Ifrin's Time (3)
The field frozen solid by the manifestation of the Frost Stone. In that spotlessly clean expanse gleaming green like a jewel, Ifrin blankly echoed the words.
"My heart... dies?"
A heart already dead. It was hard to grasp by Ifrin's thinking—or common sense. Yet Deculein answered all too casually.
"Indeed."
"......"
A chill wind brushed her collar. Oso-soso—goosebumps rose.
Of course, thanks to what her future self had told her, she'd half-expected it. But hearing it straight from him hit harder.
Ifrin just worked her lips like a crucian carp. No words came.
"Worry not. You'll live centuries more."
Deculein chuckled, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"Come. Lingering here does us no good."
He turned on his heel and strode off. Ifrin stared blankly before hurrying after him, a beat late.
"Where to, Professor?"
"Much to teach you."
"......Huh?"
Every word from him flustered her. This kindness, and the warmth seeping into his tone—it all felt alien.
Deculein said,
"Follow, and you'll see."
"......Yes."
Ifrin walked beside him. No—he'd adjusted his stride for her.
"......"
These little gestures felt so strange.
Yet as she trailed his back wordlessly, glancing hesitantly at his shoulder, she began imagining 'events far in the future'......
Sophien opened her eyes.
Parr—her eyelids trembled unnaturally. Meaning she needed more sleep, so she closed them again.
......No.
She opened them.
Turned her head. A man sat in the chair by the sofa.
Deculein.
"What... art thou doing here."
Her mind still heavy with sleep, Sophien asked. His reply was curt.
"Guarding Your Majesty."
"......"
Deculein watched her. Rigid as a silent protest. Nothing else.
Sophien found his steady gaze burdensome.
"......Hmph."
Tic—tic—
The clock's second hand ticked stiffly.
Thudududu......
The blizzard outside battered the window.
Sleep more, or not. After mulling, Sophien sat up.
"......?"
Deculein's eyes widened slightly. A quest completion notice had popped up, just from waking her.
Earning shop currency for that alone.
The Emperor was truly quest-riddled.
As Deculein hid his satisfaction, Sophien spoke.
"Deculein."
"Yes."
Sophien glanced out the window.
Ordinary snowfall. Yet unfamiliar. An alien sense, as if the world had flipped, filled her.
Tormented by that odd itch, she realized belatedly.
This was her first sleep outside the Imperial Palace.
"......"
Sophien looked back at Deculein. He remained composed.
"Deculein."
"Yes."
"Shall we play Go."
"Yes."
Bowing his head, Deculein used Telekinesis to prepare the board and stones.
Sophien sat up. She'd come north on pretext of a northern temple, but her true aim was this.
A match to test her mind. Joy of facing a worthy foe in a world of mediocrity.
Deculein—this man would be her eternal Go opponent......
"Last time I had white, so black this round."
"Do as thou wilt."
Sophien placed white before her. Deculein drew black stones, saying,
"No referee needed?"
"Hey!"
A knight rushed in at her call.
"Yes! Your loyal—"
"Referee here."
"Referee, you say......"
"Just stand. I'll count time."
"Yes!"
Sophien then raised a brow at Deculein. Her gaze sharp.
"Begin."
"Yes."
Clack—.
Deculein placed first: star point, bottom right.
Sophien countered star point, top right; Deculein took small knight's move, bottom left.
Standard opening fuseki.
"Professor."
On her 8th move, Sophien spoke.
"Yes."
Deculein replied mid-placement.
So far, the board split north-south. Black claimed south, white north.
"Thou hast been in the Imperial Library."
But on the 10th move.
Sophien boldly invaded black's camp. White pierced bottom right—black's territory—in a flash.
"Yes. So I have."
Black then marched on white's top right. No dodging early combat.
Bold spirit. Pure Deculein pride.
"Why."
"The Palace holds all continental history."
By 24th move. Sophien wedged white into black's center. Cavalry raid on the front—like desperate charge—but Deculein parried calmly.
Black sealed the path she'd likely probe.
"What seekest thou in that history."
The game flowed amid questions. Stones claimed spots relentlessly.
Battle shifted from right to bottom left.
24th extended into 27th, 28th, 29th...... fierce assaults.
"Giants, perchance. Or."
No fluster from the professor. He countered steadily, unshaken. No sweeps, no tricks fooled him.
His style in a word: elegant.
"Knowledge of Us."
'Hoping Sophien finds happiness.'
The line etched in her mind.
"......Your Majesty. Dreams are but memories to me."
Suddenly, Deculein said something odd. Sophien looked up.
"When I dream, I reclaim past memories."
Iron Man body needed just three hours sleep weekly. But those memories were all Deculein's past.
Yet.
Once, he'd dreamed of 'time long gone'.
"Sometimes, memories not mine appear."
Sophien placed her 26th white. The 52nd stone thudded resoundingly.
Deculein's brow twitched. Sophien smirked deeply.
"Umhaha."
A brutally brilliant move. Self-admiration welled.
Sophien shrugged unconsciously—like a shoulder dance—but her face stayed cold.
......That instant.
"In those memories, I was with Your Majesty."
Thud—Deculein's 53rd.
Sophien froze rigid.
The board unchanged. 52nd skyrocketed white's win rate; continued thus, her victory clear.
"Quite some time."
"......"
"Few memories, but You were young, I alone."
Sophien schooled her face. Her defense mechanism.
Dragging past worlds here bred only suicidal longing for regressions gone.
Past worlds vanished.
Yet this professor......
"......Just a dream."
"Is it."
"Play Go. Thou art on the brink of defeat."
Sophien pointed at the board. Deculein replied calmly.
"Win chances look slim. Unless Your Majesty errs."
"Then that odd talk was to induce my mistake."
"As Your Majesty wills."
"......Insolent cur."
Words said, yet her heart quivered oddly.
Once, 'that gone world's' Deculein vowed to remember her. Not this Deculein, but sworn.
His oath unforgettable......
Boom——!
A massive external blast. Earth quaked briefly. Echoes boomed inside.
The guard knight yelled.
"Your Majesty—! Evacua—"
"Silence."
"......"
"No matter. Go check."
"But Your Majesty—"
"Deculein."
Sophien said.
"Canst thou ensure this game proceeds smoothly."
"If Your Majesty wishes."
"......"
Nineteen woodsteel blades rose from Deculein's back.
Vrrr—vibrating skyward, they pursued the assault's source.
The knight eyed Deculein. He nodded.
"......Yes. Understood."
Empire's seventh strongest. Emperor's guard. Tower's chief professor. Deculein was trustworthy.
"Follow my steel."
"Yes."
The knight dashed after.
"......Still, is all well? Seems an ambush on Your Majesty."
Deculein asked mid-game. Sophien smirked.
"Fakes. Real or not, mere deflated foes. Just sowing pretext."
"Pretext."
"Obvious. Expected since northbound. Grab a few attackers, they'll spill backers before death. Lowly scum hoping I play their divide-and-conquer."
Clack—!
Sophien's 78th, finger firm. Still close, but tilting her way post-52nd.
"I see."
"Oh. Thou mentioned a disciple. Where's he? Name."
"Ifrin. Ifrin Luna."
Sophien frowned slightly.
"Ifrin...... Poor naming by her sire. 'Fall' for a name."
Ifrin meant 'fall' in runic.
"......"
Deculein placed silently.
Clack—!
The 79th resounded ominously.
"......!"
Sophien's eyes widened, staring. Unnoticed at first, but mulling revealed grandeur.
"Hah."
Black cleaved the center frontline. Ceding dead left, vital point encircled right-side white.
A gamble akin to her 52nd—artistic, beyond thick-headed retainers' lifetimes. A 'masterpiece' landscape.
Exquisitely beautiful.
A dazed Sophien smiled.
"Wondrous, Professor Deculein."
Deculein met her eyes.
The gaze she'd awaited. Sophien held it, saying,
"Ne'er thought I'd utter this."
Sole joy in this dreary world. Pushing her to limits in that game.
Game itself, or opponent—who knew.
"Such happiness is new."
This moment. Feeling 'new art' on this shabby board—this sufficed for happiness......
A day, two, three, four...... Ifrin spent time with Deculein. Precisely, 'future' Deculein.
He taught her much: papers, mana breathing, efficient exercise, conditioning, etc.
As his changed self grew familiar, her growth sharpened.
"Follow. Something to show."
Deculein called.
"Today?"
Modest but tidy cabin. Ifrin, polishing rod, tilted her head.
She even back-talked now.
"Too cold today? Night too. Thought fishing tomorrow."
"Out."
"......Yessir."
Ifrin emerged with him.
He led through snow-blanketed wilds. Roads iced, knife-wind whipped cheeks.
Ifrin clutched her hair.
"Freezing! Windy!"
"Close. Nearly there."
Crunch, crunch. Ifrin trudged. Deeper, feet sank knee-deep, bouncing to move.
Night blinded.
"There."
Deculein pointed. Bonfire, screen, two rockers.
"Sit."
He sat first. Ifrin plopped grumpily.
"Why here...... freezing."
"Look up."
Ifrin pouted skyward. Speechless.
Awe leaked from gaping mouth.
"......Wow."
The whole sky visible.
Stars, moon, clouds. Like a grandstand under infinite dome.
"View...... ah?"
Gazing stars sparked thought. Current zapped fingers.
"Professor!"
Ifrin whipped to him.
"Y'know. Maybe I can come and go?"
"Come and go?"
He frowned. Yes yes! Ifrin nodded furiously.
"Yeah! You said shooting stars issue. Records of past falls exist, right? This future! Cycle lets me visit!"
Overly speculative, magically lax. Deculein didn't nitpick.
Perhaps close to 'truth'.
"So babysit each visit."
"Huh? No no. I'll grow more next time, obviously."
"......"
Deculein silently proffered a document. Ifrin took it absently, eyes bulging.
"......Huh?"
[Northern Celestial Activity Report: Past 10 Years]
"What! You knew?!"
"Hm."
Deculein chuckled, reclining. Ifrin grinned toothily.
Calculated next meteor.
"Ah! Ten days! Couple months too! Two round trips?"
"No certainties."
"Still. If so, twice!"
"......No need return."
Deculein shook head kindly.
"I too must go."
"Where."
He smiled wordlessly, patting her crown.
"Foolish disciple needn't know."
"......"
Ifrin just stared. Belatedly, this different him registered.
Future Deculein wore robes, not suit. This smile somehow sad.
"Ahem......"
Curiosities abounded.
His dead heart, future events.
Sylvia's fate, Drent and Allen's whereabouts.
"......Yes. Still foolish me."
But unasked.
Felt wrong.
"Ifrin. See that sky."
Deculein pointed airward.
Comet streaked distant firmament. Tail flickering, mana gushing.
"Ah?!"
"Signs last night. Thought tomorrow, but early—fortunate."
"......"
Ifrin eyed him anew. Bit forlorn, eyes misting.
Shook head. Firmly.
"Fine. Back soon."
"So."
Future Deculein smiled clear. Proudly patted shoulders.
Meteor fell then.
Shwoooo——!
Mana flashed lightning-like. Exploding radiance dyed world brilliant.
"......Ugh!"
Skull-splitting shock. Ifrin clutched temples. Stumbled, thud—hit something.
Looked up. Deculein's shoulder.
"Fine."
He gazed down.
Cold wind, night veil gone; warm embrace enveloped. His presence blanketed all.
"Rest easy. Wake refreshed, back to before."
"Mm...... yes......"
Ifrin closed eyes slow. Pain gone, faint smile lingered. Cozy as down quilt.
......Soon.
As said, eyes opened.
—Hey! Ifrin!
She lay lakeside.
"Ifrin! Ifrin!"
Chilly day. Star-flicker dawn.
"Ippa! Ippa!"
"Ifrin~!"
Ifrin blankly watched Allen and Drent yelling, running distant.
Emperor's Cough
◆ Achievement: Wake Emperor Sophien from sleep.
◆ Shop Currency +1
Forest
Second game, board 5. Counting: 2.5 points, white—Sophien—victory.
White komi 7.5, decent loss.
Winner: White (Sophien) by 2.5 points
Komi: 7.5 (White)
"Umhaha."
Sophien celebrated blankly smiling. Face stoic, mouth alone lively.
"Umhaha."
First win unsavored; now embracing Go fully.
"Umhaha."
I reviewed slowly.
Sophien's white, my black. Fuseki, plays memorized. Understanding learning began.
Then.
"Your Majesty. Captured."
Palace knights approached formally. Incident long over, waited for game end.
"Return to capital for interrogation? Or—"
"No need. Kill."
"But Your Majesty, backers—"
"Kill. No time for vermin. Burn corpses."
"......Yes."
Knights retreated backward. Sophien glanced, turned to me.
"Deculein. Enjoyable. Third next week."
"So it seems."
"Confident?"
"Yes. Time to win."
I nodded. Sophien smiled.
"Good. Anticipating."
—Profe~ssor!
Pocket boomed. Allen-linked crystal orb.
—Found Ifrin!
"......Heh."
Sophien chuckled softly. Uncharacteristically kindly,
"Fallen child returned. Go. I'll review. Can't lose without effort."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I rose.
......
"Body okay?"
"No injuries?"
Ifrin returned to lodging with Drent, Allen.
"......Fine. Nothing big. Just lost way briefly."
Fortunate—not absent long.
No, mere three days. Week with future Deculein.
"Yeah. Northern winter magic rampant...... Ah, Professor there."
Drent pointed. Deculein stood.
Week together, yet awkward now.
Suited, he eyed coldly.
"......Ifrin."
He said. Voice estranged. Icy, sharp.
Ifrin looked up quietly.
"Yes?"
"Where from."
"That's...... secret."
Rubbing neck evasively. Deculein scanned her top to bottom.
"Penalty: mission absence, area departure. Secret fine."
"......Yes."
"In."
Ifrin trudged, opened door.
Suddenly forlorn, empty corner of heart.
'Times mismatch' so strange.
Sighing up stairs, then.
"Thou art Ifrin."
Voice called. Eyes up, body froze.
"Deculein's disciple."
Flame-long hair, ruby-carved eyes. Empire's noblest firstborn, continent's greatest.
Emperor Sophien.
Sophien, Yekater Augus von Yeagers Jifrein.
Thud—!
Seeing her, Ifrin knelt naturally.
"Y-Your Majesty—aaah—!"
Scream-pitched. Voice cracked. Sophien chuckled, raised her.
"Enough. Rather, whence camest thou."
"......Huh?"
Sophien observed Ifrin's mysterious aura.
Trace, or remnant. Deculein saw too.
"Deculein said nothing."
"Y-yes. Just go in......"
"Hm. Fits—he pries not."
Sophien eyed sparkling Ifrin eyes.
"Yet I wonder. Lie or truth from thee......"
Emperor's smile deepened; Ifrin gulped.
......Northern extreme. Recorak foothills, Julie wiped blood from sword, body.
"He in north."
Blood-soaked ground. Flesh everywhere, Julie's back slashed fatally diagonal.
Fatal for commoner. Even knight, bleeding threatened life.
"......Yes."
Railly calm. Julie too. Survival miracle now.
"That size buys capital house."
Railly pointed fresh kill—fierce tiger slain.
Yellow-white fur, black runes. Herb-gatherer, scout-eater sly beast.
"Near adult...... Pelt for knight's armor."
Railly neared Julie.
"Sting bit."
"Fine."
Stripped shattered armor, smeared herbs on bone-deep tear.
Julie’s slender shoulder shuddered. Such wounds ached double in recovery.
"Kuh......"
"Hurts?"
"......Bearable."
"Tears streaming."
"No......"
"Pft. Still, Julie knight earned feat? Like Zeit head?"
"......"
No reply.
"Eh?"
Julie eyes closed. Fainted briefly.
"Hmm."
Railly busied: skinned, portioned tiger.
Pelt tan to armor, meat boil or grill for Julie.
"......Ah, that Deculein bastard."
Clang—!
Sudden rage, hurled utensils.
Not enough crushing Phairden knights for Veron truth; killed Rockfel too. Vilest man. Dikailen-like, crueler, perverse.
"So annoying!"
Shouldn't trusted from start. Nation would doubt endlessly.
"......But."
Railly eyed fainted Julie.
Julie growing stronger.
Thanks his betrayal, shattering all. No crutches left—only 'self'.
"He'll regret someday."
Tiger kill feat. Especially solo adult—northern none but Phairden head 'Zeit'.
"For real."
Railly grilled meat, tanned pelt magically. Dual support/manip easy.
"Someday, surely......"
Railly gritted recalling Deculein.
Her rage thus—what of Julie's frozen heart.
"Make him regret."
"Railly. Quiet."
"......Ah. Awake?"
Julie pale-smiled conscious. Railly handed tiger meat; Julie bit.
Cherry lips tore tiger on tiny face.
"How."
Julie nodded to query.
"Good. Trophy post-death-like agony—fitting."
"Hahaha. Eat up."
Tiger haunch dwarfed face. Julie chewed; Railly beamed watching.
"Eat lots. Heal quick."
"......Yeah. Railly. Just debts. Thanks always......"
Thanks short. Gripped haunch, eyes closed. Deeper sleep.
"......"
No—faint apt.
Tiger battle bled much.
"......Thanks my foot."
Harsh winter. Biting gale.
This brutal north, Railly's sole wish.
Julie heal, revenge Deculein......
Then.
"......!"
Railly sensed infiltrating malice. Gripped wand one hand, dagger other.
"......"
Meanwhile, Ifrin fidgeted.
Fingers, toes twitched. Sweat beaded temples unheated, forehead soaked hair clung.
Sophien's doing, sofa-lounging same room.
"......Hmph."
Boldly kidnapped Ifrin, crashed sofa return.
Go drained mind; fatigue hit post-game.
"Anyway...... whence......"
Sophien trailed off to Ifrin. Yawned hugely.
To Ifrin, big cat-like—but feline majesty crushed.
"......Ah."
Sophien blankly ceiling-gazed. Ifrin ventured,
"May...... I go, Your Majesty?"
Sophien's eyes rolled to her. Shook head.
"Questions remain."
"......S-so?"
"Where wast thou."
"What mean......"
Sophien scoffed.
"Thy mana differs. Celestial mana clings thick."
"......Ah."
Meteor soak, doubtless.
"Deculein knew, sent thee. Not I."
"......"
"Fear not. I keep counsel."
Emperor trustworthy. None demand her secrets.
Yet Ifrin shook head.
"......Sorry."
"Hm."
Sophien ceiling-gazed. Deduced.
"Why celestial mana on thee......"
Ifrin fidgeted anew.
Anxious. Sweaty.
"......And."
Sophien Telekinesis-stripped Ifrin's robe.
Ifrin clutched, but precise force extracted contents.
"Eek!"
"What this."
To future Deculein, past meteor; to now Ifrin, future fall origin report.
Ifrin paled; Sophien fluttered paper.
"May I see? Won't if bid."
Mumbling emperor sleepy-faced.
"......"
No—Sophien slept sans reply.
Her 'day' exhausted.
"......Ahem."
Ifrin sneaked for document. Sophien yawned, clutched, rolled.
"Eek......! No......!"
Ifrin despaired.
"So cool, Profe~ssor! Fun!"
Vrooom——!
Snowfield. Sleek snowmobile cleaved. Steel chassis bison-solid.
"Whoa~!"
I drove deftly, Allen squealed. Escort knights trailed close, but no Allen nausea.
"Here."
Halted specific spot.
Today's task: soil collect, analyze. Untamed border—extreme, threats abound.
"All, bag soil."
"Yes!"
Troops bagged, dispersed. I spread woodsteel, Allen map-eyed round.
"Professor! Recorak nearby?!"
"......"
Recorak. Worst prison, likely Julie's post.
Passed deliberately—her sake.
"Recorak super scary—"
"Allen."
"Yees~?"
"Quiet. Setup."
"......Yees."
Zzzip—mouthed Allen unpacked gear.
Mini lab table, vials, analyzer......
Soil demonic energy faded timely; analyze onsite best—hauled all here.
"Done."
"Yees!"
Allen's shout as.
"......"
My brow twitched. Woodsteel sensed odd 'malice'. Destruction magic too.
Northern extreme. Beasts anytime—this noisy mage bold.
"......Professor?"
Queried woodsteel.
Seventh northeast. First malice detector resonated, relayed scene.
"......"
Face hardened. Bit lip.
Annoying pickle.
Sighed, mounted snowmobile.
"Professor? Where? Just set!"
"......Business."
Woodsteel reported. Showed.
Distant forest. Incapacitated Julie, Railly surrounded.
"Me too!"
Allen hopped on. Luggage nuisance, but no time.
Imminent crisis.
Vreeee——!
Midas' Hand on snowmobile; amplified roared madly forward.
Forest
"Tsk......"
Railly felt nearby hostility.
Skin-crawling killing intent. Brazen aura, unknowns encircled slowly.
"Knight."
Railly eyed Julie. Fainted, combat impossible.
Prior foe tiger. Even Julie needed rest for such wounds.
"......"
Alone then......
Snow-shadows birthed robed thugs.
Hostile aura. All robed, faces masked—none shown.
"Hoo."
Railly sighed, preheated mana. Checked circuits, prepped spells.
Barrage hit.
Kaboom——!
Earth-shaking mana burst. Thugs' flames swept area.
Railly Dukan Barrier-shielded both; crimson inferno hammered. Mana drained fast.
Crrrack......
Post-magic ground hellscape. Pocked, smoke thick.
Barrier-in Railly glared.
"No manners! Talk before blasting, assholes!"
No response. Her echo alone.
Thugs prepped second. Similar.
"......Hopeless."
Lip bit, muttered.
No escape. 'Unguardable'.
Drop barrier attack—Julie exposed. Can't one-shot horde.
Maintain—finite mana cracks eventually.
"......No way."
Mind flashed info.
Deculein north trip. Chairman's task, but odd.
Reason for north descent clear.
"Hey! Deculein sent?!"
Straight ask. Silence. Second blast prep.
"Deculein! Insane fuck! Not enough?!"
Yell echoed forest. Curses doubled, tripled, faded.
Empty woods.
Plain answer came.
"Cease base thoughts."
"......?"
Vrooom——! Engine roared. Snowmobile plowed robes, halted Railly near.
Railly gaped rider.
Cold face. Born villainous. Julie/Railly's nemesis, Altiegue slayer, Yukline head.
Deculein.
"......Ahem. Sorry. Misjudged......"
He eyed Railly—no, sleeping Julie beside.
Corpse-pale, frail breaths.
"......Hey?"
Railly puzzled Deculein's eye-light. Transparent ice rimmed pain.
"Take Julie. Go."
"......Really?"
Deculein activated woodsteel wordless.
Clinkclank—sequential crisp metal. Nineteen targeted robes.
"Vermin mine."
Railly wondered confidence source. Aid motive. Sudden whence.
Curiosities galore, but.
Speechless.
Steel moved.
Nineteen dagger-shapes soared, descended robes.
Shwooo—
Air-warping meteors. Thugs barrier-ed hasty; Deculein's swift 'interference' dismantled.
Obvious next.
BOOM——!
Nineteen impaled, shockwaves dust. Carpet-bombed forest shook; foes pulverized.
Literally 'crushed'.
"......"
Railly dazed remnants. Analyzed magically. Habit.
Deculein slew via overwhelming force. No fancy.
Just Telekinesis lift steel shards, kinetic/magic energy bombard.
Simple seeming, versus mages—unblockable.
Intellect-born. Theory supreme.
Pre-strike, dismantled all barriers. Side-glance parsed structures, interfered......
"......Hm."
Deculein turned. Railly stumbled back awkward. But gaze fixed Julie.
Exhausted patient, no waking sign. He murmured low.
"Pitiful still."
To Julie. Railly's temple vein popped.
"Hey! Your fault?!"
Deculein eyed. Drooped eyes spoke.
—Thou more pitiful.
"Go. Cleanup ours."
"......Ours?"
Assistant popped snowmobile under. Allen beamed bow.
"Hi. Assistant Allen—"
"Another."
Deculein silenced Allen.
"Silence to Julie."
"......"
Railly surveyed. Group destruction, steel wrought hell.
Without him, crushed us.
Railly nodded.
"Will. Thanks save. Motive unknown......"
I cleared remains with Allen.
Robe shreds, bone shards, pulp. Probe: Altar.
Main Quest. Altar ambushes Named sequentially.
Targets hero Named impeding goals; players no exception.
Term: 'Random Encounter'.
Many Named die hereon; time I move earnestly.
"Altar?"
Allen round-eyed. I turned.
He knew Altar.
Distinguished true ignorance from feigned.
"Fanatics holed in northern untamed."
"Ah...... Huh? Humans survive untamed?"
Allen's eyes ping-pong to baseball. Fine acting.
"Untamed: dead soil, no farm/herd, monster/beast swarms—but continental. Not instant death, survivable. Unsustainable."
Altar sanctuary there.
God-revival believers, manifesting deity. But no god—fanatic themselves.
Details via Main Quest.
"Aha...... How knew corpses Altar?"
"Demonic energy flows. Artificial vein grafts too."
"Gasp! Vein grafts?!"
I eyed forest horizon.
'Untamed' yonder. Not far. No marker.
"Yes. Vein grafts. Proves Altiegue."
"......Altiegue?"
Allen's voice quavered faintly.
"Grafts need compatibility. Human body rejects demonic veins—days to death."
Organs immune-troubled; non-human veins only Altiegue.
Their bodies trace demonic—graft beast/demon veins, last six months.
"Short life post-graft. Max six. Altar consumables meantime."
"......"
"Brainwashed or volunteered. Better dead now. Pain worsens."
No Allen reply. No 'Professor knows all~' awe.
Didn't know this far.
Grafts/human mods late Main Quest reveal.
"So...... cruel......"
I eyed Allen.
Sad-faced bowed. Snowflakes on tiny crown.
"Go. Work left."
Hand on small head. Gloomy boy beamed up vigorously.
"......Yes!"
Mounted, gripped handle. Glanced Julie/Railly direction.
"......"
Julie. Trembles Deculein's heart sight alone.
"Truly."
I wish her love me. Forgive not. No glance back. Hate, loathe, survive...... then.
Return.
"Troublesome woman."
This selfish heart incurable.
Wish hate yet survive rare. Happiness sans me not anyone's.
Love excess—Deculein's or mine, blurred.
"......Professor?"
Allen to staring me.
"Nothing."
Accelerated late.
Kaboom——! Amplified snowmobile plowed snow forward.
......North week-plus. Ifrin grew accustomed snowy world.
Fun too. Snowfights, boar hunts, camping—hobbies aplenty.
"Hoo."
And.
Most: 'second time' neared.
Second meteor approach. To Deculein.
"Ifrin. Can't basic calc?"
"......Huh?"
Deculein timely. Reviewed report, scattered sheets.
"See thyself."
Falling papers rain. Dodging, Ifrin squinted.
"Mind wandered. Another, expulsion."
"Sorry."
What error.
Gathered docs.
"......Ah."
Soil demonic density miscalc.
Ifrin: 0.0004%. Depth correction: ~0.00056%.
"0.00056...... 0.0004% serious too. High?"
"If measured, true however dubious. Report central, bolster north policy."
"......Yes. Telegraph now."
Ifrin clutched reports upstairs.
Thud thud.
Tower-linked transmission paper—Deculein-made—fifth floor. Pen up for density report, then.
"Doc records pre-arrival celestial......"
"!"
Sudden lofty voice.
Ifrin stiffened. Eyes rolled back-glance.
Unlit dark, red hair blazed.
"Mysterious."
Ifrin craned neck.
Emperor Sophien.
Thought gone yesterday—why back.
Didn't read doc then? Did.
"Th-that...... prediction. Not fact......"
"Thou liest."
"......"
"Lying to Us...... grave sin."
"N-no aaaah—!"
Terror-kneeled. Sophien chuckled.
"Fine. Mere curiosity. Stirring imperial interest merits praise."
"......"
Ifrin panted bowed. Sophien slyly,
"Well, Ifrin. Meteors fall—thou to future."
Spot-on deduction. No—trial balloon.
"Hup!"
Ifrin's fuss confirmed. Pinpoint—wail regardless.
"Wondrous. Thy talent fits."
"Th-thank......"
"Spare flattery."
"Y-yes......"
Sophien knelt one knee, lifted chin. Eyed trembling orbs.
"Then, can I go there too."
......Gulp.
Saliva auto-swallowed.