A Bizarre Tale (2): Arkythia Piel Athena

Arkythia Piel Athena.

She was a genius who had reached the 8th Circle at the age of thirty-one, the empire's greatest intellect whom everyone was certain would one day ascend to the 9th Circle—the realm of transcendence.

She was the chief overseer and guardian of the Central Imperial Magic Library, where the "Millennium Forbidden Tomes"—existence itself a form of censorship—were sealed away.

A former head professor at Philemon Academy, the gathering place of the empire's finest prodigies, she was a supernova who had claimed a seat among the seven great archmages through pure skill alone, unbound by any magic tower.

And that was not all.

Her heart was as vast as the open sea, her beauty as delicate as a single violet—truly a sight to bring nations to their knees.

It wasn't for nothing that the Lord of the Yellow Tower, whose mana core dangled below rather than in his heart, panted at the mere sight of her.

Yet for all her divine perfection as a master, she had one habit that reminded you she was human after all.

One of them being—

"As expected of the master. Ever the master."

Her extreme love of sleep.

I arrived at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠library entrance, our meeting spot, but as expected, there wasn't a glimpse of her.

Checking the time, it had been about twenty minutes.

Even accounting for Arkythia Time and showing up late on purpose, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she clearly hadn't woken up yet.

As always, I headed to the second floor, her private quarters.

The space took up the entire floor, so it was enormously wide—but you couldn't really feel it.

Not with how much of a disaster it was.

Sizzle. Ssssss—

As I walked forward, I stepped on something squishy sprawled on the floor, and the sole of my shoe melted away in an instant.

"What the hell? Why is ultra-acidic slime essence here?"

A space where you couldn't tell what the hell was going on.

I quickly kicked off my shoes and barefooted it to the massive bed in the center.

A mana tree with world tree branches for roots was emanating vast magical power beside the bed, large enough for five grown men to roll around in comfort.

Just approaching it purified the flow of my mana circuits, or so it felt. Definitely the bedroom of an archmage.

And there, a giant cocoon ready to hatch.

"Master."

"……"

"The sun is high in the sky. Our appointment time passed thirty minutes ago."

The cocoon twitched faintly at my words, then stilled again.

Why had her continental tour taken over a year?

Why had she lasted less than three years as head professor at Philemon Academy, a position even the continent's greatest scholars and mages begged for?

This damn sleeping habit.

She slept an average of fourteen hours a day.

Newborn levels.

Her mind was sharp as ever, but her sleep habits were pure slacker.

Assuming she went to bed at midnight, she'd normally wake at 2 a.m., spend an hour dawdling until 3.

That's when Archmage Arkythia's schedule began.

No wonder her plans always dragged on.

Only the elves of the Great Forest boasted sleep like hers—and they had their summer hibernation periods.

No wonder the Arkythia half-elf rumors circulated.

In the end, I had to deploy my secret weapon.

First, I ditched my remaining shoe and climbed onto the bed—

"Hya!"

And confiscated the blanket.

Yanking the feather-light cover with levitation magic revealed a pale purple pillbug curled up tight.

"Master, time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to rise. Good morning!"

"……"

"Tsk, not even stirring? Then, ta-da, pa-pa-pam, pam-pa-ra-pam-pam, pam-pa-ra-pam-pam, pam-pam-pam, pam-pa-pam!!!"

"……Ugh."

"Heave-ho, First Platoon, First Platoon, rise and shine. All personnel in barracks, rise and shine. Roll call today is outdoors, out-'doors'. Report to the library main gate by 16:50…"

Midway through the broadcast that tormented souls across my old world, this one, and every universe—

"Ughhh…!!"

"Gotcha."

The defensive pillbug stretched out its arms, and my body floated up, pulled into absolute territory.

Before I could react, plush softness and warmth enveloped me.

I'd fallen to the ultimate submission hold.

"At 5… we can… go…"

"…Fine, whatever you say."

"—Snoooore."

In the end, I was stuck in back mount position, dazed, for another thirty minutes.

The heavy press against my back with every breath was just a bonus.

Archmage trait: Changing clothes at the speed of a late-term soldier heading out on overnight leave.

"Nngh, haaaaa…"

Upon waking, Master Arkythia stretched with a moan laced with pleasure.

"Extreme Clean. Closet Change. Body Shower."

With a flick of her fingers, she finished changing and washing in an instant.

Amazing no matter how many times I saw it.

Now this was a status window.

And with the triple-strengthened Clean spell, lavender scent wafted gently.

Thus refreshed, she rose from the bed.

"Yujin, why are your shoes like that again?"

"I stepped on the remnants of your pet slime that you left lying around. Barefoot, and I'd have lost an ankle."

"Oh dear… I must've forgotten to clean up yesterday and dozed off. Sorry, Yujin. I was researching a 'clothing-melting spell'."

"Pardon? Why research something even the Yellow Tower Lord would?"

"These days, anyone with coin slaps physical resistance enchantments on their gear. Your robe alone blocks 5th Circle spells effortlessly."

"True."

"But what if we ignore the body and just destroy the clothes as a medium? Bypassing all those enhancements."

"Hm… Not a bad idea at all."

"Right? As expected of my prized disciple."

"I'm quite interested in your tastes myself, so shall we discuss details outside?"

"Good. Swap those ruined shoes for the boots over there. Auto-fit and acid resistance included."

After all that hassle, we stepped out of the library, and the sky had already dimmed.

Well, dinner was the plan anyway.

And the early evening vibe in the capital wasn't bad—not too late.

Not Seoul, Tokyo, or New York nightlife, but like a quiet Eastern European city at dusk.

Master eyed the commercial district with curiosity at all the changes in her absence.

Her gaze lingered a bit longer on the new dessert shop—looks like she's interested.

Better grab one tomorrow when it opens.

"So? What restaurant has our Yujin picked?"

"You like meat, right, Master?"

"Mmm, looove it~?"

"Full meat course today. Top-tier place run by Liana Merchant Guild. Not just anyone gets in."

Silk Ribbon. Built last year—just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as she left on tour—a noble-exclusive eatery.

The rumors about founder Liana Aishinkiore and her family being the empire's top gourmets were no joke.

I first tried it during the Path of Gold partnership pitch—Michelin-level even by 21st-century standards.

"Hmm, is that so?"

Since I wasn't one for hype, her expectant look said she was intrigued.

"I've tasted every delicacy under the sun, but if my Yujin raves, it's legit."

"You got it! Trust me!"

I boldly opened the restaurant door.

"This is delicious—!!"

A rare, fully disarmed exclamation from the archmage.

"Order anything else that catches your eye."

As I added that, watching fondly, she flashed a seductive smile.

"Really, our Yujin has grown so much. Feels like yesterday you were fussing at the academy…"

"All thanks to you, Master. And Lady Liana, too."

"No, this is all your own doing."

"…R-Really? Still a long way to go, though?"

The unexpected praise left me flustered.

But she seemed sincere.

"Absolutely. I'm second only to space magic at reading people. Knew you'd shine like this. Wiki adores you… And that Dimension artifact is fascinating."

"Aw, you're too kind. Once City of the Dead Mage is done, I'll show you."

"City of the Dead Mage…"

Her eyes turned serious.

"Yujin."

"Yes, Master."

"Do you… still dream that dream? The same as mine."

I nodded.

"I've run toward it all this time, and I still move only for that goal."

"World creation. Order's overhaul. Utopia. Paradise."

In my past life as a high schooler, I'd tagged along with a friend to church once.

Now that I think about it, the evangelist preaching back then would be my age now.

—Humans are made in God's image. He breathed life into vessels He shaped Himself.

—The conscience in our hearts, our ability to think, pity for the weak, noble souls. All God's authority granted only to us, His chosen.

I wasn't Christian, so I dismissed it as nonsense then.

But now I knew for sure: humanity's "divine authority" wasn't just conscience or pity.

The true divine power humans held.

Micro-creation.

Dolphins and elephants communicate among themselves. Smart border collies and crows use terrain or tools. Even monkeys entered a "Stone Age" before dying out.

No need to mention this world.

Dragons outsmart humans. Goblins wield weapons and tools. Trolls and ogres act on emotion sometimes.

Intelligence and emotion aren't human exclusives here either—common knowledge.

But creating something from nothing? Only humans among all Earth's lifeforms.

Citizens, elves, dwarves, beastkin, barbarians.

Humans comprehend the world's laws and invent entirely new concepts.

If we're truly made in God's image, bearing His nature…

Couldn't we surpass micro-creation to true "creation"?

Soon, a 9th Circle mage. Arkythia had declared transcendence in human flesh.

"Yujin, you have no idea how much I expect from you."

"You say that every time—makes this lacking disciple feel sorry… But first, official game launch."

"Yes. Then more can connect to your world."

She smiled contentedly, picking up some Peking duck.

And so days passed: one, two, three, several…

"One, two, three!!"

Pop! Bbang!!

"Everyone, great job these past months!!!"

"Whoa!! A whole month, and it's finally real?!"

"Can we sleep nowww…?!"

Before we knew it, City of the Dead Mage had officially launched.