n

n

nChapter 49: Selection (2)

n“I also gave you a chance to object. It’s your fault for not paying close attention.” Deculein said, his voice still as cold as a corpse.

n“…” Julie quietly lowered her head.

nThe senior knights were looking at them. All kinds of emotions came and went in her mind.

nHowever, it was still too early to give up.

n“… You’re right. It is my fault.” She murmured.

nAfter laying the ice flower on a suitable road surface, she concentrated mana in her hand.

nBoom—!

nShe sustained an injury, causing her to feel a dull pain. The immediate release of mana still seemed too much for her.

nBut she didn’t care.

nJulie clenched her teeth and raised it, condensing it like a sphere in her palm, then threw it.

nWhoosh…

nHer magic power was carried by the wind and embraced the cottage. The warmth of the fireplace faded in an instant, and the whole place froze.

n“Now, it should work.” Julie gave Deculein a dignified look. He looked a little startled but then shook his head.

n“You made a mistake. Look at the flower.”

nJulie did as instructed, turning her attention towards the road surface.

n“… Oh.”

nThere were scars on its petals.

nThe cracks on it were clear even at a glance.

n“They’re also affected by mana.”

n“… Huh.” Julie forced a laugh while holding the broken flower in her hand.

nShe closed her eyes and lowered her head.

nAbove the fireplace, the frozen clock didn’t move, but its hands were already close to 7 o’clock.

nDeculein declared.

n“You’re eliminated, Julie.”

n* * *

nJulie stayed at the cottage for a while since her body temperature was so low that she had trouble leaving right away. After finishing a meal, she slept soundly, and the knights gathered in the living room.

n“That’s not fair,” Syrio complained.

nI was more concerned about Julie’s mana than anything else.

n“…”

nToday was the first time I had seen it.

nThrough Vision, I noticed its flaw, an unknown constraint.

nStatus: Magic Damage

nJulie’s mana was crippled.

nMagic damage meant one’s mana supply had defects, which wasn’t that common.

nIt would be similar to a curse or a near-mutilated injury.

nIn the game, did Julie rise to the top of the knighthood with this kind of abnormality, or did she reach the top by overcoming it?

nI wasn’t sure.

n“… Only the difficulty of Julie’s trial was too great. Ice flowers and fireplaces… I didn’t even realize it at first.” Syrio kept groaning. Gwen and Raphael were also looking at me, all of them expressing their anger.

nThe knights seemed unsatisfied with the unfair process.

nA sudden thought passed through my mind.

nThey had a connection with both Deculein and Julie.

nIf so, did they know the reason for this ‘Magic Damage’?

n“… One day, Julie was injured,” I uttered those words in a subtle tone like self-talk. It was a trick trying to test the waters.

nHowever, the atmosphere inside had changed.

n“Injured? That was because of you. When we were on an escort mission in the past… Oh, maybe…?”

nSyrio’s eyes widened as he looked at me. Raphael patted his chin and became lost in thoughts.

n“Are there still effects from that time?”

nGwen frowned. “When she wielded her sword, she seemed to be fine…. What do you think, Raphael?”

n“She seemed to consciously limit the use of her magic. She made full use of her sword, but she never instantly released a lot of mana.” Raphael said, then after a brief pause, continued proudly. “There would have been no other way to fight against my heavy sword.”

nSyrio nodded as if he understood.

n“Well… If she’s still suffering from it, then it is a problem. She might get disapproval by being at Her Majesty’s side. Especially from the eunuchs, who’re famous for their polarity.”

nThey spoke of a past I wasn’t aware of. These were all information about before the game’s beginnings.

n“Are you sure, though? How did you know that… Oh, well. Of course, you know. You love her so much, after all.” Syrio smiled slyly.

nGwen sharply glared at me. “Enough. Even if that’s the case, this isn’t how you should treat people. This kind of behavior isn’t cool at all. Even if she is injured, she can teach Her Majesty enough. You’re overprotecting her.”

n“Gwen.”

nI called her name.

n“What?”

n“Do you want to get eliminated too?”

n“…”

nGwen shut her mouth, and I focused on my job as the selection officer.

n“Everyone, go back to your rooms. The second trial will begin after the first to be eliminated leaves.”

n* * *

n3 PM.

nOutside the dark world, Julie remained standing.

nShe looked up at the sky, the winter in her eyes seemingly tearing up her soul.

n“Cheer up, ma’am!”

n“You’ve been under a lot of stress these days, so please show it to your heart’s content and come back!”

nThe cheers of her subordinates came to mind. She was determined to pass for them, but her attempts resulted in failure.

nHowever, she couldn’t blame anyone. She couldn’t even feel resentment.

nJulie humbly accepted her defeat.

nAs she was about to go home, she heard someone approach her.

n… Deculein.

nHe was looking at her from a distance.

n“Julie.”

n“Yes.”

nHe closed the distance between them slowly, the snow getting crushed under his feet.

nThree steps away from her, he stopped. He thought for a moment as if choosing his words.

n“I apologize for what happened today.”

n“Don’t.” Julie shook her head. “As you said, it was my fault. I understand. It was a test in itself.”

n“…”

nDeculein didn’t say anything. He couldn’t understand her saying that it was her fault.

nJulie spoke with sincerity.

n“Ice flowers and the fireplace. It was really clever. I should have checked it when I got the assignment.”

nDeculein let out a small sigh.

n‘Clever, my ass. She’s such a fool and honest person.’

n“… Before I let you go, there is one thing I want to ask you.”

n“Is it as a selection officer?”

nHe shook his head.

n“No.”

n“Alright. Fine.”

nIt would be as Kim Woojin, not Deculein. No, as Kim Woojin, who harbored Deculein’s feelings.

n*****

nDeculein remembered the first time he met Julie.

nThat day, she furiously talked about a ‘promise,’ but he didn’t even ask what it was.

n“There was a promise I broke the other day.”

nShe looked at him without saying a word. He continued speaking indifferently.

n“Tell me that promise again.”

nHer eyebrows twitched, and he just gave her a faint smile.

n“I just want to hear from you again.”

nHearing him say that made her think he was cunning.

nAt some point, he had become such a mysterious person.

n“… It has already been half a year. At that time, I received a letter from a member of the ‘Luna’ family, the mother of the wizard who took his own life under your command.”

n“What was the content of the letter?”

n“I’ve already shown it to you. It spoke of… the evil deeds you’ve committed in the past. I asked you for an explanation, and you remained silent.”

nAt that time, Julie showed the letter to Deculein, but he glared at her with a crushed gaze and burned the letter.

n“You said it was something I didn’t need to know.”

n“I see.”

nDeculein acted as if it had never happened before.

nAgain, this was an incomprehensible behavior.

n“Why are you asking me about it now?”

n“…” He looked at Julie. A bitter smile appeared on his lips. “Because it was my fault.”

n“… What?”

nSurprised, her eyes widened.

nDeculein repeated his words.

n“At that time, it was my… Deculein’s fault.”

n“…”

n“However, the research is still ongoing. He designed it, but I’m the one starting its construction. I’m now filling in the blanks myself. Naturally, since this is a study we started together, I’ll name him as my co-author.”

nDeculein looked at the horizon.

nThe sun was slowly rising. The nature of magical spaces was so strange.

n“If I profit from it, I will share it with his family and help them regain their honor. On the day it’s published, I’ll also apologize to him.”

nHis face was drenched in daylight. Like ice in the spring sun, he was cold but warm.

nShe responded quietly. “… Why didn’t you say that then?”

nThen, Deculein turned his eyes to Julie. She didn’t avoid his direct gaze.

n“I don’t know. Maybe because it wouldn’t change anything even if I had said that.”

n“What?”

n“At that time, you were only looking for reasons to hate me.”

nJust as Deculein loved Julie, it might have been fate that Julie hated Deculein.

nThat was what he thought.

n“I understand. No matter how you feel about me, we can’t control our feelings.”

n“… No.”

nHowever, Julie had a different opinion.

nShe shook her head firmly.

n“I… used to like you.”

nDeculein’s expressionless eyes widened. At his surprising change, Julie blushed.

n“No, that’s… What I mean….”

nThe relationship between Julie and Deculein went at least 16 years back in time. Deculein wasn’t yet the Head of Yukline then, and Julie was just a child dreaming of becoming a knight.

nDespite the many disappointments and humiliation she had experienced, the reason why she decided to trust the person named Deculein was, in fact, all in Julie’s heart.

n“Back then—”

n“Let’s just bury it.” Deculein shook his head and cut off Julie’s words.

n“Because I’m not who I was back then.”

nJulie, who had moved her lips, soon nodded shyly. Knowing Deculein’s will, she took back the words from her mouth.

nLooking at her like that, he said. “Julie.”

n“Yes?”

n“From now on, I will try not to love you.” Julie’s eyes and mouth opened wide. Deculein smiled brightly at her pure reaction, breaking his coldness. He, who had always been a solemn nobleman, turned into a boy in an instant.

nStill wearing his smile, he continued.

n“It seems like you’re feeling uncomfortable, so I’ll try to get further away from here. Then, someday, we’ll be able to go our separate ways.”

n“…”

nHe finally told Julie the feelings he had for her.

n“I will do it for you.” When he finished speaking, he turned around. “You worked hard today. Please be careful on your way home.”

nJulie watched his back retreat further and further away. The sun then rose in the middle of the sky, illuminating the world warmly.

nSoon, a small, sunlight-like smile spread across her lips.

n“… You’re serious.” Today, she realized it again.

nHe was trying to change. She became aware of his efforts to do so. Maybe she already knew, but just refused to admit it.

n“As a knight, I will reflect on myself.”

nFeeling a part of her heart warming up, Julie turned around, walking in the opposite direction as him.

n‘I will try not to love you…’

nHis words echoed in her ears.

nHe claimed he would change for her, saying he would stop loving her for her sake.

n‘It was definitely meant for me.’

n“…”

nShe abruptly stopped and looked back, but he was already nowhere to be seen.

nNodding, she went back to following her own path.

nThe snow seemed to engulf her legs, but the sunlight soon melted all of them that clung to her body like sludge.

nJulie walked away from Deculein.

nAt the same time, she acknowledged her feelings towards him.

n* * *

n… I successfully completed the selection process.

nAfter three days of exams, three more knights were eliminated, leaving Raphael to be selected.

nThanks to him, I spent three days on it, but it didn’t mean I gained nothing from it.

nUsing Vision, I observed the best knights in the continent, remembering how they moved through Understanding. It was an experience that was hard to attain, even with a million dollars.

nAs soon as I returned to my office in the University Tower, I compiled a summary of their actions. Combining them, they would come in handy when paired with my Iron Man.

n“Hmm.” While putting this ‘record’ in my office’s desk drawer, I noticed a notebook. I took it out.

n ─

nIt was the untitled, seemingly empty notebook I brought from Deculein’s room at Hadekain. The detailed information it contained remained hidden, but it was clear that it was a magical artifact.

nThe use of these magical artifacts was usually straightforward. I just had to infuse it with mana.

n“…”

nThe moment I put my hand on it, however…

nKnock, knock—

nI put the notebook back into the drawer and opened the door with my Psychokinesis.

n“Congratulations!” Allen, wearing a cone hat, was holding a cake in his hands. He smiled brightly. “Professor, congratulations on being selected as the Magic Educator!”

nIt seemed the Imperial Family had already made an announcement.

nI nodded.

n“Do you have the list?”

n“Here!”

nAllen held a document out as if he had been waiting for this moment.

nAs soon as I looked at it, I frowned.

nList of Magic Educators of the Imperial Palace: Deculein von Grahan Yukline, Louina von Schlott McQueen.

nThere were two Magic Educators, but that wasn’t the worst part, considering I was bound to meet Louina someday anyway.

nNo, the worst part was the next page that made me feel like I had been stabbed in the back.

nList of Knighthood Educators of the Imperial Palace: Syrio von Renya Sigrun, Raphael Kent, Julie von Deya-Freyden, Gwen Whipsy

n“What?”

nThe emperor selected all four of them as Knighthood Educators.

nShe wrote the reason on the back, too.

n— I want to learn Syrio’s wind-like swift sword style, Raphael’s heavy and explosive swordsmanship, Gwen’s advanced rapier techniques, and Julie’s unity of element and sword.

nMoreover, at that moment…

nImperial Palace Quest: Devil’s Mirror

n◆ Store Currency 10

n◆ ???

nA huge quest that gave 10 won worth of store currency appeared.

n“… Pah-pa-pah! Pa-ra-pah-pah! Pah-pah!”

nNot reading the mood, Allen burst into a fanfare, which was the first time he had one.

n“Leave.”

n“Oh, okay!”

nI beckoned, and Allen, reading the mood, went straight out.

n“…”

nI stared at the list and thought about it.

nHowever, nothing would change if all I did was ponder all over it behind my desk. All of this was the emperor’s will.

n“Damn…”

nI sat on a chair and brushed my hair.

nKnock, knock—

nI was about to leave, so I approached the door and opened it this time.

nSylvia looked up at me with a huge scroll in her arms.

n“Professor. I have a question.”

n“Question?”

n“Yes. In the last class, you said that this project would be difficult, and you told us to come to you with any questions.”

n“That’s true, but are you alone?”

n“Yes.”

n“Come with your teammates.”

nI closed the door.

nKnock, knock—

nSylvia knocked again. Since I didn’t open the door, I only heard her voice.

n“My teammates are not helpful.”

n“Group projects are not supposed to be done alone.”

n“…”

nOnly then did I hear her footsteps moving away.

nBut after a moment, I heard a knock again.

n“I definitely….”

nI opened the door, and this time, I found the other four with her. It was as if they were together all this time.

nDid Sylvia leave the four of them so that only she would ask me questions?

n“We’re all here now.

n“… Okay. Come in.”

nI guided the freshmen to the table in the office. As soon as Epherene sat down, she displayed an ominous smile.

n*****

n“We decided to do the group project like this. So.”

nSylvia put down the scroll. Deculein nodded and unfolded it.

nHe told them to come at any time, but he didn’t think they would really come… at this time…

n‘Hehe.’ … Epherene giggled inside.

nThe magical disaster’s formula written in the scroll wasn’t complete.

nShe wrote the wrong part on purpose without Sylvia’s knowledge. It was a very clever trap that she pondered for two days and two nights.

nHence, it would be hard even for him to figure it out just by looking at it.

nWhy?

nThis was because it was a trap with ‘catalyst’ written on it.

n“What part did we do wrong?”

nEpherene asked Deculein cautiously, pretending to be frightened. She tensed up and licked her lips.

nHe silently looked into the scroll.

n