n

n

nChapter 64: Practical Experience (2)

nChewing— Chewing—

nEpherene, lying on the floor of the study room, chewed on a piece of dried squid. She then drank a soda to quench her thirst.

nGulp— Gulp—

nShe took three sips and fumbled through the plastic bag, seemingly still unsatisfied. Her eyebrows furrowed when she found a chocolate bar.

n“You bought some good stuff. I can eat it, right?”

n“Uh… yeah. You did more on this project, so this is the least I can do… but weren’t you in pain?” Eurozan felt dumbfounded by Epherene’s behavior.

n“Huh? Oh, well… I admit it’s my fault this time for making no sense.”

nDreaming? Hallucinating? What she said wasn’t something wizards that always focused on reality should even think about.

nChomp—

nShe looked at Sylvia as she chewed on her snack, the taste of which couldn’t be found in the countryside. She couldn’t even fathom why it was white.

n“…”

nSylvia closed her eyes, sharing her familiar’s vision outside the tower as it flew around the campus.

nEverything looked fine at first glance, so much so that the students didn’t even pay much attention to it.

nHowever, using magic, she saw an entirely different sight.

nThe tower’s entire lower portion was buried in ashes.

nBzzzz— Bzzzz—

nHer familiar alerted her as well, signaling that their connection was in danger of being cut off.

nSylvia opened her eyes after ordering it to ‘go home.’

n“The situation’s dire.”

n“Dire?”

nThe other four people in the room asked, their eyes growing wider.

n“The University Tower is engulfed in ashes.”

n“The University Tower?!”

n“Then are we locked in here?!” Dane asked.

nSylvia nodded.

n“Encroachment occurred on the lower floors, and the entrance has also been blocked. No one seems to be aware of it, though.”

n“No one?”

n“The ashes themselves seem to have been imbued with the nature of ‘enchantment.'”

n“What about the professors? Can’t they help?”

nThe ashes covered floors 1 through 25.

nThe middle and upper floors where the professors stayed didn’t seem aware of what was happening yet, and even if they were, most of them would be away, preparing for the final exams.

nBoom—! Boom—!

n“Ugh!”

nThe study room door shook.

nBoom—! Boom—!

nRoton banged on their study room’s door outside. Possessed by the ashes, he seemed to have forgotten how to open it, but his fists were slowly scorching its surface.

n“Roton, that crazy bastard, what happened to him?”

n“… Whew.”

nEpherene took a deep breath.

nWith her eyes closed, she composed a formula using ‘wind’ and ‘earth’ as constituent elements.

nBoom—! Boom—! Boom—!

n“What are you trying to do, E-Epherene? Just leave him be!”

n“If we do, the door will burn.”

nEpherene grabbed the doorknob and swung it open. Roton’s unfocused eyes looked bizarre, but she didn’t panic.

nSimultaneously, she manifested her magic.

nGrrrr—!

nRoton rushed from the door as soon as it opened, but the wind from Epherene’s hand engulfed him.

nInvisible Shackles.

nWhat she conjured was magic that detained the opponent by imparting the properties of the earth to the wind.

nRoton’s body shrank as if trapped in a coffin.

nPuaaaah!

n“Is he—?!”

nHe spewed ashes from his mouth as he fell, but they stopped right in front of Epherene’s nose, blocked by Sylvia’s barrier.

n“… Huh. Almost.”

n“Move.”

nSylvia walked over and looked at Roton’s face.

nHis eyes were out of focus.

nHis face was covered in black veins.

n“…”

nHis bare, ash-covered feet looked glued to the floor. It was as if the building and his body were connected.

n“It’s controlling him.”

nFrom those clues, Sylvia reached a conclusion.

nIt was unknown where the mysterious ashes came from, but it indirectly controlled his brain.

n“Control?”

n“A kind of ‘puppetry.’ He’s like a zombie.”

nEpherene nodded and sneaked out of the room, looking around the hallway.

nThe ashes clinging to the ceiling and walls of the hallway were wriggling like blood vessels. Not long after, the high temperature started affecting her.

n“It’s hot out here. It feels like the whole hallway is burning.”

nEpherene closed the door and turned to Sylvia.

n“It’s dangerous here. We have to go to the safest place possible until rescue or help arrives.”

n“Safest place…”

n“Yeah. I think…”

nEpherene and Sylvia’s minds dawned upon the same answer.

nA place made of state-of-the-art engineering and mana stones that could prevent the heat of ashes from penetrating.

nClass A, 3rd floor.

nThe Head Professor’s classroom.

n* * *

nPeek—

nEpherene’s face popped out of the door.

nPeek—

nSylvia’s head appeared above hers.

nThe two of them watched the situation, glancing from side to side.

nThe hallway, covered in ashes, looked terrifying, but they couldn’t see any zombie-like entity.

n“It’s clear.”

nThree men came out at Epherene’s whisper. They crept their way through the floor, each of them wearing a gas mask.

nTheir study room was on the 5th floor.

nThinking it would be foolish to use the elevator in this situation, they headed for the emergency stairwell.

nTip— Tap—

nEpherene kept glancing at the study rooms’ windows as they moved, finding no debutantes left in them. Everyone seemed to have run away as soon as it began.

n“…!”

nWhile advancing, the one leading them, Epherene, hastily stopped.

n“What is it? Sylvia asked.

n“There are a lot of monsters in the hallway. I think there are more than ten of them.”

nThe entrance to the emergency stairwell and the hallway near it was infested with monsters.

nEpherene bit her lower lip.

n“We can’t even kill them all…”

nIf they were real abominations, they could’ve easily killed or destroyed them.

nBut they were all debutantes. That left them with no other choice but to avoid alerting them.

n“Sylvia. Can’t you make a passage down here?”

n“This building’s structure is made out of state-of-the-art magic engineering. I can’t even touch its ceiling and floor. However…”

nSylvia drew a map on the floor.

n│Emergency Stairs││★│

n│Central hallway│Study Room 1│Study Room 2 │

nIt was the structure of their vicinity.

nThere were many monsters in the space leading from the central hallway, where they were, to the emergency stairs.

n“If we can get to Study Room 1, I can make a passage where the star is. It’ll allow us to enter the emergency stairs from the side.”

n“What if those monsters are on the stairs too?” Eurozan asked.

nResolutely, Epehrene replied, “We’ll just have to suppress them. I’ll attract their attention. You go into the study room.”

nEpherene imbued mana in her bracelet.

nAfter that, she ran out into the hallway.

n“Haaaayaa—!”

nA strong, tornado-like wind blew through the hallway, pushing the monsters away helplessly.

nUtilizing that opening, Sylvia and the other group members entered the study room.

nAfter causing a mess, she soon followed after them safely.

n“Are you okay, Epherene? Did you get bitten or anything of the sort? Are you going to turn into a monster too?”

nShe only nodded at Eurozan’s question.

n“Let’s go.”

nSylvia had already painted a passage on the wall, which they used to walk down the aisle and reach the emergency stairs.

nGrrrr— Grrrr—

nHowever, upon reaching it, they found far too many opponents scattered all over it. With one on each step, they immediately realized they wouldn’t be able to detain them all.

n“T-there’s too many of them.”

n“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect this.”

nEpherene frowned in embarrassment, but Sylvia thought differently. She pressed her index finger on her lips.

n“Shh.”

nStaring at the stairs, she concentrated mana on her retinas; three primary colors engulfed her eyes.

n“…”

nThe stairway profusely swayed and wobbled momentarily. Soon after, it disappeared like an illusion.

nJust as an eraser erased pencil writing, she deleted the stairs with her gaze.

nCraaash—!

nAfter the numerous monsters prowling around them fell, she closed her eyes, restoring what she removed.

nCold sweat was forming on her forehead.

n“S-Sylvia. That was some really amazing magic…”

n“We don’t have time to talk.”

nThey went down the stairs together.

n“Stop.”

nThey had reached the door of the 3rd floor’s emergency passage.

nBut they didn’t hastily go inside, knowing full well that would be a mistake.

nMore corrupted entities blocked the passage.

nSylvia made another door some distance away from the entrance, which they then used to enter the floor.

n“Let’s go.”

nThey first looked for the Class A classroom.

nThey came here every week, but there were a lot more blocking their way today. The dozens of monsters roaming the hallways made it hard for them to reach their destination.

n“What do we do?”

n“I’ll draw their attention. You open the door.” Epherene declared.

nCrack—

nAfter cracking her knuckles and looking around her, she quickly left.

n“— You idiots! I’m over here!”

nAs soon as her shout caught the attention of every single abomination in the hallway, Epherene ran away immediately. Sylvia and the members rushed quietly and grabbed their classroom’s doorknob.

nClick— Click—

nLocked.

nEurozan and the men’s complexion turned pale. Sylvia also bit her lip.

n“W-What should we do? We’re doomed…”

nBut Sylvia, soon after, heard whispers inside.

n“There are people in there.”

nBoom—! Boom—!

nSylvia knocked on the door.

n“Open it.”

nWhen her voice passed through the door, she heard a commotion inside.

nBoom—! Boom—!

nEurozan and the men banged on the door as well.

n“Open it! Now!”

n“Sylva is here too, you know?! If you don’t open it, you’re all dead!”

nSylvia.

nHer name caused the commotion to grow louder.

nBoom—! Boom—!

n“Ahh!”

nAt the same time, Epherene, dragging their opponents’ attention, began running back. There seemed to be at least 100 monsters attached to her tail.

n“Open the door—!” Epherene yelled.

nSlam—

nJulia, a commoner, opened the door, allowing them to hurry inside.

n“Wait for me!”

nWith everyone barely managing to get inside, she closed the door.

nEpherene grabbed her chest and flopped to the floor.

n“Wow, pant, pant, wow… We got here somehow…”

n“Ifi! Are you okay?!” Julia worriedly rushed to her side.

n“Julia!” Smiling brightly, she hugged Julia.

n“Gosh… If it weren’t for Sylvia… How can you drag all the monsters here? You’re so stupid.”

nLucia’s sullen words fell on them at that moment.

nShe had become Epherene’s new enemy these days, but she was particularly annoying right now.

nBoom—! Boom—! Boom—!

nMonsters kept banging on the door from outside. Startled, Julia looked at it.

n“…Ifi. What do we do now?”

nBoom—! Boom—! Boom—!

n“We have no choice.”

nBoom—! Boom—! Boom—!

n“We have to wait for help.”

nRustling—

nEpherene took out a small bag full of treats, which she kept safe even while running.

nIn this situation, food meant survival.

n“What’s that?” Epherene pointed at the blackboard.

n——Four things to keep in mind——

n1. Break through the core of the barrier.

n2. Avoid charging head-on and focus on cooperating with each other.

n3. Survive.

n4. Never forget that this blackboard serves as the only link between you guys and me.

n─────────

n“I think it’s just a sum-up of the last exam.”

n“Hmm….” Despite Julia’s answer, Epherene stared intently at it.

n‘The only link between you and me.’

nThere was chalk placed under it.

n“…”

nEpherene took it and wrote something.

nDeculein, you idiot

nBoom—! Boom—! Boom—!

n“Gosh, that scared me.”

nThen, without much thought, she sat back.

n* * *

nThe emperor’s study— a place of learning.

n“Your Majesty. Magic Educator Deculein has arrived.”

nWhen her servant knocked on the doorknob held by a golden lion sculpture’s jaw, her voice sternly came out.

n—Come in.

nAs the door opened, Emperor Sophien was revealed sitting in a somewhat loose position.

nShe gave me a once-over, her eyes seemingly rotting due to constant boredom.

n“I see you, Your Majesty.”

n“Humpf. They say your attire is the trend of the continent. Certainly, your outfits are different from those wandering around the royal court.”

nI walked over to her without a word and sat down in front of her, noticing the chessboard in between us.

n“Are we playing chess today too?”

n“No. Before that, let’s talk. I’m slowly getting tired of chess.”

nI nodded. It wasn’t incomprehensible.

nShe was the type of person who never seemed to get absorbed in anything and was rather quick to get sick of any activities.

n“I heard you met Rohakan.”

n“Yes.”

n“And that you let him go.”

n“… My skills weren’t enough.”

nThe Emperor grinned.

n“If you weren’t strong enough, imagine how weak my knights are. Rohakan was your teacher, wasn’t he?”

n“I haven’t learned anything from him to label him as such.”

n“… Right. There would be nothing to learn. Because of that damn bastard, the last emperor’s health deteriorated. It’s as if he killed not only the empress but also the emperor.”

nThere was no anger in her voice. She was merely pretending to be angry.

nFor her, even emotions were boring.

n“Deculein. The eunuchs said that you are one of the best brains on the continent.”

n“Me?”

n“Yes. A genius who made hundreds of millions just through auctions.”

nThese days, there are many rumors that even I didn’t know. They kept adding more labels to my name like Rohakan’s Nemesis, The Smartest Human on the Continent, and so on.

n“So, let me ask you this. I intend on going on an expedition.”

n“An expedition?”

n“I will conquer ‘Extinction.'”

nThe Emperor placed a map on the desk.

n“To do that, I must first get rid of internal hindrances. I must punish the demon-blooded.”

nThat was a bit bothering.

nI lifted my head and looked into her eyes.

n“What?”

n“… They don’t seem to be the ones causing internal hindrances.”

n“How do you know that?”

n“Because I’m the best brain on the continent.”

n“…”

nSophien bit her lip without a word.

nHer eyes, which had always been indifferent and hazy, curved into arcs.

n“Hahaha—”

nEven her laugh sounded monotonous, almost robot-like.

n“You’re funny.”

n“I’m not lying. I see the world differently.”

nIf it would allow me to stop the massacre of the demon-blooded, I would gladly be the smartest person on the continent.

nThe emperor’s lips parted.

n“Humpf. If so, you should already know that no matter what you say, I won’t change my mind. I intend to destroy the demon-blooded first, then gain Extinction’s resentment on my own.”

n“… On your own?”

n“Yes. I will be at the forefront of this expedition. I will wield my sword and use magic. That’s how I’ll leave myself in history.”

nHer mischievous eyes stared at me.

nShe seemed to be expecting a reaction from me. I read her ‘power’ displayed in the character magnifying lens.

n──「???」──

n◆ Rating: Authority

n◆ Description: ???

n───

nEven the magnifying glass couldn’t read her, but I knew the emperor’s secret even without it.

n…Regression by Death.

nThe reason for her boredom was the lack of death.

nHumans willfully lived since they knew death would one day come for them, but Sophien, lacking that definite end, grew full of laziness and boredom.

nThat was why she was dangerous.

nThe moment she died in-game, the game would be over, and the player would be forced to regress. I was no longer a player, however.

nTherefore, the emperor of this world shouldn’t die no matter what.

nI had to make sure she wouldn’t give up on life.

nHer existence itself was my ‘death

n“I see. But Your Majesty speaks as if there is no death awaiting you.”

nFor a moment, her face hardened, and red flames engulfed her mischievous eyes.

n“… What does that mean?”

n“Your Majesty will learn of what I mean through magic.”

n“I asked what you meant.”

n“Once you have mastered my lessons and I can no longer provide more meaning to you, then the true point of my words will show itself to you.”

nIf she were to learn enough magic, I would let her know what I meant.

nBang—!

nSophien slammed her hand on the desk.

n“… Are you disdaining me? I told you to tell me.”

nShe stared at me with eyes that seemed to scorch me, making me feel like she wanted to rip me apart.

n“Your Majesty.”

nHowever, I didn’t avoid her gaze.

nI just sat and endured the pressure she emitted.

n“I am Deculein.”

nHer brow twitched.

n“Once I’ve made up my mind, no one can break it,” I said with a smile.

nVeins appeared on Sophien’s temple.

n* * *

nTick… tock… tick… tock…

nEpherene looked at the clock.

nIt was already 10 PM.

nTwelve hours had passed since the incident began.

nNo, maybe 24 hours.

nThe windows were covered in ashes.

nWith only darkness around them, they couldn’t measure the passage of time.

nBoom—! Boom—! Boom—!

nThe rescue they called for didn’t come.

nThe banging on their classroom door didn’t stop either.

nBoom—! Boom—! Boom—!

n“Gosh, this is driving me crazy.”

nBoom—! Boom—! Boom—!

nThey couldn’t break the door, but the sounds they made alone were extremely stressful, piercing into their brains even if they covered their ears.

n“Can’t we activate the barrier? Fuck! Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!” Beck yelled.

nEpherene replied with a sigh. “We don’t know the password. Only the professor knows.”

n“Shut the ** up!”

n“You’re the one who asked, so why are you swearing?”

nBoom—! Boom—! Boom—!

nAgain.

nThey put them on the edge of insanity.

nBoom—! Boom—! Boom—!

nWas it just their mental stress, or were the ashes that had taken over the tower sucking in their souls?

n“Sigh….”

nEpherene took a plastic bag of snacks out of her pocket.

nAt the rustling sound, all the debutantes in the classroom turned to her.

n“W-what is that?”

n“Epherene. Where did that come from?”

nTheir long tormented eyes glistened with hunger.

n“Yeah. I was about to share it anyway—”

n“… Wait. T-That’s mine!”

nEurozan reached out and grabbed the bag.

n“Eurozan? W-What’s wrong with you all of a sudden?”

n“I bought it with my own money!”

nEurozan’s eyes were bloodshot.

n“O-Okay—”

n“I bought it!”

nEpherene was startled. He looked as if he had lost his mind. Regardless, she got angry at him.

n“Why are you mad at me?”

n“I bought it!”

n“I got it, so get your hands off of it!”

n“You let go!”

n“Why are you so childish? Are you going to eat alone in this situation?”

n“I said I bought it! Just **ing give it to me, you poor bastard!”

nRip!

nThe plastic ripped and spilled cookies, chocolate, and drinks.

nThud, thud, thud…

nThe eyes of the wizards followed the falling snacks.

n“Stop.”

nSylvia’s voice echoed just as a commotion was about to begin.

n“That’s pathetic. Fighting over just food.”

n“… Hehe~” A rather disrespectful laugh intervened.

n“Then what shall we do, Sylvia?” Lucia asked, a rotten smile hanging on her lips. “What kind of solution would a noble like Sylvia come up with in this situation, I wonder?~”

nSylvia looked at Lucia as she pondered about it.

nWhat would she do?

n… Maybe.

nShe would have done this.

n“The nobles must concede.”

n“… I beg your pardon? The nobles should be the ones to eat, gain strength, and lead the commoners—”

n“Take care of your elegance that you’re always concerned about during times like this.”

n“… Huh.”

nThe nobles, including Lucia, looked at Sylvia with a distorted face.

nSimultaneously, Epherene packed the sweets and came to the desk.

n“I will distribute everything equally.”

n“Distribute what?! I bought it!”

n“Oh, you shut up!” When Epherene yelled, Eurozan trembled.

n“Enough. Instead, I won’t eat either. I already ate a lot—”

nRumble—!

nAt that moment, a thunderous sound caused the entire classroom to vibrate.

n“What was that?!”

nEveryone looked at the door in shock.

nBoom—!

nIts entrance was shaking.

n… Class A was the sturdiest classroom in the tower.

nBoom—!

nRegardless, debris ominously fell from its walls.

n“B-Barrier. W-we need a barrier…”

nBoooooooooooooooooom—!

nA shattering roar echoed.

nThe classroom’s blackboards fell on the floor.

nBooooooooooooooooooom—!

n“Ahhhhhhhh!”

nScreams and annoying wails filled their vicinity.

n“Come on— Come on!”

nOut of fear, most of them shouted and yelled gibberish.

nAmid that wretched mess, Epherene grabbed her head.

nBoooooooooooooooooooom—!

nShe then looked at the blackboard behind the table.

n“…”

nDespite all the other blackboards being torn off, it remained intact.

n——Four things to keep in mind——

n1. Break through the core of the barrier.

n2. Avoid charging head-on and focus on cooperating with each other.

n3. Survive.

n4. Never forget that this blackboard serves as the only link between you guys and me.

n─────────

n“Never forget that this blackboard serves as the only link between you guys and me.”

nThe only link…?

n“Ah!”

nAt that moment, Epherene came to a realization.

nScratch— Scratch—

nSome letters began to be engraved on it.

nBoom—!

nThe vibrations were growing more and more intense.

nSoon enough, a blow hit the entire wall of the classroom.

nDuring such great chaos, a sentence appeared on the blackboard’s surface.

nThis is Deculein. Communicate with me.

nThe moment she read it, Epherene felt like she was about to cry.

nHowever, Epherene gets a penalty point.

n