Chapter 106: Ghost (2) (2/2)
“Yes.”
Epherene’s thought made sense. It was the same feeling I experienced when I was a designer. If you keep receiving a rejection, a feeling like, ‘Is my boss trying to bully me?’ will appear.
“…”
I looked into Telgend’s problem. At the same time, I activated [Understanding].
“Huhu.”
…Listening to Epherene’s cheeky laugh, I calculated the ratio of the four elements suggested by the examiner, assumed a framework in which the elements harmonized, and predicted the circuit based on the hypothesis. Then, I presented the answer.
“22.1935%, 23.1105%, 27.8505%, 26.8455%.”
“…Yes?”
Epherene’s face went blank. She leaned forward with her ear first as if she had heard wrong.
“A-again.”
“22.1935%, 23.1105%, 27.8505%, 26.8455%.”
“Uh…”
“It’s a problem revealing the golden ratio necessary for the harmony of the four elements. Did you not solve it?”
“N-No. I did, but…”
She mumbled quietly. Was this a problem I had already solved before? How could I solve it so quickly? No, it was a problem released only four days ago…
“Epherene.”
This cheeky girl.
“Yes, yes.”
“I know what you know.”
“…”
“And I know what you don’t know.”
At least, in theory, her level wasn’t yet enough to refute me. Maybe it would never be. Epherene scratched the back of her neck, looking depressed.
“Be humble. If you doubt it like that, you won’t even be able to reach me.”
“…Yes. I’m sorry.”
Epherene left. As the office door closed, I rolled up the cloth again, and Rohakan peeked out.
—Was that Epherene just now?
“Yes.”
─Huh…
Rohakan and Idnik were sitting at a table in the garden, sipping tea together as if fully reconciled. I suddenly wondered.
“Can I enter the hut too?”
─No. This is possible because Idnik and I have a contract with each other. Of course, I can pull ordinary people by force, but a guy with strong resistance like you is impossible.
“Then why did you come to me? Before, I must have said that it would be the last time I would let you go.”
When I first met Rohakan, I warned him. Well, the words were a warning, but in reality, it was a concern. Concerns about not dying after he meddled.
─…Who let whom go? Deculein, you? This old man?
Idnik murmured suspiciously, and Rohakan continued seriously.
—I know. But I have something to tell you.
“What is it?”
—The Altar is moving, and a great threat will befall the Empire. Specifically in winter. It’s time for the monster waves to come.
Winter, and the main quest. As soon as I saw Rohakan, I expected it. Rohakan was a character whose existence was no different from a quest.
—So, I would like to ask you a favor.
“A favor?”
-Yes. Let’s meet in winter when it approaches. For more details, I’ll let you know when we meet then.
“What do I get?”
I asked, but Rohakan pondered only for a moment before answering.
─…Life. Not only you but everyone on this continent.
The main quest floated in front of me at the same time he spoke.
[Main Quest: Life]
◆ Rare Attribute Catalog
◆ Store Currency +5
I didn’t even think twice before nodding.
“I will think about it.”
-I expect a positive choice.
In response, Rohakan released Idnik from the hut. Idnik, returning to normal, looked at me.
—Idnik said that she has something to tell you alone, so I’ll just leave. Until we meet again, be well, my disciple.
Rohakan laughed softly. Immediately after that, his hut floated up into the air and vanished.
“But Deculein. Are you this poor in receiving visitors?”
Idnik looked around the office as she pulled out a cigarette.
“It is normal for uninvited guests to be despised, not treated.”
“…”
“Just tell me what you need to say.”
I stole Idnik’s cigarette with Psychokinesis. She clicked her tongue before continuing.
“Sylvia is in danger.”
“…”
I silently watched Idnik, eliciting a frown from her.
“Deculein, remember what you promised then.”
“Then?”
“When you killed Sierra, I took your promise and did not kill you.”
“…”
I couldn’t say anything to that. It was a part of Deculein’s past that I did not know.
“Are you not going to keep it?”
“…”
I shook my head. Immediately, Idnik’s expression lightened.
“Good… by the way, do you still have that child with you?”
“‘That child.’ Do you mean Epherene?”
“Yes.”
“Is there any reason why I shouldn’t?”
“No.”
Idnik shrugged, but I noted the anticipation in her eyes.
“But, I thought you were going to kill that child.”
My eyebrows rose, but I kept my composure and asked again.
“The reason being?”
“Because the first person to discover that child was Decalane. Anyway, back to the point, Sylvia is in danger.”
Idnik habitually took out another cigarette, which I also stole with Psychokinesis.
“God damn-“
“In my office, one’s mouth is only used to speak. Keep talking.”
“…Arrogant bastard. Yes, there was a murder on the Floating Island.”
“So?”
Idnik’s legs trembled. It appeared to be a prohibited event to discuss.
“One of the prime suspects is Sylvia.”
“…”
I just blinked. It was definitely a new case.
“I’ll tell you in detail on the Floating Island. First, give me my damn cigarette…”
* * *
Late night, assistant’s lab.
“Haaam—”
Epherene woke up. She had fallen asleep while working.
“Oh… it is already night… but really… how did he solve it…?”
She recalled the recent incident. Deculein solved the problem she had been pondering over for 24 hours in just 30 seconds.
“Did I dream it?”
“Dream?”
Allen replied to Epherene’s self-talk as she rubbed her eyes. Epherene, startled, immediately laughed.
“Haha. No, well… I’ll get some air and come back~.”
“Yes, alright.”
Allen’s smile was always pleasant. Epherene left the assistant’s lab.
“Huh?”
But at the end of the hallway, the door of the [Head Professor’s Office] was open once more.
“…”
Epherene swallowed hard, contemplating. There was something she wanted to check. Should she take a quick look? No, of course, he would never do that, but it just left a bad taste in her mouth…
‘Okay, let’s go. There won’t be anything anyway.’
‘I’ll go and see for myself with my own eyes.’
‘…Oh, wait.’
Then what if the ghost appeared again?
“So what?”
Professor Allen was in the lab too.
‘I’ll be fine.’
Epherene sneaked up to the Head Professor’s office. She glanced through the gap past the slanted open door. Darkness that even the moonlight could not penetrate greeted her, but Deculein was absent.
“Whew…”
Taking a deep breath, Epherene used her mana like a flashlight and crept into the office, holding her breath and moving slowly to pad her footsteps.
“Whew… whew…”
Drenched in a cold sweat, she managed to reach Deculein’s desk. First, she leaned over the desk.
“Where did I see it…?”
Deculein’s paper was a material that was difficult to forget once you saw it because it was too luxurious. Looking for that easy-to-recognize texture, Epherene opened the drawer of his desk.
“…”
There was no need to rummage around. However, the moment she found something lying in the first drawer, Epherene’s heart sank.
“…Wait a minute.”
Epherene muttered blankly and looked at it. Stretching out her trembling hand, she picked up a neatly folded letter.
“No way this is…”
She read the first sentence, [Sponsor! This time, it’s Epherene again—]. It was the letter to the anonymous donor she put in the postbox today.
“…Ahhhhh!”
More shocked than if she had seen a ghost, Epherene shook her hands and threw the letter down. Her body trembled as a wave of dizziness washed over her.
“My sponsor…”
She covered her mouth with trembling hands and murmured:
“…Why?”
[Reminder: There is a glitch stating that chapters are 50 ATC. They’re all actually 9 ATC and the proper amount will be deducted from your balance.]