Public Review Meeting. (2)
......One week before midterms.
While helping Julia with her assignment.
Drent's attention was drawn to Ifrin's assignment on the clubroom desk.
He had offered to help Julia in the first place hoping for some inspiration. He had been in a severe slump with his thesis structure.
But Julia's paper wasn't much to reference, so when she stepped out to use the restroom, he took the chance to look at Ifrin's.
The shock that flashed through his mind in that instant was overwhelming.
It was an idea too grand for a commoner's work. A mere assignment destined to be discarded anyway.
In the end, Drent claimed Ifrin's idea as his own inspiration.
......However.
"Since you seem ignorant of it, I shall pass. Allow me to ask something simpler. The magic you just manifested, Protective Flame Orb......"
Deculein reproduced the Protective Flame Orb that Drent had just cast. With only a single glance, it was far denser than his own.
"Can you truly be certain that this magic remains undistorted in the ocean depths, at any altitude, or underground?"
"Y-Yes. That is correct."
Drent collected himself and answered. He hadn't had time to fully master the thesis, but he had some knowledge...
"Then what is the reason? Given that the incantation for this Protective Flame Orb is structured thus."
The flame orb's incantation as described in the thesis floated in the air. Deculein pinpointed its core.
"Which circuit in this incantation serves the role of 'protection'?"
"Uh...... That is......"
Drent was at a loss for words. Deculein simply stared at him in silence. The quiet swept over the hall like a knife's edge wind.
"......"
No matter how long he waited, Drent could not answer.
Finally, Deculein's chilling tone descended.
"From this thesis, I could pose hundreds of derivative questions."
A pitiful glare. Lips twisted in contempt.
Deculein continued, crushing him.
"Yet you cannot answer even a few of them. Can this truly be called your thesis?"
Drent ground his teeth. Rage surged up. As he opened his mouth to shout something, Deculein silenced him with a single phrase.
"Above all, I shall leave your gravest sin for last."
"......!"
Deculein gripped the thesis with one hand.
"Attempt it again. With your own strength."
Whoosh... The paper ignited. The thick stack soon crumbled to black ash and scattered.
A small stir rose from the audience. Even Sylvia's eyes widened in surprise.
"......"
Drent said nothing.
Only a sigh-like hollow laugh escaped him. He had no strength left to retort.
Deculein knew.
He knew it all.
Drent trudged off the stage.
The hall fell silent as the mage departed.
"What the hell, no one could answer that."
Julia whispered indignantly. Ifrin felt the same, but something felt off, strangely so.
—Th, the second mage.
The moderator stammered, flustered.
Twenty-two mages remained in the public review.
—Please remain quiet. The second presenter is 4th-year mage, Soda-rank Marlon.
The next mage appeared.
Already terrified, he was pale and trembling. He probably wished to skip if possible.
"S-So, Soda, Soda-rank Marlon...... My thesis is......"
Mage Marlon soon explained his thesis, and Deculein listened before questioning.
Pinpointing only the core.
"Yes. The reason I classified that magic as manipulation-type is......"
Marlon stammered but answered successfully. Deculein nodded in apparent satisfaction.
"That suffices."
Having witnessed the previous thesis burn up close, he bowed deeply in profound relief.
"Thank you!"
As soon as the public review ended, I returned to my office.
Knock knock—
Allen's knock. He entered clutching some documents in one hand, his face beaming innocently.
"Professor! I selected the best ones this time."
"Selected?"
"Yes! Mages who wish to serve under you."
"......Leave it and go."
"Yes!"
Allen set the papers on the desk and left. I skimmed them.
"Cloe...... Groan......"
No standouts, no notables. All were ones who wouldn't remain in the university tower without my patronage.
"Meant to be used as laborers, are they?"
I tossed the list aside. Then—
Vrrr—
A small vibration from my pocket.
The crystal orb.
I infused it with mana, connecting the call. A voice came through.
—Are you there?
"Speak, old friend."
—......
Charlotte fell silent. She seemed to ponder long.
—Ha......
After a troubled sigh, a dry, cracked voice flowed in.
—It's time to leave now. No time left.
"Understood."
I immediately pulled out a map. I had scouted the route long ago.
"Can you follow my will?"
—What is your will?
"We cross Crevasse Gorge."
—......Are you serious?
Crevasse Gorge was a demonic-infested hellscape. An abandoned pass belonging to no nation.
Extremely treacherous and dangerous—a synonym for terror—but it was Charlotte's only escape.
"A shortcut to Yuren Duchy. Unclaimed, so no diplomatic disputes with Leok."
—I know. I considered it, but—
"I shall guide you personally."
—......
Crevasse Gorge wasn't far from Hadekan. Three to four hours by horse.
As the decision-maker for the mage MT, I could align it with the expedition date—no time wasted, safe passage assured.
—You personally?
"Indeed."
—......I heard Leok Kingdom ambushed you at Verhert.
I furrowed my brow.
Leok behind the ambush?
But Charlotte knew something I didn't. My intelligence network needed rebuilding.
—Was that ambush vile enough to warrant your personal action?
"Charlotte."
—What?
"I am exceedingly political. In intellect or insight, I surpass you in all."
—What? So full of yourself—
"I wish your princess to survive, for the benefit of my house and territory."
—......
"This is transaction, not favor. Why burden the scales with petty emotions? Are you so foolish?"
Her probing tone had irked me, nothing more.
Yet it seemed a fine answer; Charlotte replied with firmer conviction.
—......Understood. If you fulfill the task, Her Highness will grant any favor.
"Transaction sealed?"
—Rendezvous at Crevasse entrance?
"Correct. If you cannot reach even there, you lack value to survive."
—Understood. I hope your abilities match that mouth of yours.
The call ended.
I murmured softly from my chair.
"......A chance to test."
Of course, Crevasse was dangerous. Demonic thick as a lair or dungeon, devils appearing at whim.
However.
The trait granted by my bloodline: Yukline.
This bloodline repurposes demonic energy—unrefined mana—as fuel.
In mana-saturated spaces lethal to humans, my limits lift.
Thus, demonic-overrun terrain like Crevasse is home ground for Yukline kin.
"......Route memorized precisely."
Crevasse was the right path. I had cleared it in the game thus.
Charlotte had likely considered it too.
Knock knock—
Then, the door flew open without pause.
The massive frame shoving it aside was the unexpected Zeit.
"Professor Deculein!"
"......Lord Zeit. What brings you?"
"Dinner tonight, together!"
Zeit boomed with hearty laughter.
I checked the clock.
Three p.m.
Too early for dinner.
"Ah~ I figured we should dine once a month. They say you hardly see Julie lately? We'll prepare ahead—you bring her!"
Suspicion laced Zeit's gaze and tone.
Bear-like build, fox-like cunning.
Six p.m.
Julie prepared to leave the mansion. Zeit had insisted on dinner; she couldn't refuse.
"From today, I'll visit monthly to check your progress"—Zeit's words.
Julie sighed, donning greaves and cloak. She checked the mirror.
"......"
Fatigue etched her face.
Lately, investigating Veron, plus post-emperor's death workload—she hadn't rested even an hour daily.
Over two weeks of this.
Rejecting aides, thieves' guild, even adventurer commissions, she bore it alone.
Knock knock—
The servant spoke.
—Milady! Time to go!
Julie nodded and exited.
She meant to ride, but—
A gleaming car approached from across the mansion.
Narrowing her eyes: Deculein, as expected.
As Julie neared, the window rolled down.
"Get in."
"Did Lord Zeit tell you to—"
"He suspects our relationship."
"......"
"Get in."
Julie hesitated, then nodded. She informed the servants and boarded.
The car departed promptly.
Awkward silence inside. Julie wondered if the promised month had passed already; Deculein gazed out the window.
One phrase shattered the long quiet.
"......Still investigating that incident?"
"......"
Julie didn't reply. Deculein turned to her.
"Best not to. You're harming yourself—"
"I'm fine."
Julie cut him off firmly. Clear refusal.
Deculein said no more.
Silence.
The luxury car glided smoothly on pristine roads.
Peaceful. Comfortable.
"Julie. You are truly frustrating."
Then, Deculein murmured offhand.
"......"
No answer came. Deculein tilted his head to look at her.
"......"
Julie slept, eyes closed.
Back straight, hands demurely on knees.
In perfect posture, exhaustion won; she slumbered.
Deculein chuckled softly, gazing at her face.
Her steady breaths warmed. A stray lock neared her lips; he brushed it away.
Regretfully, he pinched her soft cheek lightly.
Shaking her, her face quivered.
Regaining composure, Deculein pulled a book from his briefcase.
No words entered his mind, but he turned pages. Then to the driver:
"Half a day to arrival."
"Yes, sir."
Thanks to the driver's skill, the car circled the same road. Eight o'clock.
The seven o'clock appointment long past.
Reading comfortably, glancing at Julie, reading again—nine o'clock already.
Astonishing speed.
Time today fragmented in chunks.
Finally, ten p.m.
"......Mm."
Julie awoke, sleepy-eyed, scanning around. Startled by the nightscape, she jolted like a spring.
"......!"
"Awake?"
"N-Night......"
"Far too late."
To Julie pressed to the window, Deculein spoke. He checked his pocket watch; the car stopped.
The driver stepped away, citing a possible issue.
"Ten-thirty. Dinner ended hours ago. First time breaking a promise."
"Why didn't you wake me......"
"Better to skip the awkward meal. Vanishing together clears suspicion more effectively."
"......"
Julie grasped it, face flushing pink. Deculein gazed at her earnestly.
"Julie."
"......Yes."
"Upon reflection, our contract now has a deadline."
Julie's eyes widened like a deer's.
"Zeit suspects, so we won't last a year. Become guardian knight within that year. You turn thirty next year—the empire's youngest ever."
Deculein reached out, tidying her sleep-tousled hair.
Julie didn't resist the touch. More than the hand, emotion weighted his voice.
"Fail the deadline, and we may have to marry by force."
"......"
"So, do not linger in one place."
Julie met his eyes silently. Words formed slowly.
After much thought, she voiced her long wonder.
"Why show me such feelings?"
"......"
"Many women fairer than I. Without sword-callused hands, less frustrating, less rigid."
Deculein silently turned to the window. Moonlight filled his blue eyes.
"......Julie."
He spoke as if smiling.
"I utterly despise fate ordained by gods, horoscopes, such nonsense."
"......"
"Yet sometimes, I feel irrefutably inescapable things exist."
Gazing at the moon, Deculein said.
"For me, that is you."
Julie understood. Yet doubted.
The old Deculein wouldn't have been thus.
"......I see."
What changed him?
Deculein spoke again.
"Thus, stay as far from me as possible—for your good, and mine—lest I revert."
Deculein leaned in.
She tensed, mistaking intent, body coiling instinctively.
Click—
He merely opened the door.
"Rest easy tonight. Though you missed dinner, saying we were together will please Zeit."
"......"
Julie stared blankly at him.
"Get out."
"......Yes. Farewell."
She nodded and alighted.
Cool breeze blew. Unsure how long she slept, the world dark, her heart calm.
Her mansion nearby.
"Ah, finished?"
Deculein's driver returned.
The car revved away. Julie watched his reflection in the rear window, then entered the mansion.
"Ah, milady's back?!"
Servants greeted her in the parlor. Julie treated them without rank. Smiling faintly:
"I'm hungry. Prepare dinner."
"Yes! Right away!"
They bustled eagerly. First meal request at home in nearly two weeks; they gave their best.
That night.
Julie ate well, slept deeply. First time in ages lying abed without work thoughts.
Suddenly, his words echoed.
'Yet sometimes, I feel irrefutably inescapable things exist......'
No nightmares tonight, surely.
......On the drive back.
"Circle more?"
The driver asked. I shook my head.
"To the mansion."
"Yes."
A sigh escaped. A hollow chuckle followed.
Today, I resolved to distance from Julie. Time would only deepen my love for every facet of her.
Of course, distancing hurts. Thus, she must become guardian knight—distance herself.
"Arrived."
"Well done."
I alighted at the mansion.
Walking the garden, atop a shrub branch.
A hawk watched me.