared in surprise. Home far earlier than expected.
I asked for a large empty space—like a warehouse. The middle-aged head maid hesitated, then led me.
This vast estate held not just my main residence, but back hills, ornamental woods, gardens, servant quarters—and an old warehouse.
“······Filthy.”
Half a soccer field, but unused: cobwebs and dust everywhere.
I betrayed no disgust in action—covering my nose or coughing would lack grace.
“Are you outside?”
I projected my voice. Servants rushed in.
“Clean it thoroughly. And fetch metal ingots.”
“Yes.”
Arms crossed, I watched. Deculein's servants excelled; the vast space gleamed in 15 minutes.
“Steel ingots. Any furniture desired—”
Metal arrived promptly, stamped from a smithy.
“Enough. Rest now. Henceforth, enter only if I summon or permit.”
“Understood.”
They backed away, backs unseen.
Confirmed gone, I folded my clothes midair via Telekinesis—hanger magic.
Dropped the steel ingot. Used Basic Metal Transmutation. Touched by my mana, it stretched into a familiar tool: a 'pull-up bar.'
Grasping it to start—
“······.”
On a whim, applied Midas' Hand. Poured max thousands: 3,000 mana.
Info
：Iron bar forged by transmutation magic.
：Enhanced durability via Midas' Hand.
Category
：Apparatus ⊃ Fitness
Special Effect
：Workouts with this yield superior efficiency.
Fitness efficiency boosted.
Perfect for 'Fitness' category.
“······A remarkably versatile trait.”
Satisfied, I gripped the bar, extended arms, pulled up.
One, two, three······.
Arms trembled, slipped. Three pull-ups max.
Shocking.
“I could do five before······ No, I did. But this body's untrained.”
With Iron Man, yet magic-obsessed. Foolish past.
Muscles recovered fast; gripped again.
Second set.
One, two, three······.
Four, five, six······.
Total six.
Dramatic rise in one set.
Physical prowess visibly surged.
This was Iron Man's power.
In two sets, Deculein's fitness surpassed Kim Woojin's.
“Tricky.”
Laugh or cry?
I smiled, gripped again.