Resolution. (1)

A night when the full moon scattered clear mist.

Sylvia stood quietly in the garden behind the mansion, lost in thought.

"……"

Today, she had learned the reason. Why he, the chief professor so steeped in theory, was so adept at teaching others.

—What if a child once praised as a prodigy grows up to realize they're utterly ordinary?

Lacking talent, he had strived harder than anyone, walking the royal road of theory. When intuition faltered, he immersed himself in logic as precise as clockwork gears.

—What if children once deemed inferior now race far ahead?

Suddenly, it struck Sylvia.

The sorrow of doubting one's own talent. The terror of hitting an unbreakable wall. The dread that someone lesser would surpass her.

Can I overcome it all?

—What if those who once mocked you as worthless now laugh in your face?

Imagine it. If Ifrin became a better mage than me...

Sylvia clamped her lips shut and puffed out her cheeks.

"……Insolent Ifrin."

It was utterly impossible, yet the mere thought made her dizzy.

Which made it all the more astonishing. Deculein had conquered those emotions through sheer effort.

"……"

Finishing her reverie, Sylvia sank back into meditation.

She breathed calmly, drawing mana from her dantian. Vibrant hues soon painted her eyes in a kaleidoscope of colors.

At last, her Origin manifested.

Darkness belched forth from the night, yielding to encroaching light. Flowers bloomed across the ground, butterflies danced in the air. A warm breeze stirred, and the grass swayed gently.

A landscape forged by her Tri-Color. The imagery in her heart had dyed the garden.

In this domain, her colors were the laws of nature.

"……"

Within that magical field, Sylvia closed her eyes softly.

She had once heard of a mage's "luck."

The first: innate talent.

The second: commensurate effort.

The third: one's muse.

She knew her talent well and was no slacker, but she'd dismissed the third as unnecessary.

Muse.

For mages especially, this third element was called "inspiration" or "stimulus."

Now Sylvia understood.

Her third luck had arrived... a bit belatedly.

The dark predawn hours. I sat at the entrance to Darkness Mountain and unfurled an item catalog.

The catalog was exactly what it sounded like—a list of goods. Consuming it let me obtain one item from the selection.

However, none would dramatically alter gameplay. They offered mere convenience or novelty at best.

▶ 2. Character Magnifying Lens.

I selected the Character Magnifying Lens. The A4-sized catalog vanished with a pop, transforming into a lone lens.

"……"

No frame, no strap—just a single lens.

Perplexing, but with Telekinesis, I propped it over one eye like a monocle.

Rustle—rustle—

Footsteps crunched through the underbrush. I turned toward the sound.

"Ah?"

A startled voice as our eyes met, followed by familiar white armor and cloak.

The magnifying lens revealed her most vital trait.

A unique-grade trait: Eternal Winter.

Julie said,

"Professor, you're here too."

"Why? Am I not permitted?"

I replied curtly on purpose. Julie scratched the back of her neck awkwardly.

"No, it's just... I heard rumors. That you clashed with Rohakan... I thought you'd rest today."

The chairman had personally asked me to monitor Darkness Mountain.

She claimed it was an imperial order, warning that Rohakan might return.

"……Julie. Does a knight captain handle such menial tasks?"

"As captain, I lead by example."

"By that logic, commanders should die first in war."

"Ah! An excellent question. The answer lies in Volume 3 of the Knight's Manual. I'll gift you a copy later."

"……"

I conjured a chair with Beginner Synthesis. Julie glanced at me hesitantly before sitting, then stole furtive looks my way.

"You have something to say?"

"No."

I nodded.

A wind carried from the dark depths, thick with mana and the scent of grass teasing my nostrils.

Then Julie asked,

"Is Her Majesty's lesson next week?"

Tutoring schedules followed the emperor's whim, but tradition held to once or twice a month.

Thus, next Monday.

"You said you had nothing to say."

"……"

Julie fell silent, blinking as she peered into the forest. Her ears perked at every sound.

She was vigilance incarnate.

"……Hm."

I checked my pocket watch.

1 a.m.

Three hours until shift change.

"Julie."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Yes."

"Bored? Shall we play chess?"

"……I'm on duty."

She shook her head firmly.

Irritation flared unbidden.

"Duty? I'm curious which fool thinks Rohakan will return here."

"……"

Julie's face twisted guiltily. She inhaled sharply and held her breath.

I chuckled dryly.

"……It was you."

"Ah, well..."

"You're an idiot too."

"I-it's basic! Criminals return to the scene..."

"Rohakan's a criminal, but not that kind. If it were me, I wouldn't guard the entrance—I'd scour the entire mountain. Uncovering his purpose there is priority."

"……"

Julie's cheeks flushed. I smirked, then passed the time with a book.

By 4 a.m.—

A voice emanated from Julie's crystal orb. Isak's.

"Yes. Understood."

She replied politely, then turned to me.

"……"

A chessboard emerged from Julie's pack, but I ignored it.

"Uh... okay..."

She glanced at me again.

No reaction. So she began playing solitaire.

Clack—clack—clack—

The lonely piece movements were amusing.

Resigned, I glanced at the board. It was the one I'd gifted her before.

"You'll lose like that."

"……Is that so~?"

Julie replied innocently. I closed my book, turned my chair.

Facing her across the board, I continued.

"Listen well. I shall tutor you from the basics..."

Julie clasped her hands and nodded eagerly.

"Yes!"

Her enthusiastic face burned with sincere zeal.

She truly wished to master chess.

The next day.

I received the chairman's summons first thing in the morning. To her private office on the 99th floor.

"Professor! Here's the mailbox!"

But first, Allen delivered the mailbox for sponsor code 39953.

A literal "mailbox." Letters from the mages I'd sponsored.

"Good. Well done."

"Yeees!"

I took it and ascended to the 100th floor. The entire floor was the Chairman’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Office. The elevator opened straight onto a massive desk.

"……"

The chairman lay sprawled atop it, asleep.

To elaborate: not just her face propped up, but her whole body curled shrimp-like across the desk, using her oversized pointed hat as a blanket.

"Snoooore..."

Watching, I recalled her lineage.

"Mmmph..."

A fact only I knew for now: the chairman was a fairy-human hybrid. A bloodline as rare as giants—likely the only one worldwide.

"Snoooore..."

Why sleep on the desk? Fairies favored high places.

"Mmmph..."

"Sigh."

Her sleep-talking was loud. Suspected sleep apnea, but I sat quietly in a nearby chair. I had work anyway.

I opened the mailbox and reached in, expectant.

"……?"

Only one letter.

Why?

I shook it upside down.

Shake—shake—

Just dust.

I'd sponsored at least thirty. Even anonymous, gratitude letters were customary.

……Well.

Mages were like that. Sponsorship was investment for future returns anyway.

I tore open the lone letter.

The name was familiar; a dry chuckle escaped.

The content was earnest, the prose neat.

My lips curved solemnly.

Ifrin's voice seemed to echo from the page.

"Roahawk?"

I muttered absently—

"Mmmph..."

The chairman cracked her eyes open sleepily and stared.

"You're here... When'd you get here... Why come while I'm sleeping..."

Her drowsy slur differed starkly from her usual self. I pocketed the letter.

"You summoned me. I just arrived."

"……Right... Yawwwwn..."

Her yawn lasted nearly a minute. She wiped her eyes sluggishly.

"Speak."

"Yawwwn... Just checking symposium progress..."

"Nearly complete. Finishing today."

"Mm... Good..."

Her face drooped back toward sleep as she continued.

"Oh right... External hire's Ruina, you know... Welcome party today..."

"Yes. No issue."

"!"

Her eyes snapped wide, pupils dilating cat-like.

"No issue?! What do you mean? You two were bitter enemies!"

"……"

Thus her love for gossip—especially the juicy kind.

Her nature: a classic busybody.

"Merely a misunderstanding then. It's fine now."

"No way! You're lying!"

"Is that why you called?"

"No! Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that!"

She slid under the desk, plopped into her chair, and pulled a scroll from a drawer.

"Here!"

A letter from Floating Island.

"Supervisor."

"Yes! Soda exams last a week short, a month long—you know?! Monarch Ranks must attend if proposed by Floating Island!"

"Yes. Aware."

"Promotion! Overseeing exams too! Anyway, great! Let's go! To the welcome party!"

She sprang up and jabbed the elevator button.

Ding—!

As we boarded, she said,

"Every time, I notice—Professor Deculein, you're needlessly tall!"

I looked down. She craned her neck to meet my gaze.

"You're simply small."

Canonically, around 150cm early.

Fairy-human mix—not as tiny as pure fairies.

"What?! How dare—I'm perfectly average!"

"You'd faint meeting Count Phairden."

"That bear's no human—he's a beast!"

"Shh. Quiet."

I pressed a finger to my lips, feigning gravity.

She mimicked, hushing.

"……Why? Something with that bear?"

"No. Lord Zeit remains as ever."

"Then what? Tell me! My lips are sealed..."

"……Very well."

"Quickly..."

I nodded. She swallowed tensely.

"Your voice is too loud. That's why I said quiet."

"……What?! You trickster!"

The Imperial University Tower hires 2-3 external professors yearly. From kingdom towers, Floating Island, or even adventurers.

"Everyone! External hires are here! Clap clap clap!"

On the 40th-floor party hall, the chairman introduced them. The elegantly dressed woman was Ruina; beside her, a long-haired handsome man—Vargan—sported a modern "goddess wave."

"I'm Ruina. Here briefly to research and gain experience. Pleased to meet you."

"Vargan. Nice to meet you."

I eyed Vargan intently.

The mid-boss Ash Baron loomed near...

Ah, Vargan wasn't definitely the Ash Baron.

Could be a normal named professor—or the real deal.

"Both are imperial citizens with stellar achievements abroad—welcome them!"

This game's mid-bosses had flair; Ash Baron's was random difficulty.

Literally "ash heap" without form—a special mid-boss parasitizing named mages of 5th rank or below.

Probably latched onto or eyeing one of these professors.

"Great! Enjoy the banquet~! Professor Ruina, your seat's there!"

Introductions ended; Ruina sat beside me.

"Don't worry! Professors Deculein and Ruina made up!"

The chairman shouted, still salty from the elevator prank.

Professors' eyes converged, but Ruina remained composed.

"Heard you're tackling the symposium problem."

"Indeed."

"You sure? The judges are strict. If it's not your own idea, you'll fail proving it."

I turned to her. She avoided my gaze.

"Ruina."

"……Why? I'm genuinely concerned for the boss."

"I know. What you think of me."

Her expression was ambiguous—contempt? Mockery? Accusation?

A tumult stared at my chest.

"I am no longer the Deculein you knew."

"……So you can do it?"

"Today at latest, tomorrow—it's done."

"Today?"

"Yes. Just final verification left."

No telling when the mid-boss appears; clear side tasks swiftly. Not much remained.

"Hm... Verification."

Ruina pondered, then nodded.

"Fine. Work hard, boss."

Post-party, I headed to my 77th-floor Deculein Lab. Spread Rune Language interpretations, near-complete formula, and a top-grade 100,000 elne mana stone across the vast table.

Question 6 hinged on Rune Language application. But individual runes weren't potent enough as circuits.

The key: combinations.

As noted, 14 runes total in Question 6.

Only three usable as circuits.

Combine those three with others,

supplement mana deficits with the stone,

and wield Understanding at peak to form the formula...

────!

Resonance. Vibration. Tremor.

The rune wail heralding the answer.

"……Took too long."

The long-labored question resolved. Verification complete.

I transcribed the solution to a magic scroll, stowed it in my briefcase, and descended to the tower garage.

Ren and Enen awaited by the car.

(Former driver Jeff had been promoted to admin.)

"You're here."

"To Floating Island."

"Yes."

Wizard Academic's HQ was there.

I planned personal delivery.

……Upon arriving at Floating Island and viewing the symposium judges...

I understood Ruina's ambiguous reaction.