Chapter 42 (1/2)
Chapter 42
A week before the midterm exam.
Drent, helping Julia with her homework, was interested in Epherene’s assignment on their club room’s desk. He had been in a slump with his own thesis and thought giving his junior a hand would provide him with some information.
However, he couldn’t even use her work as a reference. Driven by desperation, he checked out Epherene’s assignment while Julia was in the bathroom. What he saw made him feel like electricity coursed through his mind.
Eventually, Drent took Epherene’s idea as his own.
However…
“It seems that you don’t know, so I’ll move on and even do you a favor by asking you easier questions. Now, that magic you’ve just manifested, [Fire Preservation]…”
Deculein reproduced Drent’s spell. However, a glance would be enough to deduce that his fireball was far denser.
“Are you sure this magic will never be distorted underwater, no matter the altitude? Does the same apply when it’s underground?”
“Yes, yes. That’s right.” Drent gathered his senses and answered. He didn’t have enough time to comprehend Epherene’s thesis completely, but he understood it to some extent…
“If so, then tell me. What makes that possible?”
The fireball that Drent described in his thesis rose in the air. Deculein had already determined its core.
“Which circuit of this technique causes the ‘preservation’ effect? ”
“Uh… That is…”
He was at a loss for words. His professor just stared at him, his silence raging through the entire area like merciless winds.
“…”
It didn’t matter how long he waited. The defense couldn’t answer. Before long, Deculein’s gelid tone enveloped the building.
“I can ask hundreds of questions derived from this paper.” The Head Professor’s stare made him feel pathetic, his twisted contempt-filled lips even more so. His next words just humiliated him further. “But you can’t even answer the easiest of them. Can you even call this your thesis at this rate?”
Drent clenched his teeth, feeling his anger surging from deep within him. As he was about to shout, Deculein continued, interrupting him.
“I’ll finish my statement by leaving you with the worst bawling you’ll ever do.”
“…!”
He held the defense’s paper in one hand. “Try again. On your own.”
Schrrrk….
The paper caught on fire and was soon reduced to ashes as it fluttered, almost as if it was trying to break free. The scene caused a small commotion among the audience. Even Sylvia’s eyes widened due to what she witnessed.
“…”
Drent couldn’t say anything.
Now drained of all the strength he possessed to answer back, he just let out a bitter laugh.
Deculein knew.
Everything.
The examinee stomped off the stage, leaving nothing behind but heavy silence.
“That madman. Nobody would be able to answer if he pressures them that much.” Infuriated, Julia murmured. Epherene also felt the same way, but something seemed strange about it.
“T-the… Second wizard…”
The host also stuttered, seemingly taken aback.
There were still 22 wizards left that had to go under public evaluation.
“Please be quiet. 4th-year wizard, Solda Malone. Please come up on stage.”
The next wizard appeared, already looking terrified.
He had turned pale and was shivering, looking like he would skip his turn if only it were possible.
“I’m M-Malone, a S-Solda-ranked wizard…. My thesis is about…”
He soon explained his thesis, and this time too, Deculein listened carefully and asked questions about the core of his research.
“The reason why I set that magic as part of the control series is…”
Malone successfully answered all of the Head Professor’s inquiries even though he stuttered. After a few minutes, Deculein nodded, seemingly satisfied.
“That much is enough.”
Since he saw up close how the presenter before him got his thesis burned, he bowed down, feeling very fortunate.
“Thank you!”
*****
As soon as the defenses were finished, I came up to my private office.
Knock knock—
Allen entered the room not long after I arrived, carrying a few documents in one hand. He seemed delighted.
“Professor! I’ve carefully selected the best of them.”
“Them?”
“Yes. The wizards who want to be under your command.”
“… Leave the list and return.”
“As you wish!”
Allen placed the documents at my desk and left my office. I skimmed through the papers.
“Kloen… Gloan…”
None of them was remarkable or famous. On the contrary, they all wouldn’t be able to keep studying here unless I took them under my wing.
“Should I use them as laborers?”
As I was about to put the list down…
Wooooong—
I felt a small vibration in me. It was the crystal marble.
I imbued it with mana, establishing communication. I soon heard a voice coming from it.
—Are you there?
“Speak, my sister.”
—…
Charlotte was silent, making me think she brooded for a moment.
—Ha…
After letting out a heavy sigh, she spoke in a dry and chapped voice.
—We have to leave now. There’s no time.
“I see.”
I took out a map right away. I had long since investigated all possible routes that they might take.
“Follow my directions.”
—What do you mean?
“Cross the Crebas Canyon.”
—… Are you serious?
‘Crebas Canyon’ was an abandoned road that wasn’t owned by any country. It was also swarming with dark magic, making it extremely perilous.
It was no different than charging headfirst against the world’s greatest horrors, but it was Charlotte’s only way out.
“It’s a shortcut to the Principality of Yuren. No one owns it, so it won’t cause diplomatic conflict with Reok.”
—I know. I’ve considered it, but—
“I will be guiding you myself.”
—…
The Crebas Canyon wasn’t far from Hadekain. It would only take about 3 to 4 hours to reach by horse.
I had the last say on where the wizard’s MT would be held, so if I set up MT to overlap with the day Charlotte and Princess Maho would return to their kingdom, I’d be able to safely cover the whole distance without wasting time.
—You’ll personally be with us?
“That’s right.”
—… I heard that the Reok Kingdom attacked you in Bercht.
I frowned.
They were the ones behind that attack?
I didn’t know the information that Charlotte knew. My intelligence network clearly needed to be renewed, broadened, and reinforced.
—Did their attack make you hate them so much you can’t prevent yourself from retaliating?
“Charlotte.”
—What?
“I’m an extremely political person. Moreover, when it comes to matters involving intelligence or discernment, you know I’m far better than you.”
—What did you just say to me, you stuck-up—
“I want your princess to live and bring my family’s and my estate’s profits.”
—…
“I’m not doing you a favor. This is a business agreement. Why are you involving your personal feelings? Are you that foolish?”
Charlotte’s prying tone irritated me.
I wasn’t sure if it was a good answer, but at least she replied in a more assured voice.
—… I understand. If you do carry out your duty to the princess successfully, we’ll do you any favor.
“It’s a deal, then.”
—Where will we meet you? At the entrance of Crebas?
“Yeah. If you can’t even make it there, then there’s no point since you won’t be able to survive the journey that would follow.”
—Alright. I hope your skills are as sharp as your words.
Our conversation ended there.
Sitting in my chair, I murmured. “… Should I use this as an opportunity to test it?”
Crebas Canyon was a dangerous area. That much couldn’t be denied. It was so heavily filled with dark magic that it was close to being a lair of devils or a dungeon. Demons frequently appeared there when they had nothing better to do.
However…
—— [Yukline] ——
◆ Rating: Lineage
◆ Description:
– This lineage’s power is unleashed when punishing the devil.
-Allows Yukline descendants to use their mana to purify areas with demons or heavy concentration of dark magic.
– Purified mana’s quality is increased by [1 stage].
—————————
My lineage used the energy of the devil or unpurified dark magic as its own energy source.
In places brimming with so much dark magic, human beings would find it hard to even breathe, [Yukline] lifted all restrictions on my mana.
Hence, areas like Crebas were no different from being the Yukline Family’s home territory.
“… I even precisely remember its route.”
That made my decision to take the canyon path even more solidified. I cleared it like this in the game as well.
Perhaps Charlotte already had Crebas in the back of her mind.
Knock knock—
The door opened immediately.
To my surprise, Zeit appeared, pushing his huge body through the doorway. “Professor Deculein!”
“… Lord Zeit. What brings you here?”
“Let’s have dinner tonight!” He grinned.
I looked at the clock.
3 PM.