Secret. (3)
In the untamed lands, there is no ordinary vegetation. This dead soil cannot nurture normal plants; everything is a product of demonic energy.
Thus, in Mieolji, not only the magical beasts but every terrain feature is a hazard.
"Julie. You're such a bad navigator. Why do you keep trying to lead us?"
In such a place, Julie was taking the lead.
Gwen found it absurd. The girl who even got lost inside the knight order's grounds.
"It's fine. With this map."
Nevertheless, Julie pressed on, eyes fixed solely on the map. Her teammates—Gwen, Drent, and Devrin—were curious about that paper.
"This red dot is our current position. So……."
Crunch, crunch. Julie halted mid-stride and scanned the surroundings.
"This seems to be the spot. Let's set up the relay station."
One of their missions was installing relay stations in the untamed lands. Gwen asked skeptically.
"Here? You sure?"
"Yes. Look."
Julie showed them the map directly. Their position matched the X mark perfectly.
"……Hmm? This an artifact or something? Nice buy, Julie."
"I didn't buy it."
"Then?"
"Mission supplies. Sir Drent?"
"Yes."
They set down the materials Julie and Gwen had brought. Mage Drent assembled the relay station in an instant—snap.
Gwen muttered as she watched.
"……But I don't get why we're building here. The beasts will just smash it anyway."
"We'll place a mirror too."
Julie ignored her and set up the mirror. No idea why mirrors were required, but it was the mission.
Aaahhh—!
A scream echoed then. The three knights heightened their senses and glared toward it.
"Ah, it's fine."
Drent, recognizing the voice, waved it off casually.
"No big deal. It's Ifrin screaming."
"Ifrin? Fly?"
"No. Ifrin. My colleague."
"Then shouldn't we help more?"
Julie countered. Drent chuckled softly and shook his head.
"No. Ifrin's…… got exceptional talent. She's even trained in real combat under Professor Deculein."
"Yeah. Ifrin's the mage teamed with Syrio. He'll handle it."
Gwen chimed in.
"Let's just do our job. Charging in to help unasked is rude. You know that, Julie?"
"……Yes."
Julie nodded—
Kiiiiing—!
Beyond Mieolji, a whirlwind twisted like steel. Dense, razor-sharp winds engulfed the area.
A high-grade destruction spell that made the earlier scream seem trivial.
Gwen said with a bemused look.
"……Guess this Ifrin kid exaggerates a lot?"
"Hm. Less exaggeration, more like she doesn't fully grasp her own strength yet."
"Why? That's—"
Kiiiiing—! Kwagagagak—!
Ifrin's wind was literally a blender. A storm pulverizing everything in its path.
Drent smiled faintly.
"Ah. As I said, real combat training from the professor. She just took beatings without fighting back…… so she doesn't realize. How strong she is."
"……Hm."
Gwen pondered briefly, then nodded.
"Makes sense. Deculein's a battle specialist among mages…… Scout report said as much."
Scout report. One of the high-level intel provided to Imperial Knights.
Julie asked.
"The report?"
"Yeah. Deculein's is the longest among mages."
Knight-mage cooperation requires mutual ability assessment. Lately, the order shared mage intel; Deculein's file was thickest.
"Is that so."
"Even ignoring he's a mage, his personal combat prowess is outstanding, extremely composed, no qualms about killing, etc…… The summary's wildest."
"'No need to even cooperate with knights.'"
The third knight, taciturn Devrun, muttered bluntly. A mid-aged famed Imperial Palace knight.
"Never seen a mage report like that. Usually emphasizes 'protection strategies.' Protect? No need? Blew my mind."
"……."
Julie listened quietly, glancing at her wristwatch.
They pretended it didn't bother her, mentioning Deculein to ease things, but it did unsettle her somewhat.
"Time's short. To the second spot. Let's move."
"Yeah. That mage buddy okay? Can keep up?"
"Yes. Of course."
"Good. Let's go. Hey, you're cute? How old?"
"……Pardon?"
The four ventured deeper.
……The battle ended.
The snowfield was littered with beast and savage corpses. The once pristine white world was dyed red. Cold, fishy stench rose from scattered guts and blood.
A snowfield marked vividly by slaughter. I viewed the system overlay on my retina.
Action Bonus: Intense combat awakens sub-trait of Iron Man
◆ Trait EXP Complete
◆ Acquire Sub-Trait Strong Bones
Perfect Slaughter: Slain 3,333+ individual magical beasts in one battle.
◆ Acquire Rare Trait: Magical Beast Slayer
First, Strong Bones.
No details. Description just '—Bones become stronger.'
Presumably, tougher bones.
Conversely, Magical Beast Slayer was straightforward.
Grade: Rare
Description:
Achievement realized in mass combat.
Magic potency increases with the scale of opposing magical beasts.
"P-Professor! Are you alright?!"
Wardens and the director rushed over, faces uniformly shocked.
"You lot, clean these corpses. Sell them for a fair price."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
I slew them cleanly. Over three thousand, but no waste. Skins intact for sale.
"Ah, safe travels! Rest well! Leave this to us……."
I strolled leisurely back inside the barrier. Brief vertigo, but endured.
Remaining mana: 0.
Depleted entirely in that fight.
Yet I didn't stagger.
Forced steady gait.
Thus, returned to the manor.
Washed up, donned a robe, lay straight on the bed.
"……."
Closed my eyes quietly.
Meanwhile, Zeit and company arrived at Recor Dak.
"Lord of the House—!"
The entrance warden straightened and saluted. No northerner knew not Zeit.
Zeit said.
"Step aside. Keep my visit secret."
"Yes! Absolutely!"
Thus, the remaining five—Lia’s group and Sylvia Premien—entered safely.
"So what're you lot doing? Not much here. No spying for Ilayde either."
"Not spies."
Sylvia shook her head. Zeit smirked; Lia answered next.
"We'll wait for Ganesha here!"
Finally, Premien.
"I have business matters to discuss with Professor Deculein. Planning to wait at the prison office."
"Good. Do your things here. Your starry talents, short meeting—farewell here, but reunion soon. Safe journeys."
"Yes! Thank you!"
"Farewell, King of Winter."
Lia, Leo, Karos trio waved cheerily; Premien gave northern courtesy. Sylvia already gone.
"……Hm."
Zeit, now solo from six, crossed arms. Gazed up at a tree branch.
A flickering shadow there took form.
"……You came?"
Yuseffin. She smiled at Zeit.
"Where's Deculein."
"Huh? Right now?"
"Time's gold. Only reason I came. To hear from Deculein if your deductions true."
"……."
Northern haste, as expected.
Yuseffin shook her head.
"Fine. I'll guide. But me first. Follow quietly. Professor's sleeping now……."
I opened my eyes. Suddenly felt 'not alone.'
"Oh my."
Another pair of eyes before mine.
Large orbs. White irises like Julie's.
They curved gently at me.
"Awake now?"
Yuseffin.
"……."
I glanced out the window.
Moonlit night already. Half-day sleep fully restored stamina and mana.
"What brings you."
I checked my attire first.
……No need. Still in robe.
Yuseffin stepped back two paces, small smile.
"Came to talk."
"Talk."
"Yes. Rumors lately. His Majesty's poisoning. That you know the culprit."
I eyed Yuseffin. Guessed why she came.
Scanned everywhere with Villain's Fate.
No death variables.
"……."
No—faint trace outside.
Imperceptible without Iron Man eyes. Perfectly concealed presence.
Who.
No need to deduce.
With Yuseffin now, probably……
"Is it true?"
Yuseffin asked.
I replied calmly. No surprise. Seen it endlessly as past player.
"True."
Sophien's poisoning. Phairden behind it. Major 'turning point' in character quest.
But irrelevant now.
"I know."
I pondered removing Zeit's death variable. Peacefully persuading him, come with Yuseffin…….
…….
"I know."
Deculein said. Yuseffin's heart sank.
His face remained composed. Unreadable to her.
"……Know what, exactly?"
Deculein extended a hand silently. Wine and glass flowed into his grasp.
678 vintage Gorwein. Top-grade cork popped; red liquid poured glug-glug-glug into crystal.
"Knowing is knowing. What more do you want."
Deculein savored a sip with a sneer. His expression, gestures, elegance—all etched vividly on Yuseffin's retina.
Inscrutable charm.
"I'm curious. If you know, why keep silent."
"……."
He stroked his chin. Tidied forelock.
"Silent…… Need I broadcast? You've watched me. Not some loose-lipped rogue."
Deculein eyed Yuseffin. Piercing, straight gaze.
"Still, could earn His Majesty's ire. Not afraid?"
"Hmph. No fear. Exposing it gains nothing. Empire falls to chaos instead."
"……Chaos? Who'd cause that?"
Deculein's wine hand paused. He frowned wordlessly.
"No fishing when you know. Unlike you, Yuseffin. Shallow ploy."
"……."
Yuseffin bristled briefly. Pouted. But helpless now.
Zeit watching nearby.
"For Julie?"
Deculein reacted.
"……Julie."
"Yes."
He sipped wine. Yuseffin licked her lips.
"Could be."
As expected. Faint smile.
"I want Julie happy……."
But next words unexpected.
"And the North unruined."
"……North?"
Yuseffin's lids lifted slightly.
Deculein nodded. Recited lines Zeit would love.
"North sacrificed much for Empire. For subjects. For nobles like us."
"……."
Yuseffin blinked blankly.
"17 years ago, demon disaster. 13 years, North Marik incident. 20 years, Rohal Groson's summoned beasts. 23 years, Balrog subjugation. 22 years, Rophalma catastrophe. 11 years, Behemoth advance. 9 years, great tiger…… Countless monster waves, incidents besides."
Deculein listed North's history. Guardian records of continent.
Game scenarios read, played as player, studied via history books here.
"Thus. Recent Phairden erred gravely, yet I am certain. Misunderstanding, or fallen to conspiracy and division."
Yuseffin peered into his eyes quietly.
Unwavering pupils held conviction. Pure faith. Deculein's 'ego'.
"Phairden unlike central mongrel pretenders. Far from noble-claiming vermin. Thus I believe in North. Its loyalty, righteousness……."
Why say this. Does he truly respect North so.
"Reason I tell not His Majesty."
Even now, Yuseffin felt nothing. Cared not her house's fate, treatment, plight.
Her interest solely 'Julie'.
"Of course, love for Julie lingers……."
Yet Deculein's convinced visage.
So bizarre, ambiguous, magnetic…….
"First, North more noble than any central lord."
Yuseffin smiled.
"Second, I refuse to play pawn to instigators."
Full moon emerged, illuminating him.
"Satisfied, Yuseffin."
Deculein nodded at her.
"Good. Even if your great sin exposed."
His slightly tousled hair. Forehead-baring face, unlike usual, beautiful.
"I will guard North's destiny."
Yuseffin propped chin. Gazed as if admiring a painting.
"So, as they believe me, I believe them."
……Pondering his words, Yuseffin thought.
Truly wondrous man. Every word brimming self-conviction, thus utterly truthful. Loves Julie more than any.
"……Yes."
For some reason, she wanted to believe him.
Trivial yet profound.
No one but Julie ever stirred 'belief' in her…….
Late night. Recor Dak fields.
Grind—
Zeit sat in empty dark, gnashing teeth. Rare for northern man, something surged bitterly inside.
"Damn…… That professor's a real man…… Hero, paragon. True scholar."
Gazed skyward. Recalled Deculein under great moon.
Man harboring love, purity, faith. Unlike parasite brother exterior—pure gold inside. Incarnation of loyalty!
"Never thought professor respected North so…… I'll reflect. Admit! I harbored foul thoughts briefly!"
Bam—!
Zeit pounded road fist-first. Vibration shook earth and heaven.
Yuseffin shrugged.
"So noisy…… Secret from Julie. Till she heals."
"……Yuseffin. I've loved too."
Zeit replied with odd sentence; Yuseffin shook head pityingly.
Soon, both silently moon-gazed.
Then.
"Kuh……."
Choked voice nearby. Yuseffin turned blankly.
Zeit clutched face.
"Crying, are we?"
"……Who cries."
Zeit lifted head. Eyes already red-rimmed. Yuseffin half-gaped.
Truly, first sight.
"Could be pretense. Don't get too moved."
"Pretense? First man acknowledging North so. Knew even Phairden clan's hidden incidents. No such pretense exists. You know too, Yuseffin."
True…… Yuseffin nodded, brow arched.
"Yes. Not one lie. Especially 'demon disaster' and 'North Marik'—imperial cover-ups~"
"Exactly. Even those, Deculein knew……."
Zeit exhaled deeply. Thick smoke swirled like tobacco. Soon, low smile.
"Hm…… First trustworthy guy in near 40 years. Fight together ten times. Entrust my back."
Yuseffin nodded, mulling—then caught verbal slip, glared sharply!
"Wait. So you don't trust me?"
"……I'm off, Yuseffin. Much to do."
Zeit rose hastily. Thud-thud—departed somewhere.