Mass. (2)
Clear skies dotted with clouds. A sunset slowly turning red, square and swaying autumn leaves.
A landscape more autumnal than any other.
Yuseffin emerged into the alley as promised. For some reason, her steps felt as light as a waltz. No, she knew the reason perfectly well.
"...My lord."
Upon arriving, she naturally hardened her expression. Deculein, who had been standing with his back to her, turned around.
The two faced each other in silence.
"...".
"...".
The only way to save Julie, who was suffering from a terminal curse.
Though uncertain, Yuseffin trusted Deculein, and Deculein was prepared to act for Julie's sake.
Yuseffin spoke first. There was no signal.
"I'll get straight to the point. Did you kill that knight, Veron?"
As she spoke, she pointed to the hollow of her throat. It was a necklace artifact recording the scene.
Deculein simply glared at Yuseffin. She added one more word.
"No need to deny it, sir. The last sighting was you and Veron together, and there was an unnatural wound on Veron's chest—not from a simple fall or an assassin's work."
Even then, Deculein said nothing. He merely glared at her with utter disgust.
Yuseffin continued.
"If you deny it, then lend me your weapon. That pitch-black steel of yours."
"...My pitch-black steel."
"We've already recovered Veron's body. We need it to compare the wounds—"
"Is that truly necessary?"
Deculein let out a hollow laugh.
"He was a presumptuous fool who deserved death from the start. Daring to covet what wasn't his. A man without the worth to live."
He recited the lines from the script. This was exactly what the original Deculein would have said.
"And even if that truth came out now, what of it? Do you think you could punish me? Me, who enjoys His Majesty's favor?"
"...".
Yuseffin ground her teeth.
A faint, hollow smile tugged at Deculein's lips.
"In any case, even that has become useless now."
"...What do you mean?"
"She'll break soon enough anyway."
Veins bulged on Yuseffin's face in an instant. Those words genuinely enraged her.
"A knight whimpering and writhing over some mere curse."
Deculein's face remained coldly impassive as he spat out words of infinite cruelty.
"I am not so compassionate as to love a dying woman, and two bereavements would tarnish the Yukline name."
Acting or sincere? His voice cut like a winter gale, sharp and unrelenting.
"Is that all you have to say, Yuseffin? Did you summon me just for such drivel?"
"...".
Yuseffin desperately suppressed her murderous urge.
Of course, she knew it was an act, but he played it so well. Good enough for a theater award. Somehow, he seemed even better at it than her.
"I have no more words for you lot who supplied defective goods. The engagement with Phairden is off. Tell Zeit as much."
That marked the end of the charade.
Deculein left without hesitation, leaving Yuseffin with a video of just over five minutes—the evidence Julie needed to hate him.
"...Defective goods, indeed."
Thank you.
Yuseffin's killing intent swiftly turned to rational thought.
Deculein loved Julie as much as she did—perhaps even more.
Yet he could say such things...
Deculein truly, truly wanted to save Julie.
More than anyone in this world.
"Hehe."
Then I hope this method works. Yuseffin murmured inwardly and let out a small sigh.
"...".
She trudged toward the funeral hall.
But her steps halted at some point. Because of 'someone' hiding their presence from afar.
"...Julie?"
It was Julie.
Her head was bowed low, hair veiling her face, her body trembling like a volcano, vividly conveying her emotions and thoughts.
"You... heard everything?"
"...".
This wasn't the plan—to let her hear it directly.
Yuseffin was honestly flustered, but soon felt a sinister joy rising from the depths.
"...It's okay."
Whispering comfort at her side while outwardly plotting to dismantle the Prenheim Knights.
Once the knights were gone, Julie would have no place in the capital and would return to Phairden.
Assuming Deculein's words were true, the curse would heal, and Julie would stay by her side forever...
"You have me by your side."
Hiding all her wicked intentions.
Yuseffin carefully wrapped her arms around Julie's shoulders.
—Foolish and lamentable.
The specter's voice flowed into her consciousness. A lowly echo dragging the living of this world to the next. Entranced, Ifrin peered into his face.
—What your father truly desired was...
"...!"
She jolted awake from the dream. Ifrin looked around frantically. It was the assistant's lab, her body drenched in sweat.
A dream.
Or was it?
Ifrin sprang up and dashed to Deculein's office.
Proof that this world wasn't a dream. The one who proved this world was real...
"...".
Her finger hesitated before knocking. Ifrin looked up at the nameplate.
Chief Professor Deculein's Office
Always so close, yet always feeling distant.
Hateful yet grateful, unforgivable yet understandable.
The professor who knew her faults and betrayal, yet deemed it fine because she was his 'disciple'.
"...Haa."
Ifrin withdrew her hand and turned away. Just then, Allen and Drent were walking down the hall, chatting.
Drent said to Ifrin.
"Ifrin. You know that new Gero Ice Cream chain?"
"What, no way! Really?!"
Gero Ice Cream. Short for 'crab ice cream', that insanely famous treat from the south finally entering the empire?!
Ifrin clutched her cheeks and chattered excitedly.
"Is this a dream? A real dream?!"
"What dream? I went, but the line was huge, so I left."
Drent shook his head. Allen looked quite disappointed too.
"Yeah. They said three hours wait..."
"No! I'll go! Just give me the money!"
She could study papers standing anyway. No, standing might even help focus more.
Three hours standing was fine.
"Hurry! Hurry! Give me the errand!"
Ifrin extended both hands to Drent and Allen, her eyes sparkling like a deer's...
And 15 minutes later.
"...Tsk. It's long."
The endless line for Gero Ice Cream. She waved a 100 elne bill, peering ahead.
Roughly 200 people.
"Whatever."
For Gero Ice Cream, this sacrifice was worth it.
Ifrin waited, studying her paper.
20 minutes and 20 people per page.
After about three hours, the sun had set, and exactly 20 remained.
"Ugh~"
Good enough. Ifrin rolled her stiff neck and stowed the paper in her bag.
—Next customer~
A bit more time passed, one by one, until finally it was Ifrin's turn.
"Next customer~"
"Yes, me...?"
Screeech—
A luxury car pulled up right beside her on the roadside.
The secretary stepped out briskly from the driver's seat and whispered something to the frog-like boss.
"...Ah, yes."
The frog boss's face turned grave. He nodded and handed nearly all the remaining Gero Ice Cream to the secretary.
Then he shouted to the waiting crowd.
"Sorry, we're out of ingredients! See you tomorrow!"
"No!"
"If you have a wait ticket today, come early tomorrow for yours!"
"Argh!"
Before Ifrin, clutching her ticket, could speak, the shutter slammed down. Her resentful gaze shifted to the luxury sedan parked on the road.
"Ugh, seriously!"
After hours of waiting! Even so, this was too much! At least take one serving! There were plenty left—why take it all?!
Ifrin rushed to the car and knocked on the window. Tap-tap.
"Excuse me! Hey—!"
Her rationality shattered in broad daylight. With an end-of-the-world face, she glared through the window.
"Arrrgh—! Heyyy—! Why the hell—!"
Then, smoothly—the window rolled down.
Ifrin shoved her hand in immediately, but upon seeing the face inside, she flinched back.
"Pr... Professor?"
"...".
Deculein. He looked at her with utter pity. Ifrin stammered on.
"Uh, Professor, you... like ice cream too...?"
"No."
"Then why? Why buy so much...? It was my turn next."
"...".
Seeing the ice cream in the passenger seat reignited her courage. No, her greed. Ifrin snapped back sharply.
"Huh? Why?"
"...".
Deculein silently reached into his inner pocket. A wallet emerged, along with something else glinting slightly. Ifrin caught the sparkle.
A silver metal chain.
Beneath it, faintly visible—a 'pendant'.
"Take it. As compensation."
Deculein handed her three bills—300 elne.
"No. It's not about the money..."
"...Here?"
"Yes."
The secretary-like man gave Ifrin one tub of ice cream.
"Huh? Oh, yes... I'll pay too. 30 elne per serving—"
"Go."
Vroom—the engine started again, and Ifrin flinched back.
The car sped away.
"You're in a bad mood."
Ifrin felt awkwardly embarrassed for no reason.
"...You bought it anyway."
Walking with her one tub, giggles kept slipping out.
The professor likes ice cream too... At least one thing in common... But what I just saw... Is that the pendant Longdalp the mage told me about...? Nah, probably not...
Then Ifrin spotted someone else. The tower's 'Help Wanted' board.
At the tower entrance, a large board where approved adventure parties or companies could post short-term hires for tower mages.
"Ganesha?"
"...Oh?"
It was Ganesha. She flapped her hair at Ifrin and pointed at the ice cream, smiling.
"Gero Ice Cream? Looks tasty~"
"Ah, yeah..."
Ifrin slyly hid the ice cream behind her back. Not enough to share.
"What brings you here?"
"Hmm~ Short-term job posting~ We need a proper mage."
"...".
Ifrin stared at Ganesha. Blinking her crucian carp mouth and eyes—
Ganesha smiled brightly and tilted her head.
"What's wrong~?"
Ifrin replied.
"I'll do it."
"...Pardon?"
"Instead, I want... info. On the Luna and Deculein families' relationship."
"...".
Ganesha fell silent. The smile on her lips stiffened rigidly.
"Don't adventure parties sell anything?"
"Well. I'd need the professor's permission~?"
From Ganesha's response, Ifrin was certain.
She knows. About our families.
She wouldn't react like this otherwise.
"I'll do anything. And I'm... a party to it..."
"It'll be tough~"
"Your party has kids too. Can't I match them? And..."
"Why?"
To the hesitating Ifrin, Ganesha said.
"Planning to smack the professor in the back of the head again?"
"No! Absolutely not."
"Then why?"
"My dreams keep... featuring the former Yukline head, Dikailen."
"...".
Ganesha's face hardened instantly. She tore down the poster from the board.
She dusted her hands and offered a handshake to Ifrin.
"When can you start? This mission's pretty tough."
"No schedule?"
"Dungeon raid. We won the lottery this time. Lucky us. Two days and we'll wrap it up~?"
When the imperial family or a lord commissions a dungeon raid from the adventure guild, the guild allocates resources by rank and draws one party like a lottery.
That's called the 'Dungeon Raid Lottery'.
"Yes. Two days is good."
"Here, your temporary adventurer certification."
Ganesha pulled out a checkbook and tore off a sheet for Ifrin.
"I'm an S-rank leader, so bring it for the raid."
"Yes. Uh... but the info's legit, right?"
Ifrin belatedly doubted. Ganesha chuckled.
"Of course. I got done in by a demon once? Yukline healed me. So I know their stuff to some extent."
Ganesha recalled that time. She'd paid her entire fortune, earned over ten years at the cost of her life. Of course, she survived thanks to it, but she couldn't like 'Dikailen' at least.
"Plus, I'm Red Garnet's leader? No info I don't know exists~"
"...Yes. Good. I'm Ifrin—no need to doubt my skills."
Ifrin nodded confidently.
"I trust you. The professor's one and only disciple."
Those words embarrassed her, so she pouted and nodded small.
"...Yup."
"Her Majesty awaits."
I arrived at the imperial palace. My mood wasn't great. Not just because of the ice cream in my hand.
"This way."
The location was Sophien's chambers. The guide was Jolang. I sneered at him.
"Still alive, Jolang?"
"...Thanks to Her Majesty's grace."
Jolang backed away, and I observed protocol before opening the door.
"Deculein von Grahan Yukline, head of Yukline, answers Her Majesty's summons..."
No one was inside.
Just a snow globe.
You know, the spherical glass bottle filled with clear liquid and snowflakes that, when flipped, make snow fall.
"...".
I checked its item info and was stunned.
Info
A snow globe meticulously crafted by a high devotee of the ancient divine era.
A small world worthy of its own ecosystem.
Category
Miracle ⊃ World
"Hah..."
A fitting imperial tribute, a treasure of the ages sufficient to pique Sophien's curiosity—a miracle itself.
I didn't know who offered it.
I picked up the snow globe and peered inside.
A person was there. Only their silhouette visible, but red hair.
—Don't shake it.
Meowr!
A cat lunged from behind. A red-furred Munchkin. I sighed at her.
"Are you trapped inside?"
—Indeed. Shaking makes me dizzy. Keep it steady.
"Does possession magic work from in there?"
—It consumes a lot of mana. Anyway, why so late? I waited a day. Enter now. Infuse mana to access.
"...Yes."
I placed my right hand on the snow globe. Left hand gripped the ice cream bag. Then infused mana.
Woooong...
A sensation of mana and soul transferring somewhere.
When I opened my eyes, it was a vast white space.
The snow globe's interior, no doubt.
"You're here."
Far off, the emperor and Kairon. Sophien approached in a fur hat and cape coat, her red hair vivid against the pure white.
"Give it."
"Yes."
I handed her the ice cream.
"...".
The emperor stared intently at it. Ziiing—
She furrowed her brow slightly, pondered, then looked up at me.
"...".
A face gauging my reaction.
The distant emperor confessed honestly.
"Situations like this pose a slight dilemma. No subject dares eat before me, and I've avoided lavish feasts, so I've never seen or tried such things—thus, I can only infer how... Do you eat it by hand?"
She wanted to know how to eat it.
"The ice cream I know is on a stick."
True, this wasn't plain ice cream but shaved ice topped with it—a flashy dish at first glance.
"Open the lid, mix the contents with the spoon, and eat."
"Spoon?"
"It's attached to the lid."
"...".
The emperor followed my instructions. Her mixing was elegantly refined.
Her speech rough, but etiquette matched mine.
"But, Deculein. Where is this place?"
She asked while stirring. I surveyed around. A snowy plain with nothing.
For now.
"I believe it's an ancient bunker, or prison."
"Is that so."
"...No questions."
"You wouldn't be wrong. I suspected as much."
The emperor chuckled. Then took a spoonful. Her drowsy eyes widened slightly.
"Mm! Delicious!"
"Is it?"
Of course it was.
I'd applied Midas' Hand at stage 4—4,000 mana— to mere ice cream.
"Reward subjects who whet my appetite later. For now, think of a way out of this white expanse."
Sophien focused on her ice cream.
I placed my hand on the ground and activated Understanding. 1,000 mana gone in an instant.
"...Ahem."
I spat black blood. The watchful emperor asked.
"Are you ill?"
"No. Too healthy."
Blood and mana relation. Overusing mana at once burns the blood—dead blood.
Mages avoid it carefully, but I needn't.
Iron Man's blood regeneration is exceptional.
Just spit out the dead blood and wait for fresh to fill.
"Learn anything?"
"No. Your Majesty, anything?"
"Stayed four days, but little. This world feels too real—fascinating."
"Four days..."
I looked at the emperor.
I thought I'd heard something odd.
"Your Majesty. You possessed the cat to inform me. When was that?"
"When? Yesterday. You were late."
"No."
I shook my head.
"I came right after hearing you today. Some delay, but not a full day."
"...".
Sophien paused her stirring spoon. Stared at me.
"Hm. Time lag in my possession?"
"No. Likely... this snow globe's issue. Let's investigate step by step."
Sophien chuckled.
"Spending 'strange time' with you... Reminds me of old days."
Incomprehensible to me.
As I turned, Sophien feigned ignorance and ate her ice cream.