Monster Descent South (2)
On the barricade, Ifrin gripped the automatic crossbow. Following the guard's instructions, she placed her hand on the handle.
"Yes. Now just pull the trigger."
"……Tu-tu-tu— Tu-tu-tu-tu— Tu-tu—"
She only mimed firing with her mouth. Actually shooting arrows would be a waste.
The guard watching with a smile said,
"You can fire it for real if you'd like."
"I'm good. By the way, I've been hearing thunder-like noises at night sometimes—is this what it was?"
"Yes. This crossbow can take down even trolls without issue."
"Ooh……."
Ifrin and Ruina marveled in admiration.
Trolls were magical beasts tough to subdue with ordinary physical force. Did this crossbow have some enchantment?
That was when it happened.
Whoosh—!
A gust of wind blew, and two small children hopped over the barricade from outside. The moment Ifrin spotted them, her eyes widened round.
"Lia? Leo?"
"Ah. Hi, Ifrin sis."
"Hey, Ifrin!"
The two adventurers she'd grown close with flashed her friendly smiles.
Ifrin stroked their heads and asked,
"Where've you two been?"
"Just stepped out to chat with Ganesha unnie. Caught some wild boars on the way back too."
"Oh right. Your leader's buying us time right now."
Ganesha of the Red Garnet adventurer team truly lived up to her fairy-tale legend. To think she could draw the attention of that massive beast horde all by herself…….
"But wild boars?"
"Yup! Check this out!"
Lia pointed to the plump boar slung over Leo's back. The sight made Ifrin smack her lips.
"……Looks delicious—"
"Guard. Where is the Professor?"
Suddenly, a voice colder than a winter blizzard cut in. Everyone turned that way.
It was Julie.
"Why's she looking for the Professor again…… She seems really pissed."
Ruina muttered with a sigh. The story of Julie and Deculein was too infamous for Ifrin not to feel a twinge of bitterness.
"……But why did they break up? Lady Dayia doesn't seem the type to commit corruption……."
"Who knows. No idea."
Ruina shook her head.
The official reason was loss of dignity due to corruption in Julie's Phairden Knights. But no matter how she thought about it, Julie wasn't the type for such scandals.
Ruina said,
"Ifrin. Heard anything from the Professor?"
"Nah, not really……."
"Nothing at all?"
"Yeah. He didn't seem to hate Lady Julie or anything."
Ifrin answered.
Of course, Deculein wasn't one to bare his heart carelessly.
Ruina nodded absently, but then—
"Ah?"
Her eyes widened as realization dawned. Sensing something off, Ifrin clung to her.
"No way."
"……What's up? Why the face?"
A bolt of lightning flashed in Ruina's mind. Ifrin swallowed hard.
"What's with the Professor?"
"……."
Ruina glanced around. Lia and Leo stared blankly at them.
"Come with me."
Ruina pulled Ifrin to a secluded spot. In the barricade's indented trench, she whispered self-reproachfully.
"……I've suspected all along, so why realize now? Julie's not the type for corruption."
"?"
Why's Professor Ruina acting weird? Ifrin just blinked.
Ruina, watching her, asked,
"You don't know, Assistant Professor Ifrin?"
"Huh? Yeah. And I'm still just an assistant."
"……Whatever. Come here. Ear, ear, ear."
Ruina pressed her lips to Ifrin's ear and whispered tiny.
—Maybe because he loves her too much.
"……."
Ifrin still didn't get it.
But Ruina's follow-up woke her.
—You know. Deculein doesn't have much time left.
"……!"
Finally, Ifrin's eyes flew wide. That one line made every puzzle piece fit.
It was a cliché straight out of novels, after all.
"……No way."
Horror bloomed on Ifrin's face.
Ruina nodded gravely, solemnly.
"That's what I think. Maybe that's why they split on purpose. Before she gets hurt more because of him, better to make her hate him."
"But still, that's too……."
"I know. Not a good way. But Deculein doesn't care about methods if it serves his goal."
"……."
"……."
The conversation halted abruptly. As the two women locked eyes in solemn understanding, Julie approached.
She asked Ruina and Ifrin about Deculein's whereabouts too.
"Haven't seen the Professor?"
Ifrin scratched her neck awkwardly.
"Probably checking on the civilians……."
"Yes. Thank you."
Julie nodded and descended the barricade.
Recor Dak. Laughter of children echoes in what was once the empire's worst prison camp.
Pet dogs brought by residents give birth to pups, charming the knights and guards with cuteness. They smile too. Meanwhile, chickens, pigs, cows are raised solely for slaughter.
"Today's herbs from the mountain."
And I am teaching four herbalists, including Jupan.
"Good. Now I'll quiz you one by one. Jupan, what is this?"
I held up a herb. Purple stem, blue leaves, flowered.
"Veraron."
"Wrong. Similar to veraron, but the bud shape differs slightly. This is 'Bella,' excellent for hemostasis."
"……I see. Yes. This is veraron."
Jupan pulled out the correct veraron.
"Right. Veraron's effects?"
"Aids stability and sedation."
"Chewing might soothe, but grinding and extracting makes a potent anesthetic. Can even knock out knights. Refine it that way."
"……."
The stoic herbalist Jupan looked up at me in shock.
"How do you know so much, Professor? You've never been an herbalist."
"I admit what I don't know and strive to learn. Classify gathered herbs by effect and deliver to the hospital."
"……Yes."
Recor Dak's old headquarters, rebuilt as a hospital. Not much south descent yet, so treating minor civilian ailments.
"Hey, Deculein. Supplies arrived. Check 'em."
Then a slimy voice called me.
Ihelm.
I dislike how he rolls his tongue every word. Just now, it sounded like 'Bwoh-gyung-i wassseumda. Kwah-in-haera.'
"What're you doing? Come on."
"……."
At Recor Dak's entrance, a caravan had indeed arrived as he said.
Guards swarmed checking wagons; the merchant chief ran up beaming.
"Haha! Professor! Good to see you!"
"Quite late."
"Yes, sorry. Hoarders everywhere—had to shake 'em off. But we brought extra beyond contract! Heard you're sheltering mountain folk too…… You'll see."
The supply officer finished inspection, approaching proudly.
"Yes, correct. With this and reserves, can feed everyone including Recor Dak residents for 3-4 weeks. More caravans incoming too……."
I nodded satisfied. The merchant fiddled his cheek, offering the contract.
"Sign confirmation here please. Haha, remember my name too."
"Very well."
Scribble— the moment I signed with my fountain pen.
> Big trouble! Professor!
Beyond Recor Dak's entrance.
A scout's silhouette appeared in the distance.
"Big trouble! Professor! Professor!"
He shouted running, kneeling before me, spilling words.
"Landslide on the mountain path to the city!"
"……Landslide?"
"Yes! An incoming caravan wiped out, path blocked. Suspected Altiegue behind it……."
My brow furrowed instinctively, but expected sabotage.
From Altar's view, Recor Dak must fall.
"Oh dear…… Such misfortune…… We'll be off then."
The merchant chief and mercenaries turned slyly. To the hasty leavers, I said,
"Didn't you hear? Landslide."
"……Pardon?"
"Recor Dak is a natural fortress. Only one way in or out—the mountain pass you crossed. Landslide means that pass is gone."
"Er…… Then……."
"You're trapped."
"……."
The caravan paled; I counted them.
Forty total. Forty more mouths.
"But you arrived handily."
"Y-Yeah…… Wait, no, couldn't we force over the mountains?"
"Think Altiegue overlooks that? Ambush and slaughter you?"
"Ah…… Damn Altiegue bastards!"
The merchant roared, stomping ground.
Anyway, all in Recor Dak were trapped.
Beasts swarming everywhere, central aid unlikely—food the core issue again.
"……."
I surveyed.
Recor Dak's barricade, rebuilt new quarters, falling snow, and…… residents trudging with hoes.
"Where go they?"
"Ah. Nearby arable land, they say. Sprouts even in winter. Hard to believe, but they're working, so we let 'em."
Sounded like 'magical space.'
"I'll go too. Guide caravan to quarters."
"Pardon? Ah, yes!"
I followed residents.
—Let's go, let's go~
—Off to work~
Humming, hoes and plows on shoulders, they reached.
Soon digging sounds, sowing earth visible.
Dozens tilling fields.
Thud—
I stepped deliberately. Sowing residents startled, knelt.
"……P-Professor! Wha-what! Kneel quick!"
"Y-yes! S-such honor!"
"Aigoo……."
I approached slowly, kneeling one knee on their field. Touched soil. Inspected visually.
Info
Mana-infused soil.
Category
Space ⊃ Magic
Special Effect
Crops rarely die.
Low quality, but true magical space.
Not enough for "Great Tycoon Wealth". Crop hardiness no big merit.
"……Hm."
Perhaps apply Midas' Hand once.
No harm with mana to spare.
Hand on soil, activated Midas' Hand.
Rooooar…….
Sensation of something inside draining instantly.
4,000 mana seeped into ground; earth rippled green like waves.
"……."
Then, visual inspection.
Soil's 'special effects' gained a line.
Desperately needed now.
Special Effects
Crops rarely die.
Crops nourished here grow rapidly.
[Midas' Hand: Stage 4]
This enables garrison farming. No bountiful harvest, but boiled barley porridge familiar to commoners.
If starvation looms, feed them that.
"Fine discovery. Keep farming here."
I told the still bowed residents.
"Will dispatch troops to protect."
"Ah, yes! Th-thank you, Professor! Truly!"
Night fell. Scouted for other fields—nothing. Back at headquarters, met sparring knights.
Clang— Clang!—
Swords dancing under crackling bonfire, sparks scattering like petals.
Night training ground always theirs.
"Hey, Professor."
Someone pointed me out. Syrio.
Beside him, Gwen crossed arms gruffly.
"Speak of the devil. The Professor who said he'd teach us sword theory?"
I approached, nodding.
"Can correct theoretical flaws. Your swordplay has defects too, Gwen."
"……What? What'd you say?"
"Will document your lacks later. Correct them."
Gwen gaped blankly, goldfish-like, then spat incredulously.
"……Unbelievable?"
I was incredulous too.
Unable to separate theory from practice, judging solely by sword realm.
Ignoramuses.
"Yes."
From blazing bonfire emerged a white knight.
Julie.
"……I read your evaluation of me."
I replied instantly.
"Indeed. Your sword had many issues."
A vein pulsed on Julie's forehead.
I continued calmly.
"Too honest. Stubborn personality perhaps, but maintaining that swordplay in battle is foolish. Crude."
"……Ha."
Julie exhaled hotly, closing eyes tight.
Other knights silent. Seemed on her side this time.
Naturally, to them I was a magic-user untouched by swords.
"Can demonstrate bodily, Dayia. Pure swordplay dismantling you."
"……."
Crackle—
Bonfire froze. Julie clenched fists. Bowed head hid expression.
Soon.
"Yes. Very well."
Julie offered a sword. Lifted face.
Anger, injustice, shame…… moist eyes glaring, swirling emotions.
"Teach me. I shall learn humbly."
As desired. My Iron Man and Strong Bones body twice tougher than her current.
"……Hey? Kids, hold up!"
But Syrio pointed skyward suddenly. I looked up.
"Red Moon."
Moon blood-red. Signal of true south descent, but knights just nodded, no fuss.
Gwen said,
"Red Moon's Red Moon. No need to stop."
Her lip twisted smirking.
"Show us, Professor. Where'd you learn swordplay to scorn knights like us? Pure, no mana or magic."
I nodded without hesitation.
This too fertilizer for Julie's growth.
"I shall show. How to shatter obtuse knights."
Tick— Tock—
Second hand ticking.
Sophien drummed fingers on desk. Somewhat tense, irritated.
"……How long intend to revise?"
Sophien showed her letter to Kreto. Personal reply to Deculein's public missive.
"Hm…… Removed quotes, commas, punctuation—kept one each. This 'you bastard,,,' all gone."
"Why? Bare sentences seem too serious."
Sophien flicked her flowing imperial robe. Kreto shook head.
"Not at all. Professor gauges Your Majesty's heart well. However……."
Kreto stroked chin, said,
"Private letter anyway. Adding line at end not bad."
"What line?"
"His public missive hugely praised in palace. Reward for timeless prose……."
Sophien eyed his mouth closely. Feeling gaze, Kreto smiled faintly.
"'I eagerly await unharmed you.' Not overly worried, nor dismissive."
"……."
Sophien pondered. Hundreds thoughts in mere 3 seconds.
Result: 'No issue.'
"Fine. Send thus."
"Yes."
Sophien scrawled final line. Unfolded, read full letter.
Paragraph starting "Received and read your loyal public missive"—seemed decent.
"Your Majesty. Do you know?"
But Kreto asked oddly. Sophien glanced.
"Know what?"
He smiled.
"You're smiling now, Your Majesty."
"……What nonsense."
Sophien quickly fingered her mouth.
Oddly curved lips; Kreto confirmed with mirror.
"……."
Sophien: smile graced her face.
Not forced or fake, but unconscious 'real' smile.
Admiring blankly, Kreto said,
"……I too satisfied, Your Majesty."