Chapter 57 (1/2)
Yeriel hid properly, but Epherene and the other members couldn’t find a good place that would keep them from being found. Frantically pacing around the room, they decided to just go for the nearest option they had, no matter how poor a spot it was for concealing themselves.
One hid behind the door, another hid behind a hanger, and Epherene made herself float and clung to the ceiling like a starfish by using [Psychokinesis] on herself.
Slam—
Deculein opened the door, closed it behind him, and hung his coat on the hanger without lifting a finger.
“Professor! How should we proceed with the common class this week?”
“Just leave the paperwork and go.”
“Yes, sir!”
He came in with his assistant professor, but Allen soon went out. Not long after, Deculein stopped in the middle of the office.
Everyone held their breaths.
“…”
Deculein, seemingly deep in thought, momentarily tilted his head upward, finding Epherene on the ceiling.
“Ah… Ahahaha…”
Epherene laughed bitterly the moment she was discovered. Apathetically looking at her, Deculein dismantled her magic.
“Whoa!”
Before Epherene fell, she slowed her fall using [Fluid Manipulation], allowing her to land painlessly.
Deculein was a little surprised, considering he consumed 300 mana just by meddling with Epherene’s [Psychokinesis].
She only showed her talent at the beginning of the semester, but her magic completion level was still like a beginner’s then.
Considering Deculein’s own skills had also improved to some extent during that time, she grew quite rapidly.
Was it because she was a Named character?
He felt something close to jealousy, but he quickly brushed it off.
“… All of you, come out.”
Deculein called out the other CRMC members.
“…”
Not long after, four debutantes found themselves standing before the Head Professor, who was staring at them intently.
“Intrusion into my office is grounds for disciplinary punishment, and in extreme cases, expulsion.”
“I-I’m sorry!”
Julia was the first to cry out and kneel down. Epherene, Rondo, and Ferit followed her example.
“There’s no need for an apology. Just tell me your reason for doing this.”
“Oh, that’s…”
Epherene thought about their situation.
Yeriel was hiding under Deculein’s desk. If she sold her out, they would be able to get out of trouble somehow. However, she was loyal to a fault.
“We wanted to show you this.”
She took a picture out of her pocket and gave it to Deculein, who used [Psychokinesis] to receive it.
“… After we activated that formula, it displayed a message in the air. ‘Look forward to the retribution of the Ashes. The moment will come when your weakness will be exploited,’ it said.”
“A warning from the Ashes?”
“Yes. Presuming that’s what it is, we came to tell you as soon as possible.”
He looked closely at the photograph.
Epherene thought he would react the same way as the other professors.
The Ashes were their Achilles’ heel, after all.
“… This is worth extenuating the current circumstances.”
However, his response far exceeded her expectations. He even nodded, letting them know he understood why they infiltrated his office.
“Even so, trespassers must be punished. Moreover…”
His presence still felt gelid, but his voice had clearly softened. Deculein looked at them.
“This isn’t an issue debutantes like you should be worrying about. Even if the ‘Ashes’ are involved, only professors or higher should deal with this.”
“…The other professors didn’t even bother listening to us.”
Epherene clenched her fists in anger.
“I know. That’s to be expected from those old dogs.”
His statement surprised everyone in the room.
“But there are many other professors in this tower.”
Most, if not all, of the Imperial University Tower’s old professors had allowed their magic skills to stagnate since they focused mainly on their research and projects.
However, among the new professors who had just entered their mid to late 20s were trustworthy Named characters, such as Jennifer of Harmony, Kelodan, the glasses-holder, and Grant.
“Find Kelodan. He’ll be able to help you.”
In the game, Kelodan was made to be the player’s assistant during the early stages of their journey.
He would lead Epherene and their club well.
“I’ll give you one penalty point. Moreover, you may not acknowledge this discovery as an achievement of your club.”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
“You may go.”
Epherene and the others left with their heads down.
Deculein walked around and sat down in his office chair, then looked at the picture they gave him.
[Look forward to the retribution of the Ashes. The moment will come when your weakness will be exploited.]
[Rank 5 intermediate-boss event: Baron of the Ashes]
◆ Intermediate boss kill reward
– One item catalog
– Store currency +2
It sounded grandiose, but it wasn’t necessarily special.
Deculein was an intermediate-boss himself, and there were dozens of others with that title.
However, this particular event was rather difficult.
Without the help of Named third parties, like the professors, the player would have to overcome it with Named students.
In that respect, this tower had the biggest problem.
There was no ‘player.’
A player was an outsider who utilized the system and could gather Named characters as support.
“There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Deculein went out of the office to make preparations for it.
About five minutes passed before Yeriel sneaked out of the desk.
“Whew. That’s a relief.”
She was about to dust off her body when she realized there was no dust. Her brother had some crazy level of mysophobia.
She thought he’d probably turn into a ghost that would haunt people until they cleaned their respective territories.
Yeriel sighed and opened the door.
“Yeriel.”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaah—!”
A voice from right next to her made her heart stop, almost making her convulse as she clung to the ground.
Deculein looked down at her, his eyes seemingly finding her actions pathetic.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, oh, no, nothing… You should’ve said something if you knew! Gosh, my heart…”
“I asked what’s going on.”
He helped her stand, then removed everything on her clothes with [Psychokinesis].
Yeriel, pouting, stuttered. “… H-hey. A-about Louina…”
“Are you talking about McQueen’s Louina?”
“Yes. I’m just asking this as a precaution, but you didn’t kidnap her, right? There are rumors circulating that you did, but that’s just bullshit, isn’t it?”
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t even pretend to hear her.
Yeriel corrected her words.
“You didn’t kidnap her, did you?”
“… I heard Louina would be released soon.”
“Huh? Come again?”
“Leave.”
Deculein entered his office, leaving Yeriel outside. Alone, she pondered around his words.
Louina would be released soon.
Louina would be released soon.
Louina would be released soon.
Her eyes widened, finally realizing the nuance contained in his words and tone.
“That crazy bastard…!”
That meant he kidnapped her!
* * *
… Sylvia was studying magic in their mansion.
[Deculein: Pure Element Theory]
[Deculein: Magical Disaster Analysis]
[Deculein: Magic to See through Logic]
[Deculein: Series Applied]
The organized version of Deculein’s lectures was divided by subject in her bookshelf. The notes she was engrossed in were also a review of his lectures.
Knock, knock—
Her concentration was disrupted.
Sylvia stared at the door as it opened, revealing a familiar face.
Glitheon.
“… Ohh! Were you studying?” He laughed and scratched his cheek.
She narrowed her eyes at him but soon shook her head.
It was time to take a break anyway.
“Hahaha. That’s good, sweetheart.” He entered and looked around her room, frowning at the notebooks on her bookshelf.
“… Deculein?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve heard rumors that the Head Professor’s lectures are famous in the University Tower, so I guess you put a lot of effort into organizing them.”
“Yeah. It helps a lot.” She said calmly, but he still felt discontented deep down.
“I think it’s better to learn practical things from him rather than theoretical.”
“He’ll also be teaching us that. We’ll start this week.”
“… Is that so?”
Glitheon couldn’t even predict Deculein’s skills anymore.
Three days ago, he broke the devil’s barrier by himself, so rumors of his practical combat ability also spread to the magic world.
Even the chairman didn’t deny his prowess.
“Professor Deculein’s actual combat power, I think, is just below mine! It was amazing!” She said in an interview.
He was right below Adrienne, a monster who would soon become an archmage.
At first, those words probably just sounded like bullshit meant to flatter him, but many young wizards soon believed it, growing fearful of him.
Deculein’s actions so far had been very unconventional, after all.
Kiiiek….
The door opened again. As Glitheon and Sylvia looked at it, Ghilland, Sylvia’s half-brother, emerged.
“A potato came too,” Sylvia uttered.
“… I’m not a potato!” Ghilland slammed the door open and yelled.
“Mini potato.” She responded, her expression remaining the same.
“I said I’m not—!”
As his two children chatted, Glitheon listened to them without much thought as he looked at the art notebook on Sylvia’s bed.
“…”
He stiffened.
Opening it out of curiosity, he found a face he didn’t want to see sketched in it.
There wasn’t just one or two of them.
Every page of it was occupied by… Deculein.
Glitheon put her notebook down. With mixed feelings lingering inside him, he looked at Sylvia, who kept saying ‘potato.’
“Sweetie.”
“Yes?”
“I’m going to the cemetery. Do you want to come with me?”
“I already did.”
“… I see.”
Glitheon forced a smile.
“Then I’ll go alone. Get along well with your brother.”
“Take the potato too.”
“I’m not a potato!”
“There is a really noisy potato here.”
He went out, leaving the two children behind.
“…”
Glitheon felt dazed for some reason. It felt like the whole world was moving away from him.
“Shall we go, my lord?”
He didn’t even respond to the driver’s words.
Not long after, the car moved and soon reached the cemetery.
“We’re here, sir.”
Glitheon got out of the car and walked down the path of the cemetery, bearing emotions that shook his entire soul.
After a few moments, he stopped in front of a tombstone.
[Sierra Von Ellemin Iliade]