Chapter 63 (1/2)

These days, interesting news had been going around the Island of Wizard’s Wealth, creating a fresh atmosphere that swirled all over the dull island.

“… Deculein? That Deculein?”

“Yes.”

The emperor’s younger brother, Kreto, smiled in astonishment as soon as he got the report.

“Hmm… So, you say problem six will be solved soon?”

“The place of proof is ready.”

The Symposium’s ‘place of proof’ wasn’t held unless an answer was found persuasive or close to being correct.

Therefore, the fact that it had been prepared meant they were getting nearer the solution. It was problem six, no less.

“That’s impressive.”

Kreto purely admired him.

Of course, his solution itself still wasn’t determined as the right answer, but as a fan of Deculein, he had faith.

“Well, it’s now time for him to fly.”

He still couldn’t forget Deculein’s midterm exam. The feeling it instilled in him continued to remain in his heart to this day, reigniting a passion he had almost lost.

Hence, when he heard the Imperial University Tower’s Head Professor would teach Sophien, he felt envy roar within him so loud that he almost said, ‘I want to join the class too.’

“There are rumors about the Ashes.”

“Ashes?”

“Yes. They say they are watching him from ‘there.'”

‘There.’

Let alone a normal wizard, even his escort, Fassbender, wouldn’t even speak of the ‘volcanic zone.’

‘Ashes’ was such a vulgar title.

“It’s normal for them to provoke famous wizards… but it doesn’t matter. In today’s world, Deculein’s strength is famous.”

He was a powerful practical wizard. Even though the Imperial Knights kept it secret, Kreto knew of Deculein’s well-matched battle against Rohakan.

“Anyway, when the place of proof is ready, I’ll ask for a seat. No, this is an order. Be sure to get one.”

The competition for tickets would be keen. All high-ranking wizards would be found there, after all.

“Yes. There will be no problems.”

Fassbender faithfully responded to Kreto’s request.

•••••••.

At the same time, at the Megiseon.

“That’s interesting! He really submitted it!”

Adrienne read a letter from Wizard Academic in her private residence.

It said, ‘Deculein’s thesis is very reasonable, and it is highly probable that it is the right answer, so please check it out.’

“I heard he’s answering question number six.”

“Yeah! It’s really question number six!”

The chairman was talking to a wizard with long black ponytailed hair. Unlike her youthful and mischievous appearance, she was secretly a parasitic houseguest with a stern and mature look.

“Are you aware that Deculein is in danger because of you?”

“Huh? Why?”

She was a progressive person. At the very least, she didn’t discriminate against people based on their ‘origin’ or ‘current affiliation.’

Adrienne’s standard was only ‘whether it was harmful to her or not-.’

“There are a lot of people looking for Deculein. Gerek, that crazy guy, Glipper, Helgun… his name has gone a long way even among the Ashes.”

Split Personality Gerek.

Killer Glipper.

Living Corpse Helgun.

They were all famous among the Ashes.

“It’s all because you said Deculein’s strong.”

“Huh?! How is this my fault? You lost to Deculein too, Cynthia!”

“….”

Her real name was Cynthia, but she currently went by Arlos.

About ten years ago, at the age of only fourteen, Adrienne noticed and turned her into her unofficial disciple. A month ago, she became the criminal who installed a barrier in the third building of the dormitory.

“I was using a dummy back then. If it were my real body, I would have won.”

“You’re lying! If it were your real body, you would have died there~”

“I had no intention of killing any wizard at the time.”

Ten years ago, although not at the level of an Archmage, Cynthia was a talent that was likely to aim for the pinnacle of a particular profession.

Seeing through her qualities despite her being an orphan, Adrienne directly educated her.

“What about it?”

“… I just wanted you to know that Deculein has a bounty from the Ashes on his head.”

“Alright! More importantly, where’s my doll?!”

Arlos took a puppy out of her bag.

“Wow! It’s so cute! It’s going to live a long life, right?!”

“Yes. That’s the reason why I purposely made its body small. Through magic, it’s guaranteed to live long… It’ll probably still be alive even if you die at over 100 years old. Why are you so obsessed with its life expectancy?”

“Well~” Adrienne just smiled faintly. “It’s better if it lives longer!”

Fairies lived too long to love somebody.

Her kind’s lifespan was two or even three times longer than the longest-lived humans, and they never grew old.

Hence, Adrienne liked dolls since they could live for a long time.

It was no coincidence that she discovered Arlos’s talent and taught her directly.

Arlos, unaware of this fact, sometimes couldn’t understand her actions. Adrienne was playful, mischievous, and mean, but she respected her because she was her teacher.

“Even to me, that thesis…”

Arlos slowly stretched out her arm.

“No! It has iris recognition!”

The chairman glared at her and wrapped her arms around the document.

Grumbling, she retracted her hand.

“Hmm. He solved number six…”

She suddenly remembered the first time she met Deculein.

‘You are garbage, scums that have been rejected by society. You lack the composition to be a human, and you lack the appeal to be a beast. Your only talent is to squirm. That won’t help you be relieved of your poor and dirty roots.’

Through an aggressive tone, his curses and swear words poured out in rage.

Of course, she knew why he hated the Ashes.

“… The more I think about it, the angrier I get.”

If they met again someday, she promised herself she would pay him back.

“Oh! It’s moving!” The chairman trembled. Arlos glanced at it too.

The small dog, who had received Adrienne’s pure magic as its life force, was crying and chasing her.

Pff-

Arlos giggled and left the mansion.

* * *

Monday, Yukline Mansion.

I installed a blackboard in the annex building, which looked exactly like the one at the Imperial University Tower’s classroom.

───[Twin Blackboard]───

◆ Description:

– A blackboard made of magic stones. One of two, paired boards.

– Due to 「Midas’ Hand」, its resonance has increased.

◆ Category: Mechanism ⊃ Communication

◆ Special Effects:

– Anything written on this board is transmitted to the other blackboard it’s connected to.

– Its connection with the other blackboard can’t be broken by any magical means.

[Midas’ Hand Level: 4]

─────────

This item, upgraded by my [Midas’ Hand], enabled two-way communication that could go in and out of a barrier. If I were to write something on it, the same thing would be engraved on the classroom’s blackboard.

It gave me the ability to communicate with the debutantes.

[Rank 5 Intermediate-Boss Event: Baron of the Ashes]

Everyone was preparing for it.

Of course, we didn’t know when the Baron of the Ashes would appear. Moreover, the professors couldn’t intervene in the event either. Hence, there was no longer any room for me to get involved.

“With a little help, they should be able to take care of it.”

Fortunately, two of the debutantes were definitely smart.

Unlike me, who couldn’t even do anything without the help of the system’s attributes, Epherene and Sylvia were different. They were two of the Named characters with the greatest growth potential of all time.

—Knock, knock.

I opened the door, and Ren came in with his head bowed. He then handed me a couple of documents.

“Master. Rumor has it that Count Zeit is trying to take over the Freyhem Knights. I also recorded a lot of additional information.”

“… Zeit?”

“Yes. I heard he’s already reserved the ceremony hall.”

That was quite a troublesome report.

I read the documents first.

“Hmm.”

It was detailed beyond imagination. Although its ‘scope’ was still insufficient because I only had Ren and Enen working on it, the accuracy of intel related to people around me was satisfactory enough.

“Good job.”

With the quality of their work, I no longer felt like I wasted money on them.

I then held out the [Yukline: Understanding Elemental Magic] book that I was currently revising to him.

“This is…?” He looked confused.

“I occasionally hear the sound of magic from your residence these days. It must be your sister’s doing.”

“…”

Ren seemed completely unaware of it.

Enen was most likely studying magic secretly like Yeriel.

“I apologize. I will educate her well.”

“This book will do that for you. I’ll benefit if my subordinates have and can hone their talents anyway. Tell her to learn.”

“…” Ren looked at me in surprise, which bothered me. He just had to do what I told him to do. Why did he have to look thankful, surprised, etc.?

“Just take this.”

“Okay. Thank—”

“Prepare to go out.”

“As you wish.”

I went out with him and soon found a familiar face waiting for me in the parking lot.

Louina.

“Boss. I was waiting for you.”

“Shall I kick her out?” Ren said.

I shook my head.

“You don’t have to.”

“Got it.”

Ren walked silently and opened the back seat’s door. I got on first, and she quickly occupied the seat next to me.

She looked tired.

“What’s going on?”

“Are you going to the imperial palace for Her Majesty’s lesson?”

“Yes. Wasn’t her class with you scheduled tomorrow?”

“I know. I just have some information to tell you…” She pulled a wad of paper out of her briefcase.

“I was actually trying to ask all of this in the ‘place of proof.’ I have already delivered it to the Symposium judges.”

“But?”

“If I do that, it could be considered a breach of contract. Since you’ve given me a second chance, I want to give you a chance to give up even now.”

Her words sounded like a cute threat. In reply, I calmly asked, “A chance to give up?”