Chapter 148: Unexpected Bet (1) (2/2)

“Oh, okay. Bye.”

“Right. You too, Leaf, work hard.”

“…Yes.”

Leaf. All the high-ranking wizards these days were calling her Leaf, thanks to Ihelm. Epherene grunted and again soaked the stone with her mana.

“What the hell is…”

Just like a black hole, this stone wouldn’t change no matter how much mana she put in. It wouldn’t move as it stubbornly accepted the formula, seeming to extinguish all mana.

“…”

Epherene looked at the wood steel on her desk.

“…Do you know?”

When asked that question, the wood steel made a bizarre sound, as if she were pathetic.

“Are you mocking me?”

Epherene sighed as she stared at the wood steel.

“Whew.”

“Beef, look at this.”

Drent called out to her, receiving a glare for his efforts.

“Hey. Just call me Leaf. What’s with beef now?”

“Hahaha. I’m sorry, this is more fun. Beef.”

“Man. Don’t do it.”

“Okay. Sorry. Look at this; I think I found something—”

I think I found something… I think I found something… I think I found something…

His voice echoed as a short wave of dizziness engulfed her, and Epherene closed her eyes blankly.

“Oh, my anemia…”

When she opened her eyes again-

“…What.”

The world had changed. She was definitely in the main square of the hall just now, but suddenly she was in some sort of ruin—

“Stupid Epherene.”

A familiar voice called out to her. Epherene looked back, startled.

“Move away, Epherene. Why are you here?”

In the ruined hallway, Sylvia sat under the shade.

“…You! Why are you like that?!”

Blood flowed from a wound in her side, her hair was tangled, and her right hand’s index and middle fingers were torn off as if eaten by something.

“Go away. You might become like this too.”

“Why-“

- As soon as she asked her, she knew why. It was on the other side of the corridor of the ruins.

Grrrrrrrr—!

A fierce rumble like an erupting volcano.

“…!”

A weird scarlet body stalked the dark hallway, made of compressed muscles and majestic bones. The king’s pattern was engraved on its forehead. The beast dominated the area it stood in and radiated power and dignity.

A tiger.

“T-T-T-T…”

The first real beast she encountered in her life. Epherene gasped for a moment, its savage pressure squeezing her.

“You idiot. If you want to die, do whatever you want.”

Sylvia started to run away, and Epherene followed after a second’s lag.

“Hey! W-Wait for me!”

* * *

…Meanwhile, Kreto returned to the Imperial Palace. After meeting Sophien, he recommended she start with the Compilation of Deculein’s Theory.

“You can move the stones only if you learn this theory.”

“Hmm. I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

“No. It is very difficult to move them. There’s a reason why the Floating Island is also watching.”

“Is that so?”

Sophien answered bluntly. She already knew. Even now, she was watching it by Kreto’s side inside the cat’s body.

“But Your Majesty, you’re wearing something special today.”

“It was a gift from Yuren. Wearing it will save them face.”

Today’s Emperor’s attire was a modern outfit popular in Yuren, composed of blue trousers and a buttoned blouse. Kreto nodded in approval.

“Anyway. Professor Deculein is a good person, a talent who will make the continent great. He is the most suitable for the slogan of ‘Great Continent.’ Haha.”

“…You’re finally visiting me, but you’re only talking about Deculein.”

Sophien was somewhat dissatisfied. This cute little brother didn’t get cuter at all as he grew bigger.

“Would I have anything else to say? By the way…”

Ahem-!

Kreto coughed and took out the stone.

“Take this…”

“Did you come here to cheat?”

“Hey, why would you say that? I am not here to cheat but to seek advice from the sister I love.”

“…Tsk. Look at how you talk.”

Still, hearing that he loved her put her in a better mood.

“I’ll give it a look.”

Sophien pretended to read Deculein’s theory without saying a word, and then she used Psychokinesis on the stone. It moved.

“Whoa! Whoa, whoa! As expected! As expected from Your Majesty!”

“It’s easy.”

She had already studied obsessively but pretended she was seeing it for the first time now. Kreto watched her with admiration plain in his eyes.

“Then tell me the secret too!”

“Enough. Kreto.”

“Yes?”

“…Didn’t that guy say anything?”

“That guy? You mean Professor Deculein?”

Sophien nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why is Professor Deculein that guy?”

Sophien let out a soft breath.

“…Before I get mad.”

“Oh, okay. About what?”

“About me.”

“…?”

To the bewildered Kreto, who didn’t know what to do, Sophien sighed.

“It seems that he is in love with me.”

“…I beg your pardon? Ha.”

Kreto chuckled.

“Hahahaha. Hahahahaha…”

That laugh soon turned into mockery. Sophien bit back her anger.

“Your Majesty. I don’t mean to say this, but have you been feeling well lately?”

“What, you bastard? Are you nuts?”

“No. Rumors are circulating that you’re passionate about everything these days…”

“And?”

Kreto laughed like an old man.

“Even if that’s a good thing, why would Professor Deculein have a crush on you?”

“Do you have proof?”

“I mean, isn’t that right? Why would he like someone like you….”

It was then that Kreto realized he had made a mistake. Sophien’s gaze sharpened to a killing point. Swallowing fear, he quickly changed his words.

“Wise, benevolent—”

“Did you go nuts? Is the Emperor funny to you?”

Knock, knock-

A knock rattled the door. It was his opportunity to prolong his life.

“What!”

Kreto sprung up and answered it, receiving a response from the maid standing outside.

- Yes. Her Majesty Sophien, Prince Kreto. The Teaching Wizard Deculein has arrived.

Today was a magical lesson day; that was why Kreto came to see Sophien.

“Well. That’s great. Your Majesty. Why don’t you ask him directly?”

“Ask him? Me?”

Sophien pointed her finger at her chest. Kreto grinned with narrowing eyes.

“…Yes. I will do it for you.”

“Hmph, forget it. Hey! Let him in!”

—Yes, Your Majesty.

The door opened at Sophien’s call to reveal Deculein. Dressed in a navy blue suit, he approached elegantly and sat facing Sophien.

“Your Majesty. And Prince Kreto is here too.”

“Haha. Somehow, it turned out that way…”

Sophien beckoned to Kreto, motioning for him to forget it. Kreto decided to open up the conversation.

“Oh, right. Professor Deculein. Have you ever played Go? These days, Her Majesty and I are addicted to this game.”

“Yes, I’ve tried it.”

“Oh. Really?”

Kreto and Sophien glanced at him with wide eyes.

“As Your Majesty recommended, I practiced hard.”

“How much energy do you think you have? Oh, right, in Go, energy refers to the grade. Like Monarch, Lumier, you know? The highest is nine.”

“I see.”

“So, what do you expect your energy to be?”

Then Deculein looked at Sophien. Sophien scanned his face. As always, it was the face of a handsome nobleman, calm and insensitive.

“I think… it seems to be worthy of competing on an equal footing with Your Majesty.”

“?”

For a moment, Sophien’s brow narrowed. She was bewildered at first, and then a heat rose to her head. That arrogant remark was outrageous. Sophien ground her teeth tightly and twisted the corners of her mouth. It felt her intestines were twisting more than her lips.

How dare he? A guy who only trained for ten days thought he could beat her?

“…I can’t let this pass by.”

Bang-!

Sophien’s set the Go pieces and the board with Psychokinesis.

“Let’s fight. If you beat me, I will grant one of your wishes.”

A declaration to grant a wish, from the Emperor of all people no less. Kreto was shocked, and Deculein simply looked into the air.

Right at the sudden quest alarm.

[Independent Quest: The Emperor’s Bet]

“…?”

An independent quest, not a side quest, that occurred only with Go. He thought the Emperor’s Independent Quest would at least be equivalent to the Demon’s Mirror…

“Yes. All right.”

It was quite disconcerting, but Deculein nodded.