Winter. (2)
Ifrin arrived at “Pig's Flower” with Rohakan. It was because he'd told her to guide him to the restaurant with the most delicious food.
“Hm. Quite tasty.”
Even Rohakan seemed satisfied with the Roahok.
“Right?”
But their names are kinda similar. Roahok, Rohakan, Roahokkan, Rohakan.
She mumbled to herself inwardly and chuckled alone.
“Heh... no, anyway. Why'd you come? Devil stuff?”
Ifrin chewed on a Roahok hind leg. By the way, she'd given Rohakan the foreleg.
The hind leg was usually tastier, but she'd lied without thinking and said the foreleg was the best.
“It's called the Voice. Even I can't grasp its depths. Among all the devils I've met, it's the most enormous.”
“...Whoa. So the continent's doomed?”
A devil even Rohakan couldn't handle?
Ifrin's mouth dropped open. The hind leg she'd been gripping fell with a plop onto her plate.
Rohakan burst out laughing.
“No. If the continent falls, the devils go down with it too. That's not this one's goal.”
“Then what?”
“I don't know yet, but it's definitely a chance for you all to grow.”
“...Growth?”
“Yup. It's dangerous, sure, but you'll see once you go there. ...Oh, right. If you ever enter the world of the Voice...”
He pulled a coin from his pocket. It was a strangely shaped one.
“What's this?”
“The Voice's calling card. I'm giving them out to my friends.”
“...”
Ifrin took it first, then demanded an explanation with her sparkling eyes. Rohakan changed the subject without a word.
“No big news lately?”
“Big news? Oh, I met Dikailen.”
“...Dikailen?”
“Yeah. In a dream.”
Rohakan's face grew serious. He put the Roahok bone in a bowl.
“...What did Deculein say?”
Ifrin placed the wood-iron steel on the table instead of answering.
Rohakan nodded.
“Looks like you've made peace with him somehow.”
“Peace... not exactly.”
She didn't say more. Rohakan watched her and smiled faintly.
“He seems to like you a lot.”
“Whaaat?! W-what do you mean by that?!”
“Hahaha.”
He gazed at her over-the-top reaction like she was adorable.
“I know his personality well. If he didn't like you, why would he entrust his possession to you?”
“...Really?”
“Really. He hates anyone else's hands touching his stuff. Or has his personality changed overnight?”
“I dunno about that... was he like that before?”
“Yup. He got all red-faced at even me, his master, for touching his cane. Ended up not using it and tossing it away.”
“...”
Ifrin bowed her head silently. She stared at the wood-iron steel on the table.
Too many thoughts clouded her mind like smoke.
Rohakan chuckled and pointed at the Roahok.
“Anyway, enough of that. Eat this meat first. Save the emotion for later.”
“...Okay.”
Ifrin grabbed the Roahok hind leg again.
“Nothing beats Roahok when things get complicated...”
“What's that s'posed to mean?”
“...Nothing.”
A dark night where clouds and moon tangled eerily. Back at Yukline Manor, I gazed at the radiant light source.
A treasure money couldn't buy: Dragon's Soul.
“I do not comprehend.”
But it was an unexpected imperial gift, so I wondered at the intent.
Did she truly see my heart as loyal? Or was this another test?
Either way.
I applied Midas' Hand to the elixir.
Information
...
Special Effects
· Upon consumption, mana increases by ‘333’.
· Aids mana circulation in the body.
· Sharpens the five senses even further.
[Midas' Hand: Level 4]
Sharpens the five senses even further.
Not just absolute mana increase, but additional effects. Probably aids vision and hearing, roughly.
“...”
I opened the vial's lid. I downed the elixir I'd procured at great expense even from Yuren Duchy.
Consumed.
Effect:◆ Mana +333
◆ Body Enhancement
That was the end of the system message.
No pain at all—just a warmth spreading through my body.
“...Hm.”
I confirmed my mana stat had increased by a whopping ‘333’.
I felt oddly pleased.
—Knock knock.
Right on cue, a knock sounded.
It was Butler Ren's voice.
—Master. The item you requested...
The item you requested... The item you requested... The item you requested...
His voice echoed like a reverberation.
I turned toward it.
And.
“...”
I realized the world had flipped.
“Hm.”
I looked around.
A dark hallway.
Unknown paintings lined the walls left and right, spiderwebs clung to every corner like an abandoned mansion.
No need to panic. It was the world of the Voice.
“...Unchanged.”
Fortunately, it matched the game's scenery.
I walked the hallway slowly.
Sparse signs of life, but the gazes watching me were clear.
Step—step—
Mid-stroll, a fork appeared.
A right-turning hallway. A nameplate-like sign above it.
[Dining Hall]
I gladly turned my steps there.
The 'dining hall' I soon reached was literally a dining hall.
—Auntie! One fried rice here!
—Beer here, one mug.
Quite a crowd eating. More tavern than restaurant—rowdy as hell.
“...That bastard.”
Scanning inside, I spotted three familiar heads.
Tiny napes.
“...”
I approached their table. Blue veins bulged across my body. An instinctual urge surged.
—So time passes here, but not outside, right?
—For real?! But how?
—How? Well...
The kids eating sensed me and paused. The girl stopped first, the two boys following suit with their spoons.
“...”
Lia, Leo, Karos.
The trio from Ghost Island.
Especially the navy-haired kid, Karos.
“Filthy half-breed runt...”
The moment I faced the half-demon, a vein throbbed at my temple.
Vrrrroooom—!
My unconscious Telekinesis shook the dining hall. The whole place quaked like an earthquake.
“Kids, run—!”
Pale-faced Lia shouted that.
But my time in the world of the Voice ended there.
“...”
I was back at Yukline Manor in no time, and the clock hadn't ticked even a second.
—...I've brought the item you requested.
Ren's voice followed belatedly. I opened the door with Telekinesis.
“Leave it.”
“Yes.”
Ren set the item on the desk and left.
A go board and stones, as expected.
“...”
I recalled the incident while eyeing the lattice board.
Karos. I remembered that face clearly.
“Of course. A half-demon wouldn't miss a key event like the Voice.”
The Voice was crisis and opportunity. Even talentless Deculein could grow there.
However.
“Go...”
I couldn't enter the Voice at will anyway, so Go came first.
“Shall we?”
Eastern culture from the myriad islands. A game evoking old Earth's nostalgia.
Clack!
I placed a stone on the board. Recalling the Go master's memories in my head, I began Understanding.
This was solely to hone for Emperor Sophien.
...
...Meanwhile, Lia's group, still in the world of the Voice, patted their chests in relief.
Deculein's mana had been fierce enough to rip the whole space apart. Everyone in the dining hall felt that monstrous killing intent.
Fury like a raging torrent. The area around where he'd stood was already a wasteland, fitting that Richter-scale instant quake.
“...That guy just now. What'd he call me? Fry?”
Karos asked Lia. She just shook her head.
Fry. A slur for hybrids, but no need to explain.
“Dunno? I didn't hear well. Don't sweat it!”
“...Yeah?”
“Whoa~ Lia! I got so scared! His mana grabbed my body! Amazing, amazing! Professor Deculein!”
Leo bounced around. She'd grown somewhat used to his childish antics.
It was Leo's trait, after all.
Facing experts—strong ones—made Leo's blood boil. Literally boil.
Not some Saiyan or anything.
“Anyway. You two done eating?”
“Yeah! I'm full!”
“...Yeah. Stuffed.”
Leo answered energetically; Karos subdued. Lia smiled bitterly and stood first.
“Then let's go hunt! Gotta get strong to survive, right?”
“Yeah! Yeah!”
Leo sprang up like a spring. Karos, face clouded with thought, joined Lia's side.
“Let's go~”
Lia led the two kids with a bright smile.
...A world of pure white.
Sky and earth the same hue, boundaries blurred, horizon filled only with snow—this was the continent's northern extreme: the prison.
Recor Dak.
“Ugh, what a pain! Seriously.”
Julie approached that hell at world's end.
Not alone, though.
“Got bruised, see.”
Two smart horses and self-appointed adjutant Railly with her.
“Whacking with steel—what kinda defense they expect?”
Railly had volunteered from Red Garnet as Julie's adjutant. Julie knew her kind, stubborn heart and didn't refuse.
“Still, we ditched that jerk successfully. Blessings in disguise, right? Whew.”
“Railly. I see a book in your bundle.”
“...Huh.”
Mid-rant on Deculein, Railly followed Julie's gaze.
A Yukline Theory book poked from her bundle.
Especially the [Author: Deculein] section.
“Ah~ uh, this? Just took it 'cause... Toss it? Should I toss it now?”
“...”
“Toss? Toss it now? Tossing~?”
“...Do not toss it. Wasteful.”
Railly beamed innocently at Julie's words.
“Pfft, wasteful? I could chuck it anytime. But if you say keep it, I will. Might help a bit.”
“...Fine.”
Julie nodded it was okay. She wasn't petty enough to fuss over that.
Then, neigh— the horses whinnied.
“Ah! They're coming!”
People waiting not far off.
Julie looked. Prison warden, deputy, guards—Recor Dak staff all lined up.
“Knight Julie! Adjutant Railly!”
They greeted with bright smiles, glad for fresh blood after so long.
“Nice to meet you!”
Recor Dak's mission: magibeast defense.
Winter brings starving magibeasts south in waves; delaying that tide is Recor Dak's purpose.
Thus, combat personnel were vital.
“Nice to meet you! Wow~ Never dreamed two celebs like you!”
Warden smiled broadly, but Julie faced them knightly.
“Greetings. Warden Derik.”
“Yes! Loyalty, Knight Julie! I'll guide you. Hey! What're you doing? Take the horses!”
“Sir!”
Guards took the reins.
Dismounting, Julie surveyed the ground.
First, the yard... barely worthy of the name, in the prison center: countless prisoners.
Soon to be expended as a 'human wall.'
“...Railly.”
“Yes?”
“Will you be all right?”
Julie asked softly.
Railly was innocent. No need to waste time in Recor Dak's hell.
“Of course! I'd hate it if you tried sending me away.”
But Railly conveyed her will with a warm smile; Julie replied sincerely.
“...Thank you.”
Magic Tower, chief professor's office.
“...Gulp.”
Ifrin swallowed, staring at Deculein. Sweat beaded her forehead; hands trembled uncontrollably.
Thesis review.
That simple process terrified her.
His eyes scanning pages seemed to dissect her soul; the rustle of turning felt like blades on skin.
“Gulp... gulp... gulp.”
Three gulps in, Deculein looked at her. Annoyed eyes.
“Gulp. Sorry, hic! Wh-what, hic!—”
Gulps turned to hiccups. Panicked, Ifrin clamped her mouth, to no avail.
“Ah, hic!”
“...”
“Diaphragm—hic!”
“...Such a racket.”
“Hic! Sorry, hic!!”
Deculein shook his head, setting the thesis down.
“Enough. It's done anyway.”
“Phew, hic!”
“...Your thesis has improved somewhat. However.”
Deculein moved a pen with telekinesis.
He marked her thesis “Magic Formulas Using Tri-Elements (Ifrin's. Death if stolen. Drent especially)”—specifically, line 5 on page 38.
“Observe. This makes it more concise. Reduces unnecessary mana expenditure.”
Ifrin peered at his correction. Her eyes widened.
“Whoa! Hic! This cuts mana use by...”
She deployed the spell, calculating consumption. Saved about 20% over her original.
“Yes! Hic! I'll use it! Thanks!”
Precious correction from Deculein. She memorized it all.
“But Ifrin. Did you need earth, fire, and wind here? Three elements?”
“...Pardon?”
“Two suffice.”
Deculein pointed to another section. A question this time.
Ifrin nodded blankly.
“Yes.”
“With your current skill, handling three is impossible, no?”
“...No, I can.”
It pricked her pride, so she asserted.
Deculein furrowed his brow slightly.
“Your self-objectification is lacking.”
“...But no issue with the thesis itself, right?”
“No issue. But submit as is?”
His signature gaze: How dare you— you'll fail— dripping arrogance and hubris.
“Yes. I'll submit.”
“Thesis Conference needs a perfect demo. I think you'll fail. Heart races in crowds, no?”
His prods continued.
But Ifrin knew his personality. And how to use it.
“I'll demo perfectly.”
Turn his barbs to growth fuel.
Shatter his doubts with near-infinite drive.
...No.
“Hm... Very well.”
Truth was, Deculein didn't doubt her.
He trusted utterly, so he pushed.
“We shall see.”
Professor Deculein liked challenging mages. The faint smile proved it.
Ifrin realized belatedly.
This man always wanted her to grow.
More than anyone, he wanted her to advance.
“Yes. I'll do my best.”
Ifrin nodded resolutely.
“Post-conference, assistant professor possible depending on results. Any set path?”
Deculein asked suddenly. Ifrin smiled warmly. Eyed the 'Chief Professor Deculein' nameplate on his desk.
“Yes.”
Ifrin answered.
“I plan to become Chief Professor Deculein's official disciple. What say you, Professor?”