Chapter 70 (1/2)
“Why did he burn it? I just can’t seem to understand his actions.”
“Wouldn’t he have a meaning in his own way?”
Judges Rose Rio, Gindalf, and the Chairman were in the waiting room, having a discussion. Their topic was still Deculein’s sudden action.
“The runes that Deculein muttered were three sentences, right? Does that mean he used a total of eighteen runes? Did you clearly feel the surge of magic?”
Of course, 48 might be an exaggeration from Deculein, but the interpretation of 18 new runes was a sufficient achievement.
Deculein burned that achievement himself.
It was strange.
The Deculein, known to Rose Rio, no, the magic world, became a “fair wizard” who didn’t boast of his own research.
Not empathic, but fair.
“Isn’t it because he thought there would be a problem if the rune interpretation were revealed to the Ashes?!”
Rose Rio was taken aback by the chairman’s unfiltered words.
“I mean… Well, I heard those bastards had implanted spies even in the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth these days.”
“I know! Those mean bastards! Because of them, the runes had to be burned!”
“… Ahem. Oh, yes. That’s right, chairman. Your words are too precipitous…”
Among them amid a conversation, Louina kept to herself, deep in serious thoughts.
“…”
Why did Deculein destroy his own research with his own hands?
She reconstructed the case with her own wisdom and intelligence.
“Perhaps…”
Perhaps he was trying to find a cure or even just a clue to his disease in the runic language, hoping for an ancient power that transcended modern magic.
However, he found no healing miracles in the rune language, unlike the ‘possibility of misuse,’ which he found innumerable.
Hence, he destroyed it on his own, without any regrets.
No achievement would be able to give him any glory right now…
At that moment…
Slam—
The door opened, and Deculein appeared. Startled, Rose Rio and the chairman immediately changed the subject of their conversation.
Deculein looked at Gindalf among them.
“Elder Gindalf.”
“Hm? Deculein, did you just call me?” Gindalf’s wrinkled eyes became round.
“Yes. There’s something I want to ask you.”
“Me?”
“Is it possible?”
“It is, but…” Gindalf left with Deculain. Louina stared intently at the door the two of them just exited into.
She wasn’t a curiosity seeker, but she was so curious about this case her whole body was itching.
The chairman looked at her and smiled. “Professor Louina is just like me!”
Louina narrowed her eyes at her, finding the notion ridiculous.
“No. I’m different from you, chairman.”
“How so?”
Louina leaned against the couch without a word. At that moment, the chairman’s ‘Curiosity Seeker Antenna’ was activated.
Relaxed back, pitiful eyes, finger movement, an expression that seemed to be in a little trouble.
Her posture showcased the arrogance of dominating the information they didn’t have!
Her eyes twinkled, and the chairman clung to the seat next to Louina.
“What’s different? Professor Louina~?”
“I don’t know.”
“Heeey! Don’t do that…!”
Unfortunately, Louina was tight-lipped.
•••••••
[Achievement: Symposium problem solved]
◆ Mana +200
◆ Store Currency +2
“You want me to restore that?”
“Yes.”
I held out a pendant to Gindalf. In it, there was a picture of a woman from the Luna family.
“The picture inside is important.”
“Hmm… The picture looks a bit old, but it shouldn’t be difficult.”
Gindalf was a Named wizard who had reached the apex of the ‘Harmony’ series, which was why I decided to find him.
“However, there’s something I want to ask you in return.”
“Sure.”
I nodded, and at that moment, Gindalf cast a spell on the picture. It was [Regeneration] on a level I couldn’t even begin to fathom.
“Did you truly interpret 48 runes?”
“…Of course.” I laughed quietly. Gindalf chuckled, stroking his beard and holding out the pendant.
“Here. Take it.”
It had become nearly as good as new after his magic had finished restoring it. I opened it and looked at the picture inside.
“…”
My eyebrows twitched.
Gindalf asked, “Do you know that person?”
“Yes. He was my assistant.”
“Assistant?”
“He committed suicide,” I calmly said as I slipped it into my inner pocket.
Gindalf scratched his cheek, pretending to be embarrassed.
“I’ll repay—”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Witnessing your work today is enough.”
Gindalf’s personality remained the same as the setting.
If I just listened to him, if I showed no sincerity, he wouldn’t do me any favors in the future.
I gave him a check.
“It’s not much, but please accept it.”
50,000 Elnes. It was a fair amount for his work.
Gindalf glanced at it with a squint and took the check with a benevolent smile.
“Why did you… I will use all of these to educate future students rather than on my own self-interest.”
…
I went out to the Megiseon’s backyard. Kreto, Yeriel, Epherene, and Sylvia were there, waiting, at the promised place.
First, I bowed to Kreto.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Haha. It’s nothing. Rather, it felt like you just opened my eyes. Your lectures are amazing. How did you come up with such an idea? That’s why are called the wizard who walks the royal road. Oh, by the way…” Kreto covered his lips before continuing. “Was there really only one original paper?”
“Yes. There are no copies in this world anymore.”
“… Isn’t that a waste? You’ve been immersed in it for a long time.”
“I was thinking of destroying it from the beginning. This era isn’t mature enough yet to use the rune language.”
“Mature?”
“Runes spoken by the mouths of the wicked are sure to turn into a weapon that’ll cause death and destruction. Hence, I deemed it better to get rid of it.”
Kreto’s jaw hung, his eyes filled with a sense of respect that I found burdensome.
“Right, this is the book you asked for before.”
I pulled out a signed first edition [Yukline: Understanding the Pure Elements] from my briefcase.
“Are you sure you want to give me something this precious? It’s not even out in the market yet.”
Kreto’s eyes twinkled as he looked at the book, his hand caressing its cover.
“I am giving it because it is precious…”
At that moment…
“What’s your name?”
Epherene’s voice sounded unusual.
I looked around a little nervously.
“Hehe. You’re cute.”
“….”
“Your legs are so short.”
She was talking to a cat, who simply stared at her without a word.
The red-furred munchkin was very cute on the outside, but knowing its true nature, I couldn’t help but pray for her well-being.
“Pffft. What? Why are you looking at me that way? Come on~ Look at this~”
Epherene took a foxtail and waved it in front of the cat, who then reached out to it.
Its short paws moved along the grass that she shook.
Although possessed, its body’s innate instincts were still there.
“Oh. That’s the cat the imperial family entrusted to me.” Kreto laughed softly.
I realized then why Sophien was keeping her silence.
Even her brother still didn’t know the emperor was inside the feline.
“Epherene. Sylvia.”
I called out to them before things got complicated.
“You two did a great job in the recent Baron of Ashes case.”
I pulled out a checkbook from my inner pocket and handed them one by one.
“Consider this your reward. Regardless of price, buy what you want here in the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth.”
Sylvia calmly nodded while Epherene looked like she was about to suffocate. Yeriel, watching from behind them, was astonished.
“H-Hey, what are you guys going to buy with it…?” Rushing towards us, she pretended to ask such a question as she looked at the type of check I gave. Afterward, she whispered in my ear. “Damn it. That’s a family check! Use a goddamn personal check!”
This place didn’t accept personal checks.
•••••••
Meanwhile, Julie was looking around the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth alone.
“The pathways here are complicated.”
…More accurately, she got lost.
She was fine until she came out of the Grand Hall.
When she came to her senses, she was already somewhere in the town.
The most basic path-finding tactic, “just walk along the wall,” did not work here.
In some streets, the road itself rose to the sky, and in others, it fell straight down to the ground.
“… Huh?”
Julie, who was wandering around the area, accidentally found a shop.
[Brand Doll Shop]
A smile appeared on her lips.
There was even a doll shop on this floating island.
Approaching it, she saw a lot of cute stuffed toys on the shelf. Eagle, rabbit, and… Among them, she saw a small panda.
Unlike other pandas, this one with brown eyes had been a famous panda brand since Julie was a child.
“… Huh?”
However, the owner soon opened the display case and took it out.
It just got sold out!
As Julie smiled bitterly out of sheer regret…
Ding—
The store’s door opened with a chime.
Sylvia, a famous person that Julie knew well, came out, carrying the stuffed toy she was just looking at in her arms.
“….”
“Hello, Sylvia.”
“Hi.” Sylvia seemed disconcerted by their sudden encounter, but she soon realized that Julie’s gaze was focused on her doll.
Proudly, she declared, “It’s a gift.”
“Who are you giving it to?”