Chapter 61 (1/2)

The main building of the Imperial Knights, the ones who claimed to be the best on the continent.

“… After three days of tracking…”

Among them was the ‘Round Table of Myths,’ a gathering of their most powerful knights that tackled only the highest-ranking agendas.

“It is presumed that Rohakan has already escaped the continent.”

The atmosphere at the round table today was heavily subdued.

It was because the operation to arrest Rohakan, which they had painstakingly devoted themselves to, had officially failed.

“Of course, we have requested cooperation from the local knights and the police. Hence, we can rest assured that the investigation will be carried out steadily.”

Lawaine, Knight of the Sacred Heart, was the one reporting.

Thirteen high-ranking knights, including Deputy Commander Isaac, listened to him at the round table, while the rest of the members listened to him from the surrounding seats.

“Write a report to Her Majesty—”

At that moment…

Kieeeek—

The door to the conference room swung open, and a firm voice came in.

“I don’t need a report or anything of the sort.”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

A number of knights entered from the other side of the conference room. They lined up side by side to make a path as a blazing aura flashed between them.

“The shadow of the Intelligence Agency is more accurate than your information, after all…”

The current emperor of the empire, Sophien Ekater von Jaegus Gifrein.

Her kingly brilliance made her truly appear like the sun.

───Your Majesty the Emperor!

The entire knights fell to their knees, regardless of rank.

Their ruler frowned as if their shouts were rather too loud.

Tap— tap—

She walked majestically and sat down on the perimeter.

“I will watch your meetings in person. Rohakan is the enemy of the late emperor, so I can do this, right?”

Her words came as an electrifying shock to them.

Lawaine looked at Isaac nervously, but he motioned with his chin to continue anyway.

“… Yes. Rohakan left no trace while escaping, but before he could, he got caught up in a magical battle with Deculein.”

Lawaine presented the record. It was a crystal ball that contained Deculein and Rohakan’s magic battle.

Whoooosh…

When he injected magic into the crystal ball, a harsh landscape appeared.

“What’s that?”

“Isn’t there a misunderstanding?”

“How can this be Deculein’s…”

The people in the room were buzzing.

The land they saw had been turned upside down. All vegetation in the area had been destroyed, and the ground itself had been torn apart so much it left no steady footing.

“Did Deculein and Rohakan cause this?” Even Sophien was surprised by what she saw.

Lawayne replied with his head bowed. “Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. The Magic Tower has already completed the analysis and verification. They detected blood from Deculein and Rohakan.”

… It was useless, but Deculein’s [Aesthetic Sense] also played a role in its ‘terraforming.’

That made it possible for him to completely manipulate his environment not only to enhance its beauty but also to make it look like a battlefield.

“Then, the only one who gained an achievement relevant to this issue was Deculein?”

Isaac didn’t answer quickly.

If Rohakan only excelled in magic, there would’ve been no plausible reason for the empire not to catch him. However, Rohakan was a person with the spirit of a wizard and the body of a knight.

Rohakan was too strong even for Isaac, making it even more difficult to accept Deculein’s achievements.

Judging from the aftermath of their battle alone, they could easily deduce they were well-matched.

“Hey. If you have a mouth, speak. How will I understand your position if you don’t explain yourselves after you let the enemy of the empire escape?”

Sophien’s tone was more of disdain than of anger.

The knights bowed their heads in silence. Isaac took the initiative to reply.

“… Deculein was defeated, so I can’t really say he achieved anything. The only reason he didn’t die is probably purely because of Rohakan’s mercy. They had a master-disciple relationship in the past—”

“I see you only talk to make excuses.”

Sophien twisted her lips.

“A man who killed his close friend’s wife showed mercy on Deculein only because of his memories as his teacher? Rohakan only taught Deculein for three months. I even heard that he immediately ran away the moment he was given a half year’s worth of payment.”

“…”

“Enough. From now on, it would be more efficient to leave Rohakan’s death to Deculein than you. I don’t think there’s more information worth listening to here.”

The emperor stood up and left without looking back. The knights of the Imperial Palace followed her.

“…”

The round table, hit by a storm of typhoons, became a desolate wasteland.

Isaac fell silently in thought, and Lawaine recalled Deculein’s arrogant voice.

‘You’ll all just be a burden. I’m telling you to piss off nicely.’

“… At first, I thought he ran away out of sheer fear of Rohakan.” Lawaine frowned, causing Isaac to look at him.

“But… often, when you think you know someone, it turns out you don’t.”

The great man named Deculein was also famous among the Knights Templar. When Julie was still a member of it, it was Deculein who tormented its innocent newcomers.

“… It may have been that Deculein was hiding his skills, or maybe he’s always been like that, but we underestimated him. However…” Isaac clenched his fists. “A more certain fact is that we weren’t strong enough.”

Today, he promised again.

Rohakan.

Someday, he would definitely hunt that dark beast down.

“Anyway, this report seems to need revision.”

At that moment, a shrill voice rang out. It was the empire’s genius knight ‘Rose.’ A document fell gently on the round table, titled [Personnel File ─ Deculein].

Isaac laughed when he saw a specific passage.

[Combat Power Expectations: Level 5]

“If this guy is level 5…”

Even Adrienne said that Deculein was a tier below her. Of course, at the time, he dismissed it as bullshit, but now, he could agree with her.

“Damn Intelligence bastards.”

The Imperial Intelligence Agency was the one that distributed documents like this, but this happened sometimes.

They senselessly triggered the Imperial Knights’ competitive spirit and provided clearly wrong information with the intent to screw with them.

Isaac immediately picked up his pen and corrected it.

[Combat Power Expectations: Level 1]

Considering the likes of Adrienne, Rohakan, Zeit, and Demakan were ranked 0 in terms of combat power since they were impossible to measure, Deculein should be at least this level.

“Send this report to the Intelligence Agency directly. Those dirty bastards have been playing their shallow tricks too often lately…”

* * *

There were no clouds in the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth sky, a floating island, and the weather was often clear due to how close it was to the sun. Thanks to that, open-air views became beautiful and colorful, but the people passing by weren’t as colorful or diverse.

They were all just wizards in robes.

“Are you talking about the Symposium problem number six?”

“Yes.”

I arrived at the [Atomic Wizard] headquarters near Megiseon.

“Monarch rank Deculein. I checked your thesis.”

I submitted my thesis with confidence, but the response from the person in charge was lukewarm, probably because dozens of fanatics challenged the problem every day.

“Since you’re ranked Monarch, the inspection should be quick.”

That was it.

The manager just kept typing without saying anything, and I went out right away.

I wasn’t expecting a reaction like ”Huuuuh?! Question Six?!’ anyway.

“…?”

As I was about to return to the mansion, I noticed a familiar figure in one of the magic stores here.

I went in and put my hand on her small head.

“Aaah! What the fuck!”

For a moment, Yeriel’s body shook like a tornado, then looked back as if she was about to punch me. Her reaction surprised even me.

“What kind of pervert…?”

She looked up at me and abruptly stopped talking.

Soon, Yeriel’s face distorted as I shook my head.

“You have such a beautiful vocabulary.”

“… What?! You suddenly touched my hair! Don’t touch my hair… please.”

Yeriel fixed her messy hair with both hands.

I smiled and asked. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m a wizard too. If I want to come here, I can.”

Yeriel muttered and glanced at me. I checked the item she had just seen.

It was an advanced magic book.

“Why don’t you buy it?”

“… I can’t buy it.”

“Why?”

“Because of my rank.”

There were purchase restrictions on the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth. Yeriel, a Solda-ranked wizard that didn’t even graduate from the Tower, couldn’t buy an item as advanced as the book she was holding.

“… Right.”

I bought the magic book myself, which was quite expensive at 50,000 Elnes, but I just gave it to Yeriel.

“Take it.”

“… Really?”

“Yes.”

“… Can I learn magic?” Yeriel asked for affirmation. I thought I knew why.

The former Deculein was probably afraid that Yeriel might overtake him, which made him prevent her from studying it.

“Yes. You should learn how to protect yourself now.”

I wasn’t as narrow-minded as he was, and, above all, Deculein had a lot of enemies.

They might take her hostage.