Tiger. (3)
“I shall step forward.”
Deculein’s words plunged the conference room into silence. The Imperial Palace knights widened their eyes and craned their necks, like turtles stretching out.
They were dumbfounded.
Why Deculein, all of a sudden? No matter how one sliced it, a mage couldn’t possibly face off against a tiger.
Delik swallowed hard and spoke.
“B-but, Professor. You are the one in charge of this Recor Dak—”
“It is only natural for the one in charge to take the lead.”
Deculein offered a faint smile.
“Do you have any idea how much I have invested in this Recor Dak? It was not so that I might cower and flee at the sight of some mere tiger.”
“……E-even so. Calling it a ‘mere tiger’ is…… that Great Tiger is……”
Julie, Gwen, Syrio, and Deculein’s other comrades from the academy each reacted differently.
“I know. If a tiger tears through a village, a Great Tiger shatters a city. Yet the likes of villagers clinging to these remote mountains are of no consequence if they perish.”
At the professor’s words, Julie clenched her fists until her knuckles whitened.
“The mountain folk of the North would sooner die in their homes than flee—a pointless stubbornness. Leave them to it, and they cannot complain.”
Whoa. Gwen let out an exasperated sigh. Syrio tilted his head and chuckled softly.
“Besides, as for the prisoners barely clinging to life in this Recor Dak…… I should like to execute them all this instant.”
Deculein placed a finger on the file atop his table.
“When Her Majesty embarks on the expedition to Mieolji, this place shall become a key stronghold. A base camp, if you will.”
The Imperial knights’ eyes bulged. It was the word “Her Majesty.”
“This is no act of mercy for vermin prisoners or parasites on the barrier. It is for Her Majesty.”
Deculein swept his gaze over the knights. He shook his head with a scoffing sneer.
“Yet seeing you all cower before a tiger, I shall take the field myself.”
“No, I as well—”
“Enough.”
Julie raised her hand, but Deculein’s icy stare pinned her. It pierced straight to her heart.
He said,
“The invalid should shut her mouth and begone.”
* * *
Sylvia returned to the nameless road. Idnik, who had been researching magic at the lab table, saw her face and smiled.
It was a sullen expression.
“You little fool. Didn’t you have something to say to Deculein?”
“I left a note.”
Sylvia answered curtly.
The contents of the note she left for Deculein—Allen the assistant professor and Premien are Altiegue.
“Leaving it like that without proof? You think he’ll believe it?”
“If he doesn’t, that’s on the professor.”
Sylvia sank into the rocking chair. Quickstone and Bearpanda approached and nestled into her lap.
Idnik placed a hand on her hip and said,
“So, what now? Keep watching Deculein?”
“Not anymore.”
“……Is that so? Then why the long face?”
“……”
Sylvia said nothing. But the scene she had just witnessed kept flickering in her mind.
Deculein nursing Ifrin. Ifrin receiving treatment from Deculein.
A strange feeling churned within her.
Arrogant Ifrin. Foolish Ifrin, getting herself hurt. Why didn’t she handle it herself? Why seek help?
“……”
Idnik watched Sylvia tremble and spoke.
“Jealous, are we?”
“No.”
Sylvia whipped her head around and glared at Idnik. Idnik grinned and nodded.
“Sure.”
“I said no. Who’d be jealous of Ifrin?”
“Whatever you say~”
“……Idnik’s an idiot too.”
Sylvia pouted sullenly and burrowed into the chair. Once more, she manifested Wind.
But this time, her surveillance target was not Deculein. She intended to watch over all of distant Recor Dak.
* * *
The rumor of a Great Tiger in the North spread like wildfire. Yet no evacuation lines formed from the mountain villages.
“What do you think?”
Ruina asked. Her arm was in a cast from injuries sustained during the culling.
“Pitiful. Infuriating.”
“The villagers?”
I nodded. Then gazed out the manor window.
Far-off Recor Dak’s training grounds. Julie sparred with Reyli’s cheers.
Her opponent was Syrio, and Julie’s movements were fierce. Rumors swirled that she was furious over my words from last night.
“Why are they pitiful?”
“……Clinging to life unto death out of inability to abandon it—that is pitiful. Scheming inwardly that the barrier will protect them—that is infuriating.”
“Haha.”
Ruina chuckled softly. I glared at her.
“What is so amusing?”
“You wouldn’t abandon it either, Boss. If it were precious to you. More than anything. Right?”
“……”
Unyielding even if it breaks, never forsaking what she desires. Deculein’s nature is a self-respect born of conviction, principle, and arrogance—leaving me no room for rebuttal.
Is this what they call hypocrisy?
“Out.”
“Right away. Oh, there’s one more outside, Boss?”
Ruina smiled brightly and opened the door. Beyond it stood Assistant Professor Allen.
He bowed awkwardly to Ruina.
“Go on in. I’m done.”
“Y-yes, yeees……”
Allen shuffled inside. I examined his face. Worry clouded his features.
“Will it be alright……?”
After gauging my mood, he mumbled. I replied calmly.
“What will?”
“The Professor, going after that…… Great Tiger……. It’s clever and cunning……”
The Great Tiger knows how to fight. It won’t allow encirclement or rush in recklessly.
In other words, it won’t engage if hundreds of knights accompany. Thus, the hunting party must be small.
“It will be arduous.”
Even now, beyond the barrier, I sense its majestic presence.
This is a warning. It waits. A haughty will, challenging us to come before it advances.
“Persuasion would be ideal, of course.”
I have only undertaken the ‘culling’ mission once so far.
Yet through the resonance of my throat-steel beyond, I confirmed: that Great Tiger slaughters every beast entering its domain.
The number far exceeds what hundreds of knights could cull in two days.
“Persuasion? Would that even work……?”
Allen’s eyes widened. I twisted my lips and shook my head.
“The possibility is exceedingly slim. Tigers are born with particular temperaments; if it is that ferocious, killing it is the only option.”
“Then the Professor…… will have to fight it after all.”
Allen bowed his head deeply.
I regarded him. His reaction was somewhat unusual.
“I do not rush in without a path to victory.”
Allen looked up.
“How…… reeeally?”
“A secret. More importantly.”
Snore— snore— came from the office sofa.
I narrowed my eyes and glared that way. Premien sprawled, clutching the stove as if to embrace it, fast asleep.
“Wake that one and eject her.”
Lounger or whatever she is. The moment I let my guard down, she sneaks into the warm office and dozes off.
“Ah, yes. Um, excuse me?”
Allen approached and shook her shoulder. Premien slowly opened her eyes.
“You can’t stay here. The Professor is working……”
“……Ah. It’s cold outside.”
“Pardon? Oh……”
I silently observed their awkward exchange.
“……”
“Cold.”
Finally ousted, Premien rummaged in her coat pocket. There was the note Allen had left.
Professor Deculein received a tip-off. A tip that Allen and the Vice Minister are Altiegue.
“……”
Short sentence. Premien halted abruptly, stared, then opened her mouth. She crumpled the paper and stuffed it in.
Crunch— crunch—
Chewing it, she stepped out of the main building.
Snowy ground and infernal cold. Even with the Great Tiger prowling, the knight barracks were still under construction.
Crunch— crunch—
Shivering as she walked, Premien spotted a bonfire. A chair sat nearby.
She darted over like a cat and sat, extending her hands to the warmth.
Clang—!
A sharp clash of metal nearby. A chill wind swept in, scattering the flames.
Premien looked up.
Clang—! Scraaaape—!
Julie and Syrio were sparring. Premien knew those two well—famous figures.
Especially Julie, the corrupt knight whose reports had reached even Premien.
Swoosh—!
Each swing of Julie’s sword birthed a freezing gale. Talent, apparently—though how she came by it was a mystery.
Premien pulled a book from her inner pocket.
Chart Analysis for Stock Masters
Reading, she pondered.
Allen said Deculein received a “tip-off.” She didn’t know the details.
Yet…… Premien felt profoundly confused.
Would Deculein believe it? Disbelieve? Or did he have no need to believe or disbelieve at all?
“Oh? Into stocks? A stock master?”
A voice roused Premien from her reverie.
She looked up at the one who called her a “stock master.”
It was Julie. Sweat-drenched, she eyed the book cover curiously.
“Chart Analysis for Stock Masters……”
Premien closed the book wordlessly. She crossed her legs and lifted her chin, staring at Julie.
“Vice Minister of Security, Premien. What is it?”
“Ah.”
Julie had her bonfire and chair stolen, but without complaint, she fetched another log and sat.
“Yes. I am Knight Dayia.”
“I know well. I’ve read your reports.”
“……”
Julie closed her eyes in shame, bowing her head penitently.
“No need for that. Why are you here?”
Premien asked.
Julie blinked, pondering her answer. Why here? This was originally her spot.
“……I’ve been studying stocks a bit myself.”
At Julie’s words, Premien grew haughtier.
“I see.”
“Do you know stocks well?”
“Well. Fifteen years of experience. I predicted the meteoric rise of Roten Trading Company, Food Systems, Joblak Construction, and Reble Toys—all of them.”
She had indeed predicted them.
She just hadn’t invested.
“Oh……”
Julie’s eyes sparkled. Premien crossed her legs the other way.
“What? Something you need?”
Then Reyli approached. She handed Julie a towel first.
“You were snapping during sparring…… Ah, Vice Minister Premien. Nice to see you. We met before, right? Over adventurer dungeon access.”
Premien nodded coolly.
Julie swallowed.
“Then, Vice Minister. Could you perhaps teach me about stocks?”
“I could teach you to some extent. Knowledge doesn’t diminish by sharing. But why is a knight interested in stocks?”
“……”
At Premien’s question, Julie’s face turned bitterly wistful. She brushed back her hair and replied.
“……I’ve come to realize, belatedly, that money is needed to protect those dear to me.”
Complex emotions laced her words.
Premien pondered. Judging by Allen’s note, this wasn’t the time to teach stocks.
“……Hmm.”
Still, befriending Julie with her knowledge would be no loss.
Deculein’s former fiancée had clear value—and above all.
Premien owed a debt to the North, especially the Phairden family.
“Please. I beg you. Stocks are too vast to master alone.”
Julie said politely. Premien pressed her temple, deliberating. Reyli blinked, baffled by the situation.
“……Very well. I shall teach you until I depart.”
“!”
Julie clenched her fists triumphantly. Her face alight with fervor, she grasped Premien’s hands.
“Thank you! I’ll study diligently.”
Filled with rage over Deculein moments ago, Julie now expressed heartfelt gratitude to this chance benefactor.
* * *
Empress of the Krebaum Empire, Sophien Yekater Augusta von Zifreine.
Her efficiency in handling affairs was ultimate.
The Emperor personally tackling documents occurred once a week, for a mere two hours—yet in that time, Sophien absorbed every continental report, petition, and controversy, resolving them with razor sharpness.
The speed of her thought and judgment had long surpassed human limits.
She seemed to flip pages recklessly, but she comprehended it all and proposed clear solutions……
“A Great Tiger?”
In the midst of her routine, Sophien found the Northern report.
“A Great Tiger has appeared in the North.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Indeed.”
Sophien nodded at Jolang’s reply.
“A ferocious beast…… Deculein must have a headache.”
Until then, she hadn’t given it much thought. Deculein managed Recor Dak; hunting the tiger was the knights’ duty anyway.
“Abandoning Recor Dak wouldn’t be a bad option either.”
In truth, the most efficient alternative. Abandon Recor Dak and confront the beast at the secondary defense line with the Northern knights.
“Rumors say Deculein won’t do that, Your Majesty.”
Jolang said. Sophien nodded.
“Deculein would not. Inefficient fool.”
“Yes. However…… he says he will go himself.”
“……”
Sophien’s mouth shut briefly. Jolang hastily prostrated, forehead to the floor.
Sophien read the report again. There it was, in that paragraph.
Sophien’s brow furrowed instantly.
“……Why this fool.”
Face the ferocious beast alone.
Reading that sentence ignited fury, reason unknown.
“Suddenly strutting about like an idiot.”
“……”
“Is he mad? A mage alone against a Great Tiger?”
Jolang said nothing, feigning deafness as he pressed his forehead to the floor.
“Do you think it makes sense?”
“……”
At the question, Jolang gauged her mood before replying.
“It seems difficult, Your Majesty…… but the North has fine knights…… surely he won’t go entirely alone……”
Sophien ground her teeth.
Oddly, heat rose to her forehead. An inexplicable physical reaction.
“……Madman.”
Of course, Deculein was no figure to die in the North—at least not yet. She didn’t know how he died, but farther in the future, not in the North……
“……”
No. The possibility existed.
Injured battling the Great Tiger, the wound festers, leading to a “slow” death.
She still didn’t know how Deculein died.
“……Hey.”
Sophien called Jolang in a voice thick with heat.
“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”
“Izac…… no.”
Without Kairon, the palace’s strongest unit was Vice Captain Izac. But deploying him for personal matters could prove politically disadvantageous.
Sophien was not so shortsighted.
Whatever became of Deculein—fatal wound from the beast or slow death years hence—it was his choice. He would handle it himself……
“Enough! He acts without a word to Us, so that damned fool can deal with it. Out!”
“Y-yes! Your grace is boundless.”
Sophien set aside work and banished Jolang. She lay on the bed, cooling the fever racking her body.
“……Without a single word to Us.”
A letter at least. Or a word via crystal orb.
Deciding such a grave matter without report was unbecoming of a vassal.
Thus, We are not worried—merely astonished……
“Do as you please, you fool!”
Sophien shouted and pulled the covers over her head.