Chapter 41 (1/2)

Chapter 41

The Emperor’s enthronement— from Sophien’s point of view— was boring. She was expecting an attack like a great bombing or powerful magic barrage. Anything at all.

However, nothing of the sort happened.

Entering the emperor’s quarters, she thought it would be saturated with the smell of a corpse or a sick person, but it was surprisingly clean and fragrant.

However, since she was free, she returned to her office and took out a chessboard. Playing by herself, a high-ranking official and the ministers brought several documents to her presence.

Sophien didn’t respond at all. She just kept playing chess until they all went back.

“I saw the creator of the assignment that you gave me the other day. He seemed to know me.”

“Is there anyone who doesn’t know you, Your Majesty?” Keiron answered.

Of course, there would be no one in the continent who wouldn’t know Sophien. That wasn’t what she meant, though.

“His ego didn’t waver even in front of royalty.”

Sophien looked directly into Deculein’s eyes, but she couldn’t decipher the emotions hiding behind them.

It was hilarious.

“Is that so?”

“He’s funny. I felt like I was staring into another me.”

He had a solid and firm soul that was no different from his appearance. He was the kind of person to never waver, even with a knife aimed at his throat, making it evident that he was truly beyond the secular world.

“Have you finished your homework?” Keiron changed the subject.

“I did. It was interesting, and I immediately understood why you gave it to me. The entire day—No, the quarter of a day I spent solving it felt rather new.”

Sophien fell for Keiron’s narration, but she continued.

“I want to lift the restrictions on ‘Marik,’ Keiron.”

“…”

Keiron bowed his head in silence.

‘Marik’ was the name of the mana stone mine northwest of the empire, but its entrance was currently restricted because it was swarming with black magic and a rising frequency of demon appearances.

“Once it opens up, only adventurers and wizards from the tower and their escorts may enter in the beginning.”

“…”

“I don’t need advice. I’m tired of listening to those fucking idiots that do nothing but sit behind their desks.”

“It might hasten the devil’s advent.”

“If entering the mine could do that, why did the devil keep silent about it until now? Also, there’s a limit to the demons’ numbers. If we can kill them all, the site will be cleansed.”

Keiron didn’t answer.

Looking at the chessboard, Sophien asked. “What is Kreto doing?”

“… He’s crying.”

“Crying?”

“Yes, he just finished solving the same problems as Your Majesty. I don’t know what his discernment was.”

Sophien smiled.

“That idiot… Ah, Keiron, you don’t know the answer to the problems, don’t you?”

“No.”

Only then did she look at him. The emperor laughed mischievously.

“I won’t tell you, but I’m not kidding when I say even I’m a little surprised. You’re curious, aren’t you?”

“… It’s alright. I’m really not.”

“You say you’re not, but your eyebrows are wriggling. You can’t deceive my eyes. You’re very curious right now.”

Keiron shut his mouth.

The very next moment, the atmosphere suddenly changed. Sophien raised her eyes sharply as if she was about to devour him. “Don’t you dare lie to my face ever again. I don’t care if it’s you. I won’t tolerate anyone who pisses me off.”

The emperor’s terrifying pressure weighed down on his shoulders, causing him to bow his head.

“… I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

“That’s enough. Let’s play some fucking chess. I’m tired of playing alone. I need an opponent even if beaten one-sidedly.”

*****

Hadekain’s desolate mountain.

Ganesha sat on a rock and looked at Lia, Leo, and Carlos, the three children who crossed the Archipelago.

“… Some people on the continent are born with ‘magical talent.’ Most certified adventurers are.”

She was in the middle of teaching them, but her students was concentrating with her eyes wide open, Leo was looking at animals moving at a distance, and Carlos was dozing off.

“For example.”

Ganesha picked up a long, dry branch to wake him up.

“Watch.”

Booong—

She swung it lightly at an angle that allowed its drooping, weak edge to reach the ground.

Tuuuk—

————!

An earth-shaking roar thundered through their vicinity as an explosion occurred, sending a huge shockwave sweeping through the area.

“Wow!”

“Oh.”

Leo and Carlos only focused then.

“What do you think?”

A crater could be seen on the part that Ganesha tapped.

Lia was in a daze.

“That’s amazing, Ganesha…”

“It’s nothing to admire, but I can use this light branch as an extension of my limbs. The strength of this stick and my fist is the same right now.”

A balance of [Mastery] and [Titanium].

For as long as it wasn’t alive, every object in her hand gained the same properties as her body. “But fighting with my bare hands is way more fun than using this. Either way, I mostly win… Anyway! Wizards call this ‘harmony magic,’ and knights call it ‘swordsmanship,’ but I don’t know any magic or swordsmanship.”

“Then… Can we be like that too?” Leo asked. He was a cute kid with blue hair, barely 140 cm tall.

Ganesha grinned. “You’ll find out starting from now on.”

“H-how?”

“You’re too noisy. Why are you jumping?” Carlos, who was of a similar build, slapped Leo in the back of his head.

“Aaagh!” Leo screamed as he glared at Carlos with teary eyes.

“Quiet! Didn’t you guys come to the continent to change?” Ganesha scolded them. Lia also stepped up and separated the two.

Gasping, Leo soothed his anger with a sigh.

“In order to unlock your magical talents, you must prioritize training more than words. Everyone, follow me.”

Ganesha walked deeper into the mountains then disappeared like a mirage, leaving only her footprints behind.

The trio blinked in confusion. At that moment, Leo’s foghorn was blown.

“… Aren’t you hungry, Lia?”

“You’re an idiot, so you’re always hungry.”

Carlos nitpicked at Leo’s complaints, who then flew into a rage. “No, I’m not!”

“Yes, you are.”

“… Stop saying weird things and follow me.” Lia mediated with their bickering. Leo spoke.

“Carlos picked a fight first. You also hit me just now.”

“You’re being stupid.”

“When? When did I?”

“Whin~ Whin did ei~”

“Don’t copy me!”

Unable to take any more, Lia screamed, grabbing the ears of both relative’s younger brothers.

“If you two keep fighting, forget snacks. I won’t even give you food. You won’t be able to expect anything from me.”

“…”

“…”

The two kept their mouth shut, but their eyes kept blaming each other. Lia sighed loudly, accepting that she couldn’t do anything about it.

She wasn’t a nanny.

“This is why I wanted to come alone.”

After calming down the two, she immediately ran after Ganesha’s trail.

“Ah, Lia, I’m sorry! Sorry! Wait!”

“Lia! Let’s go together! Yulia—!”

The two children, who belatedly understood the seriousness of the situation, hurriedly followed Yulia.

*****

Yukline mansion, separate building.

Holding the pull-up bar with one hand, I pulled myself up.

For 30 minutes.

Boom—

As soon as I landed, I started my second training session.

[Ertrand’s Martial Arts Book, Intermediate]

I took a step with my fist outstretched, executing cheerful and astute footwork, just like in Ertrand’s textbook. A resilient move without any stammer.

Then, after working out for a while, I held my cane this time.

I had been trying to learn how to use it as a weapon.

Of course, I wouldn’t hit anyone with it unless I had no other option left. I didn’t ever want to do it, but a desperate and urgent situation was bound to come.

“…”

After completing my cane training, I checked the [Snowflake Obsidian] in my safe. [Understanding: 4%]

I was constantly using [Understanding] on it, but I still couldn’t use it.

I invested about 1 thousand mana on the Snowflake Obsidian then took a shower.

Knock knock—

Roy knocked just in time.

I dressed up and went outside.

“Roy.”

“Yes.”