World of Voices (3)
……The dark paths of the Voice.
I walk behind Deculein, watching his back.
He remains perfectly upright, his strides rhythmic and unwavering. Not a hint of hesitation. As if this is all utterly ordinary.
I don't know Deculein well.
The time we've spent together hasn't even reached a year, and most of it has been filled with nothing but hatred toward him—endless, burning hatred. I never even tried to understand him.
And yet…… right now, I'm curious about Deculein.
What is he thinking? What emotions stir in his heart?
As I ponder this, I belatedly realize my own feelings.
I'm pitying Deculein.
Vaguely, I rewind the life of the man I know.
A father who never trusted his son. The pressures and conflicts of the family. Amid it all, the one woman he truly loved.
But her empty death. The love stolen by a letter from the demons. And Kaigan Luna, who played a decisive role in her passing.
His daughter. Me.
Now, I understand.
Deculein has every reason to hate me to death. Just the fact that I'm Kaigan's daughter gives him ample justification to despise me.
……And yet.
He took me as his disciple. He forgave my "betrayal" when I sided with Ihelm, and even my father. He recorded the name "Luna Kaigan" as a co-author on a monumental paper.
I don't know why……
I truly don't.
The more I learn about Deculein,
the more time we spend together,
the more the days pass,
the less I understand him.
I become an idiot.
Why did he take me as his disciple?
Why didn't he cast me aside?
Because of that, I no longer hate Deculein.
I'm just worried about him.
If he reunites with his lover resurrected as a demon and truly kills her with his own hands. If he must shatter her himself.
What will remain in his heart then?
A barren wasteland where not a single blade of grass grows. In his heart, already reduced to cold ashes……
"Ifrin."
Deculein called out then. I jumped in surprise and yelped loudly.
"Yeees—!"
"……Are you mad?"
"N-No…… Why, what's wrong?"
"Enter."
He nodded toward somewhere with his chin.
I looked up. There was a massive sign, door-sized.
HOTEL
"……A hotel?!"
The hotel we arrived at with Ifrin is, simply put, a "save point." Upon entering the Voice, you awaken in a random space, but using a hotel or house lets you start from here.
ROOM 303
"Sh-Shall I open it?"
"Open it."
Ifrin unlocked the door first with the key. She hesitated before stepping inside.
"……Tch."
A musty stench assaulted us from within. Moldy wallpaper. Bedding that was uniformly repulsive and filthy.
"Wait."
I activated the trait Encryption. Using the Mana Code in my mind, I arranged clean furniture, then used Cleanse to scrub everything spotless.
"Whoa…… amazing."
"Sit anywhere."
Ifrin looked around before settling on a chair.
"Yes. But, Professor. Why here?"
"First, I shall explain this 'Voice' in detail."
I said.
"Ah, yes."
"This is a false world. The Voice created by demons—the world of 'waves'—differs greatly from reality. Impossible events occur here, impossible objects exist. Moreover……"
I closed my eyes briefly. With Understanding, I recalled the map blueprint of the Voice I'd once seen.
Kim Woojin had been a game designer, after all; it was no challenge.
I transferred the recalled image exactly onto paper.
"Memorize it. The structure of the Voice is concentric circles."
Concentric circles. Circles sharing the same center but with different radii.
Thus, the Voice widens outward and narrows inward.
"The two demons are likely at this center."
Like ripples spreading wide from a drop in water. The two targets would be crammed in the tightest core……
"……"
But Ifrin seemed distracted by something else, staring at me as if she had words to say. Her lips fidgeted idly.
Fidget-fidget— fidget-fidget—
I furrowed my brow.
"Do you have something to say?"
"Ah…… well…… Are you really going to kill them? With your own hands?"
"Yes."
I nodded. Ifrin's face fell into sadness.
I didn't know why she was acting this way, but I explained the justification regardless.
"This is no task for another. Extinguishing demons is the duty of the Yukline."
"Even so…… no matter what……"
Ifrin stammered.
She still lacked a mage's cold precision.
……No.
Perhaps I was the one lacking something human.
"Won't it be hard on you……? Wouldn't it be better to recruit other team members……?"
Such concern from Ifrin wasn't unwelcome.
Her fidgeting fingers. The sidelong glances as she perched on the bed, gauging my mood. Her willful worry for me.
"It may be difficult."
At my response, Ifrin snapped her head up.
Yuarra. Killing the demon resembling her might indeed be trying.
"However, I shall not hesitate. Nor flee."
"……Why?"
"Because slaying demons is my duty, the righteous path for me."
"……"
Ifrin's eyes wavered.
She bowed her head briefly, then looked up at me again.
"……Professor. Then…… I've always wondered one thing."
"Speak."
"Why…… did you take me as your disciple……?"
A feeble question. Yet Ifrin continued with the utmost seriousness.
"It's true. I hated you, so it's natural you'd hate me too. Because—"
"Had your talent been worthless."
I cut her off. I gazed steadily at her.
"I would have left you be. Trash unworthy of hatred or attention."
Ifrin flinched, her shoulders trembling.
"However…… Ifrin. Listen well. I do not speak falsehoods."
Gulp— Ifrin swallowed.
The corner of my mouth twisted faintly. Perhaps a smile.
"You possess talent that will change the era."
Talent.
I knew her talent. Not merely because she was named, but her tangible growth, visible to the naked eye, surpassed astonishment—it convinced me she would become an archmage.
"A mage whose name will echo across the continent."
Her face went blank. A flush rose to her cheeks.
"That talent stands apart from all I dislike about you. I recognized it and believed I could nurture it. That is all. No more, no less."
With that, I finished. Ifrin nodded slowly, but murmured softly, caught on some part of my words.
"Everything you dislike…… about me?"
I neither like nor dislike her. But from Deculein's memories, dislike would be the closer fit.
To claim no envy or jealousy would be a lie.
"Everything you dislike is still something you dislike……"
She muttered as if for me to hear. I rose.
"Rest. Here, you can sleep more comfortably than in the north and eat your fill."
She replied peevishly.
"……There's nothing to eat."
"Buy some."
"Eh? No, no, I didn't mean that. I'd rather go my—"
"Stay put."
I left Ifrin and stepped out of the room.
The hotel exterior bustled immediately. Crowds swarmed the surroundings.
Many street stalls lined the area. The air was thick with food scents.
"……"
Standing there, I peered briefly into my heart.
Yuarra.
Was it because of that sketched face in the montage? A long-forgotten facet of Kim Woojin poked through like a needle.
"……?"
As I caught my breath, suddenly.
I spotted a familiar face amid the stalls. She saw me too. Our eyes met.
"……Professor."
Julie. Hot dogs clutched in both hands, with a boy named Leo beside her.
"Whoa! It's Professor Deculein!"
Leo's eyes widened as he pointed at me.
"……You were here too."
I swept my gaze behind them. Half-demon Karos. I sought him.
Leo said,
"Karos isn't here."
"So it seems."
If Karos were nearby, my blood would have reacted first.
Then Julie asked,
"Professor. Why seek Karos?"
"That professor's gonna kill Karos."
Leo's casual words. No blame, no tattling—just pure conveyance of fact.
Julie's eyes bulged.
"What do you…… Professor. Is it true? Trying to harm a child? Karos hasn't even turned thirteen."
"……Getting close already. Fine affinity."
My cynical jab cooled Julie's expression. She glared, demanding explanation.
I nodded.
"Correct. His death benefits the world. Worse than Altiegue, if you press."
"……No!"
Julie burst out.
"How far do you intend to fall!"
I merely watched her.
As if words had piled up, she unleashed them.
"Veron, Rockfell—not just my knights! The dozens of Altiegue you buried alive—"
"Defending Altiegue now?"
"That's not what I said!"
She shouted, her whole body trembling. Like an overheated kettle, hissing steam.
Pssshhh……
"……Enough."
She clenched her teeth and shook her head. Resignation beyond anger, utter surrender.
I told her,
"Julie. You must hate me."
"Yes."
No hesitation.
"I hate you."
……Too true.
"I loathe you."
A most fitting emotion.
Yet why did a corner of my heart ache?
Because I love this woman.
"……Very well. But heed one piece of advice."
I looked at Julie.
This level of hatred was insufficient. For her to heal herself, to survive and become a true knight.
She was still far from it.
"If you must hate someone, hate them truly. Hate them enough to kill."
"……"
"Half-hearted as you are now changes nothing. Nay, you may die instead."
Julie clenched her fists.
"A threat?"
"Advice."
Julie sealed her lips tight.
I turned elsewhere.
A stall selling fried chicken. I bought two for Ifrin. Ignored Julie's murderous glare.
"I take my leave. A burden awaits."
With that, I returned to the hotel.
ROOM 303
I opened the room door.
Snore…… snore……
Ifrin lay sprawled on the bed, asleep. Drool pooling.
But as I set down the chicken, sniff— sniff— her nose twitched first. Scenting it, she rose entranced and reached for the chicken.
"……Professor. Aren't you eating?"
I shook my head.
"You eat."
"Yeah, you wouldn't touch cheap stuff like this……"
Ifrin tore into a drumstick. Her sleepy munching was oddly endearing.
Vrrrrm—
Then, a faint light and vibration stirred on my right shoulder.
The Voice's time was up.
"Ifrin. Eat quickly. We return north soon."
"Ah, y-yes……"
……A night where the risen red moon scatters crimson mist across the sky.
The empire's heart, the Imperial Palace, bathes in eerie moonlight.
Tick-tock— tick-tock—
In the palace's most secluded chamber, the emperor's bedroom, where only the second hand's whisper breaks the silence.
Sophien slowly opened her eyes. Crimson irises gleamed vividly in the darkness.
"Hmmm……"
Having returned from the Voice, she exhaled softly.
Step—
A presence stirred nearby. Sophien turned that way.
In an instant, a vein throbbed at her temple.
"……You?"
From the shadows.
In this bedchamber, forbidden to all.
Stood a man she knew well. Too brazenly.
It was absurd.
"How dare you……"
"Long time no see, Your Majesty."
"Speak not my name with that filthy mouth, Rohakan."
A man who ignited her sloth in ways unlike Deculein.
The empress's assassin, Rohakan.
Sophien raised her upper body. She growled in fury.
"Have you truly come here yourself? To the bedchamber where the empress you slew once resided?"
Rohakan nodded.
"I came unwillingly, but I've heard rumors lately of letters between Your Majesty and Deculein. Most unsettling. You, exchanging 'personal' letters with someone? Unthinkable…… yet true."
Sophien sat up fully. Near-infinite mana swirled like a tempest.
The entire palace awoke; the knights mobilized, sensing the intruder.
"Your Majesty."
Enduring that vast mana…… Rohakan asked her.
"Have you developed feelings for Deculein?"
Drip—
Sophien's mana faltered briefly. She narrowed her eyes at Rohakan.
"Why ask such drivel? No—did you invade here for that alone?"
"'Drivel'? It is most crucial."
Rohakan said. His grave tone grated on Sophien.
"You truly are a fool."
"Your Majesty. I can glimpse the future, however imperfectly."
Future Sight. The literal miracle of seeing ahead, sharpening as lifespan dwindles—Rohakan's power.
He continued lowly.
"……Among them, a fragment of the future concerning Your Majesty. A vital scene."
"If you truly seek death, I grant it gladly—"
"In that future."
Thud-thud-thud-thud—
Knights' footsteps approached. Sophien unleashed mana—no, chanted runes to bind Rohakan utterly. To prevent escape……
Bound as he was, Rohakan spoke.
"Your Majesty confessed love to Deculein."
"……?"
That instant felt like the world's time halted entirely.
Absurdity crumpled Sophien's face like dough.