Mass. (1)
······The inner sanctum of Ghost Castle is shrouded in fog, hazy and indistinct. My senses keep fading, and a languid sensation wraps around my body, making me feel as though I'm not myself.
In that hazy consciousness, Ifrin wanders lost.
"Karos! There you are!"
A voice rings out then. Ifrin turns hesitantly to look.
"Snap out of it!"
"Don't give in!"
Ganesha, Lia, and Leo are holding onto some kid named Karos, shouting desperately. Don't touch the ground, they say—get up quick.
"Sis! Where are ya! Sis!"
Jakal is still searching for his sister, and Ifrin moves her legs too.
—······It's you.
But from somewhere, a voice calling her name. Ifrin blankly turns toward it.
—Nice to meet you.
Someone resembling Deculein. But an older man, smiling at her.
—Daughter of my beloved Kaigan.
"······What?"
—Come here.
He reaches out a hand. Ifrin stumbles toward him, entranced by something.
"Ifrin!"
Someone grabs her wrist then. It was Ihelm.
"Don't go."
He pulls Ifrin behind him and glares at Dikailen. Dikailen smiles dryly.
—Ihelm, is it.
"······."
—I was grateful for you. For becoming my son's friend—
"Friend? We were never in that kind of romantic relationship."
—Haha.
"What the hell is going on. The dead coming back to life. What is this place?"
Dikailen's expression hardens for a moment. But he soon smiles again.
Dikailen speaks.
—Ihelm. I live on like this. I am not dead.
Madness bordering on obsession flickers in Dikailen's murmuring eyes.
He looks at Ifrin.
—Daughter of Luna. Do you know what your father truly desired?
"Don't listen, Ifrin."
Ihelm gathers mana in his fist. He constructs a destructive spell to crush Dikailen's spirit.
—If you knew that······.
The moment he tries to unleash the completed spell.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung───!
A vibration erupts. Ifrin and Ihelm look around frantically.
—······Oh dear.
Dikailen, his face heavy, speaks. He looks up at the sky and furrows his brow.
—My son is up to something strange.
Ihelm deploys a barrier over Ifrin and everyone around. Almost simultaneously, a rumble like the earth's crust shattering shakes the entire world.
──────!
And······.
Karos has memories of Deculein from childhood.
A child prodigy, they called him. But that was the extent of it—an ordinary talent. A pitiable friend.
-Decu. Maybe this'll work?
-······No. Unnecessary. Don't call me Decu.
-Try it like I do?
-I said no. You—and drop the question mark at the end. Stop phrasing everything like a question. It's confusing.
Unable to grasp the genius's teachings, refusing to admit even that fact out of pride, stubborn to the end, and blaming the teacher's odd methods.
A peculiar guy.
But now Karos watches. The island crumbling pointlessly, shattering, sinking. A sorcerer wielding such devastating magic.
Deculein.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa——!
The entire castle shakes wildly. A colossal earthquake strikes from all sides.
The already dead souls wail, and Karos hears their cries.
Curses of not wanting to die.
Or pleas to be killed.
As a side note, this world has a "ghost society." Karos has even visited it.
They recognize "humans who kill souls," so Deculein might earn the eternal hatred of the spirits from this incident.
Deculein must know that.
Yet that friend doesn't hesitate.
Is he unafraid of curses? Or does he not think about the aftermath?
Karos finds Deculein's growth baffling.
Ku-uuuuu-uuuung———!
The castle begins to collapse. Walls split like torn paper, shattering into dozens of pieces.
The telekinesis unleashed from the ground resonates through the entire space, creating powerful shockwaves.
"······."
Deculein coughs up blood in the midst of the magic. A mouthful of dead blood flows from his mouth. Blood from torn muscles soaks his clothes.
The mana Karos lent was only about thirty percent of hers, but the price of borrowing another's was steep.
"Are you alright?"
Karos asks. Deculein shows no reaction. He merely sits in his chair, gazing at his disciple and assistant professor.
"······Ugh."
Ifrin reacts first. Her eyelids flutter, and she slowly opens her eyes.
"······."
Those hazy eyes fix on Deculein. A face still pondering if it's reality or a dream.
"Pro... fessor...?"
Ifrin looks at Deculein. Covered in blood and exhaustion, so unlike his usual self, she can only think it's a dream.
"Ah! Professor?!"
Allen wakes next. Meanwhile, Deculein closes his eyes briefly.
The two startle in panic.
"He's dead!"
"Ifrin, don't say that! Profeeeessor!"
"······Doesn't seem dead."
At Karos's words, their heads snap toward her. They stare at Karos, eyes asking:
Who are you?
Ihelm's disciples open their eyes next, and from afar, the click-clack of heels echoes.
Ganesha.
"Ooh~ Our professor went all out. This castle... how many square meters was it? Anyway."
She laughs, picking up debris from the castle. It's utterly demolished, but the area nearby is held together by Deculein's Telekinesis.
"Even just these mana stones would thrill the imperial folk. Though we couldn't preserve the integrity~"
Ganesha looks at Karos. She smiles with her eyes, but her gaze is deep.
"Karos."
"Karos?! You're her?!"
Ifrin and Allen both look utterly shocked.
Karos, like Rohakan, is a Black Water-rank criminal.
The one who erased a city from the map, causing tens of thousands of deaths—the so-called "Lord of Death."
Ganesha says,
"Wanna make a deal? Just take five percent."
"These mana stones are made from people."
Karos replies.
There are types of mana stones.
The most natural and common are those formed from earth's mana mixed with soil.
Among the highest grades are Abyssal Stones grown in black copper whales' bellies, Mountain Mana Stones found only in mountains, and so on.
"Sell 'em on the Floating Island?"
Among them, mana stones bloomed from human corpses are called Human Mana Stones, shunned by all. But the Floating Island prizes them for magic experiments.
Yet Karos shakes her head.
"Doesn't appeal to me. I don't like human mana stones."
Ganesha gazes steadily at her. Beside her, a 160cm short girl approaches timidly.
Lia. She figures she should get acquainted with the named ones.
"Karos. Mind if I ask why?"
Karos silently alternates glances between Ganesha and Lia.
"Why you're... cooperating with the Altar."
Ganesha asks while picking up a fallen tree branch from the ground.
Karos answers.
"······Who knows. Maybe because I don't want to die?"
Then, an invisible blade streaks through the air.
Ku-uuuuu-ung───!
Jakal's demon sword Muramasa's strike. Ganesha blocks it casually with the dry branch.
"Whoa! As expected of big sis Ganesha?!"
Jakal laughs heartily from afar. Ganesha glances at him and shakes her head.
"Sis! You were here!"
Jakal bounces over. He points at Deculein in the chair.
"Professor sleeping?"
At that moment, Deculein opens his eyes again.
"Ah, no he's not. Heh heh."
He silently surveys the surroundings. The gathered people—and especially Ganesha.
"Ganesha. I didn't know you traveled with demons."
"Not a demon, half-and-half—"
"Same difference."
His body creaks, muscles screaming, but he cleans the blood and dust with Cleanse. He straightens his attire too.
"Ganesha."
"······Yes!"
As he starts to speak to Ganesha, someone calls him. The girl named Lia.
"I swear it. A pact if you like. If Karos turns demonic, I'll kill him myself. So—"
"Shut your mouth."
Lia bites her lip. Deculein slowly rises. Ifrin and Allen stand by his side.
"He's the type to become a demon."
"No. If we handle him well—"
"Hide him if you can. But no need for oaths. No begging me. If he crosses my sight, I'll kill him without fail."
"Ah······."
Lia looks up at him, then bows her head. Deculein glares at Ganesha in her stead.
Ganesha just gives a wry smile.
"Sorry. Didn't mention it sooner. He's family now."
"Think a demon can be family."
"······I'll make sure he's not."
"······."
Deculein's expression darkens fiercely. He mutters curses under his breath with his own face and jerks his head.
"······Ifrin. Allen."
"Yes."
"Yeees!"
"We're leaving."
He doesn't want to stay in the same space long.
As Deculein turns to go, he spots Ihelm standing blankly somewhere.
"······Ihelm."
Ihelm looks a bit dazed, his two disciples beside him.
"······."
"Ihelm."
"······Ah."
Only then does he turn to Deculein and nod.
"Yeah yeah. What, leaving? This is all over······ Huh? What happened here?"
He finally notices the wrecked castle and makes a dumb face.
"Follow."
As he uses Telekinesis to dig through the castle debris, a notification appears.
Altar and Ghosts
◆ Mental Strength +1
◆ New Traits Awakened: Circuits and Skeleton
On the cruise back.
I read the system and turn to Karos. She's drinking wine with Jakal and Ihelm.
Relaxed, unlike a Black Water-rank criminal.
"······Pro, Professor. Is it okay to leave them like that?"
Allen shivers as he asks.
"It's fine. He's not the type to kill on a whim."
Lord of Death Karos.
Her mana ranges from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. This monstrous scale is due to her trait.
Return Light Reflection
Karos's unique trait. The closer she nears death—her lifespan ending—the vaster her mana grows.
Ever more powerful.
The price of talent no ordinary human could bear: her remaining life is less than two years. She's a patient suffering from an "incurable disease that makes her stronger."
"······."
I glance at Ifrin unthinkingly. She's been biting her nails, lost in thought.
Annoying.
"Filthy."
"······Huh?"
Snap—! Her nail breaks off then. She'd bitten it with her teeth.
I exhale heated breath.
"······Ifrin."
"Yes?"
"Five demerit points."
"Huh? Why?! Out of nowhere?!"
"Misconduct."
Ifrin stares at me with the most wronged face in the world. Her already big eyes take up nearly half her face.
"Nooo~ That's not fair~ No wayyy~"
"Why."
She shakes her head pleadingly and explains.
"Any more and I'll hit fifteen points. That's a fine."
"Good. Guess what you did wrong, and I'll retract them."
"Hmm······."
Ifrin furrows her brow side to side, pondering, peeks at me slyly, then mumbles in a shrinking voice.
"Did you... develop mind-reading or something······."
"Five demerit points."
"Aaaah!"
The returned continent is autumn. The university campus is full of colorful leaves, and the rustling wind pierces the skin.
A strangely desolate, eerie season.
A landscape not much different from Earth.
> Hehe, it's Veron’s funeral today. Glad you made it just in time.
While sorting class materials in the tower.
I receive Yuseffin's message.
> Come to the funeral hall~ Location: Phairden Knights. Also prepare a eulogy, dear husband~
If a snake tempting Eve spoke, it'd sound like this.
I pocket the crystal orb and head to the parking lot outside the tower. I ride with waiting Retran.
"To the Phairden Knights."
I gaze out the moving car window. I take in every passing scene.
My mood feels a bit off.
"······."
But this is undoubtedly the right path.
Even if the process is wrong, even if I earn hatred, it's the one and only way for Julie to survive, so in the end, it will be right.
"······Then it's fine."
I can endure the emotions rising in my heart. No—because I love Julie, I can bear it.
I don't know this kind of love. It's just become my nature. Deculein has a "personality that loves Julie."
Thus, even if Julie becomes unhappy because of me, even if she hates me enough to kill me.
As long as she can live in the same world as me······.
Tok tok— tok tok—
"?"
Something pokes me. I turn to look.
Tok tok— tok tok—
A red-furred munchkin cat scratches my sleeve with its claw. I stare at it silently, then nod to Retran.
"Yes. Understood."
Retran stops the car immediately and steps out. The cat smirks at him.
> That guy's sharp.
"······Your Majesty. What is it."
> Heard you handled Ghost Castle splendidly.
"Is that so."
> Soul mages are petitioning en masse, calling you a mass murderer and demanding punishment.
"Is that so."
> Hm. You seem in a foul mood today?
I nod slightly.
"Demons approach."
> Again?
"Yes."
> Your body won't hold out.
"······."
Emperor Sophien. She yawns hugely in the cat's body.
I say,
"If Your Majesty diligently studies Rune Language, I might lighten my burden somewhat."
> Ah. About that. I want to, but I'm trapped.
"Pardon?"
Trapped? How?
Her cryptic words make me ask again.
"······What do you mean."
> Last night or so, a treasure was offered as tribute. Got curious and played with it, ended up trapped inside. Quite the curious artifact.
"······."
I'm dumbfounded. But the emperor feeling "curiosity" is a very good sign.
> So go rescue me. Kairon’s a blockhead and can't do a thing.
"Yes. But I have a prior engagement."
> A prior engagement taking precedence over the emperor... Hmph. Five years in prison.
The cat grumbles discontentedly, licking its paw.
"I'll go without delay."
> Bring ice cream on the way.
"······."
A development I struggle to adapt to. The red-furred munchkin speaks again.
> Crucial process for growing attached to life. Don't know what suits my taste.
"······Yes. Understood."
> Good. You keep this cat.
Meeeow—
The possession ends, and the cat cries. I nod to Retran outside.
"After Phairden Knights... stop by an ice cream shop briefly."
"······Pardon? Ah, yes."
Retran double-takes, unlike him. Probably because he's never gone even once before.
My back grows hot too.
Phairden Knights. A cozy, solemn funeral rite. Few attendees, but the Mass fills the hall—the knight's final farewell.
Julie gazes at Veron's body in the casket, lost in sentiment.
"Julie."
Yuseffin calls her. Julie sighs softly and turns.
"You came."
"Yes. How are you? Alright?"
"Yes. Fine. Rather, relieved. Thanks to you, we recovered the body."
Julie salutes Yuseffin knightly. Yuseffin taps her crown and smiles brightly.
For a moment, the crystal orb in Yuseffin's bosom vibrates faintly. She says casually,
"Then, Julie. I'll step out briefly."
"Yes. Go ahead."
"Sure~"
Yuseffin waves and exits. Julie watches her, then turns back to the hall.
"······."
Many knights weep. Julie oddly feels proud of their tears. It feels like the camaraderie and bond she desired as a knight manifesting this way.
"Vice Captain."
Vice Captain Rawain returns from outside, cloak fluttering.
Julie clears her throat and speaks.
"Ahem. Yes, Rawain. What is it?"
"A luxury car outside."
"Luxury car?"
"Yes. Parked a bit far, but seems like Professor Deculein's vehicle."
"······Ah!"
Julie gasps unwittingly. Rawain smiles softly too.
They share the same thought.
Julie speaks first.
"The professor... come to pay respects······."
"Must be. After all, a knight who died saving him."
"······Not long since the mission ended; he must be tired."
Julie murmurs happily, smiling warmly.
"Then I'll go first. Given the professor's personality, he'll struggle alone."
"Yes. Go ahead."
Pretend it's coincidence, join as if by chance. The professor would want that······.
"Whew."
Julie takes a deep breath and opens the funeral hall door.