Selection. (2)
“I gave you the chance to raise an objection. It is your fault for not observing carefully.”
Deculein said. His voice was cold as thin ice.
“······.”
Julie bowed her head silently.
The senior knights were watching her. All sorts of emotions welled up and subsided in her heart.
But it was too early to give up.
“······You're right. It was my mistake.”
She murmured softly.
She braced for the mana release. After placing an ice flower on a suitable surface, she gathered mana in her fist.
Thud—!
An old injury reopened, sending a dull pain surging through her. Direct mana release was still too much.
But she ignored it.
Julie gritted her teeth and drew up her mana. It coalesced in her palm like a sphere.
She scattered it as if throwing.
Whiiiiiir······.
Her mana rode the wind, enveloping the villa. The fireplace's warmth vanished in an instant, and the entire villa froze over coldly.
“That should do it now.”
Julie declared loftily, facing Deculein. He looked slightly surprised but soon shook his head.
“Wrong method. Look at the flower.”
At his words, Julie glanced at the ice flower she'd placed on the surface.
“······Ah.”
A scar marred the petals.
The crack was glaringly obvious at a glance.
“The ice flower is affected by mana too.”
“······Hah.”
Julie let out a hollow laugh, holding the ruined flower. She closed her eyes tightly and lowered her head.
Above the fireplace, the frozen clock didn't move—but soon, it struck exactly seven.
Deculein declared.
“You are eliminated, Julie.”
Julie stayed in the villa a while longer. Her body temperature was too low to leave immediately. After finishing her meal, she fell into a deep sleep, and the knights gathered in the living room.
“It's not fair.”
Syrio said.
But I was more concerned with Julie's mana from moments ago than that.
“······.”
Today, I saw Julie's mana for the first time.
Observed with the “Naked Eye”, there was a flaw in her mana. An inexplicable constraint.
Status Ailment: Mana Damage
Julie's mana was damaged.
Mana damage—essentially a dantian wound—wasn't common. It couldn't result from ordinary injury.
It must have been a curse or a crippling wound.
In the game, did Julie reach the pinnacle of knighthood while bearing this status? Or did overcoming it make her the pinnacle?
I didn't know the reason.
“······Julie's test was way too hard. Ice flower and fireplace? Even I didn't get it at first.”
Syrio kept grumbling. Gwen and Rafel were glaring at me too, eyes filled with anger.
The knights clearly resented the unfair process.
Suddenly, a thought struck me.
They had ties not just to Deculein, but to Julie as well.
Maybe they knew the reason for this mana damage.
“······Julie was injured once, wasn't she?”
I murmured casually, like thinking aloud. A subtle probe.
But the room's atmosphere shifted abruptly.
“Injured? That was because of you. Back during that escort mission with us······ Wait, no way?”
Syrio's eyes widened as he stared at me. Rafel stroked his chin, deep in thought.
“The aftereffects are still lingering?”
Gwen frowned this time.
“She seemed fine using sword aura······ Rafel? What did you think?”
“She seemed to consciously limit her mana use. She wielded sword aura but didn't explode large amounts at once.”
To counter my explosive sword, she had no choice. Rafel added boastfully, lips twisting.
Syrio nodded as if convinced.
“Yeah······ If the aftereffects linger, it's a problem. Could get us in trouble serving His Majesty. Especially those eunuchs—they're notoriously extreme.”
Information poured out that I didn't know. Backstory before the game's start.
“But is it certain? How did you even know······ Oh, right. Of course you'd know. You love her so much.”
Syrio grinned slyly.
Then Gwen shot him a sharp glare.
“Shut it. Even if that's true, is that how you show care? Not cool at all. And His Majesty could teach her just fine despite the injury. Unnecessary overprotection.”
“Gwen.”
I called her name.
“What.”
“Do you want to be eliminated too?”
“······.”
Gwen shut her mouth, and I focused on my duties as examiner.
“Return to your rooms. The second test resumes after the first eliminatee leaves.”
It was 3 p.m. by the clock.
But outside in the still-dark world, Julie stood.
She looked up at the sky. The visible winter stretched taut, as if to tear.
—Captain, do your best!
—You've been stressed lately, so show 'em what you've got and come back~!
Her subordinates' cheers came to mind. She'd vowed to pass for their sake, but the result was failure.
Still, she couldn't blame anyone. Nor should she.
Julie accepted it humbly.
Just as she turned to head home.
A rustle—footsteps approached.
······Deculein.
He was watching her from not far away.
“Julie.”
“Yes.”
He approached slowly. Snow crunched underfoot.
He stopped three steps away. He seemed to choose his words carefully, thinking silently.
“Regrettable, today.”
“No.”
Julie shook her head.
“As you said, it was my fault. I understand. That was the test itself.”
“······.”
Deculein said nothing. He couldn't comprehend her admitting fault.
Julie continued sincerely.
“The ice flower and fireplace. They were cleverly linked. I should have checked both when given the task.”
Deculein let out a small sigh.
Cleverly? What a stubbornly foolish girl.
“······Before sending you off, one thing I want to ask.”
“As examiner?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“Yes. It's fine.”
He recalled, as Kim Woojin—not Deculein, but enduring Deculein's emotions.
Five months ago, their first meeting.
That day, Julie had raged about a “promise,” but he'd never even asked what it was.
“There was a promise I broke before.”
Julie gazed at Deculein wordlessly. He continued impassively.
“Tell me that promise again.”
Julie's brow twitched. Deculein gave her a faint smile.
“I just want to hear it from your lips once more.”
She found him enigmatic.
Lately, he'd become such a puzzling man.
“······It's been half a year already. Back then, I received a letter from someone of that ‘Luna’ family. From the mother of a mage who took her own life under your command.”
“What did it say?”
“I showed you already. Your······ misdeeds up to then. I demanded an explanation, and you stayed silent.”
That time, Julie had shown Deculein the letter, but he'd glared at it crushedly and burned it.
Saying she didn't need to know.
“I see.”
Deculein acted as if it never happened.
Another incomprehensible action.
“Why ask now?”
“······.”
He looked at Julie. A wry smile tugged at his lips.
“Because it was my fault.”
“······Pardon?”
The surprised Julie's eyes widened as she asked again.
He repeated.
“Back then, it was······ Deculein's fault.”
“······.”
“But the research continues. He designed it, but I'm the one constructing it. I'm filling the gaps myself now. Since we started it together, he'll be a co-author.”
Deculein said, gazing at the horizon.
Slowly, the sun rose. The magical space's nature was so wondrous.
“If there's profit, it'll be shared, and I'll help his family revive. On the day this research is announced, I can apologize to him too.”
Dawn bathed his face.
Like ice under spring sun, he was cold yet warm.
Julie replied softly.
“······Why didn't you say that back then?”
Deculein turned his eyes to her. Julie met his direct gaze unflinchingly.
“Well. Maybe because saying it wouldn't change anything.”
“Pardon?”
“Back then, you were just looking for reasons to hate me.”
Just as Deculein loved Julie, perhaps her not loving him was fate too.
So he thought.
“I understand. Whatever feelings you have for me, emotions can't be forced.”
“······No.”
But Julie thought differently.
She shook her head firmly.
“There was a time······ when I liked you.”
Deculein's impassive pupils dilated. Flustered by the change, Julie flushed.
“I mean, not like that, but what I mean is······.”
Julie and Deculein's bond went back far.
Sixteen years. Before Deculein was Yukline's head, when Julie was just a child dreaming of knighthood.
Despite countless disappointments and humiliations, the reason she'd decided to “believe in Deculein the man” lay in Julie's heart all along.
“Back then—”
“Let's leave it.”
Deculein shook his head, cutting her off.
“I wasn't myself then.”
Julie, lips parting, shyly nodded. Knowing his will, she swallowed the words bubbling inside.
Looking at her, he said.
“Julie.”
“Yes?”
“From now on, I'll try not to love you.”
Julie's eyes and mouth rounded. At her pure reaction, Deculein smiled brightly.
That smile shattered his coldness. The ever-stern noble turned boyish in an instant.
Smiling, he continued.
“You seem burdened, so I'll try to distance myself more. Someday, we might go our separate ways.”
“······.”
He'd shared the feelings he'd harbored.
“I'll do it for you.”
Finishing, he turned.
“Good work today. Go carefully.”
Julie watched his receding back. The sun, now high, warmed the world.
Soon, a sunlit smile bloomed on her lips.
“······You're sincere, aren't you.”
Today, she realized once more.
He was trying to change. She'd never noticed his efforts. Maybe she'd never even tried to.
“As a knight, I'll reflect and self-examine.”
Feeling warmth in her heart, Julie turned.
Walking the opposite direction.
I'll try not to love you······.
His words echoed in her ears.
A promise to change for her. A self-sacrificial vow not to love her, for her sake.
Undeniably, for her.
“······.”
Suddenly, she stopped. Looked back. He was long gone.
Nodding, Julie walked her path.
The snow seemed to suck at her legs. The bright sun melted the snow clinging to her into mud.
Julie walked.
And acknowledged her heart leaning toward him.
······The selection exam ended smoothly.
After three days, Rafel was selected; the other three knights eliminated.
It cost three days, but the gains weren't zero.
I'd seen top knights' movements with my own eyes and memorized them perfectly with Understanding. An experience money couldn't buy.
Back in the tower office, I compiled their movements into a summary. Two volumes total—this compendium would serve my Iron Man trait well······.
“Hm.”
As I filed the ‘record book’ in the desk drawer, a notebook caught my eye. I pulled it out.
From Hadekan, Deculein's room. Detailed info locked, but clearly a magical artifact.
Such artifacts' use is usually simple. Infuse mana.
“······.”
The moment I touched the notebook.
Knock knock—
A knock. I stowed the notebook and opened the door with psychokinesis.
“—Congratulations!”
It was Allen, party hat on his head, holding cakes in both hands.
He beamed.
“Professor! Congrats on the tutoring mage selection!”
The imperial announcement must be out. I nodded.
“Is there a list?”
“Right here!”
Allen handed it over eagerly.
I frowned at once.
Two tutoring mages. Not the worst.
Ruina was someone I'd meet eventually.
But the next page hit me like a club to the head.
“What?”
The Emperor selected all four as tutoring knights.
Perhaps embarrassed, he explained on the back.
I desire Syrio to master wind-like swift sword, Rafel explosive heavy sword, Gwen realm-transcending rapier, Julie fusion of element and blade.
That instant.
Devil's Mirror
◆ Shop Currency +10
◆ ???
A massive quest worth 10 shop currency.
“······Pbbbt! Parabang! Pbbbt!”
Allen, oblivious, mimed fanfare with his mouth. First time I'd seen that.
“Out.”
“Ah, yes!”
I gestured, and Allen, sensing the mood, left quickly.
“······.”
I glared at the list, pondering.
But no point agonizing at the desk. It was all the Emperor's whim.
“Damn······.”
I sank into the chair, running a hand through my hair.
Knock knock—
Another knock. About to leave anyway, I opened the door myself.
It was Sylvia.
She looked up, clutching a massive scroll.
“Professor. I have a question.”
“Question?”
“Yes. In last class, you said this assignment would be tough, and to come anytime with questions.”
“True, but alone?”
“Yes.”
“Come with your team.”
I closed the door.
Knock—
Sylvia knocked again. Not opening, her voice came through.
“Group assignments aren't solo.”
Finally, footsteps receded.
But soon, knock knock— again.
“I said clearly······.”
I opened to find the other four too. They'd been nearby.
Sylvia had planned to ditch them and come alone.
“We came together.”
“······Fine. Come in.”
I led the chicks to the office table. Ifrin smiled ominously upon sitting.
“We planned our group assignment like this. So—”
Sylvia unrolled the scroll. I nodded and spread it out.
I'd said come anytime, but didn't expect they actually would······.
Heh heh.
······Ifrin smirked inwardly, sinisterly.
Truth was, this scroll recording the mana disaster ritual wasn't complete.
Without Sylvia knowing, she'd deliberately falsified parts. Two sleepless nights crafting a clever trap.
So even you'd struggle to spot it with a skim.
Why?
Because it's a catalyst-inscribed trap.
“Where might we have gone wrong?”
Ifrin asked Deculein meekly, feigning fear. She licked her tense lips.
Deculein peered at the scroll silently······