Chapter 109: Record of Regression (2) (1/2)
“…”
Sophien opened her eyes slowly. Her body was still exhausted, but odd sensations twisted around her mind. It felt like a dream that she had been submerged in for a long time.
“Your Majesty.”
“Hmm…?”
The Emperor raised her eyes to see the knight calling her. Keiron was standing like a stone statue nearby.
“Are you awake?”
“…Yeah. For some reason, I feel like I’ve dreamt for a long time.”
“Is that so?”
“The arrogant Professor?”
“He went back.”
Keiron, answering briefly, thought about Deculein. He had discovered the Emperor’s most important secret, Regression.
“He went back?”
“Yes, he went back saying today’s training was finished.”
The next day, that was, tomorrow’s Deculein left after experiencing Sophien’s Record of Regression in the underground [Devil’s Mirror]. After hearing that, Keiron cut down the devil – the Nescĭus – and regressed to today.
“Are you okay? How is your fatigue?”
But, it was still a secret from Sophien at Deculein’s request. Since it was for Sophien’s sake, Keiron readily accepted.
“It’s a little better… but still the same. Whenever I fall asleep… I dream for a long time. It’s like I’m returning into the past.”
Sophien mumbled as she looked up the ceiling. The thoughts in her dreams brought back memories. But, the vagueness of the scene grew deeper the more she fumbled for them; the reflection lost the more she disturbed the lake’s surface. Her tranquil eyes shifted toward Keiron.
“Keiron.”
“Yes.”
“You…”
She paused a moment, turning the words over on her tongue.
“…are you satisfied with your life?”
The Knight Keiron, selected by the Imperial Family at the young age of ten. He was selected, but when it came to the specifics of his life, there wasn’t much difference from becoming livestock for the Imperial Palace. About 100 young talents were selected from all over the continent. They grew up in the Imperial Palace, practically brainwashed, and were raised only as knights for the Emperor.
“With your appearance and skills, you could have enjoyed a more glamorous life than your current one.”
Keiron’s appearance was outstanding in most aspects, to the point that it summoned love and affection from the maids and the eunuchs alike.
“You know, if you just pretended to be slow-witted, the Imperial Family would have kicked you out already.”
“…”
Keiron listened to Sophien without responding. He needed considerable patience. Her words lacked consideration even by her normal standards, in which the Emperor herself, his entire life’s supreme task, denied herself.
“…Your Majesty. Are you aware of a pollack’s eyeballs? I, Keiron, have always thought that Your Majesty’s eyes are like those of that dead fish.”
“Should I pluck out your eyeballs myself?”
“But, Your Majesty once told me ‘I won’t resent you even if I die.’”
Keiron could comprehend what she said between the lines. That was an ability he developed while in service to Sophien, who was picky and sensitive. Sophien’s lips twisted.
“Hmph. I just said it to fire up your will.”
“I know that’s not true.”
At first, glance, what Sophien said appeared normal, but when associated with her miraculous life, it transformed into a more definite meaning.
“One day, I will fail to guard Your Majesty. And it probably won’t be just once.”
“…”
“Your Majesty, I wish to become a consistent knight. I wish to believe in myself. Not as myself in the past, which no longer exists, nor in the uncertain future. I pledge as a knight to you now.”
Sophien’s expression remained unchanged.
“Even if Her Majesty’s time changes, I will always be constant. Just like a metronome.”
The Emperor’s knight hoped that his master’s idleness would soon fade away. He didn’t want to see her suffocate just because she couldn’t be bothered to breathe.
“This incompetent knight wants to die before his master.”
“…Hmph. You’re a fool. It’s not part of your job to die before me.”
Sophien stood as she laughed at him. She walked, haltingly, through the corridors of the Imperial Palace with Keiron in step behind her. Soon, they reached the great hall of the Imperial Palace, where statues of knights stood in rows to either side.
“Your Majesty, where are you going?”
“I’d rather listen to Deculein’s lecture.”
“There’s still two days until the lecture. Do you intend to go directly to him?”
“You think I’d do that?”
Sophien suddenly stopped and looked back at Keiron.
“I’m looking for a cat. I use the red one when going out, and if I can’t find him, he’s usually milling about here by the knight statues.”
As soon as she said so-
Meow—!
A red-furred cat purred, perched on the shoulder of a statue. The little guy jumped up to sit on Keiron’s head.
Meow—!
Keiron spoke as if to answer his cry.
“Cats instinctively look for the safest place.”
“And that’s your head.”
“…”
*****
In the separate building of the Yukline mansion, late at night. Or dawn, perhaps. No, maybe early morning.
Scratch- scratch-
I was writing a lecture. In a trance, the flow of time was no concern of mine.
Scratch- scratch-
The traces of the fountain pen were recorded on the walls and in the air endlessly, marking figures made of odd combinations of lines. Geometric shapes and techniques spread infinitely from the center to the outer edges.
I moved my pen using [Psychokinesis].
[Pure Use of Soil and Fire: Manipulation]
Scribing lectures that were used only once every other week and only four times in a semester. But, I would continue until its completeness reached at least the level of the milestone grade.
Scratch- scratch-
The milestone was an honor given only to the discovery of the century or knowledge evaluated as such by the Floating Island. I didn’t know if just one lecture could be recognized as a milestone, but it was worth the attempt. This could also be considered a quest achievement.
Scratch- scratch-
Of course, this world’s thousand-year-long magical history couldn’t be led by me, who is only a year old. So, I prepared something else.
“…It is possible.”
The [Characteristic]’s magic circle. In other words, a magic technique interpreted with my [Understanding]. Namely, after magically observing the [Characteristic] as a whole and combining it with existing magic techniques to transform them into new magic. Therefore, I was fusing the attributes of [Iron Man] into magic right now.
Because of that, the nature of magic that would result from this would never be growing tired. A magical fire created by this theory would never extinguish, and soil would never lose its quality.
Dudududu…
However, the scribing process was agonizing. As if extracting my very bone marrow to use as ink, it felt like I was tearing off a part of [Iron Man] from my body.
Whiiiiing—
My eardrums were ringing, and my eyes were shaking, but there was no time to stop.
“…”
Thanks to Epherene, who came from the future, I realized one truth. These days, the devil and the Altar were sticking to Emperor Sophien, so the main quest was in full swing. I couldn’t stop them by growing stronger myself.
“…Now.”
So, I would utilize [Understanding] like I am now. I would devote myself to teaching this [Characteristic]. Deculein held certain limitations to Deculein, but great talents that could be cultivated were scattered through the continent. There were many Named that would grow with just one word of proper advice.
Although I was born with a villain’s fate and couldn’t stand directly as the main character, I could become their dark helper…
Snap—!
My fountain pen broke, but I didn’t need another.
“…”
I took a step back without saying a word. It wasn’t enough, so I took two steps back. It still wasn’t enough. So, three steps, four steps, five steps…
“…That’s it.”
An outcome that was visible only when you stood at the center of the annex. My magic circle filled the entirety of the space. The records originating on the large blackboard then scrawling out onto the inner walls of the building weren’t enough, so they spread into the air and embroidered the sky like celestial bodies. In the center of it, I closed my eyes and exhaled.
“…”
My theory was alive and moving. My magic claimed its worth. Even if the overflow were weak, it felt like a step closer to the truth of the world.
…It felt strange. I opened my eyes, ignoring my disorientation. My mana was almost entirely exhausted, but the lecture that I had prepared since submitting the plan to the Floating Island was completed in almost a month.
“Is this the difference between the rough draft and the final version?”
It was difficult to convey a theory that only I knew to others. Therefore, the effort and mana that I devoted to it were a dozen times that of the rough draft.
“…It’s too big.”
Suddenly, a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. The technique covered the annex endlessly, its enormous size making it hard to put it in my head, but anyway. An instructor’s lot was to convey lessons. The rest of the understanding was up to the students. If someone had the talent to not understand all of this even a little… they would be disposed of. It meant they wouldn’t be among those who could help me with the quest.
“The rest is…”
I saw the condition of Memorize using [Vision].
◆Memorize Status
: Beginner – Intermediate Psychokinesis (79%)
┏ Beginner – Intermediate Fire Control (53%)
┣ Beginner – Intermediate Earth Control (48%)
┗ Metal Enhancement (89%)
It was still fucking Beginner – Intermediate level. How difficult was the intermediate level to reach? The Memorize of [Psychokinesis] was unbelievably slow.
Knock, knock—
A voice that let me know it was morning came with the knock.
—It’s your morning coffee.
It was Julie. I glanced silently toward the door.
“Hmm…”
A good training method came to mind.
—Professor, I have your coffee.
Knock, knock-
My remaining mana was about [300]. But, since very little mana was consumed in [Psychokinesis], this much was enough. I opened the door.
*
Clang, clang, clang, clang—
Violent, clashing sounds and rising embers. The sword moved and bounced off the wood steel. They dug into the gaps the swordsman revealed, but their fluid swordsmanship wouldn’t allow any hit to connect. The wood steel bent around what it touched, then lost track of its goal and fell away. It couldn’t even scratch her.